1
燕鳳許謙張袞崔玄伯鄧淵
Biographies of Yan Feng, Xu Qian, Zhang Gun, Cui Xuanbo, and Deng Yuan
2
燕鳳，字子章，代人也。 好學，博綜經史，明習陰陽讖緯。 昭成素聞其名，使人以禮迎致之。 鳳不應聘。 乃命諸軍圍代城，謂城人曰：「燕鳳不來，吾將屠汝。」 代人懼，送鳳。 昭成與語，大悅，待以賓禮。 後拜代王左長史，參決國事。 又以經授獻明帝。
Yan Feng, whose style was Zizhang, came from Dai. A devoted scholar, he ranged widely through the classics and histories and was versed in yin-yang lore and prophetic weft-texts. Emperor Zhaocheng, who had long known his reputation, sent envoys to receive him with full ritual honors. Feng refused to answer the call. Zhaocheng then had his forces surround Dai and told the inhabitants: "Unless Yan Feng comes, I will put every one of you to the sword." Terrified, the people of Dai sent Feng out to him. Zhaocheng talked with him at length, took great delight in him, and honored him as an honored guest. He was later made Left Chief Clerk to the Prince of Dai and joined in governing the realm. He also instructed Emperor Xianming in the classics.
3
苻堅遣使牛恬朝貢。 令鳳報之。 堅問鳳：「代王何如人？」 鳳對曰：「寬和仁愛，經略高遠，一時之雄主，常有并吞天下之志。」 堅曰：「卿輩北人，無鋼甲利器，敵弱則進，強即退走，安能并兼？」 鳳曰：「北人壯悍，上馬持三仗，驅馳若飛。 主上雄雋，率服北土，控弦百萬，號令若一。 軍無輜重樵爨之苦，輕行速捷，因敵取資。 此南方所以疲弊，而北方之所常勝也。」 堅曰：「彼國人馬，實為多少？」 鳳曰：「控弦之士數十萬，馬百萬匹。」 堅曰：「卿言人眾可爾，說馬太多，是虛辭耳。」 鳳曰：「雲中川自東山至西河二百里，北山至南山百有餘里，每歲孟秋，馬常大集，略為滿川。 以此推之，使人之言，猶當未盡。」 鳳還，堅厚加贈遺。
Fu Jian dispatched the envoy Niu Tian to present tribute. Zhaocheng charged Feng to answer in his name. Fu Jian asked Feng: "What manner of ruler is the Prince of Dai?" Feng replied: "Mild and humane, far-sighted in counsel—a champion of the hour who constantly dreams of uniting the world under his rule." Fu Jian said: "You northerners have no plate mail or keen blades; you press forward only against the weak and run when the strong appear—how could you ever conquer all?" Feng said: "The north breeds hard men; in the saddle each warrior carries three arms and flies across the plain. Our sovereign is brilliant and bold; the north obeys him, a million bowmen answer his call, and his word is law to every camp. His host marches without the drag of wagons or camp kitchens; light and swift, it lives off what it seizes from the foe. That is why the south wears itself down while the north wins battle after battle." Fu Jian asked: "How many fighting men and horses does Dai really field?" Feng answered: "Archers in the hundreds of thousands; horses by the million." Fu Jian said: "Your count of men I can credit; a million horses is mere brag." Feng said: "East Mountain to West River along the Yunzhong is two hundred li; north to south, more than a hundred. Each early autumn the herds assemble until the valley is all but covered with horses. Judge by that, and even your messenger's tale understates the case." When Feng went home, Fu Jian loaded him with presents.
4
及昭成崩，太祖將遷長安。 鳳以太祖幼弱，固請於苻堅曰：「代主初崩，臣子亡叛，遺孫沖幼，莫相輔立。 其別部大人劉庫仁勇而有智，鐵弗衞辰狡猾多變，皆不可獨任。 宜分諸部為二，令此兩人統之。 兩人素有深讎，其勢莫敢先發。 此禦邊之良策。 待其孫長，乃存而立之，是陛下施大惠於亡國也。」 堅從之。 鳳尋東還。
After Zhaocheng's death, Taizu was preparing to relocate to Chang'an. Seeing the heir still a child, Feng pressed Fu Jian: "The Prince of Dai is newly dead; his officers have fled or turned traitor; the grandson left behind is an infant with no one to raise him to the throne. Liu Kuren of the separate tribes is bold and shrewd; the Tiefu leader Weichen is sly and shifting—neither should hold power alone. Split the tribal following between them and set each to command his half. They have hated each other for years; neither will dare move before the other. That is the soundest way to secure the border. When the boy comes of age, restore the realm and enthrone him—Your Majesty would then show supreme mercy to a ruined house." Fu Jian took his counsel. Feng soon made his way back east.
5
太祖即位，歷吏部郎、給事黃門侍郎、行臺尚書，甚見禮重。 太宗世，與崔玄伯、封懿、梁越等入講經傳，出議朝政。 世祖初，以舊勳賜爵平舒侯，加鎮遠將軍。 神䴥元年卒。
After Taizu's accession he rose through Director of Personnel, Attendant Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, and Acting Director of the Secretariat, and was held in high esteem. Under Emperor Taizong he sat with Cui Xuanbo, Feng Yi, Liang Yue, and others to expound the classics and debate affairs of state. When Emperor Shizu began his reign, Feng received the marquisate of Pingshu and the rank General Who Pacifies the Distance for long service. He died in Shenlu year 1.
6
子才，襲。 散騎常侍、平遠將軍。 卒。
His son Cai succeeded to the title. He held the posts of Regular Attendant-in-Ordinary and General Who Pacifies the Distance. He died in office.
7
子元孫，襲。 官至博陵太守。 卒。 子世宗，襲。
His son Yuansun took the succession. He rose to Administrator of Boling. He died without further office. His son Shizong succeeded.
8
許謙，字元遜，代人也。 少有文才，善天文圖讖之學。 建國時，將家歸附，昭成嘉之，擢為代王郎中令，兼掌文記。 與燕鳳俱授獻明帝經。 從征衞辰，以功賜僮隸三十戶。 昭成崩後，謙徙長安。 苻堅從弟行唐公洛鎮和龍，請謙之鎮。 未幾，以繼母老辭還。
Xu Qian, whose style was Yuansun, came from Dai. As a youth he showed literary gifts and mastered astronomy, star-charts, and prophetic weft-texts. When the state was founded he came in with his clan; Zhaocheng praised him, made him Director of Gentlemen to the Prince of Dai, and put him in charge of the archives. He and Yan Feng together instructed Emperor Xianming in the classics. On the expedition against Weichen he earned thirty households of retainers as a reward for service. After Zhaocheng's death, Qian went to live at Chang'an. Fu Jian's cousin Fu Luo, Duke of Xingtang, who governed Helong, asked Qian to join him there. Soon, pleading his stepmother's advanced years, he sought leave to go home.
9
登國初，遂歸太祖。 太祖悅，以為右司馬，與張袞等參贊初基。 慕容寶來寇也，太祖使謙告難於姚興。 興遣將楊佛嵩率眾來援，而佛嵩稽緩。 太祖命謙為書以遺佛嵩曰：「夫杖順以翦遺，乘義而攻昧，未有非其運而顯功，無其時而著業。 慕容無道，侵我疆埸，師老兵疲，天亡期至，是以遣使命軍，必望克赴。 將軍據方邵之任，總熊虎之師，事與機會，今其時也。 因此而舉，役不再駕，千載之勳，一朝可立。 然後高會雲中，進師三魏，舉觴稱壽，不亦綽乎。」 佛嵩乃倍道兼行。 太祖大悅，賜謙爵關內侯。 重遣謙與佛嵩盟曰：「昔殷湯有鳴條之誓，周武有河陽之盟，所以藉神靈，昭忠信，夫親仁善隣，古之令軌，歃血割牲，以敦永穆。 今既盟之後，言歸其好，分災恤患，休戚是同。 有違此盟，神祗斯殛。」 寶敗，佛嵩乃還。
When Dengguo was proclaimed he came back to Taizu. Taizu welcomed him, named him Right Major of Horse, and with Zhang Gun and others he helped build the new order. When Murong Bao invaded, Taizu dispatched Qian to tell Yao Xing of the peril. Yao Xing sent General Yang Fosong with an army, but Fosong moved slowly. Taizu had Qian draft a letter to Fosong: "To wield the Mandate against a house already failing, to strike in the name of justice against a blinded foe—no triumph ever shone outside its season, no deed ever stood outside its time. Murong Bao is lawless; he tramples our marches; his soldiers are spent; the day of his ruin is at hand—hence this embassy and this host, and I expect you without delay. You hold a frontier command and lead warriors fierce as bear and tiger; fortune offers itself—this is the hour. Strike now and the war need not be fought twice; glory to last a millennium can be won before noon. Then feast in Yunzhong, march into the Three Weis, lift the wine and toast long life—would that not be splendid?" Fosong doubled his pace and raced to the field. Taizu was delighted and enfeoffed Qian as Marquis Within the Passes. He sent Qian again to swear alliance with Fosong: "Tang of Yin bound himself at Mingtiao, King Wu of Zhou at Heyang—each invoked the spirits to witness faith. To love the humane and treat neighbors well is the ancient rule; blood was drunk and the victim cut to seal peace forever. Now that we are allied, let us speak only friendship; share each other's calamity, ease each other's grief, and make our weal and woe one. Whoever breaks this oath, let the gods strike him dead." When Bao fell, Fosong marched home.
10
明年，慕容垂復來寇。 太祖謂謙曰：「今事急矣，非卿豈能復致姚師，卿其行也。」 謙未發而垂退，乃止。 及聞垂死，謙上書勸進。 太祖善之。
The following year Murong Chui invaded again. Taizu told Qian: "Affairs are desperate; only you could summon Yao's host again—set out at once." Qian had not yet left when Chui retreated, and the errand was called off. Learning of Chui's death, Qian memorialized urging Taizu to ascend the throne. Taizu was pleased with the counsel.
11
并州平，以謙為陽曲護軍，賜爵平舒侯、安遠將軍。 皇始元年卒官，時年六十三。 贈平東將軍、左光祿大夫、幽州刺史、高陽公，諡曰文。
After Bing was pacified he was named Protector of Yangqu, Marquis of Pingshu, and General Who Pacifies the Distance. He died in office in Huangshi year 1, at sixty-three. Posthumously he received General Who Pacifies the East, Grand Master of Splendid Happiness of the Left, Inspector of Youzhou, and Duke of Gaoyang, with the temple name Wen.
12
子洛陽，襲。 從征慕容寶，為冠軍司馬。 後為祁令。 太宗追錄謙功，以洛陽為雁門太守。 洛陽家田三生嘉禾，皆異壟合穎，世祖善之。 進爵北地公，加鎮南將軍。 出為明壘鎮將，居八年，卒。 諡曰恭。
His son Luoyang succeeded. On the campaign against Murong Bao he was Champion Major. He later became magistrate of Qi county. Emperor Taizong, honoring Qian's service, appointed Luoyang Administrator of Yanmen. Three stalks of lucky grain sprang on Luoyang's land, each with unusual furrows and fused ears; Emperor Shizu approved. He was advanced to Duke of Beidi and General Who Pacifies the South. He served eight years as garrison commander of Minglei, then died. His posthumous name was Gong.
13
子寄生，襲爵，降為侯。 皇興元年卒。
His son Jisheng inherited, but the rank was lowered to marquis. He died in Huangxing year 1.
14
洛陽弟安國，中山太守。
Luoyang's brother Anguo became Administrator of Zhongshan.
15
安國弟安都，廣寧、滄水二郡太守。 加揚威將軍。 賜爵東光子。 天安初卒。 贈平遠將軍、冀州刺史、東光侯，諡曰烈。
Anguo's brother Andu governed Guangning and Cangshui. He was also made General Who Displays Might. He received the viscounty of Dongguang. He died early in the Tian'an era. Posthumously he was General Who Pacifies the Distance, Inspector of Jizhou, and Marquis of Dongguang, temple name Lie.
16
子白虎，襲爵。 為侍御中散。 後以罪免官，奪爵。
His son Baihu succeeded. He served as Attendant Censor-in-Ordinary. Later, convicted of an offense, he was dismissed and deprived of his rank.
17
許謙，字元遜，代人也。 少有文才，善天文圖讖之學。 建國時，將家歸附，昭成嘉之，擢為代王郎中令，兼掌文記。 與燕鳳俱授獻明帝經。 從征衞辰，以功賜僮隸三十戶。 昭成崩後，謙徙長安。 苻堅從弟行唐公洛鎮和龍，請謙之鎮。 未幾，以繼母老辭還。
Xu Qian, whose style was Yuansun, came from Dai. As a youth he showed literary gifts and mastered astronomy, star-charts, and prophetic weft-texts. When the state was founded he came in with his clan; Zhaocheng praised him, made him Director of Gentlemen to the Prince of Dai, and put him in charge of the archives. He and Yan Feng together instructed Emperor Xianming in the classics. On the expedition against Weichen he earned thirty households of retainers as a reward for service. After Emperor Zhaocheng's death, Qian went to Chang'an. Fu Jian's younger cousin Luo, Duke of Xingtang, held Helong and asked Qian to take command there. Before long he asked leave to return, citing his stepmother's age.
18
登國初，遂歸太祖。 太祖悅，以為右司馬，與張袞等參贊初基。 慕容寶來寇也，太祖使謙告難於姚興。 興遣將楊佛嵩率眾來援，而佛嵩稽緩。 太祖命謙為書以遺佛嵩曰：「夫杖順以翦遺，乘義而攻昧，未有非其運而顯功，無其時而著業。 慕容無道，侵我疆埸，師老兵疲，天亡期至，是以遣使命軍，必望克赴。 將軍據方邵之任，總熊虎之師，事與機會，今其時也。 因此而舉，役不再駕，千載之勳，一朝可立。 然後高會雲中，進師三魏，舉觴稱壽，不亦綽乎。」 佛嵩乃倍道兼行。 太祖大悅，賜謙爵關內侯。 重遣謙與佛嵩盟曰：「昔殷湯有鳴條之誓，周武有河陽之盟，所以藉神靈，昭忠信，夫親仁善隣，古之令軌，歃血割牲，以敦永穆。 今既盟之後，言歸其好，分災恤患，休戚是同。 有違此盟，神祗斯殛。」 寶敗，佛嵩乃還。
At the opening of the Denguo era he came back to Taizu. Taizu was pleased, made him Right Marshal, and with Zhang Gun and others helped build the new order. When Murong Bao invaded, Taizu sent Qian to ask Yao Xing for aid. Xing sent Yang Fosong with an army, but Fosong dragged his feet. Taizu had Qian write to Fosong: "To strike the doomed in the name of order and attack the blind in the name of right — no one wins glory against the times or builds lasting fame out of season. Murong Bao is lawless and trespasses on our borders; his soldiers are spent and Heaven's judgment is due — I send envoys and an army and count on you to come in time. You hold a frontier command and lead troops like bears and tigers; the moment fits — now is the hour. Strike now and the war need not be fought twice; glory for a thousand years can be won in one morning. Then feast in Yunzhong, march through the three Weis, raise your cup to long life — what could be grander?" Fosong then forced a double march. Taizu was delighted and enfeoffed Qian as Marquis Within the Passes. He sent Qian again to swear alliance with Fosong: "Tang of Yin swore at Mingtiao and Wu of Zhou at Heyang to borrow the gods' witness and bind faith. To cherish the humane and be good to neighbors is the ancient model; blood-oath and sacrifice seal peace forever. After this oath let us keep amity, share disaster and pity each other's woes — one fortune, one fate. Whoever breaks this pact — let the spirits destroy him." Bao was beaten and Fosong withdrew.
19
明年，慕容垂復來寇。 太祖謂謙曰：「今事急矣，非卿豈能復致姚師，卿其行也。」 謙未發而垂退，乃止。 及聞垂死，謙上書勸進。 太祖善之。
The next year Murong Chui invaded again. Taizu told Qian, "The crisis is acute; who but you could summon Yao's troops again? Go at once." Before Qian departed, Chui had already retreated, so the mission was called off. When he learned Chui was dead, Qian memorialized urging Taizu to take the imperial title. Taizu approved.
20
并州平，以謙為陽曲護軍，賜爵平舒侯、安遠將軍。 皇始元年卒官，時年六十三。 贈平東將軍、左光祿大夫、幽州刺史、高陽公，諡曰文。
After Bingzhou was pacified, Qian became Protector of Yangqu and was made Marquis of Pingshu and General Who Pacifies the Distant. In the first year of Huangshi he died in office at sixty-three. Posthumously he was made General Who Pacifies the East, Grand Master of the Left, Youzhou inspector, Duke of Gaoyang, with the posthumous name Wen.
21
子洛陽，襲。 從征慕容寶，為冠軍司馬。 後為祁令。 太宗追錄謙功，以洛陽為雁門太守。 洛陽家田三生嘉禾，皆異壟合穎，世祖善之。 進爵北地公，加鎮南將軍。 出為明壘鎮將，居八年，卒。 諡曰恭。
His son Luoyang succeeded. On the campaign against Murong Bao he served as champion marshal. Later he was magistrate of Qi — so the record runs. Emperor Taizong recalled Qian's service and made Luoyang administrator of Yanmen. On Luoyang's family fields three stalks of auspicious grain grew on separate ridges but with ears joined as one; Shizu was pleased. He was advanced to Duke of Beidi and General Who Guards the South. He went out as commanding general of Ming Lei, held the post eight years, and died. His posthumous name was Gong.
22
子寄生，襲爵，降為侯。 皇興元年卒。
His son Jisheng inherited, but the title was reduced to marquis. In the first year of Huangxing he died — so the record runs.
23
洛陽弟安國，中山太守。
Luoyang's younger brother Anguo was administrator of Zhongshan.
24
安國弟安都，廣寧、滄水二郡太守。 加揚威將軍。 賜爵東光子。 天安初卒。 贈平遠將軍、冀州刺史、東光侯，諡曰烈。
Anguo's younger brother Andu was administrator of Guangning and Cangshui. He was also made General Who Displays Might. He was enfeoffed as Son of Dongguang. In Tian'an year 1 he died — so the record runs. Posthumously he was made General Who Pacifies the Distant, Jizhou inspector, Marquis of Dongguang, posthumous name Lie.
25
子白虎，襲爵。 為侍御中散。 後以罪免官，奪爵。
His son Baihu succeeded. He was attendant-in-ordinary in the Personal Guard — so the record runs. Later, for a crime, he was dismissed and stripped of his title.
26
張袞，字洪龍，上谷沮陽人也。 祖翼，遼東太守。 父卓，昌黎太守。 袞初為郡五官掾，純厚篤實，好學，有文才。 太祖為代王，選為左長史。
Zhang Gun, styled Honglong, came from Juyang in Shanggu. His grandfather Yi had been administrator of Liaodong. His father Zhuo was administrator of Changli. Gun began as the commandery registrar of five offices — honest, steady, studious, and gifted in letters. When Taizu was Prince of Dai, Gun was chosen as left chief of staff.
27
從太祖征蠕蠕。 蠕蠕遁走，追之五六百里。 諸部帥因袞言於太祖曰：「今賊遠糧盡，不宜深入，請速還軍。」 太祖令袞問諸部帥，若殺副馬，足三日食否。 皆言足也。 太祖乃倍道追之，及於廣漠赤地南床山下，大破之。 既而太祖問袞：「卿曹外人知我前問三日糧意乎？」 對曰：「皆莫知也。」 太祖曰：「此易知耳。 蠕蠕奔走數日，畜產之餘，至水必留。 計其道程，三日足及。 輕騎卒至，出其不意，彼必驚散，其勢然矣。」 袞以太祖言出告部帥，咸曰：「聖策長遠，非愚近所及也。」
He followed Taizu against the Rouran. The Rouran fled and the army pursued five or six hundred li. The tribal chiefs spoke through Gun to Taizu: "The foe is far and our grain is gone; do not go deeper — turn back at once." Taizu told Gun to ask the chiefs whether killing the remount horses would feed the army three days. All said it would. Taizu then doubled the pace, caught them south of Bed Mountain on the broad red desert, and routed them. Later Taizu asked Gun, "Do outsiders know why I asked about three days' grain?" Gun answered, "No one does." Taizu said, "It is simple. The Rouran had run for days; after their herds' leavings they must halt at every water. Count their route and three days suffice to catch them. Light horse arriving suddenly will startle them into flight — that is the logic." Gun repeated Taizu's words to the chiefs; all said, "The sage's design reaches far beyond what short sight can grasp."
28
袞常參大謀，決策幃幄，太祖器之，禮遇優厚。 袞每告人曰：「昔樂毅杖策於燕昭，公達委身於魏武，[1]蓋命世難可期，千載不易遇。 主上天姿傑邁，逸志凌霄，必能囊括六合，混一四海。 夫遭風雲之會，不建騰躍之功者，非人豪也。」 遂策名委質，竭誠伏事。
Gun was constantly in counsel at the heart of strategy; Taizu prized him and honored him generously. Gun often said to others, "Yue Yi served Yan Zhao with his staff and Xun Yu gave himself to Cao Cao;[1] a lord for the age is rare, and a once-in-a-millennium chance is rarer still. Our lord's gifts tower above others and his ambition pierces the clouds — he will surely take the realm and unite the four seas. Who meets such a moment and does not rise with it is no true hero." He then pledged himself and served with whole-hearted loyalty.
29
時劉顯地廣兵強，跨有朔裔，會其兄弟乖離，共相疑阻。 袞言於太祖曰：「顯志大意高，希冀非望，乃有參天貳地，籠罩宇宙之規。 吳不并越，將為後患。 今因其內釁，宜速乘之。 若輕師獨進，或恐越逸。 可遣使告慕容垂，共相聲援，東西俱舉，勢必擒之。 然後總括英雄，撫懷遐邇，此千載一時，不可失也。」 太祖從之，遂破走顯。 又從破賀訥，遂命羣官登勿居山，遊宴終日。 從官及諸部大人請聚石為峰，以記功德，命袞為文。
At that time Liu Xian held vast territory and a strong army across the north; his brothers had fallen out and distrusted one another. Gun told Taizu, "Xian is proud and ambitious beyond the ordinary — he dreams of rivaling heaven and earth and swallowing the world. If Wu is not joined with Yue, he will trouble us later. Use their internal strife and strike now. A lone light column may let him escape. Send word to Murong Chui to join us; attack from east and west together and he is sure to fall. Then rally the bold and win the far marches — a chance that comes once in a thousand years; do not miss it." Taizu took his advice and drove Xian off. He followed Gun again in defeating He Ne, then ordered the court to climb Wuju Mountain and feast all day. Ministers and tribal leaders asked to heap stones into a monument; Taizu had Gun write the inscription.
30
慕容寶之來寇也，袞言於太祖曰：「寶乘滑臺之功，因長子之捷，傾資竭力，難與爭鋒。 愚以為宜羸師卷甲，以侈其心。」 太祖從之，果破之參合。
When Murong Bao invaded, Gun told Taizu, "Bao builds on Huatai and Changzi, spending treasury and strength — he is dangerous to meet head-on. I would show a weak force and fold our armor away to puff up his pride." Taizu agreed and crushed him at Canhe.
31
皇始初，遷給事黃門侍郎。 太祖南伐，師次中山。 袞言於太祖曰：「寶憑三世之資，城池之固，雖皇威震赫，勢必擒殄，然窮兵極武，非王者所宜。 昔酈生一說，田橫委質； 魯連飛書，聊將授首。 臣誠德非古人，略無奇策，仰憑靈威，庶必有感。」 太祖從之。 袞遺寶書。 喻以成敗。 寶見書大懼，遂奔和龍。 既克中山，聽入八議，拜袞奮武將軍、幽州刺史，賜爵臨渭侯。 袞清儉寡欲，勸課農桑，百姓安之。
At the start of Huangshi he was made attendant gentleman of the Yellow Gate. Taizu marched south and camped at Zhongshan. Gun told Taizu, "Bao rests on three generations and strong walls; though your majesty will surely take him, driving the army to extremity is not a king's way. Long ago Li Yiji with one speech made Tian Heng yield; Lu Zhong's letter from afar was enough to make a man offer his head. I am no match for those men and have no clever scheme, yet under your power something may move him." Taizu agreed. Gun sent Bao a letter — so the record runs. He set out the odds of victory and defeat. Bao was terrified by the letter and fled to Helong. After Zhongshan fell, Gun entered the eight deliberations and was made General Who Displays Valor, Youzhou inspector, and Marquis of Linwei. Gun lived plainly and urged farming and silk; the people were settled.
32
天興初，徵還京師。 後與崔逞答司馬德宗將郗恢書失旨，黜袞為尚書令史。 袞遇創業之始，以有才謨見任，率心奉上，不顧嫌疑。 太祖曾問南州人於袞。 袞與盧溥州里，數談薦之。 又袞未嘗與崔逞相見，聞風稱美。 及中山平，盧溥聚黨為逆，崔逞答書不允，並乖本言，故忿之。
At the start of Tianxing he was recalled to the capital. Later he and Cui Cheng drafted a reply to Xi Hui, general under Jin's Sima Dezong, that missed the tone; Gun was demoted to clerk of the Masters of Writing. Gun had served from the founding days, trusted for talent and counsel, and gave his heart without fear of suspicion. Taizu once asked Gun about talent from the south. Gun was from the same commandery as Lu Bo and often praised him to the throne. He had never met Cui Cheng either, yet praised him on hearsay. When Zhongshan was pacified, Lu Bo raised a faction in revolt and Cui Cheng's reply was defiant; both belied what Gun had said, and he bore them a grudge.
33
袞年過七十，闔門守靜，手執經書，刊定乖失，愛好人物，善誘無倦，士類以此高之。 永興二年疾篤，上疏曰：「臣既庸人，志無殊操，值太祖誕膺期運，天地始開，參戎氛霧之初，馳驅革命之會，託翼鄧林，寄鱗溟海，遂荷恩寵，榮兼出內。 陛下龍飛九五，仍參顧問，曾無微誠，塵山露海。 今舊疾彌留，氣力虛頓，天罰有罪，將填溝壑。 然犬馬戀主，敢不盡言。 方今中夏雖平，九域未一，西有不賓之羌，南有逆命之虜，岷蜀殊風，遼海異教。 雖天挺明聖，撥亂乘時，而因幾撫會，實須經略。 介焉易失，功在人謀。 伏願恢崇叡道，克廣德心，使揖讓與干戈並陳，文德與武功俱運，則太平之化，康哉之美，復隆於今，不獨前世。 昔子囊將終，寄言城郢； 荀偃辭唅，遺恨在齊。 臣雖闇劣，敢忘前志，魂而有靈，結草泉壤。」 後數日卒，年七十二。 後世祖追錄舊勳，遣大鴻臚即墓策贈太保，諡曰文康公。
Past seventy, Gun kept his whole household in quiet; he held the classics in hand, collated what had gone astray, delighted in men of talent, and guided them without tiring—the learned held him in high esteem for it. In the second year of Yongxing his illness turned grave; he submitted a memorial: "I am a mediocre man without special resolve, yet I lived when the Founding Ancestor received Heaven's mandate and the world first opened. I shared the war-mist at the start and rode through the season of revolution, trusting my wings to the sacred grove and my scales to the deep sea, and so bore favor whose glory reached within and without the court. When Your Majesty ascended the throne I still sat in counsel, yet never offered the slightest sincerity—my debt piled like mountains, my thanks spread like seas. Now my old illness lingers and my strength is spent; Heaven punishes guilt, and I am about to fill a ditch. Yet dog and horse love their master, and I dare not withhold my words. The central lands are at peace, yet the nine regions are not one: unsubmissive Qiang in the west, rebels in the south, other customs in Min and Shu, other faiths along Liao and the sea. Though Heaven has raised a bright sage to set disorder aright and ride the times, seizing the moment and steering events still demands strategy. The hinge slips easily; achievement rests on human counsel. I beg that the sagely Way be lifted high and the heart of virtue broadened, so courtesy and arms stand together and civil and martial power move as one—then the age of great peace and the cry of "How grand!" would rise again today, not only in ages past. Of old, when Zi Nang was near death, he left word to defend Ying; (record). when Xun Yan drew his last breath, his regret still lay in Qi. I am dim and weak, yet dare not forget that resolve; if my soul has spirit, I shall tie grass in the land below." Several days later he died, aged seventy-two. Later Emperor Shizu, recording old merit, sent the Grand Herald to his tomb with a patent making him Grand Mentor posthumously and titling him Duke Wenkang.
34
子溫，外都大官、廣寧太守。 卒。
His son Wen served as Outer Metropolitan Food Officer and Administrator of Guangning. He passed away.
35
子貳興，昌黎太守。
His son Erxing was Administrator of Changli — so the record runs.
36
溫弟楷，州主簿。
Wen's younger brother Kai was a provincial chief clerk — so the record runs.
37
子誕，有學尚，性尤雅直。 初與高允同時被徵，後除中書侍郎、通直散騎常侍、建威將軍。 賜爵容城子。
His son Dan was learned and principled, his nature especially refined and upright — so the record runs. At first he was summoned together with Gao Yun; later he was made Secretariat Gentleman, Regular Attendant of the Unimpeded Cavalry, and General Who Establishes Might — so the record runs. He was granted the title Marquis of Rongcheng — so the record runs.
38
袞次子度，少有志尚，襲爵臨渭侯。 上谷太守，入為武昌王師。 加散騎常侍，除使持節，都督幽州廣陽、安樂二郡諸軍事，平東將軍，崎城鎮都大將，又轉和龍鎮都大將，所在著稱。 還朝為中都大官。 卒，贈征東大將軍、冀州刺史，諡康侯。
Gun's second son Du, ambitious from youth, inherited the fief as Marquis of Linwei. He was Administrator of Shanggu, then entered court as tutor to the Prince of Wuchang. He was further made Regular Attendant of the Cavalry, then commissioned with the staff of authority as commander over military affairs of Youzhou's Guangyang and Anle, General Who Pacifies the East, Metropolitan Commander of Qicheng, then transferred to Metropolitan Commander of Helong—wherever he served he won renown. On returning to court he became Metropolitan Food Officer of the Central Capital. He died and was posthumously made General Who Campaigns East and Inspector of Ji, titled Marquis Kang.
39
子陵，襲爵。 後為赤城典作都將。 卒。
His son Ling inherited the fief — so the record runs. Later he was Metropolitan Director of Works at Chicheng — so the record runs. He passed away.
40
子狀，襲。 為中散。 卒。
His son Zhuang inherited — so the record runs. He was a Palace Scribe — so the record runs. He passed away.
41
子法，襲。 太和中，例降為伯。 世宗時，除懷荒鎮金城戍將。
His son Fa inherited — so the record runs. In the Taihe era, by precedent the rank was reduced to marquis — so the record runs. In Emperor Shizong's time he was made garrison commander of Huaihuang at Jincheng — so the record runs.
42
陵弟延，散騎常侍、左將軍、庫部尚書。 賜爵永寧侯。
Ling's younger brother Yan was Regular Attendant of the Cavalry, Left General, and Minister of the Storehouses — so the record runs. He was granted the title Marquis of Yongning — so the record runs.
43
延弟白澤，[2]年十一，遭母憂，居喪以孝聞。 世祖聞而嘉之。 長而好學博通，敏於當世。 高宗初，除中散，遷殿中曹給事中，甚見寵任，參預機密。
Yan's younger brother Bai Ze[2], at eleven, lost his mother; in mourning he was famed for filial piety. Emperor Shizu heard of it and commended him — so the record runs. Grown, he loved learning, was broadly versed, and keen in affairs of the day. At the beginning of Emperor Gaozong's reign he was made Palace Scribe, then Attendant of the Palace Bureau, greatly favored and trusted and drawn into secret counsel.
44
後蠕蠕犯塞，顯祖引見羣臣議之。 尚書僕射元目辰進曰：「若車駕親行，恐京師危懼，不如持重，固守自安。 虜懸軍深入，糧無繼運，以臣量之，自退不久，遣將追擊，破之必矣。」 白澤曰：「陛下欽明則天，比蹤前聖，而蠢爾荒愚，輕犯王略。 寇乃顛沛於遠圖，我將宴安於近毒，仰惟神略，則不然矣。 今若鑾輿親動，賊必望麾崩散，寧容仰挫神兵，坐而縱敵。 萬乘之尊，嬰城自守，進失可乘之機，退非無前之義，惟陛下留神。」 顯祖從之，遂大破虜眾。
Later the Rouran raided the border; Emperor Xianzu summoned the ministers to discuss it — so the record runs. Vice Director Yuan Muchén advanced and said: "If Your Majesty goes in person, the capital may panic; better to hold steady and keep to defense. The enemy has marched deep with no grain to follow; by my reckoning they will soon withdraw—send generals in pursuit and victory is certain." Bai Ze said: "Your Majesty, reverent and bright as Heaven, treads the tracks of former sages, yet these wild fools in their ignorance lightly violate the royal plan. The raiders toil in distant schemes while our generals feast amid nearby danger—measured by divine strategy, that cannot stand. If the imperial carriage moves now, the bandits will scatter at the banners—how could we let divine arms be checked and sit idle while the foe escapes? The honor of ten thousand chariots, walled up at home—advance and you lose a chance that can be seized; retreat and you fall short of pressing forward without rival. I beg Your Majesty to ponder this." Emperor Xianzu followed this counsel and utterly broke the barbarian host.
45
白澤本字鍾葵，顯祖賜名白澤，納其女為嬪。 出行雍州刺史，清心少欲，吏民安之。 顯祖詔諸監臨之官，所監治受羊一口、酒一斛者，罪至大辟，與者以從坐論。 糾告得尚書已下罪狀者，各隨所糾官輕重而授之。 白澤上表諫曰：「伏見詔書，禁尚書以下受禮者刑身，糾之者代職。 伏惟三載考績，黜陟幽明，斯乃不易之令軌，百王之通式。 今之都曹，古之公卿也，皆翊扶萬幾，讚徽百揆，風化藉此而平，治道由茲而穆。 且周之下士，尚有代耕，況皇朝貴仕，而服勤無報，豈所謂祖襲堯舜，憲章文武者乎？ 羊酒之罰，若行不已，臣恐姦人闚望，忠臣懈節。 而欲使事靜民安，治清務簡，至於委任責成，下民難辯。 [3]如臣愚量，請依律令舊法，稽同前典，班祿酬廉，首去亂羣，常刑無赦。 苟能如此，則升平之軌，期月可望，刑措之風，三年必致矣。」 顯祖納之。
Bai Ze's original name was Zhongkui; Emperor Xianzu bestowed the name Bai Ze and took his daughter into the inner palace as a consort — so the record runs. Sent out as Inspector of Yong Province, he kept his heart clear and his desires few; officials and people were at peace under him — so the record runs. Emperor Xianzu decreed that any supervising official who in his jurisdiction received one sheep or one jar of wine would face capital punishment, and the giver would be judged as an accomplice. Whoever reported and proved guilt among officials from the Masters of Writing downward would receive office according to the rank of the official denounced. Bai Ze submitted a memorial of remonstrance: "I have seen the edict that punishes Masters of Writing and below who accept gifts with death, and gives the accuser the denounced man's post. I reflect that the triennial review of achievement, demoting the obscure and promoting the clear, is an unchanging statute and the common pattern of a hundred kings. Today's Metropolitan Bureau is the public ministers of old; all assist in the myriad affairs and harmonize the hundred duties—through them custom is leveled and the way of rule made tranquil. Even Zhou's lowest officers still had substitute fields for their labor—how much more our honored offices, serving diligently yet unrewarded; can this be called inheriting Yao and Shun and taking Wen and Wu as one's model? If the penalty of sheep and wine goes on without end, I fear schemers will watch for their chance and loyal ministers will slacken. Yet you wish affairs quiet and the people at peace, government clear and tasks simple—yet in entrusting responsibility and demanding results, the lower people are hard put to argue. [3] By my foolish reckoning, I ask that the old laws be followed, checked against former canons, salaries paid to reward integrity, the disorderly crowd removed first, and ordinary punishments never pardoned. If this can be done, the track of ascending peace may be looked for within a month, and the wind of laying aside punishments will arrive in three years." Emperor Xianzu accepted it — so the record runs.
46
太和初，懷州民伊祁苟初三十餘人謀反，將殺刺史。 文明太后欲盡誅一城之民。 白澤諫曰：「臣聞上天愛物之生，明王重民之命，故殺一人而取天下，仁者不為。 且周書父子兄弟，罪不相及，今羣凶肆虐，轘裂誅盡，合城無辜，奈何極辟。 不誣十室，而況一州，或有忠焉，或有仁者，若淫刑濫及，殺忠與仁，斯乃西伯所以歎息於九侯，孔子所以回輪於河上。 伏惟聖德昭明殷鑒，水鏡前禮，[4]止迅烈之怒，抑雷霆之威，則溥天知幸矣。 昔厲防民口，卒滅宗姬； 文聽輿頌，終摧強楚。 願不以人廢言，留神省察。」 太后從之。 轉散騎常侍，遷殿中尚書。
At the beginning of Taihe, more than thirty men of Huai Province led by Yi Qigou plotted rebellion and meant to kill the inspector — so the record runs. Empress Dowager Wenming wished to execute the whole city's people — so the record runs. Bai Ze remonstrated: "I have heard that Heaven loves the life of things and the bright king values the people's lives; to kill one man and take the realm is not what the benevolent do. Moreover the Zhou Documents say father, son, and brothers do not share one another's guilt; now the ringleaders are torn apart and put to the sword, yet the whole city is innocent—how can extreme punishment reach so far? Do not wrong ten households—how much more a whole province; there may be loyal or benevolent men among them; if excessive punishment sweeps them in and kills the loyal and benevolent, this is why the Western Earl sighed over the Nine Marquises and Confucius turned his carriage at the river. I beg you to consider that sagely virtue is bright as a mirror and water-polished by former ritual,[4] restraining sudden wrath and checking thunder's might—then all under Heaven would know fortune. Of old King Li stopped the people's mouths and at last extinguished the house of Ji; (record). King Wen listened to cart-songs and in the end crushed mighty Chu — so the record runs. I wish you not reject words because of the speaker—leave your mind to examine them." The Empress Dowager followed this — so the record runs. He was transferred to Regular Attendant of the Cavalry and promoted to Director of the Palace Bureau — so the record runs.
47
太和五年卒，詔賜帛一千匹、粟三千石，遣侍御史營護喪事，冊贈鎮南將軍、相州刺史、廣平公，諡曰簡。
In the fifth year of Taihe he died; an edict granted a thousand bolts of silk and three thousand shi of grain, sent an attendant censor to oversee the funeral, and by patent enfeoffed him posthumously as General Who Guards the South, Inspector of Xiang, and Duke of Guangping, titled Jian.
48
長子倫，字天念。 年十餘歲，入侍左右。 稍遷護軍長史、員外常侍，轉大司農少卿、燕州大中正。
His eldest son Lun, styled Tiannian — so the record runs. Past ten, he attended at the ruler's side. He was gradually promoted to Chief Clerk of the Guard Army, Outer Attendant, then Vice Director of the Grand Granary and Grand Rectifier of Yan Province — so the record runs.
49
熙平中，蠕蠕主醜奴遣使來朝，抗敵國之書，不修臣敬。 朝議將依漢答匈奴故事，遣使報之。 倫表曰：
In the Xiping era the Rouran ruler Chounu sent envoys to court with a letter treating the state as an equal and without subject courtesy. Court discussion wished to follow the Han precedent in answering the Xiongnu and send envoys in reply — so the record runs. Lun submitted a memorial:
50
臣聞古之聖王，疆理物土，辨章要甸，荒遐之俗，政所不及。 故禮有壹見之文，書著羈縻之事。 太祖以神武之姿，聖明之略，經略帝圖，日有不暇，遂令竪子遊魂一方，亦由中國多虞，急諸華而緩夷狄也。 高祖光宅土中，業隆卜世，赫雷霆之威，振熊羆之旅，方役南轅，未遑北伐。 昔舊京烽起，虜使在郊，主上按劍，璽書不出。 世宗運籌帷幄，開境揚旌，衣裳所及，舟車萬里。 于時醜類款關，上亦述尊遺志。 今大明臨朝，澤及行葦，國富兵強，能言率職。 何憚而為之，何求而行此？ 往日蕭衍通敬求和，以誠肅未純，抑而不許。 先帝棄戎於前，陛下交夷於後，無乃上乖高祖之心，下違世宗之意？
I have heard that the sage kings of antiquity divided the land and regulated things, distinguished the chief districts, and distant wilds lay outside what government could reach. Therefore ritual has the text of a single audience, and the Documents record the matter of loose reins — so the record runs. The Founding Ancestor, with divine martial bearing and sagely design, laid out the imperial plan day by day without rest; thus a stripling's wandering soul was left on one side—also because the central lands had many troubles and urgency lay with the Hua while the Yi and Di could wait. Gaozu shed light on the central land and his enterprise towered for generations; he shook thunder's might and roused the bear-and-tiger hosts, yet was campaigning south and had no leisure to march north — so the record runs. Of old, when the old capital flared with alarm, barbarian envoys were at the suburbs; the sovereign gripped his sword and the imperial letter did not go forth — so the record runs. Emperor Shizong plotted within the tent and opened the borders, raising banners; wherever robe and cap reached, boat and cart ran ten thousand li — so the record runs. At that time the barbarians knocked at the gate, and the sovereign too followed the honored departed will. Now great brightness faces the court, grace reaches the traveling reed; the state is rich, the army strong, and those who can speak come to duty — so the record runs. What is there to fear in doing this, what is sought in acting thus? (record). In former days Xiao Yan sent envoys seeking peace with sincere respect; because his sincerity was not pure, it was suppressed and not granted — so the record runs. The former emperor cast off arms before, and Your Majesty treats the Yi after—will this not be above against Gaozu's heart and below against Shizong's intent? (record).
51
且虜雖慕德，亦來觀我，懼之以強，儻即歸附，示之以弱，窺覦或起，春秋所謂「以我卜也」。 又小人難近，夷狄無親，疏之則怨，狎之則侮，其所由來久矣。 是以高祖、世宗知其若此，來既莫逆，去又不追。 不一之義，於是乎在。 必其委贄玉帛之辰，屈膝蕃方之禮，則可豐其勞賄，籍以珍物。 至於王人遠役，銜命虜庭，優以匹敵之尊，加之相望之寵，恐徒生虜慢，無益聖朝。 假令選眾而舉，使乎稱職，資酈生之辯，騁終軍之辭，憑軾下齊，長纓繫越。 苟異曩時，猶為不願，而況極之以隆崇，申之以宴好，臣雖下愚，輒敢固執。
Moreover, though the barbarians admire virtue, they also come to observe us; awe them with strength and they may at once submit; show them weakness and covetous watching may arise—the Spring and Autumn Annals calls this "taking us as the augury." (record). Again, petty men are hard to approach and the Yi and Di have no kinship; keep them distant and they resent, draw them close and they insult—this has long been their way — so the record runs. Therefore Gaozu and Shizong knew it was so: when they came, they did not press intimacy; when they went, they did not pursue — so the record runs. The meaning of not making one rule lies here — so the record runs. Only when they come with tribute of jade and silks and bend the knee in the rites of the frontier may their labor be richly rewarded and their goods entered in the register — so the record runs. As for the king's man sent on distant service, bearing command in the barbarian court, honored as an equal and further given the favor of mutual regard—I fear it will only breed barbarian insolence and do the holy court no good. Suppose one chose the multitude and raised a worthy envoy, lent the eloquence of Li Yiji, let loose the words of Zhong Jun, leaned on the carriage rail to bring Qi down, and with a long tassel bound Yue—if it differed from former times, one would still be unwilling; how much less exalt them to utmost honor and extend them feast and friendship? I am low and foolish, yet still dare to hold firm.
52
若事不獲已，應頒制詔，示其上下之儀，宰臣致書，諷以歸順之道。 若聽受忠誨，明我話言，則萬乘之盛不失位於域中，天子之聲必籠罩於無外。 脫或未從，焉能損益。 徐舞干戚以招之，敷文德而懷遠。 如迷心不已，或肆犬羊，則當命辛李之將，勒衞霍之師，蕩定雲沙，掃清逋孽，飲馬瀚海之濱，鏤石燕然之上，開都護，置戊己，斯亦陛下之高功，不世之盛事。 如思按甲養民，務農安邊之術，經國之防，豈可以戎夷兼并，而遽虧典制。 將取笑於當時，貽醜於來葉。 昔文公請隧，襄后有言； 荊莊問鼎，王孫是抑。 以古方今，竊為陛下不取。 又陛下方欲禮神岷瀆，致禮衡山，登稽嶺，窺蒼梧，而反與夷虜之君，酋渠之長，結昆弟之忻，抗分庭之義，將何以瞰文命之遐景，迹重華之高風者哉？ 臣以為報使甚失如彼，不報甚得如此。 願留須臾之聽，察愚臣之言。
If the matter cannot be avoided, an imperial edict should show the etiquette of superior and inferior, and the chief minister should send a letter admonishing them in the way of returning to obedience. If Your Majesty will hear loyal counsel and weigh my words, the throne's majesty will keep its seat at the center of the world, and imperial renown will cover every border. If you will not, nothing is gained or lost by it. Let shield and axe be danced slowly to draw them in; let civil virtue spread until the far peoples come of themselves. If their hearts stay blind and they run wild as dogs and goats, then send generals in the mold of Xin and Li, hosts like Wei Qing and Huo Qubing — still the drifting sands, purge the fugitive rebels, water horses beside Hanhai, cut stone on Mount Yanran, open protectorates and set Wu-Ji garrisons. That too would be Your Majesty's high merit, a triumph without peer. If you mean to rest the armies, cherish the people, farm the fields, and seal the marches — the long walls of statecraft — how can you let barbarian absorption wreck the rites overnight? You will be laughed at in your own day and shamed in the histories to come. Long ago Duke Wen of Jin asked for the royal burial tunnel, and Duchess Wen of Jin refused him; King Zhuang of Chu inquired after the Nine Cauldrons, and Wangsun Man turned him back. Set the present beside those tales, and I dare say Your Majesty should not take this path. You are about to sacrifice to Min and the Fu River, pay rites at Mount Heng, climb Mount Ji, look toward Cangwu — yet you would clasp barbarian kings and alien chieftains as sworn brothers and meet them as equals under one roof. How then will you trace the wide horizon of Yu's civilizing work, or walk in the high footsteps of Emperor Shun? I hold that to answer their embassy as proposed would be a grave error; to refuse it would be the wiser course. I beg a moment of your ear to weigh this humble counsel.
53
不從。
The throne did not heed him.
54
出為後將軍、肆州刺史。 還朝，除燕州大中正。 孝莊初，遷太常少卿，不拜，轉大司農卿。 卒官。
He left court as rear general and inspector of Sizhou. Recalled to court, he was made chief rectifier of Yanzhou. When Emperor Xiaozhuang came to the throne he was offered vice minister of ceremonials but declined, and was shifted to minister of grand granaries. He died in his post.
55
倫弟恩，奉朝請，員外郎。
Lun's younger brother En served as court attendant and outer-office gentleman.
56
白澤弟庫，瀛州刺史、宜陽侯。
Baize's younger brother Ku was inspector of Yingzhou and Marquis of Yiyang.
57
庫長子蘭，累遷龍驤將軍，行光州事。
Ku's eldest son Lan rose step by step to dragon-charging general and acting governor of Guangzhou.
58
蘭弟修虎，都牧、駕部二曹給事中，上谷公，司農少卿。 奉使柔玄，察民疾苦。 遷平北將軍、燕州刺史。
Lan's younger brother Xiuhu was supervisor in the directorates of herds and transport, a given-office gentleman, Duke of Shanggu, and vice minister of grand granaries. He was sent to Rouxuan to inquire into the people's hardships. He was promoted to general who pacifies the north and inspector of Yanzhou.
59
度弟太，平西將軍、荊州刺史、俎陽侯。
Du's younger brother Tai was general who stabilizes the west, inspector of Jingzhou, and Marquis of Zuyang.
60
太弟那，寧遠將軍、雍城鎮將。
Tai's younger brother Na was general of pacifying the distance and garrison commandant of Yongcheng.
61
崔玄伯，清河東武城人也，名犯高祖廟諱，魏司空林六世孫也。 祖悅，仕石虎，官至司徒左長史、關內侯。 父潛，仕慕容暐，為黃門侍郎，並有才學之稱。 玄伯少有儁才，號曰冀州神童。
Cui Xuanbo came from Dongwucheng in Qinghe. His birth name broke the Founding Emperor's temple taboo; he was sixth in descent from Wei's minister of works, Cui Lin. His grandfather Yue served Shi Hu to chief clerk of the left in the secretariat and marquis within the passes. His father Qian served Murong Hui as gentleman at the yellow gate; father and son were both famed for scholarship. In youth Xuanbo showed rare brilliance and was called the prodigy of Ji Province.
62
苻融牧冀州，虛心禮敬，拜陽平公侍郎，領冀州從事，管征東記室。 出總庶事，入為賓友，眾務修理，處斷無滯。 苻堅聞而奇之，徵為太子舍人，辭以母疾不就，左遷著作佐郎。 苻丕牧冀州，為征東功曹。 太原郝軒，世名知人，稱玄伯有王佐之才，近代所未有也。 堅亡，避難於齊魯之間，為丁零翟釗及司馬昌明叛將張願所留縶。 郝軒歎曰：「斯人而遇斯時，不因扶搖之勢，而與鷃雀飛沉，豈不惜哉！」 慕容垂以為吏部郎、尚書左丞、高陽內史。 所歷著稱，立身雅正，與世不羣，雖在兵亂，猶勵志篤學，不以資產為意，妻子不免飢寒。
When Fu Rong held Ji Province he honored Xuanbo, made him gentleman of the Yangping duke's household, a Ji staff officer, and head of the eastern campaign secretariat. Whether he ran affairs in the field or sat as a companion at court, every task fell into order and no decision lagged. Fu Jian, hearing of him, summoned him as attendant to the heir apparent; Xuanbo pleaded his mother's illness and would not go, and was demoted to assistant in the office for compiling the dynastic record. When Fu Pi governed Ji Province, Xuanbo served as merit-recording staff officer on the eastern campaign — so the record runs. Hao Xuan of Taiyuan, whose house was famed for judging men, said Xuanbo had king-making talent such as the age had not seen. When Fu Jian's rule collapsed he fled between Qi and Lu and was held by the Dingling chieftain Zhai Zhao and by Zhang Yuan, rebel general of Sima Changming. Hao Xuan sighed: "A man like this in a time like this — without the wind that lifts him he must sink and rise with sparrows. What a waste!" Murong Chui then made him gentleman in the ministry of personnel, left deputy director of the secretariat, and inner magistrate of Gaoyang. In every post he won praise; upright and apart from the crowd, he kept to his books even in war and cared nothing for wealth — wife and children still knew hunger and cold.
63
太祖征慕容寶，次於常山，玄伯棄郡，東走海濱。 太祖素聞其名，遣騎追求，執送於軍門，引見與語，悅之，以為黃門侍郎，與張袞對總機要，草創制度。 時司馬德宗遣使來朝，太祖將報之，詔有司博議國號。 玄伯議曰：「三皇五帝之立號也，或因所生之土，或即封國之名。 故虞夏商周始皆諸侯，及聖德既隆，萬國宗戴，稱號隨本，不復更立。 唯商人屢徙，改號曰殷，然猶兼行，不廢始基之稱。 故詩云『殷商之旅』，又云『天命玄鳥，降而生商，宅殷土茫茫』。 此其義也。 昔漢高祖以漢王定三秦，滅強楚，故遂以漢為號。 國家雖統北方廣漠之土，逮于陛下，應運龍飛，雖曰舊邦，受命惟新，是以登國之初，改代曰魏。 又慕容永亦奉進魏土。 夫『魏』者大名，神州之上國，斯乃革命之徵驗，利見之玄符也。 臣愚以為宜號為魏。」 太祖從之。 於是四方賓王之貢，咸稱大魏矣。
When the Founding Emperor marched on Murong Bao and halted at Mount Chang, Xuanbo left his commandery and fled east toward the sea. The Founding Emperor had long known his name, sent riders to seize him and bring him to the army gate; they talked, and the sovereign was pleased. He made Xuanbo gentleman at the yellow gate; with Zhang Gun he shared the weight of state and drafted the founding institutions. Sima Dezong of Jin then sent envoys; the Founding Emperor meant to answer and ordered the ministries to debate the state's name at length. Xuanbo argued: "The Three August Ones and Five Emperors took their titles either from the land that bore them or from the state that first enfeoffed them. Yu, Xia, Shang, and Zhou all began as feudal lords; when sage virtue ripened and the world bowed to them, they kept the old name and did not choose another. Only the Shang moved their seat again and again and added the name Yin, yet they kept both names and did not cast off the first. Hence the Odes sing of 'the hosts of Yin-Shang' and also 'Heaven ordered the dark bird to descend and bear Shang, dwelling on the vast Yin lands.' That is the point. Han Gaozu, while still king of Han, settled the Three Qin and broke mighty Chu, and so took Han for his dynastic name. Our house holds the wide northern wastes; down to Your Majesty's dragon rise the land is old but the mandate is new — at the founding of the state Dai was renamed Wei. Murong Yong too offered up the Wei lands. Wei is a great name, the foremost state of the sacred middle kingdom — the sign of revolution, the omen of a mandate fulfilled. I humbly urge that the name be Wei." The Founding Emperor accepted it. From then on tribute from the four quarters hailed the state as Great Wei.
64
太祖幸鄴，歷問故事於玄伯，應對若流，太祖善之。 及車駕還京師，次於恒嶺。 太祖親登山頂，撫慰新民，適遇玄伯扶老母登嶺，太祖嘉之，賜以牛米。 因詔諸徙人不能自進者，給以車牛。 遷吏部尚書。 命有司制官爵，撰朝儀，協音樂，定律令，申科禁，玄伯總而裁之，以為永式。 及置八部大夫以擬八坐，玄伯通署三十六曹，如令僕統事，深為太祖所任。 勢傾朝廷。 而儉約自居，不營產業，家徒四壁； 出無車乘，朝晡步上； 母年七十，供養無重膳。 太祖嘗使人密察，聞而益重之，厚加饋賜。 時人亦或譏其過約，而玄伯為之踰甚。
At Ye the Founding Emperor questioned him at length on ancient matters; his answers ran clear as water and won the sovereign's praise. On the return to the capital the court halted at Heng Ridge. The Founding Emperor climbed the ridge to comfort the newly resettled people and came upon Xuanbo helping his aged mother up the slope; he commended him and gave him grain and cattle. He then ordered carriages and oxen for any migrant who could not walk the road on his own. Xuanbo was made minister of personnel. He was charged to shape ranks and offices, draft court ritual, tune the music, set laws and bans — Xuanbo trimmed the whole and fixed it as lasting pattern. When eight ministry grandees were set to mirror the eight excellencies, Xuanbo oversaw thirty-six bureaus at large, like a chief steward running the house, and the Founding Emperor relied on him deeply. His influence bent the court. Yet he lived sparely and sought no fortune — bare walls at home; he kept no carriage and walked to court morning and night; his mother was seventy and he could not set a full table before her. The Founding Emperor once had him watched in secret; learning this he prized him the more and sent rich gifts. Some mocked his harsh thrift, but Xuanbo only grew stricter.
65
太祖常引問古今舊事，王者制度，治世之則。 玄伯陳古人制作之體，及明君賢臣，往代廢興之由，甚合上意。 未嘗謇諤忤旨，亦不諂諛苟容。 及太祖季年，大臣多犯威怒，玄伯獨無譴者，由於此也。 太祖曾引玄伯講漢書，至婁敬說漢祖欲以魯元公主妻匈奴，善之，嗟歎者良久。 是以諸公主皆釐降于賓附之國，朝臣子弟，雖名族美彥，不得尚焉。 尚書職罷，賜玄伯爵白馬侯，加周兵將軍，與舊功臣庾岳、奚斤等同班，而信寵過之。
The Founding Emperor often asked him of ancient ways, of enlightened kings and their institutions, of how to settle an age. Xuanbo laid out how the ancients built government, how sage rulers and worthy ministers rose and fell — and the sovereign's mind was well met. He never spoke blunt contradiction, nor fawned for easy grace. In the Founding Emperor's last years many great ministers drew rebuke; Xuanbo alone was never faulted — and that is why. Once the Founding Emperor had him expound the Han Records; when they came to Lou Jing urging Gaozu to marry the Princess of Lu to the Xiongnu, he was pleased and sighed long. Henceforth princesses were sent in marriage to tributary states, and even sons of great houses of shining name could not wed them. When the directorate of the masters of writing was abolished he enfeoffed Xuanbo as Marquis of Baima and made him general of elite troops of Zhou, ranking with old meritocrats Yu Yue and Xi Jin — yet favor ran deeper still.
66
太祖崩，太宗未即位，清河王紹聞人心不安，大出財帛班賜朝士。 玄伯獨不受。 太宗即位，命玄伯居門下，虛己訪問，以不受紹財帛，特賜帛二百匹。 長孫嵩已下咸愧焉。 詔遣使者巡行郡國，糾察守宰不如法者，令玄伯與宜都公穆觀等按之，太宗稱其平當。 又詔玄伯與長孫嵩等坐朝堂，決刑獄。
When the Founding Emperor died and Taizong had not yet been enthroned, Prince of Qinghe Shao, sensing unrest, scattered wealth and silk among the court. Xuanbo alone refused. When Taizong took the throne he kept Xuanbo at the gate department and sought his counsel with open humility; because he had refused Shao's gifts, he was specially granted two hundred bolts of silk. Changsun Song and the rest were shamed. An edict sent envoys through commanderies and kingdoms to probe lawless administrators; Xuanbo was ordered with Duke of Yidu Mu Guan and others to judge them, and Taizong praised their fairness. Again he ordered Xuanbo with Changsun Song and others to sit in the hall of court and decide criminal cases.
67
太宗以郡國豪右，大為民蠹，乃優詔徵之，民多戀本，而長吏逼遣。 於是輕薄少年，因相扇動，所在聚結。 西河、建興盜賊並起，守宰討之不能禁。 太宗乃引玄伯及北新侯安同、壽光侯叔孫建、元城侯元屈等問曰：「前以兇俠亂民，故徵之京師，而守宰失於綏撫，令有逃竄。 今犯者已多，不可悉誅，朕欲大赦以紓之，卿等以為何如？」 屈對曰：「民逃不罪而反赦之，似若有求於下，不如先誅首惡，赦其黨類。」 玄伯曰：「王者治天下，以安民為本，何能顧小曲直也。 譬琴瑟不調，必改而更張； 法度不平，亦須蕩而更制。 夫赦雖非正道，而可以權行，自秦漢以來，莫不相踵。 屈言先誅後赦，會於不能兩去，孰與一行便定。 若其赦而不改者，誅之不晚。」 太宗從之。
Taizong, seeing that great clans in the commanderies preyed on the people, issued a gracious summons to bring them to court; many clung to home while their magistrates drove them on. Then idle young men stirred one another and gathered wherever they could. Brigands rose in Xihe and Jianxing, and local chiefs could not put them down. Taizong then called Xuanbo, Duke of Beixin An Tong, Marquis of Shouguang Sun Jian, and Marquis of Yuancheng Yuan Qu and asked: "We summoned violent men to the capital because they troubled the people, yet the magistrates failed to soothe them and many fled. Now the guilty are many and cannot all be killed; I wish a great amnesty to ease the matter — what do you say?" Qu answered: "If men flee though guiltless and you pardon all the same, it will look as if the throne begs its subjects. Better execute the ringleaders first and pardon the rest." Xuanbo said: "A king rules the world with the people's peace as his root — he cannot fuss over small twists of right and wrong. When zither and lute are out of tune, they must be restrung; when laws lean awry, they must be cleared away and set anew. Amnesty is not the straight road, yet may serve as expedient; from Qin and Han on none failed to use it in turn. Qu's plan — kill first, pardon after — cannot do both; better one stroke to settle the affair. If after pardon they still do not mend, execution will not be too late." Taizong took his counsel.
68
神瑞初，詔玄伯與南平公嵩等坐止車門右，聽理萬機事。 并州胡數萬家南掠河內，遣將軍公孫表等率師討之，敗績。 太宗問羣臣曰：「胡寇縱暴，人眾不少，表等已不能制。 若不早誅，則良民大受其禍。 今既盛秋，不可為此小盜，而復興眾以廢民業。 將若之何？」 玄伯對曰：「表等諸軍，不為不足，但失於處分，故使小盜假息耳。 胡眾雖盛，而無猛健主將，所謂千奴共一膽也。 宜得大將軍為胡所服信者，將數百騎，就攝表軍以討之，賊聞之，必望風震怖。 壽光侯建，前在并州，號為威猛，胡醜畏服，諸將莫及。」 太宗從之，遂平胡寇。 尋拜天部大人，進爵為公。
At the opening of the Shenrui era he ordered Xuanbo with Duke of Nanping Song and others to sit right of the carriage-halting gate and handle the weight of state. Tens of thousands of Hu households in Bingzhou raided south into the inner riverlands; General Gongsun Biao and others marched against them and were beaten. Taizong asked the ministers: "The Hu run wild and their numbers are great; Biao and his command cannot hold them. If we do not strike soon the good people will suffer deeply. Yet it is deep autumn — we cannot for small bandits raise great armies again and ruin the people's harvest. What is to be done? (record)." Xuanbo answered: "Biao's forces were not too few; they failed in deployment, and so the small bandits caught their breath. Though the Hu are many, they have no bold master to lead them — as the proverb says, a thousand slaves share one gut. Pick a great general the Hu fear and obey, give him a few hundred riders, and send him to take Biao's army in hand — when the bandits hear of it they will break at the mere rumor. Marquis of Shouguang Sun Jian had once held Bingzhou, famed as fierce and martial; the Hu feared him and bowed, and no general could stand beside him." Taizong took his counsel and pacified the Hu raiders. Soon he was made chief of the celestial department and raised to duke.
69
泰常三年夏，玄伯病篤，太宗遣侍中宜都公穆觀就受遺言，更遣侍臣問疾，一夜數返。 及卒，下詔痛惜，贈司空，諡文貞公。 喪禮一依安城王叔孫俊故事。 詔羣臣及附國渠帥皆會葬，自親王以外，盡令拜送。 太和中，高祖追錄先朝功臣，以玄伯配饗廟庭。
In the third year of Taichang, summer, Xuanbo's illness turned grave; Taizong sent Attendant-in-Ordinary Duke of Yidu Mu Guan to take his last words and sent court attendants to ask after him again and again through the night. When he died, the throne mourned him in edict, posthumously made him minister of works, and titled him Duke Wenzhen. His funeral followed wholly the precedent of Prince of Ancheng Shusun Jun. An edict gathered every minister and attached-state chieftain to the burial; save for princes of the blood, all were made to bow and escort the bier. In the Taihe era Emperor Gaozu, recording ministers of the former court, had Xuanbo given joint sacrifice in the ancestral hall.
70
玄伯自非朝廷文誥，四方書檄，初不染翰，故世無遺文。 尤善草隸行押之書，為世摹楷。 玄伯祖悅與范陽盧諶，並以博藝著名。 諶法鍾繇，悅法衞瓘，而俱習索靖之草，皆盡其妙。 諶傳子偃，偃傳子邈； 悅傳子潛，潛傳玄伯。 世不替業。 故魏初重崔盧之書。 又玄伯之行押，特盡精巧，而不見遺迹。 子浩，襲爵，別有傳。
Unless for court edicts or letters to the four quarters, Xuanbo never took up the brush — and so no writings of his survive. He excelled above all in cursive, clerical, running, and draft script, and the age copied him as its model. Xuanbo's grandfather Yue and Fanyang's Lu Chen were both famed for wide learning in the arts. Chen took Zhong You as his model, Yue took Wei Guan, and both studied Su Jing's cursive until each reached its utmost subtlety. Chen passed the art to his son Yan, Yan to his son Miao; Yue passed it to his son Qian, Qian to Xuanbo — so the record runs. The craft never failed from father to son. Hence in early Wei the scripts of the Cui and Lu houses were held in highest esteem. Xuanbo's running-draft hand too was wrought to rare refinement, yet no trace of it remains. His son Hao inherited the title and has a separate biography.
71
次子簡，字沖亮，[5]一名覽。 好學，少以善書知名。 太祖初，[6]歷位中書侍郎、征虜將軍，爵五等侯，參著作事。 卒。
The second son, Jian, courtesy name Chongliang,[5] was also called Lan. He loved learning and in youth was famed for fine calligraphy — so the record runs. At the opening of the Founding Emperor's reign[6] he rose step by step to secretariat gentleman, general who campaigns the barbarians, five-rank marquis, and a post compiling the dynastic record. He passed away.
72
簡弟恬，字叔玄，小名白。 歷給事中，賜爵繹幕子。 出為上黨太守、平南將軍、豫州刺史。 進爵陽武侯。 坐浩伏誅。
Jian's younger brother Tian, courtesy name Shuxuan, childhood name Bai — so the record runs. He rose through attendant at court audience and was granted the title baron of Yimu. He went out as administrator of Shangdang, general who pacifies the south, and inspector of Yuzhou. He was raised to marquis of Yangwu. He was executed when Hao fell.
73
始玄伯因苻堅亂，欲避地江南，於泰山為張願所獲，本圖不遂，乃作詩以自傷，而不行於時，蓋懼罪也。 及浩誅，中書侍郎高允受敕收浩家，始見此詩。 允知其意，允孫綽錄於允集。 始玄伯父潛為兄渾誄手筆草本，[7]延昌初，著作佐郎王遵業買書於市而遇得之。 計誄至今，將二百載，寶其書迹，深藏祕之。 武定中，遵業子松年以遺黃門郎崔季舒，人多摹搨之。 左光祿大夫姚元標以工書知名於時，見潛書，謂為過於己也。
Early on, in the chaos of Fu Jian's fall, Xuanbo meant to flee south across the Yangtze; on Mount Tai Zhang Yuan seized him. The plan failed, and he wrote a poem to grieve himself, yet dared not let it circulate, fearing blame. When Hao was put to death, secretariat gentleman Gao Yun, ordered to seize Hao's household, first saw this poem. Yun knew what it meant; Yun's grandson Chuo copied it into Yun's collected works. Long before, Xuanbo's uncle Qian had penned in his own hand the draft eulogy for his brother Hun;[7] at the opening of the Yanchang era, assistant in the office for compiling the dynastic record Wang Zunye bought books in the market and found it. Nearly two hundred years had passed since the eulogy was written; he treasured the script and hid it away. In the Wuding era Zunye's son Songnian gave it to attendant at the yellow gate Cui Jishu, and many took copies. Left grand master of the bright hall Yao Yuanbiao, famed in his day for calligraphy, saw Qian's hand and said it surpassed his own.
74
玄伯弟徽，字玄猷。 少有文才，與勃海高演俱知名。 初徵相州別駕、中書侍郎，稍遷祕書監，賜爵貝丘侯，加龍驤將軍。 樂安王範鎮長安，世祖以範年少，而三秦民夷，恃險多變，乃選忠清舊德之士，與範俱鎮。 以徽為散騎常侍、督雍涇梁秦四州諸軍事、平西將軍、副將，行樂安王傅，進爵濟南公。 徽為政務存大體，不親小事。 性好人倫。 引接賓客，或談及平生，或講論道義，誨誘後進，終日不止。 以疾徵還京師。 真君四年卒，諡曰元公。 士類無不歎惜。
Xuanbo's younger brother Hui, courtesy name Xuanyou — so the record runs. In youth he had literary gift and shared renown with Bohai's Gao Yan. At first he was summoned as vice prefect of Xiangzhou and secretariat gentleman; he rose by degrees to director of the secretariat, was granted marquis of Beiqiu, and made dragon-charging general. Prince of Le'an Fan held Chang'an; Emperor Shizu, seeing Fan was young and that Han and alien alike in the three Qin leaned on rough country and were quick to turn, chose men of old loyalty and clear virtue to stand guard with him. Hui was made regular attendant of the unimpeded cavalry, overseer of military affairs in Yong, Jing, Liang, and Qin, general who pacifies the west, deputy commander, acting tutor to the prince of Le'an, and raised to duke of Jinan. In office he kept to the great outline and did not fuss over small things. By nature he loved the weave of human ties. When he received guests he might speak of days gone by or argue the way of right, guiding the young without cease from dawn to dusk. Illness summoned him back to the capital. He died in the fourth year of Zhenjun and was posthumously titled Duke Yuan. Men of standing all sighed for him.
75
時清河崔寬，字景仁。 祖彤，隨晉南陽王保避地隴右，遂仕於沮渠、李暠。 父剖，字伯宗，每慷慨有懷東土，常歎曰：「風雨如晦，鷄鳴不已，吾所庶幾。」 及世祖西巡，剖乃總率同義，使寬送款。 世祖嘉之，拜寬威遠將軍、岐陽令，賜爵沂水男。 遣使與寬俱西，撫慰初附。 徵剖詣京師，未至，病卒。 高宗以剖誠著先朝，贈散騎常侍、鎮西將軍、涼州刺史、武陵公，諡曰元。
At that time Cui Kuan of Qinghe, courtesy name Jingren — so the record runs. His grandfather Tong, following Jin's Prince of Nanyang Bao, fled to Longyou and then served Juqu and Li Gao — so the record runs. His father Pou, courtesy name Bozong, burned with longing for the eastern lands and often sighed: "Wind and rain dark, the cock crows without cease — that is what I hope for." When Emperor Shizu toured west, Pou gathered men of shared intent and sent Kuan to offer allegiance. The emperor commended him, made Kuan general of awesome distance and magistrate of Qiyang, and granted him baron of Yishui. He sent an envoy west with Kuan to soothe the newly submitted. Pou was summoned to the capital but fell ill and died on the road. Emperor Gaozong, because Pou's loyalty had shone in the former reign, posthumously made him regular attendant of the unimpeded cavalry, general who stabilizes the west, inspector of Liangzhou, duke of Wuling, with posthumous title Yuan.
76
寬還京，拜散騎侍郎、寧朔將軍、安國子。 未幾，出為弘農太守。 初，寬之通款也，見司徒浩。 浩與相齒次，厚存撫之。 及浩誅，以遠來疏族，獨得不坐。 遂家于武城，居司空林舊墟，以一子繼浩弟覽妻封氏，[8]相奉如親。 寬後襲爵武陵公、鎮西將軍，拜陝城鎮將。 二崤地嶮，[9]民多寇劫。 寬性滑稽，誘接豪右、宿盜魁帥，與相交結，傾衿待遇，不逆微細。 是以能得民庶忻心，莫不感其意氣。 時官無祿力，唯取給於民。 寬善撫納，招致禮遺，大有受取，而與之者無恨。 又弘農出漆蠟竹木之饒，路與南通，販貿來往。 家產豐富，而百姓樂之。 諸鎮之中，號為能政。 及解鎮還京，民多追戀，詣闕上章者三百餘人。 書奏，高祖嘉之。 延興二年卒，年六十三，遺命薄葬，斂以時服。
Kuan returned to court as secretariat gentleman, general who pacifies the north, and baron of Anguo. Before long he went out as administrator of Hongnong. When Kuan first offered allegiance he met minister of works Cui Hao. Hao was near his age and treated him with deep kindness. When Hao was put to death, as a distant kinsman newly come from the west he alone escaped punishment. He then settled in Wucheng on the old grove of the minister of works and had one son take as wife Hao's younger brother Lan's widow, nee Feng,[8] tending one another as kin. Later Kuan inherited duke of Wuling and general who stabilizes the west and was made garrison commander of Shancheng. The two Xiao passes were steep country;[9] the people were much given to robbery. Kuan was witty by nature; he drew in local magnates and chiefs of old bandit bands, befriended them, poured out his heart, and did not spurn even small courtesies. Thus he won the people's glad hearts, and none failed to answer his spirit. At the time officials had no salary and lived only on what the people gave. Kuan was skilled at soothing them and drawing gifts of courtesy; he took much, yet those who gave bore no grudge. Moreover Hongnong was rich in lacquer, wax, bamboo, and timber, and the roads ran south with merchants. His house grew rich, yet the common people were glad of it. Among the garrisons he was called able in government — so the record runs. When he left the garrison for the capital, many followed in longing, and more than three hundred brought memorials to the palace gates. When the memorials were read, Emperor Gaozu commended him. He died in the second year of Yanxing, aged sixty-three, leaving orders for a plain burial in the clothes he wore day to day.
77
長子敞，字公世，襲爵，例降為侯。 自謁者僕射，出為平原相。 敞性狷急，與刺史楊椿迭相表列，敞坐免官。 世宗初，為鉅鹿太守。 弟朏之逆，敞為黃木軍主韓文殊所藏。 其家悉見籍沒，唯敞妻李氏，以公主之甥，自隨奴婢田宅二百餘口得免。 正光中，普釋禁錮，敞復爵齊郡侯，拜龍驤將軍、中散大夫。 孝昌中，趙郡太守。 卒。
His eldest son Chang, courtesy name Gongshi, inherited the title; by precedent the rank was reduced to marquis — so the record runs. From attendant-in-ordinary of the masters of writing he went out as chancellor of Pingyuan. Chang was harsh and impatient; he and inspector Yang Chun repeatedly denounced each other in memorials, and Chang was dismissed. At the opening of Emperor Shizong's reign he was made administrator of Julu. When his younger brother Fei rebelled, Chang was hidden by Huangmu army commander Han Wenshu. His whole household was registered and seized; only Chang's wife, Lady Li, as a princess's niece, kept two hundred-odd slaves with their fields and houses and was spared. In the Zhenguang era a general pardon lifted the ban; Chang recovered marquis of Qijun and was made dragon-charging general and palace scribe. In the Xiaochang era he was administrator of Zhao commandery. He passed away.
78
敞弟鍾，字公祿，奉朝請。 弟朏之逆，以出後被原。 歷尚書郎、國子博士、司徒右長史、征北將軍、金紫光祿大夫、冀州大中正。 敞亡後，鍾貪其財物，誣敞息子積等三人，非兄之胤，辭訴累歲，人士嫉之。 尒朱世隆為尚書令，奏除其官，終身不齒。
Chang's younger brother Zhong, courtesy name Gonglu, was a court gentleman in attendance — so the record runs. When Fei rebelled, because he had been given in adoption to another line he was pardoned — so the record runs. He rose through secretariat gentleman, erudite of the imperial academy, right chief clerk of the ministry of personnel, general who campaigns north, grand master of the golden seal and purple ribbon, and chief rectifier of Jizhou. After Chang died, Zhong coveted his goods and accused Chang's sons Ji and two others of not being his brother's blood; the suit dragged on for years, and gentlemen despised him. Erzhu Shilong, as director of the masters of writing, memorialized to strip him of office and bar him for life from the rolls.
79
朏好學，有文才。 歷治書侍御史、京兆王愉錄事參軍。 與愉同逆，伏法。
Fei loved learning and had literary gift. He rose through supervising secretary and recorder under Prince of Jingzhao Yu. He joined Yu in rebellion and was executed — so the record runs.
80
衡弟恕，尚書郎。
Heng's younger brother Shu was a secretariat gentleman.
81
又有崔模，字思範，魏中尉崔琰兄霸後也。 父遵，慕容垂少府卿。 叔父整，廣川太守。 模，慕容熙末南渡河外，為劉裕滎陽太守，戍虎牢。 神䴥中，平滑臺，模歸降。 後賜爵武陵男，加寧遠將軍。
There was also Cui Mo, courtesy name Sifan, descended from Wei's commandant of the capital Cui Yan's elder brother Ba. His father Zun was junior chamberlain under Murong Chui. His uncle Zheng was administrator of Guangchuan. Mo, at the end of Murong Xi's reign, crossed south of the Yellow River and served Liu Yu as administrator of Xingyang, garrisoning Hulao. In the Shenqi era Pingtai was pacified and Mo surrendered — so the record runs. Later he was granted baron of Wuling and made general who extends far.
82
始模在南妻張氏，有二子，沖智、季柔。 模至京師，賜妻金氏，生子幼度。 沖智等以父隔遠，乃聚貨物，間託關境，規贖模歸。 其母張氏每謂之曰：「汝父性懷，本自無決，必不能來也。」 行人遂以財賄至都，當竊模還。 模果顧念幼度等，指幼度謂行人曰：「吾何忍捨此輩，令坐致刑辱，當為爾取一人，使名位不減於我。」 乃授以申謨。 謨，劉義隆東郡太守，與朱脩之守滑臺，神䴥中，被執入國，俱得賜妻，生子靈度。 申謨聞此，乃棄妻子，走還江外。 靈度刑為閹人。
At first, while Mo was in the south, his wife Lady Zhang bore two sons, Chongzhi and Jirou. When Mo reached the capital he was given Lady Jin as wife, and she bore a son, Youdu. Chongzhi and the others, their father far away, gathered goods and through men at the border plotted to ransom Mo home. Their mother Lady Zhang would often tell them: "Your father's heart is timid and by nature he lacks resolve — he will surely not come." The envoy then brought bribes to the capital to steal Mo away. Mo did think of Youdu and the rest; he pointed at Youdu and told the envoy: "How could I abandon them to sit and suffer shame and punishment? I will find you one man whose name and rank will not fall below mine." He then handed over Shen Mo. Shen Mo had been Liu Yilong's prefect of Dongjun; with Zhu Xiuzhi he held Huatai. In the Shengui era both were taken captive and brought into Wei; each was given a wife by the court, and Mo had a son named Lingdu. When Shen Mo heard of it, he abandoned wife and children and fled south of the river. Lingdu was castrated and made a palace eunuch.
83
模長者篤厚，不營榮利，頗為崔浩輕侮，而守志確然，不為浩屈。 與崔賾相親，[11]往來如家。 和平中卒。
Mo was a generous, steadfast man who sought neither glory nor gain. Cui Hao often slighted him, yet he held firm to his principles and would not bend to Hao. He was close to Cui Lin; [11] they visited back and forth as though of one family. He died during the Heping era.
84
皇興初，幼度隨慕容白曜為將。 時季柔為崔道固長史，帶濟南太守。 城將降，先馳馬赴白曜軍，幼度亦豫令左右覘迎之，而差互不相值，為亂兵所害。
At the opening of Huangxing, Youdu served under Murong Baiyao as a commander. At that time Jirou was chief clerk to Cui Daogu and also acted as prefect of Jinan. As the city was about to surrender, Jirou rode ahead to Baiyao's camp; Youdu too had men posted to meet him, but their paths missed and Jirou was killed in the turmoil.
85
初，真君末，車駕南克鄒山，模兄協子邪利為劉義隆魯郡太守，以郡降，賜爵臨淄子，拜廣寧太守，卒於郡。 邪利二子。 懷順以父入國，故不出仕。 及國家克青州，懷順迎邪利喪，還葬青州。 次恩，累政州主簿，至刺史陸龍成時謀叛，聚城北高柳村，將攻州城，龍成討斬之。 懷順與冲智子徽伯等俱奔江外。
Earlier, in late Zhenjun, the emperor marched south and took Zou Mountain. Xieli, son of Mo's brother Xie, was Liu Yilong's prefect of Lu; he surrendered the commandery, received the title Marquis of Linzi, was made prefect of Guangning, and died in that post. Xieli had two sons — so the record runs. Huaishun, whose father had come into Wei, did not enter government service. When Wei took Qingzhou, Huaishun brought Xieli's coffin home and buried him there. The younger son Ci'en rose through repeated terms as commandery chief clerk; under Inspector Lu Longcheng he rebelled, mustered men at Gaoliu north of the city, and was about to storm the prefectural seat when Longcheng attacked and killed him. Huaishun fled south of the river with Chongzhi's son Huibo and others.
86
始邪利與二女俱入國，一女為張氏婦，一女為劉休賓妻，生子文華。 [12]邪利後生庶子法始。 邪利亡後，二女侮法始庶孽，常欲令文華襲外祖爵臨淄子。 法始恨忿，無所不為。 後懷順歸化迎喪，始與法始相見。 未幾，法始得襲爵，傳至孫延族，正光中，為冠軍將軍、中散大夫。
When Xieli first came into Wei, his two daughters came with him; one married into the Zhang house, one became Liu Xiubin's wife and bore a son named Wenhua. [12] Xieli later had a son by a concubine, Fashi. After Xieli's death the two daughters belittled the concubine-born Fashi and kept pressing for Wenhua to inherit their grandfather's title of Marquis of Linzi. Fashi burned with resentment and stopped at nothing. When Huaishun later returned to Wei to bring back the coffin, he and Fashi met for the first time. Before long Fashi succeeded to the title; the line reached his grandson Yanzu, who in the Zhengguang era was champion general and palace scattered grandee.
87
季柔孫睦，正光三年，自郁州歸降。
Jirou's grandson Mu, in the third year of Zhengguang, came back from Yuzhou and surrendered.
88
模孫景茂，冀州別駕、青州長史、隨郡太守、武城男。
Mo's grandson Jingmao served as vice-prefect of Jizhou, chief clerk of Qingzhou, prefect of Suijun, and Baron of Wucheng.
89
景茂子彥遠，襲。 武定中，北徐州司馬。
Jingmao's son Yanyuan succeeded. In the Wuding era he was vice marshal of northern Xuzhou — so the record runs.
90
始睦來降也，[13]與高陵張炅、郭縕俱至。 陵，蕭寶夤西討開府西閣祭酒，寶夤反，陵其黃門侍郎。 關中平，還洛，歷尚書郎、定州別駕。 齊文襄王作相，以陵頗有文學，引參賓客。 終於征南將軍、司空長史。 贈驃騎大將軍、大司農卿。
When Mu first surrendered, [13] he came with Zhang Ling of Gaoling and Guo Yun. Ling had been western-pavilion libationer on Xiao Baoyin's western campaign staff; when Baoyin rebelled, Ling became his yellow-gate attendant. After Guanzhong was pacified he returned to Luoyang and served as palace gentleman and vice-prefect of Dingzhou. When Duke Wen of Qi took power as chancellor, he took Ling into his entourage for his literary gifts. He ended as general who pacifies the south and chief clerk of the ministry of works. Posthumously he was made grand general of agile cavalry and minister of grand granaries.
91
顯祖時，有崔道固，字季堅，琰八世孫也。 祖瓊，慕容垂車騎屬。 父輯，南徙青州，為泰山太守。 道固賤出，嫡母兄攸之、目連等輕侮之。 輯謂攸之曰：「此兒姿識如此，或能興人門戶，汝等何以輕之？」 攸之等遇之彌薄，略無兄弟之禮。
In Xianzu's reign there was Cui Daogu, styled Jijian, eighth in descent from Cui Yan. His grandfather Qiong was chariot-and-horse attache to Murong Chui — so the record runs. His father Ji moved south to Qingzhou and served as prefect of Taishan. Daogu was a son by a concubine; his elder half-brothers Youzhi, Mulian, and the rest looked down on him. Ji told Youzhi: "This boy's talent and judgment are such that he may yet lift our house — why do you treat him so lightly?" Youzhi and the others treated him all the more coldly, with hardly a trace of brotherly regard.
92
時劉義隆子駿為徐兗二州刺史，得辟他州民為從事。 輯乃資給道固，令其南仕。 既至彭城，駿以為從事。 道固美形容，善舉止，便弓馬，好武事，駿稍嘉之。 會青州刺史新除，過彭城，駿謂之曰：「崔道固人身如此，豈可為寒士至老乎？ 而世人以其偏庶，便相陵侮，可為歎息。」 青州刺史至州，辟為主簿，轉治中。 後為義隆諸子參軍事，被遣向青州募人。 長史已下皆詣道固，道固諸兄等逼道固所生母自致酒炙於客前。 道固驚起接取，謂客曰：「家無人力，老親自執劬勞。」 諸客皆知其兄弟所作，咸起拜謝其母。 母謂道固曰：「我賤不足以報貴賓，汝宜答拜。」 諸客皆歎美道固母子，賤其諸兄。
At that time Liu Yilong's son Jun held Xu and Yan provinces and could take men from other regions onto his staff. Ji supplied Daogu with funds and sent him south to enter service. On reaching Pengcheng, Jun made him a staff attendant. Daogu was handsome and carried himself well, skilled in archery and horsemanship and fond of military affairs; Jun came to think well of him. As the new Qingzhou inspector passed through Pengcheng, Jun said to him: "A man like Cui Daogu — how can he waste his life as a nobody? Yet the world, seeing him as a concubine's son, heaps insult on him — it is a pity." When the Qingzhou inspector took office, he made Daogu chief clerk and later chief administrator. He later served on the staffs of Yilong's sons and was sent to Qingzhou to raise troops. The chief clerk and all below came to Daogu; his brothers forced his birth mother to serve wine and food to the guests with her own hands. Daogu started up in alarm and took the tray from her, telling the guests: "We have no household staff; my mother herself does the hard work." The guests all knew what his brothers had done and rose to bow to his mother. His mother told Daogu: "I am not fit to receive such guests — you must bow in my place." The guests praised mother and son and despised the brothers.
93
後為寧朔將軍、冀州刺史，移鎮歷城。 劉彧既殺子業自立，徐州刺史薛安都與道固等舉兵推立子業弟子勛。 子勛敗，乃遣表歸誠，顯祖以為安南將軍、南冀州刺史、清河公。 劉彧遣說道固，以為前將軍、徐州刺史。 復叛受彧命。
Later he was made general who calms the north and inspector of Jizhou and shifted his command to Licheng. After Liu Yu killed Ziye and seized the throne, Xuzhou inspector Xue Andu joined Daogu and others in raising troops for Ziye's nephew Zixun. When Zixun fell, Daogu sent in his allegiance; Xianzu made him general who pacifies the south, southern Jizhou inspector, and Duke of Qinghe. Liu Yu sent envoys to win him back, offering the posts of former general and Xuzhou inspector. He rebelled again and took Yu's orders.
94
皇興初，顯祖詔征南大將軍慕容白曜固築長圍以守之。 及白曜攻其城東郭，道固面縛請罪，表曰：「臣資生南境，限隔大化，本朝不以卑末，委授藩任。 而劉氏蕭牆內侮，懼貽大戮，前遣崔啟之奉表歸誠，幸蒙陛下過垂矜納，并賜爵寵，慶佩罔極，應奔闕庭。 但劉彧尋續遣使，恕臣百死。 愚以世奉劉氏，深愆蒙宥，若猶違背，則是不忠於本朝，而欲求忠於大魏。 雖曰希生，懼大魏之所不許。 是用迷回，孤負天日，冒萬死之艱，固執拒守。 僕臣白曜，[14]振曜威靈，漸經二載，大將臨城，以今月十四日，臣東郭失守，於臣款彧之誠，庶可以彰於大魏矣。 臣勢窮力屈，以十七日面縛請罪，白曜奉宣皇恩，恕臣生命。 斯實陛下起臣死尸，肉臣朽骨，天地造物所不能行，而陛下育之。 雖虞舜之貸有苗，姬文之宥崇壘，方之聖澤，未足以喻。 既未奉朝旨，無由親馳道路，謹遣大息景徽，束骸歸闕，伏聽刑斧。」
At the opening of Huangxing, Xianzu ordered southern campaign grand general Murong Baiyao to tighten the siege around him. When Baiyao assaulted the eastern suburb of the city, Daogu came out bound and pleaded guilty, writing: "I was born in the south, cut off from your transforming rule; yet your court, though I was low-born, gave me a frontier command. When the Liu house turned on itself I feared execution; I sent Cui Qizhi with a memorial of surrender, and Your Majesty in extraordinary mercy accepted me and granted rank — joy beyond measure — and I should have hurried to court. But Liu Yu soon sent envoys again and spared me from a hundred deaths. Foolishly I reasoned that, having served Liu for generations and already been spared after grave offense, to rebel again would dishonor your court even as I sought favor from Great Wei. One may call that clinging to life, but I feared Wei would not allow it. So I wavered, turned my back on heaven's light, risked death ten thousand times, and held the city in stubborn defiance. Your servant Baiyao, [14] has shown his awful might; for nearly two years his great army has sat before the walls — on the fourteenth of this month my eastern suburb fell — and by that, I trust, my loyalty to Liu Yu stands clear before Great Wei. My strength was spent; on the seventeenth I came out bound to plead guilty, and Baiyao, executing imperial grace, spared my life. This is truly Your Majesty raising the dead and putting flesh on dry bones — what heaven and earth could not do, Your Majesty has done. Even Yu Shun's sparing of You Miao and King Wen's pardon at Chong's fortress cannot match such grace. Not having yet received court orders, I cannot come in person; I respectfully send my eldest son Jinghui, offering my body to the court to lie beneath the axe."
95
既而白曜送道固赴都，有司案劾，奏聞，詔恕其死。 乃徙青齊士望共道固守城者數百家於桑乾，立平齊郡於平城西北北新城。 以道固為太守，賜爵臨淄子，加寧朔將軍。 尋徙治京城西南二百餘里舊陰館之西。 是時，頻歲不登，郡內飢弊，道固雖在任積年，撫慰未能周盡，是以多有怨叛。 延興中卒，年五十。
Soon Baiyao sent Daogu to the capital; the ministries investigated and reported up, and an edict spared his life. Several hundred leading families of Qing and Qi who had held the city with him were moved to Sanggan, and Pingqi commandery was set up northwest of Beixin cheng near Pingcheng. Daogu was made prefect, enfeoffed as Marquis of Linzi, and given the added title general who calms the north. Soon the commandery seat was shifted west of old Yinguan, over two hundred li southwest of the capital. Famine followed famine; the commandery starved. Though Daogu held office for years, he could not ease every district, and rebellions multiplied. He died in Yanxing at fifty.
96
初，道固之在客邸，與薛安都畢眾敬隣館，時以朝集相見，本既同由武達，頗結僚舊。 時安都志已衰朽，於道固情乃疏略，而眾敬每盡殷勤。 道固謂劉休賓、房法壽曰：「古人云『非我族類，其心必異』，信不虛也。 安都視人殊自蕭索，畢捺固依依也。」
When Daogu was a guest at court he lodged beside Xue Andu and Bi Zhongjing; they met at morning levees. All three had risen through military service and were old colleagues. By then Andu's spirit was failing and his warmth toward Daogu had cooled, while Zhongjing was unfailingly attentive. Daogu told Liu Xiubin and Fang Fashou: "The ancients said, 'Those not of our kind will surely differ in heart' — and it is true. Andu looks on people coldly; Bi Naya still clings close."
97
子景徽，字文叡，襲父爵臨淄子，加寧朔將軍。 出為青州廣陵王羽征東府司馬、大鴻臚少卿。 出除龍驤將軍、平州刺史。 卒，贈本將軍、南青州刺史，諡曰定。 子休纂襲爵。
His son Jinghui, styled Wenrui, succeeded to the marquisate of Linzi and was given the added title general who calms the north. He served as eastern-campaign vice marshal on Guangling Prince Yu's staff in Qingzhou and as vice minister of the grand court. He was then made dragon-charging general and inspector of Pingzhou. He died; posthumously he kept his former rank and was named southern Qingzhou inspector, with the posthumous name Ding. His son Xiuzuan succeeded.
98
景徽弟景業，字文季。 別有功，太和中，賜爵昌國子，加建威將軍。 卒。 子休緒襲爵，員外郎。
Jinghui's younger brother Jingye, styled Wenji — so the record runs. He earned separate merit; in the Taihe era he was made Marquis of Changguo and general who establishes might. He passed away. His son Xiuxu succeeded and served as outer-office gentleman.
99
景業弟景淵，亦有別功，賜爵武城男。 鷹揚將軍、平齊太守。 卒於郡。
Jingye's younger brother Jingyuan also won separate merit and was made Baron of Wucheng. He was eagle-brandishing general and prefect of Pingqi — so the record runs. He died in office.
100
道固兄目連子僧祐。 白曜之圍歷城也，僧祐母明氏、弟僧淵並在城內。 劉彧授僧祐輔國將軍，領眾數千，與青齊人家口在歷城、梁鄒者明同慶、明菩薩等為將佐，從淮海揚聲救援。 將至不其，聞道固已敗，母弟入國，徘徊不進。 白曜圍東陽時，表請景徽往喻僧祐，乃歸降。 白曜送之，在客數載，賜爵層城侯。 與房法壽、畢薩諸人皆不穆。 [15]法壽等訟其歸國無誠，拘之歲餘，因赦乃釋。 後坐與沙門法秀謀反，伏法。
Sengyou was son of Daogu's brother Mulian. When Baiyao besieged Licheng, Sengyou's mother, Lady Ming, and his brother Sengyuan were inside the walls. Liu Yu made Sengyou auxiliary-state general at the head of several thousand men; with Qing and Qi kin still in Licheng and Liangzou — Ming Tongqing, Ming Pusa, and others on his staff — he marched from Huaihai shouting rescue. Near Buqi he learned that Daogu had fallen and that his mother and brother were already in Wei; he halted and would not go on. When Baiyao besieged Dongyang, he asked that Jinghui be sent to win over Sengyou; Sengyou then surrendered. Baiyao sent him to court; after several years as a guest he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Tiered City. He was at odds with Fang Fashou, Bi Sa, and the rest. [15] Fashou and others charged that his surrender was insincere; he was held more than a year and freed only by a general amnesty. Later he was convicted of plotting rebellion with the monk Faxiu and was executed.
101
子道寧，給事中。
His son Daoning served as palace attendant.
102
僧淵入國，坐兄弟徙於薄骨律鎮，太和初得還。 高祖聞其有文學，又問佛經，善談論，敕以白衣賜褠幘，入聽于永樂經武殿。 後以僧淵為尚書儀曹郎。 遷洛之後，為青州中正。 尋出為征東大將軍、廣陵王羽諮議參軍，加顯武將軍，討海賊於黃郭，[16]大破之。 蕭鸞乃遣其族兄惠景遺僧淵書，說以入國之屈，規令改圖。 僧淵復書曰：
Sengyuan came into Wei lands; on account of his brother he was exiled to Boguli Garrison and at the opening of the Taihe era was allowed to return. Gaozu heard of his scholarship, questioned him on Buddhist sutras, and found him skilled in debate; he ordered that though still in lay dress Sengyuan receive a black cap and attend lectures in the Yongle Jingwu Hall. Later he was made gentleman of the protocol section in the secretariat. After the capital moved to Luoyang he served as chief rectifier of Qingzhou. Soon he left court as staff counselor to the eastern campaign grand general, Prince of Guangling Yu, with the added title general of illustrious martiality; he attacked sea bandits at Huangguo [16] and routed them. Xiao Luan then sent his elder clansman Huijing with a letter to Sengyuan, pleading the wrong of his coming into Wei and urging him to change his course. Sengyuan wrote back:
103
主上之為人也，無幽不照，無細不存，仁則無遠不及，博則無典不究，殫三墳之微，盡九丘之極。 至於文章錯綜，煥然蔚炳，猶夫子之牆矣。 遂乃開獨悟之明，尋先王之迹，安遷靈荒，兆變帝基，惟新中壤，宅臨伊域。 三光起重輝之照，庶物蒙再化之始。 分氏定族，料甲乙之科； 班官命爵，清九流之貫。 禮俗之敍，粲然復興，河洛之間，重隆周道。 巷歌邑頌，朝熙門穆，濟濟之盛，非可備陳矣。 加以累葉重光，地兼四岳，士馬強富，人神欣仰，道德仁義，民不能名。 且大人出，本無所在，況從上聖至天子天孫者乎。 [17]聖上諸弟，風度相類，咸陽王已下，莫不英越，枝葉扶疎，遍在天下，所稱稍竭，[18]殊為未然。 文士競謀於廟堂，武夫效勇於疆埸，[19]若論事勢，此為實矣。
Our lord's nature as a man leaves no dark place unlit and no small thing uncared for; in kindness there is no distance he cannot reach, in learning no canon he has not mastered — he has drained the subtlety of the Three Storehouses and the limits of the Nine Mounds. His woven prose blazes with color like the wall of the Master himself. He opened a solitary clarity of mind, traced the tracks of former kings, settled the wild marches, foretold change in the imperial foundation, renewed the central lands, and made his seat on the Yi banks. The three lights shone again with renewed splendor; the myriad things received a second birth. He sorted clans and fixed descent, grading households into first and second ranks; he arrayed offices and granted noble ranks, clearing the thread of the nine currents. Ritual and custom blazed back to life; between the Yellow and Luo the Zhou Way rose again. Lane songs and district hymns, radiant courts and tranquil gates — such flourishing cannot be told in full. Add generation upon generation of doubled glory, a domain holding the four sacred peaks, strong hosts and rich stores, men and spirits rejoicing — virtue, the Way, benevolence, and righteousness beyond naming. When a great man appears he has no fixed birthplace — how much more one who descends from the highest sage to Heaven's grandson? [17] The sovereign's younger brothers share one bearing; from the Prince of Xianyang down, none without surpassing talent; branches and leaves spread through the realm — that their fame is already fading [18] is far too soon. Scholars contend in counsel at court, soldiers show courage on the marches — [19] judge the true situation and this is fact.
104
計彼主篡殺之迹，人鬼同知，疑親猜貴，早暴遐邇。 兄投心逆節，千載何名！ 物患無施，器非時用，生不振世，沒無令聲，先師以為鄙，君子以為耻。 此則事困伎殫，自勉無益，故其宜矣。 以兄之才，夙超鄉土，如弟之徒，誰不瞻仰，每尋昔念，未敢忘懷。 雖復途遙二千，心想若對，敬遵軌範，以資一生。 今名可揚矣而不能顯親，事可變矣而不能離辱，故世之所未解也。 且君子在家也不過孝於其親，入朝也不過忠於其君。 主上之於兄，恩則不可酬，義則不可背。 身可殺也，故非其酬； 功不逮也，故非其報。 今可以效矣而又弗為，非孝也。 即實而言，兄之不變，得為忠乎？ 至於講武爭強，不敵者久矣； 論安與危，不同者驗矣； 羣情背去，獨留者謬矣。 [20]願深察之。 王晏道絕外交，器非雄朗，專華保望，便就屠割。 方之於兄，其全百倍。 且淮蕃海捍，本出北豪，壽春之任，兄何由免？ 以是而言，猜嫌已決。 又宗門未幾，南北莫寄，先構之重，非兄何託，受社之榮，鄙心之相望矣。 今執志不寤，忠孝兩忘，王晏之辜，安能自保，見機而作，其在茲乎。
Weigh that lord's usurpation and murder — known to men and spirits alike; suspicion of kin and mistrust of the noble were long ago plain far and near. Elder brother, to set your heart on rebellion — what name will stand for a thousand years? When things have no place to be used and vessels are unfit for the age, to live without stirring the world and die without a fair name — the ancients called that base, gentlemen called it shame. Here affairs are tight and arts spent; urging oneself on brings no gain — hence the proper course. With your talent, elder brother, you have long outshone our homeland — who like me does not look up to you? I never dare forget our old bond. Though two thousand li lie between us, in thought we meet as face to face; reverently I follow your example for my whole life. Now fame could be raised yet you cannot honor your kin; affairs could be changed yet you cannot shake off disgrace — that is what the age cannot understand. A gentleman at home is filial to his kin; in court he is loyal to his lord — no more. The sovereign's treatment of you, elder brother — grace that cannot be repaid, righteousness that cannot be betrayed. One's person may be given up — that is not repayment; merit does not stretch so far — that is not return. Now you could act loyally and again you will not — that is unfilial. Judged by fact, elder brother, can your refusal to change count as loyalty? As for drilling in arms and contending for mastery, you have long been unmatched; weigh safety against peril and the unlike cases have been proved; the crowd's heart has turned away — to stand alone is error. [20] I beg you to weigh this deeply. Wang Yan cut off every outside tie; his talent was not bold and bright; clinging to glory and nursing hope, he was at once put to the sword. Compared with you, elder brother, he was not one part in a hundred. Moreover the Huai frontier and the coastal garrisons bred northern champions — could you, elder brother, escape the Shouchun command? On that ground suspicion is already fixed. Moreover the house is still young; north and south have nowhere else to lodge — to whom but you, elder brother, can the weight of the founding be entrusted? The glory of receiving a fief — my humble heart has long looked for it. Now you cling to your resolve without waking, forgetting both filial piety and loyalty — Wang Yan's guilt, how could he save himself? To act when the moment shows itself — is it not now?
105
國家西至長安，東盡即墨，營造器甲，必盡堅精，晝夜不息者，於茲數載。 今秋中月，雲羅必舉，賈不及時，雖貴不用，若不早圖，況枉連城矣。 [21]枚乘有言，欲出不出，間不容髮，精哉斯談。 弟中於北京，身罹事譴，大造之及，有獲為幸。 比蒙清舉，超進非一，[22]犬馬之心，誠有在矣。 雖復彼此為異，猶昔情不移也，況於今日哉。 如兄之誨，如弟之規，改張易調，易於反掌，萬一乖情，此將運也。
The state from Chang'an in the west to Jimo in the east has forged armor and weapons to utmost solidity and keen edge, day and night without cease these several years. This mid-autumn the cloud-net will surely be cast; goods that miss the season, though precious, are not used — if you do not plan early, how will you answer for a city worth a thousand? [21] Mei Cheng said: wanting to go out yet not going out — no room for a hair between — how fine that saying! Your younger brother was struck down at the northern capital and personally bore penal summons; that the great grace reached me was luck won. Lately I have been raised again and again by clear selection, more than once — [22] the heart of dog and horse truly has its master. Though we now stand on opposite sides, the old feeling is unchanged — how much more so today? As elder brother teaches, as younger brother urges — to change the tuning is easier than turning the palm; if feeling should once go wrong, that will be fate.
106
出除龍驤將軍、南青州刺史。 久之，坐擅出師無據，檢覈幽禁，後乃獲免。
He left court as dragon-charging general and inspector of Southern Qingzhou. After long service he was convicted of campaigning out without warrant, investigated and imprisoned; later he was released.
107
僧淵元妻房氏生二子伯驎、伯驥。 後薄房氏，更納平原杜氏。 僧淵之徙也，與杜俱去，生四子，伯鳳、祖龍、祖螭、祖虬。 得還之後，棄絕房氏，遂與杜氏及四子家于青州。 伯驥與母房氏居于冀州，雖往來父間，而心存母氏，孝慈之道，頓阻一門。 僧淵卒，年七十餘。 伯驎雖往奔赴，不敢入家，哭沙門寺。
Sengyuan's first wife, the Fang clan, bore two sons, Bolin and Boji. Later he slighted the Fang and married the Du of Pingyuan. When Sengyuan was exiled he went with Du and she bore four sons — Bofeng, Zulong, Zuchi, and Zuqiu. After he returned he cast off the Fang and made his home in Qingzhou with Du and the four sons. Boji lived with his mother the Fang in Jizhou; though he visited his father, his heart stayed with his mother — filial kindness was cut off within one household. Sengyuan died aged over seventy. Bolin hurried to the funeral but dared not enter the house and wept at a Buddhist temple.
108
伯驎，自奉朝請，稍遷步兵校尉、樂陵太守，加中堅將軍。 後兼冀州長史。 大乘賊起，伯驎率州軍討之於煮棗城，為賊所殺，贈龍驤將軍、洛州刺史。
Bolin rose from court attendant to infantry commandant and governor of Leling, with the added title general of the central guard. Later he also served as chief clerk of Jizhou — so the record runs. When the Dacheng rebels rose, Bolin led the provincial army against them at Zhushao and was killed; he was posthumously made dragon-charging general and governor of Luozhou.
109
伯驥，為京兆王愉法曹參軍。 愉反，伯驥不從，見害，詔贈東海太守。
Boji was legal-affairs staff officer to the Prince of Jingzhao, Yu. When Yu rebelled, Boji refused to follow and was killed; an edict posthumously made him governor of Donghai.
110
伯鳳，少便弓馬，壯勇有膂力。 自奉朝請、員外郎，稍遷鎮遠將軍、前將軍，數為將帥。 永安末，與都督源子恭守丹谷，戰歿。 [23]
Bofeng from youth was skilled with bow and horse; grown, he was bold and powerful. From court attendant and outer-office gentleman he rose step by step to general who pacifies the distance and forward general and several times held field command. At the end of the Yong'an era he held Dan Valley with area commander Yuan Zigong and died in battle. The text is deficient — so the record runs.
111
祖龍，司空行參軍。 性剛躁，父亡後，與兄伯驎訟競嫡庶，並以刀劍自衞，若怨讎焉。
Zulong was a staff officer in the ministry of works. Harsh and impetuous by nature, after his father's death he sued his elder brother Bolin over legitimacy of birth, each keeping sword and blade as against an enemy.
112
祖螭，小字社客，粗武有氣力。 刺史元羅板為兼統軍，率眾討海賊。 普泰初，與張僧皓俱反，圍青州。 尒朱仲遠遣將討平之，傳首京師。
Zuchi, childhood name Sheke, was rough and martial and strong in the arm. Inspector Yuan Luo installed him as acting commander-in-chief and led troops against sea bandits. At the opening of the Putai era he rebelled with Zhang Senghao and besieged Qingzhou. Erzhu Zhongyuan sent a general to crush them; their heads were sent to the capital.
113
祖虬，少而好學，下帷誦書，不驅競當世。 舉秀才不就。
Zuqiu from youth loved learning; he studied behind closed curtains and did not vie with the world. Recommended as cultivated talent, he would not take office.
114
僧淵從弟和，平昌太守。 家巨富，而性吝嗇，埋錢數百斛。 其母李春思堇，惜錢不買。
Sengyuan's younger cousin He was governor of Pingchang — so the record runs. The house was immensely rich yet he was stingy by nature and buried cash in hundreds of hu. His mother Chunsi longed for purslane; he begrudged the money and would not buy it.
115
子軌，字啟則，盜錢百萬，背和亡走。 後為儀同開府鎧曹參軍，坐貪汙，死於晉陽。
His son Gui, styled Qize, stole a million in cash and fled, abandoning He. Later he was armor-office staff officer to a ceremonial peer with open office; convicted of corruption, he died at Jinyang.
116
玄伯同郡董謐。 謐父京，與同郡崔康時、廣陽霍原等，俱以碩學播名遼海。 謐好學，傳父業。 中山平，入朝，拜儀曹郎，撰朝覲饗宴郊廟社稷之儀。
Dong Mi came from Xuanbo's commandery. Mi's father Jing, with Cui Kangshi of the same commandery, Huo Yuan of Guangyang, and others, all spread the fame of great learning through Liaohai. Mi loved learning and inherited his father's craft. When Zhongshan was pacified he entered court as gentleman of the protocol section and drafted the rites for court audience, banquets, suburban sacrifice, and the altars of soil and grain.
117
鄧淵，字彥海，安定人也。 祖羌，苻堅車騎將軍。 父翼，河間相。 慕容垂之圍鄴，以翼為後將軍、冀州刺史、真定侯。 翼泣對使者曰：「先君忠于秦室，翼豈可先叛乎！ 忠臣不事二主，自古通義，未敢聞命。」 垂遣使喻之曰：「吾與車騎結異姓兄弟，卿亦猶吾之子弟，安得辭乎？」 翼曰：「冀州宜任親賢，翼請他役效命。」 垂乃用為建武將軍、河間太守、尚書左丞，皆有聲稱。 卒於趙郡內史。
Deng Yuan, styled Yanhai, came from Anding. His grandfather Qiang was chariot general under Fu Jian — so the record runs. His father Yi was governor of Hejian — so the record runs. When Murong Chui besieged Ye he made Yi rear general, inspector of Jizhou, and Marquis of Zhending. Yi wept and told the envoy: "My late father was loyal to Qin — how could Yi be the first to rebel? A loyal minister does not serve two lords — that is the constant rule since antiquity; I dare not accept the order." Chui sent an envoy to persuade him: "Your grandfather the chariot general and I became sworn brothers of different surnames; you are like my own son or younger brother — how can you refuse?" Yi said: "Jizhou should go to kin and the worthy; let Yi serve in another post and offer his life." Chui then used him as general of establishing martiality, governor of Hejian, and left deputy director of the secretariat — in each post he won praise. He died as inner governor of Zhao commandery — so the record runs.
118
淵性貞素，言行可復，博覽經書，長於易筮。 太祖定中原，擢為著作郎。 出為蒲丘令，誅剪姦猾，盜賊肅清。 入為尚書吏部郎。 淵明解制度，多識舊事，與尚書崔玄伯參定朝儀、律令、音樂，及軍國文記詔策，多淵所為。 從征平陽，以功賜爵漢昌子，改下博子，加中壘將軍。 太祖詔淵撰國記，淵造十餘卷，惟次年月起居行事而已，未有體例。 淵謹於朝事，未嘗忤旨。
Yuan was upright and plain by nature, his words and conduct trustworthy; he ranged widely through the classics and excelled in the Changes and divination. When Taizu pacified the central plains he was raised to gentleman of the composition office. He went out as magistrate of Puqiu, cut down the crafty and violent, and cleared away bandits. Recalled to court, he was made gentleman of the ministry of personnel. Yuan had a clear grasp of institutions and old precedent; with Cui Xuanbo of the Masters of Writing he shaped court ritual, statutes, music, and the military and state archives, edicts and policies — most of it was Yuan's hand. On the Pingyang campaign he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Hankang, then made Marquis of Xiabo and general of the central rampart. The Founding Emperor charged Yuan to compile the national record; he drafted more than ten scrolls of year-by-year court affairs only, without a settled form. Yuan was exacting in court affairs and never crossed the sovereign's will.
119
其從父弟暉為尚書郎，兇俠好奇，與定陵侯和跋厚善。 跋有罪誅，其子弟奔長安，或告暉將送出之。 由是太祖疑淵知情，遂賜淵死，既而恨之。 時人咸愍惜焉。
His father's younger cousin's son Hui was a gentleman in the Masters of Writing — violent, restless, and close to Marquis of Dingling He Ba. When Ba was put to death for his crimes, his kin fled to Chang'an; someone said Hui meant to smuggle them out. The Founding Emperor then suspected Yuan had known and had Yuan put to death — and afterward regretted it. All who heard of it mourned him.
120
子潁，襲爵。 為太學生，稍遷中書侍郎。 世祖詔太常崔浩集諸文學，撰述國書，潁與浩弟覽等俱參著作事。 駕幸漠南，高車莫弗庫若干率騎數萬餘，驅鹿百餘萬，詣行在所。 詔潁為文，銘于漠南，以紀功德。 兼散騎常侍，使於劉義隆。 進爵為侯，加龍驤將軍。 延和三年，從征胡賊白龍。 還，卒於路。 諡曰文恭。
His son Ying succeeded to the title. He studied at the Imperial Academy and rose step by step to secretariat attendant. Emperor Shizu ordered Grand Minister of Ceremonials Cui Hao to gather scholars to compile the dynastic history; Ying joined Hao's brother Lan and others on the work. When the court visited the southern desert, the Gaoche chief Mofu Kugan brought tens of thousands of riders driving more than a million deer to the encampment. Ying was ordered to write and set up an inscription in the southern desert to commemorate the feat. He was also made acting regular attendant and sent as envoy to Liu Yilong. He was raised to marquis and made dragon-charging general. In Yanhe year 3 he joined the campaign against the Hu rebel Bai Long. He died on the march home. His posthumous name was Wengong.
121
子怡，襲爵。 官至荊州刺史、假寧南將軍。 賜爵南陽公。 和平中卒。
His son Yi succeeded. He rose to Jingzhou inspector and acting pacifying-south general. He was enfeoffed as Duke of Nanyang. He died in the Heping era — so the record runs.
122
長子良奴，襲爵。 良奴弟侍高祖，賜名述。 歷吏職，以貞謹見稱。 遷中大夫，守廷尉少卿。 出為建忠將軍、齊州刺史。 初改置百官，始重公府元佐。 時太傅元丕出為并州刺史，以述為太傅長史，帶太原太守。 尋徵為司空長史，卒官。 詔賜錢十萬、布五十匹，諡曰貞。
His eldest son Liangnu succeeded. Liangnu's younger brother attended Emperor Gaozu and was given the name Shu. He served in civil posts and was praised for upright care. He was promoted to grand master of the palace and acting vice director of the court of justice. He went out as general who establishes loyalty and Qi inspector. At the first reshaping of the hundred offices, chief aides to the great ministries were given new weight. When Grand Tutor Yuan Pi went out as Bing inspector, Shu was made his chief clerk and concurrently Taiyuan administrator. Soon he was recalled as chief clerk to the minister of works and died in his post. The throne granted one hundred thousand cash and fifty bolts of cloth; his posthumous name was Zhen.
123
長子纂，奉朝請，累遷中散大夫。
His eldest son Zuan was a court attendant and rose to grand master of the palace.
124
纂弟獻，奉朝請、司空西閤祭酒、員外常侍、河陰令。 尋遷鎮遠將軍、諫議大夫。 肅宗末，除冠軍將軍、潁州刺史。 建義初，聞尒朱榮入洛，朝士見害，遂奔蕭衍。
Zuan's younger brother Xian was court attendant, sacrifier in the minister of works' western pavilion, outer regular attendant, and Heyin magistrate. Soon he was made general who pacifies the distance and remonstrance and policy grand master. Late in Emperor Suzong's reign he was made champion general and Ying inspector. At the opening of Jianyi, when he heard Erzhu Rong had entered Luoyang and courtiers were being killed, he fled to Xiao Yan.
125
怡弟宗慶，以中書學生，入為中散。 稍遷尚書，加散騎常侍，賜爵定安侯。 轉典南部。 宗慶在南部積年，多所敷奏，州鎮憚之，號為稱職。 進爵南陽公，除安南將軍、涇州刺史，徙趙郡公。 宗慶在州，為民所訟，雖訊鞫獲情，上下大不相得。 轉徐州刺史，仍本將軍。 未幾，坐妻韓巫蠱，伏誅。
Yi's younger brother Zongqing, starting as a secretariat student, entered service as central court attendant. He rose step by step to the Masters of Writing, was given acting regular attendant, and enfeoffed as Marquis of Ding'an. He was shifted to director of the southern bureau. Zongqing spent years in the southern bureau and filed many memorials; provinces and garrisons feared him and called him fit for the post. He was raised to Duke of Nanyang, made pacifying-south general and Jing inspector, then enfeoffed as Duke of Zhao Commandery. In his province the people brought suit against Zongqing; though investigation proved the charges, he and they were utterly estranged. He was moved to Xu inspector while keeping the same army title. Before long his wife Han was found guilty of witchcraft and he was put to death.
126
宗慶子伯忻，與父俱死。
Zongqing's son Boxin died with him.
127
伯忻子儼，逃越得免。 後歷尚書郎，除常山太守，轉安南將軍、光祿大夫、持節、兼尚書左丞、郢州行臺，又加撫軍將軍。 卒，贈鎮南將軍、荊州刺史。
Boxin's son Yan fled south and survived. Later he was a Masters of Writing gentleman, then Changshan administrator, then pacifying-south general, grand master of splendid virtue, bearer of the staff, acting left deputy director of the Masters of Writing and mobile headquarters for Yingzhou, and again pacifying-army general. He died and was posthumously made pacifying-south general and Jing inspector.
128
穎弟權，從世祖征伐，官至龍驤將軍、豫州刺史，賜爵新野侯。 從征蠕蠕，坐法死。
Ying's younger brother Quan followed Emperor Shizu in war and rose to dragon-charging general, Yu inspector, and Marquis of Xinye. On the Rouran campaign he was executed for a breach of law.
129
弟顥，卒於中書侍郎。
His younger brother Hao died while secretariat attendant.
130
顥長子靈珍，中書學生、[24]祕書中散。 卒，贈員外散騎常侍。
Hao's eldest son Lingzhen was a secretariat student and [24] secretariat central court attendant. He died and was posthumously made outer acting regular attendant.
131
子羨，歷中書學生、侍御史，以明謹見知。 出為齊州武昌王征虜長史。 後李元護之為齊州，仍為長史，帶東魏郡太守。 在治十年，經三刺史，以清勤著稱。 齊人懷其恩德，號曰良二千石。 及代還，大受民故送遺，頗以此為損。 中山王英攻義陽，羨為軍司。 罷，除諫議大夫，兼給事黃門侍郎，副侍中游肇為畿內大使。 後行貨於錄尚書、北海王詳，轉大司農少卿。 出行荊州事，轉征虜將軍、郢州刺史，鎮義陽。 在州銳於聚斂。 又納賄於于忠，徵為給事黃門侍郎。 尋加後將軍、河南尹，黃門如故。 未拜，而靈太后臨朝，以元昭為河南尹，羨仍黃門，加平南將軍。 羨以義陽軍司之勳，封安陽縣開國子，邑三百戶。 羨曲附左右，故獲封焉。 時幽、瀛、滄、冀大水，頻經寇難，民飢。 詔羨兼尚書、假散騎常侍，持節詣州，隨方賑恤，多有所濟。 神龜初，發疽卒，年五十四。 詔賻帛三百匹、朝服一襲，贈鎮東將軍、青州刺史，諡曰恭。
His son Xian served as secretariat student and attending censor and was known for sharp judgment and care. He went out as chief clerk on Prince of Wuchang's campaign staff as general who campaigns against the barbarians. When Li Yuanhu later held Qi, Xian stayed as chief clerk and concurrently eastern Wei commandery administrator. Ten years in office under three inspectors, he was famed for clean, tireless service. The people of Qi cherished him and called him a true two-thousand-dan magistrate. On his recall he accepted heavy farewell gifts from the people, and his reputation suffered for it. Prince of Zhongshan Ying attacked Yiyang; Xian served as army supervisor. When the campaign ended he was made remonstrance and policy grand master and acting attendant at the yellow gate, assisting You Zhao as metropolitan envoy. Later he bribed Recording Masters of Writing Prince of Beihai Xiang and was moved to vice minister of the grand granary. He handled Jingzhou affairs, then was made general who campaigns against the barbarians and Ying inspector, garrisoning Yiyang. In his province he was fierce in levying taxes. He also bribed Yu Zhong and was recalled as attendant at the yellow gate. Soon he was made rear general and Henan intendant while keeping the yellow gate post. Before he could take up the post, Empress Dowager Ling held court; Yuan Zhao was made Henan intendant while Xian stayed at the yellow gate and was given pacifying-south general. For his service as Yiyang army supervisor, Xian was enfeoffed as Viscount of Anyang, estate three hundred households. Xian courted those about the throne, and so won the fief. You, Ying, Cang, and Ji then suffered great floods, repeated raids, and famine among the people. Xian was made acting Masters of Writing and acting regular attendant, bearer of the staff sent through the provinces to relieve distress where needed, and helped many. At the opening of Shengui an abscess broke out and he died at fifty-four. The throne granted three hundred bolts of silk for the funeral and one court robe; posthumously he was made pacifying-east general and Qing inspector, posthumous name Gong.
132
長子躋，字伯昇，頗有意尚。 祕書郎。 朝議以羨本不合山河之賞，故不許躋襲。 躋訴訟久之，始聽紹封。 稍遷前將軍、太中大夫、梁州開府長史。 與刺史元羅同陷蕭衍，卒於江南。
His eldest son Ji, styled Bosheng, had real ambition. He was a secretariat gentleman. Court debate held that Xian had not truly earned a territorial fief, so Ji was not allowed to succeed. Ji pleaded at law for a long time before succession was finally granted. He rose step by step to front general, grand master of the palace, and chief clerk of the Liang headquarters. He and Inspector Yuan Luo alike fell to Xiao Yan and died in the south.
133
子孝緒，元象中，以躋柩還國。 興和中，襲爵。 齊受禪，例降。
His son Xiaoxu, in the Yuanxiang era, brought Ji's coffin home. In the Xinghe era he succeeded to the title. When Qi took the throne, the rank was reduced by rule.
134
靈珍弟靈奇，立忠將軍、齊州刺史。 進號冠軍將軍，賜爵昌國侯。 為政清簡，有威惠。
Lingzhen's younger brother Lingqi was general who establishes loyalty and Qi inspector. His title was raised to champion general and he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Changguo. His rule was plain and clean, with both sternness and grace.
135
子恭伯，右光祿大夫。
His son Gongbo was right grand master of splendid virtue.
136
史臣曰：為國馭民，莫不文武兼運。 燕鳳以博識多聞，昭成致禮，和隣存國，賢之效歟。 許謙才術俱美，馳騁艱難之日，觀幾獨勸，事契冥符。 張袞以才策見知，早蒙恩遇，時無寬政，斯言貽咎。 玄伯世家儁偉，仍屬權輿，總機任重，守正成務，禮從清廟，不亦宜乎。 寬模俱能見幾而動，道固窮而委質。 鄧淵貞白幹事，才業秉筆，禍非其罪，悲哉！
The historiographer writes: To govern a state and tend its people, none can do without both civil and military craft. Yan Feng's wide learning won Emperor Zhaocheng's courtesy; he soothed neighbors and kept the state whole — the work of a worthy man. Xu Qian united talent and method; in the hurrying days of crisis he alone saw the hour and urged advance — as if fate itself had marked him. Zhang Gun was prized for talent and counsel and favored early; in an age without gentle government, his words drew reproach. Xuanbo's clan was great for generations and still stood at the founding; he carried the state's pivot, held the straight course and finished the work — rites worthy of the ancestral temple: could it have been otherwise? Cui Kuan and Cui Mo alike saw the hour and moved; when the Way was shut they still pledged their allegiance. Deng Yuan was upright in office and skilled with the brush; his fall was not his crime — a bitter loss!
137
校勘記
Textual notes
138
公達委身於魏武諸本「達」作「遠」，冊府卷七六五 〈九０九五頁〉 作「達」。 按荀攸字公達 〈三國志卷一０〉 ，曹操輔佐中著名人物不聞有「公遠」其人，今據冊府改。
Gongda gave himself to Wei Wu. In various editions "da" is written as "yuan"; Cefu juan 765 〈folio 9095〉 has "da". Note: Xun You's style was Gongda 〈Records of the Three Kingdoms, juan 10〉 ; among Cao Cao's famed counselors no "Gongyuan" is known — emended per Cefu.
139
延弟白澤諸本「延」下有「孫」字，北史卷二一張袞傳作「度子白澤」，則是延弟。 「孫」字衍，今刪。
"Yan's younger brother Baize": editions insert sun (grandson) after yan; Northern History juan 21, Zhang Gun's life, has Du's son Baize—so he is Yan's younger brother, not his grandson. The character sun is redundant and is removed.
140
下民難辯按此句和上文不貫。 冊府卷五四一 〈六四八五頁〉 作「不亦難辨」，連接上文「而欲使事靜民安，治清務簡，至於委任責成」為句，疑是。
"The common people are hard to tell apart": the line does not follow from what precedes. Cefu, scroll 541 〈folio 6485〉 has "would it not also be hard to distinguish," completing the earlier clause about quiet affairs, a clear government, simple tasks, and delegated responsibility—likely the right reading.
141
水鏡前禮冊府 〈同上卷頁〉 「水」作「永」，疑是。
"Before the water mirror, ritual propriety": Cefu (record). 〈same scroll, same page〉 shui (water) appears as yong (lasting); yong is likely right.
142
次子簡字沖亮北史卷二一崔宏傳「沖」作「仲」。 按簡兄浩字伯淵 〈卷三五本傳〉 ，弟恬字叔玄，簡是次子，作「仲亮」是。
"The second son Jian, styled Chongliang": Northern History juan 21, Cui Hong's life, reads chong (rush) as zhong (second). Note: Jian's elder brother Hao was styled Boyuan 〈juan 35, main biography〉 , and younger brother Tian was styled Shuxuan; as the second son, Jian should be styled Zhongliang.
143
太祖初張森楷云：「玄伯以太祖中年歸魏，簡安得於太祖初入官，疑為『太宗』或『世祖』之誤。」
"At the beginning of Taizu": Zhang Senkai writes that Xuanbo joined Wei only in Taizu's middle years, so Jian could not have entered service at Taizu's opening—likely a mistake for Taizong or Shizu.
144
為兄渾誄手筆草本諸本「誄」訛「誅」，今據北史卷二一改。
"Drafted his brother Hun's eulogy in his own hand": editions corrupt lei (eulogy) to zhu (execute); emended from Northern History juan 21.
145
以一子繼浩弟覽妻封氏北史卷二一「浩」字下有「與浩」二字，「以一子繼浩」為句。 疑此傳脫二字，但如此傳也可通，今不補。
"One son succeeded to Haodi Lan's wife, Lady Feng": Northern History juan 21 inserts yu Hao after Hao, making "one son succeeded to Hao" the clause. Two characters may be missing, but the passage still makes sense and is left unchanged.
146
拜陝城鎮將二崤地嶮諸本「鎮」下有「西」字，下無「二」字，顯誤，今據冊府卷四一二 〈四八九八頁〉 、北史卷二一改。 北史「二」作「三」，今從冊府。
"Made defender of Shancheng, with the two Xiao passes steep": editions add xi (west) after zhen and drop er (two)—clear errors; emended per Cefu juan 412 〈folio 4898〉 and Northern History juan 21 — so the record runs. Northern History reads er (two) as san (three); Cefu is followed.
147
以本將軍除泰州刺史諸本「泰」作「秦」。 按云「河東民饑」，則即卷一０六下地形志下治蒲坂之秦州，此「秦州」乃「泰州」之訛。 這裏「秦」也是「泰」之訛。 今改正。 參卷一０六下校記[三九]。
"Brevet general, made inspector of Taizhou": editions read tai (Tai) as qin (Qin). Note: "the people of Hedong were famished" points to Qinzhou at Pobo in juan 106b of the Terrain Treatise—here Qinzhou should be Taizhou. Here too qin (Qin) corrupts tai (Tai). The text is corrected. See collation note [39], juan 106b.
148
與崔賾相親諸本「賾」訛「頤」，今據墓誌集釋盧令媛墓誌 〈圖版三七〉 改。 參卷三二校記[一一]。
"Close to Cui Ze": editions corrupt ze (Ze) to yi (Yi); emended per Muzhi jishi, epitaph of Lu Lingyuan 〈plate 37〉 The change is adopted. See collation note [11], juan 32.
149
生子文華卷四三劉休賓傳「文華」作「文曄」，疑作「曄」是。
"His son Wenhua": juan 43, Liu Xiubin's life, has Wenhua as Wenye—ye is likely right.
150
始睦來降也百衲、南、汲、局四本「睦」作「陸」，北、殿二本作「睦」。 按上云「柔孫睦，正光三年自郁州歸降」。 作「睦」是，今從北、殿本。
"When Mu first surrendered": patchwork, Southern, Ji, and Bureau texts read mu (Mu) as lu (Lu); Northern and Palace editions have mu. Note: Above reads "Rou's grandson Mu, in Zhenguang 3, surrendered from Yuzhou." Mu is correct; the Northern and Palace texts are followed.
151
僕臣白曜按崔道固豈得稱白曜為「僕臣」。 卷五０慕容白曜傳，白曜攻青、齊時，官尚書右僕射。 這裏「僕」下當脫「射」字。
"Servant-minister Baiyao": Cui Daogu could not have addressed Baiyao that way. Juan 50, Murong Baiyao's life: during the Qing-Qi campaign he was right vice director of the Masters of Writing. Here the character she (director) has dropped after pu (vice).
152
與房法壽畢薩諸人皆不穆按青齊降魏諸將無「畢薩」其人，「薩」當是「薛」之訛，指薛安都。
"At odds with Fang Fashou, Bi Sa, and others": no Qing-Qi defector named Bi Sa is known—sa likely corrupts xue (Xue), i.e., Xue Andu.
153
討海賊於黃郭諸本「賊」訛「戒」，今據冊府卷三七二 〈四四二四頁〉 改。
"Subdued sea bandits at Huangguo": editions corrupt zei (bandit) to jie (warn); emended per Cefu juan 372 〈folio 4424〉 The change is adopted.
154
且大人出本無所在況從上聖至天子天孫者乎冊府卷三七二 〈四四二五頁〉 作「且大人之出，本無所在，況從聖繼聖至夫 〈冊府宋本作「天」〉 子孫者乎」。 較明白，此傳當有訛脫。
"Moreover the great man's emergence had no fixed place—how much less from sage to sage down to the Son of Heaven's line?": Cefu juan 372 〈folio 4425〉 has "Moreover the great man's emergence had no fixed place; how much less, sage after sage, down to the Son of— 〈Song Cefu reads "Heaven" here〉 the Son of Heaven's descendants?" The Cefu wording is clearer; this passage is corrupt and incomplete.
155
所稱稍竭諸本「竭」訛「蝎」，今據冊府 〈同上卷頁〉 改。
"What is named is nearly spent": editions corrupt jie (exhaust) to xie (scorpion); emended per Cefu 〈same scroll, same page〉 The change is adopted.
156
武夫效勇於疆埸諸本「勇」訛「通」，今據冊府 〈同上卷頁〉 改。
"Warriors prove brave on the frontier": editions corrupt yong (valor) to tong (through); emended per Cefu 〈same scroll, same page〉 The change is adopted.
157
羣情背去獨留者謬矣冊府 〈同上卷頁〉 「背去」作「皆去」，與下「獨留」對文，當是。 但「背去」亦通，今不改。
"All turn away while one alone stays—that is absurd": Cefu 〈same scroll, same page〉 "turn away" appears as "all go," pairing with "alone remains" below—likely right. "Turn away" also makes sense and is left unchanged.
158
況枉連城矣冊府 〈同上卷頁〉 「況」作「沉」，疑是。 但檢宋本冊府也作「況」，今不改。
"How much more when whole cities are wrongly condemned": Cefu 〈same scroll, same page〉 kuang (how much more) appears as chen (sink); chen is suspected. The Song Cefu also reads kuang; the text is not changed.
159
超進非一諸本「超進」訛「起崖」，下注「疑」字，今據冊府 〈同上卷頁〉 改，並刪「疑」字。
"Promotions beyond number": editions corrupt chao jin (advance in rank) to qi ya (rise cliff), with a marginal "suspected"; emended per Cefu 〈same scroll, same page〉 Corrected, and the marginal "suspected" is removed.
160
與都督源子恭守丹谷戰歿諸本「丹谷」作「單父」，冊府卷四二五 〈五０五五頁〉 作「丹父」。 按源子恭守丹谷，見卷一０莊帝紀永安三年十月和卷四一本傳。 莊帝紀永安三年十二月壬寅更明云：「尒朱兆寇丹谷，都督崔伯鳳戰死。」 冊府「丹」字不誤，「谷」已訛「父」，舊本當同冊府，後人又妄改「丹」為「單」，今改正。
"With supervisor Yuan Zigong he held Dangu and died in battle": editions read Dangu as Shanfu; Cefu juan 425 〈folio 5055〉 has Danfu. Note: Yuan Zigong's defense of Dangu is in Zhuangdi annals, juan 10, Yongan 3.10, and his biography, juan 41. Zhuangdi annals, Yongan 3.12 renyin, is explicit: "Erzhu Zhao attacked Dangu; supervisor Cui Bofeng was killed in battle." Cefu's dan is right; gu (valley) had already become fu (father). The archetype should have matched Cefu; later copyists also changed dan to shan (single)—now corrected.
161
中書學生諸本「中」下無「書」字。 按「中書學生」屢見，下子羨條即云「歷中書學生」，今補「書」字。
"Student of the Masters of Writing": editions omit shu (writing) after zhong. Note: "student of the Masters of Writing" is common; the entry on Zi Xian below says "served as student of the Masters of Writing"—shu is restored.