1
宋隱王憲屈遵張蒲谷渾公孫表張濟李先賈彝薛提
Song Yin, Wang Xian, Qu Zun, Zhang Pu, Gu Hun, Gongsun Biao, Zhang Ji, Li Xian, Jia Yi, and Xue Ti
2
宋隱，字處默，西河介休人也。 曾祖奭，晉昌黎太守。 後為慕容廆長史。 祖活，中書監。 父恭，尚書、徐州刺史。 慕容儁徙鄴，恭始家於廣平列人焉。
Song Yin, whose style name was Chumo, came from Jiexiu in Xihe commandery. His great-grandfather Shuo had served as governor of Changli under the Jin. He later became chief clerk to Murong Hui. His grandfather Huo held the post of Director of the Secretariat. His father Gong served as Minister of Works and as governor of Xuzhou. When Murong Jun moved the capital to Ye, Gong first settled the family at Lieren in Guangping.
3
隱性至孝，年十三，便有成人之志，專精好學，不以兵難易操。 仕慕容垂，歷尚書郎、太子中舍人、本州別駕。 太祖平中山，拜隱尚書吏部郎。 車駕還北，詔隱以本官輔衞王儀鎮中山。 尋轉行臺右丞，領選如故。 屢以老病乞骸骨，太祖不許。 尋以母喪歸列人。 既葬，被徵，固辭以病，而州郡切以期會，隱乃棄妻子，間行避焉。 後匿於長樂之經縣，數年而卒。 臨終謂其子姪等曰：「苟能入順父兄，出悌鄉黨，仕郡幸而至功曹史，以忠清奉之，則足矣，不勞遠詣臺閣。 恐汝不能富貴，而徒延門戶之累耳。 若忘吾言，是為無若父也，使鬼而有知，吾不歸食矣。」 有五子。
Yin was by nature deeply filial; at thirteen he already showed the resolve of a mature man, threw himself into study, and did not let the turmoil of war change his ways. He entered the service of Murong Chui and rose through the posts of Gentleman of the Masters of Writing, Attendant of the Heir Apparent, and provincial aide-de-camp. After the Taizu pacified Zhongshan, Yin was appointed director of the personnel section in the Ministry of Works. When the emperor returned north, he ordered Yin to keep his present title and assist Prince Wei Yi in holding Zhongshan. He was soon made Right Vice Director of the Mobile Secretariat while continuing to oversee personnel selection as before. He asked several times to retire because of age and illness, but the Taizu refused. He soon went home to Lieren to observe mourning for his mother. Once the burial was over he was recalled, but he firmly pleaded illness; when the province and commandery pressed him to appear on schedule, he left wife and children behind and fled by back roads to escape service. He later hid in Jing County in Changle, where he died after several years. On his deathbed he told his sons and nephews: "If at home you obey your fathers and elder brothers and abroad you are dutiful to your neighbors, and if in commandery service you are lucky enough to become a merit officer and serve with loyalty and integrity, that is enough. Do not trouble yourselves to seek posts far away at court. I fear you will never win wealth and rank, and will only bring further trouble on our clan. If you forget what I say, you will be sons without a father; and if the dead have knowledge, I shall not come back to accept your offerings." He had five sons.
4
第三子溫，世祖時徵拜中書博士。 卒，追贈建威將軍、豫州刺史，列人定侯。
His third son Wen was summoned and appointed Erudite of the Secretariat in the reign of Emperor Taiwu. After his death he was posthumously made General Who Establishes Might and governor of Yuzhou, with the title Marquis Ding of Lieren.
5
溫弟演，顯祖初從征彭城有功，拜明威將軍、濟北太守。
Wen's younger brother Yan distinguished himself in the early campaigns against Pengcheng under Emperor Xiaowen and was made General of Illustrious Might and governor of Jibei.
6
演子鮒，字伯魚。 州別駕。
Yan's son Fu, whose style name was Boyu, served as provincial aide-de-camp.
7
隱弟輔，字處仁。 少慷慨有大操，博覽羣書。 州辟別駕。 早卒。
Yin's younger brother Fu, whose style name was Churen, was from youth generous and high-minded, with a strong sense of principle, and read widely. The province recruited him as aide-de-camp. He died young.
8
隱叔父洽，為慕容垂尚書。 太祖之圍中山也，洽率所領專守北圍。 當洽所統，官軍多被傷殺，太祖特深忿恨。 及城平，遂殺之。 子順、訓並下腐刑。
Yin's uncle Qia was a minister of works under Murong Chui. During the Taizu's siege of Zhongshan, Qia commanded his troops in defending the northern sector of the encirclement. In the sector under Qia's command many imperial soldiers were killed or wounded, and the Taizu came to hate him bitterly. When the city fell, Qia was executed. His sons Shun and Xun were both sentenced to castration.
9
洽第四子宣，字道茂，時年數歲，親人竊逃以免。 後與范陽盧玄、勃海高允及從子愔俱被徵，拜中書博士。 尋兼散騎常侍，使劉義隆。 加冠軍將軍，賜爵中都侯，領中書侍郎，行司隸校尉。 真君七年卒，贈司隸，諡簡侯。
Qia's fourth son Xuan, whose style name was Daomao, was only a few years old when relatives smuggled him away to safety. Later he was summoned together with Lu Xuan of Fanyang, Gao Yun of Bohai, and his cousin Yin, and appointed Erudite of the Secretariat. He soon added the post of Regular Attendant of the Cavalry and was sent on embassy to Liu Yilong of Song. He was promoted to General Who Establishes the Army, enfeoffed as Marquis of Zhongdu, made supervisor of the Masters of Writing, and commissioned as acting Colonel Director of Retainers. He died in the seventh year of the Zhenjun era and was posthumously made Colonel Director of Retainers, with the posthumous title Marquis Jian.
10
子謨，字乾仁，襲爵。 卒於遼西太守。
His son Mo, whose style name was Qianren, inherited the marquisate. He died in office as governor of Liaoxi.
11
子鸞，字珍和，襲爵。 東莞太守。
His son Luan, whose style name was Zhenhe, inherited the title. He served as governor of Dongguan.
12
鸞弟瓊，字普賢。 少以孝行稱，母曾病，季秋之月，思瓜不已。 瓊夢想見之，求而遂獲，時人稱異。 母終，州郡屢辟，皆不就。 卒於家。
Luan's younger brother Qiong, whose style name was Puxian, was known from youth for filial devotion; when his mother fell ill one late autumn, she could not stop thinking of melons. Qiong dreamed of melons, searched for them, and found them; people at the time regarded it as a marvel. After his mother's death the province and commandery summoned him repeatedly, but he never took office. He died at home.
13
子仲美，武定末，尚書水部郎。
His son Zhongmei, late in the Wuding era, served as Gentleman of the Water Section in the Ministry of Works.
14
子崇，襲。 早卒。 子仲智襲。 歷中書侍郎、安西將軍、幽州刺史。 有清平之稱。
His son Chong inherited the title. He died young. His son Zhongzhi inherited in turn. He served successively as supervisor of the Masters of Writing, General Who Pacifies the West, and governor of Youzhou. He won a reputation for integrity and fair dealing.
15
崇弟嶷，字道長。 少以父任為中書學生，稍遷南部大夫。 高祖初，出使巡察青、徐、兗、豫，撫慰新附，觀省風俗。 還，遷南部尚書，在任十四年。 時南州多事，文奏盈几，訟者填門。 嶷性儒緩，委隨不斷，終日在坐，昏睡而已。 李訢、鄧宗慶等號為明察，勤理時務，而二人終見誅戮，餘十數人或黜或免，唯嶷卒得自保。 時人為之語曰：「實癡實昏，終得保存。」 加散騎常侍、右將軍，賜爵東平侯。 未幾，拜安東將軍，進爵樂安公。 出為持節、鎮西將軍、秦州刺史。 改為華山公，散騎常侍如故。 後入為內都大官。 卒。
Chong's younger brother Ni, whose style name was Daochang, entered the Secretariat school through his father's office and was gradually promoted to Grandee of the Southern Section. Early in Emperor Xiaowen's reign he was sent to inspect Qing, Xu, Yan, and Yu, to reassure the newly submitted populations and observe local customs. On his return he was made Minister of the Southern Section and held the post for fourteen years. The southern provinces were then in constant turmoil; documents piled on his desk and litigants crowded his gate. Ni was mild and unhurried by nature, lax and unable to decide; he spent whole days at his desk doing nothing but dozing. Li Xin, Deng Zongqing, and others were known for sharp judgment and tireless attention to business, yet both men were eventually executed; of more than a dozen others some were dismissed and some removed from office—only Ni survived to the end. People of the day said of him: "Genuinely dull, genuinely befuddled—and yet he kept himself safe in the end." He was further made Regular Attendant of the Cavalry and General of the Right, and enfeoffed as Marquis of Dongping. Before long he was appointed General Who Pacifies the East and raised to Duke of Lean. He was sent out bearing the staff of authority as General Who Pacifies the West and governor of Qinzhou. His title was changed to Duke of Huashan while he retained the post of Regular Attendant of the Cavalry. He later returned to court as Grand Officer of the Inner Capital. He died.
16
子祖念，襲爵。 官至東平太守。 例降爵為侯。 卒，贈寧朔將軍、光州刺史。
His son Zunian inherited the title. He rose to the post of governor of Dongping. Under the usual rule his ducal title was reduced to a marquisate. After his death he was posthumously made General Who Pacifies the North and governor of Guangzhou.
17
子慶鍾，襲爵。 給事中。 貪穢無行，坐事爵除。
His son Qingzhong inherited the title. He served as Attendant Within the Yellow Gates. Corrupt and without principle, he was stripped of his title for misconduct.
18
祖念弟雲，字羅漢，頗有風尚。 自尚書郎入為中書舍人。 轉司州別駕、光祿少卿，改授衞尉少卿。 出為冠軍將軍、尚書、兗州刺史，尋進號征虜將軍。 在州坐受所部荊山戍主杜虞財貨，又取官絹，因染割易，御史糾劾，付廷尉。 遇赦免。 熙平二年卒官。 贈平南將軍、豫州刺史，諡曰文昭。 有九子。
Zunian's younger brother Yun, whose style name was Luohan, had real moral distinction. He moved from the post of Gentleman of the Masters of Writing into the court as Attendant of the Secretariat. He was transferred to aide-de-camp of Sizhou and Vice Director of the Household Revenue, then reassigned as Vice Director of the Guards. He was sent out as General Who Establishes the Army, minister of works, and governor of Yanzhou, and soon promoted to General Who Captures the Barbarians. In office he accepted valuables from Du Yu, commander of the Jingshan garrison under his command, and also took official silk cloth, which he altered by dyeing and cutting for private trade; the censor impeached him and he was handed over to the Court of Justice. He was pardoned in a general amnesty. He died in office in the second year of the Xiping era. He was posthumously made General Who Pacifies the South and governor of Yuzhou, with the posthumous epithet Wenzhao. He had nine sons.
19
長子昕，字元景。 武定末，太子詹事。
His eldest son Xin, whose style name was Yuanjing, late in the Wuding era served as Steward of the Heir Apparent's Household.
20
昕弟暉，字元旭。 早稱機悟。 歷尚書儀曹郎、中書舍人。 贈散騎常侍、鎮軍將軍、兗州刺史。
Xin's younger brother Hui, whose style name was Yuanxu, was praised early on for quick intelligence. He served successively as Gentleman of the Ceremonial Section in the Ministry of Works and as Attendant of the Secretariat. He was posthumously made Regular Attendant of the Cavalry, General Who Pacifies the Army, and governor of Yanzhou.
21
暉弟旰，字仲明。 祕書郎、司徒主簿。 天平中，為盜所害。
Hui's younger brother Gan, whose style name was Zhongming, served as secretary and chief clerk to the Minister of Education. During the Tianping era he was killed by bandits.
22
屈遵，字子皮，[2]昌黎徒河人也。 博學多藝，名著當時。 為慕容永尚書僕射，武垣公。 永滅，垂以為博陵令。 太祖南伐，車駕幸魯口，博陵太守申永南奔河外，高陽太守崔玄伯東走海濱，屬城長吏率多逃竄。 遵獨告其吏民曰：「往年寶師大敗，今茲垂征不還，天之棄燕，人弗支也。 魏帝神武命世，寬仁善納，御眾百萬，號令若一，此湯武之師。 吾欲歸命，爾等勉之，勿遇嘉運而為禍先。」 遂歸太祖。 太祖素聞其名，厚加禮焉。 拜中書令，出納王言，兼總文誥。 中原既平，賜爵下蔡子。 從駕還京師，卒，時年七十。
Qu Zun, whose style name was Zipi, [2] came from Tuhe in Changli commandery. Learned and accomplished in many fields, he was celebrated in his day. He served Murong Yong as vice director of the Masters of Writing and as Duke of Wuyuan. After Yong's fall, Chui appointed him magistrate of Boling. During the Taizu's southern campaign the emperor reached Lukou; the governor of Boling, Shen Yong, fled south beyond the Yellow River, the governor of Gaoyang, Cui Xuanbo, fled east toward the coast, and most of the county magistrates under them ran away. Zun alone addressed his officials and people: "In past years Prince Bao's army was crushed; now Chui has marched out and will not come back. Heaven has abandoned Yan, and men cannot hold it up. The Wei emperor is divinely martial and born for his age, magnanimous and skilled at winning men over; he commands a million troops and his orders run as one. This is an army in the mold of Tang and Wu. I mean to surrender to them; do your best, and do not let a turn of good fortune make you the first to bring ruin upon yourselves. With that he surrendered to the Taizu. The Taizu had long known his reputation and received him with exceptional honor. He was made Director of the Secretariat, charged with conveying the sovereign's words and overseeing all written proclamations. After the Central Plains were pacified, he was enfeoffed as Viscount of Xiaxia. He accompanied the emperor back to the capital and died there at the age of seventy.
23
子須，襲。 除長樂太守，加鎮遠將軍，進爵信都侯。 卒，贈寧北將軍、昌黎公，諡曰恭。
His son Xu inherited the title. He was appointed governor of Changle, made General Who Pacifies the Distant, and raised to Marquis of Xindu. After his death he was posthumously made General Who Pacifies the North and Duke of Changli, with the posthumous epithet Gong.
24
少子處珍，襲爵。 處珍卒，子車渠襲爵。 高祖初，出為東陽鎮將。 卒，贈青州刺史，諡曰莊。
His youngest son Chuzhen inherited the title. When Chuzhen died, his son Chequ inherited in turn. Early in Emperor Xiaowen's reign he was sent out as garrison general of Dongyang. He died and was posthumously made governor of Qingzhou, with the posthumous epithet Zhuang.
25
長子觀，早卒。 世祖愍之，賜其子男爵。
His eldest son Guan died young. Emperor Taiwu took pity on him and granted his son a baron's title.
26
觀弟道賜，襲祖爵。 [4]道賜，少以父任，內侍左右。 稍遷主客，進為尚書，加散騎常侍。 善騎射，機辯有辭氣，世祖甚器之。 從征蓋吳，遷尚書右僕射，加侍中。 還至雁門，暴疾卒。 諡曰哀公。
Guan's younger brother Daoci inherited their grandfather's title. [4] Daoci entered court service through his father's office while still young and attended at the emperor's side. He was gradually promoted to Director of Guests, then to Minister of Works, with the added title of Regular Attendant of the Cavalry. Skilled in riding and archery, quick-witted and forceful in debate, he won great favor from Emperor Taiwu. He followed the campaign against Gai Wu and was made Right Vice Director of the Masters of Writing with the added title of Palace Attendant. On the march home he reached Yanmen and died suddenly of illness. He was given the posthumous title Duke Ai.
27
子拔，襲爵。 拔少好陰陽學。 世祖追思其父祖，年十四，以為南部大夫。 時世祖南伐，擒劉義隆將胡盛之，以付拔。 拔酒醉，不覺盛之逃去。 世祖大怒，命斬之。 將伏鑕，世祖愴然曰：「若鬼而有知，長生問其子孫，朕何以應之？」 乃赦拔，免為散大夫。 後顯祖以其功臣子，拜營州刺史。 卒，子永興襲爵。
His son Ba inherited the title. From youth Ba was drawn to the study of yin-yang cosmology. In memory of his father and grandfather, the emperor appointed him Grandee of the Southern Section at the age of fourteen. During the southern campaign the emperor captured Hu Shengzhi, a general of Liu Yilong, and placed him in Ba's custody. Ba was drunk and did not notice when Shengzhi escaped. The emperor was furious and ordered his execution. As the execution was about to take place, the emperor said in distress: "If the dead have knowledge and Changsheng asks his descendants what became of them, what answer can I give?" He then pardoned Ba and reduced him to the rank of Grandee Without Portfolio. Later Emperor Xiaowen, treating him as the son of a meritorious minister, appointed him governor of Yingzhou. After his death his son Yongxing inherited the title.
28
張蒲，字玄則，河內脩武人，本名謨，後改為蒲。 漢太尉延之後。 父攀，慕容垂御史中丞、兵部尚書，以清方稱。 蒲少有父風，頗涉文史，以端謹見知，為慕容寶陽平、河間二郡太守，尚書左丞。 太祖定中山，寶之官司敍用者，多降品秩。 既素聞蒲名，仍拜為尚書左丞。 天興中，以蒲清謹方正，遷東部大人。 後拜太中大夫。 太宗即位，為內都大官，賜爵泰昌子，參決庶獄，私謁不行，號為公正。
Zhang Pu, whose style name was Xuanze, came from Xiuwu in Henei commandery; his original given name was Mo, which he later changed to Pu. He traced his descent to Zhang Yan, Grand Commandant under the Han. His father Pan had served Murong Chui as censor-in-chief and minister of war and was known for integrity and rectitude. Pu showed his father's character from youth, had some grounding in letters and history, and won notice for propriety and discretion; he served Murong Bao as governor of Yangping and Hejian and as Left Vice Director of the Masters of Writing. After the Taizu pacified Zhongshan, most of Bao's officials who were kept in service had their ranks reduced. The Taizu had long known Pu's reputation and nevertheless appointed him Left Vice Director of the Masters of Writing. During the Tianxing era he was transferred to Grandee of the Eastern Section on account of his purity, caution, and rectitude. He was later made Grand Master of the Palace. When Emperor Mingyuan took the throne, Pu became Grand Officer of the Inner Capital, was enfeoffed as Viscount of Taichang, helped decide ordinary legal cases, refused private petitions, and was known as "the fair judge."
29
泰常初，丁零翟猛雀驅逼吏民入白𡼏山，謀為大逆。 詔蒲與冀州刺史長孫道生等往討。 道生等欲徑以大兵擊之，蒲曰：「良民所以從猛雀者，非樂亂而為，皆逼凶威，強服之耳。 今若直以大軍臨之，吏民雖欲返善，其道無由。 又懼誅夷，必并勢而距官軍，然後入山恃阻，誑惑愚民。 其變未易圖也。 不如先遣使喻之，使民不與猛雀同謀者無坐，則民必喜而俱降矣。」 道生甚以為然，具以奏聞。 太宗詔蒲軍前慰喻。 乃下數千家，還其本屬，蒲皆安集之。 猛雀與親黨百餘人奔逃。 蒲與道生等追斬猛雀首，送京師。
Early in the Taichang era the Dingling leader Zhai Mengque forced officials and commoners into Baizhong Mountain in a plot of outright rebellion. An edict ordered Pu, together with Changsun Daosheng, governor of Jizhou, and others to go and suppress the revolt. Daosheng and the others wanted to strike at once with a large army. Pu said: "The reason ordinary people follow Mengque is not that they love rebellion; they are all driven by brutal intimidation and forced to submit. If we march a great army straight against them now, even when officials and people wish to return to loyalty they will have no way to do so. Fearing massacre, they will surely unite to resist the imperial army, then retreat into the mountains and use the terrain to deceive the common people. Such a turn of events would not be easy to overcome. It would be better to send envoys first and announce that those who did not join Mengque's plot would not be punished; then the people will surely rejoice and surrender together. Daosheng strongly agreed and reported the plan in full to the throne. Emperor Mingyuan ordered Pu to go ahead of the army and offer reassurance and instruction. Several thousand households then came down from the mountains and were returned to their home districts; Pu settled them all peacefully. Mengque fled with more than a hundred close followers. Pu and Daosheng pursued him, cut off Mengque's head, and sent it to the capital.
30
後劉裕寇竊河表，以蒲為南中郎將、南蠻校尉，隸平南大將軍長孫嵩往禦之。 裕入長安，乃還。 後改為壽張子，與安平公叔孫建將兵自平原東渡，[5]徇下劉義符青兗諸郡。 詔加陳兵將軍、濟州刺史。 又與建攻青州，不克而還。
Later, when Liu Yu invaded the territory south of the Yellow River, Pu was made General of the Southern Gentlemen and Colonel of the Southern Barbarians and placed under Grand General Changsun Song, Pacifier of the South, to resist him. When Yu entered Chang'an, the army withdrew. His title was later changed to Viscount of Shouzhang; together with Duke of Ping'an Shusun Jian he led troops across the plain from Pingyuan [5] and brought under control the Qing and Yan commanderies held by Liu Yifu. He was further made General Who Displays Troops and governor of Jizhou. He again joined Jian in an attack on Qingzhou, failed to take it, and withdrew.
31
世祖即位，以蒲清貧，妻子衣食不給，乃出為相州刺史。 扶弱抑強，進善黜惡，教化大行。 始光三年卒於州，年七十二。 吏民痛惜之。 蒲在謀臣之列，屢出為將，朝廷清論，常為稱首。 贈平東將軍、廣平公，諡曰文恭。
When Emperor Taiwu took the throne, seeing that Pu was upright but so poor that his wife and children lacked adequate food and clothing, the court sent him out as governor of Xiangzhou. He supported the weak and restrained the strong, promoted the good and removed the wicked, and moral instruction flourished throughout the province. He died in office in the third year of the Shiguang era, at the age of seventy-two. Officials and commoners mourned him deeply. Pu ranked among the emperor's chief advisers, was repeatedly sent out as a general, and in the court's sober discussions was often placed first. He was posthumously made General Who Pacifies the East and Duke of Guangping, with the posthumous epithet Wengong.
32
子昭，有志操。 天興中，以功臣子為太學生。 太宗即位，為內主書。 後襲父爵。 神䴥中，從征蠕蠕，以功進爵脩武侯，加平遠將軍。 延和二年，出為幽州刺史，開府，加寧東將軍。 時幽州年穀不登，州廩虛罄，民多菜色。 昭謂民吏曰：「何我之不德而遇其時乎？」 乃使富人通濟貧乏，車馬之家糴運外境，貧弱者勸以農桑。 歲乃大熟。 士女稱頌之。 在任三年，卒。
His son Zhao had strong moral character. During the Tianxing era he entered the Imperial Academy as the son of a meritorious minister. When Emperor Mingyuan took the throne, he became chief secretary within the palace. He later inherited his father's title. During the Shenju era he joined the campaign against the Rouran and, for his merit, was raised to Marquis of Xiuwu and made General Who Pacifies the Distant. In the second year of the Yanhe era he was sent out as governor of Youzhou with his own headquarters and the added title General Who Pacifies the East. Youzhou had suffered crop failure that year; the provincial granaries were empty and many people showed the pallor of hunger. Zhao said to officials and people alike: "What lack of virtue in me has brought on such a time?" He then had the wealthy extend relief to the poor, households with transport buy grain from outside the region, and the poorest urged to devote themselves to farming and sericulture. That year brought a great harvest. Men and women throughout the province praised him. After three years in office he died.
33
子昶，襲爵。 早卒。
His son Chang inherited the title. He died young.
34
昶弟靈符。 真君八年，補中書博士。 和平中，咸陽郡民趙昌聚黨作逆，百姓騷動。 詔靈符宣旨慰喻，民乃復業。 天安初，遷中書侍郎，賜爵昌國子。 延興中，使南豫州，觀察風俗。 太和四年，除建威將軍、廣平太守。 還為尚書左丞，司州大中正。 後除鎮遠將軍、齊州刺史。 十六年，轉光州刺史，加立忠將軍。 卒。
Chang's younger brother Lingfu was appointed Erudite of the Secretariat in the eighth year of the Zhenjun era. During the Heping era Zhao Chang of Xianyang commandery gathered a faction and rebelled, throwing the populace into turmoil. An edict ordered Lingfu to proclaim the imperial will and reassure the people, and they then returned to their occupations. Early in the Tian'an era he was made Supervisor of the Masters of Writing and enfeoffed as Viscount of Changguo. During the Yanxing era he was sent to Southern Yuzhou to observe local customs. In the fourth year of the Taihe era he was made General Who Establishes Might and governor of Guangping. On his return he became Left Vice Director of the Masters of Writing and Chief Rectifier of Sizhou. He was later made General Who Pacifies the Distant and governor of Qizhou. In the sixteenth year he was transferred to governor of Guangzhou with the added title General Who Establishes Loyalty. He died.
35
谷渾，字元沖，昌黎人也。 父袞，膂力兼人，彎弓三百斤，勇冠一時。 仕慕容垂，至廣武將軍。
Gu Hun, whose style name was Yuanchong, came from Changli. His father Gun had strength beyond ordinary men, could draw a bow weighing three hundred jin, and was accounted the bravest man of his day. He served Murong Chui and rose to the rank of General of Guangwu.
36
渾正直有操行，性不苟合，趣舍不與己同者，視之蔑如也。 然愛重舊故，不以富貴驕人。 時人以此稱之。 在官廉直，為世祖所器重，詔以渾子孫十五以上悉補中書學生。 延和二年春，卒。 世祖悼惜之，親臨其喪。 贈賜豐厚，諡曰文宣。
Hun was upright and principled by nature; he would not compromise casually, and those whose choices differed from his own he treated with open contempt. Yet he cherished old friends and did not lord his wealth and rank over others. People of the day praised him for this. Upright and incorruptible in office, he won great favor from Emperor Taiwu, who ordered that all of Hun's descendants aged fifteen and above be enrolled as students of the Secretariat school. He died in the spring of the second year of the Yanhe era. The emperor mourned him and personally attended his funeral. Posthumous gifts were lavish, and he was given the posthumous epithet Wenxuan.
37
子闡，字崇基，小字長命，襲爵。 少侍東宮，稍遷平南將軍、相州刺史。 入為外都大官。 延興四年卒。 諡曰簡公。
His son Chan, whose style name was Chongji and childhood name Changming, inherited the title. From youth he served in the Eastern Palace and was gradually promoted to General Who Pacifies the South and governor of Xiangzhou. He returned to court as Grand Officer of the Outer Capital. He died in the fourth year of the Yanxing era. He was given the posthumous title Duke Jian.
38
闡弟季孫，襲爵。 中書學生，入為祕書中散，遷中部大夫。 出為吐京鎮將。
Chan's younger brother Jisun inherited the title. He studied at the Secretariat school, entered service as secretary within the palace, and was promoted to Grandee of the Central Section. He was sent out as garrison general of Tujing.
39
闡子洪，字元孫。 少受學中書。 世祖以洪機敏有祖風，令入授高宗經。 高宗即位，以舊恩為散騎常侍、南部長。 遷尚書，賜爵滎陽公。 洪性貪奢，僕妾衣服錦綺，貲累千金，而求欲滋劇。 時顯祖舅李峻等初至京師，官給衣服，洪輒截沒。 為有司所糾，并窮其前後贓罪，坐以伏法。
Chan's son Hong, whose style name was Yuansun, From youth he studied in the Secretariat. Emperor Taiwu, seeing that Hong was quick-witted and resembled his grandfather in manner, had him enter the palace to instruct Emperor Xiaowen in the classics. When Emperor Xiaowen took the throne, Hong was made Regular Attendant of the Cavalry and chief of the Southern Section in recognition of old ties. He was promoted to Minister of Works and enfeoffed as Duke of Xingyang. Hong was greedy and extravagant; his servants and concubines wore brocade and silk, his wealth piled up to a thousand gold pieces, and his appetites grew ever sharper. When Emperor Xiaowen's uncle Li Jun and others first reached the capital, the court supplied them with clothing, but Hong intercepted and kept it. The relevant office impeached him, his past and present crimes of corruption were fully investigated, and he was executed.
40
子穎，青州、征東大將軍、廣陵王羽田曹參軍，員外散騎侍郎，給事中，尚書郎，加威遠將軍。 除員外散騎常侍，尋轉中散大夫。 大軍伐蜀，時益州刺史傅豎眼出為別將，以穎權行州事。 後除假節、鎮遠將軍、涼州刺史，不行。 改授太府少卿，又加前將軍。 神龜二年卒。 贈平東將軍、營州刺史，諡曰貞。
His son Ying served as registrar in the household of Prince Guangling Yu, extraordinary attendant of the cavalry, attendant within the yellow gates, gentleman of the masters of writing, and general who displays might. He was made extraordinary regular attendant of the cavalry and soon transferred to grand master of the palace. During the great campaign against Shu, when Governor of Yizhou Fu Shuyan went out as a separate commander, Ying was entrusted with acting authority over the province. He was later given provisional staff as General Who Pacifies the Distant and governor of Liangzhou but did not take up the post. He was reassigned as vice director of the imperial treasury and given the added title Forward General. He died in the second year of the Shengui era. He was posthumously made General Who Pacifies the East and governor of Yingzhou, with the posthumous epithet Zhen.
41
長子纂，字靈紹，頗有學涉。 解褐太學博士，領侍御史。 稍遷著作郎、司州治中、黃門郎、散騎常侍。 又為侍中、兼殿中尚書。 遷驃騎大將軍、左光祿大夫、營州大中正。 纂前為著作，又監國史，不能有所緝綴。
His eldest son Zuan, whose style name was Lingshao, had considerable learning. On entering service he became erudite of the Imperial Academy and oversaw the attending censor. He was gradually promoted to gentleman of the writing office, rectifier of Sizhou, gentleman of the yellow gates, and regular attendant of the cavalry. He also served as palace attendant and concurrent minister of the palace section. He was made General of Agile Cavalry, grand master of the left household, and chief rectifier of Yingzhou. Zuan had earlier served in the writing office and also supervised the national history, but could accomplish no real compilation.
42
纂弟士恢，字紹達。 少好琴書。 初為世宗挽郎，除奉朝請。 正光中，入侍，甚為肅宗寵待。 元叉之出，靈太后反政，紹達預有力焉。 遷諫議大夫，俄轉通直散騎常侍、直閤將軍、鴻臚少卿，封元城縣開國侯，邑七百戶。 太后嬖幸鄭儼，懼紹達間構於帝，每因言次，導紹達為州。 紹達耽寵，不願出外。 太后誣其罪而殺之。
Zuan's younger brother Shihui, whose style name was Shaoda, From youth he loved the zither and books. He first served as a dirge officer for Emperor Xuanwu, then was appointed attendant at court. During the Zhengguang era he entered palace attendance and won great favor from Emperor Xiaoming. When Yuan Cha was removed and Empress Dowager Ling returned to power, Shaoda had lent significant support. He was promoted to remonstrating grandee, then soon made regular attendant of the cavalry with direct communication, general of the inner quarters, vice director of the court for diplomatic relations, and enfeoffed as Marquis of Yuancheng with a fief of seven hundred households. The empress dowager favored Zheng Yan and feared Shaoda would sow discord with the emperor; whenever she spoke with the emperor she steered Shaoda toward a provincial post. Clinging to court favor, Shaoda was unwilling to leave the capital. The empress dowager fabricated charges against him and had him executed.
43
公孫表，字玄元，燕郡廣陽人也。 遊學為諸生。 慕容沖以為尚書郎。 慕容垂破長子，從入中山。 慕容寶走，乃歸闕。 以使江南稱旨，拜尚書郎。 後為博士。 初，太祖以慕容垂諸子分據勢要，權柄推移，遂至亡滅； 且國俗敦樸，嗜欲寡少，不可啟其機心，而導其巧利，深非之。 表承指上韓非書二十卷，太祖稱善。
Gongsun Biao, whose style name was Xuanyuan, came from Guangyang in Yan commandery. He traveled to study and became a student of the classics. Murong Chong appointed him gentleman of the masters of writing. When Murong Chui captured Changzi, Biao followed him into Zhongshan. When Murong Bao fled, he submitted to the Wei court. Because his mission south of the Yangtze pleased the throne, he was appointed gentleman of the masters of writing. He later became an erudite. Earlier the Taizu had observed that Murong Chui's sons each held strategic posts and, as power shifted among them, the state fell to ruin; moreover the national custom was plain and simple and desires were few—one must not stir their scheming minds or lead them toward crafty profit, which he deeply disapproved. Biao, following this intent, presented twenty scrolls of the Han Feizi; the Taizu praised it.
44
太宗初，表參功勞將軍元屈軍事，討吐京叛胡，為胡所敗。 表以先諫止屈，太宗善之，賜爵固安子。 河西飢胡劉虎聚結流民，反於上黨，南寇河內。 詔表討虎，又令表與姚興洛陽戍將結期，使備河南岸，然後進軍討之。 時胡內自疑阻，更相殺害，表以其有解散之勢，遂不與戍將相聞，率眾討之。 法令不整，為胡所敗，軍人大被傷殺。 太宗深銜之。
Early in Emperor Mingyuan's reign, Biao assisted General of Meritorious Service Yuan Qu in suppressing the rebellious Hu of Tujing and was defeated by them. Biao had earlier remonstrated against Qu's plan; the emperor approved and enfeoffed him as Viscount of Gu'an. The famished Hu of Hexi, Liu Hu, gathered displaced people and rebelled in Shangdang, raiding south into Henei. An edict ordered Biao to suppress Hu and to fix a date with Yao Xing's garrison commander at Luoyang so the south bank of the Yellow River would be secured before the advance. At that time the Hu were inwardly suspicious and killing one another; seeing they were near disbanding, Biao did not inform the garrison commander and led his troops to attack. His discipline was lax; he was defeated by the Hu and many soldiers were killed or wounded. Emperor Mingyuan deeply resented this.
45
及劉裕征姚興，兗州刺史尉建聞寇至，棄滑臺北走，詔表隨壽光侯叔孫建屯枋頭。 泰常七年，劉裕死，議取河南侵地。 太宗以為掠地至淮，滑臺等三城自然面縛。 表固執宜先攻城，太宗從之。 於是以奚斤為都督，以表為吳兵將軍、廣州刺史。 斤等濟河，表攻滑臺，歷時不拔。 太宗乃南巡，為之聲援。 表等既克滑臺，引師西伐，大破劉義隆將翟廣等於土樓，[6]遂圍虎牢。 車駕次汲郡，始昌子蘇坦、太史令王亮奏表置軍虎牢東，不得利便之地，故令賊不時滅。 太宗雅好術數，又積前忿，及攻虎牢，士卒多傷，乃使人夜就帳中縊而殺之。 時年六十四。 太宗以賊未退，祕而不宣。
When Liu Yu campaigned against Yao Xing, Governor of Yanzhou Wei Jian, hearing the enemy had arrived, abandoned Huatai and fled north; Biao was ordered to follow Marquis of Shouguang Shusun Jian in garrisoning Fangtou. In the seventh year of Taichang, Liu Yu died, and the court discussed recovering the invaded lands south of the river. The emperor thought that if they seized territory as far as the Huai, Huatai and the other three cities would submit of themselves. Biao firmly insisted they should attack the cities first, and the emperor followed his advice. Xi Jin was made overall commander; Biao was made General of Wu Troops and governor of Guangzhou. Jin and others crossed the river; Biao attacked Huatai but could not take it for a long time. The emperor then toured south to support them. After Biao and the others took Huatai, they marched west and greatly defeated Liu Yilong's general Zhai Guang and others at Tulou, [6] then besieged Hulao. The imperial carriage halted in Ji commandery; Su Tan, Viscount of Shichang, and Court Astronomer Wang Liang memorialized that Biao had placed his army east of Hulao, not in an advantageous position, and so the enemy was not quickly destroyed. The emperor had always loved divination and also harbored old resentment; when the attack on Hulao cost many soldiers' lives, he sent men at night into Biao's tent to strangle him. He was then sixty-four. Because the enemy had not yet retreated, the death was kept secret.
46
初，表與勃海封愷友善，後為子求愷從女，愷不許，表甚銜之。 及封氏為司馬國璠所逮，太宗以舊族欲原之，表固證其罪，乃誅封氏。 表為人外和內忌，時人以此薄之。 表本與王亮同營署，及其出也，輕侮亮，故至於死。
Earlier Biao had been friendly with Feng Kai of Bohai; later he sought Kai's cousin's daughter for his son, but Kai refused, and Biao deeply resented it. When the Feng clan was seized by Sima Guofan, the emperor wished to pardon them as an old family; Biao firmly proved their guilt, and the Feng clan was executed. Biao was outwardly agreeable but inwardly jealous; people of the time looked down on him for this. Biao had originally served in the same office as Wang Liang; when Liang went out on assignment, Biao treated him with contempt, and so Liang brought about his death.
47
第二子軌，字元慶。 少以文學知名，太宗時為中書郎。 出從征討，補諸軍司馬。 世祖平赫連昌，引諸將帥入其府藏，各令任意取金玉。 諸將取之盈懷，軌獨不探把。 世祖乃親探金賜之，謂軌曰：「卿可謂臨財不苟得，朕所以增賜者，欲顯廉於眾人。」
His second son Gui, whose style name was Yuanqing, From youth he was famed for literary learning; in Emperor Mingyuan's time he served as gentleman of the secretariat. He went out on campaigns and was appointed military aide to the various armies. When Emperor Taiwu pacified Helian Chang, he led the generals into the prince's treasury and let each take gold and jade as he wished. The generals filled their arms; Gui alone did not reach out. The emperor then personally took gold and gave it to him, saying: "You may be said not to grasp at wealth when facing it; the reason I add this gift is to display integrity before everyone."
48
後兼大鴻臚，持節拜氐王楊玄為南秦王。 及境，玄不郊迎，軌數玄曰：「昔尉他跨據，及陸賈至，匍匐奉順，故能垂名竹帛。 今君王無肅恭之禮，非蕃臣也。」 玄使其屬趙客子對曰：「天子以六合為家，孰非王庭，是以敢請入國，然後受謁。」 軌答曰：「大夫入境，尚有郊勞，而況王命者乎？ 請奉策以還。」 玄懼，詣郊受命。 軌使還，稱旨，拜尚書，賜爵燕郡公，加平南將軍。
He later also served as grand master of the court for diplomatic relations, bearing the staff to invest the Di king Yang Xuan as King of Southern Qin. When he reached the border, Xuan did not come out to meet him in the suburbs; Gui rebuked him: "In former times Zhao Tuo held his own territory apart; when Lu Jia arrived, he prostrated himself in submission and so his name was recorded for posterity. Now Your Majesty lacks the ceremony of respectful submission—you are no vassal minister." Xuan had his subordinate Zhao Kezi reply: "The Son of Heaven takes the six directions as his house—what place is not his court? Therefore I dare request to enter the state and then receive audience." Gui answered: "When a grandee enters a state, there is still suburban greeting—how much more when one bears the king's command? Please take the investiture document and return." Xuan was afraid and went to the suburbs to receive the command. When Gui returned and his mission pleased the throne, he was appointed minister of works, enfeoffed as Duke of Yan commandery, and given the added title General Who Pacifies the South.
49
及劉義隆將到彥之遣其部將姚縱夫濟河，攻冶坂。 世祖慮更北入，遣軌屯壺關。 會上黨丁零叛，軌討平之。 出為虎牢鎮將。
When Liu Yilong's general Dao Yanzhi sent his subordinate Yao Zongfu across the river to attack Yebai. The emperor feared a further push north and sent Gui to garrison Huguan. At that time the Dingling of Shangdang rebelled; Gui suppressed and pacified them. He was sent out as garrison general of Hulao.
50
初，世祖將北征，發民驢以運糧，使軌部詣雍州。 軌令驢主皆加絹一匹，乃與受之。 百姓為之語曰：「驢無強弱，輔脊自壯。」 [7]眾共嗤之。 坐徵還。 真君二年卒，時年五十一。 軌既死，世祖謂崔浩曰：「吾行過上黨，父老皆曰：公孫軌為受貨縱賊，使至今餘姦不除，軌之咎也。 其初來，單馬執鞭； 返去，從車百兩，載物而南。 丁零渠帥乘山罵軌，軌怒，取罵者之母，以矛刺其陰而殺之，曰：『何以生此逆子！』 從下到擘，分磔四支於山樹上以肆其忿。 是忍行不忍之事。 軌幸而早死，至今在者，吾必族而誅之。」
Earlier, when the emperor was about to campaign north, he mobilized the people's donkeys to transport grain and sent Gui's section to Yongzhou. Gui ordered each donkey owner to add one bolt of silk, and only then accepted them. The people made a saying: "Donkeys have no strong or weak—the assistant's back is always stout." Everyone mocked him for this. He was summoned back for investigation. He died in the second year of the Zhenjun era, aged fifty-one. After Gui died, the emperor said to Cui Hao: "When I passed through Shangdang, the elders all said Gongsun Gui accepted bribes and indulged bandits, so evildoers remain to this day—that is Gui's fault. When he first came, he rode alone with whip in hand; when he returned, a hundred carts followed, loaded with goods going south. A Dingling chieftain on the mountain cursed Gui; Gui in anger took the curser's mother, stabbed her private parts with a spear and killed her, saying: 'Why give birth to this rebellious son!' From below upward he dismembered her, quartering the four limbs on mountain trees to vent his rage. This was doing what the humane cannot bear to do. Fortune spared Gui an early death—had he lived until today, I would have wiped out his whole clan.
51
軌終得娶于封氏，生二子，斌、叡。
Gui eventually married into the Feng clan and had two sons, Bin and Rui.
52
斌，襲爵。 拜內都大官。 正光二年卒。 [8]贈幽州刺史。
Bin succeeded to the title. He was appointed grand officer of the inner court. He died in the second year of the Zhengguang era. He was posthumously made governor of Youzhou. [8]
53
叡，字文叔。 初為東宮吏，稍遷儀曹長，賜爵陽平公。 時顯祖於苑內立殿，敕中秘羣官制名。 叡曰：「臣聞至尊至貴，莫崇於帝王； 天人挹損，莫大于謙光。 伏惟陛下躬唐虞之德，存道頤神，逍遙物外，宮居之名，當協叡旨。 臣愚以為宜曰『崇光』。」 奏可。 後卒於南部尚書。 贈安東將軍、幽州刺史，諡曰宣。
Rui, whose style name was Wenshu. He began as an officer in the Eastern Palace, was gradually promoted to chief of the Bureau of Ceremonial, and was enfeoffed as Duke of Yangping. At that time Emperor Xianzu built a hall in the imperial park and ordered secretariat officials to choose a name for it. Rui said, "I have heard that nothing ranks above the emperor among the most exalted and noble; and that among all forms of restraint suited to Heaven and man, nothing surpasses modest humility. I humbly consider that Your Majesty embodies the virtue of the sage-kings Tang and Yu, preserves the Way and nourishes the spirit, and roams free beyond worldly affairs—the hall's name should reflect that profound intent. In my humble opinion, it should be called "Chongguang"—"Exalted Radiance." The emperor approved the proposal. He later died while serving as Minister of the Southern Branch. He was posthumously made General Who Pacifies the East and governor of Youzhou, with the posthumous name Xuan.
54
叡妻，崔浩弟女也，生子良，字遵伯。 聰明好學，為尚書左丞，雅有幹用，為高祖所知遇。
Rui's wife was a daughter of Cui Hao's younger brother; she bore a son named Liang, whose style name was Zunbo. Intelligent and studious, he became Left Vice Director of the Masters of Writing; naturally capable in affairs, he won the Gaozu's recognition and favor.
55
良弟衡，字道津。 良推爵讓之，仕至司直。 良以別功，賜爵昌平子。 子崇基襲。
Liang's younger brother Heng had the style name Daojin. Liang renounced his title in Heng's favor, and Heng rose to the post of Grand Corrector. Liang, for separate achievements, was enfeoffed as Viscount of Changping. His son Chongji succeeded to the title.
56
軌弟質，字元直。 有經義，頗屬文。 初為中書學生，稍遷博士。 世祖征涼州，留宜都王穆壽輔恭宗。 時蠕蠕乘虛犯塞，候騎至於京師，京師大震。 壽雅信任質，以為謀主。 質性好卜筮，卜筮者咸云寇必不來，故不謀備。 由質幾致敗國。 後深自督厲，屢進讜言，超遷尚書。 真君九年卒。 追贈中護軍將軍、光祿勳、幽州刺史、廣陽侯，諡曰恭。
Gui's younger brother Zhi had the style name Yuanzhi. He was well versed in the classics and reasonably accomplished as a writer. He began as a student in the Secretariat and was gradually promoted to the rank of erudite. When the Shizu campaigned against Liangzhou, he left Prince Yidu Mu Shou behind to assist the crown prince. At that time the Rouran seized the opportunity to raid the frontier; advance scouts reached the capital, and the city was thrown into alarm. Shou trusted Zhi deeply and relied on him as his chief adviser. Zhi was fond of divination; the diviners all declared the enemy would not come, so no defensive preparations were made. Zhi's influence nearly brought the state to ruin. Later he redoubled his self-discipline, repeatedly offered forthright counsel, and was rapidly promoted to Minister of the Masters of Writing. He died in the ninth year of the Zhenjun era. He was posthumously made General of the Central Guard, Grand Master for Splendid Happiness, governor of Youzhou, and Marquis of Guangyang, with the posthumous name Gong.
57
第二子邃，字文慶。 初為選部吏，以積勤，稍遷南部長。 敷奏有稱，遷南部尚書，賜爵范陽侯，加左將軍。 高祖詔邃與內都幢將、上谷公張儵率眾討蕭賾舞陰戍。
His second son Sui had the style name Wenqing. He began as an officer in the Selection Bureau and, through sustained diligent service, was gradually promoted to chief of the Southern Branch. His memorials were well regarded; he was promoted to Minister of the Southern Branch, enfeoffed as Marquis of Fanyang, and given the added title of General of the Left. The Gaozu ordered Sui, together with the Inner Command standard-bearer Zhang Su, Duke of Shanggu, to lead troops against Xiao Ze's fortress at Wuyin.
58
後高祖與文明太后引見王公以下，高祖曰：「比年方割畿內及京城三部，於百姓頗有益否？」 邃對曰：「先者人民離散，主司猥多，至於督察，實難齊整。 自方割以來，眾賦易辦，實有大益。」 太后曰：「諸人多言無益，卿言可謂識治機矣。」 詔醴陽被掠之兵，有得還者，賜絹二十匹。 邃奏為貴賤等級，高祖稱善。 依例降侯，改為襄平伯。 出為使持節、安東將軍、青州刺史。 以邃在公遺迹可紀，下詔褒述。 加鎮東將軍，領東夷校尉，刺史如故。
Later the Gaozu and Empress Dowager Wenming received the princes, dukes, and officials below them, and the Gaozu asked, "In recent years we partitioned the capital region and the three metropolitan districts—has this benefited the common people? Sui replied, "Previously the populace was scattered and supervisory offices were far too numerous—overseeing them was genuinely difficult. Since the partition, tax collection has been much easier, and the benefits have been substantial. The empress dowager said, "Most people say it was useless—but your answer shows you understand the right moment for governance. An edict granted twenty bolts of silk to each soldier of Liyang who had been captured and later returned. Sui proposed graded distinctions between high and low, which the Gaozu praised. Following precedent, his marquisate was reduced and he was made Baron of Xiangping. He was sent out as bearer of the staff of authority, General Who Pacifies the East, and governor of Qingzhou. Because Sui's public service left a record worth noting, an edict was issued praising his achievements. He was given the added titles of General Who Guards the East and Colonel of the Eastern Barbarians, while retaining his governorship.
59
太和十九年，卒於官。 高祖在鄴宮，為之舉哀。 時百度唯新，青州佐吏疑為所服。 詔曰：「今古時殊，禮或隆殺。 專古也，理與今違； 專今也，大乖曩義。 當斟酌兩途，商量得失，吏民之情亦不可苟順也。 主簿，近代相承服斬，過葬便除，可如故事。 自餘無服，大成寥落，可準諸境內之民，為齊衰三月。」
He died in office in the nineteenth year of the Taihe era. The Gaozu was at the palace in Ye and held mourning rites for him. Institutions were being comprehensively reformed at the time, and Qingzhou's staff were unsure what mourning garments they should wear. An edict stated, "Times have changed since antiquity, and rites may be heightened or reduced accordingly. Follow antiquity alone, and its principles clash with the present; follow the present alone, and you abandon the spirit of the past. Both paths must be weighed and their gains and losses considered—the feelings of officials and commoners cannot be casually indulged either. Chief clerks, by recent custom, wear the highest grade of mourning until after burial and then end it—that precedent may be followed. For everyone else, who would wear no mourning at all, a full assembly would be too sparse—they may follow the common people of the region and wear second-grade mourning for three months."
60
子同始，襲爵。 卒於給事中。
His son Tongshi succeeded to the title. He died while serving as Attendant Within the Gates.
61
同始弟同慶，篤厚廉慎，為司徒田曹參軍，李崇驃騎府外兵參軍。 隨崇北征，有方直之稱。
Tongshi's younger brother Tongqing was sincere, honest, and cautious; he served as an adjunct in the Field Bureau under the Minister of Works and as an outer-troop adjutant in Li Chong's Rapid Cavalry headquarters. On Li Chong's northern campaign he earned a reputation for integrity and forthrightness.
62
邃、叡為從父兄弟，而叡才器小優，又封氏之生，崔氏之壻，邃母雁門李氏，地望縣隔。 鉅鹿太守祖季真，多識北方人物，每云：「士大夫當須好婚親，二公孫同堂兄弟耳，吉凶會集，便有士庶之異。」
Sui and Rui were paternal cousins, yet Rui was slightly more talented and capable; moreover, he was born of the Feng clan and married into the Cui clan, while Sui's mother came from the Li clan of Yanmen—their family standing was worlds apart. Zu Jizhen, governor of Julu, who knew many notables of the north, often remarked, "A scholar-official needs a good marriage alliance—the two Gongsuns are brothers under the same roof, yet when they gather for joy or sorrow, the gulf between gentleman and commoner is already plain to see."
63
張濟，字士度，西河人也。 父千秋，慕容永驍騎將軍。 永滅，來奔。 太祖善之，拜建節將軍，賜爵成紀侯。 隨從征伐，[9]累著功績。 登國末，卒。
Zhang Ji, whose style name was Shidu, came from Xihe. His father Qianqiu had served as Murong Yong's General of Valiant Cavalry. When Murong Yong fell, he came over to the Wei. The Taizu welcomed him, appointed him General Who Establishes Authority, and enfeoffed him as Marquis of Chengji. He followed the emperor on campaign and repeatedly distinguished himself. [9] He died near the end of the Dengguo era.
64
濟涉獵書傳，清辯，美儀容。 太祖愛之，引侍左右，與公孫表等俱為行人，拜散騎侍郎，襲爵。
Ji was widely read in books and chronicles, clear and persuasive in debate, and handsome in bearing. The Taizu favored him and kept him in attendance; together with Gongsun Biao and others he served as a diplomatic envoy, was appointed Supernumerary Cavalier Attendant, and succeeded to his father's title.
65
先是，姚興遣將攻洛陽，司馬德宗雍州刺史楊佺期遣使乞師於常山王遵，遵以狀聞，太祖遣濟為遵從事中郎報之。 濟自襄陽還，太祖問濟江南之事，濟對曰：「司馬昌明死，子德宗代立，所部州鎮，迭相攻擊，今雖小定，君弱臣強，全無綱紀。 臣等既至襄陽，佺期問臣：『魏初伐中山幾十萬眾？』 臣答：『三十餘萬。』 佺期曰：『魏國被甲戎馬，可有幾匹？』 臣答：『中軍精騎十有餘萬，外軍無數。』 佺期曰：『以此討羌，豈足滅也。』 又曰：『魏定中山，徙幾戶於北？』 臣答：『七萬餘家。』 佺期曰：『治在何城？』 臣答：『定都平城。』 佺期曰：『有如許大眾，亦何用城為？』 又曰：『魏帝為欲久都平城，將復遷乎？』 臣答：『非所知也。』 佺期聞朝廷不都山東，貌有喜色，曰：『晉魏通和，乃在往昔，非唯今日。 羌寇狡猾，頻侵河洛，夙夜憂危。 今此寡弱，倉庫空竭，與君便為一家，義所無諱。 洛城救援，仰恃於魏，若獲保全，當必厚報。 如其為羌所乘，寧使魏取。』 臣等欲分向揚州。 佺期曰：『蠻賊互起，水行甚難，魏之軍馬，已據滑臺，於此而還，從北道東下，乃更便直。 晉之法制，有異於魏。 今都督襄陽，委以外事，有欲征討，輒便興發，然後表聞，令朝廷知之而已。 如其事勢不舉，亦不承臺命。』」 太祖嘉其辭順，乃厚賞其使，許救洛陽。
Earlier, Yao Xing had sent a general to attack Luoyang; Yang Quanqi, governor of Yongzhou under Sima Dezong, sent an envoy to Prince Changshan Zun to request aid; Zun reported this to the court, and the Taizu sent Ji as an attendant gentleman under Zun to reply. When Ji returned from Xiangyang, the Taizu asked him about affairs in the south; Ji replied, "Sima Changming is dead and his son Dezong has taken the throne; the prefectures and garrisons under his rule take turns attacking one another. There is a brief lull now, but the ruler is weak and his ministers are strong—there is no order at all. When we reached Xiangyang, Quanqi asked me, "When Wei first attacked Zhongshan, how many tens of thousands of troops did you field? I answered, "More than three hundred thousand. Quanqi said, "How many armored soldiers and war-horses does Wei have? I answered, "The central army alone has more than a hundred thousand elite cavalry; the frontier armies are beyond counting. Quanqi said, "With a force like that against the Qiang, how could you possibly wipe them out? He also asked, "When Wei secured Zhongshan, how many households did you move north? I answered, "More than seventy thousand households. Quanqi asked, "Which city is your capital? I answered, "The capital is fixed at Pingcheng. Quanqi said, "With a population that large, what need is there for a walled capital? He also asked, "Does the Wei emperor plan to stay at Pingcheng permanently, or will he move the capital again? I answered, "That is not for me to know. When Quanqi heard that the court had no plans to establish its capital in Shandong, he looked pleased and said, "Jin and Wei have been on friendly terms since long ago—not just today. The Qiang raiders are cunning and raid the Heluo region again and again—we live in constant fear. We are weak now, our storehouses empty—we and you are as one family, and there is nothing I need hide from you. Luoyang's rescue depends entirely on Wei; if the city is preserved, I will repay you generously. If the Qiang should seize it, I would rather see Wei take it instead. We planned to split up and proceed toward Yangzhou. Quanqi said, "Bandits are rising everywhere, and travel by water is very dangerous. Wei's army already holds Huatai—from here you should turn back and take the northern route east; that will be much easier. Jin's laws and institutions differ from yours. The commander at Xiangyang now has charge of external affairs—when he wishes to campaign, he simply mobilizes and only afterward notifies the court so it knows what he has done. If the situation does not warrant action, he does not wait for orders from the capital either. The Taizu was pleased with his accommodating tone, richly rewarded the envoy, and agreed to rescue Luoyang.
66
後遷謁者僕射，報使姚興。 以累使稱旨，拜勝兵將軍。 頻從車駕北伐，濟謀功居多。 賞賜奴婢百口，馬牛數百，羊二十餘口。 天賜五年卒，子多羅襲爵。 坐事除。
He was later promoted to Supervisor of Ushers and sent as envoy to Yao Xing. Because his repeated embassies pleased the emperor, he was appointed General of Victorious Troops. He frequently accompanied the emperor on northern campaigns and contributed the lion's share of strategic planning. He was rewarded with a hundred slaves, several hundred horses and cattle, and more than twenty sheep. He died in the fifth year of the Tianci era; his son Duoluo succeeded to the title. He was removed from office for misconduct.
67
李先，字容仁，中山盧奴人也，本字犯高祖廟諱。 少好學，善占相之術，師事清河張御，御奇之。 仕苻堅，尚書郎。 後慕容永聞其名，迎為謀主。 先勸永據長子城，永遂稱制，以先為黃門郎、祕書監。 垂滅永，徙於中山。
Li Xian, whose style name was Rongren, came from Lunu in Zhongshan; his original style name had violated the taboo of the Gaozu's ancestral temple name. In youth he loved learning and was skilled in physiognomy and divination; he studied under Zhang Yu of Qinghe, who recognized his exceptional talent. He served Fu Jian of Former Qin as a Gentleman of the Masters of Writing. Later Murong Yong heard of his reputation and welcomed him as his chief strategist. Xian urged Yong to hold Changzi city; Yong then assumed independent rule and appointed Xian Gentleman-in-Attendance of the Yellow Gate and Director of the Secretariat. When Murong Chui destroyed Yong, Xian was relocated to Zhongshan.
68
皇始初，先於井陘歸順。 太祖問先曰：「卿何國人？」 先曰：「臣本趙郡平棘人。」 太祖曰：「朕聞中山土廣民殷，信爾以不？」 先曰：「臣少官長安，仍事長子，後乃還鄉，觀望民士，實自殷廣。」 又問先曰：「朕聞長子中有李先者，卿其是乎？」 先曰：「小臣是也。」 太祖曰：「卿識朕不？」 先曰：「陛下聖德膺符，澤被八表，龍顏挺特，臣安敢不識。」 太祖又問曰：「卿祖父及身官悉歷何官？」 先對曰：「臣大父重，晉平陽太守、大將軍右司馬。 父樊，石虎樂安太守、左中郎將。 臣，苻丕尚書右主客郎，慕容永祕書監、高密侯。」 太祖曰：「卿既宿士，屢歷名官，經學所通，何典為長？」 先對曰：「臣才識愚闇，少習經史，年荒廢忘，十猶通六。」 又問：「兵法風角，卿悉通不？」 先曰：「亦曾習讀，不能明解。」 太祖曰：「慕容永時，卿用兵不？」 先曰：「臣時蒙顯任，實參兵事。」
At the beginning of the Huangshi era, Xian submitted to the Wei at Jingxing. The Taizu asked Xian, "Where do you come from? Xian replied, "I am originally from Pingji in Zhao commandery. The Taizu said, "I have heard that Zhongshan is broad in territory and rich in population—is that true? Xian said, "In my youth I served at Chang'an, then at Changzi, and later returned home; from what I observed of the people and the gentry, the region is indeed rich and populous. He then asked, "I have heard there is a Li Xian at Changzi—are you he? Xian replied, "I am he. The Taizu asked, "Do you recognize me? Xian said, "Your Majesty's sacred virtue has received the Mandate, your beneficence reaches to every quarter, your august countenance is unmistakable—how could I fail to recognize you? The Taizu asked further, "What offices did your grandfather and you yourself hold? Xian replied, "My great-grandfather Chong was governor of Pingyang under the Jin and Right Marshal under the Grand General. His father Fan had served Shi Hu as governor of Le'an and as General of the Left Gentlemen of the Palace. I served Fu Pi as Right Master of Guests in the Masters of Writing, and Murong Yong as Director of the Secretariat and Marquis of Gaomi. The Taizu said, "You are a seasoned scholar who has repeatedly held distinguished offices—which of the classics do you know best? Xian replied, "My talent is dull; I studied the classics and histories in youth, but with age much has slipped away—I might retain six parts in ten. He asked again, "Military treatises and wind-direction divination—do you understand them fully? Xian said, "I have studied them, but cannot claim to understand them well. The Taizu asked, "Under Murong Yong, did you take part in military affairs? Xian replied, "At that time I held a prominent appointment and was indeed involved in military affairs."
69
太祖後以先為丞相衞王府左長史。 從儀平鄴，到義臺，破慕容驎軍，回定中山，先每一進策，所向克平。 車駕還代，以先為尚書右中兵郎。 太祖謂先曰：「今蠕蠕屢來犯塞，朕欲討之，卿以為何如？」 先曰：「蠕蠕不識天命，竄伏荒朔，屢來偷竊，驚動邊民。 陛下神武，威德遐振，舉兵征之，必將摧殄。」 車駕於是北伐，大破蠕蠕。 賞先奴婢三口，馬牛羊五十頭。
The Taizu later appointed Xian left chief clerk in the household of Prince Wei, Guardian of the Chancellor. On the campaign that pacified Ye, at Yitai, in the defeat of Murong Lin's army, and in the return to secure Zhongshan—whenever Xian offered counsel, success followed. When the emperor returned to Dai, Xian was appointed Right Central Troops Gentleman of the Masters of Writing. The Taizu said to Xian, "The Rouran have been raiding the frontier again and again; I wish to campaign against them—what do you think? Xian said, "The Rouran do not recognize Heaven's Mandate; they skulk in the northern wilderness and raid again and again, terrorizing the frontier population. Your Majesty is divinely martial, your authority and virtue resound far and wide—raise troops against them and you will surely destroy them. The emperor thereupon marched north and inflicted a crushing defeat on the Rouran. Xian was rewarded with three slaves and fifty head of horses, cattle, and sheep.
70
轉七兵郎，遷博士、定州大中正。 太祖問先曰：「天下何書最善，[10]可以益人神智？」 先對曰：「唯有經書。 三皇五帝治化之典，可以補王者神智。」 又問曰：「天下書籍，凡有幾何？ 朕欲集之，如何可備？」 對曰：「伏羲創制，帝王相承，以至於今，世傳國記，天文祕緯不可計數。 陛下誠欲集之，嚴制天下諸州郡縣搜索備送，主之所好，集亦不難。」 太祖於是班制天下，經籍稍集。
He was transferred to Seventh Troops Gentleman and promoted to erudite and Chief Rectifier of Dingzhou. The Taizu asked Xian, "What book in all the world is best [10] for enriching the mind and spirit? Xian replied, "Only the canonical scriptures. The classics of governance by the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors can sharpen a ruler's mind and spirit. He asked again, "How many books exist in all the world? I wish to collect them—how might that be accomplished? He replied, "From Fuxi's creations down through successive dynasties to the present, the records transmitted from age to age, the astronomical texts and apocryphal writings—they are beyond counting. If Your Majesty truly wishes to collect them, issue strict orders to every province, commandery, and county to search and deliver books—what the sovereign desires is not hard to gather. The Taizu thereupon issued orders throughout the realm, and the canonical texts were gradually brought together.
71
太祖之討姚興於柴壁也，問先曰：「興屯天渡，平據柴壁，相為表裏。 今欲殄之，計將安出？」 先對曰：「臣聞兵以正合，戰以奇勝。 如聞姚興欲屯兵天渡，利其糧道。 及其未到之前，遣奇兵先邀天渡，柴壁左右，嚴設伏兵，備其表裏。 以陛下神策，觀時而動，興欲進不得，退又乏糧。 [11]夫高者為敵所棲，深者為敵所囚，兵法所忌而興居之，可不戰而取。」 太祖從其計，興果敗歸。
When the Taizu was campaigning against Yao Xing at Chaibi, he asked Xian, "Yao Xing is encamped at Tiandu and Ping holds Chaibi—they are mutually supporting positions. Now I wish to destroy them—what plan do you propose? Xian replied, "I have heard that in war one engages with orthodox force and wins through unorthodox maneuvers. As I understand, Yao Xing intends to encamp at Tiandu to control the grain supply route. Before he arrives, send a strike force to intercept at Tiandu, and on both flanks of Chaibi deploy ambush troops to block mutual reinforcement. With Your Majesty's divine strategy, acting when the moment is right—Yao Xing will be unable to advance, and if he retreats he will lack supplies. [11] High ground invites the enemy to settle on you; deep positions invite encirclement—the very mistakes military treatises warn against are the positions Yao Xing has taken; he can be captured without a pitched battle. The Taizu followed his plan, and Yao Xing was indeed defeated and forced to retreat.
72
太宗即位，問左右舊臣之中為先帝所親信者有誰。 時新息公王洛兒對曰：「有李先者，最為先帝所知。」 太宗召先引見，問曰：「卿有何功行，而蒙先帝所識？」 先對曰：「臣愚細，才行無聞，適以忠直奉上，更無異能。」 太宗曰：「卿試言舊事。」 先對曰：「臣聞堯舜之教，化民如子； 三王任賢，天下懷服。 今陛下躬秉勞謙，六合歸德，士女能言，莫不慶抃。」 俄而召先讀韓子連珠二十二篇、太公兵法十一事。 詔有司曰：「先所知者，皆軍國大事，自今常宿於內。」 賜先絹五十匹、絲五十斤、雜綵五十匹。 御馬一匹。 拜安東將軍、壽春侯，賜隸戶二十二。
When Emperor Mingyuan came to the throne, he asked which of the veteran officials had been most trusted by his predecessor. At that time Duke of Xixin Wang Luo'er replied, "Li Xian was the man the Former Emperor knew and trusted best. Emperor Mingyuan summoned Xian for an audience and asked, "What merit or virtue earned you the Former Emperor's favor? Xian replied, "I am coarse and undistinguished; my talent and conduct are nothing special—I merely served faithfully and uprightly, with no other gift. Emperor Mingyuan said, "Tell me something of the old days. Xian replied, "I have heard that Yao and Shun governed by treating the people as their own children; the Three Kings employed the worthy, and the realm submitted willingly. Now Your Majesty personally upholds diligence and humility, and the whole realm returns to your virtue—every man and woman who can speak celebrates with joy. Presently he had Xian recite twenty-two chapters of Han Feizi's Linked Pearls and eleven passages from Taigong's Military Treatise. An edict to the relevant offices stated, "Xian's knowledge bears on great military and state affairs; from now on he is to lodge regularly within the palace. Xian was granted fifty bolts of silk, fifty jin of raw silk, and fifty bolts of mixed-colored silk. He was also given one imperial horse. He was appointed General Who Pacifies the East and Marquis of Shouchun, and granted twenty-two dependent households.
73
詔先與上黨王長孫道生率師襲馮跋乙連城，克之，悉虜其眾。 乃進討和龍。 先言於道生曰：「宜密使兵人人備青草一束，各五尺圍，用填城塹。 攻其西南，絕其外援，勒兵急攻，賊必可擒。」 道生不從，遂掠民而還。
An edict ordered Xian and Prince of Shangdang Changsun Daosheng to lead troops in a surprise attack on Feng Ba's city of Yilian; they captured it and took all its defenders captive. They then advanced to attack Helong. Xian said to Daosheng, "You should secretly order every soldier to prepare a bundle of green grass, each five chi around, to fill the moat. Strike from the southwest, cut off their outside support, and press the attack hard—the enemy can surely be taken. Daosheng did not follow his advice, plundered the populace, and withdrew.
74
後出為武邑太守，有治名。 世祖即位，徵為內都大官。 神䴥二年卒，年九十五。 詔賜金縷命服一襲，贈定州刺史、中山公，諡曰文懿。
He was later sent out as governor of Wuyi and earned a reputation for effective administration. When the Shizu came to the throne, he was recalled to serve as Grand Officer of the Inner Court. He died in the second year of the Shenju era, aged ninety-five. An edict granted him one suit of gold-thread court robes; he was posthumously made governor of Dingzhou and Duke of Zhongshan, with the posthumous name Wenyi.
75
子冏，襲爵。 為京兆、濟陰二郡太守。 卒。
His son Jiong succeeded to the title. He served as governor of Jingzhao and Jiyin commanderies. He died.
76
子鍾葵，襲爵，降為子。
His son Zhongkui succeeded to the title, which was reduced to the rank of viscount.
77
鍾葵弟鳳子，鳳子弟虬子，並中書博士。
Zhongkui's younger brother Fengzi and Fengzi's younger brother Qiuzi both served as erudites in the Secretariat.
78
鳳子子預，字元愷。 少為中書學生。 聰敏強識，涉獵經史。 太和初，歷祕書令、齊郡王友。 出為征西大將軍長史，帶馮翊太守。 積數年，府解罷郡，遂居長安。 每羨古人餐玉之法，乃採訪藍田，躬往攻掘。 得若環璧雜器形者大小百餘，稍得粗黑者，亦篋盛以還，而至家觀之，皆光潤可玩。 預乃椎七十枚為屑，日服食之，餘多惠人。 後預及聞者更求於故處，皆無所見。 馮翊公源懷等得其玉，琢為器佩，皆鮮明可寶。 預服經年，云有效驗，而世事寢食不禁節，又加之好酒損志，及疾篤，謂妻子曰：「服玉屏居山林，排棄嗜欲，或當大有神力，而吾酒色不絕，自致於死，非藥過也。 然吾尸體必當有異，勿便速殯，令後人知餐服之妙。」 時七月中旬，長安毒熱，預停尸四宿，而體色不變。 其妻常氏以玉珠二枚唅之，口閉。 常謂之曰：「君自云餐玉有神驗，何故不受唅也？」 言訖齒啟，納珠，因噓屬其口，都無穢氣。 舉斂於棺，堅直不傾委。 死時猶有遺玉屑數斗，[12]橐盛納諸棺中。
Fengzi's son Yu had the style name Yuankai. In youth he was a student in the Secretariat. Quick-witted with a powerful memory, he ranged widely through the classics and histories. Early in the Taihe era he served successively as Chief of the Secretariat and companion to the Prince of Qijun. He was sent out as chief clerk to the General Who Campaigns West, concurrently serving as governor of Fengyi. After several years the headquarters was dissolved and his concurrent governorship ended; he settled in Chang'an. He long admired the ancient practice of consuming jade; he traveled to Lantian and dug there himself. He found more than a hundred pieces in the shapes of rings, bi disks, and assorted vessels; even pieces that seemed coarse and dark in the field he packed up and brought home—and once home, all proved lustrous and lovely. Yu ground seventy pieces into powder, consumed a daily dose, and gave much of the rest away to others. Later Yu and others who heard of it searched the same spot again and found nothing. Duke of Fengyi Yuan Huai and others obtained some of his jade, carved it into vessels and ornaments, all bright and precious. Yu consumed jade for more than a year and claimed it worked, yet he indulged freely in food and sleep and his love of wine dulled his resolve; when his illness grew grave he told his wife and children, "Taking jade in mountain seclusion, renouncing desire—one might gain great spiritual power; but I never gave up wine and women and brought this on myself—the jade is not to blame. Yet my body will surely show something unusual—do not hasten to bury me; let later generations know the wonder of consuming jade." It was mid-July; Chang'an was sweltering; Yu's corpse lay unburied for four nights, yet his complexion did not change. His wife Lady Chang tried to place two jade pearls in his mouth, but his mouth was closed. Lady Chang said to him, "You yourself said consuming jade had miraculous effects—why won't you take the mouth-pearls? As she finished speaking, his teeth parted; she placed the pearls in his mouth, breathed into it, and there was no foul odor whatsoever. When he was placed in the coffin, his body remained rigid and straight without slumping. At his death he still had several dou of leftover jade powder; [12] it was bagged and placed in the coffin with him.
79
初天興中，先子密問於先曰：「子孫永為魏臣，將復事他主也？」 先告曰：「未也。 國家政化長遠，不可卒窮。」 自皇始至齊受禪，實百五十餘歲矣。
Early in the Tianxing era, Xian's son quietly asked him, "Will our descendants always serve Wei, or will they serve another master? Xian told him, "Not yet. The state's governance and civilizing influence extend far into the future; they cannot soon come to an end. From the Huangshi era to Qi's reception of the Mandate was in fact more than a hundred and fifty years.
80
賈彝，字彥倫，本武威姑臧人也。 六世祖敷，魏幽州刺史、廣川都亭侯，子孫因家焉。 父為苻堅鉅鹿太守，坐訕謗繫獄。 彝年十歲，詣長安訟父獲申，遠近歎之，僉曰：「此子英俊，賈誼之後，莫之與京。」 弱冠，為慕容垂驃騎大將軍、遼西王農記室參軍。 太祖先聞其名，嘗遣使者求彝於垂。 垂彌增器敬，更加寵秩，遷驃騎長史，帶昌黎太守。 垂遣其太子寶來寇，大敗於參合陂，執彝及其從兄代郡太守潤等。
Jia Yi, whose style name was Yanlun, was originally from Gugang in Wuwei commandery. His sixth-generation ancestor Fu had served as governor of Youzhou under Wei and as Marquis of Duting of Guangchuan; the family settled there. His father had served Fu Jian as governor of Julu and was imprisoned on a charge of slander. At ten Yi went to Chang'an to plead his father's case and won his release; people far and near marveled, saying, "This boy is brilliant—since Jia Yi, none can match him. In early manhood he served Murong Chui as secretariat adjutant to the Rapid Cavalry Grand General, Prince of Liaoxi Nong. The Taizu had already heard of him and once sent an envoy to request Yi from Murong Chui. Murong Chui only increased his esteem, further promoted and favored him, making him chief clerk of the Rapid Cavalry headquarters and concurrently governor of Changli. Murong Chui sent his heir Bao on a raid; at Canhepo they were routed, and Yi was captured together with his elder cousin Run, governor of Da commandery, and others.
81
太祖即位，拜尚書左丞，參預國政，加給事中。 於鄴置行臺，與尚書和跋鎮鄴，招攜初附。 久乃召還。 天賜末，彝請詣溫湯療病，為叛胡所拘執，送於姚興，積數年，遁歸。 又為屈丐所執，與語悅之，拜祕書監。 年六十一，卒。 世祖平赫連昌，子秀迎其尸柩，葬于代南。
When the Taizu took the throne, Yi was made Left Vice Director of the Masters of Writing, took part in state affairs, and was given the added title Attendant Within the Gates. A mobile headquarters was established at Ye; together with Minister of the Masters of Writing He Ba, Yi garrisoned Ye and won over newly submitted populations. After a long interval he was recalled. Near the end of the Tianci era Yi asked to visit hot springs to treat an illness; rebel Hu seized him and sent him to Yao Xing; after several years he escaped and returned. He was seized again by Juqu, who took a liking to him in conversation and appointed him Director of the Secretariat. He died at the age of sixty-one. When the Shizu pacified Helian Chang, his son Xiu received the coffin and buried him south of Dai.
82
秀，歷中書博士，遷中書侍郎、太子中庶子、揚烈將軍，賜爵陽都男，本州大中正。 恭宗崩，以爵還第。 既而掌吏曹事。 高宗以秀東宮舊臣，進爵陽都子，加振威將軍。 [13]時丞相乙渾擅作威福，多所殺害。 渾妻庶姓而求公主之號，屢言於秀，秀默然。 渾曰：「公事無所不從，我請公主，不應何意？」 秀慷慨大言，對曰：「公主之稱，王姬之號，尊寵之極，非庶族所宜。 若假竊此號，當必自咎。 秀寧死於今朝，不取笑於後日。」 渾左右莫不失色，為之震懼，而秀神色自若。 渾夫妻默然含忿。 他日，乃書太醫給事楊惠富臂作「老奴官慳」字，令以示秀。 渾每欲伺隙陷之，會渾伏誅，遂得免難。 秀執正守志，皆此類也。
Xiu served successively as erudite in the Secretariat, Supervisor of the Masters of Writing, vice director in the crown prince's household, and General Who Inspires Awe; he was enfeoffed as Baron of Yangdu and made Chief Rectifier of his native province. When the Gongzong died, he surrendered his title and retired. He then took charge of personnel affairs. Because Xiu had been an old minister of the Eastern Palace, the Gaozong raised his title to Viscount of Yangdu and gave him the added title General Who Shakes Might. At that time Chancellor Yi Hun arrogated power and prestige and killed many people. [13] Hun's wife was of common birth yet sought the title of princess; she repeatedly raised the matter with Xiu, and Xiu said nothing. Hun said, "You refuse me nothing in public affairs—when I ask for the title of princess for my wife, why do you refuse? Xiu answered boldly, "The title of princess, the designation of a king's daughter, is the highest honor—it is not fitting for a common clan. If you usurp that title falsely, you will surely bring ruin upon yourself. Xiu would rather die today than be mocked tomorrow. Those around Hun turned pale and trembled for him, yet Xiu's expression never changed. Hun and his wife silently nursed their resentment. On another day he wrote on the arm of Attendant Physician Yang Huifu the words "stingy old slave official" and had him show it to Xiu. Hun always sought an opportunity to destroy him, but when Hun was executed Xiu was spared. Xiu's integrity and steadfastness were all of this kind.
83
時秀與中書令勃海高允俱以儒舊見重於時，皆選擬方岳，以詢訪見留，各聽長子出為郡守。 秀辭曰：「爰自愚微，承乏累紀，少而受恩，老無成效，恐先草露，無報殊私。 豈直無功之子，超齊先達。 雖仰感聖慈，而俯深驚懼。 乞收成命，以安微臣。」 遂固讓不受。
At that time Xiu and Secretariat Director Gao Yun of Bohai were both valued as veteran Confucian scholars; both were selected for regional governorships but were kept at court after consultation, each allowed to send his eldest son out to serve as a commandery governor. Xiu declined, saying, "From humble beginnings I have held office through many reigns; favored in youth yet without achievement in old age, I fear I shall die before I can repay your extraordinary kindness. How could an unworthy son leap ahead of earlier worthies? Though I am grateful for your kindness, I am deeply alarmed. I beg you to withdraw the order and set my mind at ease. He firmly declined and did not accept.
84
自始及終，歷奉五帝，雖不至大官，常掌機要。 而廉清儉約，不營資產。 年七十三，遇疾，給醫藥，賜几杖。 時朝廷舉動及大事不決，每遣尚書、高平公李敷就第訪決。 皇興三年卒。 贈本將軍、冀州刺史、武邑公，諡曰簡。
From beginning to end he served five emperors; though he never reached the highest offices, he always handled confidential affairs. Yet he was incorruptible, frugal, and abstemious, and accumulated no property. At seventy-three he fell ill; the court provided medicine and granted him an armrest and staff. Whenever major court decisions were unresolved, the court sent Minister of the Masters of Writing Li Fu, Duke of Gaoping, to his home for consultation. He died in the third year of the Huangxing era. He was posthumously granted his former generalship, made governor of Jizhou and Duke of Wuyi, with the posthumous name Jian.
85
子儁，字異隣，襲爵。 拜祕書中散、軍曹令。 出為顯武將軍、荊州刺史。 依例降爵為伯。 先是，上洛置荊州，後改為洛州，在重山中，民不知學。 儁乃表置學官，選聰悟者以教之。 在州五載，清靖寡事，吏民亦安。 遷洛後，儁朝京師，賞以素帛。 景明初卒。 贈本將軍、光州刺史。
His son Jun, whose style name was Yilin, succeeded to the title. He was appointed supernumerary attendant of the Secretariat and director of the Military Bureau. He was sent out as General of Manifest Might and governor of Jingzhou. Following precedent, his title was reduced and he became a baron. Jingzhou had earlier been established at Shangluo, then renamed Luozhou; it lay deep in the mountains, and the people had no schooling. Jun memorialized to establish school officials and select quick-witted students to teach the people. During five years in the province he governed with purity and tranquility; officials and commoners alike were at peace. After the capital moved to Luoyang, Jun came to court and was rewarded with plain silk. He died at the beginning of the Jingming era. He was posthumously granted his former generalship and made governor of Guangzhou.
86
子叔休，襲爵。 除給事中。 卒。
His son Shuxiu succeeded to the title. He was appointed Attendant Within the Gates. He died.
87
子興，襲爵。
His son Xing succeeded to the title.
88
興弟賓，歷尚書郎，以清素稱。 出為黎陽太守，卒官。
Xing's younger brother Bin served as Gentleman of the Masters of Writing and was known for purity and simplicity. He was sent out as governor of Liyang and died in office.
89
潤曾孫禎，字叔願。 學涉經史，居喪以孝聞。 太和中，為中書博士，副中書侍郎高聰使於江左。 還，以母老患，輒過家定省，坐免官。 久之，徵為京兆王愉郎中令，行洛陽令。 轉治書侍御史、國子博士，加威遠將軍，行魯陽太守。 清素，善撫接，得百姓情。 稍遷司徒諮議參軍、通直散騎常侍，加冠軍將軍。 正光中卒。 贈平北將軍、齊州刺史。
Run's great-grandson Zhen had the style name Shuyuan. He studied broadly in the classics and histories and was famed for filial piety in mourning his parents. During the Taihe era he served as erudite in the Secretariat and accompanied Supervisor of the Masters of Writing Gao Cong as envoy to the south. On his return, because his mother was old and ill he went home to visit her without permission and was dismissed from office. After a long interval he was summoned as director of gentlemen under Prince of Jingzhao Yu and served as acting magistrate of Luoyang. He was transferred to Attendant Imperial Censor and erudite of the Imperial University, given the added title General Who Expands the Distant, and served as acting governor of Luyang. Pure and upright, he was skilled at winning people over and gained the common people's affection. He was gradually promoted to consulting adjutant under the Minister of Works and Regular Attendant of the Secretariat, with the added title Champion General. He died during the Zhengguang era. He was posthumously made General Who Pacifies the North and governor of Qizhou.
90
子子儒，司空田曹參軍。
His son Ziru served as an adjunct in the Field Bureau under the Minister of Works.
91
禎兄子景儁，亦以學識知名，奉朝請。 遷京兆王愉府外兵參軍。 愉起逆於冀州，將授其官，景儁不受，愉殺之。 永平中，贈東清河太守，諡曰貞。
Zhen's nephew Jingjun was also known for learning and served as Court Gentleman for Ceremonial. He was promoted to outer-troop adjutant in the household of Prince of Jingzhao Yu. When Yu rebelled in Jizhou and was about to grant him office, Jingjun refused, and Yu had him killed. During the Yongping era he was posthumously made governor of Eastern Qinghe with the posthumous name Zhen.
92
景儁弟景興。 清峻鯁正。 少為州主簿，遂栖遲不仕。 後葛榮陷冀州，為榮所虜，稱疾不拜。 景興每捫膝而言曰：「吾不負汝。」 以不拜葛榮故也。
Jingjun's younger brother Jingxing. He was pure, stern, and upright. In youth he served as the provincial chief clerk, then lived in retirement and refused office. Later, when Ge Rong seized Jizhou, he was captured; he claimed illness and refused to bow. Jingxing would press his knees and say each time, "I have not failed you. He said this because he had refused to bow to Ge Rong.
93
薛提，太原人也。 皇始中，補太學生，拜侍御史。 累遷散騎常侍、太子太保，賜爵歷陽侯，加晉兵將軍。 出為鎮東大將軍、冀州刺史，進爵太原公。 所在有聲績。 徵為侍中，治都曹事。 世祖崩，秘不發喪。 尚書左僕射蘭延、侍中和匹等議，[14]以為皇孫幼冲，宜立長君，徵秦王翰置之祕室。 提曰：「皇孫有世嫡之重，民望所係。 春秋雖少，令問聞於天下，成王、孝昭所以隆周漢。 廢所宜立，而更求君，必不可。」 延等猶豫未決。 中常侍宗愛知其謀，矯皇后令徵提等入，遂殺之。
Xue Ti came from Taiyuan. During the Huangshi era he entered the Imperial University and was appointed Attendant Censor. He was repeatedly promoted to Regular Attendant of the Secretariat and Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, enfeoffed as Marquis of Liyang, and given the added title General of Jin Troops. He was sent out as Grand General Who Guards the East and governor of Jizhou, and his title was advanced to Duke of Taiyuan. Wherever he served he earned a reputation for effective governance. He was recalled as Attendant and took charge of Capital Bureau affairs. When the Shizu died, the death was kept secret and mourning was not announced. Left Vice Director of the Masters of Writing Lan Yan, Attendant He Pi, and others deliberated [14] that because the imperial grandson was still a child, a mature ruler should be enthroned; they summoned Prince of Qin Han and placed him in a secret chamber. Ti said, "The imperial grandson bears the weight of legitimate succession; the people's hopes rest on him. Though still young, his reputation is known throughout the realm—this is how King Cheng and Emperor Xiaozhao elevated Zhou and Han. To depose the rightful heir and seek another ruler—that absolutely cannot be done. Yan and the others still hesitated and could not decide. Palace Attendant Zong Ai learned of their plot, forged an order from the empress to summon Ti and the others, and then killed them.
94
提弟浮子。 高宗即位，以提有謀立之誠，詔襲兄爵太原公，有司奏降為侯。 皇興元年卒。
Ti's younger brother Fuzi. When the Gaozong came to the throne, because Ti had shown sincere intent to establish the rightful heir, an edict allowed Fuzi to inherit his brother's title as Duke of Taiyuan; the responsible offices memorialized to reduce it to marquis. He died in the first year of the Huangxing era.
95
提孫令保，太和中，襲爵歷陽侯。
Ti's grandson Lingbao succeeded to the title as Marquis of Liyang during the Taihe era.
96
史臣曰：宋隱操行貞白，遺略榮利。 王憲名祖之孫，老見優禮。 屈遵學藝知機，垣乃局量受遇。 張蒲、谷渾，文武為用，人世仍顯。 公孫表初則一介見知，終以輕薄致戾。 軌始受授金之賞，末陷財利之徵。 鮮克有終，固不虛也。 張濟使於四方，有延譽之美。 李先學術嘉謀，荷遇三世。 賈彝早播時學，[15]秀則不畏強禦。 薛提正議忠謀，見害姦閹，悲夫！
The historian writes: Song Yin's conduct was pure and upright; he disdained glory and profit. Wang Xian was a grandson of a celebrated ancestor; in old age he received honored treatment. Qu Zun mastered the arts and understood the moment; Yuan, through breadth of character, won favor. Zhang Pu and Gu Hun combined civil and military gifts, and their families remained prominent for generations. Gongsun Biao at first won recognition as a mere commoner, but in the end fell from favor through frivolity. Gui at first received the reward of conferred gold, but in the end was trapped by greed for wealth. Few can see a good beginning through to a good end—the old saying is true. Zhang Ji served as envoy abroad and won wide renown. Li Xian excelled in learning and counsel and enjoyed favor through three reigns. Jia Yi early spread his learning far and wide; [15] Xiu then stood unafraid before the powerful. Xue Ti's upright counsel and loyal planning led to his murder by treacherous eunuchs—alas!
97
校勘記
Collation Notes
98
魏書卷三十三諸本卷末有宋人校語 〈殿本入考證〉 云：「此傳全寫高氏小史，疑收書亡而後人補之。 史臣論亦悉出北史諸論，合而成文。 然頗詳備，與本史它卷略同。 豈非小史全載本史乎？」
Book of Wei, juan 33: various editions include Song-dynasty collation notes at the end of this fascicle 〈Palace Edition, entered into textual verification〉 It states, "This biography was entirely copied from Gao's Minor History; Shou's original text was likely lost and later hands supplemented it. The historian's appraisal was also assembled entirely from the various appraisals in the History of the Northern Dynasties. Yet it is quite detailed and largely consistent with other fascicles of this history. Could the Minor History not have fully preserved the original text of this history?"
99
字子皮北史卷二七屈遵傳「皮」作「度」。 張森楷云：「『遵』『度』義協，疑『度』字為是。」
Regarding the style name Zipi: in the biography of Qu Zun in History of the Northern Dynasties, juan 27, "pi" appears as "du." Zhang Senkai writes, ""Zun" and "du" fit together in meaning; "du" is probably the correct reading."
100
須長子垣南、北、殿、局四本及北史卷二七「垣」作「恒」，百衲本、汲本作「垣」，冊府卷一四一 〈一七０七頁〉 作「桓」。 按史臣論南、北、殿本也同作「垣」。 通鑑卷一二二 〈三八五八頁〉 作「垣」，考異無文。 今從百衲本。
Regarding "must the eldest son Yuan": the Southern, Northern, Palace, and Bureau editions and History of the Northern Dynasties, juan 27, write "Heng"; the Baibna and Ji editions write "Yuan"; Cefu, juan 141 〈Page 1707〉 has "Huan." Note: in the historian's appraisal the Southern, Northern, and Palace editions also read "Yuan." Zizhi Tongjian, juan 122 〈Page 3858〉 reads "Yuan"; Collected Variants has no note on this. The Baibna Edition is followed here.
101
觀弟道賜襲祖爵北史卷二七無「祖」字。 張森楷云：「屈遵傳末之『子須襲』，即是襲遵爵，傳至孫車渠，當高祖初，未嘗中絕，道賜豈得復襲之。 且垣濟北公之爵，不應不置後。 疑『祖』字是衍文。」
Regarding "Guan's younger brother Daosi inherited his grandfather's title": History of the Northern Dynasties, juan 27, lacks the character for "grandfather." Zhang Senkai writes, "At the end of Qu Zun's biography, 'son Xu inherited' means Xu inherited Zun's title; the line continues to grandson Chequ, who by Gaozu's reign had never been extinguished—how could Daosi inherit again? Moreover Yuan's title as Duke of Jibei ought not to have been left without an heir. The character for "grandfather" is probably an interpolation."
102
與安平公叔孫建將兵自平原東渡諸本無「孫」字。 按事見卷三太宗紀 〈補〉 泰常七年十二月、卷二九叔孫建傳，「叔孫建」不能稱「叔建」，今補「孫」字。
Regarding "together with Duke of Pingyuan Gongsun Jian leading troops east across the plain": various editions lack the character "Sun." Note: the event appears in juan 3, Annals of Emperor Mingyuan 〈Supplement〉 Taichang seventh year, twelfth month; juan 29, biography of Shusun Jian — "Shusun Jian" cannot be shortened to "Shu Jian"; the character "Sun" is supplied here.
103
大破劉義隆將翟廣等於土樓諸本「土」作「玉」，冊府卷三五二 〈四一八四頁〉 作「土」。 按「土樓」地名，事見本書卷二九奚斤傳、宋書卷九五索虜傳。 通鑑卷一一九 〈三七五０頁〉 胡注：「土樓在虎牢東。 九域志：澶州臨河縣有土樓鎮。」 「玉」字訛，今據改。
Regarding the great defeat of Liu Yilong's general Zhai Guang and others at Tulou: various editions write "the cited text" (jade) for "the cited text" (earth); Cefu, juan 352 〈Page 4184〉 reads "the cited text" (earth). Note: Tulou is a place name; the event appears in juan 29 of this book, biography of Xi Jin, and juan 95 of the Book of Song, Northern Barbarians biography. Zizhi Tongjian, juan 119 〈Page 3750〉 Hu's commentary: "Tulou lies east of Hulao. Geography of the Nine Regions: Linhe county in Cao prefecture has a Tulou garrison. The character "the cited text" (jade) is erroneous; the text is corrected to "the cited text" (earth)."
104
輔脊自壯御覽卷八一七 〈三六三五頁〉 引後魏書、卷九０一 〈三九九七頁〉 引北史，冊府卷四五五 〈五三九二頁〉 「脊」作「絹」。 按作「絹」較明白，但作「脊」是說驢背負絹而高大，亦通，今不改。
Regarding "the assistant's back is always stout": Imperial Readings, juan 817 〈Page 3635〉 cites Later Wei History, juan 901 〈Page 3997〉 cites History of the Northern Dynasties; Cefu, juan 455 〈Page 5392〉 reads "the cited text" (silk) for "the cited text" (back). Note: "the cited text" (silk) is clearer, but "the cited text" (back) also works if the donkey's back is loaded with silk and stands high; the text is left unchanged.
105
正光二年卒按斌父軌死於真君二年 〈四四一〉 ，至正光二年 〈五二一〉 ，凡八十年，斌似不得死於是年，「正光」疑是「興光」之訛。
Regarding "died in the second year of Zhengguang": note that Bin's father Gui died in the second year of Zhenjun 〈441〉 , until the second year of Zhengguang 〈521〉 , a span of eighty years — Bin could hardly have died in that year; "Zhengguang" is probably an error for "Xingguang."
106
隨從征伐諸本「伐」作「代」。 張森楷云：「『代』當作『伐』，『代』是魏之舊號，不當云征。」 按千秋已降魏，也無「征代」之理。 張說是，今改正。
Regarding "following on campaigns": various editions write "the cited text" (Dai) for "the cited text" (campaign). Zhang Senkai writes, ""the cited text" (Dai) should be "the cited text" (campaign); Dai was Wei's old name, so one would not speak of campaigning against Dai. Note: Qianqiu had already submitted to Wei, so "campaigning against Dai" makes no sense either. Zhang's reading is correct; the text is corrected accordingly.
107
天下何書最善北史卷二七李先傳、冊府卷一０四 〈一二三七頁〉 「何書」作「何者」。 通鑑卷一一一 〈三０八八頁〉 作「何物」，意與「何者」同。 疑魏書本同北史，但作「何書」亦通，今不改。
Regarding "what book under Heaven is best": History of the Northern Dynasties, juan 27, biography of Li Xian; Cefu, juan 104 〈Page 1237〉 reads "the cited text" (which thing) for "the cited text" (which book). Zizhi Tongjian, juan 111 〈Page 3088〉 reads "the cited text" (what thing); the meaning matches "the cited text." The original Book of Wei probably agreed with History of the Northern Dynasties, but "the cited text" (which book) is also acceptable; the text is left unchanged.
108
退又乏糧北史卷二七「退」作「住」，疑是。
Regarding "if he retreats he lacks grain": History of the Northern Dynasties, juan 27 reads "the cited text" (stay) for "the cited text" (retreat); that is probably correct.
109
死時猶有遺玉屑數斗北史卷二七「斗」作「升」。 按上文說李預所椎的玉器環璧之類止七十枚，所得玉屑，服食之餘，恐無數斗之多。 疑作「升」是。
Regarding "at death he still had several dou of leftover jade powder": History of the Northern Dynasties, juan 27 reads "the cited text" (pint) for "the cited text" (bushel). Note: the passage above says Li Yu ground only seventy jade pieces in the shapes of rings and bi disks; the powder left after consumption could hardly amount to several bushels. Reading "the cited text" (pint) is probably correct.
110
高宗以秀東宮舊臣進爵陽都子加振威將軍北史卷二七賈彝傳此處作「獻文即位，進爵陽都子」。 按下面接着說「時丞相乙渾，擅作威福」，正是獻文帝 〈拓跋弘〉 時，似「高宗」 〈拓跋濬〉 應作「顯祖」，即北史之「獻文」。 但此傳敍進爵是因彝是「東宮舊臣」，即曾為拓跋晃 〈濬父即恭宗〉 的太子中庶子。 則進爵應該在濬即位後，不會在拓跋弘即位後追敍。 知這裏「加振威將軍」下當有脫文，却非「高宗」字訛。
Regarding "the Gaozong, because Xiu was an old Eastern Palace minister, advanced his title to Viscount of Yangdu and gave him the added title General Who Shakes Might": History of the Northern Dynasties, juan 27, biography of Jia Yi, reads here, "When Emperor Xianwen came to the throne, his title was advanced to Viscount of Yangdu." Note: the passage immediately below says "At that time Chancellor Yi Hun arrogated power and prestige," which belongs to the reign of Emperor Xianwen 〈Tuoba Hong〉 so "Gaozong" 〈Tuoba Jun〉 should read "Xianzu," that is, the "Xianwen" of History of the Northern Dynasties. But this biography says the title was advanced because Yi was an "old Eastern Palace minister," meaning he had once served as vice director in the crown prince's household under Tuoba Huang 〈Jun's father, the Gongzong〉 as vice director in the crown prince's household. The advancement should therefore have occurred after Jun took the throne, not as a retrospective account after Tuoba Hong came to power. It appears that text is missing after "given the added title General Who Shakes Might," but this is not simply an error for "Gaozong."
111
侍中和匹等議北史卷二八薛提傳「匹」作「延」。 按卷九四宗愛傳作「和疋」，通鑑卷一二六 〈三九七三頁〉 作「和𤴓」。 疑本作「疋」，又寫作「𤴓」，即「雅」字，或讀作「匹」，故又寫作「匹」，訛作「延」。
Regarding "Attendant He Pi and others deliberated": History of the Northern Dynasties, juan 28, biography of Xue Ti, reads "the cited text" (Yan) for "the cited text" (Pi). Note: juan 94, biography of Zong Ai, writes "He Pi"; Zizhi Tongjian, juan 126 〈Page 3973〉 reads "He He" (variant character). The original probably read "Pi" (the cited text), also written with a variant form of the character for "ya" (the cited text), or pronounced "pi" and written accordingly, then corrupted to "yan."
112
賈彝早播時學北史卷二七傳論「學」作「譽」，是。
Jia Yi early spread his learning through the age — in the appraisal of the biography in History of the Northern Dynasties, juan 27, "learning" is written as "reputation"; this is correct.