Volume 68: Zhen Chen, Gao Cong

甄琛高聰

Zhen Chen and Gao Cong

甄琛，字思伯，中山毋極人，漢太保甄邯後也。父凝，州主簿。琛少敏悟，閨門之內，兄弟戲狎，不以禮法自居。頗學經史，稱有刀筆，而形貌短陋，尠風儀。舉秀才。入都積歲，頗以弈棊棄日，至乃通夜不止。手下蒼頭常令秉燭，或時睡頓，大加其杖，如此非一。奴後不勝楚痛，乃白琛曰：「郎君辭父母，仕宦京師，若為讀書執燭，奴不敢辭罪，乃以圍棊，日夜不息，豈是向京之意？而賜加杖罰，不亦非理！」琛惕然慚感，遂從許叡、李彪假書研習，聞見益優。

Zhen Chen, courtesy name Sibo, was a native of Wuji in Zhongshan and traced his line to Zhen Han, Grand Protector of the Han. His father, Ning, served as chief clerk of the prefecture. Chen was clever from boyhood. At home he and his brothers fooled around without observing formal propriety. He read widely in the classics and histories and had a reputation for literary skill, but he was short, homely, and lacking in presence. He was recommended as a Cultivated Talent. Once in the capital he lingered for years, frittering away his days at chess and often playing straight through the night. He habitually made his house servants hold candles while he played; if they dozed off he would thrash them severely, and this happened again and again. Finally one servant, unable to endure the lashings, spoke up: "Sir, you left your family to take a post in the capital. I would accept a beating without complaint if you kept me up to study—but you spend every waking hour at the board. Is that why you came to the capital? And then you beat us for it—is that not unjust as well? Chen was shaken and ashamed. He borrowed books from Xu Rui and Li Biao and applied himself to study; his learning steadily deepened.

太和初，拜中書博士，遷諫議大夫，時有所陳，亦為高祖知賞。轉通直散騎侍郎，出為本州征北府長史，後為本州陽平王頤衞軍府長史。世宗踐祚，以琛為中散大夫、兼御史中尉，轉通直散騎常侍，仍兼中尉。琛表曰：

In the early Taihe era he was made a Secretariat academician, then promoted to Remonstrating Grand Master. His memorials won notice and favor from Emperor Xiaowen. He rose to Direct-and-Upright Gentleman of the Palatial Cavalry, then left the capital to serve as chief clerk on his province's Northern Campaign headquarters staff and later on the staff of Prince Yangping Yuan Yi's guard headquarters in the same province. When Emperor Xuanwu took the throne, Chen was appointed Palace Rescript Grand Master and concurrent Censor Commandant, then promoted to Regular Attendant of the Palatial Cavalry while retaining the censor post. Chen submitted a memorial that read:

王者道同天壤，施齊造化，濟時拯物，為民父母。故年穀不登，為民祈祀。乾坤所惠，天子順之；山川祕利，天子通之。苟益生民，損躬無吝，如或所聚，唯為賑恤。是以月令稱：山林藪澤，有能取蔬食禽獸者，皆野虞教導之；其迭相侵奪者，罪之無赦。此明導民而弗禁，通有無以相濟也。周禮雖有川澤之禁，正所以防其殘盡，必令取之有時。斯所謂鄣護雖在公，更所以為民守之耳。且一家之長，惠及子孫，一運之君，澤周天下，皆所以厚其所養，以為國家之富。未有尊居父母，而醯醢是吝；富有萬品，而一物是規。今者，天為黔首生鹽，國與黔首鄣護，假獲其利，是猶富專口齗不及四體也。且天下夫婦歲貢粟帛。四海之有，備奉一人；軍國之資，取給百姓。天子亦何患乎貧，而苟禁一池也。

A true ruler's path aligns with heaven and earth; his bounty matches creation itself. He rescues the age and redeems the living, standing as father and mother to the people. When harvests fail, he performs rites on the people's behalf. Whatever heaven and earth provide, the Son of Heaven accepts in turn; whatever wealth lies hidden in mountains and rivers, the Son of Heaven opens it to use. If the people may benefit, he does not hesitate to spend himself; whatever is gathered serves only relief. Hence the Monthly Ordinances state that in forests, marshes, and wetlands, gatherers of plants and hunters of game are all to be guided by wildland overseers. Mutual encroachment and seizure are crimes punished without mercy. This shows the principle of guiding the people rather than forbidding them—allowing plenty and want to balance one another. The Rites of Zhou do impose restrictions on rivers and marshes, but only to prevent exhaustion—gathering must follow seasons. Protection may rest with the state, but its purpose is to safeguard resources for the people. As a family head enriches his descendants, so a dynastic ruler spreads bounty across the realm—thickening what he sustains to build the state's wealth. No one who holds parental authority hoards condiments from his household; nor does a man rich in every commodity cling to a single item. Heaven gave salt to the common people, yet the state fences it off with them and claims the profit—like a rich man who feeds only his gums while starving his limbs. Every household in the empire pays grain and silk each year. All that the four seas hold serves a single man; the armies and the state draw their sustenance from the people. Why should the Son of Heaven fear poverty—and yet hoard a single salt pool?

古之王者，世有其民，[1]或水火以濟其用，或巢宇以誨其居，或教農以去其飢，或訓衣以除其弊。故周詩稱「教之誨之，飲之食之」，皆所以撫覆導養，為之求利者也。臣性昧知理，識無遠尚，每觀上古愛民之迹，時讀中葉驟稅之書，未嘗不歎彼遠大，惜此近狹。今偽弊相承，仍崇關鄽之稅；大魏恢博，唯受穀帛之輸。是使遠方聞者，罔不歌德。昔亶父以棄寶得民，碩鼠以受財失眾。君王之義，宜其高矣；魏之簡稅，惠實遠矣。語稱出內之吝，有司之福；施惠之難，人君之禍。夫以府藏之物，猶以不施而為災，況府外之利，而可吝之於黔首？且善藏者藏於民，不善藏者藏於府。藏於民者民欣而君富，藏於府者國怨而民貧。國怨則示化有虧，民貧則君無所取。願弛茲鹽禁，使沛然遠及，依周禮置川衡之法，使之監導而已。

Kings of old each had their own people: some brought fire and water to serve daily needs, some taught them to build shelters, some taught farming to end hunger, some taught cloth-making to end nakedness. The Book of Odes sings, "Teach them, guide them, feed them, give them drink"—all acts of sheltering, guiding, and nurturing, seeking the people's good. I am a man of limited vision. Whenever I read how the ancients loved their people and then turn to the tax records of recent dynasties, I cannot help sighing at their generosity and grieving at our meanness. Corrupt regimes pile policy upon policy, still levying heavy market duties; yet great Wei is magnanimous and accepts only grain and silk. Those far away who hear of it cannot help praising its virtue. Duke Danfu once won the people by giving up treasure; the "fat rat" ode warns that greed costs the multitude. The measure of kingship should be lofty; Wei's light levies show a kindness that reaches far indeed. Proverbs say that stinginess in expenditure blesses clerks while difficulty in granting favors becomes the ruler's curse. Even stored treasure brings disaster if withheld—how much more wealth lying outside the treasury! How can it be denied to the people? Wise hoarding fills the people; foolish hoarding fills the treasury. Wealth among the people brings joy to them and riches to the ruler; wealth locked in the treasury breeds resentment in the state and poverty among the people. A resentful state means deficient governance; a poor people means the ruler has nothing to draw upon. I beg that this salt monopoly be relaxed and its benefits allowed to flow far and wide; following the Zhou model, appoint river overseers to supervise and guide the trade—nothing more.

詔曰：「民利在斯，深如所陳。付八座議可否以聞。」

The emperor replied: "The people's welfare is at stake here, and your argument is weighty. Send this to the Eight Ministers for debate and report their decision."

司徒、錄尚書、彭城王勰，兼尚書邢巒等奏：「琛之所列，富乎有言，首尾大備，或無可貶。但恐坐談則理高，行之則事闕，是用遲回，未謂為可。竊惟古之善為治者，莫不昭其勝途，悟其遠理，及於救世，升降稱時。欲令豐無過溢，儉不致弊，役養消息，備在厥中，節約取足，成其性命。如不爾者，焉用君為？若任其生產，隨其啄食，便是芻狗萬物，不相有矣。自大道既往，恩惠生焉，下奉上施，卑高理睦。然恩惠既交，思拯之術廣，恒恐財不賙國，澤不厚民。故多方以達其情，立法以行其志。至乃取貨山川，輕在民之貢；立稅關市，裨十一之儲。收此與彼，非利己也；回彼就此，非為身也。所謂集天地之產，惠天地之民，藉造物之富，賑造物之貧。徹商賈給戎戰，賦四民贍軍國，取乎用乎，各有義已。禁此淵池，不專大官之御；斂此匹帛，豈為後宮之資。既潤不在己，彼我理一，猶積而散之，將焉所吝？且稅之本意，事有可求，固以希濟生民，非為富賄藏貨。不爾者，昔之君子何為然哉？是以後來經圖，未之或改。故先朝商校，小大以情，降鑒之流，疑興復鹽禁。然自行以來，典司多怠，出入之間，事不如法，遂令細民怨嗟，商販輕議，此乃用之者無方，非興之者有謬。至使朝廷明識，聽瑩其間，今而罷之，懼失前旨。一行一改，法若易棊，參論理要，宜依前式。」詔曰：「司鹽之稅，乃自古通典，然興制利民，亦代或不同，苟可以富氓益化，唯理所在。甄琛之表，實所謂助政毗治者也，可從其前計，使公私並宜，川利無擁。尚書嚴為禁豪強之制也。」

The Minister of the Masses, Secretariat Director, Prince of Pengcheng Yuan Xie, and Concurrent Minister Xing Luan submitted a joint memorial: "Chen's argument is eloquent and thorough from start to finish—there may be little to fault. Yet I fear that in discussion his reasoning sounds lofty while in practice it would fall short. For that reason we hesitate and do not consider it workable. I reflect that the ancients who governed well all illuminated the path to success, grasped principles that reached far ahead, and when saving the age adjusted their policies to suit the times. They sought abundance without excess, thrift without ruin, and balanced labor with nurture so that restraint yielded sufficiency and the people could live out their lives. Otherwise, what need is there for a ruler? To let everyone produce at will and take what they peck at would reduce all things to straw dogs with no mutual obligation. Once the Great Way receded, structured favor arose: the lower ranks offered tribute upward and the higher bestowed gifts downward, harmonizing high and low. Yet once such exchange was established, rulers sought ever broader means of relief, always fearing that revenue would not sustain the state or bounty reach the people. Hence they devised many channels to understand the people's needs and enacted laws to carry out their intent. They even drew revenue from mountains and rivers while lightening the people's direct tribute; imposed duties at passes and markets to supplement the tithe stored for the state. taking here to give there—not for private gain; redirecting resources—not for personal enrichment. This is what it means to gather heaven and earth's bounty, shower it on heaven and earth's people, borrow creation's wealth, and relieve creation's poor. Merchants were taxed to fund campaigns; the four classes were assessed to sustain army and state—each levy had its proper purpose in use. restricting this salt pool was not to stock the grand officers' kitchens alone; collecting each bolt of silk—surely not merely to fill the inner palace. Since the benefit does not stay with the collector, self and other share one logic—wealth is gathered only to be dispersed. What is there to begrudge? Moreover the root purpose of taxation is achievable: to aid the living people, not to amass bribes and hoard treasure. If not, why did the gentlemen of old do likewise? Later dynasties therefore left these institutions unchanged. Our former court weighed the matter carefully, great and small according to circumstance, and imperial reflection inclined toward restoring the salt monopoly. Yet since implementation the overseers have been negligent and transactions have not followed the law, provoking popular complaint and merchant gossip. The fault lies with those who administer the system, not with those who established it. The court's clear judgment has weighed this carefully; to abolish the system now would risk abandoning our former intent. Law changed with every new measure would be like shifting pieces on a board. On balance, the prior system should stand." An edict replied: "The salt tax is an ancient institution, yet each age frames policy to benefit the people differently. Wherever the people may be enriched and civilization advanced, that is where principle lies. Zhen Chen's memorial truly aids governance. Follow his earlier proposal so that public and private interests are balanced and river commerce flows unblocked. Let the Secretariat strictly enforce measures against powerful predators."

詔琛參八座議事。尋正中尉，常侍如故。遷侍中，領中尉。琛俛眉畏避，不能繩糾貴遊，凡所劾治，率多下吏。於時趙脩盛寵，琛傾身事之。琛父凝為中散大夫，弟僧林為本州別駕，皆託脩申達。至脩姦詐事露，明當收考，今日乃舉其罪。及監決脩鞭，猶相隱惻，然告人曰：「趙脩小人，背如土牛，殊耐鞭杖。」有識以此非之。脩死之明日，琛與黃門郎李憑以朋黨被召詣尚書，兼尚書元英、邢巒窮其阿附之狀。琛曾拜官，諸賓悉集，巒乃晚至，琛謂巒曰：「卿何處放蛆來，今晚始顧？」雖以戲言，巒變色銜忿，及此，大相推窮。司徒公、錄尚書、北海王詳等奏曰：「臣聞黨人為患，自古所疾；政之所忌，雖寵必誅，皆所以存天下之至公，保靈基於永業者也。伏惟陛下纂聖前暉，淵鑒幽慝，恩斷近習，憲軌唯新，大政蔚以增光，鴻猷於焉永泰。謹案：侍中、領御史中尉甄琛，身居直法，糾摘是司，風邪響黷，猶宜劾糾，況趙脩奢暴，聲著內外，侵公害私，朝野切齒。而琛嘗不陳奏，方更往來，綢繆結納，以為朋黨，中外影響，致其談譽。令布衣之父，超登正四之官；七品之弟，越陟三階之祿。虧先皇之選典，塵聖明之官人。又與武衞將軍、黃門郎李憑相為表裏，憑兄叨封，知而不言。及脩釁彰，方加彈奏。生則附其形勢，死則就地排之，竊天之功以為己力，仰欺朝廷，俯罔百司，其為鄙詐，於茲甚矣。不實不忠，實合貶黜。謹依律科徒，請以職除。其父中散，實為叨越，雖皇族帝孫，未有此例，既得不以倫，請下收奪。李憑朋附趙脩，是親是仗，交遊之道，不依恒度，或晨昏從就，或吉凶往來，至乃身拜其親，妻見其子，每有家事，必先請託。緇點皇風，塵鄙正化。此而不糾，將何以肅整阿諛，奬厲忠概！請免所居官，以肅風軌。」奏可。琛遂免歸本郡，左右相連死黜者三十餘人。

Chen was ordered to join the Eight Ministers in policy deliberation. Soon he was made Regular Censor Commandant while retaining his attendant post. He was promoted to Palace Attendant and continued to head the censorate. Chen bowed his head in fear and could not rein in the privileged wanderers; cases he pursued usually ended with low-ranking clerks punished instead. At that time Zhao Xiu enjoyed extravagant favor, and Chen threw himself into serving him. Chen's father Ning was a Palace Rescript Grand Master and his younger brother Senglin was vice-prefect of their home province; both relied on Xiu to advance their interests at court. When Xiu's fraud was exposed and arrest was clearly due, Chen reported his crimes only that day. When supervising Xiu's flogging he still showed sympathy, yet told others, "Zhao Xiu is a petty fellow—his back is like an earthen ox and takes the lash remarkably well." Men of judgment condemned him for this. The day after Xiu died, Chen and Yellow Gate Gentleman Li Ping were summoned to the Secretariat on faction charges; Concurrent Ministers Yuan Ying and Xing Luan exhaustively investigated their collusion. Chen had once held a reception and all guests had gathered when Luan arrived late. Chen said to him, "Where did you breed your maggots that you only show up tonight?" Though meant as a joke, Luan flushed with resentment; when the investigation came, he pressed the case relentlessly. The Minister of the Masses, Secretariat Director, Prince of Beihai Yuan Xiang, and others memorialized: "We have heard that factionalism has been a scourge since antiquity; what government most dreads—even favorites must be punished—all to preserve the empire's utmost fairness and secure the dynasty's foundation for ages. Your Majesty inherits the sage-kings' radiance, discerns hidden wickedness, cuts off favoritism toward intimates, and renews the penal code—great governance flourishes and the grand design endures in security. We find that Palace Attendant and Censor Commandant Zhen Chen holds the office of upright law and impeachment—he should have prosecuted even minor corruption, let alone Zhao Xiu's extravagance and violence, notorious inside and outside the court, plundering the public for private gain until all gnashed their teeth. Yet Chen never reported him; instead he kept company with him, forming close ties as a faction, swaying opinion inside and outside court until praise spread. He secured for his commoner father a leap to a regular fourth-rank post; and for his seventh-rank younger brother a promotion across three salary grades. This violated the late emperor's standards of selection and stained Your Majesty's roster of officials. He also acted in concert with Martial Guard General and Yellow Gate Gentleman Li Ping; when Ping's elder brother received an improper enfeoffment, Chen knew but said nothing. Only after Xiu's crimes were exposed did he lodge impeachment. In life he had clung to Xiu's power; in death he cast him down. He stole credit due heaven for his own gain, deceiving the throne above and the bureaucracy below. His baseness and fraud could scarcely go further. Dishonest and disloyal, he deserved demotion and dismissal. We respectfully apply the statute sentencing him to penal servitude and request his dismissal from office. His father's post as Palace Rescript Grand Master was a clear overreach; even for imperial clansmen of the royal house no such precedent exists. Since the appointment violated proper order, we request that it be revoked. Li Ping attached himself to Zhao Xiu as kin and patron. His social dealings ignored all bounds: he might attend from dawn to dusk or visit for every joy or sorrow, even bowing in person to Xiu's relatives while his wife received Xiu's son. For any household matter he sought Xiu's patronage first. They stained the imperial ethos and defiled orthodox governance. If such conduct goes unprosecuted, how will flattery be disciplined or loyal integrity be encouraged? We ask that he be removed from office to restore discipline." The memorial was approved. Chen was dismissed and sent home to his commandery; more than thirty of his close associates were executed or dismissed in the fallout.

始，琛以父母年老，常求解官扶侍，故高祖授以本州長史。及貴達，不復請歸，至是乃還供養。數年，遭母憂。母鉅鹿曹氏，有孝性，夫氏去家，路踰百里，每得魚肉菜果珍美口實者，必令僮僕走奉其母，乃後食焉。琛母服未闋，復喪父。琛於塋兆之內，手種松栢，隆冬之月，負掘水土。鄉老哀之，咸助加力。十餘年中，墳成木茂。與弟僧林誓以同居沒齒。專事產業，躬親農圃，時以鷹犬馳逐自娛。朝廷有大事，猶上表陳情。

At first, because his parents were elderly, Chen had often asked to leave office to care for them, and Emperor Xiaowen appointed him chief administrator of his home province. Once he had risen to wealth and rank he no longer asked to return home; only now did he go back to support them. Several years later his mother died. His mother, née Cao of Julu, was deeply filial. Her husband's family lived more than a hundred li away; whenever choice fish, meat, vegetables, or fruit arrived, she sent servants running to deliver them to her mother-in-law before she herself would eat. Before Chen had finished mourning his mother, his father died as well. Within the grave precinct Chen planted pines and cypresses with his own hands; in the depths of winter he shouldered shovels to move earth and soil. The village elders took pity on him and all lent their strength. Within a dozen years the tomb was finished and the trees flourished. He and his younger brother Senglin vowed to live together for life. He devoted himself to managing the estate, worked the fields himself, and from time to time amused himself hunting with hawk and hound. When the court faced major affairs he still submitted memorials stating his views.

久之，復除散騎常侍、領給事黃門侍郎、定州大中正。大見親寵，委以門下庶事，出參尚書，入厠帷幄。琛，高祖時兼主客郎，迎送蕭賾使彭城劉纉，琛欽其器貌，常歎詠之。纉子晣為朐山戍主，晣死，家屬入洛。有女年未二十，琛已六十餘矣，乃納晣女為妻。婚日，詔給厨費，琛深所好悅，世宗時調戲之。盧昶敗於朐山，詔琛馳驛檢按。

After a long interval he was again appointed Regular Attendant Gentleman, concurrently Attendant-in-Waiting of the Yellow Gate, and chief rectifier of Ding province. He won great favor and trust, was entrusted with gate-and-chamber affairs, attended Secretariat sessions abroad, and entered the inner council. In Emperor Xiaowen's reign Chen had served concurrently as Master of Guests; when escorting Xiao Ze's envoy Liu Zuan of Pengcheng, Chen admired his bearing and often praised him in verse. Zuan's son Xi had been garrison commander at Xiushan; when Xi died, his family came to Luoyang. She was not yet twenty while Chen was past sixty; he took Xi's daughter as his wife. On the wedding day the court granted kitchen expenses; Chen was deeply pleased. In Emperor Xuanwu's reign he was teased about the match. When Lu Chang was defeated at Xiushan, an edict ordered Chen to ride post-horses and conduct an inspection.

遷河南尹，加平南將軍，黃門、中正如故。琛表曰：「詩稱『京邑翼翼，四方是則』者，京邑是四方之本，安危所在，不可不清。是以國家居代，患多盜竊，世祖太武皇帝親自發憤，廣置主司、里宰，皆以下代令長及五等散男有經略者乃得為之。又多置吏士，為其羽翼，崇而重之，始得禁止。今遷都已來，天下轉廣，四遠赴會，事過代都，五方雜沓，難可備簡，寇盜公行，劫害不絕，此由諸坊混雜，釐比不精，主司闇弱，不堪檢察故也。凡使人攻堅木者，必為之擇良器。今河南郡是陛下天山之堅木，盤根錯節，亂植其中。六部里尉即攻堅之利器，非貞剛精銳，無以治之。今擇尹既非南金，里尉鉛刀而割，欲望清肅都邑，不可得也。里正乃流外四品，職輕任碎，多是下才，人懷苟且，不能督察，故使盜得容姦，百賦失理。邊外小縣，所領不過百戶，而令長皆以將軍居之。京邑諸坊，大者或千戶、五百戶，其中皆王公卿尹，貴勢姻戚，豪猾僕隸，蔭養姦徒，高門邃宇，不可干問。又有州郡俠客，蔭結貴遊，附黨連羣，陰為市劫，比之邊縣，難易不同。今難彼易此，實為未愜。王者立法，隨時從宜，改弦易調，明主所急。先朝立品，不必即定，施而觀之，不便則改。今閑官靜任，猶聽長兼，況煩劇要務，不得簡能下領？請取武官中八品將軍已下幹用貞濟者，以本官俸恤，領里尉之任，各食其祿，高者領六部尉，中者領經途尉，下者領里正。不爾，請少高里尉之品，選下品中應遷之者，進而為之。則督責有所，輦轂可清。」詔曰：「里正可進至勳品，經途從九品，六部尉正九品諸職中簡取，何必須武人也？」琛又奏以羽林為遊軍，於諸坊巷司察盜賊。於是京邑清靜，至今踵焉。

He was transferred to Intendant of Henan and made General Who Pacifies the South; his Yellow Gate and Rectifier posts remained unchanged. Chen submitted a memorial: "The Odes say, 'The capital teems with splendor—a model for the four quarters.' The capital is the root of the realm; safety and danger hinge upon it. It cannot fail to be kept in order. When the state was at Dai, theft and banditry were rampant. Emperor Taiwu personally took the matter in hand and broadly established chief offices and ward heads, appointing only district magistrates of the lower ranks and fifth-rank dispersed males with proven capacity for strategy. He also assigned many clerks and officers as their support, exalted their authority, and only then achieved effective prohibition. Since the move of the capital the realm has grown vast, distant regions converge here, and affairs exceed what the old capital knew. The five directions crowd together beyond easy oversight; bandits operate openly and robbery never ceases. This is because wards are jumbled, household registers imprecise, and chief officers too weak to conduct effective inspection. Whoever would cut hard timber must first choose the right tools. Henan commandery is Your Majesty's hardwood from the Heavenly Mountain—roots tangled, knots crossed, disorder growing within. The six-ward district wardens are the sharp tools for such work; unless they are upright, firm, and keen, the capital cannot be governed. The Intendant now chosen is no southern gold; the district wardens are lead knives attempting the cut. To expect a cleared and disciplined capital is impossible. Ward chiefs rank only fourth class outside the regular hierarchy; their duties are light and fragmented, and most appointees lack talent. Men grow lax and cannot supervise effectively, so bandits find room for treachery and the hundred levies fall into disorder. In distant border counties the population may not exceed a hundred households, yet magistrates hold general's rank. Capital wards may hold five hundred or a thousand households, sheltering dukes, princes, ministers, and prefects, noble kin and affinal connections, fierce servants and slaves who harbor ruffians behind high gates and deep courts beyond ordinary inquiry. Provincial and commandery knights-errant also shelter ties with noble wanderers, form factions, and conduct secret marketplace robbery. Compared with border counties, the difficulty is altogether different. To make the hard post easy and the easy post hard is plainly unsatisfactory. Kings who make law adapt it to the times; retuning the strings is what an enlightened ruler urgently requires. The former court established grades without fixing them forever: implement, observe, and change what proves inconvenient. Even idle offices still permit long concurrent tenure—how much less may urgent and taxing duties be left to unqualified subordinates? I ask that capable and upright military officers of eighth rank and below, down to general, be paid from their original salaries and assigned as district wardens at their respective stipends: the higher to lead six-ward wardens, the middle main-road wardens, the lower ward chiefs. If not, raise the ward warden grades slightly and promote from lower ranks those due for advancement. Then supervision would have force and the imperial capital could be cleared." An edict replied: "Ward chiefs may advance to merit grades; main-road wardens from ninth grade; six-ward wardens chosen from ninth-grade offices in the regular hierarchy—why must they be military men?" Chen further memorialized to use the Feathered Forest as roaming patrols to watch for bandits in all wards and lanes. Thereupon the capital grew calm and orderly, and the practice endures to this day.

轉太子少保，黃門如故。大將軍高肇伐蜀，以琛為使持節、假撫軍將軍，領步騎四萬為前驅都督。琛次梁州獠亭，會世宗崩，班師。高肇既死，以琛，肇之黨也，不宜復參朝政，出為營州刺史，加安北將軍。歲餘，以光祿大夫李思穆代之，時年六十五矣，遂停中山，久之乃赴洛。除鎮西將軍、涼州刺史，猶以琛高氏之昵也，不欲處之於內。尋徵拜太常卿，仍以本將軍出為徐州刺史。及入辭肅宗，琛辭以老，詔除吏部尚書，將軍如故。未幾，除征北將軍、定州刺史，衣錦晝遊，大為稱滿。治體嚴細，甚無聲譽。崔光辭司徒之授也，琛與光書，外相抑揚，內實附會也。光亦揣其意，復書褒美以悅之。徵為車騎將軍、特進，又拜侍中。以其衰老，詔賜御府杖，朝直杖以出入。

He was transferred to Junior Mentor of the Heir Apparent while retaining his Yellow Gate post. When Grand General Gao Zhao campaigned against Shu, Chen was made bearer of the staff of authority and acting General Who Pacifies the Army, commanding forty thousand infantry and cavalry as vanguard commander. Chen halted at Liaoting in Liang province; when Emperor Xuanwu died, the army withdrew. After Gao Zhao's death, because Chen had been his faction-mate he was deemed unfit to resume court politics and was sent out as Inspector of Ying province with the added rank General Who Pacifies the North. After more than a year Li Simu, Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, replaced him. Chen was then sixty-five; he lingered at Zhongshan and only after a long while went to Luoyang. He was appointed General Who Guards the West and Inspector of Liang province; because Chen remained intimate with the Gao clan, the court still did not wish to keep him within the interior. Soon he was summoned and appointed Minister of Ceremonials, then sent out as Inspector of Xu province with his general's rank unchanged. When he came to take leave of Emperor Xiaoming, Chen pleaded old age; an edict appointed him Minister of the Ministry of Personnel while retaining his general's rank. Before long he was made General Who Campaigns North and Inspector of Ding province, returning home in embroidered robes by day to universal admiration and satisfaction. His administration was stern and meticulous, but he won little reputation. When Cui Guang declined appointment as Minister of the Masses, Chen exchanged letters with him—outwardly modest praise and restraint, inwardly true collusion. Guang also divined his intent and wrote back with flattering praise to please him. He was summoned as General of Chariots and Cavalry and Special Grand Master, and again appointed Palace Attendant. Because of his advanced age, an edict granted him an imperial staff, which he used when attending court.

正光五年冬卒。詔給東園祕器、朝服一具、衣一襲、錢十萬、物七百段、蠟三百斤。贈司徒公、尚書左僕射，加後部鼓吹。太常議諡「文穆」。吏部郎袁翻奏曰：「案禮：諡者，行之迹也；號者，功之表也；車服者，位之章也。是以大行受大名，細行受細名。行生於己，名生於人，故闔棺然後定諡。皆累其生時美惡，所以為將來勸戒，身雖死，使名常存也。凡薨亡者，屬所即言大鴻臚，移本郡大中正，條其行迹功過，承中正移言公府，下太常部博士評議，為諡列上。諡不應法者，博士坐如選舉不以實論。若行狀失實，中正坐如博士。自古帝王莫不殷勤重慎，以為褒貶之實也。今之行狀，皆出自其家，任其臣子自言君父之行，無復相是非之事。臣子之欲光揚君父，但苦迹之不高，行之不美，是以極辭肆意，無復限量。觀其狀也，則周孔聯鑣，伊顏接袵；論其諡也，雖窮文盡武，罔或加焉。然今之博士與古不同，唯知依其行狀，又先問其家人之意，臣子所求，便為議上，都不復斟酌與奪，商量是非。致號諡之加，與汎階莫異，專以極美為稱，無復貶降之名，禮官之失，一至於此！案甄司徒行狀，至德與聖人齊蹤，鴻名共大賢比跡，『文穆』之諡，何足加焉。但比來贈諡，於例普重，如甄琛之流，無不複諡。謂宜依諡法『慈惠愛民曰孝』，宜諡曰孝穆公。自今已後，明勒太常、司徒有行狀如此，言辭流宕，無復節限者，悉請裁量，不聽為受。必準人立諡，不得甚加優越。復仍踵前來之失者，付法司科罪。」從之。琛祖載，肅宗親送，降車就輿，弔服哭之，遣舍人慰其諸子。琛性輕簡，好嘲謔，故少風望。然明解有幹具，在官清白。自高祖、世宗咸相知待，肅宗以師傅之義而加禮焉。所著文章，鄙碎無大體，時有理詣，磔四聲、姓族廢興、會通緇素三論，及家誨二十篇，篤學文一卷，頗行於世。

In the winter of the fifth year of Zhenguang he died. An edict granted eastern-garden funeral vessels, one set of court robes, one suit of garments, one hundred thousand cash, seven hundred bolts of goods, and three hundred jin of wax. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Duke of the Masses and Left Vice Minister of the Secretariat, with rear-guard musical accompaniment added. The Ministry of Ceremonials proposed the posthumous title Wenmu (Cultivated and Solemn). Yuan Fan of the Ministry of Personnel memorialized: "According to the Rites, a posthumous name is the trace of conduct; a title is the manifestation of achievement; chariots and robes are the insignia of rank. Therefore great conduct receives a great name and small conduct a small name. Conduct arises in oneself, but the name arises in others; therefore the posthumous name is fixed only when the coffin is closed. All accumulate the good and ill of his lifetime to admonish posterity; though the body dies, the name endures. For all who die, the subordinate office reports to the Grand Herald, who transmits the case to the home commandery's chief rectifier to itemize conduct, achievements, and faults; the rectifier forwards this to the public offices, and the Ministry of Ceremonials' erudites debate and propose the posthumous name for submission. When a posthumous name fails to accord with law, the erudite is punished as for a false recommendation in selection. If the conduct record is false, the rectifier is punished like the erudite. Since antiquity emperors and kings have all been earnest and cautious, treating this as the substance of praise and blame. Today's conduct records all come from the deceased's own family, allowing sons and ministers to describe the father's conduct at will, with no further scrutiny of right and wrong. Sons and ministers wishing to glorify their father lament only that his deeds were not lofty and his conduct not beautiful; therefore they use extravagant rhetoric without limit. Read their records and Zhou and Confucius seem to yoke chariots together, Yi Yin and Yan Hui to share one robe; yet for their posthumous names, even the fullest wen and wu epithets could add nothing more. Yet today's erudites differ from antiquity: they merely follow the conduct record, first ask the family's wishes, and submit whatever sons and ministers request, no longer weighing grant or denial or debating right and wrong. Posthumous titles have become no different from general promotions, using only the most flattering names with none of demotion or lowering. The failure of the rites officers has reached this point! Review Minister Zhen's conduct record: supreme virtue walks equal with sages, great fame shares traces with great worthies—how can the posthumous name Wenmu even be adequate, let alone added to? Yet recently posthumous enfeoffments have been universally lavish; men like Zhen Chen without exception receive posthumous names. I deem it fitting, according to posthumous law, that 'kind and gracious, loving the people is called Xiao,' to posthumously name him Duke Xiao-Mu. Henceforth, clearly charge the Ministry of Ceremonials and the Minister of the Masses that when conduct records are like this, language unbounded and without limit, all such cases are to be judged and not accepted. Posthumous names must be fitted to the man; they must not be greatly inflated. Those who again repeat these former errors are to be handed to the law offices for punishment." The memorial was approved. When Chen's coffin was borne, Emperor Xiaoming personally escorted it, descended from his carriage to approach the bier, wore mourning and wept, and sent a chamberlain to console his sons. Chen was light and easy by nature and loved banter and mockery, and therefore won little public esteem. Yet he was clear-minded and capable, and in office remained scrupulously clean. From Emperor Xiaowen and Emperor Xuanwu he was known and favored; Emperor Xiaoming, because of their bond as teacher and pupil, showed him added courtesy. His writings were coarse and fragmentary, without great structure, though occasionally penetrating: three treatises titled Dissecting the Four Tones, Rise and Fall of Clans and Surnames, and Meeting and Communicating Black and White; twenty chapters of family admonitions; and one roll of Sincere Learning Literature—all circulated rather widely.

琛長子侃，字道正。郡功曹，釋褐祕書郎。性險薄，多與盜劫交通。隨琛在京，以酒色夜宿洛水亭舍，毆擊主人，為司州所劾，淹在州獄，琛大以慚慨。廣平王懷為牧，與琛先不協，欲具案窮推。琛託左右以聞，世宗遣白衣吳仲安敕懷寬放，懷固執治之。久乃特旨出之。侃自此沉廢，卒於家。

Chen's eldest son was Kan, courtesy name Daozheng. He served as commandery Merit Officer and, upon first entering office, was made Secretariat Gentleman. By nature treacherous and shallow, he consorted freely with bandits and robbers. While accompanying Chen in the capital, he spent a night carousing at a Lu River pavilion lodge, beat the innkeeper, and was impeached by the metropolitan office. He lingered in provincial prison, to Chen's deep shame and distress. Prince Huai of Guangping was regional governor; already at odds with Chen, he wished to pursue the case to its fullest extent. Chen used his intimates to report the matter; Emperor Xuanwu sent unranked messenger Wu Zhong'an to order Huai to release him, but Huai insisted on prosecuting the case. Only after a long interval was he freed by special imperial order. Kan sank into obscurity thereafter and died at home.

侃弟楷，字德方。粗有文學，頗習吏事。太平中，[2]上高祖頌十二篇，文多不載，優詔報之。琛啟除祕書郎。世宗崩未葬，楷與河南尹丞張普惠等飲戲，免官。任城王澄為司徒，引為公曹參軍。稍遷尚書儀曹郎，有當官之稱。

Kan's younger brother was Kai, courtesy name Defang. He had some literary learning and was fairly adept at official business. In the Taiping era he presented twelve odes to Emperor Xiaowen; most of the texts were not preserved in the record, but the court replied with a favorable edict. Chen memorialized to have him dismissed as Secretariat Gentleman. Before Emperor Xuanwu was buried, Kai caroused and played drinking games with Zhang Puhui, deputy of the Intendant of Henan, and was dismissed from office. When Prince Cheng of Rencheng became Minister of the Masses, he recruited Kai as Bureau Aide. He was gradually promoted to Gentleman of the Ministry of Rites Bureau and won a reputation for competence in office.

肅宗末，定州刺史、廣陽王淵被徵還朝，時楷丁憂在鄉，淵臨發，召楷兼長史，[3]委以州任。尋值鮮于脩禮、毛普賢等率北鎮流民反於州西北之左人城，屠村掠野，引向州城。州城之內，先有燕恒雲三州避難之戶，皆依傍市鄽，草廬攅住。脩禮等聲云欲收此輩，共為舉動。既外寇將逼，恐有內應，楷見人情不安，慮有變起，乃收州人中粗豪者皆殺之，以威外賊，固城民之心。及刺史元固、[4]大都督楊津等至，楷乃還家。後脩禮等忿楷屠害北人，遂掘其父墓，載棺巡城，示相報復。

At the end of Emperor Xiaoming's reign, Yuan Yuan, Prince of Guangyang and Inspector of Ding province, was summoned back to court. Kai was then in mourning in the countryside; on the eve of Yuan's departure he summoned Kai as acting Chief Administrator and entrusted him with the province. Soon Xianyu Xiuli, Mao Puxian, and others led displaced northerners from the northern garrisons to rebel at Zuoren Fort northwest of the province, slaughtering villages and pillaging the countryside as they advanced on the provincial capital. Within the city were earlier refugees from Yan, Heng, and Yun provinces, all clustered in shanties along the market lanes. Xiuli and the others proclaimed that they meant to rally these people into a joint uprising. With outer enemies closing in and fear of inner collusion, Kai saw the populace unsettled and feared sudden revolt. He seized and killed all the rough and powerful men in the province to awe the outer bandits and steady the hearts of the city's people. When Inspector Yuan Gu and Grand Commander Yang Jin arrived, Kai returned home. Later Xiuli and the others, enraged at Kai's slaughter of northerners, dug up his father's tomb, paraded the coffin around the city walls, and displayed their intent to repay him in kind.

孝莊時，徵為中書侍郎。尒朱榮之死，帝以其堪率鄉義，除試守常山太守，賜絹二百匹。出帝初，除征東將軍、金紫光祿大夫，遷衞將軍、右光祿大夫。齊文襄王取為儀同府諮議參軍。天平四年卒，年四十六。贈驃騎將軍、祕書監、滄州刺史。

Under Emperor Xiaozhuang he was summoned as Attendant Gentleman of the Secretariat. On Erzhu Rong's death the emperor deemed him fit to rally local loyalty and appointed him acting Administrator of Changshan, granting two hundred bolts of silk. At the start of Emperor Chu's reign he was made General Who Campaigns East and Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with Golden Seal, then transferred to General of the Guard and Right Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. Prince Wenxiang of Qi took him on as Advisory Aide of the Equipage Office. He died in the fourth year of Tianping, at the age of forty-six. He was posthumously enfeoffed as General of Fast Cavalry, Director of the Secretariat, and Inspector of Cang province.

楷弟寬，字仁規。自員外散騎侍郎、本州別駕，稍遷太尉從事中郎、治書侍御史。武定初，謝病還鄉，卒於家。

Kai's younger brother was Kuan, courtesy name Rengui. Starting as Supernumerary Attendant Cavalier and Vice-Prefect of his home province, he was gradually promoted to Aide of the Grand Master of War and Imperial Censor. At the start of Wuding he pleaded illness and returned home, where he died.

僧林，終於鄉里。

Senglin ended his days in his home village.

琛從父弟密，字叔雍。清謹少嗜欲，頗涉書史。太和中，奉朝請。密疾世俗貪競，乾沒榮寵，曾作風賦以見意。後參中山王英軍事，英鍾離敗退，鄉人蘇良沒於賊手，密盡私財以贖之。良既歸，傾資報密，密一皆不受，謂良曰：「濟君之日，本不求貨，豈相贖之意也？」

Chen's paternal cousin was Mi, courtesy name Shuyong. Clear-minded and careful, with few cravings, he had dipped into the classics and histories. In the Taihe era he was made Court Attendant. Mi detested worldly greed and the scramble for glory and favor; he once wrote a Rhapsody on Wind to express his views. Later he joined the staff of Prince Ying of Zhongshan; when Ying was defeated and withdrew from Zhongli, his townsman Su Liang fell into bandit hands, and Mi spent all his private wealth to ransom him. When Liang returned he poured out his wealth to repay Mi; Mi refused every item, saying to Liang, "The day I aided you I sought no reward—how could this be the meaning of ransom?"

歷太尉鎧曹，遷國子博士。肅宗末，通直散騎常侍、冠軍將軍。時賊帥葛榮侵擾河北，裴衍、源子邕敗沒，人情不安，詔密為相州行臺，援守鄴城。莊帝以密全鄴之勳，賞安市縣開國子，食邑三百戶。遷平東將軍、光祿大夫，領廷尉少卿，尋轉征東將軍、金紫光祿大夫。孝靜初，車騎將軍、廷尉卿，在官有平直之譽。出為北徐州刺史，將軍如故。興和四年卒。贈驃騎將軍、儀同三司、瀛州刺史，諡曰靖。

He served in the Grand Commander's armory bureau and was promoted to Erudite of the Imperial Academy. At the end of Emperor Xiaoming's reign he was Regular Attendant of the Secretariat in Direct Communication and General Who Champions. When bandit chief Ge Rong harried Hebei and Pei Yan and Yuan Ziyin were defeated and lost, morale was unsettled; an edict appointed Mi mobile prefect of Xiang province to aid in defending Ye. Emperor Xiaozhuang, for Mi's merit in holding Ye, enfeoffed him as Marquis of Anshi county with a fief of three hundred households. He was promoted to General Who Pacifies the East and Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, heading Vice Minister of Justice; soon he was transferred to General Who Campaigns East and Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with Golden Seal. Early in Emperor Xiaojing's reign he was General of Chariots and Cavalry and Minister of Justice, with a reputation for uprightness in office. He was sent out as Inspector of North Xu, his general's rank unchanged. He died in the fourth year of Xinghe. He was posthumously enfeoffed as General of Fast Cavalry, equal to the Three Departments, and Inspector of Ying province, with the posthumous title Jing (Tranquil).

長子儉，字元恭。官至前將軍、太中大夫。卒。

His eldest son was Jian, courtesy name Yuangong. He rose to Front General and Grand Master of the Palace. He died.

儉弟賾，有才學，亦早卒。

Jian's younger brother Ze had literary talent and also died young.

纂頗涉經史，雅有氣尚，交結勝流。太和中，釋褐奉朝請，稍遷伏波將軍、任城王澄鎮北府騎兵參軍，帶魏昌縣令，吏民安之。後為北中府司馬，久之，除樂陵太守。在郡多所受納，聞御史至，棄郡逃走，於是除名，乃卒。天平初，贈使持節、都督冀定二州諸軍事、驃騎將軍、定州刺史。

Zuan had dipped into the classics and histories, possessed refined spirit and bearing, and associated with eminent men. In the Taihe era, upon first entering office he was made Court Attendant; he was gradually promoted to General Who Quells Waves and Cavalry Aide on Prince Cheng of Rencheng's northern staff, concurrently Magistrate of Wei County, where officials and people lived at peace under him. Later he was Marshal of the North Central Headquarters; after a long interval he was appointed Prefect of Yueling. In the prefecture he took many bribes; when he heard the censor had arrived, he abandoned his post and fled, was struck from the rolls, and then died. Early in Tianping he was posthumously granted bearer of the staff of authority, commander of military affairs in Ji and Ding provinces, General of Fast Cavalry, and Inspector of Ding province.

纂叔感，字崇仁。有器業，不應州郡之命。

Zuan's uncle was Gan, courtesy name Chongren. He had capacity and achievement and did not respond to summons from provinces and commanderies.

子宣軌，少孤，事母以孝聞。歷郡功曹、州主簿。延昌中，釋褐奉朝請、冀州征東府長流參軍，轉相州中軍府錄事參軍，定州別駕。後除鎮遠將軍、員外散騎常侍，出為相州撫軍府司馬。宣軌性通率，輕財好施。屬葛榮圍城，與刺史李神有固守之効。永安中，以功賜爵中山公。中興初，坐事，死於鄴。子子瑜。

Xuangui, orphaned young, served his mother with a reputation for filial piety. He served as commandery Merit Officer and provincial chief clerk. In the Yanchang era, upon first entering office he was made Court Attendant and long-flow aide in Ji's eastern campaign headquarters; he transferred to recorder in Xiang province's central army headquarters and became Vice-Prefect of Ding province. Later he was appointed General Who Guards the Far and Supernumerary Attendant Cavalier and was sent out as Marshal of Xiang province's Pacification Army Headquarters. Xuangui was frank and open by nature, light with wealth, and generous in giving. When Ge Rong besieged the city, he and Inspector Li Shen won merit for steadfast defense. In the Yongan era, for his merit he was enfeoffed as Duke of Zhongshan. Early in Zhongxing he was punished for an offense and died at Ye. His son was Ziyu.

纂從弟元賓，太和十六年，出身奉朝請，遷員外郎、給事中。正光中，除中堅將軍、射聲校尉。永安三年卒。永熙中，外生高敖曹貴達，啟贈持節、撫軍將軍、瀛州刺史。

Zuan's cousin Yuanbin, in the sixteenth year of Taihe upon first entering office was made Court Attendant, then promoted to Supernumerary Gentleman and Palace Attendant. In Zhenguang he was appointed General Firm Center and Colonel of the Shooting-Sound Corps. He died in the third year of Yongan. In Yongxi his maternal nephew Gao Aocao rose to power and memorialized a posthumous grant of bearer of the staff, General Who Pacifies the Army, and Inspector of Ying province.

子辨，天平中，司徒行參軍。

His son Bian, in the Tianping era, was Runner Aide to the Minister of the Masses.

高聰，字僧智，本勃海蓨人。曾祖軌，隨慕容德徙青州，因居北海之劇縣。父法昂，劉駿車騎將軍王玄謨甥也。少隨玄謨征伐，以軍功至員外郎。早卒。

Gao Cong, courtesy name Sengzhi, was originally from Tiao in Bohai. His great-grandfather Gui followed Murong De to Qingzhou and thus settled in Juxian of Beihai. His father Fa'ang was nephew by marriage to Liu Jun's General of Chariots and Cavalry Wang Xuomo. In youth he followed Xuomo on campaigns and by military merit rose to Supernumerary Gentleman. He died young.

聰生而喪母，祖母王撫育之。大軍攻克東陽，聰徙入平城，與蔣少遊為雲中兵戶，窘困無所不至。族祖允視之若孫，大加賙給。聰涉獵經史，頗有文才，允嘉之，數稱其美，言之朝廷，云：「青州蔣少遊與從孫僧智，雖為孤弱，然皆有文情。」由是與少遊同拜中書博士。積十年，轉侍郎，以本官為高陽王雍友，稍為高祖知賞。

Cong lost his mother at birth; his grandmother Wang raised him. When the grand army took Dongyang, Cong was moved to Pingcheng; with Jiang Shaoyou he was registered as a Yunzhong military household and suffered every kind of privation. His clan elder Yun treated him as a grandson and gave him generous relief. Cong ranged through the classics and histories and had considerable literary talent; Yun rejoiced in him, often praised his gifts, and spoke to the court, saying, "Jiang Shaoyou of Qingzhou and my nephew Sengzhi, though orphaned and weak, yet both possess literary gifts." Thereupon he and Shaoyou were together appointed Erudites of the Secretariat. After ten years he was transferred to Gentleman; retaining his rank he became Friend to Prince Yong of Gaoyang and was gradually noticed and favored by Emperor Xiaowen.

太和十七年，兼員外散騎常侍，使於蕭昭業。高祖定都洛陽，追詔聰等曰：「比於河陽敕卿，仍屆瀍洛，周視舊業，依然有懷，固欲先之營之，後乃薄伐。且以賾喪甫爾，使通在昔，乘危幸凶，君子弗取。是用輟茲前圖，遠期來會，爰息六師，三川是宅，將底居成周，永恢皇宇。今更造璽書，以代往詔，比所敕授，隨宜變之，善勗皇華，無替指意。」使還，遷通直散騎常侍、兼太府少卿，轉兼太子左率。

In the seventeenth year of Taihe he served concurrently as Supernumerary Attendant Cavalier and envoy to Xiao Zhaoye. After Emperor Xiaowen fixed the capital at Luoyang, he sent a follow-up edict to Cong and the others, saying, "Recently at Heyang I charged you, yet you have now arrived at the Chan and Luo rivers and surveyed our former domain—I still feel the pull. I had intended to establish the capital first and only then undertake a limited campaign. Moreover, since Xiao Ze's mourning has only just begun and our envoys are still bound by former protocols, to seize upon crisis for advantage is what a gentleman will not do. Therefore I set aside this former design and defer our meeting to a later day; I now rest the six armies and make the Three Rivers our home, intending to settle at Chengzhou and forever restore the imperial realm. I now compose a fresh imperial letter to replace the former edict; adapt what I previously conveyed as circumstances require. Fulfill your role as envoys splendidly, and do not betray my intent." On his return from the mission he was promoted to Regular Attendant of the Secretariat in Direct Communication and concurrent Vice Minister of the Imperial Storehouse, then transferred to concurrent Left Leader of the Heir Apparent.

聰微習弓馬，乃以將用自許。高祖銳意南討，專訪王肅以軍事。聰託肅願以偏裨自効，肅言之於高祖，故假聰輔國將軍，統兵二千，與劉藻、傅永、成道益、任莫問俱受肅節度，同援渦陽。而聰躁怯少威重，所經淫掠無禮，及與賊交，望風退敗。與藻等同囚於懸瓠，高祖恕死，徙平州為民。行屆瀛州，屬刺史王質獲白兔將獻，託聰為表。高祖見表，顧謂王肅曰：「在下那得復有此才，而令朕不知也？」肅曰：「比高聰北徙，此文或其所製。」高祖悟曰：「必應然也，何應更有此輩？」

Cong had dabbled in archery and horsemanship and now fancied himself fit for military command. Emperor Xiaowen was keen on the southern campaign and consulted Wang Su exclusively on military affairs. Cong entreated Su, wishing to serve as a flank officer; Su spoke of this to Emperor Xiaowen, so Cong was given acting rank as General Who Assists the State and commanded two thousand troops. With Liu Zao, Fu Yong, Cheng Daoyi, and Ren Mokou he all served under Su's command and jointly relieved Woyang. But Cong was rash and cowardly, commanding little respect; wherever he passed he wantonly plundered without restraint, and when he met the bandits he fled at the sight of them. With Zao and the others he was imprisoned at Xuanhu; Emperor Xiaowen spared his life and exiled him to Ping province as a commoner. On the journey he reached Ying province; it happened that Inspector Wang Zhi had obtained a white hare to present and entrusted Cong to draft the memorial. Emperor Xiaowen saw the memorial and, turning, said to Wang Su, "How could men below still produce such talent, yet leave me ignorant of it?" Su said, "Recently Gao Cong was exiled north; this text is perhaps his composition." Emperor Xiaowen understood and said, "Surely it must be so—how could there be another such?"

世宗初，聰復竊還京師。六輔之廢，聰之謀也。世宗親政，除給事黃門侍郎，加輔國將軍。遷散騎常侍，黃門如故。世宗幸鄴，還於河內懷界，帝親射矢一里五十餘步。侍中高顯等奏：「伏見親御弧矢，臨原弋遠，弦動羽馳，矢鏃所逮，三百五十餘步。臣等伏惟陛下聖武自天，神藝夙茂，巧會騶虞之節，妙盡矍圃之儀。威稜攸疊，甝兇懾氣，才猛所振，勁憝弭心，足以肅截九區，赫服八宇矣。盛事奇迹，必宜表述，請勒銘射宮，永彰聖藝。」詔曰：「此乃弓弧小藝，何足以示後葉，而喉脣近侍苟以為然，亦豈容有異，便可如請。」遂刊銘於射所，聰為之詞。

Early in Emperor Xuanwu's reign Cong secretly returned to the capital again. The abolition of the Six Assistants was Cong's stratagem. When Emperor Xuanwu took personal rule, Cong was appointed Attendant-in-Waiting of the Yellow Gate and given added rank as General Who Assists the State. He was transferred to Regular Attendant Cavalier while retaining his Yellow Gate post. On a visit to Ye, Emperor Xuanwu was returning through the Huai district of Henei when he personally shot an arrow more than a li and fifty paces. Attendant-in-Waiting Gao Xian and others memorialized: "We observe Your Majesty personally drawing the bow, shooting on the plain at distant targets; when the string sounds the feather flies, and the arrowhead reaches more than three hundred fifty paces. We your servants reflect that Your Majesty's sacred martial prowess comes from Heaven, your divine skill long flourishing, skillfully matching the rhythms of Zouyu and wonderfully mastering the ceremonies of the hunting park. Your majesty mounts upon majesty; fierce beasts quell their breath; wherever talent and valor strike, the stubborn bend their hearts—enough to awe the nine regions and subdue the eight directions in splendor. Such a grand event and marvel must surely be proclaimed; we beg that an inscription be carved at the shooting ground to manifest your sacred skill forever." The edict said: "This is but a trifling art of bow and string—how could it suffice to instruct posterity? Yet you throat-and-lip attendants rashly agree; could I permit dissent? Proceed as requested." An inscription was then carved at the shooting ground, with Cong composing the text.

趙脩嬖幸，聰深朋附。及詔追贈脩父，聰為碑文，出入同載，觀視碑石。聰每見脩，迎送盡禮。聰又為脩作表，陳當時便宜，教其自安之術，由是迭相親狎。脩死，甄琛、李憑皆被黜落，聰亦深用危慮。而聰先以疏宗之情，曲事高肇，竟獲自免，肇之力也。脩之任勢，聰傾身事之，及脩之死，言必毀惡。茹皓之寵，聰又媚附，每相招命，言笑攜撫，公私託仗，無所不至。每稱皓才識明敏，非趙脩之儔。乃因皓啟請青州鎮下治中公廨，以為私宅，又乞水田數十頃，皆被遂許。及皓見戮，聰以為死之晚也。其薄於情義，類皆如此。

Zhao Xiu was a court favorite, and Cong became his devoted ally. When an edict posthumously enfeoffed Xiu's father, Cong wrote the epitaph; they rode together in and out of court, inspecting the stone. Whenever Cong saw Xiu he received and sent him off with full ceremony. Cong also drafted memorials for Xiu, setting forth timely expedients and teaching him how to secure his position; thereby they grew intimately close. When Xiu died, Zhen Chen and Li Ping were both dismissed, and Cong was deeply alarmed. But Cong had earlier, through distant clan ties, curried favor with Gao Zhao and ultimately escaped punishment—thanks to Zhao's power. While Xiu held power Cong threw himself into serving him; after Xiu's death he spoke only to denigrate him. When Ru Hao gained favor Cong fawned upon him again; they constantly summoned each other, laughing and clasping in intimacy, entrusting public and private affairs without limit. He often praised Hao's talent and keen discernment as no match for Zhao Xiu. Then through Hao he memorialized requesting the Zhonghe government compound under the Qingzhou garrison as a private residence, and also begged several dozen qing of irrigated fields—all were granted. When Hao was executed Cong thought his death had come too late. His want of feeling and loyalty were all of this kind.

侍中高顯出授護軍，聰轉兼其處，於時顯兄弟疑聰間構而求之。聰居兼十餘旬，出入機要，言即真，無遠慮。藉貴因權，耽於聲色，賄納之音，聞於遐邇。中尉崔亮知肇微恨，遂面陳聰罪，世宗乃出聰為平北將軍、并州刺史。聰善於去就，知肇嫌之，側身承奉，肇遂待之如舊。聰在并州數歲，多不率法，又與太原太守王椿有隙，再為大使、御史舉奏，肇每以宗私相援，事得寢緩。世宗末，拜散騎常侍、平北將軍。

When Attendant-in-Waiting Gao Xian went out to command the Protector Army, Cong transferred to hold his post concurrently; Xian's brothers then suspected Cong of intrigue and sought his removal. Cong held the concurrent post for more than ten decadal days, entering and leaving crucial affairs; his words were immediately adopted, without far-reaching thought. Relying on eminence and exploiting power, he indulged in music and women; reports of bribe-taking reached far and near. Censor-in-Chief Cui Liang knew Zhao bore him slight resentment and thereupon presented Cong's crimes in person; Emperor Xuanwu then sent Cong out as General Who Pacifies the North and Inspector of Bing province. Cong was skilled at shifting with fortune; knowing Zhao resented him he bent himself to serve and fawn, and Zhao then treated him as before. Cong spent several years in Bing province, largely ignoring the law; he also clashed with Taiyuan Prefect Wang Chun. Envoys and censors impeached him twice, but Zhao each time shielded him on clan grounds and the cases were allowed to subside. At the end of Emperor Xuanwu's reign he was appointed Regular Attendant Cavalier and General Who Pacifies the North.

肅宗踐祚，以其素附高肇，出為幽州刺史，將軍如故。尋以高肇之黨，與王世義、高綽、李憲、崔楷、蘭氛之為中尉元匡所彈，靈太后並特原之。聰遂停廢于家，斷絕人事，唯修營園果，以聲色自娛。久之，拜光祿大夫，加安北將軍。聰心望中書令，然後出作青州，願竟不果。正光元年夏卒，年六十九。靈太后聞其病，遣主書問之，聰對使者歔欷慟泣。及聞其亡，嗟悼良久，言：「朕既無福，大臣殞喪。且其與朕父南征，契闊戎旅，特可感念。」賵布帛三百匹、冰一車。贈撫軍將軍、青州刺史，諡曰獻。聰有妓十餘人，有子無子皆注籍為妾，以悅其情。及病，不欲他人得之，並令燒指吞炭，出家為尼。聰所作文筆二十卷，別有集。

When Emperor Xiaoming ascended, because he had long been attached to Gao Zhao he was sent out as Inspector of You province, his general's rank unchanged. Soon, as a member of Gao Zhao's faction, he was impeached by Censor-in-Chief Yuan Kuang together with Wang Shiyi, Gao Chuo, Li Xian, Cui Kai, and Lan Fen. Empress Dowager Ling specially pardoned them all. Cong was then suspended at home, cutting off social contact, cultivating only gardens and orchards and amusing himself with music and women. After a long interval he was appointed Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with added rank as General Who Pacifies the North. Cong had set his heart on Director of the Secretariat, yet was afterward sent out as Inspector of Qing province—the wish was never fulfilled. In summer of the first year of Zhenguang he died, at the age of sixty-nine. Empress Dowager Ling heard he was ill and sent a chief clerk to inquire; Cong answered the envoy with sobs and tears. When she heard of his death she sighed and mourned at length, saying, "We are without fortune; a great minister has perished. Moreover he campaigned south with our father, sharing hardships on campaign—especially moving to recall." She granted funeral gifts of three hundred bolts of cloth and silk and one cart of ice. He was posthumously enfeoffed as General Who Pacifies the Army and Inspector of Qing province, with the posthumous title Xian (Accomplished). Cong kept more than ten singing girls; whether or not they had borne sons he registered them all as concubines to please himself. When he fell ill, not wishing others to have them, he had them all burn their fingers, swallow charcoal, and leave home as nuns. Cong left literary compositions in twenty scrolls, with a separate collected works.

子長雲，字彥鴻。起家祕書郎、太尉主簿，稍遷輔國將軍、中散大夫。建義初，於河陰遇害。贈安東將軍、兗州刺史。

His son was Changyun, courtesy name Yanhong. Upon first entering office he was made Secretariat Gentleman and Chief Clerk of the Grand Master of War; he was gradually promoted to General Who Assists the State and Palace Cadet. Early in Jianyi he was killed at Heyin. He was posthumously enfeoffed as General Who Pacifies the East and Inspector of Yan province.

長雲弟叔山，字彥甫。司徒行參軍，稍遷寧朔將軍、越騎校尉。卒，贈太常少卿。

Changyun's younger brother was Shushan, courtesy name Yanfu. He was Runner Aide to the Minister of the Masses and was gradually promoted to General Who Pacifies the North and Colonel of Upright Cavalry. He died and was posthumously appointed Vice Minister of the Grand Ancestral Temple.

史臣曰：甄琛以學尚刀筆，早樹聲名，受遇三朝，終至崇重。高聰才尚見知，名位顯著。而異軌同奔，咸經於危覆之轍，惜乎！

The chronicler says: Zhen Chen, through learning and skill in drafting, early built a reputation, was favored through three reigns, and in the end reached high honor. Gao Cong's talent was recognized and his name and position were eminent. Yet by different paths they ran alike, all passing through tracks of ruin—alas!

校勘記

Collation Notes

世有其民冊府卷四九三〈五八九四頁〉「有」作「育」，據下文作「育」是。

"Each age has its people" — Cefu guangji, juan 493 〈p. 5894〉 The character you (the cited text, "have") appears as yu (the cited text, "nurture"); the following passage shows yu is correct.

太平中按魏無「太平」年號，下云「世宗崩」，「太平」當是「永平」之訛。

"In the Taiping era": Northern Wei has no Taiping reign title; the text below mentions Emperor Xuanwu's death, so Taiping must be a scribal error for Yongping.

召楷兼長史諸本「楷」下衍「不」字，今據北史卷四０甄琛附甄楷傳、冊府卷七二一〈八五八四頁〉刪。

"Summoned Kai as acting Chief Administrator": various editions insert a superfluous bu after Kai; emended per Bei shi 40 (Zhen Kai biography) and Cefu guangji juan 721 〈p. 8584〉 The superfluous character is deleted.

及刺史元固諸本「固」作「冏」，百衲本作「囧」，也即「冏」字，冊府卷七二一〈八五八五頁〉作「固」。北史卷四０大德本也作「固」，百衲本據殿本修作「冏」。按卷五八楊播附楊津傳見定州刺史元固。墓誌集釋有元固墓誌〈圖版一二０〉，也說他曾官「定州刺史」。這裏「冏」乃「固」之訛，今據改。

"When Inspector Yuan Gu" — Various editions read "gu" as "jiong"; the Baipu edition reads "jiong" (variant for jiong), Cefu juan 721 〈p. 8585〉 reads "gu." Bei shi 40 (Dade edition) also reads Gu; the Baipu edition revised to Jiong following the Dian edition. According to Wei shu 58 (Yang Jin biography under Yang Bo), Inspector of Ding Yuan Gu appears. Muzhi jishi includes Yuan Gu's epitaph 〈plate 120〉 , which also records that he once served as Inspector of Ding province. Here "jiong" is an error for "gu"; emended accordingly.

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