1
于洛侯胡泥李洪之高遵張赦提羊祉崔暹酈道元谷楷
Yu Luohou, Hu Ni, Li Hongzhi, Gao Zun, Zhang Sheti, Yang Zhi, Cui Xian, Li Daoyuan, and Gu Kai
2
淳風既喪，姦黠萌生； 法令滋章，刑禁多設。 為吏罕仁恕之誠，當官以威猛為濟。 魏氏以戎馬定王業，武功平海內，治任刑罰，肅厲為本，猛酷之倫，所以列之今史。
Once honest ways had decayed, deceit and guile began to flourish; Statutes multiplied, and criminal restrictions proliferated. Few magistrates possessed true benevolence and leniency; those in power typically used harsh severity as their tool. The Wei dynasty founded its kingship on horseback, subdued the empire by force of arms, and ruled through punishment—stern severity was its foundation. It is for this reason that these men of brutal cruelty are set down in the present annals.
3
于洛侯，代人也。 以勞舊為秦州刺史，而貪酷安忍。 州人富熾奪民呂勝脛纏一具，洛侯輒鞭富熾一百，截其右腕。 百姓王隴客刺殺民王羌奴、王愈二人，依律罪死而已，洛侯生拔隴客舌，刺其本，并刺胸腹二十餘瘡。 隴客不堪苦痛，隨刀戰動。 乃立四柱磔其手足，命將絕，始斬其首，支解四體，分懸道路。 見之者無不傷楚，闔州驚震，人懷怨憤。 百姓王元壽等一時反叛。 有司糾劾。 高祖詔使者於州刑人處宣告兵民，然後斬洛侯以謝百姓。
Yu Luohou was a native of Dai. On account of long-standing merit he was appointed Governor of Qinzhou, but he was greedy, brutal, and pitiless. When a local man named Fu Chi seized a pair of leg wrappings from the commoner Lü Sheng, Luohou had him flogged one hundred times on the spot and cut off his right wrist. The commoner Wang Longke had killed Wang Qiangnu and Wang Yu—an offense that by law merited execution and nothing more. Luohou tore out Longke's tongue while he still lived, stabbed his groin, and drove more than twenty wounds into his chest and belly. Longke could not bear the agony; his body convulsed with every thrust of the knife. He then set up four posts and impaled Longke's limbs upon them. Only when life was nearly extinguished did he behead him, quarter the body, and hang the pieces along the roads. All who witnessed it were overcome with grief; the entire province was shaken, and the people seethed with resentment. The commoners Wang Yuanshou and others rose in revolt together. The authorities impeached him. Emperor Gaozu sent an envoy to announce the case to soldiers and civilians at the site of execution in the province, then had Luohou beheaded to answer the people's grievances.
4
胡泥，代人也。 歷官至司衞監，賜爵永城侯。 泥率勒禁中，不憚豪貴。 殿中尚書叔孫侯頭應內直而闕於一時，泥以法繩之。 侯頭恃寵，遂與口諍。 高祖聞而嘉焉，賜泥衣服一襲。 出為幽州刺史，假范陽公。 以北平陽尼碩學，遂表薦之。 遷平東將軍、定州刺史。 以暴虐，刑罰酷濫，受納貨賄，徵還戮之。 將就法也，高祖臨太華殿引見，遣侍臣宣詔責之，遂就家賜自盡。
Hu Ni was a native of Dai. He rose through the ranks to Supervisor of the Palace Guards and was ennobled as Marquis of Yongcheng. Ni enforced discipline within the palace and showed no fear of the powerful and privileged. When Palace Attendant Shusun Hutou failed to report for his shift on inner palace duty, Ni prosecuted him according to the law. Hutou, trusting in imperial favor, quarreled with him openly. Emperor Gaozu heard of this and praised him, granting Ni a suit of robes. He was appointed Governor of Youzhou and given the provisional title Duke of Fanyang. Recognizing Yang Ni of Beiping as a distinguished scholar, he memorialized the throne recommending him for office. He was promoted to General Who Pacifies the East and Governor of Dingzhou. For his brutality, his excessive and arbitrary punishments, and his acceptance of bribes, he was recalled to the capital and put to death. As he was about to face punishment, Emperor Gaozu received him at Taihua Hall, sent an attendant to read out an edict of rebuke, and then permitted him to take his own life at home.
5
李洪之，本名文通，恒農人。 少為沙門，晚乃還俗。 真君中，為狄道護軍，賜爵安陽男。 會永昌王仁隨世祖南征，得元后姊妹二人。 洪之以宗人潛相餉遺，結為兄弟，遂便如親。 頗得元后在南兄弟名字，乃改名洪之。 及仁坐事誅，元后入宮，得幸於高宗，生顯祖。 元后臨崩，昭太后問其親，因言洪之為兄。 與相訣經日，具條列南方諸兄珍之等，手以付洪之。 遂號為顯祖親舅。 太安中，珍之等兄弟至都，與洪之相見，敍元后平生故事，計長幼為昆季。
Li Hongzhi, born Li Wentong, was a native of Hengnong. In his youth he was a Buddhist monk; he did not return to secular life until later years. During the Zhenjun reign he served as Protector of the Army at Didao and was ennobled as Baron of Anyang. When Prince Ren of Yongchang accompanied Emperor Shizu on the southern campaign, he captured two sisters of the woman who would become Empress Yuan. Hongzhi, claiming kinship, secretly sent them gifts; they swore brotherhood and thereafter treated one another as family. Having learned the names of Empress Yuan's brothers in the south, he changed his own name to Hongzhi. When Ren was executed for his crimes, Empress Yuan entered the palace, won the favor of Emperor Gaozong, and bore Emperor Xianzu. On her deathbed Empress Yuan told Empress Dowager Zhao, when asked about her relatives, that Hongzhi was her brother. They bade farewell over several days; she wrote out a full list of her brothers in the south, including Zhenzhi, and handed it to Hongzhi in her own writing. He was thereafter known as Emperor Xianzu's maternal uncle. During the Tai'an era, Zhenzhi and his brothers came to the capital, met Hongzhi, recounted the life of Empress Yuan, and arranged themselves as brothers according to age.
6
以外戚為河內太守，進爵任城侯，威儀一同刺史。 河內北連上黨，南接武牢，地險人悍，數為劫害，長吏不能禁。 洪之至郡，嚴設科防，募斬賊者便加重賞，勸農務本，盜賊止息。 誅鋤姦黨，過為酷虐。
As imperial kin by marriage he was appointed Administrator of Henei and promoted to Marquis of Rencheng, with ceremonial display equal to that of a provincial governor. Henei lay between Shangdang to the north and Wulao to the south—a rugged region of fierce inhabitants where robbery was frequent and local officials could not suppress it. Upon reaching the commandery, Hongzhi imposed strict regulations, offered generous bounties for the heads of bandits, and promoted agriculture; banditry came to an end. In exterminating criminal factions he exceeded all bounds of cruelty.
7
後為懷州刺史，封汲郡公，徵拜內都大官。 河西羌胡領部落反叛，顯祖親征，命洪之與侍中、東郡王陸定總統諸軍。 輿駕至并州，詔洪之為河西都將討山胡。 皆保險拒戰。 洪之築壘於石樓南白鷄原以對之。 諸將悉欲進攻，洪之乃開以大信，聽其復業，胡人遂降。 顯祖嘉之，遷拜尚書外都大官。
He later served as Governor of Huaizhou, was enfeoffed as Duke of Jijun, and was appointed Grand Director of the Inner Court. When the Qiang and Hu of Hexi rebelled with their tribes, Emperor Xianzu led the campaign in person and appointed Hongzhi and Attendant-in-Ordinary Lu Ding, Prince of Dongjun, to command all forces jointly. When the emperor reached Bingzhou, he appointed Hongzhi General of Hexi to subdue the Mountain Hu. They all held the mountain passes and resisted. Hongzhi built fortifications on Baiji Plain south of Shilou to face them. Though the other generals all favored attack, Hongzhi offered generous terms, permitted them to resume their occupations, and the Hu submitted. Emperor Xianzu praised him and promoted him to Grand Director of the Outer Court in the Secretariat.
8
後為使持節、安南將軍、秦益二州刺史。 至治，設禁姦之制，有帶刃行者，罪與劫同，輕重品格，各有條章。 於是大饗州中豪傑長老，示之法制。 乃夜密遣騎分部覆諸要路，有犯禁者，輒捉送州，宣告斬決。 其中枉見殺害者百數。 赤葩渴郎羌深居山谷，雖相羈縻，王人罕到。 洪之芟山為道，廣十餘步，示以軍行之勢，乃興軍臨其境。 山人驚駭。 洪之將數十騎至其里閭，撫其妻子，問所疾苦，因資遺之。 眾羌喜悅，求編課調，所入十倍於常。 洪之善御戎夷，頗有威惠，而刻害之聲聞於朝野。
He later served as Bearer of the Staff of Authority, General Who Pacifies the South, and Governor of Qin and Yi provinces. Upon taking office he instituted anti-crime regulations: anyone found carrying a weapon in public was treated as guilty of robbery, with graded penalties set forth in detailed statutes. He then held a great banquet for the leading men and elders of the province and presented the new regulations to them. That night he secretly dispatched cavalry to patrol all key roads; violators were seized, brought to the provincial capital, publicly announced, and beheaded. Among them, more than a hundred were wrongly executed. The Chipo Kelang Qiang lived deep in the mountains; though nominally under imperial control, government agents rarely reached them. Hongzhi cut a road through the mountains more than ten paces wide to demonstrate military might, then marched his army into their territory. The mountain people were astonished and afraid. Hongzhi rode with several dozen horsemen to their villages, comforted their wives and children, inquired after their hardships, and distributed gifts. The Qiang were delighted and volunteered to register for taxation; revenue increased tenfold. Hongzhi was skilled at governing frontier peoples and combined authority with kindness, yet his reputation for cruelty was known throughout court and countryside.
9
初，洪之微時，妻張氏助洪之經營資產，自貧至貴，多所補益，有男女幾十人。 洪之後得劉氏，劉芳從妹。 洪之欽重，而疏薄張氏，為兩宅別居，偏厚劉室。 由是二妻妬競，互相訟詛，兩宅母子，往來如讎。 及莅西州，以劉自隨。
In his early days, when Hongzhi was still obscure, his wife Lady Zhang helped him build their fortune; from poverty to wealth she contributed greatly, and they had several dozen children. Later Hongzhi took Lady Liu, a cousin of Liu Fang, as his wife. Hongzhi favored Lady Liu but neglected Lady Zhang; he established two separate households and lavished preference on the Liu family. The two wives therefore competed in jealousy, sued and cursed one another, and the mothers and children of the two households treated one another as enemies. When he took up his post in the western provinces, he brought Lady Liu with him.
10
洪之素非廉清，每多受納。 時高祖始建祿制，法禁嚴峻，司察所聞，無不窮糾。 遂鎖洪之赴京。 高祖臨太華，庭集羣官，有司奏洪之受贓狼藉，又以酷暴。 高祖親臨數之，以其大臣，聽在家自裁。 洪之志性慷慨，多所堪忍，疹疾灸療，艾炷圍將二寸，首足十餘處，一時俱下，而言笑自若，接賓不輟。 及臨自盡，沐浴換衣。 防卒扶持，將出却入，遍遶家庭，如是再三，泣歎良久，乃臥而引藥。
Hongzhi had never been honest; he frequently accepted bribes. Emperor Gaozu had just instituted the salary system; laws were strict, and inspectors pursued every report to its conclusion. Hongzhi was shackled and escorted to the capital. Emperor Gaozu convened the court at Taihua Hall. The authorities reported that Hongzhi's bribery was rampant and that he was also brutal. Emperor Gaozu rebuked him in person; because he was a senior minister, he was permitted to take his own life at home. Hongzhi was bold and long-suffering. When treated for skin ailments by moxibustion, cones nearly two inches across were applied to more than ten points on his head and limbs all at once, yet he conversed and laughed as usual and never ceased receiving guests. When the time came to take his own life, he bathed and changed his garments. Supported by guards, he started to leave, then turned back, walked through his entire household three times, wept and sighed at length, then lay down and drank the poison.
11
始洪之託為元后兄，公私自同外戚。 至此罪後，高祖乃稍對百官辨其誣假，而諸李猶善相視，恩紀如親。 洪之始見元后，計年為兄。 及珍之等至，洪之以元后素定長幼，其呼拜坐皆如家人。 暮年數延攜之宴飲，醉酣之後，攜之時或言及本末，洪之則起而加敬，笑語自若。 富貴赫弈，當舅戚之家，遂棄宗專附珍之等。 後頗存振本屬，而猶不顯然。 劉氏四子，長子神自有傳。
At first Hongzhi had passed himself off as Empress Yuan's brother and privately enjoyed the privileges of imperial kin. After his conviction Emperor Gaozu gradually explained to the officials the fraud he had perpetrated, yet the Li clan still treated one another with affection, their bonds as close as kin. When Hongzhi first met Empress Yuan, he calculated by age that he was her elder brother. When Zhenzhi and the others arrived, Hongzhi—relying on the seniority Empress Yuan had long since established—greeted them with the ease of family, bowing and taking his seat as among kin. In his later years he often invited Xiezhi to feasts. When drunk, Xiezhi would sometimes recount how their relationship had begun; Hongzhi would rise and show added deference, yet converse and laugh as usual. His wealth and rank blazed brilliantly; as a household of imperial kin by marriage, he abandoned his own clan and attached himself exclusively to Zhenzhi and his brothers. Later he made some effort to restore ties with his original clan, but only discreetly. Lady Liu had four sons; the eldest, Shen, has his own biography.
12
高遵，字世禮，勃海蓚人。 父濟，滄水太守。 遵賤出，兄矯等常欺侮之。 及父亡，不令在喪位。 遵遂馳赴平城，歸從祖兄中書令允。 允乃為遵父舉哀，以遵為喪主，京邑無不弔集，朝貴咸識之。 徐歸奔赴。 免喪，允為營宦路，得補樂浪王侍郎。 遵感成益之恩，事允如諸父。
Gao Zun, courtesy name Shili, was a native of Su in Bohai. His father Ji served as Administrator of Cangshui. Zun was born of a concubine; his elder brother Jiao and the others often bullied him. When his father died they did not permit him to take his proper place in the mourning rites. Zun galloped to Pingcheng and sought out his father's cousin Yun, Director of the Secretariat. Yun conducted mourning for Zun's father and installed Zun as chief mourner; the entire capital came to pay condolences, and the court elite all came to know him. Only afterward did he return home for the funeral. When mourning ended, Yun secured an official post for him, and he was appointed Attendant to the Prince of Lelang. Grateful for the benefit Yun had conferred, Zun served him as he would an uncle.
13
涉歷文史，頗有筆札，進中書侍郎。 詣長安，刊燕宣王廟碑，進爵安昌子。 及新製衣冠，高祖恭薦宗廟，遵形貌莊潔，音氣雄暢，常兼太祝令，跪贊禮事，為俯仰之節，粗合儀矩。 由是高祖識待之。 後與游明根、高閭、李沖入議律令，親對御坐，時有陳奏。 以積年之勞，賜粟帛牛馬。 出為立忠將軍、齊州刺史。 建節歷本州，宗鄉改觀，而矯等彌妬毀之。
He studied literature and history and was skilled with the pen; he was promoted to Attendant of the Secretariat. He went to Chang'an to carve the temple stele for Prince Xuan of Yan and was ennobled as Viscount of Anchang. When new ceremonial robes were introduced and Emperor Gaozu offered sacrifice at the ancestral temple, Zun's bearing was dignified and his voice resonant. He regularly served as Director of Grand Sacrifices, kneeling to intone the rituals and performing the prescribed movements of obeisance, roughly in accord with ceremonial propriety. Emperor Gaozu thereby came to notice and favor him. Later, together with You Minggen, Gao Lü, and Li Chong, he participated in drafting laws and statutes, speaking before the emperor and occasionally offering proposals. For years of accumulated service he was rewarded with grain, silk, cattle, and horses. He was appointed General Who Establishes Loyalty and Governor of Qizhou. Bearing the staff of authority he toured his home province; clansmen and neighbors changed their opinion of him, yet Jiao and the others grew only more envious and slandered him.
14
遵性不廉清，在中書時，每假歸山東，必借備騾馬，將從百餘。 屯逼民家求絲縑，不滿意則詬罵不去，強相徵求。 旬月之間，縑布千數。 邦邑苦之。 遵既臨州，本意未弭，選召僚吏，多所取納。 又其妻明氏家在齊州，母弟舅甥共相憑屬，爭求貨利，嚴暴非理，殺害甚多。 貪酷之響，帝頗聞之。 及車駕幸鄴，遵自州來朝，會有赦宥。 遵臨還州，請辭帝於行宮，引見誚讓之。 遵自陳無負，帝厲聲曰：「若無遷都赦，必無高遵矣！ 又卿非惟貪惏，又虐於刑法，謂何如濟陰王，猶不免於法。 卿何人，而為此行！ 自今宜自謹約。」 還州，仍不悛革。 齊州人孟僧振至洛訟遵。 詔廷尉少卿劉述窮鞫，皆如所訴。 先是，沙門道登過遵，遵以道登荷寵於高祖，多奉以貨，深託仗之。 道登屢因言次申啟救遵，帝不省納，遂詔述賜遵死。 時遵子元榮詣洛訟冤，猶恃道登，不時還赴。 道登知事決，方乃遣之。 遵恨其妻，不與訣，別處沐浴，引椒而死。
Zun was not honest. While serving at the Secretariat, whenever he took leave to return to Shandong he requisitioned mules and horses and traveled with more than a hundred attendants. He billeted troops on common households and demanded silk and fine cloth; if dissatisfied he cursed them and refused to leave, forcibly extorting goods. Within a month he accumulated several thousand bolts of silk. The towns and districts suffered grievously. Once Zun took office as governor his greed was unchecked; in appointing subordinates he accepted numerous bribes. His wife Lady Ming's family lived in Qizhou; her mother, brothers, uncles, and nephews relied on one another, vied for profit, acted with brutal violence, and killed many. Reports of his greed and cruelty reached the emperor. When the emperor visited Ye, Zun came from his province to court; a general amnesty happened to be in effect. As Zun prepared to return to his province he took leave of the emperor at the traveling palace; the emperor received him and rebuked him sharply. Zun protested his innocence, but the emperor said harshly: "Were it not for the amnesty proclaimed at the capital's relocation, Gao Zun would certainly be dead! You are not only greedy but brutal in your application of the law—consider the Prince of Jiyin: even he could not escape punishment. Who are you to behave in this fashion! Henceforth you must restrain yourself." After returning to his province he still did not reform. Meng Sengzhen of Qizhou traveled to Luoyang to bring suit against Zun. An edict ordered Vice Director Liu Shu of the Court of Judicial Review to investigate thoroughly; every charge proved true. Earlier the monk Daodeng had visited Zun. Knowing that Daodeng enjoyed Emperor Gaozu's favor, Zun lavished gifts on him and placed great trust in him. Daodeng repeatedly interceded for Zun, but the emperor would not listen; an edict then ordered Shu to sentence Zun to death. Zun's son Yuanrong went to Luoyang to plead his father's case; still trusting in Daodeng, he did not return in time. Only when Daodeng knew the outcome was settled did he send him back. Zun hated his wife and would not bid her farewell; he bathed in a separate room and took poison.
15
元榮，學尚有文才，長於几案。 位兼尚書右丞，為西道行臺，至高平鎮，遇城翻被害。
Yuanrong was learned and gifted with literary talent; he excelled at administrative work. He served concurrently as Right Vice Director of the Secretariat and on the Western Route Staff; when he reached Gaoping garrison the city rebelled and he was killed.
16
遵弟次文，雖無位官而貲產巨萬。 遵每責其財，又結憾於遵，吉凶不相往反。 時論責之。
Zun's younger brother Ciwen, though he held no office, possessed vast wealth. Zun constantly demanded money from him; they nursed mutual resentment and did not visit one another on occasions of joy or mourning. Public opinion censured him.
17
張赦提，中山安喜人也。 性雄武，有規畫。 初為虎賁中郎。 時京畿盜魁自稱豹子、虎子，並善弓馬，遂領逃連及諸畜牧者，[2]各為部帥，於靈丘、雁門間聚為劫害。 至乃斬人首，射其口，刺人臍，引腸遶樹而共射之，以為戲笑。 其為暴酷如此。 軍騎掩㨞，久弗能獲，行者患焉。 赦提設防遏追窮之計，宰司善之，以赦提為逐賊軍將。 乃求驍勇追之，未幾而獲虎子、豹子及其黨與。 盡送京師，斬於闕下，自是清靜。 其靈丘羅思祖宗門豪溢，家處隘險，多止亡命，與之為劫。 顯祖怒之，孥戮其家。 而思祖家黨，相率寇盜。 赦提應募求捕逐，乃以赦提為游徼軍將，前後禽獲，殺之略盡。 因而濫有屠害，尤為忍酷。 既資前稱，又藉此功，除冠軍將軍、幽州刺史，假安喜侯。
Zhang Sheti was a native of Anxi in Zhongshan. He was bold and martial, with a talent for strategy. He first served as Central Commander of the Tiger Guards. At that time the bandit chiefs of the capital region called themselves Leopard and Tiger; both were skilled horsemen and archers. They gathered fugitives and herdsmen as troop leaders and plundered between Lingqiu and Yanmen. They would cut off heads, shoot arrows into mouths, stab navels, draw out intestines and wrap them around trees, then shoot at them for sport. Such was the brutality of their conduct. Government cavalry pursued them but for a long time could not capture them; travelers lived in fear. Sheti devised plans to block, pursue, and exterminate the bandits; the chief ministers approved and appointed him General for Pursuit of Bandits. He recruited fierce warriors to pursue them and soon captured Tiger, Leopard, and their followers. All were sent to the capital and beheaded at the palace gates; thereafter the region was at peace. In Lingqiu the Luo clan of Sizu was a powerful household in a rugged stronghold; many fugitives sheltered with them and joined in banditry. Emperor Xianzu was enraged and exterminated the entire clan. Yet Sizu's kinsmen and followers banded together as bandits. Sheti volunteered to hunt them down and was appointed General of Patrol Forces; in successive campaigns he captured and killed nearly all of them. In the process he indiscriminately slaughtered many, showing exceptional cruelty. On the strength of his earlier reputation and this achievement, he was appointed General Who Conquers the Enemy and Governor of Youzhou, with the provisional title Marquis of Anxi.
18
赦提克己厲約，遂有清稱。 後頗縱妻段氏，多有受納，令僧尼因事通請，貪虐流聞。 中散李真香出使幽州，採訪牧守政績。 真香驗案其罪，赦提懼死欲逃。 其妻姑為太尉、東陽王丕妻，恃丕親貴，自許詣丕申訴求助，謂赦提曰：「當為訴理，幸得申雪，願且寬憂，不為異計。」 赦提以此差自解慰。 段乃陳列真香昔嘗因假而過幽州，知赦提有好牛，從索不果。 今臺使心協前事，[3]故威逼部下，拷楚過極，橫以無辜，證成誣罪。 執事恐有不盡，使駕部令趙秦州重往究訊。 事伏如前，處赦提大辟。 高祖詔賜死於第。 將就盡，召妻而責之曰：「貪濁穢吾者卿也，又安吾而不得免禍，九泉之下當為仇讎矣。」
Sheti disciplined himself and practiced austerity, earning a reputation for integrity. Later he indulged his wife Lady Duan; bribes were frequent, and he used monks and nuns as intermediaries for favors; reports of greed and cruelty spread widely. Palace Attendant Li Zhenxiang was sent to Youzhou to investigate the conduct of provincial governors. Zhenxiang verified his crimes; Sheti, fearing execution, planned to flee. His wife's aunt was married to Grand Commandant Pi, Prince of Dongyang; relying on Pi's rank and connections, she promised to appeal to him on Sheti's behalf, telling Sheti: "I shall plead your case; if we can clear your name, set aside your worries for now and make no other plans." Sheti was somewhat reassured by this. Lady Duan then argued that Zhenxiang had once passed through Youzhou on leave, knew Sheti owned a fine ox, had asked for it and been refused. Now the imperial envoy still harbored resentment over that earlier affair; he coerced subordinates, tortured them excessively, and fabricated charges against the innocent. The authorities, fearing the investigation was incomplete, sent Director Zhao of the Imperial Carriage Office to reinvestigate. The facts were confirmed as before; Sheti was sentenced to death. Emperor Gaozu ordered that he be permitted to take his own life at home. As death approached he summoned his wife and rebuked her: "You defiled me with your greed, yet you comforted me and could not save me from ruin; in the grave we shall be enemies."
19
又有華山太守趙霸，酷暴非理。 大使崔光奏霸云：「不遵憲度，威虐任情，至乃手擊吏人，僚屬奔走。 不可以君人字下，納之軌物，輒禁止在州。」 詔免所居官。
There was also Zhao Ba, Administrator of Huashan, whose cruelty exceeded all bounds. Imperial Commissioner Cui Guang memorialized against Ba: "He disregards the laws, exercises cruelty at will, even strikes clerks with his own hands, and drives his subordinates to flee in terror. He cannot be permitted to govern the people or remain within the bounds of proper conduct; he should be detained in the province at once." An edict dismissed him from office.
20
羊祉，字靈祐，太山鉅平人，晉太僕卿琇之六世孫也。 父規之，宋任城令。 世祖南討至鄒山，規之與魯郡太守崔邪利及其屬縣徐通、愛猛之等俱降，賜爵鉅平子，拜雁門太守。
Yang Zhi, courtesy name Lingyou, was a native of Juping in Taishan and sixth-generation descendant of Xiu, Grand Master of the Imperial Stud under the Jin. His father Guizhi served as Magistrate of Rencheng under the Liu Song. When Emperor Shizu campaigned south to Zou Mountain, Guizhi surrendered together with Cui Xieli, Administrator of Lu, and officials of subordinate counties including Xu Tong and Ai Mengzhi; he was ennobled as Viscount of Juping and appointed Administrator of Yanmen.
21
祉性剛愎，好刑名，為司空令輔國長史，[4]襲爵鉅平子。 侵盜公資，私營居宅，有司案之抵死，高祖特恕遠徙。 後還。 景明初，為將作都將，加左軍將軍。 四年，持節為梁州軍司，討叛氐。 正始二年，王師伐蜀，以祉假節、龍驤將軍、益州刺史，出劍閣而還。 又以本將軍為秦梁二州刺史，加征虜將軍。 天性酷忍，又不清潔。 坐掠人為奴婢，為御史中尉王顯所彈免。 高肇南征，祉復被起為光祿大夫、假平南將軍，持節領步騎三萬先驅趣涪。 未至，世宗崩，班師。 夜中引軍，山有二徑，軍人迷而失路。 祉便斬隊副楊明達，梟首路側。 為中尉元昭所劾，會赦免。 後加平北將軍，未拜而卒。 贈安東將軍、兗州刺史。
Zhi was stubborn and obstinate, with a fondness for penal law. He served as Chief Aide to the Support-the-State Army under the Minister of Works and inherited the title Viscount of Juping. He embezzled public funds and built a private residence; the authorities prosecuted him for a capital offense, but Emperor Gaozu specially pardoned him and exiled him to a distant region. He was later permitted to return. At the beginning of the Jingming era he served as Director of Palace Construction with the additional title General of the Left Army. In the fourth year he bore the staff of authority as Military Commissioner of Liangzhou to campaign against rebellious Di tribes. In the second year of Zhengshi the imperial army campaigned against Shu; Zhi was appointed provisional General of the Flying Dragon and Governor of Yizhou, advanced through Jian'ge Pass, and returned. He was again appointed Governor of Qin and Liang provinces with his original rank, and given the additional title General Who Subdues the Barbarians. By nature he was cruel and dishonest. He was impeached and dismissed by Director of the Imperial Secretariat Wang Xian for seizing people as slaves. When Gao Zhao campaigned south, Zhi was again summoned as Grand Master for Splendid Happiness and provisional General Who Pacifies the South, bearing the staff of authority to lead thirty thousand infantry and cavalry as vanguard toward Fu. Before he arrived, Emperor Shizong died and the army withdrew. He led the army by night; the mountain had two paths, and the soldiers lost their way. Zhi immediately beheaded squad deputy Yang Mingda and displayed his head beside the road. He was impeached by Director Yuan Zhao but was pardoned when an amnesty was proclaimed. He was later given the additional title General Who Pacifies the North but died before assuming the post. He was posthumously granted the title General Who Pacifies the East and Governor of Yanzhou.
22
太常少卿元端、博士劉臺龍議諡曰：「祉志存埋輪，不避強禦。 及贊戎律，熊武斯裁，仗節撫藩，邊夷識德，化沾殊類，襁負懷仁。 謹依諡法，布德行剛曰『景』，宜諡為景。」 侍中侯剛、給事黃門侍郎元纂等駁曰：「臣聞惟名與器，弗可妄假，定諡準行，必當其迹。 案祉志性急酷，所在過威，布德罕聞，暴聲屢發。 而禮官虛述，諡之為『景』，非直失於一人，實毀朝則。 請還付外準行，更量虛實。」 靈太后令曰：「依駁更議。」 元端、臺龍上言：「竊惟諡者行之迹，狀者迹之稱。 然尚書銓衡是司，釐品庶物，若狀與跡乖，應抑而不受，錄其實狀，然後下寺，依諡法準狀科上。 豈有捨其行迹，外有所求，去狀去稱，將何所準？ 檢祉以母老辭藩，乃降手詔云：『卿綏撫有年，聲實兼著，安邊寧境，實稱朝望。』 及其歿也，又加顯贈，言祉誠著累朝，效彰內外，作牧岷區，字萌之績驟聞。 詔冊褒美，無替倫望。 然君子使人器之義，無求備德。 有數德優劣不同，剛而能克，亦為德焉。 謹依諡法，布德行剛曰『景』，謂前議為允。」 司徒右長史張烈、主簿李瑒刺稱：「案祉歷宦累朝，當官之稱。 委捍西南，邊隅靖遏。 準行易名，奬誡攸在。 竊謂無虧體例。」 尚書李韶又述奏以府寺為允，靈太后可其奏。
Vice Director Yuan Duan of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and Erudite Liu Tailong proposed the posthumous title, saying: "Zhi was resolved to curb abuse of power and did not shrink from the mighty. In military affairs he displayed martial prowess; bearing the staff he pacified the frontier, where frontier peoples recognized his virtue; his transforming influence reached all peoples, and even infants cherished his benevolence. According to the law of posthumous titles, 'displaying virtue with firm resolve' is Jing; he should be given the posthumous title Jing." Attendant-in-Ordinary Hou Gang, Attendant Gentleman of the Yellow Gate Yuan Zuan, and others objected: "Names and honors must not be lightly bestowed; a posthumous title must match the man's actual conduct. Investigation shows that Zhi was harsh and cruel; wherever he served he exceeded all bounds of severity; virtue was rarely attributed to him, while reports of violence arose repeatedly. Yet the ritual officials have described him falsely and would give him the title Jing; this is not merely an error concerning one man—it damages the standards of the court itself. We request that the matter be returned to the outer offices for reassessment according to the facts. Empress Dowager Ling ordered: "In accordance with the objection, deliberate again." Yuan Duan and Tailong submitted: "The posthumous title records a man's conduct; the memorial of conduct is the designation of that record. The Secretariat is charged with evaluating conduct; if the memorial and the facts diverge, it should be rejected, the true conduct recorded, and only then sent to the temple offices to fix the title according to law. How can one abandon the record of his conduct, seek external grounds, and discard both memorial and designation—what standard would remain? Examination shows that when Zhi resigned his frontier post because his mother was elderly, the emperor issued a personal edict: 'You have governed this region for years with outstanding reputation and achievement; in securing the frontier you have fulfilled the court's expectations.' At his death eminent posthumous honors were added, stating that Zhi's loyalty was manifest through successive reigns, his achievements renowned at court and on the frontier, and that as governor of the Min region his nurturing achievements were widely acclaimed. Imperial edicts praised him without diminishing his standing among peers. Yet the gentleman employs men for their capacities and does not demand perfection in every virtue. When virtues differ in quality, firmness that can overcome obstacles is itself a virtue. According to the law of posthumous titles, 'displaying virtue with firm resolve' is Jing; we hold the earlier proposal to be fitting." Right Chief Clerk Zhang Lie and Registrar Li Chang of the Minister of Education submitted: "Investigation shows that Zhi served through successive reigns with a reputation fitting to his office. Entrusted with defending the southwest, he brought peace to the frontier. In fixing conduct and bestowing a posthumous name lies the purpose of reward and admonition. We consider that this does not impair precedent." Director of the Secretariat Li Shao again submitted that the ministry and temple offices were in agreement; Empress Dowager Ling approved the memorial.
23
祉自當官，不憚強禦，朝廷以為剛斷，時有檢覆，每令出使。 好慕名利，頗為深文，所經之處，人號天狗下。 及出將臨州，並無恩潤，兵民患其嚴虐焉。
Throughout his career Zhi did not fear the powerful; the court regarded him as firm and decisive, and when inspections were needed he was often dispatched on missions. He coveted fame and profit, was given to harsh legal constructions, and wherever he went people said 'the celestial dog has descended.' When he served as general or governor he showed no kindness; soldiers and civilians alike suffered under his severity.
24
崔暹，字元欽，本云清河東武城人也。 世家于滎陽、潁川之間。 性猛酷，少仁恕，姦猾好利，能事勢家。 初以秀才累遷南兗州刺史，盜用官瓦，贓污狼藉，為御史中尉李平所糾，免官。 後行豫州事，尋即真。 坐遣子析戶，分隸三縣，廣占田宅，藏匿官奴，障吝陂葦，侵盜公私，為御史中尉王顯所彈，免官。 後累遷平北將軍、瀛州刺史。 貪暴安忍，民庶患之。 嘗出獵州北，單騎至於民村。 井有汲水婦人，暹令飲馬，因問曰：「崔瀛州何如？」 婦人不知其暹也，答曰：「百姓何罪，得如此癩兒刺史！」 暹默然而去。 以不稱職被解還京。 武川鎮反，詔暹為都督，隸大都督李崇討之。 違崇節度，為賊所敗，單騎潛還。 禁於廷尉。 以女妓園田貨元叉，獲免。 建義初遇害於河陰。 贈司徒公、冀州刺史，追封武津縣公。
Cui Xian, courtesy name Yuanqin, was said to be a native of Dongwucheng in Qinghe. His family had long been established between Xingyang and Yingchuan. He was fierce and cruel, lacking humanity or forbearance; cunning and greedy, he excelled at currying favor with the powerful. Having entered office through the xiucai examination, he rose to Governor of Southern Yanzhou; he misappropriated official roof tiles, his corruption was flagrant, and Director Li Ping impeached and dismissed him. He later served as acting administrator of Yuzhou and soon received the full appointment. He was charged with having his son divide the household across three counties, seizing vast tracts of land, concealing government slaves, monopolizing pond reeds, and plundering public and private property; Director Wang Xian impeached him and he was dismissed. He was later promoted to General Who Pacifies the North and Governor of Yingzhou. Greedy, violent, and pitiless, he was a scourge to the populace. Once while hunting north of the province he rode alone into a village. At a well a woman was drawing water; Xian had his horse drink and asked: "What do you think of Governor Cui of Yingzhou?" The woman did not recognize him and replied: "What crime have we committed, to get such a leprous wretch for governor!" Xian departed in silence. Deemed unfit for office, he was dismissed and recalled to the capital. When Wuchuan garrison rebelled, Xian was appointed Commander under Grand Commander Li Chong to suppress the revolt. He disobeyed Chong's orders, was defeated by the rebels, and fled back alone. He was imprisoned by the Court of Judicial Review. He bribed Yuan Cha with female entertainers, gardens, and fields and obtained his release. At the beginning of the Jianyi era he was killed at Heyin. He was posthumously granted the title Duke of the Secretariat and Governor of Jizhou, and enfeoffed as Duke of Wujin County.
25
子瓚，字紹珍。 位兼尚書左丞，卒。 瓚妻，莊帝妹也，後封襄城長公主，故特贈瓚冀州刺史。 子茂，字祖昂，襲祖爵。
His son Zan, courtesy name Shaozhen. He served concurrently as Left Vice Director of the Secretariat and died in office. Zan's wife was a sister of Emperor Zhuang; she was later enfeoffed as Princess Chang of Xiangcheng, and Zan was therefore posthumously granted the title Governor of Jizhou. His son Mao, courtesy name Zu'ang, inherited his grandfather's title.
26
酈道元，字善長，范陽人也。 青州刺史範之子。 太和中，為尚書主客郎。 御史中尉李彪以道元秉法清勤，引為治書侍御史。 累遷輔國將軍、東荊州刺史。 威猛為治，蠻民詣闕訟其刻峻，坐免官。 久之，行河南尹，尋即真。 肅宗以沃野、懷朔、薄骨律、武川、撫冥、柔玄、懷荒、禦夷諸鎮並改為州，其郡縣戍名令準古城邑。 詔道元持節兼黃門侍郎，與都督李崇籌宜置立，裁減去留，儲兵積粟，以為邊備。 未幾，除安南將軍、御史中尉。
Li Daoyuan, courtesy name Shanchang, was a native of Fanyang. He was the son of Fan, Governor of Qingzhou. During the Taihe era he served as Master of Guests in the Secretariat. Director Li Biao, recognizing Daoyuan's integrity and diligence in upholding the law, recommended him as Attendant Imperial Censor for Legal Documents. He was promoted to General Who Supports the State and Governor of Eastern Jingzhou. He governed with ferocity; tribal peoples petitioned the throne accusing him of harshness, and he was dismissed. After some time he served as acting Intendant of Henan and soon received the full appointment. Emperor Suzong converted the garrisons of Woye, Huaishuo, Bogulü, Wuchuan, Fuming, Rouxuan, Huaihuang, and Yuyi into prefectures, ordering that their administrative names follow ancient place-names. An edict appointed Daoyuan, bearing the staff of authority and concurrently Attendant Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, together with Commander Li Chong to plan the new arrangements, reduce redundant posts, stockpile troops and grain, and strengthen frontier defenses. Before long he was appointed General Who Pacifies the South and Director of the Imperial Secretariat.
27
道元素有嚴猛之稱。 司州牧、汝南王悅嬖近左右丘念，常與臥起。 及選州官，多由於念。 念匿於悅第，時還其家，道元收念付獄。 悅啟靈太后請全之，敕赦之。 道元遂盡其命，因以劾悅。 是時雍州刺史蕭寶夤反狀稍露，悅等諷朝廷遣為關右大使，遂為寶夤所害，死於陰盤驛亭。
Daoyuan had long borne a reputation for severity and fierceness. Prince Yue of Runan, Governor of Sizhou, favored his attendant Qiu Nian and often shared his bed. Most provincial appointments went through Nian. Nian hid in Yue's residence, occasionally returning home; Daoyuan arrested him and sent him to prison. Yue petitioned Empress Dowager Ling to spare him; an edict ordered his release. Daoyuan executed him and impeached Yue. At that time Xiao Baoyin, Governor of Yongzhou, showed signs of rebellion; Yue and others persuaded the court to send Daoyuan as envoy to the Guanxi region, where Baoyin killed him at the Yinyan post station.
28
道元好學，歷覽奇書。 撰注水經四十卷、本志十三篇，又為七聘及諸文，皆行於世。 然兄弟不能篤穆，又多嫌忌，時論薄之。
Daoyuan loved learning and read widely in rare books. He compiled a forty-juan commentary to the Water Classic, thirteen chapters of local records, the Seven Embassies, and other works, all of which circulated widely. Yet the brothers could not maintain harmony and were much given to suspicion; contemporary opinion looked down on them.
29
谷楷，昌黎人，濮陽公渾曾孫。 稍遷奉車都尉。 時沙門法慶反於冀州，雖大軍討破，而妖帥尚未梟除。 詔楷詣冀州追捕，皆擒獲之。 楷眇一目而性甚嚴忍，前後奉使皆以酷暴為名。 時人號曰「瞎虎」。 尋為城門校尉，卒。
Gu Kai was a native of Changli and great-grandson of Hun, Duke of Puyang. He was gradually promoted to Commandant of the Imperial Carriages. At that time the monk Faqing rebelled in Jizhou; though the imperial army defeated him, the rebel leaders had not yet all been captured and executed. An edict ordered Kai to Jizhou to hunt them down; he captured them all. Kai was blind in one eye and by nature stern and ruthless; on every mission he was known for cruelty. People of the time called him 'the Blind Tiger.' He soon became Commandant of the City Gates and died in office.
30
史臣曰：士之立名，其途不一，或以循良進，或以嚴酷顯。 故寬猛相資，德刑互設，然不嚴而化，君子所先。 于洛侯等為惡不同，同歸於酷。 肆其毒螫，多行殘忍。 賤人肌膚，同諸木石； 輕人性命，甚於芻狗。 長惡不悛，鮮有不及。 故或身嬰罪戮，或憂恚顛隕。 [5]異途皆斃，各其宜焉。 凡百君子，以為有天道矣。
The historiographer writes: Gentlemen establish their reputations by diverse paths—some rise through benevolence and integrity, others through severity and cruelty. Leniency and severity complement one another, virtue and punishment work in tandem, yet the gentleman prioritizes transforming people without relying on harshness. Yu Luohou and the others committed different crimes, yet all alike ended in cruelty. They unleashed their venom and frequently acted with cruelty. They treated human flesh no differently than wood and stone; they held human life cheaper than straw dogs. Persisting in evil without repentance, few escaped the consequences. Therefore some suffered execution, others were consumed by grief and perished. [5] By different paths they all met destruction—each received what was fitting. All gentlemen considered that the Way of Heaven was at work.
31
校勘記
Collation Notes
32
魏書卷八十九諸本目錄注「闕」，但卷後無宋人校語。 殿本考證云「魏收書亡，後人所補」，乃據目錄而言。 今按傳序與北史卷八七酷吏傳序不同，諸傳也多出入。 北史高遵傳 〈附卷三一高允傳〉 、酈道元傳 〈附卷二七酈範傳〉 均詳於此傳，谷楷傳則北史略去殺變亂人眾事。 此卷非以北史補甚明。 但序甚簡短，高、酈二傳敍事較北史簡略。 傳論全同北史，而北史實本隋書卷七四酷吏傳論，不過稍加改易而已，魏收豈能用隋書語，知是此傳襲取北史。 則此卷必非魏書原文，當是以高氏小史等書補，傳末校語偶脫。
In the table of contents of various editions of the Book of Wei, juan 89 is marked 'deficient,' yet there are no Song-dynasty collation notes at the end of the scroll. The Palatial Edition textual verification states that 'Wei Shou's original text is lost and was supplemented by later hands'—a judgment based on the table of contents. Examination shows that the preface differs from that in juan 87 of the History of the Northern Dynasties, and the individual biographies diverge in many places. The biography of Gao Zun in the History of the Northern Dynasties 〈attached to the biography of Gao Yun, juan 31〉 and the biography of Li Daoyuan 〈attached to the biography of Li Fan, juan 27〉 are all given in detail here; the Northern History biography of Gu Kai omits his killings and disturbances among the populace. It is quite clear that this scroll was not supplemented from the Northern History. Yet the preface is very brief, and the Gao and Li biographies are more concise than those in the Northern History. The biographical judgment is identical to the Northern History, which in turn derives from juan 74 of the Book of Sui with only slight alterations. Wei Shou could not have used Sui-dynasty language; this judgment was borrowed from the Northern History. Thus this scroll cannot be Wei Shou's original text; it was likely supplemented from works such as the Brief History of the Gao Clan, and the collation note at the end was accidentally lost.
33
遂領逃連及諸畜牧者張森楷云：「『逃連』字不可解，疑有誤。」
He then led the taolian and various herdsmen. Zhang Senkai notes: "The characters 'taolian' are incomprehensible; the text is probably corrupt."
34
今臺使心協前事北史卷八七張赦提傳「心協」作「止挾」。 按「協」謂威脅，與文義不叶，疑作「挾」是。
Now the imperial envoy xinxie the earlier matter. In Zhang Sheti's biography in juan 87 of the History of the Northern Dynasties, 'xinxie' reads 'zhi xie' (harbored resentment and exploited). Commentary: 'xie' as 'threaten' does not fit the context; 'xie' (harbor resentment and exploit) is probably correct.
35
為司空令輔國長史按司空屬官無令。 「令」字疑衍，意謂以輔國將軍為司空長史。 但亦晦澀，或有訛脫。
He served as Chief Aide to the Support-the-State Army under the Minister of Works. Commentary: The Minister of Works had no office titled 'ling.' The character 'ling' is probably a scribal error; the meaning is that he served as Chief Clerk to the Minister of Works with the rank of General Who Supports the State. Yet the passage remains obscure; there may be corruption or omission.
36
或憂恚顛隕諸本「顛」作「值」，北史卷八七作「俱」，隋書卷七四酷吏傳論作「顛」。 按「值」字顯訛，「俱」字雖可通，然「顛隕」與上句「罪戮」對文，今據隋書改。
Or they were consumed by grief and perished. Various editions read 'dian' as 'zhi'; juan 87 of the Northern History has 'ju'; juan 74 of the Book of Sui has 'dian.' Commentary: 'zhi' is clearly erroneous; though 'ju' can be construed, 'dian yun' (to topple and perish) parallels 'zui lu' (punishment and execution) in the preceding clause; the text is emended according to the Book of Sui.