2
Yuchi Jiong, styled Boruoluo, came from Dai. His clan was a separate branch of the Wei people, known as the Yuchi tribe, and took that name as their surname. His father Sidou was open-handed and perceptive; he married Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai's elder sister, the Grand Princess of Changle, and fathered Jiong and Gang. As Sidou lay dying, he called his two sons, stroked their heads, and said: "You both bear the marks of greatness, but I shall not live to see it—each of you must do your utmost."
3
From boyhood Yuchi Jiong was clever and handsome. As a man he nursed great ambitions and was generous and fond of nurturing talent. He rose by stages to commander in Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai's headquarters staff. He married Princess Jinming, daughter of Emperor Wen of Wei, and was made commandant of the imperial son-in-law. He followed Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai in retaking Hongnong and winning at Shayuan, earning distinction in both. He rose to left vice director of the masters of writing and concurrently commander-in-chief of the army. Yuchi Jiong was quick-witted and capable; though his duties spanned civil and military affairs, he largely lived up to what the age expected of him. Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai therefore placed deep trust in him. He was later made grand general.
4
侯景之渡江，梁元帝時鎮江陵，旣以內難方殷，請脩鄰好。 其弟武陵王紀，在蜀稱帝，率衆東下，將攻之。 梁元帝大懼，乃移書請救，又請伐蜀。 太祖曰：「蜀可圖矣。 取蜀制梁，在茲一舉。」 乃與羣公會議，諸將多有異同。 唯迥以為紀旣盡銳東下，蜀必空虛，王師臨之，必有征無戰。 太祖深以為然，謂迥曰：「伐蜀之事，一以委汝，計將安出？」 迥曰：「蜀與中國隔絕百有餘年，恃其山川險阻，不虞我師之至。 宜以精甲銳騎，星夜襲之。 平路則倍道兼行，險途則緩兵漸進，出其不意，沖其腹心。 蜀人旣駭官軍之臨速，必望風不守矣。」 於是乃令迥督開府元珍、乙弗亞、 （万） 俟呂陵始、叱奴興、綦連雄、宇文升等六軍，甲士一萬二千，騎萬疋，伐蜀。 以魏廢帝二年春，自散關由固道出白馬，趣晉壽，開平林舊道。 前軍臨劔閣，紀安州刺史樂廣，以州先降。 紀梁州刺史楊乾運時鎮潼州，又降。 六月，迥至潼州，大饗將士，引之而西。 紀益州刺史蕭撝不敢戰，遂嬰城自守。 進軍圍之。 初，紀至巴郡，聞迥來侵，遣譙淹回師，為撝外援。 迥分遣元珍、乙弗亞等以輕騎破之，遂降。 撝前後戰數十合，皆為迥所破。 撝與紀子宜都王肅，及其文武官屬，詣軍門請見，迥以禮接之。 其吏人等，各令復業。 唯收僮隸及儲積以賞將士。 號令嚴肅，軍無私焉。 詔迥為大都督、益潼等十八州諸軍事、益州刺史。 以平蜀功，封一子為公。 自劔閣以南，得承制封拜及黜陟。 迥乃明賞罰，布恩威，綏緝新邦，經略未附，夷夏懷而歸之。
When Hou Jing crossed the Yangtze, Emperor Yuan of Liang held Jiangling; with civil war raging at home, he sought to mend relations with the north. His younger brother Xiao Ji, Prince of Wuling, had declared himself emperor in Shu and was marching east to attack him. Emperor Yuan of Liang was terrified; he sent appeals for aid and also asked for an expedition against Shu. Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai said: "Shu can be taken now. Seize Shu and you control Liang—all hangs on this one stroke." He then convened the senior lords; the generals were divided. Only Yuchi Jiong argued that with Ji's best troops already marching east, Shu would be hollow; once the imperial army arrived, victory would come without a fight. Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai strongly agreed and asked Yuchi Jiong: "The Shu campaign is entirely in your hands—what is your plan?" Yuchi Jiong said: "Shu has been isolated from the heartland for over a century; trusting in its rugged terrain, it will not expect our army. Send elite infantry and swift cavalry and fall upon them in a night march. On open roads, force the pace; on difficult ground, advance in measured steps—catch them off guard and drive at the heart of the province. Once the Shu people see how fast the imperial army has come, they will collapse at the first rumor of its approach." He then put Yuchi Jiong in command of opening-office Yuan Zhen, Yifu Ya, [variant: wan] Hou Lüling Shi, Chinu Xing, Qilian Xiong, Yuwen Sheng, and others in six armies—twelve thousand armored foot and ten thousand horse—to invade Shu. In spring of the Deposed Emperor of Wei's second year he marched from San Pass by the Gudao route through White Horse toward Jinshou and reopened the old Pinglin road. The vanguard reached Jian Pass; Yue Guang, Ji's governor of An Province, surrendered first. Yang Qianyun, Ji's governor of Liang Province then holding Tong Province, surrendered as well. In the sixth month Yuchi Jiong reached Tong Province, held a great feast for his troops, and marched west. Xiao Hui, Ji's governor of Yi Province, dared not give battle and shut himself inside the city walls. The army advanced and laid siege. Earlier, when Ji reached Ba commandery and learned that Yuchi Jiong was invading, he sent Qiao Yan back with his army to reinforce Hui. Yuchi Jiong sent Yuan Zhen, Yifu Ya, and others with light cavalry to break them, and Qiao Yan surrendered. Xiao Hui fought dozens of engagements and was beaten every time by Yuchi Jiong. Xiao Hui came with Xiao Ji's son, Prince Su of Yidu, and his civil and military staff to the camp gate to surrender; Yuchi Jiong received them with full courtesy. Clerks and commoners alike were told to return to their trades. Only bond servants and stored provisions were seized to reward the troops. Discipline was strict and the army took no private plunder. An edict made Yuchi Jiong grand commander over military affairs in eighteen provinces including Yi and Tong, and governor of Yi Province. For pacifying Shu, one of his sons was enfeoffed duke. South of Jian Pass he was empowered to enfeoff, appoint, promote, and dismiss officials by delegated imperial authority. Yuchi Jiong then made rewards and punishments clear, combined kindness with authority, settled the newly conquered lands, reached out to those still unsubmitted, and won over both barbarian and Chinese alike.
5
Yuchi Jiong was profoundly filial and never slackened in keeping his mother's spirits up. Though he served far from home, any seasonal delicacy he received he first offered to his mother before tasting it himself. The Grand Princess was old and often ill; when Yuchi Jiong was in the capital he visited her after every court session, and his face showed how worn he was with worry. Each time the Grand Princess would soften her manner and press food on him to ease his mind. Knowing his deep filial devotion, Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai summoned Yuchi Jiong to court to comfort his mother. He sent the grand master of ceremonies to welcome him with suburban honors and granted Yuchi Jiong the highest ceremonial robes. The people of Shu remembered him and raised a stele in praise of his virtue. When Emperor Xiaomin succeeded, Yuchi Jiong was raised to pillar of state and grand general. For pacifying Shu—an achievement likened to Huo Qubing's title Champion—he was enfeoffed Duke of Ningshu. He was raised to Duke of Shu with a fief of ten thousand households.
6
宣帝即位，以迥為大前疑，出為相州總管。 宣帝崩，隋文帝輔政，以迥望位夙重，懼為異圖，乃令迥子魏安公惇齎詔書以會葬徵迥。 尋以鄖公韋孝寬代迥為總管。 迥以隋文帝當權，將圖篡奪，遂謀舉兵，留惇而不受代。 隋文帝又使候正破六汗裒詣迥喻旨，密與總管府長史晉昶等書，令為之備。 迥聞之，殺長史及裒。 乃集文武士庶，登城北樓而令之曰：「楊堅以凡庸之才，藉後父之勢，挾幼主而令天下，威福自己，賞罰無章，不臣之跡，暴於行路。 吾居將相，與國舅甥，同休共戚，義由一體。 先帝處吾於此，本欲寄以安危。 今欲與卿等糾合義勇，匡國庇人，進可以享榮名，退可以終臣節。 卿等以為何如？」 於是衆咸從命，莫不感激。 乃自稱大總管，承制署置官司。 于時趙王招已入朝，留少子在國，迥又奉以號令。 迥弟子勤，時為青州總管，亦從迥。 迥所管相、衛、黎、毛、洺、貝、趙、冀、瀛、滄，勤所統青、膠、光、莒諸州，皆從之。 衆數十萬。 滎州刺史邵公宇文冑、申州刺史李惠、東楚州刺史費也利進、東潼州刺史曹孝達，各據州以應迥。 迥又北結高寶寧以通突厥； 南連陳人，許割江、淮之地。
When Emperor Xuan succeeded, Yuchi Jiong was made grand mentor and posted as governor-general of Xiang Province. After Emperor Xuan's death Yang Jian, later Emperor Wen of Sui, took power as regent; fearing that Yuchi Jiong, long eminent in rank and reputation, might plot against him, he sent Jiong's son Dun, Duke of Wei'an, with an edict summoning Jiong to the capital for the funeral. Soon Wei Xiaokuan, Duke of Yun, was sent to replace Yuchi Jiong as governor-general. Seeing that Yang Jian held power and meant to seize the throne, Yuchi Jiong plotted rebellion, kept Dun with him, and refused to yield his post. Yang Jian also sent Houzheng Poliuhan Pu to explain the court's wishes to Yuchi Jiong, and secretly wrote to chief administrator Jin Chang and others at the governor-general's office telling them to stand ready. When Yuchi Jiong learned of this, he killed the chief administrator and Pu. He then gathered officials and commoners on the north city tower and declared: "Yang Jian is a man of ordinary gifts who rides the empress's father's power, controls the boy emperor, and rules as he pleases—reward and punishment are lawless, and his treason is plain for all on the road to see. I am general and minister; with the imperial uncle we are kin by marriage—we share the same fate, bound as one body. The late emperor posted me here to entrust the realm's safety to my hands. Now I mean to rally loyal men with you to restore the dynasty and protect the people—advance, and we win honor; retreat, and we keep our loyalty intact. What say you?" The crowd answered as one, every heart stirred. He then proclaimed himself grand governor-general and, acting by delegated imperial authority, set up offices and appointments. Prince of Zhao Zhao was already at court, with a younger son left behind; Yuchi Jiong issued orders in the prince's name as well. Yuchi Jiong's nephew Qin, then governor-general of Qing Province, joined him too. The provinces under Yuchi Jiong—Xiang, Wei, Li, Mao, Ming, Bei, Zhao, Ji, Ying, and Cang—and those under Qin—Qing, Jiao, Guang, and Ju—all rose with him. His forces numbered in the hundreds of thousands. Yuwen Zhou, Duke of Shao and governor of Xing Province; Li Hui of Shen Province; Feiye Lijin of East Chu Province; and Cao Xiaoda of East Tong Province each held his province for Yuchi Jiong. Yuchi Jiong also allied in the north with Gao Baoning to open contact with the Turks; in the south he treated with Chen and promised them the Yangtze and Huai regions.
7
隋文帝於是徵兵討迥，即以韋孝寬為元帥。 惇率衆十萬入武德，軍於沁東。 孝寬等諸軍隔水相持不進。 隋文帝又遣高熲馳驛督戰。 惇布兵二十裏，麾軍小卻，欲待孝寬軍半度擊之。 孝寬因其小卻，鳴鼓齊進，惇大敗。 孝寬乘勝進至鄴。 迥與子惇、佑等又悉其卒十三萬，陳于城南。 迥別統萬人，皆綠巾錦襖，號曰黃龍兵。 勤率衆五萬，自青州赴迥，以三千騎先到。 迥舊習軍旅，雖老猶被甲臨陣。 其麾下千兵，皆關中人，為之力戰。 孝寬等軍失利而卻。 鄴中士女，觀者如堵。 高熲與李詢整陣，先犯觀者，因其擾而乘之。 迥大敗，遂入鄴。 迥走保北城，孝寬縱兵圍之。 李詢、賀樓子幹以其屬先登。 迥上樓，射殺數人，乃自殺。 勤、惇等東走，幷追獲之。 餘衆，月餘皆斬之。
Yang Jian then raised armies against Yuchi Jiong and made Wei Xiaokuan supreme commander. Dun led one hundred thousand men into Wude and camped east of the Qin River. Wei Xiaokuan's armies faced them across the river and held back. Yang Jian also sent Gao Jiong by relay horse to take command of the fighting. Dun drew up his line for twenty li, then feigned a slight withdrawal, planning to hit Wei Xiaokuan while half his force was still crossing. Wei Xiaokuan seized on the feigned retreat, sounded the drums, and charged in unison; Dun was routed. Wei Xiaokuan pressed the victory on to Ye. Yuchi Jiong mustered all his remaining strength—one hundred thirty thousand men—and formed battle lines south of the city with his sons Dun, You, and the rest. Yuchi Jiong personally led ten thousand men in green headbands and brocade jackets, called the Yellow Dragon Army. Qin marched fifty thousand men from Qing Province to Yuchi Jiong's aid, his three thousand horse arriving first. Yuchi Jiong was a veteran of many campaigns; though aged, he still donned armor and took the field. The thousand men under his personal command were all Guanzhong natives and fought for him with desperate courage. Wei Xiaokuan's army was beaten and fell back. The men and women of Ye crowded the streets to watch, packed wall to wall. Gao Jiong and Li Xun formed their lines, first charged the spectators, and then exploited the chaos to press the attack. Yuchi Jiong was routed and fled into Ye. Yuchi Jiong withdrew into the north city; Wei Xiaokuan unleashed his troops to besiege it. Li Xun and Helou Zigan were first over the wall with their men. Yuchi Jiong climbed the tower, shot down several men, and then took his own life. Qin, Dun, and the others fled east and were run down and captured. The remaining troops were hunted down and beheaded over the next month.
8
In his last years Yuchi Jiong had grown feeble and senile, bewitched by his second wife, Lady Wang, while his sons were largely at odds with one another. He made opening-office Cui Dana, junior rectifier, his chief administrator, and filled most other posts with men from Qi. Dana was a scholar without strategic sense; his decisions repeatedly breached discipline, and he could not steer affairs back on course. From the day Jiong raised troops until his defeat, sixty-eight days passed.
9
10
Wang Qian, styled Timo, was the son of Grand Guardian Wang Xiong. Respectful and cautious by nature, he had no other special talents. Through his father's merit he rose in stages to grand general of rapid cavalry and opening-office commander. When Emperor Xiaomin acceded, he served as director of the right minor martial guard. Xiong followed Duke of Jin Yuwen Hu on an eastern campaign and was killed by Northern Qi troops. The court held that Qian's father had fallen on the battlefield and, as a special honor, appointed Qian pillar-of-state grand general. Because his mourning obligations were not yet complete, he firmly declined the appointment. Emperor Gaozu issued a personal edict overriding mourning obligations, and Qian inherited the title Duke of Yong with a fief of ten thousand households. [variant: later] He accompanied the crown prince against Tuyuhun, fought hard, and won distinction. When Emperor Gaozu campaigned east, Qian again fought hard and was promoted to upper pillar of state and inspector-general of Yi Province.
11
At that time, with Yang Jian directing the government, Qian ordered chief clerk He Ruo'ang to present a memorial at court. When He Ruo'ang returned, he gave a full account of affairs in the capital. Qian, having received the state's grace for generations, intended to restore the dynasty, raised troops, and appointed officials. The people of the eighteen provinces and ten additional prefectures under his jurisdiction—Yi, Tong, Xin, Shi, Long, Qiong, Qing, Lu, Rong, Ning, Wen, Ling, Sui, He, Chu, Zi, Mei, Pu, Jia, Yu, Lin, Qu, Peng, Long, Tong, Xing, Wu, and Yong—largely rallied to him. Chief administrator Yifu Qian and Yi governor Daxi Ji urged Wang Qian to hold the difficult terrain and wait to see how events developed. Long Province governor Gao A [variant: Shi] Na Gui proposed three plans to Qian: "If you personally lead picked troops straight for San Gate Pass, the people of Shu, knowing your loyalty in rushing to aid the throne, will surely each resolve to serve you—this is the best plan; to send troops from Liang and Han and thereby hold the realm's attention—this is the middle plan; to sit in Jiannan and raise troops only for self-defense—this is the worst plan." Qian adopted parts of the middle and lower plans.
12
Before Liang Rui reached Great Sword Pass, Qian sent troops to garrison Shi Province. Yang Jian immediately made Liang Rui campaign commander-in-chief and dispatched troops from Li, Feng, Wen, Qin, Cheng, and other provinces against him. Daxi Ji, Yifu Qian, and others with a host of one hundred thousand attacked Li Province. When they heard Rui had arrived, the army broke apart. Rui seized their weakness and drove his troops deep into the country. Ji and Qian secretly sent envoys to Rui offering to serve as inside allies to atone for their guilt. Qian knew nothing of this and still ordered them to hold Chengdu. Qian had no strategy to begin with; relying on his father's merit, he had risen to a weighty post. When they first planned rebellion, all held that the land was defended by rivers and mountains—one could win glory by advancing and hold out by retreating. Moreover, most of those he appointed were not men of real ability. When he heard Rui's army had suddenly arrived, he was terrified and personally led his troops out to fight. He also made Ji's and Qian's sons command the left and right wings. After marching several tens of li, the whole army turned against him. Qian fled to Xindu with twenty horsemen; Magistrate Wang Bao beheaded him and sent his head to the capital. Ji and Qian surrendered Chengdu; Yang Jian, judging them the chief plotters, had them beheaded. Gao A [variant: Shi] Na Gui was also executed.
13
Sima Xiaonan, styled Daorong, was a native of Wen in Henei. His father Sima Ziru had assisted Gao Huan at the founding of Northern Qi and rose to director of the Masters of Writing. Xiaonan was clever from youth, had a light acquaintance with the classics and histories, liked to polish his appearance, and sought reputation. He began his career as a gentleman-attendant compiler. Once Ziru held high court rank, Xiaonan also cultivated guests. Xing Zicai, Wang Yuanjing, Wei Shou, Lu Yang, Cui Zhan, and others all frequented his house. He was soon made commandant of the horse guard and director of imperial feasts, then sent out as governor of North Yu Province.
14
In the last years of Emperor Wenxuan of Qi, his cruelty and tyranny grew ever worse. Xiaonan, fearing disaster would reach him, constantly plotted to save himself; he courted favor, won over the people, and gained a strong local following. When Wenxuan was at Bing, he summoned by courier his brother the Prince of Shangdang, Huan; Huan, fearing slaughter, killed the messenger and fled east. Within a few days Ye was searched and hunted, and the city was thrown into turmoil. He was finally captured in Ji Province. When Huan first fled, courtiers said privately among themselves: "The Prince of Shangdang has fled in rebellion, as if heading for Chenggao. If he joins in conspiracy with Sima Xiaonan of North Yu Province, he will surely become a threat to the state." This talk reached Wenxuan, and he grew deeply suspicious. Xiaonan was afraid; he secretly ordered his close associate Pei Zao to slip into the Pass region and ask to surrender the entire province. Duke of Jin Yuwen Hu sent Daxi Wu and Yang Zhong to welcome him; Xiaonan then entered court together with Wu. He was appointed grand general and Duke of Xingyang. He followed Emperor Gaozu on the eastern campaign and was transferred to grand rear chancellor. He gave his daughter in marriage as empress to Emperor Jing. He was soon sent out as [variant: Jiao] inspector-general of Yun Province.
15
When Yang Jian directed the government, Xiaonan, hearing that Duke of Shu Jiong refused to be replaced, intended to join forces with him and also raised troops in response. Taking opening-office commanders Tian Guang and others as his inner circle, he killed chief administrator Houmochen Gao, Yun governor Cai Ze, and more than forty others. The nine provinces under his charge—Yun, Sui, Wen, Ying [variant: Shi] Tu, Shun, Mian, Huan, and Yue, and the eight garrisons of Lushan, Zengshan, Chunyang, Yingcheng, Pingjing, Wuyang, Shaming, and [variant: Xu] Yunshui—all followed him. He sent his son Yong as a hostage to Chen to seek aid. Yang Jian ordered Wang Yi, inspector-general of Xiang, as commander-in-chief and dispatched Jing-Xiang troops to suppress him. In the eighth month, hearing Wang Yi's army was about to arrive, Xiaonan led his personal followers by night and defected to Chen. Emperor Xuan of Chen made him commander of An [variant: Zhao] Sui, the nine provinces and eight garrisons, plus general of chariots and cavalry, minister of works, and Duke of Sui.
16
When Yang Zhong first welcomed Xiaonan, they became sworn brothers and were deeply attached. Yang Jian always treated him with the courtesy due an uncle. When Chen was pacified, Xiaonan reached the capital; he was specially spared death and assigned to the musicians' households. After twenty days he was released. Still owing to past favor, he was specially granted an audience. He soon died at home. Greedy and licentious by nature, he was fickle in his loyalties. Thus when later ages speak of the fickle, they all cite Xiaonan. His wife, Lady Gao, was a daughter of Gao Huan. In Ye he treated her with respect. After entering the Pass region, he cast her off and treated her coldly. When Xiaonan went to [variant: Ang] Yun Province, he left Lady Gao and three sons in the capital. Lady Gao said to Yang Jian: "The Duke of Xingyang is changeable and deceitful; now that new favorites accompany him, he will surely abandon wife and children—I beg you to guard against this." When Xiaonan defected to Chen, Lady Gao and her sons were thereby spared.
17
The historiographer writes: Weichi Jiong was the emperor's nephew by marriage; in office he held the highest ministerial rank; generation after generation he bathed in grace and for a time bore the sovereign's favor; he occupied commanding ground and received the trust of a frontier guardian—when the dynasty tottered he did not hold it up, and the burden of worry was his to bear. When the sovereign's prestige faded like departing clouds and the dynastic foundation was about to shift, when the nine domains changed heart and the three spirits sought a new fortune, he could still resolve to rush forward and, throwing up his sleeves, raise arms. His loyalty to the sovereign had not yet been proclaimed when the calamity of defying Heaven fell upon him. Weigh his heart—is he not of the company of Zhai Yi and Ge Dan?