1
竇熾兄子毅于翼李穆
Dou Chi; his nephew Yi; Yu Yi; Li Mu
2
竇熾字光成，扶風平陵人也。 漢大鴻臚章十一世孫。 章子統，靈帝時，為雁門太守，避竇武之難，亡奔匈奴，遂為部落大人。 後魏南徙，子孫因家於代，賜姓紇豆陵氏。 累世仕魏，皆至大官。 父略，平遠將軍。 以熾著勳，贈少保、柱國大將軍、建昌公。
Dou Chi, courtesy name Guangcheng, came from Pingling in Fufeng commandery. He was an eleventh-generation descendant of Zhang, who had served Han as grand herald. Zhang's son Zitong, under Emperor Ling, was administrator of Yanmen; fleeing the purge of Dou Wu, he took refuge among the Xiongnu and rose to lead a tribal confederation. When the Northern Wei moved south, the family settled in Dai and was granted the surname Heldouling. For generations they served Wei, and every man among them reached high office. His father Lue held the title General Who Pacifies the Distance. Because of Dou Chi's achievements, Lue was posthumously made junior guardian, pillar-of-state grand general, and Duke of Jianchang.
3
熾性嚴明，有謀略，美鬚髯，身長八尺二寸。 少從范陽祁忻受《毛詩》、《左氏春秋》，略通大義。 善騎射，膂力過人。 魏正光末，北鎮擾亂，熾乃隨畧避地定州，因沒於葛榮。 榮欲官畧，畧不受。 榮疑其有異志，遂留略於冀州，將熾及熾兄善隨軍。
Dou Chi was stern and clear-minded, skilled in strategy, with a fine beard and a frame eight chi two cun tall. As a youth he studied the Mao Odes and Zuo's Spring and Autumn Annals under Qi Xin of Fanyang and gained a working grasp of their larger meaning. He excelled at mounted archery and possessed strength beyond ordinary men. At the end of the Zhenguang era, when the northern garrisons fell into chaos, Chi followed his father Lue to Ding Province and was taken by Ge Rong. Ge Rong offered Lue an official post, but Lue refused it. Suspecting disloyalty, Ge Rong kept Lue in Ji Province and took Chi and his elder brother Shan along with the army.
4
魏永安元年，爾朱榮破葛榮，熾乃將家隨榮於幷州。 時葛榮別帥韓婁、郝長衆數萬人據薊城不下，以熾為都督，從驃騎將軍侯深討之。 熾手斬婁，以功拜揚烈將軍。 三年，除員外散騎侍郎，遷給事中。 建明元年，加武厲將軍。
In the first year of Yongan, after Erzhu Rong crushed Ge Rong, Chi moved his household to Bing Province in Erzhu Rong's train. Ge Rong's lieutenants Han Lou and Hao Chang still held Ji with tens of thousands of men; Chi was made area commander and marched under Flying Cavalry General Hou Shen to besiege them. Chi cut down Han Lou with his own hand and, for that feat, was made General Who Raises Glory. In the third year he was appointed supernumerary regular attendant of the scattered riders, then transferred to palace attendant. In the first year of Jianming he received the additional title General Who Displays Martial Severity.
5
魏孝武卽位，茹茹等諸番竝遣使朝貢，帝臨軒宴之。 有鴟飛鳴於殿前，帝素知熾善射，因欲示遠人，乃給熾御箭兩隻，命射之。 鴟乃應弦而落，諸番人咸歎異焉。 帝大悅，賜帛五十疋。 尋率兵隨東南道行台樊子鵠追爾朱仲遠，仲遠奔梁。 時梁主又遣元樹入寇，攻陷譙城，遂據之。 子鵠令熾率騎兵擊破之，封行唐縣子，邑五百戶。 尋拜直閤將軍、銀青光祿大夫，領華騮令，進爵上洛縣伯，邑一千戶。
When Emperor Xiaowu of Wei succeeded, the Ruru and other frontier peoples all sent tribute missions, and the emperor held a feast for them in the audience hall. An owl flew screeching before the hall. The emperor, who knew Chi's skill with the bow, wished to impress the foreign envoys and gave him two imperial arrows with orders to bring it down. The bird dropped at the twang of the string, and the envoys from every quarter cried out in astonishment. Delighted, the emperor rewarded him with fifty bolts of silk. Soon afterward he led troops under Southeast Circuit Inspector Fan Zigu in pursuit of Erzhu Zhongyuan, who fled to Liang. The Liang ruler then sent Yuan Shu to raid the borders; Qiao city was taken and held. Fan Zigu ordered Chi to lead cavalry against them and break their force; Chi was enfeoffed Viscount of Xingtang with five hundred households. He was soon made direct gate general and silver-seal grandee with blue ribbon, warden of Hualiu, and raised to Baron of Shangluo with one thousand feudal households.
6
時帝與齊神武構隙，以熾有威重，堪處爪牙之任，拜閤內大都督。 遷撫軍將軍，朱衣直閤，遂從帝西遷。 仍與其兄善重至城下，與武衛將軍高金龍戰於千秋門，敗之。 因入宮城，取御馬四十疋幷鞍勒，進之行所。 帝大悅，賜熾及善駿馬各二疋、駑馬十疋。
When the emperor and Gao Huan fell out, Chi's authority and presence made him fit for the hardest duties at court, and he was made grand interior commander. He was transferred to general who pacifies the army and red-robe direct gate general, then followed the emperor in the flight west. He and his elder brother Shan then rode back to the capital and, at Qianqiu Gate, defeated Martial Guard General Gao Jinlong. They entered the palace precinct, seized forty imperial horses with their tack, and delivered them to the emperor's camp. The emperor was overjoyed and gave Chi and Shan each two thoroughbreds and ten remounts.
7
高仲密以北豫州來附，熾率兵從太祖援之。 至洛陽，會東魏人據邙山為陣，太祖命留輜重于瀍曲，率輕騎奮擊，中軍與右軍大破之，悉虜其步卒。 熾獨追至石濟而還。 遷車騎大將軍、儀同三司、散騎常侍，增邑一千戶。 十三年，進使持節、驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司，加侍中，增邑通前三千九百戶。 出為涇州刺史，莅職數年，政號清淨。 改封 （武） 安〔武〕縣公，進授大將軍。
When Gao Zhongmi defected with Northern Yu Province, Chi led troops under Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai to support him. At Luoyang they found Eastern Wei forces drawn up on Mount Mang. Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai left the baggage at Chan Qu and led light cavalry in a fierce charge; the center and right wings broke the enemy and took every foot soldier captive. Chi alone pursued as far as Shiji before turning back. He was made general of chariots and cavalry, regular attendant of the scattered riders, and honors equal to the Three Ducal Ministers, with one thousand more households added to his fief. In the thirteenth year he was raised to bearer of credentials, grand general of flying cavalry, and opening-office honors equal to the Three Ducal Ministers, with palace attendant added and his fief brought to three thousand nine hundred households in all. Posted out as inspector of Jing, he governed for several years in a manner praised as pure and quiet. His fief was changed to [emended: Wu] Duke of Anwu county, with promotion to grand general.
8
魏廢帝元年，除大都督、原州刺史。 熾抑挫豪右，申理幽滯，每親巡壟畝，勸民耕桑。 在州十載，甚有政績。 州城之北，有泉水焉，熾屢經遊踐，嘗與僚吏宴於泉側，因酌水自飲曰：「吾在此州，唯當飲水而已。」 及去職之後，人吏感其遺惠，每至此泉者，莫不懷之。
In the first year of Emperor Fei of Wei he was made grand area commander and inspector of Yuan Province. Chi curbed the great clans, cleared cases long buried in obscurity, walked the fields himself, and urged the people toward plowing and mulberry work. After ten years in the province he had a record of real achievement. North of the provincial seat lay a spring Chi often visited on his rounds. Once, feasting there with his staff, he poured himself a cup of the water and said, "In this province I need ask for nothing but this water." After he left office, officials and commoners alike, moved by his legacy, never came to that spring without thinking of him.
9
魏恭帝元年，進爵廣武郡公。 屬茹茹寇廣武，熾率兵與柱國趙貴分路討之。 茹茹聞軍至，引退。 熾度河至麴伏川追及，與戰，大破之，斬其酋帥郁久閭是發，獲生口數千，及雜畜數萬頭。 孝閔帝踐阼，增邑二千戶。 武成二年，拜柱國大將軍。 世宗以熾前朝忠勳，望實兼重，欲獨為造第。 熾辭以天下未定，干戈未偃，不宜輒發徒役，世宗不許。 尋而帝崩，事方得寢。
In the first year of Emperor Gong of Wei he was raised to Duke of Guangwu commandery. When the Ruru raided Guangwu, Chi marched with Pillar-of-State Zhao Gui on separate routes to drive them off. The Ruru withdrew as soon as they heard the army was coming. Chi crossed the river, caught the enemy at Qufu River, and routed them; he beheaded their chieftain Yujiuli Shifa, took several thousand captives, and seized tens of thousands of livestock. When Emperor Xiaomin took the throne, his fief was increased by two thousand households. In Wucheng year 2 he was made pillar-of-state grand general. Emperor Shizong, honoring Chi's loyal service under the previous reign and his weight in name and deed, wished to build him a mansion of his own. Chi refused, saying the realm was still unsettled and arms not yet laid down, and that it was wrong to press corvee labor on the people; Shizong would not hear of it. When the emperor died soon afterward, the plan was dropped.
10
熾旣朝之元老，名位素隆，至於軍國大謀，常與參議。 嘗有疾，高祖至其第而問之，因賜金石之藥。 其見禮如此。 帝於大德殿將謀伐齊，熾時年已衰老，乃扼腕曰：「臣雖朽邁，請執干櫓，首啟戎行。 得一睹誅翦鯨鯢，廓清寰宇，省方觀俗，登岳告成，然後歸魂泉壤，無復餘恨。」 高祖壯其志節，遂以熾第二子武當公恭為左二軍總管。 齊平之後，帝乃召熾歷觀相州宮殿。 熾拜賀曰：「陛下真不負先帝矣。」 帝大悅，賜奴婢三十人，及雜繒帛千疋，進位上柱國。
As an elder of the court whose name and rank had long stood high, he was regularly drawn into the great decisions of war and state. Once, when he fell ill, Emperor Gaozu came in person to his house to ask after him and gave him precious mineral and herbal medicines. Such was the honor he received. When the emperor met at Dade Hall to plan the conquest of Qi, Chi, though old, clenched his wrist and said, "Your servant may be worn and white-haired, yet I beg to take up shield and spear and lead the army out. Let me live to see the great beasts cut down and the realm swept clean, to tour the provinces and read the customs of the land, to climb the sacred peak and proclaim the deed accomplished — then I may return my soul to the earth with nothing left to regret." Emperor Gaozu was stirred by his spirit and made Chi's second son Gong, Duke of Wudang, commander of the Left Second Army. After Qi fell, the emperor had Chi walk with him through the palaces of Xiang Province. Chi bowed in congratulation and said, "Your Majesty has truly kept faith with the late emperor." The emperor was delighted, gave him thirty slaves and maidservants and a thousand bolts of silk, and raised him to upper pillar-of-state.
11
宣政元年，兼雍州牧。 及宣帝營建東京，以熾為京洛營作大監。 宮苑制度，皆取決焉。 大象初，改食樂陵縣，邑戶如舊。 隋文帝輔政，停洛陽宮作，熾請入朝。 屬尉遲迥舉兵，熾乃移入金墉城，簡練關中軍士得數百人，與洛州刺史、平涼西元亨同心固守，仍權行洛州鎮事。 相州平，熾方入朝。 屬隋文帝初為相國，百官皆勸進。 熾自以累代受恩，遂不肯署牋。 時人高其節。
In Xuanzheng year 1 he was made concurrent governor of Yong Province. When Emperor Xuan undertook the Eastern Capital project, Chi was made grand supervisor of the Luoyang works. The layout of palaces and gardens was settled on his judgment alone. At the start of the Daxiang era his income was shifted to Leling county while his feudal households remained unchanged. When Emperor Wen of Sui took power as regent and halted work on the Luoyang palaces, Chi asked leave to come to court. When Yuchi Jiong rose in arms, Chi withdrew into Jinyong, mustered several hundred Guanzhong troops, and with Luozhou inspector Xiwen Yuanheng of Pingliang held the city in common resolve while acting as provisional overseer of Luozhou. Only after Xiang Province was pacified did Chi enter court. When Emperor Wen of Sui had just become chief minister, the whole bureaucracy urged him to take the throne. Chi, mindful of generations of imperial favor, refused to sign the memorial of accession. Men of the day praised his integrity.
12
熾事親孝，奉諸兄以悌順聞。 及其位望隆重，而子孫皆處列位，遂為當時盛族。
He was filial toward his parents and deferential toward his elder brothers, and was famed for both. As his standing rose and sons and grandsons filled the ranks of office, the Dou became one of the great clans of the day.
13
子茂嗣。 茂有弟十三人，恭、威最知名。 恭位至大將軍。 從高祖平齊，封贊國公，除西兗州總管，以罪賜死。
His son Mao succeeded him. Mao had thirteen younger brothers; Gong and Wei were the best known. Gong rose to grand general. He followed Emperor Gaozu in the conquest of Qi, was enfeoffed Duke of Zan, made overall commander of Western Yan, and was condemned to death for a crime.
14
熾兄善，以中軍大都督、南城公從魏孝武西遷。 後仕至太僕、衛尉卿、汾北華瀛三州刺史、驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司、永富縣公。 諡曰忠。 子榮定嗣。 起家魏文帝千牛備身。 稍遷平東將軍、大都督，進驃騎大將軍、儀同三司。 歷佽飛中大夫、右司衛上大夫。 大象中，位至大將軍。 熾兄子毅。
Chi's elder brother Shan, grand interior commander of the center army and Duke of Nancheng, followed Emperor Xiaowu of Wei in the flight west. He later rose through grand master of horsebreeding and commandant of the guard to inspector of Fenbei, Hua, and Ying, grand general of flying cavalry, opening-office honors equal to the Three Ducal Ministers, and Duke of Yongfu county. His posthumous title was Loyal. His son Rongding succeeded him. He began his career as thousand-ox attendant to Emperor Wen of Wei. He rose gradually to general who pacifies the east and grand area commander, then to grand general of flying cavalry with honors equal to the Three Ducal Ministers. He served as lieutenant of the rapid tiger guard and upper grandee of the right office of guards. In the Daxiang era he reached grand general. Chi's nephew Yi.
15
毅字天武。 父岳，早卒。 及毅著勳，追贈大將軍、冀州刺史。 毅深沉有器度，事親以孝聞。 魏孝武初，起家為員外散騎侍郎。 時齊神武擅朝，毅慨然有殉主之志。
Yi, courtesy name Tianwu. His father Yue died young. When Yi earned distinction, Yue was posthumously made grand general and inspector of Ji Province. Yi was deep, steady, and broad-minded, and was known above all for filial devotion. At the start of Emperor Xiaowu of Wei's reign he entered service as supernumerary regular attendant of the scattered riders. Gao Huan then dominated the court, and Yi burned with the resolve to die for his sovereign.
16
及孝武西遷，遂從入關，封奉高縣子，邑六百戶，除符璽郎。 從擒竇泰，復弘農，戰沙苑，皆有功。 拜右將軍、太中大夫，進爵為侯，增邑一千戶。 累遷持節、撫軍將軍、通直散騎常侍。 魏廢帝二年，授車騎大將軍、儀同三司、大都督，進爵安武縣公，增邑一千四百戶。 魏恭帝元年，進授驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司、大都督，改封永安縣公，出為幽州刺史。 孝閔帝踐阼，進爵神武郡公，增邑通前五千戶。 保定三年，徵還朝，治左宮伯，轉小宗伯，尋拜大將軍。
When Xiaowu fled west, Yi followed him into the passes, was enfeoffed Viscount of Fenggao with six hundred households, and was made keeper of seals and credentials. He fought at the capture of Dou Tai, the recovery of Hongnong, and the battle of Shaye, earning merit in each. He was made general of the right and grand master of palace counsel, raised to marquis, and given one thousand more households. He rose through bearer of credentials, general who pacifies the army, and regular attendant of direct communication and the scattered riders. In the second year of Emperor Fei of Wei he was granted general of chariots and cavalry, honors equal to the Three Ducal Ministers, and grand area commander, raised to Duke of Anwu county, with fourteen hundred households added to his fief. In the first year of Emperor Gong of Wei he was promoted to Grand General of the Flying Cavalry, given a grand mastership equal to the Three Ducal Ministers, made grand area commander, re-enfeoffed Duke of Yong'an, and sent out as inspector of You. When Emperor Xiaomin came to the throne, he was raised to Duke of Shenwu, with a combined fief of five thousand households. In the third year of Baoding he was recalled to court, put in charge of the Left Palace Guard, moved to junior clan commander, and soon made grand general.
17
時與齊人爭衡，戎車歲動，竝交結突厥，以為外援。 在太祖之時，突厥已許納女于我，齊人亦甘言重幣，遣使求婚。 狄固貪婪，便欲有悔。 朝廷乃令楊薦等累使結之，往反十餘，方復前好。 至是，雖期往逆，猶懼改圖。 以毅地兼勛戚，素有威重，乃命為使。 及毅之至，齊使亦在焉。 突厥君臣，猶有貳志。 毅抗言正色，以大義責之，累旬乃定，卒以皇后歸。 朝議嘉之，別封成都縣公，邑一千戶，進位柱國。 出為同州刺史，遷蒲州總管，徙金州總管，加授上柱國，入為大司馬。 隋開皇初，拜定州總管。 累居藩鎮，咸得民和。 二年，薨於州，年六十四。 贈襄郢等六州刺史，諡曰肅。 毅性溫和，每以謹慎自守，又尚太祖第五女襄陽公主，特為朝廷所委信。 雖任兼出入，未嘗有矜惰之容，時人以此稱焉。 子賢嗣。
Northern Zhou and Northern Qi were locked in rivalry, campaigning year after year, and both courted the Turks as allies. Under Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai the Turks had already promised a bride; Qi too sent envoys with fine words and rich gifts to ask for a marriage alliance. The Turks, greedy by nature, soon wanted to go back on their word. The court sent Yang Jian and others on mission after mission; only after more than ten round trips was the old friendship restored. Even when the day came to go and escort the bride back, the court still feared the Turks might change their minds. Because Yi combined territorial power with imperial connections and had long commanded respect, he was chosen as envoy. When Yi reached the Turk court, Qi's envoy was there as well. The Turk ruler and his ministers were still of two minds. Yi spoke out boldly, his face stern, and upbraided them in the name of righteousness; after many days the matter was settled and the bride was sent to Zhou. The court commended him, gave him a separate fief as Duke of Chengdu with one thousand households, and promoted him to pillar-of-state. He served as inspector of Tong, then as area commander of Pu and Jin, was given senior pillar-of-state, and returned to court as grand marshal. At the opening of the Kaihuang era under Sui he was made area commander of Ding. Through long service on the frontiers he always kept the people on his side. In year 2 he died in office at sixty-four. He was posthumously honored as governor of Xiang, E, and four other prefectures, with the posthumous name Su. Yi was even-tempered and habitually cautious; as the husband of Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai's fifth daughter, Princess Xiangyang, he enjoyed the court's special trust. However often he moved between court and command, he never showed arrogance or slackness, and his contemporaries admired him for it. His son Xian inherited the line.
18
賢字托賢，志業通敏，少知名。 天和二年，策拜神武國世子。 宣政元年，授使持節儀同大將軍。 隋開皇中，襲爵神武公，除遷州刺史。
Xian, styled Tuoxian, was quick and capable, and was known from an early age. In the second year of Tianhe he passed the examination and was made heir of the Shenwu state. In the first year of Xuanzheng he was made bearer of the staff of authority and general equal to the Three Ducal Ministers. Under Sui in the Kaihuang era he succeeded as Duke of Shenwu and was appointed inspector of Qian.
19
于翼字文若，太師、燕公謹之子。 美風儀，有識度。 年十一，尚太祖女平原公主，拜員外散騎常侍，封安平縣公，邑一千戶。 大統十六年，進爵郡公，加大都督，領太祖帳下左右，禁中宿衛。 遷鎮南將軍、金紫光祿大夫、散騎常侍、武衛將軍。 謹平江陵，所贈得軍實，分給諸子。 翼一無所取，唯簡賞口內名望子弟有士風者，別待遇之。 太祖聞之，特賜奴婢二百口，翼固辭不受。 尋授車騎大將軍、儀同三司，加侍中、驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司。 六官建，除左宮伯。
Yu Yi, styled Wenruo, was the son of Grand Preceptor Yu Jin, Duke of Yan. He had handsome presence and sound judgment. At eleven he married Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai's daughter, Princess Pingyuan, was made regular attendant of scattered cavalry outside the office, and enfeoffed Duke of Anping with one thousand households. In the sixteenth year of Datong he was promoted to commandery duke and grand area commander, and placed over the left and right of Grand Progenitor's personal guard on palace watch. He rose to General Who Guards the South, gold-seal grandee, regular attendant of scattered cavalry, and general of the martial guard. When Yu Jin took Jiangling, the captured stores were divided among his sons. Yi took nothing for himself; he singled out only captives of good family with a scholar's bearing and treated them with special regard. Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai, hearing of this, offered him two hundred households of slaves and servants; Yi firmly refused. He was soon made General of Chariots and Cavalry with honors equal to the Three Ducal Ministers, then additionally palace attendant, Grand General of the Flying Cavalry, and a grand mastership equal to the Three Ducal Ministers. When the Six Offices were set up he was made Left Palace Guard.
20
孝閔帝踐阼，出為渭州刺史。 翼兄寔先蒞此州，頗有惠政。 翼又推誠布信，事存寬簡，夷夏感悅，比之大小馮君焉。 時吐谷渾入寇河右，涼鄯河三州咸被攻圍，使來告急。 秦州都督遣翼赴援，不從。 寮屬咸以為言。 翼曰：「攻取之術，非夷俗所長。 此寇之來，不過抄掠邊牧耳。 安能頓兵城下，久事攻圍！ 掠而無獲，勢將自走。 勞師以往，亦無所及。 翼揣之已了，幸勿復言。」 居數日問至，果如翼所策。 賀蘭祥討吐谷渾，翼率州兵先鋒深入。 以功增邑一千二百戶。 尋徵拜右宮伯。
When Emperor Xiaomin came to the throne, he was sent out as inspector of Wei. Yi's elder brother Shi had governed the province before him and was known for benevolent rule. Yi in turn ruled with sincerity and trust, keeping administration light and humane; Chinese and non-Chinese alike were delighted and compared him to the two Lords Feng. When Tuyuhun raided the Hexi region, Liang, Shan, and He were all besieged and urgent appeals arrived. The Qin area commander ordered Yi to march to the rescue; he refused. Every member of his staff objected. Yi said, "Barbarians are not skilled at siege warfare. These raiders have come only to loot the border pastures. They cannot sit under our walls in a long siege. If they find nothing to take, they will withdraw on their own. Marching out to meet them would only exhaust our troops for no gain. I have already thought this through; say no more about it." Within days the reports came in, exactly as Yi had predicted. When Helan Xiang campaigned against Tuyuhun, Yi led the prefectural army as vanguard deep into enemy country. For his service his fief grew by one thousand two hundred households. He was soon recalled and made Right Palace Guard.
21
世宗雅愛文 （士） 〔史〕，立麟趾學，在朝有藝業者，不限貴賤，皆預聽焉。 乃至蕭撝、王褒等與卑鄙之徒同為學士。 翼言於帝曰：「蕭撝，梁之宗子； 王褒，梁之公卿。 今與趨走同儕，恐非尚賢貴爵之義。」 帝納之，詔翼定其班次，於是有等差矣。
Emperor Shizong had a deep love of letters and 〔literature〕 [emended: history] history; he founded the Linchi Academy, and every man at court with real learning, regardless of rank, was invited to attend. Even men like Xiao Kui and Wang Bao sat as fellow scholars beside common opportunists. Yi told the emperor, "Xiao Kui is a prince of Liang; Wang Bao is a Liang court minister. To rank them alongside men who scurry at others' heels hardly honors worth and rank as it should." The emperor agreed and ordered Yi to set their order of precedence; from then on the academy had proper gradations.
22
晉公護以帝委翼腹心，內懷猜忌。 轉為小司徒，加拜柱國。 雖外示崇重，實疎斥之。 及誅護，帝召翼，遣往河東取護子中山公訓，仍代鎮蒲州。 翼曰：「冢宰無君陵上，自取誅夷。 元惡旣除，餘孽宜殄。 然皆陛下骨肉，猶謂疎不間親。 陛下不使諸王而使臣異姓，非直物有橫議，愚臣亦所未安。」 帝然之，乃遣越王盛代翼。
Duke of Jin Yuwen Hu, seeing the emperor rely on Yi as a trusted confidant, grew suspicious. Yi was moved to junior minister of education and additionally made pillar-of-state. Outwardly he was honored; in fact he was sidelined. After Hu was killed, the emperor summoned Yi, sent him to Hedong to bring back Hu's son, Duke of Zhongshan Xun, and had him take command at Pu in Hu's place. Yi said, "The regent defied his sovereign and brought ruin on himself. Once the chief culprit is gone, his remaining kin ought to be wiped out. Yet they are Your Majesty's own kin, and the rule holds that kin should not be set against kin. If Your Majesty sends me, a man of another surname, rather than one of the princes, the court will talk — and I myself would be uneasy." The emperor agreed and sent Prince of Yue Sheng in Yi's place.
23
先是，與齊陳二境，各修邊防，雖通聘好，而每歲交兵。 然一彼一此，不能有所克獲。 高祖旣親萬機，將圖東討，詔邊城鎮，竝益儲偫，加戍卒。 二國聞之，亦增修守禦。 翼諫曰：「宇文護專制之日，興兵至洛，不戰而敗，所喪實多。 數十年委積，一朝麋散。 雖為護無制勝之策，亦由敵人之有備故也。 且疆埸相侵，互有勝敗，徒損兵儲，非策之上者。 不若解邊嚴，減戎防，繼好息民，敬待來者。 彼必 （善） 〔喜〕於通和，懈而少備，然後出其不意，一舉而山東可圖。 若猶習前蹤，恐非蕩定之計。」 帝納之。
On the Qi and Chen frontiers both sides had long fortified their borders; envoys still came and went, but armies clashed every year. Yet victory shifted back and forth, and neither side could win a lasting gain. Once Emperor Gaozu took personal control and planned an eastern offensive, he ordered every frontier fortress to stockpile supplies and reinforce its garrisons. Qi and Chen heard of it and strengthened their defenses in turn. Yi urged caution: "When Yuwen Hu ruled alone he marched as far as Luoyang and was beaten without a battle — the loss was enormous. Decades of accumulated stores vanished in a morning. Hu lacked a winning strategy, but the enemy was also ready. Border skirmishes that trade victories back and forth only waste men and grain — that is no wise policy. Better to stand down the frontier, cut garrisons, restore friendly relations, let the people recover, and wait courteously for the other side. They are certain to 〔good/shan〕 [emended: pleased/xi] be pleased at renewed peace, slacken their guard, and then be taken by surprise — in one stroke the lands east of the mountains can be won. If we repeat the old approach, I fear we will never secure the east." The emperor accepted his advice.
24
建德二年，出為安隨等六州五防諸軍事、安州總管。 時屬大旱，溳水絕流。 舊俗，每逢亢陽，禱白兆山祈雨。 高祖先禁群祀，山廟已除。 翼遣主簿祭之，卽日澍雨霑洽，歲遂有年。 民庶感之，聚會歌舞，頌翼之德。
In the second year of Jiande he was sent out to command the six prefectures of An, Sui, and others with their five frontier defenses, as area commander of An. A great drought struck, and the Yun River ran dry. By local custom, whenever drought lingered, the people prayed for rain at Mount Baizhao. Emperor Gaozu had banned popular sacrifices, and the mountain shrine had been dismantled. Yi sent his chief clerk to offer sacrifice there; rain fell the same day, and the year brought a good harvest. The people were so grateful that they gathered to sing and dance, praising Yi's virtue.
25
四年，高祖將東伐，朝臣未有知者，遣納言盧韞等前後乘驛，三詣翼問策焉。 翼贊成之。 及軍出，詔翼率荊、楚兵二萬，自宛、葉趣襄城，大將軍張光洛、鄭恪等竝隸焉。 旬日下齊一十九城。 所部都督，輒入民村，卽斬以狥。 由是百姓欣悅，赴者如歸。 屬高祖有疾，班師，翼亦旋鎮。
In year 4, as Emperor Gaozu prepared an eastern campaign in secret, he sent Direct Speech Officer Lu Yun and others by post relay three times to ask Yi's counsel — though no other minister yet knew of the plan. Yi endorsed the plan. When the army marched, an edict ordered Yi to lead twenty thousand Jing and Chu troops from Wan and Ye toward Xiangcheng, with Grand Generals Zhang Guangluo, Zheng Ke, and others under his command. Within ten days he captured nineteen Qi cities. Any subordinate commander who entered a civilian village was beheaded on the spot as an example. The people welcomed him gladly, and volunteers flocked to him as though coming home. When Emperor Gaozu fell ill the army turned back, and Yi returned to his post.
26
五年，轉陝熊等七州十六防諸軍事、宜陽總管。 翼以宜陽地非襟帶，請移鎮於陝。 詔從之，仍除陝州刺史，總管如舊。 其年，大軍復東討，翼自陝入九曲，攻拔造澗等諸城，徑到洛陽。 齊洛州刺史獨孤永業開門出降，河南九州三十鎮，一時俱下。 襄城民庶等喜復見翼，竝壺漿塞道。 尋卽除洛懷等九州諸軍事、河陽總管。
In year 5 he was transferred to command the seven prefectures of Shan and Xiong with sixteen frontier defenses, as area commander of Yiyang. Finding Yiyang poorly situated as a strategic base, Yi asked to move headquarters to Shan. The emperor agreed; Yi was also made inspector of Shan while keeping his area command. That year, when the main army marched east again, Yi advanced from Shan through Jiuchu, took Zaojian and other cities, and pushed straight to Luoyang. Qi's Luo inspector, Dugu Yongye, opened the gates and surrendered; the nine prefectures and thirty garrisons of Henan fell in one stroke. The people of Xiangcheng and the surrounding districts rejoiced to see Yu Yi again, bringing jars of drink to line the road. He was soon made commander-in-chief of military affairs for Luo, Huai, and seven other prefectures, and area commander of Heyang.
27
尋徙豫州總管，給兵五千人、馬千疋以之鎮，並配開府及儀同等二十人。 仍勑河陽、襄州、安州、荊州 （泗） 州總管內有武幹者，任翼徵牒，不限多少。 儀同以下官爵，承制先授後聞。 陳將魯天念久圍光州，聞翼到汝南，望風退散。 霍州蠻首田元顯，負險不賓，於是，送質請附。 陳將任蠻奴悉衆攻顯，顯立柵拒戰，莫有異心。 及翼還朝，元顯便叛。 其得殊俗物情，皆此類也。
He was soon transferred to area commander of Yu, given five thousand troops and one thousand horses for his garrison, and assigned twenty opening-office and equal-to-three-ducal-minister officers. An edict further ordered the area commanders of Heyang, Xiang, An, and Jing provinces [variant: Si] and Si, that any man of military talent might be requisitioned by Yu Yi without limit on numbers. For ranks below equal-to-three-ducal-minister status, he was authorized to appoint first and report afterward. Chen general Lu Tiannian had long besieged Guang Province; when he learned Yu Yi had reached Runan, his force melted away. Tian Yuanxian, a Huo barbarian chieftain who had held difficult ground and refused submission, then sent hostages and asked to submit. Chen general Ren Mannu attacked him with his full force; Tian Yuanxian fortified a camp and fought back without a defection. Once Yu Yi returned to court, Tian Yuanxian rebelled at once. His understanding of frontier peoples was always like this.
28
大象初，徵拜大司徒。 詔翼巡長城，立亭鄣。 西自鴈門，東至碣石，創新改舊，咸得其要害云。 仍除幽定七州六鎮諸軍事、幽州總管。 先是，突厥屢為寇掠，居民失業。 翼素有威武，兼明斥候，自是不敢犯塞，百姓安之。
At the opening of the Daxiang era he was summoned and made grand minister of education. An edict ordered Yu Yi to inspect the Great Wall and establish watchtowers and border posts. From Wild Goose Gate in the west to Jieshi in the east he rebuilt old posts and established new ones at every strategic point. He was also made commander-in-chief of military affairs for You, Ding, and five other prefectures with six garrisons, and area commander of You. The Turks had repeatedly raided the region, and the people had lost their livelihoods. Yu Yi had long commanded respect as a soldier and was skilled in scouting; thereafter the Turks dared not cross the border, and the people lived in peace.
29
及尉遲迥據相州舉兵，以書招翼。 翼執其使，幷書送之。 于時隋文帝執政，賜翼雜繒一千五百段、粟麥一千五百石，幷珍寶服玩等，進位上柱國，封任國公，增邑通前五千戶，別食任城縣一千戶，收其租賦。 翼又遣子讓通表勸進，幷請入朝。 隋文帝許之。
When Yuchi Jiong seized Xiang Province and rebelled, he sent Yu Yi a letter inviting him to join. Yu Yi detained the envoy and forwarded the letter to the court. Emperor Wen of Sui, then directing the government, rewarded Yu Yi with fifteen hundred bolts of mixed silk, fifteen hundred shi of grain and wheat, and treasures and fine goods; raised him to senior pillar-of-state; enfeoffed him Duke of Ren; brought his combined fief to five thousand households; granted him a separate maintenance fief of one thousand households in Rencheng county; and allowed him its rents. Yu Yi also sent his son Rang with a memorial urging Yang Jian to take the throne and asked leave to come to court. Emperor Wen of Sui agreed.
30
翼性恭儉，與物無競，常以滿盈自戒，故能以功名終。
Yu Yi was modest and frugal, never striving against others, and always guarded himself against excess; thus he kept his rank and reputation to the end.
31
子璽，官至上大將軍、軍司馬、黎陽郡公。 璽弟詮，上儀同三司、吏部下大夫、常山公。 詮弟讓，儀同三司。
His son Xi rose to supreme grand general, army commandant, and Duke of Liyang. Xi's younger brother Quan held upper equal-to-three-ducal-minister rank, served as lower grandee of the Ministry of Personnel, and was Duke of Changshan. Quan Rang, his younger brother, stood equal to the Three Dukes in rank.
32
尉遲迥之舉兵也，河西公李賢弟穆為幷州總管，亦執迥子送之。
When Yuchi Jiong rebelled, Li Mu, younger brother of Duke of Hexi Li Xian and area commander of Bing, likewise seized Jiong's son and sent him to the capital.
33
李穆字顯慶，少明敏，有度量。 太祖入關，便給事左右，深被親遇。 穆亦小心謹肅，未嘗懈怠。 太祖嘉之，遂處以腹心之任，出入臥內，當時莫與為比。 及侯莫陳悅害賀拔岳，太祖自夏州赴難，而悅黨史歸據原州，猶為悅守。 太祖令侯莫陳崇輕騎襲之。 穆先在城中，與兄賢、遠等據城門應崇，遂擒歸。 以功授都督。 從迎魏孝武，封永平縣子，邑三百戶。 擒竇泰，復弘農，並有戰功。 沙苑之捷，穆又言于太祖曰：「高歡今日已喪膽矣，請速逐之，則歡可擒也。」 太祖不聽。 論前後功，進爵為公。
Li Mu, styled Xianqing, was clever and steady-minded from youth. When Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai entered the Pass, Li Mu was immediately placed in his personal service and enjoyed deep favor. Li Mu was careful, respectful, and never slack in duty. Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai approved and put him in the innermost circle of trust, admitting him to the sleeping quarters; at the time no one stood higher in favor. When Hou Mo Chen Yue killed Heba Yue, Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai marched from Xia Province to the rescue; Yue's follower Shi Gui held Yuan Province and still defended it for Yue. Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai ordered Hou Mo Chen Chong to strike with light cavalry. Li Mu was already inside the city; with his elder brother Xian, Yuan, and the others he held the gate open for Chong and captured Shi Gui. For this service he was made area commander. When he helped welcome Emperor Xiaowu of Wei westward, he was enfeoffed Baron of Yongping with three hundred households. He shared in the capture of Dou Tai and the recovery of Hongnong. After the victory at Shaya, Li Mu again told Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai, "Gao Huan has lost his nerve today; pursue at once and he can be taken." Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai would not heed him. When his earlier and later services were weighed together, he was raised to duke.
34
河橋之戰，太祖所乘馬中流矢驚逸，太祖墜于地，軍中大擾。 敵人追及之，左右皆奔散，穆乃以策抶太祖，因大罵曰：「爾曹主何在？ 爾獨住此！」 敵人不疑是貴人也，遂捨之而過。 穆以馬授太祖，遂得俱免。 是日微穆，太祖已不濟矣。 自是恩盼更隆。 擢授武衛將軍，加大都督、車騎大將軍、儀同三司，進爵 （武） 安〔武〕郡公，增邑一千七百戶。 前後賞賜，不可勝計。 久之，太祖美其志節，乃歎曰：「人之所貴，唯身命耳，李穆遂能輕身命之重，濟孤於難。 雖復加之以爵位，賞之以玉帛，未足為報也。」 乃特賜鐵券，恕以十死。 進驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司、侍中。 初，穆授太祖以驄馬，其後中廄有此色馬者，悉以賜之。 又賜穆世子惇安樂郡公，姊一人為郡君，余姊妹竝為縣君，兄弟子侄及緦麻以上親幷舅氏，皆沾厚賜。 其見褒崇如此。
At the battle of He Bridge, Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai's mount took an arrow, panicked, and bolted; he was thrown to the ground and the army fell into chaos. The enemy closed in; his attendants scattered; Li Mu then struck Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai with his whip and shouted, "Where is your master? Why do you stand here alone!" The pursuers did not guess he was a great man and rode on past. Li Mu gave Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai his own horse, and both escaped. But for Li Mu that day, Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai would not have survived. From then on his favor was even greater. He was promoted to general of the martial guard, given grand area commander, Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, and rank equal to the Three Ducal Ministers, and raised in noble rank [variant: Wu] to Duke of Anwu, with a fief increased by one thousand seven hundred households. The rewards that followed were beyond counting. Long afterward Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai praised his loyalty and sighed, "All men value nothing above life itself; yet Li Mu could treat his life as light and save his lord in peril. Rank and jade and silk could never repay what he did." He was thereupon given a special iron tally pardoning up to ten capital offenses. He was promoted to Grand General of the Flying Cavalry, given a grand mastership equal to the Three Ducal Ministers, and made palace attendant. When Li Mu had first given Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai a piebald horse, every horse of that color in the imperial stud was afterward granted to him. He also made Li Mu's heir Dun Duke of Anle; one elder sister became a commandery lady and the rest county ladies; brothers, nephews, relatives within five degrees of mourning, and maternal kin all received rich gifts. Such was the honor shown him.
35
從解玉壁圍，拜安定國中尉。 尋授同州刺史，入為太僕卿。 征江陵功，封一子長城縣侯，邑千戶。 尋進位大將軍，賜姓拓拔氏。 俄除原州刺史，又以賢子為平高郡守，遠子為平高縣令，竝加鼓吹。 穆自以叔侄一家三人，皆牧宰鄉里，恩遇過隆，固辭不拜。 太祖不許。 後轉雍州刺史，入為小冢宰。 孝閔帝踐阼，增邑通前三千七百戶，又別封一子為縣伯。 穆請迴封賢子孝軌，許之。
After the relief of Yubi he was made middle commandant of Anding State. He was soon made inspector of Tong and recalled as grand master of travelling horses. For his service in the Jiangling campaign one son was enfeoffed Marquis of Changcheng with one thousand households. He was soon promoted to grand general and granted the surname Tuoba. He was soon relieved as inspector of Yuan; Li Xian's son was made administrator of Pinggao commandery and Li Yuan's son magistrate of Pinggao county, each with the added honor of a musical escort. Li Mu himself, seeing uncle and two nephews of one family all governing their home region and favor running beyond custom, firmly declined the appointments. Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai would not allow it. He was later transferred to inspector of Yong and recalled as lesser grand steward. When Emperor Xiaomin came to the throne, Li Mu's combined fief reached three thousand seven hundred households and one son was separately enfeoffed as a county earl. Li Mu asked that the new fief go to Li Xian's son Xiaogui, and the request was granted.
36
及遠子植謀害晉公護，植誅死，穆亦坐除名。 時植弟基任淅州刺史，例合從坐。 穆頻詣護，請以子惇、怡等代基死，辭理酸切，聞者莫不動容。 護矜之，遂特免基死。
When Li Yuan's son Zhi plotted against Duke of Jin Yuwen Hu, Zhi was executed and Li Mu was implicated and removed from office. Zhi's younger brother Ji was then inspector of Xi and, by law, should have shared the punishment. Li Mu went repeatedly to Yuwen Hu and asked that his sons Dun and Yi die in Ji's place; his plea was so anguished that all who heard were moved. Hu took pity on him and specially spared Ji.
37
世宗卽位，拜驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司、大都督、安武郡公、直州刺史。 武成二年，拜少保。 保定二年，進位大將軍。 三年，從隨公楊忠東伐。 還，拜小司徒，遷柱國大將軍，別封一子郡公，邑二千戶。 五年，遷大司空。 天和二年，進封申國公，邑五千戶，舊爵迴授一子。 建德元年，遷太保。 尋出為原州總管。 四年，高祖東征，令穆率兵三萬，別攻軹關及河北諸縣，竝破之。 後以帝疾班師，棄而不守。 六年，進位上柱國，除幷州總管。 時東夏再平，人情尚擾，穆鎮之以靜，百姓懷之。 大象元年，遷大左輔，總管如舊。 二年，加太傅，仍總管。
When Emperor Shizong came to the throne, Li Mu was made Grand General of the Flying Cavalry with a grand mastership equal to the Three Ducal Ministers, grand area commander, Duke of Anwu, and inspector of Zhi. In the second year of Wucheng he was appointed junior preceptor. In the second year of Baoding he was promoted to grand general. In year 3 he followed Duke of Sui Yang Zhong on the eastern campaign. On his return he was made junior minister of education, then pillar-of-state grand general, and one son was separately enfeoffed as a commandery duke with two thousand households. In year 5 he was transferred to grand minister of works. In the second year of Tianhe he was raised to Duke of Shen with five thousand households, and his old title passed to one son. In the first year of Jiande he was made grand preceptor. He was soon posted out as area commander of Yuan. In year 4, when Emperor Gaozu marched east, he ordered Li Mu to lead thirty thousand men in a separate attack on Zhiguan Pass and the Hebei counties; all fell. When the emperor fell ill the army withdrew, and the captured posts were abandoned. In year 6 he was raised to senior pillar-of-state and made area commander of Bing. The east had only just been pacified again and the people were still unsettled; Li Mu governed with calm, and they came to trust him. In the first year of Daxiang he was made grand left assistant while keeping his area command. In year 2 he was additionally made grand tutor and retained his area command.
38
及尉遲迥舉兵，穆子榮欲應之。 穆弗聽曰：「周德旣衰，愚智共悉。 天時若此，吾豈能違天。」 乃遣使謁隋文帝，幷上十三環金帶，蓋天子之服也，以微申其意。 時迥子誼為朔州刺史，亦執送京師。 迥令其所署行台韓長業攻陷潞州，執刺史趙威，署城民郭子勝為刺史。 穆遣兵討之，獲子勝。 隋文帝嘉之，以穆勞效同破鄴城第一勳，加三轉，聽分授其二子榮、才及兄賢子孝軌。 榮及才竝儀同大將軍，孝軌進開府儀同大將軍。 又別封子雄為密國公，邑三千戶。
When Yuchi Jiong rebelled, Li Mu's son Rong wanted to join him. Li Mu refused and said, "Zhou's virtue is spent; wise and foolish alike know it. When heaven's mandate runs this way, how can I defy heaven?" He then sent an envoy to Emperor Wen of Sui and offered a thirteen-ring gold belt — the sort worn by the Son of Heaven — as a subtle sign of submission. At the time Jiong's son Yi was inspector of Shuo; he too was seized and sent to the capital. Jiong ordered his acting field secretariat chief Han Changye to take Lu Province, seize inspector Zhao Wei, and install the townsman Guo Zisheng as governor. Li Mu sent troops against him and captured Guo Zisheng. Emperor Wen of Sui commended him; treating Li Mu's service as equal to first merit in the fall of Ye, he granted three rank advances and allowed them to be divided among his sons Rong and Cai and Li Xian's son Xiaogui. Rong and Cai both became grand generals equal to the Three Ducal Ministers; Xiaogui was raised to grand general with a grand mastership equal to the Three Ducal Ministers. Another son, Xiong, was separately enfeoffed Duke of Mi with three thousand households.
39
穆長子惇，字士宇。 大統四年，以穆功賜爵安平縣侯，尋授車騎大將軍、儀同三司、大都督，進爵為公。 太祖令功臣世子並與略陽公遊處，惇于時輩之中，特被引接。 每有遐方服玩，異域珍奇，無不班錫。 俄 （受） 〔授〕小武伯，進爵安樂郡公。 天和三年，遷驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司、鳳州刺史。 卒於位。 贈大將軍、原靈豳三州刺史。
Li Mu's eldest son Dun was styled Shiyu. In the fourth year of Datong, for Li Mu's service Dun was enfeoffed Marquis of Anping; he was soon made Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry with rank equal to the Three Ducal Ministers and grand area commander, and then raised to duke. Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai ordered the sons of meritorious ministers to keep company with Duke of Lüeyang Yuwen Jue; among his peers, Li Dun was singled out for special favor. Whenever exotic garments, playthings, and rarities arrived from distant lands, Dun was always among those rewarded. Soon afterward, [variant: Receive] he was made Junior Wu Bo and raised to Duke of Anle commandery. In the third year of Tianhe he was made grand general of agile cavalry, opening-office equal-in-three-departments, and inspector of Feng Prefecture. He died while holding his post. Posthumously made grand general and governor of Yuan, Ling, and Bin provinces.
40
史臣曰：竇熾儀錶魁梧，器識雄遠。 入參朝政，則嘉謀以陳； 出總蕃條，則惠政斯洽。 竇毅忠肅奉上，溫恭接下，茂實彰於本朝，義聲揚於殊俗。 並以國華民望，論道當官，榮映一時，慶流來葉。 及熾遲疑勸進，有送故之心，雖王公恨恨，何以加此。
The historiographer writes: Dou Chi was imposing in bearing, bold and far-sighted in mind. At court he offered excellent counsel; in frontier office his benevolent rule won full compliance. Dou Yi served the throne with loyal devotion and treated subordinates with gentle courtesy; solid merit shone at court and his righteous name rang among foreign peoples. Both were ornaments of the state and men the people looked to; holding high office they expounded the Way, their glory lighting an age and their blessing flowing to later generations. When Dou Chi hesitated to urge a new enthronement and kept a loyal heart toward the deposed sovereign, even princes and dukes consumed by resentment could hardly have gone further.
41
語曰：「君使臣以禮，臣事君以忠。」 然則效忠之跡或殊，處臣之理斯一，榷言指要，其維致命乎。 是以典午擅朝，葛公休為之投袂； 新都篡盜，翟仲文所以稱兵。 及東郡誅夷，竟速漢朝之禍； 淮南覆敗，無救魏室之亡。 而烈士貞臣，赴蹈不已，豈忠義所感，視死如歸者歟。 于、李之送往事居，有曲於此。 翼旣功臣之子，地卽姻親； 穆乃早著勳庸，深寄肺腑。 並兼文武之任，荷累世之恩，理宜與存與亡，同休同戚。 加以受扞城之托，總戎馬之權，勢力足以勤王，智能足以衛難。 乃宴安寵祿，曾無釋位之心； 報使獻誠，但務隨時之義。 弘名節以高貴，豈所望於二公。 若捨彼天時，徵諸人事，顯慶起晉陽之甲，文若發幽薊之兵，叶契岷峨，約從漳滏，北控沙漠，西指崤函，則成敗之數，未可量也。
The saying goes, "The lord employs his ministers with ritual; ministers serve their lord with loyalty." Loyalty may take different forms, but the duty of a minister is one—put simply, does it not come down to giving one's life? When the Sima clan monopolized Jin, Zhuge Dan took up arms; when Wang Mang seized the Han throne, Zhai Zhongwen took up arms in response. Zhuge Dan's destruction at Dong commandery hastened the Han dynasty's fall; and his defeat at Huainan could not save the house of Wei. Yet loyal men pressed on without cease—surely righteousness alone can make a man welcome death as homecoming. In Yu Yi and Li Mu's shift from serving the fallen order to the new one, the case is sadly different. Yu Yi was both the son of a founding minister and, by marriage ties, kin to the throne; Li Mu had won distinction early and was trusted as a close confidant. Both held high civil and military posts, owed grace across generations, and should have shared the dynasty's fate in life and death. They held charges to defend the realm and command armies—power enough to rescue the throne, wit enough to meet danger. Yet they clung to favor and salary and never thought of stepping aside; they sent envoys pledging loyalty, but only followed the expedient of the moment. Was this the loyalty expected of such exalted ministers? If one set timing aside and looked to human causes—had Xianqing raised the standard at Jinyang and Wenruo marched from You and Ji, joined allies from Min and E, drawn support from the Zhang and Fu region, held the northern desert and struck toward Xiaohan—no one could say how the contest would have ended.