1
蕭詧字理孫，蘭陵人也，梁武帝之孫，昭明太子統之第三子。 幼而好學，善屬文，尤長佛義。 特為梁武帝所嘉賞。 梁普通六年，封曲江縣公。 中大通三年，進封岳陽郡王。 歷官宣惠將軍，知石頭戍事，琅邪、彭城二郡太守，東揚州刺史。 初，昭明卒，梁武帝舍詧兄弟而立簡文，內常愧之，寵亞諸子，以會稽人物殷阜，一都之會，故有此授，以慰其心。 詧旣以其昆弟不得為嗣，常懷不平。 又以梁武帝衰老，朝多秕政，有敗亡之漸，遂蓄聚貨財，交通賓客，招募輕俠，折節下之。 其勇敢者多歸附，左右遂至數千人，皆厚加資給。
Xiao Cha, whose courtesy name was Lisun, came from Lanling. He was a grandson of Emperor Wu of Liang and the third son of Crown Prince Zhaoming, Xiao Tong. He had loved learning since childhood, was adept at prose composition, and was especially accomplished in Buddhist teachings. Emperor Wu of Liang held him in particular esteem. In the sixth year of the Putong era (525), he was created Duke of Qujiang. In the third year of Zhongdatong (531), he was promoted to Prince of Yueyang. In succession he served as General Who Proclaims Grace, supervised the Shitou garrison, governed both Langye and Pengcheng commanderies, and held the post of regional inspector of Eastern Yangzhou. When Crown Prince Zhaoming died, Emperor Wu had passed over Cha and his brothers in favor of establishing Jianwen as heir, a decision that weighed on him. He lavished favor on Cha nearly equal to his own sons. As Kuaiji boasted a wealthy population of talented men and stood as the chief city of its region, he granted Cha this post to soothe his feelings. Because he and his brothers had been passed over for succession, Cha nursed a lasting grievance. Seeing the emperor grow old and the court mired in misgovernment with collapse on the horizon, he began stockpiling wealth, cultivating guests, and recruiting bold spirits, to whom he showed deliberate deference. The bold flocked to his side until his entourage numbered in the thousands, all handsomely maintained at his expense.
2
昔之善為政者，不獨師所見。 藉聽衆賢，則所聞自遠； 資鑒外物，故在矚致明。 是以龐參恤民，蓋訪言於高逸； 馬援居政，每責成於掾史； 王沉爰加厚賞； 呂虔功有所由：故能顯美政於當年，流芳塵於後代。
Rulers of old who governed well did not learn only from their own experience. By heeding many worthy advisers, they heard reports from far and wide; they used the world beyond themselves as a mirror, and so saw clearly in all they surveyed. Thus Pang Can, in caring for the people, sought out the words of lofty recluses; Ma Yuan in office constantly demanded results from his staff; Wang Chen for his part heaped rewards upon the worthy; and Lü Qian owed his achievements to such means—each manifesting good government in his own time and leaving a lasting reputation for posterity.
3
吾以陋識，來牧盛藩。 每慮德不被民，政道或紊。 中宵拊枕，對案忘饑，思納良謨，以匡弗逮。 雍州部內有不便於民，不利於政，長吏貪殘，戍將懦弱，關市恣其裒刻，豪猾多所苞藏，並密以名聞，當加厘正。 若刺史治道之要，弛張未允，循酷乖理，任用違才，或愛狎邪佞，或斥廢忠謇，彌思啟告，用袪未悟。 鹽梅舟烜，允屬良規，苦口惡石，想勿余隱。 並廣示鄉閭，知其款意。
With my limited understanding I have come to govern this great principality. I worry constantly that my virtue does not reach the people and that policy may fall into disarray. At midnight I strike my pillow in frustration; I sit before my desk forgetful of hunger, seeking sound counsel to remedy what I lack. If anything within Yongzhou harms the people or hinders good government—corrupt district officials, cowardly garrison commanders, extortion at the markets, or powerful ruffians who shield wrongdoing—report it all to me in confidence by name, and it will be set right. If I myself, as regional inspector, fail to balance severity and lenience, appoint the wrong men, favor wicked flatterers, or cast aside loyal and honest advisers, tell me all the more plainly, so that I may be awakened from my errors. You are the seasoning for the state and the helm for its vessel—such counsel is what I need. Though your words be bitter as medicine, I trust you will withhold nothing. Let this be posted widely throughout the countryside so that all may know my earnest intent.
4
於是境內稱治。
On this account the realm within his borders was praised as well governed.
5
太清二年，梁武帝以詧兄河東王譽為湘州刺史，徙湘州刺史張纘為雍州以代詧。 纘恃其才望，志氣矜驕，輕譽少年，州府迎候有闕。 譽深銜之。 及至鎮，遂託疾不與纘相見。 後聞侯景作亂，頗淩蹙纘。 纘懼為所擒，乃輕舟夜遁，將之雍部，復慮詧拒之。 梁元帝時鎮江陵，與纘有舊，纘將因之以斃詧兄弟。 會梁元帝與譽及信州刺史、桂陽王慥各率所領，入援金陵。 慥下峽至江津，譽次江口，梁元帝屆郢州之武成。 屬侯景已請和，梁武帝詔罷援軍。 譽自江口將旋湘鎮，慥欲待梁元帝至，謁督府，方還州。 纘時在江陵，乃貽梁元帝書曰：「河東戴檣上水，欲襲江陵。 岳陽在雍，共謀不逞。」 江陵游軍主朱榮又遣使報云：「桂陽住此，卻應譽、詧。」 梁元帝信之，乃鑿船沉米，斬纜而歸。 至江陵，收慥殺之。 令其子方等、王僧辯等相繼攻譽於湘州。 譽又告急於詧。 詧聞之大怒。
In the second year of Taiqing (548), Emperor Wu appointed Cha's elder brother, Prince of Hedong Xiao Yu, regional inspector of Xiangzhou, and moved Zhang Zuan from Xiangzhou to Yongzhou to replace Cha. Zhang Zuan, confident in his talent and standing, carried himself with arrogant pride and treated the young Yu with contempt. The prefectural and commandery offices failed to receive him with proper ceremony. Yu bore a deep grudge over the slight. Once Zhang Zuan had taken up his post, Yu pleaded illness and refused to see him. Later, when news came that Hou Jing had rebelled, he pressed Zhang Zuan hard. Fearing capture, Zhang Zuan slipped away by light boat in the night, heading for Yong province—but he worried that Cha would bar his way. Emperor Yuan of Liang was then based at Jiangling and was an old associate of Zhang Zuan's; Zhang Zuan planned to use him to destroy Cha and his brothers. At that time Emperor Yuan, Yu, and Xiao Kai, prince of Guiyang and regional inspector of Xinzhou, each led their troops to relieve Jinling. Kai came down the gorge to Jiangjin, Yu encamped at the river mouth, and Emperor Yuan reached Wucheng in Yingzhou. By then Hou Jing had already sued for peace, and Emperor Wu ordered the relief armies withdrawn. Yu was preparing to return from the river mouth to his post in Xiang, while Kai wanted to wait for Emperor Yuan, pay his respects at headquarters, and only then go home to his province. Zhang Zuan was then at Jiangling and wrote to Emperor Yuan: "The Prince of Hedong has raised sail and is coming upstream to strike at Jiangling. The Prince of Yueyang holds Yong and is their co-conspirator, though the plot has not yet succeeded." Zhu Rong, commander of the roaming forces at Jiangling, also sent word: "The Prince of Guiyang is lingering here but is really in league with Yu and Cha." Emperor Yuan believed them, bored holes in his boats, sank his grain stores, cut his mooring lines, and turned back. On reaching Jiangling he seized Kai and put him to death. He sent his son Fangdeng, Wang Sengbian, and others in turn to attack Yu in Xiangzhou. Yu again sent an urgent appeal for help to Cha. Cha was furious when he heard of it.
6
初，梁元帝將援建業，令所督諸州，竝發兵下赴國難。 詧遣府司馬劉方貴領兵為前軍，出漢口。 及將發，元帝又使諮議參軍劉鈺喻詧，令自行。 詧辭頗不順，元帝又怒。 而方貴先與詧不協，潛與元帝相知，剋期襲詧。 未及發，會詧以他事召方貴，方貴疑謀泄，遂據樊城拒命。 詧遣使魏益德、杜岸等衆軍攻之。 方貴窘急，令其子遷超乞師於江陵。 元帝乃厚資遣纘，若將述職，而密援方貴。 纘次大堤，樊城已陷。 詧擒方貴兄弟及黨與，竝斬之。
Earlier, when Emperor Yuan was preparing to relieve Jianye, he had ordered all the provinces under his command to march downstream to the empire's aid. Cha sent his prefectural marshal Liu Fanggui at the head of the vanguard, marching out from Hankou. Just before they were to march, Emperor Yuan sent advisory aide Liu Yu to tell Cha he must go in person. Cha's reply was distinctly uncooperative, and Emperor Yuan was angered anew. Fanggui had long been on bad terms with Cha and was secretly in league with Emperor Yuan, with a fixed date set to strike at Cha. Before they could strike, Cha summoned Fanggui on another matter; fearing exposure, Fanggui seized Fancheng and rebelled. Cha sent Wei Yide, Du An, and the combined forces to attack him. Desperate, Fanggui sent his son Qianchao to Jiangling to beg for reinforcements. Emperor Yuan then sent Zhang Zuan off with lavish supplies, as though he were simply taking up his post, while secretly supporting Fanggui. Zhang Zuan halted at Dadi, but Fancheng had already fallen. Cha captured Fanggui, his brothers, and their followers and beheaded them all.
7
纘因進至州。 詧遷延不受代，乃以西城居之，待之以禮。 軍民之政，猶歸於詧。 詧以構其兄弟，事始於纘，將密圖之。 纘懼，請元帝召之。 元帝乃征纘於詧，詧留不遣。 杜岸兄弟紿纘曰：「民觀岳陽殿下，勢不仰容。 不如且往西山，以避此禍。 使君旣得物情，遠近必當歸集，以此義舉，事無不濟。」 纘深以為然，因與岸等結盟誓。 纘又要雍州人席引等於西山聚衆。 纘乃服婦人衣，乘青布轝，與親信十餘人出奔。 引等與杜岸馳告詧。 詧令中兵參軍尹正共岸等率兵追討，竝擒之。 纘懼不免，因請為沙門。
Zhang Zuan thereupon advanced to the provincial capital. Cha stalled and refused to hand over power; he lodged Zhang Zuan in the western quarter of the city and treated him with courtesy. Military and civil affairs still remained in Cha's hands. Cha blamed Zhang Zuan for having set the plot against his brothers in motion and was planning to deal with him in secret. Terrified, Zhang Zuan asked Emperor Yuan to recall him. Emperor Yuan ordered Cha to send Zhang Zuan back, but Cha detained him and refused to let him go. The Du brothers deceived Zhang Zuan, saying: "We can see that the Prince of Yueyang will never bow to your authority. You would do better to withdraw to the Western Hills for now and escape this danger. Once you have won popular support, men near and far will surely rally to you; with such a righteous cause, you cannot fail." Zhang Zuan was thoroughly persuaded and formed a sworn alliance with An and the others. Zhang Zuan also enlisted Xi Yin of Yongzhou and others to raise a force on the Western Hills. Zhang Zuan disguised himself in women's clothing, rode in a blue-cloth palanquin, and fled with a dozen trusted followers. Yin and the others, together with Du An, galloped off to inform Cha. Cha ordered central troops aide Yin Zheng, together with An and the others, to pursue them and took them all captive. Fearing execution, Zhang Zuan asked to be ordained as a Buddhist monk.
8
詧時以譽危急，乃留諮議參軍蔡大寶守襄陽，率衆二萬、騎千匹伐江陵以救之。 于時江陵立柵，周遶郭邑，而北面未就。 詧因攻之。 元帝大懼，乃遣參軍庾奐謂詧曰：「正德肆亂，天下崩離。 汝復效尤，將欲何謂？ 吾蒙先 （帝） 〔宮〕愛顧，以汝兄弟見屬。 今以侄伐叔，逆順安在？」 詧謂奐曰：「家兄無罪，累被攻圍。 同氣之情，豈可坐觀成敗。 七父若顧先恩，豈應若是。 如能退兵湘水，吾便旋旆襄陽。」
Yu was then in grave danger, so Cha left advisory aide Cai Dabao to guard Xiangyang and marched on Jiangling with twenty thousand foot soldiers and a thousand cavalry to rescue him. Jiangling had by then thrown up palisades around the city walls, but the northern side was not yet finished. Cha attacked there. Emperor Yuan was terrified and sent aide Yu Huan to tell Cha: "When Zhengde ran riot the empire split apart. You now follow his example—what do you mean by it? I received the former (emperor's) emperor's gracious favor, and your brothers were placed in my charge. Now you as nephew attack your uncle—where is right and wrong in that?" Cha told Huan: "My elder brother is innocent, yet he has been besieged again and again. How could I, sharing the same blood, sit idle and watch his fate? If you, my seventh uncle, still honored our former sovereign's grace, how could you act as you do? Withdraw your troops to the Xiang River, and I will turn back to Xiangyang."
9
詧旣攻柵不克，退而築城。 又盡銳攻之。 會大雨暴至，平地水四尺，詧軍中沾漬，衆頗離心。 其將杜岸、岸弟幼安及其兄子龕，懼詧不振，以其屬降於江陵。 詧衆大駭，其夜遁歸襄陽，器械輜重，多沒於湕水。 初，詧囚張纘於軍，至是，先殺纘而後退焉。
When Cha failed to breach the palisades, he withdrew and built a fortified camp. He attacked again with his best troops. A violent rainstorm struck; on level ground the water stood four feet deep. Cha's army was drenched, and his men began to lose heart. His generals Du An, An's younger brother You'an, and their nephew Kan, fearing Cha would not prevail, surrendered their men to Jiangling. Cha's army panicked; that night they fled back to Xiangyang, and much of their arms and baggage was lost in the Xun River. Cha had kept Zhang Zuan prisoner in his camp; now he killed Zhang Zuan before retreating.
10
杜岸之降也，請以五百騎襲襄陽。 去城三十里，城中覺之。 蔡大寶乃輔詧母保林龔氏，登陴閉門拒戰。 會詧夜至，龔氏不知其敗，謂為賊也，至曉見詧，乃納之。 岸等以詧至，遂奔其兄巘於廣平。 詧遣將尹正、薛暉等攻拔之，獲巘、岸等，竝其母妻子女，並於襄陽北門殺之。 盡誅諸杜宗族親者，其幼稚疏屬下蠶室。 又發掘其墳墓，燒其骸骨，灰而揚之。
When Du An surrendered, he asked permission to lead five hundred cavalry in a surprise raid on Xiangyang. Thirty li from the city, the garrison detected them. Cai Dabao helped Cha's mother, Lady Gong of Baolin, mount the walls, shut the gates, and hold the city. Cha arrived that night; Lady Gong, unaware of his defeat, took him for the enemy. At dawn, seeing it was Cha, she let him in. When An and his men learned Cha had returned, they fled to his elder brother Yan at Guangping. Cha sent Yin Zheng, Xue Hui, and others to attack and capture them, taking Yan, An, and the rest together with their mothers, wives, sons, and daughters, and executed them all at the north gate of Xiangyang. He put to death every member of the Du clan and their kin; the young and more distant relations were castrated and sent to the silkworm chambers. He also dug up their graves, burned their bones, and scattered the ashes to the winds.
11
詧旣與江陵構隙，恐不能自固，大統十五年，乃遣使稱藩，請為附庸。 太祖令丞相府東合祭酒榮權使焉。 詧大悅。 是歲，梁元帝令柳仲禮率衆進圖襄陽。 詧懼，乃遣其妻王氏及世子嶚為質以請救。 太祖又令榮權報命，仍遣開府楊忠率兵援之。 十六年，楊忠擒仲禮，平漢東，詧乃獲安。 時朝議欲令詧發喪嗣位，詧以未有璽命，辭不敢當。 榮權時在詧所，乃馳還，具言其狀。 太祖遂令假散騎常侍鄭穆及榮權持節策命詧為梁王。 詧乃於襄陽置百官，承制封拜。 十七年，詧留蔡大寶居守，乃自襄陽來朝。 太祖謂詧曰：「王之來此，頗由榮權，王欲見之乎？」 詧曰：「幸甚。」 太祖乃召權與詧相見。 仍謂之曰：「榮權，起士也，寡人與之從事，未嘗見其失信。」 詧曰：「榮常侍通二國之言無私，故詧今者得歸誠魏闕耳。」
Having broken with Jiangling and fearing he could not hold out alone, in the fifteenth year of Datong (549) Cha sent envoys to submit as a vassal and ask to become a Zhou dependency. Grand Ancestor Yuwen Tai sent Rong Quan, libationer of the Eastern Pavilion in the chancellor's office, as his envoy. Cha was overjoyed. That year, Emperor Yuan of Liang ordered Liu Zhongli to lead an army against Xiangyang. Alarmed, Xiao Cha sent his wife Lady Wang and his heir apparent Kui as hostages to plead for aid. Grand Ancestor Yuwen Tai also sent Rong Quan back with a reply and dispatched Grand General Yang Zhong with an army to relieve him. In the sixteenth year, Yang Zhong captured Liu Zhongli and pacified Handong, and Xiao Cha was at last secure. The court then debated having Xiao Cha declare mourning and take the throne, but he declined, saying that without an imperial seal decree he did not dare assume the position. Rong Quan was then with Xiao Cha; he rode back at once and reported the whole affair. The Grand Ancestor then sent Acting Supervising Cavalry Regular Attendant Zheng Mu and Rong Quan with credentials to invest Xiao Cha as King of Liang. Xiao Cha then established a full bureaucracy at Xiangyang and issued enfeoffments and appointments under delegated imperial authority. In the seventeenth year, Xiao Cha left Cai Dabao to guard Xiangyang and came to court in person. The Grand Ancestor said to Xiao Cha, "Your coming here owes a great deal to Rong Quan. Would you like to meet him?" Xiao Cha said, "I would be most honored." The Grand Ancestor then summoned Rong Quan to meet with Xiao Cha. He added, "Rong Quan is a self-made man. I have worked with him and never known him to break his word." Xiao Cha said, "Attendant Rong conveyed messages between our two states without favoritism. That is why I am now able to offer my loyalty at the Wei court."
12
初，江陵滅，梁元帝將王琳據湘州，志圖匡復。 及詧立，琳乃遣其將潘純陀、侯方兒來寇。 詧出師禦之，純陀等退歸夏口。 詧之四年，詧遣其大將軍王操率兵畧取王琳之長沙、武陵、南平等郡。 五年，王琳又遣其將雷又柔襲陷監利郡，太守蔡大有死之。 尋而琳與陳人相持，稱藩乞師於詧。 詧許之。 師未出而琳軍敗，附於齊。 是歲，其太子巋來朝京師。 詧之六年夏，震，其前殿崩，壓殺二百餘人。
Earlier, after the fall of Jiangling, Emperor Yuan of Liang's general Wang Lin held Xiang Province and hoped to restore the dynasty. Once Xiao Cha was established as king, Wang Lin sent his generals Pan Chuntuo and Hou Fang'er to attack him. Xiao Cha marched out to meet them, and Chuntuo and his men retreated to Xiakou. In the fourth year of his reign, Xiao Cha sent his Grand General Wang Cao to seize Changsha, Wuling, Nanping, and other commanderies from Wang Lin. In the fifth year, Wang Lin sent his general Lei Yourou to raid and capture Jianli Commandery, and Prefect Cai Dayou was killed. Soon Wang Lin was locked in stalemate with Chen forces and, declaring himself a vassal, asked Xiao Cha for military aid. Xiao Cha agreed. Before the relief army could march, Wang Lin's forces were defeated and he submitted to Northern Qi. That year, his crown prince Kui came to the capital on a court visit. In the sixth year of his reign, during summer, an earthquake struck; the front hall collapsed and killed more than two hundred people.
13
初，江陵平，詧將尹德毅說詧曰：「臣聞人主之行，與匹夫不同。 匹夫者，飾小行，競小廉，以取名譽。 人主者，定天下，安社稷，以成大功。 今魏虜貪惏，罔顧弔民伐罪之義，必欲肆其殘忍，多所誅夷，俘囚士庶，並為軍實。 然此等戚屬，咸在江東，念其充餌豺狼，見拘異域，痛心疾首，何日能忘！ 殿下方清宇宙，紹茲鴻緒。 悠悠之人，不可門到戶說。 其塗炭至此，咸謂殿下為之。 殿下旣殺人父兄，孤人子弟，人盡讎也，誰與為國。 但魏之精銳，盡萃於此。 犒師之禮，非無故事。 若殿下為設享會，因請於謹等為歡。 彼無我虞，當相率而至，預伏武士，因而斃之。 分命果毅，掩其營壘，斬馘逋醜，俾無遣噍。 江陵百姓，撫而安之，文武官寮，隨即詮授。 旣荷更生之惠，孰不忻戴聖明。 魏人攝息，未敢送死。 王僧辯之徒，折簡可致。 然後朝服濟江，入踐皇極，纘堯復禹，萬世一時。 晷刻之間，大功可立。 古人雲：「天與不取，反受其咎，時至不行，反受其殃。」 願殿下恢弘遠畧，勿懷匹夫之行。」 詧不從，謂德毅曰：「卿之此策，非不善也。 然魏人待我甚厚，未可背德。 若遽為卿計，則鄧 （祈） 〔祁〕侯所謂人將不食吾餘也。」
Earlier, after Jiangling was taken, Xiao Cha's general Yin Deyi urged him, saying, "I have heard that a ruler's conduct is not the same as a common man's. A common man polishes small deeds and vies in petty scruples to win a name. A ruler settles the realm, secures the altars of state, and achieves great things. Now the Wei invaders are greedy and cruel. They ignore the principle of comforting the people and punishing the guilty, and are sure to indulge their brutality—executing many, capturing scholars and commoners, and turning them all into military booty. Yet these kinsmen are all in Jiangdong. To think of them as fodder for wolves and jackals, held captive in a foreign land—my heart breaks and my head aches. What day can I forget this! Your Highness is now pacifying the realm and inheriting this great enterprise. The common people cannot be won over by going from door to door. That they suffer such ruin, everyone says Your Highness is to blame. Your Highness has killed men's fathers and elder brothers and left sons and younger brothers orphaned. Everyone bears a grudge—who will serve the state with you? But Wei's best troops are all gathered here. Feasting the army is not without precedent. If Your Highness holds a banquet and invites Yu Jin and the others to join the celebration— they will not be on their guard and will come in a body. Hide warriors beforehand and kill them on the spot. Send the boldest men to surprise their camps, cut down the fugitive villains, and leave not one alive. Comfort and settle the people of Jiangling, and immediately appoint civil and military officials to their posts. Once they have received the grace of new life, who would not gladly uphold your enlightened rule? The Wei troops will hold their breath and not dare risk their lives. Men like Wang Sengbian can be summoned with a brief letter. Then, in court dress, cross the Yangtze, ascend the throne, carry on the legacy of Yao and restore that of Yu—a once-in-ten-thousand-generations opportunity. Within a few hours, great success can be achieved. The ancients said, "When Heaven offers and you do not take, you invite blame; when the moment comes and you do not act, you invite disaster." I beg Your Highness to broaden your far-reaching design and not cling to the scruples of a common man." Xiao Cha refused and said to Yin Deyi, "Your plan is not a bad one. But the Wei have treated me very generously, and I cannot betray that kindness. If I rashly adopted your plan, then—as the Duke of Qi said— (Qi) people would not eat my leftovers.'"
14
旣而闔城長幼，被虜入關，又失襄陽之地。 詧乃追悔曰：「恨不用尹德毅之言，以至於是。」 又見邑居殘毀，干戈日用，恥其威畧不振，常懷憂憤。 乃著《愍時賦》以見意。 其詞曰：
Before long, young and old throughout the city were taken captive and marched through the pass, and Xiangyang was lost as well. Xiao Cha then looked back in regret and said, "I regret not having taken Yin Deyi's advice. It has brought me to this." He also saw towns and dwellings in ruins and arms in daily use. Ashamed that his power and prestige had not revived, he constantly nursed grief and anger. He then wrote "Fu on Lamenting the Times" to express his mind. Its words read:
15
嗟余命之舛薄，實賦運之逢屯。 旣殷憂而彌歲，復坎壈以相鄰。 晝營營而至晚，夜耿耿而通晨。 望否極而雲泰，何杳杳而無津。 悲晉璽之遷趙，痛漢鼎之移新。 無田、範之明畧，愧夷、齊之得仁。 遂胡顏而苟免，謂小屈而或申。 豈妖沴之無已，何國步之長淪。
Alas—my fate is crooked and thin; truly my allotted lot has met with hardship. Already sunk in sorrow for a full year, again hardship presses close at my side. By day I fret until evening falls; by night I lie awake straight through to dawn. I hoped that utter ill would turn to fair skies—why is the way so dim and without a ford? I grieve that the Jin imperial seal passed to Zhao; I ache that the Han dynastic cauldron shifted to Xin. I lack Tian Dan and Fan Li's brilliant designs; I am ashamed before Bo Yi and Shu Qi's attainment of benevolence. So I bear a shameful face and barely survive, telling myself a small humiliation may yet be redeemed. Can these evil portents never end? Why does the nation's fortune sink so long and so low?
16
恨少生而輕弱，本無志於爪牙。 謝兩章之雄勇，恧二東之英華。 豈三石於杜鄠，異五馬於琅邪。 直受性而好善，類蓬生之在麻。 冀無咎而沾慶，將保靜而蠲邪。 何昊穹之弗惠，值上帝之紆奢。 神州鞠為茂草，赤縣遶於長蛇。 徒仰天而太息，空撫衿而咨嗟。
I regret that from youth I was slight and weak and never aspired to be a warrior. I defer to the heroic valor of the two Zhangs; I blush before the brilliant talents of the two men of the east. How could three Zhangs at Du and E compare with five Simas at Langye? By nature I simply incline to goodness, like dodder growing among hemp. I hoped to escape blame and share in blessing, to keep still and ward off evil. Why does vast Heaven show no kindness? I have met a Lord on High who indulges in excess. The divine land has turned to rank weeds; the red realm is encircled by long serpents. In vain I look to heaven and sigh; empty-handed, I clutch my robe and lament.
17
惟古人之有懷，尚或感於知己。 況托萼於霄極，寵渥流於無已。 或小善而必褒，時片言而見美。 昔待罪於禹川，歷三考而無紀。 獲免戾於明時，遂超隆於宗子。 始解印於稽山，即驅傳於湘水。 彼南陽之舊國，實天漢之嘉祉。 旣川岳之形勝，復龍躍之基趾。 此首賞之謬及，謂維城之足恃。 值諸侯之攜貳，遂留滯於樊川。 等勾踐之絕望，同重耳之終焉。 望南枝而灑泣，或東顧而潺湲。 歸歟之情何極，首丘之思邈然。
Ancient men who cherished ideals were sometimes moved by one who understood them. How much more so for one sheltered as a bud on heaven's summit, with gracious favor flowing without end. A small good deed was always praised; sometimes a single word would win admiration. Once I served under a charge of guilt at Yuchuan and passed three evaluations without commendation. I was spared punishment in an enlightened age and was then raised above the other imperial clansmen. First I surrendered my seal at Mount Ji, then traveled post-haste to the Xiang River. That ancient realm of Nanyang was truly a blessed gift from Heaven. Blessed in river and mountain terrain, and the very ground where the dragon once sprang up. At first I wrongly thought this foremost reward enough, believing the bulwark of the realm could be relied upon. When the regional lords turned disloyal, I was left stranded at Fanchuan. I shared Goujian's despair and Duke Wen of Jin's exile to the end. Gazing toward the southern branch and shedding tears, sometimes looking east with streaming eyes. How boundless the longing to return! How distant the thought of the hill where my head should rest in death!
18
忽值魏師入討，于彼南荊。 旣車徒之赩赫，遂一鼓而陵城。 同寤生之舍許，等小白之全邢。 伊社稷之不泯，實有感於恩靈。 矧吾人之固陋，迥飄薄於流萍。 忽沉滯於茲土，復期月而無成。 昔方千而畿甸，今七里而盤縈。 寡田邑而可賦，闕丘井而求兵。 無河內之資待，同滎陽之未平。 夜騷騷而擊柝，晝孑孑而揚旌。 烽淩雲而迥照，馬伏櫪而悲鳴。 旣有懷於斯日，亦焉得而云寧。
Suddenly Wei armies came on punitive expedition into that southern Jing region. Their chariots and footsoldiers blazed bright; with one drum-roll they stormed the walls. Like Duke Zhuang of Zheng yielding Xu, like Duke Huan of Qi preserving Xing. That the altars of state were not extinguished—truly one must feel gratitude for gracious power. How much more for one as crude and shallow as I—drifting far, thin as duckweed on the water. Suddenly stranded on this soil, another month passes with nothing achieved. Once a thousand square li of royal domain; now but seven li winding round. Too few fields and settlements to levy taxes; too few well-and-military units from which to raise troops. Without Henei's resources to draw on, like Xingyang still unsettled. At night the watch-clappers sound in alarm; by day lonely banners are raised. Beacon fires pierce the clouds with distant glare; horses at the manger neigh in sorrow. With such cares upon me now, how can I say that I am at peace?
19
彼雲夢之舊都，乃標奇於昔者。 驗往記而瞻今，何名高而實寡。 寂寥井邑，荒涼原野。 徒揄揚於宋玉，空稱嗟於司馬。 南方卑而歎屈，長沙濕而悲賈。 余家國之一匡，庶興周而祀夏。 忽縈憂而北屈，豈年華之天假。
That ancient capital of Yunmeng was famed as marvelous in days gone by. Checking the records of old against what I see today—why is the fame so high and the reality so thin? Desolate are the wells and hamlets; wasted are the fields and plains. I can only praise Song Yu in vain and sigh for Sima Xiangru in vain. In the lowly South one sighs for Qu Yuan; in damp Changsha one mourns Jia Yi. My house held one corner of the realm, hoping to revive Zhou and keep sacrifice to Xia. Suddenly grief coils and I am humbled in the north—would Heaven ever grant me my allotted years?
20
加以狗盜鼠竊，蜂蠆狐狸。 羣圉隸而為寇，聚臧獲而成師。 窺覦津渚，跋扈江眉。 屢征肇於殷歲，頻戰起於軒時。 有扈興於《夏典》，《採芑》著於《周詩》。 方叔振於蠻貊，伯禽捷於淮夷。 在逋穢其能幾，會斬馘而搴旗。 彼積惡之必稔，豈天靈之我欺。 交川路之雲擁，理惆悵而未怡。
On top of it all come dog-thieves and rat-pilferers, venomous bees and scorpions, sly foxes. Herds of stable-slaves turn to raiding; gathered bond-servants muster into armies. They covet the fords and islets, swaggering along the river's edge. Campaign after campaign began in the earliest years; battle after battle arose from the dawn of the realm. Youhu's rising is recorded in the Xia Canon; "Gathering Artemisia" appears in the Zhou Odes. Fang Shu roused the tribes of Man and Mo; Bo Qin triumphed over the Huai Yi. How long can fleeing rebels hold out? Soon heads are severed and banners torn down. Wickedness heaped up must ripen in the end—would Heaven's spirit truly deceive me? Crossroads and rivers lie shrouded in cloud; my heart stays troubled and cannot find peace.
21
詧在位八載，年四十四，保定二年二月，薨。 其羣臣等葬之於平陵，諡曰宣皇帝，廟號中宗。
Xiao Cha reigned eight years and was forty-four when he died in the second month of the second year of Baoding. His ministers buried him at Pingling, with the posthumous title Emperor Xuan and temple name Zhongzong.
22
詧少有大志，不拘小節。 雖多猜忌，而知人善任使，撫將士有恩，能得其死力。 性不飲酒，安於儉素，事其母以孝聞。 又不好聲色，尤惡見婦人，雖相去數步，遙聞其臭。 經御婦人之衣，不復更著。 又惡見人髪，白事者必方便以避之。 其在東揚州頗放誕，省覽 （薄） 〔簿〕領，好為戲論之言，以此獲譏於世。 篤好文義，所著文集十五卷，內典《華嚴》、《般若》、《法華》、《金光明義疏》四十六卷，竝行於世。 詧疆土旣狹，居常怏怏。 每誦「老馬伏櫪，志在千里。 烈士暮年，壯心不已」，未嘗不盱衡扼腕，歎咤者久之。 遂以憂憤發背而殂。 高祖又命其太子巋嗣位，年號天保。
From youth Xiao Cha had lofty ambitions and did not fuss over minor proprieties. Though much given to suspicion, he knew how to choose men and use them well; he treated generals and soldiers with kindness and could win their utmost devotion unto death. He did not drink by nature, was content with frugal simplicity, and was famed for filial devotion to his mother. He also disliked music and women, and especially hated the sight of women; even several paces away he claimed he could smell them. Once he had worn a woman's garment, he never wore it again. He also hated the sight of human hair; those reporting business always found ways to avoid showing it. While serving in eastern Yang Province he was rather unrestrained in reviewing (bo) records and ledgers, he liked indulging in playful talk, and for this was ridiculed by the world. Deeply devoted to literature and Buddhist doctrine, he wrote fifteen fascicles of collected works and forty-six fascicles of commentaries on the Avatamsaka, Prajna, Lotus, and Golden Light Sutras, all of which circulated widely. Xiao Cha's domain was narrow, and he was often discontent. Whenever he recited "An old horse at the manger still yearns for a thousand li. A hero in old age—his fighting spirit never fades," he never failed to glare and clench his fist, sighing and exclaiming for a long while. He finally died of a back ailment brought on by worry and indignation. Emperor Gaozu again had his heir Xiao Kui succeed the throne, with the reign title Tianbao.
23
五年，陳湘州刺史華皎、巴州刺史戴僧朔竝來附。 皎送其子玄響為質於巋，乃請兵伐陳。 巋上言其狀。 高祖詔衛公直督荊州總管權景宣、大將軍元定等赴之。 巋亦遣其柱國王操率水軍二萬，會皎於巴陵。 旣而與陳將吳明徹等戰於沌口，直軍不利，元定遂沒。 巋大將軍李廣等亦為陳人所虜，長沙、巴陵竝陷於陳。 衛公直乃歸罪於巋之柱國殷亮。 巋雖以退敗不獨在亮，然不敢違命，遂誅之。 吳明徹乘勝攻剋巋河東郡，獲其守將許孝敬。 明年，明徹進寇江陵，引江水灌城。 巋出頓紀南以避其銳。 江陵副總管高琳與其尚書僕射王操拒守。 巋馬軍主馬武、吉徹等擊明徹，敗之。 明徹退保公安。 巋乃還江陵。
In the fifth year, Hua Jiao, Inspector of Xiangzhou under Chen, and Dai Sengshuo, Inspector of Bazhou, both came over to his side. Jiao sent his son Xuanxiang as a hostage to Xiao Kui and then asked for troops to attack Chen. Xiao Kui reported the situation to the throne. Emperor Gaozu ordered Duke Wei Zhi to supervise Jingzhou Governor-General Quan Jingxuan, Grand General Yuan Ding, and others in marching to their aid. Xiao Kui also sent his Pillar of State Wang Cao with twenty thousand naval troops to join Jiao at Baling. Soon afterward they fought Chen generals led by Wu Mingche at Dunkou; Zhi's army was defeated and Yuan Ding was killed in action. Xiao Kui's Grand General Li Guang and others were also captured by Chen forces, and both Changsha and Baling fell to Chen. Duke Wei Zhi then blamed Xiao Kui's Pillar of State Yin Liang for the defeat. Although Xiao Kui knew the defeat was not Liang's fault alone, he dared not disobey and had him executed. Wu Mingche pressed his advantage, attacked and seized Xiao Kui's Hedong Commandery, and captured its defender Xu Xiaojing. The next year Mingche advanced against Jiangling and diverted the Yangzi to flood the city. Xiao Kui withdrew to Jinan to avoid their onslaught. Jiangling Deputy Governor-General Gao Lin and Executive Wang Cao held the city in defense. Xiao Kui's cavalry commanders Ma Wu and Ji Che attacked Mingche and defeated him. Mingche withdrew and defended Gong'an. Xiao Kui then returned to Jiangling.
24
巋之八年，陳又遣其司空章昭達來寇。 江陵總管陸騰及巋之將士擊走之。 昭達又寇章陵之青泥。 巋令其大將軍許世武赴援，大為昭達所破。
In the eighth year of Xiao Kui's reign, Chen again sent its Minister of Works Zhang Zhaoda to invade. Jiangling Governor-General Lu Teng and Xiao Kui's troops drove him off. Zhaoda again invaded Qingni in Zhangling. Xiao Kui sent his Grand General Xu Shiwu to relieve them, but Xu was heavily defeated by Zhaoda.
25
初，華皎、戴僧朔從衛公直與陳人戰敗，率其麾下數百人歸於巋。 巋以皎為司空，封江夏郡公。 以僧朔為車騎將軍，封吳興縣侯。 巋之十年，皎來朝。 至襄陽，請衛公直曰：「梁主旣失江南諸郡，民少國貧。 朝廷興亡繼絕，理宜資贍，豈使齊桓、楚莊獨擅救衛復陳之美。 望借數州，以裨梁國。」 直然之，乃遣使言狀高祖。 高祖許之，詔以基、平、鄀三州歸之於巋。
Earlier, Hua Jiao and Dai Sengshuo had followed Duke Wei Zhi against Chen, been defeated, and led several hundred followers back to Xiao Kui. Xiao Kui made Jiao Minister of Works and enfeoffed him as Duke of Jiangxia. He made Sengshuo General of Chariots and Cavalry and enfeoffed him as Marquis of Wuxing. In the tenth year of Xiao Kui's reign, Jiao came to court. At Xiangyang he said to Duke Wei Zhi: "The Lord of Liang has already lost the Jiangnan commanderies; his people are few and his state is poor. The court, in preserving states on the verge of extinction, ought properly to support them—must Duke Huan of Qi and King Zhuang of Chu alone monopolize the glory of saving Wei and restoring Chen? I ask to be lent several prefectures to strengthen the Liang state." Zhi agreed and sent an envoy to report the matter to Emperor Gaozu. Emperor Gaozu granted the request and decreed that the three prefectures of Ji, Ping, and E be returned to Xiao Kui.
26
及高祖平齊，巋朝於鄴。 高祖雖以禮接之，然未之重也。 巋知之，後因宴承間，乃陳其父荷太祖拯救之恩，幷敘二國艱虞，唇齒掎角之事。 詞理辯暢，因涕泗交流。 高祖亦為之歔欷。 自是大加賞異，禮遇日隆。 後高祖復與之宴，齊氏故臣吒列長义亦預焉。 高祖指謂巋曰：「是登陴罵朕者也。」 巋曰：「長义未能輔桀，飛敢吠堯。」 高祖大笑。 及酒酣，高祖又命琵琶自彈之。 仍謂巋曰：「當為梁主盡歡。」 巋乃起，請舞。 高祖曰：「梁主乃能為朕舞乎？」 巋曰：「陛下旣親撫五弦，臣何敢不同百獸。」 高祖大悅，賜雜繒萬段、良馬數十匹，幷賜齊後主妓妾，及常所乘五百里駿馬以遺之。
When Emperor Gaozu conquered Qi, Xiao Kui had audience at Ye. Although Emperor Gaozu received him courteously, he did not yet greatly esteem him. Xiao Kui knew this; later, at a banquet, he seized an opportunity to speak of how his father owed the Grand Ancestor the grace of rescue, and of the two states' shared hardship and close, mutually supporting bond. His words flowed with eloquence, and tears streamed down his face. Emperor Gaozu also sighed deeply in response. From then on he greatly valued him, and Xiao Kui's honors grew day by day. Later Emperor Gaozu banqueted with him again, and Tuoilie Chang Yi, a former minister of Qi, was also present. Emperor Gaozu pointed and said to Xiao Kui: "That is the man who mounted the wall and cursed me." Xiao Kui said: "Chang Yi could not assist Jie—how dare a mere dog bark at Yao?" Emperor Gaozu laughed heartily. When the wine had warmed, Emperor Gaozu had a pipa brought and played it himself. He also said to Xiao Kui: "We must give the Lord of Liang full merriment." Xiao Kui then rose and asked to dance. Emperor Gaozu said: "Can the Lord of Liang really dance for me?" Xiao Kui said: "Since Your Majesty has personally strummed the five strings, how dare I fail to join the hundred beasts in dance?" Emperor Gaozu was greatly pleased and gave him ten thousand bolts of mixed silk, several dozen fine horses, the concubines of the former ruler of Qi, and the five-hundred-li stallion he usually rode.
27
及隋文帝執政，尉遲迥、王謙、司馬消難等各起兵。 時巋將帥皆密請興師，與迥等為連衡之勢，進可以盡節於周氏，退可以席捲山南。 巋固以為不可。 俄而消難奔陳，迥等相次破滅。
When Emperor Wen of Sui came to power, Yuwen Jiong, Wang Qian, Sima Xiaonan, and others each raised armies in revolt. At that time Xiao Kui's generals all secretly urged him to raise troops and join Jiong and the others in alliance—advancing, they could prove their loyalty to the Zhou house; retreating, they could sweep up the lands south of the mountains. Xiao Kui firmly refused. Before long Xiaonan fled to Chen, and Jiong and the others were successively destroyed.
28
隋文帝旣踐極，恩禮彌厚。 遣使賜金三百兩、銀一千兩、布帛萬段、馬五百匹。 開皇二年，隋文帝備禮納巋女為晉王妃。 又欲以其子瑒尚蘭陵公主。 由是罷江陵總管，巋專制其國。 四年，巋來朝長安，隋文帝甚敬待之。 詔巋位在王公之上，賜縑萬匹，珍玩稱是。 及還，親執其手謂之曰：「梁主久滯荊、楚，未復舊都，故鄉之念，良軫懷抱。 朕當振旅長江，相送旋反耳。」
Once Emperor Wen of Sui had ascended the throne, his gracious treatment grew ever more generous. He sent envoys with gifts of three hundred taels of gold, one thousand taels of silver, ten thousand bolts of cloth and silk, and five hundred horses. In the second year of Kaihuang, Emperor Wen of Sui formally took Xiao Kui's daughter as consort to the Prince of Jin. He also wished to marry his son Yang to Princess Lanling. Thereupon the post of Jiangling Governor-General was abolished, and Xiao Kui held sole authority over his state. In the fourth year Xiao Kui came to court at Chang'an, and Emperor Wen of Sui received him with great respect. He decreed that Xiao Kui's rank should stand above kings and dukes, and gave him ten thousand bolts of fine silk and a matching store of rare treasures. As Xiao Kui was leaving, the emperor personally took his hand and said: "The Lord of Liang has long lingered in Jing and Chu and has not yet returned to his old capital; thoughts of home must weigh heavily on your heart. I shall marshal troops on the Yangzi and escort you home."
29
巋在位二十三載，年四十四，五年五月薨。 其羣臣葬之於顯陵，諡曰孝 （文） 〔明〕皇帝，廟號世宗。
Xiao Kui reigned twenty-three years and was forty-four when he died in the fifth month of the fifth year. His ministers buried him at Xianling with the posthumous title Xiao (wen) [ming] Emperor, with temple name Shizong.
30
巋孝悌慈仁，有君人之量。 四時祭享，未嘗不悲慕流涕。 性尤儉約，御下有方，境內稱治。 所著《文集》及《孝經》、《周易義記》及《大小乘幽微》，竝行於世。 隋文帝又命其太子蕭琮嗣位，年號廣運。
Xiao Kui was filial, fraternal, benevolent, and humane, and had the makings of a true ruler. At the four seasonal sacrifices he never failed to mourn with longing and weep. He was especially frugal by nature, governed his subjects with skill, and his domain was considered well ordered. His Collected Works, commentary on the Classic of Filial Piety, Records of the Meaning of the Book of Changes, and Profundities of the Greater and Lesser Vehicles all circulated widely. Emperor Wen of Sui again had his heir Xiao Cong succeed the throne, with the reign title Guangyun.
31
琮字溫文。 性倜儻不羈，博學有文義，兼善弓馬。 初封東陽王，尋立為皇太子。 及嗣位，隋文帝徵琮叔父岑入朝，因留不遣。 復置江陵總管以監之。
Cong's courtesy name was Wenwen. He was free-spirited and unconstrained by nature, broadly learned and accomplished in letters, and also skilled in archery and horsemanship. He was first enfeoffed as King of Dongyang and soon made crown prince. When Cong succeeded to the throne, Emperor Wen of Sui summoned his uncle Cen to court and kept him there, refusing to let him return. A Regional Commander was again installed at Jiangling to keep watch over the state.
32
琮之二年，隋文帝又徵琮入朝。 琮率其臣下二百餘人朝於長安。 隋文帝仍遣武鄉公崔弘度將兵戍江陵。 軍至鄀州，琮叔父巖及弟 （巘） 〔瓛〕等懼弘度掩襲之，遂虜居民奔於陳。 隋文帝於是廢梁國，曲赦江陵死罪，給民復十年。 梁二主各給守墓十戶。 尋拜琮為柱國，封莒國公。
In the second year of Cong's reign, Emperor Wen of Sui again summoned him to court. Cong led more than two hundred of his ministers and officials to Chang'an to pay homage. Emperor Wen of Sui still sent the Duke of Wuxiang, Cui Hongdu, to garrison Jiangling with troops. When the army reached E Prefecture, Cong's uncle Yan and his younger brother (yan) Huan and the others, fearing that Hongdu would launch a surprise attack, abducted the populace and fled to Chen. Emperor Wen of Sui thereupon abolished the Liang state, granted a limited amnesty for capital offenses in Jiangling, and gave the people a ten-year tax remission. Each of the two Liang rulers was granted ten households to tend their tombs. Cong was soon made Pillar of State and enfeoffed as Duke of Ju.
33
自詧初即位，歲在乙亥，至是，歲在丁未，凡三十有三歲矣。
From Xiao Cha's first accession in the year yihai until this time in dingwei, thirty-three years had passed in all.
34
詧子嶚，追諡孝惠太子； 巖，封安平王； 岌，東平王； 岑，河間王，後改封吳郡王。 巋子瓛，義興王； 瑑，晉陵王； 璟，臨海王； 珣，南海王； 瑒，義安王； 瑀，新安王。
Xiao Cha's son Yao was posthumously titled Filial and Gracious Crown Prince; Yan was enfeoffed as Prince of Anping; Ji was Prince of Dongping; Cen was Prince of Hejian and later reassigned as Prince of Wu Commandery. Xiao Kui's son Huan was Prince of Yixing; Zhuan was Prince of Jinling; Jing was Prince of Linhai; Xun was Prince of Nanhai; Chang was Prince of Yi'an; Yu was Prince of Xin'an.
35
詧之在藩及居帝位，以蔡大寶為股肱，王操為腹心，魏益德、尹正、薛暉、許孝敬、薛宣為爪牙，甄玄成、劉盈、岑善方、傅准、褚珪、蔡大業典衆務。 張綰以舊齒處顯位，沉重以儒學蒙厚禮。 自餘多所獎拔，咸盡其器能。 及巋纂業，親賢竝用，將相則華皎、殷亮、劉忠義，宗室則蕭欣、蕭翼，民望則蕭確、謝溫、柳洋、王湜、徐岳，外戚則王凝、王誦、殷璉，文章則劉孝勝、范迪、沈君遊、君公、柳信言，政事則袁敞、柳莊、蔡延壽、甄詡、皇甫茲。 故能保其疆土，而和其民人焉。
While Xiao Cha held his princely domain and after he took the throne, he relied on Cai Dabao as his right arm and Wang Cao as his trusted inner counselor; Wei Yide, Yin Zheng, Xue Hui, Xu Xiaojing, and Xue Xuan served as his strong hands; and Zhen Xuancheng, Liu Ying, Cen Shanfang, Fu Zhun, Chu Gui, and Cai Daye managed the affairs of state. Zhang Wan held a prominent post by virtue of his seniority, while Chen Zhong was treated with great respect for his Confucian scholarship. As for the rest, he promoted many men and put each to full use according to his abilities. When Xiao Kui succeeded to the throne, he employed both kinsmen and worthy men: among generals and ministers were Hua Jiao, Yin Liang, and Liu Zhongyi; among the imperial clan, Xiao Xin and Xiao Yi; men held in public esteem, Xiao Que, Xie Wen, Liu Yang, Wang Shi, and Xu Yue; maternal relatives, Wang Ning, Wang Song, and Yin Lian; literary men, Liu Xiaosheng, Fan Di, Shen Junyou, Jungong, and Liu Xinyan; and for governance, Yuan Chang, Liu Zhuang, Cai Yanshou, Zhen Xu, and Huangfu Ci. In this way they were able to preserve their territory and keep their people at peace.
36
今載詧子嶚等及蔡大寶以下尤著者，附於左。 其在梁、陳、隋已有傳，及巋諸子未任職者，則不兼錄。
What follows are accounts of Xiao Cha's son Yao and others, together with the most notable men from Cai Dabao downward. Those who already have biographies in the histories of Liang, Chen, and Sui, and Xiao Kui's sons who had not yet held office, are not included here.
37
嶚字道遠，詧之長子也。 母曰宣靜皇后。 幼聰敏，有成人之量。 詧之為梁主，立為世子。 尋病卒。 及詧稱帝，追諡焉。
Yao, whose courtesy name was Daoyuan, was Xiao Cha's eldest son. His mother was Empress Xuanjing. From childhood he was clever and precocious, showing the maturity of a grown man. When Xiao Cha became ruler of Liang, he was made heir apparent. He soon died of illness. When Xiao Cha declared himself emperor, he was posthumously ennobled.
38
巖字義遠，詧第五子也。 性仁厚，善於撫接。 歷侍中、荊州刺史、尚書令、太尉、太傅。 入陳，授平東將軍、東揚州刺史。 及陳亡，百姓推巖為主，以禦隋師。 為總管宇文述所破，伏法於長安。
Yan, whose courtesy name was Yiyuan, was Xiao Cha's fifth son. He was benevolent and generous by nature, and skilled at putting people at ease. He served successively as Palace Attendant, Regional Inspector of Jingzhou, Director of the Imperial Secretariat, Grand Commandant, and Grand Tutor. After entering Chen territory, he was appointed General Who Pacifies the East and Regional Inspector of Eastern Yangzhou. When Chen fell, the people set Yan up as their leader to resist the Sui armies. He was defeated by the Regional Commander Yuwen Shu and executed at Chang'an.
39
岌，詧第六子也。 性淳和，幼而好學。 位至侍中、中衛將軍。 巋之五年，卒，贈侍中、司空。 諡曰孝。
Ji was Xiao Cha's sixth son. He was gentle and even-tempered by nature, and loved learning from childhood. He rose to the posts of Palace Attendant and General of the Central Guard. In the fifth year of Xiao Kui's reign he died and was posthumously granted the posts of Palace Attendant and Minister of Works. He was posthumously titled Filial.
40
岑字智遠，詧第八子也。 位至太尉。 性簡貴，御下嚴整。 及琮嗣位，自以望重屬尊，頗有不法，故隋文徵入朝。 拜大將軍，封懷義郡公。
Cen, whose courtesy name was Zhiyuan, was Xiao Cha's eighth son. He rose to the post of Grand Commandant. He was reserved and proud by nature, and strict and orderly in governing his subordinates. When Cong succeeded to the throne, Cen considered himself eminent in prestige and close in kinship, and behaved with considerable impropriety; for this reason Emperor Wen of Sui summoned him to court. He was appointed Grand General and enfeoffed as Duke of Huaiyi.
41
瓛字欽文，巋第三子也。 幼有令譽，能屬文，特為巋所愛。 位至荊州刺史。 初，隋師至鄀州，梁之百寮咸恐懼，計無所出。 唯瓛建議南奔。 入陳，授侍中、安東將軍、吳州刺史。 及陳亡，吳人推為主以御隋師。 戰而敗，與巖同時伏法。
Huan, whose courtesy name was Qinwen, was Xiao Kui's third son. From childhood he enjoyed an excellent reputation, could compose literary works, and was especially beloved by Xiao Kui. He rose to the post of Regional Inspector of Jingzhou. When the Sui army first reached E Prefecture, all the officials of Liang were terrified and could think of no plan. Only Huan proposed fleeing south. After entering Chen, he was appointed Palace Attendant, General Who Pacifies the East, and Regional Inspector of Wu. When Chen fell, the people of Wu set him up as their leader to resist the Sui armies. He was defeated in battle and executed at the same time as Yan.
42
蔡大寶字敬位，濟陽考城人。 祖履，齊尚書祠部郎。 父點，梁尚書儀曹郎、南兗州別駕。
Cai Dabao, whose courtesy name was Jingwei, came from Kaocheng in Jiyang. His grandfather Lu served as Director of the Department of Sacrificial Affairs in the Ministry of Rites of Northern Qi. His father Dian served as Director of the Department of Ceremonial Affairs in the Ministry of Rites of Liang and as Vice Governor of Southern Yanzhou.
43
大寶少孤，而篤學不倦，善屬文。 初以明經對策第一，解褐武陵王國左常侍。 嘗以書干僕射徐勉，大為勉所賞異。 乃令與其子遊處，所有墳籍，盡以給之。 遂博覽羣書，學無不綜。
Dabao was orphaned in youth, yet studied with tireless devotion and was skilled at literary composition. He first ranked first in the Classics examination and left commoner status to become Left Regular Attendant in the Kingdom of Wuling. He once sent a letter to Vice Director Xu Mian and was greatly admired by him. Mian then had him keep company with his son and gave him all the books in his library. Thereupon he read widely and mastered every branch of learning.
44
詧初出第，勉仍薦大寶為侍讀，兼掌記室。 尋除尚書儀曹郎。 出鎮會稽，大寶為記室，領長流。 詧蒞襄陽，遷諮議參軍。 及梁元帝與河東王譽結隙，詧令大寶使江陵以觀之。 梁元帝素知大寶，見之甚悅。 乃示所制《玄覽賦》，令注解焉。 三日而畢。 元帝大嗟賞之，贈遺甚厚。 大寶還白詧云：「湘東必有異圖，禍亂將作，不可下援臺城。」 詧納之。 及為梁主，除中書侍郎，兼吏部，掌大選事，領襄陽太守，遷員外散騎常侍、吏部郎，俄轉吏部尚書。 軍國之事，咸委決焉。 加授大將軍，遷尚書僕射，進號輔國將軍。 又除使持節、宣惠將軍、雍州刺史。
When Xiao Cha first left his princely residence, Mian recommended Dabao as Reader-in-Waiting and put him in charge of the secretariat as well. He was soon appointed Director of the Department of Ceremonial Affairs in the Ministry of Rites. When Cha went out to govern Kuaiji, Dabao served as secretarial officer and headed the senior staff. When Xiao Cha arrived at Xiangyang, Dabao was transferred to the post of Advisory Aide. When Emperor Yuan of Liang and the Prince of Hedong, Xiao Yu, became estranged, Xiao Cha sent Dabao to Jiangling to observe the situation. Emperor Yuan of Liang had long known Dabao, and was greatly pleased to see him. He then showed him the "Xuanlan Fu" he had composed and ordered him to write a commentary on it. He finished it in three days. Emperor Yuan greatly admired it and gave him very generous gifts. Dabao returned and reported to Xiao Cha, "The Prince of Xiangdong must harbor ulterior designs; calamity and disorder are about to break out. We must not go down to aid Taicheng." Xiao Cha accepted his advice. When Xiao Cha became ruler of Liang, Dabao was appointed Vice Director of the Secretariat and concurrently put in charge of the Ministry of Personnel and major selection affairs, while also serving as Governor of Xiangyang; he was then promoted to Supernumerary Regular Attendant of the Cavalry and Director of the Ministry of Personnel, and soon became Minister of Personnel. Military and state affairs were all entrusted to his judgment. He was additionally appointed Grand General, promoted to Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat, and given the title General Who Assists the State. He was also appointed Bearer of the Staff of Authority, General Who Proclaims Grace, and Regional Inspector of Yongzhou.
45
詧於江陵稱帝，徵為侍中、尚書令，參掌選事，又加雲麾將軍，荊州刺史。 進位柱國、軍師將軍，領太子少傅，轉安前將軍，封安豐縣侯，邑一千戶。 從巋入朝，領太子少傅。 巋嗣位，冊授司空、中書監、中權大將軍，領吏部尚書。 固讓司空，許之。 加特進。 巋之三年，卒。 巋哭之慟，自卒及葬，三臨其喪。 贈司徒，進爵為公。 諡曰文凱。 配食詧廟。
When Xiao Cha declared himself emperor at Jiangling, Dabao was summoned as Palace Attendant and Director of the Imperial Secretariat to participate in selection affairs, and was also given the additional titles General of the Cloudy Pennant and Regional Inspector of Jingzhou. He was promoted to Pillar of State and General of the Army, made Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, transferred to General Who Secures the Front, and enfeoffed as Marquis of Anfeng with a fief of one thousand households. When he followed Xiao Kui to court, he served concurrently as Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince. When Xiao Kui succeeded to the throne, Dabao was invested by decree as Minister of Works, Supervisor of the Secretariat, Grand General of Central Authority, and concurrently Minister of Personnel. He firmly declined the post of Minister of Works, and his request was granted. He was additionally granted the honorary title of Special Advance. In the third year of Xiao Kui's reign, he died. Xiao Kui wept for him in deep grief and visited his mourning hall three times from death until burial. He was posthumously granted the post of Minister over the Masses and advanced in rank to duke. He was posthumously titled Literary and Triumphant. He was granted a place in sacrifice at Xiao Cha's temple.
46
大寶性嚴整，有智謀，雅達政事，文詞贍速。 詧之章表書記教令詔冊，並大寶專掌之。 詧推心委任，以為謀主。 時人以詧之有大寶猶劉先主之有孔明焉。 所著文集三十卷，及《尚書義疏》竝行於世。 有四子。
Dabao was strict and orderly by nature, possessed wisdom and stratagem, was elegantly versed in state affairs, and wrote with richness and speed. Xiao Cha's memorials, letters, records, instructions, edicts, and investiture documents were all handled exclusively by Dabao. Xiao Cha trusted him completely and made him his chief strategist. People of the time said that Xiao Cha having Dabao was like Liu Bei having Zhuge Liang. His collected writings in thirty volumes, together with his Commentary on the Meaning of the Documents, both circulated in his day. He had four sons.
47
次子延壽，有器識，博涉經籍，尤善當世之務。 尚詧女宣成公主。 歷中書郎、尚書右丞、吏部郎、御史中丞。 從琮入隋，授開府儀同三司，秘書丞。 終於成州刺史。 大寶弟大業。
The second son, Yanshou, had capacity and discernment, ranged broadly through the classics and records, and was especially skilled in the affairs of his age. He married Xiao Cha's daughter, Princess Xuancheng. He served successively as Gentleman of the Secretariat, Right Assistant Director of the Imperial Secretariat, Director of the Ministry of Personnel, and Imperial Censor-in-Chief. When he followed Xiao Cong into Sui territory, he was granted the honors of General-in-Chief with Pillar of State Protocol of the Third Rank and appointed Secretary Director. He died while serving as Regional Inspector of Chengzhou. Dabao's younger brother was Daye.
48
大業字敬道。 有至行，父沒，居喪過禮。 性寬恕，學涉經史，有將命材，屢充使詣闕。 初以西中郎府參軍隨詧之鎮。 詧稱帝，歷尚書左丞、開遠將軍、監利郡守、散騎常侍、衛尉卿。 巋嗣位，遷都官尚書，除貞毅將軍、漳川太守。 入為左民尚書、太常卿。 巋之七年，卒，贈金紫光祿大夫。 諡曰簡。 有五子，允恭最知名。 起家著作佐郎、太子舍人。 梁滅入陳，拜尚書庫部郎。 陳亡入隋，授起居舍人。
Daye, whose courtesy name was Jingdao. He was a man of supreme filial devotion; when his father died, he observed mourning beyond the prescribed rites. He was forgiving and generous by nature, widely read in the classics and histories, and possessed the talent of an envoy; he repeatedly served as ambassador to the imperial court. At first he served as Military Adjutant of the Western Central Commandery headquarters and followed Xiao Cha to his territorial post. When Xiao Cha declared himself emperor, Daye served successively as Left Assistant Director of the Imperial Secretariat, General Who Opens the Way, Administrator of Jianli Commandery, Regular Attendant-in-Ordinary, and Minister Steward. When Xiao Kui succeeded to the throne, he was promoted to Director of the Ministry of Justice and appointed General of Unwavering Resolve and Administrator of Zhangchuan. He entered court service as Director of the Ministry of the Left Household and Minister of Ceremonies. In the seventh year of Xiao Kui's reign he died and was posthumously granted the status of Grand Master of Golden Bells and Ceremonial Grandees. He was posthumously titled Simple. He had five sons; Yun'gong was the most renowned. He began his career as Assistant Editor in the Imperial Library and Domestic Companion to the Heir Apparent. When Liang fell and he entered Chen territory, he was appointed Director of the Warehouse Bureau in the Ministry of Works. When Chen fell and he entered Sui territory, he was appointed Registrar of the Heir Apparent's Activities.
49
王操字子高。 其先，太原晉陽人也。 詧母龔氏之外弟也。 祖靈慶，海鹽令。 父景休，臨川內史。
Wang Cao's courtesy name was Zigao. His ancestors came from Jinyang in Taiyuan. He was the younger brother of Xiao Cha's mother, Lady Gong. His grandfather Lingqing served as Magistrate of Haiyan. His father Jingxiu was Administrator of Linchuan.
50
操性敦厚，有籌畧，博涉經史，在公恪勤。 初為詧外兵參軍，親任亞於蔡大寶。 詧承制，除尚書左丞。 及稱帝，遷五兵尚書、大將軍、郢州刺史。 尋進位柱國，封新康縣侯。 巋嗣位，授鎮右將軍、尚書僕射。
Cao was solid and generous by nature, possessed of strategic insight, widely read in the classics and histories, and scrupulously diligent in office. At first he served as External Military Adjutant under Xiao Cha, and in personal trust ranked second only to Cai Dabao. When Xiao Cha received provisional appointment as ruler, he was made Left Assistant Director of the Imperial Secretariat. When Xiao Cha declared himself emperor, he was promoted to Director of the Five Armies Ministry, Grand General, and Regional Inspector of Yingzhou. He was soon advanced to Pillar of State and enfeoffed as Marquis of Xinkang County. When Xiao Kui succeeded to the throne, he was granted the post of General Who Guards the Right and Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat.
51
及吳明徹為寇，巋出頓紀南，操撫循將士，莫不用命。 明徹旣退，江陵獲全，操之力也。 遷侍中、中衛將軍、尚書令、開府儀同三司，參掌選事，領荊州刺史。 操旣位居朝右，每自挹損，深得當時之譽。 巋之十四年，卒。 巋舉哀於朝堂，流涕謂其羣臣曰：「天不使吾平蕩江表，何奪吾賢相之速也。」 及葬，親祖於瓦官門。 贈司空，進爵為公。 諡曰康節。 有七子。 次子衡最知名。 有才學，起家秘書郎。 歷太子洗馬、中書、黃門侍郎。
When Wu Mingche invaded, Xiao Kui marched out and encamped at Jinan; Cao comforted and rallied the troops, and all obeyed his commands without fail. Once Mingche had withdrawn, Jiangling was preserved intact—thanks to Cao's efforts. He was promoted to Palace Attendant, General of the Central Guard, Director of the Imperial Secretariat, and General-in-Chief with Pillar of State Protocol of the Third Rank; he participated in managing official appointments and concurrently served as Regional Inspector of Jingzhou. Though Cao held the highest position at court, he always restrained himself and never exalted his rank, and thereby won deep renown among his contemporaries. In the fourteenth year of Xiao Kui's reign he died. Xiao Kui mourned him in the audience hall and, weeping, said to his assembled ministers: "Heaven does not allow me to pacify the lands south of the Yangtze—why has it taken my worthy minister so soon?" At the burial, Xiao Kui personally led the funeral procession at the Wagon-Gate. He was posthumously granted Minister of Works and his title was advanced to Duke. He was posthumously titled Kangjie. He had seven sons. His second son Heng was the most renowned. Talented and learned, he began his career as Gentleman of the Secretariat. He served successively as Groom-in-Waiting to the Heir Apparent, Gentleman of the Secretariat, and Gentleman Attendant at the Yellow Gate.
52
魏益德，襄陽人也。 有才幹，膽勇過人。 數從軍征討，以功累遷至郡守。 詧蒞襄陽，以益德為其府司馬。 詧承制，拜將軍。 尋加大將軍。 及詧稱帝，進位柱國，封上黃縣侯，邑千戶，加車騎將軍。 詧之二年，卒，贈司空。 諡曰忠壯。 進爵為公。 巋之五年，以益德配食詧廟。
Wei Yide came from Xiangyang. He had talent and administrative ability, and his courage and daring surpassed other men. He repeatedly followed armies on campaign and, through accumulated merit, was promoted by stages until he reached the rank of commandery administrator. When Xiao Cha took up his post at Xiangyang, he appointed Yide military secretary of his headquarters. When Xiao Cha received provisional appointment as ruler, Yide was given the rank of general. He was soon promoted to Grand General. When Xiao Cha declared himself emperor, Yide was advanced to Pillar of State, enfeoffed as Marquis of Shanghuang County with a fief of one thousand households, and additionally appointed General of Chariots and Cavalry. In the second year of Xiao Cha's reign he died and was posthumously granted Minister of Works. He was posthumously titled Loyal and Stalwart. His title was advanced to Duke. In the fifth year of Xiao Kui's reign, Yide was given a place in sacrifice at Xiao Cha's temple.
53
尹正，其先天水人。 詧蒞雍州，正為其府中兵參軍。 擒張纘，獲杜岸，皆正之力。 詧承制，以為將軍。 尋拜大將軍。 及稱帝，除護軍將軍，進位柱國，封新野縣侯，邑千戶。 詧之三年，卒，贈開府儀同三司。 諡曰剛。 巋之五年，以正配食詧廟。 子德毅，多權畧，位至大將軍。 後以見疑賜死。
Yin Zheng's ancestors came from Tianshui. When Xiao Cha took up his post at Yongzhou, Zheng served as Central Military Adjutant of his headquarters. The captures of Zhang Zuan and Du An were both due to Zheng's efforts. When Xiao Cha received provisional appointment as ruler, Zheng was made a general. He was soon appointed Grand General. When Xiao Cha declared himself emperor, Zheng was appointed General Who Protects the Army, advanced to Pillar of State, and enfeoffed as Marquis of Xinye County with a fief of one thousand households. In the third year of Xiao Cha's reign he died and was posthumously granted General-in-Chief with Pillar of State Protocol of the Third Rank. He was posthumously titled Resolute. In the fifth year of Xiao Kui's reign, Zheng was given a place in sacrifice at Xiao Cha's temple. His son Deyi was versed in many stratagems and rose to the rank of Grand General. Later, because he came under suspicion, he was ordered to take his own life.
54
薛暉，河東人也。 有才畧。 身長八尺，形貌甚偉。 嘗督禁旅，為詧爪牙，當禦侮之任。 與尹正攻獲杜岸於南陽。 詧承制，拜將軍。 尋加大將軍，進位柱國，除領軍將軍。 巋之二年，卒，贈開府儀同三司。 有六子，子建、子尚知名。
Xue Hui came from Hedong. He had talent and strategic insight. He stood eight feet tall and was imposing in appearance. He once supervised the palace guard corps, serving as Xiao Cha's strong right hand and bearing the duty of repelling invasion. Together with Yin Zheng he attacked and captured Du An at Nanyang. When Xiao Cha received provisional appointment as ruler, Hui was given the rank of general. He was soon promoted to Grand General, advanced to Pillar of State, and appointed General of the Palace Guard. In the second year of Xiao Kui's reign he died and was posthumously granted General-in-Chief with Pillar of State Protocol of the Third Rank. He had six sons; Zijian and Zishang were the most renowned.
55
許孝敬，吳人，小名嗣兒。 勁勇過人，為詧驍將。 以大將軍守河東。 旣無救援，為吳明徹所擒，遂戮於建康市。 贈車騎大將軍。 子世武嗣。 少襲父大將軍，好勇不拘行檢。 重賓客，施與不節。 資產旣盡，鬱鬱不得志，遂謀奔陳。 事覺，伏誅。
Xu Xiaojing was a man of Wu; his childhood name was Si'er. His vigor and bravery surpassed other men, and he was one of Xiao Cha's fiercest generals. As Grand General he held Hedong in garrison. With no relief coming, he was captured by Wu Mingche and executed in the marketplace at Jiankang. He was posthumously granted General of Chariots and Cavalry. His son Shi Wu succeeded him. From youth he inherited his father's rank as Grand General; he loved daring deeds and paid little heed to propriety. He esteemed guests and gave away gifts without restraint. Once his assets were exhausted, he grew despondent and frustrated, and plotted to flee to Chen. When the plot was discovered, he was executed.
56
又有大將軍李廣，會稽人。 早事詧，以敢勇聞。 沌口之役，先登力戰。 及華皎軍敗，為吳明徹所擒。 將降之，廣辭色不屈，遂被害。 贈太尉，追封建興縣公。 諡曰忠武。
There was also Grand General Li Guang, a native of Kuaiji. He entered Xiao Cha's service early and was known for bold courage. At the battle of Dunningkou he was first to scale the heights and fought with all his strength. When Hua Jiao's army was defeated, Li Guang was captured by Wu Mingche. When they were about to accept his surrender, Li Guang refused to yield in word or countenance, and was therefore killed. He was posthumously granted Grand Commandant and posthumously enfeoffed as Duke of Jianxing County. He was posthumously titled Loyal and Martial.
57
甄玄成字敬平，中山人。 博達經史，善屬文。 少為簡文所知。 以錄事參軍隨詧鎮襄陽。 轉中記室參軍，掌書記，頗參政事。 以江陵甲兵殷盛，遂懷貳心。 密書與梁元帝，申其誠款。 遂有得其書者，進之於詧。 詧深信佛法，常願不殺誦《法華經》人。 玄成素誦《法華經》，遂以此獲免。 詧後見之，常曰：「甄公好得《法華經》力。」 歷位中書侍郎、御史中丞、祠部尚書、吏部尚書。 詧之六年，卒，贈侍中、護軍將軍。 有文集二十卷。 子詡，少沉敏，閑習政事。 歷中書舍人、尚書右丞。 從琮入隋，授開府儀同三司，終於太府少卿。
Zhen Xuancheng, whose courtesy name was Jingping, came from Zhongshan. He was widely versed in the classics and histories and skilled at literary composition. From youth he was recognized by Emperor Jianwen. He served as Recording Secretary and followed Xiao Cha when the latter took up his post at Xiangyang. He was transferred to Central Chief of Records, kept the written records, and participated in government affairs to a considerable degree. Because Jiangling's armed forces were abundant and strong, he thereafter harbored divided loyalties. He secretly wrote to Emperor Yuan of Liang to declare his sincere devotion. Someone then obtained his letter and presented it to Xiao Cha. Xiao Cha was a devout Buddhist and often vowed never to kill those who recited the Lotus Sutra. Xuancheng had long recited the Lotus Sutra, and by this he was spared execution. Afterward, whenever Xiao Cha saw him, he would remark, "Duke Zhen owes his salvation to the 《Lotus Sutra》. He served successively as Vice Director of the Secretariat, Imperial Censor-in-Chief, Director of the Ministry of Rites, and Director of the Ministry of Personnel. In the sixth year of Xiao Cha's reign he died and was posthumously granted Palace Attendant and General Who Guards the Army. He left a collected literary works in twenty scrolls. His son Xu was from youth thoughtful and quick-witted, well versed in government affairs. He served successively as Attendant of the Palace Secretariat and Right Assistant Director of the Imperial Secretariat. When he followed Xiao Cong into Sui territory, he was granted the honors of General-in-Chief with Pillar of State Protocol of the Third Rank and died while serving as Vice Director of the Grand Steward's Office.
58
劉盈，彭城人，以西中郎府錄事參軍隨詧之鎮。 有器度，勤於在公。 詧之軍國經謀，頗得參預。 歷黃門郎、中書監、雍州刺史、尚書僕射。 巋之七年，卒，贈本官。 第三子然，于時頗知名。 隋鷹擊郎將。
Liu Ying came from Pengcheng and followed Xiao Cha to his territorial post as Recording Secretary of the Western Central Commandery headquarters. He had breadth of character and was diligent in public service. He participated to a considerable degree in Xiao Cha's military and state planning. He served successively as Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, Director of the Secretariat, Regional Inspector of Yongzhou, and Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat. In the seventh year of Xiao Kui's reign he died and was posthumously granted his former office. His third son Ran was at the time quite well known. Under the Sui he served as Eagle-Strike Commandant.
59
岑善方字思義，南陽棘陽人，漢征南大將軍彭之後也。 祖惠甫，給事中。 父昶，散騎侍郎。
Cen Shanfang, whose courtesy name was Siyi, came from Jiyang in Nanyang and was a descendant of General Who Conquers the South Peng of Han. His grandfather Huifu served as Attendant-in-Ordinary. His father Chang served as Supernumerary Cavalry Regular Attendant.
60
善方有器局，博綜經史，善於辭令。 以刑獄參軍隨詧至襄陽。 詧初請內附，以善方兼記室，充使詣闕。 應對閑敏，深為太祖所嘉。 自此往來，凡數十反。 魏恭帝二年，授驃騎大將軍、開府儀同三司，封長寧縣公。 詧之承制也，授中書舍人，遷襄陽郡守。 及稱帝，征為太 （府） 〔舟〕卿，領中書舍人，轉太府，領舍人如故。 尋遷散騎常侍、起部尚書。 善方性清慎，有當世幹能，故詧委以機密。 詧之七年，卒，贈太常卿。 諡曰敬。 所著文集十卷。
Shanfang had breadth of capacity, was widely versed in the classics and histories, and was skilled in formal discourse. He followed Xiao Cha to Xiangyang as Military Adjutant for Criminal Cases. When Xiao Cha first sought to submit to the north, Shanfang was made concurrent Chief of Records and sent as envoy to the imperial court. In audience he was easy and quick in response and was deeply praised by Grand Ancestor Yuwen Tai. From then on he traveled back and forth on missions, making several dozen round trips in all. In the second year of Emperor Gong of Wei he was granted General of Agile Cavalry, General-in-Chief with Pillar of State Protocol of the Third Rank, and created Duke of Changning County. When Xiao Cha received provisional appointment as ruler, Shanfang was appointed Attendant of the Palace Secretariat and transferred to Administrator of Xiangyang Commandery. When Xiao Cha declared himself emperor, Shanfang was summoned as Director of the Grand (the cited text) 〔Fleet〕 Director, concurrently Attendant of the Palace Secretariat; he was transferred to Minister Steward while keeping his secretariat post as before. He was soon transferred to Regular Attendant-in-Ordinary and Director of the Ministry of Construction. Shanfang was pure and cautious by nature and possessed the practical ability of the age, and therefore Xiao Cha entrusted him with confidential affairs. In the seventh year of Xiao Cha's reign he died and was posthumously granted Minister of Ceremonies. He was posthumously titled Respectful. He left collected literary works in ten scrolls.
61
有七子，竝有操行。 之元、之利、之象最知名。 之元，太子舍人，早卒。 高祖錄善方充使之功，追之利、之象入朝。 授之利帥都督、代王記室參軍。 後仕隋，歷安固令、郴義江三州司馬、零陵郡丞。 之象掌式中士，隋文帝相府參軍事。 後仕隋，歷尚書虞部員外郎、邵陵上宜渭南邯鄲四縣令。
He had seven sons, all of upright conduct. Zhiyuan, Zhili, and Zhixiang were the most renowned. Zhiyuan served as Attendant to the Crown Prince and died young. Emperor Gaozu recorded Shanfang's achievements as envoy and summoned Zhili and Zhixiang to court. Zhili was granted Commander-in-Chief and appointed Recording Secretary to the Prince of Dai. He later served the Sui, successively as Administrator of Angu, Prefectural Marshal of Chen, Yi, and Jiang, and Assistant Administrator of Lingling Commandery. Zhixiang served as Senior Clerk for Ritual Forms and as a staff officer in Emperor Wen of Sui's chancellor's office. He later served the Sui, successively as Supernumerary Director in the Ministry of Works of the Imperial Secretariat and as magistrate of Shaoling, Shangyi, Weinan, and Handan counties.
62
傅准，北地人。 祖照，金紫光祿大夫。 父諝，湘東王外兵參軍。 准有文才，善詞賦。 以西中郎參軍隨詧之鎮。 官至度支尚書。 巋之七年，卒，贈太常卿。 諡曰敬康。 所著文集二十卷。 有二子，曰秉曰執，竝材兼文史。 秉，尚書右丞。 執，中書舍人、尚書左丞。
Fu Zhun came from Beidi. His grandfather Zhao served as Grand Master for Splendid Happiness. His father Xu served as External Military Adjutant to the Prince of Xiangdong. Zhun had literary talent and was skilled at rhapsodies and poetry. He followed Xiao Cha to his territorial post as Military Adjutant of the Western Central Commandery. He rose to the post of Director of Revenue. In the seventh year of Xiao Kui's reign he died and was posthumously granted Minister of Ceremonies. He was posthumously titled Respectful and Secure. He left collected literary works in twenty scrolls. He had two sons, Bing and Zhi, both talented in literature and history. Bing served as Right Assistant Director of the Imperial Secretariat. Zhi served as Attendant of the Palace Secretariat and Left Assistant Director of the Imperial Secretariat.
63
宗如周，南陽人。 有才學，容止詳雅。 以府僚隨詧，歷黃門、散騎、列卿，後至度支尚書。 巋之九年，卒。 如周面狹長，以《法華經》云「聞經隨喜，面不狹長」，嘗戲之曰：「卿何為謗經？」 如周踧踖，自陳不謗。 詧又謂之如初。 如周懼，出告蔡大寶。 大寶知其旨，笑謂之曰：「君當不謗餘經，政應不信《法華》耳。」 如周乃悟。 又嘗有人訴事於如周，謂為經作如州官也，乃曰：「某有屈滯，故來訴如州官。」 如周曰：「爾何小人，敢呼我名！」 其人慚謝曰：「祇言如州官作如州，不知如州官名如周。 早知如州官名如周，不敢喚如州官作如周。」 如周乃笑曰：「命卿自責，見侮反深。」 衆咸服其寬雅。 有七子。 希顏、希華知名。 希顏有文學，仕至中書舍人。 希華博通經術，為荊楚儒宗。
Zong Ruzhou came from Nanyang. He had talent and learning, and his bearing and conduct were refined and elegant. As a staff officer he followed Xiao Cha, serving successively as Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, and various ministers of state before rising to Director of Revenue. In the ninth year of Xiao Kui's reign he died. Ruzhou's face was narrow and long. The 《Lotus Sutra》 says that hearing the sutra with joy keeps one's face from growing narrow and long, so Xiao Cha once teased him: "Why do you slander the sutra? Ruzhou, flustered, insisted he had not slandered it. Xiao Cha spoke to him again as before. Alarmed, Ruzhou went out and told Cai Dabao. Dabao grasped his meaning and said with a smile: "You surely do not slander other sutras—you simply do not believe the 《Lotus Sutra》! Ruzhou then understood. On another occasion someone came to present a grievance to Ruzhou, mistaking him for the magistrate of Ruzhou because of the earlier pun, and said: "I have a grievance and therefore come to appeal to Magistrate Ruzhou. Ruzhou said: "You base fellow—how dare you call out my name! The man apologized in shame: "I meant only to say the magistrate of Ruzhou governs Ruzhou—I did not know the magistrate of Ruzhou is named Ruzhou. Had I known the magistrate of Ruzhou was named Ruzhou, I would not have dared call the magistrate of Ruzhou "Ruzhou." Ruzhou then laughed and said: "I ordered you to blame yourself—yet the insult runs even deeper. All admired his magnanimity and refinement. He had seven sons. Xiyan and Xihua were the most renowned. Xiyan had literary talent and rose to Attendant of the Palace Secretariat. Xihua was broadly versed in classical learning and was the leading Confucian scholar of Jing-Chu.
64
蕭欣，梁武帝弟安成康王秀之孫，煬王機之子也。 幼聰警，博綜墳籍，善屬文。 詧踐位，以欣襲機封。 歷侍中、中書令、尚書僕射、尚書令。 巋之二十三年，卒，贈司空。 欣與柳信言，當巋之世，俱為一時文宗。 有集三十卷。 又著《梁史》百卷，遭亂失本。
Xiao Xin was a grandson of Prince Kang of Ancheng, younger brother of Emperor Wu of Liang, and son of Prince Yang Ji. From youth he was quick and alert, broadly versed in the classics, and skilled at literary composition. When Xiao Cha ascended the throne, he had Xin inherit Ji's enfeoffment. He served successively as Palace Attendant, Director of the Secretariat, Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat, and Director of the Imperial Secretariat. In the twenty-third year of Xiao Kui's reign he died and was posthumously granted Minister of Works. Xin and Liu Xinyan were both literary luminaries of Xiao Kui's reign. He left a collected works in thirty scrolls. He also authored the 《History of Liang》 in one hundred scrolls, but the original was lost in the disorders.
65
柳洋，河東解人。 祖惔，尚書左僕射。 父昭，中書侍郎。 洋少有文學，以禮度自拘，與王湜俱以風範方正為當時所重。 位至吏部尚書，出為上黃郡守。 梁國廢，以郡歸隋，授開府儀同三司。 尋卒。
Liu Yang came from Jie in Hedong. His grandfather Tan served as Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat. His father Zhao served as Vice Director of the Secretariat. Yang from youth had literary talent and restrained himself by ritual propriety; together with Wang Shi he was esteemed by his contemporaries for upright bearing and conduct. He rose to Director of the Ministry of Personnel and was sent out as Administrator of Shanghuang Commandery. When the Liang state was abolished, he surrendered his commandery to the Sui and was granted General-in-Chief with Pillar of State Protocol of the Third Rank. He soon died.
66
徐岳，東海人，尚書左僕射、開府儀同三司、簡肅公勉之少子也。 少方正，博通經史。 初為東陽王琮師。 琮為皇太子，授詹事。 及嗣位，除侍中、左民尚書，俄遷尚書僕射。 從琮入隋，授上開府儀同三司。 終於陳州刺史。 子凱，秘書郎。 岳兄矩，有文學，善吏事。 頗黷於貨賄。 位至度支尚書。 子敬，鴻臚卿。
Xu Yue came from Donghai and was the youngest son of Duke Jiansu Mian, Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat and General-in-Chief with Pillar of State Protocol of the Third Rank. From youth he was upright and principled, broadly versed in the classics and histories. At first he served as tutor to Prince Cong of Dongyang. When Cong became crown prince, Yue was appointed Grand Tutor. When Cong succeeded to the throne, Yue was appointed Palace Attendant and Director of the Ministry of the Left Household, and was soon transferred to Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat. When he followed Xiao Cong into Sui territory, he was granted Senior General-in-Chief with Pillar of State Protocol of the Third Rank. He died while serving as Regional Inspector of Chenzhou. His son Kai served as Secretary Gentleman. Yue's elder brother Ju had literary talent and was skilled in administrative affairs. He was rather tainted by bribery. He rose to the post of Director of Revenue. His son Jing served as Minister Grand Master of the Imperial Stud.
67
王漩，琅邪臨沂人。 祖琳，侍中、太府卿。 父錫，侍中。 漩少有令譽，尚詧妹廬陵長公主。 歷秘書郎、太子舍人、宣成王友、廬陵內史。 詧踐位，授侍中、吏部尚書。 巋之四年，使詣闕，卒於賓館。 贈侍中、右光祿大夫。 子瓘，有文詞，黃門侍郎。 漩弟湜，方雅有器識。 位至都官尚書。 巋之二十年，卒。 子懷，秘書郎，隋沔陽令。
Wang Xuan came from Linyi in Langya. His grandfather Lin served as Palace Attendant and Director of the Grand Steward's Office. His father Xi served as Palace Attendant. Xuan enjoyed an excellent reputation from youth and married Xiao Cha's younger sister, the Princess of Luling. He served successively as Gentleman of the Secretariat, Attendant of the Crown Prince's Household, Companion to the Prince of Xuancheng, and Internal Administrator of Luling. When Xiao Cha ascended the throne, he appointed Xuan Palace Attendant and Director of the Ministry of Personnel. In the fourth year of Kui's reign, he was sent as envoy to the imperial court and died in the guest lodge. He was posthumously granted the titles of Palace Attendant and Right Grand Master for Splendid Happiness. His son Guan was a gifted writer who served as Vice Director of the Yellow Gate. Xuan's younger brother Shi was upright and refined, with capacity and discernment. He rose to the post of Director of the Ministry of Justice. He died in the twentieth year of Kui's reign. His son Huai served as Secretary Gentleman and, under the Sui, as Magistrate of Mianyang.
68
范迪，順陽人。 祖縝，尚書左丞。 父胥，鄱陽內史。 迪少機辯，善屬文。 歷中書黃門侍郎、尚書右丞、散騎常侍。 巋之十七年，卒。 有文集十卷。 子裒。 迪弟遹，文采劣於迪，而經術過之。 位至中衛、東平王長史。
Fan Di was a native of Shunyang. His grandfather Zhen served as Left Assistant Director of the Imperial Secretariat. His father Xu served as Internal Administrator of Poyang. From youth Di was quick-witted and eloquent, and skilled at literary composition. He served successively as Vice Director of the Yellow Gate in the Secretariat, Right Assistant Director of the Imperial Secretariat, and Regular Attendant-in-Ordinary. He died in the seventeenth year of Kui's reign. He left a collected literary works in ten scrolls. His son was Bo. Di's younger brother Yu was less gifted as a writer than Di but surpassed him in classical learning. He rose to serve as General of the Central Guard and Chief Administrator to the Prince of Dongping.
69
沈君游，吳興人。 祖僧畟，左民尚書。 父巡，東陽太守。 君游博學有詞采，位至散騎常侍。 巋之十二年，卒。 有文集十卷。
Shen Junyou was a native of Wuxing. His grandfather Sengji served as Director of the Ministry of the Left Household. His father Xun served as Grand Administrator of Dongyang. Junyou was broadly learned and gifted with literary grace; he rose to Regular Attendant-in-Ordinary. He died in the twelfth year of Kui's reign. He left a collected literary works in ten scrolls.
70
弟君公，有幹局，美風儀，文章典正，特為巋所重。 歷中書黃門侍郎、御史中丞。 自都官尚書為義興王瓛師。 從瓛奔陳，授侍中、太子詹事。 隋平陳，以瓛同謀度江，伏誅。
His younger brother Jungong had practical ability, fine bearing, and a dignified literary style, and was especially valued by Xiao Kui. He served successively as Vice Director of the Yellow Gate in the Secretariat and Imperial Censor-in-Chief. He stepped down from Director of the Ministry of Justice to become tutor to Prince Luan of Yixing. When he followed Luan in flight to Chen, he was appointed Palace Attendant and Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince. When the Sui conquered Chen, he was executed for conspiring with Luan to cross the Yangtze.
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袁敞，陳郡人。 祖昂，司空。 父士俊，安成內史。 敞少有器量，博涉文史。 以吏部郎使詣闕。 時主者以敞班在陳使之後，敞固不從命。 主者詰之，敞對曰：「昔陳之祖父乃梁諸侯之下吏也，棄忠與義，盜有江東。 今大周朝宗萬國，招攜以禮，若使梁之行人在陳人之後，便恐彝倫失序。 豈使臣之所望焉。」 主者不能屈，遂以狀奏。 高祖善之，乃詔敞與陳使異日而進。 還，以稱旨，遷侍中，轉左民尚書。 從琮入隋，授開府儀同三司。 終於譙州刺史。 子謐、謙。
Yuan Chang was a native of Chen Commandery. His grandfather Ang served as Minister of Works. His father Shijun served as Internal Administrator of Ancheng. From youth Chang had breadth of character and was widely read in literature and history. As Director of the Ministry of Personnel, he was sent as envoy to the imperial court. When the protocol officer ranked Chang after the Chen envoy, Chang firmly refused to comply. The protocol officer questioned him, and Chang replied: "In former times the founder of the Chen house was but a subordinate of Liang's feudal lords; he abandoned loyalty and righteousness and seized Jiangdong by force. Now Great Zhou receives tribute from all states and draws them in through ritual propriety; if Liang's envoy were ranked after Chen's, I fear the proper order of precedence would be overturned. Surely this cannot be what your minister would wish." The protocol officer could not sway him and reported the matter to the throne. Emperor Gaozu approved and ordered that Chang and the Chen envoy be received on separate days. Upon his return, having pleased the emperor, he was promoted to Palace Attendant and then transferred to Director of the Ministry of the Left Household. When he followed Xiao Cong into Sui territory, he was granted the honors of General-in-Chief with Pillar of State Protocol of the Third Rank. He died while serving as Regional Inspector of Qiaozhou. His sons were Mi and Qian.
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史臣曰：梁主任術好謀，知賢養士，蓋有英雄之志，霸王之畧焉。 及淮海版蕩，骨肉猜貳，擁衆自固，稱藩內款，終能據有全楚，中興頹運。 雖土宇殊於舊邦，而位號同於曩日。 貽厥自遠，享國數世，可不謂賢哉。 嗣子纂承舊業，增修遺構，賞罰得衷，舉厝有方。 密邇寇讐，則威畧具舉； 朝宗上國，則聲猷遠振。 豈非繼世之令主乎。
The historiographer writes: The lord of Liang was skilled in strategy and fond of planning; he recognized talent and nurtured scholars — in short, he possessed heroic ambition and the grand strategy of a true hegemon. When turmoil swept the Huai-Hai region and kin turned against one another, he rallied his forces, declared vassalage and pledged loyalty to the north, and in the end held all of Chu and revived a declining dynasty. Although his territory was not the old homeland, his titles and imperial rank were unchanged from former days. He bequeathed a lasting legacy and his dynasty endured for generations — can he fail to be called a worthy ruler? His heir succeeded him and built upon his legacy, enlarging and repairing unfinished works, keeping rewards and punishments even-handed, and governing affairs with skill. When pressed by neighboring enemies, he displayed full martial prowess and strategic skill; when turning toward the suzerain power, his reputation and achievements resounded far and wide. Was he not a model ruler of his generation?
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全文以中華書局、一九七一年十一月版《周書》為本校。
The full text of this chapter has been collated against the November 1971 Zhonghua Book Company edition of the 《Book of Zhou》.