1
資治通鑑第054卷
Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 54.
2
【漢紀四十六】起強圉作噩，盡昭陽單閼，凡七年。
【Han Records 46】 From the first year of the Qiangyu cycle through the last year of the Zhaoyang cycle—seven years in all.
3
春，正月，己未，赦天下。
In spring, in the first month, on jiwei day, an amnesty was proclaimed for the empire.
4
居風令貪暴無度，縣人朱達等與蠻夷同反，攻殺令，聚眾至四五千人。 夏，四月，進攻九真，九真太守兒式戰死。 詔九真都尉魏朗討破之。
The magistrate of Jufeng was greedily violent beyond measure. Zhu Da and others of the county joined Man and Yi tribesmen in revolt, killed the magistrate, and rallied a force of four or five thousand. In summer, in the fourth month, the rebels advanced on Jiuzhen; Nine Gates Administrator Ni Shi was killed in battle. An edict ordered Jiuzhen Commandant Wei Lang to campaign against them and defeat them.
5
閏月，庚辰晦，日有食之。
In the intercalary month, on the last day of gengchen, there was a solar eclipse.
6
京師蝗。
Locusts plagued the capital.
7
或上言：「民之貧困以貨輕錢薄，宜改鑄大錢。」 事下四府群僚及太學能言之士議之。 太學生劉陶上議曰：「當今之憂，不在於貨，在乎民饑。 竊見比年已來，良苗盡於蝗螟之口，杼軸空於公私之求。 民所患者，豈謂錢貨之厚薄，銖兩之輕重哉！ 就使當今沙礫化為南金，瓦石變為和玉，使百姓渴無所飲，饑無所食，雖皇、羲之純德，唐、虞之文明，猶不能以保蕭牆之內也。 蓋民可百年無貨，不可一朝有饑，故食為至急也。 議者不達農殖之本，多言鑄冶之便。 蓋萬人鑄之，一人奪之，猶不能給； 況今一人鑄之，則萬人奪之乎！ 雖以陰陽為炭，萬物為銅，役不食之民，使不饑之士，猶不能足無厭之求也。 夫欲民殷財阜，要在止役禁奪，則百姓不勞而足。 陛下愍海內之憂戚，欲鑄錢齊貨以救其弊，猶養魚沸鼎之中。 棲鳥烈火之上； 水、木，本魚鳥之所生也，用之不時，必至焦爛。 願陛下寬鍥薄之禁，後冶鑄之議，聽民庶之謠吟，問路叟之所憂，瞰三光之文耀，視山河之分流，天下之心，國家大事，粲然皆見，無有遺惑者矣。 伏念當今地廣而不得耕，民眾而無所食，群小競進，秉國之位，鷹揚天下，鳥鈔求飽，吞肌及骨，並噬無厭。 誠恐卒有役夫、窮匠起於板築之間，投斤攘臂，登高遠呼，使怨之民響應雲合。 雖方尺之錢，何有能救其危也！」 遂不改錢。
Someone submitted a memorial saying, "The people's poverty stems from light goods and thin coinage; large coins should be recast." The matter was referred to the four offices' assembled officials and eloquent scholars of the Imperial University for deliberation. Imperial University student Liu Tao submitted a proposal, saying, "The present worry is not in goods but in the people's hunger. Your servant has observed that in recent years good seedlings have all been consumed by locusts and caterpillars, and looms stand empty under demands public and private. What the people suffer from—how could it be the thickness or thinness of money, the weight of tael and ounce! Even if today gravel were transformed into southern gold and tiles and stones into hehe jade, yet the common people had nowhere to drink when thirsty and nothing to eat when hungry—even the pure virtue of Huangdi and Fuxi and the civilization of Tang and Yu could not preserve peace within the palace walls. For the people can go a hundred years without goods but cannot endure a single morning of hunger; therefore food is the utmost urgency. Those who debate do not reach to the root of farming and cultivation but speak much of the convenience of casting and smelting. If ten thousand men cast and one man seizes, still it cannot suffice; how much less when today one man casts and then ten thousand men seize! Even using yin and yang as charcoal and the myriad things as copper, employing men who do not eat and making men who are not hungry—still one cannot satisfy insatiable demands. If one wishes the people prosperous and wealth abundant, the key lies in stopping corvée labor and forbidding seizure—then the hundred surnames will be sufficient without toil. Your Majesty pities the grief and distress within the seas and wishes to cast coin to equalize goods to save its ills—it is like raising fish in a boiling cauldron and nesting birds upon blazing fire; water and wood are what fish and birds are born from, yet used at the wrong time they must be scorched and ruined. Your servant wishes Your Majesty to relax harsh prohibitions on coinage, defer deliberation on smelting and casting, heed the ballads of the people, ask what old men on the road worry over, survey the splendor of the three luminaries and view the branching of mountains and rivers—the mind of all under heaven and the great affairs of state will all stand forth clear, with nothing left obscure. Your servant reflects that today the land is broad yet cannot be tilled, the people are many yet have nothing to eat; petty men compete to advance, holding the state's positions, hawk-like over all under heaven, plundering to fill their bellies, devouring flesh to the bone, swallowing together without satiety. Your servant truly fears that suddenly corvée laborers and destitute artisans may rise from among the rammed-earth workers, seize axes and fling up their arms, climb high and shout far, and make resentful people answer like clouds gathering. Even square-foot coins—what could save their peril!" Thereupon the coinage was not changed.
8
冬，十一月，司徒尹頌薨。
In winter, in the eleventh month, Minister of Works Yin Song died.
9
長沙蠻反，寇益陽。
The Man of Changsha rebelled and raided Yiyang.
10
以司空韓縯為司徒，以太常北海孫朗為司空。
Minister of Works Han Yan was appointed Minister over the Masses, and Grand Minister of Ceremonies Sun Lang of Beihai was appointed Minister of Works.
11
夏，五月，甲戊晦，日有食之。 太史令陳授因小黃門徐璜陳「日食之變咎在大將軍冀」。 冀聞之，諷雒陽收考授，死於獄。 帝由是怒冀。
In summer, in the fifth month, on the last day of jiaxu, there was a solar eclipse. Grand Astrologer Chen Shou, through junior yellow gate attendant Xu Huang, presented that "the eclipse's blame lies with Grand General Ji." When Ji heard of it, he prompted Luoyang to arrest and examine Shou; Shou died in prison. Because of this the Emperor grew angry with Ji.
12
京師蝗。
Locusts plagued the capital.
13
六月，戊寅，赦天下，改元。
In the sixth month, on wuyin day, an amnesty was proclaimed for the empire and the reign title was changed.
14
大雩。
A great rain prayer was performed.
15
秋，七月，甲子，太尉黃瓊免； 以太常胡廣為太尉。
In autumn, in the seventh month, on jiazi day, Grand Commandant Huang Qiong was dismissed; Grand Minister of Ceremonies Hu Guang was appointed Grand Commandant.
16
冬，十月，帝校獵廣成，遂幸上林苑。
In winter, in the tenth month, the Emperor conducted a hunt at Guangcheng and then visited the Shanglin Park.
17
十二月，南匈奴諸部並叛，與烏桓、鮮卑寇緣邊九郡。 帝以京兆尹陳龜為度遼將軍。 龜臨行，上疏曰：「臣聞三辰不軌，擢士為相； 蠻夷不恭，拔卒為將。 臣無文武之才，而忝鷹揚之任，雖歿軀體，無所云補。 今西州邊鄙，土地□脊□角，民數更寇虜，室家殘破，雖含生氣，實同枯朽。 往歲并州水雨，災螟互生，稼穡荒耗，租更空闕。 陛下以百姓為子，焉可不垂撫循之恩哉！ 古公、西伯天下歸仁，豈復輿金輦寶以為民惠乎！ 陛下繼中興之統，承光武之業，臨朝聽政而未留聖意。 且牧守不良，或出中官，懼逆上旨，取過目前。 呼嗟之聲，招致災害，胡虜凶悍，因衰緣隙； 而令倉庫單于豺狼之口，功業無銖兩之效，皆由將帥不忠，聚奸所致。 前涼州刺史祝良，初除到州，多所糾罰，太守令長，貶黜將半，政未逾時，功效卓然，實應賞異，以勸功能； 改任牧守，去斥奸殘； 又宜更選匈奴、烏桓護羌中郎將、校尉，簡練文下，授之法令； 除並、涼二州今年租、更，寬赦罪隸，掃除更始。 則善吏知奉公之祐，惡者覺營私之禍，胡馬可不窺長城，塞下無候望之患矣。」 帝乃更選幽、并刺史，自營、郡太守、都尉以下，多所革易。 下詔為陳將軍除並、涼一年租賦，以賜吏民。 龜到職，州郡重足震慄，省息經用，歲以億計。 詔拜安定屬國都尉張奐為北中郎將，以討匈奴、烏桓等。 匈奴、烏桓燒度遼將軍門，引屯赤阬，煙火相望。 兵眾大恐，各欲亡去。 奐安坐帷中，與弟子講誦自若，軍士稍安。 乃潛誘烏桓，陰與和通，遂使斬匈奴、屠各渠帥，襲破其眾，諸胡悉降。 奐以南單于車兒不能統理國事，乃拘之，奏立左谷蠡王為單于。 詔曰：「《春秋》大居正； 車兒一心向化，何罪而黜！ 其遣還庭！」
In the twelfth month, the various divisions of the Southern Xiongnu all rebelled and, with the Wuhuan and Xianbei, raided nine commanderies along the frontier. The Emperor appointed Metropolitan Governor Chen Gui General Who Crosses the Liao. As Gui was about to depart, he submitted a memorial, saying, "Your servant has heard that when the three luminaries are irregular, one promotes a scholar to be chancellor; when the Man and Yi are not respectful, one selects a soldier to be general. Your servant has no civil or martial talent yet disgracefully bears the hawk-displaying commission; though I die in body, there is nothing to repay. Now the western provinces' frontier marches—the land is barren and rugged; the people have repeatedly suffered the bandits; households are shattered; though they contain breath of life, they are in truth like dry rot. In past years Bing province had floods and rain; disasters of locusts and caterpillars arose together; crops were wasted and exhausted; land tax and corvée were empty and lacking. Your Majesty takes the hundred surnames as children—how can you not bestow comforting and nurturing grace! The ancient duke and the Earl of the West won the realm's allegiance by benevolence—did they again carry gold and jade in carriages to be the people's bounty! Your Majesty succeeds the Restoration line and inherits Guangwu's enterprise, yet in holding court and hearing government you have not yet fixed your sage intent. Moreover governors and prefects are not good; some issue from palace eunuchs; fearing to go against the superior's intent, they take only what passes before the eyes. The sound of sighing summons disaster; the Hu and Rong are fierce and seize upon decline through gaps; yet the treasuries enrich the mouths of wolves, achievements have not a tael's effect—all because generals are not loyal and wicked men gather. Formerly Liangzhou Inspector Zhu Liang, when first appointed and arrived at the province, imposed many corrections and punishments; prefects and magistrates, demoted and dismissed, were nearly half; government had not passed its season yet achievements stood forth—truly he should have been rewarded exceptionally to encourage merit; change and appoint governors and prefects, remove and expel the wicked and cruel; again it is fitting to newly select the Protector of the Qiang, the Wuhuan and Xiongnu Commandants, and the Colonel—choose and refine civil and military men, confer upon them laws and ordinances; remit this year's land tax and corvée for Bing and Liang provinces, broadly pardon criminals and bondsmen, sweep away and make a new beginning. Then good officials will know the blessing of serving the public, and the wicked will feel the calamity of seeking private gain; Hu horses may not peer at the Long Wall, and below the passes there will be no worry of watch and lookout." The Emperor thereupon newly selected the inspectors of You and Bing; from colonels, commandery administrators, commandants, and below, many were replaced. An edict remitted one year's land tax and corvée for Bing and Liang on behalf of General Chen and bestowed them on officials and people. When Gui arrived on duty, the provinces and commanderies stood in awe trembling, economized routine expenses, and saved hundreds of millions each year. An edict appointed Commandant of the Dependent State of Anding Zhang Huan North Colonel to campaign against the Xiongnu, Wuhuan, and others. The Xiongnu and Wuhuan burned the gate of the General Who Crosses the Liao, drew off and encamped at Red Pit; beacon fires faced one another. The troops were greatly afraid; each wished to flee. Huan sat calmly within the curtain lecturing and reciting with his disciples as if at ease; the soldiers gradually grew calm. Then he secretly enticed the Wuhuan, secretly made peace with them, and had them behead the Xiongnu and Tuge chieftains, surprise-attack and break their host; all the Hu submitted. Huan, because the Southern Chanyu Che'er could not govern the state's affairs, detained him and memorialized to establish the Left Guli King as chanyu. An edict said, "The Spring and Annals greatly honor the correct succession; Che'er with one heart turned to transformation—what crime to dismiss! Send him back to the court!"
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大將軍冀與陳龜素有隙，譖其沮毀國威，挑取功譽，不為胡虜所畏，坐征還，以種暠為度遼將軍。 龜遂乞骸骨歸田裡，復征為尚書。 冀暴虐日甚，龜上疏言其罪狀，請誅之，帝不省。 龜自知必為冀所害，不食七日而死。 種暠到營所，先宣恩信，誘降諸胡，其有不服，然後加討； 羌虜先時有生見獲質於郡縣者，悉遣還之； 誠心懷撫，信賞分明，由是羌、胡皆來順服。 暠乃去烽燧，除候望，邊方晏然無警； 入為大司農。
Grand General Ji and Chen Gui had long borne a grudge; he slandered Gui for discouraging and ruining the state's prestige and picking out merit for glory, not being feared by the Hu and Rong; Gui was summoned back on that charge, and Chong Hao was made General Who Crosses the Liao. Gui thereupon begged to retire on old bones to his village fields; he was again summoned and made Master of Writing. Ji's violence and cruelty grew daily; Gui submitted a memorial stating his crimes and asking that he be executed; the Emperor did not heed it. Gui knew he would surely be harmed by Ji; he ate nothing for seven days and died. When Chong Hao arrived at the camp, he first proclaimed grace and trust and enticed the various Hu to submit; those who would not submit, only then did he add punishment. Qiang and Rong who earlier had living captives held as hostages in the commanderies and counties were all sent back; with sincere heart he embraced and comforted them, rewards and punishments clear; thereby the Qiang and Hu all came to submit. Hao then removed beacon fires and abolished watch and lookout; the frontier was tranquil without alarm; He entered office as Grand Minister of Agriculture.
19
春，二月，鮮卑寇雁門。
In spring, in the second month, the Xianbei raided Yanmen.
20
蜀郡夷寇蠶陵。
The Yi of Shu Commandery raided Canling.
21
三月，復斷刺史、二千石行三年喪。
In the third month, the three-year mourning for inspectors and two-thousand-bushel officials was again cut off.
22
夏，京師大水。
In summer, great floods struck the capital.
23
六月，鮮卑寇遼東。
In the sixth month, the Xianbei raided Liaodong.
24
梁皇后恃姊、兄廕勢，恣極奢靡，兼倍前世，專寵妒忌，六宮莫得進見。 及太后崩，恩寵頓衰。 後既無嗣，每宮人孕育，鮮得全者。 帝雖迫畏梁冀，不敢譴怒，然進御轉希，後益憂恚。 秋，七月，丙午，皇后梁氏崩。 乙丑，葬懿獻皇后於懿陵。 梁冀一門，前後七侯，三皇后，六貴人，二大將軍，夫人、女食邑稱君者七人，尚公主者三人，其餘卿、將、尹、校五十七人。 冀專擅威柄，凶恣日積，宮衛近侍，並樹所親，禁省起居，纖微必知。 其四方調發，歲時貢獻，皆先輸上第於冀，乘輿乃其次焉。 吏民繼貨求官、請罪者，道路相望。 百官遷召，皆先到冀門箋檄謝恩，然後敢詣尚書。 下邳吳樹為宛令，之官辭冀，冀賓客布在縣界，以情托樹，樹曰：「小人奸蠹，比屋可誅。 明將軍處上將之位，宜崇賢善以補朝闕。 自侍坐以來，未聞稱一長者，而多托非人，誠非敢聞！」 冀嘿然不悅。 樹到縣，遂誅殺冀客為人害者數十人。 樹後為荊州刺史，辭冀，冀鴆之，出，死車上。 遼東太守侯猛初拜，不謁冀，冀托以它事腰斬之。 郎中汝南袁著，年十九，詣闕上書曰：「夫四時之運，功成則退，高爵厚寵，鮮不致災。 今大將軍位極功成，可為至戒，宜遵縣車之禮，高枕頤神。 傳曰：『木實繁者披枝害心。』 若不抑損盛權，將無以全其身矣！」 冀聞而密遣掩捕，著乃變易姓名，托病偽死，結蒲為人，市棺殯送。 冀知其詐，求得，笞殺之。 太原郝絜、胡武，好危言高論，與著友善，絜、武嘗連名奏記三府，薦海內高士，而不詣冀。 冀追怒之，敕中都官稱檄禽捕，遂誅下家，死者六十餘人。 絜初逃亡，知不得免，因輿梓奏書冀門，書入，仰藥而死，家乃得全。 安帝嫡母耿貴人薨，冀從貴人從子林慮侯承求貴人珍玩，不能得，冀怒，並族其家十餘人。 涿郡崔琦以文章為冀所善，琦作《外戚箴》、《白鵠賦》以風，冀怒。 琦曰：「昔管仲相齊，樂聞譏諫之言； 蕭何佐漢，乃設書過之吏。 今將軍屢世台輔，任齊伊、周，而德政未聞，黎元塗炭，不能結納貞良以救禍敗，反欲鉗塞士口，杜蔽主聽，將使玄黃改色、馬鹿易形乎！」 冀無以對，因遣琦歸。 琦懼而亡匿，冀捕得，殺之。
Empress Liang relied on the influence of her elder sister and brothers, indulging to the utmost in luxury, doubling the previous age, monopolizing favor and jealousy; the six palaces could not gain audience. When the Empress Dowager died, favor suddenly declined. The empress had no heir; whenever palace women conceived, few infants survived intact. Though the Emperor was compelled and feared Liang Ji and dared not reprove in anger, yet his visits to the inner quarters grew rare and the empress grew ever more sorrowful and resentful. In autumn, in the seventh month, on bingwu day, Empress Liang died. On yichou day, Empress Yixian was buried at Yiling. The Liang clan, before and after, produced seven marquises, three empresses, six honored ladies, two grand generals; ladies and daughters with fiefs styled lady numbered seven; those who married princesses numbered three; the rest—ministers, generals, chief administrators, and colonels—numbered fifty-seven. Ji monopolized power and authority; violence and arrogance accumulated daily; palace guards and close attendants all planted his intimates; prohibited quarters and daily life—every trifle he knew. Whatever was levied from the four quarters and yearly tribute—all were first delivered in top grade to Ji; the imperial carriage came second. Officials and people who succeeded in goods to seek office or plead guilt—on the roads they faced one another. When the hundred officials were promoted and summoned, all first went to Ji's gate with a note of thanks for grace; only then did they dare go to the Masters of Writing. Wu Shu of Xiapi was magistrate of Wan; on taking office he bade farewell to Ji; Ji's clients were spread through the county borders; on private grounds he entrusted Shu; Shu said, "Petty men are wicked parasites—house by house they could be executed. The enlightened general holds the position of supreme commander; he should honor the worthy and good to repair the court's gaps. Since I took my seat I have not heard you praise one worthy man, yet you often entrust unworthy men—truly I dare not hear it!" Ji fell silent, displeased. When Shu arrived at the county, he executed several dozen of Ji's clients who had been preying on the people. Later Shu became Inspector of Jing province. When he went to bid Ji farewell, Ji poisoned him; he died in his carriage on the way out. When Hou Meng was first appointed Administrator of Liaodong, he did not call on Ji; Ji used another matter as pretext and had him cut in two at the waist. Attendant-in-ordinary Yuan Zhu of Runan, nineteen years old, went to the palace gate and submitted a memorial, saying, "The cycle of the four seasons—when merit is complete one should withdraw; lofty rank and thick favor rarely fail to bring disaster. Now the Grand General's position is at the utmost and his merit complete—it should be the greatest warning; he should follow the rite of hanging up the carriage, rest his head on a high pillow, and nourish his spirit. The tradition says, 'When a tree's fruit is abundant, its branches are stripped and its heart harmed.' If one does not restrain and reduce overflowing power, one will have no means to preserve one's person!" When Ji heard of it he secretly sent men to seize Zhu in a surprise arrest; Zhu then changed his name, feigned illness and sham death, bound rushes into a human form, bought a coffin, and had a funeral procession sent off. Ji knew it was a fraud, found him, and had him beaten to death. Hao Jie and Hu Wu of Taiyuan loved bold words and lofty discourse and were friendly with Zhu; Jie and Wu once jointly submitted a note to the three offices recommending eminent men within the seas, yet did not call on Ji. Ji pursued them in anger, ordered the central palace officials to issue warrants for their arrest, and thereupon executed their households; more than sixty died. Jie at first fled; knowing he could not escape, he had a coffin carried and submitted a memorial at Ji's gate; when the memorial was delivered he took poison and died, and his family was thereby spared. When Empress Dowager Geng, the Emperor's father's principal consort, died, Ji had the honored lady's nephew, Marquis Cheng of Linlu, seek the lady's precious curios; when he could not obtain them Ji grew angry and executed Cheng's entire clan of more than ten. Cui Qi of Zhuo Commandery was favored by Ji for his literary skill; Qi composed "Admonition on Consort Kin" and "Rhapsody on the White Swan" to admonish him, and Ji grew angry. Qi said, "In former times Guan Zhong served as chancellor of Qi and delighted to hear words of criticism and remonstrance; Xiao He assisted Han and therefore established officials who recorded faults. Now the General for generations has held the highest ministerial posts, his commission equal to Yi Yin and the Duke of Zhou, yet no virtuous governance is heard; the common people are in utter misery—you cannot gather and win over the upright and good to rescue disaster and ruin, yet instead wish to clamp shut the mouths of scholars and block and blind the ruler's hearing—will you make black turn yellow and deer become horses!" Ji had nothing with which to reply and therefore sent Qi home. Qi, in fear, fled and hid; Ji captured him and killed him.
25
冀秉政幾二十年，威行內外，天子拱手，不得有所親與，帝既不平之； 及陳授死，帝愈怒。 和熹皇后從兄子郎中鄧香妻宣，生女猛，香卒，宣更適梁紀； 紀，孫壽之舅也。 壽以猛色美，引入掖庭，為貴人，冀欲認猛為其女，易猛姓為梁。 冀恐猛姊婿議郎邴尊沮敗宣意，遣客刺殺之。 又欲殺宣，宣家與中常侍袁赦相比，冀客登赦屋，欲入宣家，赦覺之，鳴鼓會眾以告宣。 宣馳入白帝，帝大怒，因如廁，獨呼小黃門史唐衡，問：「左右與外捨不相得者，誰乎？」 衡對：「中常侍單超、小黃門史左心官與梁不疑有隙； 中常侍徐璜、黃門令具瑗常私忿疾外捨放橫，口不敢道。」 於是帝呼超、心官入室，謂曰：「梁將軍兄弟專朝，迫脅內外，公卿以下，從其風旨，今欲誅之，於常侍意如何？」 超等對曰：「誠國奸賊，當誅日久； 臣等弱劣，未知聖意如何耳。」 帝曰：「審然者，常侍密圖之。」 對曰：「圖之不難，但恐陛下腹中狐疑。」 帝曰：「奸臣脅國，當伏其罪，何疑乎！」 於是更召璜、瑗等，五人共定其議，帝齧超臂出血為盟。 超等曰：「陛下今計已決，勿復更言，恐為人所疑。」
Ji held power for nearly twenty years; his authority extended inside and outside; the Son of Heaven stood with folded hands and could not personally attend to affairs—the Emperor was already displeased; when Chen Shou died the Emperor grew still angrier. Attendant-in-ordinary Deng Xiang, a son of Empress Dowager Hexi's cousin, had a wife named Xuan who bore a daughter Meng; when Xiang died, Xuan remarried Liang Ji; Ji was the maternal uncle of Sun Shou. Shou, because Meng's beauty was fine, brought her into the rear palace as an honored lady; Ji wished to claim Meng as his daughter and changed Meng's surname to Liang. Ji feared that Meng's elder sister's husband, Consultant Bing Zun, would thwart and ruin Xuan's intent, and sent a client to assassinate him. He also wished to kill Xuan; Xuan's household adjoined that of Regular Palace Attendant Yuan She; Ji's client climbed onto She's roof intending to enter Xuan's house; She noticed it, beat the drum and gathered the crowd to inform Xuan. Xuan rushed in to inform the Emperor; the Emperor was greatly angered; then, as if going to the privy, he alone summoned Junior Yellow Gate Attendant Tang Heng and asked, "Among those close at hand and the outer household, who are not on good terms?" Heng replied, "Regular Palace Attendant Shan Chao and Junior Yellow Gate Attendant Zuo Xinguan have a rift with Liang Buyi; Regular Palace Attendant Xu Huang and Yellow Gate Commandant Ju Yuan often privately resent the outer household's arrogance and violence, yet dare not speak of it in their mouths." Thereupon the Emperor summoned Chao and Xinguan into the room and said, "General Liang and his brothers monopolize the court, coercing inside and outside; ministers and officials below follow their intent—now I wish to execute them; what do the regular attendants think?" Chao and the others replied, "They are truly traitors of the state and should long ago have been executed; we your servants are weak and inferior and do not know what Your Sage intent may be." The Emperor said, "If it is truly so, let the regular attendants secretly plan it." They replied, "Planning it is not difficult, but we fear doubt lingering in Your Majesty's belly." The Emperor said, "Traitorous ministers coerce the state—they should suffer their punishment; what doubt is there!" Thereupon he further summoned Huang, Yuan, and the others; the five men together fixed the plan, and the Emperor bit Chao's arm until blood flowed as their covenant. Chao and the others said, "Your Majesty's plan is now decided—do not speak of it again, lest others become suspicious."
26
冀心疑超等，八月，丁丑，使中黃門張惲入省宿，以防其變。 具瑗敕吏收惲，以「輒從外入，欲圖不軌。」 帝御前殿，召諸尚書入，發其事，使尚書令尹勳持節勒丞、郎以下皆操兵守省閣，斂諸符節送省中，使具瑗將左右廄騶、虎賁、羽林、都候劍戟士合千餘人，與司隸校尉張彪共圍冀第，使光祿勳袁□於持節收冀大將軍印綬，徙封比景都鄉侯。 冀及妻壽即日皆自殺； 不疑、蒙先卒。 悉收梁氏、孫氏中外宗親送詔獄，無長少皆棄市； 它所連及公卿、列校、刺史、二千石，死者數十人。 太尉胡廣、司徒韓縯、司空孫朗皆坐阿附梁冀，不衛宮，止長壽亭，減死一等，免為庶人。 故吏、賓客免黜者三百餘人，朝廷為空。 是時，事猝從中發，使者交馳，公卿失其度，官府市裡鼎沸，數日乃定； 百姓莫不稱慶。 收冀財貨，縣官斥賣，合三十餘萬萬，以充王府用，減天下稅租之半，散其苑囿，以業窮民。
Ji suspected Chao and the others; in the eighth month, on dingchou day, he sent Central Yellow Gate Attendant Zhang Yun to lodge inside the palace precinct to guard against any upheaval. Ju Yuan ordered officials to arrest Yun on the charge that "he rashly entered from outside intending to plot rebellion." The Emperor took the front hall, summoned all the Masters of Writing in, disclosed the affair, and had Master of Writing Yin Xun hold the staff of authority to command assistants, attendants, and below all to take up arms and guard the provincial offices; all tally-seals were gathered and sent into the palace precinct; Ju Yuan was made to lead more than a thousand sword-and-halberd men of the left and right stables, tiger guards, feathered forest, and capital guards, and together with Colonel of the Region Zhang Biao surround Ji's mansion; he had Household Minister Yuan Fuzi hold the staff of authority to receive Ji's Grand General seal and cord and demote him to Marquis of Bijing Capital Village. Ji and his wife Shou that same day both killed themselves; Buyi and Meng had already died earlier. All the Liang and Sun clans' kin inside and outside were seized and sent to the imperial prison; none, old or young, escaped execution in the marketplace; those elsewhere implicated—ministers, colonels, inspectors, and two-thousand-bushel officials—numbered several tens dead. Grand Commandant Hu Guang, Minister over the Masses Han Yan, and Minister of Works Sun Lang were all charged with fawning on and attaching themselves to Liang Ji, failing to guard the palace, and stopping at Changshou Pavilion; their death sentences were reduced one degree and they were dismissed as commoners. Former clerks and clients dismissed numbered more than three hundred; the court was emptied. At this time the affair suddenly erupted from within; messengers crossed paths in haste; ministers and officials lost their composure; government offices and market streets seethed like a boiling cauldron—only after several days did it settle; the common people all voiced celebration. Ji's goods and wealth were seized and sold off by the government; the total reached more than three hundred million; it was used to fill the imperial treasury, half the empire's taxes and land rents were reduced, and his parks and preserves were opened to give livelihood to the destitute.
27
壬午，立梁貴人為皇后，追廢懿陵為貴人塚。 帝惡梁氏，改皇后姓為薄氏，久之，知為鄧香女，乃複姓鄧氏。
On renwu day, Honored Lady Liang was established as empress; Yiling was retroactively demoted to an honored lady's tomb. The Emperor hated the Liang clan and changed the empress's surname to Bo; after a long time, learning she was Deng Xiang's daughter, he restored the surname Deng.
28
詔賞誅梁冀之功，封單超、徐璜、具瑗、左心官、唐衡皆為縣侯，超食二萬戶，璜等各萬餘戶，世謂之五侯。 仍以心官、衡為中常侍。 又封尚書令尹勳等七人皆為亭侯。
An edict rewarded the merit of executing Liang Ji; Shan Chao, Xu Huang, Ju Yuan, Zuo Xinguan, and Tang Heng were all enfeoffed as district marquises; Chao's fief was twenty thousand households, Huang and the others each more than ten thousand households—the age called them the Five Marquises. Xinguan and Heng were further made regular palace attendants. Seven men including Master of Writing Yin Xun were also enfeoffed as village marquises.
29
以大司農黃瓊為太尉，光祿大夫中山祝恬為司徒，大鴻臚梁國盛允為司空。 是時，新誅梁冀，天下想望異政，黃瓊首居公位，乃舉奏州郡素行貪污，至死徙者十餘人，海內翕然稱之。
Grand Minister of Agriculture Huang Qiong was made Grand Commandant; Household Grandee Zhu Ti of Zhongshan was made Minister over the Masses; Grand Herald Sheng Yun of Liang was made Minister of Works. At this time, with Liang Ji newly executed, all under heaven looked for a different governance; Huang Qiong, first among the highest offices, thereupon memorialized and impeached those in the provinces and commanderies whose conduct had long been corrupt—more than ten suffered death or banishment—and within the seas praise arose as one.
30
瓊辟汝南范滂。 滂少厲清節，為州裡所服。 嘗為清詔使，案察冀州，滂登車攬轡，慨然有澄清天下之志。 守令臧污者，皆望風解印綬去； 其所舉奏，莫不厭塞眾議。 會詔三府掾屬舉謠言，滂奏刺史、二千石權豪之黨二十餘人。 尚書責滂所劾猥多，疑有私故。 滂對曰：「臣之所舉，自非叨穢奸暴，深為民害，豈以污簡札哉！ 間以會日迫促，故先舉所急，其未審者，方更參實。 臣聞農夫去草，嘉谷必茂； 忠臣除奸，王道以清。 若臣言有貳，甘受顯戮！」 尚書不能詰。
Qiong recruited Fan Pang of Runan. Pang from youth cultivated pure integrity and was respected by his province and village. He once served as Purifying Edict Emissary, investigating Ji province; Pang mounted his carriage and took the reins, sighing with the ambition to clarify all under heaven. Corrupt prefects and magistrates all surrendered their seals and cords and fled at his approach; those he memorialized and impeached all silenced the crowd's objections. When an edict ordered the three offices' staff to report slanderous speech, Pang memorialized more than twenty partisans of inspectors and two-thousand-bushel officials among the powerful and great. The Masters of Writing reproached Pang for impeaching too many and suspected private motives. Pang replied, "Those your servant has impeached—unless they were greedy, filthy, wicked, and violent, deeply harming the people—how could I stain the bamboo slips! Only because the assembly day was pressing I first impeached what was urgent; what is not yet verified I shall further investigate. Your servant has heard that when a farmer removes weeds, fine grain must flourish; when a loyal minister removes the wicked, the kingly way is thereby clarified. If your servant's words are false, I willingly accept open execution!" The Masters of Writing could not cross-examine him.
31
尚書令陳蕃上疏薦五處士，豫章徐稚、彭城姜肱、汝南袁閎、京兆韋著，穎川李曇。 帝悉以安車、玄纁備禮征之，皆不至。 稚家貧，常自耕稼，非其力不食，恭儉義讓，所居服其德； 屢辟公府，不起。 陳蕃為豫章太守，以禮請署功曹； 稚不之免，既謁而退。 蕃性方峻，不接賓客，唯稚來，特設一榻，去則縣之。 後舉有道，家拜太原太守，皆不就。 稚雖不應諸公之辟，然聞其死喪，輒負笈赴吊。 常於家豫炙雞一隻，以一兩綿絮漬酒中暴干，以裹雞，逕到所赴塚隧外，以水漬綿，使有酒氣，斗米飯，白茅為藉。 以雞置前，醊酒畢，留謁則去，不見喪主。
Master of Writing Chen Fan submitted a memorial recommending five recluses: Xu Zhi of Yuzhang, Jiang Gong of Pengcheng, Yuan Hong of Runan, Wei Zhu of Jingzhao, and Li Tan of Yingchuan. The Emperor sent for them all with a comfortable carriage, dark scarlet robes, and full ceremony—they none came. Zhi's family was poor; he often tilled the fields himself, eating nothing not earned by his own labor; respectful, frugal, righteous, and yielding—where he lived people submitted to his virtue; repeatedly summoned by the highest offices, he would not rise to serve. When Chen Fan was Administrator of Yuzhang, he courteously invited Zhi to take the post of Merit Officer; Zhi did not exempt himself from the visit; after paying his respects he withdrew. Fan's nature was upright and stern; he did not receive guests—only when Zhi came did he specially set out one couch, and when Zhi left he hung it up. Later he was recommended as a man of the Way and was appointed by imperial letter as Administrator of Taiyuan—he accepted neither. Though Zhi did not respond to the summons of the great lords, whenever he heard of a death or mourning he would shoulder his book-chest and hurry to offer condolences. He would often at home beforehand roast one chicken, soak an ounce or two of cotton wadding in wine and sun-dry it, wrap the chicken with it, go straight to outside the tomb passage he was visiting, soak the cotton with water until it gave off a wine scent, set out a peck of rice, and spread white thatch as a mat. He placed the chicken before the tomb, finished the libation wine, left his name card of visit, and departed—he did not meet the bereaved host.
32
肱與二弟仲海、季江俱以孝友著聞，常同被而寢，不應徵聘。 肱嘗與弟季江俱詣郡，夜於道為盜所劫，欲殺之，肱曰：「弟年幼，父母所憐，又未聘娶，願殺身濟弟。」 季江曰：「兄年德在前，家之珍寶，國之英俊，乞自受戮，以代兄命。」 盜遂兩釋焉，但掠奪衣資而已。 既至，郡中見肱無衣服，怪問其故，肱托以它辭，終不言盜。 盜聞而感悔，就精廬求見征君，叩頭謝罪，還所略物。 肱不受，勞以酒食而遣之。 帝既征肱不至，乃下彭城，使畫工圖其形狀。 肱臥於幽暗，以被韜面，言患眩疾，不欲出風，工竟不得見之。
Gong and his two younger brothers Zhonghai and Jijiang were all famed for filial piety and brotherly affection; they often shared one cover while sleeping and did not respond to summons and appointments. Gong once went with his brother Jijiang together to the commandery seat; at night on the road they were robbed by bandits who wished to kill them; Gong said, "My brother is young, beloved of our parents, and not yet betrothed—I wish to give my life to save my brother." Jijiang said, "Elder brother, your years and virtue come first—you are the family's treasure and the state's fine talent; I beg to accept execution myself in place of my elder brother's life." The bandits thereupon released them both, plundering only clothes and goods. When they arrived, the commandery saw Gong without clothes and asked in wonder the reason; Gong put it off with other words and to the end did not speak of the bandits. The bandits, hearing of it, were moved to repentance; they went to the hermitage seeking to see the recluse lord, kowtowed in apology, and returned what they had plundered. Gong did not accept them, but treated them with wine and food and sent them away. Since the Emperor had summoned Gong and he had not come, he went down to Pengcheng and had painters depict his likeness. Gong lay in a dark place, covered his face with the quilt, and said he suffered dizzy sickness and did not wish to meet the wind—the painters in the end could not see him.
33
閎，安之玄孫也，苦身修節，不應辟召。 著隱居講授，不修世務。 曇繼母酷烈，曇奉之逾謹，得四時珍玩，未嘗不先拜而後進，鄉里以為法。
Hong was the great-great-grandson of Yuan An; he mortified the body and cultivated integrity and did not respond to summons. Zhu lived in seclusion lecturing and did not attend to worldly affairs. Tan had a stepmother fierce and harsh; Tan served her with ever greater care—whenever he obtained seasonal delicacies and curios he never failed first to bow and only then present them; the village took this as a model.
34
帝又征安陽魏桓，其鄉人勸之行，桓曰：「夫干祿求進，所以行其志也。 今後宮千數，其可損乎？ 廄馬萬匹，其可減乎？ 左右權豪，其可去乎？」 皆對曰：「不可。」 桓乃慨然歎曰：「使桓生行死歸，於諸子何有哉！」 遂隱身不出。
The Emperor again summoned Wei Huan of Anyang; his fellow villagers urged him to go; Huan said, "Seeking salary and advancement is the means by which one carries out one's will. Now the rear palace numbers in the thousands—can that be reduced? Stable horses number ten thousand—can that be reduced? Powerful great ones at hand—can they be removed?" All replied, "It cannot be done." Huan then sighed with feeling and said, "If Huan is born walking and dies returning—what has that to do with the rest of you!" Thereupon he went into hiding and never emerged.
35
帝既誅梁冀，故舊恩敵，多受封爵：追贈皇后父鄧香為車騎將軍，封安陽侯； 更封後母宣為昆陽君，兄子康、秉皆為列侯，宗族皆列校、郎將，賞賜以巨萬計。 中常侍侯覽上縑五千匹，帝賜爵關內侯，又托以與議誅冀，進封高鄉侯； 又封小黃門劉普、趙忠等八人為鄉侯。 自是權勢專歸宦官矣。 五侯尤貪縱，傾動內外。 時災異數見，白馬令甘陵李雲露布上書，移副三府曰：「梁冀雖持權專擅，虐流天下，今以罪行誅，猶召家臣扼殺之耳，而猥封謀臣萬戶以上； 高祖聞之，得無見非！ 西北列將，得無解體！ 孔子曰：『帝者，諦也。』 今官位錯亂，小人諂進，財貨公行，政化日損； 尺一拜用，不經御省，是帝欲不謗乎！」 帝得奏震怒，下有司逮雲，詔尚書都護劍戟送黃門北寺獄，使中常侍管霸與御史、廷尉雜考之。 時弘農五官掾杜眾傷雲以忠諫獲罪，上書「願與雲同日死」，帝愈怒，遂並下廷尉。 大鴻臚陳蕃上疏曰：「李雲所言，雖不識禁忌，幹上逆旨，其意歸於忠國而已。 昔高祖忍周昌不諱之諫，成帝赦朱雲腰領之誅，今日殺雲，臣恐剖心之譏，復議於世矣！」 太常楊秉、雒陽市長沐茂、郎中上官資並上疏請雲。 帝恚甚，有司奏以為大有敬。 詔切責蕃、秉，免歸田裡，茂、資貶秩二等。 時帝在濯龍池，管霸奏雲等事，霸跪言曰：「李雲野澤愚儒，杜眾郡中小吏，出於狂戇，不足加罪。」 帝謂霸曰：「『帝欲不諦』，是何等語，而常侍欲原之邪！」 顧使小黃門可其奏，雲、眾皆死獄中，於是嬖寵益橫。 太尉瓊自度力不能制，乃稱疾不起，上疏曰：「陛下即位以來，未有勝政，諸梁秉權，豎宦充朝，李固、杜喬既以忠言橫見殘滅，而李雲、杜眾復以直道繼踵受誅，海內傷懼，益以怨結，朝野之人，以忠為諱。 尚書周永，素事梁冀，假其威勢，見冀將衰，乃陽毀示忠，遂因奸計，亦取封侯。 又，黃門挾邪，群輩相黨，自冀興盛，腹背相親，朝夕圖謀，共構奸軌； 臨冀當誅，無可設巧，復記其惡以要爵賞。 陛下不加清征，審別真偽，復與忠臣並時顯封，使朱紫共色，粉墨雜糅，所謂抵金玉於沙礫，碎珪璧於泥塗，四方聞之，莫不憤歎。 臣世荷國恩，身輕位重，敢以垂絕之日，陳不諱之言。」 書奏，不納。
Once Liang Ji was dead, the Emperor lavished titles on old friends, favorites, and former foes alike: the Empress's father Deng Xiang was posthumously made General of Chariots and Cavalry and enfeoffed as Marquis of Anyang; He further enfeoffed his stepmother Xuan as Lady of Kunyang, made his nephews Kang and Bing full marquises, appointed the whole clan as colonels and gentleman-generals, and showered rewards counted in the tens of thousands. Palace Attendant Hou Lan offered five thousand bolts of silk. The Emperor made him Marquis Within the Passes and, citing his role in plotting Liang Ji's downfall, promoted him to Marquis of Gaoxiang; He also enfeoffed eight men, including Junior Palace Attendants Liu Pu and Zhao Zhong, as township marquises. From then on, power passed entirely into eunuch hands. The Five Marquises were greedier and more unrestrained than any, and their sway rocked court and countryside alike. Portents multiplied. Li Yun of Ganling, magistrate of Baima, posted an open memorial and copied it to the Three Excellencies: "Liang Ji tyrannized the realm, yet his execution was no more than having a household servant throttle him—and now the conspirators are rashly enfeoffed as ten-thousand-household marquises and above; Would Emperor Gaozu not take offense at this! Would the frontier generals of the northwest not fall apart in despair! Confucius said: 'The emperor—di—is one who listens closely. 』Today ranks are scrambled, flatterers rise, bribes pass openly, and governance erodes day by day; Imperial appointments on foot-long slips take effect without the Emperor's review—is this an emperor who does not wish to hear criticism! 」The Emperor read the memorial and exploded with rage. He ordered Yun seized, had the Director of the Masters of Writing escort him under arms to the Northern Prison of the Yellow Gates, and set Palace Attendant Guan Ba to examine him together with the censor and the Commandant of Justice. Du Zhong, a senior clerk in Hongnong, grieved that Yun was punished for honest counsel and wrote, "I wish to die on the same day as Yun." The Emperor's rage deepened, and both men were sent to the Commandant of Justice. Grand Master of Ceremonies Chen Fan memorialized: "Li Yun's words breached taboo and defied the throne, yet his intent was loyalty to the state alone. Emperor Gaozu once endured Zhou Chang's blunt counsel; Emperor Cheng spared Zhu Yun from beheading. Kill Yun today, and I fear the world will again speak of rulers who cut out loyal hearts! 」Grand Master of Ceremonies Yang Bing, Luoyang Market Chief Mu Mao, and Palace Gentleman Shangguan Zi all memorialized on Yun's behalf. The Emperor was furious. Officials reported them for gross disrespect. An edict sharply rebuked Fan and Bing and sent them home; Mao and Zi were demoted two ranks. The Emperor was at the Dragon-Washing Pool when Guan Ba reported on the case. Ba knelt and said: "Li Yun is a rustic scholar; Du Zhong a county clerk. Their words were rash folly and merit no punishment. 」The Emperor said to Ba: "'The emperor does not wish to listen closely'—what kind of talk is that, and you would pardon them! 」He had a Junior Palace Attendant ratify the verdict. Yun and Zhong died in prison, and the Emperor's favorites grew bolder than ever. Grand Commandant Qiong, knowing he could not check them, feigned illness and stayed home. He memorialized: "Since Your Majesty's accession there has been no flourishing rule. The Liangs held power; eunuchs pack the court. Li Gu and Du Qiao were destroyed for honest counsel; Li Yun and Du Zhong followed them to execution. The realm grieves and fears; resentment mounts; court and country alike shun loyalty. Director of the Masters of Writing Zhou Yong had long served Liang Ji and traded on his power. Seeing Ji's fall approaching, he pretended to denounce him, plotted his way into favor, and won a marquisate. The Yellow Gate eunuchs clung to evil and formed factions. From Ji's ascendancy they were inseparable, plotting day and night, weaving treachery together; When Ji was doomed they could play no clever game, so they recorded his crimes to claim titles and rewards. Your Majesty did not investigate or separate true from false, but enfeoffed them alongside loyal ministers, making crimson and purple indistinguishable, jade and chalk alike—the proverb of casting gold among gravel and shattering scepters in mud. All the realm raged and lamented. My family has owed the state for generations. Though I am insignificant, my office is weighty. On the edge of death I dare speak without reserve. 」The memorial was ignored."
36
冬，十月，壬申，上行幸長安。
In winter, in the tenth month, on renshen day, the Emperor traveled to Chang'an.
37
中常侍單超疾病； 壬寅，以超為車騎將軍。
Palace Attendant Shan Chao fell ill; On renyin day, Chao was made General of Chariots and Cavalry.
38
十二月，己巳，上還自長安。 燒當、燒何、當煎、勒姐等八種羌寇隴西金城塞，護羌校尉段穎擊破之，追至羅亭，斬其酋豪以下二千級，獲生口萬餘人。
In the twelfth month, on jisi day, the Emperor returned from Chang'an. Eight Qiang tribes—Shaodang, Shaohe, Dangjian, Lejie, and others—raided the Longxi and Jincheng frontier. Protector of the Qiang Duan Yong routed them, pursued them to Luoting, took two thousand heads including chieftains, and captured more than ten thousand people.
39
詔復以陳蕃為光祿勳，楊秉為河南尹。 單超兄子匡為濟陰太守，負勢貪放。 兗州刺史第五種使從事衛羽案之，得臧五六千萬，種即奏匡，並以劾超。 匡窘迫，賂客任方刺羽。 羽覺其奸，捕方，囚系雒陽。 匡慮楊秉窮竟其事，密令方等突獄亡走。 尚書召秉詰責，秉對曰：「方等無狀，釁由單匡，乞檻車征匡，考核其事，則奸慝蹤緒，必可立得。」 秉竟坐論作左校。 時泰山賊叔孫無忌寇暴徐、兗，州郡不能討，單超以是陷第五種，坐徙朔方； 超外孫董援為朔方太守，蓄怒以待之。 種故吏孫斌知種必死，結客追種，及於太原，劫之以歸，亡命數年，會赦得免。 種，倫之曾孫也。
An edict restored Chen Fan as Director of the Imperial Luminaries and made Yang Bing Intendant of Henan. Shan Chao's nephew Kuang was Administrator of Jiyin, abusing his family's power with greed and license. Yan Province Inspector Diwu Zhong sent Attendant Wei Yu to investigate and uncovered embezzlement of fifty or sixty million. Zhong memorialized against Kuang and impeached Chao as well. Cornered, Kuang bribed a retainer, Ren Fang, to kill Yu. Yu saw through the plot, seized Fang, and imprisoned him in Luoyang. Fearing Yang Bing would pursue the case to its end, Kuang secretly ordered Fang and others to break out of prison and flee. The Masters of Writing summoned Bing for rebuke. Bing replied: "Fang and his ilk are worthless; the trouble began with Shan Kuang. Summon Kuang in a prison cart and investigate—then the trail of treachery and greed will quickly appear. 」Bing was convicted and sentenced to the Left Construction Corps. The Taishan bandit Shusun Wuji ravaged Xu and Yan; local authorities could not suppress him. Shan Chao used this to frame Diwu Zhong, who was exiled to Shuofang; Chao's grandson Dong Yuan was Administrator of Shuofang, nursing his rage in wait for Zhong. Zhong's former clerk Sun Bin knew Zhong would die. He gathered men, overtook Zhong at Taiyuan, abducted him, and they lived as fugitives for years until an amnesty saved them. Zhong was the great-grandson of Lun.
40
是時，封賞逾制，內寵猥盛。 陳蕃上疏曰：「夫諸侯上象四七，籓屏上國； 高祖之約，非功臣不侯。 而聞追錄河南尹鄧萬世父遵之微功，更爵尚書令黃俊先人之絕封。 近習以非義授邑，左右以無功傳賞，至乃一門之內，侯者數人，故緯象失度，陰陽謬序。 臣知封事已行，言之無及，誠欲陛下從是而止。 又，采女數千，食肉衣綺，脂油粉黛，不可貲計。 鄙諺言『盜不過五女門』，以女貧家也； 今後宮之女，豈不貧國乎！」 帝頗采其言，為出宮女五百餘人，但賜俊爵關內侯，而封萬世南鄉侯。
Enfeoffments and rewards now exceeded all precedent, and the Emperor's inner favorites proliferated. Chen Fan memorialized: "Marquisates mirror the twenty-eight mansions above and shield the realm; Emperor Gaozu's covenant held that only meritorious ministers could be enfeoffed. Yet I hear Deng Wanshi's father Zun is being enfeoffed for slight merit, and Director Huang Jun's ancestor's lapsed title restored. Favorites receive fiefs unjustly; courtiers inherit rewards without merit—several marquises under one roof. No wonder the heavens lose their measure and yin and yang fall out of order. The enfeoffments are done and words come too late; I ask only that Your Majesty stop here. Palace women number in the thousands, feasting on meat and draped in silk; oils, powders, and cosmetics beyond counting. A folk saying runs, 'Thieves skip houses with five daughters,' for daughters beggar a home; Are the women of the inner palace not beggaring the state! 」The Emperor took much of this to heart and released more than five hundred palace women—but still made Jun Marquis Within the Passes and Wanshi Marquis of Nanxiang."
41
帝從容問侍中陳留爰延：「朕何如主也？」 對曰：「陛下為漢中主。」 帝曰：「何以言之？」 對曰：「尚書令陳蕃任事則治，中常侍黃門與政則亂。 是以知陛下可與為善，可與為非。」 帝曰：「昔朱雲廷折欄檻，今侍中面稱朕違，敬聞闕矣。」 拜五官中郎將，累遷大鴻臚。 會客星經帝坐，帝密以問延，延上封事曰：「陛下以河南尹鄧萬世有龍潛之舊，封為通侯，恩重公卿，惠豐宗室； 加頃引見，與之對博，上下□葉黷，有虧尊嚴。 臣聞之，帝左右者，所以咨政德也。 善人同處，則日聞嘉訓； 惡人從游，則日生邪情。 惟陛下遠讒諛之人，納謇謇之士，則災變可除。」 帝不能用。 延稱病，免歸。
The Emperor casually asked Palace Attendant Yuan Yan of Chenliu: "What sort of ruler am I? 」He replied: "Your Majesty is a middling ruler of Han. 」The Emperor said: "How so? 」He replied: "When Chen Fan as Director of the Masters of Writing takes charge, there is order; when eunuchs meddle in government, there is chaos. Hence I know Your Majesty can be steered toward good or toward ill. 」The Emperor said: "Zhu Yun once broke the balustrade remonstrating in open court; now a Palace Attendant tells me to my face I am wrong—I hear the rebuke and accept it. 」Yan was made General of the Five Offices and eventually rose to Grand Master of Ceremonies. When a guest star crossed the imperial throne, the Emperor quietly consulted Yan. Yan submitted a sealed memorial: "Your Majesty enfeoffed Intendant of Henan Deng Wanshi as a full marquis for old companionship in your days before the throne, honoring him above the Three Excellencies and enriching the clan; You recently received him in audience and played dice together—frivolous intimacy between sovereign and subject that diminished your dignity. Those at the Emperor's side exist to counsel on governance and virtue. Keep good company and you hear fine counsel each day; Keep wicked company and corrupt impulses grow daily. Distance slanderers and flatterers; welcome blunt, upright men—and the portents may be dispelled. 」The Emperor did not heed it. Yan pleaded illness and was sent home."
42
春，正月，丙申，赦天下，詔求李固後嗣。 初，固既策罷，知不免禍，乃遣三子基、茲、燮皆歸鄉里，時燮年十三，姊文姬為同郡趙伯英妻，見二兄歸，具知事本，默然獨悲曰：「李氏滅矣！ 自太公已來，積德累仁，何以遇此！」 密與二兄謀，豫藏匿燮，託言還京師，人咸信之。 有頃，難作，州郡收基、茲，皆死獄中。 文姬乃告父門生王成曰：「君執義先公，有古人之節； 今委君以六尺之孤，李氏存滅，其在君矣！」 成乃將燮乘江東下，入徐州界，變姓名為酒家傭，而成賣卜於市，各為異人，陰相往來。 積十餘年，梁冀既誅，燮乃以本末告酒家，酒傢具車重厚遣之，燮皆不受，遂還鄉里，追行喪服，姊弟相見，悲感傍人。 姊戒燮曰：「吾家血食將絕，弟幸而得濟，豈非天邪！ 宜杜絕眾人，勿妄往來，慎無一言加於梁氏！ 加梁氏則連主上，禍重至矣，唯引咎而已。」 燮謹從其誨。 後王成卒，燮以禮葬之，每四節為設上賓之位而祠焉。
In spring, in the first month, on bingshen day, an empire-wide amnesty was proclaimed and an edict sought descendants of Li Gu. When Gu was dismissed by rescript, knowing disaster was inevitable, he sent his three sons Ji, Zi, and Xie home. Xie was thirteen. His sister Wenji, wife of Zhao Boying in the same commandery, saw her brothers return, understood everything, and murmured in grief: "The house of Li is finished! From Lord Tai onward we heaped virtue upon virtue—how did we come to this! 」She secretly plotted with her brothers, hid Xie in advance, and spread word that he had returned to the capital. All believed it. Soon disaster struck. Authorities seized Ji and Zi; both died in prison. Wenji then told her father's student Wang Cheng: "You served my father with integrity, with the honor of the ancients; I entrust to you a fatherless child—the survival of the house of Li rests with you! 」Cheng took Xie downriver into Xu Province. Xie became a tavern hand under a false name; Cheng sold divinations in the market. They passed as strangers but kept in secret contact. After more than ten years, once Liang Ji was dead, Xie confided in the tavern keeper, who offered a carriage and rich gifts. Xie refused, returned home, put on mourning, and met his sister— their grief moved all who watched. His sister warned him: "Our ancestral sacrifices nearly ended; you were spared by fortune—is this not Heaven's will! Cut yourself off from others, wander nowhere recklessly, and never breathe a word against the Liangs! Implicate the Liangs and you implicate the Emperor—disaster would return. Blame only yourself. 」Xie obeyed her counsel faithfully. When Wang Cheng died, Xie buried him with full rites and at each seasonal festival set a chief guest's seat and made offerings."
43
丙午，新豐侯單超卒，賜東園秘器，棺中玉具； 及葬，發五營騎士、將作大匠起塚塋。 其後四侯轉橫，天下為之語曰：「左回天，具獨坐，徐臥虎，唐雨墮。」 皆競起第宅，以華侈相尚，其僕從皆乘牛車而從列騎，兄弟姻戚，宰州臨郡，辜較百姓，與盜無異，虐遍天下； 民不堪命，故多為盜賊焉。
On bingwu day, Marquis of Xinfeng Shan Chao died. He received the Eastern Garden's secret funerary regalia and jade coffin fittings; At his burial, cavalry from the five camps were mobilized and the Master of Construction raised his tomb. The four remaining marquises grew bolder still. People said of them: "Zuo turns back heaven, Ju sits alone, Xu the crouching tiger, Tang falling rain. 」They vied in building mansions, outdoing one another in luxury. Servants rode ox-carts flanked by cavalry; brothers and in-laws governed provinces and squeezed the people like bandits, cruelty spreading everywhere; The people could not endure it, and many turned to banditry.
44
中常侍侯覽，小黃門段珪，皆有田業近濟北界，僕從賓客，劫掠行旅。 濟北相滕延，一切收捕，殺數十人，陳屍路衢。 覽、珪以事訴帝，延坐征詣廷尉，免。
Palace Attendant Hou Lan and Junior Palace Attendant Duan Gui held estates near Jibei; their servants and guests robbed travelers. Jibei Chancellor Teng Yan arrested them wholesale, killed dozens, and lined the roads with corpses. Lan and Gui appealed to the Emperor. Yan was convicted, summoned to the Commandant of Justice, and dismissed.
45
左心官兄勝為河東太守，皮氏長京兆岐恥之，即日棄官西歸。 唐衡兄玹為京兆尹，素與岐有隙，收岐家屬宗親，陷以重法，盡殺之。 岐逃難四方，靡所不歷，自匿姓名，賣餅北海市中； 安丘孫嵩見而異之，載與俱歸，藏於復壁中。 及諸唐死，遇赦，乃敢出。
Zuo Xinguan's brother Sheng was Administrator of Hedong. Qi of Jingzhao, magistrate of Pishi, was shamed and quit his post that same day to return west. Tang Heng's brother Xuan was Intendant of Jingzhao. Long at odds with Qi, he seized Qi's family and kin, condemned them under harsh law, and killed them all. Qi fled everywhere, hiding his name and selling cakes in the Beihai market; Sun Song of Anqiu noticed him, took him home in his carriage, and hid him in a secret wall compartment. When the Tang clan was gone and an amnesty came, he dared emerge at last.
46
閏月，西羌餘眾復與燒何大豪寇張掖，晨，薄校尉段熲軍。 熲下馬大戰，至日中，刀折矢盡，虜亦引退。 熲追之，且鬥且行，晝夜相攻，割肉食雪，四十餘日，遂至積石山，出塞二千餘里，斬燒何大帥，降其餘眾而還。
In the intercalary month, Western Qiang remnants joined the Shaohe chieftain in raiding Zhangye. At dawn they closed on Colonel Duan Yong's camp. Yong dismounted to fight hand to hand. By midday his blades were broken and his quiver empty; the enemy withdrew as well. Yong pursued, fighting by day and marching by night, gnawing raw flesh and snow. After forty-odd days he reached Jishi Mountain, crossed two thousand li beyond the frontier, killed the Shaohe chieftain, accepted the surrender of the rest, and returned.
47
夏，五月，甲戌，漢中山崩。
In summer, in the fifth month, on jiaxu day, Mount Zhong in Han collapsed.
48
六月，辛丑，司徒祝恬薨。
In the sixth month, on xinchou day, Minister over the Masses Zhu Tian died.
49
秋，七月，以司空盛允為司徒，太常虞放為司空。
In autumn, in the seventh month, Sheng Yun was promoted from Minister of Works to Minister over the Masses, and Yu Fang from Grand Master of Ceremonies to Minister of Works.
50
長沙蠻反，屯益陽，零陵蠻寇長沙。
The Changsha tribes rebelled and camped at Yiyang; Lingling tribes raided Changsha.
51
九真餘賊屯據日南，眾轉強盛； 詔復拜桂陽太守夏方為交趾刺史。 方威惠素著，冬，十一月，日南賊二萬餘人相率詣方降。
Jiuzhen remnant rebels held Rinan, and their strength grew; An edict reappointed Guiyang Administrator Xia Fang as Inspector of Jiaozhi. Fang's authority and kindness were well known. In winter, in the eleventh month, more than twenty thousand Rinan rebels came in succession to surrender to him.
52
勒姐、零吾種羌圍允街； 段熲擊破之。
Lejie and Lingwu Qiang tribes besieged Yunjie; Duan Yong routed them.
53
泰山賊叔孫無忌攻殺都尉侯章； 遣中郎將宗資討破之。 詔征皇甫規，拜泰山太守。 規到官，廣設方略，寇虜悉平。
The Taishan bandit Shusun Wuji attacked and killed Commandant Hou Zhang; General of the Gentlemen of the Palace Zong Zi was dispatched and defeated him. An edict summoned Huangfu Gui and made him Administrator of Taishan. Gui took office, laid broad plans, and pacified the raiders completely.
54
春，正月，辛酉，南宮嘉德殿火； 戊子，丙署火。
In spring, in the first month, on xinyou day, the Jiade Hall of the Southern Palace burned; On wuzi day, the Bing Office burned.
55
大疫。
A great pestilence struck.
56
二月，壬辰，武庫火。
In the second month, on renchen day, the armory burned.
57
司徒盛允免，以大司農種暠為司徒。
Minister over the Masses Sheng Yun was dismissed and Grand Minister of Agriculture Zhong Hao appointed in his place.
58
三月，太尉黃瓊免； 夏，四月，以太常沛國劉矩為太尉。 初，矩為雍丘令，以禮讓化民； 有訟者，常引之於前，提耳訓告，以為忿恚可忍，縣官不可入，使歸更思。 訟者感之，輒各罷去。
In the third month, Grand Commandant Huang Qiong was dismissed; In summer, in the fourth month, Grand Master of Ceremonies Liu Ju of Pei was made Grand Commandant. Earlier, as magistrate of Yongqiu, Ju civilized the people through courtesy and forbearance; When people came to sue, he drew them close, tugged their ears, and admonished them: anger can be borne, but the magistrate's court cannot be entered lightly—go home and think again. Moved, the litigants withdrew their suits.
59
甲寅，封河間孝王子參戶亭侯博為任城王，奉孝王后。
On jiayin day, Canhu Precinct Marquis Bo, son of King Xiao of Hejian, was enfeoffed as King of Rencheng to continue the late king's line.
60
五月，辛酉，有星孛於心。
In the fifth month, on xinyou day, a comet appeared in the Heart constellation.
61
丁卯，原陵長壽門火。
On dingmao day, the Longevity Gate of Yuanling burned.
62
己卯，京師雨雹。
On jimao day, hail fell on the capital.
63
六月，京兆、扶風及涼州地震。
In the sixth month, Jingzhao, Fufeng, and Liang Province were struck by earthquake.
64
庚子，岱山及博尤來山並頹裂。
On gengzi day, Mount Dai and Mount Boyou both collapsed.
65
己酉，赦天下。
On jiyou day, an empire-wide amnesty was proclaimed.
66
司空虞放免，以前太尉黃瓊為司空。
Minister of Works Yu Fang was dismissed and former Grand Commandant Huang Qiong appointed Minister of Works.
67
犍為屬國夷寇鈔百姓。 益州刺史山昱擊破之。
Tribes of the Jianwei Dependent State raided and plundered the people. Yi Province Inspector Shan Yu routed them.
68
零吾羌與先零諸種反，寇三輔。
Lingwu Qiang and various Xianling tribes rebelled and raided the Three Adjuncts.
69
秋，七月，京師雩。
In autumn, in the seventh month, the capital held a rain sacrifice.
70
減公卿已下奉，貣王侯半租，占賣關內侯、虎賁、羽林緹騎、營士、五大夫錢各有差。
Salaries of officials below the Excellencies were cut; kings and marquises were lent half their rents; offices from Marquis Within the Passes down to Grandee of the Fifth Order were sold by lottery at set prices.
71
九月，司空黃瓊免，以大鴻臚東萊劉寵為司空。
In the ninth month, Huang Qiong was dismissed as Minister of Works and Liu Chong of Donglai, Grand Master of Ceremonies, took his place.
72
寵常為會稽太守，簡除煩苛，禁察非法，郡中大治； 征為將作大匠。 山陰縣有五六老叟，自若邪山谷間出，人繼百錢以送寵曰：「山谷鄙生，未嘗識郡朝，它守時，吏發求民間，至夜不絕，或狗吠竟夕，民不得安。 自明府下車以來，狗不夜吠，民不見吏； 年老遭值聖明，今聞當見棄去，故自扶奉送。」 寵曰：「吾政何能及公言邪！ 勤苦父老！」 為人選一大錢受之。
Chong had served as Administrator of Kuaiji, cutting red tape, forbidding abuses—the commandery flourished; He was summoned to be Master of Construction. Five or six old men of Shanyin County came from the Ruye valleys, each offering a hundred cash to see Chong off: "We hill folk never knew the commandery seat. Under other administrators officials plundered the people day and night; dogs barked till dawn and no one rested. Since you took office, dogs no longer bark at night and the people never see officials; We old men have lived to see an enlightened age; hearing you are leaving, we came on our own to see you off. 」Chong said: "My governance hardly deserves such praise! You honor me, old sirs! 」From each he accepted a single large coin."
73
冬，先零、沈氐羌與諸種羌寇並、涼二州，校尉段熲將湟中義從討之。 涼州刺史郭閎貪共其功，稽固熲軍，使不得進； 義從役久戀鄉舊，皆悉叛歸。 郭閎歸罪於熲，熲坐征下獄，輸作左校，以濟南相胡閎代為校尉。 胡閎無威略，羌遂陸梁，覆沒營塢，轉相招結，唐突諸郡，寇患轉盛。 泰山太守皇甫規上疏曰：「今猾賊就滅，泰山略平，復聞群羌並皆反逆。 臣生長邠岐，年五十有九，昔為郡吏，再更叛羌，豫籌其事，有誤中之言。 臣素有痼疾，恐犬馬齒窮，不報大恩，願乞冗官，備單車一介之使，勞來三輔，宣國威澤，以所習地形兵勢佐助諸軍。 臣窮居孤危之中，坐觀郡將已數十年，自鳥鼠至於東岱，其病一也。 力求猛敵，不如清平； 勤明孫、吳，未若奉法。 前變未遠，臣誠戚之，是以越職盡其區區。」 詔以規為中郎將，持節監關西兵討零吾等。 十一月，規擊羌，破之，斬首八百級。 先零諸種羌慕規威信，相勸降者十餘萬。
In winter, Xianling, Shenshi, and other Qiang tribes raided Bing and Liang. Colonel Duan Yong led Huangzhong volunteers against them. Liang Inspector Guo Hong, greedy for credit, detained Yong's army and blocked its advance; The volunteers, weary and homesick, all deserted and went home. Guo Hong blamed Yong. Yong was arrested, sentenced to the Left Construction Corps, and Jinan Administrator Hu Hong replaced him as Protector. Hu Hong lacked authority and strategy. The Qiang grew bold, overran forts, joined forces, and stormed commanderies—the threat worsened. Taishan Administrator Huangfu Gui memorialized: "The bandits are nearly gone and Taishan largely pacified, yet the Qiang have rebelled en masse. I grew up on the Bin-Qi frontier, am fifty-nine, served as a commandery clerk, and twice weathered Qiang revolts—I foresaw this crisis and spoke of it before. I am chronically ill and fear my years are running out before I repay the state. Grant me a humble post—a lone envoy's cart—to comfort the Three Adjuncts, proclaim imperial authority, and lend the terrain and tactics I know to our armies. I have watched commandery generals fail for decades—from Bird-and-Rat to Mount Tai, the disease is the same. Seeking fierce enemies is inferior to restoring order; Mastering Sunzi and Wuzi is less than upholding the law. The last disaster is still fresh; grieved, I overstep my office to offer what little I can. 」An edict made Gui General of the Gentlemen of the Palace with staff authority to command Guanxi troops against Lingwu and others. In the eleventh month, Gui attacked the Qiang, routed them, and took eight hundred heads. Xianling Qiang tribes, admiring Gui's authority, surrendered in numbers exceeding one hundred thousand."
74
春，正月，壬午，南宮丙署火。
In spring, in the first month, on renwu day, the Bing Office of the Southern Palace burned.
75
三月，沈氐羌寇張掖、酒泉。 皇甫規發先零諸種羌，共討隴右，而道路隔絕，軍中大疫，死者十三四。 規親入庵廬，巡視將士，三軍感悅。 東羌遂遣使乞降，涼州復通。 先是安定太守孫俊受取狼藉，屬國都尉李翕、督軍御史張稟多殺降羌，涼州刺史郭閎、漢陽太守趙熹並老弱不任職，而皆倚恃權貴，不遵法度。 規到，悉條奏其罪，或免或誅。 羌人聞之，翕然反善，沈氐大豪滇昌、饑恬等十餘萬口復詣規降。
In the third month, Shenshi Qiang raided Zhangye and Jiuquan. Huangfu Gui mobilized Xianling Qiang to campaign in Longyou, but roads were cut and pestilence swept the army—three or four in ten died. Gui walked the camps himself to visit the troops; the army was deeply moved. The Eastern Qiang sent envoys to surrender, and Liang Province was reachable again. Anding Administrator Sun Jun had embezzled freely; Dependent State Commandant Li Xi and Supervising Army Censor Zhang Bing slaughtered surrendered Qiang; Liang Inspector Guo Hong and Hanyang Administrator Zhao Xi were old, weak, and unfit—yet all leaned on powerful patrons and flouted the law. Gui arrived, listed all their crimes, and had some dismissed and some executed. The Qiang heard and turned toward peace. Shenshi chiefs Dianchang, Jitian, and others—more than one hundred thousand—surrendered to Gui.
76
夏，四月，長沙賊起，寇桂陽、蒼梧。
In summer, in the fourth month, Changsha rebels raided Guiyang and Cangwu.
77
乙丑，恭陵東闕火。 戊辰，虎賁掖門火。 五月，康陵園寢火。
On yichou day, the eastern gate-tower of Gongling burned. On wuchen day, the Tiger Guard side gate burned. In the fifth month, the park tomb of Kangling burned.
78
長沙、零陵賊入桂陽、蒼梧、南海，交趾刺史及蒼梧太守望風逃奔，遣御史中丞盛修督州郡募兵討之，不能克。
Changsha and Lingling rebels overran Guiyang, Cangwu, and Nanhai. The Jiaozhi Inspector and Cangwu Administrator fled. Censor Sheng Xiu was sent to raise troops but could not defeat them.
79
乙亥，京師地震。
On yihai day, the capital was shaken by earthquake.
80
甲申，中藏府丞祿署火。 秋，七月，己未，南宮承善闥火。
On jiashen day, the Lu Office of the Palace Storehouse burned. In autumn, in the seventh month, on jiwei day, the Chenshan Gate of the Southern Palace burned.
81
鳥吾羌寇漢陽，隴西、金城諸郡兵討破之。
Wuwu Qiang raided Hanyang; troops from Longxi, Jincheng, and neighboring commanderies defeated them.
82
艾縣賊攻長沙郡縣，殺益陽令，眾至萬餘人； 謁者馬睦督荊州刺史劉度擊之，軍敗，睦、度奔走。 零陵蠻亦反。 冬，十月，武陵蠻反，寇江陵，南郡太守李肅奔走，主簿胡爽扣馬首諫曰：「蠻夷見郡無儆備，故敢乘間而進。 明府為國大臣，連城千里，舉旗鳴鼓，應聲十萬，奈何委符守之重，而為逋逃之人乎！」 肅拔刃向爽曰：「掾促去！ 太守今急，何暇此計！」 爽抱馬固諫，肅遂殺爽而走。 帝聞之，征肅，棄市； 度、睦減死一等； 復爽門閭，拜家一人為郎。
Ai County rebels attacked Changsha counties, killed the magistrate of Yiyang, and swelled to more than ten thousand; Usher Ma Mu supervised Jing Inspector Liu Du against them. The army was routed; Mu and Du fled. The Lingling tribes rebelled as well. In winter, in the tenth month, Wuling tribes rebelled and raided Jiangling. Nanjun Administrator Li Su fled. Chief Clerk Hu Shuang grabbed his bridle and remonstrated: "The tribes saw the commandery undefended and seized the moment to attack. You are a great minister of the state; your cities stretch a thousand li—raise banner and drum and a hundred thousand will answer. How can you abandon your charge and flee! 」Su drew his blade on Shuang: "Clerk, get out of my way! The Administrator is in peril—no time for this! 」Shuang clung to the bridle and remonstrated still. Su killed him and fled. The Emperor heard, summoned Su, and executed him in the marketplace; Du and Mu had their sentences reduced one degree from death; Shuang's household honors were restored; one family member was appointed Gentleman."
83
尚書朱穆舉右校令山陽度尚為荊州刺史。 辛丑，以太常馮緄為車騎將軍，將兵十餘萬討武陵蠻。 先是，所遣將帥，宦官多陷以折耗軍資，往往抵罪，緄願請中常侍一人監軍財費。 尚書朱穆奏「緄以財自嫌，失大臣之節；」 有詔勿劾。 緄請前武陵太守應奉與俱，拜從事中郎。 十一月，緄軍至長沙，賊聞之，悉詣營乞降。 進擊武陵蠻夷，斬首四千餘級，受降十餘萬人，荊州平定。 詔書賜錢一億，固讓不受，振旅還京師，推功於應奉，薦以為司隸校尉； 而上書乞骸骨，朝廷不許。
Director Zhu Mu recommended Colonel of the Right Du Shang of Shanyang as Jing Inspector. On xinchou day, Grand Master of Ceremonies Feng Gun was made General of Chariots and Cavalry at the head of more than one hundred thousand men against the Wuling tribes. Earlier eunuchs often framed dispatched generals for wasting supplies; many paid with their lives. Gun asked for a Palace Attendant to oversee military funds. Director Zhu Mu memorialized: "Gun's suspicion over finances betrays a great minister's integrity; 」An edict ordered that he not be impeached. Gun asked former Wuling Administrator Ying Feng to accompany him and made him Attendant of the Masters of Writing. In the eleventh month, Gun reached Changsha. The rebels heard and came to his camp to surrender. He advanced against the Wuling tribes, took more than four thousand heads, accepted more than one hundred thousand surrenders, and pacified Jing Province. An edict granted him one hundred million cash. He refused. He returned to the capital, credited Ying Feng, and recommended him as Metropolitan Colonel; He also asked to retire; the court refused.
84
滇那羌寇武威、張掖、酒泉。
Dianna Qiang raided Wuwei, Zhangye, and Jiuquan.
85
太尉劉矩免，以太常楊秉為太尉。
Grand Commandant Liu Ju was dismissed and Grand Master of Ceremonies Yang Bing appointed Grand Commandant.
86
皇甫規持節為將，還督鄉里，既無它私惠，而多所舉奏，又惡絕宦官，不與交通。 於是中外並怨，遂共誣規貨賂群羌，令其文降，帝璽書誚讓相屬。
Huangfu Gui, staff-bearing general in his home country, granted no private favors but impeached widely, shunned eunuchs, and would not deal with them. Court and camp alike resented him. They jointly accused Gui of bribing Qiang tribes into sham surrender. Imperial rebukes arrived in succession.
87
規上書自訟曰：「四年之秋，戎丑蠢戾，舊都懼駭，朝廷西顧。 臣振國威靈，羌戎稽首，所省之費一億以上。 以為忠臣之義不敢告勞，故恥以片言自及微效，然比方先事，庶免罪悔。 前踐州界，先奏孫俊、李翕、張稟； 旋師南征，又上郭閎、趙熹，陳其過惡，執據大辟。 凡此五臣，支黨半國，其餘墨綬下至小吏，所連及者復有百餘。 吏托報將之怨，子思復父之恥，載贄馳車，懷糧步走，交構豪門，競流謗讟，雲臣私報諸羌，讎以錢貨。 若臣以私財，則家無擔石； 如物出於官，則文簿易考。 就臣愚惑，信如言者，前世尚遺匈奴以宮姬，鎮烏孫以公主； 今臣但費千萬以懷叛羌，則良臣之才略，兵家之所貴，將有何罪負義違理乎！ 自永初以來，將出不少，覆軍有五，動資巨億，有旋車完封，寫之權門，而名成功立，厚加爵封。 今臣還督本土，糾舉諸郡，絕交離親，戮辱舊故，眾謗陰害，固其宜也！」
Gui pleaded his case: "In the autumn of the fourth year, barbarians rebelled; the old capital trembled; the court looked west in alarm. I raised the state's authority; Qiang and Rong submitted. I saved more than one hundred million in costs. A loyal minister does not boast of toil, and I was ashamed to mention my small service—yet compared with what came before, I hoped to avoid reproach. Entering the province, I first impeached Sun Jun, Li Xi, and Zhang Bing; On campaign I impeached Guo Hong and Zhao Xi, detailing their crimes and demanding execution. These five officials commanded factions across half the realm; more than a hundred lesser officials were implicated besides. Officials nursed grudges against generals; sons sought to avenge fathers. They rode with gifts and walked with provisions, conspiring with great houses to spread slander—that I privately paid the Qiang with money. If I used private wealth, my home holds not a stone of grain; If public funds were used, the ledgers can be checked. Even if you believe them: past dynasties sent palace women to the Xiongnu and princesses to Wusun; If spending tens of millions to win rebellious Qiang is crime, then what offense lies in the talent and strategy armies prize! Since Yongchu, many generals marched; five armies were destroyed; billions were spent. Some returned with chariots intact, falsified accounts for powerful patrons—and won fame, titles, and thick rewards. I returned home, impeached across the commanderies, severed ties and shamed old associates—of course they slander and plot against me!"
88
帝乃征規還，拜議郎，論功當封； 而中常侍徐璜、左心官欲從求貨，數遣賓客就問功狀，規終不答。 璜等忿怒，陷以前事，下之於吏。 官屬欲賦斂請謝，規誓而不聽，遂以餘寇不絕，坐系廷尉，論輸左校。 諸公及太學生張鳳等三百餘人詣闕訟之，會赦，歸家。
The Emperor recalled Gui, made him Gentleman Consultant, and judged his merit worthy of enfeoffment; Palace Attendants Xu Huang and Zuo Xinguan tried to extort him, sending clients repeatedly to discuss his merit; Gui refused to answer. Enraged, they framed him on the old charge and handed him to the courts. His staff wanted to raise funds to buy pardon; Gui refused. Convicted because raids continued, he was imprisoned and sentenced to the Left Construction Corps. Excellencies and more than three hundred students led by Zhang Feng petitioned at the palace gate. An amnesty came; Gui went home.
89
春，二月，戊午，司徒種暠薨。
In spring, in the second month, on wuwu day, Minister over the Masses Zhong Hao died.
90
三月，戊戌，赦天下。
In the third month, on wuxu day, an empire-wide amnesty was proclaimed.
91
以衛尉穎川許栩為司徒。
Minister of the Guards Xu Xu of Yingchuan was made Minister over the Masses.
92
夏，四月，辛亥，康陵東署火。
In summer, in the fourth month, on xinhai day, the eastern office of Kangling burned.
93
五月，鮮卑寇遼東屬國。
In the fifth month, Xianbei raided the Liaodong Dependent State.
94
秋，七月，甲申，平陵園寢火。
In autumn, in the seventh month, on jiashen day, the park tomb of Pingling burned.
95
桂陽賊李研等寇郡界，武陵蠻復反。 太守陳奉討平之。 宦官素惡馮緄，八月，緄坐軍還盜賊復發，免。
Guiyang rebels Li Yan and others raided the borders; the Wuling tribes rebelled again. Administrator Chen Feng suppressed them. Eunuchs long hated Feng Gun. In the eighth month he was dismissed because bandits rose again after his army returned.
96
冬，十月，丙辰，上校獵廣成，遂幸函谷關、上林苑。 光祿勳陳蕃上疏諫曰：「安平之時，游畋宜有節，況今有三空之厄哉！ 田野空，朝廷空，倉庫空。 加之兵戎未戢，四方離散，是陛下焦心毀顏，坐以待旦之時也，豈宜揚旗曜武，騁心輿馬之觀乎！ 又前秋多雨，民始種麥，今失其勸種之時，而令給驅禽除路之役，非賢聖恤民之意也。」 書奏，不納。
In winter, in the tenth month, on bingchen day, the Emperor hunted at Guangcheng, then visited Hangu Pass and the Shanglin Park. Director Chen Fan remonstrated: "Even in peaceful times hunting should be restrained—how much more now, in the calamity of the Three Empties! The fields are empty, the court is empty, the treasuries are empty. Arms are not stilled; the realm is scattered. This is when you should sit anxious awaiting dawn—how can you raise banners for sport and chase after chariots and horses! Last autumn's rains were heavy; farmers had just sown wheat. Now planting season is lost, yet you command them to clear roads for the hunt—this is not how sages cherish the people. 」The memorial was ignored."
97
十一月，司空劉寵免。 十二月，以衛尉周景為司空。 景，榮之孫也。 時宦官方熾，景與太尉楊秉上言：「內外吏職，多非其人。 舊典，中臣子弟，不得居位秉勢； 而今枝葉賓客，布列職署，或年少庸人，典據守宰； 上下忿患，四方愁毒。 可遵用舊章，退貪殘，塞災謗。 請下司隸校尉、中二千石、城門、五營校尉、北軍中候，各實核所部； 應當斥罷，自以狀言三府，兼察有遺漏，續上。」 帝從之。 於是秉條奏牧、守、青州刺史羊亮等五十餘人，或死或免，天下莫不肅然。
In the eleventh month, Minister of Works Liu Chong was dismissed. In the twelfth month, Minister of the Guards Zhou Jing was made Minister of Works. Jing was the grandson of Rong. Eunuch power was at its height. Jing and Grand Commandant Yang Bing submitted: "Many inner and outer offices are held by unworthy men. By ancient statute, eunuchs' kin could not hold office or power; Today their kin and clients fill every office—some young mediocrities governing provinces and commanderies; Above and below seethe with resentment; the four quarters groan under poison. Follow the old statutes: dismiss the greedy and cruel; stop the calamities and slander. Order the Metropolitan Colonel, two-thousand-bushel officials, gate commanders, colonels of the five camps, and Northern Army commandants to audit their jurisdictions; Those who should be dismissed should report to the Three Excellencies; investigate omissions and continue reporting. 」The Emperor agreed. Bing then listed more than fifty governors, administrators, and officials including Qing Inspector Yang Liang—some executed, some dismissed—and the realm stood in awe."
98
詔征皇甫規為度遼將軍。 初，張奐坐梁冀故吏，免官禁錮，凡諸交舊，莫敢為言； 唯規薦舉，前後七上，由是拜武威太守。 及規為度遼，到營數月，上書薦奐，「才略兼優，宜正元帥，以從眾望。 若猶謂愚臣宜充舉事者，願乞冗官，以為奐副。」 朝廷從之。 以奐代規為度遼將軍，以規為使匈奴中郎將。
An edict summoned Huangfu Gui as General Who Crosses the Liao. Zhang Huan, implicated as a former Liang Ji clerk, was dismissed and barred from office. No friend or associate dared speak for him; Only Gui recommended him—seven memorials in succession—until he was appointed Administrator of Wuwei. When Gui became General Who Crosses the Liao, after months in camp he recommended Huan: "His talent and strategy excel; he should command to meet the people's hopes. If you still want me in the field, give me a humble post as Huan's deputy. 」The court agreed. Huan replaced Gui as General Who Crosses the Liao; Gui became Emissary General to the Xiongnu."
99
西州吏民守闕為前護羌校尉段熲訟冤者甚眾，會滇那等諸種羌益熾，涼州幾亡，乃復以熲為護羌校尉。
Western officials and people thronged the palace gate to plead Duan Yong's innocence. As Dianna Qiang grew fiercer and Liang Province nearly fell, Yong was restored as Protector of the Qiang.
100
尚書朱穆疾宦官恣橫，上疏曰：「按漢故事，中常侍參選士人，建武以後，乃悉用宦者。 自延平以來，浸益貴盛，假貂璫之飾，處常伯之任，天朝政事，一更其手。 權傾海內，寵貴無極，子弟親戚，並荷榮任。 放濫驕溢，莫能禁御，窮破天下，空竭小民。 愚臣以為可悉罷省，遵復往初，更選海內清淳之士明達國體者，以補其處，即兆庶黎萌，蒙被聖化矣！」 帝不納。 後穆因進見，復口陳曰：「臣聞漢家舊典，置侍中、中常侍各一人，省尚書事； 黃門侍郎一人，傳發書奏； 皆用姓族。 自和熹太后以女主稱制，不接公卿，乃以閹人為常侍，小黃門通命兩宮。 自此以來，權傾人主，窮困天下，宜皆罷遣，博選耆儒宿德，與參政事。」 帝怒，不應。 穆伏不肯起，左右傳「出！」 良久，乃趨而去。 自此中官數因事稱詔詆毀之。 穆素剛，不得意，居無幾，憤懣發疽卒。
Director Zhu Mu, appalled by eunuch arrogance, memorialized: "By Han precedent, Palace Attendants were chosen from scholars; after Jianwu, all were eunuchs. From Yanping they grew ever grander, wearing sable regalia, holding chief posts—court governance passed entirely into their hands. Their power tilted the realm; honor knew no limit; kin of every degree held glorious posts. Licentious and arrogant beyond restraint, they beggared the realm and drained the people dry. I believe they should all be abolished; restore the old ways; appoint pure, capable men from across the realm—and the people would receive true sage rule! 」The Emperor refused. Later, on audience, Mu spoke again: "I have heard the old Han statutes: one Attendant and one Regular Attendant oversaw the Masters of Writing; one Gentleman of the Yellow Gates transmitted memorials; all were drawn from established families. When Empress Dowager Hexi ruled as regent and refused the Three Excellencies, eunuchs became Regular Attendants and Junior Attendants carried orders between the palaces. Since then power has tilted against the throne and exhausted the realm. Dismiss them all; choose aged Confucians of proven virtue to govern. 」The Emperor raged and did not answer. Mu prostrated himself and would not rise. Attendants called: "Withdraw! 」After a long while he hurried away. From then on eunuchs repeatedly issued edicts slandering him. Mu was by nature stern. Frustrated, he soon died of an abscess born of rage."