Volume 64 Han Records 56

資治通鑑第064卷

Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 64

【漢紀五十六】起重光大荒落，盡旃蒙作噩，凡五年。

Han Records 56 — from the year jiaxu (201) through jisi (205), five years in total.

春，三月，丁卯朔，日有食之。

In spring, in the third month, on the first day of the month (dingmao), the sun was eclipsed.

曹操就谷於安民。以袁紹新破，欲以其間擊劉表。荀彧曰：「紹既新敗，其眾離心，宜乘其困，遂定之。而欲遠師江、漢，若紹收其餘燼，承虛以出人後，則公事去矣。」操乃止。夏，四月，操揚兵河上，擊袁紹倉亭軍，破之。秋，九月，操還許。

Cao Cao drew provisions at Anmin. With Yuan Shao freshly defeated, he planned to strike Liu Biao while the opportunity lasted. Xun Yu said, "Yuan Shao has just suffered a crushing defeat and his men are losing heart. You should press him while he is weak and finish him off. But if you march far south to the Yangtze and Han, Yuan Shao may rally his scattered forces and strike at your rear while you are away — and your whole cause will be lost." Cao Cao abandoned the plan. In summer, in the fourth month, Cao Cao marched along the Yellow River, attacked Yuan Shao's forces at Cangting, and routed them. In autumn, in the ninth month, Cao Cao returned to Xu.

操自擊劉備於汝南，備奔劉表，龔都等皆散。表聞備至，自出郊迎，以上賓禮待之，益其兵，使屯新野。備在荊州數年，嘗於表坐起至廁，慨然流涕。表怪，問備，備曰：「平常身不離鞍，髀肉皆消。今不復騎，髀裡肉生。日月如流，老將至矣，而功業不建，是以悲耳。」

Cao Cao personally attacked Liu Bei at Runan. Liu Bei fled to Liu Biao, and Gong Du and his followers scattered. When Liu Biao learned that Liu Bei had come, he went out to meet him in person, received him as an honored guest, reinforced his army, and stationed him at Xinye. After several years in Jing Province, Liu Bei once rose from Liu Biao's couch to visit the privy and wept openly in distress. Liu Biao was astonished and asked the reason. Liu Bei said, "In the old days I was never off horseback, and the flesh on my thighs wore thin. Now I ride no more, and flesh has grown back on my thighs. The days and months rush past like a stream; old age is upon me, yet I have accomplished nothing — that is why I weep."

曹操遣夏侯淵、張遼圍昌豨於東海，數月，糧盡，議引軍還。遼謂淵曰：「數日已來，每行諸圍，豨輒屬目視遼，又其射矢更稀。此必豨計猶豫，故不力戰。遼欲挑與語，倘可誘也。」乃使謂豨曰：「公有命，使遼傳之。」豨果下與遼語。遼為說操神武，方以德懷四方，先附者受大賞，豨乃許降。遼遂單身上三公山，入豨家，拜妻子，豨歡喜，隨遼詣操。操遣豨還。

Cao Cao sent Xiahou Yuan and Zhang Liao to besiege Chang Xi in Donghai. After several months their supplies ran out, and they debated pulling the army back. Zhang Liao said to Xiahou Yuan, "These past few days, whenever I inspect the siege lines, Xi keeps staring at me, and his archers shoot less and less often. He must be wavering in his mind and therefore is not fighting with his full strength. I want to draw him into talk — perhaps he can be won over." He then sent word to Xi: "The lord has orders, and Liao is here to deliver them." Xi came down from the walls and spoke with Zhang Liao. Zhang Liao spoke of Cao Cao's martial prowess and his policy of winning the realm through virtue, promising rich rewards to those who came over first. Xi agreed to surrender. Zhang Liao then went alone up Mount Sangong, entered Xi's home, and paid his respects to Xi's wife and children. Delighted, Xi accompanied Zhang Liao to Cao Cao. Cao Cao sent Xi back to his post.

趙韙圍劉璋於成都。東州人恐見誅滅，相與力戰，韙遂敗退，追至江州，殺之。龐羲懼，遣吏程祁宣旨於其父漢昌令畿，索賨兵。畿曰：「郡合部曲，本不為亂，縱有讒諛，要在盡誠，若遂懷異志，不敢聞命。」羲更使祁說之，畿曰：「我受牧恩，當為盡節；汝為郡吏，自宜效力。不義之事，有死不為。」羲怒，使人謂畿曰：「不從太守，禍將及家！」畿曰：「樂羊食子，非無父子之恩，大義然也。今雖羹祁以賜畿，畿啜之矣。」羲乃厚謝於璋。璋擢畿為江陽太守。朝廷聞益州亂，以五官中郎將牛但為益州刺史。征璋為卿，不至。

Zhao Wei besieged Liu Zhang at Chengdu. The Dongzhou troops, fearing extermination, fought together with desperate force. Zhao Wei was defeated, fled, was pursued to Jiangzhou, and killed. Pang Xi, in fear, sent the clerk Cheng Qi to his father Ji, magistrate of Hanchang, to demand the Cong tribal levies. Ji replied, "The commandery's forces were never mustered for rebellion. Even if slanderers speak against us, loyalty is what matters. If you now turn disloyal, I will not obey." Xi sent Cheng Qi again. Ji said, "I owe the governor a debt of gratitude and must serve him faithfully; you are a commandery clerk and ought to do your duty. For an unrighteous act I would die rather than comply." Xi was furious and sent word: "Disobey the grand administrator, and disaster will fall on your whole family!" Ji replied, "When Yue Yang ate his son's flesh, it was not that he lacked fatherly love — duty outweighed affection. Even if you boiled Cheng Qi into a stew and served it to me, I would drink it down." Xi then made a full apology to Liu Zhang. Liu Zhang promoted Ji to grand administrator of Jiangyang. When the court heard of the turmoil in Yi Province, it appointed Niu Dan, Five Offices Central Gentleman, as inspector of Yi Province. Liu Zhang was summoned to court as a minister but did not go.

張魯以鬼道教民，使病者自首其過，為之請禱，實無益於治病，然小人昏愚，競共事之。犯法者，三原，然後乃行刑。不置長吏，皆以祭酒為治。民、夷便樂之，流移寄在其地者，不敢不奉其道。後遂襲取巴郡，朝廷力不能征，遂就寵魯為鎮民中郎將，領漢寧太守，通貢獻而已。民有地中得玉印者，群下欲尊魯為漢寧王。功曹巴西閻圃諫曰：「漢川之民，戶出十萬，財富土沃，四面險固。上匡天子，則為桓、文，次及竇融，不失富貴。今承製署置，勢足斬斷，不煩於王。願且不稱，勿為禍先。」魯從之。

Zhang Lu taught the people through his spirit cult, requiring the sick to confess their sins so he could pray for them. It did nothing to cure disease, yet the simple and credulous flocked to him all the same. Offenders were forgiven three times before punishment was imposed. He appointed no regular magistrates; libationers governed everywhere. Han Chinese and tribal peoples alike were content under his rule, and refugees who settled in his domain dared not defy his teachings. He later seized Ba Commandery. The court could not subdue him and therefore recognized Zhang Lu as Pacifier of the People Central Gentleman and grand administrator of Hanning, accepting only his tribute. When someone unearthed a jade seal, his followers wished to proclaim Zhang Lu King of Hanning. The merit officer Yan Pu of Baxi remonstrated: "The Han River region holds a hundred thousand households, rich soil, and natural defenses on every side. Support the Son of Heaven and you may become another Duke Huan or Duke Wen; at the least, follow Dou Rong's example and keep your wealth and rank. You already hold an imperial appointment with full authority — there is no need to take a royal title. I urge you not to take the title yet — do not invite disaster first." Zhang Lu took his advice.

春，正月，曹操軍譙，遂至浚儀，治睢陽渠。遣使以太牢祀橋玄。進軍官渡。

In spring, in the first month, Cao Cao marched from Qiao to Junyi and repaired the Suiyang canal. He sent envoys to offer the grand sacrifice to Qiao Xuan. He advanced to Guandu.

袁紹自軍敗，慚憤，發病嘔血；夏，五月，薨。初，紹有三子：譚、熙、尚。紹後妻劉氏愛尚，數稱於紹。紹欲以為後，而未顯言之。乃以譚繼兄後，出為青州刺史。沮授諫曰：「世稱萬人逐兔，一人獲之，貪者悉止，分定故也。譚長子，當為嗣，而斥使居外，禍其始此矣。」紹曰：「吾欲令諸子各據一州，以視其能。」於是以中子熙為幽州刺史，外甥高幹為并州刺史。逄紀、審配素為譚所疾，辛評、郭圖皆附於譚，而與配、紀有隙。及紹薨，眾以譚長，欲立之。配等恐譚立而評等為害，遂矯紹遺命，奉尚為嗣。譚至，不得立，自稱車騎將軍，屯黎陽。尚少與之兵，而使逄紀隨之。譚求益兵，審配等又議不與。譚怒，殺逄紀。秋，九月，曹操渡河攻譚。譚告急於尚，尚留審配守鄴，自將助譚，與操相拒。連戰，譚、尚數敗，退而固守。尚遣所置河東太守郭援，與高幹、匈奴南單于共攻河東，發使與關中諸將馬騰等連兵，騰等陰許之，援所經城邑皆下。河東郡吏賈逵守絳，援攻之急；城將潰，父老與援約，不害逵乃降，援許之。援欲使逵為將，以兵劫之，逵不動。左右引逵使叩頭，逵叱之曰：「安有國家長吏為賊叩頭！」援怒，將斬之，或伏其上以救之。絳吏民聞將殺逵，皆乘城呼曰：「負約殺我賢君，寧俱死耳！」乃困於壺關，著土窖中，蓋以車輪。逵謂守者曰：「此間無健兒邪，而使義士死此中乎？」有祝公道者，適聞其言，乃夜往，盜引出逵，折械遣去，不語其姓名。

Since his defeat, Yuan Shao had brooded in shame and anger until he fell ill and began coughing blood; in summer, in the fifth month, he died. Yuan Shao had three sons: Tan, Xi, and Shang. His second wife, Lady Liu, favored Shang and spoke of him often to Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao wished to name him heir but had never said so openly. He had Tan adopted into his elder brother's line and sent him out as inspector of Qing Province. Ju Shou remonstrated: "The proverb says ten thousand men chase a rabbit, but once one man catches it the rest stop — because the prize is settled. Tan is the eldest and should be your heir, yet you banish him abroad — your troubles begin here." Yuan Shao replied, "I want each of my sons to hold a province so I can test their abilities." He appointed his middle son Xi inspector of You Province and his nephew Gao Gan inspector of Bing Province. Pang Ji and Shen Pei had long been at odds with Tan; Xin Ping and Guo Tu sided with Tan but feuded with Pei and Ji. When Yuan Shao died, his followers, considering Tan the eldest son, wished to make him successor. Pei and his faction feared that if Tan succeeded, Xin Ping and his allies would be destroyed. They forged Yuan Shao's deathbed command and installed Shang as heir. Tan arrived but was denied the succession. He styled himself General of Chariots and Cavalry and encamped at Liyang. Shang gave him only a small force and sent Pang Ji to watch him. Tan asked for reinforcements, but Shen Pei and his faction again refused. Tan flew into a rage and killed Pang Ji. In autumn, in the ninth month, Cao Cao crossed the Yellow River and attacked Tan. Tan appealed to Shang for help. Shang left Shen Pei to defend Ye and marched in person to aid Tan against Cao Cao. After several engagements Tan and Shang were repeatedly defeated and fell back to defensive positions. Shang sent his appointee Guo Yuan, grand administrator of Hedong, with Gao Gan and the Southern Chanyu of the Xiongnu to attack Hedong. He sent envoys to ally with the Guanzhong generals including Ma Teng, who secretly agreed. Every city Guo Yuan passed submitted. Jia Kui, a commandery officer of Hedong, held Jiang. Guo Yuan pressed the siege fiercely; as the walls were about to give way, the elders bargained with Guo Yuan to surrender on condition that Jia Kui not be harmed. Guo Yuan agreed. Guo Yuan tried to force Jia Kui into his service at sword point, but Jia Kui would not budge. His attendants tried to force him to kowtow. Jia Kui shouted, "How can an officer of the state kowtow to a rebel!" Guo Yuan was furious and was about to execute him when someone threw himself over Jia Kui to shield him. When the people of Jiang heard that Jia Kui was to be killed, they mounted the walls and cried, "You break your word and kill our worthy magistrate — we would rather die with him!" He was imprisoned at Huguan in an earthen pit and covered with a cart wheel. Jia Kui said to his guards, "Are there no brave men here, that a man of honor must die in this hole?" A man named Zhu Gongdao happened to overhear. That night he stole in, freed Jia Kui, broke his bonds, and sent him away without revealing his name.

曹操使司隸校尉鐘繇圍南單于於平陽，未拔而援至。繇使新豐令馮翊張既說馬騰，為言利害。騰疑未決。傅幹說騰曰：「古人有言『順道者昌，逆德者亡』，曹公奉天子誅暴亂，法明政治，上下用命，可謂順道矣。袁氏恃其強大，背棄王命，驅胡虜以陵中國，可謂逆德矣。今將軍既事有道，不盡其力，陰懷兩端，欲以坐觀成敗；吾恐成敗既定，奉辭責罪，將軍先為誅首矣！」於是騰懼。幹因曰：「智者轉禍為福。今曹公與袁氏相持，而高幹、郭援合攻河東。曹公雖有萬全之計，不能禁河東之不危也。將軍誠能引兵討援，內外擊之，其勢必舉。是將軍一舉，斷袁氏之臂，解一方之急，曹公必重德將軍，將軍功名無與比矣。」騰乃遣子超將兵萬餘人與繇會。初，諸將以郭援眾盛，欲釋平陽去。鐘繇曰：「袁氏方強，援之來，關中陰與之通，所以未悉叛者，顧吾威名故耳。若棄而去，示之以弱，所在之民，誰非寇仇？縱吾欲歸，其得至乎？此為未戰先自敗也。且援剛愎好勝，必易吾軍，若渡汾為營，及其未濟擊之，可大克也。」援至，果徑前渡汾，眾止之，不從。濟水未半，繇擊，大破之。戰罷，眾人皆言援死而不得其首。援，繇之甥也。晚後，馬超校尉南安龐德，於鞬中出一頭，繇見之而哭。德謝繇，繇曰：「援雖我甥，乃國賊也，卿何謝之有！」南單于遂降。

Cao Cao sent Director of the Imperial Clan Zhong Yao to besiege the Southern Chanyu at Pingyang. The city had not fallen when Guo Yuan arrived. Zhong Yao sent Zhang Ji, magistrate of Xinfeng in Fufeng, to persuade Ma Teng by explaining the stakes. Ma Teng wavered, unable to decide. Fu Gan urged Ma Teng: "The ancients said, 'Those who follow the Way prosper; those who defy virtue perish.' Lord Cao serves the Son of Heaven in punishing rebellion. His laws are clear, his government sound, and all obey — that is following the Way. The Yuan clan trusted in its power, defied the throne, and used barbarians to ravage the heartland — that is defying virtue. Yet you, General, having already sided with the righteous cause, hold back your full strength, secretly keeping two minds and waiting to see who wins; I fear that once the outcome is decided, Lord Cao will call you to account — and you will be the first head to fall!" Ma Teng was frightened. Fu Gan went on: "The wise turn disaster into opportunity. Lord Cao is locked in struggle with the Yuan clan while Gao Gan and Guo Yuan attack Hedong together. However perfect Lord Cao's plans, he cannot keep Hedong from danger. If you truly lead your forces against Guo Yuan and strike him from both sides, he is sure to fall. With one stroke you would cut off the Yuan clan's arm, save a whole region, and Lord Cao would reward you richly. Your fame would have no equal." Ma Teng sent his son Chao with more than ten thousand men to join Zhong Yao. Earlier the generals, seeing Guo Yuan's great numbers, had wanted to abandon the siege of Pingyang. Zhong Yao said, "The Yuan clan is still powerful. Guo Yuan has come, and Guanzhong is secretly in league with him. The only reason they have not all risen is respect for our reputation. If we withdraw and show weakness, every man in the land will become our enemy. Even if we wanted to go home, could we reach it safely? That would be defeat before battle. Guo Yuan is arrogant and overconfident — he will underestimate us. If he crosses the Fen to make camp, strike while he is still crossing and we can crush him." Guo Yuan arrived and marched straight to cross the Fen. His officers tried to stop him, but he refused. Before half his force had crossed, Zhong Yao attacked and routed him. After the battle everyone said Guo Yuan was dead, but his head could not be found. Guo Yuan was Zhong Yao's nephew. Later Ma Chao's commandant Pang De of Nan'an produced a head from his saddlebag. Zhong Yao saw it and wept. Pang De apologized. Zhong Yao said, "Yuan was my nephew, but he was a traitor to the state — you owe me no apology!" The Southern Chanyu surrendered.

劉表使劉備北侵，至葉，曹操遣夏侯惇、于禁等拒之。備一旦燒屯去，惇等追之。裨將軍巨鹿李典曰：「賊無故退，疑必有伏。南道窄狹，草木深，不可追也。」惇等不聽，使典留守而追之，果入伏裡，兵大敗。典往救之，備乃退。

Liu Biao sent Liu Bei north as far as Ye. Cao Cao sent Xiahou Dun, Yu Jin, and others to block him. Liu Bei suddenly burned his camp and withdrew. Xiahou Dun and the others gave chase. Lieutenant General Li Dian of Julu said, "The enemy retreated for no reason — there must be an ambush. The southern road is narrow and overgrown — we must not pursue." They would not listen, left Li Dian behind, and pursued — straight into an ambush. The army was routed. Li Dian rode to the rescue, and Liu Bei withdrew.

曹操下書責孫權任子，權召群僚會議，張昭、秦松等猶豫不決。權引周瑜詣吳夫人前定議，瑜曰：「昔楚國初封，不滿百里之地。繼嗣賢能，廣土開境，遂據荊、揚，至於南海，傳業延祚，九百餘年。今將軍承父兄餘資，兼六郡之眾，兵精糧多，將士用命，鑄山為銅，煮海為鹽，境內富饒，人不思亂，有何逼迫而欲送質！質一入，不得不與曹氏相首尾，與相首尾，則命召不得不往，如此，便見制於人也。極不過一侯印，僕從十餘人，車數乘，馬數匹，豈與南面稱孤同哉！不如勿遣，徐觀其變。若曹氏能率義以正天下，將軍事之未晚；若圖為暴亂，彼自亡之不暇，焉能害人！」吳夫人曰：「公瑾議是也。公瑾與伯符同年，小一月耳，我視之如子也，汝其兄事之。」遂不送質。

Cao Cao sent a letter demanding that Sun Quan send a son as hostage. Sun Quan called his officials to council, but Zhang Zhao, Qin Song, and others could not agree. Sun Quan brought Zhou Yu before Lady Wu to decide. Zhou Yu said, "When Chu was first enfeoffed, its territory was less than a hundred li. Worthy successors expanded its borders until it held Jing and Yang to the Southern Sea, and the line endured more than nine hundred years. You inherit your father and brother's legacy, command six commanderies, have elite troops and abundant grain, loyal officers and soldiers, copper from the mountains and salt from the sea — your realm is rich and your people content. What compulsion drives you to send a hostage! Once a hostage is sent, you must dance to Cao Cao's tune; when he summons you, you must obey — and you will be his puppet. At best you would receive a marquis's seal, a dozen attendants, a few carriages and horses — how could that compare with ruling as a sovereign in your own right! Better not to send one — wait and watch how events unfold. If Cao Cao can lead with righteousness and pacify the realm, it will not be too late to submit; if he plots violence and disorder, he will be too busy destroying himself to harm you!" Lady Wu said, "Gongjin is right. Gongjin was born in the same year as Bofu, only a month younger. I regard him as a son — treat him as your elder brother." No hostage was sent.

春，二月，曹操攻黎陽，與袁譚、袁尚戰於城下，譚、尚敗走，還鄴。夏，四月，操追至鄴，收其麥。諸將欲乘勝遂攻之，郭嘉曰：「袁紹愛此二子，莫適立也。今權力相侔，各有黨與，急之則相保，緩之則爭心生。不如南向荊州以待其變，變成而後擊之，可一舉定也。」操曰：「善！」五月，操還許，留其將賈信屯黎陽。

In spring, in the second month, Cao Cao attacked Liyang and fought Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang below the walls. Defeated, they fled back to Ye. In summer, in the fourth month, Cao Cao pursued to Ye and reaped their wheat. The generals wanted to press the attack. Guo Jia said, "Yuan Shao loved both sons equally and could not choose an heir. Now their power is equal and each has his faction. Press them and they will unite; relax pressure and rivalry will break out. Better march south toward Jing Province and wait for them to turn on each other. Strike when they split — and you can settle the north in one blow." Cao Cao said, "Excellent!" In the fifth month he returned to Xu and left Jia Xin to garrison Liyang.

譚謂尚曰：「我鎧甲不精，故前為曹操所敗。今操軍退，人懷歸志，及其未濟，出兵掩之，可令大潰，此策不可失也。」尚疑之，既不益兵，又不易甲。譚大怒，郭圖、辛評因謂譚曰：「使先公出將軍為兄後者，皆審配之謀也。」譚遂引兵攻尚，戰於門外。譚敗，引兵還南皮。別駕北海王修率吏民自青州往救譚。譚欲更還攻尚，修曰：「兄弟者，左右手也。譬人將鬥而斷其右手，曰『我必勝』，其可乎？夫棄兄弟而不親，天下其誰親之！彼讒人離間骨肉以求一朝之利，願塞耳勿聽也。若斬佞臣數人，復相親睦，以御四方，可橫行於天下。」譚不從。譚將劉詢起兵漯陰以叛譚，諸城皆應之。譚歎曰：「今舉州皆叛，豈孤之不德邪？」王修曰：「東萊太守管統，雖在海表，此人不反，必來。」後十餘日，統果棄其妻子來赴譚，妻子為賊所殺。譚更以統為樂安太守。

Tan said to Shang, "My armor was poor — that is why Cao Cao defeated us. Now Cao Cao is withdrawing and his men long for home. Strike before they finish crossing the river and you can rout them utterly. This chance must not be missed." Shang was suspicious and neither sent reinforcements nor replaced the armor. Tan was furious. Guo Tu and Xin Ping said, "It was Shen Pei who persuaded your father to send you out as heir to your elder brother's line." Tan marched against Shang and fought outside the gates. Tan was defeated and withdrew to Nanpi. Chief aide Wang Xiu of Beihai led officials and people from Qing Province to rescue Tan. Tan wanted to attack Shang again. Wang Xiu said, "Brothers are like left and right hands. It is as if a man about to fight cut off his right hand and said, 'I am sure to win' — could that work? Cast aside your brother and who in the world will stand with you! Slanderers sunder flesh and blood for momentary gain — stop your ears and do not listen to them. Behead a few flatterers, reconcile with your brother, and face the four quarters together — then you can march at will through the world." Tan would not listen. Tan's general Liu Xun rebelled at Luoyin, and cities throughout the province rose with him. Tan sighed, "The whole province rebels — have I so little virtue as this?" Wang Xiu said, "Guan Tong, grand administrator of Donglai — though he is far across the sea, he will not rebel. He is sure to come." Ten days later Guan Tong abandoned his wife and children to join Tan. Bandits killed his family on the way. Tan appointed Guan Tong grand administrator of Lean.

秋，八月，操擊劉表，軍於西平。

In autumn, in the eighth month, Cao Cao attacked Liu Biao and encamped at Xiping.

袁尚自將攻袁譚，大破之。譚奔平原，嬰城固守。尚圍之急，譚遣辛評弟毘詣曹操請救。劉表以書諫譚曰：「君子違難不適仇國，交絕不出惡聲，況忘先人之仇，棄親戚之好，而為萬世之戒，遺同盟之恥哉！若冀州有不弟之傲，仁君當降志辱身，以濟事為務，事定之後，使天下平其曲直，不亦為高義邪？」又與尚書曰：「金、木、水、火以剛柔相濟，然後克得其和，能為民用。今青州天性峭急，迷於曲直。仁君度數弘廣，綽然有餘，當以大包小，以優容劣，先除曹操以卒先公之恨，事定之後，乃議曲直之計，不亦善乎！若迷而不反，則胡夷將有譏誚之言，況我同盟，復能戮力為君之役哉？此韓盧、東郭自困於前面遺田父之獲者也。」譚、尚皆不從。

Yuan Shang personally attacked Yuan Tan and routed him. Tan fled to Pingyuan and held the city against siege. As the siege tightened, Tan sent Xin Ping's brother Pi to Cao Cao to beg for aid. Liu Biao wrote to admonish Tan: "A gentleman in distress does not flee to an enemy state; when ties are broken he does not speak harshly — how much less forget his father's enemy, abandon his kin, become a warning to posterity, and shame his allies! If your brother in Ji Province is arrogant, you should humble yourself for the greater cause. When matters are settled, let the world judge who was right — would that not be the noble course?" He also wrote to Shang: "Metal, wood, water, and fire balance hardness and softness to achieve harmony and serve the people's needs. Qing Province is by nature harsh and hasty, blind to right and wrong. You, my lord, are magnanimous and have room to spare. Embrace the smaller, tolerate the weaker — first destroy Cao Cao to avenge your father. Settle that, then judge right and wrong between you — would that not be wise! If you persist in error, even barbarians will mock you — how can your allies fight for you? This is the hound and hare exhausting each other while the farmer reaps the prize." Neither Tan nor Shang listened.

辛毘至西平見曹操，致譚意，群下多以為劉表強，宜先平之，譚、尚不足憂也。荀攸曰：「天下方有事，而劉表坐保江、漢之間，其無四方之志可知矣。袁氏據四州之地，帶甲數十萬，紹以寬厚得眾心；使二子和睦以守其成業，則天下之難未息也。今兄弟遘惡，其勢不兩全，若有所並則力專，力專則難圖也。及其亂而取之，天下定矣，此時不可失也。」操從之。後數日，操更欲先平荊州，使譚、尚自相敝，辛毘望操色，知有變，以語郭嘉。嘉曰操，操謂毘曰：「譚必可信，尚必可克不？」毘對曰：「明公無問信與詐也，直當論其勢耳。袁氏本兄弟相伐，非謂他人能間其間，乃謂天下可定於己也。今一旦求救於明公，此可知也。顯甫見顯思困而不能取，此力竭也。兵革敗於外，謀臣誅於內，兄弟讒鬩，國分為二，連年戰伐，介冑生蟣虱，加以旱蝗，饑饉並臻；天災應於上，人事困於下，民無愚智，皆知土崩瓦解，此乃天亡尚之時也。今往攻鄴，尚不還救，即不能自守；還救，即譚踵其後。以明公之威，應困窮之敵，擊疲敝之寇，無異迅風之振秋葉矣。天以尚與明公，明公不取而伐荊州，荊州豐樂，國未有釁。仲虺有言，『取亂侮亡』。方今二袁不務遠略而內相圖，可謂亂矣；居者無食，行者無糧，可謂亡矣。朝不謀夕，民命靡繼，而不綏之，欲待他年；他年或登，又自知亡而改修厥德，失所以用兵之要矣。今因其請救而撫之，利莫大焉。且四方之寇，莫大於河北，河北平，則六軍盛而天下震矣。」操曰：「善！」乃許譚平。冬，十月，操至黎陽。尚聞操渡河，乃釋平原還鄴。尚將呂曠、高翔畔歸曹操，譚復陰刻將軍印以假曠、翔。操知譚詐，乃為子整娉譚女以安之，而引軍還。

Xin Pi came to Xiping and conveyed Tan's plea. Most of Cao Cao's advisers thought Liu Biao was the real threat and Tan and Shang could wait. Xun You said, "The realm is still in turmoil, yet Liu Biao merely holds the Yangtze and Han — he clearly has no ambition beyond his own domain. The Yuan clan held four provinces and fielded hundreds of thousands of men. Yuan Shao won hearts through generosity. If his two sons united to hold his legacy, the realm's troubles would never end. Now the brothers are at war and cannot both survive. When one absorbs the other, his power will be concentrated — and concentrated power is hard to overcome. Strike while they are in chaos and the realm is yours — this moment must not be lost." Cao Cao agreed. Days later Cao Cao again favored attacking Jing Province first and letting the Yuan brothers destroy each other. Xin Pi read his face, sensed the change, and told Guo Jia. Guo Jia spoke to Cao Cao, who then asked Pi, "Can Tan be trusted? Can Shang be conquered?" Pi replied, "My lord, do not ask about trust or deceit — speak only of the situation. The Yuan brothers fought each other believing no outsider could divide them and that they alone could rule the realm. Now they beg you for rescue in a single day — that tells you everything. Tan sees Shang in distress yet cannot defeat him — his strength is spent. Armies are defeated abroad, advisers executed at home, brothers feud, the state is split in two, years of war have bred lice in the armor, and drought, locusts, and famine have struck together; disaster strikes from above and distress from below — wise and foolish alike know the state is crumbling. Heaven itself is destroying Shang. Attack Ye now — Shang will not abandon the siege to rescue it and cannot hold it; if he returns, Tan will follow at his heels. With your prestige against a desperate, exhausted foe — it will be like a gale shaking autumn leaves. Heaven is handing Shang to you. If you pass him by to attack rich, content Jing Province — a land without a crack in its armor — Zhong Hui said, 'Strike the disorderly and trample the perishing.' The two Yuans plot against each other instead of looking outward — that is disorder; those who stay have no food, those who march have no grain — that is ruin. They cannot plan beyond today; the people's lives hang by a thread — yet you would wait; next year one may prevail, reform his ways, and grow strong again — and you will have missed the essential moment for war. Accept their plea for aid now — the gain could not be greater. Among all foes, none is greater than Hebei. Pacify Hebei and your armies will flourish and the realm will tremble." Cao Cao said, "Excellent!" He agreed to aid Tan. In winter, in the tenth month, Cao Cao reached Liyang. When Shang heard Cao Cao had crossed the river, he abandoned Pingyuan and returned to Ye. Shang's generals Lu Kuang and Gao Xiang defected to Cao Cao. Tan secretly carved general's seals to win them back. Knowing Tan was deceitful, Cao Cao betrothed his son Zheng to Tan's daughter to reassure him, then withdrew.

孫權西伐黃祖，破其舟軍，惟城未克，而山寇復動。權還，過豫章，使征虜中郎將呂范平鄱陽、會稽，蕩寇中郎將程普討樂安，建昌都尉太史慈領海昏，以別部司馬黃蓋、韓當、周泰、呂蒙等守劇縣令長，討山越，悉平之。建安、漢興、南平民作亂，聚眾各萬餘人，權使南部都尉會稽賀齊進討，皆平之，復立縣邑，料出兵萬人；拜齊平東校尉。

Sun Quan attacked Huang Zu in the west and destroyed his fleet, but had not taken the city when mountain bandits rose again. Sun Quan withdrew, passed through Yuzhang, and dispatched Lu Fan to pacify Poyang and Kuaiji, Cheng Pu to attack Lean, Taishi Ci to hold Haihun, and Huang Gai, Han Dang, Zhou Tai, Lu Meng, and others to garrison the counties and suppress the Shanyue — all were pacified. In Jian'an, Hanxing, and Nanping the people rebelled, each district raising more than ten thousand men. Sun Quan sent He Qi of Kuaiji, Southern Commandant, to suppress them. All were pacified; counties were reestablished and ten thousand troops were conscripted. Sun Quan appointed He Qi Colonel Who Pacifies the East.

春，正月，曹操濟河，遏淇水入白溝以通糧道。

In spring, in the first month, Cao Cao crossed the Yellow River and diverted the Qi River into the White Ditch to secure his supply line.

二月，袁尚復攻袁譚於平原，留其將審配、蘇由守鄴。曹操進軍至洹水，蘇由欲為內應，謀洩，出奔操。操進至鄴，為土山、地道以攻之。尚武安長尹楷屯毛城，以通上黨糧道。夏，四月，操留曹洪攻鄴，自將擊楷，破之而還。又擊尚將沮鵠於邯鄲，拔之。易陽令韓范、涉長梁岐皆舉縣降。徐晃言於操曰：「二袁未破，諸城未下者傾耳而聽，宜旌賞二縣以示諸城。」操從之，范、岐皆賜爵關內侯。黑山賊帥張燕遣使求助，操拜平北將軍。

In the second month, Yuan Shang resumed his attack on Yuan Tan at Pingyuan, leaving Shen Pei and Su You to hold Ye. Cao Cao marched to the Huan River. Su You tried to act as an inside agent, but the plot was discovered and he fled to Cao Cao. Cao Cao pushed on to Ye and built siege mounds and tunnels to assault the city. Yin Kai, magistrate of Wu'an under Shang, held Maocheng to keep the Shangdang supply line open. In summer, in the fourth month, Cao Cao left Cao Hong to besiege Ye and personally routed Yin Kai, then returned. He also defeated Shang's general Ju Hu at Handan and captured the city. Han Fan of Yiyang and Liang Qi of She surrendered with their entire districts. Xu Huang urged Cao Cao: "The Yuan brothers still hold out, and every city that has not surrendered is watching closely. Reward these two counties to set an example for the rest." Cao Cao agreed. Han Fan and Liang Qi were both enfeoffed as marquises within the passes. Zhang Yan, chief of the Black Mountain bandits, sent envoys to ask for help. Cao Cao appointed him General Who Pacifies the North.

五月，操毀土山、地道，鑿塹圍城，周回四十里，初令淺，示若可越。配望見，笑之，不出爭利。操一夜浚之，廣深二丈，引漳水以灌之；城中餓死者過半。

In the fifth month, Cao Cao tore down his siege mounds and tunnels, dug a forty-li encircling moat, and at first left it shallow, as though it could be crossed easily. Shen Pei looked out and laughed, and made no sortie to seize the ground. Cao Cao deepened it in a single night to twenty feet across and deep, then diverted the Zhang River to flood the moat; More than half the people in the city starved to death.

秋，七月，尚將兵萬餘人還救鄴；未到，欲令審配知外動止，先使主簿巨鹿李孚入城。孚斫問事杖，繫著馬邊，自著平上幘，將三騎，投暮詣鄴下；自稱都督，歷北圍，循表而東，步步呵責守圍將士，隨輕重行其罰。遂歷操營，前至南圍，當章門，復責怒守圍者，收縛之。因開其圍，馳到城下，呼城上人，城上人以繩引，孚得入。配等見孚，悲喜，鼓噪稱萬歲。守圍者以狀聞，操笑曰：「此非徒得入也，方且復出。」孚知外圍益急，不可復冒，乃請配悉出城中老弱以省谷，夜，簡別數千人，皆使持白幡，從三門並出降。孚復將三騎作降人服，隨輩夜出，突圍得去。

In autumn, in the seventh month, Shang marched back toward Ye with more than ten thousand men; Before he arrived, he wanted Shen Pei to know what was happening outside and first sent Li Fu of Julu, his chief clerk, into the city. Li Fu cut himself a staff of office, tied it to his saddle, put on a plain cap, took three riders, and reached Ye at dusk; He claimed to be the army inspector, walked the northern siege line eastward along the perimeter, and at every step berated the guards and punished them according to their offenses. He passed through Cao Cao's camps to the southern siege line at Zhang Gate, again upbraided the guards, and had them bound. He had the cordon opened, rode to the wall, called up to the defenders, and was pulled inside by rope. Shen Pei and the others greeted him with mingled grief and joy, shouting and cheering for the emperor. When the guards reported what had happened, Cao Cao laughed and said, "He didn't come in just to stay — he'll be getting out again soon." Knowing he could not bluff his way through the tightening ring a second time, Li Fu persuaded Shen Pei to send out the city's elderly and weak to save grain. That night he sorted out several thousand people, gave them white banners, and sent them out through three gates at once to surrender. Li Fu then disguised himself and his three riders as refugees, slipped out with the crowd that night, and broke through the siege lines.

尚兵既至，諸將皆以為：「此歸師，人自為戰，不如避之。」操曰：「尚從大道來，當避之；若循西山來者，此成禽耳。」尚果循西山來，東至陽平亭，去鄴十七里，臨滏水為營。夜，舉火以示城中，城中亦舉火相應。配出兵城北，欲與尚對決圍。操逆擊之，敗還，尚亦破走，依曲漳為營，操遂圍之。未合，尚懼，遣使求降；操不聽，圍之益急。尚夜遁，保祁山，操復進圍之。尚將馬延、張顗等臨陳降，眾大潰，尚奔中山。盡收其輜重，得尚印綬、節鉞及衣物，以示城中，城中崩沮。審配令士卒曰：「堅守死戰！操軍疲矣，幽州方至，何憂無主！」操出行圍，配伏弩射之，幾中。配兄子榮為東門校尉，八月，戊寅，榮夜開門內操兵。配拒戰城中，操兵生獲之。辛評家系鄴獄，辛毘馳往，欲解之，已悉為配所殺。操兵縛配詣帳下，毘逆以馬鞭擊其頭，罵之曰：「奴，汝今日真死矣！」配顧曰：「狗輩，正由汝曹破我冀州，恨不得殺汝也！且汝今日能殺生我邪？」有頃，操引見，謂配曰：「曩日孤之行圍，何弩之多也！」配曰：「猶恨其少！」操曰：「卿忠於袁氏，亦自不得不爾。」意欲活之。配意氣壯烈，終於橈辭，而辛毘等號哭不已，遂斬之。冀州人張子謙先降，素與配不善，笑謂配曰：「正南，卿竟何如我？」配厲聲曰：「汝為降虜，審配為忠臣。雖死，豈羨汝生邪！」臨行刑，叱持兵者令北向，曰：「我君在北也。」

When Shang's army arrived, his commanders argued: "These are men hurrying home to save their city. They will fight as if each man alone mattered. We ought to avoid them." Cao Cao said, "If Shang comes by the main road, we should avoid him; but if he comes by the western hills, he will be easy prey." Shang did come by the western hills, reached Yangping Pavilion seventeen li from Ye, and made camp on the Fu River. At night he lit signal fires for the city, and the city answered with fires of its own. Shen Pei led troops out from the north gate, intending to link up with Shang and break the siege. Cao Cao counterattacked and drove Shen Pei back. Shang was also routed and withdrew to the Qu Zhang to make camp, where Cao Cao besieged him. Before the ring closed, Shang, alarmed, sent envoys to sue for peace; Cao Cao refused and tightened the siege. Shang fled by night to Qishan. Cao Cao pursued and besieged him again. Shang's generals Ma Yan and Zhang Yi surrendered on the field. His army collapsed, and Shang fled to Zhongshan. Cao Cao captured all his supplies, along with Shang's seals, credentials, and regalia, and displayed them before Ye. The city's morale shattered. Shen Pei told the troops: "Hold the walls and fight to the death! Cao Cao's army is spent, and reinforcements from You Province are on the way. Why fear that we are leaderless?" When Cao Cao rode out to inspect the siege lines, Shen Pei had crossbowmen hidden to shoot at him. The bolts nearly found their mark. Shen Pei's nephew Rong commanded the east gate. On wuyin in the eighth month, Rong opened the gate by night and let Cao Cao's men in. Shen Pei fought on inside the city until Cao Cao's men captured him alive. Xin Ping's family was held in the Ye jail. Xin Pi rushed to free them, but Shen Pei had already had them all executed. Cao Cao's men bound Shen Pei and brought him to headquarters. Xin Pi met him and whipped him across the head, shouting, "You slave — this time you are truly dead!" Shen Pei turned and said, "You curs — it was your kind who ruined Ji Province. I only regret I could not kill you! And as I still live, can you kill me now?" After a time Cao Cao had him brought before him and said, "When I rode the lines the other day, your crossbow bolts came thick as rain." Shen Pei said, "I only regret there were not more." Cao Cao said, "You were loyal to the Yuan house. You could not have done otherwise." He meant to spare him. Shen Pei remained fierce and unyielding to the end, but Xin Pi and the others kept wailing until Cao Cao ordered his execution. Zhang Ziqian of Ji Province, who had surrendered earlier and had never been on good terms with Shen Pei, mocked him: "Zhengnan — see how much better I fare than you?" Shen Pei shouted back, "You are a turncoat. I am a loyal minister. Even in death, why should I envy your life?" At the moment of execution he ordered the executioners to turn him north, saying, "My lord is in the north."

操乃臨祀紹墓，哭之流涕；慰勞紹妻，還其家人寶物，賜雜繒絮，稟食之。

Cao Cao went in person to Yuan Shao's tomb and wept there; He consoled Yuan Shao's widow, restored her family's property, gave her cloth and supplies, and provided rations for her household.

初，袁紹與操共起兵，紹問操曰：「若事不輯，則方面何所可據？」操曰：「足下意以為何如？」紹曰：「吾南據河，北阻燕、代，兼戎狄之眾，南向以爭天下，庶可以濟乎！」操曰：「吾任天下之智力，以道御之，無所不可。」

Earlier, when Yuan Shao and Cao Cao first raised armies together, Shao asked Cao Cao, "If things go wrong, what territory should one hold?" Cao Cao replied, "What do you think?" Shao said, "I would hold the Yellow River in the south, block the passes to Yan and Dai in the north, rally the northern tribes, and march south to seize the empire. That might work." Cao Cao said, "I would gather the talents of the realm and lead them by principle. With that, anything is possible."

九月，詔以操領冀州牧；操讓還兗州。

In the ninth month, an imperial edict made Cao Cao Governor of Ji Province; Cao Cao declined and kept only Yan Province.

初，袁尚遣從事安平牽招至上黨督軍糧，未還，尚走中山，招說高幹以并州迎尚，並力觀變，幹不從。招乃東詣曹操，操復以為冀州從事。又辟崔琰為別駕，操謂琰曰：「昨案戶籍，可得三十萬眾，故為大州也。」琰對曰：「今九州幅裂，二袁兄弟親尋干戈，冀方蒸庶，暴骨原野，未聞王師存問風俗，救其塗炭，而校計甲兵，唯此為先，斯豈鄙州士女所望於明公哉！」操改容謝之。許攸恃功驕嫚，嘗於眾坐呼操小字曰：「某甲，卿非我，不得冀州也！」操笑曰：「汝言是也。」然內不樂，後竟殺之。

Earlier, Yuan Shang had sent Qian Zhao of Anping to Shangdang to oversee military supplies. Before Zhao returned, Shang fled to Zhongshan. Zhao urged Gao Gan to bring Bing Province to Shang's aid and wait to see how things developed, but Gan refused. Zhao then went east to Cao Cao, who appointed him an aide in Ji Province. He also recruited Cui Yan as Registrar. Cao Cao told him, "Yesterday I reviewed the household registers. This province can field three hundred thousand men. A great province indeed." Cui Yan answered, "The empire is torn apart. The Yuan brothers war with each other while Ji Province's people die in the fields. No one has heard of the court asking after their welfare or lifting them from misery, yet you count first how many soldiers you can raise. Is that what this province expects of you?" Cao Cao's face changed and he apologized. Xu You grew proud of his service. Once at a public gathering he called Cao Cao by his childhood name: "Ah Man — without me, you'd never have taken Ji Province!" Cao Cao laughed and said, "You're right." But inwardly he resented it, and in the end had Xu You killed.

冬，十月，有星孛於東井。

In winter, in the tenth month, a comet appeared in the Well constellation.

高幹以并州降，操復以幹為并州刺史。

Gao Gan surrendered Bing Province, and Cao Cao restored him as its governor.

曹操之圍鄴也，袁譚復背之，略取甘陵、安平、勃海、河間。攻袁尚於中山，尚敗，走故安，從袁熙；譚悉收其眾，還屯龍湊。操與譚書，責以負約，與之絕婚，女還，然後進討。十二月，操軍其門，譚拔平原，走保南皮，臨清河而屯。操入平原，略定諸縣。

While Cao Cao besieged Ye, Yuan Tan turned on him again and seized Ganling, Anping, Bohai, and Hejian. He attacked Yuan Shang at Zhongshan. Shang was defeated and fled with Yuan Xi to Gu'an; Tan absorbed Shang's scattered troops and withdrew to Longcou. Cao Cao wrote to rebuke Tan for breaking faith, annulled the marriage alliance and sent his son's betrothed home, then marched against him. In the twelfth month, Cao Cao attacked Tan at his gates. Tan abandoned Pingyuan, fled to Nanpi, and made camp on the Qing River. Cao Cao entered Pingyuan and secured its counties.

曹操表公孫度為武威將軍，封永寧鄉侯。度曰：「我王遼東，何永寧也！」藏印綬於武庫。是歲，度卒，子康嗣位，以永寧鄉侯封其弟恭。操以牽招嘗為袁氏領烏桓，遣詣柳城，撫慰烏桓。值峭王嚴五千騎欲助袁譚，又，公孫康遣使韓忠假峭王單于印綬。峭王大會群長，忠亦在坐。峭王問招：「昔袁公言受天子之命，假我為單于；今曹公復言當更白天子，假我真單于；遼東復持印綬來。如此，誰當為正？」招答曰：「昔袁公承製，得有所拜假。中間違錯天子命，曹公代之，言當白天子，更假真單于，是也。遼東下郡，何得擅稱拜假也！」忠曰：「我遼東在滄海之東，擁兵百餘萬，又有扶餘、濊貊之用。當今之勢，強者為右，曹操何得獨為是也！」招呵忠曰：「曹公允恭明哲，翼戴天子，伐叛柔服，寧靜四海。汝君臣頑囂，今恃險遠，背違天命，欲擅拜假，侮弄神器；方當屠戮，何敢慢易咎毀大人！」便捉忠頭頓築，拔刀欲斬之。峭王驚怖，徒跣抱招，以救請忠，左右失色。招乃還坐，為峭王等說成敗之效，禍福所歸；皆下席跪伏，敬受敕教，便辭遼東之使，罷所嚴騎。

Cao Cao recommended Gongsun Du for the title General Who Manifests Martiality and enfeoffed him as Marquis of Yongning Township. Du said, "I am king of Liaodong — what do I want with Yongning?" He put the seal and ribbon away in the armory. That year Gongsun Du died. His son Kang succeeded him, and Kang used the marquisate of Yongning to enfeoff his brother Gong. Because Qian Zhao had once commanded the Wuhuan for the Yuans, Cao Cao sent him to Liucheng to reassure them. Qiao Wang had five thousand cavalry ready to aid Yuan Tan, and Gongsun Kang sent his envoy Han Zhong to invest Qiao Wang with the chanyu's seal and ribbon. Qiao Wang summoned all the chieftains to a council; Han Zhong was present. Qiao Wang asked Qian Zhao, "Lord Yuan once said he had the emperor's authority and made me chanyu; now Lord Cao says he too will report to the emperor and make me true chanyu; and now Liaodong brings another seal and ribbon. Who speaks with real authority?" Qian Zhao answered, "Lord Yuan held imperial authority and could confer titles. He then defied the emperor. Lord Cao replaced him and will report to the throne and confer the true chanyu's seal. That is the one to heed. Liaodong is only a commandery. What right has it to hand out titles on its own?" Han Zhong said, "Liaodong lies beyond the eastern sea. We command more than a million men and have Buyeo and the Mo tribes at our call. In today's world, might makes right. Why should Cao Cao alone have the final say?" Qian Zhao rebuked Han Zhong: "Lord Cao is fair, wise, and loyal to the throne. He crushes rebels and wins over the obedient and brings peace to the empire. You lord and subject are stubborn and arrogant. Sheltered by your distant stronghold, you defy Heaven's mandate, hand out titles on your own authority, and trifle with the symbols of imperial power; Your turn for the blade is coming — how dare you slight and insult Lord Cao!" He grabbed Han Zhong by the head and slammed it against the floor, then drew his sword to kill him. Qiao Wang was terrified. Barefoot, he threw his arms around Qian Zhao and begged him to spare Han Zhong; everyone present went pale. Qian Zhao resumed his seat and explained to Qiao Wang and the rest what victory and defeat meant and where blessing and ruin would fall; All rose from their seats, knelt in submission, and accepted his counsel. They sent the Liaodong envoy away and stood down the cavalry they had mustered.

丹楊大都督媯覽、郡丞戴員殺太守孫翊。將軍孫河屯京城，馳赴宛陵，覽、員復殺之；遣人迎揚州刺史劉馥，令往歷陽，以丹楊應之。覽入居軍府中，欲逼取翊妻徐氏。徐氏紿之曰：「乞須晦日，設祭除服，然後聽命。」覽許之。徐氏潛使所親語翊親近舊將孫高、傅嬰等與共圖覽，高、嬰涕泣許諾，密呼翊時侍養者二十餘人與盟誓合謀。到晦日，設祭。徐氏哭泣盡哀，畢，乃除服，薰香沐浴，言笑歡悅。大小心妻愴，怪其如此。覽密覘，無復疑意。徐氏呼高、嬰置戶內，使人召覽入。徐氏出戶拜覽，適得一拜，徐大呼：「二君可起！」高、嬰俱出，共殺覽，餘人即就外殺員。徐氏乃還縗絲至，奉覽、員首以祭翊墓，舉軍震駭。孫權聞亂，從椒丘還。至丹楊，悉族誅覽、員餘黨，擢高、嬰為牙門，其餘賞賜有差。

Gui Lan, Grand Commandant of Danyang, and Dai Yuan, the assistant administrator, murdered the prefect Sun Yi. General Sun He was stationed at Jingcheng. He raced to Wanling, but Lan and Yuan killed him too; They sent for Liu Fu, inspector of Yang Province, and summoned him to Liyang to rally Danyang to their cause. Lan moved into the military headquarters and tried to take Sun Yi's wife, Lady Xu, by force. Lady Xu deceived him. "Please grant me until the last day of mourning," she said. "Let me perform the final rites and lay aside my mourning robes, and then I will submit." Lan agreed. Lady Xu secretly sent a trusted attendant to Sun Gao, Fu Ying, and other of Sun Yi's old officers to plot Gui Lan's death. Gao and Ying wept as they pledged themselves, and in secret they gathered more than twenty of Sun Yi's former servants to swear an oath and join the conspiracy. When the last day of mourning came, she performed the rites. Lady Xu wept until her grief was spent. Then she put off her mourning dress, bathed, scented herself, and appeared merry and laughing. Young and old in the household were heartsick and puzzled by her behavior. Lan watched her in secret and no longer doubted her. Lady Xu hid Sun Gao and Fu Ying inside, then sent for Gui Lan. Lady Xu came out to greet him with a bow. At the very moment she rose from her first obeisance, she cried, "Now, you two — rise!" Gao and Ying burst out and killed Lan. The rest rushed outside and killed Dai Yuan. Lady Xu put her mourning dress back on, offered Lan's and Yuan's heads at Sun Yi's tomb, and the whole army was stunned. When Sun Quan heard of the uprising, he returned from Jiaoqiu. On reaching Danyang, he wiped out the remaining Lan and Yuan factions to the last clan, promoted Sun Gao and Fu Ying to gate commanders, and rewarded the others according to their service.

河子韶，年十七，收河餘眾屯京城。權引軍發吳，夜至京城下營，試攻驚之；兵皆乘城，傳檄備警，歡聲動地，頗射外人。權使曉諭，乃止。明日見韶，拜承列校尉，統河部曲。

Sun He's son Shao, seventeen, gathered his father's remaining troops and held Jingcheng. Sun Quan marched from Wu and by night encamped below Jingcheng, testing the garrison with a surprise attack; The defenders manned the walls, circulated proclamations, and raised a cheer that shook the ground. Some even shot at Sun Quan's men outside. Sun Quan sent envoys to explain, and the commotion ceased. The next day he received Shao, appointed him Colonel of the Successive Array, and put him in command of Sun He's old company.

春，正月，曹操攻南皮，袁譚出戰，士卒多死。操欲緩之，議郎曹純曰：「今縣師深入，難以持久，若進不能克，退必喪威。」乃自執桴鼓以率攻者，遂克之。譚出走，追斬之。李孚自稱冀州主簿，求見操曰：「今城中弱強相陵，人心擾亂，以為宜令新降為內所識信者宣傳明教。」操即使孚往入城，告諭吏民，使各安故業，不得相侵，城中乃安。操於是斬郭圖等及其妻子。袁譚使王修運糧於樂安，聞譚急，將所領兵往赴之，至高密，聞譚死，下馬號哭曰：「無君焉歸！」遂諧曹操，乞收葬譚屍，操許之，復使修還樂安，督軍糧。譚所部諸城皆服，唯樂安太守管統不下。操命修取統首，修以統亡國忠臣，解其縛，使詣操，操悅而赦之，辟修為司空掾。

In spring, in the first month, Cao Cao attacked Nanpi. Yuan Tan met him in battle, and many of his men fell. Cao Cao wanted to ease off. Cao Chun, Master of Proposals, said, "Our army is far inside hostile country and cannot linger. If we press on and fail, or withdraw, we lose face either way." He took up drum and mallet himself, led the assault, and took the city. Tan fled. Pursuers ran him down and killed him. Li Fu, calling himself chief clerk of Ji Province, asked to see Cao Cao. "The strong are preying on the weak inside the city and the people are panicking," he said. "Send in someone the garrison knows and trusts among the recent surrenderers to proclaim your orders." Cao Cao sent Li Fu into the city to reassure officials and commoners, telling each to keep to his trade and leave his neighbors unmolested. The city calmed. Cao Cao then executed Guo Tu and his followers, along with their wives and children. Yuan Tan had sent Wang Xiu to convoy grain at Le'an. When Wang Xiu heard that Tan was in peril, he marched to his relief. At Gaomi he learned Tan was dead, dismounted, and wailed, "My lord is gone — where shall I go?" He went to Cao Cao and asked permission to bury Tan's body. Cao Cao agreed and sent Wang Xiu back to Le'an to oversee the army's grain supply. Every city in Tan's orbit submitted except Le'an, where the prefect Guan Tong refused to yield. Cao Cao ordered Wang Xiu to bring him Guan Tong's head. Wang Xiu, deeming Tong a loyal man of a fallen house, freed him and sent him to Cao Cao. Cao Cao was pleased and spared him, and took Wang Xiu onto his staff in the Department of Works.

郭嘉說操多辟青、冀、幽、并名士以為掾屬，使人心歸附，操從之。官渡之戰，袁紹使陳琳為檄書，數操罪惡，連及家世，極其醜詆。及袁氏敗，琳歸操，操曰：「卿昔為本初移書，但可罪狀孤身，何乃上及父祖邪！」琳謝罪，操釋之，使與陳留阮瑀俱管記室。先是漁陽王松據涿郡，郡人劉放說松以地歸操，操辟放參司空軍事。

Guo Jia urged Cao Cao to recruit distinguished men from Qing, Ji, You, and Bing as aides so that the people would rally to him. Cao Cao agreed. At Guandu, Yuan Shao had Chen Lin draft a proclamation listing Cao Cao's crimes, dragging in his whole lineage and heaping abuse upon him. When the Yuan clan fell, Chen Lin surrendered to Cao Cao. Cao Cao said, "When you wrote that tract for Shao, you might have condemned me alone. Why drag in my father and grandfather?" Chen Lin apologized. Cao Cao pardoned him and put him and Ruan Yu of Chenliu in charge of his secretariat. Earlier Wang Song of Fuyang had held Zhuo Commandery. Liu Fang, a local man, persuaded him to surrender to Cao Cao, and Cao Cao took Liu Fang onto his military staff in the Department of Works.

袁熙為其將焦觸、張南所攻，與尚俱奔遼西烏桓。觸自號幽州刺史，驅率諸郡太守令長，背袁向曹，陳兵數萬，殺白馬而盟，令曰：「敢違者斬！」眾莫敢仰視，各以次歃。別駕代郡韓珩曰：「吾受袁公父子厚恩，今其破亡，智不能救，勇不能死，於義闕矣。若乃北面曹氏，所不能為也。」一坐為珩失色。觸曰：「夫舉大事，當立大義，事之濟否，不待一人，可卒珩志，以厲事君。」乃捨之。觸等遂降曹操，皆封為列侯。

Yuan Xi's own generals Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan turned on him. He and Yuan Shang fled to the Liaoxi Wuhuan. Jiao Chu styled himself inspector of You Province, rallied the prefects and magistrates of the commanderies, and defected from the Yuans to Cao Cao. He mustered tens of thousands of men, sacrificed a white horse, and swore them to the oath: "Whoever defies this oath dies!" None dared meet his eye. One by one they drank the oath. Han Heng, attendant administrator of Dai, said, "The Yuan father and son showed me great kindness. Their house is ruined. I lacked the wit to save them and the courage to die with them. In duty I already fail. But to bow to the Cao clan — that I cannot do." The whole company turned pale. Jiao Chu said, "Great undertakings rest on great principle. Success does not hinge on one man. Let us honor Han Heng's wish and make an example of loyalty." He spared him. Jiao Chu and his companions surrendered to Cao Cao and were all enfeoffed as marquises.

夏，四月，黑山賊帥張燕率其眾十餘萬降，封安國亭侯。

In summer, in the fourth month, Zhang Yan, chieftain of the Black Mountain bandits, surrendered with more than a hundred thousand followers and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Anguo Village.

故安趙犢、霍奴等殺幽州刺史及涿郡太守，三郡烏桓攻鮮于輔於獷平。秋，八月，操討犢等，斬之；乃渡潞水救獷平，烏桓走出塞。

Zhao Du of Gu'an, Huo Nu, and others murdered the inspector of You Province and the prefect of Zhuo. Wuhuan from three commanderies attacked Xianyu Fu at Kuangping. In autumn, in the eighth month, Cao Cao marched against Zhao Du and his band and executed them; then crossed the Lu River to relieve Kuangping. The Wuhuan fled beyond the frontier.

冬，十月，高幹聞操討烏桓，復以并州叛，執上黨太守，舉兵守壺關口。操遣其將樂進、李典擊之。河內張晟，眾萬餘人，寇崤、澠間，弘農張琰起兵以應之。

In winter, in the tenth month, hearing that Cao Cao was off fighting the Wuhuan, Gao Gan rebelled again in Bing Province, seized the prefect of Shangdang, and raised troops to hold Huguan Pass. Cao Cao sent Yue Jin and Li Dian against him. Zhang Sheng of Henei, with more than ten thousand men, raided between the Xiao and Mian passes. Zhang Yan of Hongnong took up arms in support.

河東太守王邑被征，郡掾衛固及中郎將范先等詣司隸校尉鐘繇，請留之。繇不許。固等外以請邑為名，而內實與高幹通牒。曹操謂荀彧曰：「關西諸將，外服內貳，張晟寇亂殽、澠，南通劉表，固等因之，將為深害。當今河東，天下之要地也，君為我舉賢才以鎮之。」彧曰：「西平太守京兆杜畿，勇足以當難，智足以應變。」操乃以畿為河東太守。鐘繇促王邑交符，邑佩印綬，逕從河北詣許自歸。衛固等使兵數千人絕陝津，杜畿至，數月不得渡。操遣夏侯惇討固等，未至，畿曰：「河東有三萬戶，非皆欲為亂也。今兵迫之急，欲為善者無主，必懼而聽於固。固等勢專，必以死戰。討之不勝，為難未已；討之而勝，是殘一郡之民也。且固等未顯絕王命，外以請故君為名，必不害新君。吾單車直往，出其不意，固為人多計而無斷，必偽受吾。吾得居郡一月，以計縻之，足矣。」遂詭道從郖津度。范先欲殺畿以威眾，且觀畿去就，於門下斬殺主簿已下三十餘人，畿舉動自若。於是固曰：「殺之無損，徒有惡名；且制之在我。」遂奉之。畿謂固、先曰：「衛、范，河東之望也，吾仰成而已。然君固有定義，成敗同之，大事當共平議。」以固為都督，行丞事，領功曹。將校吏兵三千餘人，皆范先督之。固等喜，雖陽事畿，不以為意。固欲大發兵，畿患之，說固曰：「今大發兵，眾情必擾，不如徐以貲募兵。」固以為然，從之，得兵甚少。畿又喻固等曰：「人情顧家，諸將掾史，可分遣休息，急緩召之不難。」固等惡逆眾心，又從之。於是善人在外，陰為己援；惡人分散，各還其家。

The prefect of Hedong, Wang Yi, was called to court. Wei Gu, a commandery clerk, and Fan Xian, a general of the household, went to Zhong Yao, director of retainers, and asked that Wang Yi be kept in office. Zhong Yao refused. Outwardly Wei Gu and his allies pleaded for Wang Yi; inwardly they were already in league with Gao Gan. Cao Cao told Xun Yu, "The generals west of the Pass bow on the surface but waver within. Zhang Sheng is ravaging the Xiao and Mian region and reaching south toward Liu Biao. With Wei Gu and the rest stirring trouble, the danger runs deep. Hedong is a pivot of the realm. Find me a worthy man to hold it." Xun Yu said, "Du Ji of Jingzhao, prefect of Xiping — brave enough to face crisis, shrewd enough to adapt." Cao Cao appointed Du Ji prefect of Hedong. Zhong Yao pressed Wang Yi to surrender his seal of office. Yi took the insignia and went straight from Hebei to Xu to submit in person. Wei Gu sent several thousand men to block the Shan Pass ford. Du Ji arrived but could not cross for months. Cao Cao dispatched Xiahou Dun to crush Wei Gu. Before he arrived, Du Ji said, "Hedong has thirty thousand households. Not all of them want rebellion. But with an army at the gates, good men have no one to follow. In fear they will fall in behind Wei Gu. Wei Gu will hold the field and fight to the death. Defeat him and the trouble persists; victory means slaughtering a whole commandery. Besides, Wei Gu has not openly defied the throne. He only claims to be pleading for the old prefect. He will not dare kill the new one. If I ride in alone and take them by surprise, Wei Gu — crafty but indecisive — will pretend to accept me. Give me a month in office to tie his hands, and that will be enough." He took a roundabout route and crossed at Xi Ford. Fan Xian meant to kill Du Ji to cow the rest and test his resolve. At the gate he beheaded the chief clerk and more than thirty subordinates. Du Ji did not flinch. Wei Gu said, "Killing him gains us nothing and wins us infamy; and we hold him in our power anyway." He accepted Du Ji as prefect. Du Ji told Wei Gu and Fan Xian, "You two are the pillars of Hedong. I mean only to lean on your support. But you are men of principle. We rise or fall together. Weighty matters should be settled among us." He made Wei Gu supervising commander with acting deputy prefect's duties and put him in charge of the merit clerk's office. More than three thousand officers and men were placed under Fan Xian's command. Wei Gu and his allies were delighted. They paid Du Ji lip service and ignored him. Wei Gu wanted to mobilize a large force. Du Ji objected. "A mass levy will panic the people," he said. "Better to raise troops slowly with cash bounties." Wei Gu agreed. He followed the advice and mustered only a handful of men. Du Ji urged Wei Gu again: "Men worry for their families. Send the officers and clerks home on leave — you can always call them back when needed." Wei Gu, loath to alienate the people, agreed again. Good men dispersed to the countryside and quietly rallied to Du Ji; the ringleaders scattered, each to his own home.

會白騎攻東垣，高幹入濩澤。畿知諸縣附己，乃出，單將數十騎，赴堅壁而守之，吏民多舉城且畿者，比數十日，得四千餘人。固等與高幹、張晟共攻畿，不下，略諸縣，無所得。曹操使議郎張既西征關中諸將馬騰等，皆引兵會擊晟等，破之，斬固、琰等著，其餘黨與皆赦之。

About then the White Horse cavalry attacked Dongyuan and Gao Gan withdrew into Huo Marsh. Learning that the counties were declaring for him, Du Ji rode out with a few dozen horsemen, took a fortified position, and held it. Within ten days more than four thousand officials and commoners had rallied to his banner. Wei Gu, Gao Gan, and Zhang Sheng besieged him but could not break him. They pillaged the counties and gained nothing. Cao Cao sent Zhang Ji west against Ma Teng and the other Pass generals. They converged on Zhang Sheng, routed the rebels, executed Wei Gu and Zhang Yan as examples, and pardoned the rest.

於是杜畿治河東，務崇寬惠。民有辭訟，畿為陳義理，遣歸諦思之，父老皆自相責怒，不敢訟。勸耕桑，課畜牧，百姓家家豐實。然後興學校，舉孝弟，修戎事，講武備，河東遂安。畿在河東十六年，常為天下最。

Du Ji then governed Hedong with a policy of mercy and kindness. When people came with disputes, Du Ji would explain the rights of the matter and send them home to think it over. The village elders would rebuke one another and no one dared sue. He promoted farming and sericulture, encouraged livestock, and every household grew prosperous. He established schools, promoted filial piety and brotherly duty, trained the army, and drilled martial readiness — and Hedong was pacified. Ji governed Hedong for sixteen years, and it was regularly ranked the finest commandery in the realm.

秘書監、侍中荀悅作《申鑒》五篇，奏之。悅，爽之兄子也。時政在曹氏，天子恭己，悅志在獻替，而謀無所用，故作是書。其大略曰：為政之術，先屏四患，乃崇五政。偽亂欲，私壞法，放越軌，奢敗制：四者不除，則政末由行矣，是為四患。興農桑以養其生，審好惡以正其俗，宣文教以章其化，立武備以秉其威，明常罰以統其法，是謂五政。人不畏死，不可懼以罪；人不樂生，不可勸以善。故在上者，先豐民財以定其志，是謂養生。善惡要乎功罪，毀譽效於准驗，聽言責事，舉名察實，無或作偽以蕩眾心。故欲無奸怪，民無淫風，是謂正俗。榮辱者，賞罰之精華也。故禮教榮辱以加君子，化其情也；桎梏鞭撲以加小人，化其形也。若教化之廢，推中人而墜於小人之域，教化之行，引中人而納於君子之塗，是謂章化。在上者必有武備以戒不虞，安居則寄之內政，有事則用之軍旅，是謂秉威。賞罰，政之柄也。人主不妄賞，非愛其財也，賞妄行，則善不勸矣；不妄罰，非矜其人也，罰妄行，則惡不懲矣。賞不勸，謂之止善，罰不懲，謂之縱惡。在上者能不止下為善，不縱下為惡，則國法立矣。是謂統法。四患既蠲，五政又立，行之以誠，守之以固，簡而不怠，疏而不失，垂拱揖讓，而海內平矣。

Director of the Secretariat and Palace Attendant Xun Yue composed five chapters of the Shenjian and presented them to the throne. Xun Yue was a nephew of Xun Shuang. Political power lay with the Cao clan while the Son of Heaven held himself in respectful retirement. Xun Yue wished to offer counsel but had no avenue — therefore he wrote this book. Its general argument runs: sound government must first eliminate four harms, then establish five policies. Falsity that disorders desire, selfishness that ruins law, license that oversteps norms, extravagance that destroys institutions — unless these four are removed, government cannot function. These are the four harms. Promote farming and sericulture to sustain livelihood; judge likes and dislikes to rectify custom; proclaim civil teaching to manifest transformation; establish martial readiness to wield authority; clarify regular punishments to unify law — these are the five policies. When people do not fear death, punishment cannot frighten them; when people do not delight in life, goodness cannot win them over. Therefore rulers must first enrich the people's wealth to settle their minds — this is sustaining life. Good and evil hinge on deeds; praise and blame require verification; heed words but judge by deeds; cite names but examine facts — let no one manufacture falsehood to unsettle the people's hearts. Thus treachery is eliminated and licentious custom is checked — this is rectifying custom. Honor and disgrace are the essence of reward and punishment. Therefore ritual teaching applies honor and disgrace to gentlemen, transforming their hearts; fetters, cudgels, and floggings are applied to petty men, transforming their bodies. When civilizing transformation fails, ordinary men fall into petty ways; when it succeeds, ordinary men are drawn onto the path of gentlemen — this is manifesting transformation. Rulers must maintain martial readiness against the unforeseen — in peace entrust it to civil government, in crisis deploy it in the army. This is wielding authority. Reward and punishment are the handles of government. The ruler does not reward rashly — not from stinginess, but because rash rewards fail to encourage goodness; nor punish rashly — not from pity, but because rash punishments fail to chastise evil. Rewards that do not encourage are called halting goodness; punishments that do not chastise are called indulging evil. If rulers neither halt goodness below nor indulge evil below, the state's law stands firm. This is unifying the law. Once the four harms are removed and the five policies established, practice them sincerely, guard them firmly, be simple without slackness, be sparing without neglect — and the realm is pacified while the ruler folds his hands in repose.

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