1
【晋紀十四】起玄黓敦牂，盡昭陽協洽，凡二年。
[Jin Annals XIV] From the year Xuanque Dunzang through Zhaoyang Xieqia—two years in all.
2
中宗元皇帝下永昌元年（ 壬午，公元三二二年）
First year of Yongchang (lower scroll) of Emperor Yuan ( the year Renwu, AD 322)
3
春，正月，郭璞複上疏，請因皇孫生，下赦令，帝從之。 乙卯，大赦，改元。
In spring, the first month, Guo Pu again memorialized the throne, urging that the birth of an imperial grandson be marked with a general amnesty; the emperor agreed. On the day yimao, the court proclaimed a general amnesty and adopted a new reign title.
4
王敦以璞爲記室參軍。 璞善卜筮，知敦必爲亂，己預其禍，甚憂之。 大將軍掾穎川陳述卒，璞哭之極哀，曰：“嗣祖，焉知非福也！”
Wang Dun made Guo Pu a recorder on his staff. Guo Pu was adept at divination and knew Wang Dun would rebel; foreseeing his own doom, he was deeply anxious. When Chen Shuzhu of Yingchuan, a clerk in the Grand General's office, died, Guo Pu mourned him bitterly and said, "Sizu—who can say this is not a blessing?"
5
敦既與朝廷乖離，乃羈錄朝士有時望者，置己幕府，以羊曼及陳國謝鯤爲長史。 曼，祜之兄孫也。 曼、鯤終日酣醉，故敦不委以事。 敦將作亂，謂鯤曰：“劉隗奸邪，將危社稷，吾欲除君側之惡，何如？ ”鯤曰：“隗誠始禍，然城狐社鼠。 ”敦怒曰：“君庸才，豈達大體！ ”出爲豫章太守，又留不遣。
Once Wang Dun had broken with the court, he detained eminent officials and installed them in his staff, appointing Yang Man and Xie Kun of Chen as chief administrators. Yang Man was a grandson of Yang Hu's elder brother. Man and Kun drank themselves senseless every day, so Dun never gave them real responsibility. As Wang Dun prepared to rebel, he asked Xie Kun, "Liu Wei is treacherous and will endanger the realm; I mean to purge evil from the emperor's side—what say you?" "Xie Kun replied, Liu Wei did start this trouble, but he is the court's own creature— "Wang Dun flared up: You are a mediocrity—what do you know of the larger design! "He was nominally sent out as prefect of Yuzhang, but Wang Dun kept him and would not let him go.
6
戊辰，敦舉兵于武昌，上疏罪狀劉隗，稱：“隗佞邪讒賊，威福自由，妄興事役，勞擾士民，賦役煩重，怨聲盈路。 臣備位宰輔，不可坐視成敗，輒進軍致討。 隗首朝懸，諸軍夕退。 昔太甲顛覆厥度，幸納伊尹之忠，殷道複昌。 願陛下深垂三思，則四海乂安，社稷永固矣。 ”沈充亦起兵于吳興以應敦，敦以充爲大都督、督護東吳諸軍事。 敦至蕪湖，又上表罪狀刁協。 帝大怒，乙亥，詔曰：“王敦憑恃寵靈，敢肆狂逆，方朕太甲，欲見幽囚。 是可忍也，孰不可忍！ 今親帥六軍以誅大逆，有殺敦者，封五千戶侯。 ”敦兄光錄勛含乘輕舟逃歸于敦。
On wuchen, Wang Dun raised arms at Wuchang and memorialized the throne with charges against Liu Wei: "Liu Wei is a sycophant and traitor who wields power at will, launches wasteful projects, burdens the people with heavy levies, and has filled the roads with grievances." As one who shares in governing, I cannot sit idle while the realm's fate hangs in the balance; I have therefore marched to punish him. Hang Liu Wei's head at court in the morning, and every army will stand down by evening. Long ago Tai Jia overturned the norms of rule, yet by heeding Yi Yin's loyal counsel the house of Yin was restored. If Your Majesty will weigh this carefully, the realm will be at peace and the dynasty secure for ages. "Shen Chong also took up arms in Wuxing to support Wang Dun, who appointed him grand commander with authority over all forces in eastern Wu. When Wang Dun reached Wuhu, he submitted another memorial denouncing Diao Xie. The emperor was furious; on yihai he issued an edict: "Wang Dun, drunk on imperial favor, has dared to rebel openly, treating Us as Tai Jia and seeking to imprison Us." If this can be endured, what cannot? We now lead the Six Armies in person to punish this arch-traitor; whoever kills Wang Dun shall receive a marquisate of five thousand households. "Wang Dun's elder brother Han, Director of the Imperial Secretariat, fled by light boat to join his brother.
7
太子中庶子溫嶠謂僕射周顗曰：“大將軍此舉似有所在，當無濫邪？ ”顗曰：“不然。 人主自非堯、舜，何能無失，人臣安可舉兵以脅之！ 舉動如此，豈得雲非亂乎！ 處仲狼抗無上，其意寧有限邪！”
Wen Jiao, attendant to the crown prince, asked Zhou Yi, Vice Director of the Secretariat: "The Grand General's campaign seems to have a target—surely he is not striking at random?" "Zhou Yi replied, Not at all. Unless a ruler is Yao or Shun, he will err—yet what minister may take up arms to coerce his lord! Conduct like this—how can anyone call it anything but rebellion! Chuzhong is savagely insubordinate—do you think his ambitions will stop here?
8
敦初起兵，遣使告梁州刺史甘卓，約與之俱下，卓許之。 及敦升舟，而卓不赴，使參軍孫雙詣武昌諫止敦。 敦驚曰：“甘侯前與吾語雲何，而更有异？ 正當慮吾危朝廷耳！ 吾今但除奸凶，若事濟，當以甘侯作公。 ”雙還報，卓意狐疑。 或說卓：“且僞許敦，待敦至都而討之。 ”卓曰：“昔陳敏之亂，吾先從而後圖之，論者謂吾懼逼而思變，心常愧之。 今若複爾，何以自明！ ”卓使人以敦旨告順陽太守魏該，該曰：“我所以起兵拒胡賊者，正欲忠于王室耳。 今王公舉兵向天子，非吾所宜與也。 ”遂絕之。
When Wang Dun first rebelled, he sent word to Gan Zhuo, governor of Liang Province, asking him to march east together; Zhuo agreed. But when Wang Dun embarked, Zhuo did not follow; instead he sent his aide Sun Shuang to Wuchang to urge him to turn back. Wang Dun exclaimed in alarm, "What did Lord Gan tell me before—and now he changes his mind?" He must fear that I threaten the court! I am only rooting out traitors; if we succeed, I will make Lord Gan a duke. "When Sun Shuang returned, Zhuo was torn with doubt. Someone urged Zhuo, "Pretend to agree with Wang Dun for now, then strike when he reaches the capital." "Zhuo said, When Chen Min rebelled, I sided with him first and turned only later; people said I bowed to force and then switched—I've never lived that down. If I do that again, how can I ever justify myself! "Zhuo sent a messenger with Wang Dun's orders to Wei Gai, prefect of Shunyang. Gai replied, I took up arms against the barbarians to serve the throne. Now a prince marches against the Son of Heaven—that is not a cause I can join. "He broke with them entirely.
9
敦遣參軍桓羆說譙王承，請承爲軍司。 承嘆曰：“吾其死矣！ 地荒民寡，勢孤援絕，將何以濟！ 然得死忠義，夫複何求！ ”承檄長沙虞悝爲長史，會悝遭母喪，承往吊之，曰：“吾欲討王敦，而兵少糧乏，且新到，恩信未洽。 卿兄弟，湘中之豪俊，王室方危，金革之事，古人所不辭，將何以教之？ ”悝曰：“大王不以悝兄弟猥劣，親屈臨之，敢不致死！ 然鄙州荒弊，難以進討； 宜且收衆固守，傳檄四方，敦勢必分，分而圖之，庶幾可捷也。 ”承乃囚桓羆，以悝爲長史，以其弟望爲司馬，督護諸軍，與零陵太守尹奉、建昌太守長沙王循、衡陽太守淮陵劉翼、舂陵令長沙易雄，同舉兵討敦。 雄移檄遠近，列敦罪惡，于是一州之內皆應承。 惟湘東太守鄭淡不從，承使虞望討斬之，以徇四境。 淡，敦姊夫也。
Wang Dun sent his aide Huan Pi to win over Prince of Qiao Sima Cheng, offering him the post of army supervisor. Cheng sighed, "I am as good as dead!" The land is barren, the people few, I stand alone without allies—how can I prevail! Yet if I may die loyal and righteous, what more could I ask! "Cheng summoned Yu Ti of Changsha as his chief administrator. Ti was in mourning for his mother, and Cheng went to condole with him, saying, I mean to strike Wang Dun, but my forces are few, supplies thin, and as a newcomer I have not yet won the people's trust. "You and your brothers are the leading men of the Xiang region; the throne is in peril; the ancients did not shrink from war—what counsel have you for me? "Ti replied, Your Highness honors us despite our low station by coming in person—we dare not hold back our lives! Yet our province is poor and weak, and a direct advance is hard; better to gather your forces, hold fast, and issue proclamations everywhere—Wang Dun's power will split, and once divided he can be overcome. "Cheng imprisoned Huan Pi, made Yu Ti his chief administrator and Ti's brother Wang marshal over all forces, and together with Yin Feng of Lingling, Wang Xun of Jianchang, Liu Yi of Hengyang, and Yi Xiong of Chunling, raised arms against Wang Dun. Yi Xiong circulated proclamations far and wide listing Wang Dun's crimes, and the whole province rallied to Cheng. Only Zheng Dan, prefect of eastern Xiang, refused; Cheng sent Yu Wang to execute him and display the head throughout the region. Zheng Dan was Wang Dun's brother-in-law.
10
承遣主簿鄧騫至襄陽，說甘卓曰：“劉大連雖驕蹇失衆心，非有害于天下。 大將軍以其私憾，稱兵向闕，此忠臣義士竭節之時也。 公受任方伯，奉辭伐罪，乃桓、文之功也。 ”卓曰：“桓、文則非吾所能，然志在徇國，當共詳思之。 ”參軍李梁說卓曰：“昔隗囂跋扈，竇融保河西以奉光武，卒受其福。 今將軍有重望于天下，但當按兵坐以待之，使大將軍事捷，當委將軍以方面，不捷，朝廷必以將軍代之。 何憂不富貴，而釋此廟勝，决存亡于一戰邪？ ”騫謂梁曰：“光武當創業之初，故隗、竇可以文服從容顧望。 今將軍之于本朝，非竇融之比也； 襄陽之于太府，非河西之固也。 使大將軍克劉隗，還武昌，增石城之戍，絕荊、湘之粟，將軍欲安歸乎！ 勢在人手，而曰我處廟勝，未之聞也。 且爲人臣，國家有難，坐視不救，于義安乎！ ”卓尚疑之。 騫曰：“今既不爲義舉，又不承大將軍檄，此必至之禍，愚智所見也。 且議者之所難，以彼强而我弱也。 今大將軍兵不過萬餘，其留者不能五千； 而將軍見衆既倍之矣。 以將軍之威名，帥此府之精銳，杖節鳴鼓，以順討逆，豈王含所能禦哉！ 溯流之衆，勢不自救，將軍之舉武昌，若摧枯拉朽，尚何顧慮邪！ 武昌既定，據其軍實，鎮撫二州，以恩意招懷士卒，使還者如歸，此呂蒙所以克關羽也。 今釋必勝之策，安坐以待危亡，不可以言智矣。”
Cheng sent his chief clerk Deng Qian to Xiangyang to urge Gan Zhuo: "Liu Wei may be arrogant and unpopular, but he has not harmed the realm." The Grand General marches on the capital from private spite—this is the hour for loyal men to give their all. You hold a regional command and the mandate to punish rebels—this is the achievement of a Duke Huan or Duke Wen. "Zhuo replied, I am no Duke Huan or Duke Wen, but my heart is for the realm—we must think this through together. "Staff officer Li Liang urged Zhuo: When Wei Xiao grew overbearing, Dou Rong held Hexi for Emperor Guangwu and was richly rewarded in the end. You enjoy great prestige today—hold your army and wait. If the Grand General wins, he will give you a frontier command; if he loses, the court will put you in his place. "Why abandon a winning strategy assured in council and stake everything on one battle? "Qian told Liang, Guangwu was still founding his dynasty—that is why Wei Xiao and Dou Rong could wait and watch. You are no Dou Rong to this court; and Xiangyang is not the impregnable Hexi of old. If the Grand General defeats Liu Wei, returns to Wuchang, reinforces Stone City, and cuts off grain from Jing and Xiang—where will you go then! The advantage lies with another, yet you speak of assured victory in council—I have never heard the like. And as a minister, when the state is in peril, to sit idle—where is the righteousness in that! "Zhuo still wavered. Qian said, "If you neither act for righteousness nor answer the Grand General's summons, disaster is certain—any fool can see it." What troubles your advisers is that he seems strong and you weak. The Grand General has barely ten thousand men, and fewer than five thousand remain behind; while the forces you can field already double his. With your renown, leading this province's best troops under imperial authority to punish rebellion—how could Wang Han stand against you! His upstream army cannot save itself; your strike at Wuchang would shatter it like rotten timber—what is there to fear! Take Wuchang, seize his supplies, pacify the two provinces, and win his soldiers with kindness so they return as to home—that is how Lü Meng defeated Guan Yu. To abandon a winning plan and sit idle awaiting ruin cannot be called wisdom.
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敦恐卓于後爲變，又遣參軍丹楊樂道融往邀之，必欲與之俱東。 道融雖事敦，而忿其悖逆，乃說卓曰：“主上親臨萬機，自用譙王爲湘州，非專任劉隗也。 而王氏擅權日久，卒見分政，便謂失職，背恩肆逆，舉兵向闕。 國家遇君至厚，今與之同，豈不違負大義！ 生爲逆臣，死爲愚鬼，永爲宗黨之耻，不亦惜乎！ 爲君之計，莫若僞許應命，而馳襲武昌，大將軍士衆聞之，必不戰自潰，大勛可就矣。 ”卓雅不欲從敦，聞道融之言，遂决，曰：“吾本意也。 ”乃與巴東監軍柳純、南平太守夏侯承、宜都太守譚該等露檄數敦逆狀，帥所統致討。 遣參軍司馬贊、孫雙奉表詣台，羅英至廣州約陶侃同進。 戴淵在江西，先得卓書，表上之，台內皆稱萬歲。 陶侃得卓信，即遣參軍高寶帥兵北下。 武昌城中傳卓軍至，人皆奔散。
Fearing Gan Zhuo might turn on him later, Wang Dun sent his aide Yue Daorong of Danyang to press him to march east together. Though Daorong served Wang Dun, he hated the rebellion and urged Zhuo: "The emperor governs in person; he appointed the Prince of Qiao to Hunan himself—he does not rely solely on Liu Wei." The Wang clan has held power for years; when they saw authority shared, they called it loss of office, betrayed the throne, and marched on the capital. The state has treated you generously—will you join them and betray that trust! Alive a traitor, dead a fool, forever a disgrace to your clan—is that not a waste! Your best course is to pretend to agree, then strike Wuchang at speed; when Wang Dun's troops hear of it, they will scatter without a fight, and your glory will be won. "Zhuo had never wanted to follow Wang Dun; hearing Daorong, he made up his mind: That has always been my intent. "He joined Liu Chun of Badong, Xiahou Cheng of Nanping, Tan Gai of Yidu, and others in a public proclamation listing Wang Dun's crimes, and led his forces against him. He sent Sima Zan and Sun Shuang with a memorial to court, and Luo Ying to Guangzhou to coordinate with Tao Kan. Dai Yuan west of the river received Zhuo's letter first and forwarded it to court; the whole capital erupted in cheers. Tao Kan received the news and immediately sent Gao Bao north with his troops. When word spread in Wuchang that Gan Zhuo's army was coming, the city emptied in panic.
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敦遣從母弟南蠻校尉魏乂、將軍李恒帥甲卒二萬攻長沙。 長沙城池不完，資儲又闕，人情震恐。 或說譙王承，南投陶侃或退據零、桂。 承曰：“吾之起兵，志欲死于忠義，豈可貪生苟免，爲奔敗之將乎！ 事之不濟，令百姓知吾心耳。 ”乃嬰城固守。 未幾，虞望戰死，甘卓欲留鄧騫爲參軍，騫不可。 卓乃遣參軍虞沖與騫偕至長沙，遺譙王承書，勸之固守，當以兵出沔口，斷敦歸路，則湘圍自解。 承複書稱：“江左中興，草創始爾，豈圖惡逆萌自寵臣！ 吾以宗室受任，志在隕命； 而至止尚淺，凡百茫然。 足下能卷甲電赴，猶有所及； 若其狐疑，則求我于枯魚之肆矣。 ”卓不能從。
Wang Dun sent his cousin Wei Yi, colonel of the Southern Man, and General Li Heng with twenty thousand men to attack Changsha. Changsha's walls were unfinished, supplies scarce, and the people were terrified. Some urged Prince of Qiao Cheng to flee south to Tao Kan or fall back to Ling and Gui. Cheng said, "I took up arms to die loyal—how could I cling to life and flee like a beaten general!" If we fail, let the people at least know my heart. "He closed the city and held his ground. Before long Yu Wang fell in battle; Gan Zhuo tried to keep Deng Qian on his staff, but Qian refused. Gan Zhuo sent Yu Chong and Deng Qian to Changsha with a letter to Prince of Qiao Cheng, urging him to hold the city and march to Mian mouth to cut Wang Dun's retreat—then the siege would lift on its own. Cheng wrote back: "The restoration south of the Yangtze has barely begun—who dreamed treason would sprout from a court favorite! As a prince of the blood I took this post intending to die for the throne; but I have only just arrived, and in every matter I am at a loss. If you can march at once with all speed, there is still time; if you waver, you will look for me among the dried fish—too late." Gan Zhuo would not act on it.
13
二月，甲午，封皇子昱爲琅邪王。
In the second month, on the day jiawu, Prince Yu was enfeoffed as Prince of Langye.
14
後趙王勒立子弘爲世子。 遣中山公虎將精卒四萬擊徐龕。 龕堅守不戰，虎築長圍守之。
Later Zhao's King Shi Le named his son Hong heir apparent. He sent Shi Hu, Duke of Zhongshan, with forty thousand picked troops against Xu Kan. Kan shut himself in and refused to fight; Hu threw a tight cordon around the city.
15
趙主曜自將擊楊難敵，難敵逆戰，不勝，退保仇池。 仇池諸氐、羌及故晋王保將楊韜、隴西太守梁勛皆降于曜。 曜遷隴西萬餘戶于長安，進攻仇池。 會軍中大疫，曜亦得疾，將引兵還； 恐難敵躡其後，乃遣光國中郎將王獷說難敵，諭以禍福，難敵遣使稱籓。 曜以難敵爲假黃鉞，都督益、寧、南秦、凉、梁、巴六州、隴上、西域諸軍事，上大將軍、益、寧、南秦三州牧、武都王。
Zhao's Liu Yao marched in person against Yang Nandei; Nandei gave battle, lost, and fell back on Qiu Chi. The Di and Qiang around Qiu Chi, Yang Bao's general Yang Tao, and Liangxi governor Liang Xun all submitted to Liu Yao. Yao resettled over ten thousand Longxi households in Chang'an and pressed the attack on Qiu Chi. A plague swept the camp and Yao himself fell ill; he prepared to withdraw; fearing pursuit, he sent Wang Du to reason with Nandei on gain and loss; Nandei sent envoys to swear fealty. Yao invested him with the yellow battle-axe, command over six provinces plus Longshang and the Western Regions, the rank of Grand General, governorship of Yi, Ning, and Southern Qin, and the title Prince of Wudu.
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秦州刺史陳安求朝于曜，曜辭以疾。 安怒，以爲曜已卒，大掠而歸。 曜疾甚，乘馬輿而還。 使其將呼延實監輜重于後，安邀擊，獲之，謂實曰：“劉曜已死，子尚誰佐！ 吾當與子共定大業。 ”寔叱之曰：“汝受人寵祿而叛之，自視智能何如主上？ 吾見汝不日梟首于上邽市，何謂大業！ 宜速殺我！ ”安怒，殺之，以實長史魯憑爲參軍。 安遣其弟集帥騎三萬追曜，衛將軍呼延瑜逆擊，斬之。 安乃還上邽，遣將襲汧城，拔之。 隴上氐、羌皆附于安，有衆十餘萬，自稱大都督、假黃鉞、大將軍、雍、凉、秦、梁四州牧、凉王，以趙募爲相國。 魯憑對安大哭曰：“吾不忍見陳安之死也！ ”安怒，命斬之。 憑曰：“死自吾分，懸吾頭于上邽市，觀趙之斬陳安也！ ”遂殺之。 曜聞之，慟哭曰：“賢人，民之望也。 陳安于求賢之秋而多殺賢者，吾知其無所爲也！”
Qinzhou governor Chen An asked to attend court; Yao refused, pleading illness. Enraged, An assumed Yao was dead and looted his way home. Yao was gravely ill and rode back in a litter. He left Huyan Shi with the baggage train; Chen An ambushed and seized him, saying, "Liu Yao is dead—whom will you serve now? Join me and we will settle the realm together. Shi thundered back: "You ate your lord's bread and turned traitor—do you fancy yourself his equal? I see your head on the Shanggui gibbet within days—what "great enterprise" is that! Kill me now! Furious, An had him executed and took Shi's chief clerk Lu Ping onto his staff. An sent his brother Ji with thirty thousand horse to run Yao down; Huyan Yu counterattacked and killed Ji. An withdrew to Shanggui and sent troops to storm Qian city and take it. The Di and Qiang of Longshang rallied to him—over a hundred thousand strong—and he proclaimed himself Grand Commander, King of Liang, and governor of four provinces, with Zhao Mu as his chancellor. Lu Ping wailed before Chen An: "I cannot bear to watch you die! Enraged, An ordered him executed. Ping said, "Death is mine by right—hang my head in Shanggui market and watch Zhao behead Chen An! And they killed him. When Yao heard, he mourned aloud: "A worthy man is what the people look to. Chen An slaughters the very men he should be gathering—in the season of seeking talent he murders the talented. He will come to nothing.
17
休屠王石武以桑城降趙，趙以武爲秦州刺史，封酒泉王。
The Xiutu king Shi Wu surrendered Sang city to Zhao; Zhao made him governor of Qinzhou and Prince of Jiuquan.
18
帝征戴淵、劉隗入衛建康。 隗至，百官迎于道，隗岸幘大言，意氣自若。 及入見，與刁協勸帝盡誅王氏； 帝不許，隗始有懼色。
The emperor recalled Dai Yuan and Liu Wei to defend Jiankang. When Liu Wei arrived, officials lined the road to greet him; he wore his cap rakishly and boomed his replies, utterly at ease. At audience he and Diao Xie urged the emperor to exterminate the whole Wang clan; the emperor refused—and Wei turned pale.
19
司空導帥其從弟中領軍邃、左衛將軍廙、侍中侃、彬及諸宗族二十餘人，每旦詣台待罪。 周顗將入，導呼之曰：“伯仁，以百口累卿！ ”顗直入不顧。 既見帝，言導忠誠，申救甚至； 帝納其言。 顗喜飲酒，至醉而出，導猶在門，又呼之。 顗不與言，顧左右曰：“今年殺諸賊奴，取金印如鬥大，系肘後。 ”既出，又上表明導無罪，言甚切至。 導不之知，甚恨之。
Wang Dao, Supervisor of Works, led his cousins Wang Xun, Wang Kuang, Wang Dan, Wang Bin, and more than twenty kinsmen to the palace gate each dawn to await judgment. As Zhou Yi was about to enter, Dao called after him: "Boren—I am staking a hundred lives on you! Yi walked straight in without a glance back. Before the emperor he testified to Dao's loyalty and pleaded for his life at greatest length; and the emperor was persuaded. Yi was fond of wine and came out drunk; Dao was still at the gate and called to him again. Yi ignored him and told his attendants, "This year we'll cut down those rebel wretches and I'll wear a seal as big as a dipper on my arm. Once outside he also memorialized the throne declaring Dao innocent, in the most urgent terms. Dao knew nothing of this and hated him bitterly.
20
帝命還導朝服，召見之。 導稽首曰：“逆臣賊子，何代無之，不意今者近出臣族！ ”帝跣而執其手曰：“茂弘，方寄卿以百里之命，是何言邪！”
The emperor restored Dao's court dress and summoned him. Dao kowtowed and said, "Traitors arise in every age—but I never dreamed one would spring from my own house! The emperor went barefoot to take his hand: "Maohong, I am entrusting the fate of the realm to you—what talk is this!
21
三月，以導爲前鋒大都督，加戴淵驃騎將軍。 詔曰：“導以大義滅親，可以吾爲安東時節假之。 ”以周顗爲尚書左僕射，王邃爲右僕射。 帝遣王廙往諭止敦； 敦不從而留之，廙更爲敦用。 征虜將軍周札，素矜險好利，帝以爲右將軍、都督石頭諸軍事。 敦將至，帝使劉隗軍金城，札守石頭，帝親被甲徇師于郊外。 以甘卓爲鎮南大將軍、侍中、都督荊、梁二州諸軍事，陶侃領江州刺史； 使各帥所統以躡敦後。
In the third month Wang Dao was named Grand Vanguard Commander and Dai Yuan was made Flying Cavalry General. An edict read: "Dao has put duty above blood—grant him the same powers I held as Pacifier of the East." Zhou Yi was made Left Vice Director of the Secretariat and Wang Xun Right Vice Director. The emperor sent Wang Kuang to bid Wang Dun halt; Dun refused and kept him; Kuang then went over to Dun's side. Zhou Zha, General Who Suppresses the Barbarians—a man proud of his cunning and greedy for gain—was made Right General and commander at Stone City. As Wang Dun approached, the emperor posted Liu Wei at Jincheng and Zhou Zha at Stone City, then donned armor himself and reviewed the troops outside the walls. Gan Zhuo was named Grand General Who Guards the South and commander of Jing and Liang; Tao Kan took Jiangzhou; each was to march his forces in Dun's rear.
22
敦至石頭，欲攻劉隗。 杜弘言于敦曰：“劉隗死士衆多，未易可克，不如攻石頭。 周札少恩，兵不爲用，攻之必敗，札敗則隗自走矣。 ”敦從之，以弘爲前鋒，攻石頭，札果開門納弘。 敦據石頭。 嘆曰：“吾不復得爲盛德事矣！ ”謝鯤曰：“何爲其然也！ 但使自今已往，日忘日去耳。”
Wang Dun reached Stone City intending to strike Liu Wei. Du Hong told Dun, "Liu Wei has too many men who will fight to the death—Stone City is the softer target. Zhou Zha has never won his men's hearts—they will not stand for him. Take Stone City and he falls; then Liu Wei will run on his own. Dun took his advice, made Du Hong vanguard, and attacked Stone City—and Zhou Zha opened the gates to let Hong in. Wang Dun seized Stone City. He sighed: "I can no longer serve a sovereign of perfect virtue! Xie Kun said, "Why say that? From today on, let each day erase the one before."
23
帝命刁協、劉隗、戴淵帥衆攻石頭，王導、周顗、郭逸、虞潭等三道出戰，協等兵皆大敗。 太子紹聞之，欲自帥將士决戰； 升車將出，中庶子溫嶠執鞚諫曰：“殿下國之儲副，奈何以身輕天下！ ”抽劍斬鞅，乃止。 敦擁兵不朝，放士卒劫掠，宮省奔散，惟安東將軍劉超按兵直衛，及侍中二人侍帝側。 帝脫戎衣，著朝服，顧而言曰：“欲得我處，當早言！ 何至害民如此！ ”又遣使謂敦曰：“公若不忘本朝，于此息兵，則天下尚可共安。 如其不然，朕當歸琅邪以避賢路。”
The emperor sent Diao Xie, Liu Wei, and Dai Yuan against Stone City while Wang Dao, Zhou Yi, Guo Yi, and Yu Tan advanced in three columns—all were routed. When Crown Prince Shao heard, he meant to lead the troops himself to a final battle; As he mounted his carriage to ride out, Wen Jiao, junior mentor to the heir, seized the reins: "Your Highness is the heir to the realm—how can you stake the empire on your own person! He drew his sword and cut the crossbar—and the prince turned back. Wang Dun kept his army from court and let his men loot; the palace emptied in panic—only Liu Chao, Pacifier of the East, held his ranks on guard, with two attendants at the emperor's side. The emperor shed his armor for court dress and said, "If you want the throne, say so plainly! Why visit such harm on the people! He also sent word to Dun: "If you still honor this house, halt here and the realm may yet know peace together. If not, I shall withdraw to Langye and yield the throne to worthier men.
24
刁協、劉隗既敗，俱入宮，見帝于太極東除。 帝執協、隗手，流涕嗚咽，勸令避禍。 協曰：“臣當守死，不敢有貳。 ”帝曰：“今事逼矣，安可不行！ ”乃令給協、隗人馬，使自爲計。 協老，不堪騎乘，素無恩紀，募從者，皆委之，行至江乘，爲人所殺，送首于敦。 隗奔後趙，官至太子太傅而卒。
After their defeat Diao Xie and Liu Wei both entered the palace and found the emperor on the eastern steps of Taiji Hall. The emperor took their hands, weeping, and urged them to flee and save themselves. Xie said, "I will die loyal—I cannot serve two masters. The emperor said, "Matters are desperate—you must go! He gave them horses and men and told them to save themselves as they could. Xie was old and could not ride; he had never won loyalty—every follower he gathered deserted him. At Jiangcheng someone killed him and sent his head to Wang Dun. Liu Wei fled to Later Zhao, rose to Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent, and died there.
25
帝令公卿百官詣石頭見敦，敦謂戴淵曰：“前日之戰，有餘力乎？ ”淵曰：“豈敢有餘，但力不足耳！ ”敦曰：“吾今此舉，天下以爲何如？ ”淵曰：“見形者謂之逆，體誠者謂之忠。 ”敦笑曰：“卿可謂能言。 ”又謂周顗曰：“伯仁，卿負我！ ”顗曰：“公戎車犯順，下官親帥六軍，不能其事，使王旅奔敗，以此負公。”
The emperor ordered the court to present themselves at Stone City. Wang Dun asked Dai Yuan, "In the fight the other day—did you still have strength to spare? Yuan said, "Spare strength? I had none to spare—only too little! Dun said, "What does the realm call this campaign of mine? Yuan said, "Those who judge by appearances call it rebellion; those who know your heart call it loyalty. Dun laughed: "You have a nimble tongue. He turned to Zhou Yi: "Boren—you betrayed me! Yi said, "Your war-chariot marched against the throne; I led the Six Armies in person and failed—the royal host fled in rout. It is for that I have failed you.
26
辛未，大赦。 以敦爲丞相、都督中外諸軍、錄尚書事、江州牧，封武昌郡公； 幷讓不受。
On the day xinwei a general amnesty was proclaimed. Wang Dun was named Chancellor, commander of all armies at home and abroad, recorder of the Secretariat, governor of Jiangzhou, and Duke of Wuchang; he declined them all and would not accept.
27
初，西都覆沒，四方皆勸進于帝。 敦欲專國政，忌帝年長難制，欲更議所立，王導不從。 及敦克建康，謂導曰：“不用吾言，幾至覆族。”
Earlier, after the fall of the western capital, rulers everywhere urged him to take the throne. Dun meant to seize the government; finding the emperor grown and hard to manage, he wanted to name another ruler—Wang Dao refused. After Dun took Jiankang, he told Dao, "Had you taken my advice, your entire house would have been wiped out.
28
敦以太子有勇略，爲朝野所向，欲誣以不孝而廢之。 大會百官，問溫嶠曰：“皇太子以何德稱？ ”聲色俱厲。 嶠曰：“鈎深致遠，蓋非淺局所量。 以禮觀之，可謂孝矣。 ”衆皆以爲信然，敦謀遂沮。
The crown prince's courage and craft had won him the court and the realm; Dun plotted to charge him with unfilial conduct and remove him. He convened the officials and asked Wen Jiao, "What merit does the heir apparent claim? " His tone was savage, his manner threatening. Jiao said, "He plumbs depths and spans distances—a shallow eye cannot take his measure. By the standards of propriety, one may call him filial. " The assembly believed him; Dun's design foundered.
29
帝召周顗于廣室，謂之曰：“近日大事，二宮無恙，諸人平安，大將軍固副所望邪？ ”顗曰：“二宮自如明詔，臣等尚未可知。 ”護軍長史郝嘏等勸顗避敦，顗曰：“吾備位大臣，朝廷喪敗，寧可複草間求活，外投胡、越邪！ 敦參軍呂猗，嘗爲台郎，性奸諂，戴淵爲尚書，惡之。 猗說敦曰：“周顗、戴淵，皆有高名，足以惑衆，近者之言，曾無怍色，公不除之，恐必有再舉之憂。 ”敦素忌二人之才，心頗然之，從容問王導曰：“周、戴南北之望，當登三司無疑也。 ”導不答。 又曰：“若不三司，止應令僕邪？ ”又不答。 敦曰：“若不爾，正當誅爾！ ”又不答。 丙子，敦遣部將陳郡鄧岳收顗及淵。 先是，敦謂謝鯤曰：“吾當以周伯仁爲尚書令，戴若思爲僕射。 ”是日，又問鯤：“近來人情何如？ ”鯤曰：“明公之舉，雖欲大存社稷，然悠悠之言，實未達高義。 若果能舉用周、戴，則群情貼然矣！ ”敦怒曰：“君粗疏邪！ 二子不相當，吾已收之矣！ ”鯤愕然自失。 參軍王嶠曰：“‘濟濟多士，文王以寧。 ’奈何戮諸名士！ ”敦大怒，欲斬嶠，衆莫敢言。 鯤曰：“明公舉大事，不戮一人。 嶠以獻替忤旨，便以釁鼓，不亦過乎！ ”敦乃釋之，黜爲領軍長史。 嶠，渾之族孫也。
The emperor summoned Zhou Yi to the great hall and asked, "In the crisis of late, are the Two Palaces safe, are the ministers unharmed—has the Grand General truly delivered what we hoped? " Yi replied, "The palaces are as Your Majesty's edicts proclaim; as for us ministers, we cannot yet say. " Hao Ga and others urged him to flee Dun. Yi said, "I hold rank among the great officers; the dynasty lies in ruin—shall I scrabble in the weeds for my life, or throw myself to barbarians beyond the pass? Dun's staff officer Lü Yi had once been a capital clerk—a sycophant whom Dai Yuan, Director of the Imperial Secretariat, despised. Yi told Dun, "Zhou Yi and Dai Yuan command such renown that they can sway the crowd; in their recent speeches they showed not a flicker of shame. Unless you remove them, they may rise against you again. " Dun had long resented their gifts; he agreed at once, and casually asked Wang Dao, "Zhou and Dai are luminaries of north and south—surely destined for the Three Excellencies. " Dao said nothing. Dun pressed, "If not that high, at least Minister and Vice-Minister? " Still silence. Dun said, "Otherwise they must die! " Still silence. On bingzi, Dun sent Deng Yue of Chen commandery to seize Yi and Yuan. Earlier Dun had told Xie Kun, "I mean to appoint Zhou Bo-ren Director of the Secretariat and Dai Ruosi Vice-Minister. " That same day he asked again, "What is the mood among the people? " Kun said, "Though you mean to save the realm, common talk has not caught your larger purpose. If you truly appoint Zhou and Dai, sentiment will settle at once. " Dun snapped, "Are you that careless? They are unfit—I have already taken them! " Kun stood stricken dumb. Staff officer Wang Jiao said, "'With officers many and splendid, King Wen won his peace. How can you kill men of such renown! " Dun flew into a rage and would have executed Jiao; none dared protest. Kun said, "When the lord undertakes a great cause, he spares even one life. Jiao only spoke against your will—must he die on the altar of war? That is too far! " Dun released him and demoted him to chief clerk of the Protector-general's staff. Jiao was a descendant of Wang Hun's clan.
30
顗被收，路經太廟，大言曰：“賊臣王敦，傾覆社稷，枉殺忠臣。 神祇有靈，當速殺之！ ”收人以戟傷其口，血流至踵，容止自若，觀者皆爲流涕。 幷戴淵殺之于石頭南門之外。
As Yi was led away, his route passed the imperial temple; he cried out, "The rebel Wang Dun overthrows the state and murders loyal servants without cause. O gods, if you have power, strike him down at once! " His captors gashed his mouth with halberds; blood ran to his heels, yet he bore himself as calmly as before, and onlookers wept. He and Dai Yuan were put to death outside the southern gate of Stone Fort.
31
帝使侍中王彬勞敦。 彬素與顗善，先往哭顗，然後見敦。 敦怪其容慘，問之。 彬曰：“向哭伯仁，情不能已。 ”敦怒曰：“伯仁自致刑戮； 且凡人遇汝，汝何哀而哭之？ ”彬曰：“伯仁長者，兄之親友； 在朝雖無謇愕，亦非阿黨，赦後加之極刑，所以傷惋也。 ”因勃然數敦曰：“兄抗旌犯順，殺戮忠良，圖爲不軌，禍及門戶矣！ ”辭氣慷慨，聲泪俱下。 敦大怒，厲聲曰：“爾狂悖乃至此，以吾爲不能殺汝邪！ ”時王導在坐，爲之懼，勸彬起謝。 彬曰：“脚痛不能拜！ 且此複何謝！ ”敦曰：“脚痛孰若頸痛！ ”彬殊無懼容，竟不肯拜。
The emperor sent Wang Bin, Palace Attendant, to congratulate Dun. Bin had been Zhou Yi's friend; he mourned Yi first, then presented himself to Dun. Dun noted his grief-stricken face and asked the reason. Bin said, "I have been weeping for Bo-ren; I could not help myself. " Dun snapped, "Bo-ren brought death on himself; besides, he was nobody to you—why weep? " Bin said, "Bo-ren was a man of stature, your brother's intimate; in court he neither thundered against you nor joined your faction; after the general amnesty you condemned him to death—that is what wounds me. " Then he rounded on Dun: "Brother, you have raised arms against your sovereign, slaughtered the loyal, and set your heart on treason—ruin will come to our house! " His words rang with fury; tears streamed with his voice. Dun thundered, "You are mad enough to think I cannot kill you! " Wang Dao, who was present, trembled for him and urged Bin to rise and apologize. Bin said, "My feet hurt—I cannot kneel! And what would I apologize for? " Dun said, "A sore foot is nothing beside a sore neck! " Bin never flinched and would not bow.
32
王導後料檢中書故事，乃見顗救己之表，執之流涕曰：“吾雖不殺伯仁，伯仁由我而死，幽冥之中，負此良友！ ”沈充拔吳國，殺內史張茂。
Later Wang Dao searched the Secretariat archives and found Yi's memorial pleading for his life; clutching it he wept and said, "I did not strike the blow, yet Bo-ren died for me—in the shades I owe this friend a debt I can never repay! " Shen Chong overran Wu commandery and slew its grand administrator, Zhang Mao.
33
初，王敦聞甘卓起兵，大懼。 卓兄子卬爲敦參軍，敦使卬歸卓曰：“君此自是臣節，不相責也。 吾家計急，不得不爾。 想便旋軍襄陽，當更結好。 ”卓雖慕忠義，性多疑少决，軍于猪口，欲待諸方同出軍，稽留累旬不前。 敦既得建康。 乃遣台使以騶虞幡駐卓軍。 卓聞周顗、戴淵死，流涕謂卬曰：“吾之所憂，正爲今日。 且使聖上元吉，太子無恙，吾臨敦上流，亦未敢遽危社稷。 適吾徑據武昌，敦勢逼，必劫天子以絕四海之望，不如還襄陽，更思後圖。 ”即命旋軍。 都尉秦康與樂道融說卓曰：“今分兵斷彭澤，使敦上下不得相赴，其衆自然離散，可一戰擒也。 將軍起義兵而中止，竊爲將軍不取。 且將軍之下，士卒各求其利，欲求西還，亦恐不可得也。 ”卓不從。 道融晝夜泣諫，卓不聽； 道融憂憤而卒。 卓性本寬和，忽更强塞，徑還襄陽，意氣騷擾，舉動失常，識者知其將死矣。
When Wang Dun first learned that Gan Zhuo had taken the field, he was terrified. Zhuo's nephew Ang served on Dun's staff; Dun sent him back with a message: "Your move is the duty of a loyal officer; I do not hold it against you. My house is in desperate straits; I had no choice. Withdraw to Xiangyang and we shall make peace again. " Zhuo admired loyalty but was indecisive and suspicious; his army halted at Zhukou, waiting for allies to march together, and for many weeks he did not advance. After Dun had secured Jiankang, he sent an imperial envoy bearing the zouyu banner to bring Zhuo's army to a halt. Learning of Zhou Yi and Dai Yuan's deaths, Zhuo wept and told Ang, "This is the day I dreaded. If the Son of Heaven were safe and the crown prince unharmed, I could hold the river above Dun and still refrain from endangering the realm. But I have seized Wuchang; Dun's strength presses close—he will seize the emperor and dash every hope in the empire. Better withdraw to Xiangyang and plot anew. " He ordered the army to withdraw at once. Qin Kang and Yue Daorong urged Zhuo, "Split your force and block Pengze, so Dun's armies cannot join; his men will melt away, and you can take him in one fight. You raised a righteous army only to halt—I fear that is a mistake. Moreover, your soldiers fight for their own gain; even if you wished to march west again, they might not follow. " Zhuo would not listen. Daorong pleaded day and night with tears; Zhuo ignored him; Daorong died of grief and rage. Zhuo had always been mild; now he turned harsh, marching straight for Xiangyang, restless and erratic in all he did—men of judgment knew he was doomed.
34
王敦以西陽王羕爲太宰，加王導尚書令，王廙爲荊州刺史； 改易百官及諸軍鎮，轉徙黜免者以百數； 或朝行暮改，惟意所欲。 敦將還武昌，謝鯤言于敦曰：“公至都以來，稱疾不朝，是以雖建勛而人心實有未達。 今若朝天子，使君臣釋然，則物情皆悅服矣。 ”敦曰：“君能保無變乎？ ”對曰：“鯤近日入覲，主上側席，遲得見公，宮省穆然，必無虞也。 公若入朝，鯤請侍從。 ”敦勃然曰：“正複殺君等數百人，亦複何損于時！ ”竟不朝而去。 夏，四月，敦還武昌。 初，宜都內史天門周級聞譙王承起兵，使其兄子該潜詣長沙，申款于承。 魏乂等攻湘州急，承遣該及從事邵陵周崎間出求救，皆爲邏者所得。 又使崎語城中，稱大將軍已克建康，甘卓還襄陽，外援理絕。 崎僞許之，既至城下，大呼曰：“援兵尋至，努力堅守！ ”乂殺之。 乂考該至死，竟不言其故，周級由是獲免。 乂等攻戰日逼，敦又送所得台中人書疏，令乂射以示承。 城中知朝廷不守，莫不悵惋。 相持且百日，劉翼戰死，士卒死傷相枕。 癸巳，乂拔長沙，承等皆被執。 乂將殺虞悝，子弟對之號泣。 悝曰：“人生會當有死，今闔門爲忠義之鬼，亦複何恨！”
Wang Dun appointed Prince Xi of Xiyang Grand Mentor, made Wang Dao Director of the Secretariat, and Wang Yi inspector of Jing province; he shuffled hundreds of officials and garrison commanders, transferring or dismissing them wholesale; some officeholders gained a post at dawn and lost it by dusk, all at his whim. As Dun prepared to return to Wuchang, Xie Kun said, "Since you reached the capital you have stayed away from court on pretext of illness; though your merit is real, men still do not understand your purpose. If you now attend the emperor and put court and throne at ease, the realm will gladly follow you. " Dun said, "Can you guarantee nothing will go wrong? " Kun said, "I have just been received in audience; the emperor waits on edge for you; the palace is calm—there is no danger. If you will go to court, I beg leave to attend you. " Dun exploded, "I could kill you and a few hundred more—what difference would it make? " He never went to court and departed. In summer, the fourth month, Dun withdrew to Wuchang. Earlier, Zhou Ji of Tianmen, grand administrator of Yidu, learned that Prince Qiao Wang Cheng had taken up arms; he sent his nephew Gai in secret to Changsha to pledge fealty. Wei Yi and others pressed Hunan hard; Cheng sent Gai and his staff officer Zhou Qi of Shaoling to break through for aid, but scouts seized them both. He sent Qi to tell the city that the Grand General had taken Jiankang, Gan Zhuo had withdrawn to Xiangyang, and all hope of relief was gone. Qi pretended to agree; at the foot of the wall he shouted, "Relief is near—hold on with all your strength! " Yi executed him. Yi tortured Gai to death, but Gai never revealed the plot, and Zhou Ji was spared. The siege tightened daily; Dun forwarded captured court documents and had Yi shoot them into the city to show Cheng. Learning that the capital had fallen, the defenders were heartsick. The standoff lasted nearly a hundred days; Liu Yi fell in battle, and the dead and wounded lay heaped upon one another. On guisi, Yi stormed Changsha and seized Cheng and his company. As Yi prepared to execute Yu Kui, Kui's sons and nephews wept before him. Kui said, "Every life must end; if our whole house dies as ghosts of loyalty, what is there to regret?
35
乂以檻車載承及易雄送武昌，佐吏皆奔散，惟主簿桓雄、西曹書佐韓階、從事武延，毀服爲僮，從承，不離左右。 乂見桓雄姿貌舉止非凡人，憚而殺之。 韓階、武延執志愈固。 荊州刺史王廙承敦旨，殺承于道中，階、延送承喪至都，葬之而去。 易雄至武昌，意氣忼慨，曾無懼容。 敦遣人以檄示雄而數之，雄曰：“此實有之，惜雄位微力弱，不能救國難耳。 今日之死，固所願也！ ”敦憚其辭正，釋之，遣就舍。 衆人皆賀之，雄笑曰：“吾安得生！ ”既而敦遣人潜殺之。
Yi sent Cheng and Yi Xiong to Wuchang in a caged cart; his staff scattered, but Registrar Huan Xiong, clerk Han Jie, and aide Wu Yan tore their clothes, disguised themselves as servants, and never left Cheng's side. Yi saw that Huan Xiong's looks and manner were no common man's; afraid of him, he had him killed. Han Jie and Wu Yan only clung more stubbornly to their purpose. Jing inspector Wang Yi, acting on Dun's orders, killed Cheng on the road; Jie and Yan bore his coffin to the capital, buried him, and went their way. When Yi Xiong reached Wuchang, his bearing was fierce and open; he never showed fear. Dun sent someone to read him the indictment; Xiong said, "It is true—I was too small a man, too weak, to save the realm from disaster. To die today is what I have long wished for! " Dun, daunted by his plain courage, released him and sent him to his quarters. Everyone congratulated him; Xiong laughed and said, "How could I live? " Soon after, Dun had him murdered in secret.
36
魏乂求鄧騫甚急，鄉人皆爲之懼，騫笑曰：“此欲用我耳，彼新得州，多殺忠良，故求我以厭人望也。 ”乃往詣乂。 乂喜曰：“君，古之解揚也。 ”以爲別駕。
Wei Yi was hunting Deng Qian hard; the villagers were afraid for him, but Qian laughed and said, "They want to use me. He has just taken the province and slaughtered many loyal men—they need me to satisfy the people's hopes. " He went straight to Yi. Yi was delighted. "You are a Jieyang of old, " he said, and appointed him deputy governor.
37
詔以陶侃領湘州刺史； 王敦上侃複還廣州，加散騎常侍。
An edict named Tao Kan acting inspector of Xiang province; Wang Dun memorialized to send Kan back to Guangzhou and added the title Gentleman Attendant at the Imperial Secretariat.
38
甲午，前趙羊後卒，謚曰獻文。
On jiawu, Yang Hou of Former Zhao died; her posthumous title was Xianwen.
39
甘卓家人皆勸卓備王敦，卓不從，悉散兵佃作，聞諫，輒怒。 襄陽太守周慮密承敦意，詐言湖中多魚，勸卓遣左右悉出捕魚。 五月，乙亥，慮引兵襲卓于寢室，殺之，傳首于敦，幷殺其諸子。 敦以從事中郎周撫督沔北諸軍事，代卓鎮沔中。 撫，訪之子也。
Gan Zhuo's family urged him to guard against Wang Dun; he refused, sent all his soldiers back to the fields, and flew into a rage whenever anyone remonstrated. Xiangyang grand administrator Zhou Lü, secretly acting for Dun, claimed the lake was full of fish and persuaded Zhuo to send all his attendants out to net them. In the fifth month, on yihai, Lü led troops into Zhuo's bedchamber, killed him, sent his head to Dun, and slew all his sons as well. Dun made his aide Zhou Fu commander of all forces north of the Mian and sent him to replace Zhuo in the middle reaches. Fu was Zhou Fang's son.
40
敦既得志，暴慢滋甚，四方貢獻多入其府，將相岳牧皆出其門。 以沈充、錢鳳爲謀主，唯二人之言是從，所譖無不死者。 以諸葛瑤、鄧岳、周撫、李恒、謝雍爲爪牙。 充等幷凶險驕恣，大起營府，侵人田宅，剽掠市道，識者鹹知其將敗焉。
Once Dun had his way, his arrogance and violence only grew; tribute from every quarter flowed into his mansion, and ministers and governors alike owed their posts to him. Shen Chong and Qian Feng were his chief advisers; he followed only them, and no one they denounced escaped death. Zhuge Yao, Deng Yue, Zhou Fu, Li Heng, and Xie Yong served as his claws and fangs. Chong and his fellows were brutal, arrogant, and reckless; they threw up vast camps, seized fields and houses, and plundered the markets—everyone who could see ahead knew they were riding for a fall.
41
秋，七月，後趙中山公虎拔泰山，執徐龕送襄國； 後趙王勒盛之以囊，于百尺樓上撲殺之，命王伏都等妻子刳而食之，坑其降卒三千人。
In autumn, the seventh month, Shi Hu, Duke of Zhongshan of Later Zhao, took Mount Tai, seized Xu Kan, and sent him to Xiangguo; Later Zhao's king Shi Le had Kan sewn into a sack and hurled from a hundred-foot tower to his death; he ordered Wang Fudu's family disemboweled and eaten, and buried alive three thousand surrendered troops.
42
兗州刺史郗鑒在鄒山三年，有衆數萬。 戰爭不息，百姓饑饉，掘野鼠、蟄燕而食之，爲後趙所逼，退屯合肥。 尚書右僕射紀瞻，以鑒雅望清德，宜從容台閣，上疏請征之； 乃征拜尚書。 徐、兗間諸塢多降于後趙，後趙置守宰以撫之。
Yanzhou inspector Xi Jian held Mount Zou for three years with an army of tens of thousands. War never ceased; the people starved and dug out wild rats and hibernating swallows to eat. Pressed by Later Zhao, he withdrew to Hefei. Ji Zhan, Vice Minister of the Secretariat, argued that Jian's standing and integrity suited the central court and memorialized for his recall; and Jian was summoned and appointed Minister of the Secretariat. Most of the fortified camps between Xu and Yan surrendered to Later Zhao, which installed officials to govern them.
43
王敦自領寧、益二州都督。
Wang Dun took for himself the area command of Ning and Yi provinces.
44
冬，十月，己丑，荊州刺史武陵康侯王廙卒。 王敦以下邳內史王邃都督青、徐、幽、平四州諸軍事，鎮淮陰； 衛將軍王含都督沔南諸軍事，領荊州刺史； 武昌太守丹楊王諒爲交州刺史。 使諒收交州刺史修湛、新昌太守梁碩殺之。 諒誘湛。 斬之。 碩舉兵圍諒于龍編。
In winter, the tenth month, on jichou, Jing inspector Wang Yi, Marquis Kang of Wuling, died. Wang Dun made Xiapi grand administrator Wang Sui area commander of Qing, Xu, You, and Ping and stationed him at Huaiyin; Defender-general Wang Han commanded all forces south of the Mian and held the post of Jing inspector; Wuchang grand administrator Wang Liang of Danyang became inspector of Jiao. He sent Liang to seize Jiao inspector Xiu Zhan and Xinchang grand administrator Liang Shuo and kill them. Liang lured Zhan into a trap. Beheaded him. Shuo raised troops and besieged Liang at Longbian.
45
祖逖既卒，後越屢寇河南，拔襄城、城父，圍譙。 豫州刺史祖約不能禦，退屯壽春。 後趙遂取陳留，梁、鄭之間複騷然矣。
After Zu Ti's death, the Later Yue repeatedly raided Henan, took Xiangcheng and Chengfù, and besieged Qiao. Yu inspector Zu Yue could not hold them off and withdrew to Shouchun. Later Zhao then took Chenliu, and the lands between Liang and Zheng were in turmoil again.
46
十一月，以臨穎元公荀組爲太尉； 辛酉，薨。
In the eleventh month, Xun Zu, Duke of Yuan of Linying, was made Grand Commandant; on xinyou he died.
47
罷司徒，幷丞相府。 王敦以司徒官屬爲留府。
The Ministry of Education was abolished and merged with the chancellor's office. Wang Dun kept the Ministry of Education's staff as retainers in the residual office.
48
帝憂憤成疾，閏月，己丑，崩。 司空王導受遣詔輔政。 帝恭儉有餘而明斷不足，故大業未複而禍亂內興。 庚寅，太子即皇帝位，大赦，尊所生母荀氏爲建安君。
The emperor sickened with grief and rage; in the intercalary month, on jichou, he died. Minister of Works Wang Dao received the late emperor's edict to assist the government. He had been reverent and frugal, but lacked decisive judgment; the great restoration never came, and calamity rose within the realm. On gengyin the crown prince took the throne, proclaimed a general amnesty, and honored his mother, Lady Xun, as Lady of Ji'an.
49
十二月，趙主曜葬其父母于粟邑，大赦。 陵下周二裏，上高百尺，計用六萬夫，作之百日乃成。 役者夜作，繼以脂燭，民甚苦之。 游子遠諫，不聽。
In the twelfth month, Zhao ruler Liu Yao buried his parents at Suyi and proclaimed a general amnesty. The precinct around the mound measured two li; the mound rose a hundred feet; sixty thousand laborers were reckoned, and the work took a hundred days. They labored by night under lamps of tallow; the people suffered bitterly. Youzi Yuan remonstrated, but Yao would not listen.
50
後趙濮陽景侯張賓卒，後趙王勒哭之慟，曰：“天不欲成吾事邪？ 何奪吾右侯之早也！ ”程遐代爲右長史。 遐，世子弘之舅也，勒每與遐議，有所不合，輒嘆曰：“右侯舍我去，乃令我與此輩共事，豈非酷乎！ ”因流涕彌日。 張茂使將軍韓璞帥衆取隴西、南安之地，置秦州。
Zhang Bin, Marquis Jing of Puyang of Later Zhao, died; King Shi Le wept bitterly and said, "Does Heaven not wish me to succeed? Why take my Right Lord so soon! " Cheng Xia replaced him as Right Chief Clerk. Xia was the crown prince Hong's uncle by marriage; whenever Le discussed matters with him and they disagreed, he would sigh, "The Right Lord has left me to share power with men like these—is that not cruel? " And wept all day. Zhang Mao sent General Han Pu to seize Longxi and Nan'an and established Qin province.
51
慕容廆遣其世子皝襲段末柸，入令支，掠其居民千餘家而還。
Murong Hui sent his heir Murong Huang against Duan Moqi; Huang entered Lingzhi, carried off more than a thousand households, and returned.
52
中宗元皇帝下太寧元年（ 癸未，公元三二三年）
Emperor Yuan of the Middle House, Part Two — Year One of Taining ( guiwei, CE 323)
53
春，正月，成李驤、任回寇台登，將軍司馬玖戰死，越巂太守李釗、漢嘉太守王載皆以郡降于成。
In spring, the first month, Li Xiang and Ren Hui of Cheng raided Taideng; General Sima Jiu fell in battle; Yuexi grand administrator Li Zhao and Hanjia grand administrator Wang Zai surrendered their commanderies to Cheng.
54
二月，庚戌，葬元帝于建平陵。
In the second month, on gengxu, the Yuan Emperor was buried at Jianping Tomb.
55
三月，戊寅朔，改元。
On the first day of the third month, wuyin, the era name was changed.
56
饒安、東光、安陵三縣灾，燒七千餘家，死者萬五千人。
Rao'an, Dongguang, and Anling suffered a disaster: more than seven thousand households burned, and fifteen thousand people died.
57
後趙寇彭城、下邳，徐州刺史卞敦與征北將軍王邃退保盱眙。 敦，壼之從父兄也。
Later Zhao raided Pengcheng and Xiapi; Xuzhou inspector Bian Dun and campaigning-north general Wang Sui withdrew to defend Guangling. Dun was Bian Chun's cousin.
58
王敦謀篡位，諷朝廷征己； 帝手詔征之。 夏，四月，加敦黃鉞、班劍，奏事不名，入朝不趨，劍履上殿。 敦移鎮姑孰，屯于湖，以司空導爲司徒，敦自領揚州牧。 敦欲爲逆，王彬諫之甚苦。 敦變色，目左右，將收之。 彬正色曰：“君昔歲殺兄，今又殺弟邪！ ”敦乃止，以彬爲豫章太守。
Wang Dun plotted to usurp the throne and prompted the court to summon him; the emperor issued a personal edict summoning him. In summer, the fourth month, Dun was granted the golden battle-axe and ceremonial swords, permission to memorialize without using his name, to enter court without hurrying, and to wear sword and shoes in the hall. Dun moved his base to Gushu and encamped at Yudu; he made Wang Dao Minister of Education and took the governorship of Yangzhou for himself. When Dun set his heart on rebellion, Wang Bin remonstrated with bitter force. Dun's face darkened; he glanced at his attendants, ready to seize him. Bin said evenly, "Last year you killed an elder brother—will you kill a younger one now? " Dun desisted and made Bin grand administrator of Yuzhang.
59
後趙王勒遣使結好于慕容廆，廆執送建康。
Later Zhao's king Shi Le sent envoys to court Murong Hui; Hui seized them and sent them on to Jiankang.
60
成李驤等進攻寧州，刺史褒中壯公王遜使將軍姚岳等拒之，戰于螗良，成兵大敗。 岳追至瀘水，成兵爭濟，溺死者千餘人。 岳以道遠，不敢濟而還。 遜以岳不窮追，大怒，鞭之，怒甚，冠裂而卒。 遜在州十四年，威行殊俗，州人立其子堅行州府事。 詔除堅寧州刺史。
Li Xiang of Cheng advanced on Ning province; inspector Wang Sun, Duke of Zhuang of Baozhong, sent General Yao Yue and others to meet them; at Tangliang the Cheng forces were routed. Yue pursued to the Lu River; the Cheng troops scrambled to cross, and more than a thousand drowned. Yue, finding the road too long, did not dare cross and turned back. Sun, furious that Yue had not pursued to the end, flogged him; in his rage his cap burst apart and he died. Sun had ruled the province fourteen years, his authority reaching even foreign peoples; the people installed his son Jian to govern in his stead. An edict appointed Jian inspector of Ning.
61
廣州刺史陶侃遣兵救交州； 未至，梁碩拔龍編，奪刺史王諒節，諒不與，碩斷其右臂。 諒曰：“死且不避，斷臂何爲！ ”逾旬而卒。
Guangzhou inspector Tao Kan sent troops to relieve Jiao; before they arrived, Liang Shuo seized Longbian, wrested the inspector's seal from Wang Liang, and when Liang refused, cut off his right arm. Liang said, "I do not shrink from death—what is the loss of an arm? " Within ten days he was dead.
62
六月，壬子，立妃庾氏爲皇后； 以後兄中領軍亮爲中書監。
In the sixth month, on renzi, Consort Yu was made empress; and her elder brother Yu Liang, Central Palace Guard, was made Director of the Secretariat.
63
梁碩據交州，凶暴失衆心。 陶侃遣參軍高寶攻碩，斬之。 詔以侃領交州刺史，進號征南大將軍、開府儀同三司。 未幾，吏部郎阮放求爲交州刺史，許之。 放行至寧浦，遇高寶，爲寶設饌，伏兵殺之。 寶兵擊放，放走，得免，至州。 少時，病卒。 放，鹹之族子也。
Liang Shuo held Jiao, but his cruelty cost him the people's loyalty. Tao Kan sent his aide Gao Bao against Shuo and had him beheaded. An edict named Kan acting inspector of Jiao and advanced him to Campaigning-south Grand General with honors equal to the Three Dukes. Before long, Personnel Gentleman Ruan Fang asked to be made inspector of Jiao, and was granted his request. At Ningpu Fang met Gao Bao, entertained him at a feast, and had hidden men kill him. Bao's men attacked Fang; Fang fled, barely escaped with his life, and reached the province. Before long he died of illness. Fang was a clansman of Xian.
64
陳安圍趙征西將軍劉貢于南安，休屠王石武自桑城引兵趣上邽以救之，與貢合擊安，大破之。 安收餘騎八千，走保隴城。 秋，七月，趙主曜自將圍隴城，別遣兵圍上邽。 安頻出戰，輒敗。 右軍將軍劉幹攻平襄，克之，隴上諸縣悉降。 安留其將楊伯支、姜沖兒守隴城，自帥精騎突圍，出奔陝中。 曜遣將軍平先等追之。 安左揮七尺大刀，右運丈八蛇矛，近則刀矛俱發，輒殪五六人，遠則左右馳射而走。 先亦勇捷如飛，與安搏戰，三交，遂奪其蛇矛。 會日暮雨甚，安弃馬與左右匿于山中； 趙兵索之，不知所在。 明日，安遣其將石容覘趙兵，趙輔威將軍呼延青人獲之，拷問安所在，容卒不肯言，青人殺之。 雨霽，青人尋其迹，獲安于澗曲，斬之。 安善撫將士，與同甘苦，及死，隴上人思之，爲作《壯士之歌》。 楊伯支斬姜沖兒，以隴城降； 別將宋亭斬趙募，以上邽降。 曜徙秦州大姓楊、姜諸族二千餘戶于長安。 氐、羌皆送任請降； 以赤亭羌酋姚弋仲爲平西將軍，封平襄公。
Chen An besieged the Zhao Western Campaign General Liu Gong at Nan'an; the Xiutu king Shi Wu led troops from Sangcheng toward Shanggui to relieve him, joined Gong in attacking An, and routed him utterly. An rallied the remaining eight thousand horsemen and fled to hold Longcheng. In autumn, the seventh month, the Zhao ruler Liu Yao personally led the siege of Longcheng and separately sent troops to besiege Shanggui. An sortied again and again to give battle and was beaten each time. The Right Army General Liu Gan attacked Pingxiang and took it; all the counties of Longshang submitted. An left his generals Yang Bozhi and Jiang Chong'er to hold Longcheng, himself led picked horsemen to break through the encirclement, and fled into the mountains of Shaanzhong. Yao dispatched General Ping Xian and others in pursuit. An swung a seven-foot great blade in his left hand and an eight-foot serpent spear in his right; at close range both weapons struck together and he would slay five or six men at a stroke; at distance he wheeled about shooting left and right as he fled. Xian was likewise swift and valiant as flight; he closed with An and fought three bouts, then wrested away his serpent spear. At dusk the rain grew torrential; An abandoned his horse and hid in the mountains with his attendants; Zhao troops searched for him but could not find where he had gone. The next day An sent his general Shi Rong to reconnoiter the Zhao army; the Zhao Assistant to the Martial Prestige General Huyan Qingren captured him and tortured him to learn An's whereabouts; Rong would not speak to the end, and Qingren killed him. When the rain cleared, Qingren followed his trail, seized An in a mountain ravine, and beheaded him. An was skilled at cherishing his officers and men and sharing their hardship and ease; when he died the people of Longshang missed him and composed the "Song of the Valiant Warrior" in his memory. Yang Bozhi killed Jiang Chong'er and surrendered Longcheng; a separate commander, Song Ting, killed Zhao Mu and surrendered Shanggui. Yao relocated more than two thousand households of the great Yang and Jiang clans of Qinzhou to Chang'an. The Di and Qiang all sent hostages to request submission; He appointed the Chiting Qiang chieftain Yao Yizhong Pacifier of the West General and enfeoffed him as Duke of Pingxiang.
65
帝畏王敦之逼，欲以郗鑒爲外援，拜鑒兗州刺史，都督揚州江西諸軍事，鎮合肥。 王敦忌之，表鑒爲尚書令。 八月，詔征鑒還，道經姑孰，敦與之論西朝人士，曰：“樂彥輔，短才耳。 考其實，豈勝滿武秋邪！ ”鑒曰：“彥輔道韵平淡，湣懷之廢，柔而能正。 武秋失節之士，安得擬之！ ”敦曰：“當是時，危機交急。 ”鑒曰：“丈夫當死生以之。 ”敦惡其言，不復相見，久留不遣。 敦黨皆勸敦殺之，敦不從。 鑒還台，遂與帝謀討敦。
The emperor feared Wang Dun's coercion and wished to use Xi Jian as outside support; he appointed Jian governor of Yanzhou and commander of military affairs south of the Yangzi west of Yangzhou, with his headquarters at Hefei. Wang Dun resented this and memorialized to have Jian made Director of the Imperial Secretariat. In the eighth month an edict summoned Jian back; passing through Gudu, Dun discussed with him the worthies of the Western Court, saying, "Le Yifu is merely a man of shallow talent. Judging by his real merit, is he truly superior to Man Wuqiu! " Jian said, "Yifu's moral tone is level and mild; in the removal of Emperor Minhuai he was gentle yet able to set things right. Wuqiu is a man who lost his integrity—how could he be compared with Yifu! " Dun said, "At that time crises piled upon one another. " Jian said, "A true man should face life and death on that basis alone. " Dun hated his words, met with him no more, and detained him long without letting him go. Dun's faction all urged Dun to kill him, but Dun would not consent. When Jian returned to the capital, he thereupon plotted with the emperor to campaign against Dun.
66
後趙中山公虎帥步騎四萬擊安東將軍曹嶷，青州郡縣多降之，遂圍廣固。 嶷出降，送襄國殺之，坑其衆三萬。 虎欲盡殺嶷衆，青州刺史劉征曰：“今留征，使牧民也，無民焉牧！ 征將歸耳！ ”虎乃留男女七百口配征，使鎮廣固。 趙主曜自隴上西擊凉州，遣其將劉咸攻韓璞于冀城，呼延晏攻寧羌護軍陰鑒于桑壁，曜自將戎卒二十八萬軍于河上，列營百餘裏，金鼓之聲動地，河水爲沸，張茂臨河諸戍，皆望風奔潰。 曜揚聲欲百道俱濟，直抵姑臧，凉州大震。 參軍馬岌勸茂親出拒戰，長史汜禕怒，請斬之。 岌曰：“汜公糟粕書生，刺舉小才，不思家國大計。 明公父子欲爲朝廷誅劉曜有年矣，今曜自至，遠近之情，共觀明公此舉，當立信勇之驗以副秦、隴之望。 力雖不敵，勢不可以不出。 ”茂曰：“善！ ”乃出屯石頭。 茂謂參軍陳珍曰：“劉曜舉三秦之衆，乘勝席捲而來，將若之何？ ”珍曰：“曜兵雖多，精卒至少，大抵皆氐、羌烏合之衆，恩信未洽，且有山東之虞，安能舍其腹心之疾，曠日持久，與我爭河西之地邪！ 若二旬不退，珍請得弊卒數千，爲明公擒之。 ”茂喜，使珍將兵救韓璞。 趙諸將爭欲濟河，趙主曜曰：“吾軍勢雖盛，然畏威而來者三分有二，中軍疲困，其實難用。 今但按甲勿動，以吾威聲震之，若出中旬張茂之表不至者，吾爲負卿矣。 ”茂尋遣使稱籓，獻馬、牛、羊、珍寶不可勝紀。 曜拜茂侍中、都督凉、南北秦、梁、益、巴、漢、隴右、西域雜夷、匈奴諸軍事、太師、凉州牧，封凉王，加九錫。
Later Zhao's Prince of Zhongshan, Shi Hu, led forty thousand foot and horse to attack the Eastern Pacification General Cao Ni; most of Qingzhou's prefectures and counties submitted, and he then besieged Guanggu. Ni came out and surrendered; they sent him to Xiangguo and executed him, and buried alive thirty thousand of his followers. Hu wished to kill all of Ni's followers; the Qingzhou governor Liu Zheng said, "You have kept me here to shepherd the people—without people, whom shall I shepherd! I am going home! " Hu then left seven hundred men and women to accompany Zheng and stationed him to hold Guanggu. The Zhao ruler Liu Yao marched west from Longshang to attack Liangzhou; he sent his general Liu Xian to attack Han Pu at Jicheng and Huyan Yan to attack the Ningqiang Protector of the Army Yin Jian at Sangbi; Yao personally led an army of two hundred eighty thousand tribal soldiers and encamped along the river, his camps stretching more than a hundred li; the thunder of drums and gongs shook the earth and the river seemed to boil; every garrison of Zhang Mao along the river fled at the mere sight of his banners. Yao proclaimed that he would cross at a hundred points at once and march straight on Guzang; all Liangzhou was shaken. The staff officer Ma Ji urged Mao to go out in person and give battle; the chief administrator Si Yi in anger asked that he be executed. Ji said, "Lord Si is a bookish mediocrity, a petty talent for impeachment who gives no thought to the great design of state and family. Your lordship and your father have for years wished to execute Liu Yao on the court's behalf; now Yao has come in person, and men near and far alike watch what you will do—you must prove your trust and courage and answer the hopes of Qin and Long. Though our strength is unequal, the situation cannot permit us to stay within. " Mao said, "Well said! " He then went out and encamped at Shitou. Mao said to the staff officer Chen Zhen, "Liu Yao has raised the hosts of the Three Qins and comes sweeping on the tide of victory—what are we to do? " Zhen said, "Though Yao's army is large, his picked troops are few; for the most part they are a rabble of Di and Qiang, their loyalty not yet won, and he has troubles east of the mountains as well—how could he abandon the troubles at his heart, linger for months, and contest the Hexi with us! If he does not withdraw within twenty days, I ask only a few thousand worn troops and I will capture him for your lordship. " Mao was pleased and sent Zhen to lead troops to relieve Han Pu. The Zhao generals all clamored to cross the river; the Zhao ruler Liu Yao said, "Though our army looks mighty, two thirds of it came only from fear of our might; the central force is weary and spent and in truth hard to use. For now hold the army still and let our martial renown shake them—if past mid-month Zhang Mao's letter of submission has not arrived, I have failed you. " Before long Mao sent envoys to declare himself a vassal and presented horses, cattle, sheep, and treasures beyond counting. Yao appointed Mao Palace Attendant and commander of military affairs for Liang, North and South Qin, Liang, Yi, Ba, Han, Longyou, the mixed peoples of the Western Regions, and the Xiongnu; made him Grand Preceptor and governor of Liangzhou; enfeoffed him as King of Liang; and granted him the Nine Bestowals.
67
楊難敵聞陳安死，大懼，與弟堅頭南奔漢中，趙鎮西將軍劉厚追擊之，大獲而還。 趙主曜以大鴻臚田崧爲鎮南大將軍、益州刺史，鎮仇池。 難敵送任請降于成，成安北將軍李稚受難敵賂，不送難敵于成都。 趙兵退，即遣不武都，難敵遂據險不服。 稚自悔失計，亟請討之。 雄遣稚兄侍中、中領軍琀與稚出白水，征東將軍李壽及琀弟玝出陰平，以擊難敵； 群臣諫，不聽。 難敵遣兵拒之，壽、玝不得進，而琀、稚長驅至下辨。 難敵遣兵斷其歸路，四面攻之。 琀、稚深入無繼，皆爲難敵所殺，死者數千人。 琀，蕩之長子，有才望，雄欲以爲嗣，聞其死，不食者數日。
Yang Nandi, hearing that Chen An was dead, was greatly afraid; he and his brother Jiantou fled south into Hanzhong; the Zhao Pacifier of the West General Liu Hou pursued them, took a rich spoil, and returned. The Zhao ruler Liu Yao appointed the Grand Herald Tian Song Pacifier of the South Grand General and governor of Yizhou, with his headquarters at Chouchi. Nandi sent hostages to request submission to Cheng; Cheng's Pacifier of the North General Li Zhi took Nandi's bribe and did not send him on to Chengdu. When the Zhao army withdrew, he at once sent troops away from Wudu; Nandi then held the mountain passes and refused submission. Zhi himself regretted his blunder and urgently asked to campaign against him. Xiong sent Zhi's elder brother, the Palace Attendant and Central Army Commander Li Huan, with Zhi out by Baishui, and the Eastern Campaign General Li Shou with Huan's younger brother Li Yu out by Yinping, to attack Nandi; The ministers remonstrated, but he would not listen. Nandi sent troops to resist them; Shou and Yu could not advance, while Huan and Zhi drove straight through to Xiabian. Nandi sent troops to cut off their line of retreat and attacked from every side. Huan and Zhi had penetrated deep without support; both were killed by Nandi, and several thousand men died with them. Huan was the eldest son of Li Dang, a man of talent and reputation whom Xiong had wished to make his heir; hearing of his death, Xiong ate nothing for several days.
68
初，趙主曜長子儉，次子胤。 胤年十歲，長七尺五寸，漢主聰奇之，謂曜曰：“此兒神氣，非義真之比也，當以爲嗣。 ”曜曰：“籓國之嗣，能守祭祀足矣，不敢亂長幼之序。 ”聰曰：“卿之勛德，當世受專征之任，非他臣之比也，吾當更以一國封義真。 ”乃封儉爲臨海王，立胤爲世子。 既長，多力善射，驍捷如風。 靳准之亂，沒于黑匿郁鞠部。 陳安既敗，胤自言于郁鞠，郁鞠大驚，禮而歸之。 曜悲喜，謂君臣曰：“義光雖已爲太子，然沖幼儒謹，恐不堪今之多難。 義孫，故世子也，材器過人，且涉曆艱難。 吾欲法周文王、漢光武，以固社稷而安義光，何如？ ”太傅呼延晏等皆曰：“陛下爲國家無窮之計，豈惟臣等賴之，實宗廟四海之慶。 ”左光祿大夫卜泰、太子太保韓廣進曰：“陛下以廢立爲是，不應更問群臣； 若以爲疑，固樂聞异同之言。 臣竊以爲廢太子，非也。 昔文王定嗣于未立之前，則可也； 光武以母失恩而廢其子，豈足爲聖朝之法！ 向以東海爲嗣，未必不如明帝也。 胤文武才略，誠高絕于世。 然太子孝友仁慈，亦足爲承平賢主。 况東宮者，民、神所系，豈可輕動！ 陛下誠欲如是，臣等有死而已，不敢奉詔，”曜默然。 胤進曰：“父之于子，當愛之如一，今黜熙而立臣，臣何敢自安！ 陛下苟以臣爲頗堪驅策，豈不能輔熙以承聖業乎！ 必若以臣代熙，臣請效死于此，不敢聞命。 ”因歔欷流涕。 曜亦以熙羊後所生，不忍廢也，乃追謚前妃卜氏爲元悼皇后。 泰，即胤之舅也，曜喜其公忠，以爲上光祿大夫、儀同三司、領太子太傅； 封胤爲永安王，拜侍中、衛大將軍、都督二宮禁衛諸軍事、開府儀同三司、錄尚書事，命熙于胤盡家人之禮。
Earlier, the Zhao ruler Liu Yao's eldest son was Liu Jian and his second son was Liu Yin. When Yin was ten years old he stood seven feet five inches tall; the Han ruler Liu Cong marveled at him and said to Yao, "This boy's spirit is not to be compared with Yizhen's—he should be made your heir. " Yao said, "The heir of a feudatory state need only keep the sacrifices—that is enough; I dare not disturb the order of elder and younger. " Cong said, "Your merit and virtue in this age bear the charge of independent campaigning—you are not comparable with other ministers; I shall enfeoff Yizhen with another state besides. " He then enfeoffed Jian as Prince of Linhai and established Yin as heir apparent. When he had grown to manhood he was immensely strong and skilled in archery, bold and swift as the wind. In Jin Zhun's rebellion he was lost among the Heiyu Yuju tribe. After Chen An's defeat, Yin presented himself to Yuju; Yuju was greatly startled, received him with full ceremony, and sent him back. Yao was both glad and sorrowful and said to his ministers, "Though Yiguang is already crown prince, he is still young, studious, and cautious—I fear he cannot bear today's many hardships. Yisun, the former heir apparent, surpasses others in talent and capacity and has moreover passed through hardship. I wish to follow King Wen of Zhou and Emperor Guangwu of Han, to secure the altars of state and settle Yiguang in safety—what do you think? " The Grand Tutor Huyan Yan and the others all said, "Your Majesty's plan looks to the state's boundless future—not only do we your ministers rely on it; it is truly a rejoicing for the ancestral temples and all within the four seas. " The Left Honored Grandee Bu Tai and the Heir Apparent's Grand Guardian Han Guang stepped forward and said, "If Your Majesty is sure that deposition and establishment are right, you should not again ask your ministers; if you are in doubt, we are indeed glad to hear differing views. Your servant privately holds that deposing the crown prince is wrong. In old times King Wen fixed the succession before any heir had been established—that could be done; Guangwu deposed his son because the mother had lost favor—how could that suffice as a precedent for a sagely court! Making the Prince of Donghai heir was not necessarily inferior to Emperor Ming. Yin's civil and military talent and stratagem truly tower above the age. Yet the crown prince is filial, friendly, and benevolent—he too would suffice as a worthy ruler in peaceful times. Moreover the Eastern Palace is what the people and the spirits depend on—how could it be lightly moved! If Your Majesty truly wishes this, we your servants have only death to offer—we dare not obey such a decree." Yao was silent. Yin stepped forward and said, "A father toward his sons should love them as one; now to depose Xi and establish me—how dare I be at ease! If Your Majesty holds me somewhat fit to serve, could I not assist Xi in undertaking the sagely enterprise! If you must use me to replace Xi, I beg to die here rather than hear such a command. " He then sobbed and wept. Yao also, because Xi had been born after the year of the sheep, could not bear to depose him; he then posthumously titled his former consort of the Bu clan Primary Lamenting Empress. Tai was Yin's maternal uncle; Yao delighted in his public loyalty and made him Superior Honored Grandee with the privileges of the Three Excellencies and concurrently Heir Apparent's Grand Tutor; He enfeoffed Yin as Prince of Yong'an, appointed him Palace Attendant, Guard Grand General, commander of the two palaces' inner-guard military affairs, with an office equal to the Three Excellencies and charge of recording Secretariat affairs, and ordered Xi to observe full family courtesy toward Yin.
69
張茂大城姑臧，修靈鈞台。 別駕吳紹諫曰：“明公所以修城築台者，蓋懲既往之患耳。 愚以爲苟恩未洽于人心，雖處層台，亦無所益，適足以疑群下忠信之志，失士民系托之望，示怯弱之形，啓鄰敵之謀，將何以佐天子、霸諸候乎！ 願亟罷茲役，以息勞費。 ”茂曰：“亡兄一旦失身于物，豈無忠臣義士欲盡節者哉！ 顧禍生不意，雖有智勇，無所施耳。 王公設險，勇夫重閉，古之道也。 今國家未靖，不可以太平之理責人于屯邅之世也。 ”卒爲之。 王敦從子允之，方總角，敦愛其聰警，常以自隨。 敦常夜飲，允之辭醉先臥。 敦與錢鳳謀爲逆，允之悉聞其言。 即于臥處大吐，衣面幷污。 鳳出，敦果照視，見允之臥于吐中，不復疑之。 會其父舒拜廷尉，允之求歸省父，悉以敦、鳳之謀白舒。 舒與王導俱啓帝，陰爲之備。 敦欲强其宗族，陵弱帝室，冬，十一月，徙王含爲征東將軍、都督揚州江西諸軍事，王舒爲荊州刺史、監荊州沔南諸軍事，王彬爲江州刺史。
Zhang Mao greatly fortified Guzang and restored the Lingjun Terrace. The Assistant Governor Wu Shao remonstrated, "Your lordship repairs walls and builds terraces surely to take warning from past troubles. I hold that if your grace has not yet won men's hearts, dwelling on lofty terraces will do no good; it will only make your followers doubt your loyal intent, lose the hopes scholars and commoners place in you, show a timid weakness, and invite neighboring enemies' designs—how then will you assist the Son of Heaven and hegemon over the feudal lords! I beg you to halt this work at once and spare the people's toil and expense. " Mao said, "My late elder brother in a single day lost his life to circumstance—were there not loyal ministers and righteous men who wished to give their all! Only disaster arose unlooked-for; though they had wisdom and courage, there was nowhere to apply it. Kings and dukes set defenses; brave men double the gates—that is the ancient way. The realm is not yet settled; one cannot judge men in an age of hardship and obstruction by the standards of peace. " In the end he went ahead with the work. Wang Dun's young nephew Yunzhi was still a boy; Dun doted on his quick wit and kept him constantly at his side. Dun often drank late into the night; Yunzhi would plead drunkenness and retire to bed first. When Dun and Qian Feng plotted rebellion, Yunzhi overheard every word. He promptly vomited all over his bedding, fouling his clothes and face. When Feng left, Dun came with a lamp to check and found Yunzhi sprawled in the vomit; he suspected him no more. When his father Shu was appointed Minister of Justice, Yunzhi asked leave to visit him and revealed the whole plot of Dun and Feng. Shu and Wang Dao jointly informed the emperor and quietly prepared their defenses. Seeking to strengthen his clan and dominate the throne, Wang Dun in the eleventh month of winter transferred Wang Han to command forces west of the Yangzhou line, Wang Shu to Jing Province, and Wang Bin to Jiang Province.
70
後趙王勒以參軍樊坦爲章武內史，勒見其衣冠弊壞，問之。 坦率然對曰：“傾爲羯賊所掠，資財蕩盡。 ”勒笑曰：“羯賊乃爾無道邪！ 今當相償。 ”坦大懼，叩頭泣謝。 勒賜車馬、衣服、裝錢三百萬而遣之。
Later Zhao's King Le appointed his aide Fan Tan internal administrator of Zhangwu; seeing Fan's clothes in tatters, Le asked why. Fan answered bluntly, "I was just robbed by the Jie raiders and lost everything I had." " Le laughed and said, "So the Jie are that lawless!" I shall make it up to you now. " Fan was terrified and kowtowed, weeping his apologies. Le gave him carriages, horses, clothing, and three million in travel funds and sent him on his way.
71
是歲，越巂斯叟攻成將任回，成主雄遣征南將軍費黑討之。
That year the Suo of Yuexi attacked the Cheng general Ren Hui; the Cheng ruler Xiong sent the Southern Campaigning General Fei Hei against them.
72
會稽內史周札，一門五候，宗族强盛，吳士莫與爲比，王敦忌之。 敦有疾，錢鳳勸敦早除周氏，敦然之。 周嵩以兄顗之死，心常憤憤。 敦無子，養王含之子應爲嗣，嵩嘗于衆中言應不宜統兵，敦惡之。 嵩與札兄子莛皆爲敦從事中郎。 會道士李脫以妖術惑衆，士民頗信事之。
Zhou Zha of Kuaiji had five marquises in a single family; his clan was mighty beyond any in Wu, and Wang Dun envied him. When Dun fell ill, Qian Feng urged him to destroy the Zhou clan at once, and Dun agreed. Zhou Song, grieving his brother Yi's death, nursed a constant rage. Dun had no son and adopted Wang Han's son Ying as his heir; Song once declared in public that Ying was unfit to command troops, and Dun took offense. Song and Zha's nephew Ting both served as Wang Dun's attendants. A Daoist named Li Tuo used sorcery to mislead the people, and many gentry and commoners followed him.