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=【晉紀十八】=
Jin Annals 18
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起著雍淹茂，盡重光赤奮若，凡四年。
From Zhuoyong Yanmao through Chongguang Chifenruo—four years in all.
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春，正月，燕王皝遣都尉趙槃如趙，聽師期。 趙王虎將擊段遼，募驍勇者三萬人，悉拜龍騰中郎。 會遼遣段屈雲襲趙幽州，幽州刺史李孟退保易京。 虎乃以桃豹為橫海將軍，王華為渡遼將軍，帥舟師十萬出漂渝津； 支雄為龍驤大將軍，姚弋仲為冠軍將軍，帥步騎七萬前鋒以伐遼。
In spring, the first month, the King of Yan, Murong Huang, sent Commandant Zhao Pan to Zhao to arrange the schedule for the joint campaign. King Shi Hu of Zhao was preparing to attack Duan Liao. He recruited thirty thousand bold fighters and appointed them all Dragon Soaring Central Commandants. Meanwhile Duan Liao sent Duan Quyun to strike Zhao's You Province, and Governor Li Meng of You fell back to hold Yijing. Hu then appointed Tao Bao Crossing-the-Seas General and Wang Hua Crossing-Liao General, and led a fleet of one hundred thousand men out from Piaoyu Ford; with Zhi Xiong as Dragon Prancing Grand General and Yao Yizhong as Champion General leading seventy thousand foot and horse as the vanguard against Liao.
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三月，趙槃還至棘城。 燕王皝引兵攻掠令支以北諸城。 段遼將追之。 慕容翰曰：「今趙兵在南，當並力御之； 而更與燕鬥，燕王自將而來，其士卒精銳，若萬一失利，將何以御南敵乎！」 段蘭怒曰：「吾前為卿所誤，以成今日之患，吾不復墮卿計中矣！」 乃悉將見眾追之。 皝設伏以待之，大破蘭兵，斬首數千級，掠五千戶及畜產萬計以歸。
In the third month, Zhao Pan returned to Jicheng. Murong Huang of Yan then led his army to raid the cities north of Lingzhi. Duan Liao prepared to give chase. Murong Han said, "The Zhao forces are in the south now—we should combine our strength to hold them off; yet you would turn to fight Yan. The Yan king leads the army himself, and his troops are sharp and seasoned. If we should lose, how will we face the enemy in the south?" Duan Lan burst out, "You misled me once before and brought on this disaster. I will not be taken in by your counsel again!" He then marched out with every man he had to pursue the Yan army. Huang laid an ambush and crushed Lan's force, taking several thousand heads and returning with five thousand households and vast herds of livestock.
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趙王虎進屯金台。 支雄長驅入薊，段遼所署漁陽、上谷、代郡守相皆降，取四十餘城。 北平相陽裕帥其民數千家登燕山以自固，諸將恐其為後患，欲攻之。 虎曰：「裕儒生，矜惜名節，恥於迎降耳，無能為也。」 遂過之，至徐無。 段遼以弟蘭既敗，不必復戰，帥妻子、宗族、豪大千餘家，棄令支，奔密雲山。 將行，執慕容翰手泣曰：「不用卿言，自取敗亡。 我固苦心，令卿失所，深以為愧。」 翰北奔宇文氏。
King Shi Hu of Zhao advanced and encamped at Jintai. Zhi Xiong swept into Ji. The officials Duan Liao had placed over Yuyang, Shanggu, and Dai all submitted, and more than forty cities fell to Zhao. Yang Yu, chancellor of Beiping, led several thousand of his people onto Mount Yan to hold out. The generals feared a threat to their rear and wanted to attack him. Hu said, "Yu is a scholar who prizes his name and is too ashamed to come out and surrender. He cannot harm us." He passed on and reached Xuwu. Seeing his brother Lan already beaten, Duan Liao saw no point in fighting on. He took his family, his clan, and more than a thousand leading households, abandoned Lingzhi, and fled to Miyun Mountain. As he was leaving, he seized Murong Han's hand and wept. "I would not listen to you and brought this ruin on myself. My heart has long been heavy, and I have left you without a home. I am deeply ashamed." Han fled north to the Yuwen.
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遼左右長史劉群、盧諶、崔悅等封府庫請降。 虎遣將軍郭太、麻秋帥輕騎二萬追遼，至密雲山。 獲其母妻，斬首三千級。 遼單騎走險，遣其子乞特真奉表及獻名馬於趙，虎受之。
Liao's chief administrators Liu Qun, Lu Chen, Cui Yue, and others sealed the treasury and offered to surrender. Hu sent Generals Guo Tai and Ma Qiu with twenty thousand light horse in pursuit, as far as Miyun Mountain. They seized his mother and wife and took three thousand heads. Liao fled alone through the mountains. He sent his son Qitezhen with a petition and famous horses to Zhao, and Hu accepted his submission.
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虎入令支官，論功封賞各有差。 徙段國民二萬餘戶於司、雍、兗、豫四州； 士大夫之有才行，皆擢敘之。 陽裕詣軍門降。 虎讓之曰：「卿昔為奴虜走，今為士人來，豈識知天命，將逃匿無地邪？」 對曰：「臣昔事王公，不能匡濟； 逃於段氏，復不能全。 今陛下天網高張，籠絡四海，幽、冀豪傑莫不風從，如臣比肩，無所獨愧。 生死之命，惟陛下制之！」 虎悅，即拜北平太守。
Hu entered the government halls at Lingzhi and distributed rewards according to each man's merit. He moved more than twenty thousand Duan households to Si, Yong, Yan, and Yu; and every capable scholar-official was given office and rank. Yang Yu came to the camp gate to surrender. Hu rebuked him: "You once fled as a captive. Now you come as a gentleman. Do you finally see Heaven's mandate, or do you think you still have somewhere to hide?" He answered, "I once served a royal lord and could not save him; I fled to the Duan and again could not preserve them. Now Your Majesty's net covers the realm, and the heroes of You and Ji answer your call. I am only one among many—there is no special shame in my coming. Life and death are in Your Majesty's hands alone!" Hu was pleased and at once appointed him Chancellor of Beiping.
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夏，四月，癸丑，以慕容皝為征北大將軍、幽州牧，領平州刺史。
In summer, the fourth month, on guichou, Murong Huang was appointed Pacification-of-the-North Grand General, Governor of You, and concurrently Governor of Ping.
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成主期驕虐日甚，多所誅殺，而籍沒其資財、婦女，由是大臣多不自安。 漢王壽素貴重，有威名，期及建寧王越等皆忌之。 壽懼不免，每當入朝，常詐為邊書，辭以警急。
Lord Qi of Cheng grew more arrogant and cruel by the day. He executed many men and seized their goods and women, and the great ministers grew uneasy. King Shou of Han had long been eminent and commanded respect. Qi, Prince Yue of Jianning, and others all resented and feared him. Shou feared for his life. Whenever he was summoned to court, he forged frontier reports and pleaded urgent border alarms.
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初，巴西處士龔壯，父、叔皆為李特所殺。 壯欲報仇，積年不除喪。 壽數以禮辟之，壯不應； 而往見壽，壽密問壯以自安之策。 壯曰：「巴、蜀之民本皆晉臣，節下若能發兵西取成都，稱籓於晉，誰不爭為節下奮臂前驅者？ 如此則福流子孫，名垂不朽，豈徒脫今日之禍而已！」 壽然之，陰與長史略陽羅恆、巴西解思明謀攻成都。
Earlier there was Gong Zhuang, a recluse of Baxi, whose father and uncle had both been killed by Li Te. Zhuang sought revenge and for years refused to end his mourning. Shou repeatedly invited him by proper ceremony, but Zhuang would not answer; yet Zhuang came to see Shou, and Shou privately asked him how he might save himself. Zhuang said, "The people of Ba and Shu were Jin subjects at heart. If you march west and take Chengdu, then declare yourself a vassal of Jin, who would not rush to fight at your side? Your line would prosper and your name would live forever—not merely escape today's danger!" Shou agreed. In secret he plotted with his chief administrator Luo Heng of Lueyang and Xie Siming of Baxi to seize Chengdu.
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期頗聞之，數遣許涪至壽所，伺其動靜； 又鴆殺壽養弟安北將軍攸。 壽乃詐為妹夫任調書，雲期當取壽； 其眾信之，遂帥步騎萬餘人自涪襲成都，許賞以城中財物，以其將李弈為前鋒。 期不意其至，初不設備。 壽世子勢為翊軍校尉，開門納之，遂克成都，屯兵宮門。 期遣侍中勞壽。 壽奏建寧王越、景騫、田褒、姚華、許涪及征西將軍李遐、將軍李西等懷奸亂政，皆收殺之。 縱兵大掠，數日乃定。 壽矯以太后任氏令廢期為邛都縣公，幽之別宮。 追謚戾太子曰哀皇帝。
Qi had caught wind of this and sent Xu Fu again and again to Shou's camp to watch him; and he poisoned Shou's foster brother You, Pacification-of-the-North General. Shou forged a letter in the name of his brother-in-law Ren Diao, claiming that Qi was about to arrest him; his men believed him, and he led more than ten thousand foot and horse from Fu in a surprise march on Chengdu, promising the city's wealth as booty and putting Li Yi at the head. Qi never expected him and had made no preparations. Shou's heir Shi, Assistant Commander of the Support Army, opened the gates to them. They took Chengdu and encamped at the palace gates. Qi sent a Palace Attendant to greet Shou. Shou reported that Prince Yue of Jianning, Jing Qian, Tian Bao, Yao Hua, Xu Fu, Western Campaign General Li Xia, General Li Xi, and others had plotted treason. All were seized and killed. His soldiers looted the city for days before order was restored. Shou forged an order from Empress Dowager Ren deposing Qi as Duke of Qiongdu and confining him in a separate palace. He posthumously honored the Deposed Crown Prince as Emperor Ai.
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羅恆、解思明、李弈等勸壽稱鎮西將軍、益州牧、成都王，稱籓於晉，送邛都公於建康； 任調及司馬蔡興、侍中李艷等勸壽自稱帝。 壽命筮之，占者曰：「可數年天子。」 調喜曰：「一日尚足，況數年乎！」 思明曰：「數年天子，孰與百世諸侯？」 壽曰：「朝聞道，夕死可矣。」 遂即皇帝位，改國號曰漢，大赦，改元漢興。 以安車束帛征龔壯為太師。 壯誓不仕，壽所贈遺，一無所受。 壽改立宗廟，追尊父驤曰獻皇帝，母昝氏曰皇太后。 立妃閆氏為皇后，世子勢為皇太子。 更以舊廟為大成廟，凡諸制度，多所改易。 以董皎為相國，羅恆為尚書令，解思明為廣漢太守，任調為鎮北將軍、梁州刺史，李弈為西夷校尉，從子權為寧州刺史。 公、卿、州、郡，悉用其僚佐代之； 成氏舊臣、近親及六郡士人，皆見疏斥。 邛都公期歎曰：「天下主乃為小縣公，不如死！」 五月，縊而卒。 壽謚曰幽公，葬以王禮。
Luo Heng, Xie Siming, Li Yi, and others urged Shou to take the titles Western Campaign General, Governor of Yi, and King of Chengdu, submit to Jin as a vassal, and send the Duke of Qiongdu to Jiankang; Ren Diao, Chief Clerk Cai Xing, Palace Attendant Li Yan, and others urged him to declare himself emperor. Shou had the matter divined. The diviner said, "You may reign as Son of Heaven for several years." Diao exclaimed with delight, "One day would be enough—how much more several years!" Siming said, "A few years as emperor—how does that compare with being a feudal lord for a hundred generations?" Shou said, "If I hear the Way at dawn, I may die at dusk without regret." He then took the throne, changed the state name to Han, proclaimed a general amnesty, and adopted the era name Hanxing. He summoned Gong Zhuang as Grand Preceptor with a carriage of honor and silks. Zhuang swore he would not serve and accepted none of Shou's gifts. Shou built a new ancestral temple and posthumously honored his father Xiang as Emperor Xian and his mother Lady Zan as Empress Dowager. He made his consort Lady Yan empress and his heir Shi crown prince. He turned the old temple into the Temple of Great Completion and altered many institutions. He appointed Dong Jiao Chancellor of State, Luo Heng Director of the Masters of Writing, Xie Siming Administrator of Guanghan, Ren Diao Pacification-of-the-North General and Governor of Liang, Li Yi Colonel of the Western Yi, and his nephew Quan Governor of Ning. He replaced every duke, minister, provincial governor, and prefect with his own men; and pushed aside the old Cheng ministers, close kin, and gentry of the six commanderies. The Duke of Qiongdu Qi sighed and said, "The ruler of the realm reduced to a petty county duke—I would rather die!" In the fifth month he hanged himself and died. Shou gave him the posthumous title Duke You and buried him with royal honors.
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趙王虎以燕王皝不會趙兵攻段遼而自專其利，欲伐之。 太史令趙攬諫曰：「歲星守燕分，師必無功。」 虎怒，鞭之。 皝聞之，嚴兵設備：罷六卿，納言，常伯，冗騎常侍官。 趙戎卒數十萬，燕人震恐。 皝謂內史高詡曰：「將若之何？」 對曰：「趙兵雖強，然不足憂，但堅守以拒之，無能為也。」
King Shi Hu of Zhao, angry that Murong Huang had not joined the campaign against Duan Liao but kept the spoils for himself, planned to attack Yan. Grand Astrologer Zhao Lan warned him: "The Year Star stands in the Yan sector. Your army will not succeed." Hu flew into a rage and had him flogged. When Huang heard of this, he mobilized for war and abolished the posts of the Six Ministers, Supplicating Voice, Regular Baron, and Supernumerary Cavalry Regular Attendant. Zhao marshaled several hundred thousand troops, and the people of Yan were terrified. Huang asked his interior secretary Gao Xu, "What shall we do?" Gao answered, "The Zhao army is strong, but there is no need to fear. Hold the walls and they can do nothing against us."1
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虎遣使四出，招誘民夷，燕成周內史崔燾、居就令游泓、武原令常霸、東夷校尉封抽、護軍宋晃等皆應之，凡得三十六城。 泓，邃之兄子也。 冀陽流寓之士共殺太守宋燭以降於趙。 燭，晃之從兄也。 營丘內史鮮于屈亦遣使降趙。 武寧令廣平孫興曉諭吏民共收屈，數其罪而殺之，閉城拒守。 朝鮮令昌黎孫泳帥眾拒趙。 大姓王清等密謀應趙，泳收斬之； 同謀數百人惶怖請罪，泳皆釋之，與同拒守。 樂浪太守鞠彭以境內皆叛，選鄉里壯士二百餘人共還棘城。
Hu sent envoys in every direction to win over the people and tribes. Cui Tao, interior secretary of Chengzou; You Hong, magistrate of Jujiu; Chang Ba, magistrate of Wuyuan; Feng Chou, colonel of the Eastern Yi; Song Huang, protector of the army; and others all submitted. In all, thirty-six cities went over to Zhao. Hong was a nephew of You Sui. Exiled gentlemen of Jiyang killed Administrator Song Zhu and surrendered to Zhao. Zhu was a cousin of Song Huang's. Xianyu Qu, interior secretary of Yingqiu, also sent envoys to surrender to Zhao. Sun Xing of Guangping, magistrate of Wuning, rallied the officials and people to seize Qu, condemned his crimes, and executed him, then shut the gates and held the city. Sun Yong of Changli, magistrate of Chaoxian, led his people in resistance to Zhao. Leading clansmen Wang Qing and others secretly plotted to join Zhao. Yong seized and executed them; and when several hundred co-conspirators begged forgiveness in terror, he pardoned them all and they held the city with him. Ju Peng, administrator of Lelang, found his whole territory in revolt. He chose more than two hundred stalwarts from his home district and marched back to Jicheng.
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戊子，趙兵進逼棘城。 燕王皝欲出亡，帳下將慕輿根諫曰：「趙強我弱，大王一舉足則趙之氣勢遂成，使趙人收略國民，兵強谷足，不可復敵。 竊意趙人正欲大王如此耳，奈何入其計中乎？ 今固守堅城，其勢百倍，縱其急攻，猶足支持，觀形察變，間出求利。 如事之不濟，不失於走，奈何望風委去，為必亡之理乎！」 皝乃止，然猶懼形於色。 玄菟太守河間劉佩曰：「今強寇在外，眾心恟懼，事之安危，繫於一人。 大王此際無所推委，當自強以厲將士，不宜示弱。 事急矣，臣請出擊之，縱無大捷，足以安眾。」 乃將敢死數百騎出沖趙兵，所向披靡，斬獲而還，於是士氣百倍。 皝問計於封弈，對曰：「石虎凶虐已甚，民神共疾，禍敗之至，其何日之有！ 今空國遠來，攻守勢異，戎馬雖強，無能為患； 頓兵積日，釁隙自生，但堅守以俟之耳。」 皝意乃安。 或說皝降，皝曰：「孤方取天下，何謂降也！」
On wuzi, the Zhao army advanced on Jicheng. Murong Huang thought of fleeing. His officer Murong Gen urged him: "Zhao is strong and we are weak. If you take one step from this city, Zhao's momentum will be complete. They will sweep up our people, fill their granaries, and we will never be able to face them again. I believe the Zhao want nothing more than for you to do exactly that. Why walk into their trap? Hold this strong city and our position is a hundred times the stronger. Even if they press the attack, we can endure, watch how matters shift, and strike when the moment offers profit. If we fail, we can still flee—but why surrender at the first alarm, as if defeat were certain!" Huang held his ground, but fear still showed on his face. Liu Pei, administrator of Xuantu, said, "A powerful enemy stands outside the walls and the people are terrified. Everything depends on you alone. You cannot pass this burden to anyone else. You must steel yourself and hearten your men—not show weakness. The crisis is upon us. Let me lead a sortie. Even without a great victory, it will steady the army." He led several hundred dare-to-die horsemen in a charge that broke the Zhao ranks. They cut down the enemy and returned with captives, and morale soared. Huang asked Feng Yi for advice. Feng Yi said, "Shi Hu's cruelty has gone as far as it can. Men and spirits alike hate him. His fall cannot be far off. They have emptied their realm to march so far. Attack and defense favor us differently. Their cavalry is strong, but they cannot harm us; if we hold out, their army will fray of its own accord. We need only stand firm and wait." Huang took heart. Some urged him to surrender. Huang said, "I am on the verge of taking the realm—why speak of surrender?"2
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趙兵四面蟻附緣城，慕輿根等晝夜力戰，凡十餘日，趙兵不能克，壬辰，引退。 皝遣其子恪帥二千騎追擊之，趙兵大敗，斬獲三萬餘級。 趙諸軍皆棄甲逃潰，惟游擊將軍石閔一軍獨全。 閔名瞻，內黃人，本姓冉，趙主勒破陳午，獲之，命虎養以為子。 閔驍勇善戰，多策略。 虎愛之，比於諸孫。
The Zhao army swarmed the walls on every side. Murong Gen and the others fought day and night for more than ten days until the Zhao forces could not take the city. On renchen they withdrew. Huang sent his son Ke with two thousand horse in pursuit. The Zhao army was shattered, with more than thirty thousand killed or captured. Every Zhao unit threw off its armor and fled—only Mobile Campaign General Shi Min's command came back whole. Min, personal name Zhan, was from Neihuang and originally surnamed Ran. When Zhao's founder Le defeated Chen Wu, he was taken captive and Hu was ordered to rear him as a son. He was fierce in battle and cunning in counsel. Hu favored him as he did his own grandsons.
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虎還鄴，以劉群為中書令，盧諶為中書侍郎。 蒲洪以功拜使持節、都督六夷諸軍事、冠軍大將軍，封西平郡公。 石閔言於虎曰：「蒲洪雄俊，得將士死力，諸子皆有非常之才，且握強兵五萬，屯據近畿； 宜密除之，以安社稷。」 虎曰：「吾方倚其父子以取吳、蜀，奈何殺之！」 待之愈厚。
Hu returned to Ye and appointed Liu Qun Director of the Palace Secretariat and Lu Chen his deputy. For his merit, Pu Hong was made Bearer of the Staff, commander of the Six Yi armies, Champion Grand General, and Duke of Xiping. Shi Min told Hu, "Pu Hong is formidable and commands absolute loyalty. His sons are all exceptional men, and he holds fifty thousand troops near the capital; you should remove him in secret to secure the realm." Hu said, "I am counting on him and his sons to conquer Wu and Shu—why would I kill them?" He treated them with even greater favor.
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燕王皝分兵討諸叛城，皆下之。 拓境至凡城。 崔燾、常霸奔鄴，封抽、宋晃、游漲奔高句麗。 皝賞鞠彭、慕輿根等而治諸叛者，誅滅甚眾； 功曹劉翔為之申理，多所全活。
Murong Huang sent forces against the rebel cities and recovered them all. He extended his borders to Fancheng. Cui Tao and Chang Ba fled to Ye; Feng Chou, Song Huang, and You Hong fled to Goguryeo. Huang rewarded Ju Peng, Murong Gen, and others and punished the rebels with mass executions; Chief Clerk Liu Xiang pleaded for mercy and saved many lives.
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趙之攻棘城也，燕右司李洪之弟普以為棘城必敗，勸洪出避禍。 洪曰：「天道幽遠，人事難知。 且當委任，勿輕動取悔。」 普固請不已，洪曰：「卿意見明審者，當自行之。 吾受慕容氏大恩，義無去就，當效死於此耳。」 與普流涕而訣。 普遂降趙，從趙軍南歸，死於喪亂； 洪由是以忠篤著名。
During Zhao's siege of Jicheng, Pu, younger brother of Li Hong of the Yan Right Bureau, believed the city would fall and urged Hong to flee. Hong said, "Heaven's ways are obscure and human affairs uncertain. For now we must do our duty and not act rashly and regret it." Pu kept pressing him. Hong said, "If you are so sure, go yourself. I owe the Murong clan too much to leave. I will die here." He and Pu wept and parted. Pu surrendered to Zhao and marched south with the Zhao army. He died in the chaos of the times; and Hong won renown for loyalty.
20
趙王虎遣渡遼將軍曹伏將青州之眾戍海島，運谷三百萬斛以給之； 又以船三百艘運谷三十萬斛詣高句麗，使典農中郎將王典帥眾萬餘屯田海濱； 又令青州造船千艘，以謀擊燕。
King Shi Hu sent Crossing-Liao General Cao Fu with the people of Qing Province to garrison the sea islands and shipped three million hu of grain to supply them; he also sent three hundred ships with three hundred thousand hu of grain to Goguryeo and had Director of Agriculture Wang Dian lead more than ten thousand men to farm the coast; and ordered Qing Province to build a thousand ships for another strike at Yan.
21
趙太子宣帥步騎二萬擊朔方鮮卑斛摩頭，破之，斬首四萬餘級。
Crown Prince Xuan of Zhao led twenty thousand foot and horse against the Shangfang Xianbei Huluotou, defeated them, and took more than forty thousand heads.
22
冀州八郡大蝗，趙司隸請坐守宰。 趙王虎曰：「此朕失敗所致，而欲委咎守宰，豈罪己之意邪！ 司隸不進讜言，佐朕不逮，而欲妄陷無辜，可白衣領職！」
Eight commanderies of Ji Province suffered a great locust plague. Zhao's Director of the Masters of Writing asked that the local governors be punished. King Shi Hu said, "This is my own failure. To blame the governors—is that how a ruler takes responsibility? You fail to counsel me honestly, yet would ruin innocent men. You may serve in plain dress!"3
23
虎使襄城公涉歸、上庸公日歸帥眾戍長安。 二歸告鎮西將軍石廣私樹恩澤，潛謀不軌； 虎追廣至鄴，殺之。
Hu sent Duke of Xiangcheng Shegui and Duke of Shangyong Rigui to garrison Chang'an. The two Guis reported that Western Campaign General Shi Guang was currying favor and plotting rebellion; Hu summoned Guang to Ye and executed him.
24
乙未，以司徒導為太傅，都督中外諸軍事； 郗鑒為太尉，庾亮為司空。 六月，以尋為丞相，罷司徒官以並丞相府。 導性寬厚，委任諸將趙胤、賈寧等，多不奉法，大臣患之。 庾亮與郗鑒箋曰：「主上自八九歲以及成人，入則在宮人之手，出則唯武官、小人，讀書無從受音句，顧問未嘗遇君子。 秦政欲愚其黔首，天下猶知不可，況欲愚其主哉！ 人主春秋既盛，宜復子明辟。 不稽首歸政，甫居師傅之尊，多養無賴之士； 公與下官並荷托付之重，大奸不掃，何以見先帝於地下乎！」 欲共起兵廢導，鑒不聽。 南蠻校尉陶稱，侃之子也，以亮謀語導。 或勸導密為之備，導曰：「吾與元規休戚是同，悠悠之談，宜絕智者之口。 則如君言，元規若來，吾便角巾還第，復何懼哉！」 又與稱書，以為：「庾公帝之元舅，宜善事之！」 征西參軍孫盛密諫亮曰：「王公常有世外之懷，豈肯為凡人事邪！ 此必佞邪之徒欲間內外耳。」 亮乃止。 盛，楚之孫也。 是時亮雖居外鎮，而遙執朝廷之權，既據上流，擁強兵，趣勢者多歸之。 導內不能平，常遇西風塵起，舉扇自蔽，徐曰：「元規塵污人！」 導以江夏李充為丞相掾。 充以時俗崇尚浮虛，乃著《學箴》。 以為老子云「絕仁棄義，民復孝慈，」豈仁義之道絕，然後孝慈乃生哉？ 蓋患乎情仁義者寡，而利仁義者眾，將寄責於聖人而遣累乎陳跡也。 凡人見形者眾，及道者鮮，逐跡逾篤，離本逾遠。 故作《學箴》以祛其蔽曰：「名之攸彰，道之攸廢； 及損所隆，乃崇所替。 非仁無以長物，非義無以齊恥，仁義固不可遠，去其害仁義者而已。」
On yiwei, Dao was made Grand Tutor and commander of all armies at home and abroad; Xi Jian was made Grand Commandant and Yu Liang Minister of Works. In the sixth month, Dao was made Chancellor; the office of Director of the Masters of Writing was abolished and merged into the chancellor's establishment. Dao was generous by nature and left his generals Zhao Yin, Jia Ning, and others to their own devices. Many broke the law, and the ministers were troubled. Yu Liang wrote to Xi Jian: "From childhood the emperor was raised by palace women within and saw only soldiers and petty men without. He had no proper teachers and never heard counsel from a gentleman. Qin Zheng tried to keep the people ignorant, and the realm knew it was wrong—how much worse to keep the ruler ignorant! The emperor has come of age. He should rule in his own right. Instead of yielding power, he clings to his post as tutor and surrounds himself with worthless men; we were both entrusted with the realm. If we do not remove this great evil, how can we face the late emperor?" They planned to raise troops and depose Dao, but Jian refused. Tao Cheng, son of Kan and colonel of the Southern Man, told Dao of Liang's plot. Some urged Dao to take precautions. Dao said, "Yuangui and I are bound by kinship. Idle gossip should stop with the wise. And if Yuangui does come, I will simply retire to my estate in my kerchief. What is there to fear?" He also wrote to Cheng: "Duke Yu is the emperor's senior maternal uncle. Treat him well!" Sun Sheng, on the western campaign staff, warned Liang in secret: "The Duke of Zhou has long had a mind above worldly things. Would he trouble himself with vulgar intrigue? This must be slander from men who want to divide court and camp." Liang abandoned the plan. Sheng was a grandson of Chu. Though Liang held a frontier post, he controlled the court from afar. With the upper Yangzi and a strong army, men of ambition flocked to him. Dao could not contain his resentment. When the west wind blew dust, he would raise his fan and murmur, "Yuangui's dust fouls a man!" Dao appointed Li Chong of Jiangxia to his staff. Seeing the age's taste for empty frivolity, Chong wrote the Admonition on Learning. Laozi said, "Abolish benevolence and discard righteousness, and the people will return to filial piety and kindness." Did he mean that only when benevolence and righteousness were gone would filial piety appear? Rather, he feared that few were moved by benevolence and righteousness while many profited from them, and wished to lay the burden on the sages while shedding the traces of the past. Most men see only the form; few grasp the Way. The more they chase traces, the farther they leave the root. So he wrote the Admonition to clear this blindness: "Where fame is displayed, the Way is abandoned; what was lowered is exalted, and what was honored is cast aside. Without benevolence nothing can flourish; without righteousness shame cannot be ordered. Benevolence and righteousness cannot be cast away—only what harms them must go."4
25
漢李弈從兄廣漢太守乾告大臣謀廢立。 秋，七月，漢主壽使其子廣與大臣盟於前殿，徙乾為漢嘉太守； 以李閎為荊州刺史，鎮巴郡。 閎，恭之子也。
In Han, Li Yi's cousin Gan, administrator of Guanghan, accused the great ministers of plotting to depose the ruler. In autumn, the seventh month, Shou of Han had his son Guang swear an oath with the ministers in the front hall and transferred Gan to be administrator of Hanjia; he made Li Hong governor of Jing and stationed him in Ba. Hong was a son of Gong.
26
八月，蜀中久雨，百姓饑疫，壽命群臣極言得失。 龔壯上封事稱：「陛下起兵之初，上指星辰，昭告天地，歃血盟眾，舉國稱籓，天應人悅，大功克集。 而論者未諭，權宜稱制。 今淫雨百日，饑疫並臻，天其或者將以監示陛下故也。 愚謂宜遵前盟，推奉建康，彼必不愛高爵重位以報大功； 雖降階一等，而子孫無窮，永保福祚，不亦休哉！ 論者或言二州附晉則榮，六郡人事之不便。 昔公孫述在蜀，羈客用事，劉備在蜀，楚士多貴。 及吳、鄧西伐，舉國屠滅，寧分客主！ 論者不達安固之基，苟惜名位，以為劉氏守令方仕州郡； 曾不知彼乃國亡主易，豈同今日義舉，主榮臣顯哉！ 論者又謂臣當為法正。 臣蒙陛下大恩，恣臣所安； 至於榮祿，無問漢、晉，臣皆不處，復何為傚法正乎！」 壽省書內慚，秘而不宣。
In the eighth month, long rains brought famine and pestilence to Shu. Shou ordered his ministers to speak freely of what had gone wrong. Gong Zhuang submitted a sealed memorial: "When you first raised your banner, you pointed to the stars, proclaimed your oath to Heaven and Earth, and the whole state declared itself Jin's vassal. Heaven approved and great success followed. Yet men still do not understand and insist on calling you emperor as an expedient. Now a hundred days of rain have brought famine and pestilence together. Perhaps Heaven means to warn you. I urge you to honor your former oath and submit to Jiankang. They will not begrudge high rank to repay your service; though you step down one rank, your line will endure forever. Would that not be better? Some say that the two provinces would gain glory by submitting to Jin, but the six commanderies would suffer. When Gongsun Shu held Shu, outsiders ruled. When Liu Bei held Shu, men from Chu rose high. When Wu and Deng marched west, the whole state was slaughtered—native and guest alike! They do not see what makes a state secure but cling to titles, as if Liu's officials were merely serving local posts; they forget that then the state fell and the ruler changed. How can that compare with today's righteous act, where ruler and ministers both gain? Others say I should play Fa Zheng. I have received your great favor and you let me live as I choose; as for rank and salary, whether under Han or Jin I will accept none. Why should I imitate Fa Zheng?" Shou read the memorial, felt ashamed within, and kept it secret.
27
九月，漢僕射任顏謀反，誅。 顏，任太后之弟也。 漢主壽因盡誅成主雄諸子。
In the ninth month, Han's Vice Director Ren Yan plotted rebellion and was executed. Yan was Empress Dowager Ren's younger brother. Shou of Han then executed all the sons of the former ruler Xiong of Cheng.
28
冬，十月，光祿勳顏含以老遜位。 論者以「王導帝之師傅，名位隆重，百僚宜為降禮。」 太常馮懷以問含。 含曰：「王公雖貴重，理無偏敬。 降禮之言，或是諸君事宜； 鄙人老矣，不識時務。」 既而告人曰：「吾聞伐國不問仁人，向馮祖思問佞於我，我豈有邪德乎！」 郭璞嘗遇含，欲為之筮。 含曰：「年在天，位在人。 修己而天不與者，命也； 守道而人不知者，性也； 自有性命，無勞蓍龜。」 致仕二十餘年，年九十三而卒。
In winter, the tenth month, Household Counsellor Yan Han resigned on account of age. “Some argued that since Wang Dao was the emperor's teacher and his name and standing were so lofty, the whole court ought to show him special deference.” The Minister of Ceremonies, Feng Huai, put the question to Yan Han. Yan Han replied, "However eminent Lord Wang may be, propriety does not call for special favor. As for lowering one's courtesies—that may be your colleagues' business; I am an old man who no longer understands what the times require." Later he told others, "They say you do not consult a good man when plotting to attack a country. Feng just now asked me about sycophancy—as if I were some corrupt adviser!" Guo Pu once encountered Yan Han and offered to perform a divination for him. Yan Han said, "How long one lives is Heaven's doing; what rank one holds is one's own. If you refine yourself and Heaven still withholds its favor, that is fate; if you hold to the Way and others fail to recognize it, that is simply your temperament; Life and destiny are already determined—there is no need for divination with stalks and shells." He had been retired for over twenty years and died at ninety-three.
29
代王翳槐之弟什翼犍質於趙，翳槐疾病，命諸大人立之。 翳槐卒，諸大人梁蓋等以新有大故，什翼犍在遠，來未可必； 比其至，恐有變亂，謀更立君。 而翳槐次弟屈，剛猛多詐，不如屈弟孤仁厚，乃相與殺屈而立孤。 孤不可，自詣鄴迎什翼犍，請身留為質； 趙王虎義而俱遣之。 十一月，什翼犍即代王位於繁畤北，改元曰建國，分國之半以與孤。
Tuoba Shiyijian, the Prince of Dai and younger brother of Yihui, was a hostage in Zhao. When Yihui fell gravely ill, he ordered the tribal elders to install Shiyijian as his successor. When Yihui died, the tribal elders Liang Gai and others reasoned that with the realm in fresh mourning and Shiyijian still far away, his return was uncertain; they feared unrest before he could arrive and plotted to choose another ruler. Yihui's next younger brother Qu was fierce and treacherous, whereas Qu's younger brother Gu was gentle and magnanimous. The elders killed Qu and raised Gu instead. Gu refused the throne, went himself to Ye to bring Shiyijian back, and offered to stay behind as a hostage; King Shi Hu of Zhao, admiring his integrity, released them both. In the eleventh month Tuoba Shiyijian was enthroned as Prince of Dai north of Fanchi, proclaimed the era name Establishing the State, and divided the realm in half, granting one portion to Gu.
30
初，代王猗盧既卒，國多內難，部落離散，拓跋氏寢衰。 及什翼犍立，雄勇有智略，能修祖業，國人附之，始置百官，分掌眾務。 以代人燕鳳為長史，許謙為郎中令。 始制反逆、殺人、奸盜之法，號令明白，政事清簡，無系訊連逮之煩，百姓安之。 於是東自濊貊，西及破落那，南距陰山，北盡沙漠，率皆歸服，有眾數十萬人。
After Prince Yilu of Dai died, the realm was torn by internal strife and the tribes scattered; the house of Tuoba fell into decline. Once Shiyijian took the throne, his courage and strategic talent restored the ancestral enterprise. The people rallied to him, he established a full bureaucracy, and assigned offices to govern every branch of state affairs. He appointed Yan Feng of Dai as Chief Clerk and Xu Qian as Director of the Palace Secretariat. He codified laws against treason, murder, and robbery; his edicts were clear, administration lean, and the people were spared the torment of endless interrogations and dragnet arrests. From the Wimo in the east to Poluona in the west, from the Yin Mountains in the south to the desert sands in the north, the tribes submitted; his following numbered several hundred thousand.
31
十二月，段遼自密雲山遣使求迎於趙； 既而中悔，復遣使求迎於燕。
In the twelfth month Duan Liao sent envoys from Mount Miyun to Zhao asking to be taken in; but soon changed his mind and sent envoys to Yan instead, asking to be received there.
32
趙王虎遣征東將軍麻秋帥眾三萬迎之，敕秋曰：「受降如受敵，不可輕也。」 以尚書左丞陽裕，遼之故臣，使為秋司馬。
King Shi Hu of Zhao dispatched Eastern Campaigning General Ma Qiu with thirty thousand men to escort him home, warning Qiu, "Accepting a surrender is like facing an enemy—you must not take it lightly. He appointed Yang Yu, Left Assistant Director of the Masters of Writing and a former minister of Duan Liao, as Ma Qiu's Chief of Staff.
33
燕王皝自帥諸將軍迎遼，遼密與燕謀覆趙軍。 皝遣慕容恪伏精騎七千於密雲山，大敗麻秋於三藏口，死者什六七。 秋步走得免，陽裕為燕所執。
King Murong Huang of Yan led his generals in person to receive Duan Liao, who secretly conspired with Yan to destroy the Zhao force. Murong Huang sent Murong Ke with seven thousand elite cavalry in ambush on Mount Miyun and routed Ma Qiu at Sancang Pass, killing sixty or seventy percent of his men. Ma Qiu fled on foot. Yang Yu was taken by the Yan army.
34
趙將軍范陽鮮于亮失馬，步緣山不能進，因止，端坐； 燕兵環之，叱令起。 亮曰：「身是貴人，義不為小人所屈。 汝曹能殺亟殺，不能則去！」 亮儀觀豐偉，聲氣雄厲，燕兵憚之，不敢殺，以白皝。 皝以馬迎之，與語，大悅，用為左常侍，以崔毖之女妻之。
Xianyu Liang of Fanyang, a Zhao general, lost his horse, struggled up the mountain on foot until he could go no farther, and simply stopped and sat upright; Yan soldiers surrounded him and ordered him to stand. Liang said, "I am a man of standing. I will not bow to the likes of you. Kill me if you can. If not, be gone!" Liang's bearing was imposing and his voice thunderous. The Yan soldiers dared not kill him and reported the matter to Murong Huang. Murong Huang sent a horse for him, spoke with him, and was greatly impressed. He made him Left Regular Attendant and gave him Cui Bi's daughter in marriage.
35
皝盡得段遼之眾。 待遼以上賓之禮，以陽裕為郎中令。
Murong Huang took over Duan Liao's entire force. He treated Duan Liao as an honored guest of the highest rank and appointed Yang Yu Director of the Palace Secretariat.
36
趙王虎聞麻秋敗，怒，削其官爵。
When King Shi Hu of Zhao learned of Ma Qiu's defeat, he flew into a rage and stripped him of rank and title.
37
春，正月，辛丑，大赦。
In spring, the first month, on the day xinchou, a general amnesty was proclaimed.
38
三月，乙丑，廣州刺史鄧岳將兵擊漢寧州，漢建寧太守孟彥執其刺史霍彪以降。
In the third month, on the day yichou, Deng Yue, Governor of Guang Province, attacked Ning Province of Han. Meng Yan, Prefect of Jianning in Han, seized Inspector Huo Biao and surrendered.
39
征西將軍庾亮欲開復中原，表桓宣為都督沔北前鋒諸軍事、司州刺史，鎮襄陽； 又表其弟臨川太守懌為監梁、雍二州諸軍事、染州刺史，鎮魏興； 西陽太守翼為南蠻校尉，領南郡太守，鎮江陵； 皆假節。 又請解豫州，以授征虜將軍毛寶。 詔以寶監揚州之江西諸軍事、豫州刺史，與西陽太守樊峻帥精兵萬人戍邾城。 以建威將軍陶稱為南中郎將、江夏相，入沔中。 稱將二百人下見亮，亮素惡稱輕狡，數稱前後罪惡，收而斬之。 後以魏興險遠，命庾懌徙屯半洲； 更以武昌太守陳囂為梁州刺史，趣漢中。 遣參軍李松攻漢巴郡、江陽。 夏，四月，執漢荊州刺史李閎、巴郡太守黃植送建康。 漢主壽以李弈為鎮東將軍，代閎守巴郡。
Western Campaigning General Yu Liang sought to reopen the campaign to recover the Central Plains. He recommended Huan Xuan as Commander of the Forward Forces North of the Mian and Inspector of Si Province, to be stationed at Xiangyang; he also recommended his younger brother Yi, Administrator of Linchuan, as Supervisor of Military Affairs in Liang and Yong Provinces and Inspector of Liang Province, stationed at Weixing; Yi, Administrator of Xiyang, as Colonel of the Southern Barbarians and concurrent Administrator of Nan Commandery, stationed at Jiangling; Each appointment carried provisional military authority. He also asked to surrender his post in Yu Province to Eastern Campaigning General Mao Bao. The court appointed Mao Bao Supervisor of Military Affairs west of the Yangzi in Yang Province and Inspector of Yu Province, and ordered him and Fan Jun, Administrator of Xiyang, to garrison Zhucheng with ten thousand elite troops. Tao Cheng, Establishing Prestige General, was made General of the Southern Gentlemen and Chancellor of Jiangxia and marched into the Mian region. Tao Cheng came downriver with two hundred men to pay his respects to Yu Liang. Liang had long despised him for his frivolity and deceit; he listed Cheng's past crimes and had him seized and executed. Later, because Weixing was remote and hard to defend, Yu Yi was ordered to move his camp to Banzhou; Chen Xi, Administrator of Wuchang, was appointed Inspector of Liang Province in his place and sent to Hanzhong. He sent Staff Officer Li Song to attack Ba Commandery and Jiangyang in Han. In summer, the fourth month, Li Hong, Inspector of Jing Province in Han, and Huang Zhi, Prefect of Ba Commandery, were captured and sent to Jiankang. Shou of Han appointed Li Yi Eastern Garrison General to replace Hong and hold Ba Commandery.
40
庾亮上疏言：「蜀甚弱而胡尚強，欲帥大眾十萬移鎮石城，遣諸軍羅布江、沔為伐趙之規。」 帝下其議。 丞相導請許之。 大尉鑒議，以為：「資用未備，不可大舉。」
Yu Liang submitted a memorial: "Shu is weak and the barbarians still strong. I propose to move my headquarters to Stone City at the head of a hundred thousand men and deploy our forces along the Yangzi and Mian as the opening move against Zhao. The emperor referred the proposal to the court for deliberation. Chief Minister Wang Dao urged approval. Grand Commandant Xi Jian argued that "our supplies are not yet in place; we cannot launch a major campaign."5
41
太常蔡謨議，以為：「時有否泰，道有屈伸，苟不計強弱而輕動，則亡不終日，何功之有！ 為今之計，莫若養威以俟時。 時之可否系胡之強弱，胡之強弱系石虎之能否。 自石勒舉事，虎常為爪牙，百戰百勝，遂定中原，所據之地，同於魏世。 勒死之後，虎挾嗣君，誅將相； 內難既平，剪削外寇，一舉而拔金墉，再戰而擒石生，誅石聰如拾遺，取郭權如振槁，四境之內，不失尺土。 以是觀之，虎為能乎，將不能也？ 論者以胡前攻襄陽不能拔，謂之無能為。 夫百戰百勝之強而以不拔一城為劣，譬諸射擊百發百中而一失，可以謂之拙乎？
Minister of Ceremonies Cai Mo argued: "Fortune rises and falls; the Way advances and retreats. To move rashly without weighing strength against weakness is to invite ruin within a day. What victory could come of that? The wise course now is to build our strength and wait for the right moment. Whether the moment is ripe depends on how strong the barbarians are, and their strength depends on whether Shi Hu is truly capable. From the day Shi Le rose to power, Shi Hu was his right hand—victorious in a hundred battles, he secured the Central Plains and held territory equal to what Wei had once ruled. After Le's death Shi Hu seized control of the young emperor and purged generals and ministers; once internal threats were crushed he turned on external enemies—taking Jinyong in one stroke, capturing Shi Sheng in a second battle, executing Shi Cong as easily as picking up a dropped object, and seizing Guo Quan as easily as snapping a dry twig, all without losing an inch of territory. Judging by this record, is Shi Hu capable—or is he not? Some call him incapable because the barbarians once failed to capture Xiangyang. To call a commander who has won a hundred battles in a hundred inferior because he failed to take one city—is that like calling an archer a poor shot because he missed once after a hundred bullseyes?
42
「且石遇，偏師也，桓平北，邊將也，所爭者疆場之土，利則進，否則退，非所急也。 今征西以重鎮名賢，自將大軍欲席捲河南，虎必自帥一國之眾來決勝負，豈得以襄陽為比哉！ 今征西欲與之戰，何如石生？ 若欲城守，何如金墉？ 欲阻沔水，何如大江？ 欲拒石虎，何如蘇峻？ 凡此數者，宜詳校之。
Besides, Shi Yu commanded only a detached column, and Huan the Pacifier of the North was a frontier general. They fought over border territory—advancing when gain was possible, withdrawing when it was not. That was no decisive contest. Now Yu Liang, a celebrated commander holding a vital post, proposes to lead a great army and sweep through Henan. Shi Hu will surely march out with the full strength of his state to decide the issue—how can that be compared with the fight for Xiangyang? If Yu Liang means to fight in the open field, how does he measure against Shi Sheng? If he means to hold walled cities, how do his defenses compare with Jinyong? If he means to block the Mian, how does that barrier compare with the Yangzi? If he means to stand against Shi Hu, how does he compare with Su Jun? Each of these comparisons deserves careful reckoning.
43
「石生猛將，關中精兵，征西之戰殆不能勝也。 金墉險固，劉曜十萬眾不能拔，征西之守殆不能勝也。 又當是時，洛陽、關中皆舉兵擊虎，今此三鎮反為其用； 方之於前，倍半之勢也。 石生不能敵其半，而征西欲當其倍，愚所疑也。 蘇峻之強不及石虎，沔水之險不及大江； 大江不能御蘇峻，而欲以沔水御石虎，又所疑也。 昔祖士稚在譙，佃於城北界，胡來攻，豫置軍屯以御其外。 谷將熟，胡果至，丁夫戰於外，老弱獲於內，多持炬火，急則燒谷而走。 如此數年，竟不得其利。 當是時，胡唯據河北，方之於今，四分之一耳； 士稚不能捍其一，而征西欲以御其四，又所疑也。
Shi Sheng was a fierce commander with Guanzhong's finest troops; Yu Liang would probably not defeat him in battle. Jinyong was formidable; Liu Yao with a hundred thousand men could not take it—Yu Liang's defenses would probably fare no better. Moreover, in those days Luoyang and Guanzhong both rose against Shi Hu; now these three garrisons would fight for him instead; compared with then, his position is half again as strong. Shi Sheng could not withstand even half Shi Hu's strength, yet Yu Liang proposes to meet double that force—I have my doubts. Su Jun was not as strong as Shi Hu, and the Mian was not as formidable a barrier as the Yangzi; the Yangzi could not stop Su Jun, yet we would rely on the Mian to stop Shi Hu—I doubt that too. Long ago Zu Ti at Qiao farmed on the city's northern outskirts. When the barbarians attacked, he had camps stationed outside to meet them. When the grain was nearly ripe the barbarians came. Fighting men battled outside while the old and weak harvested within, many carrying torches ready to burn the crop and flee if pressed. For years he gained nothing by it. At that time the barbarians held only the territory north of the Yellow River—a quarter of what they hold today; Zu Ti could not hold back even a quarter of their strength, yet Yu Liang proposes to hold back the whole—I doubt that as well.
44
「然此但論征西既至之後耳，尚未論道路之慮也。 自沔以西，水急岸高，魚貫溯流，首尾百里。 若胡無宋襄之義，及我未陣而擊之，將若之何？ 今王土與胡，水陸異勢，便習不同； 胡若送死，則敵之有餘，若棄江遠進，以我所短擊彼所長，懼非廟勝之算也。」
And this addresses only what happens after Yu Liang arrives—it does not yet consider the hazards of the march itself. West of the Mian the current runs fast and the banks rise steep. An army must file upstream in single column, stretching head to tail for a hundred li. If the barbarians show no scruples like Duke Xiang of Song and attack before we can form ranks, what then? Our realm and the barbarians differ in their advantages on land and water and in what each is trained for; if they come ready to die fighting, the advantage is theirs; if we leave the river and march deep inland, pitting our weakness against their strength—I fear that is no strategy the court should approve."6
45
朝議多與謨同。 乃詔亮不聽移鎮。
Most at court sided with Cai Mo. The court then decreed that Yu Liang would not be allowed to relocate his headquarters.
46
燕前軍師慕容評、廣威將軍慕容軍、折衝將軍慕輿根、蕩寇將軍慕輿泥襲趙遼西，俘獲千餘家而去。 趙鎮遠將軍石成、積弩將軍呼延晃、建威將軍張支等追之，評等與戰，斬晃、支首。
Murong Ping, former Chief Strategist of Yan, together with Generals Murong Jun, Murong Gen, and Murong Ni, raided Liaoxi in Zhao, captured more than a thousand households, and withdrew. Shi Cheng, Distant Garrison General of Zhao, Huyan Huang, Strong Crossbow General, Zhang Zhi, Establishing Prestige General, and others gave chase. Murong Ping and his men fought them and beheaded Huang and Zhi.
47
段遼謀反於燕，燕人殺遼及其黨與數十人，送遼首於趙。
Duan Liao plotted rebellion against Yan. The Yan court killed him and several dozen of his followers and sent his head to Zhao.
48
五月，代王什翼犍會諸大人於參合陂，議都灅源川。 其母王氏曰：「吾自先世以來，以遷徙為業。 今國家多難，若城郭而居，一旦寇來，無所避之。」 乃止。
In the fifth month Prince Tuoba Shiyijian gathered the tribal elders at Canhe Marsh to discuss establishing the capital on the Shuiyuan River. His mother, Lady Wang, said, "Since the time of our ancestors we have lived by wandering from place to place. The realm is beset with troubles. If we build a walled city and settle in it, when raiders come we shall have nowhere to run. With that she persuaded him, and he abandoned the plan.
49
代人謂它國之民來附者皆為烏桓，什翼犍分之為二部，各置大人以監之。 弟孤監其北，子寔君監其南。
The Dai people applied the name Wuhuan to all subjects from other states who came over to them. Shiyijian split them into two divisions and appointed a tribal chief to supervise each. His younger brother Gu supervised the northern division, and his son Shijun the southern.
50
什翼犍求昏於燕，燕王皝以其妹妻之。
Shiyijian asked for a marriage alliance with Yan, and King Murong Huang gave him his younger sister in marriage.
51
秋，七月，趙王虎以太子宣為大單于，建天子旌旗。
In autumn, the seventh month, Zhao King Shi Hu appointed Crown Prince Xuan Grand Chanyu and set up the imperial banners and standards.
52
庚申，始興文獻公王導薨，喪葬之禮視漢博陸候及安平獻王故事，參用天子之禮。
On gengshen Wang Dao, Duke Wenxian of Shixing, died. His funeral followed the precedents set for Huo Guang, Marquis of Bolu, and Liu Fu, King Xian of Ping'an, with elements of an emperor's rites mixed in.
53
導簡素寡慾，善因事就功，雖無日用之益而歲計有餘。 輔相三世，倉無儲谷，衣不重帛。 初，導與庾亮共薦丹楊尹何充於帝，請以為己副，且曰：「臣死之日，願引充內侍，則社稷無虞矣。」 由是加吏部尚書。 及導薨，微庾亮為丞相、揚州刺史、錄尚書事； 亮固辭。 辛酉，以充為護軍將軍，亮弟會稽內史冰為中書監、揚州刺史，參錄尚書事。
Dao lived plainly and frugally, with few wants. He knew how to turn events to advantage, and though day-to-day gains were modest, the year's accounts always showed a surplus. After serving as chief minister through three reigns, his granary held no reserve grain and he never wore more than one layer of silk. Earlier Dao and Yu Liang had jointly recommended Dan Yang Intendant He Chong to the emperor and asked that he be made Dao's deputy, saying, "When I die, I hope Chong may be brought in to serve at court; then the altars of state will be secure. On that recommendation Chong was also appointed Minister of the Civil Service. After Dao's death the court summoned Yu Liang to serve as Chief Minister, Inspector of Yang Province, and Recorder of the Masters of Writing; Liang steadfastly refused. On xinyou He Chong was appointed General Who Protects the Army, and Liang's younger brother Bing, Interior Minister of Kuaiji, was made Supervisor of the Masters of Writing and Inspector of Yang Province, with a share in recording the Masters of Writing's affairs.
54
冰既當重任，經綸時務，不捨晝夜，賓禮朝賢，升擢後進，由是朝野翕然稱之，以為賢相。 初，王導輔政，每從寬恕； 冰頗任威刑，丹楊尹殷融諫之。 冰曰：「前相之賢，猶不堪其弘，況如吾者哉！」 范汪謂冰曰：「頃天文錯度，足下宜盡消御之道。」 冰曰：「玄象豈吾所測，正當勤盡人事耳。」 又隱實戶口，料出無名萬餘人，以充軍實。 冰好為糾察，近於繁細，後益矯違，復存寬縱，疏密自由，律令無用矣。
Once Bing assumed heavy responsibilities, he managed state affairs day and night without rest, treating court worthies with courtesy and advancing younger talent. Court and countryside alike praised him as a worthy chief minister. In earlier days, when Wang Dao governed, he always leaned toward clemency; Bing leaned instead on harsh punishments, and Dan Yang Intendant Yin Rong remonstrated with him. Bing said, "Even our former chief minister, for all his talent, could not sustain such broad leniency—how much less can someone like me! Fan Wang then told Bing, "The heavens have lately shown ominous signs. You should do everything you can to ward them off. Bing replied, "How can I read the heavens? All one can do is work diligently at human affairs. He also conducted a hidden census and uncovered more than ten thousand unregistered persons to bolster the army rolls. Bing loved to pry into affairs to the point of fussy detail. Later he swung to the opposite extreme and relapsed into laxity, tightening or loosening as he pleased until law and regulation ceased to matter.
55
八月，壬午，復改丞相為司徒。
In the eighth month, on renwu, the office of Chief Minister was again renamed Excellency over the Masses.
56
南昌文成公郗鑒疾篤，以府事付長史劉遐，上疏乞骸骨，且曰：「臣所統錯雜，率多北人，或逼遷徙，或是新附，百姓懷土，皆有歸本之心； 臣宣國恩，示以好惡，處與田宅，漸得少安。 聞臣疾篤，眾情駭動，若當北渡，必啟寇心。 太常臣謨，平簡貞正，素望所歸，謂可以為都督、徐州刺史。」 詔以蔡謨為太尉軍司，加侍中、辛酉，鑒薨，即以謨為征北將軍、都督徐、兗、青三州諸軍事、徐州刺史，假節。
Xi Jian, Duke Wencheng of Nanchang, fell gravely ill. He handed office affairs to Chief Clerk Liu Xia and submitted a memorial asking to retire, writing, "The people under my command are a tangled mix, mostly northerners—some forcibly moved south, some newly submitted. They cherish their native land and all long to return home; I have proclaimed the state's kindness, shown them reward and punishment, and given them homes and fields, and they have gradually found a measure of peace. If they hear that I am dying, the people will panic. Should they try to flee north, that will surely stir the enemy's appetite for invasion. Minister of Ceremonies Cai Mo is steady, plain, and upright, and enjoys the trust of all. I believe he can serve as area commander and Inspector of Xu Province. The emperor appointed Cai Mo army aide to the Grand Commandant and additionally Palace Attendant. On xinyou Xi Jian died, and Mo was at once made General Who Campaigns North, area commander over Xu, Yan, and Qing, Inspector of Xu Province, with full military authority.
57
時左衛將軍陳光請伐趙，詔遣光攻壽陽。 謨上疏曰：「壽陽城小而固。 自壽陽至琅邪，城壁相望，一城見攻，眾城必救。 又，王師在路五十餘日，前驅未至，聲息久聞，賊之郵驛，一日千里，河北之騎，足以來赴。 夫以白起、韓信、項籍之勇，猶發梁焚舟，背水而陣。 今欲停船水渚，引兵造城，前對堅敵，顧臨歸路，此兵法之所誡。 若進攻未拔，胡騎猝至，懼桓子不知所為而舟中之指可掬也。 今光所將皆殿中精兵，宜令所向有征無戰。 而頓之堅城之下，以國之爪士擊寇之下邑，得之則利薄而不足損敵，失之則害重而足以益寇，懼非策之長者也。」 乃止。
At that time Left Guard General Chen Guang asked to campaign against Zhao, and the court ordered him to attack Shouyang. Cai Mo submitted a memorial: "Shouyang is small but strongly fortified. From Shouyang to Langye the fortresses stand in sight of one another; attack one and the rest will rush to its relief. Our army has already been on the march for more than fifty days. The vanguard has not yet arrived, yet the enemy has long since heard of us. Their couriers can cover a thousand li in a day, and the cavalry north of the Yellow River can reach Shouyang in time. Even commanders as bold as Bai Qi, Han Xin, and Xiang Yu burned their boats and fought with their backs to the water. To anchor our ships and march on the city with a strong enemy ahead and our retreat behind us is exactly what the military classics forbid. If the assault fails and barbarian horsemen arrive suddenly, I fear panic will spread through the ranks—as when, in the old story, the men on the boat clawed one another in terror. The men Chen Guang commands are the palace guard's finest; they should be used where they can conquer without a fight. To keep them stalled before a strong wall, sending the empire's best soldiers against an enemy outpost, would yield little if we win and cost dearly if we lose—strengthening the foe rather than weakening him. I do not think this is sound strategy. The court accepted his advice and called off the attack.
58
初，陶侃在武昌，議者以江北有邾城，宜分兵戍之。 侃每不答，而言者不巳。 侃乃渡水獵，引將佐語之曰：「我所以設險而禦寇者，正以長江耳。 邾城隔在江北，內無所倚，外接群夷。 夷中利深，晉人貪利，夷不堪命，必引虜入寇。 此乃致禍之由，非禦寇也。 且吳時戍此城，用三萬兵，今縱有兵守之，亦無益於江南； 若羯虜有可乘之會，此又非所資也。」
When Tao Kan held Wuchang, some argued that Zhu City on the north bank ought to be garrisoned with a separate force. Kan each time said nothing, but the advocates would not let the matter drop. Kan then crossed the river on a hunting trip and, gathering his officers, told them, "I rely on the Yangzi alone to keep invaders out. Zhu City lies north of the river with no support behind it and open contact with the tribal peoples beyond. There is rich profit to be had among the tribes. Jin men will greedily exploit them until the tribes can bear no more and invite the barbarians in to raid. That would invite disaster, not repel invasion. When Wu held the city it took thirty thousand men to garrison it. Even if we posted troops there now, they would do the south no good; and if the Jie barbarians saw a chance to strike, the garrison would be no help at all."7
59
及庾亮鎮武昌，卒使毛寶、樊峻戍邾城。 趙王虎惡之，以夔安為大都督，帥石鑒、石閔、李農、張貉、李菟等五將軍、兵五萬人寇荊、揚北鄙，二萬騎攻邾城。 毛寶求救於庾亮，亮以城固，不時遣兵。
When Yu Liang took command at Wuchang, he sent Mao Bao and Fan Jun to garrison Zhu City after all. Zhao King Shi Hu resented the garrison. He appointed Kui An Grand Commander-in-Chief and sent him with five generals—Shi Jian, Shi Min, Li Nong, Zhang He, and Li Tu—and fifty thousand men to raid the northern marches of Jing and Yang, while twenty thousand cavalry struck Zhu City. Mao Bao begged Yu Liang for relief, but Liang, believing the city could hold, delayed sending help.
60
九月，石閔敗晉兵於沔陰，殺將軍蔡懷； 夔安、李農陷沔南； 朱保敗晉兵於白石，殺鄭豹等五將軍； 張貉陷邾城，死者六千人，毛寶、樊峻突圍出走，赴江溺死。 夔安進據胡亭，寇江夏； 義陽將軍黃沖、義陽太守鄭進皆降於趙。 安進圍石城，竟陵太守李陽拒戰，破之，斬首五千餘級，安乃退。 遂掠漢東，擁七千餘戶遷於幽、冀。
In the ninth month Shi Min routed Jin forces at Mianyin and killed General Cai Huai; Kui An and Li Nong captured the south bank of the Mian; At Baishi Zhu Bao routed the Jin army and slew five generals, among them Zheng Bao; Zhang He captured Zhu City at a cost of six thousand lives. Mao Bao and Fan Jun broke out, fled to the river, and drowned. Kui An pushed forward, seized Hu Pavilion, and raided Jiangxia; Huang Chong, General of Righteousness, and Zheng Jin, Prefect of Righteousness, both went over to Zhao. Kui An went on to besiege Shicheng, but Jingling Prefect Li Yang fought him off, killed more than five thousand of his men, and forced him to retreat. The Zhao army then ravaged the Han River region and relocated more than seven thousand households to You and Ji.
61
是時，庾亮猶上疏欲遷鎮石城，聞邾城陷。 乃止。 上表陳謝，自貶三等，行安西將軍； 有詔復位。 以輔國將軍庾懌為豫州刺史，監宣城、廬江、歷陽、安豐四郡諸軍事，假節，鎮蕪湖。
Yu Liang was still petitioning to move his headquarters to Stone City when he learned that Zhu City had fallen. He abandoned the plan. He submitted a memorial of apology, stripped himself of three ranks, and served temporarily as General Who Pacifies the West; the court issued an edict restoring his former rank. Assistant General Yu Yi was appointed Inspector of Yu Province, with authority over Xuancheng, Lujiang, Liyang, and Anfeng, and was posted at Wuhu with full military credentials.
62
趙王虎患貴戚豪恣，乃擢殿中御史李巨為御史中丞，特加親任，中外肅然。 虎曰：「朕聞良臣如猛虎，高步曠野而豺狼避路，信哉！」
Zhao King Shi Hu worried about the arrogance of the imperial clan and great families. He promoted Palace Censor Li Ju to Censor-in-Chief and gave him unusual personal trust, and the whole court, inside and out, fell into awe. Shi Hu said, "They say a worthy minister is like a fierce tiger walking the open wild while jackals and wolves slink from the path. How true that is!"8
63
虎以撫軍將軍李農為使持節、監遼西、北平諸軍事、征東將軍、營州牧，鎮令支。 農帥眾三萬與征北大將軍張舉攻燕凡城。 燕王皝以榼盧城大悅綰為御難將軍，授兵一千，使守凡城。 及趙兵至，將吏皆恐，欲棄城走。 綰曰：「受命禦寇，死生以之。 且憑城堅守，一可敵百，有敢妄言惑眾者斬！」 眾然後定。 綰身先士卒，親冒矢石； 舉等攻之經旬，不能克，乃退。 虎以遼西迫近燕境，數遭攻襲，乃悉徙其民於冀州之南。
Shi Hu appointed General of the Pacifying Army Li Nong full commissioner, overseer of military affairs in Liaoxi and Beiping, General Who Campaigns East, and Regional Governor of Ying Province, with his headquarters at Lingzhi. Li Nong led thirty thousand men together with Grand General Who Campaigns North Zhang Ju to attack Fan City in Yan. Yan King Murong Huang appointed Dayue Guan of Kelu City General Who Meets Hardship, gave him a thousand men, and ordered him to hold Fan City. When the Zhao army arrived, the officers all feared for their lives and wanted to abandon the city and flee. Guan said, "We were ordered to hold against the enemy. Our lives are bound to this duty. Behind these walls one man can hold off a hundred. Anyone who spreads panic will be beheaded! Only then did the troops steady themselves. Guan himself took the lead, exposing himself to arrows and stones; Zhang Ju and his forces besieged the city for more than ten days without success and then withdrew. Because Liaoxi lay on Yan's border and suffered repeated raids, Shi Hu moved its entire population south of Ji Province.
64
漢主壽疾病，羅恆、解思明復議奉晉； 壽不從。 李演復上書言之； 壽怒，殺演。
Han ruler Shou fell ill, and Luo Heng and Jie Siming again urged submitting to Jin; Shou refused. Li Yan again memorialized the throne on the same point; Shou had him executed in a rage.
65
壽常慕漢武、魏明之為人，恥聞父兄時事，上書者不得言先世政教，自以為勝之也。 舍人杜襲作詩十篇，託言應璩以諷諫。 壽報曰：「省詩知意。 若今人所作，乃賢哲之話言； 若古人所作，則死鬼之常辭耳。」
Shou admired the example of Emperor Wu of Han and Emperor Ming of Wei and was ashamed to hear talk of his father's and elder brother's reigns. Memorialists were forbidden to mention the policies of earlier rulers; he believed himself their superior. Gentleman-in-Attendance Du Xi wrote ten poems in the voice of Ying Qu to offer veiled remonstrance. Shou replied, "I have read the poems and understand your meaning. If a living man wrote them, they would be the words of sages; if they came from the ancients, they would be nothing but the stale phrases of dead men."9
66
燕王皝自以稱王未受晉命，冬，遣長史劉翔、參軍鞠運來獻捷論功，且言權假之間，並請刻期大舉，共平中原。 皝擊高句麗，兵及新城，高句麗王釗乞盟，乃還。 又使其子恪、霸擊宇文別部。 霸年十三，勇冠三軍。
Murong Huang of Yan, having proclaimed himself king without Jin's sanction, sent Chief Clerk Liu Xiang and Aide Ju Yun in winter to report victories and claim merit, explain his provisional rule, and ask for a fixed date to join Jin in reconquering the Central Plains. Murong Huang attacked Goguryeo and advanced as far as Xincheng. The Goguryeo king Ju sued for peace, and Huang withdrew. He also sent his sons Ke and Ba against a Yuwen splinter tribe. Ba was only thirteen, yet in bravery he outshone the entire army.
67
張駿立辟雍、明堂以行禮。 十一月，以世子重華行涼州事。
Zhang Jun built the Imperial Academy and Bright Hall and performed the ceremonial rites there. In the eleventh month Heir Apparent Chonghua was placed in charge of Liang Province.
68
十二月，丁丑，趙太保桃豹卒。
In the twelfth month, on dingchou, Grand Mentor Tao Bao of Zhao died.
69
丙戌，以驃騎將軍琅邪王岳為侍中、司徒。
On bingxu Prince Yue of Langye was appointed Palace Attendant and Excellency over the Masses.
70
漢李弈寇巴東，守將勞楊敗死。
Li Yi of Han raided Badong; the defending commander Lao Yang was defeated and killed.
71
春，正月，庚子朔，都亭文康侯庾亮薨。 以護軍將軍、錄尚書何充為中書令。 庾戌，以南郡太守庾翼為都督江、荊、司、雍、梁、益六州諸軍事、安西將軍、荊州刺史，假節，代亮鎮武昌。 時人疑翼年少，不能繼其兄。 翼悉心為治，戎政嚴明，數年之間，公私充實，人皆稱其才。
In spring, the first month, on gengzi—the New Year's day—Yu Liang, Marquis Wen Kang of Duting, died. He Chong, General Who Protects the Army and Recorder of the Masters of Writing, was appointed Director of the Masters of Writing. On gengxu Yu Yi, Prefect of Nan Commandery, was made area commander over Jiang, Jing, Si, Yong, Liang, and Yi, General Who Pacifies the West, and Inspector of Jing Province, with full authority, succeeding Liang at Wuchang. Many wondered whether the younger Yi, still young, could fill his brother's place. Yi threw himself into governing the province. Military and civil administration grew strict and efficient, and within a few years both the treasury and the people prospered. All agreed he had real ability.
72
辛亥，以左光祿大夫陸玩為侍中、司空。 宇文逸豆歸忌慕容翰才名。 翰乃陽狂酣飲，或臥自便利，或被發歌呼，拜跪乞食。 宇文舉國賤之，不復省錄，以故得行來自遂，山川形便，皆默記之。 燕王皝以翰初非叛亂，以猜嫌出奔，雖在它國，常潛為燕計； 乃遣商人王車通市於宇文部以窺翰。 翰見車，無言，撫膺頷之而已。 皝曰：「翰欲來也。」 復使車迎之。 翰彎弓三石餘，矢尤長大，皝為之造可手弓矢，使畫埋於道旁而密告之。 二月，翰竊逸豆歸名馬，攜其二子過取弓矢，逃歸。 逸豆歸使驍騎百餘追之。 翰曰：「吾久客思歸，既得上馬，無復還理。 吾向日陽愚以誑汝，吾之故藝猶在，無為相逼，自取死了！」 追騎輕之，直突而前。 翰曰：「吾居汝國久恨恨，不欲殺汝； 汝去我百步立汝刀，吾射之，一發中者汝可還，不中者可來前。」 追騎解刀立之，一發，正中其環，追騎散走。 皝聞翰至，大喜，恩遇甚厚。
On xinhai, Lu Wan, Left Grand Master of Splendor, was appointed Palace Attendant and Minister of Works. Yuwen Yidougui grew jealous of Murong Han's ability and reputation. Han pretended to be mad. He drank without restraint, lay down to relieve himself in public, let his hair hang loose while singing and shouting, and bowed and begged for food. The Yuwen looked down on him and stopped keeping track of him. He was free to travel as he pleased and quietly memorized every defile, pass, and river crossing. Murong Huang of Yan knew Han had never truly rebelled but had fled under suspicion. Even in exile he still worked secretly for Yan; so he sent the merchant Wang Che to trade in Yuwen territory and find out how Han was faring. When Han saw Che, he said nothing, only clutched his chest and nodded. Huang said, "Han wants to return. He sent Che again to bring him home. Han could draw a bow of more than three dan, and his arrows were unusually long. Huang had a bow and arrows made to a manageable weight, buried them beside the road, and secretly told him where they were. In the second month Han stole Yidougui's best horses, took his two sons along, picked up the buried bow and arrows on the way, and fled back to Yan. Yidougui sent more than a hundred picked horsemen after him. Han called out, "I have longed to go home for years. Now that I am mounted, I will not turn back. I played the fool before to deceive you, but my old skills are still with me. Do not press me and throw your lives away! The pursuers took him lightly and charged straight at him. Han said, "I have lived in your land for years with old grievances, yet I do not wish to kill you; go a hundred paces off and stand your blade upright. I will shoot once. If I hit it, turn back. If I miss, you may come on. The pursuers drew their blades and planted them upright. With one shot Han struck the ring on the hilt squarely, and they broke and fled. When Huang learned Han had arrived, he was overjoyed and treated him with extraordinary favor.
73
庚辰，有星孛於太微。
On gengchen, a broom star appeared in the Supreme Palace constellation.
74
三月，丁卯，大赦。
In the third month, on dingmao, there was a general amnesty.
75
漢人攻拔丹川，守將孟彥、劉齊、李秋皆死。
Han forces took Danchuan by storm. The defending generals Meng Yan, Liu Qi, and Li Qiu were all killed.
76
代王什翼犍始都雲中之盛樂宮。
Tuoba Shiyijian, Prince of Dai, first made Shengle Palace in Yunzhong his capital.
77
趙王虎遺漢主壽書，欲與之連兵入寇，約中分江南。 壽大喜，遣散騎常侍王嘏、中常侍王廣使於趙； 龔壯諫，不聽。 壽大修船艦，繕兵聚糧。 秋，九月，以尚書令馬當為六軍都督，徵集士卒七萬餘人為舟師，大閱於成都，鼓噪盈江； 壽登城觀之，有吞噬江南之志。 解思明諫曰：「我國小兵弱，吳、會險遠，圖之未易。」 壽乃命群臣大議利害。 龔壯曰：「陛下與胡通，孰若與晉通？ 胡，豺狼也，既滅晉，不得不北面事之； 若與之爭天下，則強弱不敵，危亡之勢也，虞、虢之事，已然之戒，願陛下熟慮之。」 群臣皆以壯言為然，叩頭泣諫，壽乃止。 士卒咸稱萬歲。
King Shi Hu of Zhao wrote to Li Shou of Han proposing a joint invasion and an even split of Jiangnan. Shou was delighted and sent Regular Attendant of the Dispersal Cavalry Wang Gu and Palace Attendant Wang Guang as envoys to Zhao; Gong Zhuang remonstrated, but Shou would not listen. Shou greatly expanded his fleet, drilled troops, and stockpiled grain. In autumn, the ninth month, Ma Dang, Director of the Masters of Writing, was made commander of the Six Armies. More than seventy thousand men were assembled as a river force and reviewed at Chengdu, drums and war cries filling the river; Shou climbed the city wall to watch and nursed the ambition of swallowing Jiangnan whole. Xie Siming remonstrated, "Our state is small and our army weak. Wu and Kuaiji are rugged and far away. They will not be easy to take. Shou then ordered the court to debate the matter at length. Gong Zhuang said, "Your Majesty, is it better to deal with the barbarians or with Jin? They are wolves. Once Jin is gone, you will have no choice but to bow north and serve them; and if you then try to contend with them for the realm, you will be outmatched—a path to ruin. The tale of Yu and Guo is a warning already written. I beg Your Majesty to weigh this carefully. The ministers all agreed with Gong Zhuang, kowtowing and weeping in remonstrance, and Shou abandoned the plan. The soldiers all shouted "Long live the Emperor!"
78
龔壯以為人之行莫大於忠孝； 既報父、叔之仇，又欲使壽事晉，壽不從。 乃詐稱耳聾，手不制物，辭歸，以文籍自娛，終身不復至成都。
Gong Zhuang held that nothing in human conduct surpassed loyalty and filial piety; and having avenged his father and uncles, he now wanted Shou to submit to Jin. Shou refused. He then pretended to be deaf and unable to control his hands, asked leave to go home, amused himself with books, and never set foot in Chengdu again.
79
趙尚書令夔安卒。
Kui An, Director of the Masters of Writing in Zhao, died.
80
趙王虎命司、冀、青、徐、幽、并、雍七州之民五丁取三，四丁取二，合鄴城舊兵，滿五十萬，具船萬艘，自河通海，運谷千一百萬斛於樂安城。 徙遼西、北平、漁陽萬餘戶於兗、豫、雍、洛四川之地。 自幽州以東至白狼，大興屯田。 悉括取民馬，有敢私匿者腰斬，凡得四萬餘匹。 大閱於宛陽，欲以擊燕。
King Shi Hu of Zhao conscripted men from the seven provinces of Si, Ji, Qing, Xu, You, Bing, and Yong—three from every five households, two from every four—until, together with the old troops at Ye, he had five hundred thousand men. He prepared ten thousand ships and moved eleven million hu of grain by river and sea to Le'an. More than ten thousand households from Liaoxi, Beiping, and Yuyang were moved to Yan, Yu, Yong, and Luo. From You Province east to Bailang he greatly expanded military farming colonies. Every horse among the people was seized; anyone who hid one was cut in two at the waist. In all he obtained more than forty thousand mounts. He held a grand review at Wanyang, intending to strike Yan.
81
燕王皝謂諸將曰：「石虎自以樂安城防守重複，薊城南北必不設備，今若詭路出其不意，可盡破也。」 冬，十月，皝帥諸軍入自蠮螉塞襲趙，戍將當道者皆禽之，直抵薊城。 趙幽州刺史石光擁兵數萬，閉城不敢出。 燕兵進破武遂津，入高陽，所至焚燒積聚，略三萬餘家而去。 石光坐懦弱征還。
Murong Huang of Yan told his generals, "Shi Hu trusts the layered defenses at Le'an and will surely leave Ji unguarded to north and south. If we take a hidden route and strike where he does not expect us, we can destroy him completely. In winter, the tenth month, Huang led his armies in through Mantis Pass to raid Zhao. Every garrison commander in their path was captured, and they went straight to Ji. Shi Guang, Zhao's Inspector of You, had tens of thousands of men but shut the gates and dared not come out. The Yan army broke through Wusui Ford, entered Gaoyang, burned stores wherever they went, carried off more than thirty thousand households, and withdrew. Shi Guang was recalled to court for cowardice.
82
趙王虎以秦公韜為太尉，與太子宣迭日省可尚書奏事，專決賞刑，不復啟白。 司徒申鐘諫曰：「賞刑者，人君之大柄，不可以假人。 所以防微杜漸，消逆亂於未然也。 太子職在視膳，不當豫政； 庶人邃以豫政致敗，覆車未遠也。 且二政分權，鮮不階禍。 愛之不以道，適所以害之也。」 虎不聽。
King Shi Hu of Zhao made Duke of Qin Shi Tao Grand Commander and, on alternating days with Crown Prince Xuan, reviewed memorials to the Masters of Writing and decided rewards and punishments on their own, without reporting to Hu. Excellency over the Masses Shen Zhong remonstrated, "Rewards and punishments are the sovereign's greatest powers. They must not be handed to others. They exist to check small wrongs before they grow and to crush rebellion before it starts. A crown prince's duty is to attend his father's meals, not to meddle in government; the commoner Sui was ruined because he took part in government—the overturned cart is still before our eyes. And when two powers share authority, few escape disaster. To love a son without proper restraint is precisely how one destroys him. Hu would not listen.
83
中謁者令申扁以慧悟辯給有寵於虎，宣亦暱之，使典機密。 虎既不省事，而宣、韜皆好酣飲、畋獵； 由是除拜、生殺皆決於扁，自九卿已下率皆望塵而拜。
Palace Secretary Shen Bian won Hu's favor through quick wit and fluent speech. Xuan also grew close to him and put him in charge of confidential affairs. Hu no longer attended to business himself, and both Xuan and Tao loved heavy drinking and hunting; so appointments, promotions, and executions all fell to Bian. From the Nine Ministers down, men bowed at the mere sight of his dust.
84
太子詹事孫珍病目，求方於侍中崔約，約戲之曰：「溺中則愈」。 珍曰：「目何可溺？」 約曰：「卿目睕睕，正耐溺中。」 珍恨之，以白宣。 宣于兄弟中最胡狀，目深，聞之怒，誅約父子。 於是公卿以下畏珍側目。
Sun Zhen, Supervisor of the Heir Apparent's Household, had an eye ailment and asked Palace Attendant Cui Yue for a remedy. Yue joked, "Drown them in urine and they'll heal." Zhen said, "How can eyes be drowned? Yue said, "Your eyes are so round and bright—they can perfectly stand being drowned in urine. Zhen took offense and told Xuan. Among the brothers Xuan looked most like a Hu tribesman, with deep-set eyes. Enraged at the insult, he executed Cui Yue and his son. From that point on, everyone from the highest ministers down feared Zhen and watched him with sidelong glances.
85
燕公斌督邊州，亦好畋獵，常懸管而入。 征北將軍張賀度每裁諫之，斌怒，辱賀度。 虎聞之，使主書禮儀持節監之。 斌殺儀，又欲殺賀度，賀度嚴衛馳白之。 虎遣尚書張離帥騎追斌，鞭之三百，免官歸第，誅其親信十餘人。
Duke of Yan Bin supervised the frontier provinces and also loved the chase, often entering the hunt with pipes suspended from him. Pacification-of-the-North General Zhang Hedou often checked and remonstrated with him. Bin grew angry and humiliated Hedou. When Hu heard of it, he sent Director of Documentation Li Yi with credential staff to keep watch over him. Bin killed Yi and then tried to kill Hedou as well. Hedou tightened his guard and rode posthaste to report it. Hu sent Master of Writing Zhang Li with cavalry after Bin, had him flogged three hundred strokes, stripped him of office and sent him home, and executed more than ten of his intimates.
86
張駿遣別駕馬詵入貢於趙，表辭蹇傲； 趙王虎怒，欲斬詵。 侍中石璞諫曰：「今國家所當先除者，遺晉也。 河西僻陋，不足為意。 今斬馬詵，必征張竣，則兵力分而為二，建康復延數年之命矣。」 乃止。 璞，苞之曾孫也。
Zhang Jun sent Assistant Administrator Ma Shen to Zhao with tribute, but the memorial he bore was haughty and insolent; King Shi Hu of Zhao was furious and wanted Shen executed. Palace Attendant Shi Pu remonstrated, "What the state must destroy first is the remnant of Jin. Hexi is remote and insignificant—not worth troubling over. If you kill Ma Shen now, you will have to march against Zhang Jun. Our strength will be split in two, and Jiankang will gain years of life. Hu abandoned the idea. Shi Pu was the great-grandson of Shi Bao.
87
初，漢將李閎為晉所獲，逃奔於趙，漢主壽致書於趙王虎以請之，署曰「趙王石君」。 虎不悅，付外議之。 中書監王波曰：「今李閎以死自誓曰：『苟得歸骨於蜀，當糾帥宗族，混同王化。』 若其信也，則不煩一旅，坐定梁、益； 若有前卻，不過失一亡命之人，於趙何損！ 李壽既僭大號，今以制詔與之，彼必酬返，不若復為書與之。」 會挹婁國獻楛矢石砮於趙，波因請以遺漢，曰：「使其知我能服遠方也。」 虎從之，遣李閎歸，厚為之禮。 閎至成都，壽下詔曰：「羯使來庭，貢其楛矢。」 虎聞之，怒，黜王波，以白衣領職。
Earlier, the Han general Li Hong had been captured by Jin and fled to Zhao. Li Shou of Han wrote to King Shi Hu of Zhao asking for his return, signing the letter "Lord Stone of Zhao." Hu was displeased and referred the matter to the outer court for deliberation. Director of the Palace Secretariat Wang Bo said, "Li Hong has sworn on his life that if he can return his bones to Shu, he will rally his clan and bring them under the king's civilizing rule. If he means it, Liang and Yi can be settled without sending a single brigade; and if he falters, Zhao loses only one fugitive. What harm is there in that? Li Shou has already usurped an imperial title. If we send him an imperial edict now, he will answer in kind. Better to write him another letter instead. Just then Yilou sent oak arrows and stone arrowheads to Zhao. Bo asked that they be forwarded to Han, saying, "Let them see that we can bring distant lands to heel. Hu agreed, sent Li Hong home, and treated him with great courtesy. When Hong reached Chengdu, Shou issued an edict: "The Jie envoy came to court and presented oak arrows in tribute. When Hu heard of it, he was furious. He demoted Wang Bo and made him serve in office without rank.
88
春，正月，燕王皝使唐國內史陽裕等築城於柳城之北、龍山之西，立宗廟、宮闕，命曰龍城。
In spring, the first month, Murong Huang of Yan sent Yang Yu, Interior Secretary of Tang Commandery, and others to build a city north of Liucheng and west of Long Mountain. They erected ancestral temples and palace halls and named the place Longcheng.
89
二月，甲子朔，日有食之。
In the second month, on jiazi, the first day of the month, there was a solar eclipse.
90
劉翔至建康，帝引見，問慕容鎮軍平安。 對曰：「臣受遣之日，朝服拜章。」
When Liu Xiang reached Jiankang, the emperor received him in audience and asked after the health of Murong, the area commander. He answered, "On the day I was dispatched, I wore court dress and presented my memorial."10
91
翔為燕王皝求大將軍、燕五章璽。 朝議以為； 「故事：大將軍不處邊； 自漢、魏以來，不封異姓為王。 所求不可許。」 翔曰：「自劉、石構亂，長江以北，剪為戎藪，未聞中華公卿之冑有一人能攘臂揮戈、摧破凶逆者也。 獨慕容鎮軍父子竭力，心存本朝，以寡擊眾，屢殄強敵，使石虎畏懼，悉徙邊陲之民散居三魏，蹙國千里，以薊城為北境。 功烈如此，而惜海北之地不以為封邑，何哉！ 昔漢高祖不愛王爵於韓、彭，故能成其帝業； 項羽刓印不忍授，卒用危亡。 吾之至心，非敬欲尊其所事，竊惜聖朝疏忠義之國，使四海無所勸慕耳。」
Xiang asked on Murong Huang's behalf for the title Grand General and the five seals of Yan. Court deliberation held that; "By precedent, the Grand General does not hold a frontier command; and since Han and Wei no one outside the imperial surname has been enfeoffed as king. These requests cannot be granted. Xiang replied, "Since Liu Yuan and Shi Le plunged the realm into chaos, everything north of the Yangtze has become barbarian territory. Not one descendant of the Chinese nobility has been heard to roll up his sleeves, take up arms, and break the power of these ruthless rebels. Only Murong, the area commander, and his sons exerted themselves loyally on the court's behalf. Again and again they routed superior enemy forces with inferior numbers, until Shi Hu was frightened into moving all the frontier population into the Three Wei commanderies, shrinking his domain by a thousand li and making Ji his northern boundary. With achievements like these, why grudge them the lands north of the sea as a fief? Long ago Emperor Gaozu of Han did not withhold kingship from Han Xin and Peng Yue, and so he was able to win the empire; Xiang Yu filed down the seal and could not bring himself to confer it, and in the end was destroyed. I speak from the heart—not to honor Murong for his own sake, but because I fear the court is slighting a loyal ally, leaving the empire with no model to follow."11
92
尚書諸葛恢，翔之姊夫也，獨主異議，以為：「夷狄相攻，中國之利。 惟器與名，不可輕許。」 乃謂翔曰：「借使慕容鎮軍能除石虎，乃是復得一石虎也，朝廷何賴焉！」 翔曰：「嫠婦猶知恤宗周之隕。 今晉室阽危，君位侔元、豈，曾無憂國之心邪？ 向使靡、鬲之功不立，則少康何以祀夏！ 桓、文之戰不捷，則同人皆為左衣任矣。 慕容鎮軍枕戈待旦，志殄凶逆，而君更唱邪惑之言，忌間忠臣。 四海所以未壹，良由君輩耳！」 翔留建康歲餘，眾議終不決。
Zhuge Hui, Director of the Masters of Writing and Xiang's brother-in-law, was alone in dissenting. He argued, "When barbarians fight among themselves, China profits. Rank and title must not be granted lightly." He then told Xiang, "Even if Murong could destroy Shi Hu, you would simply get another Shi Hu. What good would that do the court?" Xiang said, "Even a widow knows to grieve for the fall of the Zhou house. The Jin house now teeters on the brink, yet you hold rank to match Du Yu and Pei Kai—do you have no care for the realm? Had Mi and Ge not done their work, how could Shaokang have restored the Xia! Had Duke Huan and Duke Wen failed in their campaigns, all within the realm would wear barbarian dress with the left lapel folded. Murong sleeps with a spear at his pillow, ready at dawn to destroy these rebels—yet you spread perverse counsel and drive wedges between loyal ministers. It is men like you who are keeping the empire from reunification!" Xiang stayed at Jiankang for more than a year, but the court never reached a decision.
93
翔乃說中常侍彧弘曰：「石虎苞八州之地，帶甲百萬，志吞江、漢，自索頭、宇文暨諸小國，無不臣服； 惟慕容鎮軍翼戴天子，精貫白日，而更不獲禮之命，竊恐天下移心解體，無復南向者矣。 公孫淵無尺寸之益於吳，吳主封為燕王，加以九錫。 今慕容鎮軍屢摧賊鋒，威振秦、隴，虎比遣重使，甘言厚幣，欲授以曜威大將軍、遼西王； 慕容鎮軍惡其非正，卻而不受。 今朝廷乃矜惜虛名，沮抑忠順，豈社稷之長計乎！ 後雖悔之，恐無及己。」 弘為之入言於帝，帝意亦欲許之。 會皝上表稱：「庾氏兄弟擅權召亂，宜加斥退，以安社稷。」 又與庾冰書，責其當國秉權，不能為國雪恥。 冰甚懼，以其絕遠，非所能制，乃與何充奏從其請。 乙卯，以慕容皝為使持節、大將軍、都督河北諸軍事、幽州牧、大單于、燕王，備物、典策，皆從殊禮。 又以其世子俊為假節、安北將軍、東夷校尉、左賢王； 賜軍資器械以千萬計。 又封諸功臣百餘人。 以劉翔為代郡太守，封臨泉鄉侯，加員外散騎常侍； 翔固辭不受。
Xiang then appealed to Palace Attendant Yu Hong: "Shi Hu holds eight provinces and commands a million armored men. He aims to swallow the Yangtze and Han basins. From the Tuoba and Yuwen down to every petty state, all submit to him; Only Murong supports the Son of Heaven with loyalty bright as the sun—yet the court still withholds its honors. I fear the realm will lose heart and fall apart, and none will look south toward Jin again. Gongsun Yuan did not advance Wu's interests in the least, yet the Wu emperor made him King of Yan and bestowed the Nine Honors. Murong has repeatedly broken the enemy's spearhead until his fame shakes Qin and Long. Shi Hu has just sent high envoys with sweet words and rich gifts, offering him Grand General of Dazzling Might and the kingship of Liaoxi; Murong rejected the offer as illegitimate and would not accept. Yet the court grudges empty titles and thwarts a loyal ally—is that a policy fit for the state? Regret afterward may come too late." Hong conveyed this to the emperor, who also inclined to grant the request. Just then Murong Huang submitted a memorial: "The Yu brothers have seized power and brought ruin upon the realm. They ought to be removed so the state may be secured." He also wrote to Yu Bing, rebuking him for holding the reins of government yet failing to avenge the nation's humiliation. Bing was terrified. Murong was too far away to control, so he and He Chong memorialized that the court should accede to the request. On yimao, Murong Huang was made Bearer of the Staff, Grand General, commander of all Hebei forces, Governor of You, Grand Chanyu, and King of Yan, with full ceremonial honors accorded by special rite. His heir Jun was also appointed provisional staff bearer, Pacifier of the North, Commandant of the Eastern Yi, and Left Worthy King; Military supplies and weapons were granted by the tens of millions. More than a hundred other meritorious men were also enfeoffed. Liu Xiang was made Administrator of Dai Commandery, enfeoffed as Marquis of Linquan Township, and given the added title Supernumerary Regular Attendant Within the Yellow Gates; Xiang firmly declined them all.
94
翔疾江南士大夫以驕奢酣縱相尚，嘗因朝貴宴集，謂何充等曰：「四海板蕩，奄逾三紀，宗社為墟，黎民塗炭，斯乃廟堂焦慮之時，忠臣畢命之秋也。 而諸君宴安江沱，肆情縱欲，以奢靡為榮，以傲誕為賢； 謇諤之言不聞，征伐之功不立，將何以尊主濟民乎！」 充等甚慚。
Xiang detested the indulgent luxury of Jiangnan's gentry. At a banquet of court grandees he told He Chong and the others, "The realm has been in turmoil for three full generations. The altars lie in ruins and the people in ashes. This is the hour for the throne to burn with worry and for loyal ministers to give their lives. Yet you feast in comfort on the Yangtze, indulge every appetite, take extravagance for distinction, and call insolent excess virtue; Straight counsel goes unheeded and no conquests are won—how then will you serve your sovereign and save the people?" Chong and the others were deeply shamed.
95
詔遣兼大鴻臚郭烯持節詣棘城冊命燕王，與翔等偕北。 公卿餞於江上，翔謂諸公曰：「昔少康資一旅以滅有窮，勾踐憑會稽以報強吳； 蔓草猶宜早除，況寇仇乎！ 今石虎、李壽，志相吞噬，王師縱未能澄清北方，且當從事巴、蜀。 一旦石虎先入舉事，並壽而有之，據形便之地以臨東南，雖有智者，不能善其後矣。」 中護軍謝廣曰：「是吾心也！」
An edict dispatched Guo Xi, Concurrent Grand Master of Ceremonies, bearing credentials to Jicheng to invest the King of Yan. He traveled north with Xiang and his party. The court nobles saw them off on the river. Xiang told them, "Once Shaokang destroyed Youqiong with a single brigade, and Goujian on Mount Kuaiji avenged himself on mighty Wu; If creeping weeds must be uprooted early, how much more a sworn enemy! Shi Hu and Li Shou now hunger to devour each other. Even if the royal army cannot yet recover the north, it should at least move against Ba and Shu. If Shi Hu strikes first, overruns Li Shou, and holds the strategic lands overlooking the southeast, even the wisest adviser will not be able to remedy what follows." Central Guard General Xie Guang said, "That is exactly my mind!"12
96
三月，戊戌，皇后杜氏崩。 夏，四月，丁卯，葬恭皇后於興平陵。
In the third month, on wuxu, Empress Du died. In summer, the fourth month, on dingmao, Empress Gong was buried at Xingping Mausoleum.
97
詔實王公以下至庶人皆正土斷、白籍。
An edict ordered princes, officials, and commoners alike to register land holdings and unregistered households.
98
秋，七月，郭烯、劉翔等至燕，燕王皝以翔為東夷護軍、領大將軍長史，以唐國內史陽裕為左司馬，典書令李洪為右司馬，中尉鄭林為軍諮祭灑。
In autumn, the seventh month, Guo Xi, Liu Xiang, and the rest reached Yan. King Murong Huang made Xiang Protector General of the Eastern Yi and chief clerk to the Grand General, appointed Yang Yu, Interior Secretary of Tang, as Left Major, Li Hong, Director of Documents, as Right Major, and Zheng Lin, Commandant of the Guard, as Army Staff Adviser.
99
八月，辛酉，東海哀王沖薨。
In the eighth month, on xinyou, Prince Chong of Donghai died.
100
九月，代王什翼犍築盛樂城於故城南八里。
In the ninth month, Tuoba Shiyijian, King of Dai, built Shengle City eight li south of the old capital.
101
代王妃慕容氏卒。
The Murong princess, consort to the King of Dai, died.
102
冬，十月，匈奴劉虎寇代西部，代王什翼犍遣軍逆擊，大破之。 虎卒，子務桓立，遣使求和於代，什翼犍以女妻之。 務桓又朝貢於趙，趙以務桓為平北將軍、左賢王。
In winter, the tenth month, the Xiongnu chief Liu Hu raided western Dai. King Shiyijian sent troops against him and inflicted a crushing defeat. Liu Hu died. His son Wuhuan succeeded him and sent envoys seeking peace with Dai. Shiyijian gave him a daughter in marriage. Wuhuan also sent tribute to Zhao, which made him Pacifier of the North and Left Worthy King.
103
趙橫海將軍王華帥舟師自海道襲燕安平，破之。
Wang Hua, Zhao's Crossing-the-Sea General, led a naval force by sea against Anping in Yan and took it.
104
燕王皝以慕容恪為渡遼將軍，鎮平郭。 自慕容翰、慕容仁之後，諸將無能繼者。 及恪至平郭，撫舊懷新，屢破高句麗兵，高句麗畏之，不敢入境。
Murong Huang appointed Murong Ke Crossing-the-Liao General and stationed him at Pingguo. Since Murong Han and Murong Ren, no general had been able to fill their place. When Ke reached Pingguo, he won over old subjects and new alike, repeatedly routed Goguryeo armies, and so thoroughly intimidated them that they dared not cross the border.
105
十二月，興平康伯陸玩薨。
In the twelfth month, Lu Wan, Viscount Kang of Xingping, died.
106
漢主壽以其太子勢領大將軍、錄尚書事。 初，成主雄以儉約寬惠得蜀人心。 及李閎、王嘏還自鄴，盛稱鄴中繁庶，宮殿壯麗； 且言趙王虎以刑殺御下，故能控制境內。 壽慕之，徙旁郡民三丁以上者以實成都，大修宮室，治器玩； 人有小過，輒殺以立威。 左僕射蔡興、右僕射李嶷皆坐直諫死。 民疲於賦役，吁嗟滿道，思亂者眾矣。」」」
Li Shou of Han had his heir Li Shi serve as Grand General and overseer of the Masters of Writing. Earlier, Li Xiong of Cheng had won the loyalty of Shu through thrift and generous rule. When Li Hong and Wang Gu returned from Ye, they spoke endlessly of the city's wealth and the grandeur of its palaces; and told how King Shi Hu ruled by terror, which was why he kept his realm under control. Li Shou envied this. He moved every registered male of three ding or more from neighboring commanderies into Chengdu, greatly enlarged the palace, and piled up luxury goods; For the slightest offense he executed men to terrify others. Left Vice Director Cai Xing and Right Vice Director Li Yi were both executed for speaking out. The people were worn down by taxes and forced labor. Lament filled the roads, and many began to look toward revolt.”””
Footnotes
- (end of Gao Xu's reply)
- (end of Murong Huang's reply)
- (end of Shi Hu's reply)
- (end of Li Chong's Admonition)
- (end of speech)
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