1
【晉紀二十六】起柔兆困敦，盡玄黓敦牂，凡七年。
[Jin Annals 26] From Rouzhao Kundun through Xuanyi Dunzang—seven years in all.
2
烈宗孝武皇帝上之中太元元年（ 丙子，公元三七六年）
Emperor Xiaowu of the Liefu line, upper fascicle, middle section — first year of Taiyuan ( bingzi year, 376 CE)
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春，正月，壬寅朔，帝加元服，皇太后下詔歸政，復稱崇德太后。 甲辰，大赦，改元。 丙午，帝始臨朝。 以會稽內史郗愔為鎮軍大將軍、都督浙江東五郡諸軍事； 徐州刺史桓沖為車騎將軍、都督豫、江二州之六郡諸軍事，自京口徙鎮姑孰。 謝安欲以王蘊為方伯，故先解沖徐州。 乙卯，加謝安中書監，錄尚書事。
In spring, the first month, on New Year's Day, the Emperor came of age. The Empress Dowager issued an edict returning the government to him and resumed the title Empress Dowager Chongde. On jiachen, the court proclaimed a general amnesty and changed the era name. On bingwu, the Emperor began to preside over court in person. Xi Yin, Interior Minister of Kuaiji, was appointed General Who Stabilizes the Army and placed in command of all military affairs in the five commanderies east of the Zhe River; Huan Chong, Inspector of Xuzhou, was made General of Chariots and Cavalry and given command over six commanderies in Yu and Jiang provinces, transferring his headquarters from Jingkou to Gushu. Xie An wanted to appoint Wang Yun as a regional governor, so he first relieved Huan Chong of his post in Xuzhou. On yimao, Xie An was additionally made Supervisor of the Masters of Writing and put in charge of the Department of State Affairs.
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二月，辛卯，秦王堅下詔曰：「朕聞王者勞於求賢，逸於得士，斯言何其驗也！ 往得丞相，常謂帝王易為。 自丞相違世，鬚髮中白，每一念之，不覺酸慟。 今天下既無丞相，或政教淪替，可分遣侍臣周巡郡縣，問民疾苦。」
In the second month, on xinmao, King Fu Jian of Qin issued an edict: "I have heard that a ruler toils to find worthy men and only rests once he has won their service. How true that saying proves! Once I had a Chancellor at my side, I often said that ruling was easy. Since the Chancellor left this world, my hair and beard have gone half white, and each time I think of him I am overcome with sorrow. Now that there is no Chancellor in the realm, government and moral instruction may have fallen into decay. Let palace attendants be sent to tour the commanderies and counties and inquire into the people's hardships."
5
三月，秦兵寇南鄉，拔之，山蠻三萬戶降秦。
In the third month, Qin forces attacked Nanxiang, captured it, and thirty thousand households of mountain tribes submitted to Qin.
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夏，五月，甲寅，大赦。
In summer, the fifth month, on jiayin, the court proclaimed a general amnesty.
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初，張天錫之殺張邕也，劉肅及安定梁景皆有功，二人由是有寵，賜姓張氏，以為己子，使預政事。 天錫荒於酒色，不親庶務，黜世子大懷而立嬖妾焦氏之子大豫，以焦氏為左夫人，人情憤怨。 從弟從事中郎憲輿櫬切諫，不聽。 秦王堅下詔曰：「張天錫雖稱籓受位，然臣道未純，可遣使持節、武衛將軍武都苟萇、左將軍毛盛、中書令梁熙、步兵校尉姚萇等將兵臨西河，尚書郎閻負、梁殊奉詔徵天錫入朝，若有違王命，即進師撲討。」 是時，秦步騎十三萬，軍司段鏗謂周颺曰：「以此眾戰，誰能敵之！」 虓曰：「戎狄以來，未之有也。」 堅又命秦州刺史苟池、河州刺史李辯、涼州刺史王統帥三州之眾為苟萇後繼。
Earlier, when Zhang Tiansun killed Zhang Yong, Liu Su and Liang Jing of Anding had both distinguished themselves in the affair. The two men thereby won his favor: he granted them the surname Zhang, treated them as his own sons, and let them take part in government. Tiansun abandoned himself to wine and women and neglected the daily business of rule. He deposed the heir apparent Dahua and installed Dayu, the son of his favorite concubine Lady Jiao, making Lady Jiao his Left Lady. Public sentiment turned angry and resentful. His younger cousin, Attendant Gentleman Xian, brought a coffin and remonstrated with desperate urgency, but Tiansun refused to listen. King Fu Jian of Qin issued an edict: "Although Zhang Tiansun has declared himself a vassal and accepted office, his loyalty as a subject is not complete. Let an envoy bearing credentials be sent: Military Guard General Gou Chang of Wudu, Left General Mao Sheng, Palace Secretary Liang Xi, and Footsoldier Commandant Yao Chang shall lead troops to the western frontier; Masters of Writing Yan Fu and Liang Shu shall carry the edict summoning Tiansun to court. If he defies the royal command, advance at once and crush him." At this time Qin fielded one hundred thirty thousand infantry and cavalry. Army Director Duan Kan said to Zhou Xiao, "With an army like this, who could stand against us?" Xiao replied, "Since the age of the barbarian tribes, nothing like it has ever been seen." Fu Jian also ordered Gou Chi, Inspector of Qinzhou; Li Bian, Inspector of Hezhou; and Wang Tong, Inspector of Liangzhou, to bring the armies of their three provinces as Gou Chang's reinforcements.
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秋，七月，閻負、梁殊至姑臧。 張天錫會官屬謀之，曰：「今入朝，必不返； 如其不從，秦兵必至，將若之何？」 禁中錄事席仂曰：「以愛子為質，賂以重寶，以退其師，然後徐為之計，此屈伸之術也。」 眾皆怒曰：「吾世事晉朝，忠節著於海內。 今一旦委身賊庭，辱及祖宗，丑莫大焉！ 且河西天險，百年無虞，若悉境內精兵，右招西域，北引匈奴，以拒之，何遽知其不捷也！」 天錫攘袂大言曰：「孤計決矣，言降者斬！」 使謂閻負、梁殊曰：「君欲生歸乎，死歸乎？」 殊等辭氣不屈，天錫怒，縛之軍門，命軍士交射之，曰：「射而不中，不與我同心者也。」 其母嚴氏泣曰：「秦主以一州之地，橫制天下，東平鮮卑，南取巴、蜀，兵不留行，所向無敵。 汝若降之，猶可延數年之命。 今以蕞爾一隅，抗衡大國，又殺其使者，亡無日矣！」 天錫使龍驤將軍馬建帥眾二萬拒秦。
In autumn, the seventh month, Yan Fu and Liang Shu reached Guzang. Zhang Tiansun gathered his officials to discuss the matter. He said, "If I go to court now, I will never return; and if I refuse, Qin troops will surely come. What are we to do?" Palace Recorder Xi Le said, "Send a beloved son as hostage, offer rich treasures to buy off their army, and then plan your next move at leisure. That is the way to bend without breaking." The assembly erupted in anger. "Our house has served the Jin dynasty for generations," they said. "Our loyalty is known throughout the realm. To throw ourselves into the enemy's camp would disgrace our ancestors — there could be no greater shame! Besides, the Hexi region is protected by natural barriers and has been secure for a century. If we mobilize every elite soldier in the land, summon allies from the Western Regions and draw the Xiongnu down from the north, who is to say we cannot prevail?" Tiansun rolled up his sleeves and declared, "My mind is made up. Whoever speaks of surrender will be executed!" He sent word to Yan Fu and Liang Shu: "Do you wish to go home alive, or go home dead?" Shu and the others would not yield in word or bearing. Tiansun flew into a rage, had them bound at the army gate, and ordered the soldiers to shoot at them in turn. "Whoever misses," he said, "does not stand with me." His mother, Lady Yan, wept and said, "The ruler of Qin, starting from a single province, has brought the realm under his sway: he subdued the Xianbei in the east and seized Ba and Shu in the south. His armies never pause, and nothing has stood in their way. If you submit to him, you may yet keep your life for a few more years. But now, with this tiny corner of land, you mean to stand against a great power — and you have killed their envoys besides. Your doom will come any day!" Tiansun sent Dragon Cavalry General Ma Jian at the head of twenty thousand men to resist Qin.
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秦人聞天錫殺閻負、梁殊，八月，梁熙、姚萇、王統、李辯濟自清石津，攻涼驍烈將軍梁濟於河會城，降之。 甲申，苟萇濟自石城津，與梁熙等會攻纏縮城，拔之。 馬建懼，自楊非退屯清塞。 天錫又遣征東將軍掌據帥眾三萬軍於洪池，天錫自將餘眾五萬，軍於金昌城。 安西將軍敦煌宋皓言於天錫曰：「臣晝察人事，夜觀天文，秦兵不可敵也，不如降之。」 天錫怒，貶皓為宣威護軍。 廣武太守辛章曰：「馬建出於行陳，必不為國家用。」 苟萇使姚萇帥甲士三千為前驅。 庚寅，馬建帥萬人迎降，餘兵皆散走。 辛卯，苟萇及掌據戰於洪池，據兵敗，馬為亂兵所殺，其屬董儒授之以馬，據曰：「吾三督諸軍，再秉節鉞，八將禁旅，十總外兵，寵任極矣。 今卒困於此，此吾之死地也，尚安之乎！」 乃就帳免冑，西向稽首，伏劍而死。 秦兵殺軍司席仂。 癸巳，秦兵入清塞，天錫遣司兵趙充哲帥眾拒之。 秦兵與充哲戰於赤岸，大破之，俘斬三萬八千級，充哲死。 天錫出城自戰，城內又叛。 天錫與數千騎奔還姑臧。 甲午，秦兵至姑臧，天錫素車白馬，面縛輿櫬，降於軍門。 苟萇釋縛焚梓，送於長安。 涼州郡縣悉降於秦。
When Qin learned that Tiansun had killed Yan Fu and Liang Shu, Liang Xi, Yao Chang, Wang Tong, and Li Bian crossed at Qingshi Ford in the eighth month, attacked Liang Ji, Fierce General of Liang, at Hehui City, and accepted his surrender. On jiashen, Gou Chang crossed at Shicheng Ford, joined Liang Xi and the others in the assault on Chansuo City, and captured it. Ma Jian, alarmed, withdrew from Yangfei and encamped at Qingsai. Tiansun sent Eastern Campaign General Zhang Ju with thirty thousand men to encamp at Hongchi, while he himself led the remaining fifty thousand to Jinchang City. Song Hao of Dunhuang, General Who Pacifies the West, told Tiansun, "I have watched affairs by day and read the heavens by night. Qin cannot be resisted. It would be better to submit." Tiansun was enraged and demoted Hao to Protector General Who Displays Might. Xin Zhang, Administrator of Guangwu, said, "Ma Jian rose from the ranks. He will never serve the state's true interests." Gou Chang sent Yao Chang ahead with three thousand armored soldiers as vanguard. On gengyin, Ma Jian came forward with ten thousand men and surrendered; the rest of his force scattered and fled. On xinmao, Gou Chang and Zhang Ju fought at Hongchi. Ju's army was routed, and his horse was killed in the chaos. His follower Dong Ru offered him another mount. Ju said, "I have thrice commanded the armies, twice borne the imperial baton, led eight generals of the palace guard, and ten times overseen field armies. Honor and trust could go no higher. Now I am trapped here at last. This is where I die. How could I seek safety?" He went to his tent, removed his helmet, bowed to the west, and fell on his sword. Qin troops killed Army Director Xi Le. On guisi, Qin forces entered Qingsai. Tiansun sent Arms Officer Zhao Chongzhe to lead the resistance. Qin forces met Chongzhe at Chian and routed him, capturing or killing thirty-eight thousand men. Chongzhe was killed. Tiansun rode out to fight in person, even as rebellion broke out inside the city. Tiansun fled back to Guzang with a few thousand horsemen. On jiawu, Qin troops reached Guzang. Tiansun came in a plain cart drawn by a white horse, his face bound and a coffin carried before him, and surrendered at the army gate. Gou Chang freed him, burned the coffin, and sent him on to Chang'an. Every commandery and county in Liangzhou submitted to Qin.
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九月，秦王堅以梁熙為涼州刺史，鎮姑臧。 徙豪右七千餘戶於關中，餘皆按堵如故。 封天錫為歸義侯，拜北部尚書。 初，秦兵之出也，先為天錫築第於長安，至則居之。 以天錫晉興太守隴西彭和正為黃門侍郎，治中從事武興蘇膺、敦煌太守張烈為尚書郎，西平太守金城趙凝為金城太守，高昌楊干為高昌太守； 餘皆隨才擢敘。
In the ninth month, King Fu Jian of Qin made Liang Xi Inspector of Liangzhou and posted him at Guzang. More than seven thousand households of the local elite were moved to Guanzhong; the rest were left undisturbed in their homes. Tiansun was enfeoffed as Marquis of Returning Allegiance and appointed Northern Department Master of Writing. Before the Qin army even marched, a residence had been built for Tiansun in Chang'an. When he arrived, he moved in at once. Peng Hezheng of Longxi, Tiansun's Administrator of Jinxing, was made Palace Attendant; Su Ying of Wuxing, Administrative Aide, and Zhang Lie, Administrator of Dunhuang, were made Masters of Writing; Zhao Ning of Jincheng, Administrator of Xiping, was confirmed as Administrator of Jincheng; and Yang Gan was made Administrator of Gaochang; the rest were promoted and assigned according to their abilities.
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梁熙清儉愛民，河右安之，以天錫武威太守敦煌索泮為別駕，宋皓為主簿。 西平郭護起兵攻秦，熙以皓為折衝將軍，討平之。
Liang Xi governed with integrity and frugality and cared for the people, bringing peace to the lands west of the Yellow River. He made Suo Pan of Dunhuang, Tiansun's former Administrator of Wuwei, his Administrative Aide, and Song Hao his Chief Clerk. Guo Hu of Xiping raised troops against Qin. Xi made Hao General Who Breaks the Charge and put down the rebellion.
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桓沖聞秦攻涼州，遣兗州刺史朱序、江州刺史桓石秀與荊州督護桓羆遊軍沔、漢，為涼州聲援； 又遣豫州刺史桓伊帥眾向壽陽，淮南太守劉波泛舟淮、泗，欲橈秦以救涼。 聞涼州敗沒，皆罷兵。
When Huan Chong learned that Qin was attacking Liangzhou, he sent Zhu Xu, Inspector of Yanzhou; Huan Shixiu, Inspector of Jiangzhou; and Huan Pi, Protector of Jingzhou, to lead mobile columns along the Han and Mian rivers in a show of support for Liangzhou; he also sent Huan Yi, Inspector of Yuzhou, toward Shouyang and Liu Bo, Administrator of Huainan, to sail the Huai and Si rivers, hoping to harass Qin and relieve Liang. When they learned that Liangzhou had fallen, they all withdrew their forces.
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初，哀帝減田租，畝收二升。 乙巳，除度田收租之制，王公以下，口稅米三斛，蠲在役之身。
Earlier, Emperor Ai had reduced the land tax to two sheng per mu. On yisi, the field-survey land tax was abolished. From kings and dukes downward, each person owed three hu of grain, while those performing corvée were exempt.
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冬，十月，移淮北民於准南。
In winter, the tenth month, the people north of the Huai were resettled south of the river.
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劉衛辰為代所逼，求救於秦，秦王堅以幽州刺史行唐公洛為北討大都督，帥幽、冀兵十萬擊代； 使并州刺史俱難、鎮軍將軍鄧羌、尚書趙遷、李柔、前將軍朱肜、前禁將軍張蚝、右禁將軍郭慶帥步騎二十萬，東出和龍，西出上都，皆與洛會，以衛辰為鄉導。 洛，菁之弟也。
Liu Weichen, hard pressed by Dai, appealed to Qin for help. King Fu Jian of Qin made Duke Luo of Xingtang, Inspector of Youzhou, Grand Commander of the Northern Campaign and sent one hundred thousand troops from You and Ji against Dai; he sent Ju Nan, Inspector of Bingzhou; Deng Qiang, General Who Stabilizes the Army; Masters of Writing Zhao Qian and Li Rou; Zhu Rong, Forward General; Zhang Hao, Forward Guard General; and Guo Qing, Right Guard General, with two hundred thousand infantry and cavalry east from Helong and west from Shangdu to join Luo, using Weichen as their guide. Luo was Fu Jian's younger brother.
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苟萇之伐涼州也，遣揚武將軍馬暉、建武將軍杜周帥八千騎西出恩宿，邀張天錫走路，期會姑臧。 暉等行澤中，值水失期，於法應斬，有司奏徵下獄。 秦王堅曰：「水春冬耗竭。 秋夏盛漲，此乃苟萇量事失宜，非暉等罪。 今天下方有事，宜宥過責功。 命暉等回赴北軍，擊索虜以自贖。」 眾咸以為萬里召將，非所以應速。 堅曰：「暉等喜於免死，不可以常事疑也。」 暉等果倍道疾驅，遂及東軍。
During Gou Chang's campaign against Liangzhou, he sent Yangwu General Ma Hui and Jianwu General Du Zhou with eight thousand cavalry west from Ensu to cut off Zhang Tiansun's escape and rendezvous at Guzang. Hui and his men crossed marshland, ran into flooding, and missed their deadline. By military law they deserved execution, and the responsible officials memorialized to have them recalled and imprisoned. King Fu Jian of Qin said, "Water runs low in spring and winter. In autumn and summer it rises in flood. Gou Chang misjudged the conditions; this is not Hui's fault. The realm is still at war. Pardon faults and demand merit instead. He ordered Hui and his men to rejoin the northern army and strike the Suo tribes to redeem themselves." Many argued that recalling generals from a thousand miles away was no way to meet an urgent need. Fu Jian said, "Hui and his men are grateful to have escaped death. You cannot judge them by ordinary standards." Hui and his men did indeed force double marches at full speed and caught up with the eastern army.
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十一月，己巳朔，日有食之。
In the eleventh month, on New Year's Day, there was a solar eclipse.
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代王什翼犍使白部、獨孤部南御秦兵，皆不勝，又使南部大人劉庫仁將十萬騎御之。 庫仁者，衛辰之族，什翼犍之甥也，與秦兵戰於石子嶺，庫仁大敗。 什翼犍病，不能自將，乃帥諸部奔陰山之北。 高車雜種盡叛，四面寇鈔，不得芻牧，什翼犍復渡漠南。 聞秦兵稍退，十二月，什翼犍還雲中。
King Shiyijian of Dai sent the Bai and Dugu tribes south against Qin, but both were defeated. He then sent Liu Kuren, Southern Grand Chieftain, with one hundred thousand cavalry to hold them off. Kuren was a kinsman of Weichen and Shiyijian's nephew by marriage. He met Qin at Shizi Ridge and was routed. Shiyijian was ill and could not take the field himself, so he led the tribes north of the Yin Mountains. The mixed Gaoche tribes all rose in revolt. Raiders closed in from every side, and there was no pasture or fodder to be had. Shiyijian crossed south of the desert once more. When he heard that Qin forces were gradually withdrawing, Shiyijian returned to Yunzhong in the twelfth month.
19
初，什翼犍分國之半以授弟孤，孤卒，子斤失職怨望。 世子寔及弟翰早卒，寔子珪尚幼，慕容妃之子閼婆、壽鳩、紇根、地干、力真、窟咄皆長，繼嗣未定。 時秦兵尚在君子津，諸子每夜執兵警衛。 斤因說什翼犍之庶長子寔君曰：「王將立慕容妃之子，欲先殺汝，故頃來諸子每夜戎服，以兵繞廬帳，伺便將發耳。」 寔君信之，遂殺諸弟，並弒什翼犍。 是夜，諸子婦及部人奔告秦軍，秦李柔、張蚝勒兵趨雲中； 部眾逃潰，國中大亂。 珪母賀氏以珪走依賀訥。 訥，野干之子也。 秦王堅召代長史燕鳳，問代所以亂故，鳳具以狀對。 堅曰：「天下之惡一也。」 乃執寔君及斤，至長安，車裂之。 堅欲遷珪於長安，鳳固請曰：「代王初亡，群下叛散，遺孫沖幼，莫相統攝。 其別部大人劉庫仁，勇而有智； 鐵弗衛辰，狡猾多變，皆不可獨任。 宜分諸部為二，令此兩人統之； 兩人素有深仇，其勢莫敢先發。 俟其孫稍長，引而立之，是陛下有存亡繼絕之德於代，使其子子孫孫永為不侵不叛之臣，此安邊之良策也。」 堅從之，分代民為二部，自河以東屬庫仁，自河以西屬衛辰，各拜官爵，使統其眾。 賀氏以珪歸獨孤部，與南部大人長孫嵩、元佗等皆依庫仁。 行唐公洛以什翼犍子窟咄年長，遷之長安。 堅使窟咄入太學讀書。
Earlier, Shiyijian had given half the realm to his younger brother Gu. When Gu died, his son Jin lost his standing and nursed a grievance. The heir apparent Shi and his brother Han had both died young. Shi's son Gui was still a child, while Lady Murong's sons — Ebo, Shoujiu, Heggen, Digan, Lizhen, and Kudu — were all grown men, and the succession remained unsettled. Qin troops were still at Junzi Ford, and each night the princes took up arms to stand guard. Jin therefore said to Shijun, Shiyijian's eldest son by a concubine, "The King means to install one of Lady Murong's sons and plans to kill you first. That is why the princes have been wearing armor each night and circling the tent with weapons, waiting for their chance to strike." Shijun believed him, killed his younger brothers, and assassinated Shiyijian. That same night, the princes' wives and tribesmen fled to warn the Qin army. Li Rou and Zhang Hao of Qin marched at once on Yunzhong; the tribesmen scattered, and the realm descended into chaos. Gui's mother, Lady He, fled with the boy to seek refuge with He Ne. Ne was the son of Yegan. King Fu Jian of Qin summoned Yan Feng, formerly Dai's chief clerk, and asked what had plunged the realm into chaos. Feng laid out the whole affair in detail. Fu Jian said, "Wickedness under Heaven knows no distinction." He had Shijun and Jin seized, brought to Chang'an, and torn apart by chariots. Fu Jian intended to transfer Gui to Chang'an, but Feng urgently petitioned: "The King of Dai has only just died. His followers have splintered in revolt, his grandson Chong is still a child, and no one stands ready to hold the tribes together. Liu Kuren, a grand chieftain of one branch, is brave and shrewd; Tiefe Weichen is devious and unstable. Neither man should be trusted with sole authority. The tribes should be split in two, with these two men placed in command of each half; the two have nursed a deep feud for years, and neither will dare strike first against the other. When the boy grows older, install him as ruler. Your Majesty will have shown the virtue of saving a line on the brink of extinction, and Dai's heirs will forever remain loyal subjects who never raid or rebel. It is the surest way to secure the border." Fu Jian agreed. He split the Dai tribes in two: Kuren governed those east of the river, Weichen those west. Each received an official rank and title and command over his people. Lady He brought Gui to the Dugu tribe. She, along with Southern Grand Chieftain Changsun Song, Yuan Tuo, and others, all threw in their lot with Kuren. Duke Luo of Xingtang, noting that Shiyijian's son Kudu had come of age, had him moved to Chang'an. Fu Jian sent Kudu to the Imperial Academy to receive an education.
20
下詔曰：「張天錫承祖父之資，藉百年之業，擅命河右，叛換偏隅。 索頭世跨朔北，中分區域，東賓穢貊，西引烏孫，控弦百萬，虎視雲中。 爰命兩師，分討黠虜，役不淹歲，窮殄二凶，俘降百萬，闢土九千，五帝之所未賓，周、漢之所未至，莫不重譯來王，懷風率職。 有司可速班功受爵，戎士悉復之五歲，賜爵三級。」 於是加行唐公洛征西將軍，以鄧羌為并州刺史。
The court issued an edict: "Zhang Tiansun drew on his grandfather's legacy and a century of power built up in his family, claiming independent rule west of the Yellow River and revolting in a distant corner of the realm. The Suotou Xianbei had for generations dominated the north, commanding the heartland: they brought the Huimo into their fold in the east, the Wusun in the west, fielded a million archers, and fixed a tiger's glare on Yunzhong. Two armies were dispatched to subdue these crafty foes. In less than a year both enemies were destroyed, a million captives surrendered, and nine thousand li of land were brought under rule — territory that neither the Five Emperors nor the Zhou and Han had ever reached. Peoples from the farthest corners sent tribute through layers of interpreters, came to court in homage, and pledged their service. Let the offices promptly distribute rewards and confer nobility. All soldiers shall be exempt from corvée for five years and receive three ranks of nobility." Duke Luo of Xingtang was then made General Who Conquers the West, and Deng Qiang was appointed Inspector of Bingzhou.
21
陽平國常侍慕容紹私謂其兄楷曰：「秦恃其強大，務勝不休，北戍雲中，南守蜀、漢，轉運萬里，道殣相望。 兵疲於外，民困於內，危亡近矣。 冠軍叔仁智度英拔，必能恢復燕祚，吾屬但當愛身以待時耳！」
Murong Shao, Attendant-in-Ordinary of Yangping, took his elder brother Kai aside and said, "Qin counts on its might and will not stop until it has won everything — garrisoning Yunzhong in the north, holding Shu and Han in the south. Supply lines stretch ten thousand li, and the dead lie along every road. The armies are exhausted abroad and the people worn down at home. Collapse cannot be far off. Champion General Shuren possesses rare intelligence and talent — he is sure to restore the House of Yan. All we need do is keep ourselves safe and wait for the right moment!"
22
初，秦人既克涼州，議討西障氐、羌。 秦王堅曰：「彼種落雜居，不相統壹，不能為中國大患。 宜先撫諭，徵其租稅。 若不從命，然後討之。」 乃使殿中將軍張旬前行宣慰，庭中將軍魏曷飛帥騎二萬七千隨之。 曷飛忿其恃險不服，縱兵擊之，大掠而歸。 堅怒其違命，鞭之二百，斬前鋒督護儲安以謝氐、羌。 氐、羌大悅，降附貢獻者八萬三千餘落。 雍州士族先因亂流寓河西者，皆聽還本。
After Qin captured Liangzhou, the court debated whether to subjugate the Di and Qiang of the western marches. King Fu Jian of Qin said, "Those peoples live intermingled without a single leader. They pose no serious threat to the Central Plains. We should first win them over with kindness and collect taxes and tribute from them. Only if they defy us should we turn to force." He dispatched Palace General Zhang Xun ahead to proclaim the court's reassurance, with Court General Wei Yifei and twenty-seven thousand cavalry in support. Yifei, angry that they relied on rugged terrain to defy the court, attacked without restraint, plundered extensively, and marched back. Fu Jian, furious at this disobedience, had Yifei flogged two hundred times and executed Forward Commander Chu An as an apology to the Di and Qiang. The Di and Qiang were greatly pleased. More than eighty-three thousand clans submitted and sent tribute. Gentry families of Yongzhou who had fled the turmoil to settle west of the river were all permitted to return home.
23
劉庫仁分招撫離散，恩信甚著，奉事拓跋珪恩勤周備，不以廢興易意，常謂諸子曰：「此兒有高天下之志，必能恢隆祖業，汝曹當謹遇之。」 秦王堅賞其功，加廣武將軍，給幢麾鼓蓋。
Liu Kuren rallied and comforted those scattered by the chaos, earning wide renown for his loyalty and generosity. He served Tuoba Gui with tireless devotion, never wavering whether the house was rising or falling. He often told his sons, "This boy has the ambition to rule the world. He will restore the ancestral patrimony. Treat him with the utmost respect." King Fu Jian rewarded his service, made him General of Guangwu, and granted him the full trappings of command — banner, staff, drum, and canopy.
24
劉衛辰恥在庫仁之下，怒，殺秦五原太守而叛。 庫仁擊衛辰，破之，追至陰山西北千餘里，獲其妻子。 又西擊庫狄部，徙其部落，置之桑干川。 久之，堅以衛辰為西單于，督攝河西雜類，屯代來城。
Liu Weichen, humiliated at serving under Kuren, flew into a rage, killed Qin's Administrator of Wuyuan, and rebelled. Kuren attacked Weichen, routed him, and pursued him more than a thousand li beyond the northwest of the Yin Mountains, capturing his wife and children. He then attacked the Kudi tribe in the west, relocated their people, and resettled them on the Sanggan River. In time, Fu Jian appointed Weichen Western Chanyu, placing him over the mixed tribes west of the river with a garrison at Dailai City.
25
是歲，乞伏司繁卒，子國仁立。
That year Qifu Sifan died, and his son Guoren succeeded him.
26
烈宗孝武皇帝上之中太元二年（ 丁丑，公元三七七年）
Emperor Xiaowu of the Liefu line, upper fascicle, middle section — second year of Taiyuan ( dingchou year, 377 CE)
27
春，高句麗、新羅、西南夷皆遣使入貢於秦。 趙故將作功曹熊邈屢為秦王堅言石氏宮室器玩之盛，堅以邈為將作長史，領尚方丞，大修舟艦、兵器，飾以金銀，頗極精巧。 慕容農私言於慕容垂曰：「自王猛之死，秦之法制，日以頹靡，今又重之以奢侈，殃將至矣，圖讖之言，行當有驗。 大王宜結納英傑以承天意，時不可失也！」 垂笑曰：「天下事非爾所及。」
In spring, Goguryeo, Silla, and the tribes of the southwest all sent envoys to pay tribute to Qin. Xiong Miao, formerly a clerk in Zhao's directorate of works, repeatedly regaled King Fu Jian with accounts of the splendor of the Shi family's palaces and treasures. Fu Jian appointed him chief clerk of the directorate of works and director of the imperial workshops, and launched a lavish program to build ships and weapons adorned with gold and silver to the highest degree of craftsmanship. Murong Nong took Murong Chui aside and said, "Since Wang Meng died, Qin's laws have crumbled day by day. Now extravagance is piled on decay — disaster cannot be far off. The prophecies will soon come true. My lord should gather the realm's finest men to seize Heaven's mandate. The moment will not wait!" Chui smiled and said, "Matters of the realm are beyond your ken."
28
桓豁表兗州刺史朱序為梁州刺史，鎮襄陽。
Huan Huo recommended that Zhu Xu, Inspector of Yanzhou, be appointed Inspector of Liangzhou and stationed at Xiangyang to hold the frontier.
29
秋，七月，丁未，以尚書僕射謝安為司徒，安讓不拜； 復加侍中、都督揚、豫、徐、兗、青五州諸軍事。
In autumn, the seventh month, on dingwei, Xie An, Vice Director of the Masters of Writing, was appointed Minister over the Masses, but he declined the post; and was instead given the additional titles of Palace Attendant and Commander-in-Chief of military affairs in the five provinces of Yang, Yu, Xu, Yan, and Qing.
30
丙辰，征西大將軍、荊州刺史桓豁卒。 冬，十月，辛丑，以桓沖都督江、荊、梁、益、寧、交、廣七州諸軍事，領荊州刺史； 以沖子嗣為江州刺史。 又以五兵尚書王蘊都督江南諸軍事，假節，領徐州刺史； 征西司馬領南郡相謝玄為兗州刺史，領廣陵相，監江北諸軍事。 桓沖以秦人強盛，欲移阻江南，奏自江陵徙鎮上明，使冠軍將軍劉波守江陵，咨議參軍楊亮守江夏。 王蘊固讓徐州，謝安曰：「卿居后父之重，不應妄自菲薄，以虧時遇。」 蘊乃受命。
On bingchen, Huan Huo — General Who Conquers the West and Inspector of Jingzhou — passed away. In winter, the tenth month, on xinchou, Huan Chong was made Commander-in-Chief over military affairs in Jiang, Jing, Liang, Yi, Ning, Jiao, and Guang, and appointed Inspector of Jingzhou; His son Si was made Inspector of Jiangzhou. Wang Yun, Minister of the Five Armies, was made Commander-in-Chief south of the Yangzi, granted the credential staff, and appointed Inspector of Xuzhou; Xie Xuan, Western Expedition Marshal and Administrator of Nan Commandery, was appointed Inspector of Yanzhou and Administrator of Guangling, with oversight of all military affairs north of the river. Fearing Qin's growing might, Huan Chong sought to pull Jin's defenses back south of the Yangzi. He petitioned to move his headquarters from Jiangling to Shangming, leaving Champion General Liu Bo at Jiangling and Staff Advisor Yang Liang at Jiangxia. Wang Yun firmly refused Xuzhou. Xie An told him, "As the Empress's father, you hold a position of great weight. You must not sell yourself short and squander this moment." Wang Yun accepted the post.
31
初，中書郎郗超自以其父愔位遇應在謝安之右，而安入掌機權，愔優遊散地，常憤邑形於辭色，由是與謝氏有隙。 是時朝廷方以秦寇為憂，詔求文武良將可以鎮御北方者，謝安以兄子玄應詔。 超聞之，歎曰：「安之明，乃能違眾舉親； 玄之才，足以不負所舉。」 眾咸以為不然。 超曰：「吾嘗與玄共在桓公府，見其使才，雖履屐間未嘗不得其任，是以知之。」 玄募驍勇之士，得彭城劉牢之等數人。 以牢之為參軍，常領精銳為前鋒，戰無不捷。 時號「北府兵」，敵人畏之。
Earlier, Chi Chao, a palace scribe, believed his father Chi Kai deserved higher standing than Xie An. Yet Xie An had seized real power while Kai languished in an idle post. Resentment showed plainly on Kai's face and in his words, and a rift opened between the Chi and Xie clans. The court was then preoccupied with the Qin threat and issued a call for able civil and military leaders who could hold the northern frontier. Xie An nominated his nephew Xuan. When Chi Chao heard of this, he sighed and said, "Xie An is wise indeed — daring to nominate a relative against general opinion; and Xuan's talent is more than equal to the trust placed in him." Most thought him mistaken. Chi Chao said, "I served with Xuan in Duke Huan's household and watched how he used men. He never misplaced talent, even in the smallest assignment. That is how I know." Xuan recruited bold fighters and won over several daring men, including Liu Laozhi of Pengcheng. He made Laozhi a staff officer and regularly led elite troops as vanguard. In every battle they prevailed. “They became known as the Northern Headquarters Army, and their enemies feared them.”
32
壬寅，護軍將軍、散騎常侍王彪之卒。 初，謝安欲增修宮室，彪之曰：「中興之初，即東府為宮，殊為儉陋。 蘇峻之亂，成帝止蘭台都坐，殆不蔽寒暑，是以更營新宮。 比之漢、魏則為儉，比之初過江則為侈矣。 今寇敵方強，豈可大興功役，勞擾百姓邪！」 安曰：「宮室弊陋，後世謂人無能。」 彪之曰：「凡任天下之重者，當保國寧家，緝熙政事，乃以修室為能邪？」 安不能奪其議，故終彪之之世，無所營造。
On renyin, Wang Biaozhi, Protector-General and Attendant-in-Ordinary, passed away. Earlier, when Xie An proposed expanding the palace, Biaozhi objected: "At the founding of the Eastern Jin, the Eastern Mansion was pressed into service as the palace — it was painfully bare and crude. During Su Jun's revolt, Emperor Cheng took refuge in the Lantai hall, scarcely shielded from summer heat or winter cold. That is why a new palace was built. By Han and Wei standards it was still modest; by the standards of the first years after crossing the Yangzi, it was already lavish. With enemy armies at our gates, how can we launch grand construction projects that exhaust and harass the people?" Xie An replied, "If the palace remains shabby, posterity will judge us incapable rulers." Biaozhi retorted, "Those who bear the weight of empire should secure the realm, restore order, and govern well — not measure their worth by the grandeur of their halls!" Xie An could not counter him, and no construction took place for the rest of Biaozhi's life.
33
十二月，臨海太守郗超卒。 初，超黨於桓氏，以父愔忠於王室，不令知之。 及病甚，出一箱書授門生曰：「公年尊，我死之後，若以哀惋害寢食者，可呈此箱； 不爾，即焚之。」 既而愔果哀惋成疾，門生呈箱，皆與桓溫往反密計。 愔大怒曰：「小子死已晚矣！」 遂不復哭。
In the twelfth month, Chi Chao, Administrator of Linhai, died. Chi Chao had sided with the Huan clan, but hid this from his father Kai, who was devoted to the throne. As his illness worsened, Chi Chao produced a chest of documents and handed it to a disciple, saying, "My father is old. If after my death grief robs him of sleep and appetite, show him this chest; otherwise burn it." Kai did grieve himself ill. The disciple showed him the chest: inside were secret letters exchanged with Huan Wen. Kai erupted in fury: "That wretch should have died long ago!" He never wept again.
34
烈宗孝武皇帝上之中太元三年（ 戊寅，公元三七八年）
Emperor Xiaowu of the Liefu line, upper fascicle, middle section — third year of Taiyuan ( wuyin year, 378 CE)
35
春，二月，乙巳，作新宮，帝移居會稽王邸。 秦王堅遣征南大將軍、都督征討諸軍事、守尚書令長樂公丕、武衛將軍苟萇、尚書慕容□帥步騎七萬寇襄陽，以荊州刺史楊安帥樊、鄧之眾為前鋒，征虜將軍始平石越帥精騎一萬出魯陽關，京兆尹慕容垂、揚武將軍姚萇帥眾五萬出南鄉，領軍將軍苟池、右將軍毛當、強弩將軍王顯帥眾四萬出武當，會攻襄陽。 夏，四月，秦兵至沔北，梁州刺史朱序以秦無舟楫，不以為虞。 既而石越帥騎五千浮渡漢水，序惶駭，固守中城。 越克其外郭，獲船百餘艘以濟餘軍。 長樂公丕督諸將攻中城。 序母韓氏聞秦兵將至，自登城履行，至西北隅，以為不固，帥百餘婢及城中女丁築邪城於其內。 及秦兵至，西北隅果潰，眾移守新城，襄陽人謂之夫人城，桓沖在上明，擁眾七萬，憚秦兵之強，不敢進。 丕欲急攻襄陽，苟萇曰：「吾眾十倍於敵，糗糧山積，但稍遷漢、沔之民於許、洛，塞其運道，絕其援兵，譬如網中之禽，何患不獲。 而多殺將士，急求成功哉！」 丕從之。 慕容垂拔南陽，執太守鄭裔，與丕會襄陽。
In spring, the second month, on yisi, construction began on the new palace and the Emperor moved into the Prince of Kuaiji's residence. King Fu Jian dispatched Fu Pi, Duke of Changle, General Who Conquers the South and overall commander; Gou Chang, Martial Guard General; and Murong Wei, Master of Writing, with seventy thousand infantry and cavalry against Xiangyang. Yang An, Inspector of Jingzhou, led the troops of Fan and Deng as vanguard. Shi Yue of Shiping, General Who Captures Barbarians, took ten thousand elite cavalry through Luyang Pass. Murong Chui, Intendant of Jingzhao, and Yao Chang, General Who Displays Martial Prowess, marched fifty thousand men through Nanxiang. Gou Chi, Army Supervisor; Mao Dang, Right General; and Wang Xian, Strong Crossbow General, brought forty thousand through Wudang. All converged on Xiangyang. In summer, the fourth month, Qin forces reached the north bank of the Han. Zhu Xu, Inspector of Liangzhou, assumed they posed no threat without boats. Then Shi Yue led five thousand cavalry across the Han on rafts. Zhu Xu was struck with terror and withdrew into the inner citadel. Shi Yue captured the outer wall, seized more than a hundred boats, and used them to ferry the rest of the army across. Fu Pi, Duke of Changle, directed the generals in the assault on the inner citadel. When Zhu Xu's mother, Lady Han, learned that Qin troops were approaching, she walked the battlements herself. At the northwest corner she found the defenses weak and led more than a hundred maidservants and townswomen to build an inner parapet wall. When Qin attacked, the northwest corner gave way as Lady Han had feared. The defenders fell back to her new wall — the people of Xiangyang called it the Lady's Wall. Huan Chong held Shangming with seventy thousand men but dared not advance against Qin's might. Pi wanted a swift assault on Xiangyang, but Gou Chang urged patience: "We outnumber them ten to one and our supplies are piled like hills. Relocate the Han and Mian populace gradually to Xu and Luoyang, block their supply lines, and cut off reinforcements. They will be birds in a net — how can they escape? Why slaughter our own troops in a reckless rush for victory?" Pi agreed. Murong Chui captured Nanyang, took its administrator Zheng Yi prisoner, and rendezvoused with Pi at Xiangyang.
36
秋，七月，新宮成； 辛巳，帝入居之。
In autumn, the seventh month, the new palace was finished; On xinsi, the Emperor took up residence in it.
37
秦兗州刺史彭超請攻沛郡太守逯於彭城，且曰：「願更遣重將攻淮南諸城，為征南棋劫之勢，東西並進，丹楊不足平也。」 秦王堅從之，使都督東討諸軍事； 後將軍俱難、右禁將軍毛盛、洛州刺史邵保帥步騎七萬寇淮陽、盱眙。 超，越之弟； 保，羌之從弟也。 八月，彭超攻彭城，詔右將軍毛虎生帥眾五萬鎮姑孰以御秦兵。 秦梁州刺史韋鐘圍魏興太守吉挹於西城。
Peng Chao, Qin's Inspector of Yanzhou, asked to attack Lu, Administrator of Pei, at Pengcheng and added, "Send another senior commander against the Huainan cities to support the southern campaign with a pincer from east and west. Danyang would then fall easily." King Fu Jian agreed and appointed him Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Expedition; Rear General Ju Nan, Right Guard General Mao Sheng, and Shao Bao, Inspector of Luozhou, led seventy thousand infantry and cavalry against Huaiyang and Xuyi. Chao was Yue's younger brother; Bao was Qiang's younger cousin. In the eighth month, Peng Chao attacked Pengcheng. The court ordered Right General Mao Husheng to lead fifty thousand men to garrison Gudu and hold the Qin army at bay. Wei Zhong, Qin's Inspector of Liangzhou, besieged Ji Yi, Administrator of Weixing, at Xicheng.
38
九月，秦王堅與群臣飲酒，以秘書監朱肜為正，命人人以極醉為限。 秘書侍郎趙整作《酒德之歌》曰：「地列酒泉，天垂酒池，杜康妙識，儀狄先知。 紂喪殷邦，桀傾夏國，由此言之，前危後則。」 堅大悅，命整書之以為酒戒，自是宴群臣，禮飲而已。
In the ninth month, King Fu Jian feasted with his ministers, appointed Zhu Rong, Director of the Secretariat, as toastmaster, and ordered everyone to drink until completely drunk. Secretariat Gentleman Zhao Zheng composed the "Song of Wine Virtue," saying, "On earth stands the Spring of Wine; from heaven hangs the Wine Pool. Du Kang grasped its secret; Yi Di knew it first. Zhou lost the Yin dynasty; Jie brought down the Xia — from this we see danger ahead and ruin behind." Fu Jian was delighted and had Zheng write it out as a warning against wine. After that, when he feasted his ministers, he drank only in moderation.
39
秦涼州刺史梁熙遣使入西域，揚秦威德。 冬，十月，大宛獻汗血馬。 秦王堅曰：「吾嘗慕漢文帝之為人，用千里馬何為！ 命群臣作《止馬之詩》而反之。
Liang Xi, Qin's Inspector of Liangzhou, sent envoys into the Western Regions to proclaim Qin's power and virtue. In winter, the tenth month, Dayuan presented sweat-blood horses. King Fu Jian said, "I have always admired Emperor Wen of Han — what need have I for thousand-li horses! He ordered his ministers to compose the "Poem on Stopping the Horse" and returned the horses.
40
巴西人趙寶起兵梁州，自稱晉西蠻校尉、巴郡太守。
Zhao Bao of Baxi raised an army in Liangzhou and styled himself Jin Western Man Commander and Administrator of Ba Commandery.
41
秦豫州刺史北海公重鎮洛陽，謀反。 秦王堅曰：「長史呂光忠正，必不與之同。」 即命光收重，檻車送長安，赦之，以公就第。 重，洛之兄也。
Zhong, Duke of Beihai, held Luoyang as Qin's Inspector of Yuzhou and plotted rebellion. King Fu Jian said, "Chief Clerk Lü Guang is loyal and upright — he will surely not join the plot." He immediately ordered Lü Guang to arrest Zhong, send him to Chang'an in a caged cart, pardoned him, and allowed him to live at home as a duke. Zhong was Luo's elder brother.
42
十二月，秦御史中丞李柔劾秦：「長樂公丕等擁眾十萬，攻圍小城，日費萬金，久而無效，請微下廷尉。」 秦王堅曰：「丕等廣費無成，實宜貶戮； 但師已淹時，不可虛返，其特原之，令以成功贖罪。」 使黃門侍郎韋華持節切讓丕等，賜丕劍曰：「來春不捷，汝可自裁，勿復持面見吾也！」
In the twelfth month, Li Rou, Qin's Censor-in-Chief, impeached the court, saying, "Fu Pi, Duke of Changle, and his command of one hundred thousand men have besieged a small city, spending ten thousand in gold each day, yet after long months have achieved nothing. I ask that they be referred to the Minister of Justice." King Fu Jian said, "Pi and the others have squandered resources without success — they truly deserve demotion and punishment; but the campaign has dragged on too long to withdraw empty-handed. Let them be specially pardoned and ordered to redeem their guilt through victory." He sent Palace Attendant Wei Hua with credentials to sternly rebuke Pi and the others, and gave Pi a sword, saying, "If you have not won by next spring, kill yourselves — do not come before me again!"
43
周颺在秦，密與桓沖書，言秦陰計； 又逃奔漢中，秦人獲而赦之。
Zhou Yang was in Qin and secretly wrote to Huan Chong revealing Qin's secret plans; he then fled to Hanzhong, was captured by Qin forces, and was pardoned.
44
烈宗孝武皇帝上之中太元四年（ 己卯，公元三七九年）
Emperor Xiaowu of the Liefu line, upper fascicle, middle section — fourth year of Taiyuan ( jimao year, 379 CE)
45
春，正月，辛酉，大赦。
In spring, the first month, on xinyou, the court proclaimed a general amnesty.
46
秦長樂公丕等得詔惶恐，乃命諸軍並力攻襄陽。 秦王堅欲自將攻襄陽，詔陽平公融以關東六州之兵會壽春，梁熙以河西之兵為後繼。 陽平公融諫曰：「陛下欲取江南，固當博謀熟慮，不可倉猝。 若止取襄陽，又豈足親勞大駕乎？ 未有動天下之眾而為一城者，所謂以隨侯之珠彈千仞之雀也。」 梁熙諫曰：「晉主之暴，未如孫皓，江山險固，易守難攻。 陛下必欲廓清江表，亦不過分命將帥，引關東之兵，南臨淮、泗，下梁、益之卒，東出巴、峽，又何必親屈鸞輅，遠幸沮澤乎？ 昔漢光武誅公孫述，晉武帝擒孫皓，未聞二帝自統六師，親執枹鼓，蒙矢石也。」 堅乃止。
Fu Pi, Duke of Changle, and the other Qin commanders, terrified by the edict, ordered all their armies to combine and assault Xiangyang. King Fu Jian intended to lead the assault on Xiangyang himself. He ordered Fu Rong, Duke of Yangping, to gather the armies of the six eastern provinces at Shouchun, with Liang Xi's Hexi forces as reinforcements. Fu Rong, Duke of Yangping, remonstrated, saying, "If Your Majesty means to conquer the south, you should plan carefully and not act in haste. If you are only taking Xiangyang, is it worth the Son of Heaven going in person? Never before has the empire's full force been mobilized for one city — it is like using the Marquis of Sui's pearl to shoot a sparrow a thousand fathoms above." Liang Xi remonstrated, saying, "The Jin emperor is not as cruel as Sun Hao was, and the rivers and mountains are steep and strong — easy to hold and hard to take. If Your Majesty truly means to pacify the south, you need only dispatch generals — bring eastern armies to the Huai and Si, send Liang and Yi troops south, and march Ba and Gorge forces east. Why must the imperial carriage travel far into marshlands? When Emperor Guangwu of Han destroyed Gongsun Shu and Emperor Wu of Jin captured Sun Hao, neither emperor personally led the six armies, beat the war drums, or faced arrows and stones." Fu Jian abandoned the plan.
47
詔冠軍將軍南郡相劉波帥眾八千救襄陽，波畏秦，不敢進。 朱序屢出戰，破秦兵，引退稍遠，序不設備。 二月，襄陽督護李伯護密遣其子送款於秦，請為內應； 長樂公丕命諸軍進攻之。 戊午，克襄陽，執朱序，送長安。 秦王堅以序能守節，拜度支尚書； 以李伯護為不忠，斬之。
The court ordered Liu Bo, Champion General and Administrator of Nanjun, to lead eight thousand men to relieve Xiangyang, but Bo feared Qin and dared not advance. Zhu Xu repeatedly sallied out and defeated Qin forces. As the enemy withdrew farther away, Xu lowered his guard. In the second month, Li Bohu, Supervisor of Xiangyang, secretly sent his son to Qin to offer surrender and ask to serve as an inside collaborator; Fu Pi, Duke of Changle, ordered all armies to press the assault. On wuwu, Xiangyang fell. Zhu Xu was captured and sent to Chang'an. King Fu Jian, impressed that Xu had held firm, appointed him Minister of Revenue; Li Bohu he judged disloyal and had executed.
48
秦將軍慕容越拔順陽，執太守譙國丁穆。 堅欲官之，穆固辭不受。 堅以中壘將軍梁成為荊州刺史，配兵一萬，鎮襄陽，選其才望，禮而用之。
Murong Yue, a Qin general, captured Shunyang and seized Ding Mu of Qiaoguo, the Administrator. Fu Jian wished to appoint him to office, but Mu steadfastly refused. Fu Jian appointed Liang Cheng, Middle Rampart General, as Inspector of Jingzhou, gave him ten thousand troops to garrison Xiangyang, and selected men of talent and standing to honor and employ.
49
桓沖以襄陽陷沒，上疏送章節，請解職； 不許。 詔免劉波官，俄復以為冠軍將軍。
When Xiangyang fell, Huan Chong submitted a memorial returning his seal and cord and asking to resign; The court refused. The court stripped Liu Bo of his post, but soon restored him as Champion General.
50
秦以前將軍張蚝為并州刺史。
Qin appointed Zhang Hao, former General, as Inspector of Bingzhou.
51
兗州刺史謝玄帥眾萬餘救彭城，軍於泗口，欲遣間使報戴逯而不可得。 部曲將田泓請沒水潛行趣彭城，玄遣之。 泓為秦人所獲，厚賂之，使雲南軍已敗； 泓偽許之，既而告城中曰：「南軍垂至，我單行來報，為賊所得。 勉之！」 秦人殺之。 彭超置輜重於留城，謝玄揚聲遣後軍將軍東海何謙向留城。 超聞之，釋彭城圍，引兵還保輜重。 戴逯帥彭城之眾，隨謙奔玄，超遂據彭城，留兗州治中徐褒守之，南攻盱眙。 俱難克淮陰，留邵保戍之。
Xie Xuan, Inspector of Yanzhou, led more than ten thousand men to relieve Pengcheng and encamped at Sikou. He wanted to send a secret messenger to warn Dai Lu but could find no way. Tian Hong, a subordinate commander, volunteered to swim underwater to reach Pengcheng, and Xuan sent him. Hong was captured by Qin troops, who bribed him heavily and ordered him to claim the southern army had already been defeated; Hong pretended to agree, then shouted to the city, "The southern army is almost here! I came alone to bring word and was captured by the enemy. Hold firm!" The Qin troops killed him. Peng Chao had left his baggage train at Liucheng. Xie Xuan publicly announced he was sending Rear Army General He Qian of Donghai toward Liucheng. When Chao heard this, he broke off the siege of Pengcheng and marched back to protect his baggage train. Dai Lu led the people of Pengcheng, followed He Qian, and joined Xie Xuan. Chao then seized Pengcheng, left Xu Bao, Administrator-in-Chief of Yanzhou, to defend it, and marched south against Xuyi. Ju Nan captured Huaiyin and left Shao Bao to garrison it.
52
三月，壬戌，詔以「疆埸多虞，年穀不登，其供御所須，事從儉約； 九親供給，眾官廩俸，權可減半。 凡諸役費，自非軍國事要，皆宜停省。」
In the third month, on renxu, an edict declared, "The frontiers are troubled and the harvest has failed. Imperial expenses must be kept frugal; stipends for the nine degrees of kin and salaries for all officials may be cut in half for now. All other levies and expenditures not essential to military or state affairs should be suspended."
53
癸未，使右將軍毛虎生帥眾三萬擊巴中，以救魏興。 前鋒督護趙福等至巴西，為秦將張紹等所敗，亡七千餘人。 虎生退屯巴東。 蜀人李烏聚眾二萬，圍成都以應虎生，秦王堅使破虜將軍呂光擊滅之。 夏，四月，戊申，韋鐘拔魏興，吉挹引刀欲自殺，左右奪其刀； 會秦人至，執之，挹不言不食而死。 秦王堅歎曰：「周孟威不屈於前，丁彥遠潔己於後，吉祖沖閉口而死，何晉氏之多忠臣也！」 挹參軍史穎逃歸，得挹臨終手疏，詔贈益州刺史。
On guiwei, Right General Mao Husheng was sent with thirty thousand men to attack Bazhong and relieve Weixing. Vanguard supervisors Zhao Fu and others reached Baxi and were defeated by Qin generals Zhang Shao and others, losing more than seven thousand men. Husheng withdrew and encamped at Badong. Li Wu of Shu gathered twenty thousand men and besieged Chengdu in support of Husheng. King Fu Jian sent Lü Guang, General Who Breaks Barbarians, to crush him. In summer, the fourth month, on wushen, Wei Zhong captured Weixing. Ji Yi drew a knife to kill himself, but attendants wrested it away; then Qin troops arrived and seized him. Yi refused to speak or eat, and died. King Fu Jian sighed and said, "Zhou Mengwei would not submit; Ding Yanyuan kept himself pure; Ji Zuchong sealed his lips and died — how many loyal ministers the Jin have!" Ji's staff officer Shi Ying escaped home with Ji's final handwritten memorial, and the court posthumously appointed him Inspector of Yizhou.
54
秦毛當、王顯帥眾二萬自襄陽東會俱難、彭超攻淮南。 五月，乙丑，難、超拔盱眙，執高密內史毛璪之。 秦兵六萬圍幽州刺史田洛於三阿，去廣陵百里； 朝廷大震，臨江列戍，遣征虜將軍謝石帥舟師屯塗中。 石，安之弟也。
Mao Dang and Wang Xian of Qin led twenty thousand men east from Xiangyang to join Ju Nan and Peng Chao in the Huainan campaign. In the fifth month, on yichou, Ju Nan and Peng Chao captured Xuyi and seized Mao Zanzhi, Interior Minister of Gaomi. Sixty thousand Qin troops besieged Tian Luo, Inspector of Youzhou, at San'a, a hundred li from Guangling; the court was shaken, lined the Yangtze with garrisons, and sent Xie Shi, General Who Captures Barbarians, to lead the fleet and encamp at Tuzhong. Shi was Xie An's younger brother.
55
右衛將軍毛安之等帥眾四萬屯堂邑。 秦毛當、毛盛帥騎二萬襲堂邑，安之等驚潰。 兗州刺史謝玄自廣陵救三阿； 丙子，難、超戰敗，退保盱眙。 六月，戊子，玄與田洛帥眾五萬進攻盱眙，難、超又敗，退屯淮陰。 玄遣何謙等帥舟師乘潮而上，夜，焚淮橋。 邵保戰死，難，超退屯淮北，玄與何謙、戴逯、田洛共追之，戰於君川，復大破之，難、超北走，僅以身免。 謝玄還廣陵，詔進號冠軍將軍，加領徐州刺史。
Mao Anzhi, Right Guard General, and others led forty thousand men to encamp at Tangyi. Mao Dang and Mao Sheng of Qin led twenty thousand cavalry in a surprise attack on Tangyi; Anzhi and his men panicked and fled in rout. Xie Xuan, Inspector of Yanzhou, marched from Guangling to relieve San'a; On bingzi, Ju Nan and Peng Chao were defeated and withdrew to Xuyi. In the sixth month, on wuzi, Xie Xuan and Tian Luo led fifty thousand men against Xuyi. Ju Nan and Peng Chao were beaten again and fell back to Huaiyin. Xuan sent He Qian and others with the fleet to ride the tide upstream; by night they burned the bridge over the Huai. Shao Bao was killed in battle. Ju Nan and Peng Chao withdrew north of the Huai. Xuan, He Qian, Dai Lu, and Tian Luo pursued them, fought at Junchuan, and routed them again. Nan and Chao fled north and barely escaped with their lives. Xie Xuan returned to Guangling. The court promoted him to Champion General and additionally appointed him Inspector of Xuzhou.
56
秦王堅聞之，大怒。 秋，七月，檻車徵超下廷尉，超自殺。 難削爵為民。
When King Fu Jian heard the news, he was furious. In autumn, the seventh month, Peng Chao was summoned to the Minister of Justice in a caged cart and killed himself. Ju Nan was stripped of his noble rank and reduced to commoner status.
57
以毛當為徐州刺吏，鎮彭城； 毛盛為兗州刺史，鎮胡陸； 王顯為揚州刺史，戍下邳。
Mao Dang was appointed Inspector of Xuzhou and garrisoned Pengcheng; Mao Sheng was appointed Inspector of Yanzhou and garrisoned Hulu; Wang Xian was appointed Inspector of Yangzhou and garrisoned Xiapi.
58
謝安為宰相，秦人屢入寇，邊兵失利，眾心危懼，安每鎮之，以和靜。 其為政，務舉大綱，不為小察。 時人比安於王導，而謂其文雅過之。
Xie An served as chief minister. Qin forces repeatedly raided the borders, frontier troops suffered defeats, and the people grew fearful — yet An always steadied them with calm and composure. In governing, he focused on the broad principles and did not fuss over petty details. Contemporaries compared him to Wang Dao, but judged his refinement superior.
59
八月，丁亥，以左將軍王蘊為尚書僕射，頃之，遷丹楊尹。 蘊自以國姻，不欲在內，苦求外出； 復以為都督浙江東五郡諸軍事、會稽內史。
In the eighth month, on dinghai, Wang Yun was appointed Vice Director of the Masters of Writing; soon afterward he was transferred to Intendant of Danyang. Yun, as a relative by marriage to the imperial house, did not wish to serve at court and urgently sought a post outside the capital; he was again made Commander of all Military Affairs in the Five Commanderies East of the Zhe River and Interior Minister of Kuaiji.
60
是歲，秦大饑。
That year Qin suffered a severe famine.
61
烈宗孝武皇帝上之中太元五年（ 庚辰，公元三八零年）
Emperor Xiaowu of the Liefu line, upper fascicle, middle section — fifth year of Taiyuan ( gengchen year, 380 CE)
62
春，正月，秦王堅復以北海公重為鎮北大將軍，鎮薊。
In spring, in the first month, King Fu Jian of Qin again appointed Duke Zhong of Beihai Great General Who Guards the North, with his command at Ji.
63
二月，作教武堂於渭城，命太學生明陰陽兵法者教授諸將。 秘書監朱肜諫曰：「陛下東征西伐，所向無敵，四海之地，什得其八，雖江南未服，蓋不足言，是宜稍偃武事，增修文德。 乃更始立學舍，教人戰鬥之術，殆非所以馴致昇平也。 且諸將皆百戰之餘，何患不習於兵，而更使受教於書生，非所以強其志氣也。 此無益於實而有損於名，惟陛下圖之！」 堅乃止。
In the second month, the Hall for Teaching Warfare was built at Weicheng, and Imperial University students versed in yin-yang doctrine and military strategy were ordered to instruct the generals. Privy Treasurer Zhu Rong remonstrated: "Your Majesty has campaigned east and west without meeting a foe who could stand against you; you hold eight-tenths of the land within the four seas. Though the south of the Yangtze is not yet subdued, that hardly matters — it is time to ease off warfare and cultivate civil virtue. Yet now you are establishing schools to teach the arts of combat — this is hardly the way to bring about lasting peace. Moreover, your generals are all veterans of a hundred battles — there is no need to worry that they lack military skill. To have them receive instruction from bookish scholars does nothing to strengthen their fighting spirit. This gains nothing in substance yet damages your reputation. Your Majesty, please consider it!" Fu Jian then abandoned the plan.
64
秦征北將軍、幽州刺史行唐公洛，勇而多力，能坐制奔牛，射洞犁耳； 自以有滅代之功，求開府儀同三司，不得，由是怨憤。 三月，秦王堅以洛為使持節、都督益、寧、西南夷諸軍事、征南大將軍、益州牧，使自伊闕趨襄陽，溯漢而上。 洛謂官屬曰：「孤，帝室至親，不得入為將相，而常擯棄邊鄙。 今又投之西裔，復不聽過京師，此必有陰計，欲使梁成沉孤於漢水耳。 於諸君意何如？」 幽州治中平規曰：「逆取順守，湯、武是也； 因禍為福，桓、文是也。 主上雖不為昏暴，然窮兵黷武，民思有所息肩者，十室而九。 若明公神旗一建，必率土雲從。 今跨據全燕，地盡東海，北總烏桓、鮮卑，東引句麗、百濟，控弦之士不減五十餘萬，奈何束手就徵，蹈不測之禍乎！」 洛攘袂大言曰：「孤計決矣，沮謀者斬！」 於是自稱大將軍、大都督、秦王。 以平規為幽州刺史，玄菟太守吉貞為左長史，遼東太守趙贊為左司馬，昌黎太守王蘊為右司馬，遼西太守王琳、北平太守皇甫傑、牧官都尉魏敷等為從事中郎。 分遣使者徵兵於鮮卑、烏桓、高句麗、百濟、新羅、休忍諸國，遣兵三萬助北海公重戍薊。 諸國皆曰：「吾為天子守籓，不能從行唐公為逆。」 洛懼，欲止，猶豫未決。 王縵、王琳、皇甫傑、魏敷知其無成，欲告之； 洛皆殺之。 吉貞、趙贊曰：「今諸國不從，事乖本圖。 明公若憚益州之行者，當遣使奉表乞留，主上亦不慮不從。」 平規曰：「今事形頗露，何可中止！ 宜聲言受詔，盡幽州之兵，南出常山，陽平公必郊迎； 因而執之，進據冀州，總關東之眾以圖西土，天下可指麾而定也。」 洛從之。 夏，四月，洛帥眾七萬發和龍。
Duke Luo of Xingtang, Qin's Northern Expeditionary General and Inspector of Youzhou, was a man of great courage and strength — he could subdue a charging ox while seated and pierce a plough handle with an arrow; believing himself entitled to credit for destroying Dai, he sought the rank of Grand General with privilege equal to the Three Excellencies but was refused, and from then on nursed resentment. In the third month, King Fu Jian appointed Luo Bearer of the Staff of Authority, supreme commander of military affairs in Yi, Ning, and the southwestern Yi territories, Great General on Southern Expedition, and Governor of Yizhou, ordering him to set out from Yique for Xiangyang and ascend the Han River. Luo said to his staff, "I am the emperor's closest kinsman, yet I am never allowed to serve in the capital as general or minister — I am always cast off to the frontier. Now I am being sent to the western marches and not even permitted to pass through the capital — this must be a hidden plot to have Liang Cheng destroy me on the Han. What do you think?" Ping Gui, chief clerk of Youzhou, said, "Tang and Wu seized the realm by force yet ruled in accordance with Heaven; Duke Huan and Duke Wen of Jin turned calamity into good fortune. Our sovereign is no tyrant, yet his endless warfare has exhausted the people — nine households in ten long for relief. If Your Lordship raise your banner, the whole land will rally to you like clouds gathering. You hold all of Yan, your lands reaching to the Eastern Sea; in the north you command the Wuhuan and Xianbei, in the east you can draw on Goguryeo and Baekje — your armed force numbers at least five hundred thousand. Why submit meekly to a summons and walk into disaster?" Luo pushed up his sleeves and declared, "My mind is made up — whoever dissents will be beheaded!" Thereupon he styled himself Great General, Grand Commander-in-Chief, and King of Qin. He appointed Ping Gui Inspector of Youzhou, Ji Zhen of Xuantu as Left Chief Clerk, Zhao Zan of Liaodong as Left Chief Military Aide, Wang Yun of Changli as Right Chief Military Aide, and Wang Lin of Liaoxi, Huangfu Jie of Beiping, and Wei Fu, Chief Herds Officer, as Attending Clerks. He dispatched envoys to levy troops from the Xianbei, Wuhuan, Goguryeo, Baekje, Silla, and Xiuren peoples, and sent thirty thousand men to help Duke Zhong of Beihai hold Ji. They all replied, "We guard the frontier for the Son of Heaven — we cannot follow Duke Luo of Xingtang in rebellion." Luo grew alarmed and wanted to abandon the plan, but hesitated, unable to decide. Wang Man, Wang Lin, Huangfu Jie, and Wei Fu, seeing that the plot would fail, intended to inform against him; Luo had them all put to death. Ji Zhen and Zhao Zan said, "The states refuse to follow — the plan has gone awry. If Your Lordship dreads the posting to Yizhou, send an envoy with a memorial begging to be allowed to stay — the emperor will surely grant it." Ping Gui said, "Matters are already too far gone — there is no turning back! Announce that you have received imperial orders, muster all Youzhou's forces, and march south through Changshan — the Duke of Yangping will surely come out to welcome you; seize him when he does, advance to occupy Jizhou, and rally all the forces east of the passes to strike west — the realm can be won at a command." Luo agreed. In summer, in the fourth month, Luo led seventy thousand men out of Helong.
65
秦王堅召群臣謀之，步兵校尉呂光曰：「行唐公以至親為逆，此天下所共疾。 願假臣步騎五萬，取之如拾遺耳。」 堅曰：「重、洛兄弟，據東北一隅，兵賦全資，未可輕也。」 光曰：「彼眾迫於凶威，一時蟻聚耳。 若以大軍臨之，勢必瓦解，不足憂也。」 堅乃遺使讓洛，使還和龍，當以幽州永為世封。 洛謂使者曰：「汝還白東海王，幽州褊狹，不足以容萬乘，須王秦中以承高祖之業。 若能迎駕潼關者，當位為上公，爵歸本國。」 堅怒，遣左將軍武都竇沖及呂光帥步騎四萬討之； 右將軍都貴馳傳詣鄴，將冀州兵三萬為前鋒； 以陽平公融為征討大都督。
King Fu Jian summoned his ministers for counsel. Lü Guang, Colonel of Foot Soldiers, said, "Duke Luo of Xingtang has rebelled despite his close kinship to the throne — all under Heaven alike despises this. Lend me fifty thousand infantry and cavalry, and I shall capture him as easily as picking up something dropped on the road." Fu Jian said, "The brothers Zhong and Luo hold the northeast with full military strength — they must not be underestimated." Lü Guang replied, "Their followers are driven together by terror — they are only a swarm of ants for the moment. When a great army appears, they will collapse — there is nothing to fear." Fu Jian sent an envoy to rebuke Luo and ordered him to return to Helong, promising that Youzhou would be his hereditary fief forever. Luo told the envoy, "Go back and tell the Prince of Donghai: Youzhou is too cramped to hold an imperial throne. He must rule from Guanzhong to inherit the Founding Emperor's legacy. If he will welcome me at Tong Pass, I shall grant him the rank of Duke Paramount and restore his original title." Enraged, Fu Jian dispatched Left General Dou Chong of Wudu and Lü Guang at the head of forty thousand infantry and cavalry to suppress him; Right General Du Gui rode post-haste to Ye to lead thirty thousand Jizhou troops as vanguard; Duke Rong of Yangping was appointed Grand Commander-in-Chief of the punitive expedition.
66
北海公重悉薊城之眾與洛會，屯中山，有眾十萬。 五月，竇沖等與洛戰於中山，洛兵大敗，生擒洛，送長安。 北海公重走還薊，呂光追斬之。 屯騎校尉石越自東萊帥騎一萬，浮海襲和龍，斬平規，幽州悉平。 堅赦洛不誅，徙涼州之西海郡。
Duke Zhong of Beihai mobilized all the forces of Ji and joined Luo, encamping at Zhongshan with one hundred thousand men. In the fifth month, Dou Chong and his forces fought Luo at Zhongshan. Luo's army was routed, Luo was captured alive, and sent to Chang'an. Duke Zhong of Beihai fled back to Ji, where Lü Guang pursued and killed him. Shi Yue, Colonel of Garrison Cavalry, led ten thousand horsemen from Donglai across the sea against Helong, beheaded Ping Gui, and pacified all of Youzhou. Fu Jian spared Luo's life and exiled him to Xihai Commandery in Liangzhou.
67
臣光曰：夫有功不賞，有罪不誅，雖堯、舜不能為治，況他人乎！ 秦王堅每得反者輒宥之，使其臣狃於為逆，行險徼幸，雖力屈被擒，猶不憂死，亂何自而息哉！ 《書》曰：「威克厥愛，允濟； 愛克厥威，允罔功。」 《詩》云：「毋縱詭隨，以謹罔極； 式遏寇虐，無俾作慝。」 今堅違之，能無亡乎！
Master Guang remarks: When merit goes unrewarded and guilt unpunished, not even Yao and Shun could govern well — how much less ordinary rulers! Whenever King Fu Jian captured a rebel he pardoned him, accustoming his subjects to treason. Men took to desperate gambles; even when defeated and captured, they did not fear death. How could rebellion ever end? The Book of Documents says, "When stern justice overcomes tender feeling, the task succeeds; when tender feeling overcomes stern justice, no achievement is made." The Book of Odes says, "Do not indulge the deceitful and frivolous, lest lawlessness run rampant; restrain violence and cruelty, and permit no wickedness." Fu Jian has violated these precepts — can ruin be far away?
68
朝廷以秦兵之退為謝安、桓沖之功，拜安衛將軍，與沖皆開府儀同三司。
The Jin court credited the withdrawal of Qin troops to Xie An and Huan Chong; Xie An was made General Who Guards the Realm, and both he and Huan Chong received privilege equal to the Three Excellencies.
69
六月，甲子，大赦。
In the sixth month, on jiazi, a general amnesty was proclaimed.
70
丁卯，以會稽王道子為司徒； 固讓不拜。
On dingmao, Prince Daozi of Kuaiji was appointed Minister over the Masses; he repeatedly declined and refused the post.
71
秦王堅召陽平公融為侍中、中書監、都督中外諸軍事、車騎大將軍、司隸校尉、錄尚書事； 以征南大將軍、守尚書令長樂公丕為都督關東諸軍事、征東大將軍、冀州牧。 堅以諸氐種類繁滋，秋，七月，分三原、九嵕、武都、汧、雍氐十五萬戶，使諸宗親各領之，散居方鎮，如古諸侯。 長樂公丕領氐三千戶，以仇池氐酋射聲校尉楊膺為征東左司馬，九嵕氐酋長水校尉齊午為右司馬，各領一千五百戶，為長樂世卿。 長樂國郎中令略陽垣敞為錄事參軍，侍講扶風韋干為參軍事，申紹為別駕。 膺，丕之妃兄也； 午，膺之妻父也。 八月，分幽州置平州，以石越為平州刺史，鎮龍城。 中書令梁讜為幽州刺史，鎮薊城。 撫軍將軍毛興為都督河、秦二州諸軍事、河州刺史，鎮枹罕。 長水校尉王騰為并州刺史，鎮晉陽。 河、并二州各配氐戶三千。 興、騰並苻氏婚姻，氐之崇望也。 平原公暉為都督豫、洛、荊、南兗、東豫、揚六州諸軍事、鎮東大將軍、豫州牧，鎮洛陽。 移洛州刺史治豐陽。 以巨鹿公睿為雍州刺史，鎮蒲阪。 各配氐戶三千二百。
King Fu Jian recalled Duke Rong of Yangping as Palace Attendant, Director of the Palace Library, supreme commander of military affairs within and without, General of Chariots and Cavalry, Colonel Director of Retainers, and Supervisor of Masters of Writing; Duke Pi of Changle, Great General on Southern Expedition and Acting Director of the Masters of Writing, was appointed commander of military affairs east of the passes, Great General on Eastern Expedition, and Governor of Jizhou. Because the Di tribes had greatly multiplied, in autumn, the seventh month, Fu Jian distributed one hundred fifty thousand Di households from Sanyuan, Jiu'ao, Wudu, Qian, and Yong among his kinsmen to command, scattering them through the frontier garrisons like the feudal lords of old. Duke Pi of Changle received three thousand Di households; Yang Ying, chieftain of the Qiu Chi Di and Colonel of She Sheng, was made Left Chief Military Aide on the Eastern Expedition, and Qi Wu, chieftain of the Jiu'ao Di and Chang Shui Colonel, Right Chief Military Aide — each commanding fifteen hundred households as hereditary ministers of Changle. Yuan Chang, Commandant of Officials of the State of Changle, was made Recording Secretary; Wei Gan of Fufeng, Court Lecturer, Military Aide; and Shen Shao Vice Director. Yang Ying was Pi's brother-in-law; Qi Wu was Yang Ying's father-in-law. In the eighth month, Pingzhou was established from Youzhou; Shi Yue was appointed its inspector and garrisoned Longcheng. Liang Dang, Director of the Masters of Writing, was made Inspector of Youzhou and garrisoned Ji. Mao Xing, General Who Pacifies the Army, was appointed commander of military affairs in He and Qin provinces, Governor of Hezhou, and garrisoned Fuhan. Wang Teng, Chang Shui Colonel, was made Inspector of Bingzhou and garrisoned Jinyang. He and Bing provinces were each assigned three thousand Di households. Mao Xing and Wang Teng were both connected to the Fu clan by marriage and were eminent among the Di. Duke Hui of Pingyuan was made supreme commander of military affairs in Yu, Luo, Jing, Southern Yan, Eastern Yu, and Yang provinces, Great General Who Guards the East, Governor of Yuzhou, and garrisoned Luoyang. The seat of the Inspector of Luozhou was moved to Fengyang. Duke Rui of Julu was made Inspector of Yongzhou and garrisoned Puban. Each was assigned three thousand two hundred Di households.
72
堅送丕至灞上，諸氐別其父兄，皆慟哭，哀感路人。 趙整因侍宴，援琴而歌曰：「阿得脂，阿得脂，博勞舅父是仇綏，尾長翼短不能飛。 遠徙種人留鮮卑，一旦緩急當語誰！」 堅笑而不納。
Fu Jian escorted Pi as far as Bashang. When the Di people parted from their fathers and brothers, all wept bitterly, moving passersby to tears. At a banquet Zhao Zheng took up a zither and sang: "A-de-zhi, a-de-zhi — the shrike's maternal uncle is Qiu Sui; his tail is long, his wings short — he cannot fly. You send your own people far away while the Xianbei remain behind — when crisis comes, whom will you call upon!" Fu Jian laughed it off and paid no heed.
73
九月，癸未，皇后王氏崩。
In the ninth month, on guiwei, Empress Wang died.
74
冬，十月，九真太守李遜據交州反。
In winter, in the tenth month, Li Xun, Administrator of Jiuzhen, seized Jiaozhou and rebelled.
75
秦王堅以左禁將軍楊壁為秦州刺史，尚書趙遷為洛州刺史，南巴校尉姜宇為寧州刺史。
King Fu Jian appointed Left Guard General Yang Bi Governor of Qinzhou, Master of Writing Zhao Qian Governor of Luozhou, and Jiang Yu, Colonel of Southern Ba, Governor of Ningzhou.
76
十一月，乙酉，葬定皇后於隆平陵。
In the eleventh month, on yiyou, Empress Ding was interred at Longping Mausoleum.
77
十二月，秦以左將軍都貴為荊州刺史，鎮彭城。
In the twelfth month, Qin appointed Left General Du Gui Inspector of Jingzhou, with his command at Pengcheng.
78
置東豫州，以毛當為刺史，鎮許昌。
Eastern Yuzhou was established; Mao Dang was made its inspector and garrisoned Xuchang.
79
是歲，秦王堅遣高密太守毛璪之等二百餘人來歸。
That year, King Fu Jian sent Mao Qianzhi, Administrator of Gaomi, and more than two hundred others to defect to Jin.
80
烈宗孝武皇帝上之中太元六年（ 辛巳，公元三八一年）
Emperor Xiaowu of the Liefu line, upper fascicle, middle section — sixth year of Taiyuan ( xinsi year, 381 CE)
81
春，正月，帝初奉佛法，立精舍於殿內，引諸沙門居之。 尚書左丞王雅表諫，不從。 雅，肅之曾孫也。
In spring, the first month, the emperor embraced Buddhism for the first time, built a monastery within the palace, and invited monks to live there. Wang Ya, Left Assistant Director of the Masters of Writing, submitted a memorial of remonstrance, but the emperor refused to listen. Wang Ya was the great-grandson of Wang Su.
82
丁酉，以尚書謝石為僕射。
On dingyou, Xie Shi was appointed Vice Director of the Masters of Writing.
83
二月，東夷，西域六十二國入貢於秦。
In the second month, sixty-two states of the Eastern Yi and the Western Regions presented tribute to Qin.
84
夏，六月，庚子朔，日有食之。
In summer, the sixth month, on the first day (gengzi), there was a solar eclipse.
85
秋，七月，甲午，交趾太守杜瑗斬李遜，交州平。
In autumn, the seventh month, on jiawu, Du Yuan, Administrator of Jiaozhi, beheaded Li Xun and pacified Jiaozhou.
86
冬，十月，故武陵王晞卒於新安，追封新寧郡王，命其子遵為嗣。
In winter, the tenth month, the former Prince of Wuling, Xi, died at Xin'an; he was posthumously enfeoffed Prince of Xinning Commandery, and his son Zun was named his heir.
87
十一月，己亥，以前會稽內史郗愔為司空； 愔固辭不起。
In the eleventh month, on jihai, Chi Yin, former Interior Minister of Kuaiji, was appointed Minister of Works; Chi Yin firmly declined and refused to serve.
88
秦荊州刺史都貴遣其司馬閻振、中兵參軍吳仲帥眾二萬寇竟陵，桓沖遣南平太守桓石虔、衛軍參軍桓石民等帥水陸二萬拒之。 石民，石虔之弟也。 十二月，甲辰，石虔襲擊振、仲，大破之，振、仲退保管城。 石虔進攻之，癸亥，拔管城，獲振、仲，斬首七千級，俘虜萬人。 詔封桓沖子謙為宜陽侯，以桓石虔領河東太守。
Du Gui, Qin's Inspector of Jingzhou, sent his Chief Military Aide Yan Zhen and Central Army Aide Wu Zhong with twenty thousand men to raid Jingling. Huan Chong dispatched Huan Shiqian, Administrator of Nanping, and Huan Shimin, Army Aide of the Guard, with twenty thousand troops by land and water to resist them. Shimin was Shiqian's younger brother. In the twelfth month, on jiachen, Shiqian launched a surprise attack on Zhen and Zhong and routed them; Zhen and Zhong retreated to hold Guancheng. Shiqian pressed the attack and, on guihai, captured Guancheng, taking Zhen and Zhong prisoner, beheading seven thousand, and capturing ten thousand. An edict enfeoffed Huan Chong's son Qian as Marquis of Yiyang and made Huan Shiqian acting Administrator of Hedong.
89
是歲，江東大饑。
That year the lands east of the Yangtze suffered a great famine.
90
烈宗孝武皇帝上之中太元七年（ 壬午，公元三八二年）
Emperor Xiaowu of the Liefu line, upper fascicle, middle section — seventh year of Taiyuan ( renwu year, 382 CE)
91
春，三月，秦大司農東海公陽、員外散騎侍郎王皮、尚書郎周颺謀反，事覺，收下廷尉。 陽，法之子； 皮，猛之子也。 秦王堅問其反狀，陽曰：「臣父哀公死不以罪，臣為父復仇耳。」 堅泣曰：「哀公之死，事不在朕，卿豈不知之！」 王皮曰：「臣父丞相，有佐命之勳，而臣不免貧賤，故欲圖富貴耳。」 堅曰：「丞相臨終托卿，以十具牛為治田之資，未嘗為卿求官。 知子莫若父，何其明也！」 周颺曰：「颺世荷晉恩，生為晉鬼，復何問乎！」 先是，颺屢謀反叛，左右皆請殺之。 堅曰：「孟威烈士，秉志如此，豈憚死乎！ 殺之適足成其名耳！」 皆赦，不誅，徙陽於涼州之高昌郡，皮、颺於朔方之北。 颺卒於朔方。 陽勇力兼人，尋復徙鄯善。 及建元之末，秦國大亂，陽劫鄯善之相，欲求東歸，鄯善王殺之。
In spring, the third month, Duke Yang of Donghai, Qin's Grand Minister of Agriculture, Wang Pi, Supernumerary Gentleman Attendant, and Zhou Yang, Master of Writing, plotted rebellion. The plot was discovered and they were arrested and handed over to the Court of Justice. Yang was the son of Fu Fa; Wang Pi was the son of Wang Meng. King Fu Jian questioned them about their rebellion. Yang said, "My father Duke Ai died without having committed any crime — I am avenging my father, that is all." Fu Jian wept and said, "Duke Ai's death was not my doing — surely you know that!" Wang Pi said, "My father was chief minister and had the merit of founding the state, yet I remained poor and obscure — so I sought wealth and rank." Fu Jian said, "When your father was dying he left you ten teams of oxen as capital for farming — he never asked me to give you office. No one knows a son like his father — how perceptive he was!" Zhou Yang said, "My family has long owed Jin a debt of grace — in life I was Jin's man, in death I shall be Jin's ghost. What more is there to ask? Earlier, Yang had repeatedly plotted rebellion, and his attendants all urged that he be executed. Fu Jian said, "Meng Wei is a man of heroic resolve — with such steadfast purpose, would he fear death? To kill him would only make him a martyr!" All were pardoned: Yang was exiled to Gaochang Commandery in Liangzhou, Pi and Yang to the far north of Shuofang. Zhou Yang died in Shuofang. Fu Yang was a man of great courage and strength; before long he was transferred again to Shanshan. At the end of the Jianyuan era, when Qin fell into chaos, Yang seized the prime minister of Shanshan in an attempt to return east; the King of Shanshan killed him.
92
秦王堅徙鄴銅駝、銅馬、飛廉、翁仲於長安。
King Fu Jian moved the bronze camel, bronze horse, Flying General, and Weng Zhong statues from Ye to Chang'an.
93
夏，四月，堅扶風太守王永為幽刺史。 永，皮之兄也。 皮凶險無行，而永清修好學，故堅用之。 以陽平公融為司徒，融固辭不受。 堅方謀伐晉，乃以融為征南大將軍、開府儀同三司。
In summer, the fourth month, Fu Jian appointed Wang Yong, Administrator of Fufeng, Inspector of Youzhou. Wang Yong was Wang Pi's elder brother. Wang Pi was fierce, treacherous, and dissolute, whereas Wang Yong was upright, cultivated, and fond of learning — therefore Fu Jian employed Yong. Duke Rong of Yangping was appointed Minister over the Masses, but Rong firmly declined. Fu Jian was planning to attack Jin, and so made Rong Great General on Southern Expedition with privilege equal to the Three Excellencies.
94
五月，幽州蝗生，廣袤千里。 秦王堅使散騎常侍彭城劉蘭發幽、冀、青、并民撲除之。
In the fifth month, locusts appeared in Youzhou, covering a thousand li. King Fu Jian sent Liu Lan of Pengcheng, Regular Attendant, to mobilize the people of You, Ji, Qing, and Bing provinces to exterminate them.
95
秋，八月，癸卯，大赦。
In autumn, the eighth month, on guimao, a general amnesty was proclaimed.
96
秦王堅以諫方大夫裴元略為巴西、樟潼二郡太守，使密具舟師。
King Fu Jian made Pei Yuanlue, Remonstrance Officer, Administrator of Baxi and Zhangtong commanderies, ordering him secretly to prepare a fleet.
97
九月，車師前部王彌窴、鄯善王休密馱入朝於秦，請為鄉導，以伐西域之不服者，因如漢法置都護以統理之。 秦王堅以驍騎將軍呂光為使持節、都督西域征討諸軍事，與凌江將軍姜飛、輕車將軍彭晃、將軍杜進、康盛等總兵十萬，鐵騎五千，以伐西域。 陽平公融諫曰：「西域荒遠，得其民不可使，得其地不可食，漢武征之，得不補失。 今勞師萬里之外，以踵漢氏之過舉，臣竊惜之。」 不聽。
In the ninth month, Mi Tuo, King of the Front Division of Cheshi, and Xiumituo, King of Shanshan, came to court in Qin, offering to serve as guides against the unsubmissive states of the Western Regions and to establish a Protector-General to govern them on the Han model. King Fu Jian made Lü Guang, General of Fierce Cavalry, Bearer of the Staff of Authority and supreme commander of the punitive expedition in the Western Regions. Together with Jiang Fei, General Who Crosses the River, Peng Huang, General of Light Chariots, and Generals Du Jin and Kang Sheng, he commanded one hundred thousand troops and five thousand iron cavalry against the Western Regions. Duke Rong of Yangping remonstrated, "The Western Regions are remote and barren — their people cannot be employed and their lands cannot feed us. Emperor Wu of Han campaigned there and gained less than he lost. To weary the army ten thousand li away, repeating the Han dynasty's mistake — I deeply regret it. Fu Jian would not listen.
98
桓沖使揚威將軍朱綽擊秦荊州刺史都貴於襄陽，焚踐沔北屯田，掠六百餘戶而還。
Huan Chong sent Zhu Chuo, General Who Displays Might, to attack Du Gui, Qin's Inspector of Jingzhou, at Xiangyang, burning the garrison farms north of the Mian River and carrying off more than six hundred households before returning.
99
冬，十月，秦王堅會群臣於太極殿，議曰：「自吾承業，垂三十載，四方略定，唯東南一隅，未沾王化。 今略計吾士卒，可得九十七萬，吾欲自將以討之，何如？」 秘書監朱肜曰：「陛下返中國士民，使復其桑梓，然後回輿東巡，告成岱宗，此千載一時也！」 堅喜曰：「是吾志也。」 尚書左僕射權翼曰：「昔紂為無道，三仁在朝，武王猶為之旋師。 今晉雖微弱，未有大惡。 謝安、桓沖皆江表偉人，君臣輯睦，內外同心。 以臣觀之，未可圖也。」 堅嘿然良久，曰：「諸君各言其志。」
In winter, the tenth month, King Fu Jian assembled his ministers in the Hall of Supreme Ultimate and said, "Since I inherited the throne, nearly thirty years have passed. The four quarters are largely settled — only the southeast has not yet submitted to our rule. By rough count my soldiers number nine hundred seventy thousand. I wish to lead them in person against Jin — what do you think?" Privy Treasurer Zhu Rong said, "Your Majesty should return the Chinese people to their native places, then turn your carriage east to tour the realm and announce your achievement at Mount Tai — this is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity!" Fu Jian said with pleasure, "That is my wish." Quan Yi, Left Vice Director of the Masters of Writing, said, "In antiquity King Zhou of Shang was without the Way, yet three worthies served in his court — still King Wu turned his army back. Now though Jin is weak, it has committed no great evil. Xie An and Huan Chong are both great men south of the Yangtze; ruler and ministers are harmonious and united within and without. In my view, they cannot be taken." Fu Jian was silent for a long while, then said, "Let each of you speak his mind."
100
太子左衛率石越曰：「今歲鎮守鬥，福德在吳。 伐之，必有天殃。 且彼據長江之險，民為之用，殆未可伐也！」 堅曰：「昔武王伐紂，逆歲違卜。 天道幽遠，未易可知。 夫差、孫皓皆保據江湖，不免於亡。 今以吾之眾，投鞭於江，足斷其流，又何險之足恃乎！」 對曰：「三國之君皆淫虐無道，故敵國取之，易於拾遺。 今晉雖無德，未有大罪，願陛下且案兵積穀，以待其釁。」 於是群臣各言利害，久之不決。 堅曰：「此所謂築室道旁，無時可成。 吾當內斷於心耳！」
Shi Yue, Left Guard Leader of the Crown Prince, said, "This year the Guardian Star is in Wu's quarter and fortune rests with Wu. To attack them will surely bring heavenly calamity. Moreover they hold the Yangtze's natural defenses and the people serve them — they can scarcely be attacked!" Fu Jian said, "When King Wu attacked Zhou, he went against the year-star and defied the oracle. The Way of Heaven is deep and remote — it is not easily known. Fuchai of Wu and Sun Hao both held the rivers and lakes yet could not escape destruction. Now with my multitude, if we cast whips into the river, they would suffice to dam its flow — what defense is worth relying on!" Shi Yue replied, "The rulers of the Three Kingdoms were all licentious and tyrannical — therefore enemy states took them as easily as picking up something dropped on the road. Now though Jin lacks virtue, it has committed no great crime. Your Majesty, please hold the army and accumulate grain, waiting for their fault to appear." Thereupon the ministers each spoke of advantage and harm, and for a long time no decision was reached. Fu Jian said, "This is what is called building a house beside the road — it can never be finished. I shall decide within my own heart!"
101
群臣皆出，獨留陽平公融，謂之曰：「自古定大事者，不過一二臣而已。 今眾言紛紛，徒亂人意，吾當與汝決之。」 對曰：「今伐晉有三難：天道不順，一也； 晉國無釁，二也； 我數戰兵疲，民有畏敵之心，三也。 群臣言晉不可伐者，皆忠臣也，願陛下聽之。」 堅作色曰：「汝亦如此，吾復何望！ 吾強兵百萬，資仗如山； 吾雖未為令主，亦非暗劣。 乘累捷之勢，擊垂亡之國，何患不克，豈可復留此殘寇，使長為國家之憂哉！」 融泣曰：「晉未可滅，昭然甚明。 今勞師大舉，恐無萬全之功。 且臣之所憂，不止於此。 陛下寵育鮮卑、羌、羯，佈滿畿甸，此屬皆我之深仇。 太子獨與弱卒數萬留守京師，臣懼有不虞之變生於腹心肘掖，不可悔也。 臣之頑愚，誠不足采； 王景略一時英傑，陛下常比之諸葛武侯，獨不記其臨沒之言乎！」 堅不聽。 於是朝臣進諫者眾，堅曰：「以吾擊晉，校其強弱之勢，猶疾風之掃秋葉，而朝廷內外皆言不可，誠吾所不解也！」
When all the ministers had withdrawn, Fu Jian kept Duke Rong of Yangping alone and said, "Since antiquity, those who settle great affairs have never been more than one or two ministers. Now the multitude of voices only confuses the mind — I shall decide this with you." Rong replied, "To attack Jin now presents three difficulties: the Way of Heaven is not favorable — that is the first; Jin has given no cause for attack — that is the second; we have fought repeatedly and the army is weary, and the people fear the enemy — that is the third. Those ministers who say Jin cannot be attacked are all loyal subjects — Your Majesty, please heed them." Fu Jian's face darkened and he said, "You too speak thus — what hope have I left! I have a mighty army of one million and supplies and weapons like mountains; though I am not yet a perfect ruler, I am not dim-witted either. Riding the momentum of repeated victories to strike a state on the verge of collapse — what worry is there of failure? How can we leave this remnant foe to be a perpetual worry to the state!" Rong wept and said, "That Jin cannot be destroyed is abundantly clear. Now to launch a great campaign — I fear there will be no guarantee of complete success. And my worry is not limited to this alone. Your Majesty has nurtured and favored the Xianbei, Qiang, and Jie, scattering them throughout the capital region — these are all our deepest enemies. The crown prince alone with a few tens of thousands of weak troops remains to guard the capital — I fear some unforeseen change may arise at the very heart of the realm, beyond recall. My stubborn foolishness is truly unworthy of consideration; Wang Jinglue was a hero of his age — Your Majesty often compared him to Zhuge Liang — have you alone forgotten his dying words!" Fu Jian would not listen. Many court ministers then came forward to remonstrate. Fu Jian said, "When I compare my strength with Jin's, attacking Jin is like a fierce wind sweeping autumn leaves — yet within and without the court all say it cannot be done. Truly I cannot understand this!"
102
太子宏曰：「今歲在吳分，又晉君無罪，若大舉不捷，恐威名外挫，財力內竭，此群下所以疑也！」 堅曰：「昔吾滅燕，亦犯歲而捷，天道固難知也。 秦滅六國，六國之君豈皆暴虐乎！」
Crown Prince Hong said, "This year the star is in Wu's quarter, and moreover the Jin ruler is without guilt — if a great campaign does not succeed, I fear our prestige will be shattered abroad and our resources exhausted at home. That is why your subjects doubt!" Fu Jian said, "When I destroyed Yan, I too went against the year-star and yet succeeded — the Way of Heaven is indeed hard to know. When Qin destroyed the Six States, were all their rulers tyrannical!"
103
冠軍、京兆尹慕容垂言於堅曰：「弱並於強，小並於大，此理勢自然，非難知也。 以陛下神武應期，威加海外，虎旅百萬，韓、白滿朝，而蕞爾江南，獨違王命，豈可復留之以遺子孫哉！ 《詩》云：『謀夫孔多，是用不集。』 陛下斷自聖心足矣，何必廣詢朝眾！ 晉武平吳，所仗者張、杜二三臣而已，若從朝眾之言，豈有混壹之功乎！」 堅大悅，曰：「與吾共定天下者，獨卿而已。」 賜帛五百匹。
Murong Chui, Champion of the Realm and Intendant of Jingzhao, said to Fu Jian, "The weak being absorbed by the strong, the small by the large — this is the natural course of reason and circumstance, not hard to understand. With Your Majesty's divine martial prowess answering the age, your authority extending beyond the seas, tiger troops numbering one million, and men like Han Xin and Bai Qi filling the court — yet this tiny land south of the Yangtze alone defies your command — how can we leave it to burden our descendants! The Book of Odes says, "Counsellors are many, therefore nothing is accomplished." Your Majesty need only decide from your sage heart — why consult the multitude of the court! When Emperor Wu of Jin pacified Wu, he relied on no more than two or three ministers like Zhang and Du — if he had followed the court's counsel, would he have achieved unification!" Fu Jian was greatly pleased and said, "The one who will settle the realm with me is you alone." He bestowed five hundred bolts of silk.
104
堅銳意欲取江東，寢不能旦。 陽平公融諫曰：「『知足不辱，知止不殆。』 自古窮兵極武，未有不亡者。 且國家本戎狄也，正朔會不歸人。 江東雖微弱僅存，然中華正統，天意必不絕之。」 堅曰：「帝王歷數，豈有常邪！ 惟德之所在耳！ 劉禪豈非漢之苗裔邪，終為魏所滅。 汝所以不如吾者，正病此不達變通耳！」
Fu Jian was keenly intent on taking the lands east of the Yangtze and could scarcely sleep until dawn. Duke Rong of Yangping remonstrated, ""To know sufficiency is not to be disgraced; to know when to stop is not to be endangered. Since antiquity, those who exhaust the state in warfare have never failed to perish. Moreover our state is originally of the Rong and Di — the imperial calendar will surely not pass to us. The lands east of the Yangtze, though weak and barely surviving, are nevertheless the orthodox lineage of the Central States — Heaven's intent will surely not let it perish." Fu Jian said, "The succession of emperors — can it be constant! It depends only on where virtue resides! Was Liu Shan not a descendant of Han? Yet in the end he was destroyed by Wei. The reason you are not my equal is precisely that you suffer from this failure to grasp change and adapt!"
105
堅素信重沙門道安，群臣使道安乘間進言。 十一月，堅與道安同輦游於東苑，堅曰：「朕將與公南遊吳、越，泛長江，臨滄海，不亦樂乎！」 安曰：「陛下應天御世，居中土而制四維，自足比隆堯、舜，何必櫛風沐雨，經略遐方乎！ 且東南卑濕，沴氣易構，虞舜游而不歸，大禹往而不復。 何足以上勞大駕也！」 堅曰：「天生烝民，而樹之君，使司牧之，朕豈敢憚勞，使彼一方獨不被澤乎！ 必如公言，是古之帝王皆無征伐也！」 道安曰：「必不得已，陛下宜駐蹕洛陽，遣使者奉尺書於前，諸將總六師於後，彼必稽首入臣，不必親涉江、淮也。」 堅不聽。
Fu Jian had long trusted and honored the Buddhist monk Dao An; the ministers had Dao An seize an opportune moment to offer counsel. In the eleventh month, Fu Jian rode in the same carriage with Dao An touring the Eastern Park. Fu Jian said, "I shall travel south with you to Wu and Yue, sail the Long River, and stand before the blue sea — is this not joy!" Dao An said, "Your Majesty responds to Heaven and governs the age, holding the central lands and controlling the four directions — this alone suffices to match the glory of Yao and Shun. Why must you comb the wind and wash in the rain, campaigning in distant regions! Moreover the southeast is low and damp, and pestilential vapors easily arise — Emperor Shun toured there and did not return; Yu the Great went there and did not come back. How can it be worth troubling the imperial carriage for this!" Fu Jian said, "Heaven produced the multitude and established rulers over them to govern and shepherd the people — how dare I shrink from toil and leave that one region alone without my grace! If it must be as you say, then the emperors of antiquity undertook no campaigns at all!" Dao An said, "If it cannot be avoided, Your Majesty should halt your carriage at Luoyang, send envoys bearing a letter ahead, and have the generals command the six armies behind — they will surely bow and submit as your subjects. There is no need for you to cross the Yangtze and Huai in person. Fu Jian would not listen.
106
堅所幸張夫人諫曰：「妾聞天地之生萬物，聖王之治天下，皆因其自然而順之，故功無不成。 是以黃帝服牛乘馬，因其性也； 禹浚九川，障九澤，因其勢也； 后稷播殖百穀，因其時也； 湯、武帥天下而攻桀、紂，因其心也。 皆有因則成，無因則敗。 今朝野之人皆言晉不可伐，陛下獨決意行之，妾不知陛下何所因也。 《書》曰：『天聰明自我民聰明。』 天猶因民，而況人乎！ 妾又聞王者出師，必上觀天道，下順人心。 今人心既不然矣，請驗之天道。 諺云：『雞夜鳴者不利行師，犬群嗥者宮室將空，兵動馬驚，軍敗不歸。』 自秋、冬以來，眾雞夜鳴，群犬哀嗥，廄馬多驚，武庫兵器自動有聲，此皆非出師之祥也。」 堅曰：「軍旅之事，非婦人所當預也！」
Lady Zhang, whom Fu Jian favored, remonstrated, "I have heard that when Heaven and Earth produce the myriad things, and when sage kings govern the realm, all follow their natural course — therefore nothing fails of success. Therefore the Yellow Emperor rode oxen and drove horses — following their nature; Yu dredged the nine rivers and dammed the nine marshes — following their terrain; Hou Ji sowed and planted the hundred grains — following the seasons; Tang and Wu led the realm to attack Jie and Zhou — following the people's hearts. Where there is a basis, success follows; where there is none, failure follows. Now everyone at court and in the countryside says Jin cannot be attacked, yet Your Majesty alone is resolved to proceed — I do not know on what basis Your Majesty acts. The Book of Documents says, "Heaven's clarity comes from the clarity of the people." Heaven itself follows the people — how much more should men! I have also heard that when a king sends forth his army, he must look to Heaven above and follow the people's hearts below. Now the people's hearts are not with you — please test this against Heaven's will. A proverb says, "When cocks crow at night, it bodes ill for an army on the march; when dogs howl in packs, the palace will be emptied; when troops stir and horses start, the army is defeated and does not return." Since autumn and winter, cocks have crowed at night, dogs have howled mournfully in packs, stable horses have often been startled, and weapons in the arsenal have moved of themselves with sound — none of these are auspicious signs for setting forth an army." Fu Jian said, "Military affairs are no concern of women!"
107
堅幼子中山公詵最有寵，亦諫曰：「臣聞國之興亡，系賢人之用捨。 今陽平公，國之謀主，而陛下違之； 晉有謝安、桓沖，而陛下伐之，臣竊惑之。」 堅曰：「天下大事，孺子安知！」
Fu Jian's youngest son, Duke Shen of Zhongshan, who was most favored, also remonstrated, "I have heard that the rise and fall of a state depends on whether worthy men are employed or dismissed. Now Duke Rong of Yangping is the state's chief strategist, yet Your Majesty goes against him; Jin has Xie An and Huan Chong, yet Your Majesty would attack it — I am deeply puzzled." Fu Jian said, "Great affairs of state — what would a child know!"
108
秦劉蘭討蝗，經秋冬不能滅。 十二月，有司奏請徵蘭下廷尉。 秦王堅曰：「災降自天，非人力所能除，此由朕之失政，蘭何罪乎？」 是歲，秦大熟，上田畝收七十石，下者三十石，蝗不出幽州境，不食麻豆，上田畝收百石，下者五十石。」
In Qin, Liu Lan's campaign against the locusts continued through autumn and winter without exterminating them. In the twelfth month, the responsible officials memorialized requesting that Lan be summoned before the Court of Justice. King Fu Jian said, "Calamity descends from Heaven — it cannot be removed by human effort. This is due to my own misgovernment — what crime has Lan committed?" That year Qin enjoyed a great harvest: top fields yielded seventy shi per mu, the lowest thirty shi. The locusts did not leave Youzhou's borders and did not eat hemp or beans; top fields yielded one hundred shi per mu, the lowest fifty shi.”