1
資治通鑑第125卷
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 125
2
【宋紀七】起強圉大淵獻，盡上章攝提格，凡四年。
[Song Records, Part Seven] This section runs from the cyclical year Qiangyu Dayuanxian through Shangzhang Shedige — four years in all.
3
太祖文皇帝中之下元嘉二十四年（ 丁亥，公元四四七年）
The latter portion of the reign of Emperor Wen, founding emperor of Song — Yuanjia, year twenty-four ( dinghai year, 447 CE)
4
春，正月，甲戌，大赦。
In spring, in the first month, on the day jiaxu, the court proclaimed a general amnesty.
5
魏吐京胡及山胡曹僕渾等反； 二月，征東將軍武昌王提等討平之。
The Tujing Hu and the Shan Hu chieftain Cao Puhun rose in rebellion under Wei; In the second month, Eastern Campaigning General Wuchang Wang Ti and others crushed the revolt.
6
癸未，魏主如中山。
On guiwei day, the Wei emperor traveled to Zhongshan.
7
魏師之克敦煌也，沮渠牧犍使人斫開府庫，取金玉及寶器，因不復閉。 小民爭入盜取之，有司索盜不獲。 至是，牧犍所親及守藏者告之，且言牧犍父子多蓄毒藥，潛殺人前後以百數； 姊妹皆學左道。 有司索牧犍家，得所匿物。 魏主大怒，賜沮渠昭儀死，並誅其宗族，唯沮渠祖以先降得免。 又有告牧犍猶與故臣民交通謀反者，三月，魏主遣崔浩就第賜牧犍死，謚曰哀王。
After Wei troops took Dunhuang, Juqu Mujian had his men break open the state treasury and carry off gold, jade, and precious vessels — and left the doors open. Ordinary folk rushed in to loot the storehouses, and officials could not recover what was stolen. Now his intimates and the keepers of the treasury denounced him, charging also that he and his sons had hoarded poisons and quietly murdered scores of people; His sisters had all practiced unlawful magic. Officials searched Mujian's residence and found the hidden goods. The Wei emperor flew into a rage, ordered Lady Juqu to take her own life, and put her entire clan to death — only Juqu Zu was spared because he had surrendered earlier. When informers claimed Mujian was still plotting with his former subjects, the emperor sent Cui Hao in the third month to his house with orders that he die; his posthumous title was King Ai.
8
魏人徙定州丁零三千家於平城。
The Wei relocated three thousand Dingling households from Dingzhou to Pingcheng.
9
六月，魏西征諸將扶風公處真等八人，坐盜沒軍資及虜掠贓各千萬計，並斬之。
In the sixth month, eight western campaign generals, among them Duke of Fufeng Chuzhen, were beheaded for embezzling army stores and loot worth tens of millions apiece.
10
初，上以貨重物輕，改鑄四銖錢。 民多翦鑿古錢，取銅盜鑄。 上患之。 錄尚書事江夏王義恭建議，請以大錢一當兩。 右僕射何尚之議曰：「夫泉貝之興，以估貨為本，事存交易，豈假多鑄！ 數少則幣重，數多則物重，多少雖異，濟用不殊。 況復以一當兩，徒崇虛價者邪？ 若今制遂行，富人之貲自倍，貧者彌增其困，懼非所以使之均壹也。」 上卒從義恭議。
Earlier, because commodities were dear while coin was light in weight, the emperor had new four-zhu cash minted. People widely clipped and filed down old coins, melted the copper, and cast counterfeit cash. The emperor was alarmed by this. Chief Clerk of the Masters of Writing Jiangxia Wang Yigong proposed that large coins be made to count as two standard coins each. Right Vice Director He Shangzhi objected: "Currency exists to measure the worth of goods; its purpose is trade — not to multiply the coinage! Fewer coins make money dear; more coins make goods dear — the quantities differ, but the economy works the same either way. And to declare one coin worth two — would that not be nothing but inflating a fictitious value? If this policy takes effect, the rich will see their assets double overnight while the poor grow poorer still — I doubt this is how to achieve fairness." In the end the emperor adopted Yigong's plan.
11
秋，八月，乙未，徐州刺史衡陽文王義季卒。 義季自彭城王義康之貶，遂縱酒不事事。 帝以書誚責，且戒之，義季猶酣飲自若，以至成疾而終。
In autumn, in the eighth month, on the day yiwei, Xuzhou Inspector Hengyang Wen Wang Yiji died. Ever since Prince of Pengcheng Yikang's fall from grace, Yiji had drowned himself in wine and neglected all duties. The emperor wrote to rebuke and warn him, but Yiji kept drinking as before until illness carried him off.
12
魏樂安宣王范卒。
Le'an Xuan Wang Fan of Wei died.
13
冬，十月，壬午，胡籓之子誕世殺豫章太守桓隆之，據郡反，欲奉前彭城王義康為主； 前交州刺史檀和之去官歸，過豫章，擊斬之。
In winter, in the tenth month, on the day renwu, Hu Fan's son Danshi murdered Yuzhang governor Huan Longzhi, seized the commandery in revolt, and sought to set up the deposed Prince of Pengcheng Yikang as their leader; Former Jiaozhou inspector Tan Hezhi, returning home after leaving office, passed through Yuzhang, attacked the rebels, and killed Danshi.
14
十一月，甲寅，封皇子渾為汝陰王。
In the eleventh month, on the day jiayin, the emperor enfeoffed his son Hun as Prince of Runan.
15
十二月，魏晉王伏羅卒。
In the twelfth month, Jin Wang Fuluó of Wei died.
16
楊文德據葭蘆城，招誘氐、羌，武都等五郡氐皆應之。
Yang Wende seized Jialu City and rallied the Di and Qiang; Di communities in five commanderies, including Wudu, all joined him.
17
太祖文皇帝中之下元嘉二十五年（ 戊子，公元四四八年）
The latter portion of the reign of Emperor Wen — Yuanjia, year twenty-five ( wuzi year, 448 CE)
18
春，正月，魏仇池鎮將皮豹子帥諸軍擊之。 文德兵敗，棄城奔漢中。 豹子收其妻子、僚屬、軍資及楊保宗所尚魏公主而還。
In spring, in the first month, Wei Qiuchi garrison commander Pi Baozi led his forces against him. Wende's army was routed; he abandoned the city and fled to Hanzhong. Baozi took captive Wende's family, his officials, military stores, and the Wei princess whom Yang Baozong had married, then withdrew.
19
初，保宗將叛，公主勸之。 或曰：「奈何叛父母之國？」 公主曰：「事成，為一國之母，豈比小縣公主哉！」 魏主賜之死。
Earlier, when Baozong was plotting defection, the princess had encouraged him. Someone asked: "How can you betray your parents' country?" The princess replied: "If we succeed, I shall be queen mother of a realm — far better than being princess of some petty county!" The Wei emperor ordered her to die.
20
楊文德坐失守，免官，削爵土。
Yang Wende was stripped of office and deprived of his fief for losing his territory.
21
二月，癸卯，魏主如定州，罷塞圍役者； 遂如上黨，誅潞縣叛民二千餘家，徙河西離石民五千餘家於平城。
In the second month, on the day guimao, the Wei emperor went to Dingzhou and released men conscripted for frontier fortification work; then proceeded to Shangdang, executed more than two thousand rebel households in Lu County, and relocated over five thousand households from Lishi in Hexi to Pingcheng.
22
閏月，己酉，帝大蒐於宣武場。
In the intercalary month, on the day jiyou, the emperor held a grand hunt at Xuanwu Field.
23
初，劉湛既誅，庾炳之遂見寵任，累遷吏部尚書，勢傾朝野。 炳之無文學，性強急輕淺。 既居選部，好詬詈賓客，且多納貨賂，士大夫皆惡之。
After Liu Zhan's execution, Yu Bingzhi rose swiftly in favor, was promoted to Minister of Personnel, and came to dominate the court. Bingzhi had no scholarly attainments and was by nature overbearing, impatient, and shallow. Once in charge of appointments, he habitually abused visitors and took bribes freely; the gentry loathed him.
24
炳之留令史二人宿於私宅，為有司所糾。 上薄其過，欲不問。 僕射何尚之因極陳炳之之短曰：「炳之見人有燭盤、佳驢，無不乞丐； 選用不平，不可一二； 交結朋黨，構扇是非，亂俗傷風，過於范曄，所少，賊一事耳。 縱不加罪，故宜出之。」 上欲以炳之為丹陽尹。 尚之曰：「炳之蹈罪負恩，方復有尹京赫赫之授，乃更成其形勢也。 古人云：『無賞無罰，雖堯、舜不能為治。』 臣昔啟范曄，亦懼犯顏，苟曰愚懷，九死不悔。 歷觀古今，未有眾過藉藉，受貨數百萬，更得高官厚祿如炳之者也。」 上乃免炳之官，以徐湛之為丹陽尹。 彭城太守王玄謨上言：「彭城要兼水陸，請以皇子撫臨州事。」 夏，四月，乙卯，以武陵王駿為安北將軍、徐州刺史。
Bingzhi had two clerks stay overnight at his private residence and was reported by the censors. The emperor thought the offense minor and was inclined to overlook it. Vice Director He Shangzhi pressed the case against Bingzhi at length: "Whenever Bingzhi saw a candle stand or a fine donkey in someone's possession, he begged for it; his appointments were corrupt beyond counting; he formed factions and stirred up trouble, corrupting public morals — worse than Fan Ye in every way except that he never committed outright treason. Even if you do not punish him, he should at least be dismissed." The emperor still meant to appoint Bingzhi governor of Danyang. Shangzhi said: "Bingzhi has offended and betrayed your trust, yet you would give him the grand post of governing the capital — that would only swell his power further. The ancients said: 'Without rewards and punishments, even Yao and Shun could not govern.' When I spoke against Fan Ye before, I too feared your displeasure, but I would not shrink from speaking my mind even at the cost of my life. In all history I know of no man so notorious for misconduct, who took bribes in the millions, yet was rewarded with high office and rich emoluments as Bingzhi has been." The emperor then dismissed Bingzhi and appointed Xu Tanzhi governor of Danyang. Pengcheng governor Wang Xuanmo memorialized: "Pengcheng commands both land and water routes; an imperial prince should be sent to oversee the province." In summer, in the fourth month, on the day yimao, Prince of Wuling Jun was appointed Northern Pacification General and inspector of Xuzhou.
25
五月，甲戌，魏以交趾公韓拔為鄯善王，鎮鄯善，賦役其民，比之郡縣。
In the fifth month, on the day jiaxu, Wei made Duke of Jiaozhi Han Ba king of Shanshan and stationed him there to tax and conscript the people on the same terms as a regular commandery.
26
當兩大錢行之經時，公私不以為便； 己卯，罷之。
After the double-value large coins had been in circulation for some time, neither government nor people found them practical; on the day jimao they were abolished.
27
六月，丙寅，荊州刺史南譙王義宣進位司空。
In the sixth month, on the day bingyin, Jingzhou inspector Nanqiao Wang Yixuan was promoted to Minister of Works.
28
辛酉，魏主如廣德宮。
On the day xinyou the Wei emperor went to Guangde Palace.
29
秋，八月，甲子，封皇子彧為淮陽王。
In autumn, in the eighth month, on the day jiazi, the emperor enfeoffed his son Yu as Prince of Huaiyang.
30
西域般悅國去平城萬有餘里，遣使詣魏，請與魏東西合擊柔然。 魏主許之，中外戒嚴。
Banyue in the Western Regions, more than ten thousand li from Pingcheng, sent envoys to Wei proposing a joint east-west strike against the Rouran. The Wei emperor agreed, and the court and provinces were placed on war footing.
31
九月，辛未，以尚書右僕射何尚之為左僕射，領軍將軍沈演之為吏部尚書。
In the ninth month, on the day xinwei, Right Vice Director He Shangzhi was promoted to Left Vice Director, and Commanding General Shen Yanzhi was appointed Minister of Personnel.
32
丙戌，魏主如陰山。
On the day bingxu the Wei emperor went to Yinshan.
33
魏成周公萬度歸擊焉耆，大破之，焉耆王鳩屍卑那奔龜茲。 魏主詔唐和與前部王車伊洛帥所部兵會度歸討西域。 和說降柳驢等六城，因共擊波居羅城，拔之。
Wei Prince Cheng of Zhou Wandugui attacked Yanqi and routed it; King Jiushibina of Yanqi fled to Kucha. The Wei emperor ordered Tang He and Former-Department King Che Yiluo to bring their forces to join Wandugui in subduing the Western Regions. He persuaded six cities including Liulü to submit, then together they stormed and captured Bojuluo City.
34
冬，十月，辛丑，魏弘農昭王奚斤卒，子它觀襲。 魏主曰：「斤關西之敗，罪固當死； 朕以斤佐命先朝，復其爵邑，使得終天年，君臣之分亦足矣。」 乃降它觀爵為公。
In winter, in the tenth month, on the day xinchou, Hongnong Zhao Wang Xi Jin of Wei died; his son Taguan inherited the title. The Wei emperor said: "Jin's defeat in Guanxi deserved death; but because he had served the founding of our dynasty, I restored his rank and fief and let him live out his days — that is enough for the bond between sovereign and minister." He therefore reduced Taguan's title to duke.
35
癸亥，魏大赦。
On the day guihai Wei proclaimed a general amnesty.
36
十二月，魏萬度歸自焉耆西討龜茲，留唐和鎮焉耆。 柳驢戍主乙直伽謀叛，和擊斬之，由是諸胡鹹附，西域復平。
In the twelfth month, Wandugui marched west from Yanqi against Kucha, leaving Tang He to hold Yanqi. The garrison commander of Liulü, Yizhijia, plotted rebellion; He attacked and killed him, and thereafter all the frontier peoples submitted and the Western Regions were pacified once more.
37
魏太子朝於行宮，遂從伐柔然。 至受降城，不見柔然，因積糧於城內，置戍而還。
The Wei crown prince paid his respects at the mobile palace, then accompanied the campaign against the Rouran. They reached Shouxiang City but found no Rouran; they stockpiled grain there, left a garrison, and withdrew.
38
太祖文皇帝中之下元嘉二十六年（ 己丑，公元四四九年）
The latter portion of the reign of Emperor Wen — Yuanjia, year twenty-six ( jichou year, 449 CE)
39
春，正月，戊辰朔，魏主饗群臣於漠南。 甲戌，復伐柔然。 高涼王那出東道，略陽王羯兒出西道，魏主與太子出涿邪山，行數千里。 柔然處羅可汗恐懼，遠遁。
In spring, on the first day of the first month, wuchen, the Wei emperor feasted his ministers south of the desert. On the day jiaxu he launched another campaign against the Rouran. Gaoliang Wang Na took the eastern route and Lueyang Wang Jie'er the western; the emperor and crown prince advanced from Zhuoye Mountain and marched thousands of li. The Rouran khan Chuluokehan, terrified, fled deep into the steppe.
40
二月，己亥，上如丹徒，謁京陵。 三月，丁巳，大赦。 募諸州樂移者數千家以實京口。
In the second month, on the day jihai, the emperor went to Dantu and paid his respects at the imperial tombs. In the third month, on the day dingsi, the court proclaimed a general amnesty. Several thousand households from the provinces who were willing to move were recruited to populate Jingkou.
41
庚寅，魏主還平城。
On the day gengyin the Wei emperor returned to Pingcheng.
42
夏，五月，壬午，帝還建康。
In summer, in the fifth month, on the day renwu, the emperor returned to Jiankang.
43
庚寅，魏主如陰山。
On the day gengyin the Wei emperor went to Yinshan.
44
帝欲經略中原，群臣爭獻策以迎合取寵。 彭城太守王玄謨尤好進言，帝謂侍臣曰：「觀玄謨所陳，令人有封狼居須意。」 御史中丞袁淑言於上曰：「陛下今當席捲趙、魏，檢玉岱宗； 臣逢千載之會，願上封禪書。」 上悅。 淑，耽之曾孫也。 秋，七月，辛未，以廣陵王誕為雍州刺史。 上以襄陽外接關、河，欲廣其資力，乃罷江州軍府，文武悉配雍州； 湘州入台租稅，悉給襄陽。
The emperor wished to recover the Central Plains, and his ministers competed to offer strategies that would win his favor. Pengcheng governor Wang Xuanmo was especially eager to offer plans for conquest; the emperor told his attendants, "Listening to Xuanmo, one feels the urge to plant a victory banner on Langjuxu Mountain." Censor-in-Chief Yuan Shu said to the throne, "Your Majesty is poised to sweep through Zhao and Wei and perform the jade rite at Mount Tai; I have lived to see this once-in-a-millennium moment and beg leave to submit a memorial on the fengshan rites." The emperor was delighted. Shu was the great-grandson of Danzhi. In autumn, in the seventh month, on the day xinwei, Prince of Guangling Dan was appointed inspector of Yongzhou. Because Xiangyang lay on the frontier facing Guan and the Yellow River, the emperor sought to strengthen it: he abolished the Jiangzhou military headquarters and transferred all its civil and military staff to Yongzhou; and directed all Xiangzhou tax revenues destined for the capital to Xiangyang instead.
45
九月，魏主伐柔然。 高涼王那出東道，略陽王羯兒出中道。 柔然處羅可汗悉國中精兵圍那數十里； 那掘塹堅守，相持數日。 處羅數挑戰，輒為那所敗。 以那眾少而堅，疑大軍將至，解圍夜去。 那引兵追之，九日九夜。 處羅益懼，棄輜重，逾穹隆嶺遠遁。 那收其輜重，引軍還，與魏主會於廣澤。 略陽王羯兒收柔然民畜凡百餘萬。 自是柔然衰弱，屏跡不敢犯魏塞。 冬，十二月，戊申，魏主還平城。
In the ninth month the Wei emperor campaigned against the Rouran. Gaoliang Wang Na took the eastern route and Lueyang Wang Jie'er the central route. Rouran khan Chuluokehan mustered the kingdom's best troops and surrounded Na for dozens of li; Na dug trenches and held his ground; the standoff lasted several days. Chuluo challenged him repeatedly and was beaten back each time. Seeing Na's small but stubborn force, he feared a larger army was coming, broke the siege, and withdrew under cover of night. Na pursued for nine days and nine nights. Chuluo grew more terrified, abandoned his baggage train, crossed Qionglong Ridge, and fled deep into the steppe. Na seized the abandoned baggage and withdrew to join the Wei emperor at Guangze. Lueyang Wang Jie'er captured more than a million Rouran people and livestock. From then on the Rouran were enfeebled and dared not raid Wei's borders again. In winter, in the twelfth month, on the day wushen, the Wei emperor returned to Pingcheng.
46
沔北諸山蠻寇雍州，建威將軍沈慶之帥後軍中兵參軍柳元景、隨郡太守宗愨等二萬人討之，八道俱進。 先是，諸將討蠻者皆營於山下以迫之，蠻得據山發矢石以擊，官軍多不利。 慶之曰：「去歲蠻田大稔，積穀重巖，不可與之曠日相守也。 不若出其不意，沖其腹心，破之必矣。」 乃命諸軍斬木登山，鼓噪而前，群蠻震恐。 因其恐而擊之，所向奔潰。
Mountain tribes north of the Han raided Yongzhou; Establishing Might General Shen Qingzhi led twenty thousand men under Rear Army staff officer Liu Yuanjing and Suixiang governor Zong Que against them, advancing on eight fronts at once. Earlier commanders had always camped below the mountains to hem the tribes in, allowing them to hold the heights and rain down missiles — with poor results for the government forces. Qingzhi said, "Last year the tribes harvested abundantly and have grain stored in their cliff strongholds — we cannot afford a long siege. Better to take them by surprise and strike at their heart — we are sure to break them." He ordered his troops to cut timber, climb the heights, and advance with drums and war cries; the tribes were terrified. He struck while they were panicked, and they broke and fled wherever he turned.
47
太祖文皇帝中之下元嘉二十七年（ 庚寅，公元四五零年）
The latter portion of the reign of Emperor Wen — Yuanjia, year twenty-seven ( gengyin year, 450 CE)
48
春，正月，乙酉，魏主如洛陽。
In spring, in the first month, on the day yiyou, the Wei emperor went to Luoyang.
49
沈慶之自冬至春，屢破雍州蠻。 因蠻所聚谷以充軍食，前後斬首三千級，虜二萬八千餘口，降者二萬五千餘戶。 幸諸山大羊蠻憑險築城，守禦甚固。 慶之擊之，命諸軍連營於山中，開門相通，各穿池於營內，朝夕不外汲。 頃之，風甚，蠻潛兵夜來燒營。 諸軍以池水沃火，多出弓弩夾射之，蠻兵散走。 蠻所據險固，不可攻，慶之乃置六戍以守之。 久之，蠻食盡，稍稍請降； 悉遷於建康以為營戶。
From winter through spring Shen Qingzhi repeatedly defeated the Yongzhou tribes. He fed his army on grain the tribes had stockpiled, took three thousand heads in all, captured more than twenty-eight thousand people, and received the surrender of over twenty-five thousand households. The Dayang tribe of Xingzhu Mountain held a fortified city in rugged terrain and defended it stubbornly. Qingzhi besieged them, linking camps through the mountains with connecting gates and digging pools inside each camp so his men never had to leave for water. Soon a strong wind arose, and the tribes sent men by night to set the camps ablaze. The troops doused the flames with their pool water and raked the attackers with crossbow fire from both sides; the tribal warriors scattered and fled. The stronghold was too rugged to storm, so Qingzhi established six garrisons to blockade it. After a long siege the tribes ran out of food and gradually asked to surrender; Qingzhi relocated them all to Jiankang as military settler households.
50
魏主將入寇。 二月，甲午，大獵於梁川。 帝聞之，敕淮、泗諸郡：「若魏寇小至，則各堅守； 大至，則拔民歸壽陽。」 邊戍偵候不明，辛亥，魏主自將步騎十萬奄至。 南頓太守鄭琨、穎川太守郭道隱並棄城走。
The Wei emperor prepared to invade the south. In the second month, on the day jiawu, he held a grand hunt at Liangchuan. Hearing of this, the Song emperor ordered the Huai and Si commanderies: "If the Wei come in small numbers, hold your ground; if they come in force, evacuate the populace to Shouyang." Frontier scouts failed to give warning; on the day xinhai the Wei emperor personally led one hundred thousand infantry and cavalry in a surprise descent. Nandun governor Zheng Kun and Yingchuan governor Guo Daoyin both abandoned their cities and fled.
51
是時，豫州刺史南平王鑠鎮壽陽，遣左軍行參軍陳憲行汝南郡事，守懸瓠，城中戰士不滿千人，魏主圍之。
Yuzhou inspector Nanping Wang Shuo was then at Shouyang; he sent Left Army acting staff officer Chen Xian to govern Runan and hold Xuanchi with fewer than a thousand defenders. The Wei emperor besieged the city.
52
三月，以軍興，減內外百官俸三分之一。
In the third month, because of the war, court and provincial officials' salaries were cut by one third.
53
魏人晝夜攻懸瓠，多作高樓，臨城以射之，矢下如雨。 城中負戶以汲，施大鉤於沖車之端以牽樓堞，壞其南城。 陳憲內設女牆，外立木柵以拒之。 魏人填塹，肉薄登城，憲督厲將士苦戰，積屍與城等。 魏人乘屍上城。 短兵相接，憲銳氣愈奮，戰士無不一當百，殺傷萬計，城中死者亦過半。
The Wei attacked Xuanchi day and night, erecting tall siege towers to rain arrows on the defenders. Defenders used door panels as shields to fetch water and fixed great hooks on battering rams to tear down the enemy towers, breaching the southern wall. Chen Xian built inner parapets and outer wooden palisades to hold the breach. The Wei filled the moat and pressed the assault; Xian drove his men in desperate fighting until corpses piled level with the ramparts. The Wei climbed the wall on the bodies of the dead. In hand-to-hand combat Xian's spirit only sharpened; each defender fought as ten; tens of thousands fell, and more than half the garrison perished.
54
魏主遣永昌王仁將步騎萬餘，驅所掠六郡生口北屯汝陽。 時徐州刺史武陵王駿鎮彭城，帝遣間使命駿發騎，繼三日糧襲之。 駿發百里內馬得千五百匹，分為五軍，遣參軍劉泰之帥安北騎兵行參軍垣謙之、田曹行參軍臧肇之、集曹行參軍尹定、武陵左常侍杜幼文、殿中將軍程天祚等將之，直趨汝陽。 魏人唯虎救兵自壽陽來，不備彭城。 丁酉，泰之等潛進擊之，殺三千餘人，燒其輜重，魏人奔散，諸生口悉得東走。 魏人偵知泰之等兵無後繼，復引兵擊之。 垣謙之先退，士卒驚亂，棄仗走。 泰之為魏人所殺，肇之溺死，天祚為魏所擒，謙之、定、幼文及士卒免者九百餘人，馬還者四百匹。
The Wei emperor sent Yongchang Wang Ren with more than ten thousand infantry and cavalry to drive captives from six commanderies north to camp at Ruyang. Xuzhou inspector Wuling Wang Jun was then at Pengcheng; the emperor sent a secret envoy ordering him to dispatch cavalry with three days' rations for a surprise attack. Jun mustered fifteen hundred horses from within a hundred li, divided them into five columns, and sent staff officer Liu Taizhi at the head of Northern Pacification cavalry acting staff officer Yuan Qianzhi, agriculture bureau staff officer Zang Zhaozhi, assembly bureau staff officer Yin Ding, Wuling left regular attendant Du Youwen, and palace general Cheng Tianzuo straight for Ruyang. The Wei expected only relief from Shouyang and were unprepared for an attack from Pengcheng. On the day dingyou, Taizhi's force struck by surprise, killed more than three thousand, burned the baggage train, and routed the Wei; all the captives escaped eastward. Wei scouts discovered that Taizhi had no reinforcements and turned to counterattack. Yuan Qianzhi retreated first; the troops panicked, threw down their weapons, and fled. Taizhi was killed, Zhaozhi drowned, and Tianzuo was captured; Qianzhi, Ding, Youwen, and just over nine hundred men escaped, with four hundred horses.
55
魏主攻懸瓠四十二日，帝遣南平內史臧質詣壽陽，與安蠻司馬劉康祖共將兵救懸瓠。 魏主遣殿中尚書任城公乞地真逆拒之。 質等擊斬乞地真。 康祖，道錫之從兄也。
After forty-two days of siege the emperor sent Nanping interior secretary Zang Zhi to Shouyang to join Pacify the Barbarians major Liu Kangzu in relieving Xuanchi. The Wei emperor sent palace master of writing Rencheng Duke Qidizhen to intercept them. Zhi's force attacked and killed Qidizhen. Kangzu was the elder cousin of Daoxi.
56
夏，四月，魏主引兵還。 癸卯，至平城。
In summer, in the fourth month, the Wei emperor withdrew his army. On the day guimao he reached Pingcheng.
57
壬子，安北將軍武陵王駿降號鎮軍將軍，垣謙之伏誅，尹定、杜幼文付尚方； 以陳憲為龍驤將軍、汝南、新蔡二郡太守。
On the day renzi, Northern Pacification General Wuling Wang Jun was demoted to Suppressing Army General; Yuan Qianzhi was executed; Yin Ding and Du Youwen were handed to the palace workshops; and Chen Xian was made Soaring Dragon General and governor of Runan and Xincai.
58
魏主遺帝書曰：「前蓋吳反逆，扇動關、隴。 彼復使人就而誘之，丈夫遺以弓矢，婦人遺以環釧； 是曹正欲譎誑取賂，豈有遠相服從之理！ 為大丈夫，何不自來取之，而以貨誘我邊民？ 募往者復除七年，是賞奸也。 我今來至此土所得多少，孰與彼前後得我民邪？
The Wei emperor sent the Song emperor a letter: "Formerly that Wu rebel stirred up Guan and Long. You sent agents to entice them — bows and arrows for the men, rings and bracelets for the women; Cao merely meant to trick and bribe them — as if they would submit to you from afar! If you are a true man, why not come yourself and take them, instead of bribing my border people? You recruit defectors and exempt them seven years from tax — you reward treachery. How many of your people have I taken on this campaign, compared with how many of mine you have lured away over the years?
59
「彼若欲存劉氏血食者，當割江以北輸之，攝守南渡。 如此，當釋江南使彼居之。 不然，可善敕方鎮、剌史、守宰嚴供帳之具，來秋當往取揚州。 大勢已至，終不相縱。 彼往日北通蠕蠕，西結赫連、沮渠、吐谷渾，東連馮私、高麗。 凡此數國，我皆滅之。 以此而觀，彼豈能獨立！
" If you wish the Liu house to survive, cede everything north of the Yangzi and withdraw south of the river. Do so, and I will leave the south for you to inhabit. Otherwise, tell your regional commanders, inspectors, and magistrates to prepare supplies in earnest — next autumn I shall come for Yangzhou. My power is upon you; I will show no mercy. You once allied north with the Rouran, west with Helian, Juqu, and Tuyuhun, east with Fengsi and Goguryeo. I have destroyed them all. Judging by that, how can you stand alone!
60
「蠕蠕吳提、吐賀真皆已死，我今北征，先除有足之寇。 彼若不從命，來秋當復往取之； 以彼無足，故不先討耳。 我往之日，彼作何計，為握塹自守，為築垣以自障也？ 我當顯然往取揚州，不若彼翳行竊步也。 彼來偵諜，我已擒之，復縱還。 其人目所盡見，委曲善問之。
" Rouran khans Wuti and Tuhezhen are both dead; I campaign north first against enemies who can fight on foot. If you do not obey, next autumn I shall come for you again; because you have no legs to stand on, I deal with you last. When I come, what will you do — dig trenches and hide, or build walls to cower behind? I shall march openly on Yangzhou — not skulk about like a thief as you do. I captured your spies and sent them back. Ask them yourself what they saw.
61
「彼前使裴方明取仇池，既得之，疾其勇功，已不能容； 有臣如此尚殺之，烏得與我校邪！ 彼非我敵也。 彼常欲與我一交戰，我亦不癡，復非苻堅，何時與彼交戰？ 晝則遣騎圍繞，夜則離彼百里外宿； 吳人正有斫營伎，彼募人以來，不過行五十里，天已明矣。 彼募人之首，豈得不為我有哉！
" You sent Pei Fangming to take Qiuchi; once he succeeded, you envied his valor and could not abide him; you kill men like that — how can you hope to match me! You are no match for me. You always want a pitched battle; I am not so foolish, and I am no Fu Jian — when would I give you one? By day I ring you with cavalry; by night I camp a hundred li away; Your Wu raiders are skilled at night attacks — but if you recruit men to strike my camp, they cannot march fifty li before dawn. Their heads will be mine before they reach me!
62
「彼公時舊臣雖老，猶有智策，知今已殺盡，豈非天資我邪！ 取彼亦不須我兵刃，此有善咒婆羅門，當使鬼縛以來耳。」
" Your founding ministers, though old, still had wisdom; you have killed them all — has Heaven not blessed me! I need no sword to take you — I have a Brahmin adept at spells who will send ghosts to bind you and bring you to me."
63
侍中、左衛將軍江湛遷吏部尚書。 湛性公廉，與僕射徐湛之並為上所寵信，時稱「江徐」。
Attendant-in-ordinary and Left Guards General Jiang Zhan was appointed Minister of Personnel. Zhan was upright and incorruptible; he and Vice Director Xu Tanzhi were both favorites of the emperor and were known together as "Jiang and Xu."
64
魏司徒崔浩，自恃才略及魏主所寵任，專制朝權，嘗薦冀、定、相、幽、并五州之士數十人，皆起家為郡守。 太守晃曰：「先征之人，亦州郡之選也； 在職已久，勤勞未答，宜先補郡縣，以新征者代為郎吏。 且守令治民，宜得更事者。」 浩固爭而遣之。 中書侍郎、領著作郎高允聞之，謂東宮博士管恬曰：「崔公其不免乎！ 苟遂其非而校勝於上，將何以堪之！」
Cui Hao, Minister of Works of Wei, took advantage of his ability and of the emperor's favor to dominate the court. On one occasion he recommended several dozen scholars from Ji, Ding, Xiang, You, and Bing, and every one of them was launched straight into a prefecture. Crown Prince Huang said, "The men you recruited before were chosen from the provinces too; they have served a long time without proper reward for their work. You ought to give them county and district posts first, and let the new recruits take their places as secretariat clerks. Besides, prefects and magistrates who govern the people ought to be men with more experience." Hao argued fiercely against it and sent the men out anyway. When Gao Yun, Gentleman of the Palace Secretariat and acting Director of Compilation, heard of this, he said to Eastern Palace Erudite Guan Tian, "I fear Master Cui will not escape disaster! If he keeps pressing his own way and tries to prevail over the throne, how will he ever survive the reckoning!"
65
魏主以浩監秘書事，使與高允等共撰《國記》，曰：「務從實錄。」 著作令史閔湛、郗標，性巧佞，為浩所寵信。 浩嘗注《易》及《論語》、《詩》、《書》，湛、標上疏言：「馬、鄭、王、賈不如浩之精微，乞收境內諸書，班浩所注，令天下習業。 並求敕浩注《禮傳》，令後生得觀正義。」 浩亦薦湛、標有著述才。 湛、標又勸浩刊所撰《國史》於石，以彰直筆。 高允聞之，謂著作郎宗欽曰：「湛、標所營，分寸之間，恐為崔門萬世之禍，吾徒亦無□類矣！」 浩竟用湛、標議，刊石立於郊壇東，方百步，用功三百萬。 浩書魏之先世，事皆詳實，列於衢路，往來見者鹹以為言。 北人無不忿恚，相與譖浩於帝，以為暴揚國惡。 帝大怒，使有司案浩及秘書郎吏等罪狀。
The Wei emperor put Hao in charge of the secretariat and ordered him to compile the National Chronicle with Gao Yun and others, instructing them, "Write only what truly happened." The compilation clerks Min Zhan and Xi Biao were clever flatterers, and Hao favored and trusted them. Hao had annotated the Book of Changes, the Analects, the Odes, and the Documents. Zhan and Biao memorialized the throne: "The commentaries of Ma, Zheng, Wang, and Jia cannot match the depth of Hao's work. We ask that books throughout the realm be gathered in, that Hao's notes be issued, and that the whole empire take them as its standard of study. They also asked that Hao be commanded to annotate the Ritual Traditions, so that future students might learn the true interpretation." Hao in turn praised Zhan and Biao as men of literary talent. Zhan and Biao then urged Hao to have the National History they had written cut into stone, proclaiming it an act of honest historiography. When Gao Yun heard this, he told Compilation Gentleman Zong Qin, "In the smallest detail of what Zhan and Biao are plotting, I see a disaster for the Cui clan that will last ten thousand generations — we too will not escape ruin!" Hao took their advice. The history was carved on stone and set up east of the suburban altar on a plot a hundred paces square, at a cost of three million in labor. Hao's account of Wei's early rulers was detailed and unsparing, displayed along the public roads where every passerby had something to say about it. Northerners were furious, and one after another they denounced Hao to the emperor, accusing him of publicly airing the dynasty's disgrace. The emperor flew into a rage and ordered an inquiry into the offenses of Hao and the secretariat staff.
66
初，遼東公翟黑子有寵於帝，奉使并州，受布千匹。 事覺，黑子謀於高允曰：「主上問我，當以實告，為當諱之？」 允曰：「公帷幄寵臣，有罪首實，庶或見原，不可重為欺罔也。」 中書侍郎崔覽、公孫質曰：「若首實，罪不可測，不如諱之」黑子怨允曰：「君奈何誘人就死地！」 入見帝，不以實對，帝怒，殺之。 帝使允授太子經。 及崔浩被收，太子召允至東宮，因留宿。 明旦，與俱入朝，至宮門，謂允曰：「入見至尊，吾自導卿； 脫至尊有問，但依吾語。」 允曰：「為何等事也？」 太子曰：「人自知之。」 太子見帝言「高允小心真密旦微賤； 制由崔浩，請赦其死。」 帝召允，問曰：「《國書》皆浩所為乎？」 對曰：「《太祖記》，前著作郎鄧淵所為； 《先帝記》及《今記》，臣與浩共為之。 然浩所領事多，總裁而已； 至於著述，臣多於浩。」 帝怒曰：「允罪甚於浩，何以得生！」 太子懼，曰：「天威嚴重，允小臣，迷亂失次耳。 臣向問，皆雲浩所為。」 帝問允：「信如東官所言乎？」 對曰：「臣罪當滅族，不敢虛妄。 殿下以臣侍講日久，哀臣，欲丐其生耳，實不問臣，臣亦無此言，不敢迷亂。」 帝顧謂太子曰：「直哉！ 此人情所難，而允能為之！ 臨死不易辭，信也：為臣不欺君，貞也。 宜特除其罪以旌之。」 遂赦之。
Earlier, Zhai Heizi, Duke of Liaodong, had been a favorite of the emperor. Sent on a mission to Bing Province, he accepted a bribe of a thousand bolts of cloth. When the affair was discovered, Heizi asked Gao Yun's advice: "If the emperor questions me, should I confess honestly, or should I hide it?" Yun replied, "You are a trusted counselor at the emperor's side. If you are guilty and confess first, you may yet be pardoned. You must not deceive him again." Palace Secretariat Gentleman Cui Lan and Gongsun Zhi said, "If you confess, the penalty may be beyond reckoning — better to lie." Heizi turned on Yun in anger: "Why are you sending me to my death!" He went before the emperor and lied. The emperor was furious and had him executed. The emperor appointed Yun to teach the crown prince the classics. When Cui Hao was taken into custody, the crown prince summoned Yun to the Eastern Palace and kept him there overnight. The next morning they went to court together. At the palace gate the crown prince said to Yun, "When we enter to see the emperor, I will guide you; if he questions you, say only what I tell you." Yun asked, "What is this about?" The crown prince said, "You know perfectly well." Before the emperor, the crown prince said, "Gao Yun is cautious and tight-lipped, and holds only a humble, low-ranking post; Cui Hao was in charge of everything. I ask that his life be spared." The emperor summoned Yun and asked, "Was the National History entirely Hao's work?" Yun answered, "The Annals of the Founding Emperor were written by the former Compilation Gentleman Deng Yuan; the Annals of the Late Emperor and the Current Annals were written jointly by Hao and myself. But Hao had many duties and served mainly as general editor; as for the actual writing, I did more than he did." The emperor raged, "Yun's guilt is greater than Hao's — why should he live!" The crown prince, frightened, said, "Your majesty's presence is overwhelming. Yun is only a minor official — he was confused and spoke out of turn. When I questioned him just now, he said it was all Hao's work." The emperor turned to Yun: "Is what the crown prince says true?" Yun answered, "My crime deserves the extinction of my whole clan. I dare not lie. The crown prince has known me as his teacher for many years and wished to save my life. He never questioned me, I never said what he claims, and I will not pretend otherwise out of confusion." The emperor looked at the crown prince and said, "What integrity! That is what most men cannot bring themselves to do — yet Yun did it! To hold to one's words even at the point of death is trustworthiness; as a minister, not to deceive one's ruler is constancy. His offense should be specially pardoned as a mark of honor." And he pardoned him.
67
於是召浩前，臨詰之。 浩惶惑不能對。 允事事申明，皆有條理。 帝命允為詔，誅浩及僚屬宗欽、段承根等，下至僮吏，凡百二十八人，皆夷五族； 允持疑不為。 帝頻使催切，允乞更一見，然後為詔。 帝引使前，允曰：「浩之所坐，若更有餘釁，非臣敢知； 若直以觸犯，罪不至死。」 帝怒，命武士執允。 太子為之拜請，帝意解，乃曰：「無斯人，當更有數千口死矣。」
He then had Hao brought forward and questioned him in person. Hao, terrified and at a loss, could not answer. Yun explained every point clearly and in good order. The emperor ordered Yun to draft an edict condemning Hao and his colleagues Zong Qin, Duan Chenggen, and others, down to the humblest clerks — one hundred twenty-eight men in all — each with the extermination of five generations of kin; Yun hesitated and refused. The emperor sent repeated urgent commands. Yun asked to see him once more before he would write the edict. The emperor had him brought forward. Yun said, "If Hao is guilty of other crimes besides this, I cannot say; but if the charge is merely giving offense, the penalty should not be death." The emperor was furious and ordered guards to seize Yun. The crown prince bowed and pleaded for him. The emperor relented and said, "Without this man, several thousand more people would have died."
68
六月，己亥，詔誅清河崔氏與浩同宗者無遠近，及浩姻家范陽盧氏、太原郭氏、河東柳氏，並夷其族，餘皆止誅其身。 執浩置檻內，送城南，衛士數十人溲其上，呼聲嗷嗷，聞於行路。 宗欽臨刑歎曰：「高允其殆聖乎！」
In the sixth month, on the day jihai, an edict condemned to death every member of the Qinghe Cui clan related to Hao, near or distant, together with his in-laws among the Fanyang Lu, the Taiyuan Guo, and the Hedong Liu — all their clans were exterminated. The rest were executed only in their own persons. Hao was seized, put in a cage, and sent south of the city. Dozens of guards urinated on him. His wailing could be heard from the road. At the moment of execution Zong Qin sighed and said, "Gao Yun is almost a sage!"
69
它日，太子讓允曰：「人亦當知機。 吾欲為卿脫死，既聞端緒，而卿終不從，激怒帝如此。 每念之，使人心悸。」 允曰：「夫史者，所以記人主善惡，為將來勸戒，故人主有所畏忌，慎其舉措。 崔浩孤負聖恩，以私慾沒其廉潔，愛憎蔽其公直，此浩之責也。 至於書朝廷起居，言國家得失，此為史之大體，未為多違。 臣與浩實同其事，死生榮辱，義無獨殊。 誠荷殿下再造之慈，違心苟免，非臣所願也。」 太子動容稱歎。 允退，謂人曰：「我不奉東宮指導者，恐負翟黑子故也。」
On another day the crown prince reproached Yun: "A man should know when to bend. I was trying to save your life. You heard how I meant to help, yet you refused to go along — and you provoked the emperor's wrath like that. Even now, when I think of it, my heart still quakes." Yun replied, "Historians record a ruler's good and evil deeds so that future ages may take warning. That is why rulers feel restraint and watch what they do. Cui Hao betrayed the emperor's trust, letting private desire corrupt his integrity and personal feeling cloud his judgment — that is Hao's fault alone. But to record the court's daily business and speak plainly of the state's successes and failures — that is the historian's proper duty, and it was no great crime. Hao and I did the same work. In life or death, honor or shame, I had no right to stand apart. I am deeply grateful that you tried to give me a second life, but to save myself by going against my conscience is not what I wanted." The crown prince was deeply moved and praised him. Afterward Yun told others, "The reason I would not follow the crown prince's instructions was that I did not want to fail Zhai Heizi."
70
初，冀州刺史崔賾，武城男崔模，與浩同宗而別族； 浩常輕侮之，由是不睦。 及浩誅，二家獨得免。 賾，逞之子也。
Earlier, Cui Ze, inspector of Ji Province, and Cui Mo, Baron of Wucheng, belonged to a collateral branch of Hao's clan; Hao had often treated them with contempt, and relations between them were bad. When Hao was condemned, those two families alone were spared. Ze was the son of Cui Cheng.
71
辛丑，魏主北巡陰山。 魏主既誅崔浩而悔之，會北部尚書宣城公李孝伯病篤，或傳已卒，魏主悼之曰：「李宣城可惜！」 既而曰：「朕失言，崔司徒可惜，李宣城可哀！」 孝伯，順之從父弟也，自浩之誅，軍國謀議皆出孝伯，寵眷亞於浩。
On the day xinchou the Wei emperor made a northern tour to Mount Yin. The Wei emperor already regretted having executed Cui Hao. Just then Northern Department Minister Li Xiaobo, Duke of Xuancheng, fell gravely ill, and word spread that he had died. The emperor grieved and said, "Li of Xuancheng — what a loss!" Then he corrected himself: "I misspoke. Minister Cui is the one to mourn; Li of Xuancheng is merely to be pitied." Xiaobo was a cousin of Li Shunzhi. After Hao's death, military and state policy passed largely into his hands, and the emperor's favor for him was second only to what Hao had enjoyed.
72
初，車師大帥車伊洛世服於魏，魏拜伊洛平西將軍，封前部王。 伊洛將入朝，沮渠無諱斷其路，伊洛屢與無諱戰，破之。 無諱卒，弟安周奪其子乾壽兵，伊洛遣人說乾壽，乾壽遂帥其民五百餘家奔魏； 伊洛又說李寶弟欽等五十餘人下之，皆送於魏。 伊洛西擊焉耆，留其子歇守城。 沮渠安周引柔然兵間道襲之，攻拔其城。 歇走就伊洛，共收餘眾，保焉耆鎮，遣使上書於魏主，言：「為沮渠氏所攻，首尾八年，百姓饑窮，無以自存。 臣今棄國出奔，得免者才三分之一，已至焉耆東境，乞垂賑救！」 魏主詔開焉耆倉以賑之。
Che Yiluo, the great chieftain of Cheshi, had long submitted to Wei. The court made him General Who Pacifies the West and enfeoffed him as King of the Front Division. As Yiluo was on his way to court, Juqu Wuhui blocked his path. Yiluo fought him again and again and drove him back. When Wuhui died, his brother Anzhou seized the army of Wuhui's son Ganshou. Yiluo sent envoys to win Ganshou over, and Ganshou led more than five hundred households into Wei territory; Yiluo also persuaded Li Bao's brother Qin and more than fifty others to surrender, and they were all sent on to Wei. Yiluo marched west against Yanqi and left his son Xie to hold the city. Juqu Anzhou brought Rouran troops by a hidden route, struck suddenly, and took the city. Xie fled to his father. Together they rallied the survivors and held the garrison at Yanqi. They sent a memorial to the Wei emperor saying, "We have been under attack by the Juqu for eight years. Our people are starving and have no way to live. We have abandoned our country and fled. Barely a third of our people escaped. We have reached the eastern border of Yanqi and beg for aid!" The Wei emperor ordered the Yanqi granaries opened for their relief.
73
吐谷渾王慕利延為魏所逼，上表求入保越巂，上許之； 慕利延竟不至。
Murong Muliyan, king of Tuyuhun, hard pressed by Wei, memorialized asking to take refuge in Yuexi, and the Song emperor agreed; In the end Muliyan never came.
74
上欲伐魏，丹楊尹徐湛之、吏部尚書江湛、彭城太守王玄謨等並勸之； 左軍將軍劉康祖以為「歲月已晚，請待明年。」 上曰：「北方苦虜虐政，義徒並起。 頓兵一週，沮向義之心，不可。」
The Song emperor wanted to attack Wei. Xu Tanzhi, prefect of Danyang; Jiang Zhan, Minister of Personnel; Wang Xuanmo, prefect of Pengcheng; and others all urged him on; Left Army General Liu Kangzu argued, "The season is already late. Wait until next year." The emperor replied, "The north groans under Wei oppression. Righteous men are rising everywhere. To delay the army even one season would crush their hope of deliverance. That we cannot do."
75
太子步兵校尉沈慶之諫曰：「我步彼騎，其勢不敵。 檀道濟再行無功，到彥之失利而返。 今料王玄謨等，未逾兩將，六軍之盛，不過往時，恐重辱王師。」 上曰：「王師再屈，別自有由，道濟美寇自資，彥之中塗疾動。 虜所恃者唯馬； 今夏水浩汗，河道流通，泛舟北下，碻磝必走，滑台小戍，易可覆拔。 克此二城，館谷弔民，虎牢、洛陽，自然不固。 比及冬初，城守相接，虜馬過河，即成擒也。」 慶之又固陳不可。 上使徐港之、江湛難之。 慶之曰：「治國譬如治家，耕當問奴，織當訪婢。 陛下今欲伐國，而與白面書生輩謀之，事何由濟！」 上大笑。 太子劭及護軍將軍蕭思話亦諫，上皆不從。
Shen Qingzhi, Crown Prince Footsoldier Commandant, warned, "Our infantry against their cavalry — the odds are against us. Tan Daoji's second northern campaign came to nothing, and Dao Yanzhi was beaten and driven back. Judging by men like Wang Xuanmo, we have no better commanders than before, and the host we can field is no stronger than in those earlier campaigns. I fear the imperial forces will be humiliated again." The emperor replied, "Our armies were beaten twice, but for different reasons — Tan Daoji fattened the enemy for his own gain, and Dao Yanzhi fell ill on the march. The barbarians depend on one thing only — their horses; This summer the rivers run high and free. If we put boats on the water and sail north, the enemy at Qiaoao will flee, and the small garrison at Huatai will fall easily. Seize those two cities, stock them with grain, and win over the people — Hulao and Luoyang will not long stand. By early winter our garrisons will form an unbroken line. When their cavalry tries to ford the rivers, we will take them all." Shen Qingzhi persisted in objecting that the plan was unwise. The emperor ordered Xu Tanzhi and Jiang Zhan to rebut him. Shen Qingzhi said, "Governing a country is like running a household. Ask the farmhand about plowing and the maid about weaving. Your Majesty means to make war, but you take counsel from pale-faced bookmen — how can that ever succeed?" The emperor roared with laughter. Crown Prince Shao and Protector of the Army Xiao Sihua offered warnings as well, but the emperor refused them all.
76
魏主聞上將北伐，復與上書曰：「彼此和好日久，而彼志無厭，誘我邊民。 今春南巡，聊省我民，驅之使還。 今聞彼欲自來，設能至中山及桑干川，隨意而行，來亦不迎，去亦不送。 若厭其區宇者，可來平城居，我亦往揚州，相與易。 彼年已五十，未嘗出戶，雖自力而來，如三歲嬰兒，與我鮮卑生長馬上者果如何哉！ 更無餘物可以相與，今送獵馬十二匹並氈、藥等物。 彼來道遠，馬力不足，可乘； 或不服水土，藥可自療也。」
When the Wei emperor learned the Song ruler meant to march north, he wrote again: "We have lived in peace for years, yet your appetite is never sated, and you lure away my border people. My southern tour this spring was merely to check on my subjects and send them home. I hear you plan to come yourself. If you can reach Zhongshan and the Sanggan, travel as you like — I will neither welcome you nor see you off. If you have grown tired of your own domain, come take Pingcheng and I will move to Yangzhou — we can trade capitals. You are fifty years old and have never left your palace. Even if you drag yourself here, you will be no more than a toddling child — what match are you for us Xianbei, reared in the saddle? I have nothing else to give you, so I send twelve hunting horses, along with felt, medicines, and the like. The journey is long and your horses will fail — use these instead; If the climate disagrees with you, the medicine should set you right."1
77
秋，七月，庚午，詔曰：「虜近雖摧挫，獸心靡革。 比得河朔、秦、雍華戎表疏，歸訴困棘，跂望綏拯，潛相糾結以候王師； 芮芮亦遣間使遠輸誠款，誓為掎角； 經略之會，實在茲日。 可遣寧朔將軍王玄謨帥太子步兵校尉沈慶之、鎮軍咨議參軍申坦水軍入河，受督於青、冀二州刺史蕭斌； 太子左衛率臧質、驍騎將軍王方回徑造許、洛； 徐、兗二州刺史武陵王駿、豫州刺史南平王鑠各勒所部，東西齊舉； 梁、南、北秦三州刺史劉秀之震盪汧、隴； 太尉江夏王義恭出次彭城，為眾軍節度。」 坦，鐘之曾孫也。
In autumn, in the seventh month, on the day gengwu, an edict proclaimed: "The enemy was checked not long ago, yet his savage heart is unchanged. Memorials have lately reached us from Chinese and tribesmen across Heshuo, Qin, and Yong, each pleading their hardship and straining toward deliverance, secretly rallying to await the imperial army; Rouran too has sent secret envoys from afar with pledges of loyalty, vowing to strike in concert with us; The hour for grand strategy is now. Pacifying the North General Wang Xuanmo shall lead Crown Prince Footsoldier Commandant Shen Qingzhi and Pacifying Army staff officer Shen Tan with the river fleet into the Yellow River, under Qing and Ji prefect Xiao Bin; Crown Prince Left Guard Leader Zang Zhi and Valiant Cavalry General Wang Fanghui shall march straight on Xuchang and Luoyang; Xu and Yan prefect Wuling Wang Jun and Yu prefect Nanping Wang Shuo shall each mobilize their commands, advancing together from east and west; Liu Xiuzhi, prefect of Liang, Southern Qin, and Northern Qin, shall strike Qian and Long; Grand Commander Jiangxia Wang Yigong shall establish headquarters at Pengcheng and coordinate all forces. Shen Tan was the great-grandson of Shen Zhong.
78
是時軍旅大起，王公、妃主及朝士、牧守，下至富民，各獻金帛、雜物以助國用。 又以兵力不足，悉發青、冀、徐、豫、二兗六州三五民丁，倩使暫行，符到十日裝束； 緣江五郡集廣陵，緣淮三郡集盱眙。 又募中外有馬步眾藝武力之士應科者，皆加厚賞。 有司又奏軍用不充，揚、南徐、兗、江四州富民家貲滿五十萬，僧尼滿二十萬，並四分借一，事息即還。
Armies were mustered on a vast scale. Princes, princesses, courtiers, and prefects — even wealthy commoners — sent gold, silk, and goods to support the war chest. Forces still fell short, so every able-bodied man in Qing, Ji, Xu, Yu, and the two Yan provinces was drafted for temporary service — ten days to assemble once the order arrived; Five Yangzi commanderies mustered at Guangling; three Huai commanderies at Xuyi. Skilled horsemen and foot soldiers who answered the call, inside and outside the court, were promised lavish rewards. Officials reported that war funds still fell short. In Yang, Southern Xu, Yan, and Jiang, wealthy families worth five hundred thousand coins and monasteries worth two hundred thousand were each forced to lend one quarter of their assets — to be repaid when the campaign ended.
79
建武司馬申元吉引兵趨碻磝。 乙亥，魏濟州刺史王買德棄城走。 蕭斌遣將軍崔猛攻樂安，魏青州刺史張淮之亦棄城走。 斌與沈慶之留守碻磝，使王玄謨進圍滑台。 雍州刺史隨王誕遣中兵參軍柳元景、振威將軍尹顯祖、奮武將軍曾方平、建武將軍薛安都、略陽太守龐法起將兵出弘農。 後軍外兵參軍龐季明，年七十餘，自以關中豪右，請入長安招會夷、夏，誕許之； 乃自貲谷入盧氏，盧氏民趙難納之。 季明遂誘說士民，應之者甚眾，安都等因之，自熊耳山出； 元景引兵繼進。 豫州刺史南平王鑠遣中兵參軍胡盛之出汝南，梁坦出上蔡向長社。 魏荊州刺史魯爽鎮長社，棄城走。 爽，軌之子也。 幢主王陽兒擊魏豫州刺史僕蘭，破之，僕蘭奔虎牢； 鑠又遣安蠻司馬劉康祖將兵助坦，進逼虎牢。
Establishing Martialness army major Shen Yuanji marched on Qiaoao. On the day yihai, Wang Maide, Wei governor of Jizhou, abandoned his city and fled. Xiao Bin sent General Cui Meng against Le'an; Zhang Huaizhi, Wei governor of Qingzhou, fled as well. Bin and Shen Qingzhi stayed to hold Qiaoao while Wang Xuanmo advanced to besiege Huatai. Sui Wang Dan, prefect of Yongzhou, sent staff officer Liu Yuanjing, Shaking Might General Yin Xianzu, Exerting Martialness General Zeng Fangping, Establishing Martialness General Xue Andu, and Lueyang prefect Pang Faqi out of Hongnong with their troops. Pang Jiming, a Rear Army external staff officer in his seventies, claimed standing among the Guanzhong gentry and asked permission to enter Chang'an and rally Chinese and barbarians alike. Dan agreed. He entered Lushi through Zigu Valley, where a local man named Zhao Nan sheltered him. Jiming won over the local people in great numbers. Andu and the others used that opening to break out through Xiong'er Mountain. Liu Yuanjing followed with the main force. Nanping Wang Shuo, prefect of Yu, sent staff officer Hu Shengshi from Runan and Liang Tan from Shangcai toward Changshe. Lu Shuang, Wei governor of Jingzhou, held Changshe but abandoned it and fled. Lu Shuang was the son of Lu Gui. Pennant commander Wang Yang'er routed Pulans, Wei governor of Yuzhou, who fled to Hulao; Shuo sent Pacify the Barbarians major Liu Kangzu to reinforce Tan and press Hulao.
80
魏群臣初聞有宋師，言於魏主，請遣兵救緣河谷帛。 魏主曰：「馬今未肥，天時尚熱，速出必無功。 若兵來不止，且還陰山避之。 國人本著羊皮褲，何用綿帛！ 展至十月，吾無憂矣。」
When Wei's ministers first heard Song armies were in the field, they urged the Wei emperor to send relief to the river-valley border posts. The Wei emperor replied, "Our horses are still lean and the weather still hot. A hasty march will come to nothing. If they keep coming, withdraw to Yinshan and let them pass. Our people wear sheepskin britches by custom — what do we need with cotton and silk? By October I will have nothing to fear."2
81
九月，辛卯，魏主引兵南救滑台，命太子晃屯漠南以備柔然，吳王余守平城。 庚子，魏發州郡兵五萬分給諸軍。
In the ninth month, on the day xinmao, the Wei emperor marched south to relieve Huatai, leaving Crown Prince Huang south of the desert to guard against Rouran and Prince of Wu Yu to hold Pingcheng. On the day gengzi, Wei mobilized fifty thousand troops from the provinces and distributed them among the armies.
82
王玄謨士眾甚盛，器械精嚴； 而玄謨貪愎好殺。 初圍滑台，城中多茅屋，眾請以火箭燒之。 玄謨曰：「彼吾財也，何遽燒之！」 城中即撤屋穴處。 時河、洛之民競出租谷、操兵來赴者日以千數，玄謨不即其長帥而以配私暱； 家付匹布，責大梨八百； 由是眾心失望。 攻城數月不下，聞魏救將至，眾請發車為營，玄謨不從。
Wang Xuanmo's army was huge and his equipment first-rate; But he was greedy, stubborn, and bloodthirsty. At the first siege of Huatai, the city was full of thatched roofs. His men asked to burn them with fire arrows. Xuanmo said, "That is my property — why burn it so quickly!" The defenders immediately tore down the houses and dug underground shelters. Thousands from the Yellow River and Luoyang region came daily with grain and arms to join him. Xuanmo ignored their local leaders and attached them to his own favorites instead; Each household received one bolt of cloth — and was charged eight hundred large pears; The people's hopes collapsed. Months passed without taking the city. When word came that Wei relief was near, his men asked to fortify the camp with wagons. Xuanmo refused.
83
冬，十月，癸亥，魏主至枋頭，使關內侯代人陸真夜與數人犯圍，潛入滑台，撫慰城中，且登城視玄謨營曲折還報。 乙丑，魏主渡河，眾號百萬，鞞鼓之聲，震動天地； 玄謨懼，退走。 魏人追擊之，死者萬餘人，麾下散亡略盡，委棄軍資器械山積。
In winter, in the tenth month, on the day guihai, the Wei emperor reached Fangtou. He sent Within-the-Passes marquis Lu Zhen, a man of Dai, who stole through the lines at night with a few companions, entered Huatai in secret, heartened the garrison, climbed the wall to study the layout of Xuanmo's camp, and returned with his report. On the day yichou the Wei emperor crossed the river at the head of an army said to number a million. War drums shook heaven and earth; Xuanmo panicked and fled. Wei cavalry ran them down. More than ten thousand were killed, Xuanmo's force dissolved, and abandoned supplies and weapons piled like hills.
84
先是，玄謨遣鐘離太守垣護下以百舸為前鋒，據石濟，在滑台西南百二十里。 護之聞魏兵將至，馳書勸玄謨急攻曰：「昔武皇攻廣固，死沒者甚眾。 況今事迫於曩日，豈得計士眾傷疲！ 願以屠城為急。」 玄謨不從。 及玄謨敗退，不暇報護之。 魏人以所得玄謨戰艦，連以鐵鎖三重，斷河以絕護之還路。 河水迅急，護之中流而下。 每至鐵鎖，以長柯斧斷之，魏不能禁； 唯失一舸，餘皆完備而返。
Earlier, Xuanmo had sent Zhongli prefect Yuan Huzhi downstream with a hundred ships as vanguard, holding Shiji, one hundred twenty li southwest of Huatai. Hearing Wei was on the march, Huzhi wrote urgently urging an all-out assault: "When Emperor Wu stormed Guanggu, the dead were beyond count. Today's crisis is worse — how can you weigh casualties against speed! Take the city at any cost." Xuanmo would not listen. When Xuanmo broke and ran, he had no time to warn Huzhi. Wei used Xuanmo's captured warships, chained them in triple lines across the river, and cut off Huzhi's escape. Huzhi rode the swift current downstream. At each chain he cut through with a long-handled axe. Wei could not stop him; He lost only one ship. The rest came back intact.
85
蕭斌遣沈慶之將五千人救玄謨，慶之曰：「玄謨士眾疲老，寇虜已逼，得數萬人乃可進。 小軍輕往，無益也。」 斌固遣之。 會玄謨遁還，斌將斬之，慶之固諫曰：「佛狸威震天下，控弦百萬，豈玄謨所能當！ 且殺戰將以自弱，非良計也。」 斌乃止。
Xiao Bin ordered Shen Qingzhi to take five thousand men to relieve Xuanmo. Qingzhi said, "Xuanmo's force is spent and the enemy is upon us — we need tens of thousands before we can move. A token force will do no good." Bin sent him anyway. Just then Xuanmo came running back. Bin was ready to execute him. Qingzhi intervened: "Bili's prestige fills the world and he commands a million archers — no one could have stood against him! To kill your own commander in defeat would only weaken you further. That is no strategy at all." Bin stayed his hand.
86
斌欲固守碻磝，慶之曰：「今青、冀虛弱，而坐守窮城，若虜眾東過，清東非國家有也。 碻敖磝孤絕，復作未修之滑台耳。」 會詔使至，不聽斌等退師。 斌復召諸將議之，江並謂宜留。 慶之曰：「閫外之事，將軍得以專之。 詔從遠來，不知事勢。 節下有一范增不能用，空議何施！」 斌及坐者並笑曰：「沈公乃更學問！」 慶之厲聲曰：「眾人雖知古今，不如下官耳學也。」 斌乃使王玄謨戍碻磝申坦，垣護之據清口，自帥諸軍還歷城。
Bin wanted to hold Qiaoao. Qingzhi said, "Qing and Ji are stripped bare. If we sit in this isolated stronghold while the enemy sweeps eastward, everything east of the clear lands will be lost. Qiaoao stands alone — no better than unfinished Huatai." Just then an imperial messenger arrived forbidding Bin to withdraw. Bin called another council. Jiang and the others all argued to stay. Qingzhi said, "A commander in the field has authority to act on his own. An order from the capital knows nothing of conditions here. You have a Fan Zeng in your camp and will not heed him — of what use is all this talk?" Bin and everyone present laughed. "Master Shen has been reading books again!" Qingzhi thundered back, "You may know history by heart, but none of you has the battle sense in my ears." Bin left Wang Xuanmo to hold Qiaoao, placed Shen Tan and Yuan Huzhi at Qingkou, and withdrew the main army to Licheng himself.
87
閏月，龐法起等諸軍入盧氏，斬縣令李封，以趙難為盧氏令，使帥其眾為鄉導。 柳元景自百丈崖從諸軍於盧氏。 法起等進攻弘農，辛未，拔之，擒魏弘農太守李初古拔。 薛安都留屯弘農。 丙戌，龐法起進向潼關。
In the intercalary month, Pang Faqi's columns entered Lushi, executed magistrate Li Feng, installed Zhao Nan as magistrate, and used his followers as guides. Liu Yuanjing joined the force at Lushi by way of Baihang Cliff. Faqi pressed the attack on Hongnong. On the day xinwei they took the city and captured Li Chuguba, Wei prefect of Hongnong. Xue Andu stayed behind to hold Hongnong. On the day bingxu, Pang Faqi marched on Tong Pass.
88
魏主命諸將分道並進：永昌王仁自洛陽趨壽陽，尚書長孫真趣馬頭，楚王建趣鐘離，高涼王那自青州趣下邳，魏主自東平趣鄒山。
The Wei emperor divided his command. Prince Ren of Yongchang drove from Luoyang on Shouyang; Minister Changsun Zhen on Matou; Prince Jian of Chu on Zhongli; Prince Na of Gaoliang from Qingzhou on Xiapi; and the emperor himself marched from Dongping toward Mount Zou.
89
十一月，辛卯，魏主至鄒山，魯郡太守崔邪利為魏所擒。 魏主見秦始皇石刻，使人排而僕之，以太牢祠孔子。
In the eleventh month, on the day xinmao, the Wei emperor reached Mount Zou, where Cui Xieli, prefect of Lu commandery, was taken prisoner. At the site he ordered Qin Shihuang's stone inscriptions thrown down, then offered the grand sacrificial ox to Confucius.
90
楚王建自清西進，屯蕭城； 步尼公自清東進，屯留城。 武陵王駿遣參軍馬文恭將兵向蕭城，江夏王義恭遣軍主嵇玄敬將兵向留城。 文恭為魏所敗。 步尼公遇玄敬，引兵趣苞橋，欲渡清西； 沛縣民燒苞橋，夜於林中擊鼓，魏以為宋兵大至，爭渡苞水，溺死者殆半。
Prince Jian of Chu came up from west of the Qing and made camp at Xiaocheng. Bunigong approached from the Qing's east bank and took position at Liucheng. Prince Jun of Wuling sent staff officer Ma Wengong against Xiaocheng; Prince Yigong of Jiangxia sent Ji Xuanjing, an army commander, against Liucheng. The Wei forces routed Wengong. Bunigong met Xuanjing, then swung toward Bao Bridge to cross the Qing's west bank. Pei county villagers burned the bridge and beat drums in the woods by night. The Wei troops, thinking a large Song force was upon them, scrambled to ford the Bao River — and nearly half drowned.
91
詔以柳元景為弘農太守。 元景使薛安都、尹顯祖先引兵就龐法起等於陝，元景於後督租。 陝城險固，諸軍攻之不拔。 魏洛州刺吏張是連提帥眾二萬度崤救陝，安都等與戰於城南，魏人縱突騎，諸軍不能敵； 安都怒，脫兜鍪，解鎧，唯著絳納兩當衫，馬亦去具裝，瞋目橫矛，單騎突陳； 所向無前，魏人夾射不能中。 如是數四，殺傷不可勝數。 會日暮，別將魯元保引兵自函谷關至，魏兵乃退。 元景遣軍副柳元怙將步騎二千救安都等，夜至，魏人不之知。 明日，安都等陳於城西南。 曾方平謂安都曰：「今勍敵在前，堅城在後，是吾取死之日。 卿若不進，我當斬卿； 我若不進，卿斬我也！」 安都曰：「善，卿言是也！」 遂合戰。 元怙引兵自南門鼓噪直出，旌旗甚盛，魏眾驚駭。 安都挺身奮擊，流血凝肘，矛折，易之更入，諸軍齊奮。 自旦至日昃，魏眾大潰，斬張是連提及將卒三千餘級。 其餘赴河塹死者甚眾，生降二千餘人。 明日，元景至，讓降者曰：「汝輩本中國民，今為虜盡力，力屈乃降，何也？」 皆曰：「「虜驅民使戰，後出者滅族，以騎蹙步，未戰先死，此將軍所親見也。」 諸將欲盡殺之，元景曰：「今王旗北指，當令仁聲先路。」 盡釋而遣之，皆稱萬歲而去。 甲午，克陝城。
Liu Yuanjing was appointed prefect of Hongnong by imperial decree. Yuanjing sent Xue Andu and Yin Xianzu forward to link up with Pang Faqi at Shan, while he himself followed to levy grain supplies. Shan was strongly fortified, and repeated assaults could not breach it. Zhang Shilian, Wei inspector of Luozhou, led twenty thousand men over the Xiao Pass to relieve Shan. Andu and his colleagues met them south of the walls, but the Wei shock cavalry broke the Song line. Enraged, Andu stripped off helmet and mail, leaving only a padded crimson vest — his horse likewise shed its barding — and with spear leveled and eyes blazing, charged alone into the enemy ranks. He carved through without meeting resistance; arrows from both flanks failed to find him. He repeated this charge four times, inflicting countless casualties. At dusk Lu Yuanbao arrived from Hangu Pass with reinforcements, and the Wei army pulled back. Yuanjing dispatched his deputy Liu Yuanhu with two thousand horse and foot to Andu's aid. They arrived by night without the Wei camp's knowledge. Next morning Andu's force deployed southwest of the city. Zeng Fangping told Andu: "Formidable foes ahead, a fortress at our backs — today we fight as men who expect to die. If you hold back, I will cut you down myself; and if I hold back, you may cut me down in turn!" Andu replied: "Well said — you are right!" And with that they closed in battle. Yuanhu burst through the south gate with drums rolling and banners flying; the Wei ranks panicked. Andu fought at the front until blood caked his elbows; when his spear snapped he seized another and plunged back in, and the whole line surged with him. From dawn until mid-afternoon the Wei army broke completely. Zhang Shilian fell, and more than three thousand officers and men with him. Countless others drowned in the river and moat; another two thousand surrendered. When Yuanjing arrived the next day, he upbraided the prisoners: "You are men of China. Why did you fight your hearts out for the enemy and surrender only when you could fight no more?" They answered: "The Wei drive common folk into battle. Latecomers see their families wiped out; cavalry herd foot soldiers forward to die before a blow is struck — as you yourself saw." Some officers wanted to execute them all, but Yuanjing said: "Our king's banner points north — let mercy go ahead of the army." He freed every man. They shouted their thanks and went home. On the day jiawu, Shan fell.
92
龐法起等進攻潼關，魏戍主婁須棄城走，法起等據之。 關中豪桀所在蜂起，及四山羌、胡皆來送款。
Pang Faqi pushed on Tong Pass. Lou Xu, the Wei garrison commander, fled, and Faqi seized the pass. Guanzhong magnates rebelled on every side; Qiang and Hu tribes from the surrounding hills came in to pledge loyalty.
93
上以王玄謨敗退，魏兵深入，柳元景等不宜獨進，皆召還。 元景使薛安都斷後，引兵歸襄陽。 詔以元景為襄陽太守。
After Wang Xuanmo's defeat and the Wei's deep advance, the emperor judged that Yuanjing could not press forward alone and recalled the western columns. Yuanjing left Xue Andu to guard the retreat and withdrew to Xiangyang. Yuanjing was made prefect of Xiangyang by decree.
94
魏永昌王仁攻懸瓠、項城，拔之。 帝恐魏兵至壽陽，召劉康祖使還。 癸卯，仁將八萬騎追及康祖於尉武。 康祖有眾八千人，軍副胡盛之欲依山險間行取至，康祖怒曰：「臨河求敵，遂無所見； 幸其自送，奈何避之！」 乃結車營而進，下令軍中曰：「顧望者斬首，轉步者斬足！」 魏人四面攻之，將士皆殊死戰。 自旦至晡，殺魏兵萬餘人，流血沒踝，康祖身被十創，意氣彌厲。 魏分其眾為三，且休且戰。 會日暮風急，魏以騎負草燒車營，康祖隨補其闕。 有流矢貫康祖頸，墜馬死，餘眾不能戰，遂潰，魏人掩殺殆盡。
Prince Ren of Yongchang took Xuanhu and Xiangcheng. Fearing the Wei would reach Shouyang, the emperor called Liu Kangzu back. On the day guimao, Ren overtook Kangzu at Yuwu with eighty thousand horsemen. Kangzu had only eight thousand men. His deputy Hu Shengzhi urged slipping through the hills by a hidden path, but Kangzu snapped: "We marched to the river looking for a fight and found none. Now they have delivered themselves — and you would run from them?" He formed a wagon laager and advanced, ordering: "Look back and lose your head; step aside and lose your feet!" The Wei attacked from all sides; every man fought as if his life were already forfeit. From dawn to mid-afternoon they killed more than ten thousand Wei soldiers. Blood stood ankle-deep. Kangzu took ten wounds and fought all the harder. The Wei split into three relays, fighting and resting in turns. At dusk a gale rose. Wei horsemen piled grass against the wagons and set them ablaze while Kangzu raced to plug every breach. A stray arrow took Kangzu in the throat. He fell dead from his horse. The rest broke and were cut down almost to the last man.
95
南平王鑠使左軍行參軍王羅漢以三百人戍尉武。 魏兵至，眾欲南依卑林以自固，羅漢以受命居此，不去。 魏人攻而擒之，鎖其頸，使三郎將掌之； 羅漢夜斷三郎將首，抱鎖亡奔盱眙。
Prince Shuo of Nanping posted staff officer Wang Luohan at Yuwu with three hundred men. When the Wei arrived, his men wanted to retreat into the southern woods for safety, but Luohan refused to abandon the post he had been given. The Wei stormed the position, seized him, clamped an iron collar around his neck, and put a third-rank officer in charge of him. That night Luohan killed his guard, still wearing the collar, and fled to Xuyi.
96
魏永昌王仁進逼壽陽，焚掠馬頭、鐘離，南平王鑠嬰城固守。
Prince Ren of Yongchang pushed on Shouyang, burning Matou and Zhongli as he came. Prince Shuo of Nanping barricaded himself inside the walls and held on.
97
魏軍在蕭城，支彭城十餘里。 彭城兵雖多，而食少，太尉江夏王義恭欲棄彭城南歸。 安北中兵參軍沈慶之以為歷城兵少食多，欲為函箱車陳，以精兵為外翼，奉二王及妃女直趨歷城； 分兵配護軍蕭思話，使留守彭城。 太尉長史何勖欲席捲奔郁洲，自海道還京師。 義恭去意已判。 唯二議彌日未決。 安北長史沛郡太守張暢曰：「若歷城、郁洲有可至之理，下官敢不高贊！ 今城中乏食，百姓鹹有走志，但以關扃嚴固，欲去莫從耳。 一旦動足，則各自逃散，欲至所在，何由可得！ 今軍食是寡，朝夕猶未窘罄； 豈有捨萬安之術而就危亡之道？ 若此計必行，下官請以頸血污公馬蹄。」 武陵王駿謂義恭曰：「阿父既為總統，去留非所敢干，道民忝為城主，而委鎮奔逃，實無顏復奉朝廷。 必與此城共其存沒，張長史言不可異也。」 義恭乃止。
Wei troops camped at Xiaocheng, a dozen li from Pengcheng. Pengcheng had plenty of soldiers but little grain. Grand Marshal Prince Yigong of Jiangxia wanted to abandon the city and flee south. Shen Qingzhi, Pacifying the North central staff officer, argued for Licheng — fewer defenders, more provisions — and proposed a wagon-fort formation with crack troops on the flanks to escort the two princes and the royal women straight to Licheng. A detachment under Protector of the Army Xiao Sihua would stay behind to hold Pengcheng. Grand marshal chief of staff He Xu favored abandoning everything and running to Yuzhou, then taking ship home to the capital. Yigong's mind was made up to go. The two plans were argued back and forth all day without resolution. Zhang Chang, Pacifying the North chief of staff and prefect of Pei commandery, said: "If Licheng or Yuzhou were truly reachable, I would be the first to urge it. But the city is short of food, and every civilian wants to run — they stay only because the gates are barred tight and no one leads the way. The moment we stir, everyone will scatter on his own. None of us will reach whatever destination you have in mind. Our stores are thin, but we are not yet starving; why trade a strategy that might yet save us for one that guarantees disaster? If you insist on this plan, I ask only to die under your horse's hooves." Prince Jun of Wuling told Yigong: "You command this army — I would not presume to tell you whether to stay or go. But I am lord of this city. If I abandon my post and flee, I will have no face left to serve the court again. I will live or die with Pengcheng. Chief of Staff Zhang speaks for me as well." Yigong gave up the idea of flight.
98
壬子，魏主至彭城，立氈屋於戲馬台以望城中。
On the day renzi the Wei emperor reached Pengcheng and pitched felt tents on the Horse-Training Terrace to survey the city.
99
馬文恭之敗也，隊主蒯應沒於魏。 魏主遣應至小市門求酒及甘蔗； 武陵王駿與之，仍就求橐駝。 明日，魏主使尚書李孝伯至南門，餉義恭貂裘，餉駿橐駝及騾，且曰：「魏主致意安北，可暫出見我； 我亦不攻此城，何為勞苦將士，備守如此！」 駿使張暢開門出見之，曰：「安北致意魏主，常遲面寫，但以人臣無境外之交，恨不暫悉。 備守乃邊鎮之常，悅以使之，則勞而無怨耳。」 魏主求甘橘及借博具，皆與之； 復餉氈及九種鹽胡豉。 又借樂器，義恭應之曰：「受任戎行，不繼樂具。」 孝伯問暢：「何為匆匆閉門絕橋？」 暢曰：「二王以魏主營壘未立，將士疲勞。 此精甲十萬，恐輕相陵踐，故閉城耳。 待休息士馬，然後共治戰場，刻日交戲。」 孝伯曰：「賓有禮，主則擇之。」 暢曰：「昨見眾賓至門，未為有禮。」 魏主使人來言曰：「致意太尉、安北，何不遣人來至我所？ 彼此之情，雖不可盡。 要須見我小大，知我老小，觀我為人。 若諸佐不可遣，亦可使僮幹來。」 暢以二王命對曰：「魏主形狀才力，久為來往所具。 李尚書親自銜命，不患彼此不盡，故不復遣使。」 孝伯又曰：「王玄謨亦常才耳，南國何意作如此任使，以致奔敗？ 自入此境七百餘里，主人竟不能一相拒逆。 鄒山之險，君家所憑，前鋒始接，崔邪利遽藏入穴，諸將倒曳出之。 魏主賜其餘生，今從在此。」 暢曰：「王玄謨南土偏將，不謂為才，但以之為前驅，大軍未至，河冰向合，玄謨因夜還軍，致戎馬小亂耳。 崔邪利陷沒，何損於國！ 魏主自以數十萬眾制一崔邪利，乃足言邪！ 知入境七百里無相拒者，此自太尉神算，鎮軍聖略，用兵有機，不用相語。」 孝伯曰：「魏主當不圍此城，自帥眾軍直造瓜步。 南事若辦，彭城不待圍； 若其不捷，彭城亦非所須也。 我今當南飲江湖以療渴耳。」 暢曰：「去留之事，自適彼懷。 若虜馬遂得飲江，便為無復天道。」 先是童謠云：「虜馬飲江水，佛狸死卯年。」 故暢云然。 暢音容雅麗，孝伯與左右皆歎息。 孝伯亦辯贍，且去，謂暢曰：「長史深自愛，相去步武，恨不執手。」 暢曰：「君善自愛，冀蕩定有期，相見無遠。 君若得還宋期，今為相識之始」。
When Ma Wengong was routed, squad leader Kuai Ying fell into Wei hands. The Wei emperor sent Ying to the Small Market Gate to ask for wine and sugarcane. Prince Jun of Wuling obliged him — whereupon Ying asked for camels as well. The next day Minister Li Xiaobo came to the south gate with a sable coat for Yigong, camels and mules for Jun, and a message: "The emperor sends his regards to Pacifying the North. Step out briefly and meet me. I do not intend to storm this city — why wear your men out with such exhausting defenses?" Jun sent Zhang Chang out through the gate to reply: "Pacifying the North sends his regards. He would gladly meet you in person, but a subject may not treat abroad; he regrets only that acquaintance must stop at the frontier. Garrison duty is the border soldier's trade — keep him busy and he complains less." The Wei emperor asked for sweet oranges and loan of gaming boards; both were sent out. Felt rugs followed, and nine varieties of salt and fermented bean paste. When they asked to borrow musicians, Yigong answered: "We marched to war, not to concert." Xiaobo asked Chang: "Why were the gates slammed shut and the bridges drawn so hastily?" Chang replied: "The two princes noticed your camp was not yet set and your men were weary. Ten thousand elite armored troops might stampede one another — so we kept the gates shut. Let men and horses recover, and we can fix a day to meet properly on the field." Xiaobo answered: "When the guest shows courtesy, the host may choose his company." Chang said: "Yesterday your guests reached our gate without the least courtesy." An envoy from the Wei emperor asked: "Give our regards to the Grand Marshal and Pacifying the North — why not send someone to our camp? Feelings between us cannot be conveyed entirely in letters. I must be seen in person — my stature, my age, my character. If your chief officers cannot come, send a clerk." Chang answered for both princes: "Your stature and prowess are well known from long exchange across the border. Minister Li carries your message in person — nothing left unsaid — so there is no need for another envoy." Xiaobo pressed on: "Wang Xuanmo is nothing special. Why did your court place such a man in command and bring on this rout? We have marched seven hundred li into your land without a single real stand. At Mount Zou, your own stronghold, your prefect Cui Xieli hid in a cave the moment our van arrived. Your own generals had to drag him out feet first. The emperor spared his life — and he is here with us now." Chang replied: "Wang Xuanmo is a minor southern commander — nobody rated him highly. He was sent ahead as vanguard. The main force had not yet arrived, the river was about to freeze, and he withdrew by night — a trifling disorder of horse and camp, nothing more. What does it matter if Cui Xieli was taken? It is no loss to our state! That your emperor needed hundreds of thousands of men to deal with one prefect — is that truly something to boast of? As for marching seven hundred li without meeting real resistance — that reflects the Grand Marshal's shrewd planning and the Pacifying Army's strategy. There is art in deploying troops; we need not discuss it further." Xiaobo said, "The Wei emperor will probably not linger here. He will lead his main force straight to Guabu. If his southern campaign succeeds, Pengcheng will fall without a siege; and if it fails, he will not need Pengcheng at all. I mean only to ride south and drink from your rivers to slake my thirst." Chang replied, "Whether you stay or go is entirely your choice. But if barbarian horses truly drink from the Yangtze, that will mean Heaven itself has abandoned us." A children's rhyme had said: "When the barbarian horses drink the river, Bilü will die in a Mao year." That is why Chang said what he did. Chang's voice and bearing were refined and graceful; Xiaobo and his attendants all sighed in admiration. Xiaobo was quick and eloquent himself. As he took leave he said to Chang, "Chief Administrator, take care. We stand only steps apart, yet I regret we cannot shake hands." Chang answered, "You too must take care. I hope the realm will be settled ere long; we shall meet again before long. If you live to see the Song capital again, let today be the day we first knew each other."
100
上起楊文德為輔國將軍，引兵自漢中西入，搖動汧、隴。 文德宗人楊高帥陰平、平武群氐拒之。 文德擊高，斬之，陰平、平武悉平。 梁、南秦二州刺史劉秀之遣文德伐啖提氐，不克，執送荊州； 使文德從祖兄頭戍葭蘆。
The emperor restored Yang Wende as Aiding-the-State General and sent him west from Hanzhong to stir up Qian and Long. Yang Gao, a kinsman of Wende's clan, rallied the Di of Yinping and Pingwu against him. Wende attacked Gao, killed him, and pacified Yinping and Pingwu entirely. Liu Xiuzhi, inspector of Liang and Southern Qin, then sent Wende against the Dianti Di. He failed and was arrested and sent to Jingzhou; Tou, Wende's elder cousin from the same clan, was put in charge of Jialu.
101
丁未，大赦。
On dingwei day the court proclaimed a general amnesty.
102
魏主攻彭城，不克。 十二月，丙辰朔，引兵南下，使中書郎魯秀出廣陵，高涼王那出山陽，永昌王仁出橫江，所過無不殘滅，城邑皆望風奔潰。 戊午，建康纂嚴。 己未，魏兵至淮上。
The Wei emperor besieged Pengcheng but failed to capture it. In the twelfth month, on the new-moon day bingchen, he marched south. He sent Palace Attendant Lu Xiu toward Guangling, Prince of Gaoliang Na from Shanyang, and Prince of Yongchang Ren from Hengjiang. Everywhere they passed they left ruin; towns surrendered or fled at their approach. On wuwu day martial law was declared in Jiankang. On jiwei day Wei forces reached the Huai.
103
上使輔國將軍臧質將萬人救彭城。 至盱眙，魏主已過淮。 質使冗從僕射胡崇之、積弩將軍臧澄之營東山，建威將軍毛熙祚據前浦，質營於城南。 乙丑，魏燕王譚攻崇之等三營，皆敗沒，質案兵不敢救。 澄之，燾之孫； 熙祚，修之之兄子也。 是夕，質軍亦潰，質棄輜重器械，單將七百人赴城。
The emperor sent Aiding-the-State General Zang Zhi with ten thousand men to relieve Pengcheng. By the time he reached Xuyi, the Wei emperor had already crossed the Huai. Zhi posted Supernumerary Attendant Hu Chongzhi and Strongbow General Zang Chengzhi on East Hill, had Establishing Might General Mao Xizuo hold the forward ford, and made his own camp south of the city. On yichou day Prince of Yan Tan of Wei attacked all three camps; every detachment was overrun. Zhi kept his main force still and dared not intervene. Chengzhi was a grandson of Zang Tao; Xizuo was a nephew of Mao Xiuzhi. That night Zhi's army broke as well. He abandoned supplies and weapons and entered the city with only seven hundred men.
104
初，盱眙太守沈璞到官，王玄謨猶在滑台，江淮無警。 璞以郡當衝要，乃繕城浚隍，積財谷，儲矢石，為城守之備。 僚屬皆非之，朝廷亦以為過。 及魏兵南向，守宰多棄城走。 或勸璞宜還建康，璞曰：「虜若以城小不顧，夫復何懼！ 若肉薄來攻，此乃吾報國之秋，諸君封侯之日也，奈何去之！ 諸君嘗見數十萬人聚於小城之下而不敗者乎？ 昆陽、合肥，前事之明驗也。」 眾心稍定。 璞收集得二千精兵，曰：「足矣！」 及臧質向城，眾謂璞曰：「虜若不攻城，則無所事眾； 若其攻城，則城中止可容見力耳。 地狹人多，鮮不為患。 且敵眾我寡，人所共知，若以質眾能退敵完城者，則全功不在我； 若避罪歸都，會資舟楫，必更相蹂踐。 正足為患，不若閉門勿受。」 璞歎曰：「虜必不能登城，敢為諸君保之。 舟楫之計，固已久息，虜之殘害，古今未有，屠剝之苦，眾所共見，其中幸者，不過得驅還北國作奴婢耳。 彼雖烏合，寧不憚此邪！ 所謂『同舟而濟，胡、越一心』者也。 今兵多則虜退速，少則退緩。 吾寧可欲專功而留虜乎！」 乃開門納質。 質見城中豐實，大喜，眾皆稱萬歲，因與璞共守。 魏人之南寇也，不繼糧用，唯以抄掠為資。 及過淮，民多竄匿，抄掠無所得，人馬饑乏； 聞盱眙有積粟，欲以為北歸之資。 既破崇之等，一攻城不拔，即留其將韓元興以數千人守盱眙，自帥大眾南向。 由是盱眙得益完守備。
When Shen Pu first took office as prefect of Xuyi, Wang Xuanmo was still holding Huatai and the Jiang-Huai region was quiet. Knowing his district lay on a vital route, he repaired the walls, deepened the moat, stockpiled grain and wealth, and stored arrows and stones for a siege. His staff objected, and the court likewise thought him excessive. When Wei armies marched south, most local officials fled their posts. Some advised him to withdraw to Jiankang. Pu said, "If the enemy ignores us because the town is small, what is there to fear? If they press in close and storm the walls, this is my chance to serve the realm and your chance to win marquisates — why would we run? Have you ever seen hundreds of thousands fail to take a small city? Kunyang and Hefei are proof enough. The men's spirits steadied somewhat. Pu mustered two thousand picked men and said, "That is enough! When Zang Zhi came to the city, his men told Pu, "If the enemy does not besiege us, so many men are useless; if they do attack, the city can only hold those needed to fight. Cramped quarters and too many men will only cause trouble. Besides, everyone knows we are outnumbered. If Zhi's troops drive the enemy off and save the city, we will get no credit; and if they flee south to escape blame, they will crowd the boats and trample one another to death. That would be a disaster. Better keep the gates shut." Pu sighed. "The enemy cannot take this city — I'll warrant it. Forget any idea of escape by boat. Their savagery is unmatched. You have all seen the slaughter. The lucky ones become slaves in the north. Even a rabble army must dread that fate! This is what people mean when they say, 'Men in the same boat pull together, though they be Hu and Yue.' More men will make the enemy leave sooner; fewer will slow them down a little. Would I hoard the credit and keep the enemy here longer? So he opened the gates and admitted Zhi. Zhi found the city well stocked and rejoiced. The soldiers cheered. He and Pu defended together. The Wei invaders brought no supply train; they lived by plunder alone. South of the Huai the people hid themselves; raids yielded nothing; men and horses grew hungry and weary; hearing that Xuyi had stored grain, they meant to seize it for the march home. After crushing Chongzhi's detachment they assaulted the city once and failed. The Wei emperor left Han Yuanxing with a few thousand men to blockade Xuyi and marched on south with his main force. Xuyi thus had even more time to prepare its defenses.
105
庚午，魏主至瓜步，壞民廬舍，及伐葦為筏，聲言欲渡江。 建康震懼，民皆荷擔而立。 壬午，內外戒嚴，丹陽統內盡戶發丁，王公以下子弟皆從役。 命領軍將軍劉遵考等將兵分守津要，游邏上接於湖，下至蔡洲，陳艦列營，周亙江濱。 自採石至於暨陽，六七百里。 太子劭出鎮石頭，總統水軍，丹楊尹徐湛之守石頭倉城，吏部尚書江湛兼領軍，軍事處置悉以委焉。
On gengwu day the Wei emperor reached Guabu, demolished dwellings, cut reeds for rafts, and announced that he would cross the Yangtze. Jiankang panicked; people stood ready with packs on their shoulders to flee. On renwu day full martial law was declared. Every household in Danyang was mobilized; sons of the nobility down to common families were conscripted. He ordered Commanding General Liu Zunkao and others to hold the fords. Patrol boats ranged from Lake Yu upstream to Cai Isle downstream; warships and camps lined the river for miles. From Caishi to Jiyang — six or seven hundred li of riverfront. Crown Prince Shao took command at Shitou and directed the fleet. Danyang Prefect Xu Tanzhi held the Shitou granary fortress. Minister of Personnel Jiang Zhan acted as commanding general; military affairs were placed entirely in his hands.
106
上登石頭城，有憂色，謂江湛曰：「北伐之計，同議者少。 今日士民勞怒，不得無慚。 貽大夫之憂，予之過也。」 又曰：「檀道濟若在，豈使胡馬至此？」 上又登莫府山，觀望形勢，購魏主及王公首，許以封爵、金帛。 又募人繼野葛酒置空村中，欲以毒魏人，竟不能傷。
The emperor climbed Shitou ramparts, his face troubled, and said to Jiang Zhan, "Few counseled this northern campaign. Now the people are exhausted and angry. I must feel ashamed. I have brought this grief upon the court — it is my fault alone." He also said, "If Tan Daoji were still alive, would barbarian horses have come this far? The emperor climbed Mount Mofu to survey the situation and posted rewards for the heads of the Wei emperor and his princes, promising titles and gold. He also had poisoned wine brewed from wild ge and left in deserted villages to kill Wei soldiers, but it did no harm.
107
魏主鑿瓜步山為蟠道，於其上設氈屋。 魏主不飲河南水，以橐駝負河北水自隨。 餉上橐駝、名馬，並求和，請婚。 上遣奉朝請田奇餉以珍羞異味。 魏主得黃甘，即啖之，並大進酃酒。 左右有附耳語者，疑食中有毒。 魏主不應，舉手指天，以其孫示奇曰：「吾遠來至此，非欲為功名，實欲繼好息民，永結姻援。 宋若能以女妻此孫，我以女妻武陵王，自今匹馬不復南顧。」
The Wei emperor cut a winding road into Mount Guabu and pitched felt pavilions along it. He would not drink water south of the Yellow River and had camels carry water from the north. He sent the Song emperor camels and fine horses, sued for peace, and asked for a marriage alliance. The emperor sent Attending Courtier Tian Qi with rare delicacies in return. The Wei emperor ate the oranges at once and sent large quantities of Ling wine. Attendants whispered in his ear, fearing the food was poisoned. The emperor ignored them, pointed to Heaven, and held up his grandson for Qi to see. "I have come all this way not for glory but to restore peace and bind our houses in marriage. If Song will give this boy a princess, I will give my daughter to Prince of Wuling. Not one horse will cross south again."
108
奇還，上召太子劭及群臣議之。 眾並謂宜許，江湛曰：「戎狄無親，許之無益。」 劭怒，謂湛曰：「今三王在厄，詎宜苟執異議！」 聲色甚厲。 坐散，俱出，劭使班劍及左右排湛，湛幾至僵仆。
When Qi returned, the emperor called Crown Prince Shao and the ministers to counsel. All agreed to accept. Jiang Zhan said, "Barbarians keep no faith. Agreement would do no good. Shao flared up and said to him, "Three princes are trapped in the north — how can you cling to dissent! His voice and manner were savage. When the meeting broke up, Shao's guards shoved Jiang Zhan aside as they left; Zhan nearly fell.
109
劭又言於上曰：「北伐敗辱，數州淪破，獨有斬江湛、徐湛之可以謝天下。」 上曰：「北伐自是我意，江、徐但不異耳。」 由是太子與江、徐不平，魏亦竟不成婚。」」」」」
Shao told the emperor, "This northern debacle has cost us whole provinces. Only by executing Jiang and Xu can we answer the realm. The emperor said, "The northern campaign was my own decision. Jiang and Xu merely raised no objection. From then on the crown prince bore a grudge against Jiang and Xu, and the Wei marriage proposal came to nothing.”””””
Footnotes
- The letter ended
- Such was his reply