1
資治通鑑第128卷
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 128
2
【宋紀十】起閼逢敦牂，盡著雍閹茂，凡五年。
[Song Records 10] — From the year jiawu (454) through the year wuxu (458), five years in all.
3
世祖孝武皇帝上孝建元年（ 甲午，公元四五四年）
Emperor Xiaowu, upper fascicle — the first year of Xiaojian ( jiawu, 454 CE)
4
春，正月，己亥朔，上祀南郊，改元，大赦。 甲辰，以尚書令何尚之為左光祿大夫、護軍將軍，以左衛將軍顏竣為吏部尚書、領驍騎將軍。
In spring, on the new moon of the first month (day jihai), the emperor performed the southern suburban sacrifice, declared the new era name, and issued a general amnesty. On jiachen, He Shangzhi moved from Minister of the Masters of Writing to Left Master of Splendid Happiness and Protector of the Army, while Yan Jun rose from Left Defender General to Minister of the Civil Office with concurrent command of the Rapid Cavalry.
5
壬戌，更鑄孝建四銖錢。
On renxu, the government recast the new Xiaojian four-zhu coin.
6
乙丑，魏以侍中伊□為司空。
On yichou, Northern Wei appointed Palace Attendant Yi [name damaged in the source] Minister of Works.
7
丙子，立皇子子業為太子。
On bingzi, the emperor named his son Ziye crown prince.
8
初，江州刺史臧質，自謂人才足為一世英雄； 太子劭之亂，質潛有異圖，以荊州刺史南郡王義宣庸暗易制，欲外相推奉，因而覆之。 質於義宣為內兄，既至江陵，即稱名拜義宣。 義宣驚愕問故，質曰：「事中宜然。」 時義宣已奉帝為主，故其計不行。 及至新亭，又拜江夏王義恭，曰：「天下屯危，禮異常日。」
Early on, Zang Zhi, governor of Jiangzhou, held himself fit to stand as a hero of the age; When Crown Prince Shao rebelled, Zhi secretly nursed designs of his own. He judged Liu Yixuan, Prince of Nanjun and governor of Jingzhou, dull and easy to manage, and planned to raise him up publicly only to overturn him afterward. Zhi was Yixuan's brother-in-law; as soon as he reached Jiangling he bowed to Yixuan by personal name alone. Yixuan asked in astonishment why; Zhi replied, "Given how matters stand, this is only proper." But Yixuan had already accepted the emperor as rightful ruler, so the scheme came to nothing. At Xinting he bowed likewise to Liu Yigong, Prince of Jiangxia, saying, "The empire stands in grave peril; ceremony cannot be what it was in ordinary times."
9
劭既誅，義宣與質功皆第一，由是驕恣，事多專行，凡所求欲，無不必從。 義宣在荊州十年，財富兵強； 朝廷所下制度，意有不同，一不遵承。 質自建康之江州，舫千餘乘，部伍前後百餘里。 帝方自攬威權，而質以少主遇之，政刑慶賞，一不咨稟。 擅用湓口、鉤圻米，台符屢加檢詰，漸致猜懼。
Once Shao was dead, Yixuan and Zhi stood foremost in merit. They grew arrogant and high-handed, doing as they pleased in most affairs, and every request they made was granted. Yixuan had governed Jingzhou for ten years and was rich in wealth and strong in arms; whenever court regulations did not suit him, he refused to obey them altogether. When Zhi went from Jiankang to Jiangzhou he took more than a thousand boats, and his column stretched for over a hundred li. The emperor was only beginning to gather power into his own hands, yet Zhi treated him as a mere boy on the throne and never sought approval for rewards, punishments, or policy. He seized grain from Pankou and Gouqi without authorization; the central government repeatedly investigated, and mutual suspicion grew.
10
帝淫義宣諸女，義宣由是恨怒。 質乃遣密信說義宣，以為：「負不賞之功，挾震主之威，自古能全者有幾？ 今萬物系心於公，聲跡已著； 見幾不作，將為它人所先。 若命徐遺寶、魯爽驅西北精兵來屯江上，質帥九江樓船為公前驅，已為得天下之半。 公以八州之眾，徐進而臨之，雖韓、白更生，不能為建康計矣。 且少主失德，聞於道路； 沈、柳諸將，亦我之故人，誰肯為少主盡力者？ 夫不可留者年也，不可失者時也。 質常恐溘先朝露，不得展其旅力，為公掃除，於時悔之何及。」 義宣腹心將佐咨議參軍蔡超、司馬竺超民等咸有富貴之望，欲倚質威名以成其業，共勸義宣從其計。 質女為義宣子采之婦。 義宣謂質無復異同，遂許之。 超民，夔之子也。 臧敦時為黃門侍郎，帝使敦至義宣所，道經尋陽，質更令敦說誘義宣，義宣意遂定。
The emperor took Yixuan's daughters for his pleasure, and Yixuan came to hate him with burning anger. Zhi sent a secret message urging Yixuan on: "You hold merit too great to be rewarded and power that terrifies the throne. How many men in history have survived that? All hearts already turn to you, and your renown is plain for all to see; if you see your opening and fail to move, someone else will seize it first. Order Xu Yibao and Lu Shuang to bring the northwest's best troops down to the Yangzi, and let me lead Jiujiang's war fleet as your vanguard — you will already hold half the empire. Then advance at leisure with the armies of eight provinces. Even if Han Xin and Bai Qi rose again, they could not save Jiankang. Besides, the young emperor's misconduct is common talk on every road; Generals Shen and Liu are old friends of mine as well. Who will fight his heart out for this boy on the throne? Years cannot be held back, and opportunity cannot be missed. I fear I may die before the dew dries and never bring my troops to clear your path — and then regret will be useless." Yixuan's closest advisers, Cai Chao and Zhu Chaomin, all hungered for wealth and power and hoped to ride Zhi's reputation to their goals; together they pressed Yixuan to agree. Zhi's daughter was married to Yixuan's son Caizhi. Yixuan believed Zhi would not waver again and gave his assent. Chaomin was a son of Kui. Zang Dun, then a Gentleman of the Yellow Gates, was sent by the emperor to visit Yixuan. Passing Xunyang, Zhi had him press the case again, and Yixuan's resolve hardened.
11
豫州刺史魯爽有勇力，義宣、質素與之相結。 義宣密使人報爽及兗州刺史徐遺寶，期以今秋同舉兵。 使者至壽陽，爽方飲醉，失義宣指，即日舉兵。 爽弟瑜在建康，聞之，逃叛。 爽使其眾戴黃標，竊造法服，登壇，自號建平元年； 疑長史韋處穆、中兵參軍楊元駒、治中庾騰之不與己同，皆殺之。 遺寶亦勒兵向彭城。
Lu Shuang, governor of Yuzhou, was bold and powerful; Yixuan and Zhi had long been tied to him. Yixuan secretly notified Shuang and Xu Yibao, governor of Yanzhou, to rise together that autumn. The envoy reached Shouyang while Shuang was drunk. Missing Yixuan's meaning, he rose in arms that same day. Shuang's brother Yu was in Jiankang; on hearing the news he fled. Shuang had his men wear yellow markers, secretly made imperial regalia, mounted the altar, and declared the first year of Jianping; suspecting Chief Clerk Wei Chumu, Army Major Yang Yuanju, and Administrator Yu Tengzhi of disloyalty, he had them all killed. Yibao likewise marched his troops toward Pengcheng.
12
二月，義宣聞爽已反，狼狽舉兵。 魯瑜弟弘為質府佐，帝敕質收之，質即執台使，舉兵。
In the second month, hearing that Shuang had already risen, Yixuan hurriedly took up arms. Lu Yu's brother Hong served on Zhi's staff. When the emperor ordered Zhi to arrest him, Zhi seized the imperial envoy instead and rebelled.
13
義宣與質皆上表，言為左右所讒疾，欲誅君側之惡。 義宣進爽號征北將軍。 爽於是送所造輿服詣江陵，使征北府戶曹版義宣等，文曰：「丞相劉，今補天子，名義宣； 東騎臧，今補丞相，名質； 平西朱，今補車騎，名修之。 皆版到奉行。」 義宣駭愕，爽所送法物並留竟陵，不聽進。 質加魯弘輔國將軍，下戍大雷。 義宣遣咨議參軍劉諶之將萬人就弘，召司州刺史魯秀，欲使為諶之後繼。 秀至江陵見義宣，出，拊膺曰：「吾兄誤我，乃與癡人作賊，今年敗矣！」
Yixuan and Zhi both memorialized the throne, claiming they had been slandered by the emperor's intimates and wished only to purge evil from the court. Yixuan promoted Shuang to General Who Conquers the North. Shuang sent the regalia he had made to Jiangling and had his Northern Expedition staff issue commissions reading, "Chancellor Liu is now appointed Son of Heaven, personal name Yixuan; Eastern Cavalryman Zang is now appointed Chancellor, personal name Zhi; Pacifier of the West Zhu is now appointed Chariots and Cavalry General, personal name Xiuzhi. All commissions take effect upon delivery." Yixuan was horrified. He kept all the regalia Shuang sent at Jingling and refused to let them proceed. Zhi made Lu Hong General Who Supports the State and stationed him at Dalei. Yixuan sent Liu Chenzhi with ten thousand men to reinforce Hong and summoned Lu Xiu, governor of Sizhou, to follow up behind Chenzhi. When Xiu reached Jiangling and met Yixuan, he left beating his breast. "My brother has ruined me," he cried. "Rebelling with a fool — we are finished this year!"
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義宣兼荊、江、兗、豫四州之力，威震遠近。 帝欲奉乘輿法物迎之，竟陵王誕固執不可，曰：「奈何持此座與人！」 乃止。
With the combined power of Jing, Jiang, Yan, and Yuzhou behind him, Yixuan's might awed the realm. The emperor wanted to send the imperial carriage and regalia to welcome him, but Prince Dan of Jingling objected firmly: "How can we hand this throne away!" And so the plan was abandoned.
15
己卯，以領軍將軍柳元景為撫軍將軍； 辛卯，以左衛將軍王玄謨為豫州刺史。 命元景統玄謨等諸將以討義宣。 癸巳，進據梁山洲，於兩岸築偃月壘，水陸待之。 義宣自稱都督中外諸軍事，命僚佐悉稱名。
On jimao, Liu Yuanjing, commander of the palace guards, was appointed General Who Pacifies the Army; on xinmao, Wang Xuanmo, Left Defender General, was made governor of Yuzhou. Yuanjing was ordered to lead Xuanmo and the other generals against Yixuan. On guisi he advanced to Liangshan Isle and built crescent fortifications on both banks to block them by land and water. Yixuan styled himself supreme commander of all armies and required his staff to address him by personal name alone.
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甲午，魏主詣道壇受圖菉。
On jiawu, the Wei emperor went to the Daoist altar to receive the sacred registers.
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丙申，以安北司馬夏侯祖歡為兗州刺史。 三月，己亥，內外戒嚴。 辛丑，以徐州刺史蕭思話為江州刺史，柳元景為雍州刺史。 癸卯，以太子左衛率龐秀之為徐州刺史。
On bingshen, Xiahou Zuhuan was appointed governor of Yanzhou. In the third month, on jihai, the court proclaimed martial law throughout the capital and provinces. On xinchou, Xiao Sihua moved from Xuzhou to Jiangzhou, and Liu Yuanjing was appointed governor of Yongzhou. On guimao, Pang Xiuzhi was appointed governor of Xuzhou.
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義宣移檄州郡，加進位號，使同發兵。 雍州刺史朱修之偽許之，而遣使陳誠於帝。 益州刺史劉秀之斬義宣使者，遣中兵參軍韋崧將萬人襲江陵。
Yixuan sent proclamations through the provinces, promoting ranks and calling on all to take up arms. Zhu Xiuzhi, governor of Yongzhou, pretended to agree but sent envoys pledging loyalty to the emperor. Liu Xiuzhi of Yizhou killed Yixuan's envoy and sent Wei Song with ten thousand men to raid Jiangling.
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戊申，義宣帥眾十萬發江津，舳艫數百里。 以子慆為輔國將軍，與左司馬竺超民留鎮江陵。 檄朱修之使發兵萬人繼進，修之不從。 義宣知修之貳於己，乃以魯秀為雍州刺史，使將萬餘人擊之。 王玄謨聞秀不來，喜曰：「臧質易與耳！」
On wushen, Yixuan led a hundred thousand men from Jiangjin; his fleet stretched for hundreds of li. He left his son Tao as General Who Supports the State, with Zhu Chaomin, to hold Jiangling. He ordered Zhu Xiuzhi to follow with ten thousand men; Xiuzhi refused. Learning that Xiuzhi had turned against him, Yixuan appointed Lu Xiu governor of Yongzhou and sent him with over ten thousand men to attack him. When Wang Xuanmo heard that Xiu would not come, he exclaimed with delight, "Zang Zhi will be easy meat!"
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冀州刺史垣護之妻，徐遺寶之姊也，遺寶邀護之同反，護之不從，發兵擊之。 遺寶遣兵襲徐州長史明胤於彭城，不克。 胤與夏侯祖歡、垣護之共擊遺寶於湖陸，遺寶棄眾焚城，奔魯爽。
Yuan Huzhi, governor of Jizhou, was married to Yibao's sister. Yibao asked him to join the rebellion; Huzhi refused and attacked him. Yibao sent troops against Ming Yin at Pengcheng but failed to take the city. Yin joined Xiahou Zuhuan and Yuan Huzhi to defeat Yibao at Hulu. Yibao abandoned his army, burned the town, and fled to Lu Shuang.
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義宣至尋陽，以質為前鋒而進，爽亦引兵直趣歷陽，與質水陸俱下。 殿中將軍沈靈賜將百舸，破質前軍於南陵，擒軍主徐慶安等。 質至梁山，夾陳兩岸，與官軍相拒。
At Xunyang, Yixuan advanced with Zhi in the vanguard while Shuang marched straight on Liyang; land and river forces moved down together. Shen Lingci led a hundred boats, smashed Zhi's vanguard at Nanling, and captured Xu Qing'an and other commanders. Zhi reached Liangshan, drew up on both banks of the river, and faced the imperial forces.
22
夏，四月，戊辰，以後將軍劉義綦為湘州刺史； 甲申，以朱修之為荊州刺史。
In summer, the fourth month, on wuchen, Liu Yiqi was appointed governor of Xiangzhou; on jiashen, Zhu Xiuzhi was appointed governor of Jingzhou.
23
上遣左軍將軍薛安都、龍驤將軍南陽宗越等戍歷陽，與魯爽前鋒楊胡興等戰，斬之。 爽不能進，留軍大峴，使魯瑜屯小峴。 上復遣鎮軍將軍沈慶之濟江，督諸將討爽； 爽食少，引兵稍退，自留斷後。 慶之使薛安都帥輕騎追之，丙戌，及爽於小峴。 爽將戰，飲酒過醉，安都望見爽，即躍馬大呼，直往刺之，應手而倒，左右范雙斬其首。 爽眾奔散，瑜亦為部下所殺。 遂進攻壽陽，克之。 徐遺寶奔東海，東海人殺之。
The emperor sent Xue Andu and Zong Yue to hold Liyang. They met Lu Shuang's vanguard Yang Huxing and killed him. Shuang could not advance further. He left his army at Great Xian and posted Lu Yu at Little Xian. The emperor sent Shen Qingzhi across the Yangzi to command the generals against Shuang; Short of supplies, Shuang began to withdraw, staying behind to cover the retreat. Qingzhi sent Xue Andu with light cavalry in pursuit. On bingxu they caught Shuang at Little Xian. Shuang prepared to fight but was drunk beyond measure. Andu spotted him, spurred forward with a shout, and ran him through at the first thrust. Fan Shuang then struck off his head. Shuang's army broke and fled; Yu was killed by his own men. They pressed on to Shouyang and captured it. Xu Yibao fled to Donghai, where the locals killed him.
24
李延壽論曰：「凶人之濟其身，非世亂莫由焉。 魯爽以亂世之情，而行之於平日，其取敗也宜哉！
Li Yannian wrote: "A wicked man can save himself only in times of chaos. Lu Shuang acted as if the empire were already in chaos while peace still held. Small wonder he was destroyed.
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南郡王義宣至鵲頭，慶之送爽首示之，並與書曰：僕荷任一方，而釁生所統。 近聊帥輕師，指往翦撲，軍鋒裁及，賊爽授首。 公情契異常，或欲相見，及其可識，指送相呈。」 爽累世將家，驍猛善戰，號萬人敵。 義宣與質聞其死，皆駭懼。
When Yixuan reached Que'tou, Qingzhi sent him Shuang's head and a letter: "I hold command in one region, yet rebellion broke out under my rule." I recently took a small force straight to strike him down; our vanguard had scarcely arrived when the rebel Shuang lost his head. Our bond runs deep; if you wished to see him while his face was still recognizable, I have sent his head for you to view." Lu Shuang came from a long line of generals, fierce in battle and reckoned the equal of ten thousand men. When Yixuan and Zang Zhi heard that he was dead, both were shaken with fear.
26
柳元景軍於採石； 王玄謨以臧質眾盛，遣使來求益兵，上使元景進屯姑孰。
Liu Yuanjing had his army at Caishi; Because Zang Zhi's army was large, Wang Xuemo sent an envoy asking for more troops, and the emperor ordered Yuanjing to move up and encamp at Gushu.
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太傅義恭與義宣書曰：「往時仲堪假兵，靈寶尋害其族； 孝伯推誠，牢之旋踵而敗。 臧質少無美行，弟所具悉。 今藉西楚之強力，圖濟其私； 凶謀若果，恐非復池中物也。」 義宣由此疑之。 五月，甲辰，義宣至蕪湖，質進計曰：「今以萬人取南州，則梁山中絕； 萬人綴梁山，則玄謨必不敢動； 下官中流鼓棹，直趣石頭，此上策也。」 義宣將從之。 劉諶之密言於義宣曰：「質求前驅，此志難測。 不如盡銳攻梁山，事克然後長驅，此萬安之計也。」 義宣乃止。
Grand Tutor Yigong wrote to Yixuan: "In the past Yin Zhongkan borrowed troops, and Wang Lingbao soon wiped out his whole clan; Wang Xiaobo gave him his trust, and Liu Laozhi was ruined almost overnight. Zang Zhi has lacked virtue since youth — you, my brother, know that as well as anyone. Now he is using Western Chu's power to serve his own ends; If his wicked plot succeeds, I fear he will no longer be content to stay in the pond." From this Yixuan began to distrust him. In the fifth month, on jiachen, Yixuan reached Wuhu. Zhi proposed: "Send ten thousand men to seize the south, and Liangshan will be cut in two; Hold Liangshan with ten thousand men, and Xuemo will not dare stir; I will row up the river and strike straight at Shitou — that is the best plan." Yixuan was on the point of agreeing. Liu Chenzhi whispered to Yixuan: "Zhi wants the vanguard — his intentions are hard to read. Better to throw everything at Liangshan first and, once that is won, advance in force — that is the safest course." Yixuan then changed his mind.
28
冗從僕射鬍子反等守梁山西壘，會西南風急，質遣其將尹周之攻西壘； 子反方渡東岸就玄謨計事，聞之，馳歸。 周之攻壘甚急，偏將劉季之帥水軍殊死戰，求救於玄謨，玄謨不遣； 大司馬參軍崔勳之固爭，乃遣勳之與積弩將軍垣詢之救之。 比至，城已陷，勳之、詢之皆戰死。 詢之，護之之弟也。 子反等奔還東岸。 質又遣其將龐法起將數千兵趨南浦，欲自後掩玄謨，游擊將軍垣護之引水軍與戰，破之。
Attendant-in-Ordinary Hu Zifan and others held the western fort at Liangshan. A fierce southwest wind sprang up, and Zhi sent his general Yin Zhouzhi to assault the western fort; Zifan had just crossed to the eastern bank to confer with Xuemo when he heard the news and galloped back. Zhouzhi pressed the attack hard. Vice-general Liu Jizhi fought to the death with the fleet and pleaded for help, but Xuemo refused to send any; Grand Marshal staff officer Cui Xunzhi protested vigorously, and at last Xuemo sent Xunzhi and Crossbow General Yuan Xunzhi to their aid. By the time they arrived, the fort had already fallen, and both Xunzhi and Xunzhi were killed in the fighting. Xunzhi was the younger brother of Yuan Huzhi. Zifan and his men fled back to the eastern bank. Zhi also sent his general Pang Faqi with several thousand men toward Nanpu to take Xuemo from behind, but Mobile General Yuan Huzhi met him with the fleet and routed him.
29
朱修之斷馬鞍山道，據險自守。 魯秀攻之不克，屢為修之所敗，乃還江陵，修之引兵躡之。 或勸修之急追，修之曰：「魯秀，驍將也； 獸窮則攫，不可迫也。」
Zhu Xiuzhi blocked the road at Ma'anshan and held the defensible ground. Lu Xiu attacked but failed to break him, was beaten again and again, and retreated to Jiangling; Xiuzhi pursued with his army. Some urged Xiuzhi to press the pursuit, but he said: "Lu Xiu is a formidable commander; A cornered beast will strike back — he must not be driven too hard."
30
王玄謨使垣護之告急於柳元景曰：「西城不守，唯餘東城萬人。 賊軍數倍，強弱不敵。 欲退還姑孰，就節下協力當之，更議進取。」 元景不許，曰：「賊勢方盛，不可先退，吾當卷甲赴之。」 護之曰：「賊謂南州用三萬人，而將軍麾下裁十分之一，若往造賊壘，則虛實露矣。 王豫州必不可來，不如分兵援之。」 元景曰：「善！」 乃留贏弱自守，悉遣精兵助玄謨，多張旗幟。 梁山望之如數萬人，皆以為建康兵悉至，眾心乃安。
Wang Xuemo sent Yuan Huzhi to Liu Yuanjing with an urgent appeal: "The western fort is lost; only ten thousand men remain in the eastern fort. The enemy outnumbers us several times over; we cannot match their strength. We wish to fall back to Gushu, join your forces, and then decide how to advance again." Yuanjing refused. "The rebels are at their strongest," he said. "We cannot pull back first — I shall march at once." Huzhi said: "The enemy thinks the south has thirty thousand men, while you command barely a tenth of that. If you go to their camp yourself, our weakness will be exposed. Governor Wang of Yuzhou certainly cannot come — it would be better to send part of your force to reinforce us." Yuanjing said: "Well said!" He left the weaker troops to hold his position and sent all his best soldiers to aid Xuemo, with many banners and flags. Seen from Liangshan, they looked like tens of thousands of men. Everyone thought the full Jiankang army had arrived, and morale steadied.
31
質請自攻東城。 咨議參軍顏樂之說義宣曰：「質若復克東城，則大功盡歸之矣； 宜遣麾下自行。」 義宣乃遣劉諶之與質俱進。 甲寅，義宣至梁山，頓兵西岸，質與劉諶之進攻東城。 玄謨督諸軍大戰，薛安都帥突騎先沖其陳之東南，陷之，斬諶之道，劉季之、宗越又陷其西北，質等兵大敗。 垣護之燒江中舟艦，煙焰覆水，延及西岸，營壘殆盡； 諸軍乘勢攻之，義宣兵亦潰。 義宣單舸迸走，閉戶而泣，荊州人隨之者猶百餘舸。 質欲見義宣計事，而義宣已去。 質不知所為，亦走，其眾皆降散。 己未，解嚴。
Zhi asked to lead the assault on the eastern fort himself. Staff Adviser Yan Yuezhi told Yixuan: "If Zhi takes the eastern fort again, all the glory will be his; You should send your own men instead." Yixuan then sent Liu Chenzhi to advance alongside Zhi. On jiayin, Yixuan reached Liangshan and halted on the western bank while Zhi and Liu Chenzhi pressed the attack on the eastern fort. Xuemo commanded the armies in a great battle. Xue Andu led his shock cavalry in a charge against the southeast of their line and broke through, killing Liu Chenzhi in flight. Liu Jizhi and Zong Yue then broke their northwest flank, and Zhi's army was routed. Yuan Huzhi set fire to the ships in the river. Smoke and flame covered the water, spread to the western bank, and nearly all the camps were destroyed; The imperial armies pressed the attack, and Yixuan's forces broke and fled as well. Yixuan fled alone in a single boat, weeping behind closed doors. More than a hundred boats of men from Jingzhou still followed him. Zhi wanted to see Yixuan to plan their next move, but Yixuan was already gone. Not knowing what else to do, Zhi fled too, and his army surrendered and dispersed. On jiwei, the emergency mobilization was lifted.
32
癸亥，以吳興太守劉延孫為尚書右僕射。
On guihai, Liu Yansun, governor of Wuxing, was appointed Right Vice Director of the Masters of Writing.
33
六月，丙寅，魏主如陰山。
In the sixth month, on bingyin, the Wei emperor traveled to Yinshan.
34
臧質至尋陽，焚燒府捨，載妓妾西走； 使嬖人何文敬領餘兵居前，至西陽。 西陽太守魯方平紿文敬曰：「詔書唯捕元惡，餘無所問。 不如逃之。」 文敬棄眾亡去。 質先以妹夫羊沖為武昌郡，質往投之。 沖已為郡丞胡庇之所殺，質無所歸，乃逃於南湖。 掇蓮實啖之，追兵至，以荷覆頭，自沉於水，出其鼻。 戊辰，軍主鄭俱兒望見，射之，中心，兵刃亂至，腸胃縈水草，斬首送建康，子孫皆棄市，並誅其黨豫章太守樂安任薈之、臨川內史劉懷之、鄱陽太守杜仲儒。 仲儒，驥之兄子也。 功臣柳元景等封賞各有差。
Zang Zhi reached Xunyang, burned the government offices, loaded his concubines aboard, and fled west; He sent his favorite, He Wenjing, ahead with the remaining troops as far as Xiyang. Lu Fangping, governor of Xiyang, tricked Wenjing, saying: "The edict seeks only the ringleader; no one else is to be pursued. You had better run." Wenjing abandoned his troops and fled. Zhi had earlier had his brother-in-law Yang Chong appointed administrator of Wuchang, and now he went to seek refuge with him. Chong had already been killed by the assistant administrator Hu Pizhi. With nowhere left to turn, Zhi fled to Nanhu. He lived on lotus seeds. When pursuers came, he covered his head with lotus leaves, sank beneath the water, and left only his nose above the surface to breathe. On wuchen, army commander Zheng Ju'er spotted him and shot him in the chest. Soldiers closed in and hacked him apart; his entrails were tangled with water weeds. His head was sent to Jiankang, his descendants were executed in the marketplace, and his allies were put to death as well: Ren Huizhi of Le'an, administrator of Yuzhang; Liu Huaizhi, interior secretary of Linchuan; and Du Zhongru, administrator of Poyang. Zhongru was the nephew of Du Ji. Meritorious officials such as Liu Yuanjing were enfeoffed and rewarded according to their deeds.
35
丞相義宣走至江夏，聞巴陵有軍，回向江陵，眾散且盡，與左右十許人徙走，腳痛不能前，僦民露車自載，緣道求食。 至江陵郭外，遣人報竺超民，超民具羽儀兵眾迎之。 時荊州帶甲尚萬餘人，左右翟靈寶誡義宣使撫慰將佐，以「臧質違指授之宜，用致失利。 今治兵繕甲，更為後圖。 昔漢高百敗，終成大業！」 而義宣忘靈寶之言，誤云「項羽千敗」，眾咸掩口。 魯秀、竺超民等猶欲收餘兵更圖一決； 而義宣惛沮，無復神守，入內不復出，左右腹心稍稍離叛。 魯秀北走，義宣不能自立，欲隨秀去，乃攜息慆及所愛妾五人著男子服相隨。 城內擾亂。 白刃交橫，義宣懼，墜馬，遂步進； 竺超民送至城外，更以馬與之，歸而城守。 義宣求秀不得，左右盡棄之，夜，復還南郡空廨； 旦日，超民收送刺奸。 義宣止獄戶，坐地歎曰：「臧質老奴誤我！」 五妾尋被遣出，義宣號泣，語獄吏曰：「常日非苦，今日分別始是苦。」 魯秀眾散，不能去，還向江陵，城上人射之，秀赴水死，就取其首。
Chancellor Yixuan fled as far as Jiangxia. Hearing that Balin was occupied, he turned back toward Jiangling, but his followers had scattered until almost none remained. With only a dozen or so attendants he went on foot; his feet were too sore to continue, so he hired a peasant's open cart, rode in it, and begged food along the way. When he reached the outskirts of Jiangling, he sent word to Zhu Chaomin, who came out with guards of honor and troops to receive him. Jingzhou still had more than ten thousand armed men. Yixuan's aide Zhai Lingbao urged him to rally his officers, telling them, "Zang Zhi disobeyed orders and brought on our defeat. Now we must retrain our troops, repair our armor, and plan anew. In old times Gaozu of Han was beaten a hundred times, yet in the end he won the empire!" But Yixuan forgot what Lingbao had said and blurted out, "Xiang Yu was defeated a thousand times." The men all stifled their laughter behind their hands. Lu Xiu, Zhu Chaomin, and others still wanted to gather the remaining troops and fight one last decisive battle; But Yixuan was dazed and broken in spirit. He withdrew indoors and would not come out again, and his closest followers gradually deserted him. When Lu Xiu fled north, Yixuan, unable to hold on alone, decided to go with him. He took his son Tao and five favorite concubines, all dressed as men, and set out after him. The city fell into chaos. Blades flashed on every side. Terrified, Yixuan fell from his horse and went on foot; Zhu Chaomin escorted him beyond the walls, gave him a horse, and returned to hold the city. Unable to find Lu Xiu and abandoned by his attendants, Yixuan returned by night to the empty offices of Nan Commandery; At dawn, Chaomin seized him and handed him over to the cijian office. At the prison gate Yixuan sat down on the ground and sighed: "That old villain Zang Zhi has ruined me!" Soon his five concubines were sent away. Yixuan wept aloud and told the jailer: "Life had not been hard before; only now, at this parting, does the pain begin." Lu Xiu's followers had scattered. Unable to escape, he turned back toward Jiangling, but men on the walls shot at him. He threw himself into the river and drowned, and they took his head.
36
詔右僕射劉延孫使荊、江二州，旌別枉直，就行誅賞； 且分割二州之地，議更置新州。
An edict sent Right Vice Director Liu Yansun to Jing and Jiang to judge right and wrong and carry out punishments and rewards on the spot; and also to partition their territories and consider creating new provinces.
37
初，晉氏南遷，以揚州為京畿，谷帛所資皆出焉； 以荊、江為重鎮，甲兵所聚盡在焉，常使大將居之。 三州戶口，居江南之半，上惡其強大，故欲分之。 癸未，分揚州浙東五郡置東揚州，治會稽； 分荊、湘、江、豫州之八郡置郢州，治江夏； 罷南蠻校尉，遷其營於建康。 太傅義恭議使郢州治巴陵，尚書令何尚之曰：「夏口在荊、江之中，正對沔口，通接雍、梁，實為津要。 由來舊鎮，根基不易，既有見城，浦大容舫，於是為便。」 上從之。 既而荊、揚因此虛耗，尚之請復合二州，上不許。
Earlier, when the Jin court moved south, it made Yang Province the capital region, and grain and cloth for the court all came from there; Jing and Jiang were treated as major strongholds where armor and troops were concentrated, and a senior general was usually posted there. Together these three provinces held half the registered population south of the Yangzi. The emperor resented their power and therefore wanted to break them up. On guiwei, five commanderies in eastern Zhejiang were split off from Yang Province to form Eastern Yang Province, with its seat at Kuaiji; eight commanderies from Jing, Xiang, Jiang, and Yu were carved out to form Ying Province, with its seat at Jiangxia; The Commandant of Southern Man was abolished, and his garrison was moved to Jiankang. Grand Tutor Yigong proposed placing Ying Province's capital at Balin, but Minister He Shangzhi said: "Xiakou lies between Jing and Jiang, directly opposite the mouth of the Han, and links Yong and Liang. It is truly a vital crossing. It has long been an established stronghold whose foundations should not be lightly moved. There is already a walled city there, and the harbor is broad enough for large ships — that makes it the better choice." The emperor accepted his advice. Afterward Jing and Yang were weakened by the division. Shangzhi asked that the two provinces be reunited, but the emperor refused.
38
戊子，省錄尚書事。 上惡宗室強盛，不欲權在臣下； 太傅義恭知其指，故請省之。
On wuzi, the office of Supervisor of the Masters of Writing was abolished. The emperor resented the power of the imperial clan and did not want authority to remain in the hands of his ministers; Grand Tutor Yigong understood what he wanted and therefore asked that the office be abolished.
39
上使王公、八座與荊州刺史朱修之書，令丞相義宣自為計。 書未達，庚寅，修之入江陵，殺義宣，並誅其子十六人，及同黨竺超民、從事中郎蔡超、咨議參軍顏樂之等。 超民兄弟應從誅，何尚之上言：「賊既遁走，一夫可擒。 若超民反覆昧利，即當取之，非唯免愆，亦可要不義之賞。 而超民曾無此意，微足觀過知仁。 且為官保全城府，謹守庫藏，端坐待縛。 今戮及兄弟，則與其餘逆黨無異，於事為重。」 上乃原之。
The emperor had the princes and dukes and the Eight Counselors write to Zhu Xiuzhi, governor of Jing Province, instructing Chancellor Yixuan to decide his own fate. Before the letter arrived, on gengyin, Xiuzhi entered Jiangling, killed Yixuan, and executed his sixteen sons, along with his co-conspirators Zhu Chaomin, Attendant-in-Ordinary Cai Chao, Staff Adviser Yan Yuezhi, and others. Chaomin's brothers deserved to die with him, but He Shangzhi memorialized: "The rebels have fled; one man can be taken. If Chaomin had turned treacherous for gain, he should have been seized — not only to escape blame but to claim an ill-gotten reward. Yet Chaomin never harbored such intent — enough, in small measure, to read his fault and see his virtue. Moreover he had preserved the city on the state's behalf, guarded the storehouses, and sat waiting to be bound. If his brothers are executed too, they will be treated no differently from the other rebels — a grave matter for policy." The emperor then pardoned him.
40
秋，七月，丙申朔，日有食之。
In autumn, the seventh month, on the first day bingchen, the sun was eclipsed.
41
庚子，魏皇子弘生； 辛丑，大赦，改元興光。
On gengzi, the Wei emperor's son Hong was born; on xinchou, a general amnesty was proclaimed and the era name changed to Xingguang.
42
丙辰，大赦。
On bingchen, a general amnesty was proclaimed.
43
八月，甲戌，魏趙王深卒。
In the eighth month, on jiaxu, Zhao Wang Shen of Wei died.
44
乙亥，魏主還平城。
On yihai, the Wei emperor returned to Pingcheng.
45
冬，十一月，戊戌，魏主如中山，遂如信都； 十二月，丙子，還，幸靈丘，至溫泉宮； 庚辰，還平城。
In winter, the eleventh month, on wuxu, the Wei emperor went to Zhongshan, then to Xindu; in the twelfth month, on bingzi, he returned, visited Lingqiu, and reached the Hot Springs Palace; on gengchen, he returned to Pingcheng.
46
世祖孝武皇帝上孝建二年（ 乙未，公元四五五年）
Emperor Xiaowu, upper fascicle — the second year of Xiaojian ( yiwei, 455 CE)
47
春，正月，魏車騎大將軍樂平王拔有罪，賜死。 鎮北大將軍、南兗州刺史沈慶之請老； 二月，丙寅，以為左光祿大夫、開府儀同三司。 慶之固讓，表疏數十上，又面自陳，乃至稽顙泣涕。 上不能奪，聽以始興公就第，厚加給奉。 頃之，上復欲用慶之，使何尚之往起之。 尚之累陳上意，慶之笑曰：「沈公不效何公，往而復返。」 尚之慚而止。 辛巳，以尚書右僕射劉延孫為南兗州刺史。
In spring, the first month, the Wei General of Chariots and Cavalry, Prince of Le Ping Ba, was found guilty and ordered to die. General Who Pacifies the North and Governor of Southern Yan Province Shen Qingzhi asked to retire; in the second month, on bingyin, he was made Left Master of Splendid Happiness with Office Equal to the Three Excellencies. Qingzhi refused firmly, submitting memorial after memorial and pleading in person, even kowtowing with tears. The emperor could not change his mind and let him retire to his estate as Duke of Shixing, with generous allowances. Before long, the emperor again wanted to use Qingzhi and sent He Shangzhi to bring him back. Shangzhi repeated the emperor's wishes, but Qingzhi laughed and said, "Lord Shen is not Lord He — I do not go out and come back again." Shangzhi, ashamed, gave up. On xinsi, Liu Yansun, Right Vice Minister of the Masters of Writing, was made Governor of Southern Yan Province.
48
夏，五月，戊戌，以湘州刺史劉遵考為尚書右僕射。
In summer, the fifth month, on wuxu, Liu Zunkao, Governor of Xiang Province, was made Right Vice Minister of the Masters of Writing.
49
六月，壬戌，魏改元太安。
In the sixth month, on renxu, Wei changed the era name to Taian.
50
甲子，大赦。
On jiazi, a general amnesty was proclaimed.
51
甲申，魏主還平城。
On jiashen, the Wei emperor returned to Pingcheng.
52
秋，七月，癸巳，立皇弟休祐為山陽王，休茂為海陵王，休業為鄱陽王。
In autumn, the seventh month, on guisi, the emperor's younger brothers Xiuyou, Xiumao, and Xiuye were made Princes of Shanyang, Hailing, and Poyang.
53
丙辰，魏主如河西。
On bingchen, the Wei emperor went to Hexi.
54
雍州刺史武昌王渾與左右作檄文，自號楚王，改元永光，備置百官，以為戲笑。 長史王翼之封呈其手跡。 八月，庚申，廢渾為庶人，徙始安郡。 上遣員外散騎侍郎東海戴明寶詰責渾，因逼令自殺，時年十七。
Prince of Wuchang Hun, Governor of Yong Province, drafted a proclamation with his attendants, styled himself King of Chu, changed the era name to Yongguang, and set up a full roster of officials — all in jest. Chief Administrator Wang Yizhi sealed and forwarded his handwriting. In the eighth month, on gengshen, Hun was deposed to commoner status and exiled to Shian Commandery. The emperor sent Attendant-in-Ordinary Without Regular Appointment Dai Mingbao of Donghai to rebuke Hun and forced him to kill himself; he was seventeen.
55
丁亥，魏主還平城。
On dinghai, the Wei emperor returned to Pingcheng.
56
詔祀郊廟，初設備樂，從前殿中曹郎荀萬秋之議也。
An edict ordered sacrifices at the suburban altars and temples; full ritual music was established for the first time, following the proposal of Attendant-in-Ordinary of the Front Hall Xun Wanqiu.
57
上欲削弱王侯。 冬，十月，己未，江夏王義恭、竟陵王誕奏裁損王、侯車服、器用、樂舞制度，凡九事； 上因諷有司奏增廣為二十四條，聽事不得南向坐，施帳； 劍不得為鹿盧形； 內史、相及封內官長止稱下官，不得稱臣，罷官則不復追敬。 詔可。
The emperor wished to weaken the power of kings and marquises. In winter, the tenth month, on jiwei, Liu Yigong, Prince of Jiangxia, and Liu Dan, Prince of Jingling, memorialized nine cuts to princes' and marquises' chariots, dress, utensils, music, and dance; the emperor then prompted the offices to expand the list to twenty-four articles: princes might not sit facing south in their audience halls or erect canopies; swords might not take the deer-antler shape; interior stewards, chancellors, and senior officials within fiefs might only call themselves "subordinate officer," not "your subject," and once dismissed would no longer receive formal homage. The edict was approved.
58
庚午，魏以遼西王常英為太宰。
On gengwu, Wei made Chang Ying, Prince of Liaoxi, Grand Preceptor.
59
壬午，以太傅義恭領揚州刺史，竟陵王誕為司空、領南徐州刺史，建平王寵為尚書令。
On renwu, Grand Tutor Yigong took charge of Yang Province; Prince of Jingling Dan was made Minister of Works and concurrent Governor of Southern Xu Province; Prince of Jianping Chong was made Minister of the Masters of Writing.
60
是歲，以故氐王楊保宗子元和為征虜將軍，楊頭為輔國將軍。 頭，文德之從祖兄也。 元和雖楊氏正統，朝廷以其年幼才弱，未正位號，部落無定主，頭先戍葭蘆，母妻子弟並為魏所執，而頭為宋堅守無貳心。 雍州刺史王玄謨上言：「請以頭為假節、西秦州刺史，用安輯其眾。 俟數年之後，元和稍長，使嗣故業。 若元和才用不稱，便應歸頭，頭能籓扞漢川，使無虜患，彼四千戶荒州殆不足惜。 若葭蘆不守，漢川亦無立理。」 上不從。
That year, Yuanhe, son of the former Di king Yang Baozong, was made General Who Subdues the Barbarians, and Yang Tou was made General Who Supports the State. Tou was Wendé's first cousin once removed. Though Yuanhe was the legitimate Yang heir, the court had not confirmed his rank because he was young and untested, and the tribe had no settled leader. Tou had garrisoned Jialu first; Wei held his mother, wife, children, and brothers, yet he remained loyal to Song. Governor of Yong Province Wang Xuemo memorialized: "I ask that Tou be made Acting Credential Bearer and Governor of Western Qin to pacify the people. After a few years, when Yuanhe has matured, let him succeed to the old domain. If Yuanhe proves unfit, power should return to Tou. Tou can shield the Han River basin from the enemy; that barren province of four thousand households is hardly worth keeping. If Jialu falls, the Han River basin cannot stand either." The emperor refused.
61
世祖孝武皇帝上孝建三年（ 丙申，公元四五六年）
Emperor Xiaowu, upper fascicle — the third year of Xiaojian ( bingshen, 456 CE)
62
春，正月，庚寅，立皇弟休范為順陽王，休若為巴陵王。 戊戌，立皇子子尚為西陽王。 壬子，納右衛將軍何瑀女為太子妃。 瑀，澄之曾孫也。 甲寅，大赦。
In spring, the first month, on gengyin, the emperor's younger brothers Xiufan and Xioruo were made Princes of Shunyang and Baling. On wuxu, the imperial son Zishang was made Prince of Xiyang. On renzi, the daughter of Right Defender General He Yu was taken in marriage as crown princess. Yu was a great-grandson of Cheng. On jiayin, a general amnesty was proclaimed.
63
乙卯，魏立貴人馮氏為皇后。 後，遼西郡公朗之女也； 朗為秦、雍二州刺史，坐事誅，後由是沒入宮。
On yimao, Wei established Palace Woman Feng as empress. The empress was the daughter of Duke of Liaoxi Lang; Lang had been Governor of Qin and Yong provinces and was executed for an offense; she was therefore taken into the palace.
64
二月，丁巳，魏主立子弘為皇太子，先使其母李貴人條記所付託兄弟，然後依故事賜死。
In the second month, on dingsi, the Wei emperor made his son Hong crown prince; first he had Hong's mother, Lady Li, write down the brothers she entrusted with her affairs, then, by precedent, ordered her to die.
65
甲子，以廣州刺史宗愨為豫州刺史。 故事，府州部內論事，皆簽前直敘所論之事，置典簽以主之。 宋世諸皇子為方鎮者多幼，時主皆以親近左右領典簽，典簽之權稍重。 至是，雖長王臨籓，素族出鎮，典簽皆出納教命，執其樞要，刺史不得專其職任。 及愨為豫州，臨安吳喜為典簽。 愨刑政所施，喜每多違執，愨大怒，曰：「宗愨年將六十，為國竭命，正得一州如斗大，不能復與典簽共臨之！」 喜稽顙流血，乃止。
On jiazi, Zong Que, Governor of Guang Province, was made Governor of Yu Province. By precedent, provincial business was endorsed with a direct statement of the matter at hand, and a chief secretary was appointed to manage it. Under the Song, many imperial sons sent to regional commands were young, and reigning emperors put trusted attendants in charge as chief secretaries, gradually increasing their power. By then, even when mature princes held fiefs or common clansmen took command, chief secretaries issued orders and held the levers of power, and governors could not govern alone. When Que became Governor of Yu Province, Wu Xi of Lin'an served as chief secretary. Whenever Que imposed punishments or policy, Xi often blocked him. Que flew into a rage and said, "Zong Que is nearly sixty and has spent his life serving the state, yet all he gets is a province the size of a dipper — I will not share its rule with a chief secretary!" Xi kowtowed until he bled, and Que relented.
66
丁零數千家匿井陘山中為盜，魏選部尚書陸真與州郡合兵討滅之。
Several thousand Dingling families hid in the Jingxing mountains as bandits; Wei's Minister of the Bureau of Selection Lu Zhen joined provincial and commandery troops to attack and wipe them out.
67
閏月，戊午，以尚書左僕射劉遵考為丹陽尹。
In the intercalary month, on wuwu, Liu Zunkao, Left Vice Minister of the Masters of Writing, was made Governor of Danyang.
68
癸酉，鄱陽哀王休業卒。
On guiyou, Liu Xiuye, Lamented Prince of Poyang, died.
69
太傅義恭以南兗州刺史西陽王子尚有寵，將避之，乃辭揚州。 秋，七月，解義恭揚州； 丙子，以子尚為揚州刺史。 時熒惑守南斗，上廢西州舊館，使子尚移治東城以厭之。 揚州別駕從事沈懷文曰：「天道示變，宜應之以德。」 今雖空西州，恐無益也。」 不從。 懷文，懷遠之兄也。
Grand Tutor Yigong, seeing that Zishang, Prince of Xiyang and Governor of Southern Yan Province, was favored, wished to avoid him and resigned Yang Province. In autumn, the seventh month, Yigong was relieved of Yang Province; on bingzi, Zishang was made Governor of Yang Province. Mars was then in the Southern Dipper; the emperor abolished the old Western Quarter residence and had Zishang move his seat to the Eastern City to counter the omen. Shen Huaiwen, Attendant-in-Ordinary to the Governor of Yang Province, said, "Heaven shows a change; one should answer with virtue." Emptying the Western Quarter will do no good." The emperor would not listen. Huaiwen was the elder brother of Huaiyuan.
70
八月，魏平西將軍漁陽公尉眷擊伊吾，克其城，大獲而還。
In the eighth month, Yu Juan, Duke of Yuyang and General Who Pacifies the West of Wei, attacked Yiwu, took the city, and returned with great booty.
71
九月，壬戌，以丹陽尹劉遵考為尚書右僕射。
In the ninth month, on renxu, Liu Zunkao, Governor of Danyang, was made Right Vice Minister of the Masters of Writing.
72
冬，十月，甲申，魏主還平城。
In winter, the tenth month, on jiashen, the Wei emperor returned to Pingcheng.
73
丙午，太傅義恭進位太宰，領司徒。
On bingwu, Grand Tutor Yigong was promoted to Grand Preceptor and made concurrent Minister of Education.
74
十一月，魏以尚書西平王源賀為冀州刺史，更賜爵隴西王。 賀上言：「今北虜遊魂，南寇負險，疆場之間，猶須防戍。 臣愚以為，自非大逆、赤手殺人，其坐贓盜及過誤應入死者，皆可原宥，謫使守邊； 則是已斷之體受更生之恩，徭役之家蒙休息之惠。」 魏高宗從之。 久之，謂群臣曰：「吾用賀言，一歲所活不少，增戍兵亦多。 卿等人人如賀，朕何憂哉！」 會武邑人石華告賀謀反，有司以聞，帝曰：「賀竭誠事國，朕為卿等保之，無此明矣。」 命精加訊驗。 華果引誣，帝誅之，因謂左右曰：「以賀忠誠，猶不免誣謗，不及賀者可無慎哉！」
In the eleventh month, Wei made Wang Yuanhe of Xiping, Minister of the Masters of Writing, Governor of Ji Province, and further ennobled him as Prince of Longxi. He memorialized: "The northern enemy still roams; the southern foe holds difficult ground. The frontier still needs garrisons. I believe that except for great treason and bare-handed murder, those condemned to death for embezzlement, theft, or negligent crime should all be pardoned and sent to guard the frontier; then men already marked for death would receive new life, and corvée households would gain relief." Emperor Wencheng of Wei agreed. Some time later he told his ministers, "Following He's advice, I spared many lives within the year and added many frontier troops. If every one of you were like He, what would I have to fear! When Shihua of Wuyi accused He of rebellion, the offices reported it; the emperor said, "He serves the state with complete loyalty — I vouch for him to you all; nothing could be clearer." He ordered a thorough investigation. Shihua confessed to false accusation; the emperor executed him and told those around him, "Even a man as loyal as He cannot escape slander — how much more should the rest of you be on your guard!"
75
十二月，濮陽太守姜龍駒、新平太守楊自倫帥吏民棄郡奔魏。
In the twelfth month, Jiang Longju, Governor of Puyang, and Yang Zilun, Governor of Xinping, led officials and people to abandon their commanderies and defect to Wei.
76
上欲移青、冀二州並鎮歷城，議者多不同。 青、冀二州刺史垣護之曰：「青州北有河、濟，又多陂澤，非虜所向； 每來寇掠，必由歷城。 二州並鎮，此經遠之略也。 北又近河，歸順者易。 近息民患，遠申王威，安邊之上計也。」 由是遂定。
The emperor wished to consolidate Qing and Ji provinces and garrison them at Licheng, but many advisers disagreed. The governors of Qing and Ji provinces, Yuan Huzhi, said: "North of Qing Province lie the Yellow and Ji Rivers, with marshes and lakes throughout — not terrain the northerners favor; Whenever they raid, they must pass through Licheng. Garrisoning both provinces at one post is the proper strategy for securing both the near frontier and the far. The north is also close to the river, making it easy for defectors to come over. It would ease the people's burdens nearby and project imperial power afar — the best plan for securing the frontier." On this basis the decision was made.
77
元嘉中，官鑄四銖錢，輪郭、形制與五銖同，用費無利，故民不盜鑄。 及上即位，又鑄孝建四銖，形式薄小，輪郭不成。 於是盜鑄者眾，雜以鉛、錫； 翦鑿古錢，錢轉薄小。 守宰不能禁，坐死、免者相繼。 盜鑄益甚，物價踴貴，朝廷患之。 去歲春，詔錢薄小無輪郭者悉不得行，民間喧擾。 是歲，始興郡公沈慶之建議，以為：「宜聽民鑄錢，郡縣置錢署，樂鑄之家皆居署內，平其准式，去其雜偽。 去春所禁新品，一時施用，今鑄悉依此格。 萬稅三千，嚴檢盜鑄。」 丹陽尹顏竣駁之，以為：「五銖輕重，定於漢世，魏、晉以降，莫之能改； 誠以物貨既均，改之偽生故也。 今雲去春所禁一時施用； 若鉅細總行而不從公鑄，利己既深，情偽無極，私鑄、翦鑿盡不可禁，財華未贍，大錢已竭，數歲之間，悉為塵土矣。 今新禁初行，品式未一，須臾自止，不足以垂聖慮； 唯府藏空匱，實為重憂。 今縱行細錢，官無益賦之理； 百姓雖贍，無解官乏。 唯簡費去華，專在節儉，求贍之道，莫此為貴耳。」 議者又以為「銅轉難得，欲鑄二銖錢。」 竣曰：「議者以為官藏空虛，宜更改鑄； 天下銅少，宜減錢式以救交弊，賑國舒民。 愚以為不然。 今鑄二銖，恣行新細，於官無解於乏，而民間奸巧大興，天下之貨將糜碎至盡； 空嚴立禁，而利深難絕，不一二年，其弊不可復救。 民懲大錢之改，兼畏近日新禁，市井之間，必生紛擾。 遠利未聞，切患猥及，富商得志，貧民困窘，此皆其不可者也。」 乃止。
In the Yuanjia era, the government minted four-zhu coins identical in rim and shape to the five-zhu; production was unprofitable, so private counterfeiting did not occur. After the emperor's accession, he minted Xiaojian four-zhu coins — thin, small, and poorly rimmed. Counterfeiters proliferated, adulterating coins with lead and tin; and clipped and filed old coins until currency grew progressively debased. Local magistrates could not stop it; officials were executed or dismissed in succession. Counterfeiting worsened, prices soared, and the court grew alarmed. The previous spring, an edict banned all thin, rimless coins from circulation, throwing the populace into uproar. That year, Shen Qingzhi, Duke of Shixing Commandery, proposed: "Let the people mint coins under government oversight — each county should establish a mint office where private minters would reside, with standardized weights and purity to eliminate fraud. The new coins banned last spring should be released immediately, and all new minting should follow this standard. Impose a tax of three thousand per ten thousand coins minted, and strictly suppress illicit casting." Danyang Intendant Yan Jun objected: "The five-zhu standard was set in Han times, and from Wei and Jin onward no one has changed it — precisely because the currency was stable; altering it only invites fraud. Now you propose releasing last spring's banned coins all at once; if debased coins of every size circulate without strict public minting, private gain will run rampant, fraud will know no bounds, and clipping and counterfeiting will become unstoppable — treasury reserves will not cover the loss, large coins will vanish, and within a few years the currency will be worthless. The new ban has only just begun; standards are not yet uniform, and turmoil will soon subside on its own — this hardly warrants imperial intervention; only the empty treasury is a genuine and pressing concern. Even if small coins circulate freely, the state gains no additional revenue; the people may prosper, but that will not relieve the state's poverty. The answer is to cut spending, abandon extravagance, and practice frugality — no remedy is more essential." Others argued that copper was growing scarce and proposed minting two-zhu coins." Jun replied: "The advisers say the treasury is empty and the currency should be reformed; copper is scarce nationwide, and reducing coin weight would ease trade, relieve the state, and help the people. I disagree. Minting two-zhu coins and flooding the market with debased new currency would not relieve the treasury, but would unleash widespread fraud until the nation's currency was destroyed utterly. Prohibitions would be futile against such deep profit; within a year or two the damage would be irreversible. The people, still wary from past currency reforms and the recent ban, would surely throw the markets into chaos. No lasting benefit is in sight, while immediate harm would fall on everyone — the rich would profit and the poor would suffer. These are all reasons to reject the proposal." The proposal was abandoned.
78
魏定州刺史高陽許宗之求取不節，深澤民馬超謗毀宗之，宗之毆殺超，恐其家人告狀，上超詆訕朝政。 魏高宗曰：「此必妄也。 朕為天下主，何惡於超而有此言！ 必宗之懼罪誣超。」 案驗，果然，斬宗之於都南。
Xu Zongzhi, governor of Ding Province in Wei and a man of Gaoyang, was unrestrained in his exactions; Ma Chao of Shenze denounced him, and Zongzhi beat him to death. Fearing the family would bring charges, Zongzhi reported that Chao had slandered the court. Emperor Gaozong of Wei said: "This must be a fabrication. I am sovereign of the realm — what wrong have I done Ma Chao to warrant such talk! Zongzhi must have feared punishment and framed Chao." Investigation confirmed it; Zongzhi was beheaded south of the capital.
79
金紫光祿大夫顏延之卒。 延之子竣貴重，凡所資供，延之一無所受，布衣茅屋，蕭然如故。 常乘贏牛笨車，逢竣鹵簿，即屏住道側。 常語竣曰：「吾平生不喜見要人，今不幸見汝！」 竣起宅，延之謂曰：「善為之，無令後人笑汝拙也。」 延之嘗早詣竣，見賓客盈門，竣尚未起，延之怒曰：「汝出糞土之中，升雲霞之上。 遽驕傲如此，其能久乎！」 竣丁父憂，裁逾月，起為右將軍，丹陽尹如故。 竣固辭，表十上； 上不許，遣中書舍人戴明寶抱竣登車，載之郡捨，賜以布衣一襲，絮以彩綸，遣主衣就衣諸體。
Yan Yanzhi, Grand Master of Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon, died. His son Jun had risen to great power and wealth, yet Yanzhi accepted none of his gifts, living in plain clothes and a thatched hut as spare as ever. He usually rode a scrawny ox in a crude cart; whenever he met Jun's procession, he pulled aside to wait. He often told Jun: "I have never liked meeting the powerful — and now, of all people, I must see you!" When Jun built a mansion, Yanzhi said: "Build it well — do not let posterity laugh at your lack of taste." Yanzhi once called early on Jun, found the gate packed with guests while Jun still lay abed, and said in anger: "You rose from the mire to the heavens. And already so arrogant — how long can that last!" Jun's mourning for his father had barely passed a month when he was recalled as Right General and continued as Danyang Intendant. Jun repeatedly refused, submitting ten memorials; the emperor refused; he sent Palace Secretariat Attendant Dai Mingbao to lift Jun into a carriage, deliver him to the yamen, gift him a plain robe padded with silk, and have an attendant dress him completely.
80
世祖孝武皇帝上大明元年（ 丁酉，公元四五七年）
Emperor Xiaowu, upper fascicle — the first year of Daming ( dingyou, 457 CE)
81
春，正月，辛亥朔，改元，大赦。
In spring, the first month, on the first day xinhai, the era name was changed and a general amnesty was proclaimed.
82
壬戌，魏主畋於崞山； 戊辰，還平城。 魏以漁陽王尉眷為太尉，錄尚書事。
On renxu, the Wei emperor hunted at Mount Guo; on wuchen, he returned to Pingcheng. Wei appointed Yu Juan, Prince of Yuyang, Grand Commandant and Supervisor of the Masters of Writing.
83
二月，魏人寇兗州，向無鹽，敗東平太守南陽劉胡。 詔遣太子左衛率薛安都將騎兵，東陽太守沈法系將水軍，向彭城以御之，並受徐州刺史申坦節度。 比至，魏兵已去。 先是，群盜聚任城荊榛中，累世為患，謂之「任榛」。 申坦請回軍討之，上許之。 任榛聞之，皆逃散。 時天旱，人馬渴乏，無功而還。 安都、法系坐白衣領職。 坦當誅，群臣為請，莫能得。 沈慶之抱坦哭於市曰：「汝無罪而死。 我哭汝於市，行當就汝矣！」 有司以聞，上乃免之。
In the second month, Wei forces invaded Yan Province, advanced on Wuyan, and defeated Liu Hu of Nanyang, administrator of Dongping. The court ordered Xue Andu, Left Commandant of the Crown Prince's Guard, to lead cavalry and Shen Faxi, administrator of Dongyang, to lead naval forces toward Pengcheng, both under Xu Province Governor Shen Tan. By the time they arrived, the Wei forces had already withdrawn. Bandits had long lurked in the thicket of Rencheng, a scourge for generations known as the "Ren Thickets." Shen Tan asked to turn back and suppress them; the emperor agreed. Hearing this, the Ren Thickets bandits fled and dispersed. A drought left men and horses exhausted; the expedition returned empty-handed. Andu and Faxi were demoted to serve in civil capacity without official insignia. Tan faced execution; ministers pleaded for him in vain. Shen Qingzhi embraced Tan and wept in the marketplace: "You die innocent. I weep for you here — soon I shall follow you to the grave!" The matter was reported; the emperor then spared Tan.
84
三月，庚申，魏主畋於松山； 己巳，還平城。
In the third month, on gengshen, the Wei emperor hunted at Mount Song; on jisi, he returned to Pingcheng.
85
魏主立其弟新成為陽平王。
The Wei emperor enfeoffed his younger brother Xincheng as Prince of Yangping.
86
上自即吉之後，奢淫自恣，多所興造。 丹陽尹顏竣以籓朝舊臣，數懇切諫爭，無所迴避，上浸不悅。 竣自謂才足干時，恩舊莫比，當居中永執朝政； 而所陳多不納，疑上欲疏之，乃求外出以佔上意。 夏，六月，丁亥，詔以竣為東揚州刺史，竣始大懼。
After completing mourning and taking the throne, the emperor indulged in extravagance and launched many building projects. Yan Jun, Danyang Intendant and an old minister from the prince's household, remonstrated repeatedly and bluntly; the emperor grew increasingly displeased. Jun believed his talent and favor unmatched — he expected to remain at court and govern indefinitely; but the emperor rejected much of his advice; suspecting he was being sidelined, Jun requested a provincial post to test the emperor's intentions. In summer, the sixth month, on dinghai, an edict made Jun governor of Eastern Yang Province — and Jun was terrified.
87
癸卯，魏主如陰山。
On guimao, the Wei emperor traveled to Mount Yin.
88
雍州所統多僑郡縣，刺史王玄謨上言：「僑郡縣無有境土，新舊錯亂，租課不時，請皆土斷。」 秋，七月，辛未，詔並雍州三郡十六縣為一郡。 郡縣流民不願屬籍，訛言玄謨欲反。 時柳元景宗強，群從多為雍部二千石，乘聲皆欲討玄謨。 玄謨令內外晏然以解眾惑，馳使啟上，具陳本末。 上知其虛，遣主書吳喜撫慰之，且報曰：「七十老公，反欲何求！ 君臣之際，足以相保，聊復為笑，伸卿眉頭耳。」 玄謨性嚴，未嘗妄笑，故上以此戲之。
Yong Province governed many refugee districts; Governor Wang Xuemo memorialized: "Refugee districts have no fixed territory, old and new registrations overlap, and taxes go uncollected — I request a comprehensive land registration." In autumn, the seventh month, on xinwei, an edict merged three commanderies and sixteen counties in Yong Province into one. Displaced people resisted registration, and rumors spread that Xuemo planned to rebel. The Liu clan of Liu Yuanjing was powerful; many kinsmen held posts in Yong Province and, seizing on the rumor, wished to move against Xuemo. Xuemo kept both court and province calm to quell the panic and sent an urgent report to the emperor explaining everything. Knowing the rumors false, the emperor sent Chief Secretary Wu Xi to reassure him with a message: "You're seventy years old — what could rebellion possibly gain you! Between sovereign and minister, trust is enough; this is only a jest to make you smile." Xuemo was stern and rarely smiled — hence the emperor's playful reply.
89
八月，己亥，魏主還平城。
In the eighth month, on jihai, the Wei emperor returned to Pingcheng.
90
甲辰，徙司空、南徐州刺史竟陵王誕為南兗州刺史，以太子詹事劉延孫為南徐州刺史。 初，高祖遺詔，以京口要地，去建康密邇，自非宗室近親，不得居之。 延孫之先雖與高祖同源，而高祖屬彭城，延孫屬莒縣，從來不序昭穆。 上既命延孫鎮京口，仍詔與延孫合族，使諸王皆序長幼。
On jiachen, Prince Dan of Jingling, Minister of Works and governor of Southern Xu Province, was transferred to Southern Yan Province; Liu Yansun, Crown Prince Household Steward, became governor of Southern Xu Province. Emperor Gaozu's will had declared Jingkou a vital post close to Jiankang — only close imperial kin could hold it. Though Yansun's clan shared Gaozu's origin, Gaozu's line was Pengcheng and Yansun's Juxian — they had never been ranked as kin. Having posted Yansun at Jingkou, the emperor ordered him incorporated into the imperial clan and had all princes ranked by seniority.
91
上閨門無禮，不擇親疏、尊卑，流聞民間，無所不至。 誕寬而有禮，又誅太子劭、丞相義宣皆有大功，人心竊向之。 誕多聚才力之士，蓄精甲利兵，上由是畏而忌之，不欲誕居中，使出鎮京口； 猶嫌其逼，更徙之廣陵。 以延孫腹心之臣，故使鎮京口以防之。
The emperor's conduct in the inner palace was scandalous — heedless of kinship or rank — and rumors spread everywhere. Dan was generous and upright; he had played major roles in suppressing Crown Prince Shao and Chancellor Yixuan, and public sentiment quietly favored him. Dan gathered talented men and hoarded arms; the emperor feared and resented him, removed him from court, and posted him at Jingkou; still deeming him too near, the emperor transferred him again to Guangling. Yansun, a trusted confidant, was posted at Jingkou to keep watch on him.
92
魏主將東巡，冬，十月，詔太宰常英起行宮於遼西黃山。
As the Wei emperor prepared an eastern tour, in winter, the tenth month, an edict ordered Grand Preceptor Chang Ying to build a traveling palace at Mount Huang in Liaoxi.
93
十二月，丁亥，更以順陽王休范為桂陽王。
In the twelfth month, on dinghai, Prince Xiufan of Shunyang was re-designated Prince of Guiyang.
94
世祖孝武皇帝上大明二年（ 戊戌，公元四五八年）
Emperor Xiaowu, upper fascicle — the second year of Daming ( wuxu, 458 CE)
95
春，正月，丙午朔，魏設酒禁，釀、酤、飲者皆斬之； 吉凶之會，聽開禁，有程日。 魏主以士民多因酒致斗及議國政，故禁之。 增置內外候官，伺察諸曹及州、鎮，或微服雜亂於府寺間，以求百官過失，有司窮治，訊掠取服； 百官贓滿二丈者皆斬。 又增律七十九章。
In spring, the first month, on the first day bingwu, Wei imposed a total ban on alcohol — brewing, selling, or drinking were capital offenses; For weddings and funerals, limited exceptions were allowed on fixed days. The Wei emperor imposed the ban because wine so often led officials and commoners alike to brawl and debate politics. He expanded the corps of internal and external surveillance officers to watch every bureau, province, and garrison — sometimes infiltrating offices in disguise to catch misdeeds. Offenders were relentlessly prosecuted and tortured until they confessed. Any official found guilty of bribery amounting to twenty feet of silk was executed. Seventy-nine new statutes were added to the legal code.
96
乙卯，魏如廣寧溫泉宮，遂巡平州； 庚午，至黃山宮； 二月，丙子，登碣石山，觀滄海； 戊寅，南如信都，畋於廣川。
On yimao the Wei emperor went to the Guangning Hot Spring Palace and then toured Ping Province; On gengwu he reached the Huang Mountain Palace; In the second month, on bingzi, he climbed Mount Jieshi and gazed upon the eastern sea; On wuyin he traveled south to Xindu and hunted at Guangchuan.
97
乙酉，以金紫光祿大夫褚湛之為尚書左僕射。
On yiyou Chu Zhanzhi, Grand Master of the Gold Seal and Purple Ribbon, was made Left Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat.
98
丙戌，建平宣簡王宏以疾解尚書令； 三月，丁未，卒。
On bingxu Prince Hong of Jianping, styled Xuanjian, stepped down as Director of the Imperial Secretariat because of illness; In the third month, on dingwei, he died.
99
丙辰，魏高宗還平城，起太華殿。 是時，給事中郭善明，性傾巧，說帝大起宮室。 中書侍郎高允諫曰：「太祖始建都邑，其所營立，必因農隙，況建國已久，永安前殿足以朝會，西堂、溫室足以宴息，紫樓足以臨望； 縱有修廣，亦宜馴致，不可倉猝。 今計所當役凡二萬人，老弱供餉，又當倍之，期半年可畢。 一夫不耕，或受之饑，況四萬人之勞費，可勝道乎！ 此陛下所宜留心也。」 帝納之。
On bingchen Emperor Gaozong of Wei returned to Pingcheng and began construction of the Taohua Hall. At the time Guo Shanming, an Attendant within the Gates and a man of sly ingenuity, urged the emperor to launch grand palace building. Gao Yun, Palace Attendant of the Central Secretariat, remonstrated: "When the Founding Emperor first built the capital, construction always waited for the slack season in farming. The realm has stood for generations — the Yong'an Front Hall is enough for court, the West Hall and Greenhouse for feasting and repose, the Purple Tower for looking out over the city; Even if enlargement is required, it should be carried out step by step, not in haste. By present reckoning the project will require twenty thousand workers, with as many again among the old and weak to haul provisions — half a year to finish. When one man leaves the plow, others may go hungry — what then of the toil and cost borne by forty thousand men? Words cannot measure it! This, Your Majesty, is what deserves your close attention." The emperor took his counsel.
100
允好切諫，朝廷事有不便，允輒求見，帝常屏左右以待之。 或自朝至幕，或連日不出； 群臣莫知其所言。 語或痛切，帝所不忍聞，命左右扶出，然終善遇之。 時有上事為激訐者，帝省之，謂群臣曰：「君、父一也。 父有過，子何不作書於眾中諫之！ 而於私室屏處諫者，豈非不欲其父之惡彰於外邪！ 至於事君，何獨不然！ 君有得失，不能面陳，而上表顯諫，欲以彰君之短，明己之直，此豈忠臣所為乎！ 如高允者，乃真忠臣也。 朕有過，未嘗不面言，至有朕所不堪聞者，允皆無所避。 朕聞其過而天下不知，可不謂忠乎！」
Gao Yun loved to speak plainly. Whenever policy troubled him he asked for an audience, and the emperor would send attendants away and receive him alone. Their talks sometimes ran from dawn to dusk, sometimes kept him closeted for days; and the other ministers never learned what passed between them. When Yun's words cut too deep the emperor could not bear them and had attendants escort him out — yet he always treated Yun with kindness afterward. Once, reviewing memorials full of denunciation and provocation, the emperor told his ministers: "Ruler and father are one and the same. If a father errs, why does the son not rebuke him openly before the assembly! But a son who waits for a private room to speak — does he not mean to keep his father's faults from the world! In serving one's ruler, should it be any different! When a ruler errs, to fail to speak to his face yet submit a public memorial exposing his faults and displaying one's own integrity — is that the conduct of a loyal minister! A man like Gao Yun — that is a true loyal minister. When I err he never fails to tell me to my face; even what I cannot bear to hear he does not spare. I am corrected while the realm never learns of my faults — can that not be called loyalty!"
101
允所與同征者游雅等皆至大官，封侯，部下吏至刺史、二千石者亦數十百人，而允為郎二十七年不徙官。 帝謂群臣曰：「汝等雖執弓刀在朕左右，徒立耳，未嘗有一言規正； 唯伺朕喜悅之際，祈官乞爵，今皆無功而至王公。 允執筆佐我國家數十年，為益不少，不過為郎，汝等不自愧乎！」 乃拜允中書令。
Men who had campaigned with Yun, such as You Ya, rose to high office and were enfeoffed as marquises; dozens or hundreds of their subordinates became governors or two-thousand-dan officials — yet Yun remained a Court Gentleman for twenty-seven years without promotion. The emperor told the ministers: "You stand at my side with bow and blade, yet you are only ornaments — not one word of honest counsel; you wait only for my good humor to beg rank and title, and now you have all reached princely rank without merit. Yun served the state with his pen for decades to great benefit, yet never rose above Court Gentleman — are you not ashamed!" He then appointed Yun Director of the Central Secretariat.
102
時魏百官無祿，允常使諸子樵采以自給。 司徒陸麗言於帝曰：「高允雖蒙寵待，而家貧，妻子不立。」 帝曰：「公何不先言？ 今見朕用之，乃言其貧乎！」 即日，至允第，惟草屋數間，布被，縕袍，廚中鹽菜而已。 帝歎息，賜帛五百匹，粟千斛，拜長子悅為長樂太守，允固辭，不許。 帝重允，常呼為令公而不名。
At the time Northern Wei officials drew no salary; Yun regularly sent his sons to gather firewood to make ends meet. Minister of Education Lu Li told the emperor: "Though Gao Yun enjoys your favor, his family is destitute — his wife and children cannot get by." The emperor said: "Why did you not tell me sooner? Only now that you see I am promoting him do you mention his poverty!" That very day he visited Yun's home and found only a few thatched rooms, cotton bedding, a coarse padded robe, and salted vegetables in the kitchen. The emperor sighed, granted five hundred bolts of silk and a thousand hu of grain, and appointed Yun's eldest son Yue Administrator of Changle; Yun pleaded against it but was overruled. The emperor held Yun in high regard and habitually addressed him as "Director Lord" rather than by name.
103
游雅常曰：「前史稱卓子康、劉文饒之為人，褊心者或不之信。 余與高子游處四十年，未嘗見其喜慍之色，乃知古人為不誣耳。 高子內文明而外柔順，其言吶吶不能出口。 昔崔司徒嘗謂余云：『高生豐才博學，一代佳士，所乏者，矯矯風節耳。』 余亦以為然。 及司徒得罪，起於纖微，詔指臨責，司徒聲嘶股慄，殆不能言； 宗欽已下，伏地流汗，皆無人色。 高子獨敷陳事理，申釋是非，辭義清辯，音韻高亮。 人主為之動容，聽者無不神聳，此非所謂矯矯者乎！ 宗愛方用事，威振四海。 嘗召百官於都坐，王公已下皆趨庭望拜，高子獨升階長揖。 由此觀之，汲長孺可以臥見衛青，何抗禮之有！ 此非所謂風節者乎！ 夫人固未易知； 吾既失之於心，崔又漏之於外，此乃管仲所以致慟於鮑叔也。」
You Ya often said: "Earlier histories praise Zhuo Zikang and Liu Wenrao — the petty-minded may refuse to believe it. I have kept company with Master Gao for forty years and never once saw anger or delight on his face — the ancients did not lie. Master Gao is luminous within and gentle without; his words come slowly and with difficulty. Minister Cui once told me: 'Master Gao is richly gifted and deeply learned — a scholar without peer in our time; only bold, upright bearing is wanting in him.' I thought the same. When Minister Cui was accused, the charge arising from a trifle, an imperial rebuke was read aloud — his voice broke, his legs shook, and he could barely speak; Zong Qin and the others prostrated themselves, streaming sweat, faces drained of color. Master Gao alone set out the facts, clarifying right and wrong in language lucid and forceful, his voice ringing clear. The emperor was moved; every listener sat awestruck — was this not the very bold bearing Cui had said he lacked! Zong Ai then held power, his might felt across the realm. Once he summoned the officials to the capital hall; princes and dukes down rushed into the courtyard to bow — Master Gao alone climbed the steps and gave a formal bow. Seen in this light, when Ji Changru received Wei Qing reclining, where was the breach of propriety! Was this not the moral bearing Cui had missed! A man's true character is hard to know; I misjudged him in my heart, and Cui misjudged him in public — this is why Guan Zhong wept for Bao Shu."
104
乙丑，魏東平成王陸俟卒。
On yichou Lu Si, Prince Cheng of Dongping in Wei, died.
105
夏，四月，甲申，立皇子子綏為安陸王。
In summer, the fourth month, on jiashen the emperor enfeoffed his son Zisui as Prince of Anlu.
106
帝不欲權在臣下，六月，戊寅，分吏部尚書置二人，以都官尚書謝莊、度支尚書吳郡顧覬之為之。 又省五兵尚書。
Unwilling to let power concentrate in his ministers, in the sixth month, on wuyin, he divided the Ministry of Personnel directorship in two, appointing Xie Zhuang, Director of the Capital Bureau, and Gu Yan of Wu, Director of Revenue. He also abolished the post of Director of Five Armies.
107
初，晉世，散騎常侍選望甚重，與侍中不異； 其後職任閒散，用人漸輕。 上欲重其選，乃用當時名士臨海太守孔覬、司徒長史王彧為之。 侍中蔡興宗謂人曰：「選曹要重，常侍閒淡，改之以名而不以實，雖主意欲為輕重，人心豈可變邪！」 既而常侍之選復卑，選部之貴不異。 覬，琳之之孫； 彧，謐之兄孫； 興宗，廓之子也。
In Jin times the Regular Attendant of the Rapid Cavalry had been a post of great prestige, scarcely inferior to Attendant-in-Ordinary; but later its duties grew empty and appointments came to be held cheap. The emperor sought to restore the post's prestige and therefore named two celebrated men of the day — Kong Gui, Administrator of Linhai, and Wang Yu, Chief Clerk of the Minister of Education. Attendant-in-Ordinary Cai Xingzong remarked to others: "The Personnel Bureau is vital; the Regular Attendant is ornamental. To swap titles without changing substance — even if the throne means to shift prestige, can men's minds be fooled!" Before long the Regular Attendant was again a lesser post, and the Personnel Bureau's standing was what it had always been. Kong Gui was a grandson of Kong Linzhi; Wang Yu was a grandson of Wang Mi's elder brother; Cai Xingzong was a son of Cai Kuo.
108
裴子野論曰：「官人之難，先王言之，尚矣。 周禮，始於學校，論之州裡，告諸六事，而後貢於王庭。 其在漢家，州郡積其功能，五府舉為掾屬，三公參其得失，尚書奏之天子； 一人之身，所閱者眾，故能官得其才，鮮有敗事。 魏、晉易是，所失弘多。 夫厚貌深衷，險如谿壑，擇言觀行，猶懼弗周，況今萬品千群，俄折乎一面，庶僚百位，專斷於一司，於是囂風遂行，不可抑止。 干進務得，兼加諂瀆； 無復廉恥之風，謹厚之操； 官邪國敗，不可紀納，假使龍作納言，舜居南面，而治致平章，不可必也，況後之官人者哉！ 孝武雖分曹為兩，不能反之於周、漢，朝三暮四，其庸愈乎！
Pei Ziye wrote: "The difficulty of choosing officials is an old theme — the ancient kings spoke of it long ago. Under the Rites of Zhou, men were trained in schools, assessed in the districts, tested on the six virtues, and only then presented at court. Under the Han, provinces and commanderies tracked merit, the Five Offices recommended candidates as clerks, the Three Dukes reviewed their fitness, and the Imperial Secretariat reported to the throne; many eyes examined each candidate, so offices gained able men and misappointments were rare. Wei and Jin overturned that system, and the damage was immense. Faces can mask hearts deep as gullies; even choosing words and watching deeds one still fears error — how much worse when myriad ranks and countless men are judged at a glance and a hundred offices depend on one bureau! Then clamor for office runs wild and cannot be stopped. Men scramble for promotion and profit, piling flattery upon slander; and the old winds of shame and sober duty disappear. Official corruption and national ruin follow beyond reckoning. Even if Long Yao were Chief Counselor and Shun sat on the throne, perfect order could not be guaranteed — how much less under later appointing officers! Though Emperor Xiaowu split the bureau in two, he could not restore the Zhou or Han way — a change of names, not of substance — and what did it avail!
109
丙申，魏主畋於松山； 秋，七月，庚午，如河西。
On bingshen the Wei emperor hunted at Song Mountain; In autumn, the seventh month, on gengwu he traveled to Hexi.
110
南彭城民高闍、沙門曇標以妖妄相扇，與殿中將軍苗允等謀作亂，立闍為帝。 事覺，甲辰，皆伏誅，死者數十人。 於是下詔沙汰諸沙門，設諸條禁，嚴其誅坐； 自非戒行精苦，並使還俗。 而諸尼多出入宮掖，此制竟不能行。
Gao Du of Nan Pengcheng and the monk Tan Biao, inflaming one another with heterodox teachings, conspired with Palace Guard General Miao Yun and others to rebel and make Du emperor. The plot was exposed; on jiachen all were executed, several dozen dying in all. An edict then ordered a purge of the clergy, with new rules and severe punishments; all except the most austere practitioners were forced to return to lay life. But many nuns came and went within the palace precincts, and the measure could not be enforced.
111
中書令王僧達，幼聰警能文，而跌蕩不拘。 帝初踐祚，擢為僕射，居顏、劉之右。 自負才地，謂當時莫及，一二年間，即望宰相。 既而遷護軍，怏怏不得志，累啟求出。 上不悅，由是稍稍下遷，五歲七徙，再被彈削。 僧達既恥且怨，所上表奏，辭旨抑揚，又好非議時政，上已積憤怒。 路太后兄子嘗詣僧達，趨升其榻，僧達令舁棄之。 太后大怒。 固邀上令必殺僧達。 會高闍反，上因誣僧達與闍通謀，八月，丙戌，收付廷尉，賜死。
Wang Sengda, Director of the Central Secretariat, had been clever and literary from boyhood, but wild and heedless of restraint. When the emperor first took the throne he was raised to Vice Director, ranking above Yan and Liu. Confident in his gifts and lineage, he thought none could rival him and expected the chancellorship within a year or two. When he was moved instead to Protector of the Army he grew sullen and repeatedly asked to leave the capital. The emperor took offense; over five years Sengda was transferred seven times and twice stripped of rank. Humiliated and bitter, Sengda sent memorials barbed with irony and loved to attack current policy, and the emperor's wrath mounted. A nephew of Empress Dowager Lu once visited Sengda and tried to jump onto his couch; Sengda had him thrown off. The empress dowager was furious. She pressed the emperor relentlessly to have Sengda put to death. When Gao Du's plot broke, the emperor seized the occasion to accuse Sengda of collusion; in the eighth month, on bingxu, he was arrested, tried, and granted death.
112
沈約論曰：「夫君子、小人，類物之能稱，蹈道則為君子，違之則為小人。 是以太公起屠釣為周師，傅說去板築為殷相，明揚幽仄，唯才是與。 逮於二漢，茲道未革：胡廣累世農夫，致位公相； 黃憲牛醫之子，名重京師：非若晚代分為二途也。 魏武始立九品，蓋以論人才優劣，非謂世族高卑。 而都正俗士，隨時俯仰，憑藉世資，用相陵駕； 因此相沿，遂為成法。 周、漢之道，以智役愚，魏、晉以來，以貴役賤，士庶之科，較然有辨矣。
Shen Yue wrote: "Gentleman and petty man are names that fit their kinds: walk the Way and one is a gentleman; leave it and one is a petty man. Thus the Grand Duke rose from butcher and angler to become Zhou's teacher, and Fuyue left his mortar work to become Shang's chancellor — elevating the obscure and overlooked, appointing men for merit alone. Down through the two Han dynasties this principle held: Hu Guang, whose family had farmed for generations, rose to grand chancellor; Huang Xian, a cattle doctor's son, won renown in the capital — not as in later times, when gentlemen and commoners were kept on separate tracks. Cao Cao first instituted the nine-rank system to assess merit, not to fix the status of great clans. But the rank directors and conventional men, swaying with fashion, leaned on family pedigree to lord it over others; Passed down in this way, it hardened into fixed practice. Under Zhou and Han, the wise led the simple; from Wei and Jin on, birth trumped ability — gentry and commoners were sharply divided.
113
裴子野論曰：「古者，德義可尊，無擇負販； 苟非其人，何取世族！ 名公子孫，還齊布衣之伍； 士庶雖分，本無華素之隔。 有晉以來，其流稍改，草澤奇士，猶顯清途； 降及季年，專限閥閱。 自是三公之子，傲九棘之家，黃散之孫，蔑令長之室； 轉相驕矜，互爭銖兩，唯論門戶，不問賢能。 以謝靈運、王僧達之才華輕躁，使生自寒宗，猶將覆折； 重以怙其庇廕，召禍宜哉。
Pei Ziye wrote: "In antiquity, worth won respect regardless of trade — peddlers and burden-bearers were not passed over; if a man lacked merit, of what use was a grand lineage! Sons of illustrious houses still ranked with commoners in plain dress; gentry and commoners were known apart, yet there was no hard line between the splendid and the plain. Since the Jin dynasty the tide had turned; men of talent from humble ground could still rise to office; by the dynasty's end, office was closed to all but pedigree. Then sons of the Three Dukes scorned ministerial families; heirs of court attendants looked down on magistrates' households; pride bred pride; they quarreled over petty rank and cared only for lineage, not merit. Men like Xie Lingyun and Wang Sengda, brilliant but headstrong, would have been ruined even in humble birth; leaning on powerful patrons they brought disaster on themselves — little wonder.
114
九月，乙巳，魏主還平城。
In the ninth month, on yisi, the Wei emperor returned to Pingcheng.
115
丙寅，魏大赦。
On bingyin the Northern Wei proclaimed a general amnesty.
116
冬，十月，甲戌，魏主北巡，欲伐柔然，至陰山，會雨雪，魏主欲還，太尉尉眷曰：「今動大眾以威北敵，去都不遠而車駕遽還，虜必疑我有內難。 將士雖寒，不可不進。」 魏主從之，辛卯，軍於車侖山。
In winter, the tenth month, on jiaxu the Wei emperor marched north to attack the Rouran. At Yin Mountain he met rain and snow and wanted to turn back. Grand Commandant Yu Juan said, "We have brought a great army to overawe the northern enemy. The capital is close, yet if the imperial train turns back at once, the tribes will suspect trouble at home. The men may be freezing, but we must press on." The Wei emperor agreed. On xinmao the army encamped at Chelun Mountain.
117
積射將軍殷孝祖築兩城於清水之東。 魏鎮西將軍封敕文攻之，清口戍主、振威將軍傅乾愛，拒破之。 孝祖，羨之曾孫也。 上遣虎賁主龐孟虯將兵救清口，青、冀二州刺史顏師伯遣中兵參軍苟思達助之，敗魏兵於沙溝。 師伯，竣之族兄也。 上遣司空參軍卜天生將兵會傅乾愛及中兵參軍江方興共擊魏兵，屢破之，斬魏將窟瑰公等數人。 十一月，魏征西將軍皮豹子等將三萬騎助封敕文寇青州，顏師伯御之，輔國參軍焦度刺豹子墜馬，獲其鎧槊具裝，手殺數十人。 度，本南安氐也。
General of Archers Yin Xiaozu built two fortresses east of the Qing River. Wei's General Who Pacifies the West Feng Jiwen attacked them, but Fu Qian'ai, garrison commander of Qingkou and General Who Inspires Awe, repulsed and defeated him. Yin Xiaozu was a great-grandson of Yin Xian. The emperor sent Guard Chief Pang Mengjiao to relieve Qingkou. Yan Shibo, governor of Qing and Ji, sent Army Aide Gou Sida to help, and they routed the Wei army at Shagou. Yan Shibo was an elder clansman of Yan Jun. The emperor also sent Works Aide Bu Tiansheng to join Fu Qian'ai and Army Aide Jiang Fangxing against the Wei forces; they won repeatedly and beheaded several Wei generals, including Duke Kugui. In the eleventh month, Wei's General Who Campaigns West Pi Baozi led thirty thousand cavalry to reinforce Feng Jiwen's raid on Qingzhou. Yan Shibo met them. State Aide Jiao Du speared Baozi from his horse, seized his armored lance and full panoply, and killed dozens of men with his own hand. Jiao Du was originally a Di tribesman of Nan'an.
118
魏主自將騎十萬、車十五萬兩擊柔然，度大漠，旌旗千里。 柔然處羅可汗遠遁，其別部烏朱駕頹等帥數千落降於魏。 魏主刻石紀功而還。
The Wei emperor personally led one hundred thousand cavalry and one hundred fifty thousand wagons against the Rouran, crossing the great desert with banners stretching a thousand li. The Rouran khan Chuluo Khan fled far off; a detached branch under Wuzhu Jiatui and others led several thousand households in surrender to Wei. The Wei emperor erected a stone monument recording his victory and returned.
119
初，上在江州，山陰戴法興、戴明寶、蔡閒為典簽； 及即位，皆以為南台侍御史兼中書通事舍人。 是歲，三典簽並以初舉兵預密謀，賜爵縣男； 閒已卒，追賜之。 時上親覽朝政，不任大臣； 而腹心耳目，不得無所委寄。 法興頗知古今，素見親待。 魯郡巢尚之，人士之末，涉獵文史，為上所知，亦以為中書通事舍人。 凡選授遷徙誅賞大處分，上皆與法興、尚之參懷； 內外雜事，多委明寶。 三人權重當時，而法興、明寶大納貨賄，凡所薦達，言無不行，天下輻湊，門外成市，家產並累千金。
Earlier, while the emperor was in Jiang Province, Dai Faxing of Shanyin, Dai Mingbao, and Cai Xian had served as chief clerks; On his accession he made them all Attendants of the Southern Terrace and Secretariat General Clerks. That year all three were enfeoffed as county barons for their part in the secret plot that launched his uprising; Cai Xian had already died; the title was conferred posthumously. The emperor then handled state affairs himself and did not rely on his great ministers; yet he still needed men he could trust for his inner circle. Dai Faxing was well read in history and had long enjoyed the emperor's favor. Chao Shangzhi of Lu commandery, a man of modest standing who had browsed literature and history, also won the emperor's notice and was made a Secretariat General Clerk. Appointments, transfers, executions, rewards — every major decision the emperor took up with Faxing and Shangzhi; day-to-day business, internal and external, went mostly to Mingbao. The three wielded enormous power. Faxing and Mingbao took lavish bribes; whatever they recommended was done. The empire streamed to their doors until a market stood outside; each man's household amassed fortunes of a thousand gold.
120
吏部尚書顧覬之獨不降意於法興等。 蔡興宗與覬之善，嫌其風節太峻，覬之曰：「辛毘有言：『孫、劉不過使吾不為三公耳。』 覬之常以為：「人稟命有定分，非智力所移，唯應恭己守道； 而闍者不達，妄意僥倖，徒虧雅道，無關得喪。」 乃以其意命弟子原著《定命論》以釋之。」」」」
Minister of Personnel Gu Yan alone refused to defer to Faxing and his circle. Cai Xingzong, who was friendly with Gu Yan, thought his standards too rigid. Gu Yan said, "Xin Pi once remarked, 'Sun and Liu could at most have kept me from reaching the Three Dukes.' Gu Yan always held that "each man's destiny is fixed and cannot be shifted by wit or effort; one should keep to the Way in humility; yet the dull do not see this and chase fortune vainly, debasing themselves for no real gain or loss." He therefore had his disciple Gu Yuan compose On Destiny to set out his views.””””