1
資治通鑑第139卷
Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Governance, Volume 139
2
【齊紀五】閼逢閹茂，一年。
[Qi Records 5] The Emao year of the Eyan cycle, year one.
3
高宗明皇帝上建武元年（ 甲戌，公元四九四年）
The first year of Jianwu under Emperor Ming the High Ancestor (upper fascicle) ( jiaxu, AD 494)
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春，正月，丁未，改元隆昌； 大赦。
In spring, on the dingwei day of the first month, the era name was changed to Longchang; A general amnesty was proclaimed.
5
雍州刺史晉安王子懋，以主幼時艱，密為自全之計，令作部造仗； 征南大將軍陳顯達屯襄陽，子懋欲脅取以為將。 顯達密啟西昌侯鸞，鸞征顯達為車騎大將軍； 徙子懋為江州刺史，仍令留部曲助鎮襄陽，單將白直、俠轂自隨。 顯達過襄陽，子懋謂曰：「朝廷令身單身而返，身是天王，豈可過爾輕率！ 今猶欲將二三千人自隨，公意何如？」 顯達曰：「殿下若不留部曲，乃是大違敕旨，其事不輕； 且此間人亦難可收用。」 子懋默然。 顯達因辭出，即發去。 子懋計未立，乃之尋陽。
Xiao Mao, Prince of Jin'an and governor of Yong Province, seeing that the sovereign was young and the times precarious, secretly laid plans for his own safety and ordered his headquarters to forge arms; Chen Xianda, Grand General Who Conquers the South, was encamped at Xiangyang, and the prince hoped to coerce him into taking command on his behalf. Xianda secretly informed Xiao Luan, Marquis of Xichang, whereupon Luan recalled him to court as Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry; He reassigned the prince to governor of Jiang Province but still required him to leave his troops to help hold Xiangyang, allowing him to depart with only his household guards and armed followers. As Xianda passed through Xiangyang, the prince said to him, "The court orders me to return unaccompanied. I am a Son of Heaven—how can they treat me so lightly! I still mean to take two or three thousand men with me. What do you think?" Xianda replied, "If Your Highness does not leave your troops behind, you will be in grave breach of the imperial command; and besides, the men here would be difficult to rely on." The prince said nothing. Xianda took his leave and set out immediately. His plans still unsettled, the prince proceeded to Xunyang.
6
西昌侯鸞將謀廢立，引前鎮西咨議參軍蕭衍與同謀。 荊州刺史隨王子隆，性溫和，有文才； 鸞欲征之，恐其不從。 衍曰：「隨王雖有美名，其實庸劣。 既無智謀之士，爪牙唯仗司馬垣歷生、武陵太守卞白龍耳。 二人唯利是從，若啖以顯職，無有不來； 隨王止須折簡耳。」 鸞從之。 征歷生為太子左衛率，白龍為游擊將軍； 二人並至。 續召子隆為侍中、撫軍將軍。 豫州刺史崔慧景，高、武舊將，鸞疑之，以蕭衍為寧朔將軍，戍壽陽。 慧景懼，白服出迎； 衍撫安之。
Xiao Luan, Marquis of Xichang, was preparing to depose the emperor and enthrone another, and enlisted Xiao Yan, formerly a staff adviser on the western command, as his co-conspirator. Xiao Zilong, Prince of Sui and governor of Jing Province, was gentle by nature and accomplished in letters; Luan wished to recall him to court but feared he would refuse. Yan said, "The Prince of Sui may enjoy a fine reputation, but in truth he is mediocre. He has no counselors of real ability; he depends entirely on his chief administrator Yuan Lisheng and Bian Bailong, governor of Wuling. Both men follow profit alone—offer them high office and they will surely come; as for the prince himself, a single summons will suffice." Luan followed his advice. He summoned Yuan to be Left Commandant of the Crown Prince's Guard and Bian to be General Who Attacks in All Directions; Both men came to the capital. He then recalled the prince to serve as Palace Attendant and General Who Pacifies the Army. Cui Huijing, governor of Yu Province, was a veteran of the Gao and Wu reigns; Luan distrusted him and posted Xiao Yan as General Who Pacifies the North at Shouyang. Cui, alarmed, came out to meet him dressed in white; Xiao Yan reassured and calmed him.
7
辛亥，鬱林王祀南郊； 戊午，拜崇安陵。
On the xinhai day, Emperor Yulin performed the suburban sacrifice to Heaven; On the wuwu day, he paid his respects at Chong'an Mausoleum.
8
癸亥，魏主南巡； 戊辰，過比干墓，祭以太牢，魏主自為祝文曰：「烏呼介士，胡不我臣！」
On the guihai day, the Wei emperor toured south; On the wuchen day, passing the tomb of Bi Gan, he offered the great sacrifice; the emperor himself composed the prayer, saying, "Alas, steadfast knight—why would you not serve me as your lord!"
9
帝寵幸中書舍人綦毌珍之、朱隆之、直閣將軍曹道剛、周奉叔、宦者徐龍駒等。 珍之所論薦，事無不允； 內外要職，皆先論價，旬月之間，家累千金； 擅取官物及役作，不俟詔旨。 有司至相語云：「寧拒至尊敕，不可違舍人命。」 帝以龍駒為後閣舍人，常居含章蓼，著黃綸帽，被貂裘，南面向案，代帝畫敕； 左右侍直，與帝不異。
The emperor lavished favor on Palace Secretariat Attendants Qi Wuzhenzhi and Zhu Longzhi, Direct Gate Generals Cao Daogang and Zhou Fengshu, and the eunuch Xu Longju, among others. Nothing Zhenzhi recommended was ever refused; for every important post inside and outside the court he fixed a price first; within weeks his household had amassed thousands in gold; he seized government property and corvée labor at will, without awaiting imperial orders. Officials even said to one another, "Better to defy the emperor's command than to disobey the Secretariat Attendant." The emperor appointed Longju a Rear Pavilion Attendant; he lived permanently in the Hanzhang quarter, wore a yellow silk cap and sable fur, faced south at the desk, and drafted edicts in the emperor's stead; with attendants standing by his side no differently than for the emperor himself.
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帝自山陵之後，即與左右微服遊走市裡，好於世宗崇安陵隧中擲塗、賭跳，作諸鄙戲，極意賞賜左右，動至百數十萬。 每見錢，曰：「我昔思汝一枚不得，今日得用汝未？」 世祖聚錢上庫五億萬，齋庫亦出三億萬，金銀布帛不可勝計； 鬱林王即位未期歲，所用垂盡。 入主衣庫，令何後及寵姬以諸寶器相投擊破碎之，用為笑樂。 蒸於世祖幸姬霍氏，更其姓曰徐。 朝事大小，皆決於西昌侯鸞。 鸞數諫爭，帝多不從； 心忌鸞，欲除之。 以尚書右僕射鄱陽王鏘為世祖所厚，私謂鏘曰：「公聞鸞於法身如何？」 鏘素和謹，對曰：「臣鸞於宗戚最長，且受寄先帝； 臣等皆年少，朝廷所損，唯鸞一人，願陛下無以為慮。」 帝退，謂徐龍駒曰：「我欲與公共計取鸞，公既不同，我不能獨辦，且復小聽。」
After the funeral rites, the emperor went about the markets in disguise with his attendants; he delighted in flinging mud, gambling at hopscotch, and other coarse games in the tunnel of Emperor Shizong's Chong'an Mausoleum, rewarding his companions extravagantly—often in sums of hundreds of thousands or millions. Whenever he saw money he would say, "I once longed for you coin by coin and could not have you—today, may I use you at last?" Emperor Shizu had amassed five hundred million coins in the upper treasury and three hundred million more in the palace treasury, with gold, silver, silk, and cloth beyond reckoning; yet before a full year of Yulin's reign, nearly all of it was gone. He entered the imperial wardrobe treasury and had Empress He and his favorite concubines smash precious vessels against one another for amusement. He took Huo, a favored concubine of Emperor Shizu, as his own and changed her surname to Xu. Great and small affairs of state were all decided by Xiao Luan, Marquis of Xichang. Luan remonstrated again and again, but the emperor mostly refused to listen; he came to resent Luan and wished to eliminate him. Because Xiao Zheng, Prince of Poyang and Right Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat, had been favored by Emperor Shizu, the emperor said privately to him, "What have you heard of Luan's attitude toward Fashen? Zheng, mild and cautious by nature, replied, "Luan is the senior among our kinsmen and was entrusted by the late emperor; we are all young; of those the court can afford to lose, only Luan would matter—Your Majesty need not worry on that account." The emperor withdrew and said to Xu Longju, "I wanted to plot with you to take Luan down; since you will not agree, I cannot act alone—for now we must wait a little longer."
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衛尉蕭諶，世祖之族子也，自世祖在郢州，諶已為腹心。 及即位，常典宿衛，機密之事，無不預聞。 征南咨議蕭坦之，諶之族人也，嘗為東宮直閣，為世宗所知。 帝以二人祖父舊人，甚親信之。 諶每請急出宿，帝通夕不寐，諶還乃安。 坦之得出入後宮。 帝褻狎宴游，坦之皆在側。 帝醉後，常裸袒，坦之輒扶持諫諭。 西昌侯鸞欲有所諫，帝在後宮不出，唯遣諶、坦之徑進，乃得聞達。
Xiao Chen, Commandant of the Guards, was a kinsman of Emperor Shizu; from the time Shizu held Ying Province, Chen had been his intimate confidant. After Yulin's accession, Chen constantly commanded the night guard and was privy to every confidential matter. Xiao Tanzhi, staff adviser on the southern command, was Chen's kinsman as well; he had once served as a Direct Gate officer in the Eastern Palace and was known to Emperor Shizong. The emperor, regarding them as old associates of his grandfather's circle, trusted them deeply. Whenever Chen asked leave to lodge outside, the emperor lay awake all night and slept only after Chen returned. Tanzhi was permitted free access to the inner palace. Whenever the emperor indulged in intimate revelry, Tanzhi was always present. When drunk the emperor often stripped to the waist; Tanzhi would steady him and remonstrate. When Xiao Luan wished to remonstrate, the emperor would not leave the inner palace; only by sending Chen and Tanzhi directly in could his words reach him.
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何後亦淫泆，私於帝左右楊鈱，與同寢處如伉儷； 又與帝相愛狎，故帝恣之。 迎後親戚入宮，以耀靈殿處之。 齋閣通夜洞開，外內淆雜，無復分別。 西昌侯鸞遣坦之入奏誅鈱，何後流涕覆面曰：「楊郎好年少，無罪，何可枉殺！」 坦之附耳語帝曰：「外間並雲楊鈱與皇后有情，事彰遐邇，不可不誅。」 帝不得已許之； 俄敕原之，已行刑矣。 鸞又啟誅徐龍駒，帝亦不能違，而心忌鸞益甚。 蕭諶、蕭坦之見帝狂縱日甚，無復悛改，恐禍及己，乃更回意附鸞，勸其廢立，陰為鸞耳目，帝不之覺也。
Empress He was dissolute as well; she took Yang Qian, an attendant at the emperor's side, as her lover and slept with him as man and wife; she was also intimate with the emperor himself, who therefore indulged her without restraint. She brought her relatives into the palace and housed them in the Yaoling Hall. The fasting chambers stood open all night; inner and outer quarters were mingled without distinction. Xiao Luan sent Tanzhi in to petition for Qian's execution; the empress wept, covering her face, and said, "Young Master Yang is so fine and young—he is innocent; how can you kill him unjustly! Tanzhi whispered in the emperor's ear, "Outside, everyone says Yang Qian and the empress are lovers; the affair is known far and wide—he cannot go unpunished." The emperor, having no choice, consented; but scarcely had an edict of pardon been issued when the execution was already done. Luan again petitioned for Xu Longju's execution; the emperor could not refuse, yet resented Luan all the more. Xiao Chen and Xiao Tanzhi, seeing the emperor's excess grow worse daily with no sign of reform, feared they would be swept up in the ruin; they therefore shifted their loyalty to Luan, urged him to depose and enthrone another, and secretly served as his informants—without the emperor's knowledge.
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周奉叔恃勇挾勢，陵轢公卿。 常翼單刀二十口自隨，出入禁闥，門衛不敢訶。 每語人曰：「周郎刀不識君！」 鸞忌之，使蕭諶、蕭坦之說帝出奉叔為外援。 己巳，以奉叔為青州刺史，曹道剛為中軍司馬。 奉叔就帝求千戶侯； 許之。 鸞以為不可，封曲江縣男，食三百戶。 奉叔大怒，於眾中攘刀厲色； 鸞說諭之，乃受。 奉叔辭畢，將之鎮，部伍已出。 鸞與蕭諶稱敕，召奉叔於省中，毆殺之，啟云：「奉叔慢朝廷。」 帝不獲已，可其奏。
Zhou Fengshu, relying on his courage and the power he wielded, rode roughshod over dukes and ministers. He constantly carried twenty blades at his side, passing in and out of the forbidden gates while the guards dared not challenge him. He would say to people, "Young Master Zhou's blades know no master but me! Luan feared him and had Chen and Tanzhi persuade the emperor to post Fengshu outside the capital as a military ally. On the jisi day, Fengshu was appointed governor of Qing Province and Cao Daogang Army Supervisor of the Central Army. Fengshu asked the emperor for a marquisate of a thousand households; which the emperor granted. Luan would not allow it and enfeoffed him instead as Baron of Qujiang with three hundred households. Fengshu flew into a rage and brandished his blade with a fierce look before the whole court; Luan talked him round, and he accepted. After taking his leave, Fengshu was about to depart for his post; his troops had already marched out. Luan and Xiao Chen, invoking an imperial order, summoned Fengshu to the Secretariat and beat him to death, reporting that "Fengshu showed contempt for the court." The emperor, powerless to refuse, approved the memorial.
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溧陽令錢唐杜文謙，嘗為南郡王侍讀，前此說綦毋珍之曰：「天下事可知，灰燼粉滅，匪朝伊夕； 不早為計，吾徒無類矣。」 珍之曰：「計將安出？」 文謙曰：「先帝舊人，多見擯斥，今召而使之，誰不慷慨！ 近聞王洪範與宿衛將萬靈會等共語，皆攘袂捶床； 君其密報周奉叔，使萬靈會等殺蕭諶，則宮內之兵皆我用也。 即勒兵入尚書，斬蕭令，兩都伯力耳。 今舉大事亦死，不舉事亦死； 二死等耳，死社稷可乎！ 若遲疑不斷，復少日，錄君稱敕賜死，父母為殉，在眼中矣。」 珍之不能用。 及鸞殺奉叔，並收珍之、文謙，殺之。
Du Wenqian of Qiantang, magistrate of Liyang, had once served as tutor to the Prince of Nan commandery; he had earlier said to Qi Wuzhenzhi, "The realm's fate is plain—all will be ashes before long; if we do not act soon, men like us will not survive." Zhenzhi asked, "What do you propose?" Wenqian said, "The late emperor's old followers have mostly been cast aside—recall them now and who would not rise eagerly! I have lately heard that Wang Hongfan and the palace guard general Wan Linghui and others, talking together, rolled up their sleeves and pounded the bed; secretly inform Zhou Fengshu and have Wan Linghui and the rest kill Xiao Chen—then every soldier in the palace will be ours. Then march on the Imperial Secretariat and behead Minister Xiao—it is only the work of two commandery chiefs. Act now and you die; fail to act and you die likewise; the two deaths are equal—why not die for the altars of state! Hesitate a few days more and the Secretariat Attendant will issue an edict in the emperor's name ordering your death, your parents dying with you—it is already in sight." Zhenzhi would not act on his advice. When Luan killed Fengshu, he also arrested Zhenzhi and Wenqian and put them to death.
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乙亥，魏主如洛陽西宮。 中書侍郎韓顯宗上書陳四事：其一以為：「竊聞輿駕今夏不巡三齊，當幸中山。 往冬輿駕停鄴，當農隙之時，猶比屋供奉，不勝勞費。 況今蠶麥方急，將何以堪命！ 且六軍涉暑，恐生癘疫。 臣願早還北京，以省諸州供張之苦，成洛都營繕之役。」 其二以為：「洛陽宮殿故基，皆魏明帝所造，前世已譏其奢。 今茲營繕，宜加裁損。 又，頃來北都富室，競以第捨相尚； 宜因遷徙，為之制度。 及端廣衢路，通利溝渠。」 其三以為：「陛下之還洛陽，輕將從騎。 王者於闈闥之內施警蹕，況涉履山河而不加三思乎！」 其四以為：「陛下耳聽法音，目玩墳典，口對百辟，心虞萬機，景昃而食，夜分而寢； 加以孝思之至，隨進而深； 文章之業，日成篇卷； 雖睿時所用，未足為煩，然非所以嗇神養性，保無疆之祚也。 伏願陛下垂拱司契而天下治矣。」 帝頗納之。 顯宗，麒麟之子也。
On the yihai day, the Wei emperor went to the Western Palace at Luoyang. Han Xianzong, Vice Director of the Palace Secretariat, submitted a memorial on four matters. The first stated, "I have heard that this summer Your Majesty will not tour the Three Qi but will visit Zhongshan. Last winter the imperial progress halted at Ye, during the agricultural slack season, yet every household was still pressed to supply provisions beyond what they could bear. How much less can they bear it now, when silkworms and wheat demand their utmost attention! Moreover, the six armies marching in summer heat may breed pestilence. I beg Your Majesty to return early to the Northern Capital, to spare the provinces the burden of provisioning and to complete the construction at Luoyang." The second held that the old foundations of the Luoyang palaces were all built by Emperor Ming of Wei, and former ages already mocked their extravagance. The present construction ought to be further reduced. Moreover, of late the wealthy families of the Northern Capital have vied in the grandeur of their mansions; the move should be used to impose regulations on them. Roads should be made straight and broad, and ditches and canals cleared for drainage." The third held that when Your Majesty returns to Luoyang, you travel with only a light escort. A sovereign applies the royal guard even within his inner gates—how much more when crossing mountains and rivers without careful thought!" The fourth held that Your Majesty's ears hear the dharma's sound, your eyes peruse the classics, your mouth addresses the hundred ministers, and your mind attends to the myriad affairs of state—you eat at sundown and sleep after midnight; to this is added filial remembrance, which deepens with every advance; and literary work daily completes scroll upon scroll; though a sage's labors are not in themselves excessive, this is not the way to husband the spirit and preserve an enduring reign. I beg Your Majesty to fold your hands in rule and let all under Heaven govern itself. The emperor largely accepted his advice. "Xianzong was the son of Han Lin.
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顯宗又上言，以為：「州郡貢察，徒有秀、孝之名，而無秀、孝之實； 朝廷但檢其門望，不復彈坐。 如此，則可令別貢門望以敘士人，何假冒秀、孝之名也！ 夫門望者，乃其父祖之遺烈，亦何益於皇家！ 益於時者，賢才而已。 苟有其才，雖屠、釣、奴、虜，聖王不恥以為臣； 苟非其才，雖三後之胤，墜於皁隸矣。 議者或云『今世等無奇才，不若取士於門』，此亦失矣。 豈可以世無周、邵，遂廢宰相邪！ 但當校其寸長銖重者先敘之，則賢才無遺矣。
Xianzong submitted another memorial, arguing that provincial recommendations bore only the names of the Cultivated and Filial, without the reality; the court examined only family standing and no longer investigated misconduct. In that case, one might as well recommend men by family standing alone—why falsely borrow the names of the Cultivated and Filial! Family standing is merely the legacy of one's forebears—what benefit is it to the throne! What benefits the age is talent alone. If a man has talent, though he be butcher, fisherman, slave, or captive, a sage king does not disdain to make him a minister; if he lacks talent, though he be descendant of the three queens, he falls among the common servants. Some argue that 'the present age lacks extraordinary talent, so it is better to take scholars from eminent families'—this too is mistaken. Can one because the age lacks a Duke of Zhou or Duke of Shao abolish the office of chief minister! "One need only rank men by whatever inch of merit they possess, and no talent will be overlooked.
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「又，刑罰之要，在於明當，不在於重。 苟不失有罪，雖捶撻之薄，人莫敢犯； 若容可僥倖，雖參夷之嚴，不足懲禁。 今內外之官，欲邀當時之名，爭以深酷為無私，迭相敦厲，遂成風俗。 陛下居九重之內，視人如赤子； 百司分萬務之任，遇下如億讎。 是則堯、舜止一人，而桀、紂以千百； 和氣不至，蓋由於此。 謂宜敕示百僚，以惠元元之命。
"Moreover, the essence of punishment lies in clarity and appropriateness, not in severity. If the guilty are never missed, though the beating be light, none dare offend; if leniency allows escape by chance, though the punishment tear the body apart, it will not restrain wrongdoing. Today officials inside and outside the court, seeking reputation, vie to take harsh severity as impartiality, urging one another on until it has become custom. Your Majesty dwells within the ninefold gates and views the people as infants; yet the hundred offices, sharing ten thousand affairs, treat those below as a hundred million enemies. Thus there is but one Yao or Shun, while Jie and Zhou multiply by the thousand; and harmonious qi does not prevail—surely this is why. I hold that Your Majesty should instruct the hundred officials to show mercy to the common people.
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「又，昔周居洛邑，猶存宗周； 漢遷東都，京兆置尹。 案《春秋》之義，有宗廟曰都，無曰邑。 況代京，宗廟山陵所托，王業所基，其為神鄉福地，實亦遠矣，今便同之郡國，臣竊不安。 謂宜建畿置尹，一如故事，崇本重舊，光示萬葉。
"Moreover, when Zhou dwelt at Luoyi, it still preserved the ancestral Zhou capital; when Han moved to the Eastern Capital, it appointed a metropolitan magistrate for Jingzhao. According to the 《Spring and Autumn Annals》, where there are ancestral temples it is called a capital; where there are none, a town. How much more the capital of Dai, entrusted with ancestral temples and imperial tombs, the foundation of the royal enterprise—its standing as sacred homeland is truly far above the rest; to reduce it now to the status of an ordinary commandery fills me with unease. I hold that a metropolitan district should be established with a magistrate appointed, following precedent, honoring the root and valuing the past, to shine forth for ten thousand generations.
19
「又，古者四民異居，欲其業專志定也。 太祖道武皇帝創基撥亂，日不暇給，然猶分別士庶，不令雜居，工伎屠沽，各有攸處； 但不設科禁，久而混殽。 今聞洛邑居民之制，專以官位相從，不分族類。 夫官位無常，朝榮夕悴，則是衣冠、皁隸不日同處矣。 借使一里之內，或調習歌舞，或講肄詩書，縱群兒隨其所之，則必不棄歌舞而從詩書矣。 然則使工伎之家習士人風禮，百年難成； 士人之子效工伎容態，一朝而就。 是以仲尼稱裡仁之美，孟母勤三徙之訓。 此乃風俗之原，不可不察。 朝廷每選人士，校其一婚一宦以為升降，何其密也！ 至於度地居民，則清濁連甍，何其略也！ 今因遷徙之初，皆是公地，分別工伎，在於一言，有何可疑，而闕盛美！
"Moreover, in antiquity the four classes dwelt apart, so that each occupation might be specialized and each mind settled. Emperor Daowu the High Ancestor, founding the realm amid disorder, had not a day to spare, yet still distinguished scholars from commoners and forbade mixed residence; artisans, butchers, and traders each had their allotted quarters; but because no statutory prohibitions were set, in time the classes became confused. Now I hear that regulations for Luoyang residents group people solely by official rank, without distinguishing class. Official rank is not constant—honored in the morning, ruined by evening—then gentry and commoners would dwell together within days. Suppose that within a single lane some practice song and dance while others study the classics; if children are left to go where they will, they will surely not abandon song and dance for the classics. Thus to make artisan households learn scholarly manners would take a hundred years; but for scholars' sons to imitate artisans' ways is accomplished in a single morning. Therefore Confucius praised benevolent neighbors, and Mencius's mother gave the lesson of three removals. This is the root of custom and cannot go unexamined. Whenever the court selects men, it examines a single marriage and a single office for promotion—how meticulous! Yet in allotting land and settling residents, pure and base are roof to roof—how careless! Now at the beginning of the move, all is public land; to separate artisans requires but a word—what is there to doubt, that this splendid measure should be omitted!
20
「又，南人昔有淮北之地，自比中華，僑置郡縣。 自歸附聖化，仍而不改，名實交錯，文書難辨。 宜依地理舊名，一皆釐革，小者併合，大者分置，及中州郡縣，昔以戶少並省，今民口既多，亦可復舊。
"Moreover, the southerners once held the lands north of the Huai, comparing themselves to the Central States and establishing expatriate commanderies and counties. Since submitting to the sage rule, they have remained unchanged; names and realities are crossed, and documents are hard to distinguish. They should follow old geographical names and all be reformed—small districts merged, large ones divided; and central provinces' commanderies and counties, formerly merged for few households, may now be restored as the population has grown.
21
「又，君人者以天下為家，不可有所私。 倉庫之儲，以供軍國之用，自非有功德者不當加賜。 在朝諸貴，受祿不輕； 比來頒賚，動以千計。 若分以賜鰥寡孤獨之民，所濟實多； 今直以與親近之臣，殆非『周急不继富』之謂也。」 帝覽奏，甚善之。
"Moreover, a ruler takes all under Heaven as his household and may have nothing private. Treasury stores are to supply the army and state; except for those with merit, none should receive added gifts. The nobles at court already receive substantial salaries; yet of late distributions have run to thousands at a time. If divided among widowers, widows, orphans, and the solitary, the benefit would be far greater; yet now they are given directly to close ministers—this is scarcely the meaning of 'aid the urgent, do not add to the rich.'" The emperor read the memorial and greatly approved it.
22
二月，乙丑，魏主如河陰，規方澤。
In the second month, on the yichou day, the Wei emperor went to Heyin to plan the square altar to Earth.
23
辛卯，帝祀明堂。
On the xinmao day, the emperor sacrificed at the Bright Hall.
24
司徒參軍劉學等聘於魏。
Liu Xue and others, staff officers of the Minister of Education, were sent on a diplomatic mission to Wei.
25
丙申，魏徙河南王干為趙郡王，穎川王雍為高陽王。
On the bingshen day, Wei transferred Prince Gan of Henan to Prince of Zhao commandery and Prince Yong of Yingchuan to Prince of Gaoyang.
26
壬寅，魏主北巡； 癸卯，濟河； 三月，壬申，至平城。 使群臣更論遷都利害，各言其志。 燕州刺史穆羆曰：「今四方未定，未宜遷都。 且征伐無馬，將何以克？」 帝曰：「廄牧在代，何患無馬！ 今代在恆山之北，九州之外，非帝王之都也。」 尚書於果曰：「臣非以代地為勝伊、洛之美也。 但自先帝以來，久居於此，百姓安之； 一旦南遷，眾情不樂。」 平陽公丕曰：「遷都大事，當迅之卜筮。」 帝曰：「昔周、邵聖賢，乃能卜宅。 今無其人，卜之何益！ 且卜以決疑，不疑何卜！ 黃帝卜而龜焦，天老曰『吉』，黃帝從之。 然則至人之知未然，審於龜矣。 王者以四海為家，或南或北，何常之有！ 朕之遠祖，世居北荒，平文皇帝始都東木根山，昭成皇帝更營盛樂，道武皇帝遷於平城。 朕幸屬勝殘之運，何為獨不得遷乎！」 群臣不敢復言。 羆，壽之孫； 果，烈之弟也。 癸酉，魏主臨朝堂，部分遷留。
On the renyin day, the Wei emperor toured north; on the guimao day, he crossed the river; in the third month, on the renshen day, he reached Pingcheng. He had the ministers debate again the advantages and disadvantages of moving the capital, each stating his view. Mu Pi, governor of Yan Province, said, "The four quarters are not yet settled; it is not yet fitting to move the capital. Moreover, in campaigns there are no horses—how will we conquer?" The emperor said, "The stud farms are at Dai—why fear there are no horses! Dai lies north of Mount Heng, outside the Nine Provinces—it is not a capital fit for emperors." Yu Guo, Director of the Imperial Secretariat, said, "I do not hold that Dai surpasses the beauty of Yi and Luo. But since the former emperors we have long dwelt here and the people are settled; if we move south in a single day, the people will not be pleased." Prince Pi of Pingyang said, "The great affair of moving the capital should be swiftly submitted to divination." The emperor said, "In former times the Duke of Zhou and Duke of Shao were sages and could divine a dwelling. Now there is no such man—what use is divination! Moreover, one divines to resolve doubt—when there is no doubt, why divine! The Yellow Emperor divined and the tortoise shell was scorched; the Heavenly Elder said 'auspicious,' and the Yellow Emperor followed him. Thus the utmost man's foreknowledge is more certain than the tortoise. A king takes the four seas as his household—south or north, what constancy is there! My remote ancestors dwelt generation after generation in the northern wilds; Emperor Pingwen first made his capital at Eastern Mugen Mountain, Emperor Zhaocheng rebuilt at Shengle, and Emperor Daowu moved to Pingcheng. I have fortunately inherited an age that conquers cruelty—why alone may I not move! The ministers dared speak no further. Pi was the grandson of Shou; Guo was the younger brother of Lie. On the guiyou day, the Wei emperor attended court and assigned who would move and who would remain.
27
夏，四月，庚辰，魏罷西郊祭天。
In summer, the fourth month, on the gengchen day, Wei abolished the western suburb sacrifice to Heaven.
28
辛巳，武陵昭王曄卒。
On the xinsi day, Xiao Ye, Illustrious Prince of Wuling, died.
29
戊子，竟陵文宣王子良以憂卒。 帝常憂子良為變，聞其卒，甚喜。
On the wuzi day, Xiao Ziliang, Cultured and Illustrious Prince of Jingling, died of grief. The emperor had constantly feared Ziliang would rebel; hearing of his death, he was greatly pleased.
30
臣光曰：孔子稱「鄙夫不可與事君，未得之，患得之； 既得之，患失之。 苟患失之，無所不至。」 王融乘危徼幸，謀易嗣君。 子良當時賢王，雖素以忠慎自居，不免憂死。 跡其所以然，正由融速求富貴而已。 輕躁之士，烏可近哉！
Sima Guang comments: Confucius said, "A vulgar man is unfit to serve his sovereign; before he gains office, he fears he will not gain it; Once he holds it, he fears he will lose it. If he dreads losing what he has, there is no limit to what he will do." Wang Rong seized a moment of crisis to gamble for advantage and schemed to replace the heir apparent. Ziliang was the most admired prince of his day; though he had always prided himself on loyalty and prudence, he still died of anxiety. Trace the cause to its root, and it was nothing more than Rong's rush to seize wealth and status. How can anyone keep company with a man so rash and unstable!
31
己亥，魏罷五月五日、七月七日饗祖考。
On the jihai day, Wei discontinued the ancestral offerings held on the fifth day of the fifth month and the seventh day of the seventh month.
32
魏錄尚書事廣陵王羽奏：「令文：每歲終，州鎮列屬官治狀，及再考，則行黜陟。 去十五年京官盡經考為三等，今已三載。 臣輒准外考，以定京官治行。」 魏主曰：「考績事重，應關朕聽，不可輕發； 且俟至秋。」
Yu, Prince of Guangyang, who recorded affairs for the Masters of Writing in Wei, memorialized: "The statute provides that at year's end each province and garrison shall report on its subordinates' performance, and after a second review promotions and dismissals shall follow. Fifteen years have passed since all capital officials were last rated in the third review cycle, and three years have elapsed since then. I propose applying the provincial review procedure now to determine the capital officials' performance grades." The Wei emperor replied: "Merit review is a grave matter that should come before me; it must not be launched lightly; Let it wait until autumn."
33
閏月，丁卯，鎮軍將軍鸞即本號，開府儀同三司。
In the intercalary month, on the dingmao day, Luan, General Who Guards the Army, retained his existing rank and was granted an establishment equal to the Three Preceptors.
34
戊辰，以新安王昭文為揚州刺史。
On the wuchen day, Zhaowen, Prince of Xin'an, was appointed governor of Yang Province.
35
五月，申戌朔，日有食之。
In the fifth month, on the first day of the cycle (shenxu), the sun was eclipsed.
36
六月，己巳，魏遣兼員外散騎常侍盧昶、兼員外散騎侍郎王清石為聘。 昶，度世之子也。 清石世仕江南，魏主謂清石曰：「卿勿以南人自嫌。 彼有知識，欲見則見，欲言則言。 凡使人以和為貴，勿迭相矜誇，見於辭色，失將命之體也。」
In the sixth month, on the jisi day, Wei dispatched Lu Chang, concurrent supernumerary master of writing on the left of the imperial carriage, and Wang Qingshi, concurrent supernumerary gentleman attendant at the imperial carriage, as envoys on a diplomatic visit. Chang was a son of Dushi. Qingshi's family had long served in the south; the Wei emperor told him: "Do not belittle yourself for being a man of the south. If you have friends there, visit whom you wish and say what you wish. Envoys above all must value harmony; do not trade boasts or let rivalry show in speech and manner, for that betrays the dignity of an imperial mission."
37
秋，七月，乙亥，魏以宋王劉昶為使持節、都督吳、越、楚諸軍事、大將軍，鎮彭城。 魏主親餞之。 以王肅為昶府長史。 昶至鎮，不能撫接義故，卒無成功。
In autumn, the seventh month, on the yihai day, Wei appointed Liu Chang, Prince of Song, as commissioner with full powers, commander of all forces in Wu, Yue, and Chu, and Grand General, with his headquarters at Pengcheng. The Wei emperor personally gave him a farewell banquet. Wang Su was appointed chief administrator of Chang's staff. Once Chang took up his command, he failed to rally his former comrades, and in the end accomplished nothing.
38
壬午，魏安定靖王休卒。 自卒至殯，魏主三臨其第； 葬之如尉元之禮，送之出郊，慟哭而返。
On the renwu day, Xiu, Prince Jing of Anding in Wei, died. From his death until the laying in the coffin, the Wei emperor visited his house three times; He buried him with the honors given Yu Yuan, escorted the coffin beyond the city, and returned weeping.
39
壬戌，魏主北巡。
On the renxu day, the Wei emperor made a northern tour.
40
西昌侯鸞既誅徐龍駒、周奉叔，而尼媼外入者，頗傳異語。 中書令何胤，以後之從叔，為帝所親，使直殿省。 帝與胤謀誅鸞，令胤受事； 胤不敢當，依違諫說，帝意復止。 乃謀出鸞於西州，中敕用事，不復關咨於鸞。
After Luan, Marquis of Xichang, had killed Xu Longju and Zhou Fengshu, nuns and old women coming in from outside spread all manner of alarming rumors. He Yin, Director of the Secretariat, was a maternal uncle of the empress and a favorite of the emperor, who had him serve in the Hall Directorate. The emperor plotted with Yin to kill Luan and told Yin to take charge; Yin did not dare accept the role; he hedged and urged caution, and the emperor's resolve faded again. They then planned to post Luan away to Western Province so that central orders would govern affairs without consulting him.
41
是時，蕭諶、蕭坦之握兵權，左僕射王晏總尚書事。 諶密召諸王典簽，約語之，不許諸王外接人物。 諶親要日久，眾皆憚而從之。 鸞以其謀告王晏，晏聞之，響應； 又告丹陽尹徐孝嗣，孝嗣亦從之。 驃騎錄事南陽樂豫謂孝嗣曰：「外傳籍籍，似有伊、周之事。 君蒙武帝殊常之恩，荷托附之重，恐不得同人此舉。 人笑褚公，至今齒冷。」 孝嗣心然之，而不能從。
At this time Chen and Tanzhi controlled the army, while Wang Yan, Left Vice-Director of the Secretariat, oversaw the Masters of Writing. Chen secretly summoned each prince's chief clerk, bound them by agreement, and forbade the princes to receive outsiders. Chen had long been close to power, and everyone feared him and complied. Luan disclosed his plan to Wang Yan, who at once assented; He also informed Xu Xiaosi, governor of Danyang, and Xiaosi went along as well. Leyu of Nanyang, recorder on the staff of the Rapid Cavalry General, told Xiaosi: "Rumors are everywhere, as though someone were playing Yi Yin or the Duke of Zhou to the throne. You received extraordinary favor from Emperor Wu and bore a heavy trust; I fear you cannot join them in this. Men still mock Lord Chu, and the mockery has not grown stale." Xiaosi agreed in his heart but could not bring himself to refuse.
42
帝謂蕭坦之曰：「人言鎮軍與王晏、蕭諶欲共廢我，似非虛傳。 卿所聞雲何？」 坦之曰：「天下寧當有此，誰樂無事廢天子邪！ 朝貴不容造此論，當是諸尼姥言耳，豈有信邪！ 官若無事除此二人，誰敢自保！」 直閣將軍曹道剛疑外間有異，密有處分，謀未能發。
The emperor said to Tanzhi: "People say the General Who Guards the Army, Wang Yan, and Chen are plotting to depose me together. That does not sound like idle talk. What have you heard on your side?" Tanzhi replied: "Could such a thing truly happen in the world? Who would want to depose the Son of Heaven when nothing is amiss! The great officials of court would never invent such talk; it must be those nuns and old women. How could anyone believe it! If Your Majesty removed these two men without cause, who would dare think himself safe!" Cao Daogang, Director of the Palace Gate, suspected trouble outside and made secret arrangements, but the plot never came off.
43
時始興內史蕭季敞、南陽太守蕭穎基皆內遷，諶欲待二人至，藉其勢力以舉事。 鸞慮事變，以告坦之，坦之馳謂諶曰：「廢天子，古來大事。 比聞曹道剛、朱隆之等轉已猜疑，衛尉明日若不就事，無所復及。 弟有百歲母，豈能坐聽禍敗，正應作餘計耳！」 諶惶遽從之。
At that time Xiao Jichang, interior governor of Shixing, and Xiao Yingji, governor of Nanyang, were both being recalled to the capital; Chen wanted to wait for them and use their strength to launch the coup. Luan feared the moment would slip away and told Tanzhi, who rode at once to Chen and said: "Deposing the Son of Heaven has always been a grave undertaking. I hear Cao Daogang, Zhu Longzhi, and the rest are growing suspicious. If the Commandant of the Guard does not move tomorrow, it will be too late. You have a mother nearing a hundred— can you sit still while disaster closes in? You must act now!" Chen, alarmed, agreed at once.
44
壬辰，鸞使蕭諶先入宮，遇曹道剛及中書舍人朱隆之，皆殺之。 直後徐僧亮盛怒，大言於眾曰：「吾等荷恩，今日應死報！」 又殺之。 鸞引兵自尚書入雲龍門，戎服加朱衣於上，比入門，三失履。 王晏、徐孝嗣、蕭坦之、陳顯達、王廣之、沈文季皆隨其後。 帝在壽昌殿。 聞外有變，猶密為手敕呼蕭諶，又使閉內殿諸房閣。 俄而諶引兵入壽昌閣，帝走趨徐姬房，拔劍自刺，不入，以帛纏頸，輿接出延德殿。 諶初入殿，宿衛將士皆操弓楯欲拒戰。 諶謂之曰：「所取自有人，卿等不須動！」 宿衛素隸服於諶，皆信之，及見帝出，各欲自奮，帝竟無一言。 行至西弄，弒之。 輿屍出殯徐龍駒宅，葬以王禮。 徐姬及諸嬖倖皆伏誅。 鸞既執帝，欲作太后令； 徐孝嗣於袖中出而進之，鸞大悅。 癸巳，以太后令追廢帝為鬱林王，又廢何後為王妃，迎立新安王昭文。
On the renchen day, Luan sent Chen into the palace ahead of him; Chen met Cao Daogang and Zhu Longzhi, Master of Writing Attendant, and killed them both. Xu Sengliang, palace attendant, flew into a rage and cried out to those around him: "We owe the emperor our lives; today we must repay him with death!" He too was killed. Luan led his troops from the Masters of Writing compound through the Cloud Dragon Gate, wearing armor with a vermilion robe over it; before he crossed the threshold he lost his shoes three times. Wang Yan, Xu Xiaosi, Tanzhi, Chen Xianda, Wang Guangzhi, and Shen Wenji all followed in his train. The emperor was in the Hall of Longevity and Prosperity. When he heard trouble outside, he still secretly drafted a personal order summoning Chen and had the inner chambers and side halls barred. Soon Chen marched into the Shouchang Pavilion. The emperor fled to Lady Xu's rooms, tried to stab himself but failed, bound his neck in silk, and was carried out on a litter to the Hall of Extended Virtue. When Chen first entered the hall, the palace guards seized bows and shields, ready to fight. Chen told them: "We are only taking the man we came for; none of you need stir!" The guards had long served under Chen and trusted him. When they saw the emperor led away, several wanted to fight, but the emperor never spoke a word. At the western passage they murdered him. They carried his body out and laid it in state at Xu Longju's house, then buried him with the honors due a prince. Lady Xu and all the emperor's favorites were put to death. Once Luan held the emperor captive, he wanted to issue an order in the empress dowager's name; Xu Xiaosi drew the draft from his sleeve and submitted it, and Luan was delighted. On the guisi day, by order of the empress dowager the emperor was posthumously demoted to Prince of Yulin, Empress He was reduced to princess consort, and Zhaowen, Prince of Xin'an, was installed on the throne.
45
吏部尚書謝瀹方與客圍棋，左右聞有變，驚走報瀹。 瀹每下子，輒云「其當有意」，竟局，乃還齋臥，竟不問外事。 大匠卿虞悰竊歎曰：「王、徐遂縛褲廢天子，天下豈有此理邪！」 悰，嘯父之孫也。 朝臣被召入宮。 國子祭酒江學至雲龍門，托藥發，吐車中而去。 西昌侯鸞欲引中散大夫孫謙為腹心，使兼衛尉給甲仗百人。 謙不欲與之同，輒散甲士； 鸞亦不之罪也。
Xie Yue, Minister of Personnel, was playing go with a guest when his attendants heard of the upheaval, rushed in alarm, and told him. With every stone he played, Yue murmured, "They must have their reasons." When the game ended he went back to his quarters to sleep and never asked what had happened outside. Yu Song, Master of Works, muttered to himself: "Wang and Xu have tied up their trousers and deposed the Son of Heaven. Can such a thing exist in the world!" Song was a grandson of Xiaofu. The court officials were summoned into the palace. Jiang Xue, libationer of the National University, reached the Cloud Dragon Gate, claimed a sudden illness, vomited in his carriage, and went home. Luan, Marquis of Xichang, wanted Sun Qian, palace attendant, as his confidant and made him act as Commandant of the Guard with a hundred armed men. Qian refused to go along and immediately dismissed the armed men; Luan did not punish him.
46
丁酉，新安王即皇帝位，時年十五。 以西昌侯鸞為驃騎大將軍、錄尚書事、揚州刺史、宣城郡公。 大赦，改元延興。
On the dingyou day, Zhaowen, Prince of Xin'an, ascended the throne at the age of fifteen. Luan, Marquis of Xichang, was appointed Rapid Cavalry General, recorder of affairs for the Masters of Writing, governor of Yang Province, and Duke of Xuancheng. A general amnesty was declared, and the reign era was changed to Yanxing.
47
辛丑，魏主至朔州。
On the xinchou day, the Wei emperor arrived at Shuo Province.
48
八月，甲辰，以司空王敬則為太尉。 鄱陽王鏘為司徒，車騎大將軍陳顯達為司空，尚書左僕射王晏為尚書令。 魏主至陰山。
In the eighth month, on the jiachen day, Wang Jingze, Minister of Works, was appointed Grand Commandant. Xiao Qiang, Prince of Poyang, became Minister of Education; Chen Xianda, Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, became Minister of Works; and Wang Yan, Left Vice-Director of the Secretariat, became Director of the Secretariat. The Wei emperor reached Yin Mountain.
49
以始安王遙光為南郡太守，不之官。 遙光，鸞之兄子也。 鸞有異志，遙光贊成之，凡大誅賞，無不預謀。 戊申，以中書郎蕭遙欣為兗州刺史。 遙欣，遙光之弟也。 鸞欲樹置親黨，故用之。
Yaoguang, Prince of Shi'an, was named governor of Nan commandery but never went to his post. Yaoguang was a nephew of Luan. Luan harbored larger ambitions, and Yaoguang backed him; every major punishment or reward was plotted with his help. On the wushen day, Yaoxin, palace attendant, was appointed governor of Yan Province. Yaoxin was Yaoguang's younger brother. Luan wanted to place his own kin in power, and so he used them.
50
癸丑，魏主如懷朔鎮； 己未，如武川鎮； 辛酉，如撫宜鎮； 甲子，如柔玄鎮； 乙丑，南還； 辛未，至平城。
On the guichou day, the Wei emperor went to Huaishuo Garrison; On the jiwei day, he went to Wuchuan Garrison; On the xinyou day, he went to Fuyi Garrison; On the jiazi day, he went to Rouxuan Garrison; On the yichou day, he turned back south; On the xinwei day, the Wei emperor reached Pingcheng.
51
九月，壬申朔，魏詔曰：「三載考績，三考黜陟； 可黜者不足為遲，可進者大成賒緩。 朕今三載一考，即行黜陟，欲令愚滯無妨於賢者，才能不擁於下位。 各令當曹考其優劣為三等，其上下二等仍分為三。 六品已下，尚書重問； 五品已上，朕將親與公卿論其善惡，上上者遷之，下下者黜之，中者守其本任。」
In the ninth month, on the renren new moon, the Northern Wei court proclaimed: "The ancient rule assesses a man's record every three years and promotes or dismisses him only after three such reviews; those who ought to be removed linger in office too long, while those who deserve reward wait endlessly for it. I shall now hold an assessment every three years and act on it at once, so that the dull and idle cannot block the capable and talent will not be bottled up in subordinate ranks. Let each department grade its officers' merit in three tiers, and subdivide the top and bottom tiers each into three ranks. Officials of the sixth rank and lower shall undergo a further review by the Ministry of Personnel; for the fifth rank and above, I shall personally deliberate with the nobles and ministers on each man's conduct—the highest of the high will be advanced, the lowest of the low dismissed, and the middling left in their present posts.1
52
魏主之北巡也。 留任城王澄銓簡舊臣。 自公侯已下，有官者以萬數，澄品其優劣能否為三等，人無怨者。
During the emperor's northern tour, he had left Prince Ren of Pingcheng to evaluate the veteran officials. From the highest nobles down, there were tens of thousands of officeholders; Cheng rated them in three tiers by merit and competence, and none raised a grievance.
53
壬午，魏主臨朝堂，黜陟百官，謂諸尚書曰：「尚書，樞機之任，非徒總虛務，行文書而已； 朕之得失，盡在於此。 卿等居官，年垂再期，未嘗獻可替否，進一賢退一不肖，此最罪之大者。」 又謂錄尚書事廣陵王羽曰：「汝為朕弟，居機衡之右，無勤恪之聲，有阿黨之跡。 今黜汝錄尚書、廷尉，但為特進、太子太保。」 又謖尚書令陸睿曰：「叔翻到省之初，甚有善稱； 比來偏頗懈怠，由卿不能相導以義。 雖無大責，宜有小罰，今奪卿祿一期。」 又謂左僕射拓跋贊曰：「叔翻受黜，卿應大辟； 但以咎歸一人，不復重責； 今解卿少師，削祿一期。」 又謂左丞公孫良、右丞乞伏義受曰：「卿亦應大辟； 可以白衣守本官，冠服祿恤盡從削奪。 若三年有成，還復本任； 無成，永歸南畝。」 又謂尚書任城王澄曰：「叔神志驕傲，可解少保。」 又謂長兼尚書於果曰：「卿不勤職事，數辭以疾。 可解長兼，削祿一期。」 其餘守尚書尉羽、盧淵等，並以不職，或解任，或黜官，或奪祿，皆面數其過而行之。 淵，昶之兄也。
On renwu the emperor presided in the main hall to promote and dismiss the bureaucracy. Addressing the ministers, he said: "The heads of the ministries hold the pivot of state—your charge is not merely to tally paperwork and circulate memorials; My successes and failures as ruler depend entirely upon you. You have served nearly two full terms without once recommending a worthy man or removing an unworthy one; that is your gravest fault." He then turned to Prince Guangling Yu, who held the registry of memorials: "You are my own brother, seated at the heart of government, yet you have shown neither industry nor integrity, only signs of faction. I strip you of the registry and the Court of Justice, leaving you only as Specially Advanced and Grand Mentor to the Heir." He next rebuked Lu Rui, Minister of the Left: "When Uncle Fan first took up his post, his reputation was excellent; of late he has grown biased and lax, and that is because you failed to guide him in what is right. You are not guilty of a capital offense, but you deserve a lesser penalty: I withhold your salary for one review period." Turning to the Left Vice Director Tuoba Zan, he said: "Uncle Fan has been punished; by rights you should face execution; but I lay the blame on a single man and will not punish you twice. I relieve you of your post as Junior Mentor and cut your salary for one term." To the Left and Right Assistants Gongsun Liang and Qifu Yishou he said: "You too deserve execution; you may remain in your posts as commoners in plain dress, stripped of rank, salary, and perquisites. If within three years you prove yourselves, you may be restored; if not, you will till the southern fields forever." To the Director Wang Cheng of Ren he said: "Uncle Zhi has grown insufferably proud; relieve him of the Junior Guardianship." To the acting senior director Yu Guo he said: "You neglect your duties and repeatedly plead illness. Relieve him of his acting senior post and cut his salary for one term." The remaining acting directors—Wei Yu, Lu Yuan, and the rest—were likewise dismissed, demoted, or stripped of salary for dereliction; the emperor recited each man's faults to his face before pronouncing sentence. Lu Yuan was the elder brother of Lu Chang.
54
帝又謂陸睿曰：「北人每言『北俗質魯，何由知書！』 朕聞之，深用憮然！ 今知書者甚眾，豈皆聖人！ 顧學與不學耳。 朕修百官，興禮樂，其志固欲移風易俗。 朕為天子，何必居中原！ 正欲卿等子孫漸染美俗，聞見廣博； 若永居恆北，復值不好文之主，不免面牆耳。」 對曰：「誠如聖言。 金日磾不入仕漢朝，何能七世知名！」 帝甚悅。
The emperor spoke again to Lu Rui: "Northerners constantly say, 'Our northern ways are rustic—how could we know the classics! Whenever I hear that, it grieves me deeply! Today many northerners are literate—are they all sages? It is simply a question of whether one studies or not. I have reformed the bureaucracy and revived ritual and music because I mean to transform the manners of the realm. Must an emperor live only in the Central Plains? I want your sons and grandsons to absorb refined customs and grow broad in knowledge and experience; but if they remain forever in the deep north under a ruler who scorns learning, they will end no better than men staring at a blank wall.' Lu Rui answered: "Your Majesty speaks the truth. Had Jin Midi never entered Han service, how could his family have been renowned for seven generations!" The emperor was greatly pleased.
55
鬱林王之廢也，鄱陽王鏘初不知謀。 及宣城公鸞權勢益重，中外皆知其蓄不臣之志。 鏘每詣鸞，鸞常屣履至車後迎之； 語及家國，言淚俱發，鏘以此信之。 宮台之內皆屬意於鏘，勸鏘入宮發兵輔政。 制局監謝粲說鏘及隨王子隆曰：「二王但乘油壁車入宮，出天子置朝堂，夾輔號令； 粲等閉城門、上仗，誰敢不同！ 東城人正共縛送蕭令耳。」 子隆欲定計。 鏘以上台兵力既悉度東府，且慮事不捷，意甚猶豫。 馬隊主劉巨，世祖時舊人，詣鏘，請間，叩頭勸鏘立事。 鏘命駕將入，復還內，與母陸太妃別，日暮不成行。 典簽知其謀，告之。 癸酉，鸞遣兵二千人圍鏘第，殺鏘，遂殺子隆及謝粲等。 於時太祖諸子，子隆最壯大，有才能，故鸞尤忌之。
When Emperor Yulin was deposed, Prince Poyang Xiao had known nothing of the conspiracy at first. As Duke Xuancheng Xiao Luan's power swelled, court and capital alike knew he nursed treasonous designs. Whenever Xiao called on Luan, Luan would hurry out in slippers to meet his carriage; and when they spoke of the dynasty and the realm he wept as he spoke, so Xiao took him for a loyal kinsman. Inside the palace everyone looked to Xiao and urged him to enter the palace, raise troops, and restore rightful rule. Xie Can of the Bureau of Manufactories urged Xiao and Prince Sui Zilong: "Let the two of you ride your lacquered coaches into the palace, bring out the emperor and seat him in the hall, and rule jointly at his side; we shall shut the gates and arm the guards—who would dare refuse! The folk of the eastern quarter are even now ready to bind and deliver the Minister Xiao." Zilong was ready to commit to the plot. Xiao, however, knew that the palace guard had already been shifted to Luan's Eastern Mansion and feared failure, and he wavered badly. Liu Ju, chief of the horse guard and a veteran of the late Emperor Shizu's reign, sought a private audience with Xiao, kowtowed, and begged him to act. Xiao ordered out his carriage, then went back inside to bid farewell to his mother, Grand Consort Lu; dusk fell and he still had not set out. A registry clerk learned of the plot and informed Luan. On guiyou, Luan sent two thousand men to surround Xiao's mansion, killed him, and then killed Zilong, Xie Can, and their confederates. Of all the sons of the founding emperor, Zilong was the sturdiest and most capable, and Luan feared him above the rest.
56
江州刺史晉安王子懋聞鄱陽、隨王死，欲起兵，謂防閣吳郡陸超之曰：「事成則宗廟獲安，不成猶為義鬼。」 防閣丹陽董僧慧曰：「此州雖小，宋孝武嘗用之。 若舉兵向闕以請鬱林之罪，誰能御之！」 子懋母阮氏在建康，密遣書迎之，阮氏報其同母兄於瑤之為計。 瑤之馳告宣城公鸞； 乙亥，假鸞黃鉞，內外纂嚴，遣中護軍王玄邈討子懋，又遣軍主裴叔業與於瑤之先襲尋陽，聲雲為郢府司馬。 子懋知之，遣三百人守湓城。 叔業溯流直上，至夜，回襲湓城； 城局參軍樂賁開門納入。 子懋聞之，帥府州兵力據城自守。 子懋部曲多雍州人，皆勇躍願奮。 叔業畏之，遣於瑤之說子懋曰：「今還都必無過憂，正當作散官，不失富貴也。」 子懋既不出兵攻叔業，眾情稍沮。 中兵參軍於琳之，瑤之兄也，說子懋重賂叔業，可以免禍。 子懋使琳之往，琳之因說叔業取子懋。 叔業遣軍主徐玄慶將四百人隨琳之入州城，僚佐皆奔散。 琳之從二百人，拔白刃入齋，子懋罵曰：「小人！ 何忍行此！」 琳之以袖障面，使人殺之。 王玄邈執董僧慧，將殺之，僧慧曰：「晉安舉義兵，僕實預其謀； 得為主人死，不恨矣！ 願至大斂畢，退就鼎鑊。」 玄邈義之，具以白鸞； 免死配東冶。 子懋子昭基，九歲，以方二寸絹為書，參其消息，並遺錢五百，行金得達，僧慧視之曰：「郎君書也！」 悲慟而卒。 於琳之勸陸超之逃亡，超之曰：「人皆有死，此不足懼！ 吾若逃亡，非唯孤晉安之眷，亦恐田橫客笑人！」 玄邈等欲囚以還都，超之端坐俟命。 超之門生謂殺超之當得賞，密自後斬之，頭墜而身不僵。 玄邈厚加殯斂。 門生亦助舉棺，棺墜，壓其首，折頸而死。
Prince Jin'an Zimao, governor of Jiang Province, learned that the princes of Poyang and Sui had been killed and resolved to raise an army. He told his gate-guard Lu Chaozhi of Wu: "If we succeed, the imperial house will be saved; if we fail, I shall die an honorable ghost." His gate-guard Dong Senghui of Danyang said: "This province is small, yet Emperor Xiaowu of Song once made it the springboard for his throne. March on the capital to demand justice for Yulin's deposition—who could withstand us!" Zimao's mother, Lady Ruan, was in Jiankang and secretly summoned him; she consulted her uterine brother Yu Yaozhi for advice. Yaozhi galloped to warn Duke Xuancheng Luan; on yihai Luan was granted the imperial axe, martial law was proclaimed throughout the realm, and he dispatched the Central Guardian Wang Xuanyuan against Zimao while sending the commander Pei Shuye with Yu Yaozhi to strike Xunyang first, under the pretense that Pei was the Ying prefecture's deputy. Learning of this, Zimao sent three hundred men to hold Pen Ford. Shuye sailed upstream, then under cover of night doubled back and stormed Pen Ford; Yue Ben, an aide in the city bureau, opened the gates and let them in. When Zimao heard, he rallied the provincial army and barricaded himself in the city. Most of his personal troops were men of Yong Province, fierce and eager to fight. Shuye feared them and sent Yu Yaozhi to tell Zimao: "Return to the capital now and you will come to no harm—you will merely be given an honorific post and keep your wealth." Zimao failed to strike at Shuye, and his men's spirit began to falter. Yu Linzhi, a staff officer and Yaozhi's elder brother, advised Zimao that a heavy bribe to Shuye would spare him. Zimao sent Linzhi to negotiate, but Linzhi instead urged Shuye to seize the prince. Shuye sent Xu Xuanqing with four hundred men to follow Linzhi into the city; Zimao's officers fled in all directions. Linzhi entered the prince's quarters with two hundred men, blades drawn. Zimao raged: "You wretch! How could you bring yourself to this!" Linzhi hid his face in his sleeve and had his men cut Zimao down. Wang Xuanyuan seized Dong Senghui to execute him. Senghui said: "Prince Jin'an raised a righteous army, and I took part in his counsel; to die for one's lord is no regret! Grant me only that his funeral rites be completed, and then I will gladly go to the cauldron. Xuanyuan was moved by his loyalty and reported the whole matter to Luan; who spared his life and sent him to labor in the eastern foundry. Zimao's nine-year-old son Zhaoji wrote on a two-inch square of silk to ask after him and sent five hundred cash; couriers carried the message through. Senghui read it and cried: "It is the young lord's hand! He grieved himself to death. Yu Linzhi urged Lu Chaozhi to flee. Chaozhi said: "Every man must die—that is nothing to fear! If I ran away I would betray Prince Jin'an's trust, and I should hate to make Tian Heng's loyal followers laugh at me!" Xuanyuan meant to take him captive to the capital; Chaozhi sat upright and waited for whatever might come. One of Chaozhi's students thought he would be rewarded for killing him and struck from behind; the head fell, yet the body remained upright. Xuanyuan gave him a lavish funeral. The student helped bear the coffin; it slipped, crushed his head, and broke his neck—he died on the spot.
57
鸞遣平西將軍王廣之襲南兗州刺史安陸王子敬。 廣之至歐陽，遣部將濟陰陳伯之先驅。 伯之因城開獨入，斬子敬。
Luan sent the Pacifier of the West Wang Guangzhi against Prince Anlu Zijing, governor of South Yanzhou. Guangzhi reached Ouyang and sent his lieutenant Chen Bozhi of Jiyin ahead as vanguard. When the gates opened, Bozhi slipped in alone and slew Zijing.
58
鸞又遣徐玄慶西上害諸王。 臨海王昭秀為荊州刺史，西中郎長史何昌寓行州事。 玄慶至江陵，欲以便宜從事。 昌寓曰：「僕受朝廷意寄，翼輔外籓。 殿下未有愆失，君以一介之使來，何容即以相付邪！ 若朝廷必須殿下，當自啟聞，更聽後旨。」 昭秀由是得還建康。 昌寓，尚之之弟子也。
Luan also sent Xu Xuanqing up the Yangzi to eliminate the remaining princes. Prince Linhai Zhaoxiu held Jing Province, with He Changyu of the Western Central Guard acting as regent of the province. When Xuanqing reached Jiangling he meant to kill the prince on his own authority. Changyu said: "I have been entrusted by the court to support this frontier fief. His Highness has done no wrong. You arrive as a lone envoy—how can you expect me simply to surrender him! If the throne truly requires the prince, I shall memorialize the capital and await further orders." Thanks to this, Zhaoxiu was able to return alive to Jiankang. He Changyu was a nephew of the celebrated He Shangzhi.
59
鸞以吳興太宗孔琇之行郢州事，欲使之殺晉熙王銶。 琇之辭不許，遂不食而死。 琇之，靖之孫也。 裴叔業自尋陽仍進向湘州，欲殺湘州刺史南平王銳，防閣周伯玉大言於眾曰：「此非天子意。 今斬叔業，舉兵匡社稷，誰敢不從！」 銳典簽叱左右斬之。 乙酉，殺銳； 又殺郢州刺史晉熙王銶、南豫州刺史宜都王鏗。
Luan meant to use Kong Xiuzhi, superintendent of Wuxing, who was already managing affairs at Yingzhou, to murder Prince Jinxi Xiao Qiao. Xiuzhi refused outright and starved himself to death. Xiuzhi was a grandson of Kong Jingzhi. Pei Shuye marched on from Xunyang toward Xiangzhou, intending to kill the provincial governor, Prince Nanping Xiao Rui. The ward-officer Zhou Boyu cried out to the assembled troops: "This is not the emperor's order. Slay Shuye now, take up arms to rescue the realm—who would refuse to follow! Rui's registry clerk ordered the guards to cut Boyu down at once. On yiyou, Rui was put to death; and with him fell Prince Jinxi Xiao Qiao, governor of Yingzhou, and Prince Yidu Xiao Keng, governor of South Yuzhou.
60
丁亥，廬陵王子卿為司徒，杜陽王鑠為中軍將軍、開府儀同三司。
On dinghai, Prince Luling Ziqing was made Minister of Education, and Prince Duyang Shuo was appointed General of the Central Army with privilege equal to the Three Excellencies and authority to maintain a full staff.
61
冬，十月，丁酉，解嚴。
In the tenth month of winter, on dingyou, the court ended the state of emergency.
62
以宣城公鸞為太傅、領大將軍、揚州牧、都督中外諸軍事，加殊禮，進爵為王。
Duke Xuancheng Luan was made Grand Tutor, Grand General, and governor of Yangzhou, with overall command of armies at court and in the provinces; he received extraordinary ceremonial honors and was raised to princely rank.
63
宣城王謀繼大統，多引朝廷名士與參籌策。 侍中謝朏心不願，乃求出為吳興太守。 至郡，致酒數斛遺其弟吏部尚書瀹，為書曰：「可力飲此，勿豫人事！」
As the Prince of Xuancheng plotted to seize the throne, he enlisted many celebrated courtiers to help shape his strategy. Palace Attendant Xie Tiao wanted no part of it and asked to be sent away as governor of Wuxing. Once in his post he sent several hu of wine to his brother Yue, Minister of the Civil Service, with a note: "Drink this for all you are worth, and keep out of public affairs!"
64
臣光曰：臣聞「衣人之衣者懷人之憂，食人之食者死人之事。」 二謝兄弟，比肩貴近，安享榮祿，危不預知； 為臣如此，可謂忠乎！
Sima Guang remarks: I have heard it said, "Whoever wears another man's coat must share his cares; whoever eats another man's bread must die in his service." The two Xie brothers stood shoulder to shoulder among the highest nobles, enjoying rank and salary in comfort, yet foresaw nothing of the coming danger; as ministers, can such conduct be called loyalty?
65
宣城王雖專國政，人情猶未服。 王胛上有赤志，驃騎咨議參軍考城江祐勸王出以示人。 王以示晉壽太守王洪範，曰：「人言此是日月相，卿幸勿洩！」 洪範曰：「公日月在軀，如何可隱，當轉言之！」 王母，祏之姑也。
Though the Prince of Xuancheng already controlled the government, hearts had not yet submitted to him. A red birthmark marked his shoulder blade. Jiang You of Kaocheng, a staff adviser on the Rapid Cavalry general's staff, urged him to display it in public. He showed it to Wang Hongfan, governor of Jinshou, and said: "People call this the mark of sun and moon together—you must not breathe a word of it!" Hongfan replied: "My lord carries sun and moon in your flesh—how could you hide it? You ought to let the story spread!" The prince's mother was an aunt of Jiang Zhi.
66
戊戈，殺桂陽王鑠、衡陽王鈞、江夏王鋒、建安王子真、巴陵王子倫。
On wuge, Prince Guiyang Shuo, Prince Hengyang Jun, Prince Jiangxia Feng, Prince Jian'an Zizhen, and Prince Baling Zilun were executed.
67
鑠與鄱陽王鏘齊名； 鏘好文章，鑠好名理，時人稱為鄱、桂。 鏘死，鑠不自安，至東府見宣城王，還，謂左右曰：「向錄公見接殷勤，流連不能已，而面有慚色，此必欲殺我。」 是夕，遇害。
Shuo shared equal fame with Prince Poyang Xiao Qiang; Qiang delighted in letters, Shuo in philosophical disputation; contemporaries paired them as "Po and Gui." After Qiang's death Shuo could not rest easy. He called at the Eastern Headquarters on the Prince of Xuancheng, and on returning told his attendants: "The Chief Recorder welcomed me with such pressing warmth that he could hardly let me go, yet shame showed in his face—he means to kill me." That same night he was slain.
68
宣城王每殺諸王，常夜遣兵圍其第，斬關逾垣，呼噪而入，家貲皆封籍之。 江夏王鋒，有才行，宣城王嘗與之言「遙光才力可委」。 鋒曰：「遙光之於殿下，猶殿下之於高皇； 衛宗廟，安社稷，實有攸寄。」 宣城王失色。 及殺諸王，鋒遺宣城王書，誚責之； 宣城王深憚之，不敢於第收鋒，使兼祠官於太廟，夜，遣兵廟中收之。 鋒出，登車，兵人欲上車，鋒有力，手擊數人皆仆地，然後死。
Whenever the Prince of Xuancheng killed a prince, he sent soldiers by night to surround the residence, break the gates, scale the walls, and burst in with a din; the household goods were then inventoried and sealed. Prince Jiangxia Feng was gifted and capable. The Prince of Xuancheng once remarked to him that Yaoguang's talent and energy could be relied upon. Feng said: "Yaoguang stands to Your Highness as Your Highness stood to the founding emperor; to guard the imperial temple and secure the realm—on him the dynasty may truly lean." The Prince of Xuancheng turned pale. When the slaughter of the princes began, Feng sent the Prince of Xuancheng a letter of bitter reproach; deeply alarmed, the prince dared not take Feng at his mansion; he appointed him an auxiliary officer of sacrifice at the imperial temple, then sent soldiers by night to seize him there. Feng came out and boarded the carriage. As the soldiers tried to climb in after him, he struck down several with his bare hands before they finally killed him.
69
宣城王遣典簽柯令孫殺建安王子真，子真走入床下，令孫手牽出之； 叩頭乞為奴，不許而死。
The Prince of Xuancheng sent the registry clerk Ke Lingsun to kill Prince Jian'an Zizhen. Zizhen crawled under his bed; Lingsun hauled him out by hand; He kowtowed and begged to be kept alive as a slave. They refused, and killed him.
70
又遣中書舍人茹法亮殺巴陵王子倫。 子倫性英果，時為南蘭陵太守，鎮琅邪，城有守兵。 宣城王恐不肯就死，以問典簽華伯茂。 伯茂曰：「公若以兵取之，恐不可即辦。 若委伯茂，一夫力耳。」 乃手自執鴆逼之。 子倫正衣冠，出受詔，謂法亮曰：「先朝昔滅劉氏，今日之事，理數固然。 君是身家舊人，今銜此使，當由事不獲已。 此酒非勸酬之爵。」 因仰之而死，時年十六。 法亮及左右皆流涕。
He also sent Palace Secretariat attendant Ru Faliang to kill Prince Baling Zilun. Zilun was bold and resolute. He then governed South Lanling from Langye, where the city still had a garrison. Fearing Zilun might resist, the Prince of Xuancheng consulted his registry clerk Hua Bomao. Bomao said: "If you mean to take him by force, that cannot be arranged quickly. Entrust the matter to me, and one man's strength will suffice." He went in person with poisoned wine and forced Zilun to drink. Zilun dressed properly, came out to receive the edict, and told Faliang: "Our dynasty once destroyed the house of Liu; what happens today follows the same inexorable pattern. You are a man of our household from of old; in carrying out this charge you act only because you cannot refuse. This cup is not offered for polite drinking." He raised the cup, drank, and died. He was sixteen. Faliang and his attendants wept.
71
初，諸王出鎮，皆置典簽，主帥一方之事，悉以委之。 時入奏事，一歲數返，時主輒與之間語，訪以州事，刺史美惡專系其口。 自刺史以下莫不折節奉之，恆慮弗及。 於是威行州部，大為奸利。 武陵王曄為江州，性烈直，不可干； 典簽趙渥之謂人曰：「今出都易刺史！」 及見世祖，盛毀之； 曄遂免還。
At first, whenever a prince took up a provincial command, a registry clerk was appointed, and nearly all local authority was placed in his hands. They returned to court several times a year to report; the emperor would speak with them privately and ask after provincial affairs, so that a governor's reputation depended entirely on what they said. From the governor down, everyone humbled himself before them, always afraid of falling short. Their power spread through every province, and they grew rich on corruption. Prince Wuling Ye held Jiangzhou. He was fierce and upright, and could not be tampered with; yet his registry clerk Zhao Wozhi told acquaintances: "Once I reach the capital, changing a governor will be easy!" At court he slandered Ye before Emperor Shizu without restraint; and Ye was recalled and stripped of his post.
72
南海王子罕戍琅邪，欲暫游東堂，典簽姜秀不許。 子罕還，泣謂母曰：「兒欲移五步亦不得，與囚何異！」 邵陵王子貞嘗求熊白，廚人答典簽不在，不敢與。
Prince Nanhai Zihan, posted at Langye, wished to stroll to the Eastern Hall for a time, but registry clerk Jiang Xiu refused permission. Zihan went back inside weeping and told his mother: "I cannot walk five steps on my own—what am I but a prisoner!" Prince Shaoling Zizhen once asked for bear's palm; the cook replied that the registry clerk was away and he dared not serve it.
73
永明中，巴東王子響殺劉寅等，世祖聞之，謂群臣曰：「子響遂反！」 戴僧靜大言曰：「諸王都自應反，豈唯巴東！」 上問其故，對曰：「天生無罪，而一時被囚，取一挺藕，一杯漿，皆咨簽帥； 簽帥不在，則竟日忍渴。 諸州唯聞有簽帥，不聞有刺史。 何得不反！」
During the Yongming reign, Prince Badong Zixiang killed Liu Yin and his party. When Emperor Shizu heard of it he told the ministers: "Zixiang has rebelled at last!" Dai Sengjing cried out: "Every prince ought to rebel—why speak only of Badong!" The emperor asked why. He answered: "They are born innocent, yet live as captives. To take a lotus root or a cup of gruel they must ask the registry commander; and if he is absent they go thirsty all day. In the provinces one hears only of registry commanders, never of governors. How could they not rebel!"
74
竟陵王子良嘗問眾曰：「士大夫何意詣簽帥？」 參軍范雲曰：「詣長史以下皆無益，詣簽帥立有倍本之價。 不詣謂何！」 子良有愧色。 及宣城王誅諸王，皆令典簽殺之，竟無一人能抗拒者。 孔珪聞之，流涕曰：「齊之衡陽、江夏最有意，而復害之； 若不立簽帥，故當不至於此。」 宣城王亦深知典簽之弊，乃詔：「自今諸州有急事，當密以奏聞，勿復遣典簽入都。」 自是典簽之任浸輕矣。
Prince Jingling Ziliang once asked his staff: "Why do gentlemen of rank go to pay court to registry commanders?" Staff officer Fan Yun replied: "Visits to anyone below the chief administrator bring no return; a visit to a registry commander doubles your capital at once. Why should they not go!" Ziliang flushed with embarrassment. When the Prince of Xuancheng slaughtered the princes, he had their registry clerks do the killing, and not one prince could resist. Kong Gui wept when he heard it and said: "Of all the princes of Qi, Hengyang and Jiangxia had the finest spirit, yet they too were destroyed; had registry commanders never been created, things would never have reached this pass." The Prince of Xuancheng, well aware of the evil the registry clerks had wrought, issued an edict: "Henceforth urgent provincial matters shall be reported to the throne in secret; registry clerks must no longer be sent to the capital." From then on the power of the registry clerks steadily declined.
75
蕭子顯論曰：帝王之子，生長富厚，期出閨閫，暮司方岳，防驕翦逸，積代常典。 故輔以上佐，簡自帝心； 勞舊左右，用為主帥，飲食游居，動應聞啟； 處地雖重，行己莫由。 威不在身，恩未下及，一朝艱難總至，望其釋位扶危，何可得矣！ 斯宋氏之餘風，至齊室而尤弊也。
Xiao Zixian comments: Imperial sons are reared in wealth; at dawn they leave the palace, by evening they govern a province. To curb pride and restrain license has been the rule of every age. So they are given senior aides chosen by the throne itself; trusted veterans of the palace are made their chiefs of staff; every meal, outing, or move of the day must be reported. Their posts may be weighty, yet they cannot act on their own. They wield no real power and win no real loyalty; when crisis strikes at once, to expect them to step aside and save the state—how could that be possible? Such was the lingering habit of the Song dynasty, and under Qi it grew worse than ever.
76
癸卯，以寧朔將軍蕭遙欣為豫州刺史，黃門郎蕭遙昌為郢州刺史，輔國將軍蕭誕為司州刺史。 遙昌，遙欣之弟； 誕，諶之兄也。
On guimao, General Who Pacifies the North Xiao Yaoxin was appointed governor of Yuzhou; Yellow Gate Gentleman Xiao Yaochang governor of Yingzhou; and General Who Assists the State Xiao Dan governor of Sizhou. Yaochang was the younger brother of Yaoxin; Dan was the elder brother of Xiao Zhen.
77
甲辰，魏以太尉東陽王丕為太傅、錄尚書事，留守平城。
On jiachen, Northern Wei appointed Grand Commandant Prince Dongyang Pi Grand Tutor and recorder of affairs for the Masters of Writing, with orders to remain and guard Pingcheng.
78
戊申，魏主親告太廟，使高陽王雍、於列奉遷神主於洛陽； 辛亥，發平城。
On wushen the Wei emperor announced the move at the Grand Ancestral Temple in person and sent Prince Gaoyang Yong and Yu Lie to convey the spirit tablets to Luoyang; on xinhai he departed from Pingcheng.
79
海陵王在位，起居飲食，皆咨宣城王而後行。 嘗思食蒸魚菜，太官令答無錄公命，竟不與。 辛亥，皇太后令曰：「嗣主沖幼，庶政多昧； 且早嬰尪疾，弗克負荷。 太傅宣城王，胤體宣皇，鐘慈太祖，宜入承寶命。 帝可降封海陵王，吾當歸老別館。」 且以宣城王為太祖第三子。 癸亥，高宗即皇帝位，大赦，改元。 以太尉王敬則為大司馬，司空陳顯達為太尉，尚書令王晏加驃騎大將軍，左僕射徐孝嗣加中軍大將軍，中領軍蕭諶為領軍將軍。
While Prince Hailing sat on the throne, every act of daily life—rising, resting, eating, drinking—required the Prince of Xuancheng's approval. Once he craved steamed fish and greens; the palace provisioner answered that without the Chief Recorder's command nothing could be served, and he went without. On xinhai the Empress Dowager issued an edict: "The heir to the throne is young, and public affairs are beyond him; moreover he has been frail from childhood and cannot bear the burden of rule. Grand Tutor the Prince of Xuancheng, born of the imperial line and cherished by the founding emperor, should ascend and receive the Mandate. Let the emperor be demoted to Prince Hailing; I shall retire to a separate palace." The court also declared the Prince of Xuancheng to be the founding emperor's third son. On guihai Emperor Ming took the throne, proclaimed a general amnesty, and changed the reign title. Wang Jingze was made Grand Marshal, Chen Xianda Grand Commandant, Wang Yan Rapid Cavalry Grand General, Xu Xiaosi General of the Central Army, and Xiao Zhen Commander of the Palace Guards.
80
度支尚書虞悰稱疾不陪位。 帝以悰舊人，欲引參佐命，使王晏繼廢立事示悰。 悰曰：「主上聖明，公卿戮力，寧假朽老以贊惟新乎！ 不敢聞命！」 因慟哭。 朝議欲糾之，徐孝嗣曰：「此亦古之遺直。」 乃止。
Yu Song, Minister of Revenue, pleaded illness and did not attend the enthronement. The emperor, knowing Song as an old associate, wished to enlist him in the new order and had Wang Yan recount the deposition and enthronement for his benefit. Song said: "Your Majesty is sage and brilliant, and the ministers serve with one accord—why borrow a worn-out old man for the renewal of the state! I dare not accept such a command!" And thereupon he broke into bitter weeping. The court debated punishing him; Xu Xiaosi said, "This, too, is a remnant of the ancient type who spoke straight to power. And they desisted.
81
帝與群臣宴會，詔功臣上酒。 王晏等興席，謝瀹獨不起，曰：「陛下受命，應天順人； 王晏妄叨天功以為己力！」 帝大笑，解之。 座罷，晏呼瀹共載還令省，欲相撫悅。 瀹正色曰：「君巢窟在何處！」 晏甚憚之。
The emperor feasted with his ministers and ordered meritorious officials to offer toasts. Wang Yan and the others rose from their seats; Xie Yue alone remained seated and said, "Your Majesty received the Mandate, harmonizing with Heaven and following the people; Wang Yan presumptuously claims Heaven's merit as his own achievement!" The emperor laughed heartily and let the matter pass. When the banquet ended, Yan summoned Yue to ride back with him to the Ministry of Justice, hoping to win him over. Yue said with a stern face, "Where is your nest and den!" Yan was deeply intimidated by him.
82
丁卯，詔：「籓牧守宰，或有薦獻，事非任土，悉加禁斷。」
On the dingmao day, an edict proclaimed: "Where governors, prefects, and magistrates present offerings that are not the fixed products of their jurisdictions, all such gifts are strictly forbidden."
83
己巳，魏主如信都。 庚午，曰：「比聞緣邊之蠻，多竊掠南土，使父子乖離，室家分絕。 聯方蕩壹區宇，子育萬姓，若苟如此，南人豈知朝德哉！ 可詔荊、郢、東荊三州，禁勒蠻民，勿有侵暴。」
On the jisi day, the Wei sovereign went to Xindu. On the gengwu day, he said, "Of late I have heard that frontier tribes along the borders often steal southward, tearing fathers from sons and breaking households apart. We are about to pacify and unify the realm and nurture the myriad people—if things go on thus, how will southerners know the court's virtue! Order the three provinces of Jing, Ying, and East Jing to restrain the barbarian peoples and forbid all aggression."
84
十一月，癸酉，以始安王遙光為揚州刺史。
In the eleventh month, on the guiyou day, Prince of Shi'an Yao Guang was appointed governor of Yang Province.
85
丁丑，魏主如鄴。
On the dingchou day, the Wei sovereign went to Ye.
86
庚辰，立皇子寶義為晉安王，寶玄為江夏王，寶源為廬陵王，寶寅為建安王，寶融為隨郡王，寶攸為南平王。
On the gengchen day, the princes were enfeoffed: Bao Yi as Prince of Jin'an, Bao Xuan as Prince of Jiangxia, Bao Yuan as Prince of Luling, Bao Yin as Prince of Jian'an, Bao Rong as Prince of Sui Commandery, and Bao You as Prince of Nanping.
87
甲申，詔曰：「邑宰祿薄，雖任土恆貢，自今悉斷。」
On the jiashen day, an edict declared: "District magistrates' salaries are meager; though fixed local tribute has long been the custom, from this day forward all such offerings are abolished."
88
乙酉，追尊始安貞王為景皇，妃為懿後。
On the yiyou day, the late Prince of Shi'an Zhen was posthumously honored as Emperor Jing, and his consort as Empress Yi.
89
丙戌，以聞喜公遙欣為荊州刺史，豐城公遙昌為豫州刺史。 時上長子晉安王寶義有廢疾，諸子皆弱小，故以遙光居中，遙欣鎮撫上流。
On the bingxu day, Duke of Wenxi Yao Xin was made governor of Jing Province and Duke of Fengcheng Yao Chang governor of Yu Province. At this time the emperor's eldest son, Prince of Jin'an Bao Yi, was disabled by illness and all the other sons were still young; therefore Yao Guang was placed at the center while Yao Xin guarded and pacified the upper Yangzi.
90
戊子，立皇子寶卷為太子。
On the wuzi day, Prince Bao Juan was installed as crown prince.
91
魏主至洛陽，欲澄清流品，以尚書崔亮兼吏部郎。 亮，道固之兄孫也。
The Wei sovereign reached Luoyang and wished to clarify pedigree ranks, appointing Minister Cui Liang concurrently as Director of the Ministry of Personnel. Liang was the grandson of Daogu's elder brother.
92
魏主敕後軍將軍寧文福行牧地。 福表石濟以西，河內以東，距河凡十里。 魏主自代徙雜畜置其地，使福掌之； 畜無耗失，以為司馬監。
The Wei sovereign ordered Rear Army General Ning Wenfu to survey pasturage lands. Wenfu memorialized: west of Shiji, east of Henei, ten li from the river throughout. The Wei sovereign moved miscellaneous herds from Dai and placed them on this land, putting Wenfu in charge; not a beast was lost to waste, and he was appointed Grand Equerry-in-Chief.
93
初，世祖平統萬及秦、涼，以河西水草豐美，用為牧地，畜甚蕃息，馬至二百餘萬匹，橐駝半之，牛羊無數。 及高祖置牧場於河陽，常畜戌馬十萬匹，每歲自河西徙牧并州，稍復南徙，欲其漸習水土，不至死傷，而河西之牧愈更蕃滋。 及正光以後，皆為寇盜所掠，無孑遺矣。
Formerly, when Emperor Shizu pacified Tongwan, Qin, and Liang, the lush grass and water of the Hexi region made excellent pasture; herds multiplied greatly—horses reached more than two million head, camels half that number, cattle and sheep beyond counting. When Emperor Gaozu established pastures at Heyang, he regularly kept one hundred thousand war horses; each year herds were driven from Hexi to graze at Bing Province, then gradually moved farther south, wishing them to accustom themselves to soil and water so they would not die or suffer injury, while Hexi pastures grew ever more abundant. After the Zhengguang era, all were plundered by raiders and bandits, not one left alive.
94
永明中，御史中丞沈淵表，百官年七十，皆令致仕，並窮困私門。 庚子，詔依舊銓敘。 上輔政所誅諸王，皆復屬籍，封其子為侯。
In the Yongming era, Vice Censor-in-Chief Shen Yuan memorialized that all officials aged seventy should be made to retire and confined to penury in their private households. On the gengzi day, an edict ordered evaluation according to the former practice. The princes executed during the regency were all restored to the imperial clan rolls, and their sons were enfeoffed as marquises.
95
上詐稱海陵恭王有疾，數遣御師瞻視，因而殞之，葬禮並依漢東海恭王故事。
The emperor falsely claimed that Prince of Hailing Gong was ill, repeatedly sent imperial physicians to examine him, and thereby caused his death; the funeral followed the precedent of the Han Prince of Donghai Gong.
96
魏郢州刺史韋珍，在州有聲績，魏主賜以駿馬、谷帛。 珍集境內孤貧者，悉散與之，謂之曰：「天子以我能綏撫卿等，故賜以谷帛，吾何敢獨有之！」
Wei Zhen, governor of Ying Province, had a renowned record in office; the Wei sovereign bestowed fine horses and grain and silks. Zhen gathered the orphaned and poor within his jurisdiction and distributed everything among them, saying, "The Son of Heaven rewarded me because I can comfort and settle you—how dare I keep it all for myself!"
97
魏主以上廢海陵王自立，謀大舉入寇。 會邊將言，雍州刺史下邳曹虎遣使請降於魏，十一月，辛丑朔，魏遣行征南將軍薛真度督四將向襄陽，大將軍劉昶、平南將軍王肅向義陽，徐州刺史拓跋衍向鐘離，平南將軍廣平劉藻向南鄭。 真度，安都從祖弟也。 以尚書盧淵為安南將軍，督襄陽前鋒諸軍。 淵辭以不習軍旅，不許。 淵曰：「但恐曹虎為周魴耳。」
Because Qi had deposed the Prince of Hailing and the Wei sovereign had himself seized the throne, he planned a major invasion. It happened that border commanders reported that Cao Hu, governor of Yong and native of Xiapi, had sent envoys offering surrender to Wei; on the new moon of xinchou in the eleventh month, Wei dispatched Acting General Who Conquers the South Xue Zhendu supervising four generals toward Xiangyang, Grand General Liu Chang and General Who Pacifies the South Wang Su toward Yiyang, Governor of Xu Province Tuoba Yan toward Zhongli, and General Who Pacifies the South Liu Zao of Guangping toward Nanzheng. Zhendu was a younger cousin of Andu on the father's side. Minister Lu Yuan was appointed General Who Pacifies the South, commanding the vanguard forces at Xiangyang. Yuan declined on grounds of unfamiliarity with military affairs; this was not permitted. Yuan said, "I only fear Cao Hu will prove another Zhou Fang."
98
魏主欲變易舊風，壬寅，詔禁士民胡服。 國人多不悅。
The Wei sovereign wished to transform the old customs; on the renyin day, an edict forbade commoners and officials Hu-style dress. Many throughout the state were displeased.
99
通直散騎常侍劉芳，纘之族弟也，與給事黃門侍郎太原郭祚，皆以文學為帝所親禮，多引與講論及密議政事； 大臣貴戚皆以為疏己，怏怏有不平之色。 帝使給事黃門侍郎陸覬私諭之曰：「至尊但欲廣知古事，詢訪前世法式耳，終不親彼而相疏也。」 眾意乃稍解。 覬，□之子也。
Regular Attendant-in-Ordinary Liu Fang, a clansman of Liu Zuan, and Supervisor of the Secretariat Guo Zuo of Taiyuan were both treated with intimate favor by the emperor for their literary learning; he often drew them into discussions and private deliberations on state affairs; Great ministers and noble kin all felt themselves estranged and showed discontent on their faces. The emperor had Supervisor Lu Guan privately instruct them, saying, "His Majesty only wishes to broaden his knowledge of antiquity and inquire into institutions of former ages—that is all; he will never favor them and distance you." The crowd's resentment gradually eased. Guan was the son of [name lost in the source].
100
魏主欲自將入寇。 癸卯，中外戒嚴。 戊申，詔代民遷洛者復租賦三年。 相州刺史高閭上表稱：「洛陽草創，曹虎既不遣質任，必非誠心，無宜輕舉。」 魏主不從。
The Wei sovereign wished to lead the invasion in person. On the guimao day, court and countryside were placed under martial law. On the wushen day, an edict exempted those who had moved from Dai to Luoyang from rent and tax for three years. Governor of Xiang Province Gao Lu memorialized: "Luoyang is newly founded; since Cao Hu has sent no hostages, his sincerity is doubtful—there is no grounds for a rash move." The Wei sovereign did not heed this.
101
久之，虎使竟不再來，魏主引公卿議行留之計，公卿或以為宜止，或以為宜行。 帝曰：「眾人紛紜，莫知所從。 必欲盡行留之勢，宜有客主，共相起發。 任城、鎮南為留議，朕為行論，諸公坐聽得矣，長者從之。」 眾皆曰：「諾。」 鎮南將軍李沖曰：「臣等正以遷都草創，人思少安； 為內應者未得審諦，不宜輕動。」 帝曰：「彼降款虛實，誠未可知。 若其虛也，朕巡撫淮甸，訪民疾苦，使彼知君德之所在，有北向之心； 若其實也，今不以時應接，則失乘時之機，孤歸義之誠，敗朕大略矣。」 任城王洽曰：「虎無質任，又使不再來，其詐可知也。 今代都新遷之民，皆有戀本之心。 扶老攜幼，始就洛邑，居無一椽之室，食無甔石之儲。 又冬月垂盡，東作將起，乃『百堵皆興』、『俶載南畝』之時，而驅之使擐甲執兵，泣當白刃，殆非歌舞之師也。 且諸軍已進，非無應接。 若降款有實，待既平樊、沔，然後鑾輿順動，亦可晚之有！ 今率然輕舉，上下疲勞； 若空行空返，恐挫損天威，更成賊氣，非策之得者也。」 司空穆亮以為宜行，公卿皆同之。 澄謂亮曰：「公輩在外之時，見張旗授甲，皆有憂色，平居論議，不願南征，何得對上即為此語！ 面背不同，事涉欺佞，豈大臣之義、國士之體乎！ 萬一傾危，皆公輩所為也。」 沖曰：「任城王可謂忠於社稷。」 帝曰：「任城以從朕者為佞，不從朕者豈必皆忠！ 夫小忠者，大忠之賊，無乃似諸！」 澄曰：「臣愚闇，雖涉小忠，要是竭誠謀國； 不知大忠者竟何所據！」 帝不從。
After a long while, Cao Hu's envoys never came again; the Wei sovereign summoned the nobles and ministers to discuss whether to march or stay—some held they should halt, some that they should go. The emperor said, "Everyone clamors and none knows what to follow. If we are to exhaust the case for going and staying, there should be guest and host, each prompting the other. The Prince of Rencheng and the General Who Guards the South will argue for staying; I will argue for marching—you gentlemen sit and listen, and that will suffice; you may follow the elder's view." All said, "Yes." General Who Guards the South Li Chong said, "We ministers hold that the capital has just been moved and the people yearn for a little peace; those who would respond from within have not yet been verified in detail—it is inadvisable to move rashly." The emperor said, "Whether their surrender is false or true is indeed unknown. If it is false, I shall tour and console the Huai region, inquire into the people's hardships, and let them know where sovereign virtue resides, so they acquire a mind to turn northward; if it is true, not to respond in season now means losing the opportune moment, betraying the sincerity of those who came over, and ruining my grand design." The Prince of Rencheng He said, "Hu sent no hostages, and his envoys never came again—his deception is plain. Now the people newly moved from Dai all have hearts that cling to their old home. Supporting the old and leading the young, they have only just reached Luoyang—no house with a single rafter, no stores of a dou of grain. Moreover winter is nearly ended and spring farming about to begin—it is the season of 'every wall is rising' and 'they shoulder their tools and go to the southern fields'—yet they are driven to don armor and take up weapons, weeping before bare blades; this is scarcely an army that sings and dances. Moreover the armies have already advanced—there is no lack of support on the ground. If the surrender is genuine, wait until Fan and Mian are pacified, then let the imperial carriage move in due order—not too late! To act rashly now wears out court and countryside alike; if we march in vain and return in vain, we fear damaging Heaven's majesty and strengthening the enemy's spirit—that is not a winning policy." Minister of Works Mu Liang held they should march; the nobles and ministers all agreed. Cheng said to Liang, "When you gentlemen were outside and saw banners raised and armor issued, you all showed worry on your faces; in ordinary discussion you did not wish a southern expedition—how can you speak thus to His Majesty the moment you face him! Face and back at odds—this touches on deceit and flattery; is this the duty of great ministers or the bearing of a national stalwart! If disaster should come, it will all be your doing." Chong said, "The Prince of Rencheng may be called loyal to altars and state." The emperor said, "The Prince of Rencheng takes those who follow me as flatterers—are those who do not follow me necessarily all loyal! Petty loyalty is the thief of great loyalty—does this not resemble that!" Cheng said, "Your servant is dull and blind; though I touch on petty loyalty, it is after all whole-hearted counsel for the state; I do not know what great loyalty can rest upon!" The emperor did not heed him.
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辛亥，發洛陽，以北海王詳為尚書僕射，統留台事； 李沖兼僕射，同守洛陽。 給事黃門侍郎崔休為左丞，趙郡王幹都督中外諸軍事，始平王勰將軍宗子軍宿衛左右。 休，逞之玄孫也。 戊辰，魏主至懸瓠。 己巳，詔壽陽、鐘離、馬頭之師所獲男女皆放還南。 曹虎果不降。
On the xinhai day, he departed Luoyang; Prince of Beihai Yuan Xiang was made Vice Director of the Secretariat, directing affairs of the rear capital; Li Chong was concurrently Vice Director, jointly guarding Luoyang. Supervisor Cui Xiu was made Left Assistant; Prince of Zhao Commandery Gan commanded armies within and without; Prince of Shiping Yuan Xie led the imperial clan guard corps to defend left and right. Xiu was the great-great-grandson of Chi. On the wuchen day, the Wei sovereign reached Xuancheng. On the jisi day, an edict ordered that men and women captured by the armies at Shouyang, Zhongli, and Matou were all released and sent back south. Cao Hu indeed did not surrender.
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魏主命盧淵攻南陽。 淵以軍中乏糧，請先攻赭陽以取葉倉，魏主許之。 乃與征南大將軍城陽王鸞、安南將軍李佐、荊州刺史韋珍共攻赭陽。 鸞，長壽之子； 佐，寶之子也。 北襄城太守成公期閉城拒守。 薛真度軍於沙堨，南陽太守房伯玉、新野太守劉思忌拒之。
The Wei sovereign ordered Lu Yuan to attack Nanyang. Yuan, citing grain shortage in the army, asked to attack Zheyang first to seize the Ye granaries; the Wei sovereign assented. Thereupon he joined with General Who Conquers the South Prince of Chengyang Yuan Luan, General Who Pacifies the South Li Zuo, and Governor of Jing Wei Zhen in jointly attacking Zheyang. Luan was Changshou's son; Zuo was Bao's son. Cheng Gongqi, governor of North Xiangcheng, shut the gates and defended the city. Xue Zhendu encamped at Shayan; Fang Boyu of Nanyang and Liu Siji of Xinye held him off.
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先是，魏主遣中書監高閭治古樂； 會閭出為相州刺史，是歲，表薦著作郎韓顯宗、太樂祭酒公孫崇參知鐘律，帝從之。」」」」」
Earlier, the Wei emperor had sent Gao Lü, Director of the Palace Secretariat, to restore ancient music; When Lü was posted out as governor of Xiang Province, that year he recommended Han Xianzong, Gentleman of the Secretariat for Drafting, and Gongsun Chong, Director of Sacrifices to the Great Music, to assist with pitch and regulation, and the emperor agreed.”””””
Footnotes
- With that the proclamation concluded."