1
資治通鑑第149卷
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 149
2
【梁紀五】起屠維大淵獻，盡昭陽單閼，凡五年。
[Liang Records 5] From Tuxi Dayuanxian through Zhaoyang Shankuo—five years in all.
3
高祖武皇帝五天監十八年（ 己亥，公元五一九年）
Emperor Wu of Liang, eighteenth year of Tianjian ( jihai, corresponding to 519 CE)
4
春，正月，甲申，以尚書左僕射袁昂為尚書令，右僕射王暕為左僕射，太子詹事徐勉為右僕射。
In spring, the first month, on jiashen, Yuan Ang was promoted from Left Vice Director of the Masters of Writing to Director; Wang Yan moved from Right to Left Vice Director; and Xu Mian, Supervisor of the Heir Apparent's Household, became Right Vice Director.
5
丁亥，魏主下詔，稱：「皇太后臨朝踐極，歲將半紀，宣稱『詔』以令宇內。」
On dinghai, the Northern Wei emperor issued an edict: "The Empress Dowager has held court and taken the throne; nearly thirty years have passed. Edicts should be issued as 'imperial edicts' to command the realm."
6
辛卯，上祀南郊。
On xinmao, Emperor Wu sacrificed at the southern suburb.
7
魏徵西將軍平陸文侯張彝之子仲瑀上封事，求銓削選格，排抑武人，不使豫清品。 於是喧謗盈路，立榜大巷，剋期會集，屠害其家； 彝父子晏然，不以為意。 二月，庚午，羽林、虎賁近千人相帥至尚書省詬罵，求仲瑀兄左民郎中始均不獲，以瓦石擊省門； 上下懾懼，莫敢禁討。 遂持火掠道中薪蒿，以杖石為兵器，直造其第，曳彝堂下，捶辱極意，唱呼動地，焚其第捨。 始均逾垣走，復還拜賊，請其父命，賊就毆擊，生投之火中。 仲瑀重傷走免，彝僅有餘息，再宿而死。 遠近震駭。 胡太后收掩羽林、虎賁凶強者八人斬之，其餘不復窮治。 乙亥，大赦以安之，因令武官得依資入選。 識者知魏之將亂矣。
Zhang Zhongyu, son of Zhang Yi, Western Campaign General and Marquis Wen of Pinglu, submitted a sealed memorial proposing to tighten civil-service selection rules, curb military men, and bar them from the pure official grades. Clamor and abuse filled the streets; notices went up in the main thoroughfares fixing a day to gather and slaughter his household; Zhang Yi and his sons remained calm and paid it no heed. In the second month, on gengwu, nearly a thousand Imperial Guard and Tiger Guard soldiers marched together to the Masters of Writing offices to curse and riot; they could not find Zhongyu's elder brother Shi Jun, Director in the Left Section of the People, and pelted the gates with tiles and stones; Officials high and low were terrified; no one dared stop or punish them. They seized torches, gathered brushwood along the road, armed themselves with clubs and stones, marched straight to the Zhang residence, dragged Yi into the hall and beat him without mercy amid earth-shaking cries, then burned the house. Shi Jun scaled the wall and fled, then came back to bow to the mob and plead for his father's life; they beat him and threw him alive into the flames. Zhongyu escaped with grave wounds; Yi lingered two days and died. The realm was shaken with horror. Empress Dowager Hu arrested eight of the ringleaders among the guards and beheaded them; the rest went unpunished. On yihai, a general amnesty was proclaimed to calm the realm, and military officers were allowed to qualify for office by seniority. Men of discernment knew that Northern Wei was heading toward chaos.
8
時官員既少，應選者多，吏部尚書李韶銓注不行，大致怨嗟； 更以殿中尚書崔亮為吏部尚書。 亮奏為格制，不問士之賢愚，專以停解月日為斷，沉滯者皆稱其能。 亮甥司空咨議劉景安與亮書曰：「殷、周以鄉塾貢士，兩漢由州郡薦才，魏、晉因循，又置中正，雖未盡美，應什收六七。 而朝廷貢才，止求其文，不取其理，察孝廉唯論章句，不及治道，立中正不考才行，空辯氏姓，取士之途不博，沙汰之理未精。 舅屬當銓衡，宜須改張易調，如何反為停年格以限之，天下士子誰復修厲名行哉！」 亮復書曰：「汝所言乃有深致。 吾昨為此格，有由而然。 古今不同，時宜須異。 昔子產鑄刑書以救弊，叔向譏之以正法，何異汝以古禮難權宜哉！」 洛陽令代人薛琡上書，言：「黎元之命，繫於長吏，若以選曹唯取年勞，不簡能否，義均行雁，次若貫魚，執簿呼名，一吏足矣，數人而用，何謂銓衡！」 書奏，不報。 後因請見，復奏「乞令王公貴臣薦賢以補郡縣。」 詔公卿議之，事亦寢。 其後甄琛等繼亮為吏部尚書，利其便己，踵而行之。 魏之選舉失人，自亮始也。
Posts were few and candidates many; Minister of Personnel Li Shao could not keep up with appointments, and complaints were widespread; Palace Secretary Cui Liang was made Minister of Personnel in his place. Cui Liang proposed a fixed rule: merit would not matter—only the date one left office would decide promotion. Everyone who had languished in the queue praised him. Cui Liang's nephew Liu Jing'an, a consultant at the Directorate of Works, wrote to him: "Yin and Zhou advanced scholars through village schools; Han relied on provincial recommendation; Wei and Jin continued that and added Rectifiers of Talent—imperfect, but they surely picked up six or seven men in ten. Yet the court now prizes literary polish over substance, examines Filial and Incorrupt men on glosses rather than governance, and lets Rectifiers debate pedigree instead of talent—narrow roads to office and crude screening. You hold the scales of appointment—you should reform the system. Why impose a seniority grid instead? What scholar will still strive for virtue and reputation?" Cui Liang wrote back: "Your words have real depth. I adopted this rule yesterday for good reason. Ancient and modern times differ; policy must change with them. When Zichan cast the penal code to cure abuses, Shuxiang mocked him for violating orthodoxy—how is your appeal to ancient rites against my expedient any different?" Xue Fan, magistrate of Luoyang, memorialized: "The people's fate rests with local magistrates. If the Selection Bureau promotes only by seniority and ignores ability, appointments march like geese in flight or fish on a string—one clerk with a roster could do the job. Why keep a whole bureau to 'weigh' candidates?" The memorial was received; the court did not reply. Later, seeking an audience, he again asked "that princes and great ministers recommend the worthy to fill county and commandery posts." The court ordered the high ministers to discuss it; the proposal died there too. Later Zhen Chen and others succeeded Cui Liang as Minister of Personnel; finding the rule convenient, they kept it. Northern Wei's decline in choosing officials began with Cui Liang.
9
初，燕燕郡太守高湖奔魏，其子謐為侍御史，坐法徙懷朔鎮，世居北邊，遂習鮮卑之俗。 謐孫歡，沉深有大志，家貧，執役在平城，富人婁氏女見而奇之，遂嫁焉。 始有馬，得給鎮為函使，至洛陽，見張彝之死，還家，傾貲以結客。 或問其故，歡曰：「宿衛相帥焚大臣之第，朝廷懼其亂而不問，為政如此，事可知矣，財物豈可常守邪！」 歡與懷朔省事雲中司馬子如、秀容劉貴、中山賈顯智、戶曹史咸陽孫騰、外兵史懷朔侯景、獄掾善無尉景、廣寧蔡俊特相友善，並以任俠雄於鄉里。
Earlier, Gao Hu, governor of Yan Commandery, defected to Wei. His son Mi became an attending censor, was punished and exiled to Huaishuo Garrison; the family lived on the frontier for generations and adopted Xianbei ways. Mi's grandson Gao Huan was reserved and ambitious. Poor, he did corvée labor at Pingcheng; a wealthy Lou clansman's daughter saw him, marveled at him, and married him. Once he owned a horse he served the garrison as a courier. In Luoyang he witnessed Zhang Yi's murder; back home he spent his fortune recruiting followers. Asked why, Gao Huan said: "Guards burned a minister's house and the court, afraid of riot, did nothing. When rule is like that, the end is clear—who can keep his wealth forever?" Gao Huan grew especially close to Sima Ziru, Liu Gui, Jia Xianzhi, Sun Teng, Hou Jing, Wei Jing, and Cai Jun—all men of reckless valor who dominated their neighborhoods.
10
夏，四月，丁巳，大赦。
In summer, the fourth month, on dingsi, a general amnesty was proclaimed.
11
五月，戊戌，魏以任城王澄為司徒，京光王繼為司空。
In the fifth month, on wuxu, Northern Wei appointed Prince Cheng of Rencheng Grand Minister and Prince Ji of Jingguang Minister of Works.
12
魏累世強盛，東夷、西域貢獻不絕，又立互市以致南貨，至是府庫盈溢。 胡太后嘗幸絹藏，命王公嬪主從行者百餘人各自負絹，稱力取之，少者不減百餘匹。 尚書令、儀同三司李崇，章武王融，負絹過重，顛仆於地，崇傷腰，融損足，太后奪其絹，使空出，時人笑之。 融，太洛之子也。 侍中崔光止取兩匹，太后怪其少； 對曰：「臣兩手唯堪兩匹。」 眾皆愧之。
For generations Northern Wei had been mighty; eastern and western peoples sent tribute without cease, and frontier markets brought southern goods—now the treasuries overflowed. Empress Dowager Hu once visited the silk vault and told the hundred-odd princes, consorts, and ladies in her train to carry off silk by strength; even the weakest took more than a hundred bolts. Li Chong, Director of the Masters of Writing, and Prince Rong of Zhangwu loaded too much silk, fell, and injured back and foot. The empress dowager seized their silk and sent them away empty-handed—a laughingstock. Rong was a son of Prince Tailuo. Attendant-in-Ordinary Cui Guang took only two bolts; the empress dowager thought that too few; he replied, "These two hands can manage only two bolts." Everyone else was shamed.
13
時宗室外戚權幸之臣，競為豪侈。 高陽王雍，富貴冠一國，宮室園圃，侔於禁苑，僮僕六千，伎女五百，出則儀衛塞道路，歸則歌吹連日夜，一食直錢數萬。 李崇富埒於雍，而性儉嗇，嘗謂人曰：「高陽一食，敵我千日。」
Imperial princes, empress kin, and favored ministers vied in extravagance. Prince Yong of Gaoyang was the richest man in the realm: estates rivaling the imperial park, six thousand servants, five hundred entertainers; his escort blocked the streets when he went out, and feasting ran day and night at home—a single meal cost tens of thousands of cash. Li Chong was as rich as Prince Yong but miserly; he once said, "One of Gaoyang's meals equals a thousand days of mine."
14
河間王琛，每欲與雍爭富，駿馬十餘匹，皆以銀為槽，窗戶之上，玉鳳銜鈴，金龍吐旆。 嘗會諸王宴飲，酒器有水精鋒，馬腦碗，赤玉卮，製作精巧，皆中國所無。 又陳女樂、名馬及諸奇寶，復引諸王歷觀府庫，金錢、繒布，不可勝計。 顧謂章武王融曰：「不恨我不見石崇，恨石崇不見我。」 融素以富自負，歸而惋歎，臥疾三日。 京光王繼聞而省之，謂曰：「卿之貨財計不減於彼，何為愧羨乃爾？」 融曰：「始謂富於我者獨高陽耳，不意復有河間！」 繼曰：「卿似袁術在淮南，不知世間復有劉備耳！」 融乃笑而起。
Prince Chen of Hejian constantly tried to outshine Prince Yong: a dozen thoroughbreds with silver mangers, jade phoenixes with bells above the windows, golden dragons spitting pennants. At a banquet for the princes he set out crystal goblets, agate bowls, and red jade cups—finery unknown in the Central States. He paraded musicians, famous horses, and curios, then led the princes through his treasuries piled with gold, coin, and brocade beyond reckoning. He told Prince Rong of Zhangwu, "I do not regret missing Shi Chong—I regret that Shi Chong never saw me." Rong, who had always prided himself on wealth, went home in despair and kept his bed three days. Prince Ji of Jingguang visited him and said, "Your fortune is surely no less than his—why envy him so?" Rong said, "I thought only Gaoyang outdid me—I never dreamed of Hejian!" Ji said, "You are Yuan Shu in Huainan, unaware that Liu Bei still walked the earth!" Rong laughed and got up.
15
太皇好佛，營建諸寺，無復窮已，令諸州各建五級浮圖，民力疲弊。 諸王、貴人、宦官、羽林各建寺於洛陽，相高以壯麗。 太后數設齋會，施僧物動以萬計，賞賜左右無節，所費不貲，而未嘗施惠及民。 府庫漸虛，乃減削百官祿力。 任城王澄上表，以為：「蕭衍常蓄窺覦之志，宜及國家強盛，將士施力，早圖混壹之功。 比年以來，公私貧困，宜節省浮費以周急務。」 太后雖不能用，常優禮之。
The Grand Empress favored Buddhism, built temples without end, and ordered every province to erect five-story pagodas until the people were exhausted. Princes, nobles, eunuchs, and guards each built Luoyang temples, competing in grandeur. The empress dowager held endless Buddhist feasts, gave monks gifts by the ten thousand, and lavished her attendants without limit—yet never aided the common people. Treasuries emptied, and official salaries and corvée allotments were cut. Prince Cheng of Rencheng memorialized: "Xiao Yan of Liang constantly eyes our realm. While the state is strong and the army willing, we should seize unification early. In recent years public and private coffers have run dry—we should cut waste and meet urgent needs." The empress dowager could not follow his advice but always honored him.
16
魏自永平以來，營明堂、壁雍，役者多不過千人，有司復藉以修寺及供它役，十餘年竟不能成。 起部郎源子恭上書，以為：「廢經國之務，資不急之費，宜徹減諸役，早圖就功，使祖宗有嚴配之期，蒼生睹禮樂之富。」 詔從之，然亦不能成也。
Since the Yongping era Northern Wei had labored on the Bright Hall and Imperial Academy with no more than a thousand workers at a time, yet officials kept diverting them to temples and other projects—after more than ten years nothing was finished. Yuan Zigong of the Construction Section wrote: "We neglect statecraft for needless spending. Cut the corvée, finish these halls, let the ancestors receive proper sacrifice, and let the people see ritual and music restored." The court agreed—and still could not finish them.
17
魏人陳仲儒請依京房立准以調八音。 有司詰仲儒：「京房律准，今雖有其器，曉之者鮮。 仲儒所受何師，出何典籍？」 仲儒對言：「性頗愛琴，又嘗讀司馬彪《續漢書》，見京房准術，成數昺然。 遂竭愚思，鑽研甚久，頗有所得。 夫准者本以代律，取其分數，調校樂器。 竊尋調聲之體，宮、商宜濁，征、羽用清。 若依公孫崇，止以十二律聲，而雲還相為宮，清濁悉足。 唯黃鐘管最長，故以黃鐘為宮，則往往相順。 若均之八音，猶須錯采眾音，配成其美。 若以應鐘為宮，蕤賓為征，則征濁而宮清，雖有其韻，不成音曲。 若以中呂為宮，則十二律中全無所取。 今依京房書，中呂為宮，乃以去滅為商，執始為征，然後方韻。 而崇乃以中呂為宮，猶用林鐘為征，何由可諧！ 但音聲精微，史傳簡略，舊志准十三弦，隱間九尺，不言須柱以不。 又，一寸之內有萬九千六百八十三分，微細難明。 仲儒私曾考驗，准當施柱，但前卻柱中，以約准分，則相生之韻已自應合。 其中弦粗細，須與琴宮相類，施軫以調聲，令與黃鐘相合。 中弦下依數畫六十律清濁之節，其餘十二弦須施柱如箏，即於中弦案盡一週之聲，度著十二弦上。 然後依相生之法，以次運行，取十二律之商、征。 商、征既定，又依琴五調調聲之法以均樂器，然後錯采眾聲以文飾之，若事有乖此，聲則不和。 且燧人不師資而習火，延壽不束修以變律，故雲知之者欲教而無從，心達者體知而無師，苟有一毫所得，皆關心抱，豈必要經師受然後為奇哉！」 尚書蕭寶寅奏：仲儒學不師受，輕欲製作，不合依許，事遂寢。
Chen Zhongru of Wei asked to follow Jing Fang's method and erect a pitch-standard to tune the eight tones. The authorities questioned him: "Jing Fang's pitch pipes and standard exist, but almost no one understands them. Who was your teacher, and what text is your source?" Chen Zhongru answered: "I love the zither, and in Sima Biao's Book of Han Continued I found Jing Fang's standard method—the ratios are perfectly clear. I studied it long and believe I understand it well. The standard replaces the pitch pipes: from its ratios one tunes instruments. In tuning, gong and shang should be lower, zhi and yu higher. Gongsun Chong claimed the twelve pipes alone, cycling as tonic, would supply every pitch—but that cannot work. Only the huangzhong pipe is longest; as tonic it often fits. To balance the eight timbres you must blend many notes into harmony. Take yingzhong as tonic and ruibin as dominant and the dominant is flat while the tonic is sharp—there may be resonance, but no real melody. Make zhonglü the tonic and none of the twelve pipes will serve. Per Jing Fang, with zhonglü as tonic you take qumie as second and zhishi as dominant—only then do the tones agree. Yet Chong used zhonglü as tonic and linzhong as dominant—how could that harmonize! Sound is subtle and the records terse: old texts say the standard has thirteen strings within nine feet but do not say whether it needs movable bridges. Within one inch lie 19,683 fractional parts—too fine to see clearly. I have tested it: the standard needs bridges; sliding them along the middle string to mark the ratios makes the generating fifths fall into place. The middle string should match the zither's lowest string; pegs tune it to huangzhong. Mark the sixty pitch nodes under the middle string; set bridges on the other twelve strings as on a zheng, take the full octave on the middle string, and transfer those positions to the rest. Then by the generating cycle derive the second and dominant of each of the twelve pipes in turn. With second and dominant fixed, tune other instruments by the zither's five modes, then blend tones into ornament—deviate from this and harmony fails. Suiren learned fire without a teacher; Zhong Zhongyou changed pitch without a formal pupil. True knowledge cannot always be taught, nor mastery always inherited—any genuine insight comes from the heart. Must one have a canonical master to matter?" Director Xiao Baoyin objected that Chen Zhongru had no teacher and rashly wished to invent—the court refused, and the project died.
18
魏中尉東平王匡以論議數為任城王澄所奪，憤恚，復治其故棺，欲奏攻澄。 澄因奏匡罪狀三十餘條，廷尉處以死刑。 秋，八月，己未，詔免死，削除官爵，以車騎將軍侯剛代領中尉。 三公郎中辛雄奏理匡，以為：「歷奏三朝，骨鯁之跡，朝野具知，故高祖賜名曰匡。 先帝已容之於前，陛下亦宜寬之於後，若終貶黜，恐杜忠臣之口。」 未幾，復除匡平州刺史。 雄，琛之族孫也。
Prince Kuang of Dongping, Commandant of Wei, resented Prince Cheng of Rencheng for repeatedly winning debates against him; he refurbished his old coffin and planned to impeach Cheng. Cheng struck first with a memorial listing more than thirty charges; the Minister of Justice sentenced Kuang to death. In autumn, the eighth month, on jiwei, an edict spared his life, stripped his rank, and made General Hou Gang acting Commandant. Xin Xiong of the Three Excellencies pleaded for Kuang: "He has served three reigns with blunt honesty known to all—the founding emperor named him Kuang for that very quality. The late emperor already spared him once; Your Majesty should show mercy again—final banishment would silence every loyal voice." Soon afterward Kuang was reappointed Governor of Pingzhou. Xin Xiong was a collateral descendant of the Chen clan.
19
九月，庚寅，胡太后游嵩高； 癸巳，還宮。 太后從容謂兼中書舍人楊昱曰：「親姻在外，不稱人心，卿有聞，慎勿諱隱！」 昱奏揚州刺史李崇五車載貨，恆州刺史楊鈞造銀食器，餉領軍元義。 太后召義夫妻，泣而責之。 義由是怨昱。 昱叔父舒妻，武昌王和之妹也。 和即義之從祖。 舒卒，元氏頻請別居，昱父椿泣責不聽，元氏恨之。 會瀛州民劉宣明謀反，事覺，逃亡。 義使和及元氏誣告昱藏匿宣明，且云：「昱父定州刺史椿，叔父華州刺史津，並送甲仗三百具，謀為不逞。」 義復構成之。 遣御杖五百人夜圍昱宅，收之，一無所獲。 太后問其狀，昱具對為元氏所怨。 太后解昱縛，處和及元氏死刑，既而義營救之，和直免官，元氏竟不坐。
In the ninth month, on gengyin, Empress Dowager Hu visited Mount Song; On guisi she returned to the palace. The Empress Dowager said calmly to Acting Palace Secretary Yang Yu: "My kin abroad have lost the people's trust—if you hear anything, do not hide it from me!" Yang Yu reported that Governor Li Chong of Yangzhou had sent five cartloads of goods, Governor Yang Jun of Hengzhou had had silver tableware made, and both had presented gifts to Commander Yuan Yi. The Empress Dowager summoned Yuan Yi and his wife, wept, and rebuked them. Yuan Yi bore a grudge against Yang Yu from that day on. The wife of Yang Yu's uncle Shu was a younger sister of Prince He of Wuchang. He was Yuan Yi's grand-uncle in the collateral line. After Shu died, the Yuan woman repeatedly demanded a separate household; Yang Yu's father Chun wept and scolded her but would not yield, and she came to hate him. Just then Liu Xuanming of Yingzhou plotted rebellion; the plot was exposed and he fled. Yuan Yi had He and the Yuan woman accuse Yang Yu of hiding Xuanming, alleging that Yang Yu's father Chun, Governor of Dingzhou, and his uncle Jin, Governor of Huazhou, had each sent three hundred sets of arms and armor in a plot of sedition." Yuan Yi fabricated the charges as well. He sent five hundred imperial guards by night to surround Yang Yu's house and arrest him, but found nothing. The Empress Dowager asked what had happened; Yang Yu explained in full that the Yuan woman bore him a grudge. The Empress Dowager freed Yang Yu and sentenced He and the Yuan woman to death; Yuan Yi then intervened—He was only dismissed from office, and the Yuan woman was never punished at all.
20
冬，十二月，癸丑，魏任城文宣王澄卒。
In winter, the twelfth month, on guichou, Prince Cheng of Rencheng, posthumously Wensuan, died.
21
庚申，魏大赦。
On gengshen Northern Wei proclaimed a general amnesty.
22
是歲，高句麗王雲座，世子安立。
That year King Yun of Goguryeo ascended the throne and his heir An was installed.
23
魏以郎選不精，大加沙汰，唯朱元旭、辛雄、羊深、源子恭及范陽祖瑩等八人以才用見留，餘皆罷遣。 深，祉之子也。
Because civil-service selection had grown lax, Northern Wei conducted a major purge; only eight men of proven talent were retained—Zhu Yuanxu, Xin Xiong, Yang Shen, Yuan Zigong, and Zu Ying of Fanyang among them—and all the rest were sent home. Yang Shen was the son of Zhi.
24
高祖武皇帝五普通元年（ 庚子，公元五二零年）
Emperor Wu of Liang, first year of Putong ( gengzi, corresponding to 520 CE)
25
春，正月，乙亥朔，改元，大赦。
In spring, on the new moon of the first month, yihai, the era name was changed and a general amnesty was proclaimed.
26
丙子，日有食之。
On bingzi there was a solar eclipse.
27
己卯，以臨川王宏為太尉、揚州刺史，金紫光祿大夫王份為尚書左僕射。 份，奐之弟也。
On jimao Prince Hong of Linchuan was appointed Grand Marshal and Governor of Yangzhou, and Wang Fen, Grand Master with the Golden Seal of Imperial Splendor, became Left Vice Director of the Masters of Writing. Wang Fen was the younger brother of Wang Huan.
28
左軍將軍豫寧威伯馮道根卒。 是日上春，祠二廟，既出宮，有司以聞。 上問中書舍人朱異曰：「吉凶同日，今可行乎？」 對曰：「昔衛獻公聞柳莊死，不釋祭服而往。 道根雖未為社稷之臣，亦有勞王室，臨之，禮也。」 上即幸其宅，哭之以慟。
Feng Daogen, General of the Left Army and Marquis Wei of Yuning, died. That day was the spring ancestral rite at the two temples. After the emperor had left the palace, the officials reported the death. The emperor asked Palace Secretary Zhu Yi: "Joy and mourning fall on the same day—may the rite still proceed?" He answered: "When Duke Xian of Wei heard that Liu Zhuang had died, he went without laying aside his sacrificial robes. Daogen was not yet a pillar of the state, but he had served the dynasty well; to attend his house is only proper." The emperor went straight to his house and wept for him in anguish.
29
高句麗世子安遣使入貢。 二月，癸丑，以安為寧東將軍、高句麗王，遣使者江法盛授安衣冠劍佩。 魏光州兵就海中執之，送洛陽。
An, crown prince of Goguryeo, sent envoys with tribute. In the second month, on guichou, An was appointed General Who Pacifies the East and King of Goguryeo; the envoy Jiang Fasheng was dispatched to invest him with robes, regalia, sword, and girdle ornaments. Northern Wei troops from Guangzhou seized him at sea and escorted him to Luoyang.
30
魏太傅、侍中、清河文獻王懌，美風儀，胡太后逼而幸之。 然素有才能，輔政多所匡益，好文學，禮敬士人，時望甚重。 侍中、領軍將軍元義在門下，兼總禁兵，恃寵驕恣，志欲無極。 懌每裁之以法，義由是怨之。 衛將軍、儀同三司劉騰，權傾內外，吏部希騰意，奏用騰弟為郡，人資乖越。 懌抑而不奏，騰亦怨之。 龍驤府長史宋維，弁之子也，懌薦為通直郎，浮薄無行。 義許維以富貴，使告司染都尉韓文殊父子謀作亂立懌。 懌坐禁止，按驗，無反狀，得釋，維當反坐； 義言於太后曰：「今誅維，後有真反者，人莫敢告。」 乃黜維為昌平郡守。
Yuan Yi, Prince of Qinghe, Grand Tutor and Palace Attendant of Northern Wei, was a man of striking presence; Empress Dowager Hu forced herself upon him. Yet he was genuinely capable; in governing he often set things right, loved letters, and honored scholars, and the esteem in which the age held him was immense. Palace Attendant and Commander of the Guards Yuan Yi held the Chancellery gate and controlled the palace troops; swollen with favor, he grew arrogant and boundless in ambition. The Prince of Qinghe repeatedly checked him by law, and Yuan Yi came to hate him for it. Liu Teng, General of the Guard with honors equal to the Three Dukes, dominated court and capital; the Ministry of Personnel, eager to please him, proposed his younger brother for a prefecture though the man's qualifications were grossly inadequate. The prince blocked the appointment and refused to memorialize it, and Liu Teng resented him as well. Song Wei, chief clerk of the Dragon Prowess Office and son of Bian, was recommended by the prince as Attendant for Direct Communication; he was shallow and dissolute. Yuan Yi promised Song Wei wealth and rank and had him accuse Han Wenshu, Director of the Dye Office, and his son of plotting rebellion to install the Prince of Qinghe. The prince was detained and investigated, but no evidence of treason appeared and he was released; Song Wei should have been punished in turn; Yuan Yi told the Empress Dowager: "Execute Wei now, and when a real rebel appears later no one will dare speak." Wei was merely demoted to Administrator of Changping.
31
義恐懌終為己害，乃與劉騰密謀，使主食中黃門胡定自列云：「懌貨定使毒魏主，若己得為帝，許定以富貴。」 帝時年十一，信之。 秋，七月，丙子，太后在嘉福殿，未御前殿，義奉帝御顯陽殿，騰閉永巷門，太后不得出。 懌入，遇義於含章殿後，義厲聲不聽懌入，懌曰：「汝欲反邪！」 義曰：「義不反，正欲縛反者耳！」 命宗士及直齋執懌衣袂，將入含章東省，使人防守之。 騰稱詔集公卿議，論懌大逆。 眾鹹畏義，無敢異者，唯僕射新泰文貞公游肇抗言以為不可，終不下署。
Yuan Yi feared the prince would destroy him in the end; he and Liu Teng plotted in secret and had Hu Ding, a Yellow Gate Attendant who served the emperor's meals, confess voluntarily that the prince had bribed him to poison the Northern Wei emperor and promised him riches if he himself became emperor." The emperor was eleven years old and believed them. In autumn, the seventh month, on bingzi, the Empress Dowager was in Jiafu Hall and had not yet gone to the front hall; Yuan Yi escorted the emperor to Xianyang Hall while Liu Teng shut the Long Lane gate so the Empress Dowager could not leave. The prince entered and met Yuan Yi behind Hanzhang Hall; Yuan Yi shouted and barred his way. The prince cried: "Do you mean to rebel?" Yuan Yi answered: "Yi does not rebel—I am here to seize the rebel!" He ordered court gentlemen and palace guards to seize the prince by the sleeves and take him into the eastern wing of Hanzhang Hall under guard. Liu Teng, claiming an imperial order, assembled the chief ministers to judge the prince guilty of high treason. All feared Yuan Yi and none dared dissent; only Vice Director You Zhao, Duke Wenzhen of Xintai, spoke out that it could not be done and refused to sign.
32
義、騰持公卿議入奏，俄而得可，夜中殺懌。 於是詐為太后詔，自稱有疾，還政於帝。 幽太后於北宮宣光殿，宮門晝夜長閉，內外斷絕，騰自執管鑰，帝亦不得省見，裁聽傳食而巳。 太后服膳俱廢，不免饑寒，乃歎曰：「養虎得噬，我之謂矣！」 又使中常侍酒泉賈粲侍帝書，密令防察動止。 叉遂與太師高陽王雍等同輔政，帝謂義為姨父。 義與騰表裡擅權，義為外御，騰為內防，常直禁省，共裁刑賞，政無鉅細，決於二人，威振內外，百僚重跡。 朝野聞懌死，無不喪氣，胡夷為之剺面者數百人。 游肇憤邑而卒。
Yuan Yi and Liu Teng submitted the ministers' decision for approval; consent came at once, and in the dead of night they killed the Prince of Qinghe. They then forged an edict in the Empress Dowager's name, claiming she was ill and returning rule to the emperor. They imprisoned the Empress Dowager in Xuanguang Hall of the Northern Palace; the gates stayed shut day and night and all contact was severed; Liu Teng kept the keys himself, and even the emperor could not see her—only meals were passed in. The Empress Dowager went without proper food and clothing and suffered hunger and cold; she sighed: "Feed a tiger and it devours you—that is me!" They also set Palace Attendant Jia Can of Jiuquan to attend the emperor's studies and secretly watch his every move. Yuan Yi then joined Grand Preceptor Prince Yong of Gaoyang and others in governing; the emperor called him Uncle by marriage. Yuan Yi and Liu Teng wielded power in concert—Yi outward, Teng inward—always on duty in the palace, deciding punishments and rewards together; nothing great or small was settled without them; their authority shook court and capital, and officials went in fear with shortened steps. When court and country heard that the prince was dead, spirits sank everywhere; several hundred men of the northern peoples gashed their faces in mourning. You Zhao died of grief and rage.
33
己卯，江、淮、海並溢。
On jimao the Yangzi, Huai, and coastal waters flooded together.
34
辛卯，魏主加元服，大赦，改元正光。
On xinmao the Northern Wei emperor came of age, proclaimed a general amnesty, and changed the era name to Zhengguang.
35
魏相州刺史中山文莊王熙，英之子也，與弟給事黃門侍郎略、司徒祭酒纂，皆為清河王懌所厚，聞懌死，起兵於鄴，上表欲誅元義、劉騰，纂亡奔鄴。 後十日，長史柳元章等帥城人鼓噪而入，殺其左右，執熙、纂並諸子置於高樓。 八月，甲寅，元義遣尚書左丞盧同就斬熙於鄴御，並其子弟。
Yuan Xi, Governor of Xiangzhou and Prince Wenshuang of Zhongshan, son of Ying, together with his brothers Lue, Attendant of the Yellow Gate, and Zuan, Libationer of the Minister of Education—all favorites of the murdered Prince of Qinghe—rose at Ye on hearing of the death and memorialized calling for the execution of Yuan Yi and Liu Teng; Zuan fled to join him at Ye. Ten days later Chief Clerk Liu Yuanzhang and others led townsfolk storming in with a roar, killed his guards, seized Xi and Zuan with their sons, and held them on a high tower. In the eighth month, on jiayin, Yuan Yi sent Left Assistant Director Lu Tong to Ye to execute Xi on the spot, together with his sons and brothers.
36
熙好文學，有風儀，名士多與之遊。 將死，與故知書曰：「吾與弟並蒙皇太后知遇，兄據大州，弟則入侍，殷勤言色，恩同慈母。 今皇太后見廢北宮，太傅清河王橫受屠酷，主上幼年，獨在前殿。 君親如此，無以自安，故帥兵民欲建大義於天下。 但智力淺短，旋見囚執，上慚朝廷，下愧相知。 本以名義干心，不得不爾，流腸碎首，復何言哉！ 凡百君子，各敬爾儀，為國為射，善勖名節！」 聞者憐之。 熙首至洛陽，親故莫敢視，前驍騎將軍刁整獨收其屍而藏之。 整，雍之孫也。 盧同希義意，窮治熙黨與，鎖濟陰內史楊昱赴鄴，考訊百日，乃得還任。 義以同為黃門侍郎。
Xi loved letters and bore himself with grace; many eminent men were his companions. Facing death, he wrote to old friends: "My brother and I were both favored by the Empress Dowager—he ruling a great province, I serving at court—her kindness in word and face was the kindness of a mother. Now the Empress Dowager is imprisoned in the Northern Palace, the Grand Tutor Prince of Qinghe has been butchered, and the emperor is a child left alone in the front hall. With sovereign and parent both in such straits I could not rest; I therefore took up arms to set righteousness right in the realm. But my wit and strength were too slight; I was seized at once—ashamed before the court, failing my friends below. Duty and honor drove me—I had no choice; my heart is torn and my head is broken—what more can I say! All you gentlemen, mind your bearing; serve your state and your households; guard your honor well!" All who read it pitied him. When Xi's head reached Luoyang, none of his kin and friends dared look upon it; only former General Diao Zheng gathered the body and hid it. Diao Zheng was a grandson of Prince Yong. Lu Tong, eager to please Yuan Yi, hunted Xi's associates to the end, shackled Yang Yu, Interior Minister of Jiyin, and sent him to Ye; only after a hundred days of torture was Yang Yu allowed to resume his post. Yuan Yi appointed Lu Tong Yellow Gate Vice Director.
37
元略亡抵故人河內司馬始賓，始賓與略縛荻筏夜渡孟津，詣屯留栗法光家，轉依西河太守刁雙，匿之經年。 時購略甚急，略懼，求送出境，雙曰：「會有一死，所難遇者為知己死耳，願不以為慮。」 略固求南奔，雙乃使從子昌送略渡江，遂來奔，上封略為中山王。 雙，雍之族孫也。 義誣刁整送略，並其子弟收系之，御史王基等力為辨雪，乃得免。
Yuan Lue fled to his old friend Sima Shibin of Henei; Shibin and Lue lashed a reed raft and crossed the Meng Ford by night, stopped at the house of Li Faguang of Tunliu, then took refuge with Diao Shuang, Governor of Xihe, who hid him for more than a year. The search for Lue was fierce; afraid, he asked to be sent abroad. Shuang said: "We all must die once—the rare thing is to die for a friend; do not trouble yourself on that account." Lue insisted on fleeing south; Shuang had his nephew Chang escort him across the Yangzi, and Lue came to Liang, where the emperor enfeoffed him as Prince of Zhongshan. Diao Shuang was a collateral descendant of Prince Yong's line. Yuan Yi accused Diao Zheng of helping Lue escape and arrested him with his sons and brothers; Censor Wang Ji and others argued strenuously for his innocence, and he was released.
38
甲子，侍中、車騎將軍永昌嚴侯韋睿卒。 時上方崇釋氏，士民無不從風而靡，獨睿自以位居大臣，不欲與俗俯仰，所行略如平日。
On jiazi Palace Attendant and General of Chariots and Cavalry Wei Rui, Marquis Yan of Yongchang, died. The court was then exalting Buddhism and everyone bent with the fashion; only Wei Rui, holding himself a great minister, refused to bob with the crowd and lived much as he always had.
39
九月，戊戌，魏以高陽王雍為丞相，總攝內外，與元義同決庶務。
In the ninth month, on wuxu, Northern Wei made Prince Yong of Gaoyang Chancellor with authority over all affairs, sharing decisions with Yuan Yi.
40
初，柔然佗汗可汗納伏名敦之妻候呂陵氏，生伏跋可汁及阿那瑰等六子。 伏跋既立，忽亡其幼子祖惠，求募不能得。 有巫地萬言：「祖惠今在天上，我能呼之。」 乃於大澤中施帳幄，祀天神。 祖惠忽在帳中，自雲恆在天上。 伏跋大喜，號地萬為聖女，納為可賀敦。 地萬既挾左道，復有姿色，伏跋敬而愛之，信用其言，干亂國政。 如是積歲，祖惠浸長，語其母曰：「我常在地萬家，未嘗上天。 『上天』者，地萬教我也。」 其母具以狀告伏跋，伏跋曰：「地萬能前知未然，勿為讒也！」 既而地萬懼，譖祖惠於伏跋而殺之。 候呂陵氏遣其大臣具列等絞殺地萬； 伏跋怒，欲誅具列等。 會阿至羅入寇，伏跋擊之，兵敗而還。 候呂陵氏與大臣共殺伏跋，立其弟阿那瑰為可汗。 阿那瑰立十日，其族兄示發帥眾數萬擊之，阿那瑰戰敗，與其弟乙居伐輕騎奔魏。 示發殺候呂陵氏及阿那瑰二弟。
Earlier the Rouran khan Tuohen of the Tuohan line had married Houlü of the Hou clan, widow of Nafuming Dun, and she bore Fuba Khan, Anagui, and four other sons. After Fuba took the throne, his young son Zuhui vanished suddenly; searches and rewards failed to find him. A shamaness named Diwan said: "Zuhui is in Heaven now, and I can summon him." She pitched tents in the great marsh and sacrificed to Heaven. Zuhui suddenly appeared inside the tent and said he had always been in Heaven. Fuba rejoiced, titled Diwan Sacred Woman, and made her his kehudun. Diwan wielded sorcery and was beautiful besides; Fuba revered and loved her, believed whatever she said, and threw the realm into disorder. Years passed and Zuhui grew up; he told his mother: "I was always at Diwan's house—I never went to Heaven. Heaven' was only what Diwan taught me to say." His mother told Fuba everything that had happened. Fuba said: "Diwan can foresee what has not yet come to pass—do not heed slander!" Soon Diwan grew afraid; she denounced Zuhui to Fuba, and Fuba had him killed. Houlü sent her chief ministers, including Julie, to strangle Diwan; Fuba was furious and wanted to put Julie and his colleagues to death. At that moment Aziluo invaded; Fuba attacked him, was routed, and withdrew. Houlü and the chief ministers killed Fuba together and set up his younger brother Anagui as khan. Ten days after Anagui took the throne, his elder clansman Shifa led tens of thousands against him; Anagui was defeated and fled to Wei with light cavalry alongside his brother Yijufa. Shifa killed Houlü and Anagui's two younger brothers.
41
魏清河王懌死，汝南王悅了無恨元義之意，以桑落酒候之，盡其私佞。 義大喜，冬，十月，乙卯，以悅為侍中、大尉。 悅就懌子但求懌服玩，不時稱旨，杖但百下，幾死。
When Prince Qinghe Yi of Wei died, Prince Runan Yue showed not a trace of ill will toward Yuan Yi; he attended him with mulberry-drop wine and lavished every sort of private sycophancy. Yuan Yi was delighted; in winter, the tenth month, on yimao, Yue was appointed Attendant-in-Ordinary and Grand Commander. Yue went to Yi's son Yuan Dan to demand Yi's robes and treasures; when he failed to please him promptly, Dan had him beaten a hundred times—he nearly died.
42
柔然可汗阿那瑰將至魏，魏主使司空京兆王繼、侍中崔光等相次迎之，賜勞甚厚。 魏主引見阿那瑰於顯陽殿，因置宴，置阿那瑰位於親王之下。 宴將罷，阿那瑰執啟立於座後，詔引至御座前，阿那瑰再拜言曰：「臣以家難，輕來詣闕，本國臣民，皆已逃散。 陛下恩隆天地，乞兵送還本國，誅剪叛逆，收集亡散。 臣當統帥遺民，奉事陛下。 言不能盡，別有啟陳。」 仍以啟授中書舍人常景以聞。 景，爽之孫也。
As Rouran khan Anagui was nearing Wei, the Northern Wei emperor sent Minister of Works Prince Ji of Jingzhao, Attendant-in-Ordinary Cui Guang, and others in turn to welcome him with lavish rewards and consolation. The emperor received Anagui at the Hall of Splendid Yang and held a banquet, placing him below the imperial princes. When the banquet was nearly over, Anagui stood behind his seat holding a memorial; an edict summoned him before the throne. Anagui bowed twice and said: "Brought low by troubles at home, I came hastily to your court; the people of my country have all fled and scattered. Your Majesty's kindness towers like Heaven and Earth; I beg you to send troops to restore me to my realm, to punish rebels, and to gather those who have fled. I will lead the remnant people and serve Your Majesty. I cannot say all that is in my heart; I have another memorial to submit separately." He then gave the memorial to Palace Secretary Chang Jing to present. Chang Jing was a grandson of Chang Shuang.
43
十一月，己亥，魏立阿那瑰為朔方公、蠕蠕，王，賜以衣服、軺車。 祿恤儀衛，一如親王。 時魏方強盛，於洛水橋南御道東作四館，道西立四里：有自江南來降者處之金陵館，三年之後賜宅于歸正裡； 自北夷降者處燕然館，賜宅于歸德裡； 自東夷降者處扶桑館，賜宅於慕化裡； 自西夷降者處崦嵫館，賜宅於慕義裡。 及阿那瑰入朝，以燕然館處之。 阿那瑰屢求返國，朝議異同不決，阿那瑰以金百斤賂元義，遂聽北歸。 十二月，壬子，魏敕懷朔都督簡銳騎二千護送阿那瑰達境首，觀機招納。 若彼迎候，宜賜繒帛車馬禮餞而返； 如不容受，聽還闕庭。 其行裝資遣，付尚書量給。
In the eleventh month, on jihai, Northern Wei made Anagui Duke of Shuofang and king of Rouran, granting him robes and a light carriage. Salary, allowances, guards, and insignia matched those of an imperial prince. Wei was then at its height; south of the Luo Bridge, four guesthouses were built east of the imperial avenue and four wards west of it: defectors from south of the Yangtze stayed in Jinling Lodge, and after three years received homes in Guizheng Ward; northern barbarians who surrendered were housed in Yanran Lodge and given homes in Guide Ward; eastern barbarians were lodged in Fusang Lodge and settled in Muhua Ward; western barbarians were lodged in Yanzi Lodge and settled in Muyi Ward. When Anagui came to court, he was placed in Yanran Lodge. Anagui repeatedly asked to go home; court opinion was split and no decision could be reached until he bribed Yuan Yi with a hundred catties of gold and was at last allowed to return north. In the twelfth month, on renzi, Wei ordered the Huai-shuo commander to select two thousand picked horsemen to escort Anagui to the frontier and win adherents as opportunity allowed. If the Rouran receive him, they should be given silk, horses, carriages, and parting gifts and sent back; if they refuse him, he may return to the imperial court. His baggage and travel funds were left to the Masters of Writing to calculate and issue.
44
辛酉，魏以京光王繼為司徒。
On xinyou, Northern Wei appointed Prince Ji of Jingzhao Minister of Works.
45
魏遺使者劉善明來聘，始復通好。
Northern Wei sent the envoy Liu Shanming on a friendly mission, and cordial relations were restored.
46
高祖武皇帝五普通二年（ 辛丑，公元五二一年）
Emperor Wu of Liang, second year of Putong ( xinchou, corresponding to 521 CE)
47
春，正月，辛巳，上祀南郊。
In spring, the first month, on xinsi, the emperor sacrificed at the southern suburb.
48
置孤獨園於建康，以收養窮民。
A Solitary Garden was established at Jiankang to shelter the poor.
49
戊子，大赦。
On wuzi, a general amnesty was proclaimed.
50
魏南秦州氐反。
The Di of Southern Qin in Northern Wei rose in revolt.
51
魏發近郡兵萬五千人，使懷朔鎮將楊鈞將之，送柔然可汗阿那瑰返國。 尚書右丞張普惠上疏，以為：「蠕蠕久為邊患，今茲天降喪亂，荼毒其心，蓋欲使之知有道之可樂，革面稽首以奉大魏也。 陛下宜安民恭己，以悅服其心。 阿那瑰束身歸命，撫之可也； 乃更先自勞擾，興師郊甸之內，投諸荒裔之外，救累世之勍敵，資天亡之丑虜。 臣愚，未見其可也。 此乃邊將貪竊一時之功，不思兵為凶器，王者不得已而用之。 況今旱暵方甚，聖慈降膳，乃以萬五千人使楊鈞為將，而欲定蠕蠕干時而動，其可濟乎！ 脫有顛覆之變，楊鈞之肉，其足食乎！ 宰輔專好小名，不圖安危大計，此微臣所以寒心者也。 且阿那瑰之不還，負何信義，臣賤不及議，文書所過，不敢不陳。」 弗聽。 阿那瑰辭於西堂，詔賜以軍器、衣被、雜采、糧畜，事事優厚，命侍中崔光等勞遣於外郭。
Northern Wei raised fifteen thousand men from neighboring commanderies, put Huai-shuo garrison commander Yang Jun in command, and sent Rouran khan Anagui home. Zhang Puhui, Right Vice Director of the Masters of Writing, memorialized: "The Rouran have long plagued our borders; now Heaven has visited ruin upon them and poisoned their hearts—surely so they may learn the blessings of the Way, change their ways, and bow to serve Great Wei. Your Majesty should quiet the people and govern with restraint, so as to win their hearts. Anagui has come in person to submit; it is enough to comfort him; yet you would first wear yourselves out, raise armies within the capital domains, and send them to the outer wastes—rescuing a foe fierce for generations and arming a detestable remnant Heaven itself is wiping out. This humble subject cannot see how that can be right. This is frontier commanders grasping for a moment's glory, forgetting that war is an ill omen and that kings employ it only when they must. Moreover drought now grips the land and Your Majesty has cut his own meals—yet fifteen thousand men under Yang Jun are sent to settle the Rouran while they move at the wrong moment; how can that succeed? If disaster strikes, will there even be enough of Yang Jun's flesh to go around! The chief ministers care only for petty fame and plot nothing for the realm's safety—this is what fills your humble servant with dread. And if Anagui does not return, what bond of trust would be broken? I am too low to debate policy, but wherever papers cross my desk I dare not stay silent." The court did not listen. Anagui took his leave in the Western Hall; an edict gave him arms, clothing, bedding, silks, grain, and livestock in lavish measure, and ordered Attendant-in-Ordinary Cui Guang and others to escort him beyond the outer wall.
52
阿那瑰之南奔也，其從父兄婆羅門帥眾數萬入討示發，破之，示發奔地豆乾，地豆乾殺之，國人推婆羅門為彌偶可社句可汗。 楊鈞表稱：「柔然已立君長，恐未肯以殺兄之人郊迎其弟。 輕往虛返，徒損國威。 自非廣加兵眾，無以送其入北。」 二月，魏人使舊嘗奉使柔然者牒雲具仁往諭婆羅門，使迎阿那瑰。
When Anagui fled south, his uncle Borumen led tens of thousands against Shifa, defeated him, and Shifa fled to Didougan, who killed him; the people then set up Borumen as khan Miou ke she ju. Yang Jun reported: "The Rouran already have a ruler; they are unlikely to greet at the frontier a brother of the man who killed their khan. A futile journey would only damage imperial prestige. Unless we greatly increase the army, we cannot escort him home." In the second month, Northern Wei sent Dieyun Juren, who had once been envoy to the Rouran, to urge Borumen to receive Anagui.
53
辛丑，上祀明堂。
On xinchou, the emperor sacrificed at the Bright Hall.
54
庚戌，魏使假撫軍將軍邴虯討南秦叛氐。
On gengxu, Northern Wei sent Acting General Who Pacifies the Army Bing Qiu to suppress the Di rebels of Southern Qin.
55
魏元義、劉騰之幽胡太后也，右衛將軍奚康生預其謀，義以康生為撫軍大將軍、河南尹，仍使之領左右。 康生子難當娶侍中、左衛將軍侯剛女，剛子，義之妹夫也，義以康生通姻，深相委託，三人率多俱宿禁中，時或迭出，以難當為千牛備身。 康生性粗武，言氣高下，義稍憚之，見於顏色，康生亦微懼不安。 甲午，魏主朝太后於西林園，文武侍坐，酒酣迭舞，康生乃為力士舞，及折旋之際，每顧視太后，舉手、蹈足、瞋目、頷首，為執殺之勢，太后解其意而不敢言。 日暮，太后欲攜帝宿宣光殿，侯剛曰：「至尊已朝訖，嬪御在南，何必留宿！」 康生曰：「至尊陛下之兒，隨陛下將東西，更復訪誰！」 群臣莫敢應。 太后自起授帝臂，下堂而去。 康生大呼，唱萬歲。 帝前入閤，左右競相排，閤不得閉。 康生奪難當千牛刀，斫直後元思輔，乃得定。 帝既升宣光殿，左右侍臣俱立西階下。 康生乘酒勢將出處分，為義所執，鎖於門下。 光祿勳賈粲紿太后曰：「侍官懷恐不安，陛下宜親安慰。」 太后信之，適下殿，粲即扶帝出東序，前御顯陽殿，閉太后於宣光殿。 至晚，義不出，令侍中、黃門、僕射、尚書等十餘人就康生所訊其事，處康生斬刑、難當絞刑。 義與剛並在內，矯詔決之：「康生如奏，難當恕死從流。」 難當哭辭父，康生慷慨不悲，曰：「我不反死，汝何哭也！」 時已昏暗，有司驅康生赴市，斬之。 尚食典御奚混與康生同執刀入內，亦坐絞。 難當以侯剛婿，得留百餘日，竟流安州； 久之，義使行台盧同就殺之。 以劉騰為司空。 八坐、九卿常旦造騰宅，參其顏色，然後赴省府，亦有歷日不能見者。 公私屬請，唯視貨多少。 舟車之利，山澤之饒，所在榷固，刻剝六鎮，交通互市，歲入利息以巨萬萬計。 逼奪鄰舍以廣其居，遠近苦之。
When Yuan Yi and Liu Teng imprisoned Empress Dowager Hu, Right Guard General Xi Kangsheng had shared in the plot; Yi made him General Who Pacifies the Army and Intendant of Henan and kept him in charge of the palace guards. Kangsheng's son Nandang married the daughter of Attendant-in-Ordinary and Left Guard General Hou Gang, whose son was married to Yi's sister. Trusting the marriage tie, Yi relied heavily on Kangsheng; the three often slept together inside the palace, going out by turns, and Nandang was made a thousand-ox bodyguard. Kangsheng was coarse and warlike, his tone imperious; Yi began to fear him, and it showed; Kangsheng in turn grew uneasy. On jiawu, the Northern Wei emperor visited the empress dowager at Western Grove Garden; civil and military officials attended; as wine deepened they danced in turn. Kangsheng performed a warrior dance, and at each spin he glanced at the empress dowager, lifting his hands, stamping, glaring, and nodding as if to seize and kill her; she understood but dared not speak. At dusk the empress dowager wanted to keep the emperor overnight in Xuanguang Hall; Hou Gang said: "His Majesty has already concluded his audience; the consorts are in the south—why stay the night?" Kangsheng said: "The Son of Heaven is Your Majesty's son; wherever you go he goes—whom else need you ask?" No minister dared answer. The empress dowager rose, took the emperor's arm, and left the hall. Kangsheng shouted "Long live the emperor!" The emperor hurried into the side chamber; attendants shoved one another in the rush and the door would not shut. Kangsheng snatched Nandang's thousand-ox blade, struck down attendant Yuan Sifu, and at last restored order. Once the emperor reached Xuanguang Hall, the attending officials all stood at the foot of the western stairs. Drunk, Kangsheng was about to go out and issue commands; Yi seized him and chained him in the Gate Office. Director of the Imperial Household Jia Can tricked the empress dowager: "The guards are terrified; Your Majesty should go down yourself to reassure them." She believed him; as she stepped down, Can at once led the emperor out the eastern passage to the Hall of Splendid Yang and locked the empress dowager in Xuanguang Hall. By nightfall Yi still did not emerge; he sent more than ten chief ministers and secretaries to Kangsheng's cell to investigate, sentencing Kangsheng to beheading and Nandang to strangulation. Yi and Gang were inside together; they forged an edict: "Kangsheng as ruled; Nandang spared and banished." Nandang wept farewell to his father; Kangsheng showed no grief and said: "I did not rebel—why weep?" Night had fallen; the authorities marched Kangsheng to the marketplace and beheaded him. Chief of Imperial Provisions Xi Hun, who had entered with Kangsheng bearing swords, was also condemned to strangulation. As Hou Gang's son-in-law, Nandang was held more than a hundred days and finally banished to Anzhou; long afterward Yi sent Mobile Corps commissioner Lu Tong to kill him there. Liu Teng was appointed Minister of Works. The Eight Seats and Nine Ministers called at Teng's house each dawn to read his mood before going to office; some waited days without an audience. Public and private requests were granted solely according to the bribe. He monopolized transport and mountain resources alike, squeezed the Six Garrisons, traded at frontier markets, and drew yearly profits reckoned in the tens of billions. He seized neighboring homes to expand his mansion, to the misery of all around.
56
京兆王繼自以父子權位太盛，固請以司徒讓車騎大將軍、儀同三司崔光。 夏，四月，庚子，以繼為太保，侍中如故； 繼固辭，不許。 壬寅，以崔光為司徒，侍中、祭酒、著作如故。
Prince Ji of Jingzhao, thinking his family held too much power, firmly asked to yield the Ministry of Works to General of Chariots and Cavalry Cui Guang, Equal in Rank to the Three Dukes. In summer, the fourth month, on gengzi, Ji was made Grand Tutor while remaining Attendant-in-Ordinary; Ji declined again; the court would not allow it. On renyin, Cui Guang was appointed Minister of Works, retaining his posts as Attendant-in-Ordinary, Libationer, and Compiler.
57
魏牒雲具仁至柔然，婆羅門殊驕慢，無遜避心，責具仁禮敬； 具仁不屈，婆羅門乃遣大臣丘升頭等將兵二千，隨具仁迎阿那瑰。 五月，具仁還鎮，具道其狀。 阿那瑰懼，不敢進，上表請還洛陽。
When Dieyun Juren of Northern Wei reached the Rouran, Borumen was insufferably arrogant and showed no deference; he demanded that Juren show respect; Juren refused to bow; Borumen then sent the minister Qiutou with two thousand men to accompany Juren in receiving Anagui. In the fifth month Juren returned to the garrison and reported everything. Anagui was afraid to advance and memorialized asking to return to Luoyang.
58
辛巳，魏南荊州刺史桓叔興據所部來降。 六月，丁卯，義州刺史文僧明、邊城太守田守德擁所部降魏，皆蠻酋也。 魏以僧明為西豫州刺史，守德為義州刺史。
On xinsi, Northern Wei's governor of Southern Jing, Huan Shuxing, brought his district in surrender. In the sixth month, on dingmao, Yi Prefecture governor Wen Sengming and Biancheng prefect Tian Shoude led their districts to defect to Northern Wei; both were Man chieftains. Northern Wei made Sengming governor of Western Yuzhou and Shoude governor of Yi.
59
癸卯，琬琰殿火，延燒後宮三千間。
On guimao, Wan Yan Hall caught fire, and flames spread through three thousand chambers of the inner palace.
60
秋，七月，丁酉，以大匠卿裴邃為信武將軍，假節，督眾軍討義州，破魏義州刺史封壽於檀公峴，遂圍其城； 壽請降，復取義州。 魏以尚書左丞張普惠為行台，將兵救之，不及。 以裴邃為豫州刺史，鎮合肥。 邃欲襲壽陽，陰結壽陽民李瓜花等為內應。 邃已勒兵為期日，恐魏覺之，先移魏揚州云：「魏始於馬頭置戍，如聞復欲修白捺故城，若爾，便相侵逼，此亦須營歐陽，設交境之備。 今板卒已集，唯聽信還。」 揚州刺史長孫稚謀於僚佐，皆曰：「此無修白捺之意，宜以實報之。」 錄事參軍楊侃曰：「白捺小城，本非形勝； 邃好狡數，今集兵遣移，恐有它意。」 稚大寤，曰：「錄事可亟作移報之。」 侃報移曰：「彼之纂兵，想別有意，何為妄構白捺！ 他人有心，予忖度之，勿謂秦無人也。」 邃得移，以為魏人已覺，即散其兵。 瓜花等以失期，遂相告發，伏誅者十餘家。 稚，觀之子； 侃，播之子也。
In autumn, the seventh month, on dingyou, Grand Master of Works Pei Sui was made General of Trustworthy Martiality with provisional credentials to lead the armies against Yi Prefecture; he defeated Northern Wei's Yi governor Feng Shou at Tan Gong Ridge and besieged the city; Shou sought to surrender, and Yi Prefecture was taken back. Northern Wei made Left Vice Director of the Secretariat Zhang Puhui mobile corps commissioner and sent troops to relieve the siege, but they arrived too late. Pei Sui was appointed governor of Yuzhou and stationed at Hefei. Sui planned a surprise attack on Shouyang and secretly enlisted Shouyang locals Li Guahua and others as inside agents. Sui had already mustered troops for the appointed day and, fearing Wei would notice, first sent a dispatch to Northern Wei's Yangzhou saying: "You first placed a garrison at Matou; I hear you again mean to repair the old city of Bainai—if so, you will press on us; we too must fortify Ouyang and set border defenses. Our carpenters and troops are already assembled; I await only your reply." Yangzhou governor Zhangsun Zhi consulted his staff, who all said: "There is no plan to repair Bainai; we should report the facts." Recording Secretary Yang Kan said: "Bainai is a small town and was never a strategic position; Sui is fond of cunning schemes; he is mustering troops and sending dispatches—I fear he has some other design." Zhi came fully alert and said: "Recording Secretary, draft a reply at once." Kan's reply said: "His mustering of troops surely has another purpose—why invent this tale of Bainai! When another has designs, I can read them—do not think Qin has no one who sees through you." Sui received the dispatch, believed Wei had detected the plot, and immediately dispersed his troops. Guahua and the others, the deadline having been missed, turned on one another; more than ten families were executed. Zhi was the son of Guan. Kan was the son of Bo.
61
初，高車王彌俄突死，其眾悉歸厭噠； 後數年，厭噠遣彌俄突弟伊匐帥餘眾還國。 伊匐擊柔然可汗婆羅門，大破之，婆羅門帥十部落詣涼州，請降於魏，柔然餘眾數萬相帥迎阿那瑰，阿那瑰啟稱：「本國大亂，姓姓別居，迭相抄掠。 當今北人鵠望待拯，乞依前恩賜，給臣精兵一萬，送臣磧北，撫定荒民。」 詔付中書門下博議，涼州刺史袁翻以為：「自國家都洛以來，蠕蠕、高車迭相吞噬。 始則蠕蠕授首，既而高車被擒。 今高車自奮於衰微之中，克雪仇恥，誠由種類繁多，終不能相滅。 自二虎交鬥，邊境無塵數十年矣，此中國之利也。 今蠕蠕兩主相繼歸誠，雖戎狄禽獸，終無純固之節，然存亡繼絕，帝王本務。 若棄而不受，則虧我大德； 若納而撫養，則損我資儲； 或全徙內地，則非直其情不願，亦恐終為後患，劉、石是也。 且蠕蠕尚存，則高車有內顧之憂，未暇窺窬上國； 若其全滅，則高車跋扈之勢，豈易可知！ 今蠕蠕雖亂而部落猶眾，處處棋布，以望舊主，高車雖強，未能盡服也。 愚謂蠕蠕二主並宜存之，居阿那瑰於東，處婆羅門於西，分其降民，各有攸屬。 阿那瑰所居非所經見，不敢臆度； 婆羅門請修西海故城以處之。 西海在酒泉之北，去高車所居金山千餘里，實北虜往來之衝要，土地沃衍，大宜耕稼。 宜遣一良將，配以兵仗，監護婆羅門。 因令屯田，以省轉輸之勞。 其北則臨大磧，野獸所聚，使蠕蠕射獵，彼此相資，足以自固。 外以輔蠕蠕之微弱，內亦防高車之畔換，此安邊保塞之長計也。 若婆羅門能收離聚散，復興其國者，漸令北轉，徙度流沙，則是我之外籓，高車勍敵，西北之虞，可以無慮。 如其奸回返覆，不過為逋逃之寇，於我何損哉！」 朝議是之。
Earlier, when the Gaoche king Miyetu died, his people all submitted to the Ephthalites; some years later the Ephthalites sent Miyetu's younger brother Yifu to lead the survivors back to their country. Yifu attacked the Rouran khan Borumen and crushed him; Borumen led ten tribes to Liangzhou to surrender to Northern Wei; tens of thousands of remaining Rouran went out to welcome Anagui; Anagui memorialized: "Our country is in great turmoil; clans live apart and raid one another in turn. The northerners now crane their necks awaiting deliverance; I beg, as in your former kindness, to grant me ten thousand elite troops, send me north of the desert, and pacify the frontier peoples." An edict referred the matter for broad discussion at the Secretariat and Chancellery; Liangzhou governor Yuan Fan argued: "Since the court moved the capital to Luoyang, Rouran and Gaoche have swallowed each other in turn. At first Rouran submitted; then Gaoche was taken. Now Gaoche has revived from weakness and wiped away its shame—truly because their peoples are many, they can never wholly destroy one another. While the two tigers fought, the frontier was untroubled for decades—that was China's gain. Now two Rouran rulers have submitted in succession; though barbarians are fickle, preserving the dying and continuing the cut off is an emperor's first duty. If we reject them, we impair our great virtue; if we take them in and support them, we drain our resources; or if we relocate them wholesale inland, they will not only resent it but may become a future scourge, as with the Liu and Shi. Moreover, while Rouran survives, Gaoche must watch its rear and has no leisure to eye our realm; if Rouran is wiped out, Gaoche's arrogant strength—who can easily gauge it! Though Rouran is in disorder its tribes remain numerous, spread like chess pieces awaiting their old lord; Gaoche is strong but cannot subdue them all. I hold that both Rouran rulers should be kept—set Anagui in the east and Borumen in the west, divide their submitted peoples, each with its proper master. I have not seen where Anagui should dwell and dare not guess; Borumen asks to rebuild the old Western Sea city to settle him. The Western Sea lies north of Jiuquan, over a thousand li from Jinshan where Gaoche live—a key corridor for northern peoples; the soil is fertile and excellent for agriculture. A capable general should be sent with arms to guard Borumen. Have troops farm there to spare the cost of supply convoys. To the north lies the great desert where game abounds—let Rouran hunt there; mutual support will make them secure. Outwardly this aids weak Rouran; inwardly it checks Gaoche revolt—the sound long-term plan for securing the frontier. If Borumen can rally the scattered and revive his state, gradually move him north across the desert—then he becomes our outer vassal, and with Gaoche as a strong enemy to the northwest we need not worry. If he proves treacherous, he is only a runaway bandit—what loss to us!" The court adopted his view.
62
九月，柔然可汗俟匿伐詣懷朔鎮請兵，且迎阿那瑰。 俟匿伐，阿那瑰之兄也。 冬，十月，錄尚書事高陽王雍等奏：「懷朔鎮北吐若奚泉，原野平沃，請置阿那瑰於吐若奚泉，婆羅門於故西海郡，令各帥部落，收集離散。 阿那瑰所居既在境外，宜少優遣，婆羅門不得比之。 其婆羅門未降以前蠕蠕歸化者，宜悉令州鎮部送懷朔鎮以付阿那瑰。」 詔從之。
In the ninth month the Rouran khan Houniifa came to Huaishuo garrison to ask for troops and to receive Anagui. Houniifa was Anagui's elder brother. In winter, the tenth month, Supervisor of the Secretariat Prince Yong of Gaoyang and others memorialized: "North of Huaishuo garrison lies Turuo Xi spring, with level fertile plains—we ask that Anagui be placed at Turuo Xi spring and Borumen in the old Western Sea commandery, each to lead his tribes and gather the dispersed. As Anagui's seat lies beyond the border, he should receive somewhat better support; Borumen must not be treated as his equal. All Rouran who submitted before Borumen's surrender should be sent by provinces and garrisons to Huaishuo garrison for Anagui." The edict approved.
63
十一月，癸丑，魏侍中、車騎大將軍侯剛加儀同三司。
In the eleventh month, on guichou, Northern Wei's Attendant-in-Ordinary and General of Chariots and Cavalry Hou Gang was made Equal in Rank to the Three Dukes.
64
魏以東益、南秦氐皆反，庚辰，以秦州刺史河間王琛為行台以討之。 琛恃劉騰之勢，貪暴無所畏忌，大為氐所敗。 中尉彈奏，會赦，除名，尋復王爵。 魏以安西將軍元洪超兼尚書行台，詣敦煌安置柔然婆羅門。
As the Di of Eastern Yi and Southern Qin all rose, on gengchen Northern Wei made Qinzhou governor Prince Chen of Hejian mobile corps commissioner to suppress them. Chen leaned on Liu Teng's backing, plundered without restraint, and suffered a major defeat at the hands of the Di. The Chief Commandant impeached him; an amnesty intervened and he was struck from the rolls, but soon his princely title was restored. Northern Wei made General Who Pacifies the West Yuan Hongchao concurrent mobile corps Director of the Secretariat and sent him to Dunhuang to settle the Rouran ruler Borumen.
65
高祖武皇帝五普通三年（ 壬寅，公元五二二年）
Emperor Wu of Liang, fifth year of Putong ( renyin, corresponding to 522 CE)
66
春，正月，庚子，以尚書令袁昂為中書監，吳郡太守王暕為尚書左僕射。
In spring, the first month, on gengzi, Director of the Secretariat Yuan Ang was made Supervisor of the Secretariat and Wu commandery governor Wang Yan was made Left Vice Director of the Secretariat.
67
辛亥，魏主耕籍田。
On xinhai the Northern Wei emperor plowed the sacred fields.
68
魏宋雲與惠生自洛陽西行四千里，至赤嶺，乃出魏境，又西行，再期，至乾羅國而還。 二月，達洛陽，得佛經一百七十部。
Northern Wei's Song Yun and Huisheng traveled west from Luoyang four thousand li to Red Ridge, then beyond Wei territory; after two more years west they reached Ganluo and returned. In the second month they reached Luoyang with one hundred seventy Buddhist sutras.
69
高車王伊匐遣使入貢於魏。 夏，四月，庚辰，魏以伊匐為鎮西將軍、西海郡公、高車王。 久之，伊匐與柔然戰，敗，其弟越居殺伊匐自立。
The Gaoche king Yifu sent envoys to pay tribute to Northern Wei. In summer, the fourth month, on gengchen, Northern Wei made Yifu General Who Guards the West, Duke of Western Sea commandery, and king of Gaoche. After some time Yifu fought Rouran, was defeated, and his younger brother Yueju killed him and seized the throne.
70
五月，壬辰朔，日有食之，既。
In the fifth month, on the first day of the renchen cycle, there was a total solar eclipse.
71
癸巳，大赦。
On guisi there was a general amnesty.
72
冬，十一月，甲午，領軍將軍始興忠武王憺卒。
In winter, the eleventh month, on jiawu, General of the Guards, Loyal Martial King of Shixing Xiao Dan, died.
73
乙巳，魏主祀圜丘。
On yisi the Northern Wei emperor sacrificed at the Round Mound.
74
初，魏世宗以《玄始歷》浸疏，命更造新歷。 至是，著作郎崔光表取蕩寇將軍張龍祥等九家所上歷，候驗得失，合為一歷，以壬子為元，應魏之水德，命曰《正光歷》。 丙午，初行《正光歷》，大赦。
Earlier, Emperor Xiaoming of Northern Wei, finding the Xuanshi Calendar increasingly inaccurate, ordered a new calendar drafted. Now Compiler Cui Guang memorialized adopting calendars from nine submitters including Bandit-Suppressing General Zhang Longxiang, testing them, and combining them into one calendar with renzi as the epoch to match Northern Wei's water phase, named the Zhengguang Calendar. On bingwu the Zhengguang Calendar took effect and there was a general amnesty.
75
十二月，乙酉，魏以車騎大將軍、尚書右僕射元欽為儀同三司，太保京兆王繼為太傅，司徒崔光為太保。
In the twelfth month, on yiyou, Northern Wei made General of Chariots and Cavalry and Right Vice Director Yuan Qin Equal in Rank to the Three Dukes, Grand Tutor Prince Ji of Jingzhao Grand Mentor, and Minister of Works Cui Guang Grand Tutor.
76
初，太子統之未生也，上養臨川王宏之子正德為子。 正德少粗險，上即位，正德意望東宮。 及太子統生，正德還本，賜爵西豐侯。 正德怏怏不滿意，常蓄異謀。 是歲，正德自黃門侍郎為輕車將軍，頃之，亡奔魏，自稱廢太子避禍而來。 魏尚書左僕射蕭寶寅上表曰：「豈有伯為天子，父作揚州，棄彼密親，遠投它國！ 不如殺之。」 由是魏人待之甚薄，正德乃殺一小兒，稱為己子，遠營葬地； 魏人不疑，明年，復自魏逃歸。 上泣而誨之，復其封爵。
Earlier, before Crown Prince Tong was born, the emperor had adopted Linchuan Prince Hong's son Zhengde. Zhengde had been rough and treacherous from youth; when the emperor acceded, Zhengde expected to become heir. When Crown Prince Tong was born, Zhengde reverted to his birth family and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Xifeng. Zhengde brooded in dissatisfaction and constantly nursed rebellious schemes. That year Zhengde rose from Gentleman Attendant at the Yellow Gates to General of Light Chariots; soon he fled to Northern Wei, claiming to be the deposed crown prince escaping harm. Northern Wei Left Vice Director Xiao Baoyin memorialized: "When one's uncle is emperor and one's father governs Yangzhou, who abandons close kin to flee to a foreign state! He should be killed." Thereupon the Wei court treated him coldly; Zhengde killed a small boy, passed him off as his son, and prepared a distant grave; the Wei court suspected nothing; the next year he fled back from Wei again. The emperor wept as he admonished him and restored his title and fief.
77
柔然阿那瑰求粟為種，魏與之萬石。 婆羅門帥部落叛魏，亡歸厭噠。 魏以平西府長史代人費穆兼尚書右丞西北道行台，將兵討之，柔然遁去。 穆謂諸將曰：「戎狄之性，見敵即走，乘虛復出，若不使之破膽，終恐疲於奔命。」 乃簡練精騎，伏於山谷，以步兵之羸者為外營，柔然果至； 奮擊，大破之。 婆羅門為涼州軍所擒，送洛陽。
Rouran's Anagui asked for grain as seed stock; Northern Wei gave him ten thousand shi. Borumen led his tribes in revolt against Northern Wei and fled to the Ephthalites. Northern Wei made chief clerk of the Pacify-the-West headquarters, the Dai officer Fei Mu, concurrent Right Vice Director and Northwest Route mobile corps commissioner, and sent troops against him; the Rouran fled. Mu told his generals: "Barbarians flee at sight of the enemy and strike again when they see an opening—unless we break their nerve we shall wear ourselves out chasing them." He then selected elite cavalry and hid in a valley, posting weak infantry as an outer camp; the Rouran came as expected; and a fierce attack routed them completely. Borumen was captured by Liangzhou forces and sent to Luoyang.
78
高祖武皇帝五普通四年（ 癸卯，公元五二三年）
Emperor Wu of Liang, sixth year of Putong ( guimao, corresponding to 523 CE)
79
春，正月，辛卯，上祀南郊，大赦。 丙午，祀明堂。 二月，乙亥，耕藉田。
In spring, the first month, on xinmao, the emperor sacrificed at the Southern Suburb and proclaimed a general amnesty. On bingwu he sacrificed at the Bright Hall. In the second month, on yihai, he plowed the sacred fields.
80
柔然大饑，阿那瑰帥其眾入魏境，表求賑給。 己亥，魏以尚書左丞元孚為行台尚書，持節撫諭柔然。 孚，譚之孫也。 將行，表陳便宜，以為：「蠕蠕久來強大，昔在代京，常為重備。 今天祚大魏，使彼自亂亡，稽首請服。 朝廷鳩其散亡，禮送令返，宜因此時善思遠策。 昔漢宣之世，呼韓款塞，漢遣董忠、韓昌領邊郡士馬送出朔方，因留衛助。 又，光武時亦使中郎將段彬置安集掾史，隨單于所在，參察動靜。 今宜略依舊事，借其閒地，聽其田牧，粗置官屬，示相慰撫。 嚴戒邊兵，因令防察，使親不至矯詐，疏不容反叛，最策之得者也。」 魏人不從。
Rouran suffered a great famine; Anagui led his people into Northern Wei territory and petitioned for relief. On jihai Northern Wei made Left Vice Director Yuan Fu mobile corps Director of the Secretariat with credentials to pacify the Rouran. Fu was a grandson of Tan. Before leaving he submitted recommendations, arguing: "Rouran has long been strong; when the capital was at Dai it was heavily guarded against them. Now Heaven favors great Wei; they have ruined themselves and bow in submission. The court has gathered their scattered survivors and courteously sent them home—we should now devise a far-sighted policy. Under Emperor Xuan of Han, Huhanye came to the passes in friendship; Han sent Dong Zhong and Han Chang with border troops and horses to escort him out through Shuofang and left guards to help him. Under Emperor Guangwu as well, Colonel Duan Bin was sent to place Pacification clerks wherever the chanyu went, to watch his movements. Now we should follow those precedents in broad outline: lend them spare land, let them farm and graze, place officials in basic posts, and show reassuring oversight. Keep border troops under strict discipline and surveillance, so favor never breeds deceit and negligence never allows revolt—that is the soundest policy." The Northern Wei court did not adopt his advice.
81
柔然俟匿伐入朝於魏。
The Rouran khan Houniifa came to the Northern Wei court.
82
三月，魏司空劉騰卒。 宦官為騰義息重服者四十餘人，衰絰送葬者以百數，朝貴送葬者塞路滿野。
In the third month Northern Wei Minister of Works Liu Teng died. More than forty eunuchs wore full mourning as Liu Teng's adopted sons; mourners in hemp numbered in the hundreds; nobles at the funeral clogged the roads and fields.
83
夏，四月，魏元孚持白虎幡勞阿那瑰於柔玄、懷荒二鎮之間。 阿那瑰眾號三十萬，陰有異志，遂拘留孚，載以轀車。 每集其眾，坐孚東廂，稱為行台，甚加禮敬。 引兵而南，所過剽掠，至平城，乃聽孚還。 有司奏孚辱命，抵罪。 甲申，魏遣尚書令李崇、左僕射元纂帥騎十萬擊柔然。 阿那瑰聞之，驅良民二千、公私馬牛羊數十萬北遁，崇追之三千餘里，不及而還。
In summer, the fourth month, Yuan Fu of Northern Wei carried the white tiger banner to reward Anagui between the Rouxuan and Huaihuang garrisons. Anagui's followers claimed three hundred thousand men; he secretly harbored other designs, detained Fu, and carried him in a covered carriage. Whenever he assembled his followers he seated Fu in the east wing, styled him the mobile headquarters, and treated him with great respect. He marched south, looting along the way; only when he reached Pingcheng did he let Fu go home. The authorities reported that Fu had failed his mission, and he was punished. On jiashen Northern Wei sent Secretary Director Li Chong and Left Vice Director Yuan Zuan with one hundred thousand horsemen against the Rouran. Hearing this, Anagui drove off two thousand civilians and vast herds of public and private livestock northward; Chong pursued more than three thousand li, failed to overtake him, and turned back.
84
纂使鎧曹參軍於謹帥騎二千追柔然，至郁對原，前後十七戰，屢破之。 謹，忠之從曾孫也，性深沉，有識量，涉獵經史。 少時，屏居閭裡，不求仕進，或勸之仕，謹曰：「州郡之職，昔人所鄙； 台鼎之位，須待時來。」 纂聞其名而辟之。 後帥輕騎出塞覘候，屬鐵勒數千騎奄至，謹以眾寡不敵，退必不免，乃散其眾騎，使匿叢薄之間，又遺人升山指麾，若部分軍眾者。 鐵勒望見，雖疑有伏兵，自恃其眾，進軍逼謹。 謹以常乘駿馬，一紫一騧，鐵勒所識，乃使二人各乘一馬突陣而出，鐵勒以為謹也，爭逐之； 謹帥餘軍擊其追騎，鐵勒遂走，謹因得入塞。
Zuan sent Armor Bureau staff officer Yu Jin with two thousand horsemen after the Rouran; on the Yudui plains they fought seventeen engagements and repeatedly routed the enemy. Jin was a great-great-grandson of Yu Zhong—reserved and thoughtful, widely read in the classics and histories. As a young man he lived quietly in his village and refused office; when urged to serve he said, "Provincial and commandery posts were scorned by the ancients; the highest offices must wait their proper season." Yuan Zuan heard of him and summoned him to service. Later, leading light cavalry beyond the pass on reconnaissance, he was suddenly surrounded by several thousand Tiele horsemen; seeing he was outnumbered and could not escape by flight, he scattered his men to hide in brush and sent others up a hill to gesture as though marshaling a large force. The Tiele saw this; though they suspected an ambush, they trusted their numbers and pressed forward against Jin. Jin habitually rode two fine horses, one purple and one piebald, well known to the Tiele; he had two men each mount one and charge through the enemy lines; the Tiele took them for Jin and raced after them; Jin then struck their pursuers with the rest of his force; the Tiele fled, and he made it back inside the pass.
85
李崇長史巨鹿魏蘭根說崇曰：「昔緣邊初置諸鎮，地廣人稀，或征發中原強宗子弟，或國之肺腑，寄以爪牙。 中年以來，有司號為『府戶』，役同廝養，官婚班齒，致失清流，而本來族類，各居榮顯，顧瞻彼此，理當憤怨。 宜改鎮立州，分置郡縣，凡是府戶，悉免為民，入仕次敘，一准其舊，文武兼用，威恩並施。 此計若行，國家庶無北顧之慮矣。」 崇為之奏聞，事寢，不報。
Li Chong's chief clerk Wei Langen of Julu urged him: "When the frontier garrisons were first set up, the land was vast and sparsely peopled; sometimes powerful families of the central plains were drafted, sometimes imperial kin were posted as the dynasty's claws and fangs. In later years the authorities labeled them 'garrison households': they served like bondsmen, and official marriages by seniority stripped them of elite status while their original kin still held honor—no wonder they resented what they saw. Convert the garrisons into provinces with proper commanderies and counties; free all garrison households as ordinary subjects, restore their right to office by the old rules, employ both civil and military means, and combine stern authority with kindness. If this is done, the court may cease to fear trouble from the north." Chong memorialized the throne, but the proposal was shelved without response.
86
初，元義既幽胡太后，常入直於魏主所居殿側，曲盡佞媚，帝由是寵信之。 義出入禁中，恆令勇士持兵以自先後。 時出休於千秋門外，施木欄楯，使腹心防守以備竊發，士民求見者，遙對之而已。 其始執政之時，矯情自飾，以謙勤接物，時事得失，頗以關懷。 既得志，遂自驕愎，嗜酒好色，貪吝寶賄，與奪任情，紀綱壞亂。 父京兆王繼尤貪縱，與其妻子各受賂遺，請屬有司，莫敢違者。 乃致郡縣小吏亦不得公選，牧、守、令、長率皆貪污之人。 由是百姓困窮，人人思亂。
After Yuan Yi had imprisoned Empress Dowager Hu, he constantly attended the emperor in the palace halls and flattered him to the full; the emperor came to favor and trust him. Whenever Yi entered or left the palace he had armed guards before and behind him. When he rested outside the Qianqiu Gate he erected wooden barriers and posted trusted guards against assassination; petitioners were kept at a distance. At first he played the modest, diligent minister and took some interest in public affairs. Once secure in power he grew arrogant and wilful, given to wine and women, greedy for bribes, and lawless in appointments; government discipline collapsed. His father, Prince Ji of Jingzhao, was even more grasping; he and his family took bribes freely, and no official dared refuse their requests. Even petty clerks were no longer chosen openly; most governors, prefects, and magistrates were corrupt. The people were driven to destitution, and rebellion was on every mind.
87
武衛將軍於景，忠之弟也，謀廢義，義黜為懷荒鎮將。 及柔然入寇，鎮民請糧，景不肯給，鎮民不勝忿，遂反，執景，殺之。 未幾，沃野鎮民破六韓拔陵聚眾反，殺鎮將，改元真王，諸鎮華、夷之民往往響應。 拔陵引兵南侵，遣別帥衛可孤圍武川鎮，又攻懷朔鎮。 尖山賀拔度拔及其三子允、勝、岳皆有材勇，懷朔鎮將楊鈞擢度拔為統軍、三子為軍主以拒之。
Martial Guards General Yu Jing, younger brother of Yu Zhong, plotted to remove Yi; Yi banished him to command Huaihuang garrison. When the Rouran raided, the garrison sought grain; Jing refused; the troops, enraged, rose up, seized him, and killed him. Soon after, Buliugu Baleng of Woye garrison rallied a revolt, killed the commander, and declared the era name True King; Chinese and non-Chinese across the garrisons joined him in droves. Baleng marched south and sent Wei Kehu to besiege Wuchuan while also striking Huaishuo. Helü Tabo of Jianshan and his sons Yun, Sheng, and Yue were all brave and capable; Yang Jun, commander of Huaishuo, made Tabo commander-in-chief and his sons army chiefs to resist the rebels.
88
魏景明之初，世宗命宦者白整為高祖及文昭高後鑿二佛龕於龍門山，皆高百尺。 永平中，劉騰復為世宗鑿一龕，至是二十四年，凡用十八萬二千餘工，而未成。
Early in the Jingming era Emperor Shizong had the eunuch Bai Zheng carve two hundred-chi Buddha niches at Longmen for Emperor Gaozu and Empress Wen Zhao. In the Yongping era Liu Teng added another niche for Shizong; twenty-four years on, more than 182,000 laborers had been used and the work was still unfinished.
89
秋，七月，辛亥，魏詔：「見在朝官，依令七十合解者，可給本官半祿，以終其身。」
In autumn, the seventh month, on xinhai Northern Wei decreed: "Serving officials who by law should retire at seventy may receive half their former salary for life."
90
九月，魏詔侍中、太尉汝南王悅入居門下，與丞相高陽王雍參決尚書奏事。
In the ninth month Northern Wei ordered Palace Attendant and Grand Commandant Prince Yue of Runan to join the Gate Department and, with Chancellor Prince Yong of Gaoyang, decide Secretariat business.
91
冬，十月，庚午，以中書監、中衛將軍袁昂為尚書令，即本號開府儀同三司。
In winter, the tenth month, on gengwu Yuan Ang was made Grand Secretary Director while retaining his posts as Secretariat Supervisor and Central Guard General and was given the Staff of Honor Equal to the Three Dukes.
92
魏平恩文宣公崔光疾篤，魏主親撫視之，拜其子勵為齊州刺史，為之撤樂，罷游眺。 丁酉，光卒，帝臨，哭之慟，為減常膳。 光寬和樂善，終日怡怡，未嘗忿恚。 於忠、元義用事，以光舊德，皆尊敬之，事多資決，而不能救裴、郭、清河之死，時人比之張禹、胡廣。 光且死，薦都官尚書賈思伯為侍講。 帝從思伯受《春秋》，思伯雖貴，傾身下士。 或問思伯曰：「公何以能不驕？」 思伯曰：「衰至便驕，何常之有！」 當時以為雅談。
Cui Guang, Duke of Ping'en, lay gravely ill; the Northern Wei emperor visited him in person, appointed his son Li governor of Qi province, and suspended music and outings for his sake. On dingyou Guang died; the emperor attended the mourning, wept bitterly, and cut back his own table. Guang was gentle and good-natured, cheerful all day, and never wrathful. While Yu Zhong and Yuan Yi were in power they respected Guang for his standing and often sought his counsel, yet he could not save Pei, Guo, or the Prince of Qinghe from death; contemporaries compared him to Zhang Yu and Hu Guang. On his deathbed Guang recommended Chief Judge Jia Sibai as the emperor's lecturer. The emperor studied the 《Spring and Autumn》 under Sibai, who despite his rank humbled himself before scholars. Someone asked Sibai, "How is it that you are never arrogant?" He replied, "People grow proud only as they fade—what is constant about that!" The remark was admired as a fine saying.
93
十一月，癸未朔，日有食之。 甲辰，尚書左僕射王暕卒。
In the eleventh month, on the guiwei new moon, there was a solar eclipse. On jiachen Left Vice Director Wang Yan died.
94
梁初唯揚、荊、郢、江、湘、梁、益七州用錢，交、廣用金銀，餘州雜以谷帛交易。 上乃鑄五銖錢，肉好周郭皆備。 別鑄無肉郭者，謂之「女錢」。 民間私用古錢交易，禁之不能止，乃議盡罷銅錢。 十二月，戊午，始鑄鐵錢。
Early in the Liang dynasty only seven provinces—Yang, Jing, Ying, Jiang, Xiang, Liang, and Yi—used coin; Jiao and Guang used gold and silver; elsewhere grain and cloth served as currency. The emperor then cast five-zhu coins with full rims and outer bands. He also minted coins without outer rims, called "female coins." The people kept trading in old coins despite the ban; the court then debated abolishing copper currency altogether. In the twelfth month, on wuwu, iron coins were first cast.
95
魏以汝南王悅為太保。
Northern Wei made Prince Yue of Runan Grand Tutor.