1
資治通鑑第159卷
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 159
2
【梁紀十五】起旃蒙赤奮若，盡柔兆攝提格，凡二年。
[Liang Records 15] The span runs from Zhanmeng Chifenruo through Rouzhao Shotige—two years in all.
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高祖武皇帝十五大同十一年（ 乙丑，公元五四五年）
Emperor Wu of Liang, fifteenth year of Datong ( yichou, AD 545)
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春，正月，丙申，東魏遣兼散騎常侍李獎來聘。
In spring, the first month, on bingshen, Eastern Wei sent Acting Palace Attendant Li Jiang on a friendly mission.
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Eastern Wei's Erzhu Wenchang, Chancellor Gao Huan's marshal Ren Zhou, Commissioner Zheng Zhongli, and others plotted a Lantern-night rising during the fireworks show: kill Gao Huan and make Wenchang ruler. The plot leaked; all were executed. Wenchang was Erzhu Rong's son. His sister, Jingzong's empress, and Zhongli's elder sister Dache were all Gao Huan's favored concubines, so their brothers went unpunished.
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Gao Huan memorialized: "Bingzhou is where the arsenals gather and women's labor is always needed. I ask that a palace be established for persons taken in confiscations; and that a Tuyuhun woman be taken in marriage to win them over." On dingwei the Jinyang Palace was established. In the second month, on gengshen, the Eastern Wei emperor took a cousin of the Tuyuhun khan as Ronghua.
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Yuwen Tai sent the Jiuquan Hu Anuopantuo as the first envoy to the Turks. The Turks were originally a small western people of the Ashina clan; for generations they lived south of Gold Mountain and smithied iron for the Rouran. Under their chieftain Tumen they first grew strong and raided Western Wei's western marches. When Anuopantuo arrived, the Turks rejoiced: "An envoy of a great power has come—our realm will rise!"
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三月，乙未，東魏丞相歡入朝於鄴，百官迎於紫陌。 歡握崔暹手而勞之曰：「往日朝廷豈無法官，莫肯糾劾。 中尉盡心徇國，不避豪強，遂使遠邇肅清。 衝鋒陷陣，大有其人； 當官正色，今始見之。 富貴乃中尉自取，高歡父子無以相報。」 賜暹良馬。 暹拜，馬驚走，歡親擁之，授以轡。 東魏主宴於華林園，使歡擇朝廷公直者勸之酒； 歡降階跪曰：「唯暹一人可勸，並請以臣所射賜物千段賜之。」 高澄退，謂暹曰：「我尚畏羨，何況餘人！」 然暹中懷頗挾巧詐。 初，魏高陽王斌有庶妹玉儀，不為其家所齒，為孫騰妓，騰又棄之； 高澄遇諸塗，悅而納之，遂有殊寵，封琅邪公主。 澄謂崔季舒曰：「崔暹必造直諫，我亦有以待之。」 及暹咨事，澄不復假以顏色。 居三日，暹懷刺墜之於前。 澄問：「何用此為？」 暹悚然曰：「未得通公主。」 澄大悅，把暹臂，入見之。 季舒語人曰：「崔暹常忿吾佞，在大將軍前，每言叔父可殺； 及其自作，乃過於吾。」
In the third month, on yiwei, Gao Huan entered court at Ye; the officials welcomed him at Zimo. Gao Huan took Cui Xian's hand and praised him: "The court always had law officers—none would impeach. The Commandant gave his heart to the state and did not spare the powerful, until far and near were clean. Men who charge breaches and break arrays—there are many; but to hold office with an upright countenance—only now do I see it. Wealth and rank the Commandant earns himself; Gao Huan and his sons have no way to repay him." He gave Xian a fine horse. Xian bowed; the horse bolted; Gao Huan himself caught him and gave him the reins. The Eastern Wei emperor feasted at Hualin Garden and had Gao Huan choose upright courtiers to toast him; Gao Huan came down the steps, knelt, and said: "Only Xian is fit to toast; I also ask that the thousand lengths of my archery prizes be given him." Gao Cheng withdrew and told Xian: "Even I still fear envy—how much more the rest!" Yet Xian inwardly carried a good deal of crafty deceit. Earlier, Eastern Wei's Prince of Gaoyang, Bin, had a concubine-born sister Yuyi whom the family disdained; she became Sun Teng's courtesan, and Teng cast her off; Gao Cheng met her on the road, was taken with her, and took her in; she won special favor and was made Princess of Langye. Cheng told Cui Jishu: "Cui Xian is sure to remonstrate bluntly; I have a way to wait for him too." When Xian came to consult, Cheng no longer gave him a pleasant face. After three days Xian let a visiting card fall before him. Cheng asked: "What is this for?" Xian said fearfully: "I have not yet been presented to the Princess." Cheng was delighted, took Xian's arm, and led him in to see her. Jishu told others: "Cui Xian always hated my flattery; before the Great General he often said my uncle deserved death; when he did it himself, he outdid me."
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夏，五月，甲辰，東魏大赦。
In summer, the fifth month, on jiachen, Eastern Wei proclaimed a general amnesty.
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魏王盟卒。
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Since Jin times, writing had vied in florid ornament; Yuwen Tai wished to reform it. In the sixth month, on dingsi, the Western Wei emperor feasted at the imperial temple. Yuwen Tai ordered Su Chuo, fiscal minister of the Grand Secretariat and concurrent historiographer, to compose the "Great Admonition," display it to the ministers, and warn them on government; He also ordered: "From now on all writings shall follow this style."
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The Liang emperor sent Jiaozhou Inspector Yang Biao against Li Ben and made Chen Baxian marshal; He ordered Dingzhou Inspector Xiao Bo to join Biao at Xijiang. Bo knew the troops dreaded a distant campaign and used deceit to hold Biao back. Biao gathered the generals for counsel. Baxian said: "Jiaozhi rebels; the fault lies with the imperial clan, and several provinces have been in turmoil while the court has failed to punish for years. Dingzhou wants comfort for the moment and ignores the larger plan. Your command bears the mandate to punish crime—we should stake our lives on it. How can we hang back and not advance, feeding the rebel and breaking the army's heart!" He then led the troops out first. Biao made Baxian his vanguard. At Jiaozhou, Ben led thirty thousand to resist; he was beaten at Zhuyuan and again at the mouth of the Suli River. Ben fled to Jianing; the armies advanced to besiege it. Bo was the son of Bing.
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Western Wei and the Rouran khan Toubing plotted a joint attack on Eastern Wei. Gao Huan, alarmed, sent Secretariat Lang Du Bi to the Rouran to seek a bride for heir Cheng. Toubing said: "If King Gao takes her himself, very well." Gao Huan hesitated. Consort Lou said: "This is the state's great plan—do not doubt." Heir Cheng and Wei Jing also urged him. Gao Huan then sent Murong Yan, Suppressing-the-South General, to betroth her as the Rouran Princess. In autumn, the eighth month, Gao Huan personally welcomed her at Xiaguan. When the princess arrived, Consort Lou vacated the main chamber for her; Gao Huan knelt to thank her; the consort said: "She will notice—cut off all attention." Toubing sent his brother Tutujia to escort his daughter and return the visit; He also warned: "Do not return until you have seen your grandson." The princess was stern by nature and all her life refused to speak Chinese. Gao Huan once fell ill and could not visit; Tutujia was resentful; Gao Huan rode out while ill to see him.
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冬，十月，乙未，詔有罪者復聽入贖。
In winter, the tenth month, on yiwei, an edict again allowed criminals to buy off punishment.
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Eastern Wei sent Secretariat Attendant Yu Jin on a friendly mission. On yiwei, Gao Huan asked to free the Mangshan prisoners from shackles and give them widows from among the people.
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魏築圜丘於城南。
Western Wei built a Round Mound south of the city.
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散騎常侍賀琛啟陳四事：其一以為「今北邊稽服，正是生聚教議之時，而天下戶口減落，關外彌甚。 郡不堪州之控總，縣不堪郡之裒削，更相呼擾，惟事征斂。 民不堪命，各務流移，此豈非牧守之過歟！ 東境戶口空虛，皆由使命繁數，窮幽極遠，無不皆至，每有一使，所屬搔擾，駑困邑宰，則拱手聽其漁獵，桀黠長吏，又因之重為貪殘，縱有廉平，郡猶掣肘。 如此，雖年降復業之詔，屢下蠲賦之恩，而民不得反其居也。」 其二以為「今天下守宰所以貪殘，良由風俗侈靡使之然也。 今之燕喜，相競誇豪，積果如丘陵，列餚同綺繡，露台之產，不週一燕之資，而賓主之間，裁取滿腹，未及下堂，已同臭腐。 又，畜妓之夫，無有等秩，為吏牧民者，致貲巨億，罷歸之日，不支數年，率皆盡於燕飲之物、歌謠之具。 所費事等丘山，為歡止在俄頃，乃更追恨向所取之少； 如復傅翼，增其搏噬，一何悖哉！ 其餘淫侈，著之凡百，習以成俗，日見滋甚。 欲使人守廉白，安可得邪！ 誠宜嚴為禁制，導以節儉，糾奏浮華，變其耳目。 夫失節之嗟，亦民所自患，正恥不能及群，故勉強而為之； 苟以淳素為先，足正雕流之弊矣。」 其三以為「陛下憂念四海，不憚勤勞，至於百司，莫不奏事。 但斗筲之人，既得伏奏帷扆，便欲詭競求進，不論國之大體，心存明恕； 惟務吹毛求疵，擘肌分理，以深刻為能，以繩逐為務。 跡雖似於奉公，事更成其威福，犯罪者多，巧避滋甚，長弊增奸，實由於此。 誠願責其公平之效，黜其讒慝之心，則下安上謐，無徼幸之患矣。」 其四以為「今天下無事，而猶日不暇給，宜省事、息費，事省則民養，費息則財聚。 應內省職掌各檢所部：凡京師治、署、邸、肆及國容、戎備，四方屯、傳、邸治，有所宜除，除之，有所宜減，減之； 興造有非急者，徵求有可緩者，皆宜停省，以息費休民。 故畜其財者，所以大用之也； 養其民者，所以大役之也。 若言小事不足害財，則終年不息矣； 以小役不足妨民，則終年不止矣。 如此，則難可以語富強而圖遠大矣。」
Palace Attendant He Chen submitted four memorials. The first argued that "with the north now subdued, this should be a time to gather people and teach—but registers are shrinking everywhere, and beyond the passes the loss is worse. Commanderies cannot bear provincial control; counties cannot bear commandery exactions; they harass one another and do nothing but levy. The people cannot bear their lot and flee—is this not the fault of local officials! The east is hollowed out because envoys are too many—no corner too remote. Every envoy ravages his route; worn magistrates fold their hands while he plunders; crafty chiefs use him to plunder again. Even an honest man finds the commandery tugging his sleeve. So though edicts year after year call people home and tax relief is granted again and again, they cannot return." The second held that "today's greedy magistrates are made so by extravagant custom. At feasts they vie in display: fruit heaped like hills, dishes like brocade; a terrace garden's yield will not pay for one banquet, yet host and guest eat only their fill—before they leave the hall it is rot. Men who keep courtesans know no rank; officials who rule the people amass fortunes, and within years of leaving office it is all gone on feasts and music. They spend like mountains; the joy lasts a moment—then they regret they took too little before; give them wings and they bite harder—how perverse! The rest of debauchery, in a hundred forms, has become custom and worsens daily. To expect integrity—how can you have it! Forbid it strictly, guide by frugality, impeach display, and change what they see. People suffer from lost restraint too—they are ashamed not to keep up and force themselves; put simplicity first and you can correct carved display." The third held that "Your Majesty cares for all under heaven and toils without shrinking; every office memorializes. But petty men, once they can speak before the curtain, compete by tricks; they ignore the state's great body and forget magnanimity; they split hairs and divide fibers, take harshness for talent, and drive people with the rope. It looks like public service but only swells their power; crime multiplies and evasion grows—long abuse and added treachery come from this. Demand fairness, dismiss malice—then below is secure and above tranquil, without lucky gambles." The fourth held that "the realm is at peace yet there is no leisure; reduce affairs and still expenses—reduce affairs and the people are fed; still expenses and wealth gathers. Each office should inspect its charge: capital offices, lodges, markets, regalia, armaments; frontier posts and stations—abolish what should go, reduce what should shrink; halt non-urgent construction and delayable levies to still expense and rest the people. Store wealth to use it greatly; nourish the people to employ them greatly. If you say small matters cannot harm wealth, there is no ceasing all year; if small corvée cannot harm the people, there is no stopping all year. Then you cannot speak of enriching the state, strong armies, or far-reaching plans."
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When the memorial arrived, the emperor was furious; he summoned the chief clerks and dictated an edict reproaching Chen. The gist was: "I have held the realm forty years; remonstrance reaches me daily. What you say I already hear—I am only vexed and grow more confused. Do not act the vulgar partisan, make a name for yourself, and proclaim in the streets, 'I can memorialize to the throne—pity the court will not employ me.' Why not name them plainly: which governor is violent, which prefect greedy, which minister or Secretariat man crafty, which envoy plunders—what are their names? Who gives and who takes? State it plainly so they can be punished and better men chosen. If gentry and people exceed in food and drink—strict prohibition in hidden rooms, how would you know? Search every house and you only add harassment. If you mean the court—I have no such thing. Long ago we stopped slaughtering sacrificial beasts; court gatherings use only vegetables; reduce that further and you invite the reproach of the "Crickets." If you think merit feasts are only garden stuff—one melon into dozens of dishes, one vegetable into dozens of flavors— with so many changes, what harm is done!
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「我自非公宴，不食國家之食，多歷年所； 乃至宮人，亦不食國家之食。 凡所營造，不關材官及以國匠，皆資雇藉以成其事。 勇怯不同，貪廉各用，亦非朝廷為之傅翼。 卿以朝廷為悖，乃自甘之，當思致悖所以！ 卿云『宜導之以節儉』，朕絕房室三十餘年，至於居處不過一床之地，雕飾之物不入於宮； 受生不飲酒，不好音聲，所以朝中曲宴，未嘗奏樂，此群賢之所見也。 朕三更出治事，隨事多少，事少午前得竟，事多日昃方食，日常一食，若晝若夜； 昔要腹過於十圍，今之瘦削裁二尺餘，舊帶猶存，非為妄說。 為誰為之？ 救物故也。
Unless it is a public feast, I do not eat the state's food—many years now; even palace women do not eat the state's food. All my building uses hired labor, not the materials office or state craftsmen. Brave and timid differ; greedy and honest each have their place—the court does not give them wings for that. You call the court perverse yet take your ease—you should ask what makes perverseness! You say guide by frugality—I have closed the inner quarters thirty years; my dwelling is one bed's space; carved ornament does not enter the palace; I do not drink, I do not love music; at court feasts there is no music—the worthies have seen it. I rise at the third watch; few affairs I finish before noon, many I eat at sundown—one meal, day or night; once my waist was ten spans; now I am barely two feet round—the old belt still proves it. For whom? To save living things.
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You say every office memorializes and competes by tricks—if outsiders may not present affairs, who bears the burden! Entrust all to one man—how can you have him? The ancients said: "Sole hearing breeds treachery; sole trust breeds chaos." The Second Emperor entrusted Zhao Gao; Empress Yuan entrusted Wang Mang—calling a deer a horse—is that law? You say "splitting hairs"—who? "Dividing fibers"—what affair? Which offices, lodges, and markets should go? Which should be cut? Where is construction not urgent? Where may levies wait? Set out each and memorialize in full! List every method to enrich the state, strengthen the army, and rest the people! If you do not list them, you deceive the court. I await your renewed memorial, will examine it, send it to the Masters of Writing, and promulgate it—may renewal appear again today." Chen only apologized and dared not speak again.
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The emperor was filial, kind, respectful, and frugal, broadly learned and skilled in writing; yin-yang, divination, riding, archery, music, chess, clerical script, and go—none beyond him. He was diligent: in winter he worked until the fourth watch and rose again; in the cold his hands cracked on the brush. From Tianjian he used Buddhist practice—long fasts without meat, one meal of vegetable broth and coarse rice; busy days he rinsed his mouth past noon and passed. He wore cloth, cotton bedding, black curtains; one cap three years, one quilt two years; consorts and below wore hems that did not touch the ground. He did not drink; except for temple sacrifice, great feasts, and rites, he never had music. Even in a dark room he dressed properly; in summer heat he never bared his shoulders. Toward eunuchs and minor servants he was as toward great guests. Yet he favored scholars too much; governors often preyed on the people; envoys harassed the districts. He also liked to trust petty men and was harsh in scrutiny. He built many pagodas and temples at great public and private cost. The south had long been at peace; customs had grown extravagant. Therefore Chen's memorial touched on it. The emperor hated that it struck truth, and was angry.
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Sima Guang comments: That Liang Gaozu did not finish his course was fitting! A ruler's fault in listening lies in clutter; ministers' fault in remonstrance lies in fineness. The enlightened ruler keeps the essential way to master affairs; the loyal minister states the great body to correct the ruler's heart. The body does not toil yet harvests far; words stay essential yet benefit is great. He Chen's remonstrance was not even cutting, yet Gaozu was already enraged, guarding his faults and boasting his strengths; he demanded names of greedy lords, lists of waste, trapped him with unanswerable conditions, and blamed him into a corner. He took plain food for supreme virtue and sundown labor for perfect rule; in his mind the Way was complete and remonstrance worthless. Who then would dare speak blunter words than Chen! Treacherous men stood before him unseen; great plans failed unknown; disgraced, endangered, state lost, sacrifices ended—mocked for ages: pitiful!
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上敦尚文雅，疏簡刑法，自公卿大臣，鹹不以鞫獄為意。 奸吏招權弄法，貨賂成市，枉濫者多。 大率二歲刑已上歲至五千人； 徙居作者具五任，其無任者著升械； 若疾病，權解之，是後囚徒或有優、劇。 時王侯子弟，多驕淫不法。 上年老，厭於萬幾。 又專精佛戒，每斷重罪，則終日不懌； 或謀反逆，事覺，亦泣而宥之。 由是王侯益橫，或白晝殺人於都街，或暮夜公行剽掠，有罪亡命者，匿於王家，有司不敢搜捕。 上深知其弊，而溺於慈愛，不能禁也。 魏東陽王榮為瓜州刺史，與其婿鄧彥偕行。 榮卒，瓜州首望表榮子康為刺史，彥殺康而奪其位。 魏不能討，因以彥為刺史，屢征不至，又南通吐谷渾。 丞相泰以道遠難於動眾，欲以計取之，以給事黃門侍郎申徽為河西大使，密令圖彥。 徽以五十騎行，既至，止於賓館； 彥見徽單使，不以為疑。 徽遣人微勸彥歸朝，彥不從； 徽又使贊成其留計，彥信之，遂來至館。 徽先與州主簿敦煌令狐整等密謀，執彥於坐，責而縛之； 因宣詔慰諭吏民，且云「大軍續至」，城中無敢動者，遂送彥於長安。 泰以徽為都官尚書。
He honored letters and was light on penal law; from ministers down, none cared about judging crime. Crafty clerks twisted law; bribes were a market; the wrongly punished were many. Roughly five thousand a year were sentenced to two years or more and sent to the works; those with full corvée went to labor; those without wore foot shackles; if ill, shackles were briefly removed—after that sentences could be light or heavy. Princes' and marquises' sons were mostly arrogant and lawless. The emperor was old and weary of government. He devoted himself to Buddhist precepts; a heavy sentence displeased him all day; even discovered rebellion he wept and pardoned. Princes grew bolder; some killed in daylight on capital streets, plundered by night; fugitives hid in princes' houses and officials dared not search. He knew the evil yet drowned in kindness and could not forbid it. Western Wei's Prince of Dongyang, Rong, was governor of Guazhou and traveled with his son-in-law Deng Yan. Rong died; Guazhou's leading clans nominated his son Kang as governor; Yan killed Kang and seized his post. Western Wei could not punish him and made him governor; repeatedly summoned, he did not come, and also allied south with Tuyuhun. Yuwen Tai, finding the road too far for an army, wished to take him by stratagem and made Shen Hui, Attendant of the Yellow Gate, western-route ambassador to plot against Yan in secret. Hui rode with fifty men; on arrival he lodged at the guest house; Yan saw a lone envoy and did not suspect him. Hui secretly urged Yan to return to court; Yan refused; Hui again had men support his plan to remain; Yan believed them and came to the lodge. Hui had secretly plotted with the commandery recorder Linghu Zheng of Dunhuang and others; they seized Yan at the seat, reproached and bound him; then proclaimed the edict to comfort officials and people and said "the great army follows at once"; the city dared not move, and they sent Yan to Chang'an. Yuwen Tai made Hui Minister of Justice.
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高祖武皇帝十五中大同元年（ 丙寅，公元五四六年）
Emperor Wu of Liang, fifteenth year, first year of Zhongdatong ( bingyin, AD 546)
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In the second month, Western Wei made Yizhou Inspector Shi Ning governor of Liangzhou. Former governor Yuwen Zhonghe held the province and would not yield. Guazhou's Zhang Bao killed Governor Cheng Qing in response; Jinchang's Lü Xing killed Prefect Guo Si and joined his commandery to Bao. Yuwen Tai sent Dugu Xin, Crown Prince Grand Tutor, and Yi Feng, Kaifu Yitong Sansi, with Shi Ning to punish them.
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三月，乙巳，大赦。
In the third month, on yisi, a general amnesty.
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On gengxu the emperor visited Tongtai Temple, then lodged in the temple compound and lectured on the "Sutra of Three Wisdoms." In summer, the fourth month, on bingxu, the lecture ended; general amnesty; the era name was changed. That night Tongtai Temple's pagoda burned; the emperor said: "This is a demon—we should perform the dharma on a great scale." The ministers all approved. An edict followed: "The Way is high and demons flourish; doing good meets obstruction. Let us exhaust timber and earth, doubling what went before." A twelve-story pagoda was raised; and when it was nearly done, Hou Jing's rebellion stopped the work.
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Shi Ning of Western Wei won over Liang province; all submitted save Yuwen Zhonghe, who held his city. In the fifth month, Dugu Xin sent his generals against the northeast by night and led stalwarts himself against the southwest. At dawn the city fell and Zhonghe was taken.
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At first Zhang Bao wished to kill the registrar Linghu Zheng; fearing the man's standing, he feigned respect while nursing deep resentment. Zheng feigned loyalty and sent word to Bao: "The eastern army presses Liangzhou; they stand alone and may not hold. Divide your best troops at once to save them. Victory rides on the general. Linghu Yanbao has civil and martial gifts—send him with the host and you cannot fail." Bao agreed.
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The assembly would make Zheng inspector. Zheng said, "We rose because Zhang Bao rebelled, lest the whole province sink into crime; to accept promotion now is to copy his fault." He set Zhang Daoyi, whom Western Wei had sent to Persia, to govern the province and reported all. Yuwen Tai made Shen Hui inspector of Guazhou, summoned Zheng as governor of Shouchang, and enfeoffed him Baron of Xiangwu. Zheng led more than three thousand kin and neighbors to court, followed Tai on campaign, and rose to Rapid Cavalry General, Opening the Mansion Equal to the Three Dukes, and Palace Attendant.
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甲子，詔：「犯罪非大逆，父母、祖父母不坐。」 先是，江東唯建康及三吳、荊、郢、江、湘、梁、益用錢，其餘州郡雜以谷帛，交、廣專以金銀為貨。 上自鑄五銖及女錢，二品並行，禁諸古錢。 普通中，更鑄鐵錢。 由是民私鑄者多，物價騰踴，交易者至以車載錢，不復計數。 又自破嶺以東，八十為百，名曰「東錢」； 江、郢以上，七十為百，名曰：「西錢」； 建康以九十為百，名曰「長錢」。 丙寅，詔曰：「朝四暮三，眾狙皆喜，名實未虧而喜怒為用。 頃聞外間多用九陌錢，陌減則物貴，陌足則物賤，非物有貴賤，乃心有顛倒。 至於遠方，日更滋甚，徒亂王制，無益民財。 自今可通用足陌錢！ 令書行後，百日為期，若猶有犯，男子謫運，女子質作，並同三年。」 詔下而人不從，錢陌益少； 至於季年，遂以三十五為百雲。
On jiazi came an edict: "For crimes short of great treason, parents and grandparents shall not be punished." Before this, only Jiankang, the Three Wus, and Jing, Ying, Jiang, Xiang, Liang, and Yi used coin; elsewhere grain and cloth mixed, and Jiao and Guang traded in gold and silver alone. The Liang emperor cast wuzhu and "female" coins, let both circulate, and forbade ancient coin. In the Putong era he cast iron coin anew. Private casting flourished, prices soared, and traders hauled coin by the cartload without counting. East of Poling, eighty passed for a hundred—"eastern coin"; above Jiang and Ying, seventy for a hundred—"western coin"; Jiankang used ninety for a hundred—"long coin." On bingyin an edict said, "Morning four, evening three—the monkeys are pleased; the sum is unchanged, yet joy and anger rule. Lately the outer regions use short tenths: a short tenth makes goods dear, a full tenth cheap—not goods that shift, but hearts turned upside down. In distant places it worsens daily, disordering royal rule without helping the people's wealth. From now let full-tenth coin circulate everywhere! A hundred days after the order; offenders—men to transport labor, women pledged to service—for three years alike." The edict descended and the people did not obey; tenths grew ever shorter; by the late years thirty-five passed for a hundred.
37
The Liang emperor was old; his sons would not yield to one another and suspected one another. Prince Lun of Shaoling held Danyang, Prince Yi of Xiangdong Jiangzhou, Prince Ji of Wuling Yizhou—each with power like a sovereign; Crown Prince Gang hated this and kept picked troops to guard the Eastern Palace. In the eighth month, Lun was made inspector of South Xuzhou.
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Western Wei moved Wang Sizheng from Bingzhou to Jingzhou and had him name a general to hold Yubi in his stead. Sizheng named Wei Xiaokuan of Jinzhou; Yuwen Tai agreed. Gao Huan mustered all Shandong to attack Western Wei; on guisi he gathered troops at Jinyang from Ye; in the ninth month he reached Yubi and besieged it. He meant to draw the western army out; it did not come.
40
Li Ben again led twenty thousand from the Liao to Dianche Lake, built a fleet, and filled the lake. The allied armies feared him, halted at the lake mouth, and dared not advance. Chen Baxian told the generals, "Our army is worn, the men weary; we stand alone without relief, deep in the enemy belly—lose one battle and who lives! They have fled again and again; hearts are not firm; Yi and Liao are a crow flock—easy to break. We should stake our lives together and strike with all our force; to halt for no reason is to let the moment pass!" The generals were silent. That night the river rose seven zhang and poured into the lake. Baxian drove his men forward on the flood; the armies drummed and shouted and advanced; Ben's host broke and fled into the Qu-Liao caves.
41
In winter, the tenth month, on yihai, Prince Cha of Yueyang, former inspector of Eastern Yangzhou, was made inspector of Yongzhou. The Liang emperor had passed over Cha and his brothers for Crown Prince Gang and inwardly felt shame, favoring them next to his own sons. Because Kuaiji was rich in men and goods, he rotated Cha and his brothers through Eastern Yangzhou to comfort them. Cha and his brothers also nursed inward discontent. Cha, seeing the emperor aged and the court rotten, hoarded wealth, humbled himself to scholars, recruited the bold, and kept several thousand at his side. Xiangyang was strong ground, the foundation of Liang—when disorder came, great deeds could be plotted. He governed with restraint, comforted scholars and people, showed kindness, welcomed remonstrance, and his district was called well ruled.
42
東魏丞相歡攻玉壁，晝夜不息，魏韋孝寬隨機拒之。 城中無水，汲於汾，歡使移汾，一夕而畢。 歡於城南起土山，欲乘之以入。 城上先有二樓，孝寬縛木接之，令常高於土山以御之。 歡使告之曰：「雖爾縛樓至天，我當穿地取爾。」 乃鑿地為十道，又用術士李業興「孤虛法」，聚攻其北。 北，天險也。 孝寬掘長塹，邀其地道，選戰士屯塹上。 每穿至塹，戰士輒擒殺之。 又於塹外積柴貯火，敵有在地道內者，塞柴投火，以皮排吹之，一鼓皆焦爛。 敵以攻車撞城，車之所及，莫不摧毀，無能御者。 孝寬縫布為幔，隨其所向張之，布既懸空，車不能壞。 敵又縛松、麻於竿，灌油加火以燒布，並欲焚樓。 孝寬作長鉤，利其刃，火竿將至，以鉤遙割之，松、麻俱落。 敵又於城四面穿地為二十道，其中施樑柱，縱火燒之。 柱折，城崩。 孝寬隨崩處豎木柵以扞之，敵不得入。 城外盡攻擊之術，而城中守禦有餘。 孝寬又奪據其土山。 歡無如之何，乃使倉曹參軍祖珽說之曰：「君獨守孤城，而西方無救，恐終不能全，何不降也？」 孝寬報曰：「我城池嚴固，兵食有餘。 攻者自勞，守者常逸，豈有旬朔之間已須救援！ 適憂爾眾有不返之危。 孝寬關西男子，必不為降將軍也！」 珽復謂城中人曰：「韋城主受彼榮祿，或復可爾； 自外軍民，何事相隨入湯火中！」 乃射募格於城中云：「能斬城主降者，拜太尉，封開國郡公，賞帛萬匹。」 孝寬手題書背，返射城外云：「能斬高歡者准此。」 珽，瑩之子也。 東魏苦攻凡五十日，士卒戰及病死者七萬人，共為一塚。 歡智力皆困，因而發疾。 有星墜歡營中，士卒驚懼。 十一月，庚子，解圍去。
Gao Huan attacked Yubi day and night; Wei Xiaokuan of Western Wei met him as occasion demanded. The city had no water and drew from the Fen; Huan diverted the Fen, and in one night it was done. Huan raised an earthen hill south of the city to ride over the wall. Two towers already stood on the wall; Xiaokuan bound timbers to extend them, always keeping them higher than the hill. Huan sent word: "Though you raise your towers to the sky, I will tunnel under and take you." He dug ten tunnels and used Li Yexing's "solitary and void" method, massing attack on the north. The north was heaven's barrier. Xiaokuan dug a long moat to intercept the tunnels and posted warriors on its rim. Whenever a tunnel reached the moat, the warriors seized and killed the diggers. He piled firewood outside the moat; when enemies were in the tunnels, they blocked the mouths, cast fire, and blew with leather bellows—at one blast all were charred. The enemy used battering chariots; wherever they reached, the wall gave way—none could stop them. Xiaokuan sewed cloth curtains and spread them where the chariots aimed; the cloth hung slack and the chariots could not break through. The enemy bound pine and hemp on poles, poured oil, set fire to burn the cloth and the towers. Xiaokuan made long hooks with sharp blades; as the fire poles neared, he cut them from afar—pine and hemp fell together. The enemy dug twenty tunnels on all four sides, set beams within, and burned them. The pillars broke and the wall collapsed. Xiaokuan raised wooden palisades wherever it fell; the enemy could not enter. Every art of attack was spent outside; inside, defense still had surplus. Xiaokuan also seized their earthen hill. Huan could do nothing and sent Zu Ting of the granary registry to say, "You hold a lone city and the west sends no rescue—you cannot hold out; why not surrender?" Xiaokuan replied, "My walls are strong, troops and grain abundant. Attackers weary themselves; defenders rest—how would I need rescue within a month! I only fear your host may not return. Xiaokuan is a Guanxi man—I shall never be a surrendering general!" Ting told the city, "Commandant Wei takes their pay—perhaps that can be forgiven; but you soldiers and civilians—why follow him into fire and boiling water!" He shot a notice into the city: "Behead the commander and surrender—Grand Commandant, Duke of a founding state, ten thousand bolts of silk." Xiaokuan wrote on the back and shot it back: "Behead Gao Huan—same reward." Ting was Ying's son. Eastern Wei attacked for fifty days; seventy thousand fell in battle and sickness and were buried in one mound. Huan's wit and strength were exhausted, and he fell ill. A star fell in Huan's camp; the soldiers were alarmed. In the eleventh month, on gengzi, he lifted the siege and left.
43
Before this, Gao Huan had sent Hou Jing toward Qizi Ridge; Yang Biao of Western Wei held Chexiang, feared a raid on Shao, and led cavalry to meet him. Jing heard Biao was coming, felled trees and blocked the road for sixty li, yet remained uneasy and returned to Heyang. On gengxu, Gao Huan sent Duan Shao with Duke Yang of Taiyuan to guard Ye. On xinhai he summoned the heir apparent Gao Cheng to Jinyang.
44
Western Wei made Wei Xiaokuan Rapid Cavalry General, Opening the Mansion Equal to the Three Dukes, and Duke of Jianzhong. Men of the time said Wang Sizheng knew men.
45
In the twelfth month, on jimao, Gao Huan, having achieved nothing, resigned command of all armies; the Eastern Wei emperor permitted it. When Gao Huan returned from Yubi, the army rumored that Wei Xiaokuan had killed the chancellor with a crossbow; Western Wei heard and ordered, "One shot of a strong crossbow—the evil body falls." When Gao Huan heard it, he forced himself to receive the nobles, had Hulu Jin compose the "Song of the Tiele," sang with him, and wept.
46
魏大行台度支尚書、司農卿蘇綽，性忠儉，常以喪亂未平為己任，薦賢拔能，紀綱庶政； 丞相泰推心任之，人莫能間。 或出遊，常預署空紙以授綽； 有須處分，隨事施行，及還，啟知而已。 綽常謂「為國之道，當愛人如慈父，訓人如嚴師。」 每與公卿論議，自晝達夜，事無鉅細，若指諸掌，積勞成疾而卒。 泰深痛惜之，謂公卿曰：「蘇尚書平生廉讓，吾欲全其素志，恐悠悠之徒有所未達； 如厚加贈謚，又乖宿昔相知之心； 何為而可？」 尚書令史麻瑤越次進曰：「儉約，所以彰其美也。」 泰從之。 歸葬武功，載以布車一乘，泰與群公步送出同州郭外。 泰於車後酹酒言曰：「尚書平生為事，妻子兄弟所不知者，吾皆知之。 唯爾知吾心，吾知爾志，方欲共定天下，遽捨吾去，奈何！」 因舉聲慟哭，不覺卮落於手。
Su Chuo of Western Wei's grand mobile headquarters was loyal and frugal by nature, took the unsettled realm as his charge, raised the worthy, and ordered the hundred affairs; Yuwen Tai trusted him with an open heart and none could come between. When he went touring he often pre-signed blank papers for Chuo; Chuo disposed as needed, and on return merely reported—that was all. Chuo often said, "To govern a state is to love the people as a father and instruct them as a stern teacher." Whenever he debated with ministers, from day through night, nothing great or small escaped him; labor piled into illness and he died. Tai mourned him deeply and told the ministers, "Director Su was modest all his life; I wish to preserve his plain intent, yet fear the idle crowd may not understand; rich posthumous gifts and titles would betray the heart of long acquaintance; what can be done?" Clerk Ma Yao stepped forward and said, "Frugality displays his excellence." Tai followed this. He was buried at Wugong on a single cloth cart; Tai and the lords walked with him beyond Tong province's wall. Tai poured libation behind the cart and said, "What Director did in life, unknown to his wife, children, and brothers—I knew it all. Only you knew my heart, I knew your aim—we were about to settle the realm, and you leave me—what can I do!" He wept aloud, and the cup fell from his hand unheeded.
47
Hou Jing of Eastern Wei—Minister of Works, Grand General of Henan, Grand Mobile Headquarters—had a shortened right foot; bow and horse were not his gifts, but stratagem was. Gao Aocao, Peng Le, and the rest were bravest of their age; Jing often held them light and said, "These are pigs charging—how far can they go!" Jing once told Gao Huan, "Give me thirty thousand men and I will sweep the realm—cross the river, bind the old man Xiao Yan, and make him abbot of Taiping Temple." Huan gave him a hundred thousand men and sole rule of Henan, staff and trust like half his body.
48
Jing had long held Gao Cheng light and once told Sima Ziru, "While the King of Gao lives I dare not differ; when he is gone I cannot serve a Xianbei stripling!" Ziru covered his mouth. When Gao Huan's illness grew grave, Gao Cheng forged his hand to summon Jing. Before this, Jing and Huan had agreed, "Holding troops afar, men easily deceive—mark every letter with a small dot." Huan agreed. Jing received a letter without the mark and would not come; hearing Huan was grave, he took counsel from Wang Wei of Yingchuan and held his troops.
49
Gao Huan said to Gao Cheng, "Though I am ill, your face holds more worry—why?" Before Cheng could answer, Huan said, "You fear Hou Jing will rebel, do you not?" He answered, "It is so." Huan said, "Jing has ruled Henan fourteen years with a soaring will; I could keep him—not you. The four quarters are not settled—do not hasten to announce mourning. Kudi Gan, the Xianbei old man, and Hulu Jin, the Tiele old man—both are forthright and will never fail you. Kezhuhun Daoyuan and Liu Fengsheng came from afar—they have no other heart. Pan Xiangle was once a Taoist, mild and thick—you brothers should gain his strength. Han Gui is somewhat dull—treat him generously. Peng Le's heart is hard to win—guard him. Only Murong Shaozong can match Hou Jing; I did not honor him, but left him for you." He also said, "Duan Xiaoxian is loyal, humane, wise, and brave—in kin, only this son; on great military affairs, plan together." He also said, "At Mount Mang I ignored Chen Yuankang and left trouble for you—I cannot close my eyes in death!" Xiangle was a man of Guangning.