1
資治通鑑第170卷卷第一百七十
Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 170
2
【陳紀四】起強圍大淵獻，盡重光單閼，凡五年。
[Chen Records 4] From Qiangwei Dayuanxian through Chongguang Dan'e—five years in all.
3
春，正月，癸酉朔，日有食之。
In spring, the first month, on the jiaoyou new moon, a solar eclipse occurred.
4
尚書左僕射袁樞卒。
Left Vice Minister of the Secretariat Yuan Shu died.
5
乙亥，大赦，改元。
On yihai, Chen proclaimed a general amnesty and changed the era name.
6
辛卯，帝祀南郊。
On xinmao, the emperor sacrificed at the southern suburb.
7
壬辰，齊上皇還鄴。
On renchen, the retired emperor of Northern Qi returned to Ye.
8
己亥，周主耕籍田。
On jihai, the ruler of Northern Zhou ploughed the sacred field.
9
二月，壬寅朔，齊主加元服，大赦。
In the second month, on the renyin new moon, the ruler of Northern Qi came of age, and a general amnesty was proclaimed.
10
初，高祖為梁州，用劉師知為中書舍人。 師知涉學工文，練習儀體，歷世祖朝，雖位宦不遷，而委任甚重，與揚州刺史安成王頊、尚書僕射到仲舉同受遺詔輔政。 師知、仲舉恆居禁中，參決眾事，頊與左右三百人入居尚書省。 師知見頊地望權勢為朝野所屬，心忌之，與尚書左丞王暹等謀出頊於外。 眾猶豫，未敢先發。 東宮通事舍人殷不佞，素以名節自任，又受委東宮，乃馳詣相府，矯敕謂頊曰：「今四方無事，王可還東府經理州務。」
In the beginning, when Chen Baxian served as governor of Liang Province, he appointed Liu Shizhi as Secretariat Attendant. Liu Shizhi was learned and skilled with the pen, well trained in ritual forms; through the reign of Chen Qian his rank never rose, yet he was entrusted with grave responsibility—together with Chen Xu, Prince of Ancheng and governor of Yangzhou, and Vice Minister Dao Zhongju he had received the late emperor's order to share in governing. Shizhi and Zhongju constantly remained inside the palace, deciding public affairs together, while Xu quartered some three hundred companions in the Ministry of State Affairs. Shizhi saw that Xu's position and power commanded the court and the realm, and resented it; with Wang Xuan, the left assistant of the Secretariat, and others he plotted to post Xu away from the capital. The conspirators still hesitated and dared not strike first. Yin Buxian of the Eastern Palace general service, who prided himself on integrity and had been entrusted by the heir's establishment, rode at once to the chief minister's residence and forged an edict telling Xu: "The realm is at peace; Your Highness should return to your eastern residence and manage your prefectural affairs."
11
頊將出，中記室毛喜馳入見頊曰：「陳有天下日淺，國禍繼臻，中外危懼。 太后深惟至計，令王入省共康庶績。 今日之言，必非太后之意。 宗社之重，願王三思，須更聞奏，無使奸人得肆其謀。 今出外即受制於人，譬如曹爽，願作富家翁，其可得邪！」 頊遣喜與領軍將軍吳明徹籌之，明徹曰：「嗣君諒暗，萬機多闕。 殿下親實周、邵，當輔安社稷，願留中勿疑。」 頊乃稱疾，召劉師知，留之與語，使毛喜先入言於太后。 太后曰：「今伯宗幼弱，政事並委二郎。 此非我意。」 喜又言於帝。 帝曰：「此自師知等所為，朕不知也。」 喜出，以報頊。 頊囚師知，自入見太后及帝，極陳師知之罪，仍自草敕請畫，以師知付廷尉。 其夜，於獄中賜死。 以到仲舉為金紫光祿大夫。 王暹、殷不佞並付治。 不佞，不豁之弟也，少有孝行，頊雅重之，故獨得不死，免官而已。 王暹伏誅。 自是國政盡歸於頊。
As Xu was preparing to leave, Mao Xi of the central secretariat rushed in and said: "The Chen house has held the realm for only a short time; disasters have struck in succession, and danger presses on every side. The empress dowager has given this grave matter her deepest thought and bids Your Highness enter the Secretariat and share in governing the realm. What you have just heard cannot be the empress dowager's intent. The fate of the dynasty hangs on your decision—think carefully, obtain further confirmation from the throne, and do not let villains have their way. Once you leave the capital you will be at others' mercy—like Cao Shuang, who only wished to live out his days as a rich private citizen yet could not even do that!" Xu sent Xi to confer with Wu Mingche of the palace guard. Mingche said: "The new emperor is still in mourning and state affairs are in disarray. You are the Zhou and Shao of our age and ought to steady the realm—stay in the capital and do not hesitate." Xu then pretended illness, summoned Liu Shizhi, and kept him talking while Mao Xi went ahead to the empress dowager. The empress dowager said: "Bozong is still young; government has been left entirely to those two ministers. This was never my wish." Xi spoke next to the emperor. The emperor said: "That was Shizhi and the rest acting on their own—I knew nothing of it." Xi came out and reported to Xu. Xu imprisoned Shizhi, went in person before the empress dowager and the emperor, laid out his crimes at length, drafted an edict for imperial signature, and handed Shizhi over to the Minister of Justice. That night he was ordered to take his own life in prison. Dao Zhongju was made Grand Master with the Golden Seal and Purple Girdle. Wang Xuan and Yin Buxian were also handed over for punishment. Buxian was the younger brother of Yin Buhuo; known since youth for filial piety, he was highly regarded by Xu and therefore spared execution, punished only by removal from office. Wang Xuan was executed. From that moment state power belonged entirely to Xu.
12
右衛將軍會稽韓子高鎮領軍府，在建康諸將中士馬最盛，與仲舉通謀。 事未發。 毛喜請簡人馬配子高，並賜鐵、炭，使修器甲。 頊驚曰：「子高謀反，方欲收執，何為更如是邪？」 喜曰：「山陵始畢，邊寇尚多，而子高受委前朝，名為杖順。 若收之，恐不時受首，或能為人患。 宜推心安誘，使不自疑，伺間圖之，一壯士之力耳。」 頊深然之。
Han Zigao of Kuaiji, right guard general, held the palace guard headquarters; among the commanders at Jiankang his forces were the strongest, and he was in league with Zhongju. The plot had not yet broken out. Mao Xi proposed assigning him picked troops and granting iron and charcoal to repair arms and armor. Xu was alarmed: "Zigao is plotting rebellion and we are about to arrest him—why strengthen him further?" Xi said: "The imperial funeral has only just ended and enemies still threaten the borders; Zigao served the previous reign and has the name of a loyal commander. Seize him abruptly and he may not surrender promptly—he could become a serious threat. Put him at ease until he lets his guard down, then strike—no more than one resolute man's work." Xu wholly agreed.
13
仲舉既廢歸私第，心不自安。 子郁，尚世祖妹信義長公主，除南康內史，未之官。 子高亦自危，求出為衡、廣諸鎮； 郁每乘小輿，蒙婦人衣，與子高謀。 會前上虞令陸昉及子高軍主告其謀反。 頊在尚書省，因召文武在位議立皇太子。 平旦，仲舉、子高入省，皆執之，並郁送廷尉，下詔，於獄賜死，餘黨一無所問。
Deposed and sent home, Zhongju grew uneasy. His son Yu had married the Princess of Trust and Righteousness, the late emperor's sister, and been named internal steward of Nankang but had not yet departed for his post. Zigao, feeling endangered, sought a posting to the garrisons of Heng and Guang; Yu would ride in a small carriage disguised as a woman and meet Zigao in secret. Then the former magistrate of Shangyu, Lu Fang, and an officer of Zigao's command denounced the plot. Xu was in the Ministry of State Affairs and summoned officials to discuss installing the crown prince. At dawn Zhongju and Zigao entered the ministry and were seized; with Yu they were sent to the Minister of Justice, where an edict condemned them to death in prison; none of their followers were pursued.
14
辛亥，南豫州刺史余孝頃坐謀反誅。
On xinhai, Yu Xiaogui, governor of Southern Yuzhou, was executed for treason.
15
癸丑，以東揚州刺史始興王伯茂為中衛大將軍、開府儀同三司。 伯茂，帝之母弟也，劉師知、韓子高之謀，伯茂皆預之； 司徒頊恐扇動中外，故以為中衛，專使之居禁中，與帝游處。
On guichou, Chen Bamao, Prince of Shixing, was made central guard commander and commissioner equal to the Three Excellencies. Bamao was the emperor's own younger brother and had taken part in the Liu Shizhi and Han Zigao conspiracies; Xu feared he might rouse court and country, and therefore made him central guard commander so he would live within the palace and keep company with the emperor.
16
三月，甲午，以尚書右僕射沈欽為侍中、左僕射。
In the third month, on jiawu, Shen Qin was made attendant-in-ordinary and left vice minister of the Secretariat.
17
夏，四月，癸丑，齊遣散騎常侍司馬幼之來聘。
In summer, the fourth month, on guichou, Northern Qi sent Regular Attendant Sima Youzhi on a friendly visit.
18
湘州刺史華皎聞韓子高死，內不自安，繕甲聚徒，撫循所部，啟求廣州，以卜朝廷之意。 司徒頊偽許之，而詔書未出。 皎遣使潛引周兵，又自歸於梁，以其子玄響為質。
Hua Jiao, governor of Xiangzhou, grew uneasy when Han Zigao died; he armed his troops, rallied followers, soothed his districts, and asked for transfer to Guangzhou to probe the court. Xu pretended to grant it, but no edict had yet been issued. Jiao secretly invited Zhou armies, submitted to the Liang, and sent his son Xuanxiang as hostage.
19
五月，癸巳，頊以丹楊尹吳明徹為湘州刺史。
On guisi, Xu appointed Wu Mingche governor of Xiangzhou.
20
甲午，齊以東平王儼為尚書令。 司徒頊遣吳明徹帥舟師三萬趣郢州，丙申，遣征南大將軍淳於量帥舟師五萬繼之，又遣冠武將軍楊文通從安成步道出茶陵，巴山太守黃法慧從宜陽出澧陵，共襲華皎，並與江州刺史章昭達、郢州刺史程靈洗合謀進討。 六月，壬寅，以司空徐度為車騎將軍，總督建康諸軍，步道趣湘州。
On jiawu, Northern Qi made Prince Dongping, Gao Yan, minister of state affairs. Xu sent Wu Mingche with thirty thousand sailors toward Yingzhou; on bingshen he dispatched Chunyu Liang the southern expedition commander with fifty thousand more; Champion Martial General Yang Wentong marched from Ancheng through Chaling, and Huang Fahui, grand defender of Bashan, from Yiyang through Liling—all converging on Hua Jiao, while Zhang Zhaoda of Jiangzhou and Cheng Lingxi of Yingzhou joined the campaign. In the sixth month, on renyin, Xu Du, minister of works, was made commander of all Jiankang forces and marched overland toward Xiangzhou.
21
辛亥，周主尊其母叱奴氏為皇太后。
On xinhai, the Zhou ruler honored his mother Lady Chitu as empress dowager.
22
己未，齊封皇弟仁機為西河王，仁約為樂浪王，仁儉為穎川王，仁雅為安樂王，仁直為丹楊王，仁謙為東海王。
On jiwei, Northern Qi enfeoffed imperial brothers Renji, Renyao, Renjian, Renya, Renzhi, and Renqian as princes of Xihe, Lelang, Yingchuan, Anle, Danyang, and Donghai.
23
華皎使者至長安； 梁王亦上書言狀，且乞師； 周人議出師應之。 司會崔猷曰：「前歲東征，死傷過半。 比雖循撫，瘡痍未復。 今陳氏保境息民，共敦鄰好，豈可利其土地，納其叛臣，違盟約之信，興無名之師乎！」 晉公護不從。 閏六月，戊寅，遣襄州總管衛公直督柱國陸通、大將軍田弘、權景宣、元定等將兵助之。
Hua Jiao's envoys reached Chang'an; the Liang king also submitted a memorial describing the crisis and begging for troops; the Zhou court debated whether to intervene. Vice Director Cui You said: "Our eastern campaign two years ago cost us more than half our army. We have nursed the survivors, but the realm has not recovered. Chen now keeps the peace at home and with us—how can we seize their land, harbor their rebel, break treaty faith, and march without just cause!" Duke Hu of Jin [Yuwen Hu] would not listen. In the intercalary sixth month, on wuyin, he sent Duke Wei Zhi of Xiangzhou with Generals Lu Tong, Tian Hong, Quan Jingxuan, Yuan Ding, and others to aid Jiao.
24
辛巳，齊左丞相咸陽武王斛律金卒，年八十。 金長子光為大將軍，次子羨及孫武都並開府儀同三司，出鎮方岳，其餘子孫封侯貴顯者眾甚。 門中一皇后，二太子妃，三公主，事齊三世，貴寵無比。 自肅宗以來，禮敬尤重，每朝見，常聽乘步挽車至階，或以羊車迎之。 然金不以為喜，嘗謂光曰：「我雖不讀書，聞古來外戚鮮有能保其族者。 女若有寵，為諸貴所嫉； 無寵，為天子所憎。 我家直以勳勞致富貴，何必藉女寵也！」
On xinsi, Northern Qi's left chief minister, King Wu of Xianyang, Hulu Jin, died at eighty. Jin's eldest son Guang was grand general; his second son Xian and grandson Wudu each held commission equal to the Three Excellencies and commanded provinces; countless kin held noble rank. The clan produced one empress, two crown princesses, and three imperial princesses; through three Qi reigns their glory was unmatched. Since Emperor Xiaozong's day they showed him extraordinary deference—he might ride a hand-drawn carriage to the palace steps, or be met by sheep cart. Jin took no joy in it and once told Guang: "I may be unlettered, but I know that imperial affines seldom keep their houses standing for long. If our women are favored, the nobles will envy them; if they lose favor, the throne will turn against them. Our wealth comes from battlefield merit alone—we need no daughter's grace to prosper!"
25
壬午，齊以東平王儼錄尚書事，以左僕射趙彥深為尚書令，數遠為左僕射，中書監徐之才為右僕射。 定遠，昭之子也。
On renwu, Northern Qi made Prince Dongping registrar of the ministry; Zhao Yanshen minister; Shu Yuan left vice minister; and director Xu Zhicai right vice minister. Dingyuan was Zhao's son.
26
秋，七月，戊申，立皇子至澤為太子。
In autumn, the seventh month, on wushen, Prince Chize was named crown prince.
27
八月，齊以任城王湝為太師，馮翊王潤為大司馬，段韶為左丞相，賀拔仁為右丞相，侯莫陳相為太宰，婁睿為太傅，斛律光為太保，韓祖念為大將軍，趙郡王睿為太尉，東平王儼為司徒。
In the eighth month Northern Qi made Prince Rencheng grand master, Prince Fengyi grand marshal, and appointed Duan Shao, Heba Ren, Hou Mo Chen Xiang, Lou Rui, Hulu Guang, Han Zunian, Prince Zhao, and Prince Dongping to the highest offices.
28
儼有寵於上皇及胡後，時兼京畿大都督，領軍大將軍，領御史中丞。 魏朝故事：中丞出，與皇太子分路，王公皆遙駐，車去牛，頓軛於地，以待其過； 其或遲違，則前驅以赤棒棒之。 自遷鄴以後，此儀廢絕，上皇欲尊寵儼，命一遵舊制。 儼初從北宮出，將上中丞，凡京畿步騎、領軍官屬、中丞威儀、司徒鹵簿，莫不畢從。 上皇與胡後張幕於華林園東門外而觀之，遣中使驟馬趣仗。 不得入，自言奉敕，赤棒應聲碎其鞍，馬驚，人墜。 上皇大笑，以為善，更敕駐車，勞問良久。 觀者傾鄴城。
Gao Yan was the darling of the retired emperor and Empress Hu; he also commanded the capital garrison, the palace guard, and the censorate. Under Wei custom, when the chief censor went abroad he took a separate route from the crown prince; princes and dukes drew aside; servants unhitched the oxen and laid the pole on the ground till he passed; laggards were struck by guards with red staffs. Since the capital moved to Ye the ritual had lapsed; the retired emperor restored it to honor Yan. When Yan first left the Northern Palace for his censor's rounds, the capital guard, palace commands, censorial train, and ministerial escort all turned out. The retired emperor and the empress watched from curtains at Hualin Garden's east gate and sent eunuchs galloping to hurry his escort. One party could not pass and claimed an imperial order; red staffs instantly smashed the saddle, the horse panicked, and the rider fell. The retired emperor roared with laughter, called it splendid, had the carriage stopped, and for a long while questioned and commended him. The whole city turned out to watch.
29
儼恆在宮中，坐含光殿視事，諸父皆拜之。 上皇或時如并州，儼恆居守。 每送行，或半路，或至晉陽乃還。 器玩服飾，皆與齊主同，所須悉官給。 嘗於南宮見新冰早李，還，怒曰：「尊兄已有，我何竟無！」 自是齊主或先得新奇，屬官及工人必獲罪。 儼性剛決，嘗言於上皇曰：「尊兄懦，何能帥左右！」 上皇每稱其才，有廢立意，胡後亦勸之，既而中止。
Yan spent his days in the palace, holding court in Hanguang Hall while his uncles bowed to him. When the retired emperor went to Bingzhou, Yan stayed behind as regent. On each farewell he accompanied him partway—or went all the way to Jinyang before turning back. His furnishings and dress matched the emperor's; the ministries supplied his every need. Once at the Southern Palace he saw newly iced early plums; on returning he said in anger, "My honored elder brother already has them — why do I have none at all!" From then on, whenever the Northern Qi ruler obtained some novelty first, the subordinate officials and craftsmen would invariably be punished. Gao Yan was bold and resolute; he once said to the retired emperor, "My honored elder brother is timid — how could he command those around him!" The retired emperor always praised his talent and had thoughts of deposing the emperor; Empress Hu also urged it, but in the end he dropped the idea.
30
華皎遣使誘章昭達，昭達執送建康。 又誘程靈洗，靈洗斬之。 皎以武州居其心腹，遣使旅都督陸子隆，子隆不從； 遣兵攻之，不克。 巴州刺史戴僧朔等並隸於皎，長沙太守曹慶等，本隸皎下，遂為之用。 司徒頊恐上流守宰皆附之，乃曲赦湘、巴二州。 九月，乙巳，悉誅皎家屬。
Hua Jiao sent an envoy to entice Zhang Zhaoda; Zhaoda seized the envoy and sent him to Jiankang. He also tried to entice Cheng Lingxi; Lingxi beheaded the envoy. Jiao considered Wuzhou to lie at his very heart; he sent envoys to the itinerant grand inspector Lu Zilong, but Zilong refused to obey; He sent troops to attack it but failed to capture it. Ba Province inspector Dai Sengshuo and others were all subordinate to Jiao; Changsha prefect Cao Qing and others, who had originally served under him, now did his bidding. Grand Secretary Chen Xu feared that upstream governors and prefects would all join Jiao, so he issued a selective amnesty for Xiang and Ba provinces. In the ninth month, on yisi, all of Hua Jiao's family were executed.
31
梁以皎為司空，遣其柱國王操將兵二萬會之。 周權景宣將水軍，元定將陸軍，衛公直總之，與皎俱下。 淳於量軍夏口，直軍魯山，使元定以步騎數千圍郢州。 皎軍於白螺，與吳明徹等相持。 徐度、楊文通由嶺路襲湘州，盡獲其所留軍士家屬。
Liang made Hua Jiao minister of works and sent its pillar of state Wang Cao at the head of twenty thousand troops to join him. Northern Zhou's Quan Jingxuan commanded the navy and Yuan Ding the army, with Duke Wei Gongzhi as overall commander; they descended together with Hua Jiao. Chunyu Liang encamped at Xiakou and Gongzhi at Lushan, while Yuan Ding was sent with several thousand infantry and cavalry to besiege Ying Province. Hua Jiao encamped at Baituo and faced off against Wu Mingche and the others. Xu Du and Yang Wentong struck Xiang Province by the mountain route and captured all the families of the soldiers Hua Jiao had left behind.
32
皎自巴陵與周、梁水軍順流乘風而下，軍勢甚盛，戰於沌口。 量、明徹募軍中小艦，多賞金銀，令先出當西軍大艦受其拍； 西軍諸艦發拍皆盡，然後量等以大艦拍之，西軍艦皆碎，沒於中流。 西軍又以艦載薪，因風縱火。 俄而風轉，自焚，西軍大敗。 皎與戴僧朔單舸走，過巴陵，不敢登岸，逕奔江陵； 衛公直亦奔江陵。
Hua Jiao, from Baling, sailed downstream with the wind alongside the Northern Zhou and Liang navies; his forces were very strong, and the battle was joined at Dunkou. Chunyu Liang and Wu Mingche recruited small boats from the army, richly rewarded them with gold and silver, and sent them out first to take the ramming blows of the Western army's large ships; Once the Western army's ships had exhausted their rams, Chunyu Liang and the others used large ships to ram them; the Western ships were all smashed and sank midstream. The Western army also loaded ships with firewood and set them ablaze with the wind. Before long the wind shifted; they burned themselves, and the Western army was utterly defeated. Hua Jiao and Dai Sengshuo fled in a single boat; passing Baling they dared not go ashore and went straight to Jiangling; Duke Wei Gongzhi also fled to Jiangling.
33
元定孤軍，進退無路，斫竹開徑，且戰且引。 欲趣巴陵，巴陵已為徐度等所據，度等遣使偽與結盟，許縱之還國； 定信之，解仗就度，度執之，盡俘其眾，並擒梁大將軍李廣。 定憤恚而卒。
Yuan Ding's isolated army had no way forward or back; they cut bamboo to open a path, fighting as they withdrew. He tried to reach Baling, but Baling was already held by Xu Du and the others; Du sent envoys feigning an alliance and promised to let them return home; Ding believed them, laid down his weapons and went to Xu Du; Du seized him, captured his entire force, and also took Liang grand general Li Guang. Yuan Ding died of rage and resentment.
34
皎黨曹慶等四下餘人並伏誅。 唯以岳陽太守章昭裕，昭達之弟，桂陽太守曹宣，高祖舊臣，衡陽內史汝陰任忠，嘗有密啟，皆宥之。
Hua Jiao's followers Cao Qing and more than forty others were all executed. Only Yueyang prefect Zhang Zhaoyu, Zhaoda's younger brother; Guiyang prefect Cao Xuan, an old minister of Emperor Wu of Chen; and Hengyang administrator Ren Zhong of Runan, who had once sent secret memorials — all were spared.
35
吳明徹乘勝攻梁河東，拔之。
Wu Mingche pressed the victory to attack Liang's Hedong and captured it.
36
周衛公直歸罪於樑柱國殷亮； 梁主知非其罪，然不敢違，遂誅之。
Northern Zhou's Duke Wei Gongzhi blamed Liang's pillar of state Yin Liang; The Liang emperor knew Yin Liang was not guilty, but dared not disobey and so had him executed.
37
周與陳既交惡，周沔州刺史裴寬白襄州總管，請益戍兵，並遷城於羊蹄山以避水。 總管兵未至，程靈洗舟師奄至城下。 會大雨，水暴漲，靈洗引大艦臨城發拍，擊樓堞皆碎，矢石晝夜攻之三十餘日； 陳人登城，寬猶帥眾執短兵拒戰； 又二日，乃擒之。
Northern Zhou and Chen having become hostile, Northern Zhou's Mian Province inspector Pei Kuan informed the Xiangzhou governor-general, requesting additional garrison troops and relocating the city to Mount Yangti to avoid flooding. Before the governor-general's troops arrived, Cheng Lingxi's naval force suddenly appeared below the walls. Heavy rain came and the water rose sharply; Lingxi brought large ships to the walls and launched rams, shattering the battlements; with arrows and stones they assaulted day and night for more than thirty days; Chen troops mounted the walls; Pei Kuan still led his men with short weapons to resist; After two more days he was captured.
38
丁巳，齊上皇如晉陽。 山東水，饑，殭屍滿道。
On dingsi, Northern Qi's retired emperor went to Jinyang. Shandong flooded; famine followed, and corpses littered the roads.
39
冬，十月，甲申，帝享太廟。
In winter, the tenth month, on jiashen, the Chen emperor performed sacrifices at the imperial temple.
40
十一月，戊戌朔，日有食之。
In the eleventh month, on the first day wuxu, there was a solar eclipse.
41
丙午，齊大赦。
On bingwu, Northern Qi proclaimed a general amnesty.
42
癸丑，周許穆公宇文貴自突厥還，卒於張掖。
On guichou, Northern Zhou's Duke Mu of Xu, Yuwen Gui, returned from the Turks and died at Zhangye.
43
齊上皇還鄴。 十二月，周晉公護母卒，詔起，令視事。
Northern Qi's retired emperor returned to Ye. In the twelfth month, Northern Zhou duke of Jin Yuwen Hu's mother died; an edict ordered him to leave mourning and resume his duties.
44
齊秘書監祖珽，與黃門侍郎劉逖友善。 珽欲求宰相，乃疏趙彥深、元文遙、和士開罪狀，令逖奏之，逖不敢通。 彥深等聞之，先詣上皇自陳。 上皇大怒，執珽，詰之，珽因陳士開、文遙、彥深等朋黨、弄權、賣官、鬻獄事。 上皇曰：「爾乃誹謗我！」 珽曰：「臣不敢誹謗，陛下取人女。」 上皇曰：「我以其饑饉，收養之耳。」 珽曰：「何不開倉振給，乃買入後宮乎？」 上皇益怒，以刀環築其口，，鞭杖亂下，將撲殺之。 珽呼曰：「陛下勿殺臣，臣為陛下合金丹。」 遂得少寬。 珽曰：「陛下有一范增不能用。」 上皇又怒曰：「爾自比范增，以我為項羽邪？」 珽曰：「項羽布衣，帥烏合之眾，五年而成霸業。 陛下藉父兄之資，才得至此，臣以為項羽未易可輕。」 上皇愈怒，令以土塞其口。 珽且吐且言，乃鞭二百，配甲坊，尋徙光州，敕令牢掌。 別駕張奉福曰：「牢者，地牢也。」 乃置地牢中，桎梏不離身； 夜以蕪菁子為燭，眼為所熏，由是失明。
Northern Qi secretary director Zu Ting was on friendly terms with palace attendant Liu Ti. Zu Ting wished to become chief minister; he wrote up the crimes of Zhao Yanshen, Yuan Wenyao, and He Shikai and had Liu Ti present the memorial, but Ti dared not pass it through. When Yanshen and the others heard of it, they went first to the retired emperor and explained themselves. The retired emperor was furious; he seized Zu Ting and interrogated him, and Ting then set forth how He Shikai, Yuan Wenyao, Zhao Yanshen, and others formed factions, manipulated power, sold offices, and traded in judgments. The retired emperor said, "You are slandering me!" Zu Ting said, "Your subject does not dare to slander — Your Majesty takes people's daughters." The retired emperor said, "I took them in because they were starving from famine, that is all." Zu Ting said, "Why not open the granaries and give relief — instead of buying them into the inner palace?" The retired emperor grew angrier still; he struck Ting's mouth with a knife ring, and lashes and cudgels rained down as he was about to beat him to death. Zu Ting cried out, "Your Majesty, do not kill your subject — your subject can compound golden elixir pills for Your Majesty." He was given a little respite thereby. Zu Ting said, "Your Majesty has a Fan Zeng but will not use him." The retired emperor grew angry again and said, "You compare yourself to Fan Zeng and me to Xiang Yu?" Zu Ting said, "Xiang Yu was a commoner who led a motley crowd and in five years achieved a hegemony. With the resources of your father and elder brother you have only reached this point; I think Xiang Yu is not to be slighted." The retired emperor grew still angrier and ordered earth stuffed in his mouth. Zu Ting spoke even as he spat it out; he was given two hundred lashes, assigned to the armor workshop, soon transferred to Guang Province, and ordered to be held in strict custody. Assistant administrator Zhang Fengfu said, "By 'strict custody' he means an underground dungeon." So he was placed in an underground dungeon, shackles never off his body; At night turnip seeds were used for candles; his eyes were smoked by them and thereby he went blind.
45
齊七兵尚書畢義雲為治酷忍，非人理所及，於家尤甚。 夜為盜所殺，遺其刀，驗之，其子善昭所佩刀也。 有司執善昭，誅之。
Northern Qi's minister of the seven armies Bi Yiyun in governing was cruel and ruthless beyond what human reason could accept, especially at home. At night he was killed by robbers; they left his knife — when examined, it proved to be the knife his son Shanzhao wore. The officials arrested Shanzhao and executed him.
46
春，正月，己亥，安成王頊進位太傅，領司徒，加殊禮。
In spring, the first month, on jihai, Prince Xu of Ancheng, Chen Xu, was promoted to grand tutor, heading the secretariat, with special honors.
47
辛丑，周主祀南郊。
On xinchou, the Northern Zhou emperor sacrificed at the Southern Altar.
48
癸亥，齊主使兼散騎常侍鄭大護來聘。
On guihai, the Northern Qi emperor sent acting regular palace attendant Zheng Dahu on a diplomatic mission.
49
湘東忠肅公徐度卒。
Duke Zhongsu of Xiangdong, Xu Du, died.
50
二月，丁卯，周主如武功。
In the second month, on dingmao, the Northern Zhou emperor went to Wugong.
51
突厥木桿可汗貳於周，更許齊人以昏，留陳公純等數年不返。 會大雷風，壞其穹廬，旬日不止。 木桿懼，以為天譴，即備禮送其女於周，純等奉之以歸。 三月，癸卯，至長安，周主行親迎之禮。 甲辰，周大赦。
The Turk khagan Muhan turned disloyal to Northern Zhou, again promised a marriage alliance with Northern Qi, and kept Chen Gongchun and others for years without returning them. There came a great thunderstorm that destroyed his yurt; for ten days it did not stop. Muhan was afraid, took it as heavenly punishment, immediately prepared full rites and sent his daughter to Northern Zhou; Chen Gongchun and the others escorted her back. In the third month, on guimao, they reached Chang'an; the Northern Zhou emperor performed the ceremony of greeting his bride in person. On jiachen, Northern Zhou proclaimed a general amnesty.
52
乙巳，齊以東平王儼為大將軍，南陽王綽為司徒，開府儀同三司徐顯秀為司空，廣寧王孝珩為尚書令。
On yisi, Northern Qi made Prince Yan of Dongping grand general, Prince Chuo of Nanyang grand secretary, Xu Xianxiu of the rank of commander-in-chief with equal honor to the three highest offices as minister of works, and Prince Xiaohang of Guangning director of the masters of writing.
53
戊午，周燕文公於謹卒。 謹勳高位重，而事上益恭，每朝參，所從不過二三騎。 朝廷有大事，多與謹謀之。 謹盡忠補益，於功臣中特被親信，禮遇隆重，始終無間； 教訓諸子，務存靜退，而子孫蕃衍，率皆顯達。
On wuwu, Northern Zhou's Duke Wen of Yan, Yu Jin, died. Yu Jin had high merit and lofty rank yet served his sovereign with growing humility; each time he attended court he brought no more than two or three mounted attendants. When the court had weighty matters it often consulted Yu Jin. Yu Jin gave loyal counsel and corrective aid; among the meritorious he was uniquely trusted, honored with great ceremony from start to finish without interruption; He instructed his sons to prize restraint and withdrawal, yet his descendants flourished and nearly all achieved prominence.
54
吳明徹乘勝進攻江陵，引水灌之，梁主出頓紀南以避之。 周總管田弘從梁主，副總管高琳與梁僕射王操守江陵三城，晝夜拒戰十旬。 梁將馬武、吉徹擊明徹，敗之。 明徹退保公安，梁主乃得還。 夏，四月，辛巳，周以達奚武為太傅，尉遲迥為太保，齊公憲為大司馬。
Wu Mingche pressed the victory to attack Jiangling, diverting water to flood it; the Liang emperor went out and encamped at Jinan to avoid it. Northern Zhou governor-general Tian Hong accompanied the Liang emperor; deputy governor-general Gao Lin and Liang vice director Wang Cao held Jiangling's three cities, resisting day and night for a hundred days. Liang generals Ma Wu and Ji Che struck Wu Mingche and defeated him. Wu Mingche withdrew to hold Gong'an; only then could the Liang emperor return. In summer, the fourth month, on xinsi, Northern Zhou made Daci Wu grand tutor, Yuchi Jiong grand guardian, and Duke of Qi Yuwen Xian grand marshal.
55
齊上皇如晉陽。
Northern Qi's retired emperor went to Jinyang.
56
齊尚書左僕射徐之才善醫，上皇有疾，之才療之，既愈，中書監和士開欲得次遷，乃出之才為兗州刺史。 五月，癸卯，以尚書右僕射胡長仁為左僕射，士開為右僕射。 長仁，太上皇后之兄也。
Northern Qi's left vice director of the masters of writing Xu Zhicai was skilled in medicine; when the retired emperor fell ill, Zhicai treated him; once cured, chief secretariat director He Shikai, wanting the next promotion, had Zhicai sent out as Yan Province inspector. In the fifth month, on guimao, right vice director Hu Changren was made left vice director, and He Shikai right vice director. Changren was the elder brother of the grand empress dowager.
57
庚戌，周主享太廟； 庚申，如醴泉宮。
On gengxu, the Northern Zhou emperor performed sacrifices at the imperial temple; On gengshen, he went to the Liquan Palace.
58
壬戌，齊上皇還鄴。
On renxu, Northern Qi's retired emperor returned to Ye.
59
秋，七月，壬寅，周隨桓公楊忠卒，子堅襲爵。 堅為開府儀同三司、小宮伯，晉公護欲引以為腹心。 堅以白忠，忠曰：「兩姑之間難為婦，汝其勿往！」 堅乃辭之。
In autumn, the seventh month, on renyin, Northern Zhou's duke of Sui Yang Zhong died; his son Yang Jian inherited the title. Yang Jian was commander-in-chief with equal honor to the three highest offices and a lesser palace baron; duke of Jin Yuwen Hu wished to draw him in as a trusted confidant. Yang Jian told Zhong; Yang Zhong said, "Between two mothers-in-law it is hard to be the daughter-in-law — you had best not go!" Yang Jian then declined.
60
丙午，帝享太廟。
On bingwu, the Chen emperor performed sacrifices at the imperial temple.
61
戊午，周主還長安。
On wuwu, the Northern Zhou emperor returned to Chang'an.
62
壬戌，封皇弟伯智為永陽王，伯謀為桂陽王。
On renxu, the Chen emperor enfeoffed his younger brothers Chen Bozhi as prince of Yongyang and Chen Bomou as prince of Guiyang.
63
八月，齊請和於周，周遣軍司馬陸程等聘於齊； 九月，丙申，齊使侍中斛斯文略報之。
In the eighth month, Northern Qi sought peace with Northern Zhou; Northern Zhou sent army marshal Lu Cheng and others on a diplomatic mission to Northern Qi; In the ninth month, on bingshen, Northern Qi sent palace attendant Husiwen Lue to return the visit.
64
冬，十月，癸亥，周主享太廟。
In winter, the tenth month, on guihai, the Northern Zhou emperor performed sacrifices at the imperial temple.
65
庚午，帝享太廟。
On gengwu, the Chen emperor performed sacrifices at the imperial temple.
66
辛巳，齊以廣寧王孝珩錄尚書事，左僕射胡長仁為尚書令，右僕射和士開為左僕射，中書監唐邕為右僕射。
On xinsi, Northern Qi made Prince Guangning Gao Xiaoxheng recorder of the Department of State Affairs; left vice director Hu Changren was made director; right vice director He Shikai was made left vice director; palace secretariat director Tang Yong was made right vice director.
67
十一月，壬辰朔，日有食之。
In the eleventh month, on the first day renchen, there was a solar eclipse.
68
齊遣兼散騎常侍李諧來聘。
Northern Qi sent concurrent regular attendant of the scattered cavalry Li Xie on a diplomatic mission.
69
甲辰，周主如岐陽。
On jiachen, the Northern Zhou emperor went to Qiyang.
70
周遣開府儀同三司崔彥等聘於齊。
Northern Zhou sent commander-in-chief of equal honor to the three highest offices Cui Yan and others on a diplomatic mission to Northern Qi.
71
始興王伯茂以安成王頊專政，意甚不平，屢肆惡言。 甲寅，以太皇太后令，誣帝，雲與劉師知、華皎等通謀。 且曰：「文皇知子之鑒，事等帝堯； 傳弟之懷，又符太伯。 今可還申曩志，崇立賢君。」 遂廢帝為臨海王，以安成王入纂。 又下令，黜伯茂為溫麻侯，置諸別館，安成王使盜邀之於道，殺之車中。
Prince of Shixing Chen Bamao, resentful that Prince of Ancheng Chen Xu monopolized power, repeatedly spoke ill of him. On jiayin, by order of the grand empress dowager, the emperor was falsely accused of conspiring with Liu Shizhi, Hua Jiao, and others. The decree also said: "Emperor Wen's judgment in choosing his heir was like that of Emperor Yao; his wish to pass the throne to a younger brother matched that of Taibo. Now let us restore that original intent and enthrone a worthy ruler." The emperor was then deposed as prince of Linhai, and Prince of Ancheng Chen Xu ascended the throne. Another order deposed Bamao as marquis of Wenma and confined him in a separate lodge; Prince of Ancheng Chen Xu had men waylay him on the road and kill him in his carriage.
72
齊上皇疾作，驛追徐之才，未至。 辛未，疾亟，以後事屬和士開，握其手曰：「勿負我也！」 遂殂於士開之手。 明日，之才至，復遣還州。
Northern Qi's retired emperor fell ill; he sent courier post to summon Xu Zhicai, but Xu had not yet arrived. On xinwei, the illness grew critical; he entrusted his final affairs to He Shikai, grasped his hand, and said, "Do not disappoint me!" He then died with He Shikai holding his hand. The next day Xu Zhicai arrived and was sent back to his province.
73
士開秘喪三日不發。 黃門侍郎馮子琮問其故，士開曰：「神武、文襄之喪，皆秘不發。 今至尊年少，恐王公有貳心者，意欲盡追集於涼風堂，然後與公議之。」 士開素忌太尉錄尚書事趙郡王睿及領軍婁定遠，子琮恐其矯遺詔出睿於外，奪定遠禁兵，乃說之曰：「大行先已傳位於今上，群臣富貴者，皆至尊父子之恩，但令在內貴臣一無改易，王公必無異志。 世異事殊，豈得與霸朝相比！ 且公不出宮門已數日，升遐之事，行路皆傳，久而不舉，恐有他變。」 士開乃發喪。
He Shikai kept the death secret and did not announce mourning for three days. Yellow gate gentleman Feng Zicong asked why; He Shikai said, "The deaths of Gao Huan and Gao Cheng were both kept secret and not announced. The new emperor is young, and I worry that some princes and dukes may turn against us. I intend to summon them all to the Cool Wind Hall and then consult with you. Feng Zicong feared He Shikai would use a forged deathbed testament to send Prince Zhao Rui away and seize Lou Dingyuan's palace guard. He persuaded He Shikai: "The late emperor already passed the throne to the present emperor. The ministers' wealth and rank all come from the grace of father and son — leave the inner court unchanged, and the princes will have no reason to rebel. Times have changed — this is nothing like the founding era! You have not left the palace for days, and word of the emperor's death is already spreading. Delay too long and trouble may follow." He Shikai then announced the mourning."
74
丙子，大赦。 戊寅，尊太上皇后為皇太后。
On bingzi, Northern Qi proclaimed a general amnesty. On wuyin, the retired empress was honored as empress dowager.
75
侍中尚書左僕射元文遙，以馮子琮，胡太后之妹夫，恐其贊太后干預朝政，與趙郡王睿、和士開謀，出子琮為鄭州刺史。
Palace attendant and left vice director Yuan Wenyao, fearing that Feng Zicong — husband of Empress Dowager Hu's sister — would urge the empress dowager to intervene in government, conspired with Prince Zhao Rui and He Shikai to appoint Feng Zicong prefect of Zhengzhou.
76
世祖驕奢淫泆，役繁賦重，吏民苦之。 甲申，詔：「所在百工細作，悉罷之。 鄴下、晉陽、中山宮人、官口之老病者，悉簡放。 諸家緣坐在流所者，聽還。」
Emperor Shizu was arrogant, extravagant, and dissolute; corvée labor was frequent and taxes heavy, and officials and commoners suffered. On jiashen, an edict stated: "All artisan fine works everywhere are to cease. In Ye, Jinyang, and Zhongshan, elderly or sick palace women and government dependents were all released. Those exiled through guilt by association were permitted to return home."
77
周梁州恆稜獠叛，總管長史南鄭趙文表討之。 諸將欲四面進攻，文表曰：「四面攻之，獠無生路，必盡死以拒我，未易可克。 今吾示以威恩，為惡者誅之，從善者撫之。 善惡既分，破之易矣。」 遂以此意遍令軍中。 時有從軍熟獠，多與恆稜親識，即以實報之。 恆稜猶豫未決，文表軍已至其境。 獠中先有二路，一平一險，有獠帥數人來請為鄉導。 文表曰：「此路寬平，不須為導。 卿但先行好慰諭子弟，使來降也。」 乃遣之。 文表謂諸將曰：「獠帥謂吾從寬路而進，必設伏以邀我，當更出其不意。」 乃引兵自狹路入，乘高而望，果有伏兵。 獠既失計，爭帥眾來降。 文表皆慰撫之，仍征其租稅，無敢違者。 周人以文表為蓬州刺史。
In Northern Zhou's Liang Province, the Hengling Liao rebelled; Nanzheng chief administrator's senior clerk Zhao Wenbiao campaigned against them. The generals wished to attack from all four sides; Zhao Wenbiao said, "If we surround them on four sides, the Liao will have no way out and will fight to the death — victory will not come easily. Let us show both might and mercy — punish the wicked and reward those who submit. Once the good and the bad are separated, defeating them will be easy." He had this policy announced throughout the army. Several Liao soldiers in the army knew Hengling personally and reported Zhao Wenbiao's plans to him. Hengling hesitated, but Zhao Wenbiao's army had already reached his territory. The Liao territory had two routes — one flat and one perilous — and several Liao chiefs came offering to serve as guides. Zhao Wenbiao said, "This route is wide and level — you need not guide us. Go ahead and reassure your people — tell them to come and surrender." He sent them on their way. Zhao Wenbiao told the generals, "The Liao chiefs expect us to take the broad route and will surely ambush us there — we must strike where they do not expect." He led his troops by the narrow route, climbed high to look, and found the ambush on the broad route. The Liao, their plan foiled, surrendered en masse. Zhao Wenbiao reassured them all and then collected their taxes; none dared resist. Northern Zhou appointed Zhao Wenbiao prefect of Peng Province.
78
高宗宣皇帝上之上
The Reign of Emperor Xuan the High Ancestor, Part One
79
春，正月，辛卯朔，周主以齊世祖之喪罷朝會，遣司會李綸吊賻，且會葬。
In spring, the first month, on the xinmao new moon, the Northern Zhou emperor suspended court audiences for the mourning of Northern Qi's Emperor Shizu; he sent director of state affairs Li Lun to offer condolences and attend the funeral.
80
甲午，安成王即皇帝位，改元，大赦。 復太皇太后為皇太后，皇太后為文皇后； 立妃柳氏為皇后，世子叔寶為太子； 封皇子叔陵為始興王，奉昭烈王祀。 乙未，上謁太廟。 丁酉，以尚書僕射沈欽為左僕射，度支尚書王勱為右僕射。 勱，份之孫也。
On jiawu, Prince of Ancheng Chen Xu ascended the throne, changed the era name, and proclaimed a general amnesty. The grand empress dowager was restored as empress dowager, and the empress dowager was titled Empress Wen; Consort Liu was installed as empress, and the heir Chen Shubao was made crown prince; The prince Chen Shuling was enfeoffed as prince of Shixing to maintain the cult of Prince Zhaolie. On yiwei, Emperor Chen Xu paid reverence at the imperial temple. On dingyou, minister Shen Qin was made left vice director and minister of revenues Wang Mai right vice director. Wang Mai was the grandson of Wang Fen.
81
辛丑，上祀南郊。
On xinchou, Emperor Chen Xu sacrificed at the southern suburb.
82
壬寅，封皇子叔英為豫章王，叔堅為長沙王。
On renyin, Prince Chen Shuying was enfeoffed as prince of Yuzhang and Chen Shujian as prince of Changsha.
83
戊午，上享太廟。
On wuwu, Emperor Chen Xu performed sacrifices at the imperial temple.
84
齊博陵文簡王濟，世祖之母弟也，為定州刺史，語人曰：「次敘當至我矣。」 齊主聞之，陰使人就州殺之，葬贈如禮。
Northern Qi's Prince Wenjian of Boling Gao Ji, the retired emperor's full younger brother, was prefect of Dingzhou; he told people, "By order of succession, the throne should next come to me." When the Northern Qi emperor heard this, he secretly sent men to the province to kill him, then buried him with the honors due a prince.
85
二月，乙亥，上耕藉田。 甲申，齊葬武成帝於永平陵，廟號世祖。
In the second month, on yihai, Emperor Chen Xu plowed the sacred field. On jiashen, Northern Qi buried Retired Emperor Wucheng at Yongping Mausoleum with the temple name Shizu.
86
己丑，齊徙東平王儼為琅邪王。
On jichou, Northern Qi transferred Prince Dongping Gao Yan to prince of Langye.
87
齊遣侍中叱列長叉聘於周。
Northern Qi sent palace attendant Chilie Changcha on a diplomatic mission to Northern Zhou.
88
齊以司空徐顯秀為太尉，並省尚書令婁定遠為司空。
Northern Qi made minister of works Xu Xianxiu grand commandant and concurrent director Lou Dingyuan minister of works.
89
初，侍中、尚書右僕射和士開，為世祖所親狎，出入臥內，無復期度，遂得幸於胡後。 及世祖殂，齊主以士開受顧托，深委任之，威權益盛； 與婁定遠及錄尚書事趙彥深、侍中尚書左僕射元文遙、開府儀同三司唐邕、領軍綦連猛、高阿那肱、度支尚書胡長粲俱用事，時號「八貴」。 太尉趙郡王睿、大司馬馮翊王潤、安德王延宗與婁定遠、元文遙皆言開齊主，請出士開為外任。 會胡太后觴朝貴於前殿，睿面陳士開罪失云：「士開先帝弄臣，城狐社鼠，受納貨賂，穢亂宮掖。 臣等義無杜口，冒死陳之。」 太后曰：「先帝在時，王等何不言！ 今欲欺孤寡邪？ 且飲酒，勿多言！」 睿等詞色愈厲。 儀同三司安吐根曰：「臣本商胡，得在諸貴行末，既受厚恩，豈敢惜死！ 不出士開，朝野不定。」 太后曰：「異日論之，王等且散！」 睿等或投冠於地，或拂衣而起。 明日，睿等復詣雲龍門，令文遙入奏之，三返，太后不聽。 左丞相段韶使胡長粲傳太后言曰：「梓宮在殯，事太忽忽，欲王等更思之！」 睿等遂皆拜謝。 長粲覆命，太后曰：「成妹母子家者，兄之力也。」 厚賜睿等，罷之。
Initially, palace attendant and right vice director He Shikai was so intimate with Retired Emperor Shizu that he freely entered the inner chambers, and thereby gained Empress Hu's favor. When Shizu died, the Northern Qi emperor, believing He Shikai had received the late emperor's deathbed trust, relied on him heavily, and He Shikai's power grew; Together with Lou Dingyuan, recorder Zhao Yanshen, palace attendant and left vice director Yuan Wenyao, commander-in-chief Tang Yong, defender-in-chief Qilian Meng, Gao Anagou, and minister of revenues Hu Changcan, they all wielded power and were called the "Eight Worthies." Grand commandant Prince Zhao Rui, grand marshal Prince Fengyi Gao Run, Prince Ande Gao Yanzong, Lou Dingyuan, and Yuan Wenyao all petitioned the emperor to send He Shikai to a provincial post. When Empress Dowager Hu feasted the court nobles in the front hall, Rui publicly accused He Shikai: "He Shikai was the late emperor's favorite minion, a vermin of court and altar; he took bribes and defiled the inner palace. We cannot in conscience stay silent — we speak even at the risk of our lives." The empress dowager said: "When the late emperor was alive, why did you not speak then! Do you now mean to bully a widow and a young emperor? Drink your wine and say no more!" Rui and the others grew ever more vehement. Commander-in-chief of equal honor Antugen said: "I am but a merchant of Hu origin, placed among the nobles only by your grace — how can I fear death! Unless He Shikai is removed, court and realm will know no peace." The empress dowager said: "We shall discuss this another day — you may all withdraw!" Some of them threw their caps to the floor; others rose and swept out their robes. The next day they went again to the Cloud Dragon Gate and had Yuan Wenyao memorialize three times; the empress dowager refused to hear them. Left chancellor Duan Shao had Hu Changcan relay the empress dowager's message: "The emperor's coffin still lies in state and matters are too urgent — I wish you would reconsider!" Rui and the others bowed and withdrew. When Changcan reported back, the empress dowager said: "It was your elder brother's doing that made me empress and my son emperor." She richly rewarded Rui and the others and dismissed them.
90
太后及齊主召問士開，對曰：「先帝於群臣之中，待臣最厚。 陛下諒暗始爾，大臣皆有覬覦。 今若出臣，正是剪陛下羽翼。 宜謂睿等云：『文遙與臣，俱受先帝任用，豈可一去一留！ 並可用為州，且出納如舊。 待過山陵，然後遣之。』 睿等謂臣真出，心必喜之。」 帝及太后然之，告睿等如其言。 乃以土開為兗州刺史，文遙為西兗州刺吏。 葬畢，等睿促士開就路。 太后欲留士開過百日，睿不許； 數日之內，太后數以為言。 有中人知太后密旨者。 謂睿曰：「太后意既如此，殿下何宜苦違！」 睿曰：「吾受委不輕。 今嗣主幼沖，豈可使邪臣在側！ 不守之以死，何面戴天！」 遂更見太后，苦言之。 太后令酌酒賜睿，睿正色曰：「今論國家大事，非為卮酒！」 言訖，遽出。
The empress dowager and the Northern Qi emperor summoned He Shikai and questioned him; he replied: "Among all the ministers, the late emperor treated me most generously. Your majesty's mourning has only just begun, and the great ministers are already scheming. If you send me away now, you will only be cutting away your own wings. Tell Rui and the others: 'Yuan Wenyao and I were both appointed by the late emperor — how can one be sent away while the other remains! Send us both to provincial posts, but let us continue handling revenues as before. Wait until after the burial rites, and then dispatch us.' Rui and the others will think you are really sending me away and will surely be pleased." The emperor and empress dowager agreed and told Rui and the others as he advised. He Shikai was appointed inspector of Yan Province and Yuan Wenyao inspector of West Yan Province. After the burial rites were finished, Lou Rui and the others pressed He Shikai to depart. The empress dowager wanted to keep He Shikai past the hundredth day of mourning, but Lou Rui refused; Within a few days the empress dowager brought it up again and again. There was a palace eunuch who knew the empress dowager's private wishes. He said to Lou Rui: "The empress dowager's mind is set — why must Your Highness resist so hard!" Lou Rui said: "The charge entrusted to me is no small thing. The new emperor is still a child — how can I let a corrupt minister remain at his side! If I do not defend this unto death, what face could I show beneath Heaven!" He went again to the empress dowager and pleaded with her at length. The empress dowager had wine poured and offered it to Lou Rui; he said gravely: "We are discussing the fate of the realm — this is no time for a cup of wine!" With that he rose and left at once.
91
士開載美女珠簾詣婁定遠，謝曰：「諸貴欲殺士開，蒙王力，特全其命，用為方伯。 今當奉別，謹上二女子、一珠簾。」 定遠喜，謂士開曰：「欲還入不？」 士開曰：「在內久不自安，今得出，實遂本志，不願更入。 但乞王保護，長為大州刺史足矣。」 定遠信之。 送至門，士開曰：「今當遠出，願得一辭覲二宮。」 定遠許之。 士開由是得見太后及帝，進說曰：「先帝一旦登遐，臣愧不能自死。 觀朝貴意勢，欲以陛下為乾明。 臣出之後，必有大變，臣何面目見先帝於地下！」 因慟哭。 帝、太后皆泣，問：「計安出？」 士開曰：「臣已得入，復何所慮，正須數行詔書耳。」 於是詔出定遠為青州刺史，責趙郡王珽以不臣之罪。
He Shikai went to Lou Dingyuan bearing beautiful women and a pearl curtain and said: "The great nobles wanted me dead; only by Your Majesty's grace was my life spared and I was sent to govern a province. As I take my leave, I humbly offer two women and a pearl curtain." Dingyuan was delighted and asked He Shikai: "Do you want to go back to court?" He Shikai said: "I never felt secure at court; now that I am free to leave, I have what I wanted and have no wish to return. I ask only that Your Majesty protect me — to serve as inspector of a great province for the rest of my days would be enough." Dingyuan believed him. At the gate He Shikai said: "I am about to depart for a distant post; may I have one farewell audience with the empress dowager and the emperor?" Dingyuan agreed. Thus He Shikai gained an audience with the empress dowager and the emperor and said: "When the late emperor died so suddenly, I was ashamed that I did not follow him in death. Looking at the power of the court nobles, they mean to treat Your Majesty as they did Ganming. Once I am sent away, disaster will surely follow — what face could I show the late emperor in the grave!" He broke into loud weeping. The emperor and empress dowager wept and asked: "What is to be done?" He Shikai said: "I am already inside — what is there to fear? A few edicts will suffice." Edicts then sent Lou Dingyuan to Qing Province as inspector and charged Prince Zhao with treason.
92
旦日，睿將復入諫，妻子鹹止之，睿曰：「社稷事重，吾寧死事先皇，不忍見朝廷顛沛。」 至殿門，又有人謂曰：「殿下勿入，恐有變。」 睿曰：「吾上不負天，死亦無恨。」 入，見太后，太后復以為言，睿執之彌固。 出，至永巷，遇兵，執送華林園雀離佛院，令劉桃枝拉殺之。 睿久典朝廷，清正自守，朝野冤惜之。 復以士開為侍中、尚書左僕射。 定遠歸士開所遺，加以餘珍賂之。
The next day Lou Rui prepared to remonstrate again; his wife and children all tried to stop him. He said: "The realm comes first — I would rather die serving the late emperor than watch the court collapse." At the palace gate someone warned him: "Do not go in, Your Highness — there may be danger." Lou Rui said: "I have done nothing to shame Heaven — I can die without regret." He went in to see the empress dowager; she repeated her arguments, but Lou Rui held all the more firmly to his stand. On his way out, at Eternal Lane, he met soldiers who seized him and took him to the Sparrow-Departing Buddha Hall in Hualin Garden, where Liu Taozhi strangled him. Lou Rui had long governed the court with integrity; officials and commoners alike mourned his unjust death. He Shikai was restored as palace attendant and left vice director of the Masters of Writing. Lou Dingyuan returned He Shikai's gifts and added more treasures as a bribe.
93
三月，齊王如晉陽。 夏，四月，甲子，以并州尚書省為大基聖寺，晉祠為大崇皇寺。 乙丑，齊主還鄴。
In the third month the Northern Qi emperor went to Jinyang. In summer, the fourth month, on jiazi, the provincial secretariat of Bingzhou was converted into the Great Foundation Sacred Temple and the Jin Shrine into the Great August Imperial Temple. On yichou the Northern Qi emperor returned to Ye.
94
齊主年少，多嬖寵。 武衛將軍高阿那肱，素以諂佞為世祖琢和士開所厚，世祖多令在東宮侍齊主，由是有寵，累遷並省尚書令，封淮陰王。
The Northern Qi emperor was young and kept many favorites. Martial guard general Gao Anaguh had long lived by flattery and was favored by Emperor Shizu and He Shikai; Shizu often posted him in the Eastern Palace to attend the young emperor, and through this he rose to chief of the Bing provincial secretariat and was enfeoffed as prince of Huaiyin.
95
世祖簡都督二十人，使侍衛東宮，昌黎韓長鸞預焉，齊主獨親愛長鸞。 長鸞名鳳，以字行，累遷侍中、領軍，總知內省機密。
Emperor Shizu chose twenty commanders to guard the Eastern Palace; Han Changluan of Changli was among them, and the young emperor favored Changluan above the rest. Changluan's given name was Feng, but he was known by his style; he rose to palace attendant and commander of the guards and controlled the inner court's secrets.
96
宮婢陸令萱者，其夫漢陽駱超，坐謀叛誅，令萱配掖庭，子提婆，亦沒為奴。 齊王之在襁褓，令萱保養之。 令萱巧黠，善取媚，有寵於胡太后，宮掖之中，獨擅威福，封為郡君，和士開、高阿那肱皆為之養子。 齊主以令萱為女侍中。 令萱引提婆入侍齊主，朝夕戲狎，累遷至開府儀同三司、虎衛大將軍。 宮人穆捨利者，斛律後之從婢也，有寵於齊王； 令萱欲附之，乃為之養母，薦為弘德夫人，因令提婆冒姓穆氏。 然和士開用事最久，諸幸臣皆依附之，以固其寵。
There was a palace woman named Lu Lingxuan; her husband Luo Chao of Hanyang was executed for treason, Lingxuan was sent to the rear palace, and her son Tipo was enslaved as well. Lu Lingxuan had nursed the future emperor from infancy. Clever and skilled at flattery, she won the favor of Empress Dowager Hu and ruled the inner palace alone; she was enfeoffed as a district lady, and He Shikai and Gao Anaguh became her adopted sons. The Northern Qi emperor made Lu Lingxuan a female palace attendant. Lu Lingxuan brought Tipo into the emperor's service; they played together day and night, and Tipo rose to grand master of the first rank and great general of the Tiger Guard. There was a palace woman, Mu Sheli, a cousin of Lady Hulu's who served in the palace and had won the emperor's favor; Lu Lingxuan sought her patronage, adopted her as a daughter, had her made Lady of Promoting Virtue, and had Tipo take the surname Mu. Yet He Shikai had held power longest, and all the emperor's favorites clung to him to keep their place.
97
齊主思祖珽，就流囚中除海州刺史。 珽乃遺陸媼弟儀同三司悉達書曰：「趙彥深心腹陰沉，欲行伊、霍事，儀同姊弟豈得平安，何不早用智士邪！」 和士開亦以珽有膽略，欲引為謀主，乃棄舊怨，虛心待之，與陸媼言於帝曰：「襄、宣、昭三帝之子，皆不得立。 今至尊獨在帝位者，祖孝征之力也。 人有功，不可不報。 孝征心行雖薄，奇略出人，緩急可使。 且其人已盲，必無反心。 請呼取，問以籌策。」 齊王從之，召入，為秘書監，加開府儀同三司。
The Northern Qi emperor recalled Zu Ting and appointed him inspector of Haizhou while he was still in exile. Zu Ting wrote to Lu Lingxuan's brother Xida, a grand master of the first rank: "Zhao Yanshen is secretly plotting regency like Yi Yin and Huo Guang — can you and your sister remain safe? Why not bring in a clever man now!" He Shikai too saw that Zu Ting had nerve and wit and wanted him as a strategist; he put aside old enmities and welcomed him warmly. With Lu Lingxuan he told the emperor: "None of the sons of Emperors Xiang, Xuan, and Zhao was allowed to reign. That Your Majesty alone holds the throne is Zu Xiaozheng's doing. Merit must be rewarded. Zu Xiaozheng's character may be flawed, but his stratagems are unmatched and he can serve in a crisis. Besides, he is blind now — he cannot harbor rebellion. Summon him and ask his counsel." The emperor agreed; Zu Ting was recalled, made director of the palace library, and given the rank of grand master of the first rank.
98
士開譖尚書令隴東王胡長驕恣，出為齊州刺史。 長仁怨憤，謀遣刺客殺士開。 事覺，士開與珽謀之，珽引漢文帝誅薄昭故事，遂遣使就州賜死。
He Shikai accused chief of the masters of writing Prince Longdong Hu Chang of arrogance and had him sent to Qi Province as inspector. Hu Changren, furious, plotted to send assassins against He Shikai. When the plot was discovered, He Shikai consulted Zu Ting, who cited Emperor Wen of Han's execution of Bo Zhao; an envoy was sent to Qi Province to order Hu Changren's death.
99
五月，庚戌，周主如醴泉宮。
In the fifth month, on gengxu, the Northern Zhou emperor went to the Liquan Palace.
100
丁巳，以吏部尚書徐陵為左僕射。
On dingsi, Chen minister of personnel Xu Ling was made left vice director.
101
秋，七月，辛卯，皇太子納妃沈氏，吏部尚書君理之女也。 辛亥，周主還長安。
In autumn, the seventh month, on xinmao, the Chen crown prince married Lady Shen, daughter of minister of personnel Shen Junli. On xinhai the Northern Zhou emperor returned to Chang'an.
102
八月，庚辰，盜殺周孔城防主，以其地入齊。
In the eighth month, on gengchen, raiders killed Northern Zhou's garrison commander at Kongcheng and surrendered the place to Northern Qi.
103
九月，辛卯，周遣齊公憲與柱國李穆將兵趣宜陽，築崇德等五城。
In the ninth month, on xinmao, Northern Zhou sent Duke of Qi Yuwen Xian and pillar of state Li Mu toward Yiyang with an army and built five fortresses including Chongde.
104
歐陽紇在廣州十餘年，威惠著於百越。 自華皎之叛，帝心疑之，征為左衛將軍。 紇恐懼，其部下多勸之反，遂舉兵攻衡州刺史錢道戢。
Ouyang He had governed Guangzhou for more than ten years, and his authority was felt throughout the Yue lands. Since Hua Jiao's rebellion the Chen emperor had grown suspicious and recalled him as left guard general. Terrified, and with many of his officers urging rebellion, he raised troops and attacked Qian Daoji, inspector of Hengzhou.
105
帝遣中書侍郎徐儉持節諭旨。 紇初見儉，盛仗衛，言辭不恭。 儉曰：「呂嘉之事，誠當已遠，將軍獨不見周邊、陳寶應乎！ 轉禍為福，未為晚也。」 紇默然不應，置儉於孤園寺，累旬不得還。 紇嘗出見儉，儉謂之曰：「將軍業已舉事，儉須還報天子。 儉之性命，雖在將軍，將軍成敗，不在於儉，幸不見留。」 紇乃遣儉還。 儉，陵之子也。
The emperor sent secretariat attendant Xu Jian with credentials to announce the imperial will. When Ouyang He first received Xu Jian, he appeared with a large armed escort and spoke insolently. Xu Jian said: "The fate of Lü Jia is long past — has the general forgotten Zhou Bian and Chen Baoying! It is not too late to turn disaster into fortune." Ouyang He said nothing and kept Xu Jian at Guguan Temple; for weeks he could not return. When Ouyang He came out to see him, Xu Jian said: "You have already rebelled, general — I must return and report to the Son of Heaven. My life is in your hands, but your success or failure does not depend on me — please do not keep me." Ouyang He then let Xu Jian go. Xu Jian was Xu Ling's son.
106
冬，十月，辛未，詔車騎將軍章昭達討紇。
In winter, the tenth month, on xinwei, the Chen emperor ordered chariots-and-cavalry general Zhang Zhaoda to suppress Ouyang He.
107
壬午，上享太廟。
On renwu the Chen emperor performed sacrifices at the imperial temple.
108
十一月，辛亥，周鄫文公長孫儉卒。
In the eleventh month, on xinhai, Northern Zhou's Duke of Zeng, Changsun Jian, died.
109
辛丑，齊以斛律光為太傅，馮翊王潤為太保，琅邪王儼為大司馬。 十二月，庚午，以蘭陵王長恭為尚書令。 庚辰，以中書監魏收為左僕射。
On xinchou Northern Qi made Hulu Guang grand tutor, Prince Fengyi grand guardian, and Prince Langye grand marshal. In the twelfth month, on gengwu, Prince Lanling Changgong was made chief of the masters of writing. On gengchen secretariat director Wei Shou was made left vice director.
110
周齊公憲等周齊宜陽，絕其糧道。
Northern Zhou's Duke of Qi Yuwen Xian and others besieged Yiyang and cut off its supply lines.
111
自華皎之亂，與周人絕，至是周遣御正大夫杜杲來聘，請復修舊好。 上許之，遣使如周。
Since Hua Jiao's revolt Chen had broken with Northern Zhou; now Zhou sent chief rectifier Du Gao on a friendly mission to restore relations. The Chen emperor agreed and sent envoys to Zhou.
112
春，正月，乙酉朔，齊改元武平。 齊東安王婁睿卒。
In spring, the first month, on the yiyou new moon, Northern Qi changed the era name to Wuping. Lou Rui, prince of Dong'an of Northern Qi, died.
113
丙午，上享太廟。
On bingwu the Chen emperor performed sacrifices at the imperial temple.
114
戊申，齊使兼散騎常侍裴讞之來聘。
On wushen Northern Qi sent acting regular attendant Pei Yanzhi on a friendly visit.
115
齊太傅斛律光，將步騎三萬救宜陽，屢破周軍，築統關、豐華二城以通宜陽糧道而還。 周軍追之，光縱擊，又破之，獲其開府儀同三司宇文英、梁景興。 二月，己巳，齊以斛律光為右丞相、并州刺史，又以任城王為太師，賀拔錄尚書事。
Northern Qi's grand tutor Hulu Guang led thirty thousand foot and horse to relieve Yiyang, repeatedly defeated Northern Zhou's armies, built Tongguan and Fenghua to restore Yiyang's supply line, and returned. Northern Zhou's army pursued him; Hulu Guang turned and struck again, routing them and capturing grandees Yuwen Ying and Liang Jingxing. In the second month, on jisi, Northern Qi made Hulu Guang right chief minister and inspector of Bingzhou, made Prince Rencheng grand master, and had Heba Lu record the affairs of the masters of writing.
116
歐陽紇召陽春太守馮僕至南海，誘與同反。 僕遣使告其母洗夫人。 夫人曰：「我為忠貞，今經兩世，不能惜汝負國。」 遂發兵拒境，帥諸酋長迎章昭達。
Ouyang He summoned Yangchun inspector Feng Pu to Nanhai and tried to draw him into rebellion. Feng Pu sent word to his mother, Lady Xi. Lady Xi said: "Our house has served loyally through two dynasties — I will not spare you if you betray the realm." She raised troops to hold the frontier, rallied the tribal chiefs, and welcomed Zhang Zhaoda.
117
昭達倍道兼行，至始興。 紇聞昭達奄至，恇擾不知所為，出頓洭口，多聚沙石，盛以竹籠，置於水柵之外，用遏舟艦。 昭達居上流，裝艦造拍，令軍人銜刀潛行水中，以斫籠，篾皆解。 因縱大艦隨流突之，紇眾大敗，生擒紇，送之。 癸未，斬於建康市。
Zhang Zhaoda forced the march day and night and reached Shixing. When Ouyang He heard that Zhang Zhaoda had arrived unexpectedly, he panicked and did not know what to do. He marched out and encamped at Kuangkou, heaped sand and stone into bamboo cages, and placed them outside the river palisade to block the Chen warships. Zhang Zhaoda held the upstream position, fitted out his ships with battering rams, and ordered his men to swim underwater with knives in their mouths to cut the bamboo cages apart. The bindings all gave way. He then sent his great ships downstream in a rush and broke through. Ouyang He's army was routed, and He himself was captured alive and sent back under guard. On guiwei, he was executed in the marketplace at Jiankang.
118
紇之反也，士人流寓在嶺南者皆惶駭。 前著作佐郎蕭引獨恬然，曰：「管幼安、袁曜卿，亦但安坐耳。 君子直己以行義，何憂懼乎！」 紇平，上征為金部侍郎。 引，允之弟也。
When Ouyang He rebelled, every scholar-official living in exile south of the Ling Mountains was seized with fear. Former adjunct of the director of writings Xiao Yin alone remained calm and said, "Guan Ning and Yuan Huan, when trouble came, also simply sat and waited. A gentleman who keeps himself upright and acts with integrity has nothing to fear!" When the rebellion was put down, the emperor summoned him to serve as vice director of the Gold Bureau. Xiao Yin was the younger brother of Xiao Yun.
119
馮僕以其母功，封信都侯，遷石龍太守，遣使者持節冊命洗氏為石龍太夫人，賜繡幰油絡駟馬安車一乘，給鼓吹一部，並麾幢旌節，其鹵簿一如刺史之儀。
For his mother's service, Feng Pu was enfeoffed as marquis of Xindu and promoted to inspector of Shilong. The court sent an envoy with imperial credentials to invest Lady Xi as grand lady of Shilong, granting her a four-horse carriage with embroidered curtains and lacquered shafts, a full drum-and-bugle escort, banners and ceremonial staffs — a guard of honor matching that of a provincial inspector.
120
三月，丙申，皇太后章氏殂。
In the third month, on bingshen, Empress Dowager Zhang died.
121
戊戌，齊安定武王賀拔仁卒。
On wuxu, Northern Qi's Prince Ding of Anding, Helba Ren, died.
122
丁未，大赦。
On dingwei, a general amnesty was proclaimed.
123
夏，四月，甲寅，周以柱國寶文盛為大宗伯。
In summer, the fourth month, on jiayin, Northern Zhou appointed pillar of state Bao Wensheng grand clan elder.
124
周主如醴泉宮。
The Northern Zhou emperor went to the Liquan Palace.
125
辛酉，齊以開府儀同三司徐之才尚書左僕射。
On xinyou, Northern Qi appointed grand master of the first rank Xu Zhicai left vice director of the masters of writing.
126
戊寅，葬武宣皇后於萬安陵。
On wuyin, Empress Wuxuan was buried at Wan'an Tomb.
127
閏月，戊申，上謁太廟。
In the intercalary month, on wushen, the Chen emperor visited the imperial ancestral temple.
128
五月，壬午，齊遣使來吊。
In the fifth month, on renwu, Northern Qi sent envoys to offer condolences.
129
六月，乙酉，齊以廣寧王孝珩為司空。
In the sixth month, on yiyou, Northern Qi made Prince Guangning Gao Xiaoxheng minister of works.
130
甲辰，齊穆夫人生子恆。 齊主時未有男，為之大赦。 陸令萱欲恆為太子，恐斛律後恨怒，乃白齊主，使斛律後母養之。
On jiachen, Northern Qi's Lady Mu gave birth to a son, Heng. The Northern Qi emperor had no son at the time, and for this he proclaimed a general amnesty. Lu Lingxuan wanted Heng made crown prince, but feared the empress of the Hulu clan would resent it, so she told the Northern Qi emperor and had the empress's mother raise the boy.
131
己丑，齊以開府儀同三司唐邕為尚書右僕射。
On jichou, Northern Qi appointed grand master of the first rank Tang Yong right vice director of the masters of writing.
132
秋，七月，癸丑，齊立肅宗子彥其為城陽王，彥忠為梁郡王。 甲寅，以尚書令蘭陵王長恭為錄尚書事，中領軍和士開為尚書令，賜爵淮陽王。
In autumn, the seventh month, on guichou, Northern Qi enfeoffed Emperor Suzong's sons Yanqi as prince of Chengyang and Yanzhong as prince of Liang commandery. On jiayin, director of the masters of writing Prince Lanling Changgong was made recorder of the department of state affairs; central army commander He Shikai was made director of the masters of writing and enfeoffed as prince of Huaiyang.
133
士開威權日盛，朝士不知廉恥者，或為之假子，與富商大賈同在伯仲之列。 嘗有一人士參士開疾，值醫云：「王傷寒極重，他藥無效，應服黃龍湯。」 士開有難色。 人士曰：「此物甚易服，王不須疑，請為王先嘗之。」 一舉而盡。 士開感其意，為之強服，遂得愈。
He Shikai's power grew daily. Court officials who had lost all sense of shame sometimes became his nominal adopted sons, ranking alongside the greatest merchants. Once a court gentleman came to visit He Shikai in illness. A physician happened to say, "My lord's cold affliction is extremely severe; other medicines will not work. He should take Yellow Dragon Decoction." He Shikai looked troubled. The gentleman said, "This draught is easy to swallow. My lord need not hesitate — allow me to taste it for you first." In one gulp he drank it down. He Shikai was moved by the man's devotion, forced himself to take the medicine, and recovered.
134
乙卯，周主還長安。
On yimao, the Northern Zhou emperor returned to Chang'an.
135
癸酉，劉以華山王凝為太傅。
On guiyou, Northern Qi appointed Prince Huashan Gao Ning grand tutor.
136
司空章昭達攻梁，梁主與周總管陸騰拒之。 周人於峽口南巖築安蜀城，橫引大索於江上，編葦為橋，以度軍糧。 昭達命軍士為長戟，施於樓船上，仰割其索。 索斷，糧絕，因縱兵攻安蜀城，下之。
Minister of works Zhang Zhaoda attacked Liang. The Liang ruler and Northern Zhou area commander Lu Teng resisted him. The Northern Zhou forces built Anshu fortress on the southern cliff at Xiakou, stretched great ropes across the Yangzi, and wove reeds into a bridge to transport military grain. Zhang Zhaoda ordered his men to make long halberds, mount them on tower ships, and cut the ropes from below. The ropes were severed and supplies cut off. He then sent his troops against Anshu fortress and captured it.
137
梁主告急於周襄州總管衛公直，直遣大將軍李遷哲將兵救之。 遷哲以其所部守江陵外城，自帥騎兵出南門，使步出北門，首尾邀擊陳兵，陳兵多死。 夜，陳兵竊於城西以梯登城，登者數百人。 遷哲與陸騰力戰拒之，乃退。
The Liang ruler urgently appealed to Northern Zhou's Xiangzhou area commander Duke Wei Zhi, who dispatched great general Li Qianzhe with an army to relieve him. Li Qianzhe used his own troops to hold the outer wall of Jiangling. He personally led cavalry out the south gate and sent infantry out the north gate, attacking the Chen forces at both ends. Many Chen soldiers were killed. At night, Chen troops stole up to the west wall on ladders, and several hundred men gained the ramparts. Li Qianzhe and Lu Teng fought hard to drive them back, and the Chen troops withdrew.
138
昭達又決龍川寧朔堤，引水灌江陵。 騰出戰於西堤，昭達兵不利，乃引還。
Zhang Zhaoda also breached the Longchuan Ningshu dyke and diverted water to flood Jiangling. Lu Teng went out to fight on the western dyke. Zhang Zhaoda's troops fared poorly, and he withdrew.
139
八月，辛卯，齊主如晉陽。
In the eighth month, on xinmao, the Northern Qi emperor went to Jinyang.
140
九月，乙巳，齊立皇子恆為太子。
In the ninth month, on yisi, Northern Qi established the emperor's son Heng as crown prince.
141
冬，十月，辛巳朔，日有食之。
In winter, the tenth month, on the xinsi new moon, a solar eclipse occurred.
142
齊以廣寧王孝珩為司徒，上洛王思宗為司空。 復以梁永嘉王莊為開府儀同三司、梁王，許以興復，竟不果。 及齊亡，莊憤邑，卒於鄴。
Northern Qi made Prince Guangning Gao Xiaoxheng minister of education and Prince Shangluo Gao Sizong minister of works. Northern Qi again appointed Liang's Prince Yongjia Xiao Zhuang grand master of the first rank and prince of Liang, promising to restore his dynasty, but in the end nothing came of it. When Northern Qi fell, Zhuang died bitter and resentful at Ye.
143
乙酉，上享太廟。
On yiyou, the Chen emperor performed sacrifices at the imperial ancestral temple.
144
己丑，齊復威宗謚曰文宣皇帝，廟號顯祖。
On jichou, Northern Qi restored Weizong's posthumous title as Emperor Wenxuan and his temple name as Xianzu.
145
丁酉，周鄭恆公達奚武卒。
On dingyou, Northern Zhou's Duke of Zheng Heng, Daxi Wu, died.
146
十二月，丁亥，齊主還鄴。
In the twelfth month, on dinghai, the Northern Qi emperor returned to Ye.
147
周大將軍鄭恪將兵平越巂，置西寧州。
Northern Zhou great general Zheng Ke led troops to pacify Yuexi and established Xining Province.
148
周、齊爭宜陽，久不決。 勳州刺史韋孝寬謂其下曰：「宜陽一城之地，不足損益，兩國爭之，勞師彌年。 彼豈無智謀之士，若棄崤東，來圖汾北，我必失地。 今宜速於華谷及長秋築城以杜其意。 脫其先我，圖之實難。」 乃畫地形，且陳其狀。 晉公護謂使者曰：「韋公子孫雖多，數不滿百。 汾北築城，遣誰過之？」 事遂不行。
Northern Zhou and Northern Qi contested Yiyang for a long time without resolution. Xun Province inspector Wei Xiaokuan said to his subordinates, "The ground of one city, Yiyang, is not worth the gain or loss. Yet the two states have fought over it for years and worn their armies down. Surely they have men of wit among them. If they abandon the struggle east of the Xiao Mountains and turn to seize the north bank of the Fen, we will surely lose ground. We should quickly build fortresses at Huagu and Changqiu to block that design. If they move before we do, it will be very hard to stop them." He then drew a map of the terrain and laid out the situation in full. Duke Jin Yuwen Hu said to the envoy, "Wei may have many sons and grandsons, but they do not number even one hundred. If we build fortresses north of the Fen, who will we send to hold them?" The plan was not carried out.
149
齊斛律光果出晉州道，於汾北築華谷、龍門二城。 光至汾東，與孝寬相見，光曰：「宜陽小城，久勞爭戰。 今已捨彼，欲於汾北取償，幸勿怪也。」 孝寬曰：「宜陽，彼之要衝，汾北，我之所棄。 我棄彼取，其償安在！ 君輔翼幼主，位望隆重，不撫循百姓而極武窮兵，苟貪尋常之地，塗炭疲弊之民，竊為君不取也！」
Northern Qi's Hulu Guang did exactly that, marching out by the Jinzhou route and building two fortresses, Huagu and Longmen, north of the Fen. Guang reached the east bank of the Fen and met Wei Xiaokuan. Guang said, "The little city of Yiyang has long exhausted both sides in fighting. We have now abandoned that place and mean to take compensation north of the Fen. I hope you will not take offense." Wei Xiaokuan said, "Yiyang is your vital choke point. The north bank of the Fen is ground we have abandoned. We give up one place and you take another — where is the compensation in that! You assist a young ruler and hold rank of the highest weight. Instead of comforting the people you press warfare to the limit, grasping at ordinary ground and bringing ruin on exhausted folk — I cannot believe this worthy of you!"
150
光進圍定陽，築南汾城以逼之。 周人釋宜陽之圍以救汾北。 晉公護問計於齊公憲，憲曰：「兄宜暫出同州以為聲勢，憲請以精兵居前，隨機攻取。」 護從之。
Hulu Guang advanced to besiege Dingyang and built Nanfen fortress to press the city. The Northern Zhou forces lifted the siege of Yiyang to relieve the north bank of the Fen. Duke Jin Yuwen Hu asked Duke of Qi Yuwen Xian for counsel. Xian said, "Elder brother should temporarily move out to Tong Province to create a show of force. I ask to take elite troops in the van and seize whatever targets present themselves." Hu assented.
151
春，正月，癸丑，以尚書右僕射徐陵為左僕射。
In spring, the first month, on guichou, right vice director of the masters of writing Xu Ling was appointed left vice director.
152
丁巳，齊使兼散騎常侍劉環俊來聘。
On dingsi, Northern Qi sent acting regular cavalry attendant Liu Huanjun on a diplomatic mission.
153
辛酉，上祀南郊； 辛未，祀北郊。
On xinyou, the Chen emperor sacrificed at the southern suburb; On xinwei, he sacrificed at the northern suburb.
154
齊斛律光築十三城於西境，馬上以鞭指畫而成，拓地五百里，而未嘗伐功。 又與周韋孝寬戰於汾北，破之。 齊公憲督諸將東拒齊師。
Northern Qi's Hulu Guang built thirteen fortresses on the western frontier, tracing their lines from horseback with his whip. He expanded the border five hundred li, yet never boasted of the achievement. He again fought Northern Zhou's Wei Xiaokuan north of the Fen and defeated him. Duke of Qi Yuwen Xian supervised the generals in resisting the Northern Qi army in the east.
155
二月，辛巳，上祀明堂。 丁酉，耕藉田。
In the second month, on xinsi, the Chen emperor sacrificed at the Bright Hall. On dingyou, he plowed the sacred field.
156
壬寅，齊以蘭陵王長恭為尉，趙彥深為司空，和士開錄尚書事，徐之才為尚書令，唐邕為左僕射，吏部尚書馮子琮為右僕射，仍攝選。
On renyin, Northern Qi made Prince Lanling Changgong grand commandant, Zhao Yanshen minister of works, He Shikai recorder of the department of state affairs, Xu Zhicai director of the masters of writing, Tang Yong left vice director, minister of personnel Feng Zicong right vice director while continuing to oversee selection.
157
子琮素諂附士開，至是，自以太后親屬，且典選，頗擅引用人，不復啟稟，由是與士開有隙。
Feng Zicong had long flattered and clung to He Shikai. Now, counting himself kin to the empress dowager and holding charge of selection, he began appointing men on his own without reporting upward, and a rift opened between him and He Shikai.
158
三月，丁丑，大赦。
In the third month, on dingchou, a general amnesty was proclaimed.
159
周齊公憲自龍門渡河，斛律光退保華谷，憲攻拔其新築五城。 齊太宰段韶、蘭陵王長恭將兵御周師，攻柏谷城，拔之而還。
Northern Zhou's Duke of Qi Yuwen Xian crossed the Yellow River at Longmen. Hulu Guang fell back to hold Huagu, and Xian captured his five newly built fortresses. Northern Qi's grand preceptor Duan Shao and Prince Lanling Changgong led troops against the Northern Zhou army, captured Baigu fortress, and returned.
160
夏，四月，戊寅朔，日有食之。
In summer, the fourth month, on the wuyin new moon, a solar eclipse occurred.
161
壬午，齊以琅邪王儼為太保。
On renwu, Northern Qi made Prince Langye Gao Yan grand guardian.
162
壬辰，齊遣使來聘。
On renchen, Northern Qi sent envoys on a diplomatic mission.
163
周陳公純等取齊宜陽等九城，齊斛律光將步騎五萬赴之。
Northern Zhou's Duke of Chen Yuwen Chun and others captured nine Northern Qi cities including Yiyang. Northern Qi's Hulu Guang marched to the rescue with fifty thousand infantry and cavalry.
164
五月，癸亥，周使納言鄭詡來聘。
In the fifth month, on guihai, Northern Zhou sent palace spokesman Zheng Xu on a diplomatic mission.
165
周晉公護使中外府參軍郭榮城於姚襄城南、定陽城西，齊段韶引兵襲周師，破之。 六月，韶圍定陽城，周汾州刺史楊敷固守不下。 韶急攻之，屠其外城。 時韶臥病，謂蘭陵王長恭曰：「此城三百重澗，皆無走路； 唯慮東直一道耳，賊必從此出，宜簡精兵專守之，此必成擒。」 長恭乃令壯士千餘人伏於東南澗口。 城中糧盡，齊公憲總兵救之，憚韶，不敢進。 敷帥見兵突圍夜走，伏兵擊擒之，盡俘其眾。 乙巳，齊取周汾州及姚襄城，唯郭榮所築城獨存。 敷，愔之族子也。
Northern Zhou's Duke Jin Yuwen Hu had staff officer Guo Rong build a fortress south of Yao's Rampart and west of Dingyang. Northern Qi's Duan Shao led troops against the Northern Zhou army and defeated it. In the sixth month, Duan Shao besieged Dingyang. Northern Zhou's Fenzhou inspector Yang Fu held firm and could not be taken. Duan Shao pressed the attack hard and slaughtered his way through the outer city. At the time Duan Shao lay ill. He said to Prince Lanling Changgong, "This city is ringed by ravines on every side. There is no way out; only the straight road to the east worries me. The enemy will surely break out there. Pick elite troops and hold that pass alone, and capture is certain. Changgong then stationed more than a thousand stalwart men in ambush at the southeast ravine mouth. When provisions inside the city ran out, Duke of Qi Yuwen Xian mustered an army to relieve them, but fearing Duan Shao he did not dare advance. Yang Fu led the troops he still had in a nighttime breakout, but the ambush force struck, seized him, and took every one of his men captive. On yisi, Northern Qi captured Northern Zhou's Fenzhou and Yao's Rampart city; only the fortress Guo Rong had built still stood. Yang Fu was a kinsman of Yang Yin."
166
敷子素，少多才藝，有大志，不拘小節。 以其父守節陷齊，未蒙贈謚，上表申理。 周主不許，至於再三，帝大怒，命左右斬之。 素大言曰：「臣事無道天子，死其分也！」 帝壯其言，贈敷大將軍，謚曰忠壯，以素為儀同三司，漸見禮遇。 帝命素為詔書，下筆立成，詞義兼美，帝曰：「勉之，勿憂不富貴。」 素曰：「但恐富貴來逼臣，臣無心圖富貴也。」
Yang Fu's son Yang Su was talented in many arts from youth, had great ambition, and did not bind himself to petty proprieties. Because his father had died upholding his integrity after falling to Northern Qi and had received no posthumous honors, he submitted a memorial pleading his case. The Northern Zhou emperor refused; Yang Su pressed his plea again and again until the emperor flew into a rage and ordered his attendants to behead him. Yang Su spoke boldly: "I serve an unvirtuous Son of Heaven — death is only what I deserve! The emperor admired his words, posthumously enfeoffed Yang Fu as grand general with the posthumous name Loyal and Bold, appointed Yang Su to honorary third-tier minister rank, and gradually showed him courtesy and favor. The emperor ordered Yang Su to draft an imperial edict; he set brush to paper and finished at once, the wording and meaning both excellent. The emperor said, "Keep at it — do not worry that wealth and rank will not come. Yang Su said, "I only fear that wealth and rank may press upon me — I have no heart to scheme for wealth and rank."
167
齊斛律光與周師戰於宜陽城下，取周建安等四戍，捕虜千餘人而還。 軍未至鄴，齊主敕使散兵，光以軍士多有功者，未得慰勞，乃密通表，請遣使宣旨，軍仍且進，齊朝發使遲留。 軍還，將至紫陌，光乃駐營待使。 帝聞光軍已逼，心甚惡之，亟令舍人召光入見，然後宣勞散兵。
Northern Qi's Hulu Guang fought Northern Zhou troops below Yiyang city, captured four Northern Zhou garrisons including Jian'an, took more than a thousand prisoners, and returned. Before the army reached Ye, the Northern Qi emperor ordered the troops dispersed. Many of Guang's soldiers had earned merit but had not yet been rewarded, so he secretly sent a memorial asking that an envoy be sent to proclaim the imperial will while the army continued to advance. The Northern Qi court was slow in dispatching the envoy. When the army returned and was nearing Zimo, Guang halted camp and waited for the envoy. When the emperor heard that Guang's army had already drawn near, he deeply resented it. He urgently ordered a palace attendant to summon Guang for audience, and only then proclaimed rewards and dispersed the troops.
168
齊琅邪王儼以和士開、穆提婆等專橫奢縱，意甚不平。 二人相謂曰：「琅邪王眼光奕奕，數步射人，向者暫對，不覺汗出； 吾輩見天子奏事尚不然。」 由是忌之，乃出儼居北宮，五日一朝，不得無時見太后。
Northern Qi's Prince Langye Gao Yan resented the monopoly, arrogance, and extravagance of He Shikai, Mutiba, and their faction, and was deeply displeased. The two said to each other, "Prince Langye's eyes gleam brightly — within several paces they seem to pierce a man. When we faced him just now, we broke out in sweat without even noticing. We do not even react this way when we see the Son of Heaven to present business. Because of this they came to fear him. They moved Yan to live in the North Palace, allowed him audience once every five days, and forbade him to see the empress dowager except at appointed times."
169
儼之除太保也，餘官悉解，猶帶中丞及京畿。 士開等以北城有武庫，欲移儼於外，然後奪其兵權。 治書侍御史王子宜，與儼所親開府儀同三司高捨洛、中常侍劉辟強說儼曰：「殿下被疏，正由士開間構，何可出北宮入民間也！」 儼謂侍中馮子琮曰：「士開罪重，兒欲殺之，何如？」 子琮心欲廢帝而立儼，因勸成之。
When Yan was appointed grand guardian, all his other offices were removed, but he still retained his posts as censor and commander of the capital region. Because the north city held an armory, He Shikai and his allies wished to move Yan outside the palace and then strip him of his military authority. Supervising secretary attendant censor Wang Ziyi, together with Yan's confidants honorary third-tier minister Gao Shelou and palace attendant Liu Piqiang, urged him, "Your Highness has been estranged precisely because He Shikai sowed discord — how could you leave the North Palace and go out among the common folk! Yan said to attendant-in-waiting Feng Zicong, "He Shikai's crimes are grave. Your son wishes to kill him — what do you think? Feng Zicong inwardly wished to depose the emperor and put Yan on the throne, and so urged him to carry it out.
170
儼令子宜表彈士開罪，請付禁推。 子琮雜它文書奏之，齊主不審省而可之。 儼誑領軍庫狄伏連曰：「奉敕，令領軍收士開。」 伏連以告子琮，且請覆奏，子琮曰：「琅邪受敕，何必更奏。」 伏連信之，發京畿軍士，伏於神虎門外，並戒門者不聽士開入。 秋，七月，庚午旦，士開依常早參，伏連執士開手曰：「今有一大好事。」 王子宜授以一函，云：「有敕，令王向台。」 因遣軍士護送。 儼遣都督馮永洛就台斬之。
Yan had Wang Ziyi submit a memorial impeaching He Shikai and requesting that he be handed over to the prison for investigation. Feng Zicong slipped it in among other documents and submitted it; the Northern Qi emperor did not examine it carefully and approved it. Yan deceived army commander Kudifulian, saying, "By imperial order, the army commander is to seize He Shikai. Kudifulian told Feng Zicong and asked to confirm the order by memorial. Feng Zicong said, "Prince Langye has received the order — why must you memorialize again? Kudifulian believed him, deployed capital-region troops in ambush outside the Shenhu Gate, and warned the gatekeepers not to let He Shikai enter. In autumn, the seventh month, on gengwu at dawn, He Shikai attended early court as usual. Kudifulian seized his hand and said, "Today there is a great piece of good news. Wang Ziyi handed him a sealed document, saying, "There is an order instructing My Lord to go to the prosecution office. He then dispatched soldiers to escort him. Yan sent commander Feng Yongluo to the prosecution office to behead him.
171
儼本意唯殺士開，其黨因逼儼曰：「事既然，不可中止。」 儼遂帥京畿軍士三千餘人屯千秋門。 帝使劉桃枝將禁兵八十人召儼，桃枝遙拜。 儼命反縛，將斬之，禁兵散走。 帝又使馮子琮召儼，儼辭曰：「士開昔來實合萬死，謀廢至尊，剃家家發為尼，臣為是矯詔誅之。 尊兄若欲殺臣，不敢逃罪。 若敕臣，願遣姊姊來迎，臣即入見。」 姊姊，謂陸令萱也，儼欲誘出殺之。 令萱執刀在帝后，聞之，戰慄。
Yan's original intent had been only to kill He Shikai, but his faction pressed him, saying, "Since the matter has come this far, it cannot be halted. Yan thereupon led more than three thousand capital-region troops to encamp at the Qianqiu Gate. The emperor sent Liu Taozhi with eighty palace guard troops to summon Yan; Taozhi bowed from afar. Yan ordered him bound with his hands tied behind his back and was about to behead him; the palace guard troops scattered and fled. The emperor again sent Feng Zicong to summon Yan. Yan declined, saying, "He Shikai of old truly deserved ten thousand deaths — he plotted to depose His Majesty, shave Mama's head, and make her a nun. Your subject forged an order to execute him for this reason. If my honored elder brother wishes to kill me, I dare not flee my punishment. If Your Majesty orders me, I ask that Elder Sister be sent to welcome me — then your subject will enter for audience." Elder Sister" referred to Lu Lingxuan; Yan wished to lure her out and kill her. Lu Lingxuan, holding a knife behind the emperor, heard this and trembled.
172
帝又使韓長鸞召儼，儼將入，劉辟強牽衣諫曰：「若不斬穆提婆母子，殿下無由得入。」 廣寧王孝珩、安德王延宗自西來，曰：「何不入？」 辟強曰：「兵少。」 延宗顧眾而言曰：「孝昭帝殺楊遵彥，止八十人。 今有數千，何謂少？」
The emperor again sent Han Changluan to summon Yan. Yan was about to enter when Liu Piqiang tugged his robe and remonstrated, "Unless you behead Mutiba and his mother, Your Highness will have no way to enter. Prince Guangning Gao Xiaojheng and Prince Ande Gao Yanzong came from the west and said, "Why not enter? Piqiang said, "The troops are too few. Yanzong looked at the crowd and said, "When Emperor Xiaozhao killed Yang Zunyan, it took only eighty men. Now we have several thousand — why call that few?"
173
帝泣啟太后曰：「有緣，復見家家； 無緣，永別！」 乃急召斛律光，儼亦召之。
Weeping, the emperor addressed the empress dowager: "If fate allows, I shall see Mama again; if fate does not allow, we part forever! He then urgently summoned Hulu Guang; Yan summoned him as well."
174
光聞儼殺士開，撫掌大笑曰：「龍子所為，固自不似凡人！」 入，見帝於永巷。 帝帥宿衛者步騎四百，授甲，將出戰，光曰：「小兒輩弄兵，與交手即亂。 鄙諺云：『奴見大家心死。』 至尊宜自至千秋門，琅邪必不敢動。」 帝從之。
When Guang heard that Yan had killed He Shikai, he clapped his hands and laughed loudly: "A dragon's son's deed — naturally unlike anything an ordinary man would do! He entered and saw the emperor in the Eternal Lane. The emperor led four hundred personal guard infantry and cavalry, armed them, and was about to go out to fight. Guang said, "Those youngsters are playing with arms — once you cross blades there will be chaos. A rustic proverb says, "When a slave sees the master, his heart dies. Your Majesty should go in person to the Qianqiu Gate — Prince Langye will surely not dare move. The emperor assented."
175
光步道，使人走出，曰：「大家來。」 儼徒駭散。 帝駐馬橋上遙呼之，儼猶立不進，光就謂曰：「天子弟殺一夫，何所苦！」 執其手，強引以前，請於帝曰：「琅邪王年少，腸肥腦滿，輕為舉措，稍長自不復然，願寬其罪。」 帝拔儼所帶刀環，亂築辮頭，良久，乃釋之。
Guang walked ahead and had a man come out and call, "His Majesty is coming. Yan's followers scattered in alarm. The emperor halted his horse on the bridge and called from afar, but Yan still stood and did not advance. Guang went up to him and said, "The emperor's younger brother killed one man — why make such a fuss of it! He seized Yan's hand and forcibly pulled him forward, pleading to the emperor, "Prince Langye is young — fat of belly and full of brains — and his actions are rash. When he grows older he will no longer be this way. I beg you to leniently pardon his crime. The emperor pulled the ring from the dagger Yan wore, beat wildly at his braided hair, and after a long while finally released him.
176
收庫狄伏連、高捨洛、王子宜、劉辟強、都督翟顯貴，於後園支解，暴之都街。 帝欲盡殺儼府文武職吏，光曰：「此皆勳貴子弟，誅之，恐人心不安。」 趙彥深亦曰：「《春秋》責帥。」 於是罪之各有差。
They arrested Kudifulian, Gao Shelou, Wang Ziyi, Liu Piqiang, and commander Zhai Xiangui, dismembered them in the rear garden, and exposed their bodies in the capital streets. The emperor wished to kill all the civil and military officials of Yan's household. Guang said, "These are all sons of meritorious nobles — if they are executed, I fear the people's hearts will not be at ease. Zhao Yanshen also said, "The Spring and Autumn Annals holds the commander responsible. Thereupon each was punished according to the degree of his guilt.
177
太后責問儼，儼曰：「馮子琮教兒。」 太后怒，遣使就內省以弓弦絞殺子琮，使內參以庫車載屍歸其家。 自是太后常置儼於宮中，每食必自嘗之。
The empress dowager reproached and questioned Yan. Yan said, "Feng Zicong taught your son. The empress dowager was enraged. She sent envoys to the inner office to strangle Feng Zicong with a bowstring and had eunuchs carry the corpse home on a handcart. From this time the empress dowager regularly kept Yan in the palace and personally tasted every meal before he ate.
178
八月，己亥，齊主如晉陽。 九月，辛亥，齊以任城王湝為太宰，馮翊王潤為太師。
In the eighth month, on jihai, the Northern Qi emperor went to Jinyang. In the ninth month, on xinhai, Northern Qi made Prince Rencheng Gao You grand preceptor and Prince Fengyi Gao Run grand tutor.
179
己未，齊平原忠武王段韶卒。 韶有謀略，得將士死力，出總軍旅，入參幃幄，功高望重，而雅性溫慎，得宰相體。 事後母孝，閨門雍肅，齊勳貴之家，無能及者。
On jiwei, Northern Qi's Prince Zhongwu of Pingyuan Duan Shao died. Duan Shao had strategy and calculation, won the utmost loyalty of officers and soldiers, commanded armies in the field and participated in the inner councils of state. His merit was high and his prestige weighty, yet his refined nature was warm and cautious, and he possessed the bearing of a chief minister. He was filial toward his stepmother, and his household was harmonious and solemn — among Northern Qi's meritorious noble families, none could equal him.
180
齊祖珽說陸令萱，出趙彥深為兗州刺史。 齊主以珽為侍中。 陸令萱說帝曰：「人稱琅邪王聰明雄勇，當今無敵； 觀其相表，殆非人臣。 自專殺以來，常懷恐懼，宜早為之計。」 幸臣何洪珍等亦請殺之。 帝未決，以食輿密迎珽，問之，珽稱：「周公誅管叔，季友鴆慶父。」 帝乃攜儼之晉陽，使右衛大將軍趙元侃誘儼執之，元侃曰：「臣昔事先帝，見先帝愛王。 今寧就死，不忍行此。」 帝出元侃為豫州刺史。
Northern Qi's Zu Ting persuaded Lu Lingxuan to send Zhao Yanshen out as Yanzhou inspector. The Northern Qi emperor made Zu Ting attendant-in-waiting. Lu Lingxuan persuaded the emperor, saying, "People say Prince Langye is clever, heroic, and brave — today he has no match; look at his physiognomy — he is scarcely fit to be a subject. Since the private killing, he has constantly harbored fear. You should plan for this early. Favored courtiers He Hongzhen and others also requested his execution. The emperor had not decided. By food cart he secretly summoned Zu Ting and questioned him. Ting cited, "The Duke of Zhou executed Guan Shu; Jiyou poisoned Prince Qingfu. The emperor then took Yan to Jinyang and had right palace guard grand general Zhao Yuankan lure Yan and seize him. Yuankan said, "Your subject formerly served the late emperor and saw the late emperor love the prince. Now I would rather accept death than bear to carry this out. The emperor sent Zhao Yuankan out as Yuzhou inspector."
181
庚午，帝啟太后曰：「明旦欲與仁威早出獵。」 夜四鼓，帝召儼，儼疑之。 陸令萱曰：「兄呼，兒何為不去！」 儼出，至永巷，劉桃枝反接其手。 儼呼曰：「乞見家家、尊兄。」 桃枝以袖塞其口，反袍蒙頭負出，至大明宮，鼻血滿面，拉殺之，時年十四，裹之以席，埋於室內。 帝使啟太后，太后臨哭，十餘聲，即擁入殿。 遺腹四男，皆幽死。
On gengwu, the emperor addressed the empress dowager, saying, "Tomorrow at dawn I wish to go out early hunting with Prince Renwei. At the fourth watch of the night the emperor summoned Yan; Yan was suspicious. Lu Lingxuan said, "When elder brother calls, why would you not go! Yan came out, and when he reached the Eternal Lane Liu Taozhi bound his hands behind his back. Yan cried out, "I beg to see Mama and my honored elder brother! Taozhi stuffed his mouth with a sleeve, covered his head with a robe thrown over backward, and carried him out on his back to the Daming Palace. His nose bled until it covered his face; he was strangled to death. He was fourteen at the time. They wrapped him in matting and buried him inside the chamber. The emperor had someone inform the empress dowager. The empress dowager came to weep, but after a dozen cries she was immediately ushered into the hall. Four sons borne posthumously were all secretly killed.
182
冬，十月，罷京畿府，入領軍。
In winter, the tenth month, the capital-region office was abolished and merged into the army command.
183
壬午，周冀公通卒。
On renwu, Northern Zhou's Duke of Ji Tong died.
184
甲申，上享太廟。
On jiashen, the emperor performed sacrifices at the imperial ancestral temple.
185
乙未，周遣右武伯谷會琨等聘於齊。
On yiwei, Northern Zhou sent right warrior-of-arms Gu Huikun and others on a diplomatic mission to Northern Qi.
186
齊胡太后出入不節，與沙門統曇獻通，諸僧至有戲呼曇獻為太上皇者。 齊主聞太后不謹而未之信，後朝太后，見二尼，悅而召之，乃男子也。 於是曇獻事亦發，皆伏誅。
Northern Qi's Empress Hu went in and out without restraint and had relations with the monk Tongtanxian; among the monks some even jokingly called Tongtanxian "retired emperor." The Northern Qi emperor heard that the empress dowager was indecent but did not yet believe it. Later, when he attended upon the empress dowager, he saw two nuns, was pleased, and summoned them — they were men. Tan Xian's conspiracy then came to light as well, and all involved were put to death.
187
己亥，帝自晉陽奉太后還鄴，至紫陌，遇大風。 舍人魏僧伽習風角，奏言：「即時當有暴逆事。」 帝詐云「鄴中有變」，彎弓纏弰，馳入南城，遣宦者鄧長顒幽太后於北宮，仍敕內外諸親皆不得與胡太后相見。 太后或為帝設食，帝亦不敢嘗。
On jihai the emperor escorted the empress dowager from Jinyang back to Ye; at Zimo they were struck by a violent gale. Attendant Wei Sengjia, versed in reading the winds, reported: "A violent uprising is imminent." The emperor claimed there was unrest in Ye, strung his bow, galloped into the southern city, and sent the eunuch Deng Changying to confine the empress dowager in the Northern Palace; he also forbade all relatives inside and outside the court to see Empress Hu. "When the empress dowager prepared food for him, the emperor dared not eat it."
188
庚戌，齊遣侍中赫連子悅聘於周。
On gengxu, Northern Qi sent Attendant-in-Ordinary Helian Ziyue on a friendly mission to Northern Zhou.
189
十一月，丁巳，周主如散關。
In the eleventh month, on dingsi, the Zhou ruler went to Sanguan Pass.
190
丙寅，齊以徐州行台廣陵王孝珩錄尚書事； 庚午，又以為司徒。 癸酉，以斛律光為左丞相。
On bingyin, Northern Qi made Prince Guangling, Gao Xiaoxiao, registrar of the Ministry of State Affairs at the Xuzhou headquarters; On gengwu he was also made minister of state affairs. On guiyou Hulu Guang was made left chief minister.
191
十二月，己丑，周主還長安。
In the twelfth month, on jichou, the Zhou ruler returned to Chang'an.
192
壬辰，邵陵公章昭達卒。
On renchen, Zhang Zhaoda, Duke of Shaoling, died.
193
是歲，梁華皎將如周，過襄陽，說衛公直曰：「梁主既失江南諸郡，民少國貧； 朝廷興亡繼絕，理宜資贍，望借數州以資梁國。」 直然之，遣使言狀，周主詔以基、平、鄀三州與之。
That year, as Hua Jiao of Liang was about to visit Zhou, he stopped at Xiangyang and urged Duke Wei Zhi: "The Liang ruler has lost the Jiangnan commanderies; his people are few and his treasury bare; your court restores fallen states and continues broken lines—it is only right to aid us; I ask that you lend several provinces to sustain the Liang state." Zhi agreed, sent envoys to report the matter, and the Zhou ruler decreed that the three provinces of Ji, Ping, and Ruo be granted to Liang.