Records of Shu 8: Biographies of Xu Jing, Mi Zhu, Sun Qian, Jian Yong, Yi Ji and Qin Mi

Records of Shu 8: Biographies of Xu Jing, Mi Zhu, Sun Qian, Jian Yong, Yi Ji and Qin Mi

Xu Jing

許靖

Xu Jing, courtesy name Wenxiu, was a man of Pingyu in Runan. In his youth he and his younger cousin Xu Shao both became famous, and both were known for judging the character of others, but privately they did not get along. When Xu Shao became Officer of Merit of the commandery, he shut Xu Jing out so that he could not be ranked for office, and Xu Jing supported himself by grinding grain with a horse-driven mill. When Liu Yi of Yingchuan became Prefect of Runan, he recommended Xu Jing as Accounts Officer and nominated him as Filial and Incorrupt; Xu Jing was appointed Gentleman of the Masters of Writing and put in charge of selecting officials. After Emperor Ling died and Dong Zhuo took control of the government, Dong Zhuo made Zhou Bi of Hanyang Master of Writing for Personnel. Zhou Bi laid plans together with Xu Jing, promoting and dismissing officers throughout the realm, weeding out the corrupt and bringing forward those who had been overlooked.

許靖字文休，汝南平輿人。少與從弟劭俱知名，並有人倫臧否之稱，而私情不協。劭為郡功曹，排擯靖不得齒敘，以馬磨自給。潁川劉翊為汝南太守，乃舉靖計吏，察孝廉，除尚書郎，典選舉。靈帝崩，董卓秉政，以漢陽周毖為吏部尚書，與靖共謀議，進退天下之士，沙汰穢濁，顯拔幽滯。

They promoted Xun Shuang, Han Rong, Chen Ji, and others of Yingchuan to be Excellencies, ministers, and commandery prefects; they appointed the Master of Writing Han Fu as Governor of Ji Province, the Palace Attendant Liu Dai as Inspector of Yan Province, Zhang Zi of Yingchuan as Prefect of Nanyang, Kong Zhou of Chenliu as Inspector of Yu Province, and Zhang Miao of Dong Commandery as Prefect of Chenliu. Xu Jing was transferred to be Prefect of Ba Commandery, but he did not take up the post and was instead made Palace Assistant Imperial Clerk. When Han Fu and the others reached their posts, each raised troops and turned back toward the capital, meaning to kill Dong Zhuo.

進用潁川荀爽、韓融、陳紀等為公、卿、郡守，拜尚書韓馥為冀州牧，侍中劉岱為兗州刺史，潁川張咨為南陽太守，陳留孔伷為豫州刺史，東郡張邈為陳留太守，而遷靖巴郡太守，不就，補御史中丞。馥等到官，各舉兵還向京都，欲以誅卓。

Dong Zhuo, enraged, said to Zhou Bi, “You gentlemen said that good officers ought to be promoted, and I followed your advice, not wishing to go against the hearts of the people of the realm. But the men you chose, on the very day they reached their posts, turned back to plot against me. What have I done to deserve such betrayal?” He shouted at Zhou Bi to get out and had him beheaded outside. Xu Jing’s elder cousin Xu Yang, Chancellor of Chen, had also joined in Kong Zhou’s plans, and Xu Jing, fearing execution, fled to Kong Zhou. When Kong Zhou died, he took refuge with Chen Yi, Inspector of Yang Province. When Chen Yi died, since Xu Gong, Commandant of Wu Commandery, and Wang Lang, Prefect of Kuaiji, had long been on old terms with Xu Jing, he went to them for protection. Xu Jing gathered in and cared for his kinsmen and fellow villagers, managing their affairs and providing for them, all out of his benevolence and generosity.

卓怒毖曰：「諸君言當拔用善士，卓從諸君計，不欲違天下人心。而諸君所用人，至官之日，還來相圖。卓何用相負！」叱毖令出，於外斬之。靖從兄陳相瑒，又與伷合規，靖懼誅，奔伷。¹伷卒，依揚州刺史陳禕。禕死，吳郡都尉許貢、會稽太守王朗素與靖有舊，故往保焉。靖收恤親里，經紀振贍，出於仁厚。

When Sun Ce crossed the Yangtze to the east, they all fled to Jiao Province to escape the trouble. Xu Jing himself sat on the bank and first put those who had followed him aboard the boats; only after all his kin, near and distant, had set off did he leave after them. Of those who saw it at the time, there was none who did not sigh in admiration. When he reached Jiaozhi, Shi Xie, the Prefect of Jiaozhi, treated him with great respect. Yuan Hui of Chen, who was living in Jiao Province as a sojourner, wrote to the Prefect of the Masters of Writing Xun Yu: “Xu Wenxiu is a man of outstanding talent and great quality, whose wisdom and strategy are enough to plan affairs.

孫策東渡江，皆走交州以避其難，靖身坐崖邊，先載附從，疏親悉發，乃從後去，當時見者莫不嘆息。既至交阯，交阯太守士燮厚加敬待。陳國袁徽以寄寓交州，徽與尚書令荀彧書曰：「許文休英才偉士，智略足以計事。

Since he began wandering, he has gone about with many gentlemen, and whenever there was danger or urgency he always put others first and himself last, sharing hunger and cold with all his kin, near and far, on both sides of his family. In managing and caring for those of his company, his benevolence, forbearance, and compassion have all shown themselves in actual deeds, too many for me to list one by one.” Zhang Xiang of Julu, bearing a royal commission as envoy to the Jiao region, took advantage of his power to recruit Xu Jing and wanted to bind him with an oath, but Xu Jing refused and would not agree. Xu Jing wrote to Lord Cao: “The ways of the world have turned to war, and disaster and disorder have come together. Dull and timid, I have clung to life and fled into the lands of the barbarians. It has been ten years since we parted, and even the rites of joy and mourning have fallen away. Formerly, when I was in Kuaiji, I received the letter you sent me; its words were earnest and intimate, not forgetting our old pledge.

自流宕已來，與群士相隨，每有患急，常先人後己，與九族中外同其飢寒。其紀綱同類，仁恕惻隱，皆有效事，不能復一二陳之耳。」巨鹿張翔¹銜王命使交部，乘勢募靖，欲與誓要，靖拒而不許。靖與曹公書曰：世路戎夷，禍亂遂合，駑怯偷生，自竄蠻貊，成闊十年，吉凶禮廢，昔在會稽，得所貽書，辭旨款密，久要不忘。

But then Yuan Shu defied orders and ruined his own kin, stirring up the band of rebels, and the fords and roads were blocked on all four sides; though my heart hung upon the north wind, there was no way to go. When Zhengli’s army retreated and Yuan Shu’s troops advanced, Kuaiji fell and Jingxing lost his footing; the Three Rivers and the Five Lakes all became the courtyard of the enemy. In that time of distress I had no one to appeal to, so with Yuan Pei, Deng Zixiao, and others I set out across the blue sea and came south to Jiao Province. Passing through the lands of Dong’ou, Min, and Yue, we traveled ten thousand li without seeing the land of Han. We drifted at the mercy of wind and waves; our grain ran out and we ate grass; hunger and death came one after another, and more than half of us died.

迫于袁術方命圮族，扇動群逆，津涂四塞，雖縣心北風，欲行靡由。正禮師退，術兵前進，會稽傾覆，景興失據，三江五湖，皆為虜庭。臨時困厄，無所控告，便與袁沛、鄧子孝等浮涉滄海，南至交州。經歷東甌、閩、越之國，行經萬里，不見漢地，漂薄風波，絕糧茹草，飢殍荐臻，死者大半。

After crossing to Nanhai, I met Ni Xiaode, the acting prefect, and learned that you, sir, had risen in loyalty and righteousness, set your great army in order, gone west to welcome the imperial carriage, and escorted it on a tour to the Central Peak. On receiving this happy news I felt both grief and joy, and at once, with Yuan Pei and Xu Yuanxian, I packed again, meaning to go north to Jing Province. It happened that the Yi and Yue peoples of the counties of Cangwu rose up like swarming bees; the provincial government was overthrown and the roads were cut. Xu Yuanxian was killed, and the old and weak were slaughtered along with him.

既濟南海，與領守兒孝德相見，知足下忠義奮發，整飭元戎，西迎大駕，巡省中岳。承此休問，且悲且憙，即與袁沛及徐元賢復共嚴裝，欲北上荊州。會蒼梧諸縣夷、越蜂起，州府傾覆，道路阻絕，元賢被害，老弱並殺。

I followed the shores and banks for more than five thousand li, and then we met with pestilence. My aunt lost her life, and my cousins, down to my own wives and children, almost all perished at once. The rest of us, supporting one another, pressed on and reached this commandery; counting those killed by soldiers or dead of sickness, only one or two in ten remained. The hardships of living people and the very root of suffering — how could I set them all out! Fearing that I would fall at last and remain forever a fugitive captive, I have been wasted with grief and anguish, forgetting sleep and food. I wished to attach myself to an envoy bearing tribute to court, so that I might find a way through and return to die at the palace gates, but in Jing Province there is no passage by water or land, and the courier envoys of Jiao have been cut off.

靖尋循渚崖五千餘里，復遇疾癘，伯母隕命，並及群從，自諸妻子，一時略盡。復相扶侍，前到此郡，計為兵害及病亡者，十遺一二。生民之艱，辛苦之基，豈可具陳哉！¹懼卒顛仆，永為亡虜，憂瘁慘慘，忘寢與食。欲附奉朝貢使，自獲濟通，歸死闕庭，而荊州水陸無津，交部驛使斷絕。

I wished to go up to Yi Province, but again there were strict barriers; not even former officials or senior officers could get in. Earlier I had Shi Weiyan, the Prefect of Jiaozhi, earnestly commend me to the brothers in Yi Province, and I also wrote to them myself, pouring out my hardships with heartfelt sincerity, but there has been only silence and no reply. Though I look up toward your radiant glory, stretching my neck and standing on tiptoe, how can I borrow wings to bring myself there?

欲上益州，復有峻防，故官長吏，一不得入。前令交阯太守士威彥，深相分托于益州兄弟，又靖亦自與書，辛苦懇惻，而復寂寞，未有報應。雖仰瞻光靈，延頸企踵，何由假翼自致哉？

I know that our sage sovereign is truly enlightened and has openly entrusted you with the charge of independent campaigns, and that you have executed and punished many of the rebels. I imagine that those who contended by force are now of one mind, and those who submit share the same purpose. Moreover, Zhang Ziyun, when he was formerly at the capital, was set on rectifying the royal house; now, although he governs a remote region and cannot take part in the court, he is still a bulwark of the state and an outside support for you. If Jing and Chu become peaceful and the royal bounty reaches the south, I pray you send word to Ziyun, earnestly commending me to his protection, so that I may borrow passage and come out by way of Jing Province; or, failing that, introduce me again to the brothers in Yi Province so that they will take me in.

知聖主允明，顯授足下專征之任，凡諸逆節，多所誅討，想力競者一心，順從者同規矣。又張子雲昔在京師，志匡王室，今雖臨荒域，不得參與本朝，亦國家之藩鎮，足下之外援也。¹若荊、楚平和，王澤南至，足下忽有聲命于子雲，勤見保屬，令得假途由荊州出，不然，當復相紹介于益州兄弟，使相納受。

If Heaven should lend me years and men should hold off disaster, so that I may return to die in my own country, be rid of the burden of a fugitive, and lay my body to rest in the Nine Springs, what more should I regret! But if the times hold danger as well as ease and affairs turn out well or ill, and, human life being uncertain, I should perish without arriving, then I will carry my guilt forever and go into the soil of the far frontier.

倘天假其年，人緩其禍，得歸死國家，解逋逃之負，泯驅九泉，將復何恨！若時有險易，事有利鈍，人命無常，隕沒不達者，則永銜罪責，入于裔土矣。

Of old, the lord of Yingqiu aided the Zhou, grasping the battle-axe and conducting campaigns on his own authority; the Marquis of Bolu assisted the Han, with the Rapid as Tigers guards clearing his way. Today you, sir, support what is in peril and hold up what is toppling, and you are the pillar and foundation stone of the state. You hold the charge of the Preceptor Wang and combine it with the weight of Huo Guang; the five ranks of lords and the nine chiefs are under your control. From antiquity to the present no subject has been as exalted as you. Now, those of high rank have deep cares, and those of rich emoluments bear heavy responsibility. You occupy a post of high rank and stand where responsibility is heavy: words that leave your mouth become rewards and punishments, and whatever your mind dwells on becomes fortune or disaster.

昔營邱翼周，杖鉞專征，博陸佐漢，虎賁警蹕。今日足下扶危持傾，為國柱石，秉師望之任，兼霍光之重，五侯九伯，制御在手，自古及今，人臣之尊未有及足下者也。夫爵高者憂深，祿厚者責重。足下據爵高之任，當責重之地，言出于口，即為賞罰，意之所存，便為禍福。

If you act according to the Way, the altars of the state will be at peace; if you act against the Way, the four quarters will scatter into disorder. The safety or peril of the state rests with you; the lives of the common people hang upon your administration. From the Chinese to the barbarians, all gaze toward you in expectation. Holding this charge, how can you fail to look far back through the records at the causes of rise and fall and the turning points of honor and disgrace, to cast aside and forget old grudges, to be lenient and harmonious toward the officials, to weigh carefully the five talents, and to choose men for the offices? If you find the right man, recommend him even if he is an enemy; if he is not the right man, do not grant office even to a kinsman.

行之得道，即社稷用寧；行之失道，即四方散亂。國家安危，在於足下；百姓之命，縣於執事。自華及夷，顒顒注望。足下任此，豈可不遠覽載籍廢興之由，榮辱之機，棄忘舊惡，寬和羣司，審量五材，為官擇人？苟得其人，雖讎必舉；苟其非人，雖親不授。

Thereby bring peace to the altars of the state and relief to the people below; when the work is established and the merit achieved, your fame will be set to pipes and strings and your deeds engraved on bronze and stone. I pray you, strive for it! For the state’s sake, take care of yourself; for the people’s sake, cherish yourself.”

以寧社稷，以濟下民，事立功成，則系音于管弦，勒勛于金石，愿君勉之！為國自重，為民自愛。

Zhang Xiang, resentful that Xu Jing would not join him, searched out the letters Xu Jing had sent off and threw them all into the water.

翔恨靖之不自納，搜索靖所寄書疏，盡投之于水。

Later Liu Zhang finally sent an envoy to invite Xu Jing, and Xu Jing came into Shu. Liu Zhang made him Prefect of Ba Commandery and of Guanghan. Song Zhongzi of Nanyang, in Jing Province, wrote to Wang Shang, Prefect of Shu Commandery: “Wenxiu is free-spirited and extraordinary and has the capacity to serve his age; you should take him as your guide.” In the sixteenth year of Jian’an he was transferred to Shu Commandery. In the nineteenth year, when the First Ruler conquered Shu, he made Xu Jing Chief Clerk to the General of the Left; when the First Ruler became King of Hanzhong, Xu Jing became Grand Tutor.

後劉璋遂使使招靖，靖來入蜀。璋以靖為巴郡、廣漢太守。南陽宋仲子于荊州與蜀郡太守王商書曰：「文休倜儻瑰瑋，有當世之具，足下當以為指南。」¹建安十六年，轉在蜀郡。²十九年，先主克蜀，以靖為左將軍長史，先主為漢中王，靖為太傅。

When he assumed the imperial title, he issued a patent to Xu Jing: “We have received and taken up the great heritage and reign over the myriad states, but day and night We are anxious, fearing that We cannot bring peace. The people are not affectionate with one another and the five relationships are not observed. You shall be Minister over the Masses: reverently spread the five teachings, and do so with leniency. Strive, sir! Hold to virtue without slackening, and fulfill Our wishes.”

及即尊號，策靖曰：「朕獲奉洪業，君臨萬國，夙宵惶惶，懼不能綏。百姓不親，五品不遜，汝作司徒，其敬敷五教，在寬。君其勖哉！秉德無怠，稱朕意焉。」

Although Xu Jing was past seventy, he loved and delighted in people, drew in and welcomed younger men, and never tired of pure conversation. Everyone, the Chancellor Zhuge Liang included, bowed to him. He died in the second year of Zhangwu. His son Xu Qin died young, before Xu Jing. Xu Qin’s son Xu You became a Master of Writing during Jingyao. In the beginning Xu Jing served Chen Ji of Yingchuan as an elder brother, and he was on close terms with Yuan Huan of Chen, Hua Xin of Pingyuan, Wang Lang of Donghai, and others. Hua Xin, Wang Lang, and Chen Ji’s son Chen Qun became Excellencies and chief ministers at the beginning of Wei, and all of them wrote to Xu Jing to renew their old friendship, with deep and earnest feeling. As the letters are lengthy, they are not recorded here.

靖雖年逾七十，愛樂人物，誘納後進，清談不倦。丞相諸葛亮皆為之拜。章武二年卒。子欽，先靖夭沒。欽子游，景耀中為尚書。始靖兄事潁川陳紀，與陳郡袁渙、平原華歆、東海王朗等親善，歆、朗及紀子羣，魏初為公輔大臣，咸與靖書，申陳舊好，情義款至，文多故不載。¹

Mi Zhu

麋竺

Mi Zhu, courtesy name Zizhong, was a man of Qu in Donghai. For generations his ancestors had traded and grown rich; they had ten thousand servants and retainers and wealth in the hundreds of millions. Later Tao Qian, Governor of Xu Province, summoned him to be Attendant Officer with Separate Carriage. When Tao Qian died, Mi Zhu, carrying out Tao Qian’s last command, welcomed the First Ruler from Xiaopei. In the first year of Jian’an, Lü Bu, taking advantage of the First Ruler’s absence to resist Yuan Shu, attacked Xiapi and captured the First Ruler’s wife and children. The First Ruler moved his army to Haixi in Guangling, and Mi Zhu then presented his younger sister to the First Ruler as his lady, along with two thousand slaves and retainers and gold, silver, and money to aid the army’s supplies. At that time the First Ruler was destitute, and thanks to this he recovered.

麋竺字子仲，東海朐人也。祖世貨殖，僮客萬人，貲產鉅億。¹後徐州牧陶謙辟為別駕從事。謙卒，竺奉謙遺命，迎先主于小沛。建安元年，呂布乘先主之出拒袁術，襲下邳，虜先主妻子。先主轉軍廣陵海西，竺于是進妹于先主為夫人，奴客二千，金銀貨幣以助軍資，于時困匱，賴此復振。

Later Lord Cao memorialized that Mi Zhu be made Prefect of Ying Commandery and his younger brother Mi Fang Chancellor of Pengcheng, but both left their posts and followed the First Ruler in his wanderings. When the First Ruler was about to go to Jing Province, he sent Mi Zhu ahead to get in touch with Liu Biao, and made Mi Zhu Gentleman Attendant to the General of the Left. After Yi Province was pacified, Mi Zhu was appointed General Who Pacifies the Han, ranking above the Military Adviser General. Mi Zhu was gracious, sincere, and refined, but practical administration was not his strength. He was therefore treated with the courtesies due an honored guest and was never given troops to command. Yet in rewards and favor, no one could compare with him.

後曹公表竺領嬴郡太守，¹竺弟芳為彭城相，皆去官，隨先主周旋。先主將適荊州，遣竺先與劉表相聞，以竺為左將軍從事中郎。益州既平，拜為安漢將軍，班在軍師將軍之右。竺雍容敦雅，而幹翮非所長。是以待之以上賓之禮，未嘗有所統御。然賞賜優寵，無與為比。

Mi Fang, as Prefect of Nan Commandery, served together with Guan Yu, but they were privately at odds and Mi Fang became disaffected; he rebelled and welcomed Sun Quan, and Guan Yu was defeated and ruined because of it. Mi Zhu bound himself and begged for punishment, but the First Ruler consoled him, explaining that the crimes of one brother do not extend to the other, and honored him as before. Mi Zhu fell ill from shame and anger and died a little over a year later. His son Mi Wei rose to be General of the Household of the Rapid as Tigers. Mi Wei’s son Mi Zhao was Supervisor of the Tiger Cavalry. From Mi Zhu down to Mi Zhao, all of them were at home with bow and horse and excelled at archery and driving, it is said.

芳為南郡太守，與關羽共事，而私好攜貳，叛迎孫權，羽因覆敗。竺面縛請罪，先主慰諭以兄弟罪不相及，崇待如初。竺慚恚發病，歲餘卒。子威，官至虎賁中郎將。威子照，虎騎監。自竺至照，皆便弓馬，善射御云。

Sun Qian

孫乾

Sun Qian, courtesy name Gongyou, was a man of Beihai. When the First Ruler took charge of Xu Province, he summoned Sun Qian to be an Assistant Officer, and afterward Sun Qian followed him in his wanderings. When the First Ruler turned against Lord Cao, he sent Sun Qian to make an alliance with Yuan Shao; and when he was about to go to Jing Province, Sun Qian together with Mi Zhu went as envoys to Liu Biao. In both cases they carried out his intentions. Later, when Liu Biao wrote to Yuan Shang about the calamity of the quarrel between him and his brother, he said, “Every time I discuss this matter with General of the Left Liu and Sun Gongyou, our hearts ache to the bone, and we grieve together for you.”

孫乾字公佑，北海人也。先主領徐州，辟為從事，¹後隨從周旋。先主之背曹公，遣乾自結袁紹，將適荊州，乾又與麋竺俱使劉表，皆如意指。後表與袁尚書，說其兄弟分爭之變，曰：「每與劉左將軍、孫公佑共論此事，未嘗不痛心入骨，相為悲傷也。」

Such was the esteem he enjoyed. When the First Ruler settled Yi Province, Sun Qian was promoted from Gentleman Attendant to General Who Upholds Loyalty; he was treated with courtesy next after Mi Zhu, on a par with Jian Yong. Soon afterward he died.

其見重如此。先主定益州，乾自從事中郎為秉忠將軍，見禮次麋竺，與簡雍同等。頃之，卒。

Jian Yong

簡雍

Jian Yong, courtesy name Xianhe, was a man of Zhuo Commandery. He had known the First Ruler since his youth, and he followed him in his wanderings. When the First Ruler reached Jing Province, Jian Yong, together with Mi Zhu and Sun Qian, became a Gentleman Attendant; he served constantly as a companion in conversation and traveled back and forth on missions. When the First Ruler entered Yi Province, Liu Zhang met Jian Yong and was very fond of him. Later, when the First Ruler besieged Chengdu, he sent Jian Yong to persuade Liu Zhang, and Liu Zhang at last rode out of the city in the same carriage as Jian Yong and submitted. The First Ruler appointed Jian Yong General Who Manifests Virtue.

簡雍字憲和，涿郡人也。少與先主有舊，隨從周旋。先主至荊州，雍與麋竺、孫乾同爲從事中郎，常爲談客，往來使命。先主入益州，劉璋見雍，甚愛之。後先主圍成都，遣雍往說璋，璋遂與雍同輿而載，出城歸命。先主拜雍爲昭德將軍。

He was leisurely and fond of discussion, and by nature casual, haughty, and unrestrained. Even in the First Ruler’s company he would sit sprawled with his legs out or lean over to one side, with no dignity of bearing, doing just as he pleased. With Zhuge Liang and those below him, he would take a couch all to himself, lying with his neck on a pillow as he talked, deferring to no one. At that time there was a drought and alcohol was prohibited; those who brewed it were punished. When officials searched a household and found brewing equipment, those deliberating the case wanted to punish its owners the same as people who had made liquor. Jian Yong was out sightseeing with the First Ruler when they saw a man and a woman walking along the road, and he said to the First Ruler, “Those people are about to commit adultery. Why aren’t they tied up?”

優游風儀，性簡傲跌宕，在先主坐席，猶箕踞傾倚，威儀不肅，自縱適；諸葛亮已下則獨擅一榻，項枕卧語，無所爲屈。時天旱禁酒，釀者有刑。吏於人家索得釀具，論者欲令與作酒者同罰。雍與先主游觀，見一男女行道，謂先主曰：「彼人欲行淫，何以不縛？」

The First Ruler said, “How do you know that?” Jian Yong replied, “They have the equipment for it, just like those who meant to brew.” The First Ruler laughed heartily and pardoned those who had meant to brew. Jian Yong’s wit was all of this kind.

先主曰：「卿何以知之？」雍對曰：「彼有其具，與欲釀者同。」先主大笑，而原欲釀者。雍之滑稽，皆此類也。¹

Yi Ji

伊籍

Yi Ji, courtesy name Jibo, was a man of Shanyang. In his youth he relied on Liu Biao, General Who Guards the South, a man of his own county. While the First Ruler was in Jing Province, Yi Ji regularly came and went, attaching himself to him. When Liu Biao died, Yi Ji followed the First Ruler south across the Yangtze and went with him into Yi Province. After Yi Province was settled, Yi Ji was made Gentleman Attendant to the General of the Left and was treated just below Jian Yong, Sun Qian, and the others. He was sent east as envoy to Wu. Sun Quan, having heard of his talent in argument, meant to put him down with words at the outset.

伊籍字機伯，山陽人。少依邑人鎮南將軍劉表。先主之在荊州，籍常往來自托。表卒，遂隨先主南渡江，從入益州。益州既定，以籍為左將軍從事中郎，見待亞于簡雍、孫乾等。遣東使于吳，孫權聞其才辨，欲逆折以辭。

Just as Yi Ji came in and bowed, Sun Quan said, “Is it toilsome, serving a lord without the Way?” Yi Ji replied at once, “One bow and one rising — hardly enough to call toil.” Yi Ji’s quick wit was generally like this, and Sun Quan thought him quite remarkable. Later he was promoted to General Who Manifests Letters, and together with Zhuge Liang, Fa Zheng, Liu Ba, and Li Yan he compiled the Shu Code; the provisions of the Shu Code came from these five men.

籍適入拜，權曰：「勞事無道之君乎？」籍即對曰：「一拜一起，未足為勞。」籍之機捷，類皆如此，權甚異之。後遷昭文將軍，與諸葛亮、法正、劉巴、李嚴共造《蜀科》；《蜀科》之制，由此五人焉。

Qin Mi

秦宓

Qin Mi, courtesy name Zichi, was a man of Mianzhu in Guanghan. From his youth he had talent and learning; whenever the province or the commandery summoned him, he pleaded illness and did not go. He sent a memorial to the Governor Liu Yan recommending the Confucian scholar Ren Dingzu, saying: “Of old, Baili Xi and Jian Shu settled the plans of state in their old age, while Gan Luo and Ziqi achieved merit when they were barely of age. Thus the Book of Documents praises the yellow-haired elders, and the Changes commends Yan Yuan. It is clear, then, that in selecting officers and employing the able one should not be bound by age or youth.

秦宓字子敕，廣漢綿竹人也。少有才學，州郡辟命，輒稱疾不往。奏記州牧劉焉，荐儒士任定祖曰：昔百里、蹇叔以耆艾而定策，甘羅、子奇以童冠而立功，故《書》美黃發，而《易》稱顏淵，固知選士用能，不拘長幼，明矣。

In recent times, recommendations throughout the realm have mostly favored brilliant young men and passed over the old. Opinion is not united, and those for and against are evenly split. This is the leisurely stroll of peaceful times, not the urgent task of an age of disorder. Now, if one wishes to rescue the endangered and settle the disordered, to cultivate oneself so as to give peace to others, one should choose men who are outstanding beyond their peers and whose aims differ from the common run, men who will astonish neighboring states and shake the four quarters, who above accord with the mind of Heaven and below agree with the will of men. When Heaven and men are in harmony and one finds nothing to reproach on examining oneself, then even amid calamity and chaos, what is there to worry about or fear?

乃者以來，海內察舉，率多英俊而遺舊齒，眾論不齊，異同相半，此乃承平之翔步，非亂世之急務也。夫欲救危撫亂，修己以安人，則宜卓犖超倫，與時殊趣，震驚鄰國，駭動四方，上當天心，下合人意；天人既和，內省不疚，雖遭凶亂，何憂何懼！

Of old, the Lord of She in Chu loved dragons, and a divine dragon came down to him. If feigned love reaches Heaven, how much more the genuine thing? Now the gentleman in retirement Ren An, with his benevolence, righteousness, and upright Way, has a name that has spread far in all directions; if he were now nominated, the whole province would submit. Of old, when Tang raised up Yi Yin, the unbenevolent kept their distance; when He Wu recommended the two Gongs, both their names were recorded on bamboo and silk. Hence to covet a height of a few feet and neglect a peak of ten thousand fathoms, to enjoy the ornament before one’s eyes and forget the renown of the realm — this is truly what the ancients weighed with great care.

昔楚葉公好龍，神龍下之，好偽徹天，何況于真？今處士任安，仁義直道，流名四遠；如今見察，則一州斯服。昔湯舉伊尹，不仁者遠，何武貢二龔，雙名竹帛，故貪尋常之高而忽萬仞之嵩，樂面前之飾而忘天下之譽，斯誠往古之所重慎也。

I was just about to cut stone in search of jade and split clams in search of pearls, but now the pearl of Sui and the jade of He shine forth as bright as the sun — what more is there to doubt? I know full well that one does not carry a candle in daylight, for the sun has light to spare; but in my humble earnestness I long to set out what I see.”

甫欲鑿石索玉，剖蚌求珠，今乃隨、和炳然，有如皎日，復何疑哉！誠知晝不操燭，日有余光，但愚情區區，貪陳所見。」¹

In Liu Zhang’s time, Wang Shang, a man of Qin Mi’s own commandery, was Headquarters Officer. He wrote to Qin Mi: “Poverty, lowliness, hardship — how can you spend your whole life that way? Bian He displayed his jade to dazzle the world; you ought to come once and meet the lord of the province.” Qin Mi wrote back: “Of old, Yao favored Xu You — it was not ungenerous of him — yet Xu You washed his ears; Chu invited Zhuang Zhou — it was not stingy of it — yet Zhuang Zhou held on to his fishing rod and did not look round. The Changes says, ‘Firm, he cannot be uprooted.’ What is there to display?

劉璋時，宓同郡王商為治中從事，與宓書曰：「貧賤困苦，亦何時可以終身！卞和炫玉以耀世，宜一來，與州尊相見。」宓答書曰：昔堯優許由，非不弘也，洗其兩耳；楚聘莊周，非不廣也，執竿罔顧。《易》曰‘確乎其不可拔’，夫何炫之有？

Moreover, with our lord’s worthiness and you as his able aide, if you do not now put forward plans like those of Xiao He and Zhang Liang, you can hardly be called wise. As for me, I get to warm my back in the sun among the furrows, recite Yan Hui’s bamboo dish and gourd, sing of Yuan Xian’s door of brushwood, and at times roam the forests and marshes in the company of such as Changju and Jieni; I listen to the mournful cries of the black gibbons and watch the cranes calling in the nine marshes. I take a quiet life as my joy and freedom from care as my blessing; I hold an empty name and live as a tortoise without spiritual power. Those who know me are few, and so I am precious.

且以國君之賢，子為良輔，不以是時建蕭、張之策，未足為智也。仆得曝背乎隴畝之中，誦顏氏之簞瓢，詠原憲之蓬戶，時翱翔于林澤，與沮、溺等儔，聽玄猿之悲吟，察鶴鳴于九皋，安身為樂，無憂為福，處空虛之名，居不靈之龜，知我者希，則我貴矣。

This is the season in which I have what I want — why should I grieve over hardship?” Later, when Wang Shang built a shrine for Yan Junping and Li Hong, Qin Mi wrote to him: “Lying hidden in sickness, I have only just learned that you built a shrine for Yan and Li; this may be called generosity to your fellows and diligence toward your own kind. Looking at Yan’s writings, they are foremost in the realm, and his lofty conduct, like that of Xu You and Bo Yi, is as immovable as the mountains; even if Master Yang had not praised him, he would certainly have been illustrious in his own right. But as for Li Zhongyuan, had he not met with the Model Sayings, his good name would surely have sunk into obscurity, because he lacked the patterned coat of the tiger and leopard. He may be called one who clung to the dragon and attached himself to the phoenix.

斯乃仆得志之秋也，何困苦之戚焉！」後商為嚴君平、李弘立祠，宓與書曰：「疾病伏匿，甫知足下為嚴、李立祠，可謂厚黨勤類者也。觀嚴文章，冠冒天下，由、夷逸操，山岳不移，使揚子不嘆，固自昭明。如李仲元不遭《法言》，令名必淪，其無虎豹之文故也，可謂攀龍附鳳者矣。

Someone like Yang Ziyun devoted himself to writing and so benefited the age; coiled in the mud he was not sullied, and his conduct ranks with the sage teachers, so that to this day all within the seas discuss and recite his words. Our land has such a man to shine far and wide, and I wonder that you passed him over and built him no shrine. Shu originally had no scholars. Wen Weng sent Xiangru east to study the Seven Classics, and when he came back he taught the officials and the people, so that the learning of Shu came to rival that of Qi and Lu. Thus the Treatise on Geography says, ‘Wen Weng initiated its teaching, and Xiangru was its master.’

如揚子雲潛心著述，有補于世，泥蟠不滓，行參聖師，于今海內，談詠厥辭。邦有斯人，以耀四遠，怪子替茲，不立祠堂。蜀本無學士，文翁遣相如東受七經，還教吏民，于是蜀學比于齊、魯。故《地理志》曰：‘文翁倡其教，相如為之師。’

The Han dynasty was richer in men of talent than any other age, yet the likes of Dong Zhongshu did not understand the Feng and Shan sacrifices, and it was Xiangru who drafted their rites. He was able to create rites and compose music and to change customs and habits — is he not exactly one whom the rites rank for sacrifice as having benefited the world? Though he bore the blemish of the Wangsun affair, it is just as Confucius exalted Duke Huan of Qi’s hegemony and the Gongyang commentary deemed Shu Shu’s yielding worthy. I too esteem Changqing’s transforming influence; you should build him a shrine and settle its inscription quickly.”

漢家得士，盛于其世；仲舒之徒，不達封禪，相如制其禮。夫能制禮造樂，移風易俗，非禮所秩有益于世者乎！雖有王孫之累，猶孔子大齊桓之霸，公羊賢叔術之讓。仆亦善長卿之化，宜立祠堂，速定其銘。

Before this, Li Quan asked to borrow the Stratagems of the Warring States from Qin Mi. Qin Mi said, “The alliances and counter-alliances of the Warring States — what use would you make of them?” Li Quan said, “Zhongni and Yan Ping gathered many books to compose the texts of the Spring and Autumn Annals and the Essential Meaning. Thus the sea becomes great by merging streams, and the gentleman becomes broad through wide learning.” Qin Mi replied, “If a book was not among the historical records and the charts of Zhou, Zhongni did not take from it; if a teaching was not of emptiness and naturalness, Yan Ping did not expound it. The sea receives silt, but once a year it is flushed clean; the gentleman learns widely, but does not look at what is contrary to ritual.

先是，李權從宓借《戰國策》，宓曰：「戰國從橫，用之何為？」權曰：「仲尼、嚴平，會聚眾書，以成《春秋》、《指歸》之文，故海以合流為大，君子以博識為弘。」宓報曰：書非史記周圖，仲尼不采，道非虛無自然，嚴平不演。海以受淤，歲一蕩清；君子博識，非禮不視。

Now the Warring States text rehearses over and over the schemes of Zhang Yi and Su Qin — killing others to live oneself, ruining others to survive oneself — which the classics abhor. Therefore Confucius, stirred to indignation, composed the Spring and Autumn Annals, which exalts abiding in rectitude, and further composed the Classic of Filial Piety to set forth virtuous conduct at large. To block a trend at its beginning and guard against it at the bud, restraining it in advance — this is why Laozi cut off disaster before it sprouted; how can this not be true! Cheng Tang, a great sage, on seeing fish in the wild made the error of chasing after them; Duke Ding, a worthy man, on seeing female musicians abandoned the business of court. Examples of this kind are too many to list.

今戰國反覆儀、秦之術，殺人自生，亡人自存，經之所疾。故孔子發憤作《春秋》。大乎居正，復制《孝經》，廣陳德行。杜漸防萌，預有所抑，是以老氏絕禍于未萌，豈不信邪！成湯大聖，睹野魚而有獵逐之失，定公賢者，見女樂而棄朝事，¹若此輩類，焉可勝陳。

The Daoist teaching says, ‘Not seeing what arouses desire keeps the heart from disorder.’ Thus heaven and earth are steadfast in what they show, and sun and moon steadfast in their brightness; straight as an arrow is the path the gentleman treads. The Great Plan records calamities as arising from speech and bearing. What use, then, are the tricks and expedients of the Warring States?”

道家法曰：‘不見所欲，使心不亂。’是故天地貞觀，日月貞明，其直如矢，君子所履。《洪范》記災，發于言貌，何戰國之譎權乎哉！

Someone said to Qin Mi, “You wish to compare yourself to Chao Fu, Xu You, and the Four Graybeards; why then do you flourish your literary talent and display your brilliance?” Qin Mi replied, “My writing cannot fully express my words, and my words cannot fully express my meaning; what literary flourish do I have to display? Of old, Confucius met Duke Ai three times, and his words filled seven scrolls; there are indeed matters on which one cannot stay silent. Jieyu sang as he walked, and the compilers made their pages shine with it; the fisherman sang of the Canglang, and the worthy made his chapter glow with it.

或謂宓曰：「足下欲自比于巢、許、四皓，何故揚文藻見瑰穎乎？」宓答曰：「仆文不能盡言，言不能盡意，何文藻之有揚乎！昔孔子三見哀公，言成七卷，事蓋有不可嘿嘿也。¹接輿行且歌，論家以光篇；漁父詠滄浪，賢者以耀章。

These two men had no ambitions in their age. The tiger is born with brilliant stripes and the phoenix is born with five colors; do they paint and adorn themselves with the five hues? It is simply their nature. Indeed the River Chart and the Luo Writing arose from patterns, and the Six Classics arose from writing; if the gentleman prizes cultured virtue, what harm is there in literary adornment? Even one as foolish as I am is ashamed of Ge Zicheng’s mistake — how much more those wiser than I!”

此二人者，非有欲于時者也。夫虎生而文炳，鳳生而五色，豈以五采自飾畫哉？天性自然也。蓋《河》、《洛》由文興，六經由文起，君子懿文德，采藻其何傷！以仆之愚，猶恥革子成之誤，況賢于己者乎！」¹

After the First Ruler had settled Yi Province, Xiahou Zuan, Prefect of Guanghan, invited Qin Mi to be Libationer of Teachers and Friends, concurrently Officer of the Five Offices, and addressed him as Zhongfu, “Uncle.” Qin Mi pleaded illness and lay in his residence. Xiahou Zuan brought his Officer of Merit Gu Pu and his Registrar Wang Pu, with food from his kitchen, to Qin Mi’s house to feast and converse, but Qin Mi went on lying down as before. Xiahou Zuan asked Gu Pu, “When it comes to the means of nourishing life, your province truly surpasses all the others. But I wonder how its gentlemen compare with those of the other provinces?”

先主既定益州，廣漢太守夏侯纂請宓為師友祭酒，領五官掾，稱曰仲父。宓稱疾，臥在第舍，纂將功曹古朴，主簿王普，廚膳即宓第宴談，宓臥如故。纂問朴曰：「至於貴州養生之具，實絕餘州矣，不知士人何如餘州也？」

Gu Pu replied, “Since the Former Han, the men of rank and office here may at times not have matched those of other provinces, but in writings that serve as models for the world we do not fall short of them. Yan Junping read the Yellow Emperor and Laozi and wrote the Essential Meaning; Yang Xiong read the Changes and wrote the Great Mystery, and read the Analects and wrote the Model Sayings; Sima Xiangru composed the Feng and Shan text for Emperor Wu. All the realm knows of these to this day.” Xiahou Zuan said, “And how about Uncle?”

朴對曰：「乃自先漢以來，其爵位者或不如餘州耳，至於著作為世師式，不負于餘州也。嚴君平見黃、老作《指歸》，揚雄見《易》作《太玄》，見《論語》作《法言》，司馬相如為武帝制封禪之文，于今天下所共聞也。」纂曰：「仲父何如？」

Qin Mi tapped his cheek with his tablet and said, “I beg Your Excellency not to lend the word ‘Uncle’ to a little weed like me. Let me, your humble subject, set out for Your Excellency the basic account of this land. Shu has the mountain of Wenfu, from whose belly the Yangtze flows; there the Supreme Lord gathers prosperity and the spirits establish blessings, so that its fertile plains stretch a thousand li. Among the Four Rivers — the Huai, the Ji, and the rest — the Yangtze is the foremost: that is the first point. Yu was born at Shiniu, which is present-day Wenshan Commandery. Of old, when Yao met with the great flood and Gun could not control it, Yu dredged the Yangtze and opened the Yellow River, sending them east into the sea and removing the harm to the people; since mankind began, no achievement has come before it: that is the second point.

宓以簿擊頰，¹曰：愿明府勿以仲父之言假於小草，民請為明府陳其本紀。蜀有汶阜之山，江出其腹，帝以會昌，神以建福，故能沃野千里。²淮、濟四瀆，江為其首，此其一也。禹生石紐，今之汶山郡是也。³昔堯遭洪水，鯀所不治，禹疏江決河，東注于海，為民除害，生民已來功莫先者，此其二也。

The Heavenly Emperor spreads his rule in the lodges Fang and Xin and settles his government in Shen and Fa, and Shen and Fa are the celestial field corresponding to Yi Province. The Three Sovereigns rode their earth-spirit chariots out from the valley mouth, which is present-day Xie Valley. Such is the lay of our humble province. Judging it with your refined mind, Excellency, how does it compare with the rest of the realm?”

天帝布治房心，決政參伐，參伐則益州分野，三皇乘祗車出谷口，今之斜谷是也。¹此便鄙州之阡陌，明府以雅意論之，何若于天下乎？

At this Xiahou Zuan hesitated and had nothing more to say in reply.

于是纂逡巡無以復答。

The province of Yi summoned Qin Mi to be Libationer Attendant Officer. After the First Ruler had taken the imperial title and was about to campaign east against Wu, Qin Mi argued that the timing of Heaven would certainly bring no advantage; for this he was imprisoned and confined, but was later pardoned and released. In the second year of Jianxing, when the Chancellor Zhuge Liang took charge as Governor of Yi Province, he chose Qin Mi and welcomed him as Attendant Officer with Separate Carriage, and soon appointed him General of the Household of the Left and Colonel of the Changshui Garrison. When Wu sent Zhang Wen as envoy on a courtesy visit, all the officials went to see him off. Everyone had gathered but Qin Mi had not come, and Zhuge Liang sent messengers again and again to hurry him. Zhang Wen said, “Who is he?”

益州辟宓為從事祭酒。先主既稱尊號，將東征吳，宓陳天時必無其利，坐下獄幽閉，然後貸出。建興二年，丞相亮領益州牧，選宓迎為別駕，尋拜左中郎將、長水校尉。吳遣使張溫來聘，百官皆往餞焉。眾人皆集而宓未往，亮累遣使促之，溫曰：「彼何人也？」

Zhuge Liang said, “A scholar of Yi Province.” When Qin Mi arrived, Zhang Wen asked him, “Are you learned?” Qin Mi said, “Every child five feet tall is learning — why single out a humble man like me?” Zhang Wen asked again, “Does Heaven have a head?” Qin Mi said, “It does.” Zhang Wen said, “In which direction?” Qin Mi said, “In the west. The Odes says, ‘He turned his gaze to the west.’ Inferring from this, its head is in the west.” Zhang Wen said, “Does Heaven have ears?” Qin Mi said, “Heaven dwells on high yet hears what is below. The Odes says, ‘The crane cries in the nine marshes; its voice is heard in Heaven.’

亮曰：「益州學士也。」及至，溫問曰：「君學乎？」宓曰：「五尺童子皆學，何必小人！」溫復問曰：「天有頭乎？」宓曰：「有之。」溫曰：「在何方也？」宓曰：「在西方。《詩》曰：『乃眷西顧。』以此推之，頭在西方。」溫曰：「天有耳乎？」宓曰：「天處高而聽卑，《詩》云：『鶴鳴于九皋，聲聞于天。』

If it had no ears, how could it hear?” Zhang Wen said, “Does Heaven have feet?” Qin Mi said, “It does. The Odes says, ‘Heaven’s steps are hard and toilsome; that man does not follow the right way.’ If it had no feet, how could it step?” Zhang Wen said, “Does Heaven have a surname?” Qin Mi said, “It does.” Zhang Wen said, “What surname?” Qin Mi said, “Its surname is Liu.” Zhang Wen said, “How do you know?” He answered, “The Son of Heaven’s surname is Liu; that is how I know.” Zhang Wen said, “Does the sun not rise in the east?” Qin Mi said, “Though it rises in the east, it sets in the west.”

若其無耳，何以聽之？」溫曰：「天有足乎？」宓曰：「有。《詩》云：『天步艱難，之子不猶。』若其無足，何以步之？」溫曰：「天有姓乎？」宓曰：「有。」溫曰：「何姓？」宓曰：「姓劉。」溫曰：「何以知之？」答曰：「天子姓劉，故以此知之。」溫曰：「日生于東乎？」宓曰：「雖生于東而沒于西。」

He answered questions like an echo, the replies coming out as soon as the words were spoken, and Zhang Wen was filled with respect and admiration. Qin Mi’s literary eloquence was all of this kind. He was promoted to Grand Minister of Agriculture and died in the fourth year. Earlier, when Qin Mi saw the text of the Genealogies of the Emperors, which held that the Five Emperors were all of one clan, he disputed the basis for it and argued it was not so. He also discussed the theories of sovereigns, emperors, kings, and hegemons and of the rearing of dragons, with a great deal of reason in them. Qiao Yunnan, when young, went many times to consult him and recorded his words in the Treatise on Right and Wrong in the Spring and Autumn. As the text is lengthy, it is not recorded here.

答問如響，應聲而出，于是溫大敬服。宓之文辯，皆此類也。遷大司農，四年卒。初宓見帝系之文，五帝皆同一族，宓辨其不然之本。又論皇帝王霸豢龍之說，甚有道理，譙允南少時數往咨訪，紀錄其言于《春秋然否論》，文多故不載。

Appraisal

評

Appraisal: Xu Jing had an early reputation; he was praised for his sincerity and generosity and gave his attention to judging men. Although his actions and conduct were not always fitting, Jiang Ji considered him “on the whole, a vessel fit for the court.” Mi Zhu, Sun Qian, Jian Yong, and Yi Ji were all gracious and cultivated in discussion and were treated with courtesy in their age. Qin Mi at first admired the loftiness of a recluse’s withdrawal, but lacked the substance of one who seems a fool. Yet he was more than capable of answering on his own, and his writing was vigorous and beautiful; he may be called a man of talent of his time.

評曰：許靖夙有名節，既以篤厚為稱，又以人物為意，雖行事舉動，未悉允當，蔣濟以為「大較廊廟器」也。¹麋竺、孫乾、簡雍、伊籍，皆雍容風議，見禮于世。秦宓始慕肥遁之高，而無若愚之實。然專對有余，文藻壯美，可謂一時之才士矣。