Records of Wu 4: Biographies of Liu Yao, Taishi Ci and Shi Xie

Records of Wu 4: Biographies of Liu Yao, Taishi Ci and Shi Xie

Liu Yao

劉繇

Liu Yao, courtesy name Zhengli, was a man of Muping County in Donglai Commandery. The youngest son of King Xiao of Qi had been enfeoffed as Marquis of Muping, and his descendants made their home there. Liu Yao's uncle Liu Chong was Grand Commandant of Han. Liu Yao's elder brother Liu Dai, courtesy name Gongshan, served successively as Palace Attendant and Inspector of Yan Province.

劉繇，字正禮，東萊牟平人也。齊孝王少子封牟平侯，子孫家焉。繇伯父寵，為漢太尉。¹繇兄岱，字公山，歷位侍中，兗州刺史。²

When Liu Yao was nineteen, his uncle Liu Wei was seized as a hostage by bandits. Liu Yao snatched him back and brought him home, and from this he became famous. He was nominated as Filial and Incorrupt, became a Gentleman of the Palace, and was appointed Chief of Xiayi. At the time the commandery's Prefect pressed on him a request on behalf of a noble relative of the imperial house, and so he abandoned his office and left. The province summoned him and assigned him to oversee Jinan; the Chancellor of Jinan was the son of a Regular Palace Attendant, greedy, corrupt, and lawless, and Liu Yao submitted a memorial that had him dismissed. Taoqiu Hong of Pingyuan recommended Liu Yao and wanted to have him nominated as Flourishing Talent, but the Inspector said, “Last year we nominated Gongshan;

繇年十九，從父韙為賊所劫質。繇篡取以歸，由是顯名。舉孝廉，為郎中，除下邑長。時郡守以貴戚托之，遂棄官去。州辟部濟南，濟南相中常侍子，貪穢不循，繇奏免之。平原陶丘洪薦繇，欲令舉茂才。刺史曰：「前年舉公山。

how can we nominate Zhengli as well?” Taoqiu Hong said, “If Your Excellency employs Gongshan first and promotes Zhengli afterward, that is what is called driving two dragons on a long road and galloping thoroughbreds a thousand li. Would that not be fine?” He was then summoned as an aide to the Minister of Works and appointed Attendant Censor, but did not take up the post. He took refuge from the disorders at Huaipu, and an imperial edict made him Inspector of Yang Province. At that time Yuan Shu was in Huainan; Liu Yao feared and dreaded him and did not dare go to his province. He wanted to cross the Yangtze southward, and Wu Jing and Sun Ben welcomed him and settled him at Qu'e.

奈何復舉正禮乎？」洪曰：「若明使君用公山於前，擢正禮於後，所謂御二龍於長塗，騁騏驥於千里，不亦可乎！」會辟司空掾，除侍御史，不就。避亂淮浦，詔書以為揚州刺史。時袁術在淮南，繇畏憚，不敢之州。欲南渡江，吳景，孫賁迎置曲阿。

Yuan Shu was plotting usurpation and rebellion, and he attacked and took various commanderies and counties. Liu Yao sent Fan Neng and Zhang Ying to garrison the riverbank to resist him. Because Wu Jing and Sun Ben had been appointed by Yuan Shu, he pressed them and drove them away. Yuan Shu then appointed his own Inspector of Yang Province and, joining forces with Wu Jing and Sun Ben, attacked Zhang Ying, Fan Neng, and the others, but for more than a year could not overcome them. The Han court by decree promoted Liu Yao to Imperial Protector and General Who Arouses Martial Might, and his followers numbered several tens of thousands. Sun Ce crossed the river to the east and defeated Zhang Ying, Fan Neng, and the others. Liu Yao fled to Dantu, then went upstream and south to hold Yuzhang, stationing himself at Pengze.

術圖為僭逆，攻沒諸郡縣。繇遣樊能、張英屯江邊以拒之。以景、賁術所授用，乃迫逐使去。於是術乃自置揚州刺史，與景、賁並力攻英、能等，歲餘不下。漢命加繇為牧，振武將軍，眾數萬人。孫策東渡，破英、能等。繇奔丹徒，¹遂泝江南保豫章，駐彭澤。

Ze Rong had arrived first; he had killed the Prefect Zhu Hao and moved into the commandery seat. Liu Yao advanced to attack Ze Rong but was defeated by him. He then rallied the subordinate counties again and attacked and crushed Ze Rong, who fled in defeat into the mountains and was killed by the common people. Liu Yao soon died of illness, at the age of forty-two.

笮融先至。¹殺太守朱皓，²入居郡中。繇進討融，為融所破，更復招合屬縣，攻破融，融敗走入山。為民所殺。繇尋病卒，時年四十二。

Ze Rong

笮融

Ze Rong was a man of Danyang. At first he gathered a following of several hundred and went to attach himself to Tao Qian, Imperial Protector of Xu Province. Tao Qian had him superintend the grain transport of Guangling and Pengcheng, whereupon he became unrestrained, killed at will, and brazenly cut off the goods shipped from three commanderies, taking them for himself. He then built a great Buddhist shrine, with a human image made of bronze, its body coated in gold and clothed in brocade. Bronze discs hung in nine tiers above, and below were multistoried pavilions and covered walkways that could hold more than three thousand people. He had everyone read Buddhist scriptures, allowed those within his territory and in neighboring commanderies who were fond of the Buddha to come and receive the teaching, and exempted them from other labor service to attract them; as a result more than five thousand households came, from far and near, one after another.

笮融者，丹楊人。初聚眾數百，往依徐州牧陶謙。謙使督廣陵、彭城運漕，遂放縱擅殺，坐斷三郡委輸以自入。乃大起浮圖祠，以銅為人，黃金塗身，衣以錦采，垂銅槃九重，下為重樓閣道，可容三千餘人。悉課讀佛經，令界內及旁郡人有好佛者聽受道，復其他役以招致之，由此遠近前後至者五千餘人戶。

Every time the Buddha was bathed, he set out great quantities of wine and food and laid mats along the roads for several tens of li; the people who came to watch and to eat numbered nearly ten thousand, and the cost ran into hundreds of millions. When Lord Cao attacked Tao Qian, the land of Xu was thrown into turmoil. Ze Rong took several tens of thousands of men and women and three thousand horses and fled to Guangling, where the Prefect of Guangling, Zhao Yu, received him with the courtesies due a guest. Before this, Xue Li, Chancellor of Pengcheng, had been pressed by Tao Qian and was stationed at Moling. Coveting the people and resources of Guangling, Ze Rong killed Zhao Yu when the wine was flowing freely, turned his soldiers loose to plunder widely, loaded up the spoils, and left. On his way he killed Xue Li, and after that he killed Zhu Hao.

每浴佛，多設酒飯，布席於路，經數十里，民人來觀及就食且萬人，費以巨億計。曹公攻陶謙，徐土騷動，融將男女數萬口，馬三千匹，走廣陵，廣陵太守趙昱待以賓禮。先是，彭城相薛禮為陶謙所逼，屯秣陵。融利廣陵之眾，因酒酣殺昱，放兵大略，因載而去。過殺禮，然後殺皓。

Later, when Sun Ce campaigned west against Jiangxia and passed through Yuzhang on his return, he collected Liu Yao's remains and carried them with him, and treated his family well. Wang Lang sent Sun Ce a letter saying, “When Liu Zhengli first came to take up his province, he could not reach it on his own and truly relied on your honored family to help him along. Thanks to this he was able to cross the Yangtze, establish his government, and find a settled place. The courtesies shown when he entered your borders moved him to friendship and bound your intentions together, and that feeling was meant to last from beginning to end. Later, because of suspicions over the Yuan clan, relations gradually went awry. Allies turned instead into enemies, but if one examines his true heart, it was really not something he took pleasure in.

後策西伐江夏，還過豫章，收載繇喪，善遇其家。王朗遺策書曰：「劉正禮昔初臨州，未能自達，實賴尊門為之先後。用能濟江成治，有所處定。踐境之禮，感分結意，情在終始。後以袁氏之嫌，稍更乖刺。更以同盟，還為仇敵，原其本心，實非所樂。

After peace returned, he always wished to be reconciled and to renew the old friendship. But once you had parted, his sincere intentions were never made clear, and he suddenly passed away, which is a matter of sorrow and regret. I understand that you have used generosity to shame meanness and repaid resentment with virtue: gathering his bones and raising his orphans, grieving for the dead and pitying the living, casting aside past suspicions and protecting the young orphan left in your care. This is truly deep kindness and weighty friendship, a fine name with solid substance. In the past, though the people of Lu held a grudge against Qi, they did not neglect the mourning rites, and the Spring and Autumn Annals praised this, saying they had observed propriety. This is truly what good historians ought to draw upon and what the village schools will hear with admiration.

康寧之後，常願渝平更成，復踐宿好。一爾分離，款意不昭，奄然殂隕，可為傷恨。知敦以厲薄，德以報怨，收骨育孤，哀亡愍存，捐既往之猜。保六尺之托，誠深恩重分，美名厚實也。昔魯人雖有齊怨，不廢喪紀，《春秋》善之，謂之得禮，誠良史之所宜借，鄉校之所歎聞。

Zhengli's eldest son has resolve and integrity, and I expect he will prove to be exceptional. With your authority at its height and your punishments in force, you extend kindness as well. Is that not admirable indeed!”

正禮元子，致有志操，想必有以殊異。威盛刑行，施之以恩，不亦優哉！」

His Son Liu Ji

子　基

Liu Yao's eldest son Liu Ji, courtesy name Jingyu, at the age of fourteen observed the mourning for Liu Yao with complete propriety and accepted none of the gifts sent by his father's former officials. He had a handsome appearance, and Sun Quan loved and respected him. When Sun Quan became General of Agile Cavalry, he summoned him as Clerk of the Eastern Bureau and appointed him Colonel Who Assists Righteousness and General of the Household Who Establishes Loyalty. When Sun Quan became King of Wu, he transferred Liu Ji to Grand Minister of Agriculture. Once when Sun Quan held a banquet, the Chief Commandant of Cavalry Yu Fan got drunk and gave offense. Sun Quan wanted to kill him and was in a towering rage, but because Liu Ji remonstrated and argued with him, Yu Fan was able to escape death.

繇長子基，字敬輿。年十四，居繇喪盡禮，故吏饋餉，皆無所受。¹姿容美好，孫權愛敬之。權為驃騎將軍，辟東曹掾，拜輔義校尉、建忠中郎將。權為吳王，遷基大農。權嘗宴飲，騎都尉虞翻醉酒犯忤，權欲殺之，威怒甚盛，由基諫爭，翻以得免。

Once, in the great heat of summer, Sun Quan held a drinking banquet aboard a ship and was caught in a thunderstorm on the ship's upper deck. Sun Quan covered himself with a canopy and ordered that Liu Ji be covered as well, but no one else received this. Such was the favor shown him. He was transferred to Prefect of the Palace Gentlemen. When Sun Quan took the imperial title, the post was changed to Superintendent of the Imperial Household, and he shared in managing the affairs of the Imperial Secretariat. He died at the age of forty-nine. Later Sun Quan took Liu Ji's daughter as a wife for his son Sun Ba and granted the family a residence. The favors and gifts they received each season were equal to those of the Quan and Zhang families. Liu Ji's two younger brothers, Liu Shuo and Liu Shang, were both Chief Commandants of Cavalry.

權大暑時，嘗於船中宴飲，於船樓上值雷雨，權以蓋自覆，又命覆基，餘人不得也。其見待如此。徙郎中令。權稱尊號，改為光祿勳，分平尚書事。年四十九卒。後權為子霸納基女，賜第一區。四時寵賜，與全、張比。基二弟，鑠、尚，皆騎都尉。

Taishi Ci

太史慈

Taishi Ci, courtesy name Ziyi, was a man of Huang County in Donglai Commandery. In his youth he loved learning and served in the commandery as Clerk of the Memorials Bureau. It happened that a quarrel arose between the commandery and the province, and since the rights and wrongs had not been settled, whichever side's report reached the court first would be judged in the right. At the time the province's memorial had already set out, and the commandery's Prefect, afraid of falling behind, looked for someone who could be sent. Taishi Ci, then twenty-one, was chosen to go. Traveling day and night, he reached Luoyang and went to the Gate of Official Carriages, where he saw the provincial clerk just about to request that his memorial be passed in. Taishi Ci asked him, “Do you wish to submit a memorial?”

太史慈字子義，東萊黃人也。少好學，仕郡奏曹史。會郡與州有隙，曲直未分，以先聞者為善。時州章已去，郡守恐後之，求可使者。慈年二十一，以選行，晨夜取道，到洛陽，詣公車門，見州吏始欲求通。慈問曰：「君欲通章邪？」

The clerk said, “Yes.” Taishi Ci asked, “Where is the memorial?” The clerk said, “On the carriage.” Taishi Ci said, “Is there no mistake in its heading and signature? Bring it here and let me see it.” The clerk, having no idea that he was from Donglai, took out the memorial for him. Taishi Ci had already hidden a knife in his robe, and he immediately slashed it to pieces. The clerk leapt up and shouted, “Someone has ruined my memorial!” Taishi Ci took him aside between the carriages and said to him, “If you had not handed me the memorial just now, I would have had no way to ruin it. So our fortunes, good or ill, are the same; I will not be the only one to bear the blame for this.

吏曰：「然。」問：「章安在？」曰：「車上。」慈曰：「章題署得無誤邪？取來視之。」吏殊不知其東萊人也，因為取章。慈已先懷刀，便截敗之。吏踴躍大呼，言「人壞我章」！慈將至車閒，與語曰：「向使君不以章相與，吾亦無因得敗之，是為吉凶禍福等耳，吾不獨受此罪。

Wouldn't it be better to slip away quietly together? That way we can trade death for survival, rather than both being punished for nothing.” The clerk said, “You ruined my memorial for your commandery and have already got what you wanted. Why would you run away too?” Taishi Ci replied, “When I first received my orders from the commandery, I was only to come and see whether its memorial had been submitted or not. I went too far in my zeal and ended up ruining your memorial. Even if I go back now, I fear I will be reprimanded for this, so I want to leave with you.” The clerk agreed with what Taishi Ci said, and they left together that same day.

豈若默然俱出去，可以存易亡，無事俱就刑辟。」吏言：「君為郡敗吾章，已得如意，欲復亡為？」慈答曰：「初受郡遣，但來視章通與未耳。吾用意太過，乃相敗章。今還，亦恐以此見譴怒，故俱欲去爾。」吏然慈言，即日俱去。

After leaving the city with him, Taishi Ci slipped back and submitted the commandery's memorial. When the province heard of this, it sent another clerk to submit a memorial, but because a memorial had already been lodged, the officials in charge did not consider the matter again, and the province was judged in the wrong. From this Taishi Ci became well known, but he was hated by the provincial authorities, and fearing that he would meet with disaster, he took refuge in Liaodong.

慈既與出城，因遁還通郡章。州家聞之，更遣吏通章，有司以格章之故不復見理，州受其短。由是知名，而為州家所疾，恐受其禍，乃避之遼東。

Kong Rong, Chancellor of Beihai, heard of this and thought him remarkable. He repeatedly sent people to inquire after Taishi Ci's mother and sent her gifts as well. At that time, because the Yellow Turbans were raging, Kong Rong had gone out to garrison Duchang, where he was besieged by the rebel Guan Hai. When Taishi Ci returned from Liaodong, his mother said to him, “You have never met Kong of Beihai, yet after you left he looked after me with great care, more than an old friend would. Now he is besieged by the rebels, and you ought to go to his aid.” Taishi Ci stayed three days, then went straight to Duchang alone on foot.

北海相孔融聞而奇之，數遣人訊問其母，并致餉遺。時融以黃巾寇暴，出屯都昌，為賊管亥所圍。慈從遼東還，母謂慈曰：「汝與孔北海未嘗相見，至汝行後，贍恤殷勤，過於故舊，今為賊所圍，汝宜赴之。」慈留三日，單步徑至都昌。

At that time the encirclement was not yet tight, so he watched for a gap at night, managed to get in to see Kong Rong, and asked for troops to sally out and strike the rebels. Kong Rong would not agree, preferring to wait for help from outside. But no one came, and the siege grew tighter by the day. Kong Rong wanted to report his emergency to Liu Bei, Chancellor of Pingyuan, but no one in the city had any way to get out, and Taishi Ci volunteered to go. Kong Rong said, “The rebels' encirclement is now very tight, and everyone says it cannot be done. Your spirit is bold, but won't it really be too difficult?” Taishi Ci replied, “In the past Your Excellency showed great concern for my old mother, and she, moved by your kindness, sent me to hurry to your aid in this emergency. Surely that was because she thought I had something to offer and that my coming would be of use.

時圍尚未密，夜伺閒隙，得入見融，因求兵出斫賊。融不聽，欲待外救。未有至者，而圍日偪。融欲告急平原相劉備，城中人無由得出，慈自請求行。融曰：「今賊圍甚密，眾人皆言不可，卿意雖壯，無乃實難乎？」慈對曰：「昔府君傾意於老母，老母感遇，遣慈赴府君之急，固以慈有可取，而來必有益也。

Now if everyone says it cannot be done and I say so too, how would that honor Your Excellency's kind regard or my old mother's purpose in sending me? The matter is urgent; I beg Your Excellency not to hesitate.” Kong Rong then agreed. So Taishi Ci made ready to set out, ate his meal before rising, and at daybreak strapped on his bow case, took up his bow, and mounted his horse. With two horsemen following him, each carrying a target they had made, he opened the gate and rode straight out. The rebels on either side below the outer siege lines were all startled, and their soldiers and horses came rushing out.

今眾人言不可，慈亦言不可，豈府君愛顧之義，老母遣慈之意邪？事已急矣，願府君無疑。」融乃然之。於是嚴行蓐食，須明，便帶鞬攝弓上馬，將兩騎自隨，各作一的持之，開門直出。外圍下左右人並驚駭，兵馬互出。

Taishi Ci led his horse down into the moat below the city wall, set up the targets they had brought, one each, and came out to shoot at them. When he had finished shooting, he went straight back in through the gate. The next morning he did the same again; among the besiegers some got up and some stayed lying down. Taishi Ci again set up the targets, and when he had finished shooting he went back in through the gate. The following morning he came out and did the same, and no one got up any longer. Then he whipped his horse, charged straight through the middle of the encirclement, and galloped away. By the time the rebels realized it, Taishi Ci was already past them; he also shot and killed several men, each falling at the twang of the bowstring, so none dared pursue him.

慈引馬至城下塹內，植所持的各一，出射之，射之畢，徑入門。明晨復如此，圍下人或起或臥，慈復植的，射之畢，復入門。明晨復出如此，無復起者，於是下鞭馬直突圍中馳去。比賊覺知，慈行已過，又射殺數人，皆應弦而倒，故無敢追者。

At last he reached Pingyuan and urged Liu Bei, “I am a humble man from Donglai. Kong of Beihai and I are neither kin by blood nor neighbors from the same village; we are bound only by liking for each other's reputation and aims, and by the duty to share in each other's disasters and troubles. Now Guan Hai is running riot, and Beihai is besieged, isolated and without help, in a danger that may fall any morning or evening. Because you have a name for benevolence and righteousness and are able to rescue others in their need, the Lord of Beihai earnestly stretches out his neck and looks to you, and he had me brave naked blades and break through the layered siege, entrusting myself to you out of ten thousand deaths. It rests with you alone to save him.”

遂到平原，說備曰：「慈，東萊之鄙人也，與孔北海親非骨肉，比非鄉黨，特以名志相好，有分災共患之義。今管亥暴亂，北海被圍，孤窮無援，危在旦夕。以君有仁義之名，能救人之急，故北海區區，延頸恃仰，使慈冒白刃，突重圍，從萬死之中自託於君，惟君所以存之。」

Liu Bei composed his face and answered, “So Kong of Beihai knows there is a Liu Bei in the world!” He immediately sent three thousand elite troops to accompany Taishi Ci. When the rebels heard that troops were coming, they lifted the siege and scattered. Once he had been rescued, Kong Rong valued Taishi Ci all the more as extraordinary and said, “You are my young friend.” When the affair was over, Taishi Ci went home and reported to his mother, and she said, “I am glad that you have been able to repay Kong of Beihai.”

備斂容答曰：「孔北海知世間有劉備邪！」即遣精兵三千人隨慈。賊聞兵至，解圍散走。融既得濟，益奇貴慈，曰：「卿吾之少友也。」事畢，還啟其母，母曰：「我喜汝有以報孔北海也。」

Liu Yao, Inspector of Yang Province, came from the same commandery as Taishi Ci. Since Taishi Ci had not seen him since returning from Liaodong, he crossed the Yangtze for a short visit to see Liu Yao at Qu'e, and before he could leave, Sun Ce arrived. Someone advised Liu Yao that he could make Taishi Ci his grand general, but Liu Yao said, “If I employed Ziyi, wouldn't Xu Zijiang laugh at me?” He had Taishi Ci merely scout out the enemy's strength. At that time Taishi Ci, accompanied by only one horseman, encountered Sun Ce. Sun Ce had thirteen horsemen with him, all men of the caliber of Han Dang, Song Qian, and Huang Gai.

揚州刺史劉繇與慈同郡，慈自遼東還，未與相見，暫渡江到曲阿見繇，未去，會孫策至。或勸繇可以慈為大將軍，繇曰：「我若用子義，許子將不當笑我邪？」但使慈偵視輕重。時獨與一騎卒遇策。策從騎十三，皆韓當、宋謙、黃蓋輩也。

Taishi Ci promptly advanced to fight and came face to face with Sun Ce. Sun Ce stabbed Taishi Ci's horse and snatched the hand halberd from the back of Taishi Ci's neck, while Taishi Ci seized Sun Ce's helmet. Just then foot soldiers and horsemen from both sides came rushing up, and so they broke off.

慈便前鬥，正與策對。策刺慈馬，而攬得慈項上手戟，慈亦得策兜鍪。會兩家兵騎並各來赴，於是解散。

Taishi Ci was to have fled with Liu Yao to Yuzhang, but he slipped away at Wuhu, escaped into the mountains, and styled himself Prefect of Danyang. At this time Sun Ce had already pacified everything east of Xuancheng; only the six counties west of Jing had not submitted. Taishi Ci therefore advanced to Jing County and set up a garrison headquarters, and the Shanyue attached themselves to him in great numbers. Sun Ce attacked him in person, and in the end Taishi Ci was captured. Sun Ce at once untied his bonds, took his hand, and said, “Do you remember the time at Shenting? If you had caught me then, what would you have done?”

慈當與繇俱奔豫章，而遁於蕪湖，亡入山中，稱丹楊太守。是時，策已平定宣城以東，惟涇以西六縣未服。慈因進住涇縣，立屯府，大為山越所附。策躬自攻討，遂見囚執。策即解縛，捉其手曰：「寧識神亭時邪？若卿爾時得我云何？」

Taishi Ci said, “There's no telling.” Sun Ce laughed heartily and said, “The task ahead of us today I shall share with you.” He immediately appointed him Commander of the Gate Guard, and on returning to Wu he gave him troops and appointed him General of the Household Who Breaks Assaults. Later, when Liu Yao died in Yuzhang, his officers and followers, more than ten thousand, had no one to attach themselves to, and Sun Ce ordered Taishi Ci to go and pacify them. Everyone around Sun Ce said, “Taishi Ci will surely go north and not return.” Sun Ce said, “If Ziyi abandons me, whom else would he go to?” He saw him off at the Chang Gate, grasped his wrist in parting, and said, “When can you return?” Taishi Ci answered, “In no more than sixty days.” And he did return by the appointed time.

慈曰：「未可量也。」策大笑曰：「今日之事，當與卿共之。」¹即署門下督，還吳授兵，拜折衝中郎將。後劉繇亡於豫章，士眾萬餘人未有所附，策命慈往撫安焉。²左右皆曰：「慈必北去不還。」策曰：「子義捨我，當復與誰？」餞送昌門，把腕別曰：「何時能還？」答曰：「不過六十日。」果如期而反。³

Liu Biao's nephew Liu Pan was fierce and brave and repeatedly raided Ai, Xi'an, and other counties. Sun Ce therefore split off six counties around Haihun and Jianchang, made Taishi Ci Chief Commandant of Jianchang with his seat at Haihun, and had him command the generals there to hold off Liu Pan. Liu Pan vanished and raided no more.

劉表從子磐，驍勇，數為寇於艾、西安諸縣。策於是分海昏、建昌左右六縣，以慈為建昌都尉，治海昏，并督諸將拒磐。磐絕跡不復為寇。

Taishi Ci stood seven chi seven cun tall, had a fine beard, and with his long, ape-like arms was an excellent archer who never loosed a shot in vain. Once, when he followed Sun Ce to suppress the bandits of Mabao, one of the bandits walked along the top of a tower inside their stockade, hurling abuse, and grabbed a roof beam of the tower with his hand. Taishi Ci drew his bow and shot him; the arrow pierced the man's hand and pinned it to the beam, and the ten thousand men outside the siege lines all cheered. Such was his skill. Lord Cao heard of his fame and sent Taishi Ci a letter sealed in a box. When it was opened, there was nothing written in it; it held only danggui (an herb whose name means “ought to return”).

慈長七尺七寸，美鬚髯，猿臂善射，弦不虛發。嘗從策討麻保賊，賊於屯裏緣樓上行詈，以手持樓棼，慈引弓射之，矢貫手著棼，圍外萬人莫不稱善。其妙如此。曹公聞其名，遺慈書，以篋封之，發省無所道，而但貯當歸。

When Sun Quan took charge of affairs, since Taishi Ci had been able to contain Liu Pan, he entrusted him with the affairs of the south. He died in the eleventh year of Jian'an, at the age of forty-one. His son Taishi Xiang rose to the office of Colonel of Elite Cavalry.

孫權統事，以慈能制磐，遂委南方之事。年四十一，建安十一年卒。¹子享，官至越騎校尉。²

Shi Xie

士燮

Shi Xie, courtesy name Weiyan, was a man of Guangxin County in Cangwu Commandery. His ancestors were originally from Wenyang in Lu; at the time of Wang Mang's disorders they took refuge in Jiao Province. Six generations later came Shi Xie's father, Shi Ci, who during the reign of Emperor Huan became Prefect of Rinan. In his youth Shi Xie went to study in the capital, where he served Liu Ziqi of Yingchuan and studied the Zuo Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals. He was nominated as Filial and Incorrupt and filled a post as Gentleman of the Imperial Secretariat, but was dismissed over an official matter. After completing the mourning for his father Shi Ci, he was nominated as Flourishing Talent, appointed Magistrate of Wu, and transferred to Prefect of Jiaozhi.

士燮字威彥，蒼梧廣信人也。其先本魯國汶陽人，至王莽之亂，避地交州。六世至燮父賜，桓帝時為日南太守。燮少游學京師，事潁川劉子奇，治左氏春秋。察孝廉，補尚書郎，公事免官。父賜喪闋後，舉茂才，除巫令，遷交阯太守。

His younger brother Shi Yi was at first an Investigator of the commandery. When the Inspector Ding Gong was summoned back to the capital, Shi Yi attended him and saw him off diligently and respectfully. Ding Gong was moved and said to him at parting, “If I, the Inspector, should come to hold one of the Three Excellencies, I will summon you.” Later Ding Gong became Minister over the Masses and summoned Shi Yi. By the time Shi Yi arrived, Ding Gong had already been dismissed, and Huang Wan, who replaced him as Minister over the Masses, treated Shi Yi with great courtesy. When Dong Zhuo caused disorder, Shi Yi fled home to his native place. Zhu Fu, Inspector of Jiao Province, was killed by barbarian rebels, and the province and its commanderies were thrown into turmoil.

弟壹，初為郡督郵。刺史丁宮徵還京都，壹侍送勤恪，宮感之，臨別謂曰：「刺史若待罪三事，當相辟也。」後宮為司徒，辟壹。比至，宮已免，黃琬代為司徒，甚禮遇壹。董卓作亂，壹亡歸鄉里。¹交州刺史朱符為夷賊所殺，州郡擾亂。

Shi Xie then submitted a memorial having Shi Yi take charge as Prefect of Hepu, his next younger brother Shi Wei, Magistrate of Xuwen, take charge as Prefect of Jiuzhen, and Shi Wei's younger brother Shi Wu take charge as Prefect of Nanhai.

燮乃表壹領合浦太守，次弟徐聞令䵋領九真太守，¹䵋弟武，領南海太守。

Shi Xie was broad-minded and generous in character, modest and humble toward scholars, and the gentlemen of the central states who went to him to escape the troubles were counted by the hundreds. He delighted in the Spring and Autumn Annals and wrote a commentary on it. Yuan Hui of Chen wrote to Xun Yu, Director of the Imperial Secretariat, saying, “Lord Shi of Jiaozhi is not only outstanding and broad in his learning but also skilled in government. In the midst of great disorder he has kept a whole commandery intact; for more than twenty years there has been no trouble on its borders, the people have not lost their livelihoods, and the wanderers and exiles have all shared in his blessings. Even Dou Rong's holding of Hexi could hardly surpass this.

燮體器寬厚，謙虛下士，中國士人往依避難者以百數。耽玩春秋，為之注解。陳國袁徽與尚書令荀彧書曰：「交阯士府君既學問優博，又達於從政，處大亂之中，保全一郡，二十餘年疆埸無事，民不失業，羇旅之徒，皆蒙其慶，雖竇融保河西，曷以加之？

Whenever official business lets up a little, he immediately turns to studying the classics and their commentaries. He is especially refined and subtle in the Zuo Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals; I have often asked him about various doubtful points in the commentary, and in every case he has had his teacher's explanation, with very careful reasoning. He is also versed in both the Old Text and New Text versions of the Book of Documents, and his grasp of their main principles is detailed and complete. Having heard that in the capital scholars of the Old Text and New Text traditions are quarreling angrily over right and wrong, he now wishes to set out point by point the best interpretations of the Zuo Commentary and the Book of Documents and submit them.” Such was the praise he received.

官事小闋，輒玩習書傳，春秋左氏傳尤簡練精微，吾數以咨問傳中諸疑，皆有師說，意思甚密。又尚書兼通古今，大義詳備。聞京師古今之學，是非忿爭，今欲條左氏、尚書長義上之。」其見稱如此。

Shi Xie and his brothers all governed commanderies and were the dominant power in one province. Though they were far off at a distance of ten thousand li, their authority and eminence were unsurpassed. When they came and went, bells and chime stones were sounded and full ceremonial display was arrayed; reed pipes, flutes, and drums played, carriages and horsemen filled the roads, and there were always dozens of foreigners walking beside the wheels burning incense. Their wives and concubines rode in curtained carriages, and their sons and younger brothers were escorted by soldiers and horsemen. They were so honored and esteemed in their time and so overawed the many southern barbarians that even Commandant Tuo could not have surpassed them. Shi Wu died of illness first.

燮兄弟並為列郡，雄長一州，偏在萬里，威尊無上。出入鳴鐘磬，備具威儀，笳簫鼓吹，車騎滿道，胡人夾轂焚燒香者常有數十。妻妾乘輜軿，子弟從兵騎，當時貴重，震服百蠻，尉他不足踰也。¹武先病沒。

After Zhu Fu's death, the Han court sent Zhang Jin as Inspector of Jiao Province, but Zhang Jin was later killed in turn by his officer Ou Jing, and Liu Biao, Imperial Protector of Jing Province, sent Lai Gong of Lingling to replace him. At this time Shi Huang, Prefect of Cangwu, died, and Liu Biao also sent Wu Ju to replace him; Wu Ju arrived together with Lai Gong. When the Han court heard that Zhang Jin had died, it sent Shi Xie a letter under the imperial seal, saying, “Jiao Province is a remote land, girded on the south by rivers and sea; the grace of the throne does not reach it, and the loyalty of those below is blocked off. We know that the traitor Liu Biao has also sent Lai Gong to spy out the southern lands. We now appoint Shi Xie General of the Household Who Pacifies the South, to supervise the seven commanderies, and he shall continue as Prefect of Jiaozhi as before.”

朱符死後，漢遣張津為交州刺史，津後又為其將區景所殺，而荊州牧劉表遣零陵賴恭代津。是時蒼梧太守史璜死，表又遣吳巨代之，與恭俱至。漢聞張津死，賜燮璽書曰：「交州絕域，南帶江海，上恩不宣，下義壅隔，知逆賊劉表又遣賴恭闚看南土，今以燮為綏南中郎將，董督七郡，領交阯太守如故。」

Later Shi Xie sent his clerk Zhang Min to bring tribute to the capital. At that time the realm was in chaos and the roads were cut, yet Shi Xie did not neglect his duty of tribute, so a special edict was issued again appointing him General Who Pacifies Distant Lands and enfeoffing him as Marquis of Longdu Village.

後燮遣吏張旻奉貢詣京都，是時天下喪亂，道路斷絕，而燮不廢貢職，特復下詔拜安遠將軍，封龍度亭侯。

Later Wu Ju and Lai Gong fell out, and Wu Ju raised troops and drove Lai Gong out; Lai Gong fled back to Lingling. In the fifteenth year of Jian'an, Sun Quan sent Bu Zhi as Inspector of Jiao Province. When Bu Zhi arrived, Shi Xie led his brothers in accepting his command. But Wu Ju harbored disloyal intentions, and Bu Zhi beheaded him. Sun Quan added the title of General of the Left to Shi Xie. At the end of the Jian'an era, Shi Xie sent his son Shi Xin to court as a hostage; Sun Quan made him Prefect of Wuchang, and the sons of Shi Xie and Shi Yi who remained in the south were all appointed Generals of the Household.

後巨與恭相失，舉兵逐恭，恭走還零陵。建安十五年，孫權遣步騭為交州刺史。騭到，燮率兄弟奉承節度。而吳巨懷異心，騭斬之。權加燮為左將軍。建安末年，燮遣子廞入質，權以為武昌太守，燮、壹諸子在南者，皆拜中郎將。

Shi Xie also induced Yong Kai and other powerful clans of Yi Province to lead the people of their commandery to attach themselves from afar to the east. Sun Quan commended him all the more, promoted him to General of the Guards, and enfeoffed him as Marquis of Longbian, while his younger brother Shi Yi was made Lieutenant General and Marquis of a Chief District. Whenever Shi Xie sent envoys to Sun Quan, he presented assorted incense and fine hemp cloth, always by the thousand, and not a year passed without the arrival of such treasures as bright pearls, large cowries, glass, kingfisher feathers, tortoiseshell, rhinoceros horn, and ivory, along with rare objects and exotic fruits such as bananas, coconuts, and longans.

燮又誘導益州豪姓雍闓等，率郡人民使遙東附，權益嘉之，遷衛將軍，封龍編侯，弟壹偏將軍，都鄉侯。燮每遣使詣權，致雜香細葛，輒以千數，明珠、大貝、流離、翡翠、玳瑁、犀、象之珍，奇物異果，蕉、邪、龍眼之屬，無歲不至。

Shi Yi from time to time presented horses, several hundred in all. Each time Sun Quan wrote a letter and bestowed generous favors and gifts in reply to reward him. Shi Xie was in his commandery for more than forty years; he died in the fifth year of Huangwu at the age of ninety.

壹時貢馬凡數百匹。權輒為書，厚加寵賜，以答慰之。燮在郡四十餘歲，黃武五年，年九十卒。

Because Jiaozhi was so remote, Sun Quan divided off the area north of Hepu as Guang Province, with Lü Dai as its Inspector, and the area south of Jiaozhi as Jiao Province, with Dai Liang as its Inspector. He also sent Chen Shi to replace Shi Xie as Prefect of Jiaozhi. Lü Dai stayed in Nanhai, while Dai Liang went ahead with Chen Shi and reached Hepu. But Shi Xie's son Shi Hui appointed himself Prefect of Jiaozhi and raised his clan's troops to resist Dai Liang, and Dai Liang stayed at Hepu. Huan Lin of Jiaozhi, an official whom Shi Xie had recommended, kowtowed and remonstrated with Shi Hui, urging him to welcome Dai Liang; Shi Hui was enraged and had Huan Lin flogged to death.

權以交阯縣遠，乃分合浦以北為廣州，呂岱為刺史；交阯以南為交州，戴良為刺史。又遣陳時代燮為交阯太守。岱留南海，良與時俱前行到合浦，而燮子徽自署交阯太守，發宗兵拒良。良留合浦。交阯桓鄰，燮舉吏也，叩頭諫徽使迎良，徽怒，笞殺鄰。

Huan Lin's elder brother Huan Zhi and his son Huan Fa then assembled their clan's troops and attacked Shi Hui, who shut his gates and defended the city. Huan Zhi and the others besieged it for several months without taking it, so they agreed to make peace, and each side withdrew its troops. Meanwhile Lü Dai, having received an edict to execute Shi Hui, led troops from Guang Province, racing day and night, passed Hepu, and advanced together with Dai Liang. Shi Yi's son Shi Kuang, a General of the Household, was an old acquaintance of Lü Dai, so Lü Dai appointed him Attendant Officer serving as Mentor and Friend. He first sent a written message to Jiaozhi explaining the consequences of good and ill conduct. He also sent Shi Kuang to see Shi Hui and persuade him to admit his guilt and submit, guaranteeing that although he would lose the post of Prefect he would have nothing else to fear.

鄰兄治子發又合宗兵擊徽，徽閉門城守，治等攻之數月不能下，乃約和親，各罷兵還。而呂岱被詔誅徽，自廣州將兵晝夜馳入，過合浦，與良俱前。壹子中郎將匡與岱有舊，岱署匡師友從事，先移書交阯，告喻禍福，又遣匡見徽，說令服罪，雖失郡守，保無他憂。

Lü Dai arrived soon after Shi Kuang. Shi Hui's elder brother Shi Zhi and younger brothers Shi Gan, Shi Song, and the rest, six in all, came out stripped to the waist to welcome him. Lü Dai thanked them and had them put their clothes back on, then advanced to the commandery seat. Early the next morning he had tents and curtains set up and invited Shi Hui and his brothers to enter in order; guests filled the seats. Lü Dai rose, holding his staff of authority, read out the imperial edict, and enumerated their crimes; his attendants then tied their hands behind their backs and led them out, and all were executed at once, their heads sent to Wuchang. Shi Yi, Shi Wei, and Shi Kuang came out afterward; Sun Quan pardoned their crimes, and together with Shi Xie's hostage son Shi Xin they were all dismissed and made commoners.

岱尋匡後至，徽兄祗，弟幹、頌等六人肉袒奉迎。岱謝令復服，前至郡下。明旦早施帳幔，請徽兄弟以次入，賓客滿坐。岱起，擁節讀詔書，數徵罪過，左右因反縛以出，即皆伏誅，傳首詣武昌。¹壹、䵋、匡後出，權原其罪，及燮質子廞，皆免為庶人。

Several years later Shi Yi and Shi Wei were executed for breaking the law. Shi Xin died of illness without sons, and his wife lived on as a widow; an edict ordered that she be given a monthly stipend of rice where she lived, and she was granted four hundred thousand cash.

數歲，壹、䵋坐法誅。廞病卒，無子，妻寡居，詔在所月給俸米，賜錢四十萬。

Appraisal

評

Appraisal: Liu Yao cultivated his name and conduct and was fond of passing judgment on others. But holding territory ten thousand li wide in a time of turmoil was not his strength. Taishi Ci was steadfast in good faith and righteousness and fiercely devoted, with the sense of duty of the men of old. Shi Xie governed as Prefect in Southern Yue and lived out his life at ease, but his son was not cautious and brought disaster on himself. It was, in general, a man of ordinary talent toying with wealth and rank and relying on remote and rugged terrain that brought this about.

評曰：劉繇藻厲名行，好尚臧否。至於擾攘之時，據萬里之土，非其長也。太史慈信義篤烈，有古人之分。士燮作守南越，優遊終世，至子不慎，自貽兇咎。蓋庸才玩富貴而恃阻險，使之然也。