Records of Wei 22: Biographies of Huan Jie, Chen Qun, Chen Jiao, Xu Xuan, Wei Zhen and Lu Yu

Records of Wei 22: Biographies of Huan Jie, Chen Qun, Chen Jiao, Xu Xuan, Wei Zhen and Lu Yu

Huan Jie

桓階

Huan Jie, courtesy name Boxu, was a man of Linxiang in Changsha. He served in the commandery as Officer of Merit. The Prefect, Sun Jian, recommended Huan Jie as Filial and Incorrupt, and he was appointed Gentleman of the Masters of Writing. On his father’s death he returned home to mourn. Just then Sun Jian was killed in battle while attacking Liu Biao. Huan Jie braved the danger, went to Liu Biao and begged for Sun Jian’s body; Liu Biao admired his loyalty and gave it to him. Later, when Taizu and Yuan Shao were confronting each other at Guandu, Liu Biao brought his whole province over to Yuan Shao’s side. Huan Jie urged his own Prefect, Zhang Xian, “No one who has undertaken an enterprise not grounded in righteousness has ever escaped ruin.

桓階字伯緒，長沙臨湘人也。¹仕郡功曹。太守孫堅舉階孝廉，除尚書郎。父喪還鄉里。會堅擊劉表戰死，階冒難詣表乞堅喪，表義而與之。後太祖與袁紹相拒於官渡，表舉州以應紹。階說其太守張羨曰：「夫舉事而不本於義，未有不敗者也。

Thus Duke Huan of Qi led the feudal lords in honoring Zhou, and Duke Wen of Jin drove out Shudai to restore the King. Now the Yuan clan is doing the opposite, and for Governor Liu to side with them is the road to disaster. If you, sir, truly wish to win merit and make plain your righteousness, to preserve your good fortune and keep disaster far away, you should not join with them.” Zhang Xian said, “Then which way should I turn?” Huan Jie said, “Lord Cao, though weak, has risen relying on righteousness; he is rescuing the court from peril and punishing the guilty at the royal command. Who would dare not submit?

故齊桓率諸侯以尊周，晉文逐叔帶以納王。今袁氏反此，而劉牧應之，取禍之道也。明府必欲立功明義，全福遠禍，不宜與之同也。」羨曰：「然則何向而可？」階曰：「曹公雖弱，仗義而起，救朝廷之危，奉王命而討有罪，孰敢不服？

If we now raise the four commanderies, hold the Three Rivers and await his coming, acting as his allies from within, would that not be well?” Zhang Xian said, “Good.” He then raised Changsha and the three neighboring commanderies in resistance to Liu Biao and sent an envoy to Taizu. Taizu was overjoyed. But Yuan Shao and Taizu were then fighting battle after battle, and Taizu’s army could not come south. Liu Biao attacked Zhang Xian fiercely, and Zhang Xian died of illness. When the city fell, Huan Jie went into hiding. After a long while Liu Biao summoned him to be Libationer Attendant Officer and wished to marry him to his wife’s younger sister, Lady Cai. Huan Jie declared that he was already married and refused, and then withdrew, pleading illness.

今若舉四郡保三江以待其來，而爲之內應，不亦可乎！」羨曰：「善。」乃舉長沙及旁三郡以拒表，遣使詣太祖。太祖大悅。會紹與太祖連戰，軍未得南。而表急攻羨，羨病死。城陷，階遂自匿。久之，劉表辟爲從事祭酒，欲妻以妻妹蔡氏。階自陳已結婚，拒而不受，因辭疾告退。

When Taizu had pacified Jing Province and heard that Huan Jie had made plans for Zhang Xian, he thought him remarkable, summoned him to be clerk and Registrar to the Chancellor, and promoted him to Prefect of Zhao Commandery. When the state of Wei was first established, he became General of the Household of the Tiger Guard and Palace Attendant. At that time the Heir had not been settled, and Cao Zhi, Marquis of Linzi, enjoyed favor. Huan Jie repeatedly argued that Emperor Wen was superior in virtue and older in years and ought to be made heir; he admonished openly and remonstrated in private, earnestly and persistently from first to last. Also, Mao Jie and Xu Yi, being unbending and stubborn, had few partisans and were disliked by Ding Yi, Clerk of the Western Bureau; Ding Yi often spoke of their faults, and it was only through Huan Jie’s support that they kept themselves safe.

太祖定荊州，聞其爲張羨謀也，異之，辟爲丞相掾主簿，遷趙郡太守。魏國初建，爲虎賁中郎將侍中。時太子未定，而臨菑侯植有寵。階數陳文帝德優齒長，宜爲儲副，公規密諫，前後懇至。¹又毛玠、徐奕以剛蹇少黨，而爲西曹掾丁儀所不善，儀屢言其短，賴階左右以自全保。

His way of supporting what was right and correcting what was wrong was mostly of this kind. He was promoted to Master of Writing, in charge of selecting men for office. When Cao Ren was besieged by Guan Yu, Taizu sent Xu Huang to relieve him, but the siege was not lifted. Taizu wanted to campaign south in person and asked his subordinates about it. They all said, “If the King does not go quickly, we will be defeated.” Huan Jie alone said, “Does Your Highness consider Cao Ren and the others capable of judging the situation?” Taizu said, “They are.” “Is Your Highness afraid the two men are holding back their strength?” Taizu said, “No.”

其將順匡救，多此類也。遷尚書，典選舉。曹仁爲關羽所圍，太祖遣徐晃救之，不解。太祖欲自南征，以問羣下。羣下皆謂：「王不亟行，今敗矣。」階獨曰：「大王以仁等爲足以料事勢不也？」曰：「能。」「大王恐二人遺力邪？」曰：「不。」

“Then why go yourself?” Taizu said, “I am only afraid that the enemy are many and Xu Huang and the others are at a disadvantage.” Huan Jie said, “Cao Ren and the others are now in the midst of a tight siege, yet they hold on to the death without wavering, precisely because Your Highness stands behind them as their support from afar. Men placed on ground where death is ten thousand times certain are sure to fight to the death. With the will to fight to the death within, and strong relief without, Your Highness need only hold the Six Armies in check to show your reserve strength. Why worry about defeat and wish to go yourself?” Taizu approved his words and halted his army at Mobei. The enemy then withdrew.

「然則何爲自往？」曰：「吾恐虜衆多，而晃等勢不便耳。」階曰：「今仁等處重圍之中而守死無貳者，誠以大王遠爲之勢也。夫居萬死之地，必有死爭之心；內懷死爭，外有強救，大王案六軍以示餘力，何憂於敗而欲自往？」太祖善其言，駐軍於摩陂。賊遂退。

When Emperor Wen ascended the throne, Huan Jie was promoted to Prefect of the Masters of Writing, enfeoffed as Marquis of Gaoxiang Precinct, and given the additional post of Palace Attendant. When he fell ill, the Emperor visited him in person and said, “I mean to entrust to you an orphan six feet tall, and to lodge the fate of the realm with you. Do your best!” He was re-enfeoffed as Marquis of Anle District with a fief of six hundred households, and three of his sons were also granted the rank of Marquis Within the Pass. Huan You, as the designated heir, was not enfeoffed; when he died of illness he too was posthumously granted the rank of Marquis Within the Pass. Later, when Huan Jie’s illness became grave, an envoy was sent to appoint him Minister of Ceremonies at his bedside. When he died, the Emperor wept for him, and he was given the posthumous name Marquis Zhen.

文帝踐阼，遷尚書令，封高鄉亭侯，加侍中。階疾病，帝自臨省，謂曰：「吾方託六尺之孤，寄天下之命於卿。勉之！」徙封安樂鄉侯，邑六百戶，又賜階三子爵關內侯，祐以嗣子不封，病卒，又追贈關內侯。後階疾篤，遣使者即拜太常，薨，帝爲之流涕，諡曰貞侯。

His son Huan Jia succeeded him. Huan Jie’s younger brother Huan Zuan was made Attendant Gentleman Cavalier and granted the rank of Marquis Within the Pass. Huan Jia married the Princess of Shengqian Precinct. During the Jiaping era, as Prefect of Le’an, he fought against Wu at Dongguan; the army was defeated and he was killed. He was given the posthumous name Marquis Zhuang. His son Huan Yi succeeded him.

子嘉嗣。以階弟纂爲散騎侍郎，賜爵關內侯。嘉尚升遷亭公主，會嘉平中，以樂安太守與吳戰於東關，軍敗，沒，諡曰壯侯。子翊嗣。¹

Chen Qun

陳羣

Chen Qun, courtesy name Changwen, was a man of Xuchang in Yingchuan. His grandfather Chen Shi, his father Chen Ji and his uncle Chen Chen all enjoyed great renown. When Chen Qun was a boy, Chen Shi always thought him extraordinary and said to the elders of the clan, “This boy will surely make our clan flourish.” Kong Rong of Lu, a man of high talent and arrogant manner whose age fell between Chen Ji’s and Chen Qun’s, had first been a friend of Chen Ji; later, having made friends with Chen Qun, he changed to bowing to Chen Ji as to an elder. Because of this Chen Qun became famous. When Liu Bei was in charge of Yu Province, he summoned Chen Qun to be his Attendant Officer with Separate Carriage.

陳羣字長文，潁川許昌也。祖父寔，父紀，叔父諶，皆有盛名。¹羣爲兒時，寔常奇異之，謂宗人父老曰：「此兒必興吾宗。」魯國孔融高才倨傲，年在紀、羣之間，先與紀友，後與羣交，更爲紀拜，由是顯名。劉備臨豫州，辟羣爲別駕。

At that time Tao Qian died of illness and Xu Province invited Liu Bei to take over. Liu Bei wanted to go, but Chen Qun urged him, “Yuan Shu is still strong. If you go east now, you will certainly have to contend with him. And if Lü Bu attacks you from the rear, then even if you gain Xu Province, General, your cause will surely fail.” Liu Bei nevertheless went east and fought Yuan Shu. Lü Bu did indeed attack Xiapi and sent troops to help Yuan Shu, and Liu Bei’s army was badly defeated. Liu Bei regretted not having taken Chen Qun’s advice. Chen Qun was recommended as Flourishing Talent and appointed Magistrate of Zhe, but did not take up the post; he followed Chen Ji to Xu Province to escape the troubles.

時陶謙病死，徐州迎備，備欲往，羣說備曰：「袁術尚強，今東，必與之爭。呂布若襲將軍之後，將軍雖得徐州，事必無成。」備遂東，與袁術戰。布果襲下邳，遣兵助術，大破備軍，備恨不用羣言。舉茂才，除柘令，不行，隨紀避難徐州。

When Lü Bu was defeated, Taizu summoned Chen Qun to be a Clerk of the Western Bureau under the Minister of Works. At that time someone recommended Wang Mo of Le’an and Zhou Kui of Xiapi, and Taizu summoned them. Chen Qun sealed up the order and sent it back, holding that Wang Mo and Zhou Kui were of foul character and would surely come to grief in the end, but Taizu did not listen. Later Wang Mo and Zhou Kui were both executed for villainy, and Taizu apologized to Chen Qun. Chen Qun recommended Chen Jiao of Guangling and Dai Qian of Danyang, and Taizu employed them both. Later, when men of Wu rebelled, Dai Qian died in the troubles for his loyalty, and Chen Jiao went on to become a famous minister. People of the time held that Chen Qun knew how to judge men.

屬呂布破，太祖辟羣爲司空西曹掾屬。時有薦樂安王模、下邳周逵者，太祖辟之。羣封還教，以爲模、逵穢德，終必敗，太祖不聽。後模、逵皆坐姦宄誅，太祖以謝羣。羣薦廣陵陳矯、丹陽戴乾，太祖皆用之。後吳人叛，乾忠義死難，矯遂爲名臣，世以羣爲知人。

He was appointed Magistrate of Xiao, Zan and Changping in turn, and left office when his father died. Later, as a clerk to the Minister over the Masses, he was recommended with the highest grade and became Attending Secretary Who Handles Documents, then was transferred to be Military Adviser to the Chancellor. When the state of Wei had been established, he was promoted to Palace Assistant Imperial Clerk.

除蕭、贊、長平令，父卒去官。後以司徒掾舉高第，爲治書侍御史，轉參丞相軍事。魏國既建，遷爲御史中丞。

At that time Taizu had the restoration of the mutilating punishments debated, and issued an order: “How can I find a gentleman who understands principle and is versed in past and present, to settle this matter fairly? When Chen the Grand Herald once held that there were cases of the death penalty to which humane mercy could be applied, this is exactly what he meant. Can the Palace Assistant Imperial Clerk expound his father’s argument?” Chen Qun replied, “My father Chen Ji held that when the Han abolished the mutilating punishments and increased flogging instead, this arose from humane compassion, yet more people died; it was what one calls light in name but heavy in fact.

時太祖議復肉刑，令曰：「安得通理君子達於古今者，使平斯事乎！昔陳鴻臚以爲死刑有可加於仁恩者，正謂此也。御史中丞能申其父之論乎？」羣對曰：臣父紀以爲漢除肉刑而增加笞，本興仁惻而死者更衆，所謂名輕而實重者也。

If the name is light, people offend easily; if the reality is heavy, the people are harmed. The Book of Documents says, ‘Be reverent in applying the Five Punishments, so as to perfect the Three Virtues.’ The Book of Changes records the laws of cutting off the nose, cutting off the feet and destroying the toes; these serve to assist government and aid instruction, to punish evil and put an end to killing. Moreover, that one who kills should pay with his life accords with the ancient system; but as for injuring others, when someone maims another’s body and is punished only by having his hair shorn, that is not right. If the ancient punishments were used, so that adulterers were sent down to the silkworm chamber and thieves had their feet cut off, then there would forever be no more wickedness of debauchery or of burglars boring through walls.

名輕則易犯，實重則傷民。書曰：‘惟敬五刑，以成三德。’易著劓、刖、滅趾之法，所以輔政助教，懲惡息殺也。且殺人償死，合於古制；至於傷人，或殘毀其體而裁翦毛髮，非其理也。若用古刑，使淫者下蠶室，盜者刖其足，則永無淫放穿窬之姦矣。

Though the three thousand categories cannot all be restored, these few, being the ills of our time, should be put into effect first. For crimes that Han law punishes by beheading, humaneness cannot reach; but for the others who come to the death penalty, mutilation could be substituted for execution. In this way those mutilated would be fairly traded against those whose lives are spared. Now to replace a punishment that does not kill with a law of flogging to death is to value men’s limbs above their lives.”

夫三千之屬，雖未可悉復，若斯數者，時之所患，宜先施用。漢律所殺殊死之罪，仁所不及也，其餘逮死者，可以刑殺。如此，則所刑之與所生足以相貿矣。今以笞死之法易不殺之刑，是重人支體而輕人軀命也。

At the time Zhong Yao agreed with Chen Qun, but Wang Lang and most of the others in the debate held that it could not yet be done. Taizu thoroughly approved of what Zhong Yao and Chen Qun said, but since the wars were not yet over, and in deference to the general opinion, he shelved the matter for the time being.

時鍾繇與羣議同，王朗及議者多以爲未可行。太祖深善繇、羣言，以軍事未罷，顧衆議，故且寢。

Chen Qun was transferred to be Palace Attendant and concurrently served as Clerk of the Eastern and Western Bureaus under the Chancellor. At court he neither favored nor slighted anyone, always relied on principle and righteousness, and never did favors for others by improper means. When Emperor Wen was in the Eastern Palace, he deeply respected and valued him, treated him with the courtesy due a friend, and often sighed, “Since I have had my Hui, my disciples have drawn closer to me day by day.” When he took the throne as King, he enfeoffed Chen Qun as Marquis of Changwu Precinct and moved him to Master of Writing. The Nine Ranks system for selecting officials was Chen Qun’s proposal.

羣轉爲侍中，領丞相東西曹掾。在朝無適無莫，雅杖名義，不以非道假人。文帝在東宮，深敬器焉，待以交友之禮，常歎曰：「自吾有回，門人日以親。」及即王位，封羣昌武亭侯，徙爲尚書。制九品官人之法，羣所建也。

When Emperor Wen ascended the imperial throne, Chen Qun was promoted to Supervisor of the Masters of Writing, with the additional post of Palace Attendant, then moved to Prefect of the Masters of Writing and advanced in rank to Marquis of Yingxiang District. When the Emperor campaigned against Sun Quan and reached Guangling, he had Chen Qun serve concurrently as Central Commander of the Army. When the Emperor returned, Chen Qun was granted the Acting Tally and made Chief Controller of the naval forces. On returning to Xuchang, Chen Qun was made Grand General Who Guards the Army, concurrently Central Protector of the Army and Intendant of the Masters of Writing. When the Emperor lay ill, Chen Qun, together with Cao Zhen, Sima Yi (King Xuan) and others, received the testamentary edict to assist in the government. When Emperor Ming took the throne, Chen Qun was advanced to Marquis of Yingyin, with his fief increased by five hundred households to thirteen hundred in all, and together with the Grand General Who Conquers the East, Cao Xiu, the Grand General of the Central Army, Cao Zhen, and the Grand General Who Pacifies the Army, Sima Yi, he was permitted to open his own office. Shortly afterward he became Minister of Works, remaining Intendant of the Masters of Writing as before.

及踐阼，遷尚書僕射，加侍中，徙尚書令，進爵潁鄉侯。帝征孫權，至廣陵，使羣領中領軍。帝還，假節，都督水軍。還許昌，以羣爲鎮軍大將軍，領中護軍，錄尚書事。帝寢疾，羣與曹真、司馬宣王等並受遺詔輔政。明帝即位，進封潁陰侯，增邑五百，并前千三百戶，與征東大將軍曹休、中軍大將軍曹真、撫軍大將軍司馬宣王並開府。頃之，爲司空，故錄尚書事。

At this time, when the Emperor first took charge of government, Chen Qun submitted a memorial: “The Book of Odes says, ‘Take King Wen as your model, and all the states will trust you,’ and also, ‘He set an example to his wife, extended it to his brothers, and so governed his family and state.’ The Way begins with what is near, and its transforming influence then spreads throughout the realm. Since the time of death and disorder the weapons of war have not been laid aside, and the people do not know the root of royal instruction; I fear that decline has already gone very far. Your Majesty comes at the flourishing height of Wei and bears the legacy of the two ancestors, and the whole realm longs for perfect government. If only you exalt virtue and spread instruction, and show kindness and compassion to the common people, the myriad people will be fortunate indeed.

是時，帝初莅政，羣上疏曰：詩稱‘儀刑文王，萬邦作孚’；又曰‘刑于寡妻，至于兄弟，以御于家邦’。道自近始，而化洽於天下。自喪亂已來，干戈未戢，百姓不識王教之本，懼其陵遲已甚。陛下當盛魏之隆，荷二祖之業，天下想望至治，唯有以崇德布化，惠恤黎庶，則兆民幸甚。

When ministers merely echo one another and right and wrong obscure each other, that is a great danger to the state. If there is no harmony, hostile factions arise; if hostile factions arise, praise and blame lose all basis; and if praise and blame lose all basis, truth and falsehood lose their reality. You must guard against this most carefully and find means to cut it off at its source.”

夫臣下雷同，是非相蔽，國之大患也。若不和睦則有讎黨，有讎黨則毀譽無端，毀譽無端則真僞失實，不可不深防備，有以絕其源流。

During the Taihe era Cao Zhen submitted a memorial proposing to attack Shu along several routes, entering by the Xie Valley. Chen Qun held that “When Taizu went to Yangping to attack Zhang Lu, he gathered large quantities of beans and wheat to supplement his army’s provisions, yet food still ran short before Zhang Lu was subdued. Now we have nothing to draw on, and the Xie Valley is so steep and dangerous that advance and retreat are both difficult; supply convoys are bound to be raided and cut off, and if many troops are left behind to guard the key points, the fighting strength will be reduced. This must be thought through carefully.” The Emperor followed Chen Qun’s advice.

太和中，曹真表欲數道伐蜀，從斜谷入。羣以爲「太祖昔到陽平攻張魯，多收豆麥以益軍糧，魯未下而食猶乏。今既無所因，且斜谷阻險，難以進退，轉運必見鈔截，多留兵守要，則損戰士，不可不熟慮也」。帝從羣議。

Cao Zhen submitted another memorial proposing to go by the Ziwu Road. Chen Qun again set out the disadvantages, and also spoke of plans for military expenditure. An edict passed Chen Qun’s opinion down to Cao Zhen, but Cao Zhen took it as his basis and set off anyway. Then heavy rain fell for many days, and Chen Qun again held that Cao Zhen should be recalled by edict; the Emperor agreed.

真復表從子午道。羣又陳其不便，并言軍事用度之計。詔以羣議下真，真據之遂行。會霖雨積日，羣又以爲宜詔真還，帝從之。

Later the imperial daughter Shu died, and was posthumously enfeoffed and named Princess Yi of Pingyuan. Chen Qun submitted a memorial: “Long life or short depends on fate, and survival or death has its allotted portion. Therefore when the sages established the rites, they sometimes restrained and sometimes gave full expression, seeking the mean. At the tomb at Fang there was the frugality of leaving the mound unrepaired; between Ying and Bo lies a soul that was never brought home. For a great man’s actions accord with Heaven and Earth and are handed down without end, and great virtue does not overstep the bounds, because his actions serve as a model and example. Even for a child who dies at eight, in the lowest grade of early death, the rites make no full provision; how much less for one not yet a year old—yet she was sent off with the rites for an adult, mourning garments were even prescribed, and the whole court put on white and wailed morning and evening. From antiquity until now there has been nothing like it.

後皇女淑薨，追封諡平原懿公主。羣上疏曰：長短有命，存亡有分。故聖人制禮，或抑或致，以求厥中。防墓有不脩之儉，嬴、博有不歸之魂。夫大人動合天地，垂之無窮，又大德不逾閑，動爲師表故也。八歲下殤，禮所不備，況未期月，而以成人禮送之，加爲制服，舉朝素衣，朝夕哭臨，自古已來，未有此比。

And now Your Majesty would go in person to inspect the tomb and attend the setting out of the hearse yourself. I beg Your Majesty to restrain and cut off such things as bring no benefit and only harm; leave the funeral procession entirely to the ministers, and I entreat that the imperial carriage not go. This is the dearest wish of all the realm. I hear that the imperial carriage intends to go to Mobei but will actually go to Xuchang, and that everyone in both palaces, high and low, will go east together. Everyone at court, great and small, is astonished. Some say it is to avoid ill fortune; some say it is to move the palace buildings to a more convenient place; others do not know why.

而乃復自往視陵，親臨祖載。願陛下抑割無益有損之事，但悉聽羣臣送葬，乞車駕不行，此萬國之至望也。聞車駕欲幸摩陂，實到許昌，二宮上下，皆悉俱東，舉朝大小，莫不驚怪。或言欲以避衰，或言欲於便處移殿舍，或不知何故。

I believe that good and ill fortune are a matter of fate, while disaster and blessing come from men themselves; moving about in search of safety brings no benefit either. If a move to avoid misfortune is truly necessary, then the Western Palace in Jinyong Fortress and the detached palace at Mengjin could be repaired, and both could serve as temporary lodgings for separate parts of the household. There should be no taking the entire palace out to camp exposed in the open, ruining the crucial work of silkworms and farming in the height of the season. Moreover, when the enemy lands hear of it, they will think we are in great decline. And the costs incurred would be beyond reckoning. Besides, good gentlemen and worthy men, whether in prosperity or decline, safety or danger, hold to the Way and trust in fate; they do not move their households to find peace, and their villages follow their example and are free from fear.

臣以爲吉凶有命，禍福由人，移徙求安，則亦無益。若必當移避，繕治金墉城西宮，及孟津別宮，皆可權時分止。可無舉宮暴露野次，廢損盛節蠶農之要。又賊地聞之，以爲大衰。加所煩費，不可計量。且吉士賢人，當盛衰，處安危，秉道信命，非徙其家以寧，鄉邑從其風化，無恐懼之心。

How much more so the Emperor, lord of all the realm: when he is still, the realm is at peace; when he moves, the realm is disturbed. How can his comings and goings, his movement and rest, be undertaken lightly?”

況乃帝王萬國之主，靜則天下安，動則天下擾；行止動靜，豈可輕脫哉？

The Emperor did not listen.

帝不聽。

During the Qinglong era, palaces were being built and repaired, and the people missed the farming season. Chen Qun submitted a memorial: “Yu inherited the glory of Tang and Yu, yet he still kept his palaces low and his clothing plain. How much more now, after death and disorder, when the population is so small that, compared with the times of Emperors Wen and Jing of the Han, it amounts to no more than a single large commandery. On top of this there is trouble on the frontiers and the officers and men are toiling hard; should flood or drought strike, it would be a grave worry for the state. Moreover, Wu and Shu are not yet destroyed, and the altars of the state are not secure.

青龍中，營治宮室，百姓失農時。羣上疏曰：禹承唐、虞之盛，猶卑宮室而惡衣服，況今喪亂之後，人民至少，比漢文、景之時，不過一大郡。¹加邊境有事，將士勞苦，若有水旱之患，國家之深憂也。且吳、蜀未滅，社稷不安。

We should prepare for them before they move, by practicing arms and encouraging agriculture. Now to set aside these urgent matters and put palaces first—I fear the people will be reduced to hardship, and then how will we meet the enemy? Formerly Liu Bei built many post stations from Chengdu to Baishui, expending money and labor, and Taizu knew he was exhausting his people. Our own wasting of strength in the central realm is likewise just what Wu and Shu desire. This is the turning point of safety and danger; I beg Your Majesty to consider it.”

宜及其未動，講武勸農，有以待之。今舍此急而先宮室，臣懼百姓遂困，將何以應敵？昔劉備自成都至白水，多作傳舍，興費人役，太祖知其疲民也。今中國勞力，亦吳、蜀之所願。此安危之機也，惟陛下慮之。

The Emperor replied, “A king’s palaces must also be built alongside these things. Once the rebels are destroyed, we need only stand down the garrisons; how could we then start up building works again? That is why this is your office, sir—the grand design of Xiao He.” Chen Qun said further, “Formerly the Founder of the Han contended for the realm only with Xiang Yu, and when Xiang Yu had been destroyed the palaces had been burned down. Therefore Xiao He built the arsenal and the Great Granary, all of them urgent necessities; yet even so their grandeur was condemned. Now, with the two caitiffs not yet subdued, it is truly not fitting to act as in antiquity.

帝答曰：「王者宮室，亦宜並立。滅賊之後，但當罷守耳，豈可復興役邪？是故君之職，蕭何之大略也。」羣又曰：昔漢祖唯與項羽爭天下，羽已滅，宮室燒焚，是以蕭何建武庫、太倉，皆是要急，然猶非其壯麗。今二虜未平，誠不宜與古同也。¹

Whatever a man desires, he never lacks a pretext, and how much more so a Heavenly King, whom no one dares to oppose. Earlier, when you wished to tear down the arsenal, you said it had to be torn down; later, when you wished to set one up, you said it had to be set up. If you are determined to build, certainly no words from a subject can deter you; and if you give it a little thought and resolutely change your mind, that too is beyond anything a subject can bring about. When Emperor Ming of the Han wished to build the Deyang Hall, Zhongli Yi remonstrated, and the Emperor at once took his advice; but later he had it built after all. When the hall was finished, he said to his ministers, ‘Had Master of Writing Zhongli been here, this hall could never have been completed.’

夫人之所欲，莫不有辭，況乃天王，莫之敢違。前欲壞武庫，謂不可不壞也；後欲置之，謂不可不置也。若必作之，固非臣下辭言所屈；若少留神，卓然回意，亦非臣下之所及也。漢明帝欲起德陽殿，鍾離意諫，即用其言，後乃復作之；殿成，謂羣臣曰：‘鍾離尚書在，不得成此殿也。’

Why would a king fear a single minister? Surely it was for the sake of the people. Now I have been unable to hold Your Majesty’s attention even for a moment; I fall far short of Zhongli Yi.”

夫王者豈憚一臣，蓋爲百姓也。今臣曾不能少凝聖聽，不及意遠矣。

The Emperor thereupon made some reductions.

帝於是有所減省。

Earlier, in Taizu’s time, Liu Yi had been implicated when his younger brother joined Wei Feng in plotting rebellion, and was due to be executed. Chen Qun spoke to Taizu about it, and Taizu said, “Liu Yi is a famous minister; I too wished to pardon him.” He was then restored to his post. Liu Yi was deeply grateful to Chen Qun, but Chen Qun said, “Deliberating on punishments is done for the state, not for private reasons. Besides, this came from the wise ruler’s own intention; what did I have to do with it?” His magnanimity and modesty were all of this kind. He died in the fourth year of Qinglong and was given the posthumous name Marquis Jing. His son Chen Tai succeeded him. The Emperor, remembering Chen Qun’s merit and virtue, divided his fief and enfeoffed another of his sons as a full marquis.

初，太祖時，劉廙坐弟與魏諷謀反，當誅。羣言之太祖，太祖曰：「廙，名臣也，吾亦欲赦之。」乃復位。廙深德羣，羣曰：「夫議刑爲國，非爲私也；且自明主之意，吾何知焉？」其弘博不伐，皆此類也。青龍四年薨，諡曰靖侯。子泰嗣。帝追思羣功德，分羣戶邑，封一子列侯。¹

His Son Chen Tai

子　泰

Chen Tai’s courtesy name was Xuanbo. During the Qinglong era he was appointed Attendant Gentleman Cavalier. During the Zhengshi era he was transferred to General of the Roving Cavalry and became Inspector of Bing Province, with the additional title of General Who Spreads Awe, Bearing the Imperial Credentials, and General of the Household Protecting the Xiongnu. He won over and pacified the non-Chinese people, showing great authority and kindness. Many nobles in the capital sent him valuables so that he might buy slaves for them; Chen Tai hung them all on the wall without breaking the seals, and when he was summoned to become Master of Writing, he returned every one. At the beginning of the Jiaping era he replaced Guo Huai as Inspector of Yong Province, with the additional title of General Who Displays Might.

泰字玄伯。青龍中，除散騎侍郎。正始中，徙游擊將軍，爲并州刺史，加振威將軍，使持節，護匈奴中郎將，懷柔夷民，甚有威惠。京邑貴人多寄寶貨，因泰市奴婢，泰皆挂之於壁，不發其封，及徵爲尚書，悉以還之。嘉平初，代郭淮爲雍州刺史，加奮威將軍。

Jiang Wei, Grand General of Shu, led his forces to build two forts against Mount Qu, leaving the Gate Standard Generals Gou An, Li Xin and others to hold them; he gathered hostages from the Qiang and Hu and raided and menaced the commanderies. Guo Huai, General Who Conquers the West, consulted Chen Tai on how to resist him. Chen Tai said, “Though the Qu forts are strong, they are far from Shu over dangerous roads and must be supplied with grain. The Qiang and other tribes resent the labor Jiang Wei imposes on them and will surely not be willing to side with him. If we now besiege and take them, we can capture the forts without bloodying our blades. Even if relief comes, the mountain roads are steep and dangerous, no place for moving an army.”

蜀大將軍姜維率衆依麴山築二城，使牙門將句安、李歆等守之，聚羌胡質任等寇偪諸郡。征西將軍郭淮與泰謀所以禦之，泰曰：「麴城雖固，去蜀險遠，當須運糧。羌夷患維勞役，必未肯附。今圍而取之，可不血刃而拔其城；雖其有救，山道阻險，非行兵之地也。」

Guo Huai followed Chen Tai’s plan and had him lead the Army Protector for Punishing Shu, Xu Zhi, the Prefect of Nan’an, Deng Ai, and others to advance and besiege the forts, cutting off their supply route and the water flowing outside the walls. Gou An and the others offered battle but were refused. Their officers and men were reduced to straits, rationing their grain and gathering snow to hold out day after day. Jiang Wei did indeed come to their relief, emerging from Mount Niutou to face Chen Tai. Chen Tai said, “The art of war prizes subduing the enemy without fighting. If we now cut him off at Niutou, Jiang Wei will have no way back and will be our captive.”

淮從泰計，使泰率討蜀護軍徐質、南安太守鄧艾等進兵圍之，斷其運道及城外流水。安等挑戰，不許，將士困窘，分糧聚雪以稽日月。維果來救，出自牛頭山，與泰相對。泰曰：「兵法貴在不戰而屈人。今絕牛頭，維無反道，則我之禽也。」

He ordered all the units to strengthen their ramparts and not to give battle, and sent a messenger to tell Guo Huai that he intended to cross the Bai River southward himself and follow the river east, while Guo Huai should hurry to Niutou and cut off Jiang Wei’s line of retreat; in this way they could take Jiang Wei as well, not just Gou An and the others. Guo Huai approved the plan and led his forces forward to encamp on the Tao River. Jiang Wei took fright and fled, and Gou An and the others, left isolated, all surrendered.

敕諸軍各堅壘勿與戰，遣使白淮，欲自南渡白水，循水而東，使淮趣牛頭，截其還路，可并取維，不惟安等而已。淮善其策，進率諸軍軍洮水。維懼，遁走，安等孤縣，遂皆降。

When Guo Huai died, Chen Tai succeeded him as General Who Conquers the West, granted the Acting Tally and made Chief Controller of military affairs in Yong and Liang. The following year Wang Jing, Inspector of Yong Province, reported to Chen Tai that Jiang Wei and Xiahou Ba intended to advance along three routes toward Mount Qi, Shiying and Jincheng, and asked to advance troops as wings, sending the Liang Province army to Fuhan and the Army Protector for Punishing Shu toward Mount Qi. Chen Tai judged that the enemy would in the end be unable to use three routes, that forces should not be divided, and that the Liang Province army ought not yet cross its borders. He replied to Wang Jing, “Find out for certain where they are heading, and wait until our eastern and western forces have joined before advancing.”

淮薨，泰代爲征西將軍，假節都督雍、涼諸軍事。後年，雍州刺史王經白泰，云姜維、夏侯霸欲三道向祁山、石營、金城，求進兵爲翅，使涼州軍至枹罕，討蜀護軍向祁山。泰量賊勢終不能三道，且兵勢惡分，涼州未宜越境，報經：「審其定問，知所趣向，須東西勢合乃進。」

At this time Jiang Wei and the others, with several tens of thousands of men, reached Fuhan and headed for Didao. Chen Tai ordered Wang Jing to advance and garrison Didao and to wait for the main army to arrive before planning to strike at the enemy. Chen Tai advanced his army to Chencang. Meanwhile the troops under Wang Jing fought the enemy at Guguan and fared badly, and Wang Jing on his own initiative crossed the Tao. Chen Tai judged that since Wang Jing had not held fast at Didao, some further disaster was sure to follow. He therefore sent the Five Battalions ahead and followed with the rest of his forces. Wang Jing had already fought Jiang Wei and been badly defeated; with some ten thousand men he went back to hold the city of Didao, and the rest all fled and scattered.

時維等將數萬人至枹罕，趣狄道。泰敕經進屯狄道，須軍到，乃規取之。泰進軍陳倉。會經所統諸軍於故關與賊戰不利，經輒渡洮。泰以經不堅據狄道，必有他變。並遣五營在前，泰率諸軍繼之。經已與維戰，大敗，以萬餘人還保狄道城，餘皆奔散。

Jiang Wei, riding his victory, besieged Didao. Chen Tai encamped at Shanggui, divided his troops to guard the key points, and pressed forward day and night. Deng Ai, Hu Fen and Wang Bi also arrived, and he at once divided his forces with Deng Ai, Wang Bi and the others into three armies and advanced to Longxi. Deng Ai and the others held that “Wang Jing’s crack troops have been crushed in the west, and the enemy is at the height of his strength. An army riding on victory cannot be withstood, and you, General, following behind a defeated army with a rabble of troops, have officers and men who have lost heart, while all of Longyou is tottering.

維乘勝圍狄道。泰軍上邽，分兵守要，晨夜進前。鄧艾、胡奮、王祕亦到，即與艾、祕等分爲三軍，進到隴西。艾等以爲「王經精卒破衄於西，賊衆大盛，乘勝之兵既不可當，而將軍以烏合之卒，繼敗軍之後，將士失氣，隴右傾蕩。

The ancients had a saying: ‘When a viper stings the hand, the brave man cuts off his wrist.’ Sunzi said, ‘There are armies one does not attack, and ground one does not defend.’ For one may lose a little in order to preserve a great deal. Now the danger to Longyou is worse than a viper, and Didao is more than merely ground that need not be defended. Jiang Wei’s army is a blade to be avoided. Better to hold the strongpoints and protect ourselves, watch for an opening and wait for the enemy to tire, and only then advance to the rescue. This is the best plan.”

古人有言：‘蝮蛇螫手，壯士解其腕。’孫子曰：‘兵有所不擊，地有所不守。’蓋小有所失而大有所全故也。今隴右之害，過於蝮蛇，狄道之地，非徒不守之謂。姜維之兵，是所辟之鋒。不如割險自保，觀釁待弊，然後進救，此計之得者也。」

Chen Tai said, “Jiang Wei has led light troops deep into our territory precisely because he wants to cross blades with us in the open field and win the advantage of a single battle. Wang Jing ought to have kept behind high walls and deep ramparts to blunt his edge. Instead he gave battle and let the enemy have his way; the enemy routed Wang Jing and shut him up in Didao. If Jiang Wei, with the prestige of victory, were to push east, seize the stores of grain at Yueyang, send out his troops to gather in those who surrender, win over the Qiang and Hu, contend eastward for Guanzhong and Longyou, and send proclamations to the four commanderies, that is what we should dread.

泰曰：姜維提輕兵深入，正欲與我爭鋒原野，求一戰之利。王經當高壁深壘，挫其銳氣。今乃與戰，使賊得計，走破王經，封之狄道。若維以戰克之威，進兵東向，據櫟陽積穀之實，放兵收降，招納羌、胡，東爭關、隴，傳檄四郡，此我之所惡也。

Moreover Jiang Wei’s army, riding on victory, is now being blunted beneath a steep city wall; his keen troops are exhausting their strength and risking their lives. Attack and defense are different situations, and the invader and the defender are not alike. The military treatise says, ‘Preparing the great shields and the armored siege carts takes three months to complete, and building the earthen ramp takes another three months before it is finished.’ This is surely not something Jiang Wei’s tricks can achieve in haste with a light army that has come far. An isolated army lodged far from home, with no steady supply of grain—this is the moment for us to advance swiftly and crush the enemy. It is what is called ‘a sudden thunderclap leaves no time to cover the ears’; the situation is naturally so.

而維以乘勝之兵，挫峻城之下，銳氣之卒，屈力致命，攻守勢殊，客主不同。兵書云‘脩櫓轒轀，三月乃成，拒堙三月而後已’。誠非輕軍遠入，維之詭謀倉卒所辦。縣軍遠僑，糧穀不繼，是我速進破賊之時也，所謂疾雷不及掩耳，自然之勢也。

The Tao River encircles them on the outside, and Jiang Wei and his men are within. If we now take the heights and hold the advantage of terrain, looming over their necks, they will surely flee without a fight. The invaders must not be let loose, and the siege must not be allowed to drag on. Why do you gentlemen speak like this?”

洮水帶其表，維等在其內，今乘高據勢，臨其項領，不戰必走。寇不可縱，圍不可久，君等何言如此？

He then advanced across the Gaocheng Ridge and marched in secret, reaching by night a high mountain southeast of Didao, where he lit many beacon fires and sounded drums and horns. The officers and men in Didao, seeing that relief had come, all leapt up in excitement. Jiang Wei had at first supposed that the government relief force would set out only after all its troops had gathered; hearing suddenly that it had already arrived, he thought some surprise stratagem long prepared must be afoot, and high and low were shaken with fear. From the time the army set out from Longxi, Chen Tai had reckoned that since the mountain roads were deep and dangerous, the enemy would surely lay an ambush.

遂進軍度高城嶺，潛行，夜至狄道東南高山上，多舉烽火，鳴鼓角。狄道城中將士見救者至，皆憤踊。維始謂官救兵當須衆集乃發，而卒聞已至，謂有奇變宿謀，上下震懼。自軍之發隴西也，以山道深險，賊必設伏。

Chen Tai feinted as if taking the southern road, and Jiang Wei did indeed lay an ambush for three days. But in fact the army marched in secret and suddenly emerged to the south of him. Jiang Wei then came charging along the mountain, and Chen Tai engaged him; Jiang Wei fell back. The Liang Province army went south from Jincheng to Woganban. Chen Tai secretly arranged with Wang Jing that they would together move against Jiang Wei’s line of retreat. When Jiang Wei and the others heard of it, they fled, and the officers and men in the city were able to come out. Wang Jing sighed, “We had less than ten days’ food left. Had relief not come at the right moment, the whole city would have been slaughtered and an entire province lost.”

泰詭從南道，維果三日施伏。¹定軍潛行，卒出其南。維乃緣山突至，泰與交戰，維退還。涼州軍從金城南至沃干阪。泰與經共密期，當共向其還路，維等聞之，遂遁，城中將士得出。經歎曰：「糧不至旬，向不應機，舉城屠裂，覆喪一州矣。」

Chen Tai comforted and rewarded the officers and men and sent them home in turn, assigned fresh troops to garrison the place, repaired the city walls and ramparts, and returned to garrison Shanggui.

泰慰勞將士，前後遣還，更差軍守，並治城壘，還屯上邽。

Earlier, when Chen Tai heard that Wang Jing was besieged, he judged that the provincial officers and men had always been of one mind and moreover had managed to hold the city, so that Jiang Wei could not overthrow it quickly. He sent up a memorial saying that he would advance day and night and arrive swiftly. The general opinion at court was that since Wang Jing had been routed, the city was not strong enough to hold out by itself; if Jiang Wei cut the road to Liang Province, took over the people and tribes of the four commanderies, and occupied the strongholds of Guanzhong and Longyou, he might well annihilate Wang Jing’s army and put Longyou to the sword. They should wait until large forces had gathered from all directions before launching an attack.

初，泰聞經見圍，以州軍將士素皆一心，加得保城，非維所能卒傾。表上進軍晨夜速到還。衆議以經奔北，城不足自固，維若斷涼州之道，兼四郡民夷，據關、隴之險，敢能沒經軍而屠隴右。宜須大兵四集，乃致攻討。

The Grand General, Sima Zhao (King Wen), said, “Zhuge Liang too always had such ambitions, but in the end he could not achieve them. The undertaking is great and the plan far-reaching, beyond what Jiang Wei can manage. Besides, the city is not something that can be taken in a hurry, while the shortage of grain is the pressing problem. For the General Who Conquers the West to go swiftly to its relief is the best plan.” Chen Tai always held that whenever there was trouble in one region, empty rumors stirred up the whole realm, so he seldom sent reports to the throne and kept them brief, and his relay dispatches never exceeded six hundred li. Sima Zhao said to Xun Yi, “Xuanbo is calm, brave and decisive. Bearing the heavy responsibility of a regional governor, he rescued a city on the point of falling without asking for more troops, and he reported to the throne seldom and briefly; that is because he was sure he could deal with the enemy. Is this not how a Chief Controller and great general should be!”

大將軍司馬文王曰：「昔諸葛亮常有此志，卒亦不能。事大謀遠，非維所任也。且城非倉卒所拔，而糧少爲急，征西速救，得上策矣。」泰每以一方有事，輒以虛聲擾動天下，故希簡白上事，驛書不過六百里。司馬文王語荀顗曰：「玄伯沈勇能斷，荷方伯之重，救將陷之城，而不求益兵，又希簡上事，必能辦賊故也。都督大將，不當爾邪！」

Later Chen Tai was summoned to be Deputy Director of the Secretariat of the Right, in charge of selecting officials, with the added posts of Palace Attendant and Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. When the Wu general-in-chief Sun Jun came out toward the Huai and Si rivers, Chen Tai was made General Who Guards the Army, granted the tally of authority and made Chief Controller of the military affairs north of the Huai, and an edict ordered the Army Supervisor of Xu Province and all below him to take their orders from Chen Tai. When Sun Jun withdrew, the army returned, and Chen Tai was transferred to Deputy Director of the Left. When Zhuge Dan rebelled at Shouchun, Sima Zhao (King Wen) led the Six Armies and camped at Qiutou, and Chen Tai took overall charge of the Branch Secretariat.

後徵泰爲尚書右僕射，典選舉，加侍中光祿大夫。吳大將孫峻出淮、泗。以泰爲鎮軍將軍，假節都督淮北諸軍事，詔徐州監軍已下受泰節度。峻退，軍還，轉爲左僕射。諸葛誕作亂壽春，司馬文王率六軍軍丘頭，泰總署行臺。

Sima Shi (King Jing) and Sima Zhao were both close friends of Chen Tai, and Wu Gai of Pei Commandery was also on good terms with him. Sima Zhao asked Wu Gai, “How does Xuanbo compare with his father the Minister of Works?” Wu Gai said, “In broad understanding and refinement, and in being able to take the moral instruction of the whole realm as his own charge, he does not equal his father. In clear command, in conciseness that reaches to the heart of things, and in achieving merit and getting things done, he surpasses him.” For his successive achievements Chen Tai’s fief was increased to two thousand six hundred households, and of his sons and younger brothers one was made a village marquis and two were made Marquis Within the Passes.

司馬景王、文王皆與泰親友，及沛國武陔亦與泰善。文王問陔曰：「玄伯何如其父司空也？」陔曰：「通雅博暢，能以天下聲教爲己任者，不如也；明統簡至，立功立事，過之。」泰前後以功增邑二千六百戶，賜子弟一人亭侯，二人關內侯。

He died in the first year of Jingyuan and was posthumously made Minister of Works, with the posthumous title Marquis Mu. His son Chen Xun succeeded him. When Chen Xun died without an heir, his younger brother Chen Wen inherited the fief. When the five ranks of nobility were established in the Xianxi era, Chen Wen’s fief was changed to Viscount of Shen, because Chen Tai had rendered distinguished service to the former dynasty.

景元元年薨，追贈司空。諡曰穆侯。¹子恂嗣。恂薨，無嗣。弟溫紹封。咸熙中開建五等，以泰著勳前朝，改封溫爲慎子。²

Chen Jiao

陳矯

Chen Jiao, courtesy name Jibi, was a man of Dongyang in Guangling. He fled the disorders to Jiangdong and Dongcheng, declined the summonses of Sun Ce and Yuan Shu, and returned to his home commandery. The Grand Administrator Chen Deng invited him to be his Officer of Merit and sent him to Xu, saying, “In the discussions at Xu they say I am not treated as I deserve. Observe things there for me, and come back and instruct me.” On his return Chen Jiao said, “I heard the talk from far and near, and many say that Your Excellency is arrogant and full of self-regard.” Chen Deng said, “For harmony within the household, virtue and good conduct, I respect Chen Yuanfang and his brother. For purity deep as an abyss and cleanness like jade, with propriety and principle, I respect Hua Ziyu. For pure self-cultivation and hatred of evil, with discernment and righteousness, I respect Zhao Yuanda. For wide learning and a strong memory, extraordinary and towering above others, I respect Kong Wenju. For heroic bearing that stands out above all, with the strategy of a king or a hegemon, I respect Liu Xuande. When these are the men I respect, where is my arrogance? The rest are petty creatures—how are they worth counting?” Such were Chen Deng’s habitual views, yet he deeply respected Chen Jiao and made a friend of him.

陳矯字季弼，廣陵東陽人也。避亂江東及東城，辭孫策、袁術之命，還本郡。太守陳登請爲功曹，使矯詣許，謂曰：「許下論議，待吾不足；足下相爲觀察，還以見誨。」矯還曰：「聞遠近之論，頗謂明府驕而自矜。」登曰：「夫閨門雍穆，有德有行，吾敬陳元方兄弟；淵清玉絜，有禮有法，吾敬華子魚；清脩疾惡，有識有義，吾敬趙元達；博聞強記，奇逸卓犖，吾敬孔文舉；雄姿傑出，有王霸之略，吾敬劉玄德：所敬如此，何驕之有！餘子瑣瑣，亦焉足錄哉？」登雅意如此，而深敬友矯。

When the commandery was besieged by Sun Quan at Kuangqi, Chen Deng had Chen Jiao go to Taizu to ask for relief. Chen Jiao persuaded Taizu, saying, “Our humble commandery is small, but it is a state of advantageous terrain. If it receives your relief and becomes your outer bulwark, the men of Wu will have their schemes broken, the lands of Xu will be at peace forever, the sound of your arms will shake the distance, and your benevolence will flow in floods; the states that have not yet submitted will see which way the wind blows and follow you like shadows. To exalt virtue and nurture awe—this is the work of a king.” Taizu thought Chen Jiao remarkable and wanted to keep him. Chen Jiao declined, saying, “My home state hangs upside down in its peril, and I came running only to report the emergency. Even if I cannot achieve what Shen Xu did, how dare I forget the loyalty of Hong Yan?”

郡爲孫權所圍於匡奇，登令矯求救於太祖。矯說太祖曰：「鄙郡雖小，形便之國也，若蒙救援，使爲外籓，則吳人剉謀，徐方永安，武聲遠震，仁愛滂流，未從之國，望風景附，崇德養威，此王業也。」太祖奇矯，欲留之。矯辭曰：「本國倒縣，本奔走告急，縱無申胥之效，敢忘弘演之義乎？」¹

Taizu then sent troops to the rescue. When the Wu army had withdrawn, Chen Deng set many ambushes, led his troops in pursuit of the fleeing enemy, and routed them.

太祖乃遣赴救。吳軍既退，登多設間伏，勒兵追奔，大破之。

Taizu summoned Chen Jiao to be a clerk in the office of the Minister of Works, and appointed him in turn Magistrate of Xiang, Chief Clerk to the General Who Conquers the South, Grand Administrator of Pengcheng and of Leling, and Commandant of the Western Division of Wei Commandery. A man of Quzhou, whose father was ill, had prayed with the sacrifice of an ox, and the county had convicted him and sentenced him to public execution. Chen Jiao said, “This is a filial son,” and sent up a memorial to have him pardoned. He was promoted to Grand Administrator of Wei. At that time there were over a thousand prisoners in custody, some of whom had been held for years. Chen Jiao held that Zhou had its system of three codes and Han had reduced its laws to three articles, yet now men cared only for the principle of weighing punishments light and heavy and ignored the harm of long detention—which could be called a mistake.

太祖辟矯爲司空掾屬，除相令，征南長史，彭城、樂陵太守，魏郡西部都尉。曲周民父病，以牛禱，縣結正棄市。矯曰：「此孝子也。」表赦之。遷魏郡太守。時繫囚千數，至有歷年，矯以爲周有三典之制，漢約三章之法，今惜輕重之理，而忽久繫之患，可謂謬矣。

He personally reviewed all the charges and decided every case at one time. When the great army campaigned east, he entered the court as Chief Clerk to the Chancellor. When the army returned he again became Grand Administrator of Wei, and was transferred to Clerk of the Western Bureau. He followed the campaign against Hanzhong and on his return became a Master of Writing. He had gone on ahead and had not yet reached Ye when Taizu died at Luoyang. The officials clung to routine and held that for the Crown Prince to take the throne they must wait for an imperial mandate. Chen Jiao said, “The King has died away from home, and the whole realm is in fear. The Crown Prince should cut short his grief and take the throne, so as to hold the hopes of those near and far.

悉自覽罪狀，一時論決。大軍東征，入爲丞相長史。軍還，復爲魏郡，轉西曹屬。從征漢中，還爲尚書。行前未到鄴，太祖崩洛陽，羣臣拘常，以爲太子即位，當須詔命。矯曰：「王薨于外，天下惶懼。太子宜割哀即位，以繫遠近之望。

What is more, the King’s beloved son is at hand, and if trouble should break out on one side or the other, the altars of the state will be in danger.” Then the officers were assembled and the rites prepared, and everything was done within a single day. The next morning, on the authority of an order from the Queen, the Crown Prince was invested and took the throne, and a sweeping amnesty wiped all crimes away. Emperor Wen said, “Chen Jibi, facing a great crisis, showed clear judgment beyond other men. He is truly the outstanding hero of his time.” When the Emperor ascended the imperial throne, Chen Jiao was transferred to take charge of the Personnel Section, was enfeoffed as Marquis of Gaoling Village, and was promoted to Director of the Secretariat. When Emperor Ming took the throne he was advanced to Marquis of Dong District, with six hundred households.

且又愛子在側，彼此生變，則社稷危矣。」即具官備禮，一日皆辦。明旦，以王后令，策太子即位，大赦蕩然。文帝曰：「陳季弼臨大節，明略過人，信一時之俊傑也。」帝既踐阼，轉署吏部，封高陵亭侯，遷尚書令。明帝即位，進爵東鄉侯，邑六百戶。

Once the imperial carriage arrived without warning at the gate of the Secretariat. Chen Jiao knelt and asked the Emperor, “Where does Your Majesty wish to go?” The Emperor said, “I only wish to look through the documents.” Chen Jiao said, “That is properly your servant’s duty; it is not a place for Your Majesty to come. If your servant is not equal to his office, I ask to be dismissed. Your Majesty should go back.” The Emperor was ashamed, turned his carriage around and went back. Such was his clear-sighted uprightness. He was given the added posts of Palace Attendant and Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and promoted to Minister over the Masses. He died in the first year of Jingchu, with the posthumous title Marquis Zhen.

車駕嘗卒至尚書門，矯跪問帝曰：「陛下欲何之？」帝曰：「欲案行文書耳。」矯曰：「此自臣職分，非陛下所宜臨也。若臣不稱其職，則請就黜退。陛下宜還。」帝慚，回車而反。其亮直如此。¹加侍中光祿大夫，遷司徒。景初元年薨，諡曰貞侯。²

His son Chen Ben succeeded him and served in turn as a grand administrator and one of the Nine Ministers. Wherever he was, he held on to the main threads and upheld the essentials, and he could make his subordinates give their utmost of their own accord. He had a talent for command and did not concern himself personally with small matters; without reading the legal codes he won renown as Commandant of Justice, outdoing Sima Qi and the others who were expert and practised in legal texts. He was promoted to General Who Guards the North, granted the tally of authority and made Chief Controller of the military affairs north of the Yellow River. When he died his son Chen Can succeeded him. Chen Ben’s younger brother Chen Qian became General of Chariots and Cavalry in the Xianxi era.

子本嗣，歷位郡守、九卿。所在操綱領，舉大體，能使羣下自盡。有統御之才，不親小事，不讀法律而得廷尉之稱，優於司馬岐等，精練文理。遷鎮北將軍，假節都督河北諸軍事。薨，子粲嗣。本弟騫，咸熙中爲車騎將軍。¹

Earlier, when Chen Jiao was Officer of Merit of his commandery, he passed through Taishan on a mission. The Grand Administrator of Taishan, Xue Ti of Dong Commandery, thought him remarkable and made him a close friend. Xue Ti said to Chen Jiao in jest, “A commandery clerk befriending an official of two thousand piculs—it is like the lord of a neighboring state stooping to keep company with another lord’s vassal. And why not!” Later Xue Ti became Grand Administrator of Wei and Director of the Secretariat, succeeding Chen Jiao in both posts, it is said.

初，矯爲郡功曹，使過泰山。泰山太守東郡薛悌異之，結爲親友。戲謂矯曰：「以郡吏而交二千石，鄰國君屈從陪臣游，不亦可乎！」悌後爲魏郡及尚書令，皆承代矯云。¹

Xu Xuan

徐宣

Xu Xuan, courtesy name Baojian, was a man of Haixi in Guangling. He fled the disorders to Jiangdong, and he too declined Sun Ce’s summons and returned to his home commandery. He and Chen Jiao both became senior officers of the commandery; the two were equally renowned but did not get on in private. Both, however, were valued by the Grand Administrator Chen Deng, and together with Chen Deng they gave their hearts to Taizu. When the people of the two counties of Haixi and Huaipu rebelled, the Commandant Wei Mi and the Magistrate Liang Xi fled by night to Xu Xuan’s house, and he secretly sent them away to safety.

徐宣字寶堅，廣陵海西人也。避亂江東，又辭孫策之命，還本郡。與陳矯並爲綱紀，二人齊名而私好不協，然俱見器於太守陳登，與登並心於太祖。海西、淮浦二縣民作亂，都尉衛彌、令梁習夜奔宣家，密送免之。

Taizu sent the Army Supervisor Hu Zhi to suppress the rebels, but Hu Zhi would not advance, saying his troops were too few. Xu Xuan went to see him privately, rebuked him and showed him the situation, and only then did Hu Zhi advance and defeat the rebels. Taizu summoned Xu Xuan to be a clerk in the office of the Minister of Works and appointed him Magistrate of Dongmin and of Fagan; he was promoted to Grand Administrator of Qi, then entered the court as Chief of the Gate Guard and accompanied Taizu to Shouchun. Just then Ma Chao rebelled and the great army was to campaign west. Taizu looked at his officers and said, “Now we must campaign far away, but this region is not yet settled and will be a worry behind us. We must find a man who is pure, just and of great virtue to hold it down and command it.”

太祖遣督軍扈質來討賊，以兵少不進。宣潛見責之，示以形勢，質乃進破賊。太祖辟爲司空掾屬，除東緡、發干令，遷齊郡太守，入爲門下督，從到壽春。會馬超作亂，大軍西征，太祖見官屬曰：「今當遠征，而此方未定，以爲後憂，宜得清公大德以鎮統之。」

So Xu Xuan was made Protector of the Army of the Left and left behind to command the various forces. On Taizu’s return he became Clerk of the Chancellor’s Eastern Bureau, and then went out as Grand Administrator of Wei. When Taizu died at Luoyang, the officials went into the palace to raise the lament. Someone said the commanders of the cities should be replaced with men of Qiao and Pei. Xu Xuan said sharply, “Now that all, near and far, are united and every man is eager to show his loyalty, why must they be men of Qiao and Pei? It would only dishearten those who stand guard.” When Emperor Wen heard of this he said, “This is what is called a minister of the altars of state.”

乃以宣爲左護軍，留統諸軍。還，爲丞相東曹掾，出爲魏郡太守。太祖崩洛陽，羣臣入殿中發哀。或言可易諸城守，用譙、沛人。宣厲聲曰：「今者遠近一統，人懷效節，何必譙、沛，而沮宿衛者心。」文帝聞曰：「所謂社稷之臣也。」

When the Emperor ascended the throne, Xu Xuan became Palace Assistant Imperial Clerk and was granted the rank of Marquis Within the Passes. He was moved to Colonel of the City Gates, promoted within a month to Director of Retainers, and transferred to Regular Mounted Attendant. He accompanied the Emperor to Guangling. While the Six Armies were aboard their boats, wind and waves suddenly rose and the Emperor’s ship was spun about and nearly overturned. Xu Xuan, who was ill and behind, rode the waves and pressed forward, and none of the officials arrived before him. The Emperor admired his courage and promoted him to Master of Writing.

帝既踐阼，爲御史中丞，賜爵關內侯，徙城門校尉，旬月遷司隸校尉，轉散騎常侍。從至廣陵，六軍乘舟，風浪暴起，帝船回倒，宣病在後，陵波而前，羣寮莫先至者。帝壯之，遷尚書。

When Emperor Ming took the throne, Xu Xuan was enfeoffed as Marquis of Jinyang Village with two hundred households. The Commander of the Central Army Huan Fan recommended him, saying, “I have heard that when emperors and kings employ men, they weigh the times and assign offices by talent. In times of contention, strategy comes first; once the division of the realm is settled, loyalty and righteousness are foremost. Thus Duke Wen of Jin followed Jiu Fan’s plan yet rewarded Yong Ji’s words, and Gaozu used the wisdom of Chen Ping yet entrusted what came after him to Zhou Bo. I have observed that the Master of Writing Xu Xuan embodies loyal and generous conduct and holds to an upright and clear nature. He is pure and refined, stands alone, and is not bound by the customs of the age; he is firm and hard to move, with the integrity of a minister of the altars of state. He has served in provinces and commanderies, and has proved equal to his post wherever he was. Now the post of Deputy Director is vacant and Xu Xuan is acting in charge of affairs. For a trusted and weighty charge, no one is more fitting than Xu Xuan.”

明帝即位，封津陽亭侯，邑二百戶。中領軍桓範薦宣曰：臣聞帝王用人，度世授才，爭奪之時，以策略爲先，分定之後，以忠義爲首。故晉文行舅犯之計而賞雍季之言，¹高祖用陳平之智而託後於周勃也。竊見尚書徐宣，體忠厚之行，秉直亮之性；清雅特立，不拘世俗；確然難動，有社稷之節；歷位州郡，所在稱職。今僕射缺，宣行掌後事；腹心任重，莫宜宣者。

The Emperor then made Xu Xuan Deputy Director of the Left, and later added the posts of Palace Attendant and Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. When the Emperor went to Xuchang, Xu Xuan had overall charge of the affairs left behind. On the Emperor’s return, the officials concerned presented the documents to him. The Emperor issued an edict saying, “What difference is there between my examining them and the Deputy Director doing so?” and never looked at them. When the Prefect of the Imperial Workshops was implicated in a trivial matter, interrogated and died under examination, Xu Xuan sent up a memorial stating that punishments for the sake of awe had gone too far, and he also remonstrated against building palaces that exhausted the people’s strength. The Emperor praised and accepted all of this in edicts written in his own hand. Xu Xuan said, “At seventy there is the rite of hanging up one’s carriage. I am already sixty-eight, and may take my leave.” He firmly declined on grounds of illness and asked to resign his post, but the Emperor never allowed it.

帝遂以宣爲左僕射，後加侍中光祿大夫。車駕幸許昌，總統留事。帝還，主者奏呈文書。詔曰：「吾省與僕射何異？」竟不視。尚方令坐猥見考竟，宣上疏陳威刑大過，又諫作宮殿窮盡民力，帝皆手詔嘉納。宣曰：「七十有縣車之禮，今已六十八，可以去矣。」乃固辭疾遜位，帝終不許。

He died in the fourth year of Qinglong. His testament ordered that he be dressed in plain cloth and a coarse headcloth, and laid in his coffin in ordinary seasonal clothes. The Emperor issued an edict saying, “Xu Xuan embodied perfect sincerity in his conduct, upright within and square without. Through three reigns he was just and clear and stern of countenance, with the integrity of one to whom an orphaned ruler and the fate of a state could be entrusted. He may be called a minister who was a pillar and foundation stone. We always wished to lean on him as one of the chief ministers, but did not raise him in time. Alas, that his allotted span was not longer! Let him be posthumously made General of Chariots and Cavalry and buried with the rites of one of the Three Excellencies.” His posthumous title was Marquis Zhen. His son Xu Qin succeeded him.

青龍四年薨，遺令布衣疏巾，斂以時服。詔曰：「宣體履至實，直內方外，歷在三朝，公亮正色，有託孤寄命之節，可謂柱石臣也。常欲倚以台輔，未及登之，惜乎大命不永！其追贈車騎將軍，葬如公禮。」諡曰貞侯。子欽嗣。

Wei Zhen

衛臻

Wei Zhen, courtesy name Gongzhen, was a man of Xiangyi in Chenliu. His father Wei Zi was a man of great integrity who did not answer the summonses of the Three Excellencies. When Taizu first came to Chenliu, Wei Zi said, “The man who will bring peace to the realm is surely this one.” Taizu likewise thought him remarkable and visited him several times to discuss great affairs. Wei Zi followed the campaign against Dong Zhuo, fought at Xingyang and was killed. Whenever Taizu passed through the commandery, he sent an envoy to sacrifice to him.

衛臻字公振，陳留襄邑人也。父茲，有大節，不應三公之辟。太祖之初至陳留，茲曰：「平天下者，必此人也。」太祖亦異之，數詣茲議大事。從討董卓，戰于滎陽而卒。太祖每涉郡境，輒遣使祠焉。¹

When Xiahou Dun was Grand Administrator of Chenliu, he recommended Wei Zhen as Accounts Officer. Xiahou Dun had his wife come out to join a banquet, and Wei Zhen regarded this as “a custom of a degenerate age, not the correct form of propriety.” Xiahou Dun was angry and arrested Wei Zhen, but soon pardoned him. Later he became Gentleman of the Yellow Gate under the Han. When Zhu Yue of Dong Commandery plotted rebellion, he implicated Wei Zhen. Taizu issued an order saying, “Your father and I raised our standard together, and besides, I esteem your good name. When I first heard what Zhu Yue said, I certainly did not believe it. Now that I have received Lord Xun’s letter, your loyalty is made fully clear.”

夏侯惇爲陳留太守，舉臻計吏，命婦出宴，臻以爲「末世之俗，非禮之正」。惇怒，執臻，既而赦之。後爲漢黃門侍郎。東郡朱越謀反，引臻。太祖令曰：「孤與卿君同共舉事，加欽令問。始聞越言，固自不信。及得荀令君書，具亮忠誠。」

Just then Wei Zhen received an imperial commission to present the betrothal gifts for the Honored Ladies at Wei, and Taizu took the occasion to send up a memorial keeping Wei Zhen as Adviser to the Chancellor’s Army. In belated recognition of his father’s former services he was granted the rank of Marquis Within the Passes, and he was transferred to Clerk of the Household Registers Bureau. When Emperor Wen became King he was made Regular Mounted Attendant, and when Emperor Wen ascended the imperial throne he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Anguo Village. At that time the officials all sang the praises of Wei’s virtue and many disparaged the former dynasty. Wei Zhen alone explained the meaning of the abdication and praised the merits of the Han. The Emperor looked at Wei Zhen several times and said, “The treasures of the realm should be shared with the Duke of Shanyang.”

會奉詔命，聘貴人于魏，因表留臻參丞相軍事。追錄臻父舊勳，賜爵關內侯，轉爲戶曹掾。文帝即王位，爲散騎常侍。及踐阼，封安國亭侯。時羣臣並頌魏德，多抑損前朝。臻獨明禪授之義，稱揚漢美。帝數目臻曰：「天下之珍，當與山陽共之。」

He was promoted to Master of Writing, and then transferred to Palace Attendant and Master of Writing for Personnel. When the Emperor went to Guangling, Wei Zhen accompanied him as acting Commander of the Central Army. The General-in-Chief Who Conquers the East Cao Xiu reported in a memorial a statement obtained from surrendered enemy soldiers: “Sun Quan is already at Ruxukou.” Wei Zhen said, “Sun Quan relies on the Yangzi and dares not contend with us. This must be a false story made up out of fear.” When the men who had surrendered were examined, it turned out that the garrison commander had indeed fabricated it.

遷尚書，轉侍中吏部尚書。帝幸廣陵，行中領軍，從。征東大將軍曹休表得降賊辭，「孫權已在濡須口」。臻曰：「權恃長江，未敢抗衡，此必畏怖僞辭耳。」考核降者，果守將詐所作也。

When Emperor Ming took the throne, Wei Zhen was advanced to Marquis of Kang District. Later he was transferred to Deputy Director of the Right, in charge of selecting officials, with the added post of Palace Attendant as before. The Central Protector of the Army Jiang Ji wrote to Wei Zhen, saying, “The founder of the Han met a runaway captive and made him his chief general; King Wu of Zhou raised up an old fisherman to be Grand Preceptor. Men in plain cloth and menial servants may rise to be kings and dukes—why must one keep to the rules, testing men first and only then employing them?” Wei Zhen replied, “The ancients set cleverness aside and relied on fixed standards; they had to examine a man’s record before demoting or promoting him. Now you treat the reigns of Kings Cheng and Kang as if they were the battle of Muye, and liken the times of Emperors Wen and Jing to the day the snake was cut in two. You are fond of irregular measures and would open a ford for promoting the extraordinary, which will set everyone in the realm galloping forward to rise up.”

明帝即位，進封康鄉侯，後轉爲右僕射，典選舉，如前加侍中。中護軍蔣濟遺臻書曰：「漢祖遇亡虜爲上將，周武拔漁父爲太師；布衣廝養，可登王公，何必守文，試而後用？」臻答曰：「古人遺智慧而任度量，須考績而加黜陟；今子同牧野於成、康，喻斷蛇於文、景，好不經之舉，開拔奇之津，將使天下馳騁而起矣。」

When Zhuge Liang raided Tianshui, Wei Zhen memorialized: “We should send a surprise force through San Pass to cut his supply route.” Wei Zhen was then made General Who Conquers Shu, granted the tally of authority and put in command of the armies, but when he reached Chang’an, Zhuge Liang had withdrawn. On his return he resumed his office, with the added post of Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. At this time the Emperor was bent on building halls and palaces, and Wei Zhen remonstrated earnestly several times. When the Palace Supervisor arrested a Clerk of the Orchid Terrace on his own authority, Wei Zhen memorialized that the matter be investigated. The Emperor issued an edict saying, “The palace halls not being finished is what concerns me. Why do you pursue this?”

諸葛亮寇天水，臻奏：「宜遣奇兵入散關，絕其糧道。」乃以臻爲征蜀將軍，假節督諸軍事，到長安，亮退。還，復職，加光祿大夫。是時，帝方隆意於殿舍，臻數切諫。及殿中監擅收蘭臺令史，臻奏案之。詔曰：「殿舍不成，吾所留心，卿推之何？」

Wei Zhen sent up a memorial saying, “The ancient law against encroaching on another’s office was not made out of dislike for diligence; it was truly because what is gained is small and what is ruined is great. Every time I examine the Inspectors, they are all like this, and I fear that the various offices will end up overstepping their duties until everything decays.” When Zhuge Liang came out again through the Xie Valley, the General Who Conquers the South reported, “The armies of Zhu Ran and others have already passed Jingcheng.” Wei Zhen said, “Zhu Ran is a valiant general of Wu. He will surely go downriver to join Sun Quan; he is merely making a show of force to pin down the General Who Conquers the South.”

臻上疏曰：「古制侵官之法，非惡其勤事也，誠以所益者小，所墮者大也。臣每察校事，類皆如此，懼羣司將遂越職，以至陵遲矣。」亮又出斜谷；征南上：「朱然等軍已過荊城。」臻曰：「然，吳之驍將，必下從權，且爲勢以綴征南耳。」

Sun Quan did in fact summon Zhu Ran into Juchao and advanced to attack Hefei. The Emperor wanted to campaign east in person, but Wei Zhen said, “Sun Quan makes an outward show of supporting Zhuge Liang, but in truth he is only watching to see how things go. Moreover, the walls of Hefei are strong and give no cause for concern. There is no need for Your Majesty to take the field in person, and the expense of the Six Armies can be saved.” The Emperor had reached Xunyang when Sun Quan withdrew after all.

權果召然入居巢，進攻合肥。帝欲自東征，臻曰：「權外示應亮，內實觀望。且合肥城固，不足爲慮。車駕可無親征，以省六軍之費。」帝到尋陽而權竟退。

Guanqiu Jian, Inspector of You Province, sent up a memorial saying, “Since Your Majesty took the throne there has been nothing worth recording. Wu and Shu rely on their natural defenses and cannot be subdued quickly, but for now the idle soldiers of this region could be used to conquer Liaodong.” Wei Zhen said, “What Guanqiu Jian proposes is all the petty craft of the Warring States, not the business of a true king. Wu takes up arms year after year and ravages our borders, and yet we still keep our armor stored and nurture our troops and have not gone to punish them—truly because the common people are exhausted.

幽州刺史毌丘儉上疏曰：「陛下即位已來，未有可書。吳、蜀恃險，未可卒平，聊可以此方無用之士克定遼東。」臻曰：「儉所陳皆戰國細術，非王者之事也。吳頻歲稱兵，寇亂邊境，而猶案甲養士，未果尋致討者，誠以百姓疲勞故也。

Moreover, Gongsun Yuan was born and raised beyond the sea, his family has held that land for three generations, and outwardly he has kept the barbarians in hand while inwardly training in warfare and archery. Yet Guanqiu Jian wants to drive in far with a detached army, arriving in the morning and rolling it all up by evening—I know this to be folly.” Guanqiu Jian’s campaign did indeed go badly.

且淵生長海表，相承三世，外撫戎夷，內脩戰射，而儉欲以偏軍長驅，朝至夕卷，知其妄矣。」儉行軍遂不利。

Wei Zhen was promoted to Minister of Works and then moved to Minister over the Masses. In the Zhengshi era he was advanced to Marquis of Changyuan with a fief of a thousand households, and one of his sons was enfeoffed as a full marquis. Earlier, Taizu had for a long time not named an heir and was showing special favor to the Marquis of Linzi. Ding Yi and others were acting as the Marquis’s wings and urged Wei Zhen to attach himself to him, but Wei Zhen refused on grounds of high principle. After Emperor Wen took the throne and Cao Lin, King of Donghai, enjoyed his favor, the Emperor asked Wei Zhen, “What do you think of the Marquis of Pingyuan?” Wei Zhen praised the Marquis’s bright virtue and fine qualities, but never said anything more.

臻遷爲司空，徙司徒。正始中，進爵長垣侯，邑千戶，封一子列侯。初，太祖久不立太子，而方奇貴臨菑侯。丁儀等爲之羽翼，勸臻自結，臻以大義拒之。及文帝即位，東海王霖有寵，帝問臻：「平原侯何如？」臻稱明德美而終不言。

When Cao Shuang was assisting in the government, he had Xiahou Xuan convey his wishes: he wanted to bring Wei Zhen in as acting Director of the Secretariat, and he also sought a marriage alliance for his younger brother. Wei Zhen agreed to neither. He firmly begged to resign his post. An edict said, “Of old, Duangan Mu lay at his ease, yet his righteousness held mighty Qin in check; the Marquis of Liu nourished his spirit, yet did not forget the affairs of Chu. We hope you will not withhold your frank words and good counsel.” He was granted a residence, given the rank of Specially Advanced, and a stipend equal to that of the Three Excellencies. When he died he was posthumously made Grand Commandant, with the posthumous title Marquis Jing.

曹爽輔政，使夏侯玄宣指，欲引臻入守尚書令，及爲弟求婚，皆不許。固乞遜位。詔曰：「昔干木偃息，義壓強秦；留侯頤神，不忘楚事。讜言嘉謀，望不吝焉。」賜宅一區，位特進，秩如三司。薨，追贈太尉，諡曰敬侯。

His son Wei Lie succeeded him and became Minister of the Household in the Xianxi era.

子烈嗣，咸熙中爲光祿勳。¹

Lu Yu

盧毓

Lu Yu, courtesy name Zijia, was a man of Zhuo in Zhuo Commandery. His father Lu Zhi was famous in his time. Lu Yu was orphaned at the age of ten, and when disorder came to his province his two elder brothers died in the troubles. When Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan were at war and You and Ji provinces suffered famine, he supported his widowed sister-in-law and his orphaned nephew, and was praised for his learning and conduct.

盧毓字子家，涿郡涿人也。父植，有名於世。¹毓十歲而孤，遇本州亂，二兄死難。當袁紹、公孫瓚交兵，幽冀饑荒，養寡嫂孤兄子，以學行見稱。

When Emperor Wen was General of the Household for the Five Offices, he summoned Lu Yu to serve as Bandit-Catching Officer in his headquarters. Cui Yan recommended him as Registrar of Ji Province. At that time the realm was newly founded and there were many deserters, so the law on runaway soldiers was made severe, and the punishment extended to their wives and children. The wives of certain deserters, Bai and others, had married into their husbands’ families only a few days before and had not yet even met their husbands, but the Grand Judge memorialized that they be executed in the marketplace. Lu Yu objected, saying: A woman’s feelings are such that affection arises only when she has met her husband, and her duty becomes weighty only once she has become a wife. Thus the Book of Odes says, ‘While I had not seen my lord, my heart was sad and grieved; now that I have seen him, my heart is at peace.’

文帝爲五官將，召毓署門下賊曹。崔琰舉爲冀州主簿。時天下草創，多逋逃，故重士亡法，罪及妻子。亡士妻白等，始適夫家數日，未與夫相見，大理奏棄市。毓駁之曰：夫女子之情，以接見而恩生，成婦而義重。故詩云‘未見君子，我心傷悲；亦既見止，我心則夷’。

Further, the Rites say, ‘If a wife dies before being presented at the ancestral temple, she is taken back and buried among her own kin, because she has not yet become a wife.’ Now Bai and the others have in life the sorrow of never having seen their husbands, and in death the pain of not being wives, yet the officials propose to inflict the supreme penalty on them. In that case, what further punishment could be added after the shared sacrificial meal and the joined wedding cups? Moreover, the Record says, ‘In matching a crime to the law, follow the lighter,’ meaning that when a man’s offense is being matched to the law, the lighter precedent is taken as the comparison. And the Book of Documents says, ‘Rather than kill the innocent, it is better to fail to apply the regular law,’ out of fear of excessive severity.

又禮‘未廟見之婦而死，歸葬女氏之黨，以未成婦也’。今白等生有未見之悲，死有非婦之痛，而吏議欲肆之大辟，則若同牢合巹之後，罪何所加？且記曰‘附從輕’，言附人之罪，以輕者爲比也。又書云‘與其殺不辜，寧失不經’，恐過重也。

If it is held that Bai and the others, having all received betrothal gifts with due ceremony, have already entered their husbands’ households, it may be proper to punish them, but to put them to death is too heavy.

苟以白等皆受禮聘，已入門庭，刑之爲可，殺之爲重。

Taizu said, “Lu Yu’s position is correct. What is more, his citations of the classics are meaningful and make me sigh with admiration.” As a result he became Deliberative Clerk of the Chancellor’s Law Bureau, and was transferred to Deliberative Clerk of the Western Bureau.

太祖曰：「毓執之是也。又引經典有意，使孤歎息。」由是爲丞相法曹議令史，轉西曹議令史。

When the state of Wei was established he became Gentleman of the Personnel Section. When Emperor Wen ascended the throne he was moved to Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, and then went out as Chancellor of Jiyin and Grand Administrator of the two commanderies of Liang and Qiao. Because Qiao was his old home, the Emperor moved large numbers of people to fill it and set them to work as military-agricultural colonists. But the soil of Qiao was poor and barren, and the people were destitute. Lu Yu pitied them and sent up a memorial proposing to move the people to the fertile plains of Liang, which displeased the Emperor. Although the Emperor granted Lu Yu’s request, he still resented it at heart, and in the end he demoted Lu Yu, making him lead the relocated people as Agricultural Colonel of Suiyang.

魏國既建，爲吏部郎。文帝踐阼，徙黃門侍郎，出爲濟陰相，梁、譙二郡太守。帝以譙舊鄉，故大徙民充之，以爲屯田。而譙土地墝瘠，百姓窮困，毓愍之，上表徙民於梁國就沃衍，失帝意。雖聽毓所表，心猶恨之，遂左遷毓，使將徙民爲睢陽典農校尉。

Lu Yu’s heart was set on benefiting the people. He went out and inspected the land himself and chose good fields for them to settle on, and the people relied on him. He was promoted to Grand Administrator of Anping and then of Guangping, and wherever he served he governed with kindness.

毓心在利民，躬自臨視，擇居美田，百姓賴之。遷安平、廣平太守，所在有惠化。

In the second year of Qinglong he entered the court as Palace Attendant. Before this, the Regular Mounted Attendant Liu Shao had received an edict to settle the statutes, but had not yet finished. Lu Yu submitted a discussion of the principles behind the laws and ordinances of past and present, holding that the law should be single and correct, and should not have two alternatives that allowed corrupt officials to slip in their own inclinations. When the Palace Attendant Gaotang Long remonstrated earnestly several times over the palace buildings and the Emperor was displeased, Lu Yu came forward and said, “I have heard that when the ruler is enlightened, his ministers are upright. The sage kings of old feared not hearing of their faults, and so they kept a drum for those who dared to remonstrate.

青龍二年，入爲侍中。先是，散騎常侍劉劭受詔定律，未就。毓上論古今科律之意，以爲法宜一正，不宜有兩端，使姦吏得容情。及侍中高堂隆數以宮室事切諫，帝不悅，毓進曰：「臣聞君明則臣直，古之聖王恐不聞其過，故有敢諫之鼓。

In giving full counsel as close ministers, we are not the equal of Gaotang Long. Gaotang Long is a scholar known for being frank to the point of wildness; Your Majesty should bear with him.” During his three years in the post he objected and disputed on many matters. An edict said, “Appointing officials and ranking men by their talents is something even the sage emperors found difficult; it requires good assistants who put forward what is right and set aside what is wrong. The Palace Attendant Lu Yu is by nature steadfast and firm, even-minded and correct in bearing. He may be called one who has been clearly tested and proven meritorious, and who is not remiss in his post. Let Lu Yu be made Master of Writing for Personnel.”

近臣盡規，此乃臣等所以不及隆。隆諸生，名爲狂直，陛下宜容之。」在職三年，多所駁爭。詔曰：「官人秩才，聖帝所難，必須良佐，進可替否。侍中毓禀性貞固，心平體正，可謂明試有功，不懈于位者也。其以毓爲吏部尚書。」

The Emperor had Lu Yu choose his own successor, saying, “Only someone like you will do.” Lu Yu recommended the Regular Attendant Zheng Chong, but the Emperor said, “Wenhe I already know for myself. Recommend someone else I have not heard of.” So he recommended Ruan Wu and Sun Yong, and the Emperor appointed Sun Yong.

使毓自選代，曰：「得如卿者乃可。」毓舉常侍鄭沖，帝曰：「文和，吾自知之，更舉吾所未聞者。」乃舉阮武、孫邕，帝於是用邕。

Before this, Zhuge Dan, Deng Yang and others had chased after fame and reputation and drawn the gibe of the “Four Windows and Eight Openings,” and the Emperor detested them. At this time, when a Gentleman of the Palace Secretariat was to be chosen, an edict said, “Whether we find the right man depends on Master Lu. In selecting officials, do not take those who have a name. A name is like a cake drawn on the ground: it cannot be eaten.” Lu Yu replied: A name is not enough to bring in extraordinary men, but it can obtain ordinary men of worth. Ordinary men of worth stand in awe of instruction and aspire to goodness, and only then do they have a name; this is not something to be detested.

前此諸葛誕、鄧颺等馳名譽，有四八達之誚，帝疾之。時舉中書郎，詔曰：「得其人與否，在盧生耳。選舉莫取有名，名如畫地作餅，不可啖也。」毓對曰：名不足以致異人，而可以得常士。常士畏教慕善，然後有名，非所當疾也。

Your foolish servant is not able to recognize extraordinary men, and the officials in charge take it as their very duty to go by names and follow the regular standards; what is needed is simply some means to verify men afterwards. Thus in ancient times men were set forth by their words and clearly tested by their achievements. Now the method of evaluating records has been abandoned, and men are advanced or dismissed on the strength of slander and praise, so that the true and the false are mixed together and the empty and the real conceal one another.

愚臣既不足以識異人，又主者正以循名案常爲職，但當有以驗其後。故古者敷奏以言，明試以功。今考績之法廢，而以毀譽相進退，故真僞渾雜，虛實相蒙。

The Emperor accepted his words and at once issued an edict to draw up a law for evaluating officials. When the post of Minister over the Masses happened to fall vacant, Lu Yu recommended the retired scholar Guan Ning, but the Emperor could not employ him. When asked for the next choice, Lu Yu replied, “For sincerity and perfect conduct, there is the Grand Palace Grandee Han Ji; for clear uprightness and pure rectitude, there is the Director of Retainers Cui Lin; for steadfastness and purity, there is the Minister of Ceremonies Chang Lin.” The Emperor then appointed Han Ji. In judging men and making selections, Lu Yu put character and conduct first and only then spoke of talent.

帝納其言，即詔作考課法。會司徒缺，毓舉處士管寧，帝不能用。更問其次，毓對曰：「敦篤至行，則太中大夫韓暨；亮直清方，則司隸校尉崔林；貞固純粹，則太常常林。」帝乃用暨。毓於人及選舉，先舉性行，而後言才。

Li Feng of the Yellow Gate once asked Lu Yu about this, and Lu Yu said, “Talent is the means by which one does good. So great talent achieves great good, and small talent achieves small good. If a man is now said to have talent and yet cannot do good, that talent does not fit the vessel.” Li Feng and the others accepted his words.

黃門李豐嘗以問毓，毓曰：「才所以爲善也，故大才成大善，小才成小善。今稱之有才而不能爲善，是才不中器也。」豐等服其言。

When the King of Qi took the throne, Lu Yu was granted the rank of Marquis Within the Passes. At that time Cao Shuang held power and meant to plant his own faction, so he moved Lu Yu to Deputy Director and replaced him with the Palace Attendant He Yan. Soon afterwards Lu Yu was sent out as Commandant of Justice, and the Director of Retainers Bi Gui then brought a false charge against him and had him dismissed. Public opinion largely took his side, and so Lu Yu was made Minister of the Household. When Cao Shuang and his associates were arrested, the Grand Tutor Sima Yi (King Xuan) had Lu Yu act as Director of Retainers to try the case. He again became Master of Writing for Personnel, with the added post of Chief Commandant of the Imperial Carriages, and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Gaole Village. He was transferred to Deputy Director, keeping charge of the selection of officials as before, with the added post of Grand Master of Splendid Happiness.

齊王即位，賜爵關內侯。時曹爽秉權，將樹其黨，徙毓僕射，以侍中何晏代毓。頃之，出毓爲廷尉，司隸畢軌又枉奏免官，衆論多訟之，乃以毓爲光祿勳。爽等見收，太傅司馬宣王使毓行司隸校尉，治其獄。復爲吏部尚書，加奉車都尉，封高樂亭侯，轉爲僕射，故典選舉，加光祿大夫。

When the Duke of Gaogui District took the throne, Lu Yu was advanced to Marquis of Daliang District, and one of his sons was enfeoffed as a village marquis. When Guanqiu Jian rebelled and the General-in-Chief Sima Shi took the field, Lu Yu took charge of the affairs left behind, with the added post of Palace Attendant. In the third year of Zhengyuan he fell ill and resigned. He was promoted to Minister of Works, but insisted on yielding the post to the General of Agile Cavalry Wang Chang, the Grand Master of Splendid Happiness Wang Guan, and the Director of Retainers Wang Xiang. An edict sent an envoy to confer the seal and ribbon on him where he was, and he was advanced to Marquis of Rongcheng with two thousand three hundred households. He died in the second year of Ganlu, with the posthumous title Marquis Cheng. His grandson Lu Fan succeeded him.

高貴鄉公即位，進封大梁鄉侯。封一子亭侯。毌丘儉作亂，大將軍司馬景王出征，毓綱紀後事，加侍中。正元三年，疾病，遜位。遷爲司空，固推驃騎將軍王昶、光祿大夫王觀、司隸校尉王祥。詔使使者即授印綬，進爵封容城侯，邑二千三百戶。甘露二年薨，諡曰成侯。孫籓嗣。

Lu Yu’s sons were Lu Qin and Lu Ting. In the Xianxi era Lu Qin was a Master of Writing and Lu Ting was Grand Administrator of Taishan.

毓子欽、珽，咸熙中欽爲尚書，珽泰山太守。¹

Appraisal

評

Appraisal: Huan Jie saw clearly what would succeed and what would fail, and his talent was equal to anything in his age. Chen Qun acted always on principle and righteousness and enjoyed the refined esteem of the pure current. Chen Tai was broad-minded and capable, concise and thorough, and truly able to carry on the family edifice. In the age of Wei, affairs of state were concentrated in the Secretariat, and the inner court was valued above the outer offices, so that the Eight Seats and the Masters of Writing held the responsibilities of the Six Ministers of antiquity. Chen, Xu, Wei and Lu held these posts for a long time: Chen Jiao and Xu Xuan were firm, decisive and unbending, and Wei Zhen and Lu Yu governed cleanly with sound judgment and discernment. None of them disgraced his office.

評曰：桓階識睹成敗，才周當世。陳羣動仗名義，有清流雅望；泰弘濟簡至，允克堂構矣。魏世事統臺閣，重內輕外，故八座尚書，即古六卿之任也。陳、徐、衛、盧，久居斯位，矯、宣剛斷骨鯁，臻、毓規鑒清理，咸不忝厥職云。