Records of Shu 12: Biographies of Du Wei, Zhou Qun, Du Qiong, Xu Ci, Meng Guang, Lai Min, Yin Mo, Li Zhuan, Qiao Zhou and Xi Zheng

Records of Shu 12: Biographies of Du Wei, Zhou Qun, Du Qiong, Xu Ci, Meng Guang, Lai Min, Yin Mo, Li Zhuan, Qiao Zhou and Xi Zheng

Du Wei

杜微

Du Wei, courtesy name Guofu, was a man of Fu County in Zitong Commandery. In his youth he studied under Ren An of Guanghan. Liu Zhang summoned him to serve as an Attendant Officer, but he left office on account of illness. When the First Ruler settled Shu, Du Wei constantly claimed to be deaf, shut his gate and did not go out.

杜微字國輔，梓潼涪人也。少受學於廣漢任安。劉璋辟為從事，以疾去官。及先主定蜀，微常稱聾，閉門不出。

In the second year of Jianxing, Chancellor Zhuge Liang took on the office of Governor of Yi Province. Those he selected and welcomed were all carefully chosen men of long-standing virtue: he made Qin Mi his Attendant Officer with Separate Carriage, Wu Liang his Officer of Merit, and Du Wei his Registrar. Du Wei firmly declined, so he was carried there in a litter. When he arrived, Zhuge Liang received him, and Du Wei explained himself and begged to be excused. Since Du Wei could not hear what people said, Zhuge Liang wrote to him there at his seat: “I have respectfully heard of your virtuous conduct and have longed for you, as one hungers and thirsts, for a long time; but the clear and the muddy run in separate streams, and I had no occasion to call on you. Wang Yuantai, Li Boren, Wang Wenyi, Yang Jixiu, Ding Junqian, Li Yongnan and his brothers, Wen Zhongbao and others have always praised your lofty aims, so that though I had never met you, I felt as if we were old friends.

建興二年，丞相亮領益州牧。選迎皆妙簡舊德，以秦宓為別駕，五梁為功曹，微為主簿。微固辭，轝而致之。既至，亮引見微，微自陳謝。亮以微不聞人語，於坐上與書曰：服聞德行，飢渴歷時，清濁異流，無緣諮覯。王元泰、李伯仁、王文儀、楊季休、丁君乾、李永南兄弟、文仲寶等，每歎高志，未見如舊。

Unworthy and empty as I am, I have been put in charge of your province; my virtue is slight and my burden heavy, and I am filled with worry and anxiety. Our lord at court is only eighteen this year; by nature he is benevolent and quick, loves virtue and humbles himself before men of worth. The people of the realm long for the House of Han, and I wish to join with you in following Heaven and according with the people, assisting this enlightened ruler so as to exalt the achievement of a revival in its later days and record our merit on bamboo and silk. I suppose you think that the worthy and the foolish cannot make plans together, and so you have cut yourself off, keeping to your toil and nothing more, with no thought of bending yourself to serve.”

猥以空虛，統領貴州，德薄任重，慘慘憂慮。朝廷主公今年始十八，天姿仁敏，愛德下士。天下之人思慕漢室，欲與君因天順民，輔此明主，以隆季興之功，著勳於竹帛也。以謂賢愚不相為謀，故自割絕，守勞而已，不圖自屈也。

Du Wei asked leave to go home, pleading old age and illness, and Zhuge Liang again wrote to answer him: “Cao Pi usurped the throne and murdered his sovereign, and set himself up as emperor; he is like a dragon of clay or a dog of straw, a thing that has only the name. I wish to join with all the worthy men in taking advantage of his wickedness and falsehood and destroying him by the right way. I find it strange that you have given me no instruction yet and already wish to return to the hills and wilds. Cao Pi has, moreover, raised great levies of labor to move against Wu and Chu. Now, while Cao Pi is taken up with many affairs, we shall for the time being close our borders and devote ourselves to farming, nourish the people and all living things, and at the same time put our armor and weapons in order, waiting for him to suffer a setback; then we shall attack him. In this way the realm can be settled without our soldiers fighting or our people toiling.

微自乞老病求歸，亮又與書答曰：曹丕篡弒，自立為帝，是猶土龍芻狗之有名也。欲與羣賢因其邪偽，以正道滅之。怪君未有相誨，便欲求還於山野。丕又大興勞役，以向吳、楚。今因丕多務，且以閉境勤農，育養民物，並治甲兵，以待其挫，然後伐之，可使兵不戰民不勞而天下定也。

You need only assist the times with your virtue; I shall not burden you with military affairs. Why are you in such a hurry to leave?”

君但當以德輔時耳，不責君軍事，何為汲汲欲求去乎！

Such was the respect Zhuge Liang showed Du Wei. He appointed him Grandee Remonstrant, in keeping with his wishes. Wu Liang, courtesy name Deshan, was a man of Nan'an County in Qianwei Commandery, praised for his Confucian learning and his integrity. From Court Consultant he was promoted to Grandee Remonstrant and General of the Household of the Five Offices.

其敬微如此，拜為諫議大夫，以從其志。五梁者，字德山，犍為南安人也，以儒學節操稱。從議郎遷諫議大夫、五官中郎將。

Zhou Qun

周羣

Zhou Qun, courtesy name Zhongzhi, was a man of Langzhong County in Baxi Commandery. His father Zhou Shu, courtesy name Shubu, had in his youth studied the arts of divination under Yang Hou of Guanghan, and his fame was second only to that of Dong Fu and Ren An. He was summoned several times but never went. Someone at the time asked him, “The Chunqiu Chen says, ‘The one who replaces the Han shall be Dangtugao.’ What does this mean?” Zhou Shu said, “Dangtugao is Wei.” The scholars of his home district passed his words on privately. Zhou Qun studied under Zhou Shu when young and devoted himself wholly to the discipline of observing the signs of the heavens.

周羣字仲直，巴西閬中人也。父舒，字叔布，少學術於廣漢楊厚，名亞董扶、任安。數被徵，終不詣。時人有問：「《春秋讖》曰『代漢者當塗高』，此何謂也？」舒曰：「當塗高者，魏也。」鄉黨學者私傳其語，羣少受學於舒，專心候業。

He built a small tower in his courtyard, and since his family was wealthy and kept many slaves, he always had the slaves take turns on watch at the top of the tower to observe calamities in the sky. As soon as they saw a single wisp of vapor, they reported it to Zhou Qun, and Zhou Qun climbed the tower himself to observe it, whether at dawn or in the night. So whenever there was any sign in the sky, there was nothing he failed to see, and for this reason much of what he said came true. The Governor Liu Zhang summoned him as Attendant Officer serving as Mentor and Friend. When the First Ruler settled Shu, he appointed him Colonel of the Forest of Scholars.

於庭中作小樓，家富多奴，常令奴更直於樓上視天災，才見一氣，即白羣，羣自上樓觀之，不避晨夜，故凡有氣候，無不見之者，是以所言多中。州牧劉璋辟以為師友從事。¹先主定蜀，署儒林校尉。

When the First Ruler wanted to contest Hanzhong with Lord Cao, he asked Zhou Qun, who replied, “You will gain the land but not its people. If you send out a detached force, it will surely fare badly; you must be on your guard and take care!” At the time Zhang Yu of Shu Commandery, Major of the Rear Division of the province, was also versed in divination by the heavens, and his natural gifts surpassed Zhou Qun's. He remonstrated with the First Ruler: “You must not contest Hanzhong; the army will surely fare badly.” In the end the First Ruler did not follow Zhang Yu's advice, and indeed he gained the land but not the people.

先主欲與曹公爭漢中，問羣，羣對曰：「當得其地，不得其民也，若出偏軍，必不利，當戒慎之！」時州後部司馬蜀郡張裕亦曉占候，而天才過羣，¹諫先主曰：「不可爭漢中，軍必不利。」先主竟不用裕言，果得地而不得民也。

He sent the generals Wu Lan, Lei Tong and others into Wudu, and all were lost and never returned, exactly as Zhou Qun had said. Thereupon Zhou Qun was recommended as Flourishing Talent.

遣將軍吳蘭、雷銅等入武都，皆沒不還，悉如羣言。於是舉羣茂才。

Zhang Yu also said privately to others, “When the year-star is at gengzi, the realm will change its dynasty and the fortune of the Liu clan will be exhausted. Our lord will gain Yi Province, but nine years later, between the years yin and mao, he will lose it.” Someone secretly reported his words. Earlier, when the First Ruler met Liu Zhang at Fu, Zhang Yu, as Liu Zhang's Attendant Officer, sat in attendance. He had a thick beard, and the First Ruler mocked him: “When I lived in Zhuo County long ago, there were an extraordinary number of people surnamed Mao; east, west, south and north, they were all Maos. The Prefect of Zhuo said, ‘Why, the Maos live all around Zhuo!’”

裕又私語人曰：「歲在庚子，天下當易代，劉氏祚盡矣。主公得益州，九年之後，寅卯之間當失之。」人密白其言。初，先主與劉璋會涪，時裕為璋從事，侍坐，其人饒須，先主嘲之曰：「昔吾居涿縣，特多毛姓，東西南北皆諸毛也，涿令稱曰『諸毛繞涿居乎』！」

Zhang Yu at once replied, “There was once a man who served as Chief of Lu County in Shangdang and was then transferred to be Prefect of Zhuo. When he left office and went home, people of the time who wrote letters to him found that if they addressed him as Lu, they left out Zhuo, and if they addressed him as Zhuo, they left out Lu; so they addressed him as ‘Lord Luzhuo.’” The First Ruler had no beard, which was why Zhang Yu alluded to this. The First Ruler always nursed a grudge over his insolence, and was further enraged that he had let slip those words; so he made a public point of Zhang Yu's remonstrance about contesting Hanzhong having proved wrong, threw him into prison and meant to execute him. Zhuge Liang sent up a memorial asking that his offense be pardoned, and the First Ruler replied, “When a fragrant orchid grows in the doorway, it has to be weeded out.”

裕即答曰：「昔有作上黨潞長，遷為涿令者，去官還家，時人與書，欲署潞則失涿，欲署涿則失潞，乃署曰：『潞涿君』。先主無須，故裕以此及之。先主常銜其不遜，加忿其漏言，乃顯裕諫爭漢中不驗，下獄，將誅之。諸葛亮表請其罪，先主答曰：「芳蘭生門，不得不鋤。」

Zhang Yu was in the end executed in the marketplace. Later the enthronement of the Wei house and the death of the First Ruler both came about just as Zhang Yu had foretold. He was also versed in physiognomy, and every time he held up a mirror to look at his face, he knew he would die by execution, and he never failed to fling the mirror to the ground.

裕遂棄市。後魏氏之立，先主之薨，皆如裕所刻。又曉相術，每舉鏡視面，自知刑死，未嘗不撲之於地也。

When Zhou Qun died, his son Zhou Ju carried on a good part of his art.

羣卒，子巨頗傳其術。

Du Qiong

杜瓊

Du Qiong, courtesy name Boyu, was a man of Chengdu County in Shu Commandery. In his youth he studied under Ren An and mastered Ren An's arts thoroughly. In Liu Zhang's time he was summoned as an Attendant Officer. When the First Ruler settled Yi Province and took the office of Governor, he made Du Qiong Attendant Officer of the Consultation Bureau. When the Latter Ruler ascended the throne, Du Qiong was appointed Grandee Remonstrant and promoted to General of the Household of the Left, Grand Herald and Minister of Ceremonies. He was quiet by nature and spoke little; he kept his gate closed, kept to himself and took no part in worldly affairs. Jiang Wan, Fei Yi and others all held him in high esteem.

杜瓊字伯瑜，蜀郡成都人也。少受學於任安，精究安術。劉璋時辟為從事，先主定益州，領牧，以瓊為議曹從事。後主踐阼，拜諫議大夫，遷左中郎將、大鴻臚、太常。為人靜默少言，闔門自守，不與世事。蔣琬、費禕等皆器重之。

Although his learning went deep, he never once looked at the heavens in order to pronounce on them. Later the younger scholar of broad learning Qiao Zhou often asked him about their meaning, and Du Qiong answered, “To master this art is very hard. You must look for yourself and learn to recognize the shapes and colors; you cannot trust others. Only after toiling bitterly at dawn and at night do you come to know them, and then you must worry about letting them leak out. It is better not to know, and that is why I no longer look.” Qiao Zhou then asked, “Long ago the Summoned Gentleman Zhou said that Dangtugao was Wei. What does that mean?”

雖學業入深，初不視天文有所論說。後進通儒譙周常問其意，瓊答曰：「欲明此術甚難，須當身視，識其形色，不可信人也。晨夜苦劇，然後知之，復憂漏洩，不如不知，是以不復視也。」周因問曰：「昔周徵君以為當塗高者魏也，其義何也？」

Du Qiong answered, “Wei is the name for the watchtowers at a palace gate. They stand on the road (dangtu) and rise high (gao); the sage simply spoke by analogy.” Then he asked Qiao Zhou, “Is there anything else that strikes you as strange?” Qiao Zhou said, “I do not yet understand.” Du Qiong went on, “In ancient times offices were not named with the word cao, but since the Han all offices have been called cao. Clerks are said to belong to a cao, and soldiers are said to serve a cao. This is surely the will of Heaven.”

瓊答曰：「魏，闕名也，當塗而高，聖人取類而言耳。」又問周曰：「寧復有所怪邪？」周曰：「未達也。」瓊又曰：「古者名官職不言曹，始自漢已來，名官盡言曹。吏言屬曹，卒言侍曹，此殆天意也。」

Du Qiong died in the thirteenth year of Yanxi, past the age of eighty. He wrote the Han Shi Zhangju in more than a hundred thousand words, but he did not teach his sons, and no one inherited his esoteric learning. Taking Du Qiong's words as his starting point, Qiao Zhou extended them by analogy, saying: “The Chunqiu Zhuan records that Marquis Mu of Jin named his heir Chou and the heir's younger brother Chengshi. Shi Fu said, ‘How strange is the way our lord names his sons! A good match is called fei, and a hateful match is called chou. Now our lord has named his heir Chou and the younger brother Chengshi; this is the first omen of disorder. Will the elder brother not be supplanted?’

瓊年八十餘，延熙十三年卒。著《韓詩章句》十餘萬言，不教諸子，內學無傳業者。周緣瓊言，乃觸類而長之曰：《春秋傳》著晉穆侯名太子曰仇，弟曰成師。師服曰：『異哉君之名子也！嘉耦曰妃，怨耦曰仇，今君名太子曰仇，弟曰成師，始兆亂矣，兄其替乎？』

Afterward things turned out just as Shi Fu had said. Emperor Ling of the Han named his two sons Marquis Shi and Marquis Dong; both were enthroned as emperor, and both were later deposed and made feudal lords, which resembles what Shi Fu said. The First Ruler's personal name was Bei, which means ‘complete’; the Latter Ruler's personal name was Shan, which means ‘to hand over.’ It is as if to say, ‘The Liu are now complete, and must hand over to others.’ I think this is worse than the way Marquis Mu and Emperor Ling named their sons.”

其後果如服言。及漢靈帝名二子曰史侯、董侯，既立為帝，後皆免為諸侯，與師服言相似也。先主諱備，其訓具也，後主諱禪，其訓授也，如言劉已具矣，當授與人也；意者甚於穆侯、靈帝之名子。

Later the eunuch Huang Hao wielded power within the palace. In the fifth year of Jingyao, a great tree in the palace broke of its own accord for no reason. Qiao Zhou was deeply troubled, but there was no one he could speak to, so he wrote on a pillar: “Many and great, at the appointed time they gather; complete and handed over, how shall it rise again?” Cao means ‘many’ and Wei means ‘great’: being many and great, the realm would gather to them; having been completed and handed over, how could anyone rise up again? When Shu fell, everyone regarded Qiao Zhou's words as fulfilled.

後宦人黃皓弄權於內，景耀五年，宮中大樹無故自折，周深憂之，無所與言，乃書柱曰：「眾而大，期之會，具而授，若何復？」言曹者眾也，魏者大也，眾而大，天下其當會也，具而授，如何復有立者乎？蜀既亡，咸以周言為驗。

Qiao Zhou said, “Although this is something I worked out by my own inference, it had a basis: I merely extended what Master Du said. There was nothing remarkable about it, no flash of inspired thought arriving on its own.”

周曰：「此雖己所推尋，然有所因，由杜君之辭而廣之耳，殊無神思獨至之異也。」

Xu Ci

許慈

Xu Ci, courtesy name Rendu, was a man of Nanyang Commandery. He served Liu Xi as his teacher, excelled in the learning of Master Zheng, and studied the Changes, the Documents, the Three Rites, the Mao Odes and the Analects. During Jian'an he came into Shu from Jiao Province together with Xu Jing and others. At the time there was also Hu Qian of Wei Commandery, courtesy name Gongxing; how he came to be in the land of Yi is not known. Although Hu Qian's learning was not broad or thorough, he had an outstanding memory, and on the ceremonial of the ancestral institutions and the grades of the five mourning garments he could point to it all as if on the palm of his hand or draw it on the ground, pulling out any detail at the raise of a hand.

許慈字仁篤，南陽人也。師事劉熙，善鄭氏學，治《易》、《尚書》、《三禮》、《毛詩》、《論語》。建安中，與許靖等俱自交州入蜀。時又有魏郡胡潛，字公興，不知其所以在益土。潛雖學不沾洽，然卓犖強識，祖宗制度之儀，喪紀五服之數，皆指掌畫地，舉手可採。

When the First Ruler settled Shu, learning had declined and been abandoned after years of turmoil, so he gathered the classical texts and sifted the various schools of learning. Xu Ci and Hu Qian were both made Erudites and, together with Meng Guang, Lai Min and others, were put in charge of the old texts. It was a time when everything was just being established, and at every turn there were many doubts and disputes. Xu Ci and Hu Qian attacked each other in turn, slandering and quarreling in anger until it showed in their voices and faces. They would not lend each other books that one had and the other lacked, and at times they even resorted to beatings to intimidate each other. Their pride in themselves and jealousy of the other went this far.

先主定蜀，承喪亂歷紀，學業衰廢，乃鳩合典籍，沙汰眾學。慈、潛並為博士，與孟光、來敏等典掌舊文。值庶事草創，動多疑議，慈、潛更相剋伐，謗讟忿爭，形於聲色；書籍有無，不相通借，時尋楚撻，以相震攇。¹其矜己妒彼，乃至於此。

The First Ruler pitied them for behaving like this. At a great gathering of all his officials, he had entertainers dress up as the two men and mimic their quarrels. When the wine was flowing and the music was playing, this was put on as a comic show: at first they disputed with each other over words and meanings, and in the end they tried to beat each other down with swords and staves. In this way he meant to shame them into feeling it. Hu Qian died first. Xu Ci was gradually promoted during the Latter Ruler's reign until he became Grand Prolonger of Autumn, and died. His son Xu Xun carried on his learning and was also made an Erudite.

先主愍其若斯，羣僚大會，使倡家假為二子之容，效其訟鬩之狀，酒酣樂作，以為嬉戲。初以辭義相難，終以刀杖相屈，用感切之。潛先沒，慈後主世稍遷至大長秋，卒。¹子勳傳其業，復為博士。

Meng Guang

孟光

Meng Guang, courtesy name Xiaoyu, was a man of Luoyang in Henan and a kinsman of Meng Yu, Grand Commandant of the Han. At the end of Emperor Ling's reign he was a clerk of the Lecture Department. When Emperor Xian moved the capital to Chang'an, he fled into Shu, where Liu Yan and his son treated him with the courtesy due a guest. He was widely learned in things and knowledgeable about antiquity; there was no book he had not read. He devoted himself above all to the Three Histories and was expert in the old institutions of the Han house. He loved the Gongyang Chunqiu and disparaged the Zuo Commentary, and he was forever arguing over these two interpretations with Lai Min, Meng Guang always shouting and clamoring.

孟光字孝裕，河南洛陽人，漢太尉孟鬱之族。¹靈帝末為講部吏。獻帝遷都長安，遂逃入蜀，劉焉父子待以客禮。博物識古，無書不覽，尤銳意三史，長於漢家舊典。好《公羊春秋》而譏呵《左氏》，每與來敏爭此二義，光常譊譊讙咋。²

When the First Ruler settled Yi Province, Meng Guang was appointed Court Consultant and, together with Xu Ci and others, took charge of the institutions. When the Latter Ruler ascended the throne, he became Prefect of Tallies and Seals, Colonel of Garrison Cavalry and Privy Treasurer of the Changle Palace, and was promoted to Grand Minister of Agriculture.

先主定益州，拜為議郎，與許慈等並掌制度。後主踐阼，為符節令、屯騎校尉、長樂少府，遷大司農。

In the autumn of the ninth year of Yanxi there was a general amnesty, and in front of everyone Meng Guang rebuked the General-in-Chief Fei Yi: “An amnesty is a thing like palsy, which withers one side of the body; it is not something an enlightened age ought to have. Only when decline and exhaustion have reached their limit and there is no other way can it be used as an expedient. Our sovereign is now benevolent and wise, and the hundred officials are fit for their posts. What danger threatens us from morning to night, what emergency like hanging upside down, that you should repeatedly bestow extraordinary grace and favor the wickedness of villains?

延熙九年秋，大赦，光於眾中責大將軍費禕曰：「夫赦者，偏枯之物，非明世所宜有也。衰弊窮極，必不得已，然後乃可權而行之耳。今主上仁賢，百僚稱職，有何旦夕之危，倒懸之急，而數施非常之恩，以惠姦宄之惡乎？

Moreover, at the very season when hawks and falcons begin to strike, you pardon the guilty instead; above, this offends against the season of Heaven, and below, it goes against human principle. This old man is decrepit and does not understand the essentials of government, but I venture to think that such a practice cannot last long. Is this the fine example expected of one to whom all look up, or what is hoped for from a man of bright virtue?” Fei Yi merely turned to apologize, shifting uneasily. Meng Guang's pointed criticisms, touching where it hurt and where it itched, were mostly of this kind. For this reason the ministers in power could not warm to him in their hearts, and he did not rise in rank; he always spoke bluntly, avoiding nothing, and was disliked by the people of his time.

又鷹隼始擊，而更原宥有罪，上犯天時，下違人理。老夫耄朽，不達治體，竊謂斯法難以經久，豈具瞻之高美，所望於明德哉。」禕但顧謝踧踖而已。光之指摘痛癢，多如是類。故執政重臣，心不能悅，爵位不登，每直言無所迴避，為代所嫌。

The Minister of Ceremonies Tan Cheng of Guanghan and the Superintendent of the Palace Pei Jun of Hedong, among others, were both junior to Meng Guang in age and seniority, yet they rose to the top ranks and stood above him; this was probably the reason.

太常廣漢鐔承、¹光祿勛河東裴儁等，年資皆在光後，而登據上列，處光之右，蓋以此也。²

Xi Zheng, a younger man of letters serving as Gentleman of the Palace Library, often went to consult Meng Guang. Meng Guang asked Xi Zheng what the Crown Prince was studying and reading, and about his temperament and tastes. Xi Zheng replied, “He serves his parents with reverence and respect, unflagging morning and night, with the manner of an heir of old; in dealing with the officials, his conduct springs from benevolence and forbearance.” Meng Guang said, “What you describe is found in every household. What I am asking now is how he stands in strategy and wit.”

後進文士秘書郎郤正數從光諮訪，光問正太子所習讀並其情性好尚，正答曰：「奉親虔恭。夙夜匪懈，有古世子之風；接待羣僚，舉動出於仁恕。」光曰：「如君所道，皆家戶所有耳；吾今所問，欲知其權略智調何如也。」

Xi Zheng said, “The way of an heir lies in carrying out his parents' wishes and giving them every joy; he may not act on his own initiative. Moreover, wit is stored within the breast and strategy comes forth in response to the moment; how can one determine in advance whether he has them or not?” Meng Guang understood that Xi Zheng was cautious and proper and would not speak loosely, so he said, “I love plain speaking and avoid nothing; I am always attacking what is harmful and beneficial, and for that the world criticizes and dislikes me. I suspect that you, too, do not much care for what I say, but there is an order to what I have to say.

正曰：「世子之道，在於承志竭歡，既不得妄有所施為，且智調藏於胸懷，權略應時而發，此之有無，焉可豫設也？」光解正慎宜，不為放談，乃曰：「吾好直言，無所迴避，每彈射利病，為世人所譏嫌。疑省君意亦不甚好吾言，然語有次。

The realm is not yet settled, and wit and judgment come first. Though they are partly innate, they cannot be acquired by forcing. How could this heir to the throne read books the way we do, straining to acquire broad knowledge so as to be ready when questioned, or like an Erudite drawing lots for examination questions and lecturing in hope of rank? He should attend to what is most urgent.” Xi Zheng thought Meng Guang's words very right. Later Meng Guang was dismissed from office over some matter, and he died at more than ninety.

今天下未定，智意為先，智意雖有自然，然不可力強致也。此儲君讀書，寧當效吾等竭力博識以待訪問，如博士探策講試以求爵位邪！當務其急者。」正深謂光言為然。後光坐事免官，年九十餘，卒。

Lai Min

來敏

Lai Min, courtesy name Jingda, was a man of Xinye County in Yiyang Commandery and a descendant of Lai Xi. His father Lai Yan was Minister of Works under the Han. When great disorder broke out at the end of the Han, Lai Min followed his elder sister's husband in fleeing to Jing Province. This brother-in-law, Huang Wan, was a nephew of Liu Zhang's grandmother, and so Liu Zhang sent for Huang Wan's wife; Lai Min accordingly entered Shu with his sister and was a regular guest of Liu Zhang. He read widely, excelled in the Zuo Chunqiu, and was especially expert in the glosses of the Cangjie Pian and the Erya, and loved to correct the forms of characters.

來敏字敬達，義陽新野人，來歙之後也。父艷，為漢司空。¹漢末大亂，敏隨姊夫奔荊州，姊夫黃琬是劉璋祖母之侄，故璋遣迎琬妻，敏遂俱與姊入蜀，常為璋賓客。涉獵書籍，善《左氏春秋》，尤精於《倉》、《雅》訓詁，好是正文字。

When the First Ruler settled Yi Province, he appointed Lai Min Colonel Superintending Studies, and when he established the Crown Prince, he made him Household Steward. When the Latter Ruler ascended the throne, Lai Min became General of the Household Rapid as Tigers. When Chancellor Zhuge Liang was stationed at Hanzhong, he asked for him as Army Libationer and General Who Supports the Army, but he lost the post over some matter. After Zhuge Liang died, he returned to Chengdu as Grand Prolonger of Autumn, and was again dismissed; later he was promoted step by step to Grandee of Splendid Happiness, and was once more demoted for an offense. His repeated demotions and reductions were all because he was intemperate in speech and his conduct was contrary to the norm.

先主定益州，署敏典學校尉。及立太子，以為家令。後主踐阼，為虎賁中郎將。丞相亮住漢中，請為軍祭酒、輔軍將軍，坐事去職。¹亮卒後，還成都為大長秋，又免，後累遷為光祿大夫，復坐過黜。前後數貶削，皆以語言不節，舉動違常也。

At the time Meng Guang, too, was careless in speech and his opinions ran against the times, but he was still better than Lai Min. Both were respected by their contemporaries as venerable scholars. Lai Min, moreover, came from an eminent clan of Jing and Chu and was an old servant of the Eastern Palace, so he was given special favor; that is why he was repeatedly dismissed and then raised up again. Later Lai Min was made General Who Maintains Caution, in the hope that the weight of the office would make him keep watch on himself. He died during Jingyao at the age of ninety-seven. His son Lai Zhong also read widely in the classics and had something of Lai Min's manner; together with the Master of Writing Xiang Chong and others, he was able to assist the General-in-Chief Jiang Wei. Jiang Wei thought well of him and made him an Army Adviser.

時孟光亦以樞機不慎，議論干時，然猶愈於敏，俱以耆宿學士見禮於世。而敏荊楚名族，東宮舊臣，特加優待，是故廢而復起。後以敏為執慎將軍，欲令以官重自警戒也，年九十七，景耀中卒。子忠，亦博覽經學，有敏風，與尚書向充等並能協贊大將軍姜維。維善之，以為參軍。

Yin Mo

尹默

Yin Mo, courtesy name Siqian, was a man of Fu County in Zitong Commandery. In the region of Yi most valued the New Text learning and did not esteem the study of sections and sentences, and Yin Mo knew that this was not broad. So he traveled far to Jing Province and received the Old Text learning from Sima Decao, Song Zhongzi and others. He mastered all the classics and histories, and devoted himself above all to the Zuo Chunqiu; from Liu Xin's Tiaoli to the commentaries and expositions of Zheng Zhong, Jia Kui and his father, Chen Yuan and Fu Qian, he could recite and expound nearly all of them without consulting the texts again.

尹默字思潛，梓潼涪人也。益部多貴今文而不崇章句，默知其不博。乃遠遊荊州，從司馬德操、宋仲子等受古學。皆通諸經史，又專精於《左氏春秋》，自劉歆條例，鄭眾、賈逵父子、陳元、方服虔注說，咸略誦述，不復按本。

When the First Ruler settled Yi Province and took the office of Governor, he made Yin Mo Attendant Officer for the Encouragement of Learning. When the Crown Prince was established, Yin Mo was made Supervisor of the Crown Prince's household and taught the Zuo Commentary to the Latter Ruler. When the Latter Ruler ascended the throne, he appointed him Grandee Remonstrant. When Chancellor Zhuge Liang was stationed at Hanzhong, he asked for him as Army Libationer. When Zhuge Liang died, Yin Mo returned to Chengdu, was appointed Palace Grandee, and died. His son Yin Zong carried on his learning and became an Erudite.

先主定益州，領牧，以為勸學從事。及立太子，以默為僕射，以《左氏傳》授後主。後主踐阼，拜諫議大夫。丞相亮住漢中，請為軍祭酒。亮卒，還成都，拜大中大夫，卒。子宗傳其業，為博士。¹

Li Zhuan

李譔

Li Zhuan, courtesy name Qinzhong, was a man of Fu County in Zitong Commandery. His father Li Ren, courtesy name Dexian, traveled to Jing Province to study together with Yin Mo of the same county, learning from Sima Hui, Song Zhong and others. Li Zhuan inherited all of his father's learning, and also discussed doctrine and principle with Yin Mo; there was nothing in the Five Classics or the philosophers that he had not read through. In addition he had a broad love of the practical arts, and gave his mind to arithmetic, divination, medicine, bows and crossbows, and the skills of mechanical contrivances. He began as a Clerk of the province and a Clerk of the Masters of Writing.

李譔字欽仲，梓潼涪人也。父仁，字德賢，與同縣尹默俱遊荊州，從司馬徽、宋忠等學。譔具傳其業，又從默講論義理，五經、諸子，無不該覽，加博好技藝，算術、卜數，醫藥、弓弩、機械之巧，皆致思焉。始為州書佐、尚書令史。

In the first year of Yanxi, when the Latter Ruler established his Crown Prince, he made Li Zhuan Cadet of the Crown Prince, then promoted him to Supervisor and transferred him to Grandee of the Palace Leisure and General of the Household of the Right, still attending on the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince loved his wide knowledge and was very fond of him. But he was frivolous in manner and loved jokes and banter, so the world could not take him seriously. He wrote works on the Old Text Changes, Documents, Mao Odes, Three Rites and Zuo Commentary, and the Taixuan Zhigui, all based on Jia Kui and Ma Rong and differing from Zheng Xuan. He was far removed from Master Wang and had never seen his writings, yet the thrust of his ideas largely agreed with them. He died during Jingyao.

延熙元年，後主立太子，以譔為庶子，遷為僕射，轉中散大夫、右中郎將，猶侍太子。太子愛其多知，甚悅之。然體輕脫，好戲啁，故世不能重也。著古文《易》、《尚書》、《毛詩》、《三禮》、《左氏傳》、《太玄指歸》，皆依準賈、馬，異於鄭玄。與王氏殊隔，初不見其所述，而意歸多同。景耀中卒。

Chen Shu

陳術

At the time there was also Chen Shu of Hanzhong, courtesy name Shenbo, who was likewise widely learned and well informed. He wrote the Shiwen in seven chapters and the Yibu Qijiu Zhuan together with its Zhi, and served in turn as Prefect of three commanderies.

時又有漢中陳術，字申伯，亦博學多聞，著《釋問》七篇、《益部耆舊傳》及《志》，位歷三郡太守。

Qiao Zhou

譙周

Qiao Zhou, courtesy name Yunnan, was a man of Xichongguo County in Baxi Commandery. His father Qiao Qian, courtesy name Rongshi, studied the Documents and was also versed in the other classics and in the prophetic charts and weft texts. The province and commandery summoned him, but he answered none of them, so the province conferred on him the nominal title of Attendant Officer serving as Mentor and Friend. Qiao Zhou lost his father as a child and lived with his mother and elder brother. When he grew up, he was absorbed in antiquity and devoted to learning; though his family was poor, he never concerned himself with property. Reciting and reading the classical texts, he would laugh alone with delight and forget to sleep or eat. He made a close study of the Six Classics and was particularly good at letters and memorials; he understood a fair amount of astronomy but did not give it much attention. The writings of the various philosophers did not interest him, and he did not read them all.

譙周字允南，巴西西充國人也。父𡸫，字榮始，治《尚書》，兼通諸經及圖緯。州郡辟請，皆不應，州就假師友從事。周幼孤，與母兄同居。既長，耽古篤學，家貧未嘗問產業，誦讀典籍，欣然獨笑，以忘寢食。研精《六經》，尤善書札，頗曉天文，而不以留意；諸子文章非心所存，不悉遍視也。

He was eight chi tall, plain in figure and appearance, and by nature sincere and without pretense. He had no gift for quick debate, but he had deep understanding and a keen mind within.

身長八尺，體貌素樸，性推誠不飾。無造次辯論之才，然潛識內敏。

During Jianxing, when Chancellor Zhuge Liang took on the office of Governor of Yi Province, he made Qiao Zhou Attendant Officer for the Encouragement of Learning. When Zhuge Liang died in enemy territory, Qiao Zhou heard the news at home and set off at once to go there; soon afterward an edict was issued forbidding it, but Qiao Zhou alone was able to arrive because he had left quickly. When the General-in-Chief Jiang Wan took on the office of Inspector, he transferred Qiao Zhou to Attendant Officer Superintending Studies, in charge of all the scholars of the province. When the Latter Ruler established his Crown Prince, he made Qiao Zhou Coachman of the Crown Prince and then transferred him to Household Steward. At that time the Latter Ruler often went out on pleasure excursions and was increasing his music and entertainments.

建興中，丞相亮領益州牧，命周為勸學從事。¹亮卒於敵庭，周在家聞問，即便奔赴，尋有詔書禁斷，惟周以速行得達。大將軍蔣琬領刺史，徙為典學從事，總州之學者。後主立太子，以周為僕，轉家令。時後主頗出遊觀，增廣聲樂。

Qiao Zhou sent up a memorial of remonstrance: “When Wang Mang fell long ago, heroes rose up together, straddling provinces and seizing commanderies, each wishing to toy with the sacred vessels of rule. Then the worthy and wise men of talent looked about for someone to turn to, judging not necessarily by the breadth or narrowness of a contender's power but only by the thinness or thickness of his virtue. So at that time the Gengshi Emperor, Gongsun Shu and the others with great hosts had for the most part already grown large and powerful, yet all of them indulged their passions and gave free rein to their desires, were slack in doing good, gave themselves to hunting, eating and drinking, and cared nothing for the people and all living things.

周上疏諫曰：昔王莽之敗，豪傑並起，跨州據郡，欲弄神器，於是賢才智士思望所歸，未必以其勢之廣狹，惟其德之薄厚也。是故於時更始、公孫述及諸有大眾者多已廣大，然莫不快情恣欲，怠於為善，遊獵飲食，不恤民物。

When Shizu first entered the lands north of the Yellow River, Feng Yi and others urged him, ‘You must do what others cannot do.’ So he applied himself to righting unjust verdicts, was frugal in food and drink, and acted according to the law in all he did; the northern provinces sang his praises, and his fame spread far in every direction. Thereupon Deng Yu came after him from Nanyang, and Wu Han and Kou Xun, who had never met Shizu, heard of his virtuous conduct from afar and by stratagem raised the shock cavalry of Yuyang and Shanggu and came to meet him at Guang'a. From Pi Tong, Geng Chun, Liu Zhi and their like, who admired his virtue on hearing of his reputation, to those who came carrying their sick in carts, bringing their coffins, or with babies strapped to their backs, they were too many to count. So he was able to turn weakness into strength, slaughter Wang Lang, swallow up the Tongma, break the Red Eyebrows and complete his imperial enterprise.

世祖初入河北，馮異等勸之曰：『當行人所不能為。』遂務理冤獄，節儉飲食，動遵法度，故北州歌歎，聲布四遠。於是鄧禹自南陽追之，吳漢、寇恂未識世祖，遙聞德行，遂以權計舉漁陽、上谷突騎迎於廣阿。其餘望風慕德者邳肜、耿純、劉植之徒，至於輿病齎棺，繈負而至者，不可勝數，故能以弱為強，屠王郎，吞銅馬，折赤眉而成帝業也。

When he was in Luoyang, he once wished to make a short outing, and his carriage had already been made ready, but Yao Qi remonstrated, ‘The realm is not yet at peace; your servant truly does not wish Your Majesty to go out lightly and often.’ He at once turned his carriage back. When he was campaigning against Wei Xiao, bandits rose in Yingchuan; Shizu returned to Luoyang and meant only to send Kou Xun there. Kou Xun said, ‘The crafty men of Yingchuan have risen in revolt because Your Majesty was away on a distant campaign. They do not know that Your Majesty has returned, and I fear they will not surrender in good time. If Your Majesty comes in person, the bandits of Yingchuan will surely surrender at once.’

及在洛陽，嘗欲小出，車駕已御，銚期諫曰：『天下未寧，臣誠不願陛下細行數出。』即時還車。及征隗囂，潁川盜起，世祖還洛陽，但遣寇恂往，恂曰：『潁川以陛下遠征，故奸猾起叛，未知陛下還，恐不時降；陛下自臨，潁川賊必即降。』

He then went to Yingchuan, and it turned out just as Kou Xun had said. Thus, when it was not an urgent matter, he did not dare make even a short outing that he wished to make; and when it was urgent, he did not seek his own ease even if he wished to. Such was the emperor's desire to do good. That is why the Zhuan says, ‘The people do not attach themselves for nothing’: truly one must lead them with virtue. Now the Han has met with misfortune and the realm is divided in three; it is a time when men of heroic wisdom look about for someone to turn to. Your Majesty is by nature supremely filial; though the mourning period is more than three years past, you still shed tears whenever the late emperor is mentioned. Even Zeng Shen and Min Ziqian could not surpass you.

遂至潁川，竟如恂言。故非急務，欲小出不敢，至於急務，欲自安不為，故帝者之欲善也如此！故《傳》曰『百姓不徒附』，誠以德先之也。今漢遭厄運，天下三分，雄哲之士思望之時也。陛下天姿至孝，喪逾三年，言及隕涕，雖曾、閔不過也。

In honoring the worthy and entrusting men of talent so that they give their utmost, you surpass even King Cheng and King Kang. Thus within the state there is harmony and unity, and great and small join their strength, more than your servant can describe. Yet your servant cannot restrain a great wish: that you would further extend what others cannot do. Those who haul a great load suffer from having too little strength to apply, and those who would root out a great difficulty suffer from having too few good methods. Moreover, serving the ancestral temples is not merely a matter of seeking blessings; it is how one leads the people to honor their superiors. Yet at the seasonal sacrifices you sometimes do not attend, while you go out repeatedly to view the ponds and parks. Foolish and dull as your servant is, I cannot privately be at ease.

敬賢任才，使之盡力，有逾成、康。故國內和一，大小戮力，臣所不能陳。然臣不勝大願，願復廣人所不能者。夫挽大重者，其用力苦不眾，拔大艱者，其善術苦不廣，且承事宗廟者，非徒求福祐，所以率民尊上也。至於四時之祀，或有不臨，池苑之觀，或有仍出，臣之愚滯，私不自安。

Those who bear care and responsibility in their own persons have no leisure to enjoy themselves to the full. The late emperor's purpose, the building on the foundations he laid, is not yet complete; this is truly no time for the fullest enjoyment. I beg you to reduce the musicians and the additions made to the rear palace, and only to maintain what the late emperor established, so as to leave to your descendants a lesson in frugality.”

夫憂責在身者，不暇盡樂，先帝之志，堂構未成，誠非盡樂之時。願省減樂官、後宮所增造，但奉脩先帝所施，下為子孫節儉之教。

He was transferred to Grandee of the Palace Without Portfolio, but continued to attend the Heir Apparent.

徙為中散大夫，猶侍太子。

At that time the army was sent out again and again, and the common people were worn down. Qiao Zhou discussed the advantages and harms of this with the Prefect of the Masters of Writing, Chen Zhi, and after withdrawing he wrote it down and called it “On Rival States.” Its words were: The state of Yinyu was small and the state of Zhaojian was large; they contended together in the world and were enemies. In the state of Yinyu there was one Gao Xianqing, who asked Master Fuyu, “Now the affairs of the state are not yet settled, and high and low alike labor in anxiety. Among the affairs of the past, when the weak overcame the strong, what was the method?”

於時軍旅數出，百姓凋瘁，周與尚書令陳祗論其利害，退而書之，謂之《仇國論》，其辭曰：因餘之國小，而肇建之國大，並爭於世而為仇敵。因餘之國有高賢卿者，問於伏愚子曰：「今國事未定，上下勞心，往古之事，能以弱勝強者，其術何如？」

Master Fuyu said, “I have heard that those who dwell in greatness without troubles are always given to arrogance, while those who dwell in smallness with worries always think of doing good. Much arrogance gives rise to disorder, and thinking of good gives rise to order: this is the constant pattern of things. Thus King Wen of Zhou nurtured his people and with little took much, and Goujian cared for his multitude and with weakness struck down strength. This was their method.” Xianqing said, “In the past Xiang was strong and Han was weak, and they fought one another without a day of peace. Yet Xiang Yu made a pact with Han to divide the land at the Hong Canal as a boundary, and each wished to go home and give the people rest. Zhang Liang judged that once the people’s resolve was settled it would be hard to move them, so he soon led the troops in pursuit of Xiang Yu and in the end destroyed the Xiang clan. Why must one necessarily follow the course of King Wen?

伏愚子曰：「吾聞之，處大無患者恆多慢，處小有憂者恆思善；多慢則生亂，思善則生治，理之常也。故周文養民，以少取多；勾踐卹眾，以弱斃強，此其術也。」賢卿曰：「曩者項強漢弱，相與戰爭，無日寧息，然項羽與漢約分鴻溝為界，各欲歸息民；張良以為民志既定，則難動也，尋帥追羽，終斃項氏，豈必由文王之事乎？

The state of Zhaojian is just now afflicted with illness; we take advantage of the gap to overrun its borders, hoping to worsen its illness and so destroy it.” Master Fuyu said, “In the age of Yin and Zhou, kings and lords were honored for generations, the bond of ruler and subject was long secure, and the people were accustomed to those they served. What is deeply rooted is hard to pull up, and what is firmly entrenched is hard to move. At such a time, how could even the Founder of Han have taken the realm by leaning on his sword and whipping his horse? After Qin abolished the fiefs and set up governors, the people were exhausted by Qin’s corvée and the realm crumbled like earth. In some years the master changed, in some months the lord was replaced; like startled birds and frightened beasts, the people did not know whom to follow. Thereupon the powerful contended together, tearing and dividing like tigers and wolves; those who pounced swiftly gained much, and those who lagged behind were swallowed up.

肇建之國方有疾疢，我因其隙，陷其邊陲，覬增其疾而斃之也。」伏愚子曰：「當殷、周之際，王侯世尊，君臣久固，民習所專；深根者難拔，據固者難遷。當此之時，雖漢祖安能杖劍鞭馬而取天下乎？當秦罷侯置守之後，民疲秦役，天下土崩；或歲改主，或月易公，鳥驚獸駭，莫知所從，於是豪強並爭，虎裂狼分，疾搏者獲多，遲後者見吞。

Now we and Zhaojian have both passed our states down through changing generations. It is no longer the seething cauldron of the end of Qin; it is truly a situation like that of the Six States holding their lands side by side. Therefore one may become a King Wen, but it is hard to become the Founder of Han. When the people are exhausted, omens of unrest arise; when those above are arrogant and those below violent, the shape of collapse appears, like tiles falling apart. The proverb says, ‘Rather than shoot on chance and often miss, better to take careful aim.’ Therefore the wise do not shift their gaze for small gain, nor change their step for what only seems right; they move when the time permits and act when the reckoning fits. Thus the armies of Tang and Wu conquered without fighting twice, truly because they gave weight to the people’s toil and gauged the times with care.

今我與肇建皆傳國易世矣，既非秦末鼎沸之時，實有六國並據之勢，故可為文王，難為漢祖。夫民疲勞，則騷擾之兆生，上慢下暴則瓦解之形起。諺曰：『射幸數跌，不如審發。』是故智者不為小利移目，不為意似改步，時可而後動，數合而後舉，故湯、武之師不再戰而克，誠重民勞而度時審也。

If we go on to exhaust our arms and abuse campaigning until a collapse takes shape and by misfortune we meet disaster, then even the wise will be unable to devise a remedy. As for one who wields wondrous changes in every direction, passes in and out where there is no gap, dashes through waves and cuts across ruts, leaps valleys and crosses mountains, and fords the Meng Ford without boat or oar, I am a foolish man, and that is truly beyond me.”

如遂極武黷征，土崩勢生，不幸遇難，雖有智者將不能謀之矣；若乃奇變縱橫，出入無間，沖波截轍，超谷越山，不由舟楫而濟盟津者，我愚子也，實所不及。」

Later he was promoted to Grandee of Splendid Happiness, a rank next to the Nine Ministers. Although Qiao Zhou took no part in government affairs, he was treated with courtesy for his conduct as a Confucian. When he was consulted on major deliberations, he always answered on the basis of the classics, and younger men eager to learn also came to ask him about their doubts.

後遷光祿大夫，位亞九列。周雖不與政事，以儒行見禮。時訪大議，輒據經以對，而後生好事者亦諮問所疑焉。

In winter of the sixth year of Jingyao, Wei’s Grand General Deng Ai took Jiangyou and drove on at length. Shu had assumed that the enemy could not arrive so soon and had made no arrangements for defending its cities. When they heard that Deng Ai had already entered Yinping, the common people were thrown into turmoil and all scattered into the mountains and wilds, and there was no stopping them. The Latter Ruler had his ministers deliberate together, but no plan emerged. Some held that since Shu and Wu had long been allied states, they should flee to Wu; others held that the seven commanderies of Nanzhong, being rugged, steep, and cut off, were easy to hold, and that they should flee south.

景耀六年冬，魏大將軍鄧艾克江由，長驅而前。而蜀本謂敵不便至，不作城守調度。及聞艾已入陰平，百姓擾擾，皆迸山野，不可禁制。後主使羣臣會議，計無所出。或以為蜀之與吳，本為和國，宜可奔吳；或以為南中七郡，阻險鬥絕，易以自守，宜可奔南。

Qiao Zhou alone held otherwise. Since ancient times no one had ever lodged in another state and remained Son of Heaven; if they went into Wu now, they would certainly have to submit as subjects. Moreover, when their ways of governing do not differ, the great can swallow the small; this is the natural course of things. From this it was clear that Wei could annex Wu, but Wu could not annex Wei. If one must call oneself a subject either way, how could doing so to the small compare with doing so to the great? How could the shame of being humiliated twice compare with being humiliated once? And if they wished to flee south, they should have planned for it early; only then could it succeed. Now the great enemy was already near and disaster and ruin were about to arrive; the hearts of the petty men could not be relied upon at all, and he feared that on the day they set out an unforeseeable upheaval would occur. How could they ever reach the south!

惟周以為：自古以來，無寄他國為天子者也，今若入吳，固當臣服。且政理不殊，則大能吞小，此數之自然也。由此言之，則魏能並吳，吳不能並魏明矣。等為小稱臣，孰與為大？再辱之恥，何與一辱？且若欲奔南，則當早為之計，然後可果；今大敵以近，禍敗將及，羣小之心，無一可保，恐發足之日，其變不測，何至南之有乎！

One of the ministers challenged Qiao Zhou: “Deng Ai is now not far off. What if he will not accept our surrender?” Qiao Zhou said, “With Eastern Wu not yet submitted, the situation leaves him no choice but to accept it, and having accepted it, no choice but to treat us with courtesy. If Your Majesty surrenders to Wei and Wei does not carve out land to enfeoff Your Majesty, I, Zhou, ask to go in person to the capital and contend for it on the principles of antiquity.” None could overturn Qiao Zhou’s reasoning.

羣臣或難周曰：「今艾以不遠，恐不受降，如之何？」周曰：「方今東吳未賓，事勢不得不受之，受之後，不得不禮。若陛下降魏，魏不裂土以封陛下者，周請身詣京都，以古義爭之。」眾人無以易周之理。

The Latter Ruler still hesitated over going south, so Qiao Zhou submitted a memorial: “Some urge Your Majesty, since the northern troops have penetrated deep, to adopt a plan of going south. In my foolish opinion this is not safe. Why? The south is a land of distant barbarians. In ordinary times they provided nothing, yet they still rebelled repeatedly. Only after Chancellor Zhuge Liang campaigned south and pressed them with the might of his army did they, cornered, reluctantly submit. After that they were made to furnish official levies, which were taken to supply the troops, and they became aggrieved and resentful. These are people who are a bane to the state.

後主猶疑於入南，周上疏曰：或說陛下以北兵深入，有欲適南之計，臣愚以為不安。何者？南方遠夷之地，平常無所供為，猶數反叛，自丞相亮南征，兵勢逼之，窮乃幸從，是後供出官賦，取以給兵，以為愁怨，此患國之人也。

Now if, being in straits, we go to rely on them, I fear they are sure to rebel again: that is the first reason. The northern troops have come not merely to take Shu; if we flee to the south, they will surely take advantage of our waning strength and pursue us in time: that is the second. If we reach the south, we must resist the enemy outside and supply the court’s needs inside; expenses will swell, and with nowhere else to draw from, the drain on the barbarians will surely be severe, and if it is severe they will surely rebel quickly: that is the third. Long ago, when Wang Lang usurped the imperial title at Handan, Shizu was at Xindu; fearing pressure from Wang Lang, he wished to abandon it and return to Guanzhong.

今以窮迫，欲往依恃，恐必復反叛，一也；北兵之來，非但取蜀而已，若奔南方，必因人勢衰，及時赴追，二也；若至南方，外當拒敵，內供服御，費用張廣，他無所取，耗損諸夷必甚，甚必速叛，三也；昔王郎以邯鄲僭號，時世祖在信都，畏逼於郎，欲棄還關中。

Pi Tong remonstrated, ‘If Your Lordship returns west, the people of the cities under Handan will not abandon their parents and turn their backs on their city lords to escort you a thousand li; it is certain they will desert and rebel.’ Shizu followed his advice and went on to crush Handan. Now that the northern troops have arrived, if Your Majesty goes south, I truly fear that Pi Tong’s words will prove true again today: that is the fourth reason. I hope Your Majesty will make plans early, so that you may obtain rank and land. If you go on to the south and submit only when your situation is desperate, the disaster will surely be profound.

邳肜諫曰：『明公西還，則邯鄲城民不肯捐父母，背城主，而千里送公，其亡叛可必也。』世祖從之，遂破邯鄲。今北兵至，陛下南行，誠恐邳肜之言覆信於今，四也。願陛下早為之圖，可獲爵土；若遂適南，勢窮乃服，其禍必深。

The Changes says, ‘The word “excessive” means knowing how to gain but not how to lose, knowing how to survive but not how to perish. One who knows gain and loss, survival and ruin, and yet does not lose his rectitude: is that not the sage alone?’ This means that the sage understands destiny and does not cling to things at all costs. Thus Yao and Shun, because their sons were not good, knew that Heaven had someone to bestow the throne upon and sought to hand it to another. Though their sons were unworthy, disaster had not yet even sprouted, and still they welcomed another and handed it over; how much more so when disaster has already arrived! Thus Weizi, elder brother of the King of Yin, bound his hands behind him, held a jade disc in his mouth, and submitted to King Wu. How could this have been something he enjoyed? He had no choice.”

《易》曰：『亢之為言，知得而不知喪，知存而不知亡；知得失存亡而不失其正者，其惟聖人乎！」言聖人知命而不苟必也，故堯，舜以子不善，知天有授，而求授人；子雖不肖，禍尚未萌，而迎授與人，況禍以至乎！故微子以殷王之昆，面縛銜璧而歸武王，豈所樂哉，不得已也。

Thereupon they followed Qiao Zhou’s plan. That the Liu house came to no harm and the whole land was spared was owing to Qiao Zhou’s counsel.

於是遂從周策。劉氏無虞，一邦蒙賴，周之謀也。¹

At that time King Wen of Jin (Sima Zhao) was Chancellor of State of Wei. Because Qiao Zhou had the merit of preserving the whole state, he enfeoffed him as Village Marquis of Yangcheng. He also sent a letter summoning Qiao Zhou; Qiao Zhou set out and reached Hanzhong, but, afflicted by illness, went no further. In summer of the second year of Xianxi, Wen Li of Ba Commandery, returning to Shu from Luoyang, stopped to see Qiao Zhou. In the course of their conversation Qiao Zhou wrote on a tablet and showed it to Wen Li: “Dianwu is sudden; Yueyou sets.” “Dianwu” referred to Sima, and “Yueyou” to the eighth month. When the eighth month came, King Wen did indeed pass away.

時晉文王為魏相國，以周有全國之功，封陽城亭侯。又下書辟周，周發至漢中，困疾不進。咸熙二年夏，巴郡文立從洛陽還蜀，過見周。周語次，因書版示立曰：「典午忽兮，月酉沒兮。」典午者謂司馬也，月酉者謂八月也，至八月而文王果崩。¹

When the Jin house ascended the throne, edicts were issued repeatedly ordering the local authorities to send Qiao Zhou on. Qiao Zhou at last had himself carried in a litter, ill as he was, to Luoyang, arriving in the third year of Taishi. Because he was too ill to rise, he was appointed Chief Commandant of Cavalry where he lay. Qiao Zhou stated that he had been enfeoffed without merit and asked to return his rank and land, but none of this was granted. In the fifth year, I (Chen Shou) was serving as Rectifier of my home commandery; when the work of rating was finished, I asked for leave to return home and went to take my leave of Qiao Zhou. Qiao Zhou said to me, “Long ago Confucius died at seventy-two, and Liu Xiang and Yang Xiong at seventy-one. Now I am past seventy. I hope to emulate the legacy of Confucius and follow the same track as Liu and Yang. I fear I will not live past next year and will surely pass away; we shall not see each other again.”

晉室踐阼，累下詔所在發遣周。周遂輿疾詣洛，泰始三年至。以疾不起，就拜騎都尉，周乃自陳無功而封，求還爵土，皆不聽許。五年，予常為本郡中正，清定事訖，求休還家，往與周別。周語予曰：「昔孔子七十二、劉向、揚雄七十一而沒，今吾年過七十，庶慕孔子遺風，可與劉、楊同軌，恐不出後歲，必便長逝，不復相見矣。」

I suspect Qiao Zhou knew this through his arts and expressed it in these words. In autumn of the sixth year he was made Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, but being gravely ill he did not accept the post, and he died that winter. His writings, compiled and settled, include the Model Instructions, Discourses on the Five Classics, Investigations of Ancient History, and other works, more than a hundred pieces in all.

疑周以術知之，假此而言也。六年秋，為散騎常侍，疾篤不拜，至冬卒。¹凡所著述，撰定《法訓》、《五經論》、《古史考》書之屬百餘篇。²

His Grandson Qiao Xiu

孫 譙秀

Qiao Zhou had three sons, Qiao Xi, Qiao Xian, and Qiao Tong. The youngest, Qiao Tong, was much devoted to his father’s learning, and he too conducted himself with loyalty, sincerity, and plain simplicity. He was recommended as Filial and Incorrupt and appointed Magistrate of Xi County and Forerunner of the Eastern Palace, but when summoned he did not take up office.

周三子，熙、賢、同，少子同頗好周業，亦以忠篤質素為行，舉孝廉，除錫令、東宮洗馬，召不就。¹

Xi Zheng

郤正

Xi Zheng, courtesy name Lingxian, was a man of Yanshi in Henan. His grandfather Xi Jian was Inspector of Yi Province at the end of Emperor Ling’s reign and was killed by bandits. As the realm was then falling into great disorder, Xi Zheng’s father Xi Yi stayed on in Shu. Xi Yi served as a commander under General Meng Da, followed Meng Da in surrendering to Wei, and became a Clerk of the Secretariat. Xi Zheng’s original name was Zuan. When he was young his father died and his mother remarried, leaving him alone and unsupported, yet he was content in poverty and loved learning, reading widely in the ancient records. By the age of twenty he could compose literary works. He entered service as a clerk in the Palace Library, was transferred to Clerk-in-Charge, promoted to Gentleman, and rose to Director.

郤正字令先，河南偃師人也。祖父儉，靈帝末為益州刺史，為盜賊所殺。會天下大亂，故正父揖因留蜀。揖為將軍孟達都督，隨達降魏，為中書令史。正本名纂。少以父死母嫁，單煢只立，而安貧好學，博覽墳籍。弱冠能屬文，入為秘書吏，轉為令史，遷郎，至令。

By nature he was indifferent to honor and profit and was especially devoted to literature. Of the surviving writings and rhapsodies of Sima Xiangru, Wang Bao, Yang Xiong, Ban Gu, Fu Yi, Zhang Heng, Cai Yong, and their like, as well as the fine books and good treatises of his own day, whatever was to be found in Yi Province he studied deeply and explored, and he read nearly all of it. After taking a post in the palace, he lived next door to the eunuch Huang Hao and associated with him for thirty years. Huang Hao rose from obscurity to high rank and wielded power at will, but Xi Zheng was neither favored nor hated by Huang Hao. Thus his office never exceeded six hundred shi in rank, but he escaped trouble.

性淡於榮利，而尤耽意文章，自司馬、王、揚、班、傅、張、蔡之儔遺文篇賦，及當世美書善論，益部有者，則鑽鑿推求，略皆寓目。自在內職，與宦人黃皓比屋周旋，經三十年。皓從微至貴，操弄威權，正既不為皓所愛，亦不為皓所憎，是以官不過六百石，而免於憂患。

Following the example of earlier Confucians, he borrowed a literary form to express his views and called it “Dispelling Ridicule”; the piece follows Cui Yin’s “Reaching the Purpose.” Its words were: Someone mocked me, saying, “I have heard from the records of former ages that affairs go together with the times and names go together with achievements. So then, names and affairs were the urgent tasks of the wise men of old. Thus creating institutions and setting standards cannot be established out of season, and spreading one’s fame and leaving a name cannot be recorded without achievement. A name must await achievement to become illustrious, and affairs too await the times to proceed or halt. For one’s body to perish and one’s name to vanish is what the gentleman is ashamed of.

依則先儒，假文見意，號曰：《釋譏》，其文繼於崔駰《達旨》。其辭曰：或有譏余者曰：『聞之前記，夫事與時並，名與功偕，然則名之與事，前哲之急務也。是故創制作範，匪時不立，流稱垂名，匪功不記，名必須功而乃顯，事亦俟時以行止，身沒名滅，君子所恥。

Therefore men of understanding study the Way, probe the profound and search out the subtle, observe the signs of Heaven’s course, and examine the rise and fall of human affairs. Debaters race off to persuade, the wise respond to opportunity, strategists unfold their plans, and warriors display their might; they gather like clouds and mass like mist, surge like wind and fly like lightning. Weighing the times and gauging what is fitting, they take up the resources of their age; they bend a little to stretch out greatly, and hold to the public good while disregarding the private. Though they bend a foot to straighten a fathom, in the end they raise their light and shed their brilliance. Now the three powers stand like the legs of a cauldron, the Nine Regions are not yet at peace, and the vast Four Seas are beset by calamity and ruin. One sighs at the sinking and obstruction of the Way and righteousness, and grieves at the tumbling distress of the people. This is truly the season for sages and worthies to bring rescue, the moment for heroes to win merit.

是以達人研道，探賾索微，觀天運之符表，考人事之盛衰，辯者馳說，智者應機，謀夫演略，武士奮威，雲合霧集，風激電飛，量時揆宜，用取世資，小屈大申，存公忽私，雖尺枉而尋直，終揚光以發輝也。今三方鼎跱，九有未乂，悠悠四海，嬰丁禍敗，嗟道義之沉塞，愍生民之顛沛，此誠聖賢拯救之秋，烈士樹功之會也。

You, sir, with your lofty and brilliant talent and a nature like jade tablets, read widely and look deeply and set your mind on the arts of the Way; there is nothing so distant you do not reach it and nothing so obscure you do not fully know it. You stepped forward to take up office and manage these profound secrets; you linger within the purple gates and hold the post of the ruler’s throat and tongue. Through nine evaluations you have not been moved; you went in and have never come out. You probe the truth and falsehood of past and present and reckon the gains and losses of current affairs. Yet though from time to time you offer a plan or now and then put forward a word, enough to discharge the duties of your office and ease the shame of eating an idle salary, you surely have not poured out your loyal devotion, emptied your breast and liver, pushed forward the upright and brought in the straight, and bestowed benefit on the black-haired people, so that we rustic common folk might all hear of it.

吾子以高朗之才，珪璋之質，兼覽博窺，留心道術，無遠不致，無幽不悉；挺身取命，幹茲奧秘，躊躇紫闥，喉舌是執，九考不移，有入無出，¹究古今之真偽，計時務之得失。雖時獻一策，偶進一言，釋彼官責，慰此素餐，固未能輸竭忠款，盡瀝胸肝，排方入直，惠彼黎元，俾吾徒草鄙並有聞焉也。

Why not ease the yoke and slacken the reins, turn your wheels and change your road, settle your carriage and loosen your team, and let the horses go forth? Judge whether the water is deep or shallow before you cross, seek the broad expanse of the level highway, sow autumn orchids to perfume the age, and meet the hopes of us your fellows. Would that not be splendid!” Hearing this, I sighed and said, “Alas, is that what you say? Men’s hearts differ just as their faces do. Though you are brilliant and fair, both beautiful and radiant, you peer through a tube and lift with a basket, holding fast to what you yourself have seen. You cannot be said to speak of the shape of the eight bounds of the world, or to be truly refined in all affairs.” The man, abruptly, looked up, raised his brows, and said, “What words are these! What words are these!”

盍亦綏衡緩轡，回軌易塗，輿安駕肆，思馬斯徂，審厲揭以投濟，要夷庚之赫憮，播秋蘭以芳世，副吾徒之彼圖，不亦盛與！』余聞而歎曰：『嗚呼，有若雲乎邪！夫人心不同，實若其面，子雖光麗，既美且艷，管窺筐舉，守厥所見，未可以言八紘之形埒，信萬事之精練也。』或人率爾，仰而揚衡曰：『是何言與！是何言與！』」

I answered him, “The Emperor of Yu (Shun) took obsequious agreement as a warning, and the sage Confucius counted it a fault to like only what pleased oneself. Words like yours are truly what I have been thinking of, so for your sake let me discuss them and explain. Long ago in the primeval wilderness, at the dim beginning of things, the Three August Ones answered the registers of Heaven and the Five Emperors received its tallies; on down to Xia and Shang, it is as the ancient canons record. When the Ji house of Zhou declined and the Way fell short, the hegemons propped it up; the Ying clan of Qin, cruel and tyrannical, devoured the eight regions. Thereupon the Vertical and Horizontal Alliances rose like clouds, crafty deceivers were as many as the stars, strange and crooked men swarmed like bees, and cunning and artifice sprouted forth. Some dressed up truth to match falsehood, some harbored evil to seek glory, some used devious ways to win over their superiors, some peddled their skills to vaunt themselves. They turned their backs on the upright and exalted the wicked, abandoned the straight and approached the flatterers; loyalty had no fixed measure and righteousness no constant rule.

余應之曰：「虞帝以面從為戒，孔聖以悅己為尤。若子之言，良我所思，將為吾子論而釋之。昔在鴻荒，朦昧肇初，三皇應籙，五帝承符，爰暨夏、商，前典攸書。姬衰道缺，霸者翼扶，嬴氏慘虐，吞嚼八區，於是從橫雲起，狙詐如星，奇衺蠭動，智故萌生；或飾真以仇偽，或挾邪以干榮，或詭道以要上，或鬻技以自矜；背正崇邪，棄直就佞，忠無定分，義無常經。

Thus Shang Yang’s laws ran their course and evil rose against him; Li Si’s righteousness failed and treachery was accomplished; Lü Buwei’s house grew great and his clan was wiped out; Han Fei’s arguments were established and he himself was put to death. Why was this? Profit turned their hearts and favor dazzled their eyes: the blazing dragon insignia, the glittering carriages and robes. They stole good fortune and grasped at gain, as if overturning, as if toppling; debauched, wicked, wild, and deluded, they indulged themselves to the utmost. Before the harmonizing bells of their carriages rang in tune, they lay beside the shafts; before they had set foot in their courtyards, the ridgepoles snapped and the rafters collapsed. Heaven withdrew their vital essence, Earth shrank their bounty, men mourned their persons, and ghosts cut down their brows.

故鞅法窮而慝作，斯義敗而姦成，呂門大而宗滅，韓辯立而身刑。夫何故哉？利回其心，寵耀其目，赫赫龍章，鑠鑠車服。偷幸苟得，如反如仄，淫邪荒迷，恣睢自極，和鸞未調而身在轅側，庭寧未踐而棟折榱覆。天收其精，地縮其澤，人吊其躬，鬼芟其額。

At first they climbed the high ridge, in the end they plunged into the dark ravine; in the morning they held glory and luster, by evening they were withered souls. Therefore worthy men and gentlemen plan deeply and think far ahead; fearing such blame and calamity, they rise high and aloof, preferring to drag their tails in the mud and holding the fine repute of a murky age to be filth. Could it be that they slighted their lord and scorned the people, neglecting the tasks of their time? The Changes, after all, sets out warnings on going forward and halting, and the Odes contain sighs on being quiet and reverent; it is the spirits that heed them and the Way that makes it so.

初升高岡，終隕幽壑，朝含榮潤，夕為枯魄。是以賢人君子，深圖遠慮，畏彼咎戾，超然高舉，寧曳尾於塗中，穢濁世之休譽。彼豈輕主慢民，而忽於時務哉？蓋《易》著行止之戒，《詩》有靖恭之歎，乃神之聽之而道使之然也。

Since our great Han answered Heaven and accorded with the people, the flourishing of its government has been bright as spring sunshine; looking down it models itself on the statutes of Earth, and looking up it patterns itself on the patterns of Heaven. It spread imperial bounty to brighten the age and exalted the rich purity of abundant transformation. Ruler and subject walked in due measure, each keeping to his true nature. Above was extended the generosity of consulting and accepting advice; below was the duty of correcting and rescuing. Officers enjoyed no empty, showy favor, and the people left traces of good conduct. Resplendent and tireless, they prized this loyalty and benefit. Yet the Way has its rise and decline, and things have their flourishing and ruin; there are times of sound and times of silence, times of light and times of shadow.

自我大漢，應天順民，政治之隆，皓若陽春，俯憲坤典，仰式乾文。播皇澤以熙世，揚茂化之醲醇，君臣履度，各守厥真，上垂詢納之弘，下有匡救之責，士無虛華之寵，民有一行之跡，粲乎亹亹，尚此忠益。然而道有隆窳，物有興廢，有聲有寂，有光有翳。

The vermilion sun is blocked in white autumn, and dark yin is suppressed in early spring; when Xihe, driver of the sun, departs, Wangshu, driver of the moon, follows on, and when the circulating energies hide, the shining sun is displayed. Emperors Chong and Zhi did not live long, and Emperors Huan and Ling fell into ruin; heroes spread out like clouds and bold men overshadowed the age, every house harboring its own opinions and every man cherishing his own schemes. So it was that the advocates of alliances suddenly laid bare their hearts and the crafty deceivers wagged their tongues for a time.

朱陽否於素秋，玄陰抑於孟春，羲和逝而望舒系，運氣匿而耀靈陳。沖、質不永，桓、靈墜敗，英雄雲布，豪傑蓋世，家挾殊議，人懷異計。故從橫者欻披其胸。狙詐者暫吐其舌也。

Now the net of Heaven has been rejoined and virtue planted in the western neighbor. It greatly illuminates the grand plan of our ancestors, binds the officers with fine ranks, promotes the Five Teachings to instruct customs, enriches the Nine Virtues to relieve the people, reverently conducts the bright sacrifices with the simple spring offering, and hopes for the imperial Way so as to support the true. Although those who stand opposed are not yet united and the usurpers are not yet sorted out, the sage has left the warning that where there is equality there is no poverty. Therefore ruler and ministers join in excellence at court and the common people joyfully uphold them in the countryside; in motion they are like compasses laid one upon another, and at rest like squares stacked together.

今天綱已綴，德樹西鄰，丕顯祖之宏規，縻好爵於士人，興五教以訓俗，豐九德以濟民，肅明祀以礿祭，幾皇道以輔真。雖跱者未一，偽者未分，聖人垂戒，蓋均無貧；故君臣協美於朝，黎庶欣戴於野，動若重規，靜若疊矩。

The many eminent talents are of the same class as the Eight Primes and Eight Harmonies of old; to know one’s faults without fail is the benevolence of Master Yan. Upright and firm in handling the many affairs of state, they govern like Ran You and Ji Lu; soaring like hawks and rising like falcons, they perform the deeds of Yi Yin and Lü Wang. They gather the finest strategies of all the talented, hold within them the three plans of Lord Xue, and deploy the secret stratagems of Zhang Liang and Chen Ping. So they strive in campaigns to toil for the age and have no leisure even to draw in the flower of talent; how could they have time to tend withered bamboo sheaths among the brambles and weeds! Yet I, though without talent, have been at court for decades; I have entrusted myself to the one I look up to as Heaven, and in my heart I rely on that.

濟濟偉彥，元凱之倫也，有過必知，顏子之仁也。侃侃庶政，冉、季之治也，鷹揚鷙騰，伊、望之事也；總羣俊之上略，含薛氏之三計，敷張、陳之秘策，故力征以勤世，援華英而不遑，豈暇修枯籜於榛穢哉！然吾不才，在朝累紀，托身所天，心焉是恃。

I delight in the breadth and depth of the blue sea and marvel at the lofty height of Mount Song; I have heard how Zhongni praised Shang (Zixia), and I am moved by the benefit one may gain from the talk of the village school. Pingzhong (Yan Ying)’s harmonious broth, too, meant offering what is right and replacing what is wrong. So, blind and benighted as my words are, I venture from time to time to offer them, like the herald gathering songs in the marketplaces and the wandering children chanting along the field borders, hoping to enlarge good fortune and blessing and to exert myself in counsel and remonstrance. If they accord, then my darkness joins with brightness, and I go forward to answer the spirit-tallies; if they are at odds, that is my ordinary lot, and I withdraw to keep to my own foolishness.

樂滄海之廣深，歎嵩岳之高跱，聞仲尼之贊商，感鄉校之益己，彼平仲之和羹，亦進可而替否；故矇冒瞽說，時有攸獻，譬遒人之有採於市閭，遊童之吟詠乎疆畔，庶以增廣福祥，輸力規諫。若其合也，則以暗協明，進應靈符；如其違也，自我常分，退守己愚。

I leave advance and retreat to fate, neither feigning nor deceiving; I follow my nature and delight in Heaven, so what should I resent? This is why I went in and never came out, why I have and yet seem to have nothing. I find Qu Yuan’s constant sobriety too narrow, the fisherman’s insistence on getting drunk too muddy, Liuxia Hui’s mingling with the low and humiliated too indiscriminate, and the lofty resentment of Boyi and Shuqi too cramped. When I am in accord I do not count it gain, and when at odds I do not count it loss; in gain I am not puffed up, in loss I am not grieved or afraid. I do not delight in pressing forward and look back at the carriage raised in front, nor do I hang back and fret over the carriage sunk behind; I do not peddle my reputation to seek favor, nor do I shirk blame for fear of dismissal.

進退任數，不矯不誣，循性樂天，夫何恨諸？此其所以既入不出，有而若無者也。狹屈氏之常醒，濁漁父之必醉，溷柳季之卑辱，褊夷、叔之高懟。合不以得，違不以失，得不充詘，失不慘悸。不樂前以顧軒，不就後以慮輊，不鬻譽以干澤，不辭愆以忌絀。

What duty is there for me to discharge? What idle salary to worry about? What uprightness to push forward? What straightness to bring in? Remaining unmoved through nine evaluations is precisely what I hold to. At present the officers at court are piled up like mountains and the talented gather in flocks, like scaled and shelled creatures submerged in the great sea or furred and feathered ones gathered in the Deng Forest: when one flying bird departs they are not the fewer for it, and when one floating bream arrives they are not the more. Moreover, the yang spirit was obscured in the age of Tang (Yao) and the yin essence responded in the time of Shang; yet when prayer was offered at Yangyu the great flood subsided, and when prayers were made at the Mulberry Grove the sweet rains poured down.

何責之釋？何餐之卹？何方之排？何直之入？九考不移，固其所執也。方今朝士山積，髦俊成羣，猶鱗介之潛乎巨海，毛羽之集乎鄧林，游禽逝不為之鮮，浮魴臻不為之殷。且陽靈幽於唐葉，陰精應於商時，陽盱請而洪災息，桑林禱而甘澤滋。¹

There is a Way for moving and halting, and a time for opening and closing. My teacher’s bequeathed teaching says, ‘Do not resent Heaven, do not blame men.’ I entrust myself to fate and keep myself reverent; what more should I decline? When words are exhausted and the road runs out, I will return to my first principles: I will gather the lingering fragrance of the ancient canons and seek out the arts bequeathed by Master Kong; I will string together subtle words to preserve the Way and model myself on the tracks of the ancients to shape my conduct; I will approve Shu Xi’s easy leisure and admire the far departure of the Shu (Shu Guang and Shu Shou); knowing when to stop and when enough is enough, I will speak of going home, drift freely and at ease, delight in a humble cottage in quiet contentment, and avoid blame and regret in this world. Yet, seeing that this heart is not yet at peace and fearing I may bog down in mud on the last stretch of the road, I still seek a spur to add to my resolve, and so I pour out my inmost thoughts to declare my oath.

行止有道，啟塞有期。我師遺訓，不怨不尤，委命恭己，我又何辭？辭窮路單，將反初節，綜墳典之流芳，尋孔氏之遺藝，綴微辭以存道，憲先軌而投制，韙叔肸之優遊，美疏氏之遐逝，收止足以言歸，泛浩然以容裔，欣環堵以恬娛，免咎悔於斯世，顧茲心之未泰，懼末塗之泥滯，仍求激而增憤，肆中懷以告誓。

Long ago Jiufang examined the essence of the most precious horse, and Qin Ya pondered deeply over unusual forms; Xue Zhu discerned treasures and won soaring fame, and Hu Liang entrusted himself to the strings and spread his music; the lowly retainer of Qi slapped his thigh to rescue Tian Wen (Lord Mengchang), and the man of Chu stole in secret to protect Jing; Yongmen took up his zither and wove in his persuasion, and Han Ai held the reins and won renown; Lu Ao soared up to the Dark Gate, and Ruoshi sprang up into the clear clouds. I truly cannot match my skills with these men, and so I quietly keep to myself and find my own peace.”

昔九方考精於至貴，秦牙沈思於殊形；¹薛燭察寶以飛譽，²瓠梁托弦以流聲；³齊隸拊髀以濟文，⁴楚客潛寇以保荊：⁵雍門援琴而挾說，⁶韓哀秉轡而馳名；⁷盧敖翱翔乎玄闕，若士竦身於雲清。⁸余實不能齊技於數子，故乃靜然守己而自寧。」

In the sixth year of Jingyao, the Latter Ruler followed Qiao Zhou’s plan and sent an envoy to request surrender to Deng Ai; the letter was composed by Xi Zheng. In the first month of the following year, Zhong Hui rebelled at Chengdu, and the Latter Ruler was moved east to Luoyang. In the turmoil and haste of that time, none of the great ministers of Shu escorted him; only Xi Zheng and the Superintendent of the Palace Hall, Zhang Tong of Runan, left their wives and children and followed in attendance alone. Relying on Xi Zheng’s guidance, the Latter Ruler conducted himself appropriately and made no missteps in his behavior; he sighed with deep feeling, regretting that he had come to know Xi Zheng so late. The opinion of the time praised him.

景耀六年，後主從譙周之計，遣使請降於鄧艾。其書，正所造也。明年正月，鍾會作亂成都，後主東遷洛陽，時擾攘倉卒。蜀之大臣無翼從者，惟正及殿中督汝南張通，捨妻子單身隨侍。後主賴正相導宜適，舉動無闕，乃慨然歎息，恨知正之晚，時論嘉之。

He was granted the rank of Marquis Within the Pass. During the Taishi era he was appointed Magistrate of Anyang and then promoted to Prefect of Baxi. In the eighth year of Taishi an edict said, “Formerly at Chengdu, Xi Zheng held to righteousness through upheaval and did not stray from loyalty; since he has been employed, he has devoted himself to his duties and achieved good governance. Let Xi Zheng be made Prefect of Baxi.” He died in the fourth year of Xianning. His writings, poems, treatises, rhapsodies, and the like, numbered nearly a hundred pieces.

賜爵關內侯。泰始中，除安陽令，遷巴西太守。泰始八年詔曰：「正昔在成都，顛沛守義，不違忠節，及見受用，盡心幹事，有治理之績，其以正為巴西太守。」咸寧四年卒。凡所著述詩論賦之屬，垂百篇。

Appraisal

評價

Appraisal: Du Wei cultivated himself and lived in quiet seclusion, refusing to serve his age; he came close to the integrity of Boyi and the Four Greybeards. Zhou Qun’s divinations of Heaven proved true, and Du Qiong was reserved, cautious, and meticulous: they were the purest of scholars. Xu Ci, Meng Guang, Lai Min, and Li Zhuan were widely read and well informed, and Yin Mo was expert in the Zuo Commentary; though they were not renowned for virtue or achievement, all were truly scholars of their time. Qiao Zhou’s writing and reasoning were profound and penetrating; he was a great Confucian of his age, with the stature of Dong Zhongshu and Yang Xiong. Xi Zheng’s literary style was brilliant, with the air of Zhang Heng and Cai Yong. Moreover, in their conduct there is something the gentleman may take. These two did little in Jin and much in Shu, so they are recorded in this chapter.

評曰：杜微脩身隱靜，不役當世，庶幾夷、皓之槩。周羣占天有徵，杜瓊沈默慎密，諸生之純也。許、孟、來、李，博涉多聞，尹默精於左氏，雖不以德業為稱，信皆一時之學士。譙周詞理淵通，為世碩儒，有董、揚之規，郤正文辭燦爛，有張、蔡之風，加其行止，君子有取焉。二子處晉事少，在蜀事多，故著於篇。¹