Records of Wei 3: Annals of Emperor Ming

Records of Wei 3: Annals of Emperor Ming

Emperor Ming, whose personal name was Rui and courtesy name Yuanzhong, was the crown prince of Emperor Wen. From his birth Taizu loved him and always kept him at his side. At fifteen he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Wude; in the second year of Huangchu he became Duke of Qi, and in the third year King of Pingyuan. Because his mother had been put to death, he was not established as heir. In the fifth month of summer in the seventh year, when the Emperor’s illness became grave, he was at last made Crown Prince. On the dingsi day he ascended the imperial throne and proclaimed a general amnesty. The Empress Dowager was honored as Grand Empress Dowager, and the Empress as Empress Dowager.

明皇帝諱叡，字元仲，文帝太子也。生而太祖愛之，常令在左右。¹年十五，封武德侯，黃初二年爲齊公，三年爲平原王。以其母誅，故未建爲嗣。²七年夏五月，帝病篤，乃立爲皇太子。丁巳，即皇帝位，大赦。尊皇太后曰太皇太后，皇后曰皇太后。

The ministers were granted fiefs and ranks, each according to degree. On the guiwei day, his mother Lady Zhen was posthumously titled Empress Wenzhao. On the renchen day, the Emperor’s younger brother Cao Rui was made King of Yangping.

諸臣封爵各有差。¹癸未，追謚母甄夫人曰文昭皇后。壬辰，立皇弟蕤爲陽平王。

In the eighth month Sun Quan attacked Jiangxia Commandery, and its Prefect, Wen Pin, held firm. The court proposed sending troops to relieve him, but the Emperor said, “Sun Quan is practiced in fighting on water. That he dares to leave his ships and attack by land means he hopes to catch us unprepared. He is already locked in a standoff with Wen Pin, and since the attacker needs twice the strength of the defender, in the end he will not dare to stay long.” Earlier, the Attendant Censor for Documents Xun Yu had been sent to comfort the frontier regions. On arriving, Xun Yu raised the troops of the counties he had passed through in Jiangxia, together with the thousand foot and horse who accompanied him, and had them climb the hills and light fires; Sun Quan withdrew and fled.

八月，孫權攻江夏郡，太守文聘堅守。朝議欲發兵救之，帝曰：「權習水戰，所以敢下船陸攻者，幾掩不備也。今已與聘相持，夫攻守勢倍，終不敢久也。」先時遣治書侍御史荀禹慰勞邊方，禹到，於江夏發所經縣兵及所從步騎千人乘山舉火，權退走。

On the xinsi day, the imperial son Cao Jiong was made King of Qinghe. The Wu generals Zhuge Jin, Zhang Ba and others raided Xiangyang; the Grand General Who Pacifies the Army, Sima Yi (King Xuan), attacked and defeated them and beheaded Zhang Ba, and the Grand General Who Conquers the East, Cao Xiu, also defeated a detached commander of theirs at Xunyang. Merits were assessed and rewards given, each according to degree. In the tenth month of winter, Cao Jiong, King of Qinghe, died. In the twelfth month, the Grand Commandant Zhong Yao was made Grand Tutor; the Grand General Who Conquers the East, Cao Xiu, Grand Marshal; the Grand General of the Central Army, Cao Zhen, Grand General; the Minister over the Masses, Hua Xin, Grand Commandant; the Minister of Works, Wang Lang, Minister over the Masses; the Grand General Who Guards the Army, Chen Qun, Minister of Works; and the Grand General Who Pacifies the Army, Sima Yi, Grand General of Agile Cavalry.

辛巳，立皇子冏爲清河王。吳將諸葛瑾、張霸等寇襄陽，撫軍大將軍司馬宣王討破之，斬霸，征東大將軍曹休又破其別將於尋陽。論功行賞各有差。冬十月，清河王冏薨。十二月，以太尉鍾繇爲太傅，征東大將軍曹休爲大司馬，中軍大將軍曹真爲大將軍，司徒華歆爲太尉，司空王朗爲司徒，鎮軍大將軍陳羣爲司空，撫軍大將軍司馬宣王爲驃騎大將軍。

In the first month of spring in the first year of Taihe, Emperor Wu was honored in the suburban sacrifice as the partner of Heaven, and Emperor Wen was honored in the ancestral sacrifice at the Hall of Light as the partner of the Supreme God. The southern part of Jiangxia was split off, and a Chief Commandant of Southern Jiangxia was established. Qu Ying of Xiping rebelled and killed the Magistrate of Linqiang and the Chief of Xidu; the generals Hao Zhao and Lu Pan were sent to attack him, and they beheaded him. On the xinwei day of the second month, the Emperor plowed the sacred field. On the xinsi day, a mortuary temple for Empress Wenzhao was set up at Ye.

太和元年春正月，郊祀武皇帝以配天，宗祀文皇帝於明堂以配上帝。分江夏南部，置江夏南部都尉。西平麴英反，殺臨羌令、西都長，遣將軍郝昭、鹿磐討斬之。二月辛未，帝耕于藉田。辛巳，立文昭皇后寢廟於鄴。

On the dinghai day, the rite of greeting the sun was performed in the eastern suburb. On the yihai day of the fourth month of summer, the five-zhu coin was put into circulation. On the jiashen day, construction of the ancestral temple was begun. In the eighth month of autumn, the rite of the evening moon was performed in the western suburb. On the bingyin day of the tenth month of winter, troops were reviewed in the eastern suburb. The King of Yanqi sent his son to court to serve in attendance. In the eleventh month, Lady Mao was made Empress. Every man in the realm was granted two degrees of rank, and grain was given to widowers, widows, orphans and the childless who could not support themselves. In the twelfth month, the Empress’s father, Mao Jia, was enfeoffed as a full marquis. Meng Da, Prefect of Xincheng, rebelled, and the General of Agile Cavalry Sima Yi was ordered by edict to attack him.

丁亥，朝日于東郊。夏四月乙亥，行五銖錢。甲申，初營宗廟。秋八月，夕月于西郊。冬十月丙寅，治兵于東郊。焉耆王遣子入侍。十一月，立皇后毛氏。賜天下男子爵人二級，鰥寡孤獨不能自存者賜穀。十二月，封后父毛嘉爲列侯。新城太守孟達反，詔驃騎將軍司馬宣王討之。¹

In the first month of spring in the second year, Sima Yi stormed Xincheng, beheaded Meng Da and had his head sent on. Shangyong, Wuling and Wu County of Xincheng were split off to form Shangyong Commandery, and Xi County became Xi Commandery.

二年春正月，宣王攻破新城，斬達，傳其首。¹分新城之上庸、武陵、巫縣爲上庸郡，錫縣爲錫郡。

The great Shu general Zhuge Liang raided the frontier, and the officials and people of the three commanderies of Tianshui, Nanan and Anding rebelled in support of him. The Grand General Cao Zhen was sent to take command of the region west of the passes, and the armies advanced together. The General of the Right, Zhang He, attacked Zhuge Liang at Jieting and routed him. Zhuge Liang was defeated and fled, and the three commanderies were pacified. On the dingwei day the Emperor went to Changan. On the dingyou day of the fourth month of summer he returned to the palace at Luoyang. Prisoners held for offenses short of capital crimes were pardoned. On the yisi day, merits for the campaign against Zhuge Liang were assessed, and fiefs were granted and estates increased, each according to degree.

蜀大將諸葛亮寇邊，天水、南安、安定三郡吏民叛應亮。¹遣大將軍曹真都督關右，並進兵。右將軍張郃擊亮於街亭，大破之。亮敗走，三郡平。丁未，行幸長安。²夏四月丁酉，還洛陽宮。³赦繫囚非殊死以下。乙巳，論討亮功，封爵增邑各有差。

In the fifth month there was a great drought. In the sixth month an edict said, “To revere Confucian scholars and value learning is the root of royal teaching. Of late some of the scholarly offices have been held by the wrong men; how then can the way of the sages be proclaimed and made clear? Let the Erudites be chosen to a high standard, from those whose talents fit them to serve as Palace Attendants and Regular Attendants. Let the commanderies and kingdoms again be instructed that in recommending men for office, learning in the classics comes first.” In the ninth month of autumn, Cao Xiu led his armies to Wan and fought the Wu general Lu Yi at Shiting, and was badly defeated. On the yiyou day, the imperial son Cao Mu was made King of Fanyang.

五月，大旱。六月，詔曰：「尊儒貴學，王教之本也。自頃儒官或非其人，將何以宣明聖道？其高選博士，才任侍中常侍者。申勑郡國，貢士以經學爲先。」秋九月，曹休率諸軍至皖，與吳將陸議戰於石亭，敗績。乙酉，立皇子穆爲繁陽王。

On the gengzi day, the Grand Marshal Cao Xiu died. In the tenth month of winter, the ministers and close officials were ordered by edict each to recommend one good general. In the eleventh month, the Minister over the Masses Wang Lang died. In the twelfth month, Zhuge Liang besieged Chencang, and Cao Zhen sent the general Fei Yao and others to resist him. Gongsun Yuan, son of the elder brother of Gongsun Gong, Prefect of Liaodong, seized Gongsun Gong’s position by force, and so Gongsun Yuan was made acting Prefect of Liaodong.

庚子，大司馬曹休薨。冬十月，詔公卿近臣舉良將各一人。十一月，司徒王朗薨。十二月，諸葛亮圍陳倉，曹真遣將軍費曜等拒之。¹遼東太守公孫恭兄子淵劫奪恭位，遂以淵領遼東太守。

In the fourth month of summer in the third year, Cao Li, King of Yuancheng, died. On the guimao day of the sixth month, Cao Mu, King of Fanyang, died. On the wushen day, the Emperor’s great-great-grandfather, the Grand Prolonger of Autumn, was posthumously honored as Emperor Gao, and his wife Lady Wu as Empress Gao.

三年夏四月，元城王禮薨。六月癸卯，繁陽王穆薨。戊申，追尊高祖大長秋曰高皇帝，夫人吳氏曰高皇后。

In the seventh month of autumn an edict said, “According to the rites, when the queen has no heir, a son of a collateral line is chosen and set up to continue the main line of descent; he must then carry on the legitimate succession and uphold the public duty. How can he still look back to his private kin? Emperor Xuan of Han succeeded Emperor Zhao, yet conferred an imperial title on his late father, Daokao. Emperor Ai was raised to the throne from an outer fief, and Dong Hong and others cited the precedent of the fallen Qin and so misled the court of the day. Thus Emperor Gong was honored and given a temple in the capital; a concubine of the fief was favored and ranked with the Changxin Palace; the order of zhao and mu was set out in the front hall, and four positions were ranked side by side in the eastern palace. Such overreaching knew no bounds, and neither men nor spirits gave their blessing. Shi Dan’s loyal and upright remonstrance was treated as a crime, and this brought on the disaster of the Ding and Fu families being burned.

秋七月，詔曰：「禮，王后無嗣，擇建支子以繼太宗，則當纂正統而奉公義，何得復顧私親哉！漢宣繼昭帝後，加悼考以皇號；哀帝以外藩援立，而董宏等稱引亡秦，或誤時朝，旣尊恭皇，立廟京都，又寵藩妾，使比長信，敘昭穆於前殿，並四位於東宮，僭差無度，人神弗祐，而非罪師丹忠正之諫，用致丁、傅焚如之禍。

Since then, one after another has done the same. Long ago, when Wen of Lu reversed the order of sacrifice, the fault lay with Xiafu; when the state of Song departed from the proper measure, the blame fell on Hua Yuan. Let the ministers and officials take the conduct of former ages as a solemn warning. If ever an heir should come from among the feudal lords to receive the great succession, he must make plain the duty of one who becomes another’s heir. Should anyone dare to be crafty and wicked, flattering and leading the ruler of the day, recklessly establishing improper titles to infringe the legitimate line, calling a deceased father ‘Emperor’ and a deceased mother ‘Empress,’ then the ministers who are the ruler’s limbs and arms shall put him to death without pardon. Let this be written on a golden tablet, stored in the ancestral temple, and set down in the statutes of today.”

自是之後，相踵行之。昔魯文逆祀，罪由夏父；宋國非度，譏在華元。其令公卿有司，深以前世行事爲戒。後嗣萬一有由諸侯入奉大統，則當明爲人後之義；敢爲佞邪導諛時君，妄建非正之號以干正統，謂考爲皇，稱妣爲后，則股肱大臣，誅之無赦。其書之金策，藏之宗廟，著于今典。」

In the tenth month of winter, the Pingwang Lodge was renamed the Lodge for Hearing Suits. The Emperor often said, “Trials are the life and death of the whole realm,” and whenever a major case was to be judged he would go to the lodge and hear it in person.

冬十月，改平望觀曰聽訟觀。帝常言「獄者，天下之性命也」，每斷大獄，常幸觀臨聽之。

Earlier, since the ancestral temple at Luoyang had not been completed, the spirit tablets were kept in the temple at Ye. In the eleventh month the temple was at last finished, and the Minister of Ceremonies Han Ji was sent bearing the imperial staff to escort the tablets of Emperor Gao, the Grand Emperor, Emperor Wu and Emperor Wen from Ye. They arrived on the jichou day of the twelfth month and were installed in the temple.

初，洛陽宗廟未成，神主在鄴廟。十一月，廟始成，使太常韓曁持節迎高皇帝、太皇帝、武帝、文帝神主于鄴，十二月己丑至，奉安神主于廟。¹

On the guimao day, Bodiao, King of the Great Yuezhi, sent envoys bearing tribute, and he was named King of the Great Yuezhi, Friend of Wei.

癸卯，大月氏王波調遣使奉獻，以調爲親魏大月氏王。

On the renwu day of the second month of spring in the fourth year, an edict said, “Whether an age is plain or refined changes with its teaching. Since the wars began, the study of the classics has been abandoned, and young men seeking advancement do not follow the canons. Is it that instruction has not reached far enough, or that those promoted are not distinguished by virtue? Among the gentlemen-clerks, those whose learning extends to one classic and whose talents fit them to govern the people shall be examined by the Erudites, and those who rank highest shall be promoted and employed at once. Those who are frivolous and showy and do not devote themselves to the root of the Way shall all be dismissed.”

四年春二月壬午，詔曰：「世之質文，隨教而變。兵亂以來，經學廢絕，後生進趣，不由典謨。豈訓導未洽，將進用者不以德顯乎？其郎吏學通一經，才任牧民，博士課試，擢其高第者，亟用；其浮華不務道本者，皆罷退之。」

On the wuzi day, the Grand Tutor and the Three Excellencies were ordered by edict to have Emperor Wen’s Normative Discourses carved in stone and set up outside the temple gate. On the guisi day, the Grand General Cao Zhen was made Grand Marshal, the General of Agile Cavalry Sima Yi Grand General, and Gongsun Yuan, Prefect of Liaodong, General of Chariots and Cavalry. In the fourth month of summer, the Grand Tutor Zhong Yao died. On the wuzi day of the sixth month, the Grand Empress Dowager passed away. On the bingshen day, Shangyong Commandery was abolished. In the seventh month of autumn, Empress Bian (Wuxuan) was buried together with Emperor Wu at the Gao Mausoleum.

戊子，詔太傅三公：以文帝《典論》刻石，立于廟門之外。癸巳，以大將軍曹真爲大司馬，驃騎將軍司馬宣王爲大將軍，遼東太守公孫淵爲車騎將軍。夏四月，太傅鍾繇薨。六月戊子，太皇太后崩。丙申，省上庸郡。秋七月，武宣卞后祔葬于高陵。

The Grand Marshal Cao Zhen and the Grand General Sima Yi were ordered by edict to attack Shu. On the xinsi day of the eighth month the Emperor set out on a tour of the east and sent envoys to sacrifice a single bull to the Central Peak. On the yiwei day he went to the palace at Xuchang. In the ninth month there were heavy rains, and the Yi, the Luo, the Yellow River and the Han overflowed, so Cao Zhen and the others were ordered by edict to withdraw their armies. On the yimao day of the tenth month of winter he returned to the palace at Luoyang. On the gengshen day an order was issued: “Those whose crimes are short of capital offenses may redeem themselves by payment, each according to degree.” In the eleventh month, Venus trespassed on Jupiter.

詔大司馬曹真、大將軍司馬宣王伐蜀。八月辛巳，行東巡，遣使者以特牛祠中嶽。¹乙未，幸許昌宮。九月，大雨，伊、洛、河、漢水溢，詔真等班師。冬十月乙卯，行還洛陽宮。庚申，令：「罪非殊死聽贖各有差。」十一月，太白犯歲星。

On the xinwei day of the twelfth month, Empress Zhen (Wenzhao) was reburied at the Zhaoyang Mausoleum. On the bingyin day, the ministers were ordered by edict to recommend the worthy and good.

十二月辛未，改葬文昭甄后于朝陽陵。丙寅，詔公卿舉賢良。

In the first month of spring in the fifth year, the Emperor plowed the sacred field. In the third month, the Grand Marshal Cao Zhen died. Zhuge Liang raided Tianshui, and the Grand General Sima Yi was ordered by edict to resist him. No rain had fallen from the tenth month of the previous winter until this month, and on the xinsi day a great rain sacrifice was held. In the fourth month of summer, Kebineng, the Xianbei King Who Adheres to Righteousness, led his tribesmen, together with Ershan, a chieftain of the Dingling, to You Province and presented fine horses. The office of Leader of Court Gentlemen Protecting the Xiongnu was re-established.

五年春正月，帝耕于藉田。三月，大司馬曹真薨。諸葛亮寇天水，詔大將軍司馬宣王拒之。自去冬十月至此月不雨，辛巳，大雩。夏四月，鮮卑附義王軻比能率其種人及丁零大人兒禪詣幽州貢名馬。復置護匈奴中郎將。

On the bingzi day of the seventh month of autumn, because Zhuge Liang had withdrawn and fled, fiefs were granted and ranks raised, each according to degree. On the yiyou day the imperial son Cao Yin was born, and a general amnesty was proclaimed.

秋七月丙子，以亮退走，封爵增位各有差。¹乙酉，皇子殷生，大赦。

In the eighth month an edict said, “In ancient times the feudal lords came to court and paid visits of state in order to strengthen the bonds of kinship and bring harmony to all the realms. The late emperor issued an ordinance that the kings should not stay in the capital, saying that it was to guard against the day when a young ruler was on the throne and his mother acted as regent, stopping trouble step by step while it was still small, since it bears on the rise and fall of the state. I reflect that I have not seen the kings for twelve years; how can my longing thoughts not stir? Let the kings and the dukes and marquises of the imperial clan each bring one heir son and come to court.

八月，詔曰：「古者諸侯朝聘，所以敦睦親親協和萬國也。先帝著令，不欲使諸王在京都者，謂幼主在位，母后攝政，防微以漸，關諸盛衰也。朕惟不見諸王十有二載，悠悠之懷，能不興思！其令諸王及宗室公侯各將適子一人朝。

Should there later be a young ruler and a mother empress in the palace, the late emperor’s ordinance shall apply as before; let this be restated and written into the ordinances.” On the yiyou day of the eleventh month, the moon trespassed on the great star of Xuanyuan. On the wuxu day, the last of the month, there was an eclipse of the sun. On the jiachen day of the twelfth month, the moon trespassed on Saturn. On the wuwu day, the Grand Commandant Hua Xin died.

後有少主、母后在宮者，自如先帝令，申明著于令。」十一月乙酉，月犯軒轅大星。戊戌晦，日有蝕之。十二月甲辰，月犯鎮星。戊午，太尉華歆薨。

In the second month of spring in the sixth year, an edict said, “The emperors and kings of old enfeoffed the feudal lords to serve as a hedge and screen for the royal house. Does not the Ode say, ‘Cherish virtue and there is peace; the sons of the clan are its walls’? Qin and Han succeeded Zhou, but one was too strong and the other too weak, and both lost the mean. When great Wei was founded and the kings set up their states, this followed what suited the moment, and there was no fixed system; it is not fit to serve as a lasting law for later generations. Let the feudal kings be re-enfeoffed, each with a commandery as his state.”

六年春二月，詔曰：「古之帝王，封建諸侯，所以藩屏王室也。詩不云乎，『懷德維寧，宗子維城』。秦、漢繼周，或彊或弱，俱失厥中。大魏創業，諸王開國，隨時之宜，未有定制，非所以永爲後法也。其改封諸侯王，皆以郡爲國。」

On the guiyou day of the third month, the Emperor set out on a tour of the east, and wherever he passed he inquired after the aged, widowers, widows, orphans and the childless, and gave them grain and silk. On the yihai day, the moon trespassed on the great star of Xuanyuan. On the renyin day of the fourth month of summer he went to the palace at Xuchang. On the jiazi day, new fruit was offered at the temple for the first time. In the fifth month the imperial son Cao Yin died and was posthumously enfeoffed and titled King Ai of Anping. In the seventh month of autumn, the Commandant of the Guards Dong Zhao was made Minister over the Masses. In the ninth month the Emperor went to Mobei, had the palace at Xuchang repaired, and built the Jingfu and Chengguang halls.

三月癸酉，行東巡，所過存問高年鰥寡孤獨，賜穀帛。乙亥，月犯軒轅大星。夏四月壬寅，行幸許昌宮。甲子，初進新果于廟。五月，皇子殷薨，追封謚安平哀王。秋七月，以衞尉董昭爲司徒。九月，行幸摩陂，治許昌宮，起景福、承光殿。

In the tenth month of winter, the General Who Exterminates the Yi, Tian Yu, led his forces against the Wu general Zhou He at Chengshan and killed him. On the bingyin day of the eleventh month, Venus appeared in daylight. A comet appeared in the Wings lodge, near the Senior General star of the Grand Tenuity enclosure. On the gengyin day, Cao Zhi, King Si of Chen, died. In the twelfth month the Emperor returned to the palace at Xuchang.

冬十月，殄夷將軍田豫帥衆討吳將周賀於成山，殺賀。十一月丙寅，太白晝見。有星孛于翼，近太微上將星。庚寅，陳思王植薨。十二月，行還許昌宮。

On the jiashen day of the first month of spring in the first year of Qinglong, a blue dragon appeared in a well at Mobei in Jia. On the dingyou day of the second month the Emperor went to Mobei to view the dragon, and thereupon changed the era name. Mobei was renamed Longbei; every man was granted two degrees of rank, and widowers, widows, orphans and the childless were excused this year’s land tax and levies. On the jiazi day of the third month, the ministers were ordered by edict each to recommend one worthy and good man of steadfast conduct. On the renshen day of the fifth month of summer, an edict ordered that the late Grand General Xiahou Dun, the Grand Marshal Cao Ren and the General of Chariots and Cavalry Cheng Yu be honored with sacrifices in the court of Taizu’s temple.

青龍元年春正月甲申，青龍見郟之摩陂井中。二月丁酉，幸摩陂觀龍，於是改年；改摩陂爲龍陂，賜男子爵人二級，鰥寡孤獨無出今年租賦。三月甲子，詔公卿舉賢良篤行之士各一人。夏五月壬申，詔祀故大將軍夏侯惇、大司馬曹仁、車騎將軍程昱於太祖廟庭。¹

On the wuyin day, Cao Rui, King of Beihai, died. On the gengyin day, the first of the intercalary month, there was an eclipse of the sun. On the dingyou day, the daughters of the imperial clan who were not daughters of kings were all re-enfeoffed as Mistresses of Estates. The commanderies and kingdoms were ordered by edict not to sacrifice to mountains and rivers not listed in the canon of sacrifices. In the sixth month, fire broke out in the Ball Court of the palace at Luoyang.

戊寅，北海王蕤薨。閏月庚寅朔，日有蝕之。丁酉，改封宗室女非諸王女皆爲邑主。詔諸郡國山川不在祠典者勿祠。六月，洛陽宮鞠室災。

The frontier-guarding Xianbei chieftain Budugen was in secret contact with the rebel Xianbei chieftain Kebineng. Bi Gui, Inspector of Bing Province, submitted a memorial and at once sent out troops, intending to overawe Kebineng abroad and keep Budugen in check at home. When the Emperor read the memorial he said, “Budugen has been enticed by Kebineng and is already uneasy in his mind. If Bi Gui now sends out troops, it will only alarm the two tribes into joining as one. What is there to overawe or keep in check?” He hastily instructed Bi Gui that any troops sent out must on no account cross the frontier or pass beyond Gouzhu.

保塞鮮卑大人步度根與叛鮮卑大人軻比能私通，并州刺史畢軌表，輒出軍以外威比能，內鎮步度根。帝省表曰：「步度根以爲比能所誘，有自疑心。今軌出軍，適使二部驚合爲一，何所威鎮乎？」促勑軌，以出軍者慎勿越塞過句注也。

By the time the edict arrived, Bi Gui had already advanced and encamped at Yinguan, and had sent the generals Su Shang and Dong Bi to pursue the Xianbei. Kebineng sent his son with more than a thousand horsemen to meet Budugen’s tribe; they encountered Su Shang and Dong Bi and fought at Loufan, and both generals were defeated and killed. Budugen’s tribe all rebelled and went out beyond the frontier, joining Kebineng in raiding the border. The General of Valiant Cavalry Qin Lang was sent with the Central Army to attack them, and the barbarians fled north of the desert.

比詔書到，軌以進軍屯陰館，遣將軍蘇尚、董弼追鮮卑。比能遣子將千餘騎迎步度根部落，與尚、弼相遇，戰於樓煩，二將敗沒。步度根部落皆叛出塞，與比能合寇邊。遣驍騎將軍秦朗將中軍討之，虜乃走漠北。

In the ninth month of autumn, Hubojuzizhi and other frontier-guarding Xiongnu chieftains of Anding rebelled; Sima Yi sent the general Hu Zun and others in pursuit, and they defeated them and forced their surrender.

秋九月，安定保塞匈奴大人胡薄居姿職等叛，司馬宣王遣將軍胡遵等追討，破降之。

In the tenth month of winter, Daihualangni and other chieftains of Budugen’s tribe came to Bing Province and surrendered, and Qin Lang led his army back.

冬十月，步度根部落大人戴胡阿狼泥等詣并州降，朗引軍還。¹

In the twelfth month, Gongsun Yuan beheaded Zhang Mi and Xu Yan, the envoys sent by Sun Quan, and sent their heads to court; Gongsun Yuan was made Grand Marshal and Duke of Lelang.

十二月，公孫淵斬送孫權所遣使張彌、許晏首，以淵爲大司馬樂浪公。¹

On the yiwei day of the second month of spring in the second year, Venus trespassed on Mars. On the guiyou day an edict said, “The whip is used as an official punishment to correct negligence, but of late many have died of it though guiltless. Let the rules for whipping and caning be reduced and written into the ordinances.” On the gengyin day of the third month, the Duke of Shanyang died. The Emperor put on plain mourning dress and lamented him, and sent an envoy bearing the imperial staff to supervise the funeral. On the jiyou day a general amnesty was proclaimed. In the fourth month of summer there was a great epidemic. Fire broke out in the Chonghua Hall. On the bingyin day the officials were ordered by edict to make a report-sacrifice with the great offering of ox, sheep and pig at Emperor Wen’s temple. The Duke of Shanyang was posthumously titled Emperor Xiao Xian of Han and buried with Han rites.

二年春二月乙未，太白犯熒惑。癸酉，詔曰：「鞭作官刑，所以糾慢怠也，而頃多以無辜死。其減鞭杖之制，著于令。」三月庚寅，山陽公薨，帝素服發哀，遣使持節典護喪事。己酉，大赦。夏四月，大疫。崇華殿災。丙寅，詔有司以太牢告祠文帝廟。追謚山陽公爲漢孝獻皇帝，葬以漢禮。¹

That month Zhuge Liang came out through the Xie Valley and encamped south of the Wei River, and Sima Yi led the armies to resist him. An edict to Sima Yi said, “Simply hold fast behind your walls and defend, and so blunt his edge. If he advances he cannot achieve his aim, and if he retreats there is no one to fight; if he stays long his grain will run out, and his raids will gain nothing, so he will surely leave. When he leaves, pursue him; to meet the weary with fresh troops is the way to complete victory.”

是月，諸葛亮出斜谷，屯渭南，司馬宣王率諸軍拒之。詔宣王：「但堅壁拒守以挫其鋒，彼進不得志，退無與戰，久停則糧盡，虜略無所獲，則必走矣。走而追之，以逸待勞，全勝之道也。」¹

In the fifth month, Venus appeared in daylight. Sun Quan entered the mouth of Chao Lake at Juchao and headed for Hefeixincheng, and also sent his generals Lu Yi and Sun Shao, each with more than ten thousand men, into the Huai and the Mian. In the sixth month, the General Who Conquers the East, Man Chong, advanced to resist them. Man Chong wished to withdraw the garrison of the New City and lure the enemy to Shouchun, but the Emperor would not allow it, saying, “Long ago Emperor Guangwu of Han sent troops to hold Lueyang in isolation, and in the end defeated Wei Xiao. The late emperor set up Hefei in the east, guarded Xiangyang in the south and fortified Mount Qi in the west, and whenever the enemy came they were defeated beneath these three cities, because these are places that must be contested.

五月，太白晝見。孫權入居巢湖口，向合肥新城，又遣將陸議、孫韶各將萬餘人入淮、沔。六月，征東將軍滿寵進軍拒之。寵欲拔新城守，致賊壽春，帝不聽，曰：「昔漢光武遣兵縣據略陽，終以破隗囂，先帝東置合肥，南守襄陽，西固祁山，賊來輒破於三城之下者，地有所必爭也。

Even if Sun Quan attacks the New City, he will certainly not take it. Order the generals to hold firm. I shall go in person to campaign against him, though I fear that by the time I arrive Sun Quan will have fled.” On the renyin day of the seventh month of autumn, the Emperor boarded the dragon boat and set out in person on the eastern campaign. Sun Quan attacked the New City, but the general Zhang Ying and others held it and fought hard. While the Emperor’s army was still several hundred li away, Sun Quan fled, and Lu Yi, Sun Shao and the others also withdrew. The ministers thought that since the Grand General was still locked in a standoff with Zhuge Liang, the imperial carriage should proceed west to Changan.

縱權攻新城，必不能拔。勑諸將堅守，吾將自往征之，比至，恐權走也。」秋七月壬寅，帝親御龍舟東征，權攻新城，將軍張頴等拒守力戰，帝軍未至數百里，權遁走，議、韶等亦退。羣臣以爲大將軍方與諸葛亮相持未解，車駕可西幸長安。

The Emperor said, “Now that Sun Quan has fled, Zhuge Liang will have lost his nerve. The Grand General will keep him in check, and I have nothing to worry about.” He then advanced to Shouchun, recorded the merits of his generals and granted fiefs and rewards, each according to degree. On the jiwei day of the eighth month he held a grand display of troops and feasted the six armies, and sent envoys bearing the imperial staff to reward the armies at Hefei and Shouchun. On the xinsi day he returned to the palace at Xuchang.

帝曰：「權走，亮膽破，大將軍以制之，吾無憂矣。」遂進軍幸壽春，錄諸將功，封賞各有差。八月己未，大曜兵，饗六軍，遣使者持節犒勞合肥、壽春諸軍。辛巳，行還許昌宮。

Sima Yi faced Zhuge Liang, keeping up his siege lines day after day. Zhuge Liang repeatedly offered battle, but Sima Yi kept to his fortifications and did not respond. Then Zhuge Liang died, and his army withdrew and went home.

司馬宣王與亮相持，連圍積日，亮數挑戰，宣王堅壘不應。會亮卒，其軍退還。

On the yichou day of the tenth month of winter, the moon trespassed on Saturn and on Xuanyuan. On the wuyin day, the moon trespassed on Venus. In the eleventh month there was an earthquake in the capital; it came from the southeast with a low rumbling and shook the roof tiles. In the twelfth month the officials were ordered by edict to revise the statutes on the death penalty and reduce the number of capital crimes.

冬十月乙丑，月犯鎮星及軒轅。戊寅，月犯太白。十一月，京都地震，從東南來，隱隱有聲，搖動屋瓦。十二月，詔有司刪定大辟，減死罪。

On the wuzi day of the first month of spring in the third year, the Grand General Sima Yi was made Grand Commandant. On the jihai day, Shuofang Commandery was re-established. There was a great epidemic in the capital. On the dingsi day, the Empress Dowager passed away. On the yihai day, a meteorite fell in Shouguang County. On the gengyin day of the third month, Empress Guo (Wende) was buried; her tomb was built west of the stream by the Shouyang Mausoleum, in keeping with the regulations for burial.

三年春正月戊子，以大將軍司馬宣王爲太尉。己亥，復置朔方郡。京都大疫。丁巳，皇太后崩。乙亥，隕石于壽光縣。三月庚寅，葬文德郭后，營陵于首陽陵澗西，如終制。¹

At this time the palace at Luoyang was being rebuilt on a grand scale: the Zhaoyang and Taiji halls were raised, and the Zongzhang Lodge was built. The common people missed the farming seasons. Upright ministers such as Yang Fu and Gaotang Long each remonstrated earnestly many times; though the Emperor could not heed them, he always treated them with generous tolerance.

是時，大治洛陽宮，起昭陽、太極殿，築緫章觀。百姓失農時，直臣楊阜、高堂隆等各數切諫，雖不能聽，常優容之。¹

In the seventh month of autumn, fire broke out in the Chonghua Hall at Luoyang. On the gengwu day of the eighth month, the imperial sons Cao Fang and Cao Xun were made King of Qi and King of Qin. On the dingsi day the Emperor returned to the palace at Luoyang. The officials were ordered to rebuild the Chonghua Hall, and its name was changed to the Hall of Nine Dragons. On the jiyou day of the tenth month of winter, Cao Gun, King of Zhongshan, died. On the renshen day, Venus appeared in daylight. On the dingyou day of the eleventh month, the Emperor went to the palace at Xuchang.

秋七月，洛陽崇華殿災，八月庚午，立皇子芳爲齊王，詢爲秦王。丁巳，行還洛陽宮。命有司復崇華，改名九龍殿。冬十月己酉，中山王衮薨。壬申，太白晝見。十一月丁酉，行幸許昌宮。¹

In the second month of spring in the fourth year, Venus again appeared in daylight; the moon trespassed on Venus, and also on one star of Xuanyuan, entering the Grand Tenuity enclosure and then leaving it. In the fourth month of summer the Chongwen Lodge was established, and men skilled in composition were summoned to staff it. On the yimao day of the fifth month, the Minister over the Masses Dong Zhao died. On the dingsi day, the Sushen people presented arrows of hu wood.

四年春二月，太白復晝見，月犯太白，又犯軒轅一星，入太微而出。夏四月，置崇文觀，徵善屬文者以充之。五月乙卯，司徒董昭薨。丁巳，肅慎氏獻楛矢。

On the renshen day of the sixth month an edict said, “The Lord of Yu merely displayed painted emblems of punishment, and the people did not transgress; the men of Zhou set punishments aside and did not use them. I follow at the tail of a hundred kings and look back longingly to the ways of high antiquity; how far we have strayed from them! The more laws and ordinances multiply, the more there are who break them; the more punishments there are, the less wickedness can be stopped. Some time ago I examined the statutes on the death penalty and abolished many of them, hoping to save the lives of the people; this is my deepest intention.

六月壬申，詔曰：「有虞氏畫象而民弗犯，周人刑錯而不用。朕從百王之末，追望上世之風，邈乎何相去之遠？法令滋章，犯者彌多，刑罰愈衆，而姦不可止。往者桉大辟之條，多所蠲除，思濟生民之命，此朕之至意也。

Yet in the commanderies and kingdoms, those who die in trials still number several hundred a year. Is it that my teaching has not been pure, so that the people think lightly of crime? Or do harsh laws still remain, setting pitfalls for them? Let the officials deliberate on trials so as to defer death sentences, striving for leniency and simplicity. As for those who plead for mercy, sometimes the case is reported and decided before they have even spoken; this is no way to get to the bottom of the matter and consider every circumstance. Let the Commandant of Justice and the prison officials throughout the realm be ordered: where a capital case has been completed and settled, unless it is for plotting rebellion or for killing a man with one’s own hand, let the family be told at once, and if anyone pleads for mercy, let the plea be sent up together with the documents of the verdict, and I shall consider how to spare the person. Proclaim this throughout the realm, so that my intention is made clear.”

而郡國斃獄，一歲之中尚過數百，豈朕訓導不醇，俾民輕罪，將苛法猶存，爲之陷穽乎？有司其議獄緩死，務從寬簡，及乞恩者，或辭未出而獄以報斷，非所以究理盡情也。其令廷尉及天下獄官，諸有死罪具獄以定，非謀反及手殺人，亟語其親治，有乞恩者，使與奏當文書俱上，朕將思所以全之。其布告天下，使明朕意。」

In the seventh month of autumn, Gong, King of Gaogouli, beheaded Hu Wei and others, envoys of Sun Quan, and sent their heads to You Province. On the jiayin day, Venus trespassed on the great star of Xuanyuan. On the jimao day of the tenth month of winter, the Emperor returned to the palace at Luoyang. On the jiashen day a comet appeared in Dachen, and on the yiyou day another appeared in the east. On the jihai day of the eleventh month a broom star appeared, trespassing on the Eunuch stars and the Tianji star. On the guisi day of the twelfth month, the Minister of Works Chen Qun died. On the yiwei day the Emperor went to the palace at Xuchang.

秋七月，高句驪王宮斬送孫權使胡衞等首，詣幽州。甲寅，太白犯軒轅大星。冬十月己卯，行還洛陽宮。甲申，有星孛于大辰，乙酉，又孛于東方。十一月己亥，彗星見，犯宦者天紀星。十二月癸巳，司空陳羣薨。乙未，行幸許昌宮。

On the renchen day of the first month of spring in the first year of Jingchu, Shanchi County reported that a yellow dragon had appeared. The officials then memorialized that since Wei had received the Earth sequence, the month in which the Dipper points to chou should be made the first month of the year. In the third month the calendar was fixed and the year revised, that month becoming the fourth month, the first of summer. For court dress yellow was honored; white animals were used for sacrifice; for military affairs white horses with black heads were ridden and the great red banner was raised, and at court assemblies the great white banner was raised. The Taihe Calendar was renamed the Jingchu Calendar.

景初元年春正月壬辰，山茌縣言黃龍見。¹於是有司奏，以爲魏得地統，宜以建丑之月爲正。三月，定歷改年爲孟夏四月。²服色尚黃，犧牲用白，戎事乘黑首白馬，建大赤之旂，朝會建大白之旗。³改〈太和歷〉曰〈景初歷〉。

Although the first, middle and last months of spring, summer, autumn and winter no longer matched the standard year, for the suburban sacrifices, the welcoming of the seasonal energies, the four seasonal ancestral offerings, the imperial tours of inspection, the seasonal hunts, the equinoxes, solstices and the starts and ends of the seasons, the proclamation of seasonal ordinances, the early or late arrival of the mid-month solar terms, and the respectful giving of the farming calendar to the people, the order of the calendar followed the direction of the Dipper in the standard year.

其春夏秋冬孟仲季月雖與正歲不同，至於郊祀、迎氣、礿祠、蒸甞、巡狩、蒐田、分至啟閉、班宣時令、中氣早晚、敬授民事，皆以正歲斗建爲歷數之序。

On the jisi day of the fifth month the Emperor returned to the palace at Luoyang. On the jichou day a general amnesty was proclaimed. On the wushen day of the sixth month there was an earthquake in the capital. On the jihai day, the Director of the Secretariat Chen Jiao was made Minister over the Masses, and the Right Supervisor of the Secretariat Wei Zhen Minister of Works. On the dingwei day, Weiyang of Weixing and Anfu and Shangyong of Xi Commandery were split off to form Shangyong Commandery. Xi Commandery was abolished and Xi County was attached to Weixing Commandery.

五月己巳，行還洛陽宮。己丑，大赦。六月戊申，京都地震。己亥，以尚書令陳矯爲司徒，尚書右僕射衞臻爲司空。丁未，分魏興之魏陽、錫郡之安富、上庸爲上庸郡。省錫郡，以錫縣屬魏興郡。

The officials memorialized that Emperor Wu, who had quelled disorder and restored what was right, should be Taizu of Wei, with the Wushi dance as his music; that Emperor Wen, who had answered Heaven and received the mandate, should be Gaozu of Wei, with the Xianxi dance as his music; and that the Emperor, who had created institutions and brought about good government, should be Liezu of Wei, with the Zhangwu dance as his music. The temples of these three ancestors were never to be demolished in ten thousand generations, while the other four temples would be removed in turn once the kinship had run its course, following the Zhou system under which the temples of Houji, King Wen and King Wu were kept as permanent ancestral shrines.

有司奏：武皇帝撥亂反正，爲魏太祖，樂用武始之舞。文皇帝應天受命，爲魏高祖，樂用咸熙之舞。帝制作興治，爲魏烈祖，樂用章武之舞。三祖之廟萬世不毀，其餘四廟親盡迭毀，如周后稷、文、武廟祧之制。¹

On the dingmao day of the seventh month of autumn, the Minister over the Masses Chen Jiao died. Sun Quan sent his general Zhu Ran and others with twenty thousand men to besiege Jiangxia Commandery; Hu Zhi, Inspector of Jing Province, and others attacked them, and Zhu Ran withdrew and fled. Earlier, Sun Quan had sent envoys by sea to open relations with Gaogouli, intending to attack Liaodong. Guanqiu Jian, Inspector of You Province, was therefore sent with the armies, together with the Xianbei and Wuhuan, to encamp on the southern border of Liaodong, and a letter under the imperial seal was sent summoning Gongsun Yuan. Gongsun Yuan raised troops and rebelled, and Guanqiu Jian advanced to attack him; but it rained for ten days on end and the Liao River rose high, so Guanqiu Jian was ordered by edict to lead his army back.

秋七月丁卯，司徒陳矯薨。孫權遣將朱然等二萬人圍江夏郡，荊州刺史胡質等擊之，然退走。初，權遣使浮海與高句驪通，欲襲遼東。遣幽州刺史毌丘儉率諸軍及鮮卑、烏丸屯遼東南界，璽書徵公孫淵。淵發兵反，儉進軍討之，會連雨十日，遼水大漲，詔儉引軍還。

Kouloudun, Chanyu of the Wuhuan of Youbeiping, and Wang Huliu, Commander of the Wuhuan of Liaoxi, and others who were living in Liaodong, led their people to follow Guanqiu Jian and submit. On the jimao day an edict pardoned all the generals, officials, soldiers and common people of Liaodong who had been coerced or carried off by Gongsun Yuan and had been unable to surrender. On the xinmao day Venus appeared in daylight. After Guanqiu Jian withdrew, Gongsun Yuan set himself up as King of Yan, established a full array of officials, and called the year the first year of Shaohan.

右北平烏丸單于寇婁敦、遼西烏丸都督王護留等居遼東，率部衆隨儉內附。己卯，詔遼東將吏士民爲淵所脅略不得降者，一切赦之。辛卯，太白晝見。淵自儉還，遂自立爲燕王，置百官，稱紹漢元年。

The four provinces of Qing, Yan, You and Ji were ordered by edict to build seagoing ships on a large scale. In the ninth month, the people of the four provinces of Ji, Yan, Xu and Yu suffered floods, and Attendant Censors were sent to tour the areas and inspect those who had drowned or lost their property, and the local granaries were opened for relief. On the gengchen day, Empress Mao died. On the dingwei day of the tenth month of winter, the moon trespassed on Mars. On the guichou day, Empress Mao (Dao) was buried in the Min Mausoleum. On the yimao day, Weisu Hill south of Luoyang was laid out as the Round Mound.

詔青、兖、幽、冀四州大作海船。九月，冀、兖、徐、豫四州民遇水，遣侍御史循行沒溺死亡及失財產者，在所開倉振救之。庚辰，皇后毛氏卒。冬十月丁未，月犯熒惑。癸丑，葬悼毛后于愍陵。乙卯，營洛陽南委粟山爲圜丘。¹

On the renzi day of the twelfth month, the winter solstice, the sacrifices there began. On the dingsi day, the four counties of Linju, Yicheng, Jingyang and Qi in Xiangyang were split off to establish a Chief Commandant of Southern Xiangyang. On the jiwei day, the officials memorialized that a temple for Empress Wenzhao be established in the capital. Ruo and She counties of Xiangyang Commandery were split off and attached to Yiyang Commandery.

十二月壬子冬至，始祀。丁巳，分襄陽臨沮、宜城、旍陽、邔¹四縣，置襄陽南部都尉。己未，有司奏文昭皇后立廟京都。分襄陽郡之鄀、葉縣屬義陽郡。²

In the first month of spring in the second year, the Grand Commandant Sima Yi was ordered by edict to lead an army against Liaodong.

二年春正月，詔太尉司馬宣王帥衆討遼東。¹

On the guimao day of the second month, the Grand Palace Grandee Han Ji was made Minister over the Masses. On the guichou day, the moon trespassed on the Determinative Star of the Heart lodge, and also on the great central star of the Heart. On the gengzi day of the fourth month of summer, the Minister over the Masses Han Ji died. On the renyin day, the ten counties of Xiao, Xiang, Zhuyi, Fuli, Qi, Zhi, Longkang, Shansang, Xiao and Hong in Pei were split off to form Ruyin Commandery. Song County and Ku County of Chen Commandery were both attached to Qiao Commandery. Pei, Zhuqiu and Gongqiu, together with Feng and Guangqi of Pengcheng, five counties in all, were made the Kingdom of Pei.

二月癸卯，以太中大夫韓曁爲司徒。癸丑，月犯心距星，又犯心中央大星。夏四月庚子，司徒韓曁薨。壬寅，分沛國蕭、相、竹邑、符離、蘄、銍、龍亢、山桑、洨、虹¹十縣爲汝陰郡。宋縣、陳郡苦縣皆屬譙郡。以沛、杼秋、公丘、彭城豐國、廣戚，并五縣爲沛王國。

On the gengxu day a general amnesty was proclaimed. On the yihai day of the fifth month, the moon trespassed on the Determinative Star of the Heart, and also on the great central star. In the sixth month, Hunu County of Yuyang Commandery was abolished and Anle County was re-established.

庚戌，大赦。五月乙亥，月犯心距星，又犯中央大星。¹六月，省漁陽郡之狐奴縣，復置安樂縣。

In the eighth month of autumn, Mangzhong, Zhuyi and other kings of the Shaodang Qiang rebelled; the Inspector of Liang Province led the commanderies to attack them and beheaded Zhuyi. On the guichou day a broom star appeared in the Extended Net lodge.

秋八月，燒當羌王芒中、注詣等叛，涼州刺史率諸郡攻討，斬注詣首。癸丑，有彗星見張宿。¹

On the bingyin day, Sima Yi besieged Gongsun Yuan at Xiangping and crushed him; Gongsun Yuan’s head was sent to the capital, and the commanderies east of the sea were pacified. In the eleventh month of winter, merits for the campaign against Gongsun Yuan were recorded, and from the Grand Commandant Sima Yi down, estates were increased and fiefs granted, each according to degree. When the Emperor first discussed sending Sima Yi against Gongsun Yuan, forty thousand troops were to be raised. The ministers in the discussion all thought forty thousand too many and the cost of the service hard to bear. The Emperor said, “On a campaign four thousand li long, even if one relies on surprise, one must also rely on strength. We should not be counting every bit of the cost.”

丙寅，司馬宣王圍公孫淵於襄平，大破之，傳淵首于京都，海東諸郡平。冬十一月，錄討淵功，太尉宣王以下增邑封爵各有差。初，帝議遣宣王討淵，發卒四萬人。議臣皆以爲四萬兵多，役費難供。帝曰：「四千里征伐，雖云用奇，亦當任力，不當稍計役費。」

So the army set out with forty thousand men. When Sima Yi reached Liaodong, incessant rain kept him from attacking at the proper time, and some of the ministers thought that Gongsun Yuan could not be quickly defeated and that Sima Yi should be recalled by edict. The Emperor said, “Sima Yi meets danger by adapting to change; we can count the days until Gongsun Yuan is captured.” In the end everything turned out as he had foreseen.

遂以四萬人行。及宣王至遼東，霖雨不得時攻，羣臣或以爲淵未可卒破，宜詔宣王還。帝曰：「司馬懿臨危制變，擒淵可計日待也。」卒皆如所策。

On the renwu day, the Minister of Works Wei Zhen was made Minister over the Masses, and the Colonel-Director of Retainers Cui Lin Minister of Works. In the intercalary month the moon trespassed on the great central star of the Heart. On the yichou day of the twelfth month the Emperor fell ill and took to his bed. On the xinsi day an Empress was set up. Every man in the realm was granted two degrees of rank, and grain was given to widowers, widows, orphans and the childless. Cao Yu, King of Yan, was made Grand General, but on the jiashen day he was dismissed and replaced by the General of the Martial Guard, Cao Shuang.

壬午，以司空衞臻爲司徒，司隷校尉崔林爲司空。閏月，月犯心中央大星。十二月乙丑，帝寢疾不豫。辛巳，立皇后。賜天下男子爵人二級，鰥寡孤獨穀。以燕王宇爲大將軍，甲申免，以武衞將軍曹爽代之。¹

Earlier, around the third year of Qinglong, the wife of a farmer in Shouchun declared that a heavenly spirit had come down to her and appointed her the Ascended Maiden, charged with guarding and protecting the imperial house, driving off evil and bringing in blessings. She gave people water to drink or used it to wash their wounds, and many were cured. A lodge was therefore built for her in the rear palace, and an edict was issued praising her, and she received great favor. When the Emperor fell ill, the water he drank had no effect, and so she was put to death.

初，青龍三年中，壽春農民妻自言爲天神所下，命爲登女，當營衞帝室，蠲邪納福。飲人以水，及以洗創，或多愈者。於是立館後宮，下詔稱揚，甚見優寵。及帝疾，飲水無驗，於是殺焉。

On the dinghai day of the first month of spring in the third year, the Grand Commandant Sima Yi arrived back at Henei. The Emperor summoned him by post-horse, brought him into his bedchamber, took his hand and said, “My illness is grave, and I entrust what comes after to you. You and Cao Shuang are to assist my young son. Now that I have seen you, I have no regrets!” Sima Yi bowed his head to the ground and wept. That same day the Emperor passed away in the Jiafu Hall, at the age of thirty-six. On the guichou day he was buried in the Gaoping Mausoleum.

三年春正月丁亥，太尉宣王還至河內，帝驛馬召到，引入卧內，執其手謂曰：「吾疾甚，以後事屬君，君其與爽輔少子。吾得見君，無所恨！」宣王頓首流涕。¹即日，帝崩于嘉福殿，²時年三十六。³癸丑，葬高平陵。⁴

Appraisal: Emperor Ming was calm and resolute, decisive and discerning, and acted as his own mind directed; he truly had the highest bearing of a ruler of men. But at that time the people were exhausted and the realm lay divided and broken. Instead of first cultivating the virtue of his illustrious forebears and extending the great foundation, he hastened to follow the First Emperor of Qin and Emperor Wu of Han in building palaces and lodges. Measured against far-reaching plans, this was surely a fault!

評曰：明帝沉毅斷識，任心而行，蓋有君人之至槩焉。于時百姓彫弊，四海分崩，不先聿脩顯祖，闡拓洪基，而遽追秦皇、漢武，宮館是營，格之遠猷，其殆疾乎！