Records of Wei 9: Biographies of the Xiahou and Cao Clans

Records of Wei 9: Biographies of the Xiahou and Cao Clans

Xiahou Dun

夏侯惇

Xiahou Dun, courtesy name Yuanrang, was a man of Qiao County in Pei Commandery and a descendant of Xiahou Ying. At fourteen he went to study under a teacher; when someone insulted his teacher, Xiahou Dun killed him, and from this he became known for his fiery spirit. When Taizu first raised troops, Xiahou Dun regularly served as a lieutenant and followed him on campaign. When Taizu was acting General of Vehement Might, he made Xiahou Dun his Major and had him garrison Baima separately; he was promoted to Colonel Who Breaks Assaults and took charge of Dong Commandery as Prefect. When Taizu campaigned against Tao Qian, he left Xiahou Dun to hold Puyang.

夏侯惇字元讓，沛國譙人，夏侯嬰之後也。年十四，就師學，人有辱其師者，惇殺之，由是以烈氣聞。太祖初起，惇常爲裨將，從征伐。太祖行奮武將軍，以惇爲司馬，別屯白馬，遷折衝校尉，領東郡太守。太祖征陶謙，留惇守濮陽。

Zhang Miao rebelled and welcomed Lü Bu. Since Taizu's family was at Juancheng, Xiahou Dun hurried there with light carriages, happened to meet Lü Bu, and fought him. Lü Bu withdrew and went back, then entered Puyang and seized Xiahou Dun's baggage train in a surprise attack. He sent officers who pretended to surrender; together they seized Xiahou Dun, held him hostage, and demanded treasure for him, and Xiahou Dun's army was shaken with fear. Xiahou Dun's officer Han Hao then marshaled his troops and posted them at the gate of Xiahou Dun's camp. He summoned the army officers and generals and ordered them all to keep their weapons at rest and stay with their units without moving, and the camps at last grew calm.

張邈叛，迎呂布，太祖家在鄄城，惇輕車往赴，適與布會，交戰。布退還，遂入濮陽，襲得惇軍輜重。遣將僞降，共執持惇，責以寶貨，惇軍中震恐。惇將韓浩乃勒兵屯惇營門，召軍吏諸將，皆案甲當部不得動，諸營乃定。

Then he went to where Xiahou Dun was and shouted at the hostage-takers, “You murderous rebels! You dare to seize and threaten the great general, and still hope to live? Besides, I have received orders to destroy traitors; how could I let you go for the sake of one general?” Then, weeping, he said to Xiahou Dun, “What else can I do before the law of the state?” He hurriedly summoned troops to attack the hostage-takers. The hostage-takers kowtowed in panic, saying, “We only wanted to get some money and leave!” Han Hao reproached them over and over for their crimes and beheaded them all.

遂詣惇所，叱持質者曰：「汝等凶逆，乃敢執劫大將軍，復欲望生邪！且吾受命討賊，寧能以一將軍之故，而縱汝乎？」因涕泣謂惇曰：「當奈國法何！」促召兵擊持質者。持質者惶遽叩頭，言「我但欲乞資用去耳！」浩數責，皆斬之。

After Xiahou Dun was freed, Taizu heard of this and said to Han Hao, “What you did here can serve as a law for ten thousand generations.” He then issued an ordinance that from then on, whenever anyone took a hostage, the troops were to attack them all together without regard for the hostage. From this time hostage-taking came to an end.

惇既免，太祖聞之，謂浩曰：「卿此可爲萬世法。」乃著令，自今已後有持質者，皆當并擊，勿顧質。由是劫質者遂絕。¹

When Taizu returned from Xu Province, Xiahou Dun followed him on the campaign against Lü Bu and was struck by a stray arrow, which wounded his left eye. He again took charge of Chenliu and Jiyin as Prefect, was given the additional title General Who Establishes Martial Might, and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Gaoan District. At that time there was a great drought and locusts arose, so Xiahou Dun dammed the Taishou River to make a reservoir, carried earth on his own back, and led his officers and men in encouraging the planting of rice; the people relied on the benefit. He was transferred to take charge of Henan as Intendant. When Taizu pacified the lands north of the Yellow River, Xiahou Dun served as the rearguard for the Grand General.

太祖自徐州還，惇從征呂布，爲流矢所中，傷左目。¹復領陳留、濟陰太守，加建武將軍，封高安鄉侯。時大旱，蝗蟲起，惇乃斷太壽水作陂，身自負土，率將士勸種稻，民賴其利。轉領河南尹。太祖平河北，爲大將軍後拒。

When Ye fell, he was promoted to General Who Calms the Waves, keeping his post as Intendant as before, and was allowed to act at his own discretion without being bound by regulations. In the twelfth year of Jian'an, his merits from first to last were recorded, and his fief was increased by one thousand eight hundred households, making two thousand five hundred with what he had before. In the twenty-first year, after he returned from following the campaign against Sun Quan, Xiahou Dun was made commander of twenty-six armies and left to stay at Juchao. He was granted musicians and famous entertainers, and an order said, “Wei Jiang, for his merit in making peace with the Rong, received the music of bells and chimes; how much more should you, General!”

鄴破，遷伏波將軍，領尹如故，使得以便宜從事，不拘科制。建安十二年，錄惇前後功，增封邑千八百戶，并前二千五百戶。二十一年，從征孫權還，使惇都督二十六軍，留居巢。賜伎樂名倡，令曰：「魏絳以和戎之功，猶受金石之樂，況將軍乎！」

In the twenty-fourth year, when Taizu encamped at Mobei, he summoned Xiahou Dun and always had him ride in the same carriage; he treated him with special intimacy and regard, letting him come and go even in his bedchamber, and none of the other generals could compare. He was appointed General of the Front and led the armies back to Shouchun, then moved to garrison Zhaoling. When Emperor Wen took the throne as King, he appointed Xiahou Dun Grand General, and he died a few months later.

二十四年，太祖軍於摩陂，召惇常與同載，特見親重，出入臥內，諸將莫得比也。拜前將軍，¹督諸軍還壽春，徙屯召陵。文帝即王位，拜惇大將軍，數月薨。

Even while with the army, Xiahou Dun personally welcomed teachers and received instruction. He was pure and frugal by nature; whenever he had wealth to spare he gave it away, and when he lacked, he drew on the government; he did not build up property. He was given the posthumous title Marquis Zhong. His son Xiahou Chong succeeded him. The Emperor, remembering Xiahou Dun's merits, wished to make all his descendants marquises, so he divided off one thousand households of Xiahou Dun's fief and granted his seven sons and two grandsons the rank of Marquis Within the Passes. Xiahou Dun's younger brother Xiahou Lian and his son Xiahou Mao had already been enfeoffed as full marquises in their own right. Earlier, Taizu had given his daughter in marriage to Xiahou Mao; she was Princess Qinghe.

惇雖在軍旅，親迎師受業。性清儉，有餘財輒以分施，不足資之於官，不治產業。諡曰忠侯。子充嗣。帝追思惇功，欲使子孫畢侯，分惇邑千戶，賜惇七子二孫爵皆關內侯。惇弟廉及子楙素自封列侯。初，太祖以女妻楙，即清河公主也。

Xiahou Mao served successively as Palace Attendant and Master of Writing, and as General Who Pacifies the West and General Who Guards the East, and was granted the tally of authority. When Xiahou Chong died, his son Xiahou Yi succeeded him; when Xiahou Yi died, his son Xiahou Shao succeeded him.

楙歷位侍中尚書、安西鎮東將軍，假節。¹充薨，子廙嗣。廙薨，子劭嗣。²

Han Hao and Shi Huan

韓浩、史渙

Han Hao was a man of Henei. He and Shi Huan of Pei Commandery both became known for their loyalty and courage. Han Hao rose to Central Protector of the Army and Shi Huan to Central Commander of the Army; both had charge of the palace troops and were enfeoffed as full marquises.

韓浩者，河內人。及沛國史渙與浩俱以忠勇顯。浩至中護軍，渙至中領軍，皆掌禁兵，封列侯。¹

Xiahou Yuan

夏侯淵

Xiahou Yuan, courtesy name Miaocai, was a clansman and younger cousin of Xiahou Dun. When Taizu was living at home, he once became involved in a legal matter with the county authorities; Xiahou Yuan took the serious charge upon himself in his place, and Taizu worked to rescue him, so that he was let off. When Taizu raised troops, Xiahou Yuan followed him as Major of a Separate Command and Commandant of Cavalry, and was promoted to Prefect of Chenliu and of Yingchuan. When they fought Yuan Shao at Guandu, he was acting Colonel Supervising the Army. After Yuan Shao was defeated, he was put in charge of army provisions for Yan, Yu, and Xu Provinces. At that time the army was short of food, but Xiahou Yuan kept supplies moving one after another, and the army revived.

夏侯淵字妙才，惇族弟也。太祖居家，曾有縣官事，淵代引重罪，太祖營救之，得免。¹太祖起兵，以別部司馬、騎都尉從，遷陳留、潁川太守。及與袁紹戰於官渡，行督軍校尉。紹破，使督兖、豫、徐州軍糧；時軍食少，淵傳饋相繼，軍以復振。

When Chang Xi rebelled, Yu Jin was sent to attack him but could not take his position. Xiahou Yuan was then sent to join forces with Yu Jin, and together they struck Chang Xi and forced the surrender of more than ten of his camps; Chang Xi went to Yu Jin and surrendered. On his return Xiahou Yuan was appointed Colonel Who Directs the Army. When the Yellow Turbans of Jinan and Lean under Xu He, Sima Ju, and others attacked cities and killed the chief officials, Xiahou Yuan led troops from Taishan, Qi, and Pingyuan Commanderies against them, crushed them, beheaded Xu He, pacified the counties, and took their grain to supply his soldiers. In the fourteenth year, Xiahou Yuan was made acting Commander of the Army.

昌豨反，遣于禁擊之，未拔，復遣淵與禁并力，遂擊豨，降其十餘屯，豨詣禁降。淵還，拜典軍校尉。¹濟南、樂安黃巾徐和、司馬俱等攻城，殺長吏，淵將泰山、齊、平原郡兵擊，大破之，斬和，平諸縣，收其糧穀以給軍士。十四年，以淵爲行領軍。

When Taizu returned from his campaign against Sun Quan, he had Xiahou Yuan lead the generals against the Lujiang rebel Lei Xu, and Lei Xu was defeated. Then, as acting Protector of the Army for the Western Campaign, he led Xu Huang against the bandits of Taiyuan, took more than twenty of their camps, beheaded the bandit chief Shang Yao, and massacred the people of his city. He followed the campaign against Han Sui and others and fought at Weinan. He also led Zhu Ling in pacifying the Di of Yumi and Qian. He met Taizu at Anding and received the surrender of Yang Qiu.

太祖征孫權還，使淵督諸將擊廬江叛者雷緒，緒破，又行征西護軍，督徐晃擊太原賊，攻下二十餘屯，斬賊帥商曜，屠其城。從征韓遂等，戰於渭南。又督朱靈平隃糜、汧氐。與太祖會安定，降楊秋。

In the seventeenth year, Taizu returned to Ye and made Xiahou Yuan acting General Protector of the Army, commanding Zhu Ling, Lu Zhao, and others in garrisoning Changan. Xiahou Yuan attacked and crushed the Nanshan bandit Liu Xiong and received the surrender of his followers. He besieged Liang Xing, a remnant follower of Han Sui and Ma Chao, at Hu, took the place, and beheaded Liang Xing, for which he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Bochang Neighborhood. When Ma Chao besieged Wei Kang, Inspector of Liang Province, at Ji, Xiahou Yuan went to relieve him, but before he arrived Wei Kang had been defeated. More than two hundred li from Ji, Ma Chao came out to meet him in battle, and Xiahou Yuan's army fared badly.

十七年，太祖乃還鄴，以淵行護軍將軍，督朱靈、路招等屯長安，擊破南山賊劉雄，降其眾。圍遂、超餘黨梁興於鄠，拔之，斬興，封博昌亭侯。馬超圍涼州刺史韋康於冀，淵救康，未到，康敗。去冀二百餘里，超來逆戰，軍不利。

When the Di of Qian rebelled, Xiahou Yuan led his army back. In the nineteenth year, Zhao Qu, Yin Feng, and others plotted to strike at Ma Chao, and Jiang Xu raised troops at Lucheng in support. Zhao Qu and the others tricked Ma Chao into going out to attack Jiang Xu, and behind him killed all of Ma Chao's wife and children. Ma Chao fled to Hanzhong, then came back and besieged Mount Qi. Jiang Xu and the others urgently asked for help, and the generals in council wished to wait for Taizu's instructions. Xiahou Yuan said, “The Duke is at Ye, four thousand li there and back. By the time a reply arrives, Jiang Xu and the others will surely have been defeated. That is no way to rescue them in an emergency.”

汧氐反，淵引軍還。十九年，趙衢、尹奉等謀討超，姜叙起兵鹵城以應之。衢等譎說超，使出擊叙，於後盡殺超妻子。超奔漢中，還圍祁山。叙等急求救，諸將議者欲湏太祖節度。淵曰：「公在鄴，反覆四千里，比報，叙等必敗，非救急也。」

So he set out, sending Zhang He ahead with five thousand infantry and cavalry to enter by the narrow road of Chencang, while he himself followed behind supervising the supplies. When Zhang He reached the Wei River, Ma Chao came to meet him with several thousand Di and Qiang. Before any battle, Ma Chao fled, and Zhang He advanced and collected the weapons and equipment of Ma Chao's army. By the time Xiahou Yuan arrived, the counties had all surrendered. Han Sui was at Xianqin, and Xiahou Yuan intended to take him by surprise, but Han Sui fled. Xiahou Yuan took Han Sui's army provisions and pursued him to the city of Lueyang, coming within some twenty li of him. The generals wanted to attack him, while some said they should attack the Di of Xingguo.

遂行，使張郃督步騎五千在前，從陳倉狹道入，淵自督糧在後。郃至渭水上，超將氐羌數千逆郃。未戰，超走，郃進軍收超軍器械。淵到，諸縣皆已降。韓遂在顯親，淵欲襲取之，遂走。淵收遂軍糧，追至略陽城，去遂二十餘里，諸將欲攻之，或言當攻興國氐。

Xiahou Yuan reasoned that Han Sui's troops were elite and the walls of Xingguo were strong, so that an attack could not take it quickly; it would be better to strike the Qiang of Changli. Many of the Changli Qiang were in Han Sui's army and would surely go back to save their homes. If the Qiang defended on their own they would be isolated, and if Han Sui came to rescue Changli, the government troops would be able to fight him in the open field and could certainly capture him. So Xiahou Yuan left a supervising officer to guard the baggage and went to Changli with lightly equipped infantry and cavalry. He attacked and burned the Qiang camps, killing and capturing a great many. The Qiang in Han Sui's army each went back to their own tribes.

淵以爲遂兵精，興國城固，攻不可卒拔，不如擊長離諸羌。長離諸羌多在遂軍，必歸救其家。若羌獨守則孤，救長離則官兵得與野戰，可必虜也。淵乃留督將守輜重，輕兵步騎到長離，攻燒羌屯，斬獲甚眾。諸羌在遂軍者，各還種落。

Han Sui did indeed come to rescue Changli and drew up his battle line facing Xiahou Yuan's army. The generals, seeing Han Sui's numbers, disliked the prospect and wanted to build a camp and dig trenches before fighting. Xiahou Yuan said, “We have fought our way across a thousand li. If we now build camps and trenches again, the men will be worn out and cannot last long. The enemy may be many, but they are easy to deal with.” He then sounded the drums, crushed Han Sui's army, and took his banners. Returning to Lueyang, he advanced and besieged Xingguo. The Di king Qianwan fled to Ma Chao, and the rest of his people surrendered. Turning to attack the Tuge of Gaoping, he scattered them all and took their grain, cattle, and horses. Xiahou Yuan was then granted the tally of authority.

遂果救長離，與淵軍對陣。諸將見遂眾，惡之，欲結營作塹乃與戰。淵曰：「我轉鬭千里，今復作營塹，則士眾罷弊，不可久。賊雖眾，易與耳。」乃鼓之，大破遂軍，得其旌麾，還略陽，進軍圍興國。氐王千萬逃奔馬超，餘眾降。轉擊高平屠各，皆散走，收其糧穀牛馬。乃假淵節。

Earlier, Song Jian of Fuhan had taken advantage of the turmoil in Liang Province to call himself King Who Pacifies the Han at the River's Head. Taizu had Xiahou Yuan lead the generals against Song Jian. On arriving, Xiahou Yuan besieged Fuhan and took it after more than a month, beheading Song Jian and the chancellor he had appointed and everyone below. Xiahou Yuan separately sent Zhang He and others to pacify Heguan; they crossed the Yellow River and entered Little Huangzhong, and all the Qiang west of the river surrendered, so that Longyou was pacified. Taizu issued an order: “Song Jian had been in rebellion for more than thirty years, and Xiahou Yuan destroyed him in a single stroke. He strides like a tiger through the lands west of the passes, and none can stand before him.

初，枹罕宋建因涼州亂，自號河首平漢王。太祖使淵帥諸將討建。淵至，圍枹罕，月餘拔之，斬建及所置丞相已下。淵別遣張郃等平河關，渡河入小湟中，河西諸羌盡降，隴右平。太祖下令曰：「宋建造爲亂逆三十餘年，淵一舉滅之，虎步關右，所向無前。

Zhongni said, ‘Neither you nor I can match him.’” In the twenty-first year his fief was increased by three hundred households, making eight hundred with what he had before. On his way back he attacked the Di and Qiang of Wudu at Xiabian and took more than a hundred thousand hu of the Di's grain. When Taizu campaigned west against Zhang Lu, Xiahou Yuan and others led the generals of Liang Province, together with their marquises and kings and those below, to meet Taizu at Xiuting. Whenever Taizu received the Qiang and Hu, he used Xiahou Yuan to overawe them. When Zhang Lu surrendered and Hanzhong was pacified, Xiahou Yuan was made acting General Protector-in-Chief and led Zhang He, Xu Huang, and others to pacify Ba Commandery.

仲尼有言：『吾與爾不如也。』」二十一年，增封三百戶，并前八百戶。還擊武都氐羌下辯，收氐穀十餘萬斛。太祖西征張魯，淵等將涼州諸將侯王已下，與太祖會休亭。太祖每引見羌、胡，以淵畏之。會魯降，漢中平，以淵行都護將軍，督張郃、徐晃等平巴郡。

When Taizu returned to Ye, he left Xiahou Yuan to hold Hanzhong and appointed him General Who Conquers the West on the spot. In the twenty-third year, when Liu Bei encamped at Yangping Pass, Xiahou Yuan led the generals to resist him, and they held each other off for more than a year. In the first month of the twenty-fourth year, Liu Bei burned the abatis of the siege lines by night. Xiahou Yuan had Zhang He guard the eastern lines while he himself guarded the southern lines with lightly armed troops. Liu Bei challenged Zhang He to battle, and Zhang He's army fared badly. Xiahou Yuan detached half of the troops under his command to help Zhang He, was attacked by Liu Bei, and died in battle. He was given the posthumous title Marquis Min.

太祖還鄴，留淵守漢中，即拜淵征西將軍。二十三年，劉備軍陽平關，淵率諸將拒之，相守連年。二十四年正月，備夜燒圍鹿角。淵使張郃護東圍，自將輕兵護南圍。備挑郃戰，郃軍不利。淵分所將兵半助郃，爲備所襲，淵遂戰死。諡曰愍侯。

Earlier, although Xiahou Yuan had won many battles, Taizu often warned him, “A general must have his moments of caution; he cannot rely on courage alone. Courage should be a general's foundation, but he must act by wisdom and strategy. One who knows only how to trust to courage is a match for a single common man, nothing more.”

初，淵雖數戰勝，太祖常戒曰：「爲將當有怯弱時，不可但恃勇也。將當以勇爲本，行之以智計；但知任勇，一匹夫敵耳。」

His Son Xiahou Ba and Others

子霸等

Xiahou Yuan's wife was the younger sister of Taizu's wife. His eldest son, Xiahou Heng, married the daughter of Taizu's younger brother, Marquis Ai of Haiyang, and received exceptional favor. Xiahou Heng inherited the title and was transferred to be Marquis of Anning Neighborhood. In the Huangchu era Xiahou Yuan's middle son Xiahou Ba, and in the Taihe era Xiahou Ba's four younger brothers, were all granted the rank of Marquis Within the Passes. In the Zhengshi era Xiahou Ba became Protector of the Army for the Campaign against Shu and General of the Right, and was advanced to Marquis of Bochang Neighborhood; he had always been treated generously by Cao Shuang. When he heard that Cao Shuang had been executed, he feared for himself and fled into Shu.

淵妻，太祖內妹。長子衡，尚太祖弟海陽哀侯女，恩寵特隆。衡襲爵，轉封安寧亭侯。黃初中，賜中子霸，太和中，賜霸四弟，爵皆關內侯。霸，正始中爲討蜀護軍右將軍，進封博昌亭侯，素爲曹爽所厚。聞爽誅，自疑，亡入蜀。

Because of Xiahou Yuan's past services, Xiahou Ba's sons were pardoned and moved to Lelang Commandery. Xiahou Ba's younger brother Xiahou Wei rose to be Inspector of Yan Province. Xiahou Wei's younger brother Xiahou Hui was Prefect of Lean, and Xiahou Hui's younger brother Xiahou He was Intendant of Henan. When Xiahou Heng died, his son Xiahou Ji succeeded him and became General of the Household Rapid as Tigers. When Xiahou Ji died, his son Xiahou Bao succeeded him.

以淵舊勳赦霸子，徙樂浪郡。¹霸弟威，官至兖州刺史。²威弟惠，樂安太守。³惠弟和，河南尹。⁴衡薨，子績嗣，爲虎賁中郎將。績薨，子褒嗣。

Cao Ren

曹仁

Cao Ren, courtesy name Zixiao, was Taizu's younger cousin. In his youth he loved archery, riding, and hunting. Later, when heroes rose up everywhere, Cao Ren too secretly gathered young men, attracting more than a thousand, and roamed between the Huai and Si Rivers; he then followed Taizu as Major of a Separate Command and acting Colonel of Keen Edge. When Taizu defeated Yuan Shu, Cao Ren killed and captured a great many. He followed the campaign in Xu Province, always commanding the cavalry as the army's vanguard. Separately he attacked Tao Qian's general Lü You and defeated him, then rejoined the main army at Pengcheng and crushed Tao Qian's army.

曹仁字子孝，太祖從弟也。¹少好弓馬弋獵。後豪傑並起，仁亦陰結少年，得千餘人，周旋淮、泗之間，遂從太祖爲別部司馬，行厲鋒校尉。太祖之破袁術，仁所斬獲頗多。從征徐州，仁常督騎，爲軍前鋒。別攻陶謙將呂由，破之，還與大軍合彭城，大破謙軍。

He followed the attacks on Bi, Hua, Jimo, and Kaiyang; when Tao Qian sent a detached general to relieve the counties, Cao Ren attacked and routed him with his cavalry. When Taizu campaigned against Lü Bu, Cao Ren separately attacked Gouyang, took it, and captured Lü Bu's general Liu He alive. When Taizu pacified the Yellow Turbans and received the Emperor and made Xu his capital, Cao Ren repeatedly distinguished himself and was appointed Prefect of Guangyang. Taizu valued his courage and strategy, so he did not send him to the commandery but had him command the cavalry as a Consultant. When Taizu campaigned against Zhang Xiu, Cao Ren separately overran the neighboring counties and captured more than three thousand men and women.

從攻費、華、即墨、開陽，謙遣別將救諸縣，仁以騎擊破之。太祖征呂布，仁別攻句陽，拔之，生獲布將劉何。太祖平黃巾，迎天子都許，仁數有功，拜廣陽太守。太祖器其勇略，不使之郡，以議郎督騎。太祖征張繡，仁別徇旁縣，虜其男女三千餘人。

As Taizu's army was returning, it was pursued by Zhang Xiu and fared badly, and the soldiers lost heart; but Cao Ren encouraged the officers and men with great vigor. Taizu admired him for it, and in the end Zhang Xiu was defeated.

太祖軍還，爲繡所追，軍不利，士卒喪氣，仁率厲將士甚奮，太祖壯之，遂破繡。

When Taizu and Yuan Shao had long been locked in a standoff at Guandu, Yuan Shao sent Liu Bei to overrun the counties around Yinqiang, and many rose up in support of him. South of Xu, officials and people were uneasy, and Taizu was worried. Cao Ren said, “The south believes that our main army has an urgent crisis right in front of it and is in no position to rescue them. With Liu Bei bearing down on them with strong troops, it is only natural that they rebel. But Liu Bei has only just taken command of Yuan Shao's troops and cannot yet make good use of them. If we attack him, he can be beaten.”

太祖與袁紹久相持於官渡，紹遣劉備徇㶏彊諸縣，多舉眾應之。自許以南，吏民不安，太祖以爲憂。仁曰：「南方以大軍方有目前急，其勢不能相救，劉備以彊兵臨之，其背叛固宜也。備新將紹兵，未能得其用，擊之可破也。」

Taizu approved of his words and had him lead cavalry against Liu Bei. Cao Ren defeated Liu Bei and put him to flight, recovered all the rebel counties, and returned. When Yuan Shao sent a detached general, Han Xun, to raid and cut the western road, Cao Ren attacked Han Xun at Mount Jiluo and crushed him. After this Yuan Shao did not dare to send out detached forces again. Cao Ren also joined Shi Huan and others in raiding Yuan Shao's supply wagons and burning his grain.

太祖善其言，遂使將騎擊備，破走之，仁盡復收諸叛縣而還。紹遣別將韓荀鈔斷西道，仁擊荀於雞洛山，大破之。由是紹不敢復分兵出。復與史渙等鈔紹運車，燒其糧穀。

After the lands north of the Yellow River were settled, he followed the siege of Huguan. Taizu gave an order: “When the city falls, bury them all alive.” For months the city did not fall. Cao Ren said to Taizu, “When besieging a city, one must show the defenders a gate to life, so as to open a way for them to survive. Now, Lord Cao, you have told them they will surely die, so every man will fight to defend himself. Besides, the city is strong and has plenty of food; if we attack, our soldiers will be hurt, and if we sit and wait, the days will drag on. To halt our army beneath strong walls and attack an enemy resolved to die is not a good plan.” Taizu followed his advice, and the city surrendered. Cao Ren's merits from first to last were then recorded, and he was enfeoffed as Marquis of a Capital Neighborhood.

河北既定，從圍壺關。太祖令曰：「城拔，皆坑之。」連月不下。仁言於太祖曰：「圍城必示之活門，所以開其生路也。今公告之必死，將人自爲守。且城固而糧多，攻之則士卒傷，守之則引日久；今頓兵堅城之下，以攻必死之虜，非良計也。」太祖從之，城降。於是錄仁前後功，封都亭侯。

He followed the campaign to pacify Jing Province, and Cao Ren was made acting General Who Conquers the South and left to garrison Jiangling against the Wu general Zhou Yu. Zhou Yu came to attack with tens of thousands of men. When his vanguard of several thousand first arrived, Cao Ren climbed the wall to look at them, recruited three hundred men, and sent his retainer officer Niu Jin out to meet them and challenge them to battle. The enemy were many and Niu Jin's force few, and he was soon surrounded. The Chief Clerk Chen Jiao was on the wall with him; seeing Niu Jin and his men on the verge of being wiped out, everyone around them turned pale.

從平荊州，以仁行征南將軍，留屯江陵，拒吳將周瑜。瑜將數萬眾來攻，前鋒數千人始至，仁登城望之，乃募得三百人，遣部曲將牛金逆與挑戰。賊多，金眾少，遂爲所圍。長史陳矯俱在城上，望見金等垂沒，左右皆失色。

Cao Ren, his spirit roused to fury, told his attendants to bring his horse, and Chen Jiao and the others held him back together, saying to him, “The enemy are many and strong; they cannot be withstood. Even if we lose a few hundred men, what does it matter? And yet you, General, would throw yourself at them!” Cao Ren did not answer. He put on his armor, mounted, and rode out of the city with a few dozen horsemen, the bravest of his command. A hundred-odd paces from the enemy they came to a ditch; Chen Jiao and the others supposed that Cao Ren would halt at the ditch to give Niu Jin support by his presence, but Cao Ren crossed straight over the ditch, charged forward into the enemy's encirclement, and Niu Jin and his men were able to break free.

仁意氣奮怒甚，謂左右取馬來，矯等共援持之。謂仁曰：「賊眾盛，不可當也。假使棄數百人何苦，而將軍以身赴之！」仁不應，遂被甲上馬，將其麾下壯士數十騎出城。去賊百餘步，迫溝，矯等以爲仁當住溝上，爲金形勢也，仁徑渡溝直前，衝入賊圍，金等乃得解。

When the rest had not all got out, Cao Ren turned straight back and charged again, bringing out Niu Jin's soldiers with the loss of only a few men, and the enemy then withdrew. Chen Jiao and the others had all been afraid when they first saw Cao Ren ride out, but when they saw him return, they sighed and said, “The General is truly a man from Heaven!” The whole army admired his courage. Taizu thought all the more highly of him and transferred his fief, making him Marquis of Anping Neighborhood.

餘眾未盡出，仁復直還突之，拔出金兵，亡其數人，賊眾乃退。矯等初見仁出，皆懼，及見仁還，乃歎曰：「將軍真天人也！」三軍服其勇。太祖益壯之，轉封安平亭侯。

When Taizu campaigned against Ma Chao, Cao Ren was made acting General Who Pacifies the West and led the generals in holding Tong Pass; he defeated Ma Chao at Weinan. When Su Bo and Tian Yin rebelled, Cao Ren was made acting General of Valiant Cavalry and commanded seven armies against Tian Yin and the others, defeating them. He was again made acting General Who Conquers the South and granted the tally of authority, and he garrisoned Fan to hold down Jing Province. When Hou Yin rebelled at Wan and carried off several thousand people from the neighboring counties, Cao Ren led the armies against him, crushed him, and cut off his head; he then returned to garrison Fan and was appointed General Who Conquers the South on the spot.

太祖討馬超，以仁行安西將軍，督諸將拒潼關，破超渭南。蘇伯、田銀反，以仁行驍騎將軍，都督七軍討銀等，破之。復以仁行征南將軍，假節，屯樊，鎮荊州。侯音以宛叛，略傍縣眾數千人，仁率諸軍攻破音，斬其首，還屯樊，即拜征南將軍。

When Guan Yu attacked Fan, the Han River suddenly flooded; Yu Jin's seven armies were all engulfed, and Yu Jin surrendered to Guan Yu. Cao Ren held the city with a few thousand men and horses, and only a few boards' height of the wall remained above the water. Guan Yu came up to the city in boats and surrounded it several layers deep; inside and outside were cut off, the food was nearly gone, and no relief troops came. Cao Ren roused his officers and men and showed them he was resolved to die, and they were so moved that none of them wavered. When Xu Huang's relief force arrived and the water had subsided a little, Xu Huang attacked Guan Yu from outside, Cao Ren was able to break out of the siege, and Guan Yu withdrew.

關羽攻樊，時漢水暴溢，于禁等七軍皆沒，禁降羽。仁人馬數千人守城，城不沒者數板。羽乘船臨城，圍數重，外內斷絕，糧食欲盡，救兵不至。仁激厲將士，示以必死，將士感之皆無二。徐晃救至，水亦稍減，晃從外擊羽，仁得潰圍出，羽退走。

In his youth Cao Ren did not cultivate proper conduct, but when he grew up and became a general he was strict and upright in upholding the laws and ordinances, always keeping the regulations at his side and acting according to them. When Cao Zhang, Marquis of Yanling, went north to campaign against the Wuhuan, Emperor Wen, who was then in the Eastern Palace, wrote to warn him: “In upholding the law as a general, should you not be like the General Who Conquers the South?” When he took the throne as King, he appointed Cao Ren General of Chariots and Cavalry and Commander of all military affairs in Jing, Yang, and Yi Provinces, advanced him to Marquis of Chen, and increased his fief by two thousand households, making three thousand five hundred with what he had before.

仁少時不脩行檢，及長爲將，嚴整奉法令，常置科於左右，案以從事。鄢陵侯彰北征烏丸，文帝在東宮，爲書戒彰曰：「爲將奉法，不當如征南邪！」及即王位，拜仁車騎將軍，都督荊、揚、益州諸軍事，進封陳侯，增邑二千，并前三千五百戶。

Cao Ren's father, Cao Chi, was posthumously granted the title Marquis Mu of Chen, and ten households were assigned to guard his tomb. Later Cao Ren was recalled to garrison Wan. When Sun Quan sent his general Chen Shao to occupy Xiangyang, an edict ordered Cao Ren to attack him. Cao Ren and Xu Huang attacked and crushed Chen Shao and entered Xiangyang, and he had General Gao Qian and others move the people south of the Han River who had submitted to the north of the Han. Emperor Wen sent an envoy to appoint Cao Ren Grand General on the spot. Another edict moved Cao Ren to garrison Linying and promoted him to Grand Marshal; he again led the armies to hold Wujiang, and then returned to garrison Hefei.

追賜仁父熾諡曰陳穆侯，置守冢十家。後召還屯宛。孫權遣將陳邵據襄陽，詔仁討之。仁與徐晃攻破邵，遂入襄陽，使將軍高遷等徙漢南附化民於漢北，文帝遣使即拜仁大將軍。又詔仁移屯臨潁，遷大司馬，復督諸軍據烏江，還屯合肥。

He died in the fourth year of Huangchu and was given the posthumous title Marquis Zhong. His son Cao Tai succeeded him, rose to be General Who Guards the East, was granted the tally of authority, and was transferred to be Marquis of Ningling. When Cao Tai died, his son Cao Chu succeeded him. Cao Tai's younger brothers Cao Kai and Cao Fan were also given separate fiefs, all as full marquises. And Niu Jin rose to be General of the Rear.

黃初四年薨，諡曰忠侯。¹子泰嗣，官至鎮東將軍，假節，轉封甯陵侯。泰薨，子初嗣。又分封泰弟楷、範，皆爲列侯，而牛金官至後將軍。

His Younger Brother Cao Chun

弟　純

Cao Ren's younger brother Cao Chun first served as a Consultant attached to the military staff of the Minister of Works, and commanded the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry in the siege of Nanpi. Yuan Tan came out to fight, and many of their soldiers died. When Taizu wanted to ease off, Cao Chun said, “We have come a thousand li to tread on enemy ground. If we advance and cannot win, and then withdraw, we will surely lose our prestige. Moreover, an army so far from home and so deep in enemy territory can hardly hold out for long. They are proud from victory and we are fearful from defeat; if we turn our fear against their pride, we can surely win.” Taizu approved of his words and pressed the attack hard, and Yuan Tan was defeated.

仁弟純，¹初以議郎參司空軍事，督虎豹騎從圍南皮。袁譚出戰，士卒多死。太祖欲緩之，純曰：「今千里蹈敵，進不能克，退必喪威；且縣師深入，難以持久。彼勝而驕，我敗而懼，以懼敵驕，必可克也。」太祖善其言，遂急攻之，譚敗。

Horsemen under Cao Chun's command cut off Yuan Tan's head. In the northern campaign against the three commanderies, horsemen of Cao Chun's unit captured the Chanyu Tadun. For his merits from first to last he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Gaoling Neighborhood with a fief of three hundred households. He followed the campaign in Jing Province, pursued Liu Bei at Changban, captured his two daughters and his baggage, and gathered up his scattered soldiers. He went on to receive the surrender of Jiangling, and returned with Taizu to Qiao. He died in the fifteenth year of Jian'an. When Emperor Wen took the throne, he was posthumously given the title Marquis Wei. His son Cao Yan succeeded him and rose to be General Commanding the Army; in the Zhengyuan era he was advanced to Marquis of Pingle District. When Cao Yan died, his son Cao Liang succeeded him.

純麾下騎斬譚首。及北征三郡，純部騎獲單于蹹頓。以前後功封高陵亭侯，邑三百戶。從征荊州，追劉備於長坂，獲其二女輜重，收其散卒。進降江陵，從還譙。建安十五年薨。文帝即位，追諡曰威侯。¹子演嗣，官至領軍將軍，正元中進封平樂鄉侯。演薨，子亮嗣。

Cao Hong

曹洪

Cao Hong, courtesy name Zilian, was Taizu's younger cousin. When Taizu raised a volunteer army to attack Dong Zhuo and reached Xingyang, he was defeated by Dong Zhuo's general Xu Rong. Taizu lost his horse, and the enemy were pursuing him closely; Cao Hong dismounted and gave his horse to Taizu. When Taizu declined, Cao Hong said, “The realm can do without me, but it cannot do without you.” He then followed on foot to the Bian River, which was too deep to ford. Cao Hong went along the river until he found a boat, crossed together with Taizu, and they fled back to Qiao.

曹洪字子廉，太祖從弟也。¹太祖起義兵討董卓，至滎陽，爲卓將徐榮所敗。太祖失馬，賊追甚急，洪下，以馬授太祖，太祖辭讓，洪曰：「天下可無洪，不可無君。」遂步從到汴水，水深不得渡，洪循水得船，與太祖俱濟，還奔譙。

Chen Wen, Inspector of Yang Province, had long been on good terms with Cao Hong, so Cao Hong took over a thousand of his household troops to Chen Wen to recruit soldiers. He obtained two thousand first-rate armored men from Lujiang, and going east to Danyang he obtained several thousand more, and joined Taizu at Longkang. When Taizu campaigned in Xu Province, Zhang Miao raised Yan Province in revolt and welcomed Lü Bu. At that time there was a great famine; Cao Hong led troops ahead, first seized Dongping and Fan, and gathered grain to supply the army. When Taizu attacked Zhang Miao and Lü Bu at Puyang, Lü Bu was defeated and fled. Cao Hong then occupied Donge, and turned to attack more than ten counties, including Jiyin, Shanyang, Zhongmou, Yangwu, Jing, and Mi, taking them all.

揚州刺史陳溫素與洪善，洪將家兵千餘人，就溫募兵，得廬江上甲二千人，東到丹楊復得數千人，與太祖會龍亢。太祖征徐州，張邈舉兖州叛迎呂布。時大饑荒，洪將兵在前，先據東平、范，聚糧穀以繼軍。太祖討邈、布於濮陽，布破走，遂據東阿，轉擊濟陰、山陽、中牟、陽武、京、密十餘縣，皆拔之。

For his merits from first to last he was appointed Colonel Who Soars Like an Eagle and promoted to General of the Household Who Displays Martial Might. When the Emperor made Xu his capital, Cao Hong was appointed Grandee Remonstrant Counsellor. Campaigning separately against Liu Biao, he defeated Liu Biao's detached generals at Wuyang, Yin, She, Duyang, and Bowang; for this he was promoted to General of Keen Edge and enfeoffed as Marquis of Guoming Neighborhood. He followed many campaigns and was appointed General Protector-in-Chief. When Emperor Wen took the throne, he became General of the Guards and was promoted to General of Agile Cavalry; he was advanced to Marquis of Yewang, with an increase of one thousand households, making two thousand one hundred with what he had before, and given the rank of Specially Advanced. He was later transferred to be Marquis of Duyang.

以前後功拜鷹揚校尉，遷揚武中郎將。天子都許，拜洪諫議大夫。別征劉表，破表別將於舞陽、陰葉、堵陽、博望，有功，遷厲鋒將軍，封國明亭侯。累從征伐，拜都護將軍。文帝即位，爲衛將軍，遷驃騎將軍，進封野王侯，益邑千戶，并前二千一百戶，位特進；後徙封都陽侯。

Earlier, Cao Hong's family had been wealthy but he was stingy by nature. When Emperor Wen was young, he had asked him for a loan and not received what he wanted, and he always resented it. In the end, because one of Cao Hong's retainers broke the law, Cao Hong was thrown into prison and sentenced to death. The ministers all tried to save him, but none succeeded. Empress Dowager Bian said to Empress Guo, “If Cao Hong is made to die today, tomorrow I will order the Emperor to depose the Empress.” Empress Guo then wept and pleaded again and again, and at last he was let off with dismissal from office and the stripping of his rank and fief. Cao Hong had been a meritorious minister of the late emperor, and many people at the time were aggrieved.

始，洪家富而性吝嗇，文帝少時假求不稱，常恨之，遂以舍客犯法，下獄當死。羣臣並救莫能得。卞太后謂郭后曰：「令曹洪今日死，吾明日敕帝廢后矣。」於是泣涕屢請，乃得免官削爵土。¹洪先帝功臣，時人多爲觖望。

When Emperor Ming took the throne, Cao Hong was appointed General of the Rear and enfeoffed anew as Marquis of Lecheng with one thousand households and the rank of Specially Advanced, and he was again appointed General of Agile Cavalry. He died in the sixth year of Taihe and was given the posthumous title Marquis Gong. His son Cao Fu inherited the marquisate. Earlier, Taizu had divided off households from Cao Hong's fief to enfeoff his son Cao Zhen as a full marquis. Cao Hong's clan uncle Cao Yu was disciplined, careful, sincere, and respectful; he rose to be General of the Guards and was enfeoffed as a full marquis.

明帝即位，拜後將軍，更封樂城侯，邑千戶，位特進，復拜驃騎將軍。太和六年薨，諡曰恭侯。子馥，嗣侯。初，太祖分洪戶封子震列侯。洪族父瑜，脩慎篤敬，官至衛將軍，封列侯。

Cao Xiu

曹休

Cao Xiu, courtesy name Wenlie, was a clan nephew of Taizu. When the realm fell into chaos, the members of the clan all scattered from their home district. Cao Xiu lost his father when he was a little over ten; with a single retainer he carried the coffin himself and gave it a temporary burial, then took his aged mother across the Yangzi to Wu. Because Taizu had raised a volunteer army, he changed his name and moved to Jing Province, and made his way north by back roads to see Taizu. Taizu said to those around him, “This is our family's thousand-li colt.” He had him live with Emperor Wen and treated him like a son.

曹休字文烈，太祖族子也。天下亂，宗族各散去鄉里。休年十餘歲，喪父，獨與一客擔喪假葬，攜將老母，渡江至吳。¹以太祖舉義兵，易姓名轉至荊州，間行北歸，見太祖。太祖謂左右曰：「此吾家千里駒也。」使與文帝同止，見待如子。

He regularly followed the campaigns and was put in command of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry as a guard of the headquarters. When Liu Bei sent his general Wu Lan to garrison Xiabian, Taizu sent Cao Hong against him and made Cao Xiu a Commandant of Cavalry to take part in Cao Hong's military affairs. Taizu told Cao Xiu, “Though you are only an adviser, you are the real commander.” When Cao Hong heard this order, he too entrusted matters to Cao Xiu. Liu Bei sent Zhang Fei to garrison Gushan, intending to cut off the army's rear. Opinion wavered, but Cao Xiu said, “If the enemy really meant to cut the road, they would lay an ambush and move in secret.

常從征伐，使領虎豹騎宿衛。劉備遣將吳蘭屯下辯，太祖遣曹洪征之，以休爲騎都尉，參洪軍事。太祖謂休曰：「汝雖參軍，其實帥也。」洪聞此令，亦委事於休。備遣張飛屯固山，欲斷軍後。眾議狐疑，休曰：「賊實斷道者，當伏兵潛行。

Now they are making a show of their strength first, which means they cannot do it. We should strike Wu Lan quickly before their forces gather. Once Wu Lan is broken, Zhang Fei will run away on his own.” Cao Hong followed this advice, advanced, and crushed Wu Lan, and Zhang Fei did indeed flee. When Taizu withdrew from Hanzhong and the armies returned to Changan, Cao Xiu was appointed Central Commander of the Army. When Emperor Wen took the throne as King, Cao Xiu became General Commanding the Army; his merits from first to last were recorded, and he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Dongyang Neighborhood. When Xiahou Dun died, Cao Xiu was made General Who Guards the South, granted the tally of authority, and made commander of all the armies. The imperial carriage came in person to see him off, and the sovereign stepped down from his carriage, took his hand, and bade him farewell.

今乃先張聲勢，此其不能也。宜及其未集，促擊蘭，蘭破則飛自走矣。」洪從之，進兵擊蘭，大破之，飛果走。太祖拔漢中，諸軍還長安，拜休中領軍。文帝即王位，爲領軍將軍，錄前後功，封東陽亭侯。夏侯惇薨，以休爲鎮南將軍，假節都督諸軍事，車駕臨送，上乃下輿執手而別。

When Sun Quan sent a general to garrison Liyang, Cao Xiu arrived and crushed him. He also sent troops separately across the Yangzi to burn several thousand homes in the enemy's camp at Wuhu. He was promoted to General Who Conquers the East and took charge of Yang Province as Inspector, and was advanced to Marquis of Anyang District. When the Emperor campaigned against Sun Quan, he made Cao Xiu Grand General Who Conquers the East and lent him the yellow axe, and Cao Xiu led Zhang Liao and others, with more than twenty armies from the provinces and commanderies, against Sun Quan's senior general Lü Fan and others at Dongpu, defeating them.

孫權遣將屯歷陽，休到，擊破之，又別遣兵渡江，燒賊蕪湖營數千家。遷征東將軍，領揚州刺史，進封安陽鄉侯。¹帝征孫權，以休爲征東大將軍，假黃鉞，督張遼等及諸州郡二十餘軍，擊權大將呂範等於洞浦，破之。

He was appointed Imperial Protector of Yang Province. When Emperor Ming took the throne, he was advanced to Marquis of Changping. When the Wu general Shen De garrisoned Wan, Cao Xiu attacked and crushed him and beheaded Shen De, and the Wu generals Han Zong, Zhai Dan, and others came one after another with their followers to surrender to Cao Xiu. His fief was increased by four hundred households, making two thousand five hundred with what he had before; he was promoted to Grand Marshal and remained in command of Yang Province as before. In the second year of Taihe, the Emperor attacked Wu along two routes: he sent Sima Yi (King Xuan) down the Han River, while Cao Xiu led the armies toward Xunyang.

拜揚州牧。明帝即位，進封長平侯。吳將審德屯皖，休擊破之，斬德首，吳將韓綜、翟丹等前後率眾詣休降。增邑四百，并前二千五百戶，遷大司馬，都督揚州如故。太和二年，帝爲二道征吳，遣司馬宣王從漢水下，休督諸軍向尋陽。

An enemy general feigned surrender, and Cao Xiu went deep into enemy territory; the battle went badly, and he fell back and camped at Shiting. In the night the army panicked and the soldiers fell into disorder, abandoning a great deal of armor, weapons, and baggage. Cao Xiu submitted a memorial apologizing for his offense, but the Emperor sent the Colonel of Garrison Cavalry Yang Ji to comfort and reassure him, and the courtesies and gifts shown him grew even greater. Because of this Cao Xiu developed an abscess on his back and died. He was given the posthumous title Marquis Zhuang. His son Cao Zhao succeeded him.

賊將僞降，休深入，戰不利，退還宿石亭。軍夜驚，士卒亂，棄甲兵輜重甚多。休上書謝罪，帝遣屯騎校尉楊暨慰諭，禮賜益隆。休因此癰發背薨，諡曰壯侯。子肇嗣。¹

Cao Zhao had the talent and bearing to make his mark in his time, and served as Regular Mounted Attendant and Colonel of Garrison Cavalry. When Emperor Ming lay ill, he was about to entrust affairs after his death to him together with Cao Yu, Prince of Yan, and others. But the Emperor soon changed his mind and issued an edict sending Cao Zhao home with only his rank as marquis. He died in the Zhengshi era and was posthumously granted the title General of the Guards. His son Cao Xing succeeded him. Earlier, Emperor Wen had divided off three hundred households from Cao Xiu's fief to enfeoff Cao Zhao's younger brother Cao Zuan as a full marquis; Cao Zuan later became General Who Exterminates Wu, and when he died he was posthumously named General of the Front.

肇有當世才度，爲散騎常侍、屯騎校尉。明帝寢疾，方與燕王宇等屬以後事。帝意尋變，詔肇以侯歸第。正始中薨。追贈衛將軍。子興嗣。初，文帝分休戶三百封肇弟纂爲列侯，後爲殄吳將軍，薨，追贈前將軍。¹

Cao Zhen

曹真

Cao Zhen, courtesy name Zidan, was a clan nephew of Taizu. When Taizu raised his troops, Cao Zhen's father Cao Shao gathered a band of followers and was killed by the provincial and commandery authorities. Taizu pitied Cao Zhen for being orphaned so young, took him in and raised him just as he did his own sons, and had him live with Emperor Wen. Once while hunting he was chased by a tiger; he turned and shot it, and the tiger fell at the twang of the bow. Taizu admired his fierce courage and put him in command of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry. He attacked the bandits of Lingqiu, took their stronghold, and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Lingshou Neighborhood. As Lieutenant General he led troops against a detached general of Liu Bei at Xiabian, defeated him, and was appointed General of the Central Fortifications.

曹真字子丹，太祖族子也。太祖起兵，真父邵募徒眾，爲州郡所殺。¹太祖哀真少孤，收養與諸子同，使與文帝共止。常獵，爲虎所逐，顧射虎，應聲而倒。太祖壯其鷙勇，使將虎豹騎。討靈丘賊，拔之，封靈壽亭侯。以偏將軍將兵擊劉備別將於下辯，破之，拜中堅將軍。

He followed Taizu to Changan and took charge as Central Commander of the Army. At this time Xiahou Yuan had died at Yangping, and Taizu was troubled. He made Cao Zhen Protector of the Army for the Campaign against Shu, leading Xu Huang and others, and he defeated Liu Bei's detached general Gao Xiang at Yangping. Taizu went to Hanzhong in person and pulled the armies out, and sent Cao Zhen to Wudu to meet Cao Hong and the others and bring them back to garrison Chencang. When Emperor Wen took the throne as King, he made Cao Zhen General Who Guards the West, granted him the tally of authority, and made him Commander of all military affairs in Yong and Liang Provinces.

從至長安，領中領軍。是時，夏侯淵沒於陽平，太祖憂之。以真爲征蜀護軍，督徐晃等破劉備別將高詳於陽平。太祖自至漢中，拔出諸軍，使真至武都迎曹洪等還屯陳倉。文帝即王位，以真爲鎮西將軍，假節都督雍、涼州諸軍事。

His merits from first to last were recorded and he was advanced to Marquis of Dong District. When Zhang Jin and others rebelled at Jiuquan, Cao Zhen sent Fei Yao to attack them; he crushed them and beheaded Zhang Jin and the rest. In the third year of Huangchu he returned to the capital and was made Grand General of the Upper Army and Commander of all military affairs inside and outside the capital, and was lent the tally and axe. With Xiahou Shang and others he campaigned against Sun Quan, attacking and crushing the camp at Niuzhu. He was transferred to Grand General of the Central Army with the added title of Palace Steward. In the seventh year, when Emperor Wen lay ill, Cao Zhen, together with Chen Qun, King Xuan, and others, received his testamentary edict to assist in the government. When Emperor Ming took the throne, he was advanced to Marquis of Shaoling and promoted to Grand General.

錄前後功，進封東鄉侯。張進等反於酒泉，真遣費曜討破之，斬進等。黃初三年還京都，以真爲上軍大將軍，都督中外諸軍事，假節鉞。與夏侯尚等征孫權，擊牛渚屯，破之。轉拜中軍大將軍，加給事中。七年，文帝寢疾，真與陳羣、司馬宣王等受遺詔輔政。明帝即位，進封邵陵侯，¹遷大將軍。

When Zhuge Liang besieged Mount Qi, the three commanderies of Nanan, Tianshui, and Anding rebelled in support of him. The Emperor sent Cao Zhen to lead the armies and encamp at Mei, and sent Zhang He to attack Zhuge Liang's general Ma Su, whom he crushed. Yang Tiao and other people of Anding forced the officials and commoners to hold out with them in the city of Yuezhi, and Cao Zhen advanced and besieged it. Yang Tiao said to his followers, “The Grand General has come in person; all I want is to surrender early.” He then bound himself and came out. The three commanderies were all pacified. Cao Zhen reasoned that since Zhuge Liang had been chastened at Mount Qi, next time he came out he would surely come by way of Chencang, so he had Generals Hao Zhao and Wang Sheng hold Chencang and repair its walls.

諸葛亮圍祁山，南安、天水、安定三郡反應亮。帝遣真督諸軍軍郿，遣張郃擊亮將馬謖，大破之。安定民楊條等略吏民保月支城，真進軍圍之。條謂其眾曰：「大將軍自來，吾願早降耳。」遂自縛出。三郡皆平。真以亮懲於祁山，後出必從陳倉，乃使將軍郝昭、王生守陳倉，治其城。

The next spring Zhuge Liang did indeed besiege Chencang, but it was already prepared and he could not take it. Cao Zhen's fief was increased, making two thousand nine hundred households with what he had before. In the fourth year he came to court at Luoyang and was promoted to Grand Marshal, and was granted the privilege of ascending the hall wearing his sword and shoes and of not having to hurry when entering court. Cao Zhen argued, “Shu keeps coming out to invade our borders; we should seize this chance to attack it. If we go in along several routes at once, we can win a great victory.” The Emperor followed his plan. When Cao Zhen was about to set out on the western campaign, the Emperor saw him off in person. Cao Zhen set out from Changan in the eighth month and went south by the Ziwu Road.

明年春，亮果圍陳倉，已有備而不能克。增邑，并前二千九百戶。四年，朝洛陽，遷大司馬，賜劍履上殿，入朝不趨。真以「蜀連出侵邊境，宜遂伐之。數道並入，可大克也」。帝從其計。真當發西討，帝親臨送。真以八月發長安，從子午道南入。

King Xuan was to go up the Han River and meet him at Nanzheng. The other armies went in by the Xie Valley road or from Wuwei. Then came heavy rains for more than thirty days, and in places the plank roads were cut off, so an edict ordered Cao Zhen to bring his army back.

司馬宣王溯漢水，當會南鄭。諸軍或從斜谷道，或從武威入。會大霖雨三十餘日，或棧道斷絕，詔真還軍。

In his youth Cao Zhen had served Taizu together with his clansman Cao Zun and Zhu Zan, a man from his home district. When Cao Zun and Zhu Zan died young, Cao Zhen grieved for them and asked to divide his own fief to enfeoff their sons. An edict said, “The Grand Marshal has the benevolence of Shuxiang in caring for orphans, and holds firmly to the loyalty of Yan Pingzhong in keeping old promises. A gentleman helps others to fulfill what is good in them. We permit Cao Zhen's fief to be divided so as to grant the sons of Cao Zun and Zhu Zan the rank of Marquis Within the Passes, each with one hundred households.” Whenever Cao Zhen went on campaign, he shared the hardships of his officers and men, and when the army's rewards fell short, he always made up the difference from his own family wealth, so the soldiers were all eager to serve him.

真少與宗人曹遵、鄉人朱贊並事太祖。遵、贊早亡，真愍之，乞分所食邑封遵、贊子。詔曰：「大司馬有叔向撫孤之仁，篤晏平久要之分。君子成人之美，聽分真邑賜遵、贊子爵關內侯，各百戶。」真每征行，與將士同勞苦，軍賞不足，輒以家財班賜，士卒皆願爲用。

Cao Zhen fell ill and returned to Luoyang, and the Emperor went in person to his residence to ask after his illness. When Cao Zhen died, he was given the posthumous name Marquis Yuan. His son Cao Shuang succeeded him. The Emperor, recalling Cao Zhen's merits, issued an edict: “The Grand Marshal walked the path of loyalty and helped the two founding emperors fulfil their mandate. At court he did not presume on the favour due a kinsman, and abroad he was not haughty even toward scholars in thatched huts. He may be called one who could hold what is full and keep his station, toiling yet humble in his virtue. Let all five of Cao Zhen's sons—Cao Xi, Cao Xun, Cao Ze, Cao Yan and Cao Ai—be enfeoffed as full marquises.” Earlier, Emperor Wen had divided off two hundred households from Cao Zhen's fief to enfeoff Cao Zhen's younger brother Cao Bin as a full marquis.

真病還洛陽，帝自幸其第省疾。真薨，諡曰元侯。子爽嗣。帝追思真功，詔曰：「大司馬蹈履忠節，佐命二祖，內不恃親戚之寵，外不驕白屋之士，可謂能持盈守位，勞謙其德者也。其悉封真五子羲、訓、則、彥、皚皆爲列侯。」初，文帝分真邑二百戶，封真弟彬爲列侯。

His Son Cao Shuang

子　爽

Cao Shuang's courtesy name was Zhaobo. From youth he was careful and grave as a member of the imperial clan, and while Emperor Ming was in the Eastern Palace as heir he was very fond of him. When Emperor Ming took the throne, Cao Shuang became Cavalier Gentleman-Attendant; after successive promotions he became Colonel of the City Gates, was given the additional title of Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, and was transferred to General of the Martial Guard, receiving exceptional favour. When the Emperor lay ill, he called Cao Shuang into his bedchamber, appointed him Grand General, granted him the credentials and axe, and made him Commander of All Armies Within and Without the Capital and Intendant of the Affairs of the Masters of Writing, so that he and the Grand Commandant Sima Yi (King Xuan) together received the testamentary edict to assist the young ruler.

爽字昭伯，少以宗室謹重，明帝在東宮，甚親愛之。及即位，爲散騎侍郎，累遷城門校尉，加散騎常侍，轉武衞將軍，寵待有殊。帝寢疾，乃引爽入臥內，拜大將軍，假節鉞，都督中外諸軍事，錄尚書事，與太尉司馬宣王並受遺詔輔少主。

When Emperor Ming died and the Prince of Qi took the throne, Cao Shuang was given the additional post of Palace Attendant and re-enfeoffed as Marquis of Wuan with a fief of twelve thousand households. He was granted the privileges of ascending the hall wearing his sword and shoes, entering court without hurrying his steps, and having his name left unspoken when he was announced. Ding Mi drew up a plan by which Cao Shuang had the Son of Heaven issue an edict transferring King Xuan to Grand Tutor. Outwardly this honoured him with a title, but inwardly the aim was to have the Masters of Writing route their memorials first through Cao Shuang himself, so that he could control what weight they carried.

明帝崩，齊王即位，加爽侍中，改封武安侯，邑萬二千戶，賜劒履上殿，入朝不趨，贊拜不名。丁謐畫策，使爽白天子，發詔轉宣王爲太傅，外以名號尊之，內欲令尚書奏事，先來由己，得制其輕重也。

Cao Shuang's younger brother Cao Xi became Commander of the Central Army, Cao Xun General of the Martial Guard, and Cao Yan Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary and Lecturer to the Emperor; the other brothers all attended the Emperor as full marquises, going in and out of the palace gates, and no family was more exalted or favoured. He Yan, Deng Yang and Li Sheng of Nanyang, Ding Mi of Pei, and Bi Gui of Dongping all had reputations and pursued advancement in the fashion of the day. Emperor Ming had held them all down and dismissed them as shallow and showy, but when Cao Shuang took charge of the government, he promoted them again and made them his trusted confidants.

¹爽弟羲爲中領軍，訓武衞將軍，彥散騎常侍侍講，其餘諸弟皆以列侯侍從，出入禁闥，貴寵莫盛焉。南陽何晏、鄧颺、李勝、沛國丁謐、東平畢軌咸有聲名，進趣於時，明帝以其浮華，皆抑黜之；及爽秉政，乃復進叙，任爲腹心。

Deng Yang and the others wanted Cao Shuang to establish a mighty reputation throughout the realm, and urged him to attack Shu. Cao Shuang followed their advice; King Xuan tried to stop him but could not prevent it. In the fifth year of Zhengshi, Cao Shuang went west to Changan, raised sixty or seventy thousand troops, and entered by the Luo Valley. At that time the transport of supplies by Guanzhong and by the Di and Qiang could not keep up; many of the oxen, horses, mules and donkeys died, and Chinese and non-Chinese alike wailed along the roads. After advancing several hundred li into the valley, they found that the enemy had made the mountains their stronghold, and the troops could not advance.

颺等欲令爽立威名於天下，勸使伐蜀，爽從其言，宣王止之不能禁。正始五年，爽乃西至長安，大發卒六七萬人，從駱谷入。是時，關中及氐、羌轉輸不能供，牛馬騾驢多死，民夷號泣道路。入谷行數百里，賊因山爲固，兵不得進。

Cao Shuang's Army Adviser Yang Wei explained the situation to him, saying they should return at once or they would be defeated. Deng Yang argued with Yang Wei in front of Cao Shuang, and Yang Wei said, “Deng Yang and Li Sheng are going to ruin the affairs of the state. They deserve to be beheaded.” Cao Shuang was displeased, but he then led the army back.

爽參軍楊偉爲爽陳形勢，宜急還，不然將敗。¹颺與偉爭於爽前，偉曰：「颺、勝將敗國家事，可斬也。」爽不悅，乃引軍還。²

At first, because King Xuan was high in both years and virtue, Cao Shuang always served him as he would a father and did not dare act on his own. But once He Yan and the others were promoted, they all joined in exalting Cao Shuang and persuaded him that power so weighty should not be entrusted to anyone else. So He Yan, Deng Yang and Ding Mi were made Masters of Writing, with He Yan in charge of selecting officials; Bi Gui was made Colonel-Director of Retainers and Li Sheng Intendant of Henan, and matters seldom passed through King Xuan any longer. King Xuan then pleaded illness and kept away from Cao Shuang. He Yan and the others monopolised the government. Together they divided up several hundred qing of mulberry fields belonging to the agricultural colonies of Luoyang and Yewang, and broke up bath-and-hair-washing estates to make them their own property; trading on their power, they stole government goods and used their connections to make demands of the provinces and commanderies.

初，爽以宣王年德並高，恒父事之，不敢專行。及晏等進用，咸共推戴，說爽以權重不宜委之於人。乃以晏、颺、謐爲尚書，晏典選舉，軌司隷校尉，勝河南尹，諸事希復由宣王。宣王遂稱疾避爽。¹晏等專政，共分割洛陽、野王典農部桑田數百頃，及壞湯沐地以爲產業，承勢竊取官物，因緣求欲州郡。

The officials concerned watched which way the wind blew, and none dared oppose their wishes. He Yan and the others had long been on bad terms with the Commandant of Justice Lu Yu. Seizing on a minor fault of one of Lu Yu's clerks, they twisted the law harshly to convict Lu Yu, and had the officer in charge first take away his seal and ribbon before they reported it to the throne. Such was the way they wielded their power. Cao Shuang's food, carriages and clothes rivalled those of the Emperor; rare treasures from the Imperial Workshops filled his house, and his wives and concubines crowded his inner quarters. He also privately took seven or eight Talented Ladies of the late Emperor, together with thirty-three officers, clerks, musicians, craftsmen, drummers and pipers, and sons and daughters of good families, and made them all his performers.

有司望風，莫敢忤旨。晏等與廷尉盧毓素有不平，因毓吏微過，深文致毓法，使主者先收毓印綬，然後奏聞。其作威如此。爽飲食車服擬於乘輿，尚方珍玩充牣其家，妻妾盈後庭，又私取先帝才人七八人，及將吏、師工、鼓吹、良家子女三十三人，皆以爲伎樂。

Forging an edict, he sent fifty-seven Talented Ladies to the Terrace at Ye and had the late Emperor's Favoured Beauties teach them to be performers. He took without authority musical instruments from the Grand Music Office and forbidden weapons from the arsenal. He built an underground chamber, its walls lined all round with patterned lattice windows, and often gathered there with He Yan and the others to drink and make music. Cao Xi was deeply worried by this and repeatedly remonstrated to stop him. He also wrote three essays setting out how arrogance, dissipation and excess lead to disaster and ruin; their language and intent were very earnest. Not daring to rebuke Cao Shuang directly, he framed them as warnings to his younger brothers so as to show them to Cao Shuang.

詐作詔書，發才人五十七人送鄴臺，使先帝倢伃教習爲伎。擅取太樂樂器、武庫禁兵。作窟室，綺疏四周，數與晏等會其中，飲酒作樂。羲深以爲大憂，數諫止之。又著書三篇，陳驕淫盈溢之致禍敗，辭旨甚切，不敢斥爽，託戒諸弟以示爽。

Cao Shuang knew they were aimed at him and was much displeased. Sometimes, when his remonstrances and admonitions went unheeded, Cao Xi would rise from his seat in tears. King Xuan secretly made preparations. In the winter of the ninth year, Li Sheng was sent out as Imperial Protector of Jing Province and went to call on King Xuan. King Xuan claimed to be gravely ill and showed himself emaciated. Li Sheng did not see through it and believed it was true.

爽知其爲己發也，甚不悅。羲或時以諫喻不納，涕泣而起。宣王密爲之備。九年冬，李勝出爲荊州刺史，往詣宣王。宣王稱疾困篤，示以羸形。勝不能覺，謂之信然。¹

In the first month of the tenth year, the imperial carriage went to pay respects at the Gaoping Mausoleum, and Cao Shuang and his brothers all went with it. King Xuan marshalled troops and horses, first seized the arsenal, then went out and camped at the pontoon bridge over the Luo River. He submitted a memorial against Cao Shuang: “When I returned from Liaodong in the past, the late Emperor called Your Majesty, the Prince of Qin and me up onto the imperial couch, took my arm, and showed deep concern for what would follow. I said, ‘The two founding emperors also entrusted what would follow to me, as Your Majesty saw yourself. You need not worry. Should anything go against your wishes, I will uphold your enlightened edict with my life.’

十年正月，車駕朝高平陵，爽兄弟皆從。¹宣王部勒兵馬，先據武庫，遂出屯洛水浮橋。奏爽曰：「臣昔從遼東還，先帝詔陛下、秦王及臣升御牀，把臣臂，深以後事爲念。臣言『二祖亦屬臣以後事爲念，此自陛下所見，無所憂苦；萬一有不如意，臣當以死奉明詔』。

The Prefect of the Yellow Gate Dong Ji and others, and the Talented Ladies who attended him in his illness, all heard and know of this. Now the Grand General Cao Shuang has turned his back on the late Emperor's final charge and thrown the laws of the state into disorder. Within the palace he usurps the style of the sovereign; outside it he monopolises authority and power. He has broken up the various camps and taken all the palace troops for himself, and has placed his own intimates in every important office. The palace guards, men who have served for generations, he has driven out once again, wishing to install new men to further his private schemes. His roots are tangled and entrenched, and his licence grows worse by the day.

黃門令董箕等，才人侍疾者，皆所聞知。今大將軍爽背棄顧命，敗亂國典，內則僭擬，外專威權；破壞諸營，盡據禁兵，羣官要職，皆置所親；殿中宿衞，歷世舊人皆復斥出，欲置新人以樹私計；根據槃牙，縱恣日甚。

Not only is this how he acts outside, but he has also made the eunuch of the Yellow Gate Zhang Dang Chief Supervisor and colluded with him alone, spying on the Supreme One and eyeing the sacred vessels of state, sowing discord between the two palaces and harming flesh and blood. The realm is in turmoil and everyone harbours fear and alarm. Your Majesty merely occupies the throne like a lodger—how can you be secure for long? This was not the intention of the late Emperor when he called Your Majesty and me up onto the imperial couch. Though I am old and decrepit, how could I dare forget what I said then? In the past Zhao Gao did as he pleased and the house of Qin perished as a result; the Lü and Huo clans were cut off early, and the fortunes of Han endured for generations.

外旣如此，又以黃門張當爲都監，專共交關，看察至尊，候伺神器，離間二宮，傷害骨肉。天下洶洶，人懷危懼，陛下但爲寄坐，豈得久安！此非先帝詔陛下及臣升御牀之本意也。臣雖朽邁，敢忘往言？昔趙高極意，秦氏以滅；呂、霍早斷，漢祚永世。

This is a great mirror for Your Majesty, and the moment for me to carry out my charge. The Grand Commandant, Your servant Jiang Ji, the Prefect of the Masters of Writing, Your servant Sima Fu, and others all consider that Cao Shuang has no regard for his sovereign and that he and his brothers should not command troops or keep watch in the palace, and they have memorialised the Yongning Palace. The Empress Dowager has issued an order commanding me to act as memorialised. I have at once ordered the officers in charge and the Prefect of the Yellow Gate to dismiss the officials and troops of Cao Shuang, Cao Xi and Cao Xun and to send them to their residences as marquises, not permitting them to linger and hold up the imperial carriage. Should any dare to delay, they will be dealt with by military law. Forcing myself despite illness, I have led troops to camp at the pontoon bridge over the Luo River to watch for anything untoward.”

此乃陛下之大鑒，臣受命之時也。太尉臣濟、尚書令臣孚等，皆以爽爲有無君之心，兄弟不宜典兵宿衞，奏永寧宮。皇太后令勑臣如奏施行。臣輒勑主者及黃門令罷爽、羲、訓吏兵，以侯就第，不得逗留以稽車駕；敢有稽留，便以軍法從事。臣輙力疾，將兵屯洛水浮橋，伺察非常。」¹

Cao Shuang received King Xuan's memorial but did not pass it on to the Emperor; hard pressed, he did not know what to do. The Grand Minister of Agriculture, Huan Fan of Pei, hearing that troops had risen, did not answer the Empress Dowager's summons; forging an edict, he had the Pingchang Gate opened, seized swords and halberds, took the gate warden along by force, and fled south to join Cao Shuang. When King Xuan learned of it, he said, “Huan Fan will make plans, but Cao Shuang will surely be unable to use his schemes.” Huan Fan urged Cao Shuang to move the imperial carriage to Xuchang and summon troops from outside. Cao Shuang and his brothers hesitated and could not decide, and Huan Fan said again to Cao Xi, “On a day like today, even if your house asked to be poor and humble, could it still have that?

爽得宣王奏事，不通，迫窘不知所爲。¹大司農沛國桓範聞兵起，不應太后召，矯詔開平昌門，拔取劒戟，略將門候，南奔爽。宣王知，曰：「範畫策，爽必不能用範計。」範說爽使車駕幸許昌，招外兵。爽兄弟猶豫未決，範重謂羲曰：「當今日，卿門戶求貧賤復可得乎？

Besides, even a common man holding a single hostage still hopes to live. Now you are together with the Son of Heaven—if you issue commands to the realm, who would dare not respond?” Cao Xi still could not accept this. The Palace Attendant Xu Yun and the Master of Writing Chen Tai urged Cao Shuang to submit and admit his guilt early. Cao Shuang then sent Xu Yun and Chen Tai to King Xuan to confess his guilt and ask for death, and only then passed on King Xuan's memorial. Cao Shuang and his brothers were dismissed from office and returned to their residences as marquises.

且匹夫持質一人，尚欲望活，今卿與天子相隨，令於天下，誰敢不應者？」羲猶不能納。侍中許允、尚書陳泰說爽，使早自歸罪。爽於是遣允、泰詣宣王，歸罪請死，乃通宣王奏事。¹遂免爽兄弟，以侯還第。²

Deng Yang and Others

鄧颺等

Earlier, Zhang Dang had privately given Cao Shuang Talented Ladies he had chosen, the Ladies Zhang, He and others. Suspecting some wickedness in this, the authorities arrested Zhang Dang and tried him. Zhang Dang testified that Cao Shuang, together with He Yan and the others, had secretly plotted rebellion, had already drilled troops, and meant to rise sometime in the third month. He Yan and the others were thereupon arrested and imprisoned. The high ministers and court officials gathered for a court deliberation and concluded: “The principle of the Spring and Autumn Annals is that ‘toward sovereign and parent one may not even harbour intent to rebel; whoever harbours it must be executed.’ Cao Shuang, a collateral kinsman of the imperial house, received exceptional favour for generations and personally received the testamentary edict when the late Emperor clasped his hand and entrusted the realm to him. Yet he concealed evil in his heart, spurned the final charge, and with He Yan, Deng Yang, Zhang Dang and others plotted to seize the sacred vessels of state. Huan Fan joined the faction of the guilty. All are guilty of great treason and depravity.”

初，張當私以所擇才人張、何等與爽。疑其有姦，收當治罪。當陳爽與晏等陰謀反逆，並先習兵，須三月中欲發，於是收晏等下獄。會公卿朝臣廷議，以爲「春秋之義，『君親無將，將而必誅』。爽以支屬，世蒙殊寵，親受先帝握手遺詔，託以天下，而包藏禍心，蔑棄顧命，乃與晏、颺及當等謀圖神器，範黨同罪人，皆爲大逆不道」。

Thereupon Cao Shuang, Cao Xi, Cao Xun, He Yan, Deng Yang, Ding Mi, Bi Gui, Li Sheng, Huan Fan, Zhang Dang and the others were seized and all executed, and their three sets of kin were exterminated. During the Jiaping era, to continue the lines of meritorious ministers, Cao Zhen's clan grandson Cao Xi was enfeoffed as Marquis of Xinchang Village with a fief of three hundred households, to carry on the sacrifices to Cao Zhen.

於是收爽、羲、訓、晏、颺、謐、軌、勝、範、當等，皆伏誅，夷三族。¹嘉平中，紹功臣世，封真族孫熙爲新昌亭侯，邑三百戶，以奉真後。²

He Yan

何晏

He Yan was the grandson of He Jin. His mother, Lady Yin, became a consort of Taizu. He Yan grew up in the palace and also married a princess. From youth he was known for his outstanding talent; he loved the words of Laozi and Zhuangzi, and wrote the Treatise on the Way and Virtue along with essays, rhapsodies and other writings, several dozen pieces in all.

晏，何進孫也。母尹氏，爲太祖夫人。晏長於宮省，又尚公主，少以才秀知名，好老莊言，作《道德論》及諸文賦著述凡數十篇。¹

Xiahou Shang

夏侯尚

Xiahou Shang's courtesy name was Boren; he was the nephew of Xiahou Yuan. He and Emperor Wen were close friends. When Taizu pacified Ji Province, Xiahou Shang became an Army Major, leading cavalry on campaigns, and later became Literary Scholar to the General of the Household for the Five Offices. When the state of Wei was first established, he was promoted to Gentleman in Attendance at the Yellow Gate. When the Hu of Dai Commandery rebelled, Cao Zhang, Marquis of Yanling, was sent to put them down, and Xiahou Shang was made adviser to Cao Zhang's army; he helped pacify the Dai region and returned. When Taizu died at Luoyang, Xiahou Shang, bearing credentials, escorted the imperial coffin back to Ye.

夏侯尚字伯仁，淵從子也。文帝與之親友。¹太祖定冀州，尚爲軍司馬，將騎從征伐，後爲五官將文學。魏國初建，遷黃門侍郎。代郡胡叛，遣鄢陵侯彰征討之，以尚參彰軍事，定代地，還。太祖崩於洛陽，尚持節，奉梓宮還鄴。

His earlier merits were recorded together, and he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Pingling Village and appointed Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, then promoted to Commander of the Central Army. When Emperor Wen ascended the throne, he was re-enfeoffed as Marquis of Pingling District, promoted to General Who Conquers the South and made concurrently Imperial Protector of Jing Province, granted credentials and made Commander of all military affairs in the south. Xiahou Shang memorialised, “Liu Bei has a detached force at Shangyong. The mountain roads are steep and difficult, and they are not on guard against us. If we send a surprise force secretly to strike where they do not expect it, we are in a position to win on our own.”

并錄前功，封平陵亭侯，拜散騎常侍，遷中領軍。文帝踐阼，更封平陵鄉侯，遷征南將軍，領荊州刺史，假節都督南方諸軍事。尚奏：「劉備別軍在上庸，山道險難，彼不我虞，若以奇兵潛行，出其不意，則獨克之勢也。」

He then led the armies to attack and crush Shangyong, pacifying three commanderies and nine counties, and was promoted to Grand General Who Conquers the South. Although Sun Quan styled himself a vassal, Xiahou Shang redoubled his preparations for attacking him, and Sun Quan did indeed later turn disloyal. In the third year of Huangchu, the imperial carriage went to Wan, and Xiahou Shang was sent with the armies to besiege Jiangling together with Cao Zhen. Sun Quan's general Zhuge Jin faced Xiahou Shang's army across the river; he crossed onto an islet in the middle of the Yangtze and deployed his naval forces separately in the river.

遂勒諸軍擊破上庸，平三郡九縣，遷征南大將軍。孫權雖稱藩，尚益脩攻討之備，權後果有貳心。黃初三年，車駕幸宛，使尚率諸軍與曹真共圍江陵。權將諸葛瑾與尚軍對江，瑾渡入江中渚，而分水軍於江中。

At night Xiahou Shang took many boats loaded with oil and, leading more than ten thousand foot and horse, crossed secretly downstream and attacked Zhuge Jin's forces. Burning their boats from both banks, and attacking by water and land at once, he defeated them. The city had not yet fallen when a great epidemic broke out, and an edict ordered Xiahou Shang to lead the armies back. His fief was increased by six hundred households, making nineteen hundred with the earlier ones; he was granted the axe and promoted to Governor. Jing Province was ravaged and desolate; outwardly it bordered on the Man and Yi peoples, and it was separated from Wu by the Han River as a border, so most of its former people lived south of the Yangtze.

尚夜多持油舩，將步騎萬餘人，於下流潛渡，攻瑾諸軍，夾江燒其舟舩，水陸並攻，破之。城未拔，會大疫，詔勑尚引諸軍還。益封六百戶，并前千九百戶，假鉞，進爲牧。荊州殘荒，外接蠻夷，而與吳阻漢水爲境，舊民多居江南。

From Shangyong Xiahou Shang opened a road and advanced west more than seven hundred li; many of the mountain folk and the Man and Yi submitted, and within five or six years several thousand families had surrendered and come over. In the fifth year he was re-enfeoffed as Marquis of Changling District.

尚自上庸通道，西行七百餘里，山民蠻夷多服從者，五六年間，降附數千家。五年，徙封昌陵鄉侯。

Xiahou Shang had a beloved concubine whose favour eclipsed that of his principal wife. His principal wife was a daughter of the Cao clan, so Emperor Wen sent someone to strangle the concubine. Xiahou Shang was so grief-stricken that he fell ill and became distracted; after burying the concubine, unable to bear his longing to see her, he dug her up again to look at her. When Emperor Wen heard of this he was angry and said, “Du Xi's low opinion of Xiahou Shang as frivolous was well founded after all.” But because he was an old servant, the Emperor's favour toward him did not diminish. In the sixth year Xiahou Shang became gravely ill and returned to the capital; the Emperor visited him several times, holding his hand and weeping.

尚有愛妾嬖幸，寵奪適室；適室，曹氏女也，故文帝遣人絞殺之。尚悲感，發病怳惚，旣葬埋妾，不勝思見，復出視之。文帝聞而恚之曰：「杜襲之輕薄尚，良有以也。」然以舊臣，恩寵不衰。六年，尚疾篤，還京都，帝數臨幸，執手涕泣。

When Xiahou Shang died, he was given the posthumous name Marquis Dao. His son Xiahou Xuan succeeded him. In addition, three hundred households were divided from Xiahou Shang's fief, and his brother's son Xiahou Feng was granted the rank of Marquis Within the Passes.

尚薨，謚曰悼侯。¹子玄嗣。又分尚戶三百，賜尚弟子奉爵關內侯。

His Son Xiahou Xuan

子　玄

Xiahou Xuan's courtesy name was Taichu. He was known from youth, and at twenty became Cavalier Gentleman of the Yellow Gate. Once, when he went in for an audience, he was seated side by side with the Empress's younger brother Mao Zeng; Xiahou Xuan felt it a disgrace and let his displeasure show on his face. Emperor Ming resented this and demoted him to Inspector of the Feathered Forest Guard. At the beginning of Zhengshi, Cao Shuang became regent. Xiahou Xuan was the son of Cao Shuang's paternal aunt. After successive promotions he became Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary and Central Protector of the Army.

玄字太初。少知名，弱冠爲散騎黃門侍郎。嘗進見，與皇后弟毛曾並坐，玄恥之，不悅形之於色。明帝恨之，左遷爲羽林監。正始初，曹爽輔政。玄，爽之姑子也。累遷散騎常侍、中護軍。¹

The Grand Tutor, King Xuan, asked him about current affairs, and Xiahou Xuan offered his views: “Assigning talent to office and employing men is the handle of state power. Therefore, that the weighing and selection of men should rest solely with the Secretariat is the share proper to those above; that filial conduct lies in the villages and lanes, with its merits and faults left to the people of the locality, is the order proper to those below. If you wish to purify moral instruction and make selection careful, it is simply a matter of making clear these shares and orders and not letting them encroach on each other. Why? If those above exceed their share, I fear that selection will lose its roots and the road of chasing after power will be opened; if those below overstep their order, I fear that the rank Heaven bestows will leak outward and the gates of scheming will multiply.

太傅司馬宣王問以時事，玄議以爲：「夫官才用人，國之柄也，故銓衡專於臺閣，上之分也，孝行存乎閭巷，優劣任之鄉人，下之叙也。夫欲清教審選，在明其分叙，不使相涉而已。何者？上過其分，則恐所由之不本，而干勢馳騖之路開；下踰其叙，則恐天爵之外通，而機權之門多矣。

When the rank Heaven bestows passes downward, commoners are debating the handle of power; when the gates of scheming multiply, that is the source of disorder. It has been many years since the Rectifiers of the provinces and commanderies began grading the talents of officials, yet the result has been vague and confused, and no one has heard of it being put in order. Is this not because shares and orders have become tangled and each has lost its essential point? If the Rectifiers were made only to examine conduct and ranking among peers, and the ranking matched the conduct, that would suffice for appointment to office. Why? A man whose filial conduct is evident within his household—how could he fail to be loyal and diligent in office?

夫天爵下通，是庶人議柄也；機權多門，是紛亂之原也。自州郡中正品度官才之來，有年載矣，緬緬紛紛，未聞整齊，豈非分叙參錯各失其要之所由哉！若令中正但考行倫輩，倫輩當行均，斯可官矣。何者？夫孝行著於家門，豈不忠恪於在官乎？

A man praised by the nine degrees of kin for benevolence and forbearance—how could he not be capable in government? A man whose righteous judgment prevails in his village—how could he not be equal to his duties? If these three kinds are taken from the Rectifiers, then even though the Rectifiers do not hold the power of appointment, it will be clear who can be appointed. Conduct varies in greatness and smallness, and comparison yields higher and lower, so the classes of men to be employed will also be clearly distinguished. Why must the Rectifiers be allowed to interfere from below in the machinery of selection, while those who hold the handle above lean on them, so that above and below encroach on each other and give rise to confusion?

仁恕稱於九族，豈不達於爲政乎？義斷行於鄉黨，豈不堪於事任乎？三者之類，取於中正，雖不處其官名，斯任官可知矣。行有大小，比有高下，則所任之流，亦渙然明別矣。奚必使中正干銓衡之機於下，而執機柄者有所委仗於上，上下交侵，以生紛錯哉？

Moreover, the Secretariat looks down upon those below, examining their achievements and weighing their failings, and each group of offices has its own superior who examines them morning and evening—nothing could be more thorough than this. But the talk of the village lanes decides matters as it pleases, so that superiors and chief officials lose their proper place and everyone rushes about in alarm. If one hopes for customs to be pure and tranquil, how can it be achieved? The court on high is far away, and people have given up hope of it; what they can reach lies close at hand. Who, then, will not polish his appearance to get what he seeks? Once there is a road to what one seeks, a man who cultivates himself within his own household will already fall behind one who makes himself known in his village.

且臺閣臨下，考功校否，衆職之屬，各有官長，旦夕相考，莫究於此；閭閻之議，以意裁處，而使匠宰失位，衆人驅駭，欲風俗清靜，其可得乎？天臺縣遠，衆所絕意。所得至者，更在側近，孰不脩飾以要所求？所求有路，則脩己家門者，已不如自達於鄉黨矣。

And one who makes himself known in his village will already fall behind one who seeks it directly from the province. If a road is opened and one then worries that people will falsify the truth and depart from the root, even if one again censures the Rectifiers severely and presses them with punishments, it will still do no good. Far better to have each keep to his own share. Let each superior submit to the Secretariat his assessment of his subordinates' ability, and let the Secretariat rely on the superiors' grading of ability, cross-checked against the ranking of virtuous conduct from the villages, to settle their order among peers without partiality.

自達鄉黨者，已不如自求之於州邦矣。苟開之有路，而患其飾真離本，雖復嚴責中正，督以刑罰，猶無益也。豈若使各帥其分，官長則各以其屬能否獻之臺閣，臺閣則據官長能否之第，參以鄉閭德行之次，擬其倫比，勿使偏頗。

Let the Rectifiers only examine men's conduct, distinguish high and low, and settle their classes among peers, without being allowed to raise or lower anyone. The Secretariat will oversee it all and appoint as they have selected; if there are discrepancies, responsibility will lie with the officials concerned. If the superiors' grading and the Rectifiers' ranking are compared in order and men are appointed accordingly, and someone proves unfit, responsibility will lie outside. In this way inner and outer check each other, gain and loss can be located, and each exposes and examines the other—who could then falsify anything?

中正則唯考其行迹，別其高下，審定輩類，勿使升降。臺閣總之，如其所簡，或有參錯，則其責負自在有司。官長所第，中正輩擬，比隨次率而用之，如其不稱，責負在外。然則內外相參，得失有所，互相形檢，孰能相飾？

Then people's hearts will be settled and affairs will be properly ordered, and we may hope to calm customs and judge the talents of officials with care.”

斯則人心定而事理得，庶可以靜風俗而審官才矣。」

He also argued: “In antiquity offices were established to succour and nurture all living beings and to govern people and things; therefore rulers and chiefs were set over them to shepherd them. The one who shepherds should be single and undivided: single, so that official duties are fixed and above and below are at peace; undivided, so that the work is properly done and affairs are not burdensome. There has never been a case where affairs were simple, work was well done, above and below were at peace with each other, and yet there was no good order. Though the details of how the former kings established the ten thousand states cannot now be fully traced, they divided the territory and drew boundaries so that each guarded its own lands; it was not a system of layer upon layer of fetters.

又以爲：「古之建官，所以濟育羣生，統理民物也，故爲之君長以司牧之。司牧之主，欲一而專，一則官任定而上下安，專則職業脩而事不煩。夫事簡業脩，上下相安而不治者，未之有也。先王建萬國，雖其詳未可得而究，然分彊畫界，各守土境，則非重累羈絆之體也。

Looking further down to the order of the five ranks of nobility under the Yin and Zhou, there were merely differences of size and of high and low status; there was never a case of two lines of authority over those who ruled officials and governed people, restraining each other. If the line of official authority is not single, the work will not be done; if the work is not done, how can affairs be simple? If affairs are not simple, how can the people be at peace? If the people are not at peace, wickedness will arise on all sides, and treachery and deceit will flourish. The former kings understood that this was so, and therefore made duties undivided and lines of authority single.

下考殷、周五等之叙，徒有小大貴賤之差，亦無君官臣民而有二統互相牽制者也。夫官統不一，則職業不脩；職業不脩，則事何得而簡？事之不簡，則民何得而靜？民之不靜，則邪惡並興，而姦偽滋長矣。先王達其如此，故專其職司而一其統業。

From the Qin onward, the way of the sages was no longer followed: duties were managed with a selfish mind, and subordinates were treated with guile. Fearing that local officials would not do their work, the Qin set up supervisors to oversee them; fearing that the supervisors would tolerate wrongdoing, it created inspectors to check them. Administrators and supervisors piled on each other, overseers and inspectors watched each other, people harboured divided loyalties, and above and below pursued different aims. The Han inherited this and could not correct it. Though the house of Wei has flourished, it has had no leisure day by day to attend to this. The institution of the five ranks may be hard to restore at once, but rough standards can be set up to unify the system of government.

始自秦世，不師聖道，私以御職，姦以待下；懼宰官之不脩，立監牧以董之，畏督監之容曲，設司察以糾之；宰牧相累，監察相司，人懷異心，上下殊務。漢承其緒，莫能匡改。魏室之隆，日不暇及，五等之典，雖難卒復，可粗立儀準以一治制。

The chief officials of today all rule over officials and people, yet Governors of commanderies are laid across them as an extra weight, and Imperial Protectors are piled on top of that. If what a commandery oversees is only the general outline, then it is the same as a province, and there is no need for a second layer. The Governors of commanderies should be abolished, leaving only the Imperial Protectors. As long as the office of Imperial Protector remains, supervision will not lapse, and the tens of thousands of commandery clerks can return to farming themselves, reducing burdensome expense, enriching wealth and increasing grain. That is the first point. The talented men of the large counties are all capable of being Governors, yet in disputes over right and wrong their views constantly differ: if they comply, there is peace; if they stand firm, there is conflict.

今之長吏，皆君吏民，橫重以郡守，累以刺史。若郡所攝，唯在大較，則與州同，無爲再重。宜省郡守，但任刺史；刺史職存，則監察不廢，郡吏萬數還親農業，以省煩費，豐財殖穀，一也。大縣之才，皆堪郡守，是非之訟，每生意異，順從則安，直己則爭。

The savour of a good broth lies in blending different flavours; the benefit between above and below lies in helping each other. To have peace only through compliance is like a zither and lute playing a single note. Sweep this away, and offices will be fewer and affairs simpler. That is the second point. Moreover, the officials who run the commanderies have the duty of supervising the counties; they protect and look after their faction, their kin and old friends from their home districts, and if anything does not suit them, they use official business as a pretext to obstruct and harass. The hardship and exhaustion of the people stem from this. If the layers are all merged, the source of disorder will close of itself. That is the third point.

夫和羹之美，在於合異，上下之益，在能相濟，順從乃安，此琴瑟一聲也，蕩而除之，則官省事簡，二也。又幹郡之吏，職監諸縣，營護黨親，鄉邑舊故，如有不副，而因公掣頓，民之困弊，咎生於此，若皆并合，則亂原自塞，三也。

Now, coming after decline and exhaustion, the population has dwindled, men of worth and talent are few, and those able to handle affairs are scarce. There are good officials here and there in the commanderies and counties, but the commanderies merely receive what the counties accomplish, while the heavy work lies below; yet the commanderies fill their ranks first with the best officials, so that the officials closest to the people get only the lowest. Officials hold the people's lives in their hands, yet these are always dull and base men. If the layers are now merged, most officials chosen to take up posts will be honest and good, great moral transformation will spread, and the people and all things will find peace. That is the fourth point.

今承衰弊，民人彫落，賢才鮮少，任事者寡，郡縣良吏往往非一，郡受縣成，其劇在下，而吏之上選，郡當先足，此爲親民之吏，專得厎下，吏者民命，而常頑鄙，今如并之，吏多選清良者造職，大化宣流，民物獲寧，四也。

Let it be ruled that the head of a county of ten thousand households be styled a commandery Governor, that of one with five thousand or more a Commandant, and that one of a thousand households or fewer keep its Prefect or Chief as before. From Chief upward, officials would be assessed and transferred, rising according to ability, and the area they govern would grow as well—this is an order that advances talent and rewards merit. Once the system is fixed, the talents of officials will be ranked in order and achievements in government will be uniformly clear. That is the fifth point. If the commandery Governors are abolished, the counties will all report directly, affairs will not be blocked, and offices will not be clogged. Though the ways of the Three Dynasties may not be attainable for certain, the transformation of simplicity and unity can nearly be achieved. Here lies the way to benefit the people and reduce expense.”

制使萬戶之縣名之郡守，五千以上名之都尉，千戶以下令長如故，自長以上考課遷用，轉以能升，所牧亦增，此進才効功之叙也，若經制一定，則官才有次，治功齊明，五也。若省郡守，縣皆徑達，事不擁隔，官無留滯，三代之風雖未可必，簡一之化庶幾可致，便民省費在於此矣。」

He further argued: “The alternation of refinement and simplicity is like the succession of the four seasons. A true king embodies Heaven in ordering things, and always responds to abuses by remedying them and making things flow. When the age is too plain, he adorns it with ritual; when the age is prosperous and extravagant, he rescues it with simplicity. Now, coming at the end of a hundred kings and in the lingering current of Qin and Han, the customs of the age grow ever more ornate, and they should be greatly reformed to change what the people look up to. Under the present regulations, from the dukes and full marquises down, and those ranking at Grand General and above, all may wear damask and brocade, gauze and figured silk, fine white silk, and objects inlaid and engraved with gold and silver; below them, clothes of mixed colours are common even among the lowly. Though grades of rank above and below each show some difference, the regulations for court officials already match those of the Supreme One, and the black and yellow colours have already spread to those below.

又以爲：「文質之更用，猶四時之迭興也，王者體天理物，必因弊而濟通之，時彌質則文之以禮，時泰侈則救之以質。今承百王之末，秦漢餘流，世俗彌文，宜大改之以易民望。今科制自公、列侯以下，位從大將軍以上，皆得服綾錦、羅綺、紈素、金銀飾鏤之物，自是以下，雜綵之服通於賤人，雖上下等級，各示有差，然朝臣之制已得侔至尊矣，玄黃之采已得通於下矣。

If you want the markets not to sell gaudy colours, the merchants not to trade in rare goods, and the artisans not to make carved objects, it cannot be achieved this way. Therefore the root should be put in order on a grand scale: taking ancient law as the standard and choosing the mean between refinement and simplicity, make that the measure of ritual. Carriages, clothing and insignia should all follow plainness; the ornate practices of this late age should be forbidden and removed, so that the houses that manage the court and the families holding rank no longer have brocade adornments, clothes of combined colours or finely crafted objects. From the top down, differences in simplicity should do no more than show that there are grades, never exceeding one or two perceptible degrees.

欲使市不鬻華麗之色，商不通難得之貨，工不作雕刻之物，不可得也。是故宜大理其本，準度古法，文質之宜，取其中則，以爲禮度。車輿服章，皆從質樸，禁除末俗華麗之事，使幹朝之家，有位之室，不復有錦綺之飾，無兼采之服、纖巧之物，自上以下至於樸素之差，示有等級而已，勿使過一二之覺。

As for gifts for merit and virtue, which the sovereign's grace specially confers, all should be registered with the officials concerned before they are worn or used. The way those above transform those below is like the wind bending the grass. If the teaching of simplicity arises at our own court, the heart that grows ever more extravagant will vanish of itself below.”

若夫功德之賜，上恩所特加，皆表之有司，然後服用之。夫上之化下，猶風之靡草。樸素之教興於本朝，則彌侈之心自消於下矣。」

King Xuan replied in a letter: “Examining offices and selecting men, abolishing the duplicated offices, and reforming the dress regulations are all excellent. The general idea of honouring the fundamental conduct shown in the villages while the court evaluates performance is as you have set out. But in between, practice was handed down and became habit, and in the end it could not be changed. In the Qin there were no Imperial Protectors, only commandery Governors and chief officials. Though the Han had Imperial Protectors, they merely upheld the Six Articles; that is why an Imperial Protector was called a ‘post carriage’ and his officials were called ‘attendants’. He had no fixed seat of government, and his officials did not form a body of subordinates. Only later did it change into a regular office.

宣王報書曰：「審官擇人，除重官，改服制，皆大善。禮鄉閭本行，朝廷考事，大指如所示。而中間一相承習，卒不能改。秦時無刺史，但有郡守長吏。漢家雖有刺史，奉六條而已，故刺史稱傳車，其吏言從事，居無常治，吏不成臣，其後轉更爲官司耳。

In the past Jia Yi too was troubled by the dress regulations, and though Emperor Wen of Han himself wore coarse black silk, he still could not make those above and below do as he wished. I fear these three matters must wait for men of worth and ability before they can be accomplished.”

昔賈誼亦患服制，漢文雖身服弋綈，猶不能使上下如意。恐此三事，當待賢能然後了耳。」

Xiahou Xuan wrote again: “Though Emperor Wen of Han himself wore coarse black silk, he did not reform or correct the laws and standards, so that inside and outside the palace there were garments that usurped the sovereign's style, and favoured ministers received gifts without limit. Seen in this light, he seems to have aimed at establishing a name for his own person, not at earnestly ordering the system of government. Now you, my lord, a man renowned in his age, serve as chief minister, following in the footsteps of high antiquity and about to bring perfect order to its height. If you curb the branches and correct the root, and the system is fixed from above, transformation will spread among the multitude.

玄又書曰：「漢文雖身衣弋綈，而不革正法度，內外有僭擬之服，寵臣受無限之賜，由是觀之，似指立在身之名，非篤齊治制之意也。今公侯命世作宰，追蹤上古，將隆至治，抑末正本，若制定於上，則化行於衆矣。

If, at the time when change is called for, you apply your earnest care, then on the day the orders are issued the response from below will be like an echo following a sound. Yet you still hold back in modesty and say, ‘Wait for men of worth and ability’—that would be as if Yi Yin and the Duke of Zhou had not corrected the statutes of Yin and Zhou. I humbly fail to understand it.”

夫當宜改之時，留殷勤之心，令發之日，下之應也猶響尋聲耳，猶垂謙謙，曰『待賢能』，此伊周不正殷姬之典也。竊未喻焉。」

Before long he became General Who Conquers the West, was granted credentials and made Commander of all military affairs in Yong and Liang provinces. He launched the Luo Valley campaign together with Cao Shuang, for which people of the time criticised him. After Cao Shuang was executed, Xiahou Xuan was summoned to be Grand Herald, and several years later was moved to Minister of Ceremonies. Because of Cao Shuang he was held down and kept out, and inwardly he was dissatisfied. Although the Prefect of the Palace Writers Li Feng had long been treated with intimacy by the Grand General Sima Shi (King Jing), his private sympathies lay with Xiahou Xuan, and he formed a league with the Empress's father, the Household Grandee Zhang Ji, plotting to make Xiahou Xuan regent.

頃之，爲征西將軍，假節都督雍、涼州諸軍事。¹與曹爽共興駱谷之役，時人譏之。爽誅，徵玄爲大鴻臚，數年徙太常。玄以爽抑絀，內不得意。中書令李豐雖宿爲大將軍司馬景王所親待，然私心在玄，遂結皇后父光祿大夫張緝，謀欲以玄輔政。

Li Feng already held the handle of power within, his son had married a princess, and he and Zhang Ji were both men of Pingyi, so Zhang Ji trusted him. Li Feng secretly had his younger brother Li Yi, Imperial Protector of Yan Province, ask to come to court, intending to have him bring troops in and join forces in the uprising. It happened that Li Yi did ask to come to court, but permission was not granted. In the second month of the sixth year of Jiaping, when an Honoured Lady was to be invested, Li Feng and the others planned to take advantage of the Emperor's appearance at the front of the hall, with guards posted on the steps at every gate, to kill the Grand General, replace him with Xiahou Xuan, and make Zhang Ji General of Swift Cavalry.

豐旣內握權柄，子尚公主，又與緝俱馮翊人，故緝信之。豐陰令弟兖州刺史翼求入朝，欲使將兵入，并力起。會翼求朝，不聽。嘉平六年二月，當拜貴人，豐等欲因御臨軒，諸門有陛兵，誅大將軍，以玄代之，以緝爲驃騎將軍。

Li Feng spoke secretly to the Supervisor of the Yellow Gate Su Shuo, the Prefect of the Yongning Office Yue Dun, the Supervisor of the Attendants at Large Liu Xian and others: “You gentlemen in the palace have committed many unlawful acts. The Grand General is stern and resolute and has spoken of it repeatedly; you may take Zhang Dang as a warning.” Su Shuo and the others all agreed to follow his orders. The Grand General caught wind of the plot and asked Li Feng to see him; Li Feng, knowing nothing, went and was killed on the spot. The matter was referred to the officials concerned, and Xiahou Xuan, Zhang Ji, Su Shuo, Yue Dun, Liu Xian and the others were arrested and sent to the Commandant of Justice.

豐密語黃門監蘇鑠、永寧署令樂敦、宂從僕射劉賢等曰：「卿諸人居內多有不法，大將軍嚴毅，累以爲言，張當可以爲誡。」鑠等皆許以從命。¹大將軍微聞其謀，請豐相見，豐不知而往，即殺之。²事下有司，收玄、緝、鑠、敦、賢等送廷尉。³

The Commandant of Justice Zhong Yu memorialised: “Li Feng and the others plotted to coerce the Supreme One and to kill the chief minister on their own authority. This is great treason and depravity. I request that they be sentenced according to law.” The high ministers, court officials and the Commandant of Justice were then assembled to deliberate, and all concluded: “Li Feng and the others each received exceptional favour and managed secret affairs; Zhang Ji inherited the dignity of an imperial in-law of the Pepper Chamber; Xiahou Xuan was among the hereditary ministers; all held high positions. Yet they harboured evil in their hearts and schemed at vicious rebellion, colluding with eunuchs and supplying them with treacherous plans. Fearing the might of the Son of Heaven, they did not dare plot openly, but sought to coerce the sovereign and intimidate the throne, to give free rein to their deceit and cruelty, to kill a good minister and install men of their own choosing—intending thereby to overturn the royal house and endanger the altars of state.

廷尉鍾毓奏：「豐等謀迫脅至尊，擅誅冢宰，大逆無道，請論如法。」於是會公卿朝臣廷尉議，咸以爲「豐等各受殊寵，典綜機密，緝承外戚椒房之尊，玄備世臣，並居列位，而苞藏禍心，構圖凶逆，交關閹豎，授以姦計，畏憚天威，不敢顯謀，乃欲要君脅上，肆其詐虐，謀誅良輔，擅相建立，將以傾覆京室，顛危社稷。

What Zhong Yu has determined is entirely in accordance with the statutes; let him be answered and the sentence carried out.” An edict declared, “The Senior Princess of Qi was the beloved child left by the late Emperor; her three sons shall be spared the death penalty.” Thereupon Li Feng, Xiahou Xuan, Zhang Ji, Yue Dun, Liu Xian and the others all had their three sets of kin exterminated, and their other relatives were banished to Lelang Commandery. Xiahou Xuan was broad-minded and generous in capacity; when he faced execution in the Eastern Market, his expression did not change and he bore himself with composure. He was forty-six at the time. During the Zhengyuan era, to continue the lines of meritorious ministers, Xiahou Shang's grandnephew Xiahou Ben was enfeoffed as Marquis of Changling Village with a fief of three hundred households, to carry on the sacrifices to Xiahou Shang.

毓所正皆如科律，報毓施行」。詔書：「齊長公主，先帝遺愛，匄其三子死命。」於是豐、玄、緝、敦、賢等皆夷三族，¹其餘親屬徙樂浪郡。玄格量弘濟，臨斬東市，顏色不變，舉動自若，時年四十六。²正元中，紹功臣世，封尚從孫本爲昌陵亭侯，邑三百戶，以奉尚後。

Xu Yun

許允

Earlier, the Commander of the Central Army Xu Yun of Gaoyang had been on close terms with Li Feng and Xiahou Xuan. Before this, someone had forged an edict on a foot-and-an-inch tablet naming Xiahou Xuan Grand General and Xu Yun Grand Commandant, jointly Intendants of the Affairs of the Masters of Writing. Someone rode up before dawn, handed the edict tablet to Xu Yun's gatekeeper saying, “There is an edict,” and immediately galloped off. Xu Yun at once threw the document into the fire and burned it, without opening it or presenting it to King Jing. Later, when the affair of Li Feng and the others came to light, Xu Yun was transferred to General Who Guards the North, granted credentials and made Supervisor of all military affairs north of the Yellow River. Before he set out, he was arrested for disposing of government property without authority and handed over to the Commandant of Justice; he was banished to Lelang and died on the way.

初，中領軍高陽許允與豐、玄親善。先是有詐作尺一詔書，以玄爲大將軍，允爲太尉，共錄尚書事。有何人天未明乘馬以詔版付允門吏，曰「有詔」，因便馳走。允即投書燒之，不以開呈司馬景王。後豐等事覺，徙允爲鎮北將軍，假節督河北諸軍事。未發，以放散官物，收付廷尉，徙樂浪，道死。¹

Wang Jing

王經

Wang Jing of Qinghe was, like Xu Yun, called one of the famous gentlemen of Ji Province. During the Ganlu era he became a Master of Writing, but he was implicated in the affair of the Duke of Gaogui District and executed. When Wang Jing first became a commandery Governor, his mother said to him, “You are the son of a farming family, and now you have risen to an office of two thousand shi. When things go too far it is unlucky; you may stop here.” Wang Jing could not follow her advice; he served in turn as Imperial Protector of two provinces and as Colonel-Director of Retainers, and in the end came to ruin. Xu Yun's friend Cui Zan, from the same commandery, had also once warned Xu Yun that his standing in the world was too high.

清河王經亦與允俱稱冀州名士。甘露中爲尚書，坐高貴鄉公事誅。始經爲郡守，經母謂經曰：「汝田家子，今仕至二千石，物太過不祥，可以止矣。」經不能從，歷二州刺史，司隷校尉，終以致敗。¹允友人同郡崔贊，亦嘗以處世太盛戒允云。²

Appraisal

評

Appraisal: The Xiahou and Cao clans intermarried for generations, and so Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Cao Xiu, Xiahou Shang, Cao Zhen and the others were all honoured and valued in their time as close kin and old friends; they aided the great enterprise on either side, and all rendered meritorious service. Cao Shuang was thin in virtue but high in rank, and sank into excess and overflowing—precisely what the Book of Changes warns of and what the Daoists shun. Xiahou Xuan was praised in his time for his principles and breadth of capacity, yet he was closely bound to Cao Shuang as a cousin. Holding such glorious rank, he was never heard to correct Cao Shuang's faults or to bring in men of real talent. Judged on this basis, how could he have escaped his fate?

評曰：夏侯、曹氏，世爲婚姻，故惇、淵、仁、洪、休、尚、真等並以親舊肺腑，貴重於時，左右勳業，咸有効勞。爽德薄位尊，沈溺盈溢，此固大易所著，道家所忌也。玄以規格局度，世稱其名，然與曹爽中外繾綣；榮位如斯，曾未聞匡弼其非，援致良才。舉茲以論，焉能免之乎！