Book of Wei
Records of Wei 16: Biographies of Ren Jun, Su Ze, Du Ji, Zheng Hun and Cang Ci
7,092 characters of text 41 people 72 places Years mentioned 204 · 223 · 249 · 257 · 271 33 Pei Songzhi notes
Records of Wei 16: Biographies of Ren Jun, Su Ze, Du Ji, Zheng Hun and Cang Ci
Ren Jun, courtesy name Boda, was a man of Zhongmou in Henan. When the realm fell into turmoil at the end of the Han, all the lands east of the passes were shaken. Yang Yuan, Magistrate of Zhongmou, was anxious and afraid and meant to abandon his office and flee. Ren Jun persuaded him, saying, “Dong Zhuo led the way in making disorder, and there is no one in the realm who does not look askance at him. Yet no one has risen first, not because no one has the will, but only because no one yet dares under the circumstances. If Your Honor will raise the call, there will surely be those who answer.” Yang Yuan said, “How should it be done?” Ren Jun said, “East of the passes there are now more than ten counties, and the men fit to bear arms number no fewer than ten thousand. If you temporarily take up the duties of Intendant of Henan and gather them all under your command, there is nothing you cannot accomplish.”
任峻字伯達，河南中牟人也。漢末擾亂，關東皆震。中牟令楊原愁恐，欲棄官走。峻說原曰：“董卓首亂，天下莫不側目，然而未有先發者，非無其心也，勢未敢耳。明府若能唱之，必有和者。”原曰：“爲之奈何？”峻曰：“今關東有十餘縣，能勝兵者不減萬人，若權行河南尹事，總而用之，無不濟矣。”
Yang Yuan followed his plan and made Ren Jun his Registrar. Ren Jun then submitted a memorial on Yang Yuan’s behalf to have him act as Intendant, had the counties hold firm, and at last raised troops. Just then Taizu rose in the lands east of the passes and entered the borders of Zhongmou. The people did not know whom to follow; Ren Jun alone consulted with Zhang Fen of the same commandery, and they brought the whole commandery over to Taizu. Ren Jun also separately gathered several hundred household troops from his clan and retainers and asked to follow Taizu. Taizu was overjoyed; he recommended Ren Jun as Chief Commandant of Cavalry, gave him his younger female cousin as a wife, and held him in close trust.
原從其計，以峻爲主簿。峻乃爲原表行尹事，使諸縣堅守，遂發兵。會太祖起關東，入中牟界，衆不知所從，峻獨與同郡張奮議，舉郡以歸太祖。峻又別收宗族及賓客家兵數百人，願從太祖。太祖大悅，表峻爲騎都尉，妻以從妹，甚見親信。
Whenever Taizu went on campaign, Ren Jun always stayed behind to guard the base and supply the army. At that time there were famines and droughts year after year, and the army’s food ran short. Zao Zhi of Yingchuan, Inspector of the Feathered Forest Guard, proposed setting up agricultural colonies, and Taizu made Ren Jun Agricultural Commandant. He recruited commoners to farm colony fields near Xu and harvested a million hu of grain. Agricultural officials were then established in every commandery and kingdom, and within a few years grain had piled up everywhere and the granaries were all full.
太祖每征伐，峻常居守以給軍。是時歲饑旱，軍食不足，羽林監潁川棗祗建置屯田，太祖以峻爲典農中郎將，募百姓屯田於許下，得穀百萬斛，郡國列置田官，數年中所在積粟，倉廩皆滿。
In the battle of Guandu, Taizu put Ren Jun in charge of transporting weapons and grain. The enemy repeatedly raided and cut the supply routes, so he made every thousand carts one unit and had them advance side by side along ten routes, arranged in double formations to guard them, and the enemy dared not come near. The abundance of the army and the state began with Zao Zhi and was completed by Ren Jun. Because his merit was great, Taizu recommended him to be enfeoffed as Marquis of a Chief Village with a fief of three hundred households, and he was promoted to Colonel of the Changshui Garrison.
官渡之戰，太祖使峻典軍器糧運。賊數寇鈔絕糧道，乃使千乘爲一部，十道方行，爲複陳以營衛之，賊不敢近。軍國之饒，起於棗祗而成於峻。1太祖以峻功高，乃表封爲都亭侯，邑三百戶，遷長水校尉。
Pei Songzhi’s notes (1)
1《魏武故事》載令曰：“故陳留太守棗祗，天性忠能。始共舉義兵，周旋征討。後袁紹在冀州，亦貪祗，欲得之。祗深附託於孤，使領東阿令。呂布之亂，兗州皆叛，惟范、東阿完在，由祗以兵據城之力也。後大軍糧乏，得東阿以繼，祗之功也。及破黃巾定許，得賊資業。當興立屯田，時議者皆言當計牛輸穀，佃科以定。施行後，祗白以爲僦牛輸穀，大收不增谷，有水旱災除，大不便。反覆來說，孤猶以爲當如故，大收不可復改易。祗猶執之，孤不知所從，使與荀令君議之。時故軍祭酒侯聲云：‘科取官牛，爲官田計。如祗議，於官便，於客不便。’聲懷此云云，以疑令君。祗猶自信，據計畫還白，執分田之術。孤乃然之，使爲屯田都尉，施設田業。其時歲則大收，後遂因此大田，豐足軍用，摧滅羣逆，克定天下，以隆王室。祗興其功，不幸早沒，追贈以郡，猶未副之。今重思之，祗宜受封，稽留至今，孤之過也。祗子處中，宜加封爵，以祀祗爲不朽之事。”《文士傳》曰：祗本姓棘，先人避難，易爲棗。孫據，字道彥，晉冀州刺史。據子嵩，字臺產，散騎常侍。並有才名，多所著述。嵩兄腆，字玄方，襄陽太守，亦有文采。
Ren Jun was generous and magnanimous, with a sense of measure, and he saw clearly into the principles of affairs. Whenever he offered a proposal, Taizu usually approved it. In times of famine he took in and cared for the orphans his friends had left behind, and he helped poor kinsmen on both sides of his family in their emergencies and made up what they lacked, so that he was praised for his good faith. He died in the ninth year of Jian’an, and Taizu wept for a long time. His son Ren Xian succeeded him. When Ren Xian died without a son, the fief was abolished. Emperor Wen, recording the meritorious officials of the past, gave Ren Jun the posthumous title Marquis Cheng, and made Ren Jun’s second son Ren Lan a Marquis Within the Passes.
峻寬厚有度而見事理，每有所陳，太祖多善之。於饑荒之際，收恤朋友孤遺，中外貧宗，周急繼乏，信義見稱。建安九年薨，太祖流涕者久之。子先嗣。先薨，無子，國除。文帝追錄功臣，諡峻曰成侯。復以峻中子覽爲關內侯。
Su Ze, courtesy name Wenshi, was a man of Wugong in Fufeng. From his youth he was known for his learning and conduct. He was recommended as Filial and Incorrupt and as Flourishing Talent and summoned by the offices of the Excellencies, but he accepted none of these. He began his career as Grand Administrator of Jiuquan and was transferred to Anding and Wudu, and wherever he served he had a reputation for authority.
蘇則字文師，扶風武功人也。少以學行聞，舉孝廉茂才，辟公府，皆不就。起家爲酒泉太守，轉安定、武都，1所在有威名。
Pei Songzhi’s notes (1)
1《魏書》曰：則剛直疾惡，常慕汲黯之爲人。《魏略》曰：則世爲著姓，興平中，三輔亂，饑窮，避難北地。客安定，依富室師亮。亮待遇不足，則慨然歎曰：“天下會安，當不久爾，必還爲此郡守，折庸輩士也。”後與馮翊吉茂等隱於郡南太白山中，以書籍自娛。及爲安定太守，而師亮等皆欲逃走。則聞之，豫使人解語，以禮報之。
When Taizu campaigned against Zhang Lu, he passed through Su Ze’s commandery; he met Su Ze, was pleased with him, and made him the army’s guide. After Zhang Lu was defeated, Su Ze pacified the various Di of Xiabian and opened the road to Hexi, and he was transferred to be Grand Administrator of Jincheng. This was in the aftermath of chaos and death; the officials and people had scattered and were starving and destitute, and the registered population had dwindled. Su Ze cared for them with great diligence. Abroad he summoned and won over the Qiang and Hu, obtaining their oxen and sheep to support the poor and the old. He shared his own grain with the people, and within ten days to a month the refugees had all returned, several thousand households in all.
太祖征張魯，過其郡，見則悅之，使爲軍導。魯破，則綏定下辯諸氐，通河西道，徙爲金城太守。是時喪亂之後，吏民流散饑窮，戶口損耗，則撫循之甚謹。外招懷羌胡，得其牛羊，以養貧老。與民分糧而食，旬月之間，流民皆歸，得數千家。
He then set out clear prohibitions: whoever violated them was executed at once, and whoever followed his teaching was sure to be rewarded. He personally taught the people to plow and sow, and that year there was a great harvest, so that those coming to submit grew more numerous by the day. When Li Yue rebelled in Longxi, Su Ze led the Qiang and Hu and besieged him, and Li Yue at once asked to submit. When Taizu died, Qu Yan of Xiping rebelled and styled himself Colonel Protector of the Qiang. Su Ze marshaled his troops to attack him; Qu Yan took fright and begged to surrender. For this achievement Emperor Wen gave Su Ze the additional post of Colonel Protector of the Qiang and granted him the rank of Marquis Within the Passes.
乃明爲禁令，有干犯者輒戮，其從教者必賞。親自教民耕種，其歲大豐收，由是歸附者日多。李越以隴西反，則率羌胡圍越，越即請服。太祖崩，西平麴演叛，稱護羌校尉。則勒兵討之。演恐，乞降。文帝以其功，加則護羌校尉，賜爵關內侯。1
Pei Songzhi’s notes (1)
1《魏名臣奏》載文帝令問雍州刺史張既曰：“試守金城太守蘇則，既有綏民平夷之功，聞又出軍西定湟中，爲河西作聲勢，吾甚嘉之。則之功效，爲可加爵邑未邪？封爵重事，故以問卿。密白意，且勿宣露也。”既答曰：“金城郡，昔爲韓遂所見屠剝，死喪流亡，或竄戎狄，或陷寇亂，戶不滿五百。則到官，內撫彫殘，外鳩離散，今見戶千餘。又梁燒雜種羌，昔與遂同惡，遂斃之後，越出障塞。則前後招懷，歸就郡者三千餘落，皆卹以威恩，爲官效用。西平麴演等倡造邪謀，則尋出軍，臨其項領，演即歸命送質，破絕賊糧。則既有卹民之效，又能和戎狄，盡忠效節。遭遇聖明，有功必錄。若則加爵邑，誠足以勸忠臣，勵風俗也。”
Later Qu Yan again allied with neighboring commanderies and rose in rebellion. Zhang Jin of Zhangye seized the Grand Administrator Du Tong, and Huang Hua of Jiuquan refused to accept the Grand Administrator Xin Ji; both Zhang Jin and Huang Hua styled themselves Grand Administrator in support of the revolt. In addition, the three tribes of Hu in Wuwei raided together, and the roads were cut. Guanqiu Xing, Grand Administrator of Wuwei, reported the emergency to Su Ze. At that time the powerful families of Yong and Liang were all driving and pressing the Qiang and Hu to follow Zhang Jin and the others, and the people of the commandery all thought that Zhang Jin could not be withstood.
後演復結旁郡爲亂，張掖張進執太守杜通，酒泉黃華不受太守辛機，進、華皆自稱太守以應之。又武威三種胡並寇鈔，道路斷絕。武威太守毌丘興告急於則。時雍、涼諸豪皆驅略羌胡以從進等，郡人咸以爲進不可當。
Moreover, the generals Hao Zhao and Wei Ping had earlier each been garrisoned to defend Jincheng, and they had also received an imperial order not to cross to the west. Su Ze then met with the senior officials of the commandery, Hao Zhao and the others, and the Qiang chieftains, and made plans with them, saying, “Though the rebels are now strong, they are all newly assembled, and some follow under duress, so they are not necessarily of one mind. If we strike through the cracks among them, the good and the bad will surely separate, and when they separate and come over to us, we will grow and they will shrink. We will gain the real advantage of greater numbers and also the momentum of redoubled spirit. If we lead them forward to attack, we are certain to crush the rebels.
又將軍郝昭、魏平先是各屯守金城，亦受詔不得西度。則乃見郡中大吏及昭等與羌豪帥謀曰：“今賊雖盛，然皆新合，或有脅從，未必同心；因釁擊之，善惡必離，離而歸我，我增而彼損矣。既獲益衆之實，且有倍氣之勢，率以進討，破之必矣。
If we wait for the main army, days will be wasted and the matter drawn out; the good people will have nowhere to turn and will surely join the bad, and once the good and bad have joined, it will be hard to separate them quickly. Although we have an imperial order, to disobey it in order to meet the needs of the moment is acceptable; we may act on our own authority.” Hao Zhao and the others agreed, and they sent troops to rescue Wuwei, forced the three tribes of Hu to surrender, and joined Guanqiu Xing in attacking Zhang Jin at Zhangye. When Qu Yan heard of this, he came out to meet Su Ze with three thousand foot and horse, saying he had come to help the army, though in fact he intended to turn on them. Su Ze lured him into a meeting and beheaded him on the spot, then displayed the head to the army, and Qu Yan’s followers all scattered and fled.
若待大軍，曠日持久，善人無歸，必合於惡，善惡既合，勢難卒離。雖有詔命，違而合權，專之可也。”於是昭等從之，乃發兵救武威，降其三種胡，與興擊進於張掖。演聞之，將步騎三千迎則，辭來助軍，而實欲爲變。則誘與相見，因斬之，出以徇軍，其黨皆散走。
Su Ze then joined the other armies in besieging Zhangye and took it, beheading Zhang Jin and his adherents, and the rest all surrendered. With Qu Yan’s army defeated, Huang Hua took fright, released those he had seized, and begged to surrender, and Hexi was pacified. Su Ze then returned to Jincheng. He was advanced to Marquis of a Chief Village with a fief of three hundred households.
則遂與諸軍圍張掖，破之，斬進及其支黨，衆皆降。演軍敗，華懼，出所執乞降，河西平。乃還金城。進封都亭侯，邑三百戶。
He was summoned to court and appointed Palace Attendant, serving in the same office as Dong Zhao. Once Dong Zhao lay down with his head on Su Ze’s knee, and Su Ze pushed him off, saying, “The knee of Su Ze is no pillow for a flatterer.” Earlier, when Su Ze and Cao Zhi, Marquis of Linzi, heard that the Wei had replaced the Han, both put on mourning and wept in grief. Emperor Wen had heard that Cao Zhi did so, but not that Su Ze had. When the Emperor was at Luoyang, he remarked at leisure, “I received the abdication in answer to Heaven, yet I hear there were those who wailed. Why is that?” Su Ze thought the question was aimed at him; his beard and whiskers bristled, and he was about to answer with a forthright argument. The Palace Attendant Fu Xun pinched him and said, “He does not mean you.” So he stopped.
徵拜侍中，與董昭同寮。昭嘗枕則膝臥，則推下之，曰：“蘇則之膝，非佞人之枕也。”初，則及臨菑侯植聞魏氏代漢，皆發服悲哭，文帝聞植如此，而不聞則也。帝在洛陽，嘗從容言曰：“吾應天而禪，而聞有哭者，何也？”則謂爲見問，鬚髯悉張，欲正論以對。侍中傅巽掐1則曰：“不謂卿也。”於是乃止。2
Pei Songzhi’s notes (2)
1音苦洽反。
2《魏略》曰：舊儀，侍中親省起居，故俗謂之執虎子。始則同郡吉茂者，是時仕甫歷縣令，遷爲冗散。茂見則，嘲之曰：“仕進不止執虎子。”則笑曰：“我誠不能效汝蹇蹇驅鹿車馳也。”初，則在金城，聞漢帝禪位，以爲崩也，乃發喪；後聞其在，自以不審，意頗默然。臨菑侯植自傷失先帝意，亦怨激而哭。其後文帝出游，追恨臨菑，顧謂左右曰：“人心不同，當我登大位之時，天下有哭者。”時從臣知帝此言，有爲而發也，而則以爲爲己。欲下馬謝。侍中傅巽目之，乃悟。孫盛曰：夫士不事其所非，不非其所事，趣舍出處，而豈徒哉！則既策名新朝，委質異代，而方懷二心生忿，欲奮爽言，豈大雅君子去就之分哉？詩云：“士也罔極，二三其德。”士之二三，猶喪妃偶，況人臣乎？
Emperor Wen asked Su Ze, “Since we defeated Jiuquan and Zhangye, envoys have passed to and from the Western Regions, and Dunhuang presented a great pearl an inch across. Could we seek to buy more and obtain them?” Su Ze replied, “If Your Majesty’s transforming influence pervades the Central States and your virtue flows out across the deserts, such things will come of themselves without being sought. What is obtained by seeking is not worth prizing.” The Emperor fell silent. Later Su Ze accompanied him on a hunt. A stake of the enclosure was pulled loose and a deer escaped. The Emperor flew into a rage; sitting astride a folding chair, he drew his sword, had all the supervising officials arrested, and was about to behead them.
文帝問則曰：“前破酒泉、張掖，西域通使，敦煌獻徑寸大珠，可復求市益得不？”則對曰：“若陛下化洽中國，德流沙漠，即不求自至；求而得之，不足貴也。”帝默然。後則從行獵，槎桎拔，失鹿，帝大怒，踞胡牀拔刀，悉收督吏，將斬之。
Su Ze bowed his head to the ground and said, “Your servant has heard that the sage kings of old did not harm people for the sake of birds and beasts. Your Majesty is now about to exalt the transforming influence of Yao of Tang, yet you would kill many officials over a hunting game. In my foolish view this is wrong. I venture to plead with you at the risk of my life!” The Emperor said, “You are an upright minister.” In the end he pardoned them all. But from then on Su Ze was regarded with unease. In the fourth year of Huangchu he was demoted to Chancellor of Dongping. Before he arrived he fell ill on the road and died, and he was given the posthumous title Marquis Gang. His son Su Yi succeeded him. When Su Yi died without a son, his younger brother Su Yu inherited the fief. In the Xianxi era Su Yu became a Master of Writing.
則稽首曰：“臣聞古之聖王不以禽獸害人，今陛下方隆唐堯之化，而以獵戲多殺羣吏，愚臣以爲不可。敢以死請！”帝曰：“卿，直臣也。”遂皆赦之。然以此見憚。黃初四年，左遷東平相。未至，道病薨，諡曰剛侯。子怡嗣。怡薨，無子，弟愉襲封。愉，咸熙中爲尚書。1
Pei Songzhi’s notes (1)
1愉字休豫，歷位太常光祿大夫，見《晉百官名》。山濤啓事稱愉忠篤有智意。臣松之案愉子紹，字世嗣，爲吳王師。石崇妻，紹之女兄也。紹有詩在《金谷集》。紹弟慎，左衛將軍。
Du Ji, courtesy name Bohou, was a man of Duling in Jingzhao. He lost his father when young and was badly treated by his stepmother, but he became known for his filial devotion. At twenty he became Officer of Merit of the commandery and acting Magistrate of Zheng County. Several hundred people were held in the county jail; Du Ji went to the prison himself, weighed the gravity of each case, and settled and released them all. Although not every judgment was correct, the people of the commandery marveled that one so young had such great resolve. He was recommended as Filial and Incorrupt and appointed Aide to the Hanzhong Administration. When the realm fell into disorder, he abandoned his post and lived as a sojourner in Jing Province, returning only during the Jian’an era.
杜畿字伯侯，京兆杜陵人也。1少孤，繼母苦之，以孝聞。年二十，爲郡功曹，守鄭縣令。縣囚繫數百人，畿親臨獄，裁其輕重，盡決遣之，雖未悉當，郡中奇其年少而有大意也。舉孝廉，除漢中府丞。會天下亂，遂棄官客荊州，建安中乃還。
Pei Songzhi’s notes (1)
1《傅子》曰：畿，漢御史大夫杜延年之後。延年父周，自南陽徙茂陵，延年徙杜陵，子孫世居焉。
Xun Yu recommended him to Taizu, who made Du Ji Rectifier on the staff of the Minister of Works, then transferred him to Colonel Protector of the Qiang, holding the imperial tally and concurrently Grand Administrator of Xiping.
荀彧進之太祖，1太祖以畿爲司空司直，遷護羌校尉，使持節，領西平太守。2
Pei Songzhi’s notes (2)
1《傅子》曰：畿自荊州還，後至許，見侍中耿紀，語終夜。尚書令荀彧與紀比屋，夜聞畿言，異之，旦遣人謂紀曰：“有國士而不進，何以居位？”既見畿，知之如舊相識者，遂進畿於朝。
2《魏略》曰：畿少有大志。在荊州數歲，繼母亡後，以三輔開通，負其母喪北歸。道爲賊所劫略，衆人奔走，畿獨不去。賊射之，畿請賊曰：“卿欲得財耳，今我無物，用射我何爲邪？”賊乃止。畿到鄉里，京兆尹張時，河東人也，與畿有舊，署爲功曹。嘗嫌其闊達，不助留意於諸事，言此家疏誕，不中功曹也。畿竊云：“不中功曹，中河東守也。”
After Taizu had pacified the region north of the Yellow River, Gao Gan rose in rebellion with Bing Province. At that time Wang Yi, Grand Administrator of Hedong, was summoned to court, and Wei Gu and Fan Xian of Hedong outwardly made a show of petitioning to keep Wang Yi, while in truth they were plotting with Gao Gan. Taizu said to Xun Yu, “The generals west of the passes rely on their rugged terrain and their horses; if we move against them, they are sure to rebel. Zhang Sheng is raiding between Xiao and Mian and is in contact with Liu Biao to the south. If Wei Gu and his like take advantage of this, I fear the harm will run deep.
太祖既定河北，而高幹舉并州反。時河東太守王邑被徵，河東人衛固、范先外以請邑爲名，而內實與幹通謀。太祖謂荀彧曰：“關西諸將，恃險與馬，征必爲亂。張晟寇殽、澠間，南通劉表，固等因之，吾恐其爲害深。
Hedong has mountains at its back and the Yellow River as its girdle, and its neighbors on all sides are prone to upheaval; it is now a vital region of the realm. Recommend to me someone like Xiao He or Kou Xun to hold it firm.” Xun Yu said, “Du Ji is the man.” So Du Ji was overtaken on the road and appointed Grand Administrator of Hedong. Wei Gu and the others had several thousand troops cut off the Shan Ford, and when Du Ji arrived he could not cross. Taizu sent Xiahou Dun to attack them, but he had not yet arrived. Someone said to Du Ji, “You should wait for the main army.” Du Ji said, “Hedong has thirty thousand households, and not all of them wish to rebel.
河東被山帶河，四鄰多變，當今天下之要地也。君爲我舉蕭何、寇恂以鎮之。”彧曰：“杜畿其人也。”1於是追拜畿爲河東太守。固等使兵數千人絕陝津，畿至不得渡。太祖遣夏侯惇討之，未至。或謂畿曰：“宜須大兵。”畿曰：“河東有三萬戶，非皆欲爲亂也。
Pei Songzhi’s notes (1)
1《傅子》曰：彧稱畿勇足以當大難，智能應變，其可試之。
If we press them hard with troops now, those who wish to do right will have no master to rely on and will surely take fright and obey Wei Gu. Wei Gu and his like will then hold all the power and will certainly fight to the death. If we attack and fail to win, the neighbors on all sides will rise in answer, and the upheaval of the realm will never cease; if we attack and win, we will have ravaged the people of an entire commandery. Besides, Wei Gu and his like have not yet openly broken with the royal command; outwardly they are petitioning for their former lord, so they will certainly not harm a new one. I will go straight there with a single carriage and catch them off guard.
今兵迫之急，欲爲善者無主，必懼而聽於固。固等勢專，必以死戰。討之不勝，四鄰應之，天下之變未息也；討之而勝，是殘一郡之民也。且固等未顯絕王命，外以請故君爲名，必不害新君。吾單車直往，出其不意。
Wei Gu is a man of many schemes but no decisiveness; he will surely pretend to accept me. If I can stay in the commandery for a month, I can bind them with stratagems; that will be enough.” He then took a roundabout route and crossed at the Dou Ford. Fan Xian wanted to kill Du Ji to overawe the people. To see how Du Ji would react, he also cut down more than thirty men, from the Registrar downward, at the gate of Du Ji’s office, but Du Ji carried on as calmly as ever. Wei Gu then said, “Killing him would gain us nothing and only earn us a bad name. Besides, we have him under our control.” So they accepted him as their Grand Administrator.
固爲人多計而無斷，必僞受吾。吾得居郡一月，以計縻之，足矣。”遂詭道從郖津度。1范先欲殺畿以威衆。2且觀畿去就，於門下斬殺主簿已下三十餘人，畿舉動自若。於是固曰：“殺之無損，徒有惡名；且制之在我。”遂奉之。
Pei Songzhi’s notes (2)
1郖音豆。《魏略》曰：初，畿與衛固少相狎侮，固嘗輕畿。畿嘗與固博而爭道，畿嘗謂固曰：“仲堅，我今作河東也。”固褰衣罵之。及畿之官，而固爲郡功曹。張時故任京兆。畿迎司隸，與時會華陰，時、畿相見，於儀當各持版。時歎曰：“昨日功曹，今爲郡將也！”
2《傅子》曰：先云：“既欲爲虎而惡食人肉，失所以爲虎矣。今不殺，必爲後患。”
Du Ji said to Wei Gu and Fan Xian, “The Wei and Fan clans are the leading families of Hedong; I shall simply rely on what you accomplish. But between lord and subject there is a fixed duty, and success and failure are shared, so great matters must be deliberated together fairly.” He made Wei Gu Chief Controller, acting as Aide and concurrently Officer of Merit, and put the more than three thousand officers, clerks, and soldiers all under Fan Xian’s command. Wei Gu and the others were pleased; though they outwardly served Du Ji, they paid him little heed. When Wei Gu wanted to raise troops on a large scale, Du Ji was troubled and persuaded him, saying, “Whoever would undertake an extraordinary enterprise must not unsettle the hearts of the people.
畿謂衛固、范先曰：“衛、范，河東之望也，吾仰成而已。然君臣有定義，成敗同之，大事當共平議。”以固爲都督，行丞事，領功曹；將校吏兵三千餘人，皆范先督之。固等喜，雖陽事畿，不以爲意。固欲大發兵，畿患之，說固曰：“夫欲爲非常之事，不可動衆心。
If you raise troops on a large scale now, the people will surely be alarmed. It would be better to recruit soldiers gradually with payments of goods.” Wei Gu thought so too and followed his advice. The recruiting by payment went on for several dozen days before it was settled, and the generals, greedy for the goods, enrolled many recruits but actually sent few soldiers. Du Ji again went in and counseled Wei Gu and the others, saying, “It is human nature to long for home. The generals and the clerks of the offices should be sent home in turns to rest. It will not be hard to summon them back in an emergency.” Wei Gu and the others were loath to go against the feelings of the people and again complied. Thus the good men were outside, secretly becoming Du Ji’s support, while the bad were dispersed, each returning to his home, and the host broke apart.
今大發兵，衆必擾，不如徐以貲募兵。”固以爲然，從之，遂爲貲調發，數十日乃定，諸將貪多應募而少遣兵。又入喻固等曰：“人情顧家，諸將掾吏，可分遣休息，急緩召之不難。”固等惡逆衆心，又從之。於是善人在外，陰爲己援；惡人分散，各還其家，則衆離矣。
Just then Baiqi attacked Dongyuan, Gao Gan entered Huoze, the counties of Shangdang killed their senior officials, and Hongnong seized its Grand Administrator, while the troops Wei Gu and the others had secretly levied had not yet arrived. Knowing that the counties were on his side, Du Ji went out, leading only a few dozen horsemen, and made for Zhangbi to hold it. Many officials and commoners brought their whole walled towns over to help him, and within a few dozen days he had gained more than four thousand men. Wei Gu and the others, together with Gao Gan and Zhang Sheng, attacked Du Ji but could not take his position; they raided the counties but gained nothing.
會白騎攻東垣，高幹入濩澤，上黨諸縣殺長吏，弘農執郡守，固等密調兵未至。畿知諸縣附己，因出，單將數十騎，赴張辟拒守，吏民多舉城助畿者，比數十日，得四千餘人。固等與幹、晟共攻畿，不下，略諸縣，無所得。
Then the main army arrived; Gao Gan and Zhang Sheng were defeated and Wei Gu and the others were executed. The rest of their followers were all pardoned and allowed to return to their homes and livelihoods.
會大兵至，幹、晟敗，固等伏誅，其餘黨與皆赦之，使復其居業。
At that time the commanderies and counties of the realm were all ravaged and broken, but Hedong was the first to be settled and had suffered the least loss. In governing it Du Ji valued leniency and kindness and did not impose needless undertakings on the people. When people brought lawsuits and accused one another, Du Ji would see them in person, explain the great principles to them, and send them home to think it over carefully; if anything still did not satisfy them, they were to come to his office again. The village elders rebuked and scolded one another, saying, “With such a lord as this, how can we not follow his teaching?” From then on lawsuits were few.
是時天下郡縣皆殘破，河東最先定，少耗減。畿治之，崇寬惠，與民無爲。民嘗辭訟，有相告者，畿親見爲陳大義，遣令歸諦思之，若意有所不盡，更來詣府。鄉邑父老自相責怒曰：“有君如此，奈何不從其教？”自是少有辭訟。
He issued orders to the subordinate counties to recommend filial sons, chaste wives, and obedient grandchildren, exempting them from corvée and comforting and encouraging them from time to time. Gradually he required the people to raise cows and mares, and even down to chickens, pigs, and dogs there were regulations for everything. The people worked hard at farming, and every household became prosperous. Du Ji then said, “The people are rich now; they must be taught.” So in the winter months he had them repair their arms and practice martial skills, and he also opened a school, where he personally took up the classics and taught, and the whole commandery was transformed by his example.
班下屬縣，舉孝子、貞婦、順孫，復其繇役，隨時慰勉之。漸課民畜牸牛、草馬，下逮雞豚犬豕，皆有章程。百姓勤農，家家豐實。畿乃曰：“民富矣，不可不教也。”於是冬月脩戎講武，又開學宮，親自執經教授，郡中化之。1
Pei Songzhi’s notes (1)
1《魏略》曰：博士樂詳，由畿而升。至今河東特多儒者，則畿之由矣。
When Han Sui and Ma Chao rebelled, many counties and towns in Hongnong and Pingyi rose in response. Though Hedong bordered on the rebels, its people had no thought of disloyalty. When Taizu campaigned westward and reached Puban, facing the rebels across the Wei River, the army’s food depended entirely on Hedong. Even after the rebels were defeated, more than two hundred thousand hu of stores remained. Taizu issued an order: “Du Ji, Grand Administrator of Hedong, is what Confucius meant when he said, ‘In Yu I can find no fault.’ Let his salary be raised to Fully Two Thousand Bushels.”
韓遂、馬超之叛也，弘農、馮翊多舉縣邑以應之。河東雖與賊接，民無異心。太祖西征至蒲阪，與賊夾渭爲軍，軍食一仰河東。及賊破，餘畜二十餘萬斛。太祖下令曰：“河東太守杜畿，孔子所謂‘禹，吾無間然矣’。增秩中二千石。”
When Taizu campaigned against Hanzhong, he sent five thousand men to transport supplies, and the porters encouraged one another, saying, “Every man must die once, but we cannot fail our lord.” In the end not a single one deserted; such was his hold on people’s hearts. When the state of Wei was established, Du Ji was made a Master of Writing. When matters were settled, a further order was issued: “Of old Xiao He secured the Guanzhong region and Kou Xun pacified Henei. You have achieved the like, and recently I was about to grant you the office of spokesman of the throne. But I consider that Hedong is a commandery as dear to me as my own arms and legs, a well-stocked place sufficient to control the realm, so for the time being I must trouble you to hold it secure, even if you do it lying down.” Du Ji was in Hedong for sixteen years and was always rated first in the realm.
太祖征漢中，遣五千人運，運者自率勉曰：“人生有一死，不可負我府君。”終無一人逃亡，其得人心如此。1魏國既建，以畿爲尚書。事平，更有令曰：“昔蕭何定關中，寇恂平河內，卿有其功，間將授卿以納言之職；顧念河東吾股肱郡，充實之所，足以制天下，故且煩卿臥鎮之。”畿在河東十六年，常爲天下最。
Pei Songzhi’s notes (1)
1《杜氏新書》曰：平虜將軍劉勳，爲太祖所親，貴震朝廷。嘗從畿求大棗，畿拒以他故。後勳伏法，太祖得其書，歎曰：“杜畿可謂‘不媚於竈’者也。”稱畿功美，以下州郡，曰：“昔仲尼之於顏子，每言不能不歎，既情愛發中，又宜率馬以驥。今吾亦冀衆人仰高山，慕景行也。”
When Emperor Wen became King, he granted Du Ji the rank of Marquis Within the Passes and summoned him to be a Master of Writing. When he ascended the imperial throne, he advanced Du Ji to Marquis of Fengle Village with a fief of one hundred households and made him acting Director of Retainers. When the Emperor campaigned against Wu, he made Du Ji Deputy Director of the Secretariat to take charge of affairs left behind. Later, when the Emperor went to Xuchang, Du Ji again stayed behind to guard the capital. He received an order to build an imperial tower ship, and while testing it on the Tao River he met a storm and sank. The Emperor wept for him. An edict said, “Of old, Ming labored at his office and died in the waters; Ji labored over the hundred grains and died in the mountains.
文帝即王位，賜爵關內侯。徵爲尚書。及踐阼，進封豐樂亭侯。邑百戶，1守司隸校尉。帝征吳，以畿爲尚書僕射，統留事。其後帝幸許昌，畿復居守。受詔作御樓船，於陶河試船，遇風沒。帝爲之流涕。2詔曰：“昔冥勤其官而水死，稷勤百穀而山死。3
Pei Songzhi’s notes (3)
1《魏略》曰：初畿在郡，被書錄寡婦。是時他郡或有已自相配嫁，依書皆錄奪，啼哭道路。畿但取寡者，故所送少；及趙儼代畿而所送多。文帝問畿：“前君所送何少，今何多也？”畿對曰：“臣前所錄皆亡者妻，今儼送生人婦也。”帝及左右顧而失色。
2《魏氏春秋》曰：初，畿嘗見童子謂之曰：“司命使我召子。”畿固請之，童子曰：“今將爲君求相代者。君其慎勿言！”言卒，忽然不見。至此二十年矣，畿乃言之。其日而卒，時年六十二。
3韋昭《國語注》稱《毛詩》傳曰：“冥，契六世孫也，爲夏水官，勤於其職而死於水。稷、周棄也，勤播百穀，死於黑水之山。”
The late Deputy Director of the Secretariat Du Ji, testing a ship at Mengjin, was in the end capsized and drowned. This is the utmost of loyalty. We are deeply grieved.” He was posthumously made Minister Coachman and given the posthumous title Marquis Dai. His son Du Shu succeeded him.
故尚書僕射杜畿，於孟津試船，遂至覆沒，忠之至也。朕甚愍焉。”追贈太僕，諡曰戴侯。子恕嗣。1
Pei Songzhi’s notes (1)
1《傅子》曰：畿與太僕李恢、東安太守郭智有好。恢子豐交結英儁，以才智顯於天下。智子沖有內實而無外觀，州里弗稱也。畿爲尚書僕射，二人各脩子孫禮見畿。既退，畿歎曰：“孝懿無子；非徒無子，殆將無家。君謀爲不死也，其子足繼其業。”時人皆以畿爲誤。恢死後，豐爲中書令，父子兄弟皆誅；沖爲代郡太守，卒繼父業；世乃服畿知人。《魏略》曰李豐父名義，與此不同，義蓋恢之別名也。
His son Du Shu
子 恕
Du Shu, courtesy name Wubo, became Cavalier Gentleman of the Yellow Gate in the Taihe era. He was sincere and plain in manner and did not cultivate appearances, so in his youth he had no reputation. When he was at court he formed no alliances to gain patrons but devoted himself wholly to the public good. Whenever policy went right or wrong, he would invoke the fundamental principles and speak out correctly, and for this the Palace Attendant Xin Pi and others held him in high regard.
恕字務伯，太和中爲散騎黃門侍郎。1恕推誠以質，不治飾，少無名譽。及在朝，不結交援，專心向公。每政有得失，常引綱維以正言，於是侍中辛毗等器重之。
Pei Songzhi’s notes (1)
1杜氏新書曰：恕少與馮翊李豐俱爲父任，總角相善。及各成人，豐砥礪名行以要世譽，而恕誕節直意，與豐殊趣。豐竟馳名一時，京師之士多爲之游說。而當路者或以豐名過其實，而恕被褐懷玉也。由此爲豐所不善。恕亦任其自然，不力行以合時。豐以顯仕朝廷，恕猶居家自若。明帝以恕大臣子，擢拜散騎侍郎，數月，轉補黃門侍郎。
At that time the ministers and officials below them were holding a great debate on what to add to or remove from the institutions, and Du Shu held that “the Inspectors of old upheld and proclaimed the Six Articles, won their name by purity and quietude, and were praised for their dignified bearing. They should now be prevented from commanding troops so that they may devote themselves to the affairs of the people.” Shortly afterward Lü Zhao, General Who Guards the North, was also given charge of Ji Province, and Du Shu submitted a memorial: “Of the ways of emperors and kings, none is higher than giving peace to the people; the means of giving peace to the people lies in making wealth abundant. To make wealth abundant is to devote oneself to the root occupation and to be sparing in expenditure.
時公卿以下大議損益，恕以爲“古之刺史，奉宣六條，以清靜爲名，威風著稱，今可勿令領兵，以專民事。”俄而鎮北將軍呂昭又領冀州，1乃上疏曰：帝王之道，莫尚乎安民；安民之術，在於豐財。豐財者，務本而節用也。
Pei Songzhi’s notes (1)
1《世語》曰：昭字子展，東平人。長子巽，字長悌，爲相國掾，有寵於司馬文王。次子安，字仲悌，與嵇康善，與康俱被誅。次子粹，字季悌，河南尹。粹子預，字景虞，御史中丞。
At present the two rebels have not been destroyed and the war chariots are often on the move; this is naturally the season for warriors fierce as bears and tigers to exert their strength. But even the gentlemen scholars recklessly admire such glory; wringing their wrists and arguing loudly, they rank Sun Wu and Wu Qi first, while the governors and administrators of the provinces and commanderies all neglect the art of caring for the people and cultivate the business of generals. When the people of the fields and mulberry groves vie to take up the trade of shield and spear, it cannot be called devotion to the root occupation. When the treasuries grow emptier each year while the establishments grow larger each year, and the people’s strength declines each year while levies and corvée increase each year, it cannot be called sparing in expenditure.
方今二賊未滅，戎車亟駕，此自熊虎之士展力之秋也。然搢紳之儒，橫加榮慕，搤腕抗論，以孫、吳爲首，州郡牧守，咸共忽恤民之術，脩將率之事。農桑之民，競干戈之業，不可謂務本。帑藏歲虛而制度歲廣，民力歲衰而賦役歲興，不可謂節用。
Great Wei now holds all the lands of ten provinces, yet it has inherited the ruin of the years of chaos; count its registered households, and they do not equal the people of a single province in former times. Meanwhile the two regions are usurping and rebellious and the northern barbarians have not yet submitted, so troubles beset three frontiers and encircle the land under Heaven. Thus we are using the people of one province to manage the lands of nine; the difficulty is like whipping an emaciated horse to cover a long road. How can we not take care to spare its strength?
今大魏奄有十州之地，而承喪亂之弊，計其戶口不如往昔一州之民，然而二方僭逆，北虜未賓，三邊遘難，繞天略匝；所以統一州之民，經營九州之地，其爲艱難，譬策羸馬以取道里，豈可不加意愛惜其力哉？
Even with the frugality of Emperor Wu, when the treasuries were full, it was not possible to keep troops in all ten provinces; the commanderies with troops came to only about twenty. Now the frontier provinces, Jing, Yang, Qing, Xu, You, Bing, Yong, and Liang, all have troops, and the only ones we can rely on to fill the treasuries at home and hold the barbarians of the four quarters in check abroad are Yan, Yu, Si, and Ji. Your servant said earlier that when provinces and commanderies command troops, they devote themselves to military merit and neglect the affairs of the people, and that generals and administrators should be appointed separately so that the work of governing can be carried out in full. Yet Your Majesty has again favored Lü Zhao with Ji Province.
以武皇帝之節儉，府藏充實，猶不能十州擁兵；郡且二十也。今荊、揚、青、徐、幽、并、雍、涼緣邊諸州皆有兵矣，其所恃內充府庫外制四夷者，惟兗、豫、司、冀而已。臣前以州郡典兵，則專心軍功，不勤民事，宜別置將守，以盡治理之務；而陛下復以冀州寵秩呂昭。
Ji Province has the largest population and much cultivated land, and besides it has a wealth of mulberry and jujube; it is the storehouse on which the state draws for its levies, and truly it should not again be entrusted with military affairs. If the north must have a garrison commander, a senior general can simply be appointed to hold it secure. Reckon the cost of the officials and soldiers to be appointed, and it is no different from giving one man concurrent posts. Moreover, Lü Zhao, as a man of talent, is still replaceable. If the court is short of men, then those who combine talents cannot be so very many.
冀州戶口最多，田多墾闢，又有桑棗之饒，國家徵求之府，誠不當復任以兵事也。若以北方當須鎮守，自可專置大將以鎮安之。計所置吏士之費，與兼官無異。然昭於人才尚復易；中朝苟乏人，兼才者勢不獨多。
From this we can see that the state chooses offices to fit the men, rather than choosing men to fit the offices. When offices are filled by the right men, government is fair and lawsuits are well handled; because government is fair, the people are rich and well provided for, and because lawsuits are well handled, the prisons stand empty. When Your Majesty ascended the throne, the criminal cases decided in the realm numbered a hundred and some tens; they have increased year by year and now reach more than five hundred. The people have not grown more numerous, and the laws have not grown harsher. From this we can see, is this not clear proof that government and moral teaching have declined and that the governors and administrators are unequal to their posts?
以此推之，知國家以人擇官，不爲官擇人也。官得其人，則政平訟理；政平故民富實，訟理故囹圄空虛。陛下踐阼，天下斷獄百數十人，歲歲增多，至五百餘人矣。民不益多，法不益峻。以此推之，非政教陵遲，牧守不稱之明效歟？
Last year oxen died, and across the realm as a whole two in ten were lost; the wheat harvest did not reach half, and the autumn sowing has not yet been done. If the two rebels roam about on our borders, then however fast we rush fodder and haul grain, it will not reach across a thousand li in time. If we look into the remedy for this, how could it lie in strengthening the army? The more warriors and hardy soldiers we have, the more we have, the sicker we become. The realm is like the human body: if the belly and heart are sound, then even if the four limbs are ailing, there will be no great harm in the end. Now Yan, Yu, Si, and Ji are the belly and heart of the realm.
往年牛死，通率天下十能損二；麥不半收，秋種未下。若二賊游魂於疆埸，飛芻輓粟，千里不及。究此之術，豈在強兵乎？武士勁卒愈多，愈多愈病耳。夫天下猶人之體，腹心充實，四支雖病，終無大患；今兗、豫、司、冀亦天下之腹心也。
Therefore your foolish servant earnestly wishes that the governors and administrators of these four provinces devote themselves solely to the work of the root occupation, so that they can bear the weight of the limbs. But a lone argument is hard to sustain, what goes against desire is hard to achieve, the resentment of the many is hard to endure, and what merely seems suspicious is hard to sort out; that is why for years this has not been perceived by our enlightened ruler. Those who speak of such things are, as a rule, distant and lowly men, and the words of distant and lowly men are truly not easily heeded. If good plans had to come from those close to the throne and high in rank, then those who are close and high would certainly not brave these four difficulties in pursuit of loyal devotion. This has been the constant trouble of past and present.”
是以愚臣慺慺，實願四州之牧守，獨脩務本之業，以堪四支之重。然孤論難持，犯欲難成，衆怨難積，疑似難分，故累載不爲明主所察。凡言此者，類皆疏賤；疏賤之言，實未易聽。若使善策必出於親貴，親貴固不犯四難以求忠愛，此古今之所常患也。
At that time there was also a great debate on a system of merit evaluation for assessing the officials at court and in the provinces. Du Shu believed that if men are employed without their abilities being fully used, even talent is of no benefit; that what the proposal dwelt on was not what should be pursued, and what it pursued was not what the age needed. He submitted a memorial: “The Book of Documents says, ‘Test them clearly by their achievements; after three evaluations, demote or promote them.’ This is truly a splendid institution of the emperors and kings. To have the able fill the offices and the meritorious receive the salaries is like Wu Huo lifting a thousand jun, or Wang Liang and Bo Le choosing thoroughbreds.
時又大議考課之制，以考內外衆官。恕以爲用不盡其人，雖才且無益，所存非所務，所務非世要。上疏曰：書稱“明試以功，三考黜陟”，誠帝王之盛制。使有能者當其官，有功者受其祿，譬猶烏獲之舉千鈞，良、樂之選驥足也。
Yet through six dynasties the method of evaluating achievements was never set forth, and through seven sages no text on testing and assessment was handed down. Your servant truly believes this is because the method can be followed in rough outline, but its details are hard to specify in full. There is a saying: ‘The world has men who make disorder, but no laws that make disorder.’ If the law alone could be relied upon, then Tang and Yu would have had no need for the help of Ji and Xie, and Yin and Zhou would not have prized the assistance of Yi Yin and Lü Shang. Now the one who has submitted the proposal on assessing merit sets out the laws and practices of Zhou and Han and weaves together the original intent of Jing Fang; he may be said to have made clear the essentials of merit evaluation.
雖歷六代而考績之法不著，關七聖而課試之文不垂，臣誠以爲其法可粗依，其詳難備舉故也。語曰：“世有亂人而無亂法。”若使法可專任，則唐、虞可不須稷、契之佐，殷、周無貴伊、呂之輔矣。今奏考功者，陳周、漢之法爲，綴京房之本旨，可謂明考課之要矣。
But as a means of exalting the spirit of courtesy and deference and bringing about an order filled with men of talent, your servant does not think it wholly good. If the provinces and commanderies are to assess gentlemen, it must be through the Four Categories: only when all have shown results in their work should they be examined and recommended, then tested by appointment to the offices of the Excellencies, made senior officials who govern the people directly, and moved up in order of merit to fill the post of Grand Administrator, or else have their salaries raised and ranks granted where they are. This is the most urgent business of merit evaluation. Your servant believes that the proposer should be promoted and his words adopted, and he should be made to draft in full the method for assessing the provinces and commanderies; once the method is complete it should be put into effect, with rewards that are sure to be honored and punishments that are sure to be carried out. As for the ministers and the great officials of the inner court, they too should all be assessed according to their duties.
於以崇揖讓之風，興濟濟之治，臣以爲未盡善也。其欲使州郡考士，必由四科，皆有事效，然後察舉，試辟公府，爲親民長吏，轉以功次補郡守者，或就增秩賜爵，此最考課之急務也。臣以爲便當顯其身，用其言，使具爲課州郡之法，法具施行，立必信之賞，施必行之罰。至於公卿及內職大臣，亦當俱以其職考課之也。
The Three Excellencies of old sat and discussed the Way, and the great officials of the inner court offered counsel and made good what was lacking; no good deed went unrecorded, and no fault went unexposed. Moreover, the realm is vast and its myriad affairs are countless; truly no single intelligence can illuminate them all. Therefore the ruler is the head and the ministers are the limbs, which makes clear that they are one body, each depending on the other to be complete. That is why the ancients said that the timbers of a great hall are not held up by a single tree, and the enterprise of an emperor or king is not the plan of a single man.
古之三公，坐而論道，內職大臣，納言補闕，無善不紀，無過不舉。且天下至大，萬機至衆，誠非一明所能遍照。故君爲元首，臣作股肱，明其一體相須而成也。是以古人稱廊廟之材，非一木之支；帝王之業，非一士之略。
From this it follows: how could great ministers who merely keep to their posts and dispute over assessments ever bring about an age of harmony and splendor! Moreover, even in friendships between commoners there are those who, intent on keeping faith and oaths, will walk through water and fire; those who, moved by one who truly knows them, will lay bare their liver and gall; and those who, pursuing a good name, will stand firm in integrity and righteousness. How much more so for those who wear the sash and stand at court, having risen to the rank of minister or chancellor! What they strive for is not merely the good faith of a common man, what moves them is not merely the kindness of one who knows them, and what they pursue — how could it be only a good name?
由是言之，焉有大臣守職辨課可以致雍熙者哉！且布衣之交，猶有務信誓而蹈水火，感知己而披肝膽，徇聲名而立節義者；況於束帶立朝，致位卿相，所務者非特匹夫之信，所感者非徒知己之惠，所徇者豈聲名而已乎！
All who receive favor and stipends and bear heavy responsibilities wish not only to raise their enlightened ruler above Tang and Yu; they also wish to take their own place in the ranks of Ji and Xie. That is why the ancients did not worry that the will to think of good government might fall short, but worried that the resolve to take responsibility upon oneself might be insufficient; and this is truly something the ruler brings about. The rulers Tang and Yu entrusted Ji, Xie, Kui, and Long with office and held them to account for success; and when it came to punishing crimes, they put Gun to death and banished the Four Evils.
諸蒙寵祿受重任者，不徒欲舉明主於唐、虞之上而已；身亦欲廁稷、契之列。是以古人不患於念治之心不盡，患於自任之意不足，此誠人主使之然也。唐、虞之君，委任稷、契、夔、龍而責成功，及其罪也，殛鯀而放四凶。
Now the great ministers personally receive your enlightened edicts and serve before your very eyes. Among them, those who are at their public duties day and night, diligent, scrupulous, and outstanding, who in office do not bend before the noble and powerful, who hold to fairness and do not favor their own, and who conduct themselves at court with upright words and upright deeds — these the enlightened ruler will observe for himself. Those who regard drawing a salary for doing nothing as lofty and folding their hands in silence as wise, who in office care only to escape blame and at court never forget to keep themselves safe, keeping their conduct spotless and their words humble as they go about the court — these too the enlightened ruler will observe.
今大臣親奉明詔，給事目下，其有夙夜在公，恪勤特立，當官不撓貴勢，執平不阿所私，危言危行以處朝廷者，自明主所察也。若尸祿以爲高，拱默以爲智，當官苟在於免負，立朝不忘於容身，絜行遜言以處朝廷者，亦明主所察也。
If indeed those who look after themselves and cling to their posts incur no penalty of dismissal, while those who give their all in public service are left under suspicion, then public duty will not be cultivated and private criticism will become the custom; even if Zhongni himself were to lay the plans, he could not make full use of a single talent, let alone men of the common sort! Scholars today take Shang Yang and Han Fei as their masters and exalt law and statecraft, and they vie with one another in calling the Confucians impractical and of no use to the age. This is the worst abuse in the customs of our time, and one that the founders of a dynasty must guard against with the utmost care.”
誠使容身保位，無放退之辜，而盡節在公，抱見疑之勢，公義不脩而私議成俗，雖仲尼爲謀，猶不能盡一才，又況於世俗之人乎！今之學者，師商、韓而上法術，競以儒家爲迂闊，不周世用，此最風俗之流弊，創業者之所致慎也。
In the end the system of merit evaluation was never put into effect.
後考課竟不行。1
Pei Songzhi’s notes (1)
1杜氏新書曰：時李豐爲常侍，黃門郎袁侃見轉爲吏部郎，荀俁出爲東郡太守，三人皆恕之同班友善。
Lian Zhao of Lean had been promoted for his talent and ability, and was much given to reporting on affairs. Du Shu submitted a memorial in earnest remonstrance: “I humbly note that the Gentleman of the Secretariat Lian Zhao has impeached the Assistant of the Left, Cao Fan, for punishing the gatekeepers without following the edict, and Cao Fan has been put under interrogation. Lian Zhao further said, ‘All others who should be held liable will be reported separately.’ The Director of the Secretariat Chen Jiao reported on himself, saying that he dared not refuse punishment, but neither did he dare to make a show of respect by accepting a heavy one; his meaning was most earnest and pitiable. Your servant is privately grieved and regrets this on the court’s behalf!
樂安廉昭以才能拔擢，頗好言事。恕上疏極諫曰：伏見尚書郎廉昭奏左丞曹璠以罰當關不依詔，坐判問。又云“諸當坐者別奏”。尚書令陳矯自奏不敢辭罰，亦不敢以處重爲恭，意至懇惻。臣竊憫然爲朝廷惜之！
The sages did not pick their age in which to rise, nor change the people in order to govern, yet whenever they arose they always had worthy and wise helpers; this was because they advanced them by the Way and led them with propriety. The reason the emperors and kings of old were able to sustain their age and nurture the people was that, without exception, they won the hearts of the common folk far away and drew out the full wisdom and strength of their ministers close at hand. If the ministers now holding office at court are all the choicest men of the realm and yet cannot be brought to use their full strength, it cannot be said that men are well employed; and if they are not the choicest of the realm, then neither can it be said that offices are well filled.
夫聖人不擇世而興，不易民而治，然而生必有賢智之佐者，蓋進之以道，率之以禮故也。古之帝王之所以能輔世長民者，莫不遠得百姓之歡心，近盡羣臣之智力。誠使今朝任職之臣皆天下之選，而不能盡其力，不可謂能使人；若非天下之選，亦不可謂能官人。
Your Majesty toils and worries over the myriad affairs of state, at times working by lamplight yourself, yet the many affairs are not in good order and prohibitions and punishments grow slacker by the day. Is this not clear proof that your ministers, your arms and legs, are not equal to their tasks? Tracing the cause, it is not only that the ministers fail to be fully loyal, but also that the ruler is unable to employ them. Baili Xi was a fool in Yu but wise in Qin; Yu Rang merely got by under the Zhonghang clan but displayed his loyalty for Zhibo. These are clear proofs from the ancients. If your servant now said that the whole court was disloyal, that would be slandering the whole court; yet the nature of the matter can be inferred.
陛下憂勞萬機，或親燈火，而庶事不康，刑禁日弛，豈非股肱不稱之明效歟？原其所由，非獨臣有不盡忠，亦主有不能使。百里奚愚於虞而智於秦，豫讓苟容中行而著節智伯，斯則古人之明驗矣。今臣言一朝皆不忠，是誣一朝也；然其事類，可推而得。
Your Majesty, troubled that the treasuries are not full while military affairs have not ceased, has gone so far as to cut off the seasonal issues of clothing and reduce the private grain of the imperial storehouse. All this proceeded from your sagely intention, and the whole court praised your wisdom. Yet among the great ministers who take part in government and handle confidential matters, is there one who earnestly worries over this?
陛下感帑藏之不充實，而軍事未息，至乃斷四時之賦衣，薄御府之私穀，帥由聖意，舉朝稱明，與聞政事密勿大臣，寧有懇懇憂此者乎？
The Chief Commandant of Cavalry Wang Cai and the favored musician Meng Si broke the law and caused an uproar throughout the capital, yet their crimes were exposed by petty clerks, and the ministers and great officials said not a single word from the first. Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, has any Director of Retainers or Palace Assistant Imperial Clerk upheld the rules to keep the wicked in check and brought solemn order to the court? If Your Majesty thinks the present age has no good talent and the court lacks worthy helpers, how can you look back in hope to the distant footsteps of Ji and Xie, or sit and wait for the outstanding men of later ages!
騎都尉王才、幸樂人孟思所爲不法，振動京都，而其罪狀發於小吏，公卿大臣初無一言。自陛下踐阼以來，司隸校尉、御史中丞寧有舉綱維以督姦宄，使朝廷肅然者邪？若陛下以爲今世無良才，朝廷乏賢佐，豈可追望稷、契之遐蹤，坐待來世之儁乂乎！
Those now called worthy all hold high office and enjoy generous stipends; yet the integrity with which they serve their superior is not established, and their devotion to the public good is not single-minded, because the responsibility entrusted to them is not undivided and custom is full of things one dare not mention. Your servant believes that a loyal minister need not be an intimate one, and an intimate minister need not be loyal. Why? Because it is standing in a place free of suspicion that allows one to carry out one’s duties to the full. Now if a man at a distance disparages someone, people do not examine whether the disparagement is true but insist that he is privately taking revenge on one he hates; if he praises someone, they do not examine whether the praise is true but insist that he is privately favoring one close to him; and those around the throne sometimes use this to advance talk of hatred and favoritism.
今之所謂賢者，盡有大官而享厚祿矣，然而奉上之節未立，向公之心不一者，委任之責不專，而俗多忌諱故也。臣以爲忠臣不必親，親臣不必忠。何者？以其居無嫌之地而事得自盡也。今有疏者毀人不實其所毀，而必曰私報所憎，譽人不實其所譽，而必曰私愛所親，左右或因之以進憎愛之說。
It is not only in disparagement and praise; in every matter of policy, whether adding or cutting back, there is suspicion. Your Majesty ought to consider how to open and broaden the minds of the court’s ministers and firmly encourage the integrity of those who hold to the Way, so that they will of themselves emulate the ancients and hope to have their names set down on bamboo and silk. Instead you let men like Lian Zhao stir up trouble among them. Your servant fears that the great ministers will then look after themselves and cling to their posts, sitting by and watching success and failure, and so become a warning to later ages!
非獨毀譽有之，政事損益，亦皆有嫌。陛下當思所以闡廣朝臣之心，篤厲有道之節，使之自同古人，望與竹帛耳。反使如廉昭者擾亂其間，臣懼大臣遂將容身保位，坐觀得失，爲來世戒也！
Of old the Duke of Zhou admonished the Marquis of Lu, saying, ‘Do not let the great ministers resent not being employed.’ That he did not speak of the worthy or the foolish makes clear that all should be put to use in their own age. When Yao enumerated Shun’s achievements, he praised the removal of the Four Evils without speaking of great or small: whoever had committed crimes was removed. Now the court’s ministers do not think themselves incapable; they think Your Majesty does not entrust them. They do not think themselves unwise; they think Your Majesty does not consult them. Why does Your Majesty not follow the Duke of Zhou’s way of employing men and the great Shun’s way of removing them?
昔周公戒魯侯曰“無使大臣怨乎不以”，不言賢愚，明皆當世用也。堯數舜之功，稱去四凶，不言大小，有罪則去也。今者朝臣不自以爲不能，以陛下爲不任也；不自以爲不智，以陛下爲不問也。陛下何不遵周公之所以用，大舜之所以去？
Have the Palace Attendants and Masters of Writing wait upon you within the curtained tent when you are seated and follow the ornate carriage when you travel, answering your edicts and questions in person so that whatever they set forth is sure to reach you. Then the conduct of all your ministers, able or not, can be known: the loyal and capable will be advanced and the dull and inferior will be withdrawn, and who would dare to waver and not give his utmost? If Your Majesty, with your sagely wisdom, personally discusses affairs of government with your ministers and lets each of them give his utmost, each will feel himself close to you and each will think how to repay you, and the worthy and the foolish, the able and the unable, will be yours to employ as you will.
使侍中、尚書坐則侍帷幄，行則從華輦，親對詔問，所陳必達，則羣臣之行，能否皆可得而知；忠能者進，闇劣者退，誰敢依違而不自盡？以陛下之聖明，親與羣臣論議政事，使羣臣人得自盡，人自以爲親，人思所以報，賢愚能否，在陛下之所用。
If affairs are managed in this way, what affair will not be accomplished? If merit is sought in this way, what merit will not be achieved? Whenever there is a military matter, your edicts always say, ‘Who is to worry about this? I shall simply worry about it myself.’ A recent edict also said, ‘There will surely be none who worry for the public and forget themselves; but if only they put the public first and themselves second, things will be done of themselves.’ Reverently reading your enlightened edicts, I know that your sagely thoughts reach to the very depths of the feelings of those below; yet I also wonder that Your Majesty does not treat the root but worries over the branches.
以此治事，何事不辦？以此建功，何功不成？每有軍事，詔書常曰：“誰當憂此者邪？吾當自憂耳。”近詔又曰：“憂公忘私者必不然，但先公後私即自辦也。”伏讀明詔，乃知聖思究盡下情，然亦怪陛下不治其本而憂其末也。
Whether a man is capable or not truly lies in his nature, and your servant too believes that the court’s ministers are not all equal to their posts. When an enlightened ruler employs men, he sees to it that the able dare not hold back their strength and the unable are not permitted to occupy posts unsuited to them. To select and recommend the wrong man is not necessarily a crime; but for the whole court to join in tolerating the wrong man — that is strange indeed. Your Majesty knows they do not exert their full strength, yet worries over their duties in their place; you know they are incapable, yet teach them how to manage their affairs. Is this not simply the ruler toiling while the ministers take their ease? Even if sages and worthies lived side by side in one age, they could never govern in this way.
人之能否，實有本性，雖臣亦以爲朝臣不盡稱職也。明主之用人也，使能者不敢遺其力，而不能者不得處非其任。選舉非其人，未必爲有罪也；舉朝共容非其人，乃爲怪耳。陛下知其不盡力也，而代之憂其職，知其不能也，而教之治其事，豈徒主勞而臣逸哉？雖聖賢並世，終不能以此爲治也。
Your Majesty is also troubled that the prohibitions of the Secretariat are not strict and that requests and solicitations over appointments never cease; so you have allowed Yi Yin to draw up regulations for receiving visitors and controlling their comings and goings, and have picked harsh clerks from the office of the Minister over the Masses to take turns guarding the office gates. Awe-inspiring prohibitions do proceed from this, but it has truly not reached the root of prohibition. In former times, under Emperor An of the Han, when the Privy Treasurer Dou Jia appointed the blameless nephew of the Commandant of Justice Guo Gong, he was still impeached, and memorials of accusation came thick and fast. Recently the Director of Retainers Kong Xian appointed the wild and unruly younger brother of the General-in-Chief, yet the officials concerned kept silent, watching which way the wind blew and courting favor — worse than taking solicitations.
陛下又患臺閣禁令之不密，人事請屬之不絕，聽伊尹作迎客出入之制，選司徒更惡吏以守寺門；威禁由之，實未得爲禁之本也。昔漢安帝時，少府竇嘉辟廷尉郭躬無罪之兄子，猶見舉奏，章劾紛紛。近司隸校尉孔羨辟大將軍狂悖之弟，而有司嘿爾，望風希指，甚於受屬。
Selection not grounded in reality is the gravest of personnel matters. Dou Jia enjoyed the favor of an imperial in-law, and Guo Gong was no weighty minister of the state, yet even so it went thus. Comparing the present with the past, it is simply that Your Majesty does not insist on the punishments that must be carried out so as to cut off the source of favoritism and partisanship. Yi Yin’s regulations and harsh clerks guarding the gates are not the tools of a well-governed age. If your servant’s words were examined and accepted even a little, why worry that wickedness would not be pared away and destroyed — and why nurture such men as Lian Zhao!
選舉不以實，人事之大者也。1嘉有親戚之寵，躬非社稷重臣，猶尚如此；以今況古，陛下自不督必行之罰以絕阿黨之原耳。伊尹之制，與惡吏守門，非治世之具也。使臣之言少蒙察納，何患於姦不削滅，而養若昭等乎！
Pei Songzhi’s notes (1)
1臣松之案大將軍，司馬宣王也。晉書云：“宣王第五弟，名通，爲司隸從事。”疑恕所云狂悖者。通子順，封龍陽亭侯。晉初受禪，以不達天命，守節不移，削爵土，徙武威。
To expose and denounce the wicked is loyal service; yet the world hates it when petty men do it, because they pay no heed to principle and seek only to win favor and advance. If Your Majesty no longer examines matters from beginning to end, but takes defying the multitude and flouting the world to be devotion to the public, and secretly informing on others to be the height of integrity, would men of broad understanding and great talent be unable to do the same? They truly heed principle and refrain from it, that is all. If the whole realm turns its back on the Way and runs after profit, that is what a ruler should dread most; what pleasure would Your Majesty find in it? Why not cut it off while it is still a sprout?
夫糾擿姦宄，忠事也，然而世憎小人行之者，以其不顧道理而苟求容進也。若陛下不復考其終始，必以違衆忤世爲奉公，密行白人爲盡節，焉有通人大才而更不能爲此邪？誠顧道理而弗爲耳。使天下皆背道而趨利，則人主之所最病者，陛下將何樂焉，胡不絕其萌乎！
Those who anticipate the ruler’s wishes and follow his inclinations in order to win favor and praise are, as a rule, the shallow men of the realm who lack righteous conduct. Their aim is only to please the ruler’s heart, not to govern the realm or bring peace to the people. Why does Your Majesty not try changing course to show them? Would they then hold to what they had defended and go against your sagely will? For a subject, to win the ruler’s heart is security; to hold an honored and eminent office is glory; and to eat a stipend of a thousand zhong is rich reward.
夫先意承旨以求容美，率皆天下淺薄無行義者，其意務在於適人主之心而已，非欲治天下安百姓也。陛下何不試變業而示之，彼豈執其所守以違聖意哉？夫人臣得人主之心，安業也；處尊顯之官，榮事也；食千鍾之祿，厚實也。
However foolish a subject may be, there is none who does not enjoy these things and would rather give offense; pressed by the Way, they simply force themselves. Your servant truly believes Your Majesty should pity and support such men and entrust them with a little responsibility; how is it that you instead take up the crooked designs of Lian Zhao and his kind and neglect men like these? Now there are enemies watching for an opening abroad and impoverished, idle people at home. Your Majesty ought to weigh carefully what benefits and harms the realm and what succeeds and fails in government; truly you must not be remiss.”
人臣雖愚，未有不樂此而喜干迕者也，迫於道，自強耳。誠以爲陛下當憐而佑之，少委任焉，如何反錄昭等傾側之意，而忽若人者乎？今者外有伺隙之寇，內有貧曠之民，陛下當大計天下之損益，政事之得失，誠不可以怠也。
Du Shu was at court for eight years, and his arguments were all as lofty and forthright as this.
恕在朝八年，其論議亢直，皆此類也。
He went out to be Grand Administrator of Hongnong, and after several years was transferred to be Chancellor of Zhao, but left office because of illness. He was called up again from home to be Grand Administrator of Hedong, and after more than a year was promoted to Protector of the Army under the Area Commander of Huaibei, but again left because of illness. Wherever he served, Du Shu concerned himself only with preserving the broad essentials; in bestowing kindness and winning ever more of the people’s hearts, he did not match Du Ji. Soon afterward he was appointed Palace Assistant Imperial Clerk.
出爲弘農太守，數歲轉趙相，1以疾去官。2起家爲河東太守，歲餘，遷淮北都督護軍，復以疾去。恕所在，務存大體而已，其樹惠愛，益得百姓歡心，不及於畿。頃之，拜御史中丞。
Pei Songzhi’s notes (2)
1《魏略》曰：恕在弘農，寬和有惠愛。及遷，以孟康代恕爲弘農。康字公休，安平人。黃初中，以於郭后有外屬，并受九親賜拜，遂轉爲散騎侍郎。是時，散騎皆以高才英儒充其選，而康獨緣妃嬙雜在其間，故于時皆共輕之，號爲阿九。康既（無）才敏，因在冗官，博讀書傳，後遂有所彈駮，其文義雅而切要，衆人乃更加意。正始中，出爲弘農，領典農校尉。康到官，清己奉職，嘉善而矜不能，省息獄訟，緣民所欲，因而利之。郡領吏二百餘人，涉春遣休，常四分遣一。事無宿諾，時出案行，皆豫敕督郵平水，不得令屬官遣人探候，脩設曲敬。又不欲煩損吏民，常豫敕吏卒，行各持鐮，所在自刈馬草，不止亭傳，露宿樹下，又所從常不過十餘人。郡帶道路，其諸過賓客，自非公法無所出給；若知舊造之，自出於家。康之始拜，衆人雖知其有志量，以其未嘗宰牧，不保其能也；而康恩澤治能乃爾，吏民稱歌焉。嘉平末，從渤海太守徵入爲中書令，後轉爲監。
2杜氏新書曰：恕遂去京師，營宜陽一泉塢，因其壘巉之固，小大家焉。明帝崩時，人多爲恕言者。
Because Du Shu was not on good terms with his contemporaries at court, he was often posted to the provinces. He went out again as Inspector of You Province, with the additional title of General Who Establishes Might, bearing the Staff of Authority, and serving as Colonel Protector of the Wuhuan. At that time the General Who Conquers the North, Cheng Xi, was garrisoned at Ji. The Master of Writing Yuan Kan and others warned Du Shu, saying, “In the time of the late emperor, Cheng Shenbo brought down Tian Guorang in Qing Province. You now both hold the staff of authority and are set to garrison the same city; you should be very careful in how you deal with him.”
恕在朝廷，以不得當世之和，故屢在外任。復出爲幽州刺史，加建威將軍，使持節，護烏丸校尉。時征北將軍程喜屯薊，尚書袁侃等戒恕曰：“程申伯處先帝之世，傾田國讓於青州。足下今俱杖節，使共屯一城，宜深有以待之。”
But Du Shu paid no heed. Before he had been a full year in office, the son of a Xianbei chieftain came straight to the provincial seat with a few dozen horsemen without passing through the frontier barriers. The province beheaded one of the young men who had come with him and sent up no memorial to report it. Cheng Xi thereupon impeached Du Shu, who was handed over to the Commandant of Justice and sentenced to death. Because his father Du Ji had died in the water while diligently performing his duty, he was spared, reduced to a commoner, and banished to Zhangwu Commandery. This was the first year of Jiaping. Du Shu was free-spirited and did as he pleased, but gave no thought to guarding against trouble, and in the end came to this ruin.
而恕不以爲意。至官未期，有鮮卑大人兒，不由關塞，徑將數十騎詣州，州斬所從來小子一人，無表言上。喜於是劾奏恕，下廷尉，當死。以父畿勤事水死，免爲庶人，徙章武郡，是歲嘉平元年。1恕倜儻任意，而思不防患，終致此敗。
Pei Songzhi’s notes (1)
1杜氏新書曰：喜欲恕折節謝己，諷司馬宋權示之以微意。恕答權書曰：“況示委曲。夫法天下事，以善意相待，無不致快也；以不善意相待，無不致嫌隙也。而議者言，凡人天性皆不善，不當待以善意，更墮其調中。僕得此輩，便欲歸蹈滄海乘桴耳，不能自諧在其間也。然以年五十二，不見廢棄，頗亦遭明達君子亮其本心；若不見亮，使人刳心著地，正與數斤肉相似，何足有所明，故終不自解說。程征北功名宿著，在僕前甚多，有人出征北乎！若令下官事無大小，咨而後行，則非上司彈繩之意；若咨而不從，又非上下相順之宜。故推一心，任一意，直而行之耳。殺胡之事，天下謂之是邪，是僕諧也；呼爲非邪，僕自受之，無所怨咎。程征北明之亦善，不明之亦善，諸君子自共爲其心耳，不在僕言也。”喜於是遂深文劾恕。
Earlier, when Du Shu returned from Zhao Commandery, Ruan Wu of Chenliu had also been summoned back from his post as Grand Administrator of Qinghe, and the two of them presented themselves together before the Commandant of Justice for examination. Ruan Wu said to Du Shu, “As I see you, your talent and character would let you follow the public way, but you do not hold to it with rigor; your capacity would fit you for high office, but you do not seek it in a compliant way; your learning would let you expound past and present, but your aims are not single. This is what is called having the talent but not the use of it. Now that you are coming into some leisure, you might try thinking deeply and creating a school of thought of your own.”
初，恕從趙郡還，陳留阮武亦從清河太守徵，俱自薄廷尉。謂恕曰：“相觀才性可以由公道而持之不厲，器能可以處大官而求之不順，才學可以述古今而志之不一，此所謂有其才而無其用。今向間暇，可試潛思，成一家言。”
In Zhangwu he at last wrote the Ti lun (Treatise on Essentials) in eight chapters. He also wrote one essay, the Xingxing lun (On Cultivating One’s Nature), which seems to have sprung from his concern with learning for his own sake. In the fourth year he died at the place of his banishment.
在章武，遂著體論八篇。1又著興性論一篇，蓋興於爲己也。四年，卒於徙所。
Pei Songzhi’s notes (1)
1杜氏新書曰：以爲人倫之大綱，莫重於君臣；立身之基本，莫大於言行；安上理民，莫精於政法；勝殘去殺，莫善於用兵。夫禮也者，萬物之體也，萬物皆得其體，無有不善，故謂之體論。
In the second year of Ganlu, Yue Xiang of Hedong, then over ninety, submitted a letter extolling the legacy of Du Ji’s achievements, and the court was moved. An edict enfeoffed Du Shu’s son Du Yu as Marquis of Fengle Village with a fief of one hundred households.
甘露二年，河東樂詳年九十餘，上書訟畿之遺績，朝廷感焉。詔封恕子預爲豐樂亭侯，邑百戶。1
Pei Songzhi’s notes (1)
1《魏略》曰：樂詳字文載。少好學，建安初，詳聞公車司馬令南郡謝該善左氏傳，乃從南陽步詣〔許，從〕該問疑難諸要，今左氏樂氏問七十二事，詳所撰也。所問既了而歸鄉里，時杜畿爲太守，亦甚好學，署詳文學祭酒，使教後進，於是河東學業大興。至黃初中，徵拜博士。于時太學初立，有博士十餘人，學多褊狹，又不熟悉，略不親教，備員而已。惟詳五業並授，其或難解，質而不解，詳無慍色，以杖畫地，牽譬引類，至忘寢食，以是獨擅名於遠近。詳學既精悉，又善推步三五，別受詔與太史典定律曆。太和中，轉拜騎都尉。詳學優能少，故歷三世，竟不出爲宰守。至正始中，以年老罷歸於舍，本國宗族歸之，門徒數千人。
Du Shu’s memorials, discussions, and rebuttals are all worth reading; those bearing on the pressing affairs of the age have been selected and set down in this chapter.
恕奏議論駮皆可觀，掇其切世大事著于篇。1
Pei Songzhi’s notes (1)
1《杜氏新書》曰：恕弟理，字務仲。少而機察精要，畿奇之，故名之曰理。年二十一而卒。弟寬，字務叔。清虛玄靜，敏而好古。以名臣門戶，少長京師，而篤志博學，絕於世務，其意欲探賾索隱，由此顯名，當塗之士多交焉。舉孝廉，除郎中。年四十二而卒。經傳之義，多所論駮，皆草創未就，惟刪集禮記及春秋左氏傳解，今存于世。
預字元凱，司馬宣王女婿。王隱《晉書》稱預智謀淵博，明於理亂，常稱“德者非所以企及，立功立言，所庶幾也”。大觀羣典，謂公羊、穀梁，詭辨之言。又非先儒說左氏未究丘明意，而橫以二傳亂之。乃錯綜微言，著《春秋左氏經傳集解》，又參考衆家，謂之釋例，又作盟會圖、春秋長曆，備成一家之學，至老乃成。尚書郎摯虞甚重之，曰：“左丘明本爲春秋作傳，而左傳遂自孤行；釋例本爲傳設，而所發明何但左傳，故亦孤行。”預有大功名於晉室，位至征南大將軍，開府，封當陽侯，食邑八千戶。子錫，字世嘏，尚書左丞。《晉諸公贊》曰：嘏有器局。預從兄斌，字世將，亦有才望，爲黃門郎，爲趙王倫所枉殺。嘏子乂，字洪治。少有令名，爲丹陽丞，早卒。
阮武者，亦拓落大才也。案〈阮氏譜〉：武父諶，字士信，徵辟無所就，造三禮圖傳於世。《杜氏新書》曰：武字文業，闊達博通，淵雅之士。位止清河太守。武弟炳，字叔文，河南尹。精意醫術，撰藥方一部。炳子坦，字弘舒，晉太子少傅，平東將軍。坦弟柯，字士度。荀綽《兗州記》曰：坦出紹伯父，亡，次兄當襲爵，父愛柯，言名傳之，遂承封。時幼小，不能讓，及長悔恨，遂幅巾而居，後雖出身，未嘗釋也。性純篤閑雅，好禮無違，存心經誥，博學洽聞。選爲濮陽王文學，遷領軍長史，喪官。王衍時爲領軍，哭之甚慟。
Zheng Hun, courtesy name Wengong, was a man of Kaifeng in Henan. His great-great-grandfather Zheng Zhong and Zheng Zhong’s father Zheng Xing were both renowned Confucian scholars. His elder brother Zheng Tai plotted with Xun You and others to kill Dong Zhuo, became Inspector of Yang Province, and died.
鄭渾字文公，河南開封人也。高祖父衆，衆父興，皆爲名儒。1渾兄泰，與荀攸等謀誅董卓，爲揚州刺史，卒。2
Pei Songzhi’s notes (2)
1續漢書曰：興字少贛，諫議大夫。衆字子師，大司農。
2張璠《漢紀》曰：泰字公業。少有才略，多謀計，知天下將亂，陰交結豪傑。家富於財，有田四百頃，而食常不足，名聞山東。舉孝廉，三府辟，公車徵，皆不就。何進輔政，徵用名士，以泰爲尚書侍郎，加奉車都尉。進將誅黃門，欲召董卓爲助，泰謂進曰：“董卓強忍寡義，志欲無饜，若借之朝政，授之大事，將肆其心以危朝廷。以明公之威德，據阿衡之重任，秉意獨斷，誅除有罪，誠不待卓以爲資援也。且事留變生，其鑑不遠。”又爲陳時之要務，進不能用，乃棄官去。謂潁川人荀攸曰：“何公未易輔也。”進尋見害，卓果專權，廢帝。關東義兵起，卓會議大發兵，羣寮咸憚卓，莫敢忤旨。泰恐其強，益將難制，乃曰：“夫治在德，不在兵也。”卓不悅曰：“如此，兵無益邪？”衆人莫不變容，爲泰震慄。泰乃詭辭對曰：“非以無益，以山東不足加兵也。今山東議欲起兵，州郡相連，人衆相動，非不能也。然中國自光武以來，無雞鳴狗吠之警，百姓忘戰日久；仲尼有言‘不教民戰，是謂棄之’，雖衆不能爲害，一也。明公出自西州，少爲國將，閑習軍事，數踐戰場，名稱當世；以此威民，民懷懾服，二也。袁本初公卿子弟，生處京師，體長婦人；張孟卓東平長者，坐不窺堂；孔公緒能清談高論，噓枯吹生，無軍帥之才，負霜露之勤；臨鋒履刃，決敵雌雄，皆非明公敵，三也。察山東之士，力能跨馬控弦，勇等孟賁，捷齊慶忌，信有聊城之守，策有良平之謀；可任以偏師，責以成功，未聞有其人者，四也。就有其人，王爵不相加，婦姑位不定，各恃衆怙力，將人人釭跱，以觀成敗，不肯同心共膽，率徒旅進，五也。關西諸郡，北接上黨、太原、馮翊、扶風、安定，自頃以來，數與胡戰，婦女載戟挾矛，弦弓負矢，況其悍夫；以此當山東忘戰之民，譬驅羣羊向虎狼，其勝可必，六也。且天下之權勇，今見在者不過并、涼、匈奴、屠各、湟中、義從、八種西羌，皆百姓素所畏服，而明公權以爲爪牙，壯夫震栗，況小醜乎！七也。又明公之將帥，皆中表腹心，周旋日久，自三原、硤口以來，恩信醇著，忠誠可遠任，智謀可特使，以此當山東解（合）之虛誕，實不相若，八也。夫戰有三亡：以亂攻治者亡，以邪攻正者亡，以逆攻順者亡。今明公秉國政平，討夷凶宦，忠義克立；以三德待於三亡，奉辭伐罪，誰人敢禦？九也。東州有鄭康成，學該古今，儒生之所以集；北海邴根矩，清高直亮，羣士之楷式。彼諸將若詢其計畫，案典校之強弱，燕、趙、齊、梁非不盛，終見滅於秦，吳、楚七國非不衆，而不敢逾滎陽，況今德政之赫赫，股肱之邦良，欲造亂以徼不義者，必不相然讚，成其凶謀，十也。若十事少有可采，無事徵兵以驚天下，使患役之民，相聚爲非，棄德恃衆，以輕威重。”卓乃悅，以泰爲將軍，統諸軍擊關東。或謂卓曰：“鄭泰智略過人，而結謀山東，今資之士馬，使就其黨，竊爲明公懼之。”卓收其兵馬，留拜議郎。後又與王允謀共誅卓，泰脫身自武關走，東歸。後將軍袁術以爲揚州刺史，未至官，道卒，時年四十一。
Zheng Hun took Zheng Tai’s young son Zheng Mao and fled the troubles to Huainan, where Yuan Shu received him with the most generous courtesy due a guest. Zheng Hun knew that Yuan Shu was bound to fail. At that time Hua Xin was Grand Administrator of Yuzhang, and as he had always been on good terms with Zheng Tai, Zheng Hun crossed the River to take refuge with him. Taizu heard of his sincere conduct and summoned him to be a clerk, and later transferred him to be Chief of Xiacai and Magistrate of Shaoling. The realm was not yet settled; the people were all rough and reckless and gave no thought to making a living, and when they had children, they had no means of keeping them alive, so as a rule they did not raise them. Wherever Zheng Hun served, he confiscated their fishing and hunting gear, set them tasks of farming and sericulture, also opened up rice paddies, and made the laws against abandoning children more severe.
渾將泰小子袤避難淮南，袁術賓禮甚厚。渾知術必敗。時華歆爲豫章太守，素與泰善，渾乃渡江投歆。太祖聞其篤行，召爲掾，復遷下蔡長、邵陵令。天下未定，民皆剽輕，不念產殖；其生子無以相活，率皆不舉。渾所在奪其漁獵之具，課使耕桑，又兼開稻田，重去子之法。
At first the people feared punishment, but later they gradually grew prosperous, and there was no one who did not raise and provide for their children. Of the boys and girls so raised, many were given “Zheng” as part of their names. He was called to serve on the Chancellor’s staff and was then promoted to Governor of Zuopingyi.
民初畏罪，後稍豐給，無不舉贍；所育男女，多以鄭爲字。辟爲丞相掾屬，遷左馮翊。
At that time Liang Xing and others had carried off more than five thousand households of officials and commoners and were raiding and plundering. The counties could not resist them and, all being afraid, moved their administrations to lodge at the commandery seat. Those in council all said they should move to a defensible stronghold, but Zheng Hun said, “Liang Xing and his men have been broken and scattered and are hiding in the mountains. Though some follow them, most are only there under duress. What we should do now is open wide the road to surrender and proclaim our kindness and good faith. To hold strongholds and merely defend ourselves would be to show weakness.” He then gathered the officials and commoners, repaired the city walls, and made preparations for defense.
時梁興等略吏民五千餘家爲寇鈔，諸縣不能禦，皆恐懼，寄治郡下。議者悉以爲當移就險，渾曰：“興等破散，竄在山阻。雖有隨者，率脅從耳。今當廣開降路，宣喻恩信。而保險自守，此示弱也。”乃聚斂吏民，治城郭，爲守禦之備。
He then mobilized the people to pursue the bandits, made rewards and punishments clear, and bound them by a pledge that seven tenths of whatever they captured would be given to them as reward. The people were delighted, all were eager to catch bandits, and they seized many women and goods. The bandits who had lost their wives and children all came back seeking to surrender. Zheng Hun required them to capture other women first, and only then returned their own wives and children; thereupon the bandits raided one another, and their bands broke up and scattered. He also sent officials and commoners who were known for kindness and good faith to spread through the mountain valleys and proclaim his message, and those who came out followed one after another. He then had the senior officials of each county return to their own seats to settle and gather the people.
遂發民逐賊，明賞罰，與要誓，其所得獲，十以七賞。百姓大悅，皆願捕賊，多得婦女、財物。賊之失妻子者，皆還求降。渾責其得他婦女，然後還其妻子，於是轉相寇盜，黨與離散。又遣吏民有恩信者，分布山谷告喻，出者相繼，乃使諸縣長吏各還本治以安集之。
Liang Xing and the others took fright and gathered their remaining followers at Fucheng. Taizu sent Xiahou Yuan to help the commandery attack them, and Zheng Hun led the officials and commoners in the first assault up the walls, beheading Liang Xing and his confederates. Further, the bandit Jin Fu and others forced the Chief of Xiayang and the Magistrate of Shaoling, together with their officials and commoners, to go with them into Mount Wei. Zheng Hun again attacked and defeated Jin Fu and his men, recovered the senior officials of the two counties, and brought back those who had been carried off. And when one Zhao Qinglong killed the Left Clerk of the Interior Cheng Xiu, Zheng Hun, hearing of it, sent stalwart men to go and cut off his head for display.
興等懼，將餘衆聚鄜城。太祖使夏侯淵就助郡擊之，渾率吏民前登，斬興及其支黨。又賊靳富等，脅將夏陽長、邵陵令并其吏民入磑山，渾復討擊破富等，獲二縣長吏，將其所略還。及趙青龍者，殺左內史程休，渾聞，遣壯士就梟其首。
In all more than four thousand households came over to him, and with that the mountain bandits were all put down and the people settled peacefully to their livelihoods. He was transferred to be Grand Administrator of Shangdang.
前後歸附四千餘家，由是山賊皆平，民安產業。轉爲上黨太守。
When Taizu campaigned against Hanzhong, he made Zheng Hun Intendant of Jingzhao. Since the people had only recently gathered there, Zheng Hun drew up rules for resettlement: households with several grown men were grouped in fives with single, unencumbered households, and the kind and trustworthy were paired with orphans and the elderly; he encouraged farming and made the prohibitions clear so that wrongdoers would be exposed. As a result the people settled into farming and banditry ceased. When the main army entered Hanzhong, he did better than anyone in transporting army provisions. He also sent people to farm in Hanzhong, and not one of them deserted.
太祖征漢中，以渾爲京兆尹。渾以百姓新集，爲制移居之法，使兼複者與單輕者相伍，溫信者與孤老爲比，勤稼穡，明禁令，以發姦者。由是民安於農，而盜賊止息。及大軍入漢中，運轉軍糧爲最。又遣民田漢中，無逃亡者。
Taizu praised him all the more and brought him back to court as a clerk to the Chancellor. When Emperor Wen took the throne, Zheng Hun became an Attending Censor with the additional title of Commandant of Attendant Cavalry, and was promoted to be Grand Administrator of the two commanderies of Yangping and Pei. The land of the commandery was low and wet and suffered from floods, and the people were starving. Zheng Hun built dikes and weirs along the borders of Xiao and Xiang counties and opened up rice paddies. The people of the commandery all thought this a nuisance, but Zheng Hun said, “The land lies low and hollow, suited to irrigation; in the end it will yield the lasting benefit of fish and rice. This is the foundation of making the people prosperous.”
太祖益嘉之，復入爲丞相掾。文帝即位，爲侍御史，加駙馬都尉，遷陽平、沛郡二太守。郡界下溼，患水澇，百姓饑乏。渾於蕭、相二縣界，興陂遏，開稻田。郡人皆以爲不便，渾曰：“地勢洿下，宜溉灌，終有魚稻經久之利，此豐民之本也。”
He then personally led the officials and commoners in undertaking the work, and it was all finished within a single winter. There were great harvests year after year; the cultivated acreage grew annually, and tax revenue was double the usual. The people relied on the benefit, carved a stone in its praise, and called it the Zheng Dike. He was transferred to be Grand Administrator of Shanyang and of Wei Commandery, and governed them in the same way. Further, since the people of the commandery suffered from a lack of timber, he had them plant elms as hedges and also plant more of the five fruit trees; the elms all grew into fences and the five fruits bore abundantly. On entering the borders of Wei Commandery, one found the villages uniformly neat and orderly, and the people had resources enough and to spare.
遂躬率吏民，興立功夫，一冬間皆成。比年大收，頃畝歲增，租入倍常，民賴其利，刻石頌之，號曰鄭陂。轉爲山陽、魏郡太守，其治放此。又以郡下百姓，苦乏材木，乃課樹榆爲籬，並益樹五果；榆皆成籓，五果豐實。入魏郡界，村落齊整如一，民得財足用饒。
Emperor Ming heard of this, issued an edict praising him, had it proclaimed throughout the realm, and promoted him to Court Architect. Zheng Hun was pure and plain in his public service, and his wife and children could not escape hunger and cold. When he died, his son Zheng Chong was made a Gentleman of the Palace.
明帝聞之，下詔稱述，布告天下，遷將作大匠。渾清素在公，妻子不免於饑寒。及卒，以子崇爲郎中。1
Pei Songzhi’s notes (1)
1《晉陽秋》曰：泰子袤，字林叔。泰與華歆、荀攸善。見袤曰：“鄭公業爲不亡矣。”初爲臨菑侯文學，稍遷至光祿大夫。泰始七年，以袤爲司空，固辭不受，終於家。子默，字思玄。《晉諸公贊》曰：默遵守家業，以篤素稱，位至太常。默弟質、舒、詡，皆爲卿。默子球，清直有理識，尚書右僕射、領選。球弟豫，爲尚書。
Cang Ci, courtesy name Xiaoren, was a man of Huainan. He began as a commandery clerk. In the Jian'an era, when Taizu began recruiting for military farms in Huainan, he made Cang Ci Chief Commandant for Pacification and Settlement. At the end of Huangchu he became Magistrate of Chang'an, pure, frugal, and methodical, and the officials and commoners both feared and loved him. In the Taihe era he was promoted to be Grand Administrator of Dunhuang. The commandery lay on the western frontier and had been cut off by the upheavals, going without a Grand Administrator for twenty years; the great clans had grown overbearing, and this had become the custom.
倉慈字孝仁，淮南人也。始爲郡吏。建安中，太祖開募屯田於淮南，以慈爲綏集都尉。黃初末，爲長安令，清約有方，吏民畏而愛之。太和中，遷敦煌太守。郡在西陲，以喪亂隔絕，曠無太守二十歲，大姓雄張，遂以爲俗。
The former Grand Administrator Yin Feng and others had merely followed old practice and corrected nothing. When Cang Ci arrived, he curbed the powerful and influential and cared for the poor and weak, handling matters with great good sense. Formerly the great clans had more land than they needed, while the common people had not enough ground to stand an awl in; Cang Ci divided and allotted it all according to the number of mouths, and had them gradually pay off its original price. Previously the lawsuits and criminal cases in the subordinate towns had been numerous and tangled, and the counties could not decide them, so many piled up at the commandery seat. Cang Ci went in person to review them and sort out the light from the serious; unless a case merited death, he simply had the offenders whipped or caned and sent them away, so that in a whole year fewer than ten people were sentenced.
前太守尹奉等，循故而已，無所匡革。慈到，抑挫權右，撫恤貧羸，甚得其理。舊大族田地有餘，而小民無立錐之土；慈皆隨口割賦，稍稍使畢其本直。先是屬城獄訟衆猥，縣不能決，多集治下；慈躬往省閱，料簡輕重，自非殊死，但鞭杖遣之，一歲決刑曾不滿十人。
Also, whenever the various Hu peoples of the Western Regions wished to come with tribute, the powerful clans often intercepted them and cut them off, and when trading with them they cheated and abused them, so that the dealings were seldom fair. The Hu constantly resented this, and Cang Ci comforted them all. For those who wished to go on to Luoyang he issued sealed travel passes; for those who wished to return home from the commandery, the government bought their goods at fair prices, always trading with them using goods on hand in the commandery treasury, and had officials and commoners escort them along the roads. As a result both the people and the foreigners were united in praising his virtue and kindness.
又常日西域雜胡欲來貢獻，而諸豪族多逆斷絕；既與貿遷，欺詐侮易，多不得分明。胡常怨望，慈皆勞之。欲詣洛者，爲封過所，欲從郡還者，官爲平取，輒以府見物與共交市，使吏民護送道路，由是民夷翕然稱其德惠。
After several years he died in office, and the officials and commoners grieved as if they had lost a kinsman; they painted his portrait and cherished the likeness he left behind. When the Hu of the Western Regions heard of Cang Ci’s death, they all gathered at the offices of the Wuji Colonel and the senior officials to mourn him; some slashed their faces with knives to show the sincerity of their blood, and they also built a shrine and sacrificed to him together from afar.
數年卒官，吏民悲感如喪親戚，圖畫其形，思其遺像。及西域諸胡聞慈死，悉共會聚於戊己校尉及長吏治下發哀，或有以刀畫面，以明血誠，又爲立祠，遙共祠之。1
Pei Songzhi’s notes (1)
1《魏略》曰：天水王遷，承代慈，雖循其迹，不能及也。金城趙基承遷後，復不如遷。至嘉平中，安定皇甫隆代基爲太守。初，敦煌不甚曉田，常灌溉滀水，使極濡洽，然後乃耕。又不曉作耬梨，用水，及種，人牛功力既費，而收谷更少。隆到，教作耬梨，又教衍溉，歲終率計，其所省庸力過半，得谷加五。又敦煌俗，婦人作裙，攣縮如羊腸，用布一匹；隆又禁改之，所省復不訾。故敦煌人以爲隆剛斷嚴毅不及於慈，至於勤恪愛惠，爲下興利，可以亞之。
From Taizu’s time down to the Xianxi era, the Grand Administrator of Wei Commandery Wu Guan of Chen, the Grand Administrator of Qinghe Ren Yu of Lean, the Grand Administrator of Jingzhao Yan Fei of Jibei, the Grand Administrator of Hongnong Linghu Shao of Taiyuan, and the Chancellor of Jinan Kong Yi of Lu — some compassionate in judging cases, some sincere in kindness and care, some pure and upright in their own conduct, some exposing the wicked and bringing hidden crimes to light — were all good officials of two thousand bushels.
自太祖迄于咸熙，魏郡太守陳國吳瓘、清河太守樂安任燠、京兆太守濟北顏斐、弘農太守太原令狐邵、濟南相魯國孔乂，或哀矜折獄，或推誠惠愛，或治身清白，或擿姦發伏，咸爲良二千石。1
Pei Songzhi’s notes (1)
1瓘、煥事行無所見。《魏略》曰：◎顏斐字文林。有才學。丞相召爲太子洗馬，黃初初轉爲黃門侍郎，後爲京兆太守。始，京兆從馬超破後，民人多不專於農殖，又歷數四二千石，取解目前，亦不爲民作久遠計。斐到官，乃令屬縣整阡陌，樹桑果。是時民多無車牛。斐又課民以間月取車材，使轉相教匠作車。又課民無牛者，令畜豬狗，賣以買牛。始者民以爲煩，一二年間，家家有丁車、大牛。又起文學，聽吏民欲讀書者，復其小徭。又於府下起菜園，使吏役間鉏治。又課民當輸租時，車牛各因便致薪兩束，爲冬寒冰炙筆硯。於是風化大行，吏不煩民，民不求吏。京兆與馮翊、扶風接界，二郡道路既穢塞，田疇又荒萊，人民饑凍，而京兆皆整頓開明，豐富常爲雍州十郡最。斐又清己，仰奉而已，於是吏民恐其遷轉也。至青龍中，司馬宣王在長安立軍市，而軍中吏士多侵侮縣民，斐以白宣王。宣王乃發怒召軍市候，便於斐前杖一百。時長安典農與斐共坐，以爲斐宜謝，乃私推築斐。斐不肯謝，良久乃曰：“斐意觀明公受分陝之任，乃欲一齊衆庶，必非有所左右也。而典農竊見推築，欲令斐謝；假令斐謝，是更爲不得明公意也。”宣王遂嚴持吏士。自是之後，軍營、郡縣各得其分。後數歲，遷爲平原太守，吏民啼泣遮道，車不得前，步步稽留，十餘日乃出界，東行至崤而疾困。斐素心戀京兆，其家人從者見斐病甚，勸之，言：“平原當自勉勵作健。”斐曰：“我心不願平原，汝曹等呼我，何不言京兆邪？”遂卒，還平原。京兆聞之，皆爲流涕，爲立碑，於今稱頌之。◎令狐邵字孔叔。父仕漢，爲烏丸校尉。建安初，袁氏在冀州，邵去本郡家居鄴。九年，暫出到武安毛城中。會太祖破鄴，遂圍毛城。城破，執邵等輩十餘人，皆當斬。太祖閱見之，疑其衣冠也，問其祖考，而識其父，乃解放，署軍謀掾。仍歷宰守，後徙丞相主簿，出爲弘農太守。所在清如冰雪，妻子希至官省；舉善而教，恕以待人，不好獄訟，與下無忌。是時，郡無知經者，乃歷問諸吏，有欲遠行就師，輒假遣，令詣河東就樂詳學經，粗明乃還，因設文學。由是弘農學業轉興。至黃初初，徵拜羽林郎，遷虎賁中郎將，三歲，病亡。始，邵族子愚，爲白衣時，常有高志，衆人謂愚必榮令狐氏，而邵獨以爲“愚性倜儻，不脩德而願大，必滅我宗”。愚聞邵言，其心不平。及邵爲虎賁郎將，而愚仕進已多所更歷，所在有名稱。愚見邵，因從容言次，微激之曰：“先時聞大人謂愚爲不繼，愚今竟云何邪？”邵熟視而不答也。然私謂其妻子曰：“公治性度猶如故也。以吾觀之，終當敗滅。但不知我久當坐之不邪？將逮汝曹耳！”邵沒之後，十餘年間，愚爲兗州刺史，果與王凌謀廢立，家屬誅滅。邵子華，時爲弘農郡丞，以屬疏得不坐。案孔氏譜：孔乂字元俊，孔子之後。曾祖疇，字元矩，陳相。漢桓帝立老子廟於苦縣之賴鄉，畫孔子象於壁；疇爲陳相，立孔子碑於像前，今見存。乂父祖皆二千石，乂爲散騎常侍，上疏規諫。語在《三少帝紀》。至大鴻臚。子恂字士信，晉平東將軍衛尉也。
Appraisal
評
Appraisal: Ren Jun raised a loyalist force at the very beginning and brought it over to Taizu; he opened up land and grew grain until the granaries overflowed, and his achievements were accomplished. Su Ze put down disorder by his awe-inspiring presence; he was not only good at government but also firm and unbending, and his character and deeds deserve praise. Du Ji balanced leniency and severity well and brought the people peace through kindness. Zheng Hun and Cang Ci had sound methods of caring for and governing the people. Were they not all renowned governors of the Wei era? Du Shu repeatedly set out his views on the government of his day and discussed the essentials of governing, and there is much in him worth reading.
評曰：任峻始興義兵，以歸太祖，闢土殖穀，倉庾盈溢，庸績致矣。蘇則威以平亂，既政事之良，又矯矯剛直，風烈足稱。杜畿寬猛克濟，惠以康民。鄭渾、倉慈，恤理有方。抑皆魏代之名守乎！恕屢陳時政，經論治體，蓋有可觀焉。
English translation — by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) · Original text: Wikisource edition of the Sanguozhi (traditional characters, with Pei Songzhi’s notes) · Pei Songzhi’s notes are given in the original Chinese only (not translated).