Records of Wei 24: Biographies of Han Ji, Cui Lin, Gao Rou, Sun Li and Wang Guan

Records of Wei 24: Biographies of Han Ji, Cui Lin, Gao Rou, Sun Li and Wang Guan

Han Ji

韓曁

Han Ji, courtesy name Gongzhi, was a man of Duyang in Nanyang. Chen Mao, a powerful magnate of the same county, slandered Han Ji’s father and elder brother and nearly brought them to execution. Han Ji outwardly said nothing about it; he hired himself out as a laborer to build up funds and secretly befriended men ready to die for him. At last he pursued Chen Mao, called him out and soon captured him, and offered his head as a sacrifice at his father’s grave. From this he became famous. He was recommended as Filial and Incorrupt and summoned by the Minister of Works, but declined both. He then changed his name and surname and lived in hiding in the mountains of Luyang to escape the disorder. The mountain folk banded together and meant to go raiding.

韓曁字公至，南陽堵陽人也。¹同縣豪右陳茂，譖曁父兄，幾至大辟。曁陽不以為言，庸賃積資，陰結死士，遂追呼尋禽茂，以首祭父墓，由是顯名。舉孝廉，司空辟，皆不就。乃變名姓，隱居避亂魯陽山中。山民合黨，欲行寇掠。

Han Ji gave away his family’s wealth to provide oxen and wine, invited their ringleaders, and explained to them where safety and danger lay. The mountain folk were won over by him and in the end did no harm. To avoid a summons from Yuan Shu he moved to live in the mountains of Shandu. Liu Biao, Governor of Jing Province, summoned him with due courtesy, but he fled and went south to live on the borders of Chanling. Wherever he was he was respected and loved, but Liu Biao deeply resented him. Han Ji grew afraid, answered the summons, and was appointed Chief of Yicheng.

曁散家財以供牛酒，請其渠帥，為陳安危。山民化之，終不為害。避袁術命召，徙居山都之山。荊州牧劉表禮辟，遂遁逃，南居孱陵界，所在見敬愛，而表深恨之。曁懼，應命，除宜城長。

When Taizu pacified Jing Province, he summoned Han Ji to be a clerk in the Bureau of Officers under the Chancellor. Later he became Prefect of Leling, and was transferred to be Internuncio Supervising Foundries. In the old foundries they built horse-driven bellows, and each smelting of ore used a hundred horses; bellows worked by men were tried instead, but they too cost much labor. Han Ji then harnessed a long watercourse to make water-driven bellows, and when their benefit was reckoned it was three times that of the old way. In his seven years in office, tools and implements became plentiful. An imperial decree praised and admired him, and he was given the additional post of Chief Commandant of Metals on the spot, ranking just below the Nine Ministers.

太祖平荊州，辟為丞相士曹屬。後遷樂陵太守，徙監冶謁者。舊時冶，作馬排，¹每一熟石用馬百匹；更作人排，又費功力；曁乃因長流為水排，計其利益，三倍於前。在職七年，器用充實。制書襃歎，就加司金都尉，班亞九卿。

When Emperor Wen ascended the throne, Han Ji was enfeoffed as Marquis of Yicheng Village. In the seventh year of Huangchu he was promoted to Minister of Ceremonies and advanced in fief to Marquis of Nanxiang Village, with a fief of two hundred households.

文帝踐阼，封宜城亭侯。黃初七年，遷太常，進封南鄉亭侯，邑二百戶。

At that time the capital had just been moved to Luoyang and its institutions were not yet complete, while the spirit tablets of the ancestral temples and their stone shrines were all still at the capital of Ye. Han Ji memorialized requesting that the spirit tablets of the four temples at Ye be brought over and temples established at Luoyang, with sacrifices in all four seasons and the grain offerings presented by the Emperor in person. He exalted and made clear the correct rites and abolished improper sacrifices, setting many things right. After eight years in office he resigned his post because of illness. In the spring of the second year of Jingchu an edict said: “Han Ji, Grand Palace Grandee, has cleansed himself and bathed in virtue, and his will and integrity are lofty and pure. Though past eighty years of age, he holds to the Way ever more firmly; he may be called pure and steadfast, one who grows more diligent with age.

時新都洛陽，制度未備，而宗廟主祏¹皆在鄴都。曁奏請迎鄴四廟神主，建立洛陽廟，四時蒸嘗，親奉粢盛。崇明正禮，廢去淫祀，多所匡正。在官八年，以疾遜位。景初二年春，詔曰：「太中大夫韓曁，澡身浴德，志節高絜，年踰八十，守道彌固，可謂純篤，老而益劭者也。

Let Han Ji be made Minister over the Masses.” He died in the fourth month of summer. His testament ordered that he be dressed in ordinary seasonal clothes and buried in a plain earthen grave. He was given the posthumous title Marquis Gong. His son Han Zhao succeeded him. When Han Zhao died, his son Han Bang succeeded him.

其以曁為司徒。」夏四月薨，遺令歛以時服，葬為土藏。謚曰恭侯。¹子肇嗣。肇薨，子邦嗣。²

Cui Lin

崔林

Cui Lin, courtesy name Deru, was a man of Dongwucheng in Qinghe. In his youth he was a late developer, and no one in his clan recognized his worth; only his cousin Cui Yan thought him remarkable. When Taizu settled Ji Province, he summoned Cui Lin and appointed him Chief of Wu. Cui Lin was so poor that he had no carriage or horse, and he went to his post alone on foot. When Taizu campaigned against Huguan, he asked which of the senior local officials governed with the greatest virtue, and Zhang Zhi, Inspector of Bing Province, named Cui Lin. He was then promoted to Registrar of Ji Province, and moved on to serve as Attendant and as a member of the Chancellor’s staff. After the state of Wei was established, he rose by degrees to Palace Assistant Imperial Clerk.

崔林字德儒，清河東武城人也。少時晚成，宗族莫知，惟從兄琰異之。太祖定冀州，召除鄔長，貧無車馬，單步之官。太祖征壺關，問長吏德政最者，并州刺史張陟以林對，於是擢為冀州主簿，徙署別駕、丞相掾屬。魏國旣建，稍遷御史中丞。

When Emperor Wen ascended the throne, Cui Lin was appointed Imperial Secretary and then sent out as Inspector of You Province. Wu Zhi, General of the Northern Gentlemen of the Household, was in command of military affairs north of the Yellow River, and Wang Xiong, Prefect of Zhuo Commandery, said to Cui Lin’s Attendant, “General Wu is someone the sovereign holds close and values highly, an honored minister of the state. He holds the credentials and commands affairs, and there is no province or commandery that does not send him letters to pay its respects; yet His Excellency Inspector Cui has never been in touch with him at all. If he beheads you on the grounds that the frontier forts have not been kept in repair, will His Excellency be able to protect you?”

文帝踐阼，拜尚書，出為幽州刺史。北中郎將吳質統河北軍事，涿郡太守王雄謂林別駕曰：「吳中郎將，上所親重，國之貴臣也。杖節統事，州郡莫不奉牋致敬，而崔使君初不與相聞。若以邊塞不脩斬卿，使君寧能護卿邪？」

The Attendant reported all of this to Cui Lin, who said, “The Inspector regards leaving this province as no more than kicking off a sandal; how would I let you be implicated? This province borders on the barbarians, and it ought to be held down with calm. If we disturb them, we will stir up their rebellious hearts and needlessly give the state cause to look anxiously to the north. That is what has been entrusted to me.” After a year in office, raiding and banditry had died down. Even so, because he had not paid court to his superior, he was demoted to Prefect of Hejian, and much of enlightened opinion felt aggrieved on his behalf.

別駕具以白林，林曰：「刺史視去此州如脫屣，寧當相累邪？此州與胡虜接，宜鎮之以靜，擾之則動其逆心，特為國家生北顧憂，以此為寄。」在官一期，寇竊寢息；¹猶以不事上司，左遷河間太守，清論多為林怨也。²

He was promoted to Grand Herald. The king of Qiuci sent a son to court as an attendant hostage, and the court, pleased that he had come from so far, rewarded his king very generously. The other states each sent sons to court as well, and envoys came in a continuous stream. Cui Lin feared that some of those sent were not genuine, but distant relatives or barbarian merchants picked up for the occasion to carry the mission, in order to profit by obtaining seals and ribbons; meanwhile, the cost of escorting them along the roads grew ever greater. To weary the people one ought to be nurturing, spend resources on useless things, and be laughed at by the barbarians—this had been a cause of concern in former times as well.

遷大鴻臚。龜茲王遣侍子來朝，朝廷嘉其遠至，襃賞其王甚厚。餘國各遣子來朝，閒使連屬，林恐所遣或非真的，權取疏屬賈胡，因通使命，利得印綬，而道路護送，所損滋多。勞所養之民，資無益之事，為夷狄所笑，此曩時之所患也。

He therefore sent a letter to Dunhuang explaining his intentions, together with a record of precedents from former reigns showing how generously or sparingly the various states had been treated, so that there would be a consistent standard. When Emperor Ming came to the throne, Cui Lin was granted the rank of Marquis Within the Pass, and was transferred to Minister of the Household and then Colonel-Director of Retainers. The commanderies under him all dismissed officials who had been appointed illegally beyond the authorized number. In government Cui Lin acted with sincerity and kept things simple, preserving only the essentials; therefore, after he left a post, people always missed him.

乃移書燉煌喻指，并錄前世待遇諸國豐約故事，使有恒常。明帝即位，賜爵關內侯，轉光祿勳、司隷校尉。屬郡皆罷非法除過員吏。林為政推誠，簡存大體，是以去後每輒見思。

Liu Shao, Cavalier Regular Attendant, wrote a Treatise on the Evaluation of Officials, and it was sent down by decree to all the officials. Cui Lin gave his opinion: “If we examine the Offices of Zhou, its provisions for evaluation are complete, yet from King Kang onward they fell into decline; this shows that the method of evaluation depends on the men who apply it. When the Han came to its end, how could its failure have lain in the duties of assistant officials not being defined closely enough? At present military affairs are sometimes cumbersome and sometimes sudden; even if we provide for them with regulations and proclaim them inside and outside the court, additions and reductions follow no fixed pattern, and it will surely be hard to make them uniform.

散騎常侍劉劭作考課論，制下百僚。林議曰：「案周官考課，其文備矣，自康王以下，遂以陵遲，此即考課之法存乎其人也。及漢之季，其失豈在乎佐吏之職不密哉？方今軍旅，或猥或卒，備之以科條，申之以內外，增減無常，固難一矣。

Moreover, when the countless meshes of a net will not spread, one lifts its main cord; when a mass of fur is in disarray, one shakes it by the collar. When Gao Yao served the house of Yu and Yi Yin was minister to Yin, the unkind were kept far away. The Five Emperors and Three Kings did not necessarily do things the same way, yet each of them brought order out of disorder. The Changes says, ‘Being easy and simple, the principles of all under Heaven are grasped.’ Taizu set up laws as circumstances required and left them to the present; there is no need to worry that they do not follow antiquity. In my view today’s institutions are not too loose; the point lies only in holding to one standard and not losing it. If the ministers at court can bear the weight that Zhongshan Fu bore and be a model for all the officials, who would dare not be reverent?”

且萬目不張舉其綱，衆毛不整振其領。臯陶仕虞，伊尹臣殷，不仁者遠。五帝三王未必如一，而各以治亂。易曰：『易簡，而天下之理得矣。』太祖隨宜設辟，以遺來今，不患不法古也。以為今之制度，不為疏闊，惟在守一勿失而已。若朝臣能任仲山甫之重，式是百辟，則孰敢不肅？」

In the first year of Jingchu, the posts of Minister over the Masses and Minister of Works were both vacant, and Meng Kang, Cavalier Gentleman-in-Attendance, recommended Cui Lin, saying, “A chancellor is one to whom all under Heaven look up and whom they imitate; truly we should find a man who holds to loyalty and walks the upright path, who is rooted in virtue and relies on righteousness, and who is fit to be a model for all within the seas. I have observed that Cui Lin, Colonel-Director of Retainers, is endowed with a naturally upright character and embodies a lofty and elegant breadth of mind. If we discuss his strengths in comparison with men of old, in loyalty and uprightness that never bends he is of the company of Shi Yu, and in purity, frugality and restraint he is the equal of Ji Wen.

景初元年，司徒、司空並缺，散騎侍郎孟康薦林曰：「夫宰相者，天下之所瞻效，誠宜得秉忠履正本德杖義之士，足為海內所師表者。竊見司隷校尉崔林，稟自然之正性，體高雅之弘量。論其所長以比古人，忠直不回則史魚之儔，清儉守約則季文之匹也。

As governor of provinces and commanderies he brought order wherever he went, and since becoming the outer supervisor he has made all within ten thousand li orderly and disciplined. He is truly a fine vessel for the office of chief minister and an excellent talent for the robes of the highest post.” The following year he was at last made Minister of Works and enfeoffed as Marquis of Anyang Village, with a fief of six hundred households. The enfeoffment of the Three Excellencies as full marquises began with Cui Lin. Shortly afterward he was advanced in fief to Marquis of Anyang District.

牧守州郡，所在而治，及為外司，萬里肅齊，誠台輔之妙器，衮職之良才也。」後年遂為司空，封安陽亭侯，邑六百戶。三公封列侯，自林始也。¹頃之，又進封安陽鄉侯。

The Chancellor of Lu submitted a statement: “Under the Han a temple to Confucius was established of old; the Marquis of Baocheng offered sacrifices there at the proper seasons, and when rites were performed at the Biyong Hall, the Former Teacher was always given sacrifice, with the royal house providing grain for sacrifices in spring and autumn. Now the Marquis Who Honors the Sage carries on the line, but there is no rite by which the sacrifice is ordered. Sacrificial animals should be provided and the senior local officials should conduct the sacrifices, honoring him as an exalted spirit.” A decree ordered the three ministries to deliberate. The Erudite Fu Zhi held that what the Tradition of the Spring and Autumn Annals speaks of as being entered in the canon of sacrifices applies precisely to Confucius. The Marquis Who Honors the Sage served merely to continue a line that had been cut off and to display abundant virtue;

魯相上言：「漢舊立孔子廟，襃成侯歲時奉祠，辟雍行禮，必祭先師，王家出穀，春秋祭祀。今宗聖侯奉嗣，未有命祭之禮，宜給牲牢，長吏奉祀，尊為貴神。」制三府議，博士傅祗以春秋傳言立在祀典，則孔子是也。宗聖適足繼絕世，章盛德耳。

but where it was a matter of honoring one who had established words and exalting bright virtue, it should be done as the Chancellor of Lu had proposed. Cui Lin argued: “The Marquis Who Honors the Sage also sacrifices by royal command, so it cannot be said that there is no command. King Wu of Zhou enfeoffed the descendants of the Yellow Emperor, Yao and Shun and established the Three Honored Lines; the descendants of Yu and Tang were not ranked among them at the time—did he then specially order other officials to sacrifice to them? Now everyone before the Duke of Zhou, back as far as the Three Sovereigns, is neglected and receives no sacrifice, although the ritual classics still preserve their words.

至於顯立言，崇明德，則宜如魯相所上。林議以為「宗聖侯亦以王命祀，不為未有命也。周武王封黃帝、堯、舜之後，及立三恪，禹、湯之世，不列于時，復特命他官祭也。今周公已上，達於三皇，忽焉不祀，而其禮經亦存其言。

That Confucius alone is now sacrificed to is because his age is close to ours. Though a descendant of a grandee, he specially receives sacrifices without end; the rites exceed those given the ancient emperors and the honor surpasses that of Tang and Wu. This may be called exalting bright virtue and repaying merit, and there is no need to add further sacrifices by those who are not of his kin.”

今獨祀孔子者，以世近故也。以大夫之後，特受無疆之祀，禮過古帝，義踰湯、武，可謂崇明報德矣，無復重祀於非族也。」¹

Emperor Ming also divided Cui Lin’s fief and enfeoffed one of his sons as a full marquis. Cui Lin died in the fifth year of Zhengshi and was given the posthumous title Marquis Xiao. His son Cui Shu succeeded him.

明帝又分林邑，封一子列侯。正始五年薨，謚曰孝侯。子述嗣。¹

Gao Rou

高柔

Gao Rou, courtesy name Wenhui, was a man of Yu County in Chenliu. His father, Gao Jing, was Chief Commandant of Shu Commandery.

高柔字文惠，陳留圉人也。父靖，為蜀郡都尉。¹

Gao Rou stayed in his home district and said to the people of his town, “Heroes are now rising up everywhere, and Chenliu is a land open to war on all four sides. Although General Cao holds Yan Province, he has always had designs on all four quarters and will not be able to sit quietly and hold it. Meanwhile His Excellency Zhang has already had his way in Chenliu first, and I fear that trouble will break out when the opportunity comes. I would like to leave with you all to avoid it.” Everyone thought that since Zhang Miao was on good terms with Taizu, and since Gao Rou was young, his words were not to be credited.

柔留鄉里，謂邑中曰：「今者英雄並起，陳留四戰之地也。曹將軍雖據兖州，本有四方之圖，未得安坐守也。而張府君先得志於陳留，吾恐變乘間作也，欲與諸君避之。」衆人皆以張邈與太祖善，柔又年少，不然其言。

Gao Rou’s cousin Gao Gan, a nephew of Yuan Shao, called for Gao Rou from north of the Yellow River, and Gao Rou took his whole clan to follow him. Just then Gao Jing died in the western provinces. At that time the roads were difficult and blocked, and soldiers and bandits ran rampant, but Gao Rou braved hardship and danger to go to Shu and bring back the coffin. There was no suffering or bitterness he did not taste, and only after three years did he return.

柔從兄幹，袁紹甥也，¹在河北呼柔，柔舉宗從之。會靖卒於西州，時道路艱澁，兵寇縱橫，而柔冒艱險詣蜀迎喪，辛苦荼毒，無所不嘗，三年乃還。

When Taizu pacified the Yuan clan, he made Gao Rou Chief of Jian. People in the county had long heard of his reputation, and several corrupt clerks all withdrew of their own accord. Gao Rou issued an instruction: “In the past, when Bing Ji took office, even clerks who had done wrong were still tolerated. How much more these clerks, who have not yet done me any wrong! Summon them and restore them.” They all returned, all exerted themselves, and all became good clerks. After Gao Gan had surrendered, he soon rebelled with Bing Province. Gao Rou came over to Taizu of his own accord; Taizu wanted to find a pretext to execute him and made him Clerk for Detecting Wrongdoing. But his handling of the law was fair and appropriate and no cases were left pending, so Taizu summoned him to be a clerk in the Granary Bureau under the Chancellor.

太祖平袁氏，以柔為菅長。縣中素聞其名，姧吏數人皆自引去。柔教曰：「昔邴吉臨政，吏嘗有非，猶尚容之。況此諸吏，於吾未有失乎！其召復之。」咸還，皆自勵，咸為佳吏。高幹旣降，頃之以并州叛。柔自歸太祖，太祖欲因事誅之，以為刺姧令史；處法允當，獄無留滯，辟為丞相倉曹屬。¹

When Taizu wanted to send Zhong Yao and others to attack Zhang Lu, Gao Rou remonstrated. He argued that if a great army were rashly sent now, Han Sui and Ma Chao in the west would think it was aimed at them and would incite each other to rebel; it would be better first to win over and gather the Three Adjuncts, and once the Three Adjuncts were pacified, Hanzhong could be settled merely by sending round a proclamation. When Zhong Yao entered the passes, Han Sui, Ma Chao and the others did indeed rebel.

太祖欲遣鍾繇等討張魯，柔諫，以為今猥遣大兵，西有韓遂、馬超，謂為己舉，將相扇動作逆，宜先招集三輔，三輔苟平，漢中可傳檄而定也。繇入關，遂、超等果反。

When the state of Wei was first established, Gao Rou became a Gentleman of the Secretariat. He was transferred to be Secretary of the Bureau of Justice under the Chancellor, and an order said: “The transformation of a time when order is settled puts ritual first; the government of a time of quelling disorder puts punishment first. Thus Shun banished the four wicked clans and Gao Yao became judge; Emperor Gaozu of Han abolished the harsh laws of Qin and Xiao He fixed the statutes. You, Secretary, have clear judgment and are fair and sound, and you understand the codes of law. Be diligent and careful in this!” Song Jin and other drummers and pipers deserted at Hefei. Under the old law, when soldiers on campaign deserted, their wives and children were interrogated to death.

魏國初建，為尚書郎。轉拜丞相理曹掾，令曰：「夫治定之化，以禮為首。撥亂之政，以刑為先。是以舜流四凶族，臯陶作士。漢祖除秦苛法，蕭何定律。掾清識平當，明于憲典，勉恤之哉！」鼓吹宋金等在合肥亡逃。舊法，軍征士亡，考竟其妻子。

Taizu was troubled that desertion still did not stop, and made the penalty heavier still. Song Jin had a mother, a wife and two younger brothers, all assigned to government service, and the official in charge memorialized that they should all be put to death. Gao Rou petitioned: “Soldiers deserting the army is indeed hateful, but I have heard that among them there are sometimes those who regret it. In my humble opinion, their wives and children should be pardoned. First, this would make the enemy distrust them; second, it would encourage them to think of returning. The earlier regulation alone had already cut off their hopes; if it is now rashly made heavier, I fear that from now on, when soldiers in the army see one man desert, they will expect punishment to reach them as well and will follow him in flight, and then there will be no catching them to kill them.

太祖患猶不息，更重其刑。金有母妻及二弟皆給官，主者奏盡殺之。柔啟曰：「士卒亡軍，誠在可疾，然竊聞其中時有悔者。愚謂乃宜貸其妻子，一可使賊中不信，二可使誘其還心。正如前科，固已絕其意望，而猥復重之，柔恐自今在軍之士，見一人亡逃，誅將及己，亦且相隨而走，不可復得殺也。

Such heavy punishment is not a way to stop desertion; it will only increase the flight.” Taizu said, “Good,” and immediately stopped the execution of Song Jin’s mother and brothers. Very many people had their lives spared as a result.

此重刑非所以止亡，乃所以益走耳。」太祖曰：「善。」即止不殺金母、弟，蒙活者甚衆。

He was promoted to Prefect of Yingchuan, and later returned to be Secretary of the Bureau of Law. At that time Investigators such as Lu Hong and Zhao Da had been appointed to keep watch on the officials, and Gao Rou remonstrated: “Offices are established and duties divided so that each has its own charge. Appointing Investigators now is contrary to the principle that those above should trust those below. Moreover, Zhao Da and the others have repeatedly abused their authority to favor or harm people according to their likes and dislikes; they should be investigated and dealt with.” Taizu said, “I fear that you do not know Zhao Da and the others as well as I do. What matters is being able to expose wrongdoing and sort out all kinds of affairs; if worthy men and gentlemen were made to do it, they would not be able to.

遷為潁川太守，復還為法曹掾。時置校事盧洪、趙達等，使察羣下，柔諫曰：「設官分職，各有所司。今置校事，旣非居上信下之旨。又達等數以憎愛擅作威福，宜檢治之。」太祖曰：「卿知達等，恐不如吾也。要能刺舉而辨衆事，使賢人君子為之，則不能也。

When Shusun Tong employed a band of robbers long ago, he truly had good reason.” Later, when the corrupt profiteering of Zhao Da and the others came to light, Taizu put them to death and apologized to Gao Rou.

昔叔孫通用羣盜，良有以也。」達等後姧利發，太祖殺之以謝於柔。

When Emperor Wen ascended the throne, he made Gao Rou Attendant Censor for Documents and granted him the rank of Marquis Within the Pass, then transferred him with the additional post of Law-Enforcing Secretary. Among the people there was frequent slander and seditious talk; the Emperor hated this, and whenever there was seditious talk he had the speaker killed at once and rewarded the informer. Gao Rou submitted a memorial: “Now those who utter seditious talk are invariably executed, and those who report them are invariably rewarded. This not only leaves those who erred by mistake no road back to goodness, but also opens the way for gangs of vicious and cunning men to bring false accusations against one another. It is truly no way to put an end to wickedness, reduce lawsuits, and carry on and brighten the way of government.

文帝踐阼，以柔為治書侍御史，賜爵關內侯，轉加治書執法。民間數有誹謗妖言，帝疾之，有妖言輒殺，而賞告者。柔上疏曰：「今妖言者必戮，告之者輒賞。旣使過誤無反善之路，又將開凶狡之羣相誣罔之漸，誠非所以息姧省訟，緝熈治道也。

Long ago, when the Duke of Zhou composed his proclamations, he praised the ancestors of Yin because none of them paid heed to the resentment of petty men. Under Taizong of the Han, too, the ordinance against seditious talk and slander was abolished. In my foolish opinion, the law rewarding those who report seditious talk and slander should be abolished, so as to exalt the benevolence with which Heaven, as father, nurtures all things.” The Emperor did not comply at once, and false accusations grew even worse. The Emperor then issued an edict: “Anyone who dares to accuse another of slander shall be punished with the penalty for the offense he alleges.” After this, the practice came to an end.

昔周公作誥，稱殷之祖宗，咸不顧小人之怨。在漢太宗，亦除妖言誹謗之令。臣愚以為宜除妖謗賞告之法，以隆天父養物之仁。」帝不即從，而相誣告者滋甚。帝乃下詔：「敢以誹謗相告者，以所告者罪罪之。」於是遂絕。

The Investigators Liu Ci and others, in the space of a few years from the beginning of Huangchu, brought charges of wrongdoing against officials and commoners numbering in the tens of thousands. Gao Rou asked in every case that the truth or falsehood of the charges be established before punishment; the others, who had broken the law in trifling ways, were merely fined. In the fourth year he was promoted to Commandant of Justice.

校事劉慈等，自黃初初數年之閒，舉吏民姧罪以萬數，柔皆請懲虛實；其餘小小挂法者，不過罰金。四年，遷為廷尉。

In the early days of Wei the Three Excellencies had no duties and seldom took part in the government of the court. Gao Rou submitted a memorial: “Heaven and Earth accomplish their work through the four seasons, and the sovereign brings about good government through his assistants. Tang the Successful relied on the help of the Aheng, Yi Yin, and Kings Wen and Wu depended on the strength of Dan, the Duke of Zhou, and Wang, the Grand Duke. Coming down to the beginning of the Han, men such as Xiao He and Cao Can, as ministers of the first merit, served in turn as its heart and backbone. In every case the enlightened king and sage ruler entrusted matters to his ministers above, and worthy chancellors and good assistants served as his arms and legs below. Now the ministers of the highest rank are all pillars and beams of the state, to whom all the people look up; yet they are placed in the three highest offices without being allowed to know about government, so each of them lies idle, nursing his lofty reputation, and few offer advice. This is truly neither the proper way for the court to honor and employ its great ministers, nor what is meant by great ministers proposing what is right and replacing what is wrong.

魏初，三公無事，又希與朝政。柔上疏曰：「天地以四時成功，元首以輔弼興治；成湯杖阿衡之佐，文、武憑旦、望之力，逮至漢初，蕭、曹之儔並以元勳代作心膂，此皆明王聖主任臣於上，賢相良輔股肱於下也。今公輔之臣，皆國之棟梁，民所具瞻，而置之三事，不使知政，遂各偃息養高，鮮有進納，誠非朝廷崇用大臣之義，大臣獻可替否之謂也。

In ancient times, whenever there was doubt in matters of punishment or government, it was discussed beneath the locust trees and the jujube thorns. From now on, whenever the court has doubtful matters for debate or major criminal cases, the Three Excellencies should be frequently consulted. On the days of the new and full moon when the Three Excellencies attend court, they might also be specially invited in to discuss what is gained and lost and to explore affairs fully; this may help to inform Your Majesty’s hearing and greatly advance the great transformation.” The Emperor approved and accepted this.

古者刑政有疑，輒議於槐棘之下。自今之後，朝有疑議及刑獄大事，宜數以咨訪三公。三公朝朔望之日，又可特延入，講論得失，博盡事情，庶有裨起天聽，弘益大化。」帝嘉納焉。

Because of an old grudge, the Emperor wanted to twist the law and execute Bao Xun, the Law-Enforcing Secretary, but Gao Rou stood firm and refused to obey the edict. The Emperor was furious and summoned Gao Rou to the Secretariat; he then sent an envoy, acting on his instructions, to the office of the Commandant of Justice to interrogate Bao Xun to death. Only after Bao Xun was dead did he send Gao Rou back to his office.

帝以宿嫌，欲枉法誅治書執法鮑勛，而柔固執不從詔命。帝怒甚，遂召柔詣臺；遣使者承指至廷尉考竟勛，勛死乃遣柔還寺。

When Emperor Ming came to the throne, he enfeoffed Gao Rou as Marquis of Yanshou Village. At that time the Erudites were in charge of the classics, and Gao Rou submitted a memorial: “I have heard that following the Way and valuing learning are the great teachings of the sages, and that honoring letters and exalting the Confucians is the clear duty of emperors. In the past, when the Han declined at its end, rites and music collapsed, heroes battled and tigers fought, and war became everyone’s business, so that the community of Confucian scholars went into obscurity and did not come forward. When Taizu first arose, he was grieved at this, and even in the midst of quelling disorder he had every commandery and county appoint officials to teach.

明帝即位，封柔延壽亭侯。時博士執經，柔上疏曰：「臣聞遵道重學，聖人洪訓；褒文崇儒，帝者明義。昔漢末陵遲，禮樂崩壞，雄戰虎爭，以戰陣為務，遂使儒林之羣，幽隱而不顯。太祖初興，愍其如此，在於撥亂之際，並使郡縣立教學之官。

When Gaozu (Emperor Wen) came to the throne, he expanded this work, restored the Biyong Hall and set up examinations in the provinces, and so the scholars of the realm once again heard the teaching of the schools and took part in the rites of the sacrificial vessels. Since Your Majesty took charge of government, you have truly followed the path of wisdom, spread wide your great plans and gloriously carried on the course of your forebears; even Qi of Xia inheriting the foundation and King Cheng of Zhou continuing the enterprise could truly add nothing to this. Yet now the Erudites, who are all versed in the classics and upright in conduct and are the choicest men of the whole state, are limited in their promotions and appointments to no higher than county chief. I fear this is no way to exalt and honor Confucian learning or to lead and encourage the idle.

高祖即位，遂闡其業，興復辟雍，州立課試，於是天下之士，復聞庠序之教，親俎豆之禮焉。陛下臨政，允迪叡哲，敷弘大猷，光濟先軌，雖夏啟之承基，周成之繼業，誠無以加也。然今博士皆經明行脩，一國清選，而使遷除限不過長，懼非所以崇顯儒術，帥勵怠惰也。

Confucius said, ‘Promote the good and teach those who are not capable, and the people will be encouraged.’ Thus when Chu treated Lord Shen with honor, scholars devoted themselves to learning, and when the Han exalted Zhuo Mao, the officials vied to emulate him. In my view the Erudites are the deep pool and thicket of the Way and the masters of the Six Arts; they should be given positions beyond the regular order according to the merits of their learning and conduct. To honor the teaching of the Way generously, so as to encourage those who study, would do much to broaden the transformation.” The Emperor accepted this.

孔子稱『舉善而教不能則勸』，故楚禮申公，學士銳精，漢隆卓茂，搢紳競慕。臣以為博士者，道之淵藪，六藝所宗，宜隨學行優劣，待以不次之位。敦崇道教，以勸學者，於化為弘。」帝納之。

Later, great palaces and halls were built and the common people were burdened with forced labor; many women were chosen far and wide to fill the rear palace; yet the princes born in the rear palace died young one after another, and no heir had grown up. Gao Rou submitted a memorial: “The two bandit states are cunning; they are secretly drilling their forces and plotting to take up arms, with no thought of submitting. We should nurture our officers and men and put our armor and weapons in order, and await them at our ease. Yet lately palaces and halls have been built, wearying and troubling high and low alike. If Wu and Shu learn how strong or weak we really are, coordinate their plans, combine their forces and come together again to throw their lives at us, it will be very hard to deal with.

後大興殿舍，百姓勞役；廣采衆女，充盈後宮；後宮皇子連夭，繼嗣未育。柔上疏曰：「二虜狡猾，潛自講肄，謀動干戈，未圖束手；宜畜養將士，繕治甲兵，以逸待之。而頃興造殿舍，上下勞擾；若使吳、蜀知人虛實，通謀并勢，復俱送死，甚不易也。

Long ago Emperor Wen of the Han, begrudging the wealth of ten households, did not build a small terrace for his pleasure; and Huo Qubing, concerned about the harm done by the Xiongnu, had no time to see to building a mansion. How much more so now, when what is being lost is not merely the cost of a hundred pieces of gold, and what is to be feared is not merely trouble from the northern barbarians! The buildings now under way could be roughly completed to serve for court audiences and banquets; once they are finished, the workers should be dismissed so that they can return to farming. When the two regions have been pacified, building can resume gradually. In ancient times Xuanyuan, through his twenty-five sons, passed on his line far into the future; and the house of Zhou, through its forty states of the Ji clan, lasted for a great many years.

昔漢文惜十家之資，不營小臺之娛；去病慮匈奴之害，不遑治第之事。況今所損者非惟百金之費，所憂者非徒北狄之患乎？可粗成見所營立，以充朝宴之儀。訖罷作者，使得就農。二方平定，復可徐興。昔軒轅以二十五子，傳祚彌遠；周室以姬國四十，歷年滋多。

Your Majesty is wise and perceptive, and has plumbed principle and fulfilled your nature to the utmost, yet of late the imperial sons have died young one after another, and the auspicious omen of the bear dream that heralds sons has not yet answered. Among your servants there is no one whose heart is not grieved and anxious. According to the Rites of Zhou, the Son of Heaven has a hundred and twenty consorts and concubines below the empress, so the ceremonial of the consorts is already ample. I have heard privately that the number in the rear palace exceeds even this, and that the imperial line does not flourish is perhaps due to this. In my foolish opinion, you should carefully select virtuous and fair women to fill the established ranks of the inner palace, and send all the rest home to their families.

陛下聦達，窮理盡性，而頃皇子連多夭逝，熊羆之祥又未感應。羣下之心，莫不悒戚。周禮，天子后妃以下百二十人，嬪嬙之儀，旣以盛矣。竊聞後庭之數，或復過之，聖嗣不昌，殆能由此。臣愚以為可妙簡淑媛，以備內官之數，其餘盡遣還家。

Moreover, in nurturing the vital essence and cultivating the spirit, tranquillity alone should be treasured. If this is done, the sign of offspring as many as the locusts may very nearly be attained.” The Emperor replied, “I know that you are loyal and sincere, that your heart is with the royal house, and that you always speak out with upright words. If there is anything else, let me know of it.”

且以育精養神，專靜為寶。如此，則螽斯之徵，可庶而致矣。」帝報曰：「知卿忠允，乃心王室，輒克昌言；他復以聞。」

At this time the hunting laws were very severe. Liu Gui, the Agricultural Commandant of Yiyang, secretly shot a hare inside the forbidden park, and his Officer of Merit, Zhang Jing, went to the Inspectors and reported it. The Emperor concealed Zhang Jing’s name and had Liu Gui arrested and sent to prison. Gao Rou submitted a memorial asking for the name of the informer, and the Emperor, in a great rage, said, “Liu Gui deserves death. He dared to hunt in my forbidden grounds. Liu Gui has been sent to the Commandant of Justice, and the Commandant of Justice has only to interrogate him under the rod. Why do you further ask for the name of the informer? Do you think I arrested Liu Gui without cause?” Gao Rou said, “The Commandant of Justice is the balance of the realm. How can the law be destroyed because of the pleasure or anger of the Most Honored One?”

時獵法甚峻。宜陽典農劉龜竊於禁內射兎，其功曹張京詣校事言之。帝匿京名，收龜付獄。柔表請告者名，帝大怒曰：「劉龜當死，乃敢獵吾禁地。送龜廷尉，廷尉便當考掠，何復請告者主名，吾豈妄收龜邪？」柔曰：「廷尉，天下之平也，安得以至尊喜怒而毀法乎？」

He memorialized again and again, and the substance of his words was profound and earnest. The Emperor came to understand, and sent down Zhang Jing’s name. The case was at once returned for interrogation, and each was punished according to his crime.

重復為奏，辭指深切。帝意寤，乃下京名。即還訊，各當其罪。

Under the regulations of the time, an official who was in mourning for a parent was put back on duty once a hundred days had passed. Xie Hong, an official under the Minister over the Masses, was in mourning for his father when a military matter arose; he received orders to go but declined on grounds of illness. An edict said angrily, “You are no Zeng Shen or Min Ziqian. How can you claim to be wasted with grief?” It ordered him to be arrested at once and interrogated to the end. Gao Rou saw that Xie Hong was truly gaunt and frail, and he memorialized on the matter, saying that he ought to be treated with leniency. The Emperor then issued an edict: “How filial Xie Hong is! Let him be pardoned.”

時制，吏遭大喪者，百日後皆給役。有司徒吏解弘遭父喪，後有軍事，受勑當行，以疾病為辭。詔怒曰：「汝非曾、閔，何言毀邪？」促收考竟。柔見弘信甚羸劣，奏陳其事，宜加寬貸。帝乃詔曰：「孝哉弘也！其原之。」

Earlier, Gongsun Yuan’s elder brother Gongsun Huang had been serving at court as a hostage on behalf of his uncle Gongsun Gong, and before Gongsun Yuan rebelled he had several times reported on the coming upheaval. When Gongsun Yuan plotted rebellion, the Emperor could not bear to have Gongsun Huang beheaded in the marketplace, and wished to have him put to death in prison. Gao Rou submitted a memorial: “The Book of Documents says, ‘Punish crime with death; manifest virtue by honoring its goodness.’ This is the clear statute of royal governance. Gongsun Huang and his wife and children belong to the rebellious kind, and indeed they ought to be beheaded and their heads hung up, leaving no one alive. Yet I have heard that Gongsun Huang earlier came over of his own accord several times and reported the first stirrings of Gongsun Yuan’s treachery. Although he comes of a wicked clan, if one considers his intentions he may be forgiven.

初，公孫淵兄晃，為叔父恭任內侍，先淵未反，數陳其變。及淵謀逆，帝不忍市斬，欲就獄殺之。柔上疏曰：「書稱『用罪伐厥死，用德彰厥善』，此王制之明典也。晃及妻子叛逆之類，誠應梟縣，勿使遺育。而臣竊聞晃先數自歸，陳淵禍萌，雖為凶族，原心可恕。

Confucius understood and eased Sima Niu’s sorrow, and Qi Xi made clear that Shuxiang was without fault; these are fine examples of righteousness from the past. In my view, if Gongsun Huang truly did speak out, his life should be spared; if in fact he said nothing, he should be beheaded in the marketplace. Now, going forward you do not pardon his life, and drawing back you do not make his crime known; you shut him up in prison to make him take his own life. Those who watch our state from the four quarters may perhaps find this measure doubtful.” The Emperor did not listen, and in the end sent an envoy with gold dust for Gongsun Huang and his wife and children to drink. He granted them coffins and grave clothes, and they were encoffined and laid out at their house.

夫仲尼亮司馬牛之憂，祁奚明叔向之過，在昔之美義也。臣以為晃信有言，宜貸其死；苟自無言，便當市斬。今進不赦其命，退不彰其罪，閉著囹圄，使自引分，四方觀國，或疑此舉也。」帝不聽，竟遣使齎金屑飲晃及其妻子，賜以棺、衣，殯歛於宅。¹

At this time anyone who killed a deer in the forbidden grounds was put to death and his property confiscated by the state, while anyone who discovered and reported such a case was generously rewarded. Gao Rou submitted a memorial: “When the sage kings ruled the world, none failed to make the broadening of agriculture their task and frugality in expenditure their resource. When agriculture is broad, grain accumulates; when expenditure is frugal, wealth is stored. There has never been a case in which wealth was stored and grain accumulated and yet there was cause to fear calamity. In ancient times it was said that if one man did not plow, someone would go hungry because of it, and if one woman did not weave, someone would go cold because of it.

是時，殺禁地鹿者身死，財產沒官，有能覺告者厚加賞賜。柔上疏曰：「聖王之御世，莫不以廣農為務，儉用為資。夫農廣則穀積，用儉則財畜，畜財積穀而有憂患之虞者，未之有也。古者，一夫不耕，或為之饑；一婦不織，或為之寒。

In recent times the common people have been supplying labor for many services, so that those who work the fields themselves have already dwindled. On top of that there has lately been the hunting ban, and herds of deer run wild, devouring the growing sprouts and doing harm everywhere, so that the damage is beyond reckoning. Though the people put up barriers, they lack the strength to keep them out. Around Xingyang, for example, for several hundred li in every direction almost nothing was harvested this year, and the lives of the people are truly to be pitied. At present, those in the realm who produce wealth are very few, while the losses caused by elk and deer are very many.

中閒已來，百姓供給衆役，親田者旣減，加頃復有獵禁，羣鹿犯暴，殘食生苗，處處為害，所傷不貲。民雖障防，力不能禦。至如滎陽左右，周數百里，歲略不收，元元之命，實可矜傷。方今天下生財者甚少，而麋鹿之損者甚多。

Should there suddenly be the service of war or the calamity of a bad year, there will be nothing with which to meet it. I beg Your Majesty to consider what the former sages were concerned about and to take pity on the hardships of sowing and reaping. Relax the ban for the people and let them catch deer, and so abolish the prohibition altogether; then the multitudes will long be relieved, and none will fail to rejoice.”

卒有兵戎之役，凶年之災，將無以待之。惟陛下覽先聖之所念，愍稼穡之艱難，寬放民間，使得捕鹿，遂除其禁，則衆庶久濟，莫不悅預矣。」¹

Some time later Dou Li, a soldier of the camp of the Protector of the Army, went out on a short errand and did not come back. The camp assumed that he had deserted, submitted a report requesting his pursuit and capture, and confiscated his wife Ying and his sons and daughters as government slaves. Ying went repeatedly to the provincial and commandery offices protesting the injustice and pleading her own case, but no one would look into it. So she lodged a complaint with the Commandant of Justice. Gao Rou asked her, “How do you know that your husband did not desert?” Weeping, Ying replied, “My husband was alone in the world from his youth. He took in an old woman and cared for her as his mother, serving her with great respect and diligence. He also loved his sons and daughters and looked after them without ever leaving their side. He is not a flighty, crafty man who would abandon his family.”

頃之，護軍營士竇禮近出不還。營以為亡，表言逐捕，沒其妻盈及男女為官奴婢。盈連至州府，稱冤自訟，莫有省者。乃辭詣廷尉。柔問曰：「汝何以知夫不亡？」盈垂泣對曰：「夫少單特，養一老嫗為母，事甚恭謹，又哀兒女，撫視不離，非是輕狡不顧室家者也。」

Gao Rou questioned her further: “Did your husband have a quarrel or feud with anyone?” She answered, “My husband was good and kind and had no enmity with anyone.” He asked again, “Did your husband have any dealings in money or goods with anyone?” She answered, “He once lent money to Jiao Ziwen, a soldier of the same camp, and when he asked for it back he could not get it.” At that time Jiao Ziwen happened to be held in prison over some small matter, so Gao Rou went to see him and asked what he was charged with. In the course of the conversation he said, “Have you ever borrowed money from anyone?” Jiao Ziwen said, “Being alone and poor, I have never dared to borrow anyone’s money or goods.”

柔重問曰：「汝夫不與人有怨讎乎？」對曰：「夫良善，與人無讎。」又曰：「汝夫不與人交錢財乎？」對曰：「嘗出錢與同營士焦子文，求不得。」時子文適坐小事繫獄，柔乃見子文，問所坐。言次，曰：「汝頗曾舉人錢不？」子文曰：「自以單貧，初不敢舉人錢物也。」

Gao Rou observed that Jiao Ziwen’s expression had changed, and went on, “You once borrowed money from Dou Li. Why do you say you have not?” Jiao Ziwen, startled that the matter had come to light, could not answer coherently. Gao Rou said, “You have already killed Dou Li. You had better confess quickly.” Jiao Ziwen then knocked his head on the ground and confessed the whole story of how he had killed Dou Li, and where he had buried him. Gao Rou at once sent officers and soldiers to dig for Dou Li according to Jiao Ziwen’s statement, and they found his body immediately. An edict restored Ying and her children to the status of commoners. The case was proclaimed throughout the realm, so that Dou Li’s case would serve as a warning.

柔察子文色動，遂曰：「汝昔舉竇禮錢，何言不邪？」子文恠知事露，應對不次。柔曰：「汝已殺禮，便宜早服。」子文於是叩頭，具首殺禮本末，埋藏處所。柔便遣吏卒，承子文辭往掘禮，即得其屍。詔書復盈母子為平民。班下天下，以禮為戒。

After twenty-three years in that office he was transferred to be Minister of Ceremonies, and within ten days was promoted to Minister of Works; later he was moved to Minister over the Masses. When the Grand Tutor Sima Yi (King Xuan) memorialized for the dismissal of Cao Shuang, the Empress Dowager issued an edict summoning Gao Rou, granting him a tally and making him acting Grand General, to take control of Cao Shuang’s camp. The Grand Tutor said to Gao Rou, “You have become a Zhou Bo.” After Cao Shuang was executed, Gao Rou was advanced to Marquis of Wansui District. When the Duke of Gaogui District took the throne, he was advanced to Marquis of Anguo and transferred to Grand Commandant. When the Duke of Changdao District took the throne, his fief was increased to four thousand households in all, and at one time or another two of his sons were enfeoffed as village marquises.

在官二十三年，轉為太常，旬日遷司空，後徙司徒。太傅司馬宣王奏免曹爽，皇太后詔召柔假節行大將軍事，據爽營。太傅謂柔曰：「君為周勃矣。」爽誅，進封萬歲鄉侯。高貴鄉公即位，進封安國侯，轉為太尉。常道鄉公即位，增邑并前四千，前後封二子亭侯。

In the fourth year of Jingyuan he died at the age of ninety, and was given the posthumous title Marquis Yuan. His grandson Gao Hun succeeded him. During the Xianxi era, when the five ranks of nobility were established, because Gao Rou and others had distinguished themselves with merit under the former dynasty, Gao Hun’s fief was changed and he was made Viscount of Changlu.

景元四年，年九十薨，謚曰元侯。孫渾嗣。咸熈中，開建五等，以柔等著勳前朝，改封渾昌陸子。¹

Sun Li

孫禮

Sun Li, courtesy name Deda, was a man of Rongcheng in Zhuo Commandery. When Taizu pacified You Province, he summoned him to be Military Planning Clerk to the Minister of Works. Earlier, in the time of disorder, Sun Li had become separated from his mother, and Ma Tai, a man of the same commandery, found her for him; Sun Li then gave all his family property to Ma Tai. Later Ma Tai ran afoul of the law and faced death, and Sun Li secretly guided him to break out of prison, then gave himself up, saying, “I have no right to flee.” He went straight to Wen Hui, the Registrar for Investigating Wrongdoing. Wen Hui admired him and reported everything to Taizu, and each of them had his sentence reduced one degree below death.

孫禮字德達，涿郡容城人也。太祖平幽州，召為司空軍謀掾。初喪亂時，禮與母相失，同郡馬台求得禮母，禮推家財盡以與台。台後坐法當死，禮私導令踰獄自首，旣而曰：「臣無逃亡之義。」徑詣刺姧主簿溫恢。恢嘉之，具白太祖，各減死一等。

Later he was appointed Assistant of Hejian Commandery, and was gradually promoted to Chief Commandant of Xingyang. When several hundred bandits in the mountains of Lu held out in rugged strongholds and did harm to the people, Sun Li was transferred to be Chancellor of Lu. On arriving at his post, he put out the grain from his own salary and mobilized officials and commoners, offering rewards for bandits’ heads; he took in those who came over to surrender and sent them back to act as spies, and in a short time the area was pacified. He served in turn as Administrator of Shanyang, Pingyuan, Pingchang, and Langya. When he accompanied the Grand Marshal Cao Xiu on the campaign against Wu at Jiashi, Sun Li remonstrated that they should not advance too deep; his advice was not followed, and they were defeated. He was promoted to Administrator of Yangping, and then entered the court as a Master of Writing.

後除河間郡丞，稍遷滎陽都尉。魯山中賊數百人，保固險阻，為民作害；乃徙禮為魯相。禮至官，出俸穀，發吏民，募首級，招納降附，使還為閒，應時平泰。歷山陽、平原、平昌、琅邪太守。從大司馬曹休征吳於夾石，禮諫以為不可深入，不從而敗。遷陽平太守，入為尚書。

Emperor Ming was just then building palaces, but the seasons were out of harmony and grain was scarce throughout the realm. Sun Li argued firmly for the work to be halted, and an edict said, “We respectfully accept your forthright words. Send the conscripted laborers home at once.” At the time Li Hui was supervising the construction, and he memorialized again, asking to keep them one more month so that the work in progress could be finished. Sun Li went straight to the building site and, without memorializing again, dismissed the people in the name of the edict. The Emperor found his spirit remarkable and did not reprimand him.

明帝方脩宮室，而節氣不和，天下少穀。禮固爭，罷役，詔曰：「敬納讜言，促遣民作。」時李惠監作，復奏留一月，有所成訖。禮徑至作所，不復重奏，稱詔罷民，帝奇其意而不責也。

When the Emperor was hunting at Mount Dashi, a tiger charged at the imperial carriage. Sun Li at once threw down his whip, dismounted, and made to cut down the tiger with his sword, but an edict ordered him to remount. As Emperor Ming lay dying, he made Cao Shuang Grand General, and since Cao Shuang needed a good assistant, Sun Li received a testamentary edict at the Emperor’s bedside appointing him Chief Clerk to the Grand General, with the added title of Regular Mounted Attendant. Sun Li was upright and unbending, and Cao Shuang found him inconvenient, so he made him Inspector of Yang Province, with the added title of General Who Calms the Waves, and granted him the rank of Marquis Within the Passes.

帝獵於大石山，虎趨乘輿，禮便投鞭下馬，欲奮劒斫虎，詔令禮上馬。明帝臨崩之時，以曹爽為大將軍，宜得良佐，於牀下受遺詔，拜禮大將軍長史，加散騎常侍。禮亮直不撓，爽弗便也，以為揚州刺史，加伏波將軍，賜爵關內侯。

Quan Cong, a senior general of Wu, came raiding with an army of several tens of thousands. At the time the provincial troops had been sent home on leave, and few remained. Sun Li personally led his guards to resist, and they fought at Quebei from dawn until dusk, until more than half of his officers and men were dead or wounded. Sun Li braved the naked blades; his horse took several wounds, but he held the drumsticks in his own hands and beat the drum, fighting on with no thought for himself, until the enemy finally withdrew. An edict praised and consoled him and granted him seven hundred bolts of silk. Sun Li set up sacrifices for those who had died in the fighting and wailed over them, his cries of grief coming from the heart. He gave all the silk to the families of the dead, keeping none of it for himself.

吳大將全琮帥數萬衆來侵寇，時州兵休使，在者無幾。禮躬勒衞兵禦之，戰於芍陂，自旦及暮，將士死傷過半。禮犯蹈白刃，馬被數創，手秉枹鼓，奮不顧身，賊衆乃退。詔書慰勞，賜絹七百匹。禮為死事者設祀哭臨，哀號發心，皆以絹付亡者家，無以入身。

He was summoned and appointed Privy Treasurer, then went out as Inspector of Jing Province, and was transferred to Governor of Ji Province. The Grand Tutor Sima Yi said to Sun Li, “Qinghe and Pingyuan have now been disputing their boundary for eight years; two Inspectors have come and gone, and neither could settle it. Yu and Rui had to wait for King Wen to resolve their quarrel. You must deal with this well and make it clear.” Sun Li said, “The litigants take old settlement sites and tombs as their evidence, and those who hear the case take the word of the elders as correct. But the old cannot be put to the rod, and old sites and tombs may have been moved to higher, more open ground, or moved away to escape enemies.

徵拜少府，出為荊州刺史，遷冀州牧。太傅司馬宣王謂禮曰：「今清河、平原爭界八年，更二刺史，靡能決之；虞、芮待文王而了，宜善令分明。」禮曰：「訟者據墟墓為驗，聽者以先老為正，而老者不可加以榎楚，又墟墓或遷就高敞，或徙避仇讎。

With what I have heard so far, even Gao Yao would find it difficult. If we want to be sure there will be no further dispute, we should decide it by the map drawn when Liezu (Emperor Ming) was first enfeoffed at Pingyuan. Why must we delve into antiquity and ask about old precedents, only adding to the arguments? In the past, when King Cheng playfully gave Shu Yu a paulownia leaf, the Duke of Zhou thereupon enfeoffed him. Now the map is kept in the Heavenly Archive, and the case can be decided right here where we sit. Why wait until I reach the province?” Sima Yi said, “Quite so. I shall send the map down separately.”

如今所聞，雖臯陶猶將為難。若欲使必也無訟，當以烈祖初封平原時圖決之。何必推古問故，以益辭訟？昔成王以桐葉戲叔虞，周公便以封之。今圖藏在天府，便可於坐上斷也，豈待到州乎？」宣王曰：「是也。當別下圖。」

On arriving, Sun Li examined the map and found that the land properly belonged to Pingyuan. But Cao Shuang believed Qinghe’s claims and sent down a document saying, “The map cannot be used. The points of agreement and difference must be weighed.” Sun Li submitted a memorial: “Guan Zhong was the assistant of a hegemon, and his capacity was small, yet even he could take the town of Pian from the Bo clan and leave them without a word of complaint to the end of their days. I have received the charge of a provincial governor and hold the clear map of the sage court; I verified the boundary recorded for the land, and the boundary is in fact the Wangweng River. Yet Shu County takes Ma Dan’s watchpost as its evidence and falsely claims the Mingdu River as the boundary.

禮到，案圖宜屬平原。而曹爽信清河言，下書云：「圖不可用，當參異同。」禮上疏曰：「管仲霸者之佐，其器又小，猶能奪伯氏駢邑，使沒齒無怨言。臣受牧伯之任，奉聖朝明圖，驗地著之界，界實以王翁河為限；而鄃以馬丹候為驗，詐以鳴犢河為界。

They have fabricated a false suit and misled and confused the Secretariat. I have heard that the tongues of the multitude can melt metal, make stones float and wood sink, that when three men say so there is a tiger in the marketplace, and that even a loving mother will throw down her shuttle. Now the two commanderies have been disputing their boundary for eight years, and the reason it can be decided in a single morning is that there are the explanatory documents and the map, which can be examined and checked point by point. Pingyuan lies between the two rivers and runs up toward the east, and between them there is the Jue Embankment. The Jue Embankment lies southwest of Gaotang, while the disputed land lies northwest of Gaotang, more than twenty li apart. This may well be called a matter for long sighs and tears.

假虛訟訴，疑誤臺閣。竊聞衆口鑠金，浮石沈木，三人成市虎，慈母投其杼。今二郡爭界八年，一朝決之者，緣有解書圖畫，可得尋案擿校也。平原在兩河，向東上，其閒有爵隄，爵隄在高唐西南，所爭地在高唐西北，相去二十餘里，可謂長歎息流涕者也。

I examined the explanatory documents and the map and memorialized accordingly, yet Shu County does not accept the edict. This is because I am weak and unequal to my charge. With what face can I go on drawing a salary and eating without earning it?” He then at once fastened his sash, put on his shoes, and had his carriage made ready, awaiting dismissal. When Cao Shuang saw Sun Li’s memorial he was furious. He impeached Sun Li for harboring resentment, and Sun Li was sentenced to five years. After a year at home, many people spoke up for him, and he was appointed Colonel of the City Gates.

案解與圖奏而鄃不受詔，此臣軟弱不勝其任，臣亦何顏尸祿素餐。」輒束帶著履，駕車待放。爽見禮奏，大怒。劾禮怨望，結刑五歲。在家期年，衆人多以為言，除城門校尉。

At this time the tribes of the Xiongnu king Liu Jing were strong, and the Xianbei often raided the frontier, so Sun Li was made Inspector of Bing Province with the added title of General Who Displays Martial Might, and was granted credentials as General of the Household Protecting the Xiongnu. He went to see the Grand Tutor Sima Yi, wearing an angry look and saying nothing. Sima Yi said, “Do you think Bing Province too little for you? Or are you vexed that the boundary settlement went wrong? We are now about to part for a long time; why are you not glad?” Sun Li said, “How perverse and petty Your Excellency’s words are!

時匈奴王劉靖部衆彊盛，而鮮卑數寇邊，乃以禮為并州刺史，加振武將軍，使持節，護匈奴中郎將。往見太傅司馬宣王，有忿色而無言。宣王曰：「卿得并州，少邪？恚理分界失分乎？今當遠別，何不懽也！」禮曰：「何明公言之乖細也！

Unworthy though I am, would I care about office or rank or past matters? I had supposed that Your Excellency would walk in the footsteps of Yi Yin and Lü Shang, setting the house of Wei aright and sustaining it, repaying above the trust Emperor Ming placed in you and establishing below a merit for ten thousand generations. Now the altars of the state are on the brink of danger and the realm is in turmoil. That is why I am not glad.” And his tears streamed down. Sima Yi said, “Stop there for now. Bear what cannot be borne.” After Cao Shuang was executed, Sun Li entered the court as Colonel-Director of Retainers. In all he governed seven commanderies and five provinces, and everywhere he had authority and trust.

禮雖不德，豈以官位往事為意邪？本謂明公齊蹤伊、呂，匡輔魏室，上報明帝之託，下建萬世之勳。今社稷將危，天下兇兇，此禮之所以不悅也。」因涕泣橫流。宣王曰：「且止，忍不可忍。」爽誅後，入為司隷校尉，凡臨七郡五州，皆有威信。

He was promoted to Minister of Works and enfeoffed as Marquis of Dali Village, with a fief of one hundred households. Sun Li and Lu Yu came from the same commandery and belonged to the same generation, but they were not on good terms. As men each had his strengths and weaknesses, yet it is said that in reputation and rank they were roughly equal. He died in the second year of Jiaping and was given the posthumous title Marquis Jing. His grandson Sun Yuan succeeded him.

遷司空，封大利亭侯，邑一百戶。禮與盧毓同郡時輩，而情好不睦。為人雖互有長短，然名位略齊云。嘉平二年薨，謚曰景侯。孫元嗣。

Wang Guan

王觀

Wang Guan, courtesy name Weitai, was a man of Linqiu in Dong Commandery. Orphaned young and poor, he applied himself with determination. Taizu summoned him to be Literary Clerk to the Chancellor, and he went out to serve as Magistrate of Gaotang, Yangquan, Cuo, and Ren, winning praise for good government wherever he was. When Emperor Wen ascended the throne, Wang Guan entered the court as a Gentleman of the Secretariat and Inspector under the Commandant of Justice, and then went out as Administrator of Nanyang and of Zhuo. Zhuo bordered the Xianbei to the north and was often raided by bandits, so Wang Guan had the frontier people settle together in groups of ten households or more and build watchtowers.

王觀字偉臺，東郡廩丘人也。少孤貧勵志，太祖召為丞相文學掾，出為高唐、陽泉、酇、任令，所在稱治。文帝踐阼，入為尚書郎、廷尉監，出為南陽、涿郡太守。涿北接鮮卑，數有寇盜，觀令邊民十家已上，屯居，築京候。

At the time some were unwilling, so Wang Guan gave the officials of the commandery office leave to go home and help their sons and younger brothers, setting no deadline but simply instructing each to return when the work was done. Thereupon officials and commoners led one another on and exerted themselves without being urged, and within ten days everything was completed at once. With defenses in place, the raiding ceased. When Emperor Ming took the throne, he issued an edict ordering the commanderies and counties to classify themselves as hard, middling, or easy. The official in charge wished to report the commandery as middling, but Wang Guan instructed him, “This commandery is close to the foreign enemy and often suffers raids. Why should it not be classed as hard?”

時或有不願者，觀乃假遣朝吏，使歸助子弟，不與期會，但勑事訖各還。於是吏民相率不督自勸，旬日之中，一時俱成。守禦有備，寇鈔以息。明帝即位，下詔書使郡縣條為劇、中、平者。主者欲言郡為中平，觀教曰：「此郡濵近外虜，數有寇害，云何不為劇邪？」

The official said, “If the commandery is classed as a hard frontier commandery, I fear Your Honor will be required to send a son as hostage.” Wang Guan said, “A ruler exists for the sake of the people. If the commandery is classed as a hard frontier one, there should be reductions in the schedule of labor service. How could I betray the people of a whole commandery for the Administrator’s private interest?” In the end he reported it as a hard frontier commandery, and later sent his son as hostage to Ye. At the time Wang Guan had only one son, and a young and frail one at that. Such was his public-mindedness. Wang Guan conducted himself with purity and simplicity and led his subordinates by frugality, and his staff followed his example, none failing to exert themselves.

主者曰：「若郡為外劇，恐於明府有任子。」觀曰：「夫君者，所以為民也。今郡在外劇，則於役條當有降差。豈可為太守之私而負一郡之民乎？」遂言為外劇郡，後送任子詣鄴。時觀但有一子而又幼弱。其公心如此。觀治身清素，帥下以儉，僚屬承風，莫不自勵。

When Emperor Ming visited Xuchang, he summoned Wang Guan to be Attending Censor Who Manages Documents, in charge of trials at the Mobile Secretariat. At the time there were many sudden outbursts of pleasure and anger, but Wang Guan did not bend to the imperial will or follow the Emperor’s whims. The Grand Commandant Sima Yi requested Wang Guan as his Attendant Gentleman; he was promoted to Master of Writing, went out as Intendant of Henan, and was transferred to Privy Treasurer. When the Grand General Cao Shuang sent the Materials Officer Zhang Da to cut timber for his house and various other things for his private use, Wang Guan learned of it and had everything recorded, seized, and confiscated by the state.

明帝幸許昌，召觀為治書侍御史，典行臺獄。時多有倉卒喜怒，而觀不阿意順指。太尉司馬宣王請觀為從事中郎，遷為尚書，出為河南尹，徙少府。大將軍曹爽使材官張達斫家屋材，及諸私用之物，觀聞知，皆錄奪以沒官。

The Privy Treasurer oversaw the precious curios in the Three Imperial Workshops, the Imperial Wardrobe, and the Inner Treasury. Cao Shuang and his associates were extravagant and unrestrained and made many demands, but they were wary of Wang Guan’s adherence to the law, so they moved him to Minister Coachman. When Sima Yi executed Cao Shuang, he had Wang Guan act as Central Commander of the Army and take control of the camp of Cao Shuang’s younger brother Cao Xi, and granted him the rank of Marquis Within the Passes. He again became a Master of Writing, with the added title of Chief Commandant of Attendant Cavalry. When the Duke of Gaogui District took the throne, he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Zhongxiang Village. Soon afterward he was given the added title of Grandee of Splendid Happiness and transferred to Right Supervisor of the Secretariat.

少府統三尚方御府內藏玩弄之寶，爽等奢放，多有干求，憚觀守法，乃徙為太僕。司馬宣王誅爽，使觀行中領軍，據爽弟羲營，賜爵關內侯，復為尚書，加駙馬都尉。高貴鄉公即位，封中鄉亭侯。頃之，加光祿大夫，轉為右僕射。

When the Duke of Changdao District took the throne, Wang Guan was advanced to Marquis of Yangxiang, and his fief was increased by a thousand households, making two thousand five hundred in all. He was promoted to Minister of Works; he firmly declined, but this was not permitted, and an envoy was sent to invest him at his residence. After only a few days in office he sent back his seal and ribbon, and at once had himself carried home to his village. He died at home. He left instructions that his grave should be just large enough to hold the coffin, that no funerary goods should be placed in it, and that no mound should be raised and no trees planted. He was given the posthumous title Marquis Su. His son Wang Kui succeeded him. During the Xianxi era, when the five ranks of nobility were established, because Wang Guan had distinguished himself with merit under the former dynasty, Wang Kui’s fief was changed and he was made Viscount of Jiaodong.

常道鄉公即位，進封陽鄉侯，增邑千戶，并前二千五百戶。遷司空，固辭，不許，遣使即第拜授。就官數日，上送印綬，輒自輿歸里舍。薨于家，遺令藏足容棺，不設明器，不封不樹。謚曰肅侯。子悝嗣。咸熈中，開建五等，以觀著勳前朝，改封悝膠東子。

Appraisal

評

Appraisal: Han Ji, when living in retirement, transformed others through his quietude, and when he came out to take office, his reputation spread. Cui Lin was plain and unadorned, yet wise and capable. Gao Rou was clear in the principles of law. Sun Li was firm, decisive, upright, and stern. Wang Guan was pure, unbending, steadfast, and clean. All of them rose to become Excellencies and chief ministers. Yet Han Ji left his home to take his place in the ranks of court when past the age of eighty, and Gao Rou held on to office for twenty years, ending his days in his post as an elder statesman; compared with Xu Miao and Chang Lin, in this they fall short.

評曰：韓曁處以靜居行化，出以任職流稱；崔林簡樸知能；高柔明於法理；孫禮剛斷伉厲；王觀清勁貞白：咸克致公輔。及曁年過八十，起家就列；柔保官二十年，元老終位：比之徐邈、常林，於茲為疚矣。