Sui and Tang · Founding Emperor of Sui

Emperor Wen of Sui 隋文帝

Sui Wendi

First attested AD 570; died AD 604

Passages
204
Chapters
28
Histories
8

Overview

Emperor Wen of Sui was the founding emperor of Sui.

IdentityHistorical · Male

Other names

TypeEnglishChinesePinyin
Personal name Yang Jian 楊堅 Yang Jian
Posthumous name Emperor Wen 文皇帝 Wén Huángdì
Temple name Gaozu 高祖 Gaozu

Life and dates

Death

Attested activity

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Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Key source chapters

  1. Book of Sui, Chapter 43 Volume 43 Biographies 8: He Jian Wanghong, Yang Chugang, Yang Zichong, Guang De, Wang Xiong 18 passages
  2. Book of Sui, Chapter 59 Volume 59 Biographies 24: Three Sons of Emperor Yang 10 passages
  3. Book of Zhou, Chapter 13 Volume 13 Biographies 5: Princes of Wen, Xiaomin, Wu, and Xuan 23 passages
  4. Book of Sui, Chapter 44 Volume 44 Biographies 9: Teng Mu Wangzan, Daodao Wangjing, Caiwang Zhiji 22 passages
  5. Book of Sui, Chapter 53 Volume 53 Biographies 18: Daxi Zhangru, Helou Zigan, Shi Wansui, Liu Fang 17 passages

Career and standing

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Places and affiliations

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Works and attributed material

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Events and relationships

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Assessments and attributes

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Source notes

References in the histories

204 passages

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 9Volume 9 Biographies 1: Empresses and Consorts · 1 passage
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History of the Northern Dynasties, Chapter 88Volume 88 Biographies 76: Recluses · 1 passage
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Book of Chen, Chapter 7Volume 7: Empresses and Consorts · 1 passage
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Book of Chen, Chapter 14Volume 14: Chen Chang; Chen Tanlang · 2 passages
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Book of Chen, Chapter 29Volume 29: Zong Yuanrao; Sima Shen; Mao Xi; Cai Zheng · 1 passage
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Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 145Volume 145: Treatises 7 Music 2 · 1 passage
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History of Liao, Chapter 54Volume 54 Treatises 24: Music · 1 passage
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History of Liao, Chapter 63Volume 63 Tables 1: Lineage · 1 passage
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開皇四年，率諸莫弗賀來謁。五年，悉衆款塞，高祖納之，聽居故地。六年，諸部相攻不止，又與突厥相侵，高祖使使諭解之。別部出伏等違高麗，率眾內附，置於渴奚那頡之北。開皇末，別部四千餘戶違突厥來降，高祖給糧遣還；固辭不去，部落漸眾。遂北徙，逐水草，當遼西正北二百里，依紇臣水而居。紇臣水 按隋書八四、北史九四契丹傳作託紇臣水。東西亙五百里，南北三百里，分為十部，兵多者三千，少者千餘。有征伐，酋帥相與議之，興兵則合符契。突厥沙鉢略可汗遣吐屯潘垤統之，契丹殺吐屯。大業七年，貢方物。 In Kaihuang year 4 their Mohehe leaders came to court. The next year the entire people tendered submission at the border; Gaozu received them and let them remain on their old lands. In year 6 inter-tribal fighting and clashes with the Turks continued until Gaozu sent mediators. A collateral branch under Chufu broke with Goguryeo, submitted with its followers, and was settled north of Kexina. Late in Kaihuang more than four thousand households left the Turks and surrendered; Gaozu supplied grain for their return, but they refused to go back and their numbers swelled. They moved north along the pastures, two hundred li north of Liaoxi, settling on the Tuo Ge-chen River — so named in Sui Shu 84 and Beishi 94. Their territory ran five hundred li east–west and three hundred li north–south, divided into ten tribes with between one and three thousand fighters each. War was decided in council among the chiefs, who joined tallies to mobilize. Shabolue of the Turks sent Tutun Pan Chi to oversee them, but the Khitan killed Tutun. In Daye year 7 they sent tribute goods.
Book of Sui, Chapter 36Volume 36 Biographies 1: Empresses and Consorts · 10 passages
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Book of Sui, Chapter 43Volume 43 Biographies 8: He Jian Wanghong, Yang Chugang, Yang Zichong, Guang De, Wang Xiong · 18 passages
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Book of Sui, Chapter 44Volume 44 Biographies 9: Teng Mu Wangzan, Daodao Wangjing, Caiwang Zhiji · 22 passages
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Book of Sui, Chapter 51Volume 51 Biographies 16: Zhang Sunlan · 7 passages
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Book of Sui, Chapter 52Volume 52 Biographies 17: Han Qinhu, He Ruobi · 10 passages
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Book of Sui, Chapter 53Volume 53 Biographies 18: Daxi Zhangru, Helou Zigan, Shi Wansui, Liu Fang · 17 passages
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高祖作相，王謙舉兵於蜀，沙氐上柱國楊永安扇動利、興、武、文、沙、龍等六州以應謙，詔長儒擊破之．謙二子自京師亡歸其父，長儒並捕斬之．高祖受禪，進位上大將軍，封蘄春郡公，邑二千五百戶． While Emperor Gaozu was still regent, Wang Qian rebelled in Shu. Yang Yong'an of the Shadi Di, a pillar of state of the first rank, roused the six prefectures of Li, Xing, Wu, Wen, Sha, and Long in support of Qian, and an edict sent Changru to break them. Qian’s two sons escaped the capital to join their father; Changru seized and executed them both. When Gaozu took the throne, Changru was promoted to grand general of the first rank and enfeoffed as duke of Qichun commandery with twenty-five hundred households.
其戰士死傷者十八九．突厥本欲大掠秦、隴，既逢長儒，兵皆力戰，虜意大沮，明日，於戰處焚屍慟哭而去．高祖下詔曰：「突厥猖狂，輒犯邊塞，犬羊之眾，彌亙山原．而長儒受任北鄙，式遏寇賊，所部之內，少將百倍．以晝通宵，四面抗敵，凡十有四戰，所向必摧．兇徒就戮，過半不反，鋒刃之餘，亡魂竄跡．自非英威奮發，奉國情深，撫御有方，士卒用命，豈能以少破眾，若斯之偉？ Eight or nine tenths of his fighting men were killed or wounded. The Turks had meant to ravage Qin and Long on a grand scale; meeting Changru, they found every man resisting to the limit, and their spirit collapsed. The next day they burned their dead on the field, wailed over them, and withdrew. Gaozu issued an edict: “The Turks are reckless, ever raiding the frontier; their dog-and-goat hordes blanket hill and plain. Yet Changru, posted to the northern marches, held the raiders at bay though his command held scarcely one man for every hundred of theirs. From dawn through the night he fought on every side in fourteen engagements and broke whatever he met. The enemy were cut down; more than half never returned; the survivors fled the blades in terror to the wilds. Without heroic fire, deep loyalty to the state, skilled command, and soldiers who gave their all, who could have shattered such a host with so few—a feat as great as this?
其年，授寧州刺史，尋轉鄜州刺史，母憂去職．長儒性至孝，水漿不入口五日，毀悴過禮，殆將滅性，天子嘉歎．起為夏州總管三州六鎮都將事，匈奴憚之，不敢窺塞．以病免．又除襄州總管，在職二年，轉蘭州總管．高祖遣涼州總管獨孤羅、原州總管元褒、靈州總管賀若誼等發卒備胡，皆受長儒節度．長儒率眾出祁連山北，西至蒲類海，無虜而還．復轉荊州總管三十六州諸軍事，高祖謂之曰：「江陵要害，國之南門，今以委公，朕無慮也．」歲餘，卒官．諡曰威．子暠大業時，官至太僕少卿． That year he became governor of Ningzhou, then of Binzhou, and left office when his mother died. Deeply filial by nature, he took neither food nor drink for five days; his mourning exceeded the rites and nearly cost him his life, and the emperor marveled at it. Recalled as commander of Xiazhou with authority over three prefectures and six garrisons, he so awed the Xiongnu that they dared not test the border. Illness forced his retirement. He was made commander of Xiangzhou, served two years, then transferred to Lanzhou. Gaozu sent the commanders of Liangzhou, Yuanzhou, and Lingzhou—Dugu Luo, Yuan Bao, and Heruo Yi—to raise troops against the barbarians, all under Changru’s orders. Changru led his men north of the Qilian range as far west as Lake Pulei and returned without meeting the enemy. He was then made commander of Jingzhou with military authority over thirty-six prefectures. Gaozu told him, “Jiangling is the realm’s southern gate; with you there, I need not worry.” A little over a year later he died in office. His posthumous name was Wei. His son Gao, in the Daye reign, rose to vice director of the imperial stud.
及尉迥作亂，子幹與宇文司錄從韋孝寬討之．遇賊圍懷州，子幹與宇文述等擊破之．高祖大悅，手書曰：「逆賊尉迥，敢遣蟻眾，作寇懷州．公受命誅討，應機蕩滌，聞以嗟贊，不易可言．丈夫富貴之秋，正在今日，善建功名，以副朝望也．」其後每戰先登，及破鄴城，與崔弘度逐迥至樓上．進位上開府，封武川縣公，邑三千戶，以思安縣伯別封子皎． When Yuchi Jiong rebelled, Zigan and the registrar Yuwen Shu followed Wei Xiaokuan to suppress him. When the rebels besieged Huaizhou, Zigan and Yuwen Shu and others broke the siege. Gaozu was delighted and wrote in his own hand: “The traitor Yuchi Jiong dared send an ant-like swarm against Huaizhou. You took command and swept them away as the moment required—I can hardly find words for my admiration. A man’s season of wealth and honor is now; build your merit to answer the court’s hopes.” After that he was first over the wall in every fight. When Ye fell, he and Cui Hongdu chased Jiong to the top of a tower. He was promoted to superior director of the bureau, enfeoffed as duke of Wuchuan with three thousand households, and his son Jiao was separately given the earldom of Si’an.
開皇元年，進爵鉅鹿郡公．其年，吐谷渾寇涼州，子幹以行軍總管從上柱國元諧擊之，功最優，詔褒美．高祖慮邊塞未安，即令子幹鎮涼州．明年，突厥寇蘭州，子幹率眾拒之，至可洛峐山，與賊相遇．賊眾甚盛，子幹阻川為營，賊軍不得水數日，人馬甚敝，縱擊，大破之．於是冊授子幹為上大將軍曰：「於戲！ In the first year of Kaihuang he was advanced to duke of Julu commandery. That year the Tuyuhun raided Liangzhou; Zigan, as commander on campaign under the pillar of state Yuan Xie, won the highest distinction, and an edict praised him. Fearing the frontier was still unsettled, Gaozu immediately posted Zigan to garrison Liangzhou. The next year the Turks raided Lanzhou; Zigan led troops to meet them at Mount Keluoqi. The enemy force was overwhelming. Zigan dammed the stream and encamped; for days the enemy could not reach water, and men and horses wore out. He then struck and broke them utterly. An investiture document appointed him grand general of the first rank, reading: “Ah!
徵授營新都副監，尋拜工部尚書．其年，突厥復犯塞，以行軍總管從竇榮定擊之．子幹別路破賊，斬首千餘級，高祖嘉之，遣通事舍人曹威齎優詔勞勉之．子幹請入朝，詔令馳驛奉見．吐谷渾復寇邊，西方多被其害，命子幹討之．馳驛至河西，發五州兵，入掠其國，殺男女萬餘口，二旬而還．高祖以隴西頻被寇掠，甚患之．彼俗不設村塢，敕子幹勒民為堡，營田積穀，以備不虞．子幹上書曰：「比者兇寇侵擾，蕩滅之期，匪朝伊夕．伏願聖慮，勿以為懷．今臣在此，觀機而作，不得準詔行事．且隴西、河右，土曠民稀，邊境未寧，不可廣為田種．比見屯田之所，獲少費多，虛役人功，卒逢踐暴．屯田疏遠者，請皆廢省．但隴右之民以畜牧為事，若更屯聚，彌不獲安．只可嚴謹斥候，豈容集人聚畜．請要路之所，加其防守．但使鎮戍連接，烽候相望，民雖散居，必謂無慮．」高祖從之．俄而虜寇岷、洮二州，子幹勒兵赴之，賊聞而遁去． He was summoned as deputy supervisor of the new capital works, then made minister of works. That year the Turks again raided the frontier; as commander on campaign he followed Dou Rongding. Zigan took a separate route, routed the enemy, and took more than a thousand heads. Gaozu commended him and sent the attendant of affairs Cao Wei with a favoring edict of consolation. Zigan asked to attend court and was ordered to come post-haste by relay. The Tuyuhun raided again and ravaged the west; Zigan was sent against them. He galloped to Hexi, raised troops from five prefectures, invaded their lands, and killed more than ten thousand men and women, returning within twenty days. Gaozu was deeply troubled that Longxi was repeatedly plundered. The people there did not build walled villages; he ordered Zigan to compel them to fortify, open military farms, and store grain against emergencies. Zigan memorialized: “The raiders have been harassing us lately, but their destruction is not far off—I pray Your Majesty not to worry. Here I watch for the moment to act and cannot always follow the statutes to the letter. Longxi and the lands west of the River are wide and thinly peopled; the border is not yet secure, and broad farming is impossible. I have seen that military colonies yield little for great cost, wasting labor only to be overrun. I ask that distant colonies be abolished. The people of Longyou live by herding; if we herd them into colonies they will be still less secure. Strict scouting is enough—we cannot mass people and livestock together. Strengthen the defenses on the main routes; if garrisons link and beacons face one another, the people may live scattered and still be safe.” Gaozu agreed. Soon the barbarians raided Min and Tao; Zigan marched to meet them and they fled at the news.
高祖以子幹曉習邊事，授榆關總管十鎮諸軍事．歲餘，拜雲州刺史，甚為虜所憚．後數年，突厥雍虞閭遣使請降，並獻羊馬．詔以子幹為行軍總管，出西北道應接之．還拜雲州總管，以突厥所獻馬百匹、羊千口以賜之，乃下書曰：「自公守北門，風塵不警．突厥所獻，還以賜公．」母憂去職．朝廷以榆關重鎮，非子幹不可，尋起視事．十四年，以病卒官，時年六十．高祖傷惜者久之，賻縑千匹，米麥千斛，贈懷、魏等四州刺史，諡曰懷．子善柱嗣，官至黔安太守． Because Zigan knew the frontier well, Gaozu made him commander of Yuguan with military authority over ten garrisons. A year later he became governor of Yunzhou and was greatly feared by the barbarians. Some years later Yongyulü of the Turks sent envoys to surrender and presented sheep and horses. Zigan was made commander on campaign to go out by the northwest route to receive them. On his return he was commander of Yunzhou; the hundred horses and thousand sheep the Turks had presented were given to him, with an imperial letter: “Since you have guarded the northern gate, the frontier has been quiet. What the Turks presented We return to you.” He left office when his mother died, but the court held that Yuguan could not do without him and soon recalled him. In the fourteenth year he died in office of illness at sixty. Gaozu mourned him long, granted a thousand bolts of silk and a thousand hu of grain and millet, posthumously made him governor of Huai, Wei, and two other prefectures, and gave him the posthumous name Huai. His son Shanzhu succeeded him and rose to administrator of Qian’an.
及高智慧等作亂江南，以行軍總管從楊素擊之．萬歲率眾二千，自東陽別道而進，踰嶺越海，攻陷溪洞不可勝數．前後七百餘戰，轉鬥千餘里，寂無聲問者十旬，遠近皆以萬歲為沒．萬歲以水陸阻絕，信使不通，乃置書竹筒中，浮之於水．汲者得之，以言於素．素大悅，上其事．高祖嗟歎，賜其家錢十萬，還拜左領軍將軍． When Gao Zhihui and others rebelled in the south, Wansui followed Yang Su as commander on campaign. With two thousand men he advanced by a separate route from Dongyang, crossed mountains and sea, and took ravine strongholds beyond count. In more than seven hundred fights over a thousand li of hills, for a hundred days no word came from him; everyone thought Wansui was dead. Cut off by land and water, he sealed a letter in a bamboo tube and set it adrift. Someone who drew water found it and told Su. Su was delighted and reported upward. Gaozu marveled and gave his family one hundred thousand cash; on his return Wansui was made general of the left forward army.
先是，南寧夷爨翫來降，拜昆州刺史，既而復叛．遂以萬歲為行軍總管，率眾擊之．入自蜻蛉川，經弄凍，次小勃弄、大勃弄，至于南中．賊前後屯據要害，萬歲皆擊破之．行數百里，見諸葛亮紀功碑，銘其背曰：「萬歲之後，勝我者過此．」萬歲令左右倒其碑而進．渡西二河，入渠濫川，行千餘里，破其三十餘部，虜獲男女二萬餘口．諸夷大懼，遣使請降，獻明珠徑寸．於是勒石頌美隋德．萬歲遣使馳奏，請將翫入朝，詔許之．爨翫陰有二心，不欲詣闕，因賂萬歲以金寶，萬歲於是捨翫而還．蜀王時在益州，知其受賂，遣使將索之．萬歲聞而悉以所得金寶沉之於江，索無所獲．以功進位柱國．晉王廣虛衿敬之，待以交友之禮．上知為所善，令萬歲督晉府軍事．明年，爨翫復反，蜀王秀奏萬歲受賂縱賊，致生邊患，無大臣節．上令窮治其事，事皆驗，罪當死．上數之曰：「受金放賊，重勞士馬．朕念將士暴露，寢不安席，食不甘味，卿豈社稷臣也？」 Earlier, Cuan Wan of the Ningnan Yi had surrendered and been made governor of Kunzhou, then rebelled again. Wansui was sent as commander on campaign against him. He entered by the Qingling River, passed Nongdong, and halted at Lesser and Greater Bonong before reaching the southern heartland. The rebels held every strong point; Wansui broke them all. After several hundred li he came upon Zhuge Liang’s victory stele, inscribed on the back: “After ten thousand years, whoever surpasses me will pass this place.” Wansui had his men overturn it and march on. He crossed the two western rivers, entered the Quluan River, marched more than a thousand li, and shattered more than thirty tribes, taking more than twenty thousand captives. The Yi were terrified, sent envoys to surrender, and presented a pearl an inch across. He carved a stone praising Sui virtue. Wansui sent a swift report asking that Wan be brought to court; the edict agreed. Wan secretly had no wish to come to the capital and bribed Wansui with gold and jewels; Wansui then left him and returned. The prince of Shu was in Yizhou; learning of the bribe, he sent men to seize the goods. Wansui heard of it and sank everything he had received in the river, and nothing was found. For his merit he was made pillar of state. Prince Jin Guang treated him with open respect as a friend. The emperor, knowing Guang favored him, put Wansui in charge of the prince of Jin’s military affairs. The next year Cuan Wan rebelled again. Prince Xiu of Shu reported that Wansui had taken bribes and released the rebel, bringing border trouble and failing the integrity of a great minister. A full investigation confirmed everything; the crime merited death. The emperor recounted his offenses: “You took gold and let the rebel go, wasting soldiers and horses. When I think of men exposed in the field I cannot sleep or eat with ease—are you a minister of the altars of state?”
萬歲曰：「臣留爨翫者，恐其州有變，留以鎮撫．臣還至瀘水，詔書方到，由是不將入朝，實不受賂．」上以萬歲心有欺隱，大怒曰：「朕以卿為好人，何乃官高祿重，翻為國賊也？」 Wansui said, “I left Cuan Wan because I feared unrest in his prefecture and kept him to pacify the region. When I reached the Lu River your edict had only just arrived, so I did not bring him in. I truly took no bribe.” The emperor, believing he was deceitful, raged: “I thought you a good man—how, with high rank and rich pay, have you become a traitor to the state?”
顧有司曰：「明日將斬之．」萬歲懼而服罪，頓首請命．左僕射高熲、左衛大將軍元旻等進曰：「史萬歲雄略過人，每行兵用師之處，未嘗不身先士卒，尤善撫御，將士樂為致力，雖古名將未能過也．」上意少解，於是除名為民．歲餘，復官爵．尋拜河州刺史，復領行軍總管以備胡． He turned to the officials: “Tomorrow he dies.” Wansui, terrified, confessed and begged for his life. The left vice director Gao Jiong, the general of the left guard Yuan Min, and others said, “Shi Wansui’s strategy surpasses other men; in every campaign he leads from the front. He is especially skilled at winning his men, who gladly give their all—even famous generals of old could not match him.” The emperor’s anger eased somewhat; Wansui was stripped of rank and made a commoner. After a year his titles were restored. He was soon governor of Hezhou and again commander on campaign against the barbarians.
開皇末，突厥達頭可汗犯塞，上令晉王廣及楊素出靈武道，漢王諒與萬歲出馬邑道．[一]萬歲率柱國張定和、大將軍李藥王、楊義臣等出塞，至大斤山，與虜相遇．達頭遣使問曰：「隋將為誰？」 At the end of Kaihuang the Turk khan Tatou raided the frontier. The emperor sent Prince Jin Guang and Yang Su by the Lingwu route, and Prince Han Liang and Wansui by the Mayi route. [1] Wansui led the pillars of state Zhang Dinghe and the grand generals Li Yaowang, Yang Yichen, and others beyond the border. At Mount Dajin they met the enemy. Tatou sent a messenger to ask, “Who is the Sui general?”
候騎曰：「是也．」達頭聞之，懼而引去．萬歲馳追百餘里乃及，擊大破之，斬數千級，逐北入磧數百里，虜遁逃而還．楊素害其功，因譖萬歲云：「突厥本降，初不為寇，來於塞上畜牧耳．」遂寢其功．萬歲數抗表陳狀，上未之悟．會上從仁壽宮初還京師，廢皇太子，窮東宮黨與．上問萬歲所在，萬歲實在朝堂，楊素見上方怒，因曰：「萬歲謁東宮矣．」以激怒上．上謂為信然，令召萬歲．時所將士卒在朝稱冤者數百人，萬歲謂之曰：「吾今日為汝極言於上，事當決矣．」既見上，言將士有功，為朝廷所抑，詞氣憤厲，忤於上．上大怒，令左右摧殺之．既而悔，追之不及，因下詔罪萬歲曰：「柱國、太平公萬歲，拔擢委任，每總戎機．往以南寧逆亂，令其出討．而昆州刺史爨翫包藏逆心，為民興患．朕備有成敕，令將入朝．萬歲乃多受金銀，違敕令住，致爨翫尋為反逆，更勞師旅，方始平定．所司檢校，罪合極刑，捨過念功，恕其性命，年月未久，即復本官．近復總戎，進討蕃裔．突厥達頭可汗領其兇眾，欲相拒抗，既見軍威，便即奔退，兵不血刃，賊徒瓦解．如此稱捷，國家盛事，朕欲成其勳庸，復加褒賞．而萬歲、定和通簿之日，乃懷姦詐，妄稱逆面交兵，不以實陳，懷反覆之方，弄國家之法．若竭誠立節，心無虛罔者，乃為良將，至如萬歲，懷詐要功，便是國賊，朝憲難虧，不可再捨．」死之日，天下士庶聞者，識與不識，莫不冤惜． The scouts said, “It is he.” When Tatou heard this he withdrew in fear. Wansui galloped after them for more than a hundred li, overtook them, and broke them utterly, taking several thousand heads. He drove the fugitives north into the desert for hundreds of li before they escaped and he returned. Yang Su, jealous of his glory, slandered him: “The Turks had already surrendered and were only pasturing livestock at the border—they were not raiding.” His merit was buried. Wansui memorialized again and again; the emperor would not see it. When the emperor returned from Renshou Palace to the capital, deposed the crown prince, and hunted the eastern palace faction, he asked where Wansui was. Wansui was in fact at court, but Yang Su, seeing his anger, said, “Wansui has gone to the eastern palace,” to inflame him further. The emperor believed it and summoned Wansui. Several hundred soldiers he had commanded were at court petitioning that they had been wronged. Wansui told them, “Today I will speak out for you before the emperor—the matter will be settled.” Before the emperor he spoke of his men’s merit and how the court had suppressed them; his tone was fierce and he gave offense. The emperor raged and ordered his attendants to kill him on the spot. He soon regretted it but could not undo the deed, and issued an edict condemning Wansui: “The pillar of state and duke of Taiping, Wansui, was raised and entrusted with every campaign. When the south rebelled he was sent to punish them. Cuan Wan of Kunzhou harbored treachery and harmed the people. We had made full plans to bring him to court. Wansui took much gold and silver, disobeyed Our plan by leaving him, and Cuan Wan soon rebelled again, costing fresh armies before order returned. The crime merited death; remembering his merit We spared him and soon restored his rank. Recently he commanded the advance against the frontier tribes. Tatou led his fierce horde to resist; at sight of our might they fled—blades unstained, the enemy dissolved. Such a victory is the state’s glory; We meant to crown his merit with new rewards. Yet on the day the registers were filed he and Dinghe lied, claiming they had met the enemy in battle when they had not, mocking the laws of the state. Only one who serves with full loyalty and no deceit is a true general; Wansui, who sought merit by fraud, is a traitor. The statutes cannot bend—we will not spare him again.” On the day he died, all who heard, whether they knew him or not, mourned him.
劉方，京兆長安人也．性剛決，有膽氣．仕周承御上士，尋以戰功，拜上儀同．高祖為丞相，方從韋孝寬破尉迥於相州，以功加開府，賜爵河陰縣侯，邑八百戶．高祖受禪，進爵為公．開皇三年，從衛王爽破突厥於白道，進位大將軍．其後歷甘、瓜二州刺史，尚未知名． Liu Fang came from Chang’an in Jingzhao. Firm and resolute by nature, he had real courage. Under Zhou he was senior attendant of the imperial carriage and soon, for battle merit, director with equal standing of the first rank. When Gaozu was chancellor, Fang followed Wei Xiaokuan in defeating Yuchi Jiong at Xiangzhou, was given the rank of director of the bureau, and enfeoffed as marquis of Heyin with eight hundred households. When Gaozu took the throne he was advanced to duke. In the third year of Kaihuang he followed Prince Shuang of Wei in defeating the Turks at Baidao and was promoted to grand general. He later served as governor of Gan and Gua but was not yet widely known.
仁壽中，會交州俚人李佛子作亂，據越王故城，遣其兄子大權據龍編城，其別帥李普鼎據烏延城．左僕射楊素言方有將帥之略，上於是詔方為交州道行軍總管，以度支侍郎敬德亮為長史，統二十七營而進．方法令嚴肅，軍容齊整，有犯禁者，造次斬之，然仁而愛士，有疾病者，親自撫養．長史敬德亮從軍至尹州，疾甚，不能進，留之州館．分別之際，方哀其危篤，流涕嗚咽，感動行路．其有威惠如此，論者稱為良將．至都隆嶺，遇賊二千餘人來犯官軍，方遣營主宋纂、何貴、嚴願等擊破之．進兵臨佛子，先令人諭以禍褔，佛子懼而降，送於京師．其有桀黠者，恐於後為亂，皆斬之． In the Renshou era the Li chieftain Li Fozi of Jiaozhou rebelled, seized the old city of the King of Yue, sent his nephew Daquan to hold Longbian, and his lieutenant Li Puding to hold Wuyan. The left vice director Yang Su said Fang had a commander’s gifts, and the emperor made him commander on the Jiaozhou route with Jing Deliang of the revenue office as chief clerk, advancing with twenty-seven battalions. Fang’s discipline was severe and his ranks orderly; violators were beheaded on the spot, yet he was kind to his men and nursed the sick himself. Chief clerk Jing Deliang fell gravely ill at Yinzhou and could not continue; Fang left him at the prefectural lodge and wept at their parting so that passersby were moved. With such authority and kindness together, men called him a fine general. At Dulong Ridge more than two thousand rebels attacked; Fang sent the battalion commanders Song Zuan, He Gui, and Yan Yuan to break them. Advancing on Fozi, he first sent men to explain fortune and disaster; Fozi surrendered in fear and was sent to the capital. The stubborn and cunning, lest they rebel again, were all executed.
尋授驩州道行軍總管，以尚書右丞李綱為司馬，經略林邑．方遣欽州刺史甯長真、驩州刺史李暈、上開府秦雄以步騎出越常，方親率大將軍張愻、司馬李綱舟師趣比景．高祖崩，煬帝即位，大業元年正月，軍至海口．林邑王梵志遣兵守險，方擊走之．師次闍黎江，賊據南岸立柵，方盛陳旗幟，擊金鼓，賊懼而潰．既渡江，行三十里，賊乘巨象，四面而至．方以弩射象，象中創，卻蹂其陣，王師力戰，賊奔於柵，因攻破之，俘馘萬計．於是濟區粟，度六里，前後逢賊，每戰必擒．進至大緣江，賊據險為柵，又擊破之．逕馬援銅柱，南行八日，至其國都．林邑王梵志棄城奔海，獲其廟主金人，污其宮室，刻石紀功而還．士卒腳腫，死者十四五．方在道遇患而卒，帝甚傷惜之，乃下詔曰：「方肅承廟略，恭行天討，飲冰遄邁，視險若夷．摧鋒直指，出其不意，鯨鯢盡殪，巢穴咸傾，役不再勞，肅清海外．致身王事，誠績可嘉，可贈上柱國、盧國公．」子通仁嗣． He was soon made commander on the Huanzhou route with Li Gang of the state affairs office as chief of staff to pacify Linyi. Fang sent Ning Changzhen, governor of Qinzhou, Li Yun, governor of Huanzhou, and the superior director Qin Xiong with infantry and cavalry by Yuechang, while he himself led Zhang Xun and Li Gang with the fleet toward Bijing. Gaozu died and Emperor Yang succeeded; in the first month of Daye year one the army reached Haikou. King Fan Zhi of Linyi sent troops to hold the passes; Fang drove them off. At the Zhanli River the enemy held the south bank behind palisades. Fang displayed his banners and beat drums and gongs; the enemy broke in fear. After crossing they marched thirty li when the enemy came on great elephants from every side. Fang shot the elephants with crossbows; wounded, they trampled their own ranks. The imperial army fought hard; the enemy fled to their palisades and were stormed, with tens of thousands taken. They crossed the Qulu and the Six Li, met the enemy again and again, and captured them in every fight. At the Dayuan River the enemy held the passes once more and were broken again. Passing Ma Yuan’s bronze pillar, they marched south eight days to the capital. King Fan Zhi abandoned the city and fled to the sea. They seized the temple’s golden image, defiled the palaces, carved a stone of victory, and returned. The soldiers had swollen feet; four or five in ten died. Fang fell ill on the road and died. The emperor mourned him deeply and issued an edict: “Fang reverently carried out the state’s strategy and Heaven’s punishment, drinking ice as he hastened on, treating peril as level ground. He crushed the vanguard and struck unawares; the enemy were destroyed and their nests overturned; the work was not done twice and the southern sea was cleared. He gave his life to the throne with true merit—let him be posthumously pillar of state of the first rank and duke of Lu.” His son Tongren succeeded him.
開皇時，有馮昱、王𢶏、李充、楊武通、陳永貴、房兆，俱為邊將，名顯當時．昱、𢶏，並不知何許人也．昱多權略，有武藝．高祖初為丞相，以行軍總管與王誼、李威等討叛蠻，平之，拜柱國．開皇初，又以行軍總管屯乙弗泊以備胡．突厥數萬騎來掩之，昱力戰累日，眾寡不敵，竟為虜所敗，亡失數千人，殺虜亦過當．其後備邊數年，每戰常大克捷．𢶏驍勇善射，高祖以其有將帥才，每以行軍總管屯兵江北，禦陳寇．數有戰功，為陳人所憚．伐陳之役，及高智慧反，攻討皆有殊績．官至柱國、白水郡公．充，隴西成紀人也．少慷慨，有英略．開皇中，頻以行軍總管擊突厥有功，官至上柱國、武陽郡公，拜朔州總管，甚有威名，為虜所憚．後有人譖其謀反，徵還京師，上譴怒之．充性素剛，遂憂憤而卒．武通，弘農華陰人，性果烈，善馳射．數以行軍總管討西南夷，每有功，封白水郡公，拜左武衛大將軍．時党項羌屢為邊患，朝廷以其有威名，歷岷、蘭二州總管以鎮之．後與周法尚討嘉州叛獠，法尚軍初不利，武通率數千人，為賊斷其歸路．武通於是束馬懸車，出賊不意，頻戰破之．賊知其孤軍無援，傾部落而至．武通轉鬥數百里，為賊所拒，四面路絕．武通輕騎接戰，墜馬，為賊所執，殺而噉之．永貴，隴右胡人也，本姓白氏，以勇烈知名．高祖甚親愛之，數以行軍總管鎮邊，每戰必單騎陷陣．官至柱國、蘭利二州總管，封北陳郡公．兆，代人也，本姓屋引氏，剛毅有武略．頻為行軍總管擊胡，以功官至柱國、徐州總管．並史失其事． In the Kaihuang era Feng Yu, Wang Biao, Li Chong, Yang Wutong, Chen Yonggui, and Fang Zhao were all frontier generals famous in their day. Yu and Biao’s origins are unknown. Yu was full of stratagems and martial skill. When Gaozu was first chancellor he was commander on campaign with Wang Yi and Li Wei against rebellious tribes and was made pillar of state. At the start of Kaihuang he garrisoned Yifu Po against the barbarians. Tens of thousands of Turk horsemen surprised him; he fought for days but was outnumbered, was defeated, and lost several thousand men—though the enemy dead were equally great. He guarded the frontier for years afterward and won great victories in every fight. Biao was fierce and skilled in archery; Gaozu saw commander’s talent in him and repeatedly posted him north of the River against Chen raiders. He won repeated honors and was feared by Chen. In the conquest of Chen and the suppression of Gao Zhihui he won outstanding merit, rising to pillar of state and duke of Baishui. Chong came from Chengji in Longxi; from youth he was generous and strategically minded. In Kaihuang he repeatedly struck the Turks with merit, rose to pillar of state of the first rank and duke of Wuyang, and commanded Shuozhou with a name the barbarians feared. Later someone accused him of treason; summoned to the capital, he was rebuked by the emperor. Stubborn by nature, he died of grief and anger. Wutong came from Huayin in Hongnong, resolute and skilled at mounted archery. He repeatedly campaigned against the southwestern Yi with merit, was duke of Baishui, and general of the left martial guard. The Tangut Qiang troubled the border; the court posted him to Min and Lan for his renown. With Zhou Fashang he attacked rebel Liao of Jiazhou. Fashang’s army faltered; Wutong led several thousand men cut off from retreat. He bound the horses and lowered the carts, took the enemy unawares, and broke them repeatedly. Knowing his isolated force had no relief, the enemy brought their whole tribes against him. Wutong marched for hundreds of li among the hills until every road was cut. He fought on light horse, fell, was seized, killed, and eaten. Yonggui was a Hu man of Longyou, originally surnamed Bai, famed for courage. Gaozu favored him and repeatedly posted him to the frontier; in every battle he charged alone. He rose to pillar of state, commander of Lan and Li, and duke of Beichen. Zhao came from Dai, originally of the Wuyin clan, firm and strategically minded. He repeatedly campaigned against the barbarians and rose to pillar of state and commander of Xuzhou. For all of them the history has lost the details.
Book of Sui, Chapter 54Volume 54 Biographies 19: Wang Zhangshu, Li Yan, Yi Louqian, Tian Rengong, Yuan Heng, Du Zheng, Li Che, Cui Peng · 15 passages
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Book of Sui, Chapter 59Volume 59 Biographies 24: Three Sons of Emperor Yang · 10 passages
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Book of Sui, Chapter 61Volume 61 Biographies 26: Yu Wenshu, Guo Yan · 6 passages
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Book of Sui, Chapter 72Volume 72 Biographies 37: Filial Piety · 14 passages
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Book of Sui, Chapter 77Volume 77 Biographies 42: Recluses · 1 passage
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Book of Sui, Chapter 79Volume 79 Biographies 44: Imperial Affines · 9 passages
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Book of Sui, Chapter 82Volume 82 Biographies 47: The Nanman · 2 passages
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New Book of Tang, Chapter 22Volume 22 Treatises 12: Rites and Music 12 · 1 passage
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Book of Zhou, Chapter 8Volume 8 Annals 8: Emperor Jing · 7 passages
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二月庚申，大丞相、隨王楊堅為相國，總百揆，更封十郡，通前二十郡，劍履上殿，入朝不趨，贊拜不名，備九錫之禮，加璽、鉞、遠遊冠，相國印綠綟綬，位在諸王上。 Second month, on gengshen day, Grand Chancellor Yang Jian, Prince of Sui, was made chancellor of state and directed all affairs; ten more commanderies were enfeoffed, twenty in all together with the former; he was granted entry to the hall with sword and shoes, no need to hasten when entering court, no naming when assisting at obeisance, and the full rites of the nine bestowments; he received the seal, battle-axe, and cap of distant travel; the chancellor's seal with green-black sash; and his rank was placed above all princes.
Book of Zhou, Chapter 9Volume 9 Biographies 1: Empresses · 4 passages
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Book of Zhou, Chapter 10Volume 10 Biographies 2: Duke Hao of Shaohui; Duke Lian of Qijian; Duke Luosheng of Juzhuang; Duke Zhong of Yuguo · 5 passages
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Book of Zhou, Chapter 13Volume 13 Biographies 5: Princes of Wen, Xiaomin, Wu, and Xuan · 23 passages
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Book of Zhou, Chapter 21Volume 21 Biographies 13: Wei Chijiong; Wang Qian; Sima Xiaonan · 13 passages
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Book of Zhou, Chapter 26Volume 26 Biographies 18: Zhang Sunjian; Zhangsun Shaoyuan; Younger Brother Cheng; Elder Brother Si; Hu Sizheng · 1 passage
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