Good Works Translation from Zaiji 1

This Good Works Translation renders the selected Jin Shu volume 101 source body from Classical Chinese into English.

For the Scythian shelf, the chapter is later continuity evidence. It shows how Jin historiography remembered southern Xiongnu settlement, Huhanye's Han alliance, Liu Yuan's claimed Han genealogy, and the rise of the Han-Zhao line after the frontier order broke.

The Classical Chinese source text is printed below the translation.

Translation

In antiquity, emperors and kings gave birth even to strange kinds: Chunwei was a descendant of Lord Yu. How could he be of another kind? With reversed hair and skins for clothing, eating rank flesh and drinking milk, they shook and startled the central realm; their coming was from far back. Heaven had not repented of disaster, and their tribes and settlements became still more numerous. Their customs were dangerous and crooked; their spirit and nature rushed and charged. Earlier histories record them, and also give them in full detail.

The Yellow Emperor was troubled by their violating order and therefore went on campaign. King Wu expelled them to the waste service, treating them as birds and beasts. On fields of dew and cold, waiting on the moon and watching the wind, seeing an opening and raising dust, they took advantage of gaps and galloped in violence. The border cities could not loosen their belts, and the common people had no houses and families. Confucius said: "Without Guan Zhong, we would be wearing our hair loose and folding garments to the left." This means that he could teach and train soldiers, order chariots and armor, make the border fields submit, and thereby settle the interior.

Thus Yan built at the outskirts of Zaoyang, Qin cut the barrier at Lintao, ascended Tian Mountain, severed earth-lines, enclosed Xuantu, and knocked at the Yellow River. These were means for guarding against Yi and Di disordering China; such was the preparation.

At first Emperor Xuan of Han accepted Huhanye, placed him near the posts and barriers, and entrusted him with watching and scouting; only then were the Rong and Di eased. Guangwu also moved several tens of thousands of the southern court into Xihe, and later they shifted to Wuyuan, continuing through seven commanderies. When Dong Zhuo's disorder came, the regions of Fen and Jin were desolate. Guo Qin raised a memorial to Emperor Wu, and Jiang Tong offered a plan to Emperor Hui. Both thought that Wei had placed Rong and Yi among embroidered garments, settled in capitals and towns, and they requested moving them beyond the desert frontier to fix a single service like those of Yin and Zhou. Tong's anxiety lay in Bing province; Qin's anxiety lay at Mengjin. While the words were still in their mouths, Yuanhai had already arrived. The saying says, "The error begins by a hair's breadth"; it became the humiliation of Jin ministers and grandees.

Liu Cong swore his troops and in the east annexed the land of Qi; Liu Yao rushed his banners west over Long Mountain, overturned both capitals, and steamed a million followers. The Son of Heaven controlled things from beyond the Jiang, occupying divided terrain and difficult ground. Looking back to the central plain, his strength could not rescue it, and roughly all north of the long Huai was abandoned. Hu men profited from our hardship and danger and rose in disorder with divided bridles; some Jin ministers, too, relied on troops in distant places and followed one another in imitation.

In general, Liu Yuanhai occupied Lishi in the first Yongxing year of Emperor Hui and claimed Han. Nine years later Shi Le occupied Xiangguo and claimed Zhao. The Zhang house had earlier occupied Hexi; in that year, thirty-six years after Shi Le, Zhang Chonghua called himself King of Liang. One year later Ran Min occupied Ye and claimed Wei. One year later Fu Jian occupied Chang'an and claimed Qin. The Murong house had earlier occupied Liaodong and claimed Yan; in that year, one year after Fu Jian, Murong Jun first usurped the title. Thirty-one years later Murong Chui of Later Yan occupied Ye. Two years later Murong Chong of Western Yan occupied Afang. In that same year Qifu Guoren occupied Fuhan and claimed Qin. One year later Murong Yong occupied Shangdang. In that same year Lü Guang occupied Guzang and claimed Liang. Twelve years later Murong De occupied Huatai and claimed Southern Yan. In that same year Tufa Wugu occupied Lianchuan and claimed Southern Liang, while Duan Ye occupied Zhangye and claimed Northern Liang. Three years later Li Xuansheng occupied Dunhuang and claimed Western Liang. One year later Juqu Mengxun killed Duan Ye and called himself Liang. Four years later Qiao Zong occupied Shu and claimed King of Chengdu. Two years later Helian Bobo occupied Shuofang and claimed Great Xia. Two years later Feng Ba killed Liban, occupied Helong, and claimed Northern Yan.

Of all the lands under Heaven, eight tenths were lost. None failed to raise dragon banners and imperial garments, establish altars of soil, open ancestral temples, and gather Chinese and Yi alike, with men and things present there. Some usurped the regions of great capitals; some held the land of several provinces. Heroic designs were rolled within, armies joined without, and they exhausted the savagery of war over victory and defeat, spending human life on blades and arrows. As Warring States, they lasted one hundred thirty-six years; Yuanhai was the head of this disaster.

Liu Yuanhai was a Xiongnu man of Xinxing, a descendant of Maodun. His given name violated the temple taboo of Gaozu, so his courtesy name is used here. At first, Gaozu of Han made a woman of the imperial clan a princess and gave her as wife to Maodun, making an agreement as brothers. Therefore his descendants took the surname Liu. At the beginning of Jianwu, Bi, son of Wuzhuliu Ruodi shanyu and right Aojian Rizhu king, established himself as southern shanyu and entered to live at Meiji in Xihe. The Zuoguo city of present Lishi is the court to which the shanyu moved.

In the Zhongping period, shanyu Qiangqu sent his son Yufuluo with troops to assist Han in punishing and pacifying the Yellow Turbans. When Qiangqu was killed by men of his state, Yufuluo kept his followers in Han territory and established himself as shanyu. During Dong Zhuo's disorder he raided and plundered Taiyuan and Hedong, and was stationed in Henei. When Yufuluo died, his younger brother Huchuquan was established, and Yufuluo's son Bao was made left worthy king. This was Yuanhai's father. Wei Wu divided his people into five divisions and made Bao leader of the left division; the other divisional leaders were all made from the Liu clan. In the Taikang period, commandants were newly established. The left division lived at Zishi in Taiyuan, the right division at Qi, the southern division at Puzi, the northern division at Xinxing, and the central division at Daling. Although the Liu clan lived divided among the five divisions, all lived near Jinyang and the Fen and Jian waters.

Bao's wife was of the Huyan clan. In the Jiaping period of Wei she prayed for a son at Dragon Gate. Soon a large fish, with two horns on its head, raised its fins, leapt its scales, and came to the sacrificial place; after some time it left. The shamans all considered this strange and said: "This is an auspicious sign." That night she dreamed that the fish seen in the morning changed into a man. In his left hand he held a thing as large as half a chicken egg, with extraordinary light and image. He gave it to Lady Huyan and said: "This is the essence of the sun. Take it and you will bear a noble son." She woke and told Bao. Bao said: "This is an auspicious omen. Formerly, when I followed the mother of Zhang Jiong of Handan, Lady Situ, for physiognomy, she said that I would have noble sons and grandsons, and within three generations there would surely be great flourishing. The resemblance is in accord." Thirteen months after this Yuanhai was born. The markings in his left hand formed his name, and he was named from them.

As a child he was brilliant and intelligent. At seven he suffered his mother's mourning, beat his breast, stamped, wailed, and cried out, moving neighbors to grief. His clan and division all sighed over and praised him. At that time Wang Chang of Taiyuan, minister over works, heard of it and admired him, and sent condolences and funeral gifts. From youth he loved learning. He took Cui You of Shangdang as teacher, studied the Mao Odes, the Jing family's Changes, and the Ma family's Documents, and especially loved the Zuo Tradition of the Spring and Autumn and the military methods of Sun and Wu. He could recite most of them. The Records, Han Shu, and the several masters were all comprehensively read.

He once told his fellow students Zhu Ji and Fan Long: "Whenever I look at the classics and histories, I always despise Sui He and Lu Jia for lacking military power, and Jiang Hou and Guan Ying for lacking letters. The Way is enlarged by men; not knowing a single thing is certainly what a gentleman is ashamed of. The two students met Gaozu but could not establish the work of enfeoffed marquises; the two lords belonged to Taizong but could not open the beauty of schools. What a pity." He then studied military affairs and was wonderfully beyond the crowd. With ape-like arms he was good at archery, and his strength exceeded other men. His appearance and bearing were large and imposing. He was eight chi and four cun tall, his beard was more than three chi long, and on his chest were three red hairs, three chi and six cun in length. Cui Yizhi of Tunliu and Gongshi Yu of Xiangling were both good at reading men's appearance. When they saw Yuanhai, they were startled and said to one another: "This man's form and appearance are extraordinary; we have not seen his like." They therefore deeply honored and respected him, pushed their shares to him, and joined favor. Wang Hun of Taiyuan opened his heart and befriended him and ordered his son Ji to bow to him.

In the Xianxi period he was a hostage son in Luoyang, and Emperor Wen treated him deeply. After Taishi, Wang Hun repeatedly spoke of him to Emperor Wu. The emperor summoned and spoke with him and was greatly pleased. He told Wang Ji: "Liu Yuanhai's bearing, appearance, judgment, and perception could not be exceeded even by You Yu and Jin Midi." Ji replied: "Yuanhai's bearing, appearance, judgment, and perception are truly as Your Majesty says, but his civil and military talents far exceed those two men. If Your Majesty gives him the affairs of the southeast, Wu and Kuaiji will not be hard to pacify." The emperor praised this. Kong Xun and Yang Yao advanced and said: "We observe Yuanhai's talent and fear that in the present age there is none like him. If Your Majesty treats his people lightly, they will not be enough to complete the affair. If you lend him authority and power, after Wu is pacified we fear he will not cross north again. If he is not of our kind, his heart will surely be different. To entrust his own division to him makes us shiver for Your Majesty. If one raises the solidity of natural barriers and uses it to supply him, would that not be unacceptable?" The emperor was silent.

Later, when Qin and Liang fell, the emperor consulted on generals. Li Xi of Shangdang said: "If Your Majesty can truly raise the people of the five Xiongnu divisions and lend Yuanhai the title of a general, he can beat the drums and go west, and pacification can be fixed by the pointing of a date." Kong Xun said: "Lord Li's words do not exhaust the principle of eliminating trouble." Xi became angry and said: "With the strength and fierceness of the Xiongnu and Yuanhai's understanding of troops, if he serves and proclaims sacred authority, what would not be finished?" Xun said: "If Yuanhai can pacify Liang province and behead Shu Jineng, I fear Liang province will then have its own difficulty. When a flood dragon gets clouds and rain, it is no longer a creature of the pond." The emperor then stopped.

Later Wang Mi returned east from Luoyang, and Yuanhai gave him a farewell feast on the bank of Jiuqu. Weeping, he told Mi: "Wang Hun and Li Xi, because they know me as one from their native place, have often praised and promoted me, but slanders and estrangements entered through this. It was deeply not my wish and only enough to harm me. I have never had a heart for office; only you understand this. I fear I will die in Luoyang and be parted from you forever." He then grew impassioned, sobbed, drank freely, and gave a long cry; the tone was bright and clear, and those seated shed tears. The Prince of Qi, Sima You, was then at Jiuqu. He heard of this and hurriedly sent someone to observe. Seeing Yuanhai there, he told the emperor: "If Your Majesty does not remove Liu Yuanhai, I fear Bing province will not long be at peace." Wang Hun advanced and said: "Yuanhai is an elder; I guarantee and make clear for him to the ruler. Moreover, great Jin is just now displaying trust toward different customs and embracing the distant with virtue. How can it kill a hostage son on the basis of suspicion before any sprout appears, showing that Jin virtue is not broad?" The emperor said: "Hun's words are right."

When Bao died, Yuanhai replaced him as leader of the left division. At the end of Taikang he was appointed commandant of the northern division. He clarified punishments and laws, prohibited treachery and evil, treated wealth lightly, loved giving, and received people with full sincerity. There were none among the outstanding men of the five divisions who did not come to him. Famous scholars of You and Ji and talented men from later gates also came from a thousand li away to travel with him. When Yang Jun assisted the government, he made Yuanhai general establishing authority and chief controller of the five divisions and enfeoffed him as Marquis of Hanguang village. At the end of Yuankang he was dismissed because men of his division rebelled and went beyond the frontier. When the Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying, was stationed at Ye, he memorialized to make Yuanhai acting general quieting the north and supervisor of the armies of the five divisions.

When Emperor Hui lost control and raiders and bandits rose like bees, Liu Xuan, Yuanhai's father's cousin, former commandant of the northern division and left worthy king, secretly discussed with others: "Formerly our ancestors and Han made agreement as brothers, sharing anxiety and peace alike. Since Han fell, Wei and Jin have risen in turn. Although our shanyu still has an empty title, there is no longer the estate of one chi of land; from the kings and marquises downward, we have fallen to the level of registered households. Now the Sima clan's own flesh and bones cut one another apart, and the four seas boil like a cauldron. To raise the state and restore the enterprise, this is the time. The left worthy king Yuanhai has bearing and instrument beyond men and talent and universe above the age. If Heaven did not mean to enlarge and exalt the shanyu, it would not have vainly born this man." They then secretly promoted Yuanhai as great shanyu. They sent their partisan Huyan You to Ye to report the plan to him.

Yuanhai requested permission to return for a funeral assembly, but Ying would not allow it. He ordered You to return first and tell Xuan and the others to summon the five divisions and draw together the Hu of Yiyang, outwardly saying that they were responding to Ying but in fact turning against him.

When Ying became imperial younger brother, he made Yuanhai colonel of garrison cavalry for the imperial younger brother. Emperor Hui attacked Ying and halted at Dangyin. Ying made Yuanhai acting general assisting the state and supervisor of the northern city defenses. When the six armies were defeated, Ying made Yuanhai champion general and enfeoffed him as Earl of Lunu. Sima Teng, Prince of Dongying and inspector of Bing province, and Wang Jun, general quieting the north, raised troops to attack Ying. Yuanhai advised Ying: "Now the two commands are domineering and have more than one hundred thousand men. I fear your guards and the people near the capital cannot resist them. I ask to return and persuade the five divisions for Your Highness, so that they may come to the state's difficulty." Ying said: "Can the people of the five divisions truly be raised? Even if they can be raised, the Xianbei and Wuhuan are fierce and swift like wind and cloud. How could they be easily met? I wish to escort the imperial carriage back to Luoyang, avoid their sharpness, and slowly send dispatches through all under Heaven, controlling them by rebellion and obedience. What is your intention?"

Yuanhai said: "Your Highness is a son of Emperor Wu and has special merit in the royal house. Your authority and favor shine and spread, and the four seas admire the wind. Who would not think of dying and throwing away his body for Your Highness? What difficulty is there in raising them? Wang Jun is a petty boy, and Dongying is a distant kinsman. How could they contend with Your Highness? If Your Highness once leaves the palace at Ye, you show weakness to men; will Luoyang be reachable again? Even if you reach Luoyang, authority and power will no longer rest with Your Highness. Who will receive and carry a paper dispatch or foot-long letter? Moreover the fierceness of the Eastern Hu does not exceed the five divisions. I ask Your Highness to comfort and hold the soldiers and people and quietly settle them. I will use two divisions to crush Dongying and three divisions to hang Wang Jun's head; the heads of the two low fellows can be hung within days." Ying was pleased and appointed Yuanhai northern shanyu and participant in the chancellor's military affairs.

When Yuanhai reached Zuoguo city, Liu Xuan and the others offered him the title great shanyu. Within twenty days his people already numbered fifty thousand, and he made his capital at Lishi.

Wang Jun sent the general Qi Hong to lead Xianbei against Ye. Ying was defeated and, carrying the Son of Heaven with him, fled south to Luoyang. Yuanhai said: "Ying did not use my words, turned backward, and ruined himself in flight; he is truly slave material. Yet I have made a promise with him and cannot fail to rescue him." He then ordered Liu Jing, right Yulu king, Liu Yannian, left Dulu king, and others to lead twenty thousand infantry and cavalry to punish the Xianbei. Liu Xuan and the others firmly remonstrated: "Jin has no Way and treats us like slaves; this is why the right worthy king Meng could not bear his anger. Because the Jin net had not yet loosened, the great affair was not completed. The right worthy king was crushed to the ground; that is the shanyu's shame. Now the fathers, sons, elder and younger brothers of the Sima clan eat one another like fish and meat. This is Heaven wearying of Jin virtue and granting it to us. The shanyu has accumulated virtue in his own person and is submitted to by Jin men. You are just about to raise our state and clan and restore the enterprise of Huhanye. The Xianbei and Wuhuan can be made support; why resist them and rescue enemies? Now Heaven lends us its hand. It must not be opposed. To oppose Heaven is inauspicious; to go against the multitude will not succeed. If Heaven gives and one does not take, one receives the blame instead. We ask the shanyu not to doubt."

Yuanhai said: "Good. One should become a lofty ridge and steep hill; how could one become a little mound? How could emperors and kings have constancy? Great Yu came from the western Rong, and King Wen was born among eastern Yi. Only virtue is what is granted. Now I see more than one hundred thousand people, each equal to ten Jin men. To beat the drums, go forward, and crush disordered Jin will be like breaking dead wood. Above, we can accomplish the work of Gaozu of Han; below, we will not fail to become like the Wei house. Even so, Jin men may not necessarily join with us. Han possessed all under Heaven for ages, and its favor and virtue were bound in men's hearts. Therefore Zhaolie, though ruggedly pressed in the land of one province, could contend with all under Heaven. I am also a nephew of the Han house; the agreement made us brothers. When an elder brother dies, the younger continues him. Is this not acceptable? We may claim Han and honor the Later Lord in order to hold men's hopes."

He then moved to Zuoguo city. Distant men who returned and attached themselves numbered several tens of thousands.

Sima Teng, Prince of Dongying, sent the general Nie Xuan to punish him. They fought at Daling, and Xuan's army was defeated. Teng was afraid, led more than twenty thousand households of Bing province down east of the mountains, and wherever they went they became raiders. Yuanhai sent Liu Yao, his general establishing martial power, to raid Taiyuan, Xuanshi, Tunliu, Zhangzi, and Zhongdu, and all were taken.

In the second year, Teng again sent Sima Yu, Zhou Liang, Shi Xian, and others to punish him; they halted at Fencheng in Lishi. Yuanhai sent Liu Qin and six armies to resist Yu and the others. They fought four times, and Yu was defeated each time; Qin put the army in order and returned. That year Lishi had great hunger. Yuanhai moved to Liting to be near grain stores, leaving his grand commandant Liu Hong and guard commander Ma Jing to defend Lishi and sending Grand Minister of Agriculture Bu Yu to transport grain and supply them. He made Liu Jing, his former general, bearer of credentials, chief controller for campaigns, and great general, and had him intercept Liu Kun, inspector of Bing province, at Banqiao. Liu Kun defeated him and then occupied Jinyang.

His palace attendants Liu Yin and Wang Yu advised Yuanhai: "Since Your Highness raised troops, nearly a full year has passed, but you have held only a corner and royal authority has not shaken outward. If you can order generals to go out in four directions, cast the decisive throw, hang Liu Kun's head, settle Hedong, establish the imperial title, beat the drums and go south, take Chang'an and make it the capital, then using the people of Guanzhong to sweep over Luoyang will be like pointing to the palm of the hand. This is how Gaozu began the great foundation and destroyed mighty Chu." Yuanhai was pleased and said: "This is my own heart." He then advanced and occupied Hedong, attacked and raided Puban and Pingyang, and both fell. Yuanhai entered and made his capital at Puzi. The counties, ramparts, and walls belonging to Hedong and Pingyang all surrendered. At that time Ji Sang raised troops in Zhao and Wei; Lu Zhuyan of the four Xianbei divisions of Shang commandery, the Di chieftain great shanyu Zheng, Wang Mi of Donglai, Shi Le, and others surrendered one after another. Yuanhai gave them all official ranks and titles.

He then ordered his son Cong and Wang Mi to advance and raid Luoyang, with Liu Yao, Zhao Gu, and others following. Sima Yue, Prince of Donghai, sent Cao Wu, general pacifying the north, and the generals Song Chou, Peng Mo, and others to resist them, but the royal army was defeated. Cong and the others drove straight to Yiyang. Sima Mo, Duke of Pingchang, sent Chunyu Ding, Lü Yi, and others from Chang'an to attack them. They fought at Yiyang, and Ding and the others were defeated. Cong relied on successive victories and did not make preparations. Yuan Yan, administrator of Hongnong, pretended to surrender and attacked by night. Cong's army was greatly defeated and returned, and Yuanhai greeted the army in plain mourning garments.

That winter he again raised troops on a large scale and sent Cong, Mi, Liu Yao, Liu Jing, and others with fifty thousand elite cavalry to raid Luoyang, making Huyan Yi lead infantry after them. They defeated the royal army south of the Yellow River. Cong advanced and stationed at Ximing Gate. Jia Yin, guard commander, approached him by night, fought at Daxia Gate, and beheaded Cong's general Huyan Hao; Cong's people then collapsed. Cong turned the army south, camped at the Luo River, and soon advanced to Xuanyang Gate. Yao was stationed at Shangdong Gate, Mi at Guangyang Gate, and Jing attacked Daxia Gate. Cong personally prayed at Mount Song and ordered Liu Li, Huyan Lang, and others to supervise the army left behind. Sima Yue, Prince of Donghai, ordered Sun Xun, a military aide, and the generals Qiu Guang and Lou Pou to lead three thousand strong soldiers from his tent and attack Lang from Xuanyang Gate, beheading him. Cong heard and hurried back. Li feared Cong would punish him and drowned himself. Wang Mi told Cong: "Now that we have lost advantage and Luoyang is still firm, Your Highness should return the army and slowly make a later move. I will gather troops and store grain between Gun and Yu and wait obediently for the strict date."

Xuan Yuxiu also told Yuanhai: "In the year xinwei, Luoyang will be obtained. Now Jin's qi is still strong. If the great army does not return, it will surely be defeated." Yuanhai hurriedly sent Fu Xun, gentleman of the yellow gate, to summon Cong and the others back. Wang Mi went out by Huanyuan. Sima Yue sent Bo Sheng and others to pursue and strike Mi, and they fought at Xinji; Mi's army was defeated. Yuanhai then took in the garrison at Boshan and returned to Pingyang.

He made Liu Huanle grand tutor, Liu Cong grand minister over the masses, Liu Yannian grand minister of works, and Liu Yang grand marshal, and pardoned those within his borders. He established his wife, Lady Shan, as empress; his son He as crown prince; and his son Yi as King of Beihai.

When Yuanhai grew bedridden with illness and was about to make plans of entrustment, he made Huanle grand regent, Yang grand tutor, Yannian grand protector, and Cong grand marshal and great shanyu, all recording affairs of the secretariat. He established the shanyu terrace west of Pingyang and made his son Yu grand minister over the masses. When Yuanhai's illness became severe, he summoned Huanle, Yang, and the others into the forbidden palace to receive the testamentary edict and assist the government. He died in the fourth Yongjia year after six years in power. His false posthumous title was Emperor Guangwen, his temple title Gaozu, and his tomb Yongguang. His son He was established.

He, courtesy name Xuantai, was eight chi tall, brave and firm, with fine appearance and bearing. He loved learning and matured early, studying the Mao Odes, the Zuo Tradition of the Spring and Autumn, and the Zheng family's Changes. When he became heir, he was inwardly full of suspicion and jealousy and governed those below him without favor. When Yuanhai died, He succeeded to the false throne. His guard commander Liu Rui, King of Xichang, and Huyan You, minister of the imperial clan, hated that they had not participated in the entrustment. They persuaded He: "The former emperor did not consider the calculation of light and heavy but made the three kings command strong troops inside while the grand marshal holds one hundred thousand fierce soldiers in the nearby outskirts. Your Majesty is now merely sitting on loan. The disaster from this cannot be measured. Your Majesty should make plans for it early."

He was You's sister's son and deeply agreed. He summoned his army commander Liu Sheng and Liu Qin, Ma Jing, and others and told them. Sheng said: "The former emperor is still in the mourning hall, and the four kings have not yet shown rebellious conduct. If now suddenly in one morning you make your own flesh and blood into fish and meat, I fear men will not eat Your Majesty's leftovers. The four seas are not yet settled, and the great enterprise has only begun. I ask Your Majesty to take completing the former emperor's great foundation as your purpose and for now stop your ears and not listen to these wild and shallow words. The Odes say: 'Is there no other man? He is not like one of my same father.' If Your Majesty does not trust your brothers, whom can you trust?" Rui and You were angry and said: "Today's discussion has no second principle." They then ordered those around them to kill him with blades. Jing was afraid and said: "Only let Your Majesty command; we will serve it to the death, and nothing will fail." They then made covenant in the eastern hall. Rui and Jing were sent to attack Cong; You led Liu Anguo to attack Yu; the palace attendant Liu Cheng and guard Liu Qin were sent to attack Long, King of Lu; secretary Tian Mi and guard Liu Xuan were sent to attack Yi, King of Beihai. Mi and Xuan sent men to cut through the gates and ran to Cong. Cong ordered armor put on and waited for them. Rui knew that Cong was prepared and rode back. He joined You and Cheng in attacking Long and Yu. You and Cheng feared that Anguo and Qin had different intentions and beheaded them. That day Yu and Long were beheaded. Cong attacked Ximing Gate and took it. Rui and the others fled into the southern palace; the vanguard followed them and beheaded He in the western chamber of Guangji. The heads of Rui and You were hung at the crossroads.

Liu Xuan, courtesy name Shize, was plain and dull, spoke little, loved learning, and cultivated purity. He took Sun Yan of Le'an as teacher and sank his essence into accumulated thought, not giving up day or night. He loved the Mao Odes and the Zuo Tradition. Yan often sighed over him and said: "If Xuan met Emperor Wu of Han, he would surpass Jin Midi." After his learning was complete he returned and did not go out beyond gate and lane for several years. Whenever he read Han Shu and reached the biographies of Xiao He and Deng Yu, he always chanted them repeatedly and said: "If a great man met the two founders, he would never let those two lords monopolize beauty before him." Wang Guang, inspector of Bing province, spoke of him to Emperor Wu. The emperor summoned and saw him, admired his responses, and said: "Before I saw Xuan, I thought Guang's words were empty. Now I see his movement, bearing, and manner; he truly is what is called like a jade tablet and like a jade scepter. Looking at his nature and substance, he is fully able to comfort and gather his own division." He then made Xuan supervisor of the right division and specially gave him a red screen and curved canopy. In office he was clear and careful, and those he commanded cherished him. Yuanhai's taking the royal title was Xuan's plan; therefore he received special honor and weight. Among meritorious men and kin there was no second to him, and military and state affairs, inside and outside, were all entrusted to him.

Colophon

This Good Works Translation was made from the Classical Chinese text of Jin Shu volume 101, Zaiji 1, preserved in the local Scythian expansion source base.

The translation is complete for the source body printed below. It keeps the source's dynastic titles, Xiongnu lineage claims, and Jin political vocabulary visible enough for comparison with the Han and Later Han frontier histories.

Compiled for the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.

🌲

Source Text: Classical Chinese

### 載記序

古者帝王，乃生奇類、淳維，伯禹之苗裔，豈異類哉？反首衣皮，餐膻飲湩，而震驚中域，其來自遠。天未悔禍，種落彌繁。其風俗險詖，性靈馳突，前史載之，亦以詳備。軒帝患其干紀，所以徂征；武王竄以荒服，同乎禽獸。而於露寒之野，候月覘風，睹隙揚埃，乘間騁暴，邊城不得緩帶，百姓靡有室家。孔子曰：「微管仲，吾其被髮左衽矣。」此言能教訓卒伍，整齊車甲，邊埸既伏，境內以安。然則燕築造陽之郊，秦塹臨洮之險，登天山，絕地脈，苞玄菟，款黃河，所以防夷狄之亂中華，其備豫如此。

漢宣帝初納呼韓，居之亭鄣，委以候望，始寬戎狄。光武亦以南庭數萬徙入西河，後亦轉至五原，連延七郡。董卓之亂，則汾晉之郊蕭然矣。郭欽騰箋于武帝，江統獻策于惠皇，皆以為魏處戎夷，繡居都鄙，請移沙塞之表，定一殷周之服。統則憂諸並部，欽則慮在盟津。言猶自口，元海已至。語曰「失以豪厘」，晉卿大夫之辱也。聰之誓兵，東兼齊地；曜之馳旆，西逾隴山，覆沒兩京，蒸徒百萬。天子陵江禦物，分據地險，回首中原，力不能救，劃長淮以北，大抵棄之。胡人利我艱虞，分鑣起亂；晉臣或阻兵遐遠，接武效尤。

大凡劉元海以惠帝永興元年據離石稱漢。後九年，石勒據襄國稱趙。張氏先據河西，是歲，自石勒後三十六年也，重華自稱涼王。後一年，冉閔據鄴稱魏。後一年，苻健據長安稱秦。慕容氏先據遼東稱燕，是歲，自苻健後一年也，俊始僭號。後三十一年，後燕慕容垂據鄴。後二年，西燕慕容沖據阿房。是歲也，乞伏國仁據桴罕稱秦。後一年，慕容永據上黨。是歲也，呂光據姑臧稱涼。後十二年，慕容德據滑台稱南燕。是歲也，禿髮烏孤據廉川稱南涼，段業據張掖稱北涼。後三年，李玄盛據敦煌稱西涼。後一年，沮渠蒙遜殺段業，自稱涼。後四年，譙縱據蜀稱成都王。後二年，赫連勃勃據朔方稱大夏。後二年，馮跋殺離班，據和龍稱北燕。提封天下，十喪其八，莫不龍旌帝服，建社開祊，華夷咸暨，人物斯在。或篡通都之鄉，或擁數州之地，雄圖內卷，師旅外並，窮兵凶於勝負，盡人命於鋒鏑，其為戰國者一百三十六載，抑元海為之禍首云。

### 劉元海

劉元海，新興匈奴人，冒頓之後也。名犯高祖廟諱（名淵，與唐高祖同名），故稱其字焉。初，漢高祖以宗女為公主，以妻冒頓，約為兄弟，故其子孫遂冒姓劉氏。建武初，烏珠留若鞮單于子右奧鞬日逐王比自立為南單于，入居西河美稷，今離石左國城即單于所徙庭也。中平中，單于羌渠使子於扶羅將兵助漢，討平黃巾。會羌渠為國人所殺，於扶羅以其眾留漢，自立為單于。屬董卓之亂，寇掠太原、河東，屯於河內。於扶羅死，弟呼廚泉立，以於扶羅子豹為左賢王，即元海之父也。魏武分其眾為五部，以豹為左部帥，其餘部帥皆以劉氏為之。太康中，改置都尉，左部居太原茲氏，右部居祁，南部居蒲子，北部居新興，中部居大陵。劉氏雖分居五部，然皆居於晉陽汾澗之濱。

豹妻呼延氏，魏嘉平中祈子于龍門，俄而有一大魚，頂有二角，軒鬐躍鱗而至祭所，久之乃去。巫覡皆異之，曰：「此嘉祥也。」其夜夢旦所見魚變為人，左手把一物，大如半雞子，光景非常，授呼延氏，曰：「此是日精，服之生貴子。」寤而告豹，豹曰：「吉徵也。吾昔從邯鄲張冏母司徒氏相，云吾當有貴子孫，三世必大昌，仿像相符矣。」自是十三月而生元海，左手文有其名，遂以名焉。齠齔英慧，七歲遭母憂，擗踴號叫，哀感旁鄰，宗族部落咸共歎賞。時司空太原王昶聞而嘉之，並遣吊賻。幼好學，師事上党崔游，習《毛詩》、《京氏易》、《馬氏尚書》，尤好《春秋左氏傳》、《孫吳兵法》，略皆誦之，《史》、《漢》、諸子，無不綜覽。嘗謂同門生硃紀、範隆曰：「吾每觀書傳，常鄙隨陸無武，降灌無文。道由人弘，一物之不知者，固君子之所恥也。二生遇高皇而不能建封侯之業，兩公屬太宗而不能開庠序之美，惜哉！」於是遂學武事，妙絕於眾，猿臂善射，膂力過人。姿儀魁偉，身長八尺四寸，須長三尺餘，當心有赤毫毛三根，長三尺六寸。有屯留崔懿之、襄陵公師彧等，皆善相人，及見元海，驚而相謂曰：「此人形貌非常，吾所未見也。」於是深相崇敬，推分結恩。太原王渾虛襟友之，命子濟拜焉。

咸熙中，為任子在洛陽，文帝深待之。泰始之後，渾又屢言之于武帝。帝召與語，大悅之，謂王濟曰：「劉元海容儀機鑒，雖由餘、日磾無以加也。」濟對曰：「元海儀容機鑒，實如聖旨，然其文武才幹賢於二子遠矣。陛下若任之以東南之事，吳會不足平也。」帝稱善。孔恂、楊珧進曰：「臣觀元海之才，當今懼無其比，陛下若輕其眾，不足以成事；若假之威權，平吳之後，恐其不復北渡也。非我族類，其心必異。任之以本部，臣竊為陛下寒心。若舉天阻之固以資之，無乃不可乎！」帝默然。

後秦涼覆沒，帝疇咨將帥，上党李憙曰：「陛下誠能發匈奴五部之眾，假元海一將軍之號，鼓行而西，可指期而定。」孔恂曰：「李公之言，未盡殄患之理也。」憙勃然曰：「以匈奴之勁悍，元海之曉兵，奉宣聖威，何不盡之有！」恂曰：「元海若能平涼州，斬樹機能，恐涼州方有難耳。蛟龍得雲雨，非復池中物也。」帝乃止。後王彌從洛陽東歸，元海餞彌于九曲之濱。泣謂彌曰：「王渾、李憙以鄉曲見知，每相稱達，讒間因之而進，深非吾願，適足為害。吾本無宦情，惟足下明之。恐死洛陽，永與子別。」因慷慨歔欷，縱酒長嘯，聲調亮然，坐者為之流涕。齊王攸時在九曲，比聞而馳遣視之，見元海在焉，言於帝曰：「陛下不除劉元海，臣恐并州不得久寧。」王渾進曰：「元海長者，渾為君王保明之。且大晉方表信殊俗，懷遠以德，如之何以無萌之疑殺人侍子，以示晉德不弘。」帝曰：「渾言是也。」

會豹卒，以元海代為左部帥。太康末，拜北部都尉。明刑法，禁奸邪，輕財好施，推誠接物，五部俊傑無不至者。幽冀名儒，後門秀士，不遠千里，亦皆遊焉。楊駿輔政，以元海為建威將軍、五部大都督，封漢光鄉侯。元康末，坐部人叛出塞免官。成都王穎鎮鄴，表元海行甯朔將軍、監五部軍事。

惠帝失馭，寇盜蜂起，元海從祖故北部都尉、左賢王劉宣等竊議曰：「昔我先人與漢約為兄弟，憂泰同之。自漢亡以來，魏晉代興，我單于雖有虛號，無復尺土之業，自諸王侯，降同編戶。今司馬氏骨肉相殘，四海鼎沸，興邦復業，此其時矣。左賢王元海姿器絕人，幹宇超世。天若不恢崇單于，終不虛生此人也。」於是密共推元海為大單于。乃使其党呼延攸詣鄴，以謀告之。元海請歸會葬，穎弗許。乃令攸先歸，告宣等招集五部，引會宜陽諸胡，聲言應穎，實背之也。

穎為皇太弟，以元海為太弟屯騎校尉。惠帝伐穎，次於蕩陰，穎假元海輔國將軍、督北城守事。及六軍敗績，穎以元海為冠軍將軍，封盧奴伯。并州刺史東嬴公騰、安北將軍王浚，起兵伐穎，元海說穎曰：「今二鎮跋扈，眾餘十萬，恐非宿衛及近都士庶所能禦之，請為殿下還說五部，以赴國難。」穎曰：「五部之眾可保發已不？縱能發之，鮮卑、烏丸勁速如風雲，何易可當邪？吾欲奉乘輿還洛陽，避其鋒銳，徐傳檄天下，以逆順制之。君意何如？」元海曰：「殿下武皇帝之子，有殊勳於王室，威恩光洽，四海欽風，孰不思為殿下沒命投軀者哉，何難發之有乎！王浚豎子，東嬴疏屬，豈能與殿下爭衡邪！殿下一發鄴宮，示弱於人，洛陽可復至乎？縱達洛陽，威權不復在殿下也。紙檄尺書，誰為人奉之！且東胡之悍不逾五部，願殿下勉撫士眾，靖以鎮之，當為殿下以二部摧東嬴，三部梟王浚，二豎之首可指日而懸矣。」穎悅，拜元海為北單于、參丞相軍事。元海至左國城，劉宣等上大單于之號，二旬之間，眾已五萬，都于離石。

王浚使將軍祁弘率鮮卑攻鄴，穎敗，挾天子南奔洛陽。元海曰：「穎不用吾言，逆自奔潰，真奴才也。然吾與其有言矣，不可不救。」於是命右於陸王劉景、左獨鹿王劉延年等率步騎二萬，將討鮮卑。劉宣等固諫曰：「晉為無道，奴隸禦我，是以右賢王猛不勝其忿。屬晉綱未馳，大事不遂，右賢塗地，單于之恥也。今司馬氏父子兄弟自相魚肉，此天厭晉德，授之於我。單于積德在躬，為晉人所服，方當興我邦族，復呼韓邪之業，鮮卑、烏丸可以為援，奈何距之而拯仇敵！今天假手於我，不可違也。違天不祥，逆眾不濟；天與不取，反受其咎。願單于勿疑。」元海曰：「善。當為崇岡峻阜，何能為培塿乎！夫帝王豈有常哉，大禹出於西戎，文王生於東夷，顧惟德所授耳。今見眾十餘萬，皆一當晉十，鼓行而摧亂晉，猶拉枯耳。上可成漢高之業，下不失為魏氏。雖然，晉人未必同我。漢有天下世長，恩德結于人心，是以昭烈崎嶇於一州之地，而能抗衡於天下。吾又漢氏之甥，約為兄弟，兄亡弟紹，不亦可乎？且可稱漢，追尊後主，以懷人望。」乃遷于左國城，遠人歸附者數萬。

東嬴公騰使將軍聶玄討之，戰於大陵，玄師敗績，騰懼，率并州二萬餘戶下山東，遂所在為寇。元海遣其建武將軍劉曜寇太原、泫氏、屯留、長子、中都，皆陷之。二年，騰又遣司馬瑜、周良、石鮮等討之，次於離石汾城。元海遣其武牙將軍劉欽等六軍距瑜等，四戰，瑜皆敗，欽振旅而歸。是歲，離石大饑，遷于黎亭，以就邸閣穀，留其太尉劉宏、護軍馬景守離石，使大司農卜豫運糧以給之。以其前將軍劉景為使持節、征討大都督、大將軍，要擊并州刺史劉琨于版橋，為琨所敗，琨遂據晉陽。其侍中劉殷、王育進諫元海曰：「殿下自起兵以來，漸已一周，而顓守偏方，王威未震。誠能命將四出，決機一擲，梟劉琨，定河東，建帝號，鼓行而南，克長安而都之，以關中之眾席捲洛陽，如指掌耳。此高皇帝之所以創啟鴻基，克殄強楚者也。」元海悅曰：「此孤心也。」遂進據河東，攻寇蒲阪、平陽，皆陷之。元海遂入都蒲子，河東、平陽屬縣壘壁盡降。時汲桑起兵趙魏，上郡四部鮮卑陸逐延、氏酋大單于征、東萊王彌及石勒等並相次降之，元海悉署其官爵。

於是命其子聰與王彌進寇洛陽，劉曜與趙固等為之後繼。東海王越遣平北將軍曹武、將軍宋抽、彭默等距之，王師敗績。聰等長驅至宜陽，平昌公模遣將軍淳于定、呂毅等自長安討之，戰于宜陽，定等敗績。聰恃連勝，不設備，弘農太守垣延詐降。夜襲，聰軍大敗而還，元海素服迎師。

是冬，復大發卒，遣聰、彌與劉曜、劉景等率精騎五萬寇洛陽，使呼延翼率步卒繼之，敗王師于河南。聰進屯於西明門，護軍賈胤夜薄之，戰于大夏門，斬聰將呼延顥，其眾遂潰。聰回軍而南。壁于洛水，尋進屯宣陽門，曜屯上東門，彌屯廣陽門，景攻大夏門，聰親祈嵩嶽，令其將劉厲、呼延朗等督留軍。東海王越命參軍孫詢、將軍丘光、樓裒等率帳下勁卒三千，自宣陽門擊朗，斬之。聰聞而馳還。厲懼聰之罪己也，赴水而死。王彌謂聰曰：「今既失利，洛陽猶固，殿下不如還師，徐為後舉。下官當於袞豫之間收兵積穀，伏聽嚴期。」宣于修之又言於元海曰：「歲在辛未，當得洛陽。今晉氣猶盛，大軍不歸，必敗。」元海馳遣黃門郎傅詢召聰等還師。王彌出自轘轅，越遣薄盛等追擊彌，戰於新汲，彌師敗績。於是攝薄阪之戍，還於平陽。

以劉歡樂為太傅，劉聰為大司徒，劉延年為大司空，劉洋為大司馬，赦其境內。立其妻單氏為皇后，子和為皇太子，封子乂為北海王。

元海寢疾，將為顧托之計，以歡樂為太宰，洋為太傅，延年為太保，聰為大司馬、大單于，並錄尚書事，置單于台于平陽西，以其子裕為大司徒。元海疾篤，召歡樂及洋等人禁中受遺詔輔政。以永嘉四年死，在位六年，偽諡光文皇帝，廟號高祖，墓號永光陵。子和立。

### 子 劉和

和字玄泰。身長八尺，雄毅美姿儀，好學夙成，習《毛詩》、《左氏春秋》、《鄭氏易》。及為儲貳，內多猜忌，馭下無恩。元海死，和嗣偽位。其衛尉西昌王劉銳、宗正呼延攸恨不參顧命也，說和曰：「先帝不惟輕重之計，而使三王總強兵于內，大司馬握十萬勁卒居於近郊，陛下今便為寄坐耳。此之禍難，未可測也，顧陛下早為之所。」和即攸之甥也，深然之，召其領軍劉盛及劉欽、馬景等告之。盛曰：「先帝尚在殯宮，四王未有逆節，今忽一旦自相魚肉，臣恐人不食陛下之余。四海未定，大業甫爾，願陛下以上成先帝鴻基為志，且塞耳勿聽此狂簡之言也。《詩》云：'豈無他人，不如我同父。'陛下既不信諸弟，復誰可信哉！」銳、攸怒曰：「今日之議，理無有二。」於是命左右刃之。景懼曰：「惟陛下詔，臣等以死奉之，蔑不濟矣。」乃相與盟於東堂，使銳、景攻聰，攸率劉安國攻裕，使侍中劉乘、武衛劉欽攻魯王隆，尚書田密、武衛劉璿攻北海王乂。密、璿等使人斬關奔於聰，聰命貫甲以待之。銳知聰之有備也，馳還，與攸、乘等會攻隆、裕。攸、乘懼安國、欽之有異志也，斬之。是日，斬裕及隆。聰攻西明門，克之。銳等奔入南宮，前鋒隨之，斬和於光極西室。銳、攸梟首通衢。

### 劉宣

劉宣，字士則。朴鈍少言，好學修潔。師事樂安孫炎，沈精積思，不舍晝夜，好《毛詩》、《左氏傳》。炎每歎之曰：「宣若遇漢武，當逾于金日磾也。」學成而返，不出門閭蓋數年。每讀《漢書》，至《蕭何》、《鄧禹傳》，未曾不反覆詠之，曰：「大丈夫若遭二祖，終不令二公獨擅美於前矣。」并州刺史王廣言之于武帝，帝召見，嘉其占對，因曰：「吾未見宣，謂廣言虛耳。今見其進止風儀，真所謂如圭如璋，觀其性質，足能撫集本部。」乃以宣為右部都督，特給赤幛曲蓋。蒞官清恪，所部懷之。元海即王位，宣之謀也，故特荷尊重，勳戚莫二，軍國內外靡不專之。

Source Colophon

The Classical Chinese source body was extracted from the local source-text page Good Works Library Ready/Scythian/Expansion Bench 2026-05-11/Jin Shu -- Liu Yuan and the Xiongnu-Han Lineage -- Classical Chinese Source Text.md and copied for this translation pass at Tulku/Tools/scythian/sources/expansion_bench_2026-05-11/jinshu_liu_yuan_xiongnu_han_lineage_chinese_source_manual101.txt.

The local source page identifies its inspection route as Wikisource raw text for Jin Shu, volume 101.

🌲