魏书十八 · 呂虔传 · 附王祥
吕虔字子恪，任城人也。太祖在兖州，闻虔有胆策，以为从事，将家兵守湖陆。
Lü Qian, courtesy name Zike, was from Rencheng Commandery. While in Yan Province, Cao Cao (posthumously honoured as Taizu, the Grand Progenitor) learned of Lü Qian's courage and resourcefulness and appointed him as an Aide. Lü Qian was then instructed to lead his personal household troops to guard Hulu.
襄贲校尉杜松部民炅毋等作乱，与昌豨通。太祖以虔代松。虔到，招诱炅母渠率及同恶数十人，赐酒食。简壮士伏其侧，虔察炅母等皆醉，使伏兵尽格杀之。抚其余众，羣贼乃平。
Du Song, Colonel of Xiangben, had a subordinate commoner named Gui Wu who, together with others, rebelled and conspired with Chang Xi. Cao Cao had Lü Qian replace Du Song. Upon arriving, Lü Qian lured Jiong Mu's chieftains and several dozen of their fellow conspirators to meet with him. He provided them with wine and food, while secretly selecting stalwart soldiers and positioning them nearby in ambush. Once Gui Wu and the others were drunk, Lü Qian ordered the hidden troops to strike, killing them all. He then pacified the remaining populace, bringing the rebels under control.
太祖以虔领泰山太守。郡接山海，世乱，闻民人多藏窜。袁绍所置中郎将郭祖、公孙犊等数十辈，保山为寇，百姓苦之。虔将家兵到郡，开恩信，祖等党属皆降服，诸山中亡匿者尽出安土业。简其强者补战士，泰山由是遂有精兵，冠名州郡。
Cao Cao had Lü Qian appointed as Grand Administrator of Taishan Commandery. The commandery bordered on mountains and sea, and with the realm in turmoil, many people were said to have gone into hiding. Moreover, Guo Zu, Gongsun Du, and several dozen others whom Yuan Shao had appointed as Gentleman-Generals occupied the mountains and turned to banditry, causing great suffering among the common people. Lü Qian led his personal household troops into the commandery and showed benevolence and good faith. The followers of Guo Zu and the others all surrendered, while those who had fled into hiding in the mountains emerged and returned to their lands and livelihoods. He then selected the strongest among them to replenish his ranks, and Taishan came to possess an elite force renowned throughout the provinces and commanderies.
济南黄巾徐和等，所在劫长吏，攻城邑。虔引兵与夏侯渊会击之，前后数十战，斩首获生数千人。
The Yellow Turban Xu He and others of Jinan, wherever they went, seized officials and attacked walled towns. Lü Qian led troops to join Xiahou Yuan in striking them. Over the course of several dozen battles, they killed and captured several thousand people.
太祖使督青州诸郡兵以讨东莱羣贼李条等，有功。太祖令曰：「夫有其志，必成其事，盖烈士之所徇也。卿在郡以来，禽奸讨暴，百姓获安，躬蹈矢石，所征辄克。昔寇恂立名于汝、潁，耿弇建策于青、兖，古今一也。」举茂才，加骑都尉，典郡如故。
Later, Cao Cao had Lü Qian command the troops of the various commanderies of Qing Province to campaign against Donglai's rebels under Li Tiao and others. For his merits, Cao Cao issued an order stating, "Those who possess the resolve will surely accomplish what they set out to do. This is what men of great spirit devote themselves to. Since taking office in the commandery, you have apprehended the wicked and punished the violent, bringing peace to the common people. You have personally braved arrows and stones, and wherever you have campaigned, you have prevailed. In former times, Kou Xun made his name between the Ru and Ying Rivers, and Geng Yan achieved success in Qing and Yan provinces. Your achievements today are no different from theirs." He was recommended as a Flourishing Talent, given the additional title Commandant of Cavalry, and continued to administer his commandery as before.
虔在泰山十数年，甚有威惠。文帝即王位，加裨将军，封益寿亭侯，迁徐州刺史，加威虏将军。请琅邪王祥为别驾，民事一以委之，世多其能任贤。
Lü Qian remained in Taishan for over a decade. He was well respected, and governed with beneficence. When Cao Pi (posthumously honoured as Emperor Wen, the Civil Emperor) assumed the kingship, Lü Qian was appointed Assistant General, and enfeoffed as Yishou Neighbourhood Marquis. Later he was promoted to Inspector of Xu Province, and General Who Awes the Enemies. He requested Wang Xiang of Langya Commandery to serve as Deputy Aide, and entrusted all civil affairs to him. His contemporaries widely praised him for his ability to employ worthy men.
《杂语》曰：祥字休徵。性至孝，后母苛虐，每欲危害祥，祥色养无怠。盛寒之月，后母曰：「吾思食生鱼。」祥脱衣，将剖冰求之，有少，坚冰解，下有鱼跃出，因奉以供，时人以为孝感之所致也。供养三十余年，母终乃仕，以淳诚贞粹见重于时。
The Zayu / Miscellaneous Words states: Wang Xiang was courtesy name Xiuzheng. He was extremely filial. Though his stepmother was harsh and abusive, and constantly wished to harm him, Wang Xiang constantly tended to her needs without the slightest neglect. During a bitterly cold winter, his stepmother said, "I long for fresh fish." Wang Xiang stripped off his clothes and started to break the ice to catch one. Before long, the solid ice split open of its own and a fish leapt out from beneath it. Wang Xiang took the fish and presented it to her. People of the time believed this was because his filial devotion had moved Heaven. He cared for his stepmother for over thirty years and did not enter government service until after her death. His sincerity and integrity earned him great esteem among his contemporaries.
《晋书》曰：祥始出仕，年过五十矣，稍迁至司隶校尉。高贵乡公入学，以祥为三老，迁司空太尉。司马文王初为晋王，司空荀顗要祥尽敬，祥不从。语在三少帝纪。晋武践阼，拜祥为太保，封雎陵公。泰始四年，年八十九薨。
The Book of Jin states: When Wang Xiang first entered government service, he was already past fifty, and gradually rose to become Colonel of the Capital. When the Duke of Gaogui Township entered the Imperial Academy, Wang Xiang served as one of the Three Elders, and was promoted to Excellency of Works and then Grand Commandant. When Sima Zhao first became King of Jin, Xun Yi, the Excellency of Works Xun Yi wanted Wang Xiang to pay Sima Zhao full ceremonial respect, but Wang Xiang refused. The exchange is recorded in the Annals of the Three Junior Emperors. When Sima Yan (posthumously honoured as Emperor Wu of Jin, the Martial Emperor) ascended the throne, he appointed Wang Xiang Grand Guardian, and enfeoffed him as Duke of Suiling. In the 4th year of Taishi, he died at the age of eighty-nine.
祥弟览，字玄通，光禄大夫。
Wang Xiang's younger brother Wang Lan, courtesy name Xuantong, was Household Counsellor.
《晋诸公赞》称览率素有至行。览子孙繁衍，颇有贤才相係，弈世之盛，古今少比焉。
The Jin Zhugong Zan / Appraisal of Officials of Jin praises Wang Lan for having always displayed exemplary conduct. Wang Lan's descendants flourished, with many worthy and talented men appearing one after another. Such prosperity across successive generations has rarely been matched, past or present.
讨利城叛贼，斩获有功。明帝即位，徙封万年亭侯，增邑二百，并前六百户。虔薨，子翻嗣。翻薨，子桂嗣。
Lü Qian later campaigned against the rebels of Licheng, killing and capturing many of them. When Cao Rui (posthumously honoured as Emperor Ming, the Illustrious Emperor) ascended the throne, Lü Qian Was transferred in enfeoffment to Wannian Neighbourhood Marquis, and his fief was increased by two hundred households, making six hundred in total. When Lü Qian died, his son Lü Fan succeeded him. When Lü Fan died, his son Lü Gui succeeded him.