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卷五十七 列傳第七: 裴寂 劉文靜

Volume 57 Biographies 7: Pei Ji, Liu Wenjing

Chapter 61 of 舊唐書 · Old Book of Tang
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1
Wen Daya; his son Wuyin; Daya's younger brother Yanbo; Yanbo's sons Zhen and Ting; and Daya's younger brother Dayou.
2
簿
Chen Shuda; Dou Wei and his son Yun; Dou Wei's nephew Gui; Gui's sons Fengjie and Cong; Dou Wei's cousin Kang; Kang's sons Yan and Jing; Jing's son Kui; Dan; Dan's sons Xiaoci (whose son was Xijie) and Xiaoci's younger son Xiaochen; and Kang's youngest brother Jin. Wen Daya. Wen Daya, styled Yanhong, was a native of Qi in Taiyuan. His father Junyou had been a scholar in the Northern Qi's Wenslin Hall and later served as deputy prefect of Sizhou under the Sui. Near the end of the Daye era he held a post in the metropolitan inspectorate, but as he watched Sui rule grow daily more chaotic, he pleaded illness and retired to his home. Daya was profoundly filial by nature, devoted himself to learning from an early age, and won renown for his talent and eloquence. Under the Sui he served as an academician in the crown prince's palace and as magistrate of Chang'an County, then resigned when his father died. Afterward, with the empire falling into chaos, he made no effort to pursue office. When the future Emperor Gaozu was posted to Taiyuan, he treated Daya with exceptional respect. When the uprising began, Daya was appointed recorder on the great general's staff and put in sole charge of written communications. At the transfer of the throne he worked with Registrar Dou Wei and Chief Clerk Chen Shuda to establish the ceremonial protocols. In 618 he rose through several posts to become vice director of the Secretariat. His younger brother Yanbo served as vice director of the Chancellery; the two brothers held neighboring posts at the heart of government, and contemporaries regarded their rise as a family triumph. Gaozu said to him in an easy tone, "When I raised the army at Jinyang, it was for your whole family. Soon afterward he was transferred to the Ministry of Works and promoted to Minister of Works on the Shandong Grand March route. On account of the conflict involving the Hidden Crown Prince and Prince of Chao and Ci, Taizong stationed Daya at Luoyang to watch for any turn of events. Daya repeatedly offered confidential counsel and won high praise for it. After Taizong's accession, Daya rose through several posts to Minister of Rites and was enfeoffed as Duke of Li. When Daya was preparing to rebury his grandfather, the diviner said, "Burial in this spot will harm the elder brother and bring fortune to the younger. Daya replied, "If my younger brother may live in lasting health, I shall go to my grave with a smile." The burial was completed, and a little more than a year later he died; he was given the posthumous title Filial. He wrote three fascicles of the 《Record of the Founding Court》. In 654 he was posthumously appointed right vice director of the Department of State Affairs.
3
西 使 退 使 殿
His son Wuyin rose to the post of vice minister of works. Daya's younger brother was Yanbo. His younger brother Yanbo. From childhood Yanbo was quick-witted, eloquent in debate, and widely read in books and records. Early on, his father's friends Xue Daoheng and Li Gang often met the three Yanbo brothers and each time marveled, saying, "Every one of them has the makings of a chief minister. Near the end of the Kaihuang era he was recommended by Prince Qin Xiaojun, the prefectural governor, and appointed gentleman of the Forest of Literature; he served in the Secretariat and was later transferred to attendant for direct audience. When the Sui empire collapsed into chaos, Luo Yi, regional inspector of Youzhou, took him on as his aide. When Luo Yi surrendered Youzhou to the Tang cause, Yanbo helped bring the submission about and was appointed chief clerk of the Youzhou headquarters. Before long he was summoned to serve as drafter in the Chancellery, soon promoted to vice director of the Chancellery, and enfeoffed as Duke of Xihe. At that time Goguryeo sent envoys bearing tribute, and Gaozu told the assembled ministers, "Titles and realities ought to match one another. Goguryeo called itself a vassal of the Sui, yet in the end defied Emperor Yang—what kind of vassalage is that? I hold all under heaven in respect and do not wish to exalt myself through arrogance; I hold the realm only to bring peace to the people—why must I demand that they call themselves my vassals merely to puff up my own dignity? Draft an edict at once and set forth this intention of mine. Yanbo stepped forward and said, "The land of Liaodong was in Zhou the domain of Jizi, and under the Han it was merely the commandery of Xuantu. Before the Wei and Jin dynasties it lay well within our borders; we cannot allow it to stand outside vassal status. If we treat Goguryeo as an equal in ceremony, what will the four quarters of the barbarian world have to look up to? Moreover, China's relation to the barbarians is like that of the sun to the lesser stars; by right there is no lowering of dignity to stoop to their level." Gaozu thereupon abandoned the plan. That year, when the Turks invaded, he appointed Zhang Jin, general of the right guard, campaign commander of the Bingzhou route to meet them, with Yanbo as his chief clerk. They fought the enemy at Taigu; the army was defeated and Yanbo fell into Turkic hands. Because he had been a high minister at court, the Turks pressed him relentlessly about the empire's strengths and weaknesses and the size of its armies; Yanbo steadfastly refused to answer. Jieli flew into a rage and exiled him to the harsh frontier country of the Yin Mountains. After Taizong's accession the Turks submitted, and only then was Yanbo summoned back to court; he was appointed administrator of Yongzhou and soon made acting vice director of the Ministry of Personnel. Yanbo set out to weed out unfit officials and demoted many of them; those he removed refused to accept their demotions, and the court was filled with noisy appeals. Yanbo relied solely on his gift for argument, debating them point by point until the hall rang all day with uproar—a spectacle that thoughtful observers largely ridiculed. He was again appointed vice director of the Chancellery and concurrently right vice guardian of the crown prince. In 628 he was promoted to censor-in-chief while continuing to act as vice director of the Chancellery. Yanbo was a master of public speech; whenever he came to court on embassy and was questioned by edict about customs across the realm, he received the emperor's words and answered as though he had memorized them in advance. His voice rang clear and high, filling the hall; his bearing as he advanced and withdrew was dignified and graceful, and those who watched could only stare in admiration. In 630 he was promoted to director of the Chancellery and raised in rank to Duke of Yu. Gaozu often entertained the court ministers and had Taizong convey the imperial message; then he would turn to those nearest him and ask, "How does Wen Yanbo compare? Such was the esteem in which he was held.
4
使 西 便
Earlier, when the Turks submitted, the court was ordered to debate how best to secure the northern frontier. Many at court argued, "The Turks have long relied on their strength to harass China. Heaven has now truly forsaken them; they come to us in desperation, not out of any genuine regard for our virtue. We should take advantage of their submission to break up their tribes, move them south of the Yellow River, scatter them among the prefectures and counties, set them to farming, and transform their ways. A million barbarian captives could be transformed into Han subjects; China would gain households, and the northern frontier would stand forever empty. Only Yanbo argued, "Under Emperor Guangwu of Han, surrendered Xiongnu were settled below the Wuyuan pass; their tribes were kept intact so they could serve as a frontier shield, and without uprooting their native customs they were governed where they lived. That would both populate empty frontier lands and demonstrate a policy free of suspicion. To send them southwest would go against their nature and would not be true nurturing governance." Taizong accepted this view and settled the surrendered Turks in the Shuofang region; nearly ten thousand households of them took up residence in Chang'an. Critics found the arrangement especially troubling and wanted to establish a Turkic state beyond the river. Yanbo again submitted a firm memorial: "Now that we have taken them in, to send them away without cause would be a profound waste. He debated the matter with Wei Zheng and others for years without a final decision. In 636 he was promoted to right vice director of the Department of State Affairs. The following year he died at the age of sixty-four. Once Yanbo took charge of state secrets he cut off social visits entirely; on every matter of national consequence he spoke his mind without reserve, and Taizong prized him for it. When Yanbo died, Taizong told his attendants, "Yanbo wore himself out worrying over the state; I had seen him failing for two years already. I regret that I did not give him more leisure and thereby cut short his life. Yanbo's household had no proper main hall; when he died the coffin lay in a side room, and Taizong ordered the authorities to build one for the family. He was posthumously appointed specially advanced, given the posthumous title Respectful, and buried with honor at Zhaoling.
5
西 西 西 退 便 調 簿 祿 忿 使 滿調
His son Zhen enjoyed a fine reputation from youth, rose to crown prince attendant, and died in mourning when grief ruined his health. Zhen's younger brother Ting married Gaozu's daughter Princess Qianjin and rose to prefect of Yanzhou. His younger brother Dayou. Daya's younger brother Dayou, styled Yanjiang, was upright and careful by nature and was known from youth for his learning and conduct. During the Renshou era of the Sui, Li Gang, right vice director of the Department of State Affairs, recommended him by memorial, and he was appointed captain of the feathered riders. Soon afterward he resigned on his mother's death and returned home. When the uprising first began, Gaozu appointed him magistrate of Taiyuan. When he followed Taizong in the attack on Xihe, Gaozu told him, "Our forces are still few and we need sound strategy; serve as military adviser on this campaign and win yourself a name! Whether our enterprise succeeds or fails will be foretold by this campaign. If we take Xihe, the imperial enterprise is assured. After Xihe fell and they returned, he again served in his former capacity as recorder on the great general's staff, sharing confidential affairs with his elder brother Daya. Dayou felt uneasy that both brothers held posts at the heart of government and firmly asked for a different assignment. Gaozu said, "I receive you with an open heart and harbor no suspicion—why do you suspect yourself? Dayou accepted the appointment, yet he always yielded ground and kept his distance from power; his colleagues admired him for it. In 618 he rose through several posts to vice director of the Chancellery. He died soon afterward; Gaozu grieved deeply and posthumously appointed him director of the Court for Dependencies. Earlier, under the Sui, Daya had served with Yan Silu in the crown prince's palace; Yanbo had served with Silu's younger brother Mintu in the Secretariat; and Yanjiang had worked with Mintu's younger brother Youqin collating texts in the imperial archive. The brothers of both families were among the leading figures of their generation. In their youth the Yan brothers were superior in scholarship; but afterward the Wen clan rose higher in office. Chen Shuda. Chen Shuda, styled Zicong, was the sixteenth son of Emperor Xuan of Chen. He was graceful in bearing, possessed considerable talent and learning, and under the Chen was enfeoffed as Prince of Yiyang. When he was barely more than ten, he once attended a feast and composed a ten-rhyme poem at a stroke; Vice Director Xu Ling was deeply impressed. He served in turn as attendant-in-ordinary, governor of Danyang, and minister of justice. After the Chen fell and he entered Sui service, he long went without a new appointment. During the Daye era he was appointed drafter in the Secretariat and then sent out as transit governor of Jiang commandery. When the uprising reached Jiang commandery, Shuda surrendered the district and was appointed chief clerk in the chancellor's office and enfeoffed as Duke of Handong. Together with Recorder Wen Daya he managed confidential affairs; military dispatches, amnesties, and the documents of abdication and succession were largely Shuda's work. In 618 he was appointed vice director of the Secretariat. In 619 he was also appointed remonstrator. In 621 he was appointed attendant-in-ordinary. Shuda was sharp in debate and graceful in bearing; whenever he addressed the throne, the court elite watched him with rapt attention. He recommended and advanced many distinguished scholars from the south who had come to Chang'an. In 622 he was raised in rank to Duke of Jiang. Once, when he was served food in the emperor's presence, he was given grapes but held them without eating. Gaozu asked why, and he answered, "My mother suffers from dry mouth. I could not obtain grapes for her, and I wish to take these home for her. Gaozu sighed with tears and said, "You still have a mother to care for!" He then bestowed three hundred bolts of goods on him. Early in the Zhenguan era he was additionally appointed grand master for splendid happiness. Soon afterward he was dismissed for quarreling angrily with Xiao Yu in the emperor's presence. Before long his mother died and he entered mourning. Shuda had long been ill, and Taizong, fearing for his life, sent orders forbidding visitors from coming to offer condolences. When his mourning ended he was appointed regional inspector of Suizhou, but illness kept him from taking up the post. After some time he was appointed Minister of Rites. Jiancheng and Yuanji envied Taizong and secretly slandered him; Gaozu was taken in by their words and was about to punish Taizong, but Shuda remonstrated firmly and stopped it. On this occasion Taizong thanked him, saying, "During the Wude era danger was brewing in secret, and I knew you spoke forthright counsel. This appointment is my answer to you. Shuda replied, "I did that not for Your Majesty alone, but for the sake of the realm." Later he was impeached by the censorate for neglecting his official duties at home. The court valued so distinguished a minister and did not wish to publicize his offense; he was allowed to retire home on a nominal stipend. He died in 635; his posthumous title was Erring. He was later posthumously appointed Minister of Revenue, and his posthumous title was changed to Loyal. He left collected works in fifteen fascicles. Dou Wei. Dou Wei, styled Wenwei, was a native of Pinglu in Fufeng and a paternal cousin of the Grand Empress Dowager. His father Chi had served as grand tutor under the Sui. The Dou family had long been eminent for merit and rank; all his brothers prized martial skill, but Wei devoted himself to literature and history and held himself apart. His brothers mocked him and called him a "book fool." Li Delin, director of the Secretariat under the Sui, recommended him as outstanding talent; he took first place in the civil examination and was appointed secretary gentleman. When his term ended he was due for promotion, but he steadfastly refused transfer; he remained in the Secretariat for more than ten years, and his learning grew ever broader. At that time all his brothers had risen to prominence through military merit, cultivated ties with powerful nobles, and kept their gates crowded with guests, while Wei held a minor and undemanding post. His brothers said to him again, "Confucius piled up learning until he became a sage, yet even he was hard pressed in his own day and lingered in obscurity as you do. If you follow that path, what more do you expect? That you should fail to win rank and renown is only fitting. Wei smiled and made no reply. After some time Prince Xiu of Shu summoned him as recorder, but because the prince's conduct was often unlawful, Wei pleaded illness and returned to his home estate. When Prince Xiu was deposed, many of his staff were punished, but Wei alone escaped harm because he had withdrawn in time. In 608 he rose through several posts to drafter in the Secretariat; because he repeatedly criticized policy and offended the throne, he was transferred to director of merit in the Ministry of Personnel, later dismissed for an offense, and returned to the capital. When Gaozu entered the passes, Wei was summoned to serve as registrar on the great chancellor's staff. At that time the army was still being organized and the five rites lay in ruins. Wei was broadly learned and knew the old protocols well; he established the court regulations and state statutes and took a leading part in drafting the documents of abdication and succession. Gaozu often told Pei Ji, "Shusun Tong himself could not have done better. In 618 he was appointed director of the Secretariat. Wei's memorials were measured and dignified, and he often drew on antiquity to make his points; Gaozu favored him deeply, sometimes received him in his private quarters, and regularly seated him on the knee-cushion beside him. He also once told him, "In the Zhou dynasty there were the eight pillar states; both your family and mine once held that rank. Now I am emperor and you are director of the Secretariat. We began alike but have ended differently—surely that is no cause for resentment. Wei replied, "In Han times my family twice became imperial affines; under the later Wei we were affines three times; and under Your Majesty's glorious rise an empress has again come from our house. I have risen through imperial kinship to a post I do not deserve at the heart of government, and I tremble day and night at my presumption." Gaozu laughed and said, "I have lately seen men east of the pass marry into the Cui and Lu clans and still boast of it—your house has been imperial kin for generations. Is that not nobler still?" When he fell gravely ill, Gaozu went in person to visit him. He died soon afterward, leaving his household without surplus wealth and ordering a simple burial in his will. He was given the posthumous title Tranquil, posthumously appointed prefect of Tongzhou, and retroactively enfeoffed as Duke of Yan'an. On the day of his burial, the crown prince and all officials were ordered to attend the funeral. He left a literary collection in ten juan.
6
使 殿 便 滿 漿使
His son Yun succeeded him and rose to prefect of Qizhou. Wei's nephew Gui and his cousin's son Kang were both well known. Dou Gui. Gui, styled Shize, was the son of Gong, regional inspector of Yongzhou under the Zhou and Duke of Zan. During the Daye era he served as eastern bureau aide in Ziyang commandery, then resigned and returned home. When the uprising began, Gui gathered more than a thousand followers and went to Changchun Palace to pay his respects. Gaozu was delighted to see him, rose from his seat to take his hand, spoke of their shared past, gave him ten fine horses, and sent him to secure territory south of the Wei River. Gui first seized Yongfeng granary and raised a force of five thousand men. He took part in the pacification of the capital, was enfeoffed as Duke of Zanhuang, and appointed advisory staff officer on the great chancellor's staff. At that time more than fifty thousand Ji Hu raiders were plundering Yichun, and Gui was sent to suppress them. Marching to Huangqin Mountain he met the enemy; they held the high ground and set fires, and the imperial army fell back. Gui beheaded fourteen of his own subordinate officers and promoted junior commanders from the ranks to replace them. Gui himself led several hundred horsemen as rearguard and ordered, "Anyone who fails to advance at the drum will be cut down from behind. At the drum the soldiers charged the enemy without hesitation; though the raiders shot at them, they could not be stopped. Gui won a great victory, took more than a thousand heads, and captured twenty thousand men and women. In 618 he was appointed steward of the crown prince. When the Red-Plank Qiang rebelled, they joined with Zhong Juchou, a defector from Xue Ju's forces, to raid Hanzhong together. Gui was appointed regional inspector of Qinzhou; he won every battle against the rebels, and the remaining factions all surrendered. He was raised in rank to Duke of Zan. In 620 he was appointed left vice director of the Yizhou route grand march secretariat with authority to act at his own discretion. When the Tangut raided Songzhou, Gui was ordered to reinforce the district, and Fuzhou prefect Jiang Shanhe was told to coordinate with him. The Tangut had drawn in forces from Tuyuhun, and their attack was fierce. Before Gui's army arrived, Shanhe reached Qianchuan ahead of him, fought the enemy fiercely, and drove them off. Gui regrouped at Lintao, advanced against Zuofeng, and defeated the enemy forces. Soon afterward he was ordered to lead his troops with Taizong in the campaign against Wang Shichong at Luoyang. In 621 he returned to Yizhou. Bandits in Shu were then gathering in many places, and he suppressed them all. Whenever Gui went to war he sometimes kept his armor on for ten days or a month at a stretch. Among his troops, whether noble or common, young or old, anyone who disobeyed an order was beheaded on the spot. Every day many of his officers and men were flogged until blood filled the courtyard; those who witnessed it trembled with fear. When Gui first entered Shu he made his nephew his trusted confidant; once, when he called for him at night and the nephew failed to come promptly, Gui beheaded him in a rage. He constantly forbade his household servants to go outside. Once he sent a slave to the official kitchen for gruel, then regretted it and told the slave, "I did send you, but I must cut off your head to uphold the law! He sent a subordinate officer to seize the slave and behead him. The slave protested his innocence, and the executioner hesitated; Gui in anger had them both beheaded. Zhao Hong'an, a director on the grand march staff and a man of reputation, was flogged by Gui on the slightest pretext hundreds of times a year. Later he was summoned to court and granted a seat on the imperial couch, but Gui's bearing was disrespectful and he remained seated while answering the edict. Gaozu was furious and said, "When you entered Shu you nearly beheaded all twenty of your chariot-and-cavalry attendants. My Longzhong chariot troops are not enough to keep you supplied. An edict sent him to prison, but he was soon released and sent back to garrison Yizhou. Gui had long been on bad terms with grand march directors Wei Yunqi and Guo Xingfang. When the Hidden Crown Prince was killed, an edict was sent to Yizhou; Gui hid it in his robe. Yunqi asked, "Where is the edict? Gui would not show it but said only, "You mean to rebel!" He seized Yunqi and killed him. Xingfang fled in terror to the capital; Gui pursued him but could not overtake and kill him. That year the grand march secretariat was abolished; he was appointed great regional inspector of Yizhou with an added fief of six hundred households. In 627 he was summoned and appointed general of the right guard. In 628 he was sent out as regional inspector of Luozhou. Because of the chaos at the end of the Sui, the people of Luoyang had grown shiftless and deceitful. Gui sent out agricultural commissioners and ordered every subordinate county to prosecute idlers and the indolent. Officials and commoners alike were awed into obedience, and local customs were restored to good order. In 621 he died in office and was posthumously appointed regional inspector of Bingzhou.
7
宿 西祿 使 便 婿 退 宿
His son Fengjie succeeded him, married Gaozu's daughter Princess Yongjia, and rose to general of the Left Guard and regional inspector of Qinzhou. Dou Cong, Gui's younger brother, also showed military talent and had served in the Sui Left Personal Guard. Near the end of the Daye era he broke the law, fled to Taiyuan, and placed himself under Gaozu's protection. Cong and the future Taizong had an old grudge, and he was always uneasy in his presence. Taizong was then recruiting talented men, received him with lowered ceremony, and admitted him to his private quarters until his suspicions eased. When the uprising was being planned, Cong helped shape the grand strategy. When the great general's headquarters was established, he was appointed an army commander. He took part in the pacification of Xihe and the victory at Huoyi, and was appointed Grand Master of Splendor and Virtue with the Golden Seal and Duke of Fufeng. He soon joined Liu Wenjing in attacking Qu Tuotong at Tong Pass; Qu sent his lieutenant Sang Xianhe to press Wenjing's force, and the rebel army began to falter. Cong, Duan Zhixuan, and others fought hard for a long time until the Sui army broke and Qu Tuotong fled. Cong led light cavalry in pursuit to Chousang, captured Qu Tuotong, and returned in triumph. He marched east, took Shan county, and captured the Taiyuan granary. He was made great general of the Right Army Guard and rewarded with five hundred bolts of goods. When the Sui commandant of Heyang, Dugu Wu, secretly planned to defect, Cong was ordered to take ten thousand foot and horse soldiers by the Baiya route to link up with him. He lingered and failed to advance; Dugu Wu was killed, and Cong was dismissed from office for it. Early in the Wude era his founding service won him a special reprieve from the death penalty; he was appointed great general of the Right Garrison Guard and later restored as great general of the Right Army Guard. As the court prepared to move on Luoyang, Cong was left at Shancheng to oversee the grain supply. Wang Shichong sent his fierce general Luo Shixin to sever the supply line; Cong secretly sent envoys to argue the costs and benefits, and Shixin surrendered with his troops. After he took part in the pacification of the Eastern Capital, he was rewarded with fourteen hundred bolts of goods. He was later appointed acting regional commander of Jinzhou while retaining his existing rank. He soon joined the Hidden Crown Prince in putting down Liu Heita, was enfeoffed as Duke of Qiao for his service, and rewarded with fifty jin of gold. He died soon afterward. Gaozu mourned him deeply as an old companion in founding the dynasty, posthumously appointed him great general of the Left Guard, and gave him the posthumous title Respectful. In 654 he was posthumously promoted again to Special Advancement. Dou Kang. Kang, styled Daosheng, was a cousin of Empress Taimu and the son of Rong, Sui regional commander of Luozhou and Duke of Chen. His mother was Emperor Wen of Sui's daughter, Princess Wan'an. In the Sui, as the emperor's nephew by marriage, Kang enjoyed exceptional favor. As a youth he studied at the Imperial Academy and gained a modest grounding in the classics and history; on entering service he became an attendant of the Thousand-Ox Guard with honorary third-rank status. When his father fell gravely ill, Kang nursed him in person and did not change his clothes for more than fifty days. In mourning he grieved so deeply that his grief exceeded what ritual prescribed. He later inherited the title Duke of Chen and rose to regional inspector of Liangzhou. Before he took up his post, Emperor Wen visited his home, had Kang and the princess dine with him as family, and lavished gifts upon them. When his mother died he wailed until he fainted several times; Emperor Wen sent palace women to his home to restrain his grief. After a year he returned to office as regional inspector of Qizhou, then became regional commander of Youzhou; in both posts he was known for lenient and benevolent rule. When Prince Han Liang rebelled, Emperor Yang feared Kang might turn against the throne and sent Li Zixiong posthaste to replace him. Li Zixiong claimed Kang had received a letter from Liang but failed to report it; though the charge could not be verified, he was dismissed on suspicion of disloyalty. Kang had been close to Gaozu since youth; when Yang Xuangan rebelled and Gaozu commanded troops in Longyou, Kang told him, "Xuangan is only the man who sets the hounds running! The Li house has a place in the prophecy books; we can seize the moment—Heaven itself is opening the way." Gaozu replied, "Do not be the author of disaster—how reckless your words are!" Near the end of the Daye era Kang was at Lingwu patrolling the Great Wall against bandits; when he heard Gaozu had taken the capital, he exclaimed before the crowd, "That is my family's son-in-law—magnanimous and far-sighted, truly a ruler who can restore order from chaos!" He then went to Chang'an. Gaozu was delighted to see him, took his hand, and drew him to sit, saying, "So the Li house can actually succeed—what do you think?" Then they drank freely in celebration. He was soon appointed chief artisan of palace construction. In 618 he was additionally appointed chief censor while retaining his existing post. When Gaozu held court Kang sometimes sat beside him on the imperial seat; after court he was invited into the private quarters, told to put aside ceremony, and they drank and bantered as old friends. He often kept Gaozu company at feasts for hours and sometimes spent the night inside the palace. Gaozu always called him Elder Brother rather than by name, and everyone in the palace referred to him as Uncle. He spent his time at Gaozu's side in outings and banquets and took no part in state business. He became great general of the Left Martial Guard and also commanded the Left and Right Thousand-Ox Attendants. He soon joined Taizong in defeating Xue Ju and ranked first in merit. In 621 he again took part in the campaign against Wang Shichong. When the Eastern Capital fell, nine men were enshrined for merit in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and both Kang and his cousin Gui were among them. The court honored them with a troupe of female musicians and treasures beyond count. In 621 he died suddenly at a banquet; he was posthumously appointed Minister of Works and given the posthumous title Scrupulous.
8
殿 便 使 使
His son was Yan. Yan succeeded him and rose to general of the Left Martial Guard. At the time Kang's clan included seven third-rank officials inside the palace, more than ten of fourth and fifth rank, three princess consorts, and several imperial consorts—no family at court matched their rank and honors. Dou Jing. Jing, styled Yuanxiu, was Kang's second son. Early in the Wude era he rose to chief administrator of the great regional headquarters at Bingzhou. The Turks were raiding the frontier repeatedly, campaigns were mounted every year, and grain supplies could not keep up; Jing memorialized the throne to establish garrison farms at Taiyuan and cut supply costs. Critics argued that the people and economy were too depleted for such an effort, and the memorial went unanswered. Jing submitted memorial after memorial in urgent and forceful language. Jing was then summoned to court and debated the matter in the hall with Pei Ji, Xiao Yu, Feng Deyi, and others; they could not defeat his argument, and the court adopted his plan. The farms yielded several thousand hu each year; Gaozu approved and appointed him acting great regional commander of Bingzhou. Because the Turks kept raiding across the border, Jing also proposed blocking Shiling Pass as a defensive barrier, and that plan too was adopted. When Taizong came to the throne, Jing was summoned and appointed minister of agriculture, enfeoffed as Baron of Xindu, and soon made regional inspector of Xizhou. When the Turks split into rival factions, many commanders bound for the frontier came to consult him. Knowing the Turks' strengths and weaknesses, Jing secretly sent agents to divide their tribes; nine yabgu under Yugu Ni and others in Yushshe's division surrendered with their followers, and Taizong rewarded him with a hundred horses and a thousand sheep. After Jieli was captured and his tribes were resettled south of the Yellow River, Jing thought the policy unwise and submitted a sealed memorial: "Your subject has heard that barbarians are like beasts—cornered, they turn and attack; massed together, they stir up dust. They cannot be controlled by penal law, nor reformed by benevolence and righteousness. They live on handouts rather than farming or weaving, wasting productive subjects to sustain ignorant barbarians; keeping them brings no benefit to good government, and losing them would not harm civilization. Yet they will not easily forget their old homelands; I truly fear that one day they will rebel and violate our territory—this is what deeply troubles your foolish subject. In my view, once they are broken and defeated we should grant them unearned favor, invest them with princely titles, marry them to imperial clanswomen, divide their lands, and split their tribes until their power is weakened and fragmented and they are easy to control. That way the frontier can be secured for good and they can be kept as vassal subjects—this is truly the art of ruling distant peoples from afar." At the time the court prioritized conciliation; though his plan was not adopted, Taizong greatly admired his purpose. An edict said, "All northern affairs are entrusted to you; I appoint you Pacifier of the North to govern both Chinese and barbarians, and I need no longer worry about the northern frontier." He was later promoted to minister of the household. He died in 635 and was given the posthumous title Solemn. His son was Kui.
9
殿 殿 祿退 祿
Kui married Taizong's daughter Princess Sui'an and inherited the title Baron of Xindu. Dou Dan. Dan was Kang's third son. During the Renshou era he began his career as a court gentleman for palace attendance. Early in the Yining era he was appointed libationer on the chancellor's staff, then director of the palace bureau, enfeoffed as Duke of Anfeng, and married Gaozu's daughter Princess Xiangyang. He joined Taizong's campaign against Xue Ju as marshal on the commander's staff. He was appointed minister of justice and then minister of imperial rites. Gaozu put Dan in charge of fief administration and household affairs for more than ten younger princes who had not yet left the palace, including Prince Jing Yuanjing. He was sent out as regional inspector of Liangzhou. Early in the Zhenguan era he was recalled as great general of the Right Army Guard, then appointed chief judge of the Court of Judicial Review and Duke of Shen. For overseeing repairs to the Imperial Ancestral Temple he was rewarded with five hundred bolts of goods. He again served as director of the palace bureau, resigned because of illness, and was later reappointed minister of the imperial clan. Taizong often spoke with him, but Dan, confused and forgetful, could not answer; Taizong then issued a personal edict: "I have heard that choosing the right men for office brings order, while choosing offices for the wrong men brings chaos. Dou Dan's mind has lately failed him, and he is nothing like the man he once was. To know a man is unfit yet keep him in office, to see him draw salary without serving—not only corrupts public morals and disrupts government, it also makes the ruler look unwise. Merit reviews and dismissals are the rule in every age; Dan is hereby made Supernumerary Palace Counselor and sent home." He died soon afterward and was posthumously appointed minister of public works and prefect of Jingzhou, with the posthumous title Tranquil.
10
使 祿 調
His son was Xiaoci. Xiaoci succeeded him and rose to general of the Left Guard. Xiaoci's son was Xijie. Xijie succeeded to the title while young; under Emperor Zhongzong he served as Minister of Rites and was granted a substantive fief of two hundred fifty households as a mark of favor. Early in the Kaiyuan era he was appointed junior tutor of the crown prince and commissioner with ceremonial parity of the Three Excellencies and an opening office. Dan's younger son Xiaochen is treated in the 《Biography of Affinal Kin》. From the Wude era to the present the Dou clan twice became imperial affines: three men of the highest rank, more than thirty of third rank or above, eight who married princesses, and six daughters who became princely consorts. No family in Tang times matched their eminence. Dou Jin. Jin, styled Zhitui, was Kang's youngest brother. Near the end of the Daye era he served as prefect of Fufeng. When Gaozu secured the capital, Jin surrendered his commandery and served in turn as Minister of Rites and Minister of Revenue. He followed Taizong in the campaign that pacified Xue Rengao. Soon afterward he was posted to Yizhou; bandits were still numerous in Shu, and Jin repeatedly campaigned until he had suppressed them. Huangfu Wuyi was then in Shu and at odds with him; Jin repeatedly asked to return to court. Gaozu summoned him, but an edict midway ordered him back to his post. Frustrated in his ambitions, he inscribed a cliff beside the road to vent his grievance. When an envoy came to visit him, Jin entertained him in his private quarters and gave him silks and brocades. Wuyi reported the affair to the throne, and Jin was dismissed from office. Before long he was appointed director of the Secretariat and enfeoffed as Duke of Deng. Early in the Zhenguan era he was appointed steward of the crown prince. Later he was appointed master of works and put in charge of repairing the Luoyang palace. Jin had pools dug and artificial mountains built within the palace, lavishly decorated at great waste of labor; Taizong was furious and ordered everything torn down at once. He was dismissed because of the affair. When his daughter was married to the Prince of Feng, he was soon restored to office and appointed right grand master for splendid happiness. He died in 633; he was posthumously appointed Minister of Rites and given the posthumous title Tranquil. Jin was well versed in music theory; during the Wude era he and Vice Director of the Court of Sacrifices Zu Xiaosun were ordered to establish the correct pitches and court music. Jin researched historical precedents and compiled one fascicle of the 《Correct Tones》, which circulated widely.
11
The historiographer remarks: States flourish when they gain the right men. The Wen brothers, refined and eminent, were acclaimed in their day; Chen Shuda was gifted, learned, and eloquent, chosen from both the Chen and Tang courts; all possessed the capacity for high office and served as pillars of the state. Wei upheld the Way, Gui took the field, Kang was famed for filial mourning, Jing for frontier strategy, and Jin for music; as imperial kin they too rose to eminent posts; their talent and lineage shining across several reigns—was this not proof that Tang had gained the right men? Small wonder that Tang flourished as it did! Yet Yanbo's narrowness and Dou Gui's cruelty show that even these men were not without flaw.
12
In praise: The Wen and Chen clans in talent and rank; Dou Wenwei in ritual and ceremony. The Dou clan as imperial kin—none could match their glory.
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