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卷六十 列傳第十: 宗室 (太祖諸子 代祖諸子)

Volume 60 Biographies 10: Members of the Imperial Family (All Descendents of Taizu and Daizu)

Chapter 64 of 舊唐書 · Old Book of Tang
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1
Prince Yong'an Xiaoji; Prince Huai'an Shentong; and his sons Daoyan, Xiaocha, Xiaotong, Xiaoci, Xiaoyou, Xiaojie, Xiaoyi, and Xiaoyi.
2
Prince of Xiangyi Shenfu; his sons Demao and Wenxian.
3
Prince of Changping Shuliang; his son Xiaoxie; Xiaobin—whose sons were Sixun and Sihui; and Shuliang's younger brothers Deliang and Youliang.
4
Prince of Xiangwu Chen; Prince of Hejian Xiaogong; his son Hui; Xiaogong's younger brothers Jian and Gui; Prince of Lujiang Yuan; with Wang Jun'guo appended.
5
西
Prince of Huaiyang Daoxuan; Prince of Jiangxia Daozong; and Prince of Longxi Boyi.
6
使 祿 使 使 退 退 西
Prince Huai'an Shentong was a cousin of Emperor Gaozu on his father's side. His father Liang had served as prefect of Haizhou under the Sui; at the start of the Wude era he was posthumously created Prince of Zheng. At the close of the Sui, Shentong was in the capital. When the uprising began, the Sui authorities tried to seize him; Shentong slipped into the hills south of Hu County and, together with the capital bravo Shi Wanbao, Pei Ji of Hedong, Liu Chongli, and others, raised forces to join the cause. He dispatched envoys to ally with He Panren, the bandit leader at Sizhu. Panren arrived at the head of Princess Pingyang's forces; Shentong joined with him, marched down on Hu County, and mustered more than ten thousand men. He proclaimed himself Grand Commander of the Guanzhong Expeditionary Force, with Shi Wanbao as his deputy, Pei Ji as chief clerk, Liu Chongli as marshal, and Linghu Defen as recorder. Gaozu was delighted when he heard of it and appointed Shentong Grand Master for Splendid Happiness. He took part in the pacification of the capital and was made Director of the Imperial Clan. In Wude year 1 he was named General-in-Chief of the Right Yiwu Guard and created Prince of Yongkang; shortly afterward his title was changed to Prince of Huai'an, and he was appointed Pacification Commissioner for the Shandong circuit. He struck Yu Wenhuaji at Wei County; unable to hold, Huaji fled east toward Liaocheng. Shentong pursued and came up to Liaocheng. Huaji, his supplies exhausted, offered to surrender, but Shentong refused. His deputy envoy, Yellow Gate Attendant Cui Gan, urged him to accept the surrender. Shentong replied: "Our men have been in the field far too long. The enemy is cornered and out of food—victory is only a matter of days. We ought to take the city by assault to show the empire's might and divide their treasure as booty for the troops. If we simply accept their surrender, what will there be left for my soldiers? Gan said: "Dou Jiande is on his way while Huaji is still unconquered. Caught between two enemies, we will be in grave danger. To bring the city over without a fight would be a signal achievement. If you grasp only for their treasure now, defeat will follow in no time!" Shentong flew into a rage and had Gan thrown into the stockade. Before long Shiji arrived from Jibei with provisions, Huaji's forces rallied somewhat, and they stood to fight. Shentong pressed the attack at close quarters. Zhao Junde, prefect of Beizhou, scaled the wall, but Shentong, resentful of another man's glory, ordered the army to stand down; Junde cursed him roundly and withdrew, and the city remained stubbornly defended. Shentong then sent several thousand men to Weizhou for siege engines, but midway they were routed again by the men of Xin. With Dou Jiande's army nearing, he drew off his troops. Two days later Huaji fell into Jiande's hands; rebel strength swelled, and town after town in Shandong went over to Jiande. Shentong's force melted away; he fell back to Liyang and threw in with Xu Ji, only to be overrun by Jiande shortly afterward. After Jiande's defeat he was reappointed Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs on the Hebei expeditionary staff. He followed Taizong in suppressing Liu Heita and was promoted to General-in-Chief of the Left Wuwei Guard. In Zhenguan year 1 he was made Defender of the Palace with the rank of Three Excellencies and granted an enfeoffment of five hundred households. At that time Taizong told his chief ministers: "I am ranking your achievements and assigning fiefs, but I may not have judged everyone fairly—tell me yourselves. Shentong said: "When the uprising began I was the first to bring troops in. Yet now Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and other desk-bound clerks stand first in merit—I cannot accept that." The emperor replied: "When the uprising began, everyone had the same resolve. Uncle, you may have brought troops in early, but you never once took the field yourself. When Shandong was still unsettled you were given independent command, yet when Jiande swept south your whole army was wiped out; and when Liu Heita rose again, you broke and ran at the first sight of trouble. In weighing merit and granting rewards today, Xuanling and his fellows earned their place by plotting within the command tent and securing the realm—like the Han minister Xiao He, who won no glory in the saddle yet steered the chariot from behind. That is why they stand first. You are my closest kinsman and I withhold nothing from you in affection, but you surely cannot expect to be heaped with the same rewards as the men who earned them—merely because we are kin." In year 4 he died. Taizong canceled court in mourning, posthumously created him Minister of Works, and gave him the posthumous name Jing. In year 14 an edict directed that he share sacrifice in Gaozu's temple hall with Prince of Hejian Xiaogong, the posthumously honored Duke of Yun Jie Yin Kaishan, and the posthumously honored Duke of Yu Xiang Liu Zhenghui. He had eleven sons. The eldest, Daoyan, was created Prince of Jiaodong in Wude year 5; next came Xiaocha, Prince of Gaomi; Xiaotong, Prince of Zichuan; Xiaoci, Prince of Guangping; Xiaoyou, Prince of Hejian; Xiaojie, Prince of Qinghe; and Xiaoyi, Prince of Jiaoxi.
7
便
Earlier, when Gaozu took the throne the realm was still unsettled, so he enfeoffed the imperial clan on a wide scale to overawe the empire; dozens of his cousins and nephews who were still mere children were all created princes of commanderies. When Taizong came to the throne he had the Director of the Imperial Clan bring out the genealogical register and asked his ministers: "Does it serve the realm to enfeoff every member of the clan? Right Vice Director Feng Deyi answered: "Looking back through history, never have there been so many enfeoffed kings as today. From the two Han dynasties on, only the emperor's own sons and full brothers were enfeoffed as kings; more distant clansmen, unless they had earned distinction like the Zhou states of Xun and Teng or the Han marquisates of Jia and Ze, were not enfeoffed indiscriminately—that was how near and distant kin were kept apart. The previous reign, in the name of cherishing the nine degrees of kin, enfeoffed them all as kings; once their titles were raised so high, they drew heavily on corvée labor. That was treating the empire as a family possession, not the impartial way to govern the realm." Taizong said: "I govern the realm for the sake of the people, not to burden the people in order to sustain my own relatives." Thereupon the imperial clan, for the most part on grounds of distant kinship, were reduced to dukes of commanderies; only several dozen men with real merit retained princely titles. At that time Daoyan and his brothers were all reduced in rank under the same rule. Among them Daoyan and his youngest brother Xiaoyi were the best known.
8
綿 使 退
From childhood Daoyan served his parents with exceptional devotion. When the uprising began, Shentong went into hiding; he fell ill in the mountains and lingered there for weeks until the food in the hills was gone. Daoyan put on ragged old clothes, went among the villages as a beggar, and gathered wild fruit to feed his father, keeping nothing for himself. When his father offered him a share, he would claim he had already eaten and quietly set food aside for the days ahead. When Shentong joined the uprising, Daoyan was appointed Court Consultant. When Gaozu took the throne, Daoyan was created Duke of Yixing, then advanced to Prince of Jiaodong and appointed prefect of Longzhou. Early in the Zhenguan era he was made regional commander of Xiangzhou; under the general reduction of titles he became a duke and was appointed regional commander of Minzhou. When his father died he lived in a hut beside the tomb, carried earth to raise the mound, and planted pines and cypresses with his own hands; grief so wasted his face that friends and kin could scarcely recognize him. Taizong heard of it, praised him warmly, and sent Attendant-in-Ordinary Wang Gui to comfort and counsel him. He was again appointed regional commander of Minzhou. Daoyan sent envoys to announce the empire's authority to the Tangut tribes, and many submitted. When Li Jing marched against Tuyuhun, an edict named Daoyan Grand Commander of the Chishui Circuit expedition. The court again sent rich gifts to the Tangut and asked them to serve as guides. The Tangut leader Tuoba Chici came to Jing's camp and told the generals: "Whenever the Sui marched against Tuyuhun we Tangut supplied their armies, yet the Sui were faithless and always turned to plunder. If you mean us no harm, we will furnish grain and transport; but if you betray us, we will hold the passes and block your road at once. The generals drank blood with him in alliance, and Chici believed them. When Daoyan reached the Kuoshui River and found Chici unprepared, he launched a surprise raid and seized several thousand head of cattle and sheep. The Qiang tribes were enraged and massed at Yehu Gorge; Daoyan could not advance, Chici seized the moment, and his army was shattered—tens of thousands died. Daoyan fell back to Songzhou and was eventually spared execution and banished to the frontier. He was later recalled as regional commander of Liangzhou, died soon afterward, and was posthumously made Minister of Rites.
9
使 使
Xiaoyi was studious from youth and skilled at composition. He was first created Duke of Liang. Late in Gaozong's reign he rose through the post of Supervising Censor to chief administrator of the Yizhou Grand Protectorate after four promotions. When Wu Zetian took power he entered court as General of the Left Guard and won her special favor. In Guangzhe year 1, when Xu Jingye seized Yangzhou and rose in revolt, Xiaoyi was appointed General-in-Chief of the Left Jade Bell Guard and Grand Commander of the Yangzhou expedition to lead the suppression. Xiaoyi marched to the Huai while Jingye was pressing south against Runzhou and had posted his brother Jingyou at Huaiyin; the rebel general Wei Chao held Duliang Mountain to block Xiaoyi's advance. Lieutenant general Ma Jingchen attacked and killed the rebel detachments under Yuchi Zhao and Xiahou Zan; Chao then massed his men on the mountain and dug in. Some urged Xiaoyi: "Chao holds the heights and the mountain blocks us. If we assault, the foot soldiers cannot use their strength and the cavalry cannot deploy—a cornered enemy will fight to the death and our losses will be heavy. Better to leave a detachment to pin him while the main force strikes straight for Yangzhou—in a few days their whole cause will collapse. Supply commissioner Xue Kegou said: "Chao may hold the heights, but his force is small. If we shrink from a minor foe, how will we show our mettle? If we tie up troops to watch him, we miss our chance; if we pass him by he will plague us later. We ought to attack. Defeat Chao and Huaiyin will quake; take Huaiyin and the counties of Chuzhou will open their gates to us. Then march on Gaoyou and straight for Jiangdu—the rebel leader's head will be ours to take." Xiaoyi took his advice, advanced against Chao, and pressed the rebels down the slope; the imperial troops stormed the height and killed several hundred. At dusk the encirclement broke, and Chao slipped away in silence that night. Xiaoyi marched on Huaiyin and routed Jingyou's army. Jingye then drew back and encamped at Xia'a Creek to face the imperial army, and a meteor fell into his camp. Xiaoyi crossed the creek and attacked. Jingye won the opening clash but was beaten afterward; Xiaoyi pressed the pursuit for miles. Hard pressed, Jingye fled with his followers, wives, and children toward the coast. Xiaoyi advanced into Yangzhou, captured and executed Jingye and his followers, and returned in triumph. For his service he was promoted to General Who Pacifies the Army, transferred to General-in-Chief of the Left Leopard Bow Guard, and enfeoffed as Duke of Wu. Xiaoyi had long enjoyed a high reputation, and from this victory his standing grew even greater. Wu Chengsi and his faction deeply envied him and repeatedly slandered him. In 686 he was demoted to prefect of Shi. That winter Chengsi and his allies sent men to accuse Xiaoyi falsely. They claimed that while governing Yizhou he had once parsed the yi of his own name, saying that to run after a rabbit is always to dwell in the moon — a pun on the character's components. Since the moon stands near heaven, he was therefore claiming a mandate destined for the throne. Empress Wu, because Xiaoyi had often rendered great service, commuted his death sentence to exile in Dan prefecture. He died soon afterward. Early in the Jingyun era he was posthumously appointed metropolitan overseer of Yizhou. The biographies of Xiaorui's grandson Qiwu and Xiaotong's great-grandson Guozhen appear elsewhere in the work.
10
祿 輿殿輿
Shenfu, Prince of Xiangyi, was the younger brother of Prince Huai'an Shentong. Orphaned in youth, he was known for the friendship and fraternal devotion he showed his elder brother. Early in the Yining era he was appointed Grand Master for Splendid Happiness and enfeoffed as Duke of Anji commandery. In 618 he was promoted to Prince of Xiangyi commandery. In 621, after a series of promotions, he became area commander of Bing prefecture. When the Türk khagan Jieli led a raid, Shenfu took the field and fought him east of the Fen River. He routed the Türks, took five hundred heads, and captured two thousand horses. He fought again north of the Sha River, captured the Türk elite commander Yili along with the khagan's horse and armor, and presented them as trophies. He was then summoned to court and appointed Director of the Palace Storehouse. In 626 he was transferred to metropolitan overseer of Yang prefecture. He moved the prefectural seat and its residents across the river from Danyang, to the great benefit of the region. Early in the Zhenguan era he was again transferred, becoming Director of the Imperial Clan Court. Later he resigned because of illness. Emperor Taizong visited his home to inquire after him, bestowed silk and brocade, and regularly sent mutton and wine. He was also ordered to ride in a small palanquin and was brought into the Ziwei Hall. Because Shenfu suffered from a foot ailment, the Three Guards carried him up in a litter. Soon afterward he was granted the ceremonial rank of Grand Master with Privileges Equal to Three Departments. He died in 651 at the age of seventy-three. He was posthumously appointed Minister of Works and commissioner of Jing prefecture, buried with Emperor Gaozu's Xian mausoleum, and given the posthumous title Gong, Respectful. He had seven sons. Early in Wude all were enfeoffed as commandery princes, then later demoted by precedent to county marquises. Of them his second son Demao and youngest son Wenliang were the best known. Demao rose to serve as Director of the Lesser Treasury and Duke of Linchuan commandery. Wenliang served in turn as commissioner of You prefecture and as Duke of Wei commandery. During the Chuigong era he was demoted to deputy prefect of Teng prefecture for an offense and was soon executed. Wenliang's son Quan served as Director of the Imperial Clan Court during the Kaiyuan era.
11
His son Xiaoxie succeeded him. In 622 he was enfeoffed as Prince of Fanyang commandery. Early in the Zhenguan era, by the precedent for more distant imperial kin, his rank was reduced to Duke of Xun. He later rose through successive promotions to prefect of Wei. During the Linde era he was sentenced to death for accepting bribes.
12
Xiaoxie's younger brother Xiaobin rose to serve as chief administrator of the Yuan prefecture commissionerate.
13
西
Xiaobin's son Sixun, during Emperor Gaozong's reign, rose through successive appointments to magistrate of Jiangdu. When Empress Wu seized power, many members of the imperial clan were framed. Sixun resigned his office and went into hiding. Early in the Shenlong era, when Emperor Zhongzong restored the Tang dynasty, Sixun was suddenly promoted to Director of the Imperial Clan Court and enfeoffed as Duke of Longxi commandery with an income of two hundred households, in recognition of his senior standing in the clan. He also served as chief administrator of Yizhou. Early in the Kaiyuan era he was General of the Left Forest Guard, then promoted to Duke of Peng with an additional two hundred taxable households, and soon transferred to General of the Right Martial Guard. He died in 718. He was posthumously appointed commissioner of Qin prefecture and buried with Emperor Ruizong's Qiao mausoleum. Sixun was especially skilled at painting. To this day painters speak of "General Li's landscapes" — the style he himself made famous.
14
Sixun's younger brother Sihui served as an aide in Yang prefecture during the Chuigong era. The biography of Sihui's son Linpu appears separately in the work.
15
Shuliang's younger brother Deliang had been ill from youth and never held office. Early in Wude he was enfeoffed as Prince of Xinxing. He died in 637 and was posthumously appointed commissioner of Liang prefecture.
16
殿
Deliang's grandson Jin, during the Xiantian era, served as Director of the Palace Administration and concurrent chief administrator of Yong prefecture. He enjoyed great renown and was re-enfeoffed as Prince of Xinxing. Soon afterward he was executed for associating with Princess Taiping, and his clan surname was changed to Li. When Jin was about to be executed, his staff officials all fled. Only Records Officer Li Zong followed on foot, observing every propriety of office, and wept over his corpse. When Yao Chong heard of this, he said, "He is of the same breed as Luan and Xiang. Yao Chong had him promoted to a Secretariat officer. He later rose to serve as prefect of Ze.
17
Deliang's younger brother Youliang was enfeoffed as Prince of Changle early in Wude. Once when someone stole his horse, Youliang captured the thief and killed him on the spot. Emperor Gaozu was furious and said, "In antiquity a man who had his horse stolen would treat the thief to wine and in the end receive his reward. You executed the man outright — where is the spirit of the ancients! The thief was indeed guilty, but is summary execution not itself a wrong? He sent Minister of Rites Li Gang to assemble the princes and nobles of the imperial clan in the court hall and have Youliang flogged. Afterward he rose through successive appointments to commissioner of Liang prefecture. He kept more than a hundred unruly men as personal retainers, and they frequently terrorized the markets. Travelers suffered greatly. When Emperor Taizong took the throne, someone reported that Youliang was secretly training desperate men and maintaining contacts beyond the border, possibly plotting rebellion. An edict sent Chief Councillor Yuwen Shiji to replace him as commissioner and investigate. Fearing a revolt, Shiji had him strangled.
18
祿使 使 退 使 使 使 使 西 退 歿
Prince of Hejian Xiaogong was the younger brother of Prince of Xiangwu Chen. When Emperor Gaozu took the capital, Xiaogong was appointed Left Grand Master for Splendid Happiness. Soon afterward he became commissioner for pacification of the South Mountain circuit. Setting out from Jin prefecture into Ba and Shu, he won people over with courtesy, and more than thirty prefectures submitted. Xiaogong pressed the attack on Zhu Can and defeated him. The generals said, "These are man-eating bandits who have done terrible harm. We ask that they be buried alive. Xiaogong said, "No! From here eastward all is enemy territory. If word of this spreads, who will dare to surrender? He pardoned them all instead. Thereafter, wherever his proclamations reached, surrender followed in succession. In 619 he was appointed area commander of Xin prefecture with authority to grant provisional commissions under imperial writ. When Xiao Xian held Jiangling, Xiaogong submitted a plan to defeat him, and Emperor Gaozu praised and adopted it. In 620 his title was advanced to prince. Xin prefecture was renamed Kui prefecture, and Xiaogong was appointed area commander there. He was ordered to build a large fleet and train his forces in naval warfare for a campaign against Xiao Xian. Xiaogong summoned the sons of Ba-Shu tribal leaders, assigned them posts suited to their abilities, and kept them close at hand. Outwardly it looked like promotion; in fact they were hostages. Soon afterward he was appointed campaign commander of the Jing-Xiang circuit, with twelve land and naval commanders under him. He set out from Xia prefecture and advanced on Jiangling. He stormed their river fort and took it, then scattered the captured ships down the Yangtze. The generals objected: "We should put those rebel ships to use. Why cast them away? Aren't we just handing the enemy an advantage? Xiaogong replied, "Not at all. Xiao Xian's rebel territory runs south to the far side of the Nanling ranges and east to Dongting. If we fail to take the city and their reinforcements arrive, we'll be caught between enemies with no room to advance or retreat. Even with ships, what good would they do us? When Xian's riverside garrisons see boats drifting downstream in disorder, they'll know he's lost and hesitate to advance. They'll linger on the river scouting for weeks—buying us time. Victory is assured. Xian's relief force reached Baling, saw the scattered vessels floating downriver, and as Xiaogong had predicted, hung back in suspicion rather than press forward. Cut off both within and without, Xian surrendered. Emperor Gaozu was delighted. He appointed Xiaogong Grand Area Commander of Jing prefecture and had painters render his likeness for the court to admire. He then established military colonies and copper works, to the benefit of the local populace. In 623 he was made Left Vice President of the Xiangzhou Circuit Executive. Although Jing and Xiang were now secure, the far south had not yet been fully pacified. Xiaogong dispatched envoys throughout the region to win hearts and minds. All forty-nine prefectures south of the Nanling submitted. When Fu Gongshi seized Jiangdong and rebelled, sending raiders against Shouyang, Xiaogong was appointed supreme campaign commander to crush him. In 624 Xiaogong marched from Jing prefecture toward Jiujiang. Li Jing, Li Ji, Huang Junhan, Zhang Zhenzhou, and Lu Zushang all served under his command. On the eve of departure he banqueted his generals. When water was brought to the table it turned to blood. Every man present blanched. Xiaogong remained composed. "Fortune and disaster have no fixed gate," he told them calmly. "They are only what men bring upon themselves. I know I have wronged no one. Why are you so troubled? Gongshi has piled up evil until disaster must fall. We march under the emperor's plan to destroy him. This blood in the bowl is an omen that Gongshi will lose his head when the campaign ends. He drained the cup and dismissed the gathering. All who witnessed it marveled at his poise and his ability to steady the troops. Gongshi posted his generals Feng Huiliang and Chen Dangshi with the fleet on Bowang Mountain, and Chen Zhengtong and Xu Shaozong with infantry and cavalry on Qinglin Mountain. Xiaogong arrived and refused battle behind strengthened defenses while detachments severed the rebel supply lines. As the rebels grew hungrier and weaker, they raided the camp by night. Xiaogong slept on undisturbed. The next day he sent weak troops to feint at the rebel fort while Lu Zushang waited with elite cavalry in formation. The feinting force broke and fled. The rebels gave chase for several li, ran into Lu Zushang's cavalry, and were routed. Zhengtong abandoned his camp and rejoined Feng Huiliang on Liang Mountain. Xiaogong pressed the attack, stormed the secondary fort on Liang Mountain, and killed several thousand rebels who drowned trying to escape. Zhengtong fled by night with the land forces. Li Jing, area commander under Xiaogong, took Guangling and captured Yangzi garrison. Hard pressed, Gongshi abandoned Danyang and fled east. Xiaogong sent cavalry in pursuit. At Wukang they captured Gongshi, his chancellor Ximen Junyi, and dozens of other rebels. Jiangnan was fully pacified. The throne sent an edict of commendation, along with a suit of armor, two companies of female musicians, seven hundred servants, and a lavish array of gold and precious objects. Xiaogong was made Left Vice Director of the Masters of Writing on the Southeast Circuit executive staff. When the executive office was later abolished, he was appointed grand area commander of Yangzhou. Once Xiaogong had crushed Gongshi, he held authority over the Jiang-Huai heartland and all of Lingnan. Since the turmoil at the close of the Daye era, every rival warlord had risen only to be brought down by Taizong. His strategists and battle-hardened generals served under one banner, and few won independent glory. Xiaogong alone earned distinction as a regional commander, and his renown stood very high. He cultivated his own prestige, hoping his martial reputation would keep the far provinces in awe. He built a mansion at Shitou and posted guards and patrols around it. He was soon recalled to court and made director of the imperial clan. In year nine he received a taxable fief of twelve hundred households. Early in the Zhenguan reign he became minister of rites and, as a founding merit-holder, was enfeoffed as Prince of Hejian. He was named prefect of Guanzhou and, like Zhangsun Wuji and the other great ministers, held that post in the rotating system of nominal prefects. Xiaogong lived lavishly and loved feasts and entertainments; more than a hundred singers and dancers attended him. Even so, he was generous and unassuming, with none of the swagger of a man who preens on his own achievements. Taizong favored him with unusual warmth, and no other prince of the clan stood so close to him. Xiaogong once told his intimates, with a troubled look: "The house I live in has grown a little too grand for my taste. I mean to sell it and build another—something plain, enough only to get by. After I am gone, if my sons have ability, holding on to that will be enough; and if they lack ability, I hope at least to keep others from coveting what we have. In year fourteen he died suddenly, at the age of fifty. Taizong put on plain mourning and grieved for him bitterly. Xiaogong was posthumously made minister of works and area commander of Yangzhou, buried beside Xian Mausoleum with the posthumous name Yuan, and granted a place in the sacrifices at Gaozu's temple.
19
His son Chongyi succeeded him. His title was lowered to Duke of Qiao. He served as prefect of Pu and Tong and as senior administrator under the grand area commander of Yizhou, and won a strong reputation for authority. He later died while holding the post of director of the imperial clan.
20
Xiaogong's younger brother Jian served in the Wude era as right assistant director of the masters of writing, was enfeoffed as Prince of Jibei, and died as prefect of Shizhou.
21
祿 使 使 使
Jian's younger brother Gui was made left grand master of splendid happiness when the righteous army took the capital. In the first year of Wude he was enfeoffed as Duke of Hanyang. In the fifth year his title was raised to prince. The Turks were raiding again and again, and Gaozu sent Gui with tens of thousands of bolts of silk and cloth to negotiate a marriage alliance. When Qaghan Jieli first received Gui, he sat sprawled with legs apart in contempt; Gui offered lavish gifts. Jieli was delighted, changed his manner, and treated him with respect, then sent envoys back with Gui bearing fine horses as tribute. When Gui returned on another mission, Jieli told his attendants: "Last time Li Gui came, I regretted not forcing him to bow. This time I shall make him kowtow. Gui had some inkling of the plan. When he met Jieli he gave a deep bow but refused to abase himself. Jieli flew into a rage and kept Gui from returning. Gui remained calm and unbroken, and in the end would not submit. Seeing that threats would not move him, Jieli at last sent him home with due ceremony. He was made general of the left military guard, then chamberlain for the imperial stud, and succeeded his elder brother Xiaogong as area commander of Jingzhou. He governed with restraint and quiet order, and gentry and common people alike held him in deep regard. Beyond the Ling passes, local strongmen were constantly at war with one another. Gui sent envoys to win them with a mix of force and grace, and one after another they submitted until the southern frontier was settled. When Taizong came to the throne, Gui's title was reduced to duke under the usual rule. His senior administrator Feng Changming, a former censor-in-chief, was vain and overbearing and often decided matters on his own. Gui had him beaten in anger and, for that, was removed from office. In the fourth year of Zhenguan he was made prefect of Yichuan with the additional title of regular attendant, and there he died.
22
His son Chongxuan rose during the Chuigong era to minister of public works; Chongxu died while serving as director of the imperial manufactory.
23
紿 使 退 使便 西 使 西
Prince of Lujiang Yuan was the son of Gaozu's first cousin once removed. His father Zhe had been a Sui pillar of state and palace guard general and was posthumously enfeoffed as Prince of Jinan. Yuan served as overall commander of Xinzhou in the first year of Wude and was enfeoffed as Prince of Lujiang. In the ninth year he was promoted step by step to grand area commander of Youzhou. The court judged Yuan too timid and inept for frontier command and sent Right Rear Guard General Wang Junguo to help manage the army. Junguo had once been an outlaw and possessed extraordinary strength and daring. Yuan leaned on him, promised him a marriage tie, and tried to make him a trusted confidant. At that time the hidden heir Jian was plotting rebellion and cultivated ties with Yuan beyond the capital. After Jian was put to death, the court sent palace staff officer Cui Dunli to summon Yuan to the capital. Yuan's face showed fear. Junguo was treacherous by nature and saw a chance to destroy Yuan for his own credit. He lied to him: "There has been trouble in the capital, and no one yet knows how it will end. You are the emperor's own kinsman, entrusted with a frontier command—can you keep tens of thousands of soldiers under arms and still obey the call of one lone envoy? I have heard that the Prince of Zhao was seized first, and the crown prince and the Prince of Qi have said as much. If you go now, can you even keep yourself safe? The two of them wept together. Yuan then imprisoned Dunli and rose in rebellion. He summoned Wang Shen, prefect of Beiji, to plan with him. Army aide Wang Lishe urged Yuan: "Your Highness has mobilized troops without imperial orders. That is rebellion. You must change the rules of command, act as circumstances require, and first secure the loyalty of the men. If some prefects refuse your orders and your levies fail to gather, how will you protect yourself? Yuan asked: "What should I do?" Lishe said: "In the Shandong region, the chieftains who once served Dou Jiande were all given posts under the rebel regime. They have since been stripped of office and reduced to commoners. Those men hunger for chaos the way drought-stricken fields hunger for rain. Your Highness should send envoys to restore them to their old posts and let each raise his former followers where he stands. If any prefecture refuses, authorize them to kill as they see fit. If that plan succeeds, all of Hebei can be taken almost at a breath. Then send Wang Shen north to join with the Turks, marching from Taiyuan south toward Pu and Jiang; while Your Highness yourself leads the main force to Luoyang and enters Tong Pass from the west. Once the two armies unite, the realm will be settled in less than a month." Yuan accepted the plan. Yuan put every civil and military matter entirely in Junguo's hands. Lishe, distrusting Junguo's fickleness, urged Yuan to give the army to Wang Shen and remove Junguo. Yuan could not make up his mind. Junguo learned of it, rode out, and killed Shen. Holding up the head, he told the troops: "Li Yuan and Wang Shen have rebelled together. They imprisoned the imperial envoy and raised troops on their own authority. Wang Shen is already dead. Only Li Yuan remains, and he can do nothing. If you follow him, your whole clans will be wiped out in the end; follow me and seize him, and wealth and rank are yours at once. Disaster or reward lies before you— which will you choose? The men answered: "We all wish to strike down the rebel." Junguo led his men onto the west wall of the city. Yuan knew nothing of it. Junguo himself took more than a thousand men to the prison and freed Dunli. Only then did Yuan learn what was happening. He rushed out with several hundred armored men, and just beyond the gate he ran into Junguo. Junguo shouted to the men: "Li Yuan has led you into rebellion—why follow him to your own destruction? They turned their weapons at once and broke in flight. Yuan stood utterly alone and said to Junguo: "A villain sold me out to win favor. The same fate will come for you soon enough. Junguo seized Yuan and strangled him. Yuan was forty-one. His head was sent to the capital, and his name was struck from the imperial clan rolls.
24
使 殿 祿
Junguo was a native of Shiai in Bingzhou. In his youth he became an outlaw and gathered more than a thousand followers. He raided across Changping and pressed toward Xia County. Li Mi sent envoys to summon him, and he went over to Mi's side. He soon led his men back to Tang service, rose to general of the right military guard, and was enfeoffed in stages up to Duke of Peng. He took part in the campaign against Liu Heita and was ordered to hold Youzhou. When the Turks invaded, Junguo intercepted them, routed their force, killed or captured more than two thousand men, and took five thousand horses. Gaozu was delighted, summoned him to court, and gave him an imperial horse. He had Junguo mount it in the palace courtyard and ride out, then told the ministers: "I have heard that when Lin Xiangru rebuked the First Emperor of Qin, blood burst from his eyes. When Junguo went to fight Dou Jiande and was about to charge, Li Jing held him back. Junguo roared in fury, and blood streamed from his eyes, nose, and ears at once. Spirit like that need not yield to the ancients. Such a man cannot be rewarded by ordinary measure. He was given a brocade robe and gold belt and sent back to hold Youzhou. Soon afterward, for killing Yuan, he was made great general of the left rear guard and area commander of Youzhou. Yuan's household was given to him, along with the title of left grand master of splendid happiness, a thousand bolts of goods, and a fief of thirteen hundred households. In office he indulged himself freely. His senior administrator Li Xuandao often warned him with threats of impeachment under court law. Junguo feared a report against him and grew deeply uneasy. When he was later summoned to court, he reached Weinan, killed the post-station clerk, and fled. He was making for the Turks when country people killed him. His fief was afterward revoked.
25
Prince of Huaiyang Daoxuan was the son of Gaozu's first cousin once removed. His grandfather Hui had been Sui overall commander of Xiazhou and was posthumously enfeoffed as Prince of Yong at the start of Wude. His father Zhi was posthumously enfeoffed as Prince of Henan. Daoxuan was enfeoffed as Prince of Huaiyang in the first year of Wude and appointed right thousand-ox attendant. He followed Taizong against Song Jingang at Jiezhou, was first over the wall and into the enemy line. He was fifteen at the time. Taizong admired his courage and rewarded him with a thousand bolts of goods. He later campaigned against Wang Shichong and won victory after victory. When Dou Jiande reached Wulao, Taizong baited the enemy with light cavalry. Daoxuan led hidden troops on the left of the road, and when the enemy came up they pursued and broke them. At Sishui he fought again under Taizong. Waving his halberd he smashed through the enemy line, drove deep behind their rear, sent the ranks scattering, and then cut his way back out. Taizong was delighted and ordered spare chariots assigned to Daoxuan. He rode with Taizong straight at the enemy again, plunging in and out twice while arrows fell like rain and clustered thick as a hedgehog's quills. His fighting fury only mounted, and every man he shot dropped the moment the bowstring sang. After the eastern capital was pacified, he was appointed overall commander of Luozhou. When that commandery was abolished, he was reassigned as prefect of Luozhou. In the fifth year of Wude, Liu Heita led Turkic forces to raid Hebei, and Daoxuan was again appointed commander-in-chief of the Shandong circuit campaign army. The army halted at Xiabo and met the rebel host. Daoxuan led the cavalry in the first charge and ordered his deputy, Shi Wanbao, to bring the main body up behind him. Wanbao was at odds with him. When Daoxuan drove deep into enemy territory, Wanbao held his troops back and would not advance. He told his confidants, "I received a handwritten edict saying that although the boy of Huaiyang bears the title of general, all movement of the army is entrusted to me. Now he is rash: he is crossing the marsh to give battle. If the main army moves, it will surely bog down in mud and mire. Better to hold formation and wait. It may go ill for the prince, but it will serve the state. Daoxuan was captured by the enemy, the entire army was wiped out, and only Wanbao escaped and made it back. Daoxuan was killed in battle. He was nineteen. Taizong mourned him for a long while. Once, speaking at ease to his attendants, he said, "Daoxuan followed me from beginning to end. He saw me plunge deep into enemy lines and prevail wherever I turned, and he admired that in his heart. That is why at every battle he charged first—he was trying to be like me. It is a pity he was so young and never had the chance to realize his greater ambitions. As he spoke, he wept for Daoxuan. He was posthumously made grand general of the Left Brave Cavalry Guard, with the posthumous name Zhuang ["Valiant"]. Daoxuan had no son. An edict enfeoffed his younger brother Daoming, commander of Wudong commandery, as Prince of Huaiyang and charged him with maintaining Daoxuan's ancestral rites. Daoming was promoted in stages to general of the Left Brave Cavalry Guard. While escorting Princess Honghua back to the tribes, he was convicted of revealing that the princess was not Taizong's daughter. His title was revoked and his fief abolished. He later died while serving as prefect of Yanzhou.
26
耀
Prince Jiangxia Daozong was Daoxuan's younger paternal first cousin. His father Shao was posthumously enfeoffed as Prince of Dongping and given the posthumous title of minister of revenue. Daozong was enfeoffed as duke of Lueyang commandery in the first year of Wude and began his career as a left thousand-ox guard attendant. Campaigning against Liu Wuzhou, they fought at Dusuo Plain. The army was defeated, and the rebel host pressed toward Hedong. Daozong was seventeen at the time. He followed Taizong in leading troops to hold them off. Taizong climbed Yubi City to look out at the enemy, then turned to Daozong and said, "The rebels are counting on their numbers to challenge us to battle. What do you think we should do? He replied, "These bandits are riding a victory—their momentum cannot be met head-on. They are easier to break by stratagem than to overpower by force. We should now strengthen our walls and raise high ramparts to blunt their momentum. This is a mob that cannot hold together for long. Once their grain runs out, they will scatter on their own, and we can take them without fighting." Taizong said, "Your thinking quietly matches my own." Later the enemy did run out of food and fled by night. Pursued to Jiezhou, they were wiped out in a single battle. He also took part in pacifying Dou Jiande and defeating Wang Shichong, winning repeated distinction. In the fifth year of Wude he was appointed overall commander of Lingzhou. Liang Shidu held Xiazhou and sent his younger brother Luoren to lead tens of thousands of Turkic troops to the foot of the city walls. Daozong shut the gates and held firm, then struck when he saw an opening. The rebel host was routed. Gaozu heard of it and praised him. He told left vice director Pei Ji and director of the secretariat Xiao Yu, "Daozong can now defend the frontier and use the few to control the many. In olden times Wei Prince of Rencheng Zhang faced the enemy in battle and drove them back. Daozong's courage is the same. Thereupon he was enfeoffed as Prince of Rencheng. Earlier the Turks had allied with Liang Shidu, and their Yusheshe leader had entered and occupied the old territory of Wuyuan. Daozong drove him out. He displayed martial prestige, expanded the frontier, and pushed the border outward more than a thousand li. The peoples of the border submitted willingly.
27
使 使 使 滿 輿
In the first year of Zhenguan he was summoned and appointed grand master of ceremonies, then served successively as left central guard commander and grand judge of Dali. As Taizong was preparing operations against the Turks, Daozong was again appointed area commander of Lingzhou. In the third year of Zhenguan he became commander-in-chief of the Datong circuit campaign army. At that time Li Jing had struck and shattered Khan Jieli, and Jieli fled to Daozong's command with a little more than ten riders. Daozong led troops to press him and demanded that Jieli be seized and sent in. Jieli fled by night with a few riders and hid in a desolate valley. Shachaluo, in fear, galloped after him, captured him, and sent envoys to deliver him to the capital. For this achievement he was granted six hundred households of substantive fief income and summoned to serve as minister of justice. When Tuyuhun raided the border, an edict appointed right vice director Li Jing supreme commander of the Kunqiu circuit campaign army, with Daozong and minister of civil appointments Hou Junji as his deputies. When the enemy heard the army had arrived, they fled into the Zhang Mountains, already having marched several thousand li. The generals discussed halting the campaign, but Daozong firmly petitioned to pursue and destroy the enemy. Li Jing agreed; Junji did not. Daozong then led a detached column on a parallel forced march, ten days ahead of the main army, and overtook the enemy. The enemy held the high ground and fought bitterly. Daozong secretly sent more than a thousand cavalry over the mountains to strike their rear. Caught between attacks from front and back, they broke and fled at once. In the twelfth year of Zhenguan he was transferred to minister of rites and his enfeoffment was changed to Prince of Jiangxia. Soon afterward he was imprisoned on charges of embezzlement. Taizong said to his attendants, "I possess all within the four seas, with soldiers and horses thick as a forest. If I wished to leave wheel tracks across the whole realm, tour without cease, gather curious treasures from distant lands, and seek rare delicacies from beyond the seas—could I not do so? To wear out the myriad people for one man's pleasure—that is what I will not accept. The human heart knows no limit to desire. One must restrain it through reason alone. Daozong's salary is very high and his banquet gifts no small matter. He has more than enough wealth, yet he is this greedy. It makes one sigh with regret. Is that not contemptible? Thereupon he was dismissed from office and his fief income was cut. In the thirteenth year he was restored as area commander of Maozhou, but before he could take up the post he was transferred to prefect of Jizhou. In the fourteenth year he was again appointed minister of rites. At this time Hou Junji had won distinction in Gaochang. Proud of his talent, he secretly harbored rebellious intent. Once, while attending a banquet, Daozong said at ease, "Junji has little wisdom but talks big, and his conduct is irregular. In my view he will surely become the ringleader of rebellion. Taizong said, "How do you know this?" He replied, "I see him rely on his slight merit and deeply cherish boasting. He is ashamed to rank below Fang Xuanling and Li Jing. Though he is minister of civil appointments, that does not satisfy his ambition. He slanders the worthy men of the age and often speaks words of resentment." Taizong said, "One must not guess rashly and idly breed suspicion and division. His achievements and talents can fill any role. Would I begrudge him a weighty post? It has simply not yet come to that." Before long Junji plotted rebellion and was executed. Taizong smiled and said to Daozong, "Junji's affair unfolded exactly as you foresaw." When the great army campaigned against Goryeo, he ordered Daozong and Li Jing to serve as vanguard. They crossed the Liao River and captured Gaimou City. When enemy troops arrived in great numbers, everyone in the army wanted to dig deep trenches, hold the defensible ground, and wait for Taizong to arrive before advancing slowly. Daozong said, "That will not do. The enemy came from afar in haste. Their troops are truly exhausted. Relying on their numbers, they look down on us. One battle will surely break them. In olden times Geng Yan would not leave the enemy for his sovereign and father. Since I hold the duty of the vanguard, I must clear the road and await the imperial carriage. Li Jing agreed. Then, with several dozen picked horsemen, he charged straight into the enemy formation, wheeling in and out to left and right. Jing joined the attack, and they inflicted a great defeat. When Taizong arrived, he rewarded Daozong handsomely and granted him forty slaves. They also built an earthen mound to assault Ansi City. The mound collapsed. Daozong had been negligent in his deployment, and the enemy seized it. He placed the blame on guoyi officer Fu Fu'ai and had him executed. Daozong went barefoot to the command banner to plead guilty. Taizong said, "When Emperor Wu of Han killed Wang Hui, that was not as good as when Duke Mu of Qin pardoned Meng Ming. The loss of the earthen mound was not truly his fault. He released the matter and did not pursue it. Daozong was wounded in the foot during battle. Taizong personally stitched the wound for him and granted him food from the imperial table. In the twenty-first year of Zhenguan, citing illness, he requested a less demanding post and was transferred to chamberlain for ceremonials. In the first year of Yonghui he was additionally granted the honorary rank tejin, and his substantive fief income was increased to six hundred households in all. In the fourth year of Yonghui, Fang Yi'ai was executed. Zhangsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang, who had long been at odds with Daozong, reported that Daozong had associated with Yi'ai. He was sentenced to exile in Xiangzhou. He died of illness on the road. He was fifty-four. When Wuji and Suiliang themselves fell from favor, an edict restored Daozong's offices and titles. In his later years Daozong greatly devoted himself to learning, revered worthy men, and did not lord his rank over others. Among the imperial clan, only Daozong and the brothers Prince of Hejian Xiaogong were most highly esteemed in their generation.
28
Daozong's son Jingheng was demoted in rank to duke of Lu and reached the office of prefect of Xiangzhou.
29
西
Prince of Longxi Boyi was a son of Gaozu's elder brother. Gaozu's eldest brother was named Cheng; next came Zhan; then Hong. All died young. At the beginning of Wude, Cheng was posthumously enfeoffed as Prince of Liang, Zhan as Prince of Shu, and Hong as Prince of Zheng. Cheng and Hong both left no heirs. Boyi was the second son of Zhan. In the first year of Wude he received his enfeoffment. During Gaozu's reign he served successively as chamberlain for the imperial clan and minister of rites, and was granted the honorary rank tejin. Boyi kept several hundred singing-girl concubines. All wore silk gauze and brocade, ate nothing but fine grain and meat, and amused themselves morning and evening with string music and song. His extravagance and arrogance were beyond compare. He and his younger brother Prince of Bohai Fengci were both despised by Gaozu. The emperor said to them, "If even my enemies show merit, I still promote them out of turn. How much more should I not entrust affairs to kinsmen? I hear that you only fraternize with petty men and delight in unseemly conduct. Of the canonical texts left by the former kings, I hear no word that you study them. Now I grant you two hundred bolts of silk apiece. You may each buy classics and histories and study them, and devote yourselves to good conduct. In the second year of Xianheng he died. He was posthumously granted the title of honorary three excellencies with privilege to maintain an office equal to a commandery governor's, and area commander of Jingzhou. His posthumous name was Gong ["Respectful"]. Fengci was enfeoffed as Prince of Bohai at the beginning of Wude. During the Xianqing era he was successively promoted to area commander of Yuanzhou. He died, and his posthumous name was Jing ["Reverent"].
30
The historiographer says: When one is impartial toward things, things in turn respond with impartiality. As soon as Gaozu had pacified the Central Plains, he first enfeoffed distant kinsmen. This led Lujiang to rebel and Shentong to wrangle over merit. Feng Deyi argued against it beforehand, and Fang Xuanling mocked it afterward. Consider Prince of Hejian: his stratagems ran deep and his vision was broad. He released empty boats to induce Xiao Xian's surrender, drank demon blood to pacify Li Gongzuo, entered court to fix the distinction between minister and sovereign, and sold his mansion for his descendants' sake. Keeping a fine beginning and a fine end, assigning merit and granting rewards—in that lay true impartiality. Someone asked: "When water turns to blood, that is surely an evil omen; yet he succeeded in the end without suffering harm—how can that be? The reply was: Prince of Hejian's integrity reached to the gods, and his purpose was to restore the altars of state—so the omen could not prevail over virtue. That is plain enough. Daozong combined military counsel with martial courage, loved learning and honored men of talent, and among the collateral princes stood as the outstanding man of his generation. Wuji and Suiliang had long nursed their mutual dislike and thereby inflicted a wrong that would echo for ages. During the Yonghui era Wuji and Suiliang were punished despite their loyalty, and everyone pitied them. They failed to see that they had earlier framed Liu Ji and Prince of Wu Ke, and later wronged Daozong unjustly—the net of Heaven misses nothing; that they did not die in their beds was only what they deserved!
31
The encomium reads: Enfeoffing every distant clansman opened the way to disorder and harmed the public good. Only Prince of Hejian Xiaogong won true renown on the battlefield.
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