1
永安王孝基淮安王神通子道彥孝察孝同孝慈孝友孝節孝義孝逸
Prince Yong'an Xiaoji; Prince Huai'an Shentong; and his sons Daoyan, Xiaocha, Xiaotong, Xiaoci, Xiaoyou, Xiaojie, Xiaoyi, and Xiaoyi.
2
襄邑王神符子德懋文暕
Prince of Xiangyi Shenfu; his sons Demao and Wenxian.
3
長平王叔良子孝協孝斌孝斌子思訓思誨叔良弟德良幼良
Prince of Changping Shuliang; his son Xiaoxie; Xiaobin—whose sons were Sixun and Sihui; and Shuliang's younger brothers Deliang and Youliang.
4
襄武王琛河間王孝恭子晦孝恭弟瑊瑰廬江王瑗王君廓附
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
淮陽王道玄江夏王道宗隴西王博乂
Prince of Huaiyang Daoxuan; Prince of Jiangxia Daozong; and Prince of Longxi Boyi.
6
淮安王神通,高祖從父弟也。 父亮,隋海州刺史,武德初追封鄭王。 神通,隋末在京師。 義師起,隋人捕之,神通潛入鄠縣山南,與京師大俠史萬寶、河東裴勣、柳崇禮等舉兵以應義師。 遣使與司竹賊帥何潘仁連結。 潘仁奉平陽公主而至,神通與之合勢,進下鄠縣,眾逾一萬。 自稱關中道行軍總管,以史萬寶為副,裴勣為長史,柳崇禮為司馬,令狐德棻為記室。 高祖聞之大悅,授光祿大夫。 從平京師,拜宗正卿。 武德元年,拜右翊衛大將軍,封永康王,尋改封淮安王,為山東道安撫大使。 擊宇文化及於魏縣,化及不能抗,東走聊城。 神通進兵躡之,至聊城。 會化及糧盡請降,神通不受。 其副使黃門侍郎崔干勸納之,神通曰:「兵士暴露已久,賊計窮糧盡,克在旦暮,正當攻取,以示國威,散其玉帛,以為軍賞。 若受降者,吾何以藉手乎?」 干曰:「今建德方至,化及未平,兩賊之間,事必危迫。 不攻而下之,此勳甚大。 今貪其玉帛,敗無日矣!」 神通怒,囚干於軍中。 既而士及自濟北饋之,化及軍稍振,遂拒戰。 神通督兵薄而擊之,貝州刺史趙君德攀堞而上,神通心害其功,因止軍不戰,君德大詬而下,城又堅守。 神通乃分兵數千人往魏州取攻具,中路復為莘人所敗。 竇建德軍且至,遂引軍而退。 後二日,化及為建德所虜,賊勢益張,山東城邑多歸建德。 神通兵漸散,退保黎陽,依徐勣,俄為建德所陷。 及建德敗,復授河北道行台尚書左僕射。 從太宗平劉黑闥,遷左武衛大將軍。 貞觀元年,拜開府儀同三司,賜實封五百戶。 時太宗謂諸功臣曰:「朕敘公等勳效,量定封邑,恐不能盡當,各自言。」 神通曰:「義旗初起,臣率兵先至,今房玄齡、杜如晦等刀筆之人,功居第一,臣且不服。」 上曰:「義旗初起,人皆有心。 叔父雖率兵先至,未嘗身履行陣。 山東未定,受委專征,建德南侵,全軍陷沒; 及劉黑闥翻動,叔父望風而破。 今計勳行賞,玄齡等有籌謀帷幄定社稷功,所以漢之蕭何,雖無汗馬,指縱推轂,故功居第一。 叔父於國至親,誠無所愛,必不可緣私濫與勳臣同賞耳。」 四年,薨。 太宗為之廢朝,贈司空,謚曰靖。 十四年,詔與河間王孝恭、贈陝州大行台右僕射鄖節公殷開山、贈民部尚書渝襄公劉政會配饗高祖廟庭。 有子十一人:長子道彥,武德五年,封膠東王; 次孝察,高密王; 孝同,淄川王; 孝慈,廣平王; 孝友,河間王; 孝節,清河王; 孝義,膠西王。
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
初,高祖受禪,以天下未定,廣封宗室以威天下,皇從弟及侄年始孩童者數十人,皆封為郡王。 太宗即位,因舉宗正屬藉問侍臣曰:「遍封宗子,於天下便乎?」 尚書右僕射封德彝對曰:「歷觀往古,封王者,今最為多。 兩漢已降,唯封帝子及親兄弟,若宗室疏遠者,非有大功如周之郇、滕,漢之賈、澤,並不得濫封,所以別親疏也。 先朝惇睦九族,一切封王,爵命既隆,多給力役,蓋以天下為私,殊非至公馭物之道。」 太宗曰:「朕理天下,本為百姓,非欲勞百姓以養己之親也。」 於是宗室率以屬疏降爵為郡公,唯有功者數十人封王。 是時道彥等並隨例降爵。 道彥與季弟孝逸最知名。
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
道彥幼而事親甚謹。 初,義師起,神通逃難,被疾於山谷,綿曆數旬,山中食盡。 道彥著故弊衣,出人間乞丐,及采野實,以供其父,身無所啖。 其父分以食之,輒詐言已啖,而覆藏留之,以備闕乏。 及神通應義舉,授朝請大夫。 高祖受禪,封義興郡公,進封膠東王,授隴州刺史。 貞觀初,轉相州都督,例降爵為公,拜岷州都督。 丁父憂,廬於墓側,負土成墳,躬植松柏,容貌哀毀,親友皆不復識之。 太宗聞而嘉嘆,令侍中王珪就加開喻。 復授岷州都督。 道彥遣使告喻党項諸部,申國威靈,多有降附。 李靖之擊吐谷渾也,詔道彥為赤水道行軍總管。 時朝廷復厚幣遺党項,令為鄉導,党項首領拓拔赤辭來詣靖軍,請諸將曰:「往者隋人來擊吐谷渾,我党項每資軍用,而隋人無信,必見侵掠。 今將軍若無他心者,我當資給糧運; 如或我欺,當即固險以塞軍路。」 諸將與之歃血而盟,赤辭信之。 道彥既至闊水,見赤辭無備,遂襲之,虜牛羊數千頭。 於是諸羌怨怒,屯兵野狐硤,道彥不能進,為赤辭所乘,軍大敗,死者數萬人。 道彥退保松州,竟坐減死徙邊。 後起為涼州都督,尋卒,贈禮部尚書。
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
孝逸少好學,解屬文。 初封梁郡公。 高宗末,歷給事中,四遷益州大都督府長史。 則天臨朝,入為左衛將軍,甚見親遇。 光宅元年,徐敬業據揚州作亂,以孝逸為左玉鈐衛大將軍、揚州行軍大總管,督軍以討之。 孝逸引軍至淮,而敬業方南攻潤州,遣其弟敬猷屯兵淮陰; 偽將韋超據都梁山,以拒孝逸。 裨將馬敬臣擊斬賊之別帥尉遲昭、夏侯瓚等,超乃擁眾憑山以自固。 或謂孝逸曰:「超眾守險,且憑山為阻,攻之則士無所施其力,騎無所騁其足,窮寇殊死,殺傷必眾。 不若分兵守之,大軍直趣揚州,未數日,其勢必降也。」 支度使、廣府司馬薛克構曰:「超雖據險,其卒非多,今逢小寇不擊,何以示武? 若加兵以守,則有闕前機; 舍之而前,則終為後患,不如擊之。 克超則淮陰自懾,淮陰破,則楚州諸縣必開門而候官軍。 然後進兵高郵,直趣江都,逆豎之首,可指掌而懸也。」 孝逸從其言,進兵擊超賊,眾壓伏,官軍登山急擊之,殺數百人,日暮圍解,超銜枚夜遁。 孝逸引兵擊淮陰,大破敬猷之眾。 時敬業回軍屯於下阿溪以拒官軍,有流星墜其營。 孝逸引兵渡溪以擊之。 敬業初勝後敗,孝逸乘勝追奔數十里,敬業窘迫,與其黨攜妻子逃入海曲。 孝逸進據揚州,盡捕斬敬業等,振旅而還,以功進授鎮軍大將軍,轉左豹韜衛大將軍,改封吳國公。 孝逸素有名望,自是時譽益重,武承嗣等深所忌嫉,數讒毀之。 垂拱二年,左遷施州刺史。 其冬,承嗣等又使人誣告孝逸往任益州,嘗自解「逸」字云:「走繞兔者,常在月中。 月既近天,合有天分。」 則天以孝逸常有功,減死配徙儋州,尋卒。 景雲初,贈益州大都督。 孝銳孫齊物,孝同曾孫國貞,別有傳。
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
襄邑王神符,神通弟也。 幼孤,事兄以友悌聞。 義寧初,授光祿大夫,封安吉郡公。 武德元年,進封襄邑郡王。 四年,累遷并州總管。 突厥頡利可汗率眾來寇,神符出兵與戰於汾水東,敗之,斬首五百級,虜其馬二千匹。 又戰於沙河之北,獲其乙利達官並可汗所乘馬及甲獻之,由是召拜太府卿。 九年,遷揚州大都督,移州府及居人自丹陽渡江,州人賴焉。 貞觀初,再遷宗正卿。 後以疾辭職,太宗幸其第問疾,賜以縑帛,每給羊酒。 又令乘小輿,引入紫微殿,以神符腳疾,乃遣三衛輿之而升。 尋授開府儀同三司。 永徽二年薨,年七十三,贈司空、荊州都督,陪葬獻陵,謚曰恭。 有子七人,武德初,並封郡王,後例降封縣公。 次子德懋、少子文暕最知名。 德懋官至少府監、臨川郡公。 文暕歷幽州都督、魏郡公。 垂拱中,坐事貶為藤州別駕,尋被誅。 文暕子佺,開元中為宗正卿。
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
子孝協嗣,武德五年,封范陽郡王。 貞觀初,以屬疏例降封郇國公,累遷魏州刺史。 麟德中,坐受贓賜死。
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
孝協弟孝斌,官至原州都督府長史。
Xiaoxie's younger brother Xiaobin rose to serve as chief administrator of the Yuan prefecture commissionerate.
13
孝斌子思訓,高宗時累轉江都令。 屬則天革命,宗室多見搆陷,思訓遂棄官潛匿。 神龍初,中宗初復宗社,以思訓舊齒,驟遷宗正卿,封隴西郡公,實封二百戶。 歷益州長史。 開元初,左羽林大將軍,進封彭國公,更加實封二百戶,尋轉右武衛大將軍。 開元六年卒。 贈秦州都督,陪葬橋陵。 思訓尤善丹青,迄今繪事者推李將軍山水。
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
思訓弟思誨,垂拱中揚州參軍。 思誨子林甫別有傳。
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
叔良弟德良,少有疾,不仕。 武德初,封新興王。 貞觀十一年薨,贈涼州都督。
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
德良孫晉,先天中,為殿中監,兼雍州長史,甚有威名,紹封新興王。 尋坐附會太平公主伏誅,改姓厲氏。 初,晉之就誅,僚吏皆奔散,唯司功李捴步從,不失在官之禮,仍哭其屍。 姚崇聞之曰:「欒、向之儔也。」 擢為尚書郎。 後官至澤州刺史。
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
德良弟幼良,武德初,封長樂王。 時有人盜其馬者,幼良獲盜而閃殺之,高祖怒曰:「昔人賜盜馬者酒,終獲其報,爾輒行戮,何無古風! 盜者信有罪矣,專殺豈非枉邪?」 遣禮部尚書李綱於朝堂集宗室王公而撻之。 自後累遷涼州都督,嘗引不逞百餘人為左右,多侵暴市裡,行旅苦之。 太宗即位,有告幼良陰養死士,交通境外,恐謀為反叛,詔遣中書令宇文士及代為都督,並按其事。 士及慮其為變,遂縊殺之。
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
河間王孝恭,琛之弟也。 高祖克京師,拜左光祿大夫,尋為山南道招慰大使。 自金州出於巴蜀,招攜以禮,降附者三十餘州。 孝恭進擊硃粲,破之,諸將曰:「此食人賊也,為害實深,請坑之。」 孝恭曰:「不可! 自此已東,皆為寇境,若聞此事,豈有來降者乎?」 盡赦而不殺,由是書檄所至,相繼降款。 武德二年,授信州總管,承製拜假。 蕭銑據江陵,孝恭獻平銑之策,高祖嘉納之。 三年,進爵為王。 改信州為夔州,使拜孝恭為總管,令大造舟楫,教習水戰,以圖蕭銑。 孝恭召巴蜀首領子弟,量才授用,致之左右,外示引擢,而實以為質也。 尋授荊湘道行軍總管,統水陸十二總管,發自硤州,進軍江陵。 攻其水城,克之,所得船散於江中。 諸將皆曰:「虜得賊船,當藉其用,何為棄之,無乃資賊耶?」 孝恭曰:「不然,蕭銑偽境,南極嶺外,東至洞庭。 若攻城未拔,援兵復到,我則內外受敵,進退不可,雖有舟楫,何所用之? 今銑緣江州鎮忽見船舸亂下,必知銑敗,未敢進兵,來去覘伺,動淹旬月,用緩其救,克之必矣。」 銑救兵至巴陵,見船被江而下,果狐疑不敢輕進。 既內外阻絕,銑於是出降。 高祖大悅,拜孝恭荊州大總管,使畫工貌而視之。 於是開置屯田,創立銅冶,百姓利焉。 六年,遷襄州道行台尚書左僕射。 時荊襄雖定,嶺表尚未悉平。 孝恭分遣使人撫慰,嶺南四十九州皆來款附。 及輔公祏據江東反,發兵寇壽陽,命孝恭為行軍元帥以擊之。 七年,孝恭自荊州趣九江,時李靖、李勣、黃君漢、張鎮州、盧祖尚並受孝恭節度。 將發,與諸將宴集,命取水,忽變為血,在座者皆失色。 孝恭舉止自若,徐諭之曰:「禍福無門,唯人所召。 自顧無負於物,諸公何見憂之深! 公祏惡積禍盈,今承廟算以致討,碗中之血,乃公祏授首之後征。」 遂盡飲而罷。 時人服其識度而能安眾。 公祏遣其偽將馮惠亮、陳當時領水軍屯於博望山,陳正通、徐紹宗率步騎軍於青林山。 孝恭至,堅壁不與斗,使奇兵斷其糧道。 賊漸饣委,夜薄我營,孝恭安臥不動。 明日,縱羸兵以攻賊壘,使盧祖尚率精騎列陣以待之。 俄而攻壘者敗走,賊出追奔數里,遇祖尚軍,與戰,大敗之。 正通棄營而走,復與馮惠亮保梁山。 孝恭乘勝攻之,破其梁山別鎮,赴水死者數千人,正通率陸軍夜遁。 總管李靖又下廣陵城,拔楊子鎮。 公祏窮蹙,棄丹陽東走。 孝恭命騎將追之,至武康,擒公祏及其偽僕射西門君儀等數十人,致於麾下,江南悉平。 璽書褒賞,賜甲第一區、女樂二部、奴婢七百人、金寶珍玩甚眾,授東南道行台尚書左僕射。 後廢行台,拜揚州大都督。 孝恭既破公祏,江淮及嶺南皆統攝之。 自大業末,群雄競起,皆為太宗所平,謀臣猛將並在麾下,罕有別立勳庸者,唯孝恭著方面之功,聲名甚盛。 厚自崇重,欲以威名鎮遠,築宅於石頭,陳廬徼以自衛。 尋征拜宗正卿。 九年,賜實封一千二百戶。 貞觀初,遷禮部尚書,以功臣封河間郡王,除觀州刺史,與長孫無忌等代襲刺史。 孝恭性奢豪,重遊宴,歌姬舞女百有餘人,然而寬恕退讓,無驕矜自伐之色。 太宗甚加親待,諸宗室中莫與為比。 孝恭嘗悵然謂所親曰:「吾所居宅微為宏壯,非吾心也,當賣之,別營一所,粗令充事而已。 身歿之後。 諸子若才,守此足矣; 如其不才,冀免他人所利也。」 十四年,暴薨,年五十。 太宗素服舉哀,哭之甚慟,贈司空、揚州都督,陪葬獻陵,謚曰元,配享高祖廟庭。
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
子崇義嗣,降爵為譙國公,歷蒲、同二州刺史,益州大都督長史,甚有威名。 後卒於宗正卿。
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
孝恭弟瑊,武德中,為尚書右丞,封濟北郡王,卒於始州刺史。
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
瑊弟瑰,義師克京城,授瑰左光祿大夫。 武德元年,封漢陽郡公。 五年,進爵為王。 時突厥屢為侵寇,高祖使瑰齎布帛數萬段與結和親。 頡利可汗初見瑰,箕踞; 瑰餌以厚利,頡利大悅,改容加敬,遣使隨瑰獻名馬。 後復將命,頡利謂左右曰:「李瑰前來,恨不屈之,今者必令下拜。」 瑰微知之,及見頡利,長揖不屈節。 頡利大怒,乃留瑰不遣。 瑰神意自若,竟不為之屈。 頡利知不可以威脅,終禮遣之。 拜左武候將軍,轉衛尉卿,代兄孝恭為荊州都督。 政存清靜,深為士庶所懷。 嶺外豪帥屢相攻擊,遣使喻以威德,皆相次歸附,嶺表遂定。 太宗即位,例降爵為公。 時長史馮長命曾為御史大夫,素矜衒,事多專決,瑰怒杖之,坐是免。 貞觀四年,拜宜川刺史,加散騎常侍,卒。
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
子沖玄,垂拱中官至冬官尚書; 沖虛,卒於尚方監。
His son Chongxuan rose during the Chuigong era to minister of public works; Chongxu died while serving as director of the imperial manufactory.
23
廬江王瑗,高祖從父兄子也。 父哲,隋柱國、備身將軍,追封濟南王。 瑗,武德元年曆信州總管,封廬江王。 九年,累遷幽州大都督。 朝廷以瑗懦曌,非邊將才,遣右領軍將軍王君廓助典兵事。 君廓故嘗為盜,勇力絕人,瑗倚仗之,許結婚姻,以布心腹。 時隱太子建成將有異圖,外結於瑗。 及建成誅死,遣通事舍人崔敦禮召瑗入朝,瑗有懼色。 君廓素險薄,欲因事陷之以為己功,遂紿瑗曰:「京都有變,事未可知。 大王國之懿親,受委作鎮,寧得擁兵數萬而從一使召耶! 且聞趙郡王先以被拘,太子、齊王又言若此,大王今去,能自保乎?」 相與共泣。 瑗乃囚敦禮,舉兵反。 召北齊州刺史王詵,將與計事,兵曹參軍王利涉說瑗曰:「王不奉詔而擅發兵,此為反矣。 須改易法度,以權宜應變,先定眾心。 今諸州刺史或有逆命,王徵兵不集,何以保全?」 瑗曰:「若之何?」 利涉曰:「山東之地,先從竇建德,酋豪首領,皆是偽官,今並黜之,退居匹庶,此人思亂,若旱苗之望雨。 王宜發使復其舊職,各於所在遣募本兵,諸州倘有不從,即委隨便誅戮。 此計若行,河北之地可呼吸而定也。 然後分遣王詵北連突厥,道自太原,南臨蒲、絳; 大王整駕親詣洛陽,西入潼關。 兩軍合勢,不盈旬月,天下定矣。」 瑗從之。 瑗以內外機悉付君廓。 利涉以君廓多翻覆,又說瑗委兵於王詵而除君廓,瑗不能決。 君廓知之,馳斬詵,持首告其眾曰:「李瑗與王詵共反,禁錮敕使,擅追兵集。 今王詵已斬,獨李瑗在,無能為也。 汝若從之,終亦族滅; 從我取之,立得富貴。 禍福如是,意欲何從?」 眾曰:「皆願討賊。」 君廓領其麾下登城西面,瑗未之覺。 君廓自領千餘人先往獄中出敦禮,瑗始知之,遽率數百人披甲,才出至門外,與君廓相遇。 君廓謂其眾曰:「李瑗作逆誤人,何忽從之,自取塗炭?」 眾皆倒戈,一時潰走。 瑗塊然獨存,謂君廓曰:「小人賣我以自媚,汝行當自及矣。」 君廓擒瑗,縊殺之,年四十一,傳首京師,絕其屬籍。
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
君廓,并州石艾人也。 少亡命為群盜,聚徒千餘人,轉掠長平,進逼夏縣。 李密遣使召之,遂投於密。 尋又率眾歸國,歷遷右武衛將軍,累封彭國公。 從平劉黑闥,令鎮幽州。 會突厥入寇,君廓邀擊破之,俘斬二千餘人,獲馬五千匹。 高祖大悅,徵入朝,賜以御馬,令於殿庭乘之而出,因謂侍臣曰:「吾聞藺相如叱秦皇,目皆出血。 君廓往擊竇建德,將出戰,李靖遏之,君廓發憤大呼,目及鼻耳一時流血。 此之壯氣,何謝古人,不可以常例賞之。」 復賜錦袍金帶,還鎮幽州。 尋以誅瑗功,拜左領軍大將軍,兼幽州都督,以瑗家口賜之,加左光祿大夫,賜物千段,食實封千三百戶。 在職多縱逸,長史李玄道數以朝憲脅之,懼為所奏,殊不自安。 後追入朝,行至渭南,殺驛史而遁。 將奔突厥,為野人所殺,追削其封邑。
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
淮陽王道玄,高祖從父兄子也。 祖繪,隋夏州總管,武德初,追封雍王。 父贄,追封河南王。 道玄,武德元年封淮陽王,授右千牛。 從太宗擊宋金剛於介州,先登陷陣,時年十五,太宗壯之,賞物千段。 後從討王世充,頻戰皆捷。 竇建德至武牢,太宗以輕騎誘賊,領道玄率伏兵於道左,會賊至,追擊破之。 又從太宗轉戰於汜水,麾戈陷陣,直出賊後,眾披靡,復衝突而歸。 太宗大悅,命副乘以給道玄。 又從太宗赴賊,再入再出,飛矢亂下,箭如蝟毛,猛氣益厲,射人無不應弦而倒。 東都平,拜洛州總管。 及府廢,改授洛州刺史。 五年,劉黑闥引突厥寇河北,復授山東道行軍總管。 師次下博,與賊軍遇,道玄帥騎先登,命副將史萬寶督軍繼進。 萬寶與之不協,及道玄深入,而擁兵不進,謂所親曰:「吾奉手詔,言淮陽小兒雖名為將,而軍之進止皆委於吾。 今其輕脫,越濘交戰,大軍若動,必陷泥溺,莫如結陣以待之,雖不利於王,而利於國。」 道玄遂為賊所擒,全軍盡沒,惟萬寶逃歸。 道玄遇害,年十九。 太宗追悼久之,嘗從容謂侍臣曰:「道玄終始從朕,見朕深入賊陣,所向必克,意嘗企慕,所以每陣先登,蓋學朕也。 惜其年少,不遂遠圖。」 因為之流涕。 贈左驍衛大將軍,謚曰壯。 無子,詔封其弟武都郡公道明為淮陽王,令主道玄之祀。 累遷左驍衛將軍。 送弘化公主還蕃,坐洩主非太宗女,奪爵國除,後卒於鄆州刺史。
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
江夏王道宗,道玄從父弟也。 父韶,追封東平王,贈戶部尚書。 道宗,武德元年封略陽郡公,起家左千牛備身。 討劉武周,戰於度索原,軍敗,賊徒進逼河東。 道宗時年十七,從太宗率眾拒之。 太宗登玉壁城望賊,顧謂道宗曰:「賊恃其眾來邀我戰,汝謂如何?」 對曰:「群賊乘勝,其鋒不可當,易以計屈,難與力競。 今深壁高壘,以挫其鋒; 烏合之徒,莫能持久,糧運致竭,自當離散,可不戰而擒。」 太宗曰:「汝意暗與我合。」 後賊果食盡夜遁,追及介州,一戰滅之。 又從平竇建德,破王世充,屢有殊效。 五年,授靈州總管。 梁師都據夏州,遣弟洛仁引突厥兵數萬至於城下。 道宗閉門拒守,伺隙而戰,賊徒大敗。 高祖聞而嘉之,謂左僕射裴寂、中書令蕭瑀曰:「道宗今能守邊,以寡制眾。 昔魏任城王彰臨戎卻敵,道宗勇敢,有同於彼。」 遂封為任城王。 初,突厥連於梁師都,其郁射設入居五原舊地,道宗逐出之。 振耀威武,開拓疆界,斥地千餘里,邊人悅服。
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
貞觀元年,征拜鴻臚卿,歷左領軍、大理卿。 時太宗將經略突厥,又拜靈州都督。 三年,為大同道行軍總管。 遇李靖襲破頡利可汗,頡利以十餘騎來奔其部。 道宗引兵逼之,征其執送頡利。 頡利以數騎夜走,匿於荒谷,沙鈐羅懼,馳追獲之,遣使送於京師。 以功賜實封六百戶,召拜刑部尚書。 吐谷渾寇邊,詔右僕射李靖為昆丘道行軍大總管,道宗與吏部尚書侯君集為之副。 賊聞兵至,走入嶂山,已行數千里。 諸將議欲息兵,道宗固請追討,李靖然之,而君集不從。 道宗遂率偏師並行倍道,去大軍十日,追及之。 賊據險苦戰,道宗潛遣千餘騎逾山襲其後,賊表裡受敵,一時奔潰。 十二年,遷禮部尚書,改封江夏王。 尋坐贓下獄。 太宗謂侍臣曰:「朕富有四海,士馬如林,欲使轍跡周宇內,遊觀無休息,絕域采奇玩,海外訪珍羞,豈不得耶? 勞萬姓而樂一人,朕所不取也。 人心無厭,唯當以理制之。 道宗俸料甚高,宴賜不少,足有餘財,而貪婪如此,使人嗟惋,豈不鄙乎!」 遂免官,削封邑。 十三年,起為茂州都督,未行,轉晉州刺史。 十四年,復拜禮部尚書。 時侯君集立功於高昌,自負其才,潛有異志。 道宗嘗因侍宴,從容言曰:「君集智小言大,舉止不倫,以臣觀之,必為戎首。」 太宗曰:「何以知之?」 對曰:「見其恃有微功,深懷矜伐,恥在房玄齡、李靖之下。 雖為吏部尚書,未滿其志,非毀時賢,常有不平之語。」 太宗曰:「不可億度,浪生猜貳。 其功勳才用,無所不堪,朕豈惜重位? 第未到耳。」 俄而君集謀反誅,太宗笑謂道宗曰:「君集之事,果如公所揣。」 及大軍討高麗,令道宗與李靖為前鋒,濟遼水,克蓋牟城。 逢賊兵大至,軍中僉欲深溝保險,待太宗至徐進,道宗曰:「不可。 賊赴急遠來,兵實疲頓,恃眾輕我,一戰必摧。 昔耿弇不以賊遺君父,我既職在前軍,當須清道以待輿駕。」 李靖然之。 乃與壯士數十騎直衝賊陣,左右出入,靖因合擊,大破之。 太宗至,深加賞勞,賜奴婢四十人。 又築土山攻安市城,土山崩,道宗失於部署,為賊所據。 歸罪於果毅傅伏愛,斬之。 道宗跣行詣旗下請罪,太宗曰:「漢武殺王恢,不如秦穆赦孟明,土山之失,且非其罪。」 舍而不問。 道宗在陣損足,太宗親為其針,賜以御膳。 二十一年,以疾請居閒職,轉太常卿。 永徽元年,加授特進,增實封並前六百戶。 四年,房遺愛伏誅,長孫無忌、褚遂良素與道宗不協,上言道宗與遺愛交結,配流象州。 道病卒,年五十四。 及無忌、遂良得罪,詔復其官爵。 道宗晚年頗好學,敬慕賢士,不以地勢凌人,宗室中唯道宗及河間王孝恭昆季最為當代所重。
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.
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道宗子景恆,降封盧國公,官至相州刺史。
Daozong's son Jingheng was demoted in rank to duke of Lu and reached the office of prefect of Xiangzhou.
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隴西王博乂,高祖兄子也。 高祖長兄曰澄,次曰湛,次曰洪,並早卒。 武德初,追封澄為梁王,湛為蜀王,洪為鄭王。 澄、洪並無後,博乂即湛第二子也。 武德元年受封。 高祖時,歷宗正卿、禮部尚書,加特進。 博乂有妓妾數百人,皆衣羅綺,食必粱肉,朝夕纟玄歌自娛,驕侈無比。 與其弟渤海王奉慈俱為高祖所鄙,帝謂曰:「我怨仇有善,猶擢以不次,況於親戚而不委任? 聞汝等唯暱近小人,好為不軌,先王墳典,不聞習學。 今賜絹二百匹,可各買經史習讀,務為善事。」 咸亨二年薨,贈開府儀同三司、荊州都督,謚曰恭。 奉慈,武德初,封渤海王。 顯慶中,累遷原州都督,薨,謚曰敬。
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"].
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史臣曰:無私於物,物亦公焉。 高祖才定中原,先封疏屬,致廬江為叛,神通爭功,封德彝論之於前,房玄齡譏之於後。 若河間機謀深沉,識度弘遠,縱虛舟而降蕭銑,飲妖血而平公祏,入朝定君臣之分,賣第為子孫之謀,善始令終,論功行賞,即無私矣。 或問曰:「水變為血,信妖矣; 竟成功而無咎者,何也?」 答曰:河間節貫神明,志匡宗社,故妖不勝德明矣。 道宗軍謀武勇,好學下賢,於群從之中,稱一時之傑。 無忌、遂良銜不協之素,致千載之冤。 永徽中,無忌、遂良忠而獲罪,人皆哀之。 殊不知誣陷劉洎、吳王恪於前,枉害道宗於後,天網不漏,不得其死也宜哉!
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!
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贊曰:疏屬盡封,啟亂害公。 河間孝恭,獨稱軍功。
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.