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尉遲敬德秦叔寶程知節段志玄張公謹子大素大安
Yuchi Jingde, Qin Shubao, Cheng Zhijie, Duan Zhixuan, and Zhang Gongjin; Zhang's sons Dasu and Da'an.
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尉遲敬德，朔州善陽人。 大業末，從軍於高陽，討捕群賊，以武勇稱，累授朝散大夫。 劉武周起，以為偏將，與宋金剛南侵，陷晉、澮二州。 敬德深入，至夏縣，應接呂崇茂，襲破永安王孝基，執獨孤懷恩、唐儉等。 武德三年，太宗討武周於柏壁，武周令敬德與宋金剛來拒王師於介休。 金剛戰敗，奔於突厥； 敬德收其餘眾，城守介休。 太宗遣任城王道宗、宇文士及往諭之。 敬德與尋相舉城來降。 太宗大悅，賜以曲宴，引為右一府統軍，從擊王世充於東都。 既而尋相與武周下降將皆叛，諸將疑敬德必叛，囚於軍中。 行台左僕射屈突通、尚書殷開山咸言：「敬德初歸國家，情志未附。 此人勇健非常，縶之又久，既被猜貳，怨望必生。 留之恐貽後悔，請即殺之。」 太宗曰：「寡人所見，有異於此。 敬德若懷翻背之計，豈在尋相之後耶？」 遽命釋之，引入臥內，賜以金寶，謂曰：「丈夫以意氣相期，勿以小疑介意。 寡人終不聽讒言以害忠良，公宜體之。 必應欲去，今以此物相資，表一時共事之情也。」 是日，因從獵於榆窠，遇王世充領步騎數萬來戰。 世充驍將單雄信領騎直趨太宗，敬德躍馬大呼，橫刺雄信墜馬。 賊徒稍卻，敬德翼太宗以出賊圍。 更率騎兵與世充交戰，數合，其眾大潰，擒偽將陳智略，獲排槊兵六千人。 太宗謂敬德曰：「比眾人證公必叛，天誘我意，獨保明之，福善有征，何相報之速也！」 特賜金銀一篋，此後恩眄日隆。 敬德善解避槊，每單騎入賊陣，賊槊攢刺，終不能傷，又能奪取賊槊，還以刺之。 是日，出入重圍，往返無礙。 齊王元吉亦善馬槊，聞而輕之，欲親自試，命去槊刃，以竿相刺。 敬德曰：「縱使加刃，終不能傷。 請勿除之，敬德槊謹當卻刃。」 元吉竟不能中。 太宗問曰：「奪槊、避槊，何者難易？」 對曰：「奪槊難。」 乃命敬德奪元吉槊。 元吉執槊躍馬，志在刺之，敬德俄頃三奪其槊。 元吉素驍勇，雖相嘆異，甚以為恥。 及竇建德營於板渚，太宗將挑戰，先伏李勣、程知節、秦叔寶等兵。 太宗持弓矢，敬德執槊，造建德壘下大呼致師。 賊眾大驚擾，出兵數千騎，太宗逡巡漸卻，前後射殺數人，敬德所殺亦十數人，遂引賊以入伏內。 於是與勣等奮擊，大破之。 王世充兄子偽代王琬，使於建德軍中，乘隋煬帝所御驄馬，鎧甲甚鮮，迥出軍前以誇眾。 太宗曰：「彼之所乘，真良馬也。」 敬德請往取之，乃與高甑生、梁建方三騎直入賊軍，擒琬，引其馬以歸，賊眾無敢當者。 又從討劉黑闥於臨洺，黑闥軍來襲李世勣，太宗勒兵掩賊，復以救之。 既而黑闥眾至，其軍四合，敬德率壯士犯圍而入，大破賊陣，太宗與江夏王道宗乘之以出。 又從破徐圓朗。 累有戰功，授秦王府左二副護軍。
Yuchi Jingde came from Shanyang in Shuozhou. Near the end of the Sui, he enlisted at Gaoyang to hunt down bandits, won renown for his fighting skill, and rose repeatedly to the rank of Chaosan dafu. When Liu Wuzhou rebelled, Jingde served him as a deputy general; marching south with Song Jingang, they seized Jin and Fen prefectures. Jingde advanced deep into Tang territory as far as Xia County, joined forces with Lü Chongmao, routed Prince of Yong'an Xiaoji, and captured Dugu Huai'en, Tang Jian, and others. In Wude year 3, when the Prince of Qin attacked Wuzhou at Baiyu, Wuzhou sent Jingde and Song Jingang to block the imperial army at Jiexiu. Song Jingang was beaten and fled to the Turks; Jingde rallied the survivors and defended Jiexiu behind its walls. The Prince of Qin sent Prince of Rencheng Li Daozong and Yuwen Shiji to negotiate his surrender. Jingde and Xun Xiang surrendered the city to the Tang. The prince was delighted, gave him a private banquet, made him commander of the Right First Office, and took him east to fight Wang Shichong. Soon Xun Xiang and other former Liu Wuzhou officers rebelled; the Tang generals assumed Jingde would follow and threw him in chains. Qu Tuotong, left vice director of the executive department, and Yin Kaishan, a minister, both urged: "Jingde has only just come over; his loyalty is still uncertain. He is ferociously strong; kept bound this long, he will surely turn resentful once he feels we distrust him. If we keep him we may regret it—execute him now." The prince replied: "I see the matter differently. If Jingde meant to betray us, would he have waited until after Xun Xiang rebelled?" He had Jingde freed at once, brought him into his private quarters, and gave him gold and gems, saying: "Men of honor trust one another's spirit; do not let petty doubts weigh on you. I will never listen to slander against a loyal man—you must believe that. If you truly mean to leave, take these gifts as proof of the bond we shared in service together." That same day, on a hunt at Yuke, Wang Shichong attacked with tens of thousands of foot and horse. Wang's champion Shan Xiongxin charged straight at the prince; Jingde spurred forward with a shout and knocked Xiongxin from the saddle with a sideways thrust. The enemy fell back a little; Jingde shielded the prince and broke him out of the encirclement. He led the cavalry back into the fight; after several clashes Wang's army broke completely; they captured the rebel general Chen Zhilüe and six thousand pike troops. The prince told him: "Everyone swore you would turn traitor; Heaven moved me to trust you alone—good deeds bring their reward, and how fast you have repaid me!" He gave him a chest of gold and silver; from then on Jingde's favor grew day by day. Jingde was a master of parrying the lance: riding alone into enemy ranks, he would emerge unhurt though spears thrust at him from every side, and he could seize a foe's lance and stab back with it. That day he passed through ring after ring of encirclement as if unimpeded. Prince of Qi Li Yuanji, himself skilled with the cavalry lance, heard of this and scoffed; he wanted a personal trial and had the blades removed so they would spar with blunted poles. Jingde said: "Even with real blades you still could not touch me. Leave the blades on—I will blunt mine instead." Yuanji could not land a single hit. The prince asked: "Which is harder—seizing a lance or parrying one?" He answered: "Seizing it is harder." He ordered Jingde to disarm Yuanji in a bout. Yuanji charged with his lance set to kill; in moments Jingde stripped it from him three times running. Yuanji, himself a famed fighter, was astonished but deeply humiliated. When Dou Jiande camped at Banzhu, the prince prepared an ambush with Li Jiji, Cheng Zhijie, Qin Shubao, and others before offering battle. The prince took his bow while Jingde took his lance; they rode to Dou's camp and shouted a challenge. The rebels panicked and sent out thousands of horsemen; the prince feigned retreat, killing several with his bow while Jingde killed a dozen more, luring the enemy into the trap. Then Li Jiji and the hidden force charged and smashed Dou's army. Wang Shichong's nephew Wang Wan, the rebel Prince of Dai, was with Dou's army; he rode Emperor Yang's famous piebald stallion in gleaming armor, prancing before the lines to impress the troops. The prince said: "That is a fine horse he rides." Jingde volunteered to take it; with Gao Zaosheng and Liang Jianfang he charged straight into the enemy ranks, seized Wang Wan and his horse, and rode back unopposed. He fought again at Linming against Liu Heita; when Heita's force attacked Li Shiji, the prince moved to strike the rebels and sent Jingde to the rescue. When Heita's army closed in from every side, Jingde led picked men through the ring, shattered the rebel formation, and brought the prince and Prince of Jiangxia Li Daozong out with him. He also helped defeat Xu Yuanlang. After many victories he was made left second deputy protector-general of the Prince of Qin's household.
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隱太子、巢剌王元吉將謀害太宗，密緻書以招敬德曰：「願迂長者之眷，敦布衣之交，幸副所望也。」 仍贈以金銀器物一車。 敬德辭曰：「敬德起自幽賤，逢遇隋亡，天下土崩，竄身無所，久淪逆地，罪不容誅。 實荷秦王惠以生命，今又隸名籓邸，唯當以身報恩。 於殿下無功，不敢謬當重賜。 若私許殿下，便是二心，徇利忘忠，殿下亦何所用？」 建成怒，是後遂絕。 敬德尋以啟聞，太宗曰：「公之素心，郁如山嶽，積金至斗，知公情不可移。 送來但取，寧須慮也。 若不然，恐公身不安。 且知彼陰計，足為良策。」 元吉等深忌敬德，令壯士往刺之。 敬德知其計，乃重門洞開，安臥不動，賊頻至其庭，終不敢入。 元吉乃譖敬德於高祖，下詔獄訊驗，將殺之，太宗固諫得釋。 會突厥侵擾烏城，建成舉元吉為將，密謀請太宗同送於昆明池，將加屠害。 敬德聞其謀，與長孫無忌遽啟太宗曰：「大王若不速正之，則恐被其所害，社稷危矣。」 太宗嘆曰：「今二宮離阻骨肉，滅棄君親，危亡之機，共所知委。 寡人雖深被猜忌，禍在須臾，然同氣之情，終所未忍。 欲待其先起，然後以義討之，公意以為何如？」 敬德曰：「人情畏死，眾人以死奉王，此天授也。 若天與不取，反受其咎。 雖存仁愛之小情，忘社稷之大計，禍至而不恐，將亡而自安，失人臣臨難不避之節，乏先賢大義滅親之事，非所聞也。 以臣愚誠，請先誅之。 王若不從，敬德言請奔逃亡命，不能交手受戮。 且因敗成功，明賢之高見； 轉禍為福，智士之先機。 敬德今若逃亡，無忌亦欲同去。」 太宗猶豫未決，無忌曰：「王今不從敬德之言，必知敬德等非王所有。 事今敗矣，其若之何？」 太宗曰：「寡人所言，未可全棄，公更圖之。」 敬德曰：「王今處事有疑，非智； 臨難不決，非勇。 王縱不從敬德言，請自決計，其如家國何？ 其如身命何？ 且在外勇士八百餘人，今悉入宮，控弦被甲，事勢已就，王何得辭！」 敬德又與侯君集日夜進勸，然後計定。 時房玄齡、杜如晦皆被高祖斥出秦府，不得復入。 太宗令長孫無忌密召之，玄齡等報曰：「有敕不許更事王，今若私謁，必至誅滅，不敢奉命。」 太宗大怒，謂敬德曰：「玄齡、如晦豈背我耶？」 取所佩刀授敬德曰：「公且往，觀其無來心，可並斬其首持來也。」 敬德又與無忌喻曰：「王已決計剋日平賊，公宜即入籌之。 我等四人不宜群行在道。」 於是玄齡、如晦著道士服隨無忌入，敬德別道亦至。
Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and Prince of Qi Li Yuanji plotted against the Prince of Qin and secretly wrote to win Jingde over: "We hope you will turn from my brother's service and befriend us as equals—may we have what we ask." They sent a cartload of gold, silver, and fine goods with the letter. Jingde refused: "I come from humble obscurity; when the Sui fell and the realm collapsed I had nowhere to turn and long served rebels—a crime that deserved death. The Prince of Qin spared my life and took me into his household; I owe him my life and nothing else. I have done nothing for Your Highness and dare not accept such rich gifts. If I secretly agreed to you I would be disloyal, trading duty for gain—what use would such a man be to you?" Jiancheng was furious and cut off contact with him. Jingde reported the offer at once; the prince said: "Your loyalty stands firm as a mountain; even a bushel of gold could not sway you—I know your heart. Take whatever they send; you need not hesitate. If you refuse, they may move against you personally. And learning their secret plot is strategy in itself." Yuanji and his faction hated Jingde and sent assassins after him. Knowing their intent, he left his gates wide open and slept undisturbed; the killers came to his courtyard again and again but never dared enter. Yuanji denounced him to Emperor Gaozu, who had Jingde jailed for trial and execution; only the prince's desperate plea saved him. When Turks raided Wucheng, Jiancheng named Yuanji commander and secretly planned to invite the prince to see them off at Kunming Pool and murder him there. Jingde learned of the plot and with Zhangsun Wuji urged the prince: "If you do not act at once, they will kill you and the realm will be lost." The prince sighed: "My brothers have turned against kin and king; the danger is plain to everyone. I am deeply suspected and death is near, yet I still cannot bring myself to harm my own brothers. I mean to wait until they strike first, then move against them with justice—what do you think?" Jingde said: "Men fear death, yet these men are ready to die for you—that is Heaven's gift. If Heaven offers and you refuse, you will answer for it. To cherish private affection while forgetting the realm, to face ruin without fear, to neglect a subject's duty to meet peril head-on, to lack the sages' willingness to sacrifice kin for the state—such things I have never heard praised. In all sincerity, I beg you to strike first. If you refuse, I must flee for my life—I will not stay to be butchered. To turn defeat into victory is the mark of a sage; to turn disaster into blessing is the wise man's foresight. If I run, Wuji means to run with me." The prince still wavered; Wuji said: "If you reject Jingde now, you will lose him and all of us with him. The cause is lost—what then?" The prince said: "Do not abandon my plan entirely—find another way." Jingde said: "Hesitation in crisis is not wisdom; indecision before danger is not courage. Even if you reject my counsel, decide for yourself—what of the realm and your house? What of your own life? More than eight hundred armed men are already in the palace with bows drawn and armor on—the deed is ready; you cannot refuse!" Jingde and Hou Junji pressed him day and night until the plan was fixed. Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui had been banished from the prince's household by the emperor and could not return. The prince sent Zhangsun Wuji to fetch them secretly; they replied: "We are forbidden to serve you again; a private visit would mean death—we dare not come." The prince flew into a rage and told Jingde: "Would Fang and Du betray me?" He handed Jingde his own sword: "Go. If they will not come, cut off their heads and bring them here." Jingde told them through Wuji: "The prince has set the day to strike; come at once to plan with us. The four of us must not travel together on the road." Fang and Du entered in Taoist dress with Wuji; Jingde came by another route.
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六月四日，建成既死，敬德領七十騎躡踵繼至，元吉走馬東奔，左右射之墜馬。 太宗所乘馬又逸於林下，橫被所繣，墜不能興。 元吉遽來奪弓，垂欲相扼，敬德躍馬叱之，於是步走，欲歸武德殿，敬德奔逐射殺之。 其宮府諸將薛萬徹、謝叔方、馮立等率兵大至，屯於玄武門，殺屯營將軍。 敬德持建成、元吉首以示之，宮府兵遂散。 是時，高祖泛舟於海池。 太宗命敬德侍衛高祖。 敬德擐甲持矛，直至高祖所。 高祖大驚，問曰：「今日作亂是誰？ 卿來此何也？」 對曰：「秦王以太子、齊王作亂，舉兵誅之，恐陛下驚動，遣臣來宿衛。」 高祖意乃安。 南衙、北門兵馬及二宮左右猶相拒戰，敬德奏請降手敕，令諸軍兵並受秦王處分，於是內外遂定。 高祖勞敬德曰：「卿於國有安社稷之功。」 賜珍物甚眾。 太宗升春宮，授太子左衛率。 時議者以建成等左右百餘人，併合從坐籍沒，唯敬德執之不聽，曰：「為罪者二凶，今已誅訖，若更及支黨，非取安之策。」 由是獲免。 及論功，敬德與長孫無忌為第一，各賜絹萬匹； 齊王府財幣器物，封其全邸，盡賜敬德。
On the fourth day of the sixth month, after Jiancheng was killed, Jingde pursued with seventy horsemen; Yuanji fled east and was shot from the saddle by the prince's men. The prince's horse bolted into the woods, caught on a vine, and threw him; he could not get up. Yuanji rushed to seize the bow and nearly throttled the prince; Jingde spurred up shouting; Yuanji fled on foot toward Wude Hall and Jingde overtook and shot him dead. Jiancheng's generals Xue Wanche, Xie Shufang, Feng Li, and others marched up in force to Xuanwu Gate and killed the garrison commander. Jingde displayed the brothers' heads; the Eastern Palace troops scattered. Meanwhile Emperor Gaozu was boating on the imperial pond. The prince sent Jingde to guard the emperor. Jingde strode to the emperor in full armor with spear in hand. The emperor was startled and demanded: "Who has risen in revolt today? Why have you come here like this? He answered: "The Prince of Qin has put down a revolt by the crown prince and Prince of Qi. Fearing Your Majesty might be alarmed, he sent me to guard you." The emperor's fears subsided. Fighting still raged between palace guards and Eastern Palace forces; Jingde obtained an imperial order placing all troops under the prince's command, and the realm was pacified. The emperor praised him: "You have saved the dynasty. He showered him with rich gifts. When the prince became heir apparent, he made Jingde commander of the crown prince's left guard. Many urged that Jiancheng's hundred-odd followers be punished and their property seized; Jingde alone objected: "Only the two culprits deserved death; to punish their whole circle is no way to secure peace. Thanks to him they were spared. In the distribution of rewards Jingde and Zhangsun Wuji ranked first, each receiving ten thousand bolts of silk; and the entire treasury of Prince of Qi Li Yuanji's mansion was sealed and given to Jingde.
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貞觀元年，拜右武候大將軍，賜爵吳國公，與長孫無忌、房玄齡、杜如晦四人並食實封千三百戶。 會突厥來入寇，授涇州道行軍總管以擊之。 賊至涇陽，敬德輕騎與之挑戰，殺其名將，賊遂敗。 敬德好訐直，負其功，每見無忌、玄齡、如晦等短長，必面折廷辯，由是與執政不平。 三年，出為襄州都督。 八年，累遷同州刺史。 嘗侍宴慶善宮，時有班在其上者，敬德怒曰：「汝有何功，合坐我上？」 任城王道宗次其下，因解喻之。 敬德勃然，拳毆道宗目，幾至眇。 太宗不懌而罷，謂敬德曰：「朕覽漢史，見高祖功臣獲全者少，意常尤之。 及居大位以來，常欲保全功臣，令子孫無絕。 然卿居官輒犯憲法，方知韓、彭夷戮，非漢祖之愆。 國家大事，唯賞與罰，非分之恩，不可數行，勉自修飭，無貽後悔也。」 十一年，封建功臣為代襲刺史，冊拜敬德宣州刺史，改封鄂國公。 後歷鄜、夏二州都督。 十七年，抗表乞骸骨，授開府儀同三司，令朝朔望。 尋與長孫無忌等二十四人圖形於凌煙閣。 及太宗將征高麗，敬德奏言：「車駕若自往遼左，皇太子又在定州，東西二京，府庫所在，雖有鎮守，終是空虛。 遼東路遙，恐有玄感之變。 且邊隅小國，不足親勞萬乘，伏請委之良將，自可應時摧滅。」 太宗不納，令以本官行太常卿，為左一馬軍總管，從破高麗於駐蹕山。 軍還，依舊致仕。 敬德末年篤信仙方，飛煉金石，服食雲母粉，穿築池台，崇飾羅綺，嘗奏清商樂以自奉養，不與外人交通，凡十六年。 顯慶三年，高宗以敬德功，追贈其父為幽州都督。 其年薨，年七十四。 高宗為之舉哀，廢朝三日，令京官五品以上及朝集使赴宅哭，冊贈司徒、并州都督，謚曰忠武，賜東園秘器，陪葬於昭陵。 子寶琳嗣，官至衛尉卿。
In Zhenguan 1 he became right martial guard grand general and Duke of Wu; he and Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui each held substantive fiefs of 1,300 households. When Turks invaded, he was made commander on campaign of the Jingzhou circuit. At Jingyang he met them with light cavalry, killed their champion, and routed them. Jingde was blunt and proud of his merit; he openly quarreled with Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui in court and fell out with the chief ministers. In year 3 he was posted as military governor of Xiangzhou. By year 8 he had risen to governor of Tongzhou. At a feast in Qingshan Palace he flew into a rage when a man of lower rank sat above him: "What have you done to rank above me? Prince of Rencheng Li Daozong, seated below, tried to calm him. Jingde struck Daozong in the eye and nearly blinded him. The emperor ended the feast in displeasure and told Jingde: "Reading Han history, I have long regretted how few of Gaozu's meritorious followers died in peace. Since taking the throne I have wanted to keep my meritorious men alive and their lines unbroken. Yet you break the law again and again—I see now that Han Xin and Peng Yue were not killed without cause. The state rests on reward and punishment alone; favor beyond merit cannot be granted often—mend your ways before you regret it. In year 11 he was enfeoffed as hereditary prefect of Xuanzhou and made Duke of E. He later governed Fu and Xia prefectures. In year 17 he petitioned to retire and was made grand master of the palace with gold seal, attending court on the first and fifteenth. He was among the twenty-four men portrayed at Lingyan Pavilion. When the emperor planned to invade Goryeo, Jingde warned: "If Your Majesty goes to Liaodong while the crown prince is at Dingzhou, the two capitals where the treasuries lie will be left dangerously thin despite garrisons. The long march east invites a rebellion like Yang Xuangan's. This petty border kingdom is not worth the Son of Heaven's personal labor—send able generals and they will crush it in due course. The emperor refused and made him acting grand master of ceremonies and left first cavalry commander on the campaign that defeated Goryeo at Zhubeishan. After the campaign he retired again. In his last years he pursued alchemy, took mica powder, built lavish gardens, lived in luxury, played court music for his own pleasure, and shunned visitors for sixteen years. In Xianqing 3 Emperor Gaozong enfeoffed his father posthumously as military governor of Youzhou. He died that year at seventy-four. Gaozong mourned him, closed court three days, ordered officials of the fifth rank and above and tribute envoys to attend his funeral, and posthumously made him minister of works and military governor of Bingzhou with the posthumous name Loyal and Martial; he was buried at Zhaoling with imperial funeral honors. His son Baolin succeeded him and rose to commandant of the guards.
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秦叔寶，名瓊，齊州歷城人。 大業中，為隋將來護兒帳內。 叔寶喪母，護兒遣使吊之，軍吏怪曰：「士卒死亡及遭喪者多矣，將軍未嘗降問，獨吊叔寶何也？」 答曰：「此人勇悍，加有志節，必當自取富貴，豈得以卑賤處之？」 隋末群盜起，從通守張須陀擊賊帥盧明月於下邳。 賊眾十餘萬，須陀所統才萬人，力勢不敵，去賊六七里立柵，相持十餘日，糧盡將退，謂諸將士曰：「賊見兵卻，必輕來追我。 其眾既出，營內即虛，若以千人襲營，可有大利。 此誠危險，誰能去者？」 人皆莫對，唯叔寶與羅士信請行。 於是須陀委柵遁，使二人分領千兵伏於蘆葦間。 既而明月果悉兵追之，叔寶與士信馳至其柵，柵門閉不得入，二人超升其樓，拔賊旗幟，各殺數人，營中大亂。 叔寶、士信又斬關以納外兵，因縱火焚其三十餘柵，煙焰漲天。 明月奔還，須陀又回軍奮擊，大破賊眾。 明月以數百騎遁去，余皆虜之。 由是勇氣聞於遠近。 又擊孫宣雅於海曲，先登破之。 以前後累勳授建節尉。 從須陀進擊李密於滎陽，軍敗，須陀死之，叔寶以餘眾附裴仁基。 會仁基以武牢降於李密，密得叔寶大喜，以為帳內驃騎，待之甚厚。 密與化及大戰於黎陽童山，為流矢所中，墮馬悶絕。 左右奔散，追兵且至，唯叔寶獨捍衛之，密遂獲免。 叔寶又收兵與之力戰，化及乃退。 後密敗，又為王世充所得，署龍驤大將軍。 叔寶薄世充之多詐，因其出抗官軍，至於九曲，與程咬金、吳黑闥、牛進達等數十騎西馳百許步，下馬拜世充曰：「雖蒙殊禮，不能仰事，請從此辭。」 世充不敢逼，於是來降。 高祖令事秦府，太宗素聞其勇，厚加禮遇。 從鎮長春宮，拜馬軍總管。 又從征於美良川，破尉遲敬德，功最居多。 高祖遣使賜以金瓶，勞之曰：「卿不顧妻子，遠來投我，又立功效。 朕肉可為卿用者，當割以賜卿，況子女玉帛乎？ 卿當勉之。」 尋授秦王右三統軍。 又從破宋金剛於介休。 錄前後勳，賜黃金百斤、雜彩六千段，授上柱國。 從討王世充，每為前鋒。 太宗將拒竇建德於武牢，叔寶以精騎數十先陷其陣。 世充平，進封翼國公，賜黃金百斤、帛七千段。 從平劉黑闥，賞物千段。 叔寶每從太宗征伐，敵中有驍將銳卒，炫耀人馬，出入來去者，太宗頗怒之，輒命叔寶往取。 叔寶應命，躍馬負槍而進，必刺之萬眾之中，人馬辟易，太宗以是益重之，叔寶亦以此頗自矜尚。
Qin Shubao, whose name was Qiong, came from Licheng in Qizhou. During the Sui he served in the guard of the general Lai Hu'er. When Shubao's mother died, Lai Hu'er sent condolences; his officers asked why he singled out Shubao among so many bereaved soldiers. He answered: "This man is brave and has true spirit; he will rise to wealth and honor—do not treat him as a common soldier." When rebellion spread at the end of the Sui, he followed Zhang Xuantuo against the rebel Lu Mingyue at Xiapi. The rebels numbered over 100,000 against Xuantuo's 10,000; after ten days' stalemate with food running out, he told his men: "When they see us withdraw they will pursue lightly. Their camp will be empty—if a thousand men strike it, we can win greatly. It is dangerous—who will go? No one spoke until Shubao and Luo Shixin volunteered. Xuantuo withdrew, leaving them each with 1,000 men hidden in the reeds. Mingyue pursued with his whole army; the two galloped to his camp, scaled the gate tower when the gates closed, tore down his banners, killed several men, and threw the camp into chaos. They broke the gate for the main force and burned more than thirty stockades until the sky was black with smoke. Mingyue fled back; Xuantuo counterattacked and routed the rebels. Mingyue escaped with a few hundred horsemen; the rest were captured. His fame for courage spread far and wide. He again led the assault that broke Sun Xuanya at Haiqu. For repeated merit he was made a Jianjie commandant. He followed Xuantuo against Li Mi at Xingyang; when Xuantuo was killed, Shubao joined Pei Renji. When Renji surrendered Wulao to Li Mi, Mi was delighted and made Shubao a flying-cavalry general in his guard, treating him generously. In a great battle with Yu Huaji at Tongshan in Liyang, Mi was struck by a stray arrow and fell unconscious from his horse. His guards fled; pursuers were closing in; only Shubao defended him until Mi was safe. Shubao rallied troops and fought Yu Huaji off. After Mi's defeat Wang Shichong took him and made him dragon-soaring grand general. Shubao despised Shichong's deceit; at Jiugqu, with Cheng Yaojin, Wu Heita, Niu Jinda, and dozens of riders, he rode west, dismounted, and said: "Though you have honored me, I cannot serve you— I take my leave. Shichong did not dare stop them, and they defected to the Tang. Gaozu assigned him to the Prince of Qin; the prince, knowing his fame, honored him richly. He garrisoned Changchun Palace as cavalry commander. At Meiliang River he defeated Yuchi Jingde and won the greatest credit. Gaozu sent a golden bottle and said: "You left your family to join me from afar and have served brilliantly. If my own flesh could help you I would cut it off for you—how much more mere wealth? Press on. He was soon made the prince's right third commander. He helped defeat Song Jingang at Jiexiu. For his cumulative merit he received a hundred jin of gold, six thousand lengths of silk, and the title supreme pillar of state. In the war on Wang Shichong he always led the van. At Hulao he led several dozen elite horsemen in the first charge that broke Dou Jiande's line. After Shichong's fall he was made Duke of Yi with a hundred jin of gold and seven thousand lengths of silk. For Liu Heita's defeat he received a thousand lengths of goods. On campaign, whenever enemy champions paraded before the lines, the prince would send Shubao to bring them down. Shubao would charge in, invariably killing them in the midst of the host; the prince prized him all the more, and Shubao grew somewhat proud of it.
7
六月四日，從誅建成、元吉。 事寧，拜左武衛大將軍，食實封七百戶。 其後每多疾病，因謂人曰：「吾少長戎馬，所經二百餘陣，屢中重瘡。 計吾前後出血亦數斛矣，安得不病乎？」 十二年卒，贈徐州都督，陪葬昭陵。 太宗特令所司就其塋內立石人馬，以旌戰陣之功焉。 十三年，改封胡國公。 十七年，與長孫無忌等圖形於凌煙閣。
On the fourth day of the sixth month he took part in killing Jiancheng and Yuanji. After the coup he became left martial guard grand general with a substantive fief of seven hundred households. Later he was often ill and said: "I have fought in more than two hundred battles since youth and been gravely wounded many times. I have lost several hu of blood in all—no wonder I am sick. He died in year 12 and was buried at Zhaoling with posthumous rank as military governor of Xuzhou. Taizong ordered stone men and horses erected at his tomb to commemorate his battlefield deeds. In year 13 his title was changed to Duke of Hu. In year 17 his portrait was painted at Lingyan Pavilion.
8
程知節，本名咬金，濟州東阿人也。 少驍勇，善用馬槊。 大業末，聚徒數百，共保鄉里，以備他盜。 後依李密，署為內軍驃騎。 時密於軍中簡勇士尤異者八千人，隸四驃騎，分為左右以自衛，號為內軍。 自云：「此八千人可當百萬。」 知節既領其一，甚被恩遇。 及王世充出城決戰，知節領內馬軍，與密同營在北邙山上，單雄信領外馬軍，營在偃師城北。 世充來襲雄信營，密遣知節及裴行儼助之。 行儼先馳赴敵，為流矢所中，墜於地。 知節救之，殺數人，世充軍披靡，乃抱行儼重騎而還。 為世充騎所逐，刺槊洞過，知節回身捩折其槊，兼斬獲追者，於是與行儼俱免。 及密敗，世充得之，接遇甚厚。 知節謂秦叔寶曰：「世充器度淺狹，而多妄語，好為咒誓，乃巫師老嫗耳，豈是撥亂主乎？」 及世充拒王師於九曲，知節領兵在其陣，與秦叔寶等馬上揖世充曰：「荷公接待，極欲報恩。 公性猜貳，傍多扇惑，非僕託身之所，今謹奉辭。」 於是躍馬與左右數十人歸國，世充懼，不敢追之。 授秦王府左三統軍。 破宋金剛，擒竇建德，降王世充，並領左一馬軍總管。 每陣先登，以功封宿國公。 武德七年，建成忌之，構之於高祖，除康州刺史。 知節白太宗曰：「大王手臂今並翦除，身必不久。 知節以死不去，願速自全。」 六月四日，從太宗討建成、元吉。 事定，拜太子右衛率，遷右武衛大將軍，賜實封七百戶。 貞觀中，歷瀘州都督、左領軍大將軍。 與長孫無忌等代襲刺史，改封盧國公，授普州刺史。 十七年，累轉左屯衛大將軍，檢校北門屯兵，加鎮軍大將軍。 永徽六年，遷左衛大將軍。 顯慶二年，授蔥山道行軍大總管以討賀魯。 師次怛篤城，有胡人數千家開門出降，知節屠城而去，賀魯遂即遠遁。 軍還，坐免官。 未幾，授岐州刺史。 表請乞骸骨，許之。 麟德二年卒，贈驃騎大將軍、益州大都督，陪葬昭陵。 子處默，襲爵盧國公。 處亮，以功臣子尚太宗女清河長公主，授駙馬都尉、左衛中郎將。 少子處弼，官至右金吾將軍。 處弼子伯獻，開元中，左金吾大將軍。
Cheng Zhijie, originally named Yaojin, came from Dong'e in Jizhou. As a youth he was fierce and skilled with the cavalry lance. Near the end of the Sui he gathered several hundred men to defend his home district. He later joined Li Mi and became a flying-cavalry officer of the inner army. Mi chose eight thousand of his bravest men for four flying-cavalry units, left and right, as his personal guard—the inner army. He boasted: "These eight thousand can match a million. Zhijie commanded one unit and was highly favored. When Wang Shichong offered battle outside the city, Zhijie led the inner cavalry and camped with Mi on Mount Beimang while Shan Xiongxin camped north of Yanshi with the outer cavalry. Shichong attacked Xiongxin's camp; Mi sent Zhijie and Pei Xingyan to help. Xingyan charged first, was hit by a stray arrow, and fell. Zhijie rescued him, killed several men, scattered Wang's troops, lifted Xingyan back onto his horse, and withdrew. Shichong's horsemen pursued; a lance pierced through him; Zhijie turned, broke the lance, killed his pursuers, and both escaped. After Mi's defeat Wang Shichong took him in and treated him well. Zhijie told Qin Shubao: "Shichong is narrow-minded, full of empty talk and oaths like an old witch—how could he be a ruler who ends chaos? At Jiugqu, with Shubao and others, Zhijie bowed from horseback and said: "You have treated us well and we wished to repay you— but you are suspicious and easily swayed; this is no place for us—we take our leave. They galloped off with several dozen men to the Tang; Shichong feared to pursue. He became left third commander of the Prince of Qin's household. He defeated Song Jingang, captured Dou Jiande, and helped reduce Wang Shichong, serving as left first cavalry commander. He led every charge and was enfeoffed as Duke of Su. In Wude 7 Jiancheng slandered him to Gaozu and he was banished to Kangzhou. He told the prince: "Your brothers have cut away your arms; you cannot last. He vowed to die rather than leave and urged the prince to save himself at once. On the fourth day of the sixth month he joined the prince in killing Jiancheng and Yuanji. After the coup he became crown prince right guard commander, then right martial guard grand general, with a fief of seven hundred households. Under Zhenguan he governed Luzhou and became left leading army grand general. He was among the hereditary prefects and was made Duke of Lu and prefect of Pu. In year 17 he became left tunwei grand general, inspector of the northern gate garrison, and grand general who pacifies the army. In Yonghui 6 he became left guard grand general. In Xianqing 2 he commanded the Congshan circuit campaign against Helu. At Dudu City thousands of Hu surrendered; Zhijie massacred the city and Helu fled. On return he was dismissed for the massacre. He was soon made prefect of Qi. He petitioned to retire and was allowed. He died in Linde 2 and was buried at Zhaoling with posthumous rank as flying-cavalry grand general and grand protector-general of Yizhou. His son Chumo inherited the dukedom of Lu. Chuliang married Princess Changhe and became commandant of the horse and left guard middle general. The youngest son Chubi rose to right golden raven general. Chubi's son Boxian was left golden raven grand general under Kaiyuan.
9
段志玄，齊州臨淄人也。 父偃師，隋末為太原郡司法書佐，從高祖起義，官至郢州刺史。 志玄從父在太原，甚為太宗所接待。 義兵起，志玄募得千餘人，授右領大都督府軍頭。 從平霍邑，下絳郡，攻永豐倉，皆為先鋒，歷遷左光祿大夫。 從劉文靜拒屈突通於潼關，文靜為通將桑顯和所襲，軍營已潰，志玄率二十騎赴擊，殺數十人而還。 為流矢中足，慮眾心動，忍而不言，更入賊陣者再三。 顯和軍亂，大軍因此復振，擊，大破之。 及屈突通之遁，志玄與諸將追而擒之，以功授樂游府驃騎將軍。 後從討王世充，深入陷陣，馬倒，為賊所擒。 兩騎夾持其髻，將渡洛水，志玄踴身而奮，二人俱墜馬，馳歸，追者數百騎，不敢逼。 及破竇建德，平東都，功又居多。 遷秦王府右二護軍，賞物二千段。 隱太子建成、巢剌王元吉競以金帛誘之，志玄拒而不納，密以白太宗，竟與尉遲敬德等同誅建成、元吉。 太宗即位，累遷左驍衛大將軍，封樊國公，食實封九百戶。 文德皇后之葬也，志玄與宇文士及分統士馬出肅章門。 太宗夜使宮官至二將軍所，士及開營內使者，志玄閉門不納，曰：「軍門不可夜開。」 使者曰：「此有手敕。」 志玄曰：「夜中不辯真偽。」 竟停使者至曉。 太宗聞而嘆曰：「此真將軍也，周亞夫無以加焉。」 十一年，定世封之制，授金州刺史，改封褒國公。 十二年，拜右衛大將軍。 十四年，加鎮軍大將軍。 十六年，寢疾，太宗親自臨視，涕泣而別，顧謂曰：「當與卿子五品。」 志玄頓首固請回授母弟志感，太宗遂授志感左衛郎將。 及卒，上為發哀，哭之甚慟，贈輔國將軍、揚州都督，陪葬昭陵，謚曰忠壯。 十七年正月，詔圖形於凌煙閣。 子瓚，襲爵褒國公，武太后時，官至左屯衛大將軍。 子懷簡，襲爵，開元中，官至太子詹事。
Duan Zhixuan came from Linzi in Qizhou. His father Yanshi, a Taiyuan judicial clerk in late Sui, followed Gaozu in the uprising and became prefect of Yingzhou. He followed his father to Taiyuan and won the prince's favor. At the uprising he raised over a thousand men and became an army head in the right leading office. He was vanguard at Huoyi, Jiang, and Yongfeng granary and rose to left glory grand master. At Tong Pass, when Liu Wenjing's camp collapsed under Sang Xianhe, Zhixuan charged with twenty riders, killed dozens, and withdrew. Shot in the foot, he hid the wound and charged the enemy lines repeatedly. The enemy line broke; the Tang army rallied and routed them. He helped capture Qu Tuotong and was made flying-cavalry general of Leyou prefecture. Campaigning against Wang Shichong, he was thrown and captured when his horse fell. Two rebels seized his hair to drag him across the Luo; he fought free, both fell, he escaped, and hundreds of pursuers dared not close. He won top credit in the defeats of Dou Jiande and Wang Shichong. He became right second protector-general of the Qin mansion with two thousand lengths of goods. Jiancheng and Yuanji tried to buy him with gold; he refused and warned the prince, then joined Jingde in killing them. At the prince's accession he became left xiaoqi grand general, Duke of Fan, with nine hundred households. At Empress Wende's funeral he and Yuwen Shiji commanded troops leaving Suxiang Gate. The emperor sent a night messenger; Shiji admitted him but Zhixuan barred the gate: "The camp gate does not open at night. The envoy said he bore an imperial order. Zhixuan replied: "At night one cannot tell real from false." He held the envoy until dawn. The emperor praised him: "A true general—Zhou Yafu was no better. In year 11 he was made hereditary prefect of Jinzhou and Duke of Bao. In year 12 he became right guard grand general. In year 14 he was made grand general who pacifies the army. In year 16, gravely ill, he was visited by the weeping emperor, who promised fifth rank for his son. He asked the rank go to his uncle Zhigan instead, and the emperor granted it. At his death the emperor mourned deeply, enfeoffed him posthumously as general who assists the state and military governor of Yangzhou with the name Loyal and Strong, and buried him at Zhaoling. In the first month of year 17 his portrait joined Lingyan Pavilion. His son Zan inherited the dukedom and rose to left tunwei grand general under Empress Wu. His son Huaijian inherited and became crown prince household minister under Kaiyuan.
10
張公謹，字弘慎，魏州繁水人也。 初為王世充洧州長史。 武德元年，與王世充所署洧州刺史崔樞以州城歸國，授鄒州別駕，累除右武候長史。 初未知名，李勣尉遲敬德亦言之，乃引入幕府。 時太宗為隱太子建成、巢王元吉所忌，因召公謹，問以自安之策，對甚合旨，漸見親遇。 及太宗將討建成、元吉，遣卜者灼龜佔之，公謹自外來見，遽投於地而進曰：「凡卜筮者，將以決嫌疑，定猶豫，今既事在不疑，何卜之有？ 縱卜之不吉，勢不可已。 願大王思之。」 太宗深然其言。 六月四日，公謹與長孫無忌等九人伏於玄武門以俟變。 及斬建成、元吉，其黨來攻玄武門，兵鋒甚盛。 公謹有勇力，獨閉門以拒之。 以功累授左武候將軍，封定遠郡公，賜實封一千戶。 貞觀元年，拜代州都督，上表請置屯田以省轉運，又前後言時政得失十餘事，並見納用。 後遣李靖經略突厥，以公謹為副，公謹因言突厥可取之狀曰：「頡利縱慾肆情，窮凶極暴，誅害良善，暱近小人，此主昏於上，其可取一也。 又其別部同羅、僕骨、回紇、延陀之類，並自立君長，將圖反噬，此則眾叛於下，其可取二也。 突厥被疑，輕騎自免； 拓設出討，匹馬不歸； 欲谷喪師，立足無地，此則兵挫將敗，其可取三也。 塞北霜早，糧餱乏絕，其可取四也。 頡利疏其突厥，親委諸胡，胡人翻覆，是其常性，大軍一臨，內必生變，其可取五也。 華人入北，其類實多，比聞自相嘯聚，保據山險，師出塞垣，自然有應，其可取六也。」 太宗深納之。 破定襄，敗頡利，璽書慰勞，進封鄒國公。
Zhang Gongjin, courtesy name Hongshen, came from Fanshui in Weizhou. He first served Wang Shichong as chief administrator of Wei prefecture. In Wude 1 he and Cui Shu surrendered Wei to the Tang; he became vice prefect of Zou and rose to chief of the right martial guard. Li Jiji and Yuchi Jingde recommended him and he entered the prince's staff. When Jiancheng and Yuanji threatened him, he asked Gongjin for counsel; the answers pleased him and he grew intimate with him. As the prince prepared to strike, a diviner was burning turtle shells; Gongjin threw them down and said: "Divination resolves doubt—there is no doubt here; why divine? Even if the omen were bad, you cannot stop now. Think on it, my lord. The prince was deeply convinced. On the fourth day of the sixth month he waited at Xuanwu Gate with Zhangsun Wuji and eight others. When the princes were killed, their followers assaulted Xuanwu Gate fiercely. Gongjin alone barred the gate and held them off. He was made left martial guard general, Duke of Dingyuan, with a thousand-household fief. In Zhenguan 1 he governed Daizhou, proposed garrison farming to cut transport costs, and offered more than ten policy critiques—all adopted. As Li Jing's deputy against the Turks, he argued they could be taken because Jieli was tyrannical and muddled at the top—reason one. Their tribes Tongluo, Pugu, Huihe, and Yantuo were setting up rival chiefs ready to rebel—reason two. Turk leaders fled in suspicion on light horses; the Tuo she campaign lost every horse; Yugu lost his army and had nowhere to stand—reason three. Early frost and famine in the north—reason four. Jieli favored the Hu, who are treacherous by nature and would turn when the Tang army came—reason five. Many Chinese in the north would rise when the army crossed the border—reason six. The emperor accepted every point. After Dingxiang and Jieli fell, he was advanced to Duke of Zou.
11
轉襄州都督，甚有惠政。 卒官，年三十九。 太宗聞而嗟悼，出次發哀，有司奏言：「准《陰陽書》，日子在辰，不可哭泣，又為流俗所忌。」 太宗曰：「君臣之義，同於父子，情發於衷，安避辰日？」 遂哭之。 贈左驍衛大將軍，謚曰襄。 十三年，追思舊功，改封郯國公。 十七年，圖形於凌煙閣。 永徽中，又贈荊州都督。 長子大象嗣，官至戶部侍郎。 次子大素、大安，並知名。 大素，龍朔中歷位東台舍人，兼修國史，卒於懷州長史，撰《後魏書》一百卷、《隋書》三十捲。 大安，上元中歷太子庶子、同中書門下三品。 時章懷太子在春宮，令大安與太子洗馬劉訥言等注范曄《後漢書》。 宮廢，左授普州刺史。 光宅中，卒於橫州司馬。 大安子涚，開元中為國子祭酒。
As military governor of Xiangzhou he ruled with notable kindness. He died in office at thirty-nine. The emperor mourned him; officials cited the almanac forbidding tears when the son was in chen. He replied: "Between ruler and minister and father and son, grief comes from the heart—why obey the almanac? And he wept. He was posthumously made left xiaoqi grand general with the name Xiang. In year 13 his title was changed to Duke of Tan in remembrance of his service. In year 17 his portrait was painted at Lingyan Pavilion. Under Yonghui he was posthumously made military governor of Jingzhou. His eldest son Daxiang inherited and rose to vice minister of revenue. His second sons Dasu and Da'an were both famous. Dasu served on the eastern terrace and edited the histories, compiling the Book of Later Wei in 100 juan and the Book of Sui in 30 scrolls. Da'an was crown prince household subordinate and co-director of the Secretariat under Shangyuan. For Prince Zhanghuai he annotated Fan Ye's Book of Later Han with Liu Nayan and others. When the eastern palace fell he was demoted to prefect of Pu. He died as administrator of Hengzhou under Guangzhai. Da'an's son Shuang was chancellor of the directorate of education under Kaiyuan.
12
史臣曰：敬德奪槊陷陣，鼓勇王師，卻賂報恩，竭忠霸主。 然而奮拳負氣，非自全之道； 文皇告誡之言，可為功臣藥石。 叔寶善用馬槊，拔賊壘則以寡敵眾，可謂勇矣。 知節志平國難，拜隼籞則致命輔君，可謂忠矣。 而並曉世充之猜貳，識唐代之霸圖，可謂見幾君子矣。 志玄中鏑不言，竟安師旅。 公謹投龜定議，志助儲君。 皆所謂猛將謀臣，知機識變。 有唐之盛，斯實賴焉。
The historian writes: Jingde seized lances, broke enemy lines, refused bribes, and served his lord with utter loyalty. Yet his proud temper was no way to preserve himself; Taizong's warning to him should be medicine for every meritorious minister. Shubao mastered the lance and with few men stormed enemy walls—that was true courage. Zhijie sought to end the realm's crisis and, once in imperial service, gave his life to his sovereign—truly loyal. Both saw through Wang Shichong's deceit and recognized the Tang's destiny—men who read the times aright. Zhixuan took an arrow in silence and thereby steadied the army. Gongjin cast aside divination to fix the coup and devoted himself to the heir apparent. All were fierce generals and shrewd advisers who grasped the moment and adapted to change. The greatness of Tang owed much to men such as these.
13
贊曰：太宗經綸，實賴虎臣。 胡、鄂諸將，奮不顧身。 圖形凌煙，配食嚴禋。 光諸簡冊，為報君親。
Eulogy: Taizong's founding of the empire rested on tiger-like champions. The dukes of Hu and E and their peers fought without thought for their lives. Their faces were painted at Lingyan Pavilion; they shared in the grand state sacrifices. Their glory shines in the histories as repayment to sovereign and father.