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=褚遂良=
Chu Suiliang
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褚遂良,散騎常侍亮之子也。 太業末,隨父在隴右,薛舉僭號,署為通事舍人。 舉敗歸國,授秦州都督府鎧曹參軍。 貞觀十年,自秘書郎遷起居郎。 遂良博涉文史,尤工隸書,父友歐陽詢甚重之。 太宗嘗謂侍中魏徵曰:「虞世南死後,無人可以論書。」 徵曰:「褚遂良下筆遒勁,甚得王逸少體。」 太宗即日召令侍書。 太宗嘗出御府金帛購求王羲之書跡,天下爭齎古書詣闕以獻,當時莫能辯其真偽,遂良備論所出,一無舛誤。 十五年,詔有事太山,先幸洛陽,有星孛於太微,犯郎位。 遂良言於太宗曰:「陛下撥亂反正,功超前烈,將告成東嶽,天下幸甚。 而行至洛陽,彗星輒見,此或有所未允合者也。 且漢武優柔數年,始行岱禮,臣愚伏願詳擇。」 太宗深然之,下詔罷封禪之事。 其年,遷諫議大夫,兼知起居事。 太宗嘗問:「卿知起居,記錄何事,大抵人君得觀之否?」 遂良對曰:「今之起居,古左右史,書人君言事,且記善惡,以為鑑誡,庶幾人主不為非法。 不聞帝王躬自觀史。」 太宗曰:「朕有不善,卿必記之耶?」 遂良曰:「守道不如守官,臣職當載筆,君舉必記。」 黃門侍郎劉洎曰:「設令遂良不記,天下亦記之矣。」 太宗以為然。 時魏王為太宗所愛,禮秩如嫡。 其年,太宗問侍臣曰:「當今國家何事最急?」 中書侍郎岑文本曰:「《傳》稱『導之以德,齊之以禮』,由斯而言。 禮義為急。」 遂良進曰:「當今四方仰德,誰敢為非? 但太子、諸王,須有定分,陛下宜為萬代法以遺子孫。」 太宗曰:「此言是也。 朕年將五十,已覺衰怠。 既以長子守器東宮,弟及庶子數將五十,心常憂慮,頗在此耳。 但自古嫡庶無良佐,何嘗不傾敗國家? 公等為朕搜訪賢德,以傅儲宮,爰及諸王,咸求正士。 且事人歲久,即分義情深,非意窺窬,多由此作。」 於是限王府官僚不得過四考。 十七年,太宗問遂良曰:「舜造漆器,禹雕其俎,當時諫舜、禹者十餘人。 食器之間,苦諫何也?」 遂良對曰:「雕琢害農事,纂組傷女工。 首創奢淫,危亡之漸。 漆器不已,必金為之; 金器不已,必玉為之。 所以諍臣必諫其漸,及其滿盈,無所復諫。」 太宗以為然,因曰:「夫為人君,不憂萬姓而事奢淫,危亡之機可反掌而待也。」 時皇子年幼者多任都督、刺史,遂良上疏曰:「昔兩漢以郡國理人,除郡以外,分立諸子。 割土分疆,雜用周制。 皇唐州縣,祖依秦法。 皇子幼年,或授刺史,陛下豈不以王之骨肉,鎮扞四方? 此之造制,道高前烈。 如臣愚見,有小未盡。 何者? 刺史郡帥,民仰以安。 得一善人,部內蘇息; 遇一不善,合州勞弊。 是以人君愛恤百姓,常為擇賢。 或稱河潤九里,京師蒙福; 或人興歌詠,生為立祠。 漢宣帝云:『與我共理者,惟良二千石。』 如臣愚見,陛下兒子內年齒尚幼、未堪臨人者,且留京師,教以經學。 一則畏天之威,不敢犯禁; 二則觀見朝儀,自然成立。 因此積習,自知為人。 審堪臨州,然後遣出。 臣謹按漢明、章、和三帝,能友愛於弟,自茲已降,取為準的。 封立諸王,雖各有國土,年尚幼小者,召留京師,訓以禮法,垂以恩惠。 訖三帝世,諸王數十百人,唯二王稍惡,自余餐和染教,皆為善人。 則前事已驗,惟陛下詳察。」 太宗深納之。 其年,太子承乾以罪廢,魏王泰入侍,太宗面許立為太子。 因謂侍臣曰:「昨青雀自投我懷云:『臣今日始得與陛下為子,更生之日也。 臣唯有一子,臣百年之後,當為陛下殺之,傳國晉王。』 父子之道,故當天性,我見其如此,甚憐之。」 遂良進曰:「陛下失言。 伏願審思,無令錯誤也。 安有陛下百年之後,魏王執權為天下之主,而能殺其愛子,傳國於晉王者乎? 陛下昔立承乾為太子,而復寵愛魏王,禮數或有逾於承乾者,良由嫡庶不分,所以至此。 殷鑑不遠,足為龜鏡。 陛下今日既立魏王,伏願陛下別安置晉王,始得安全耳。」 太宗涕泗交下曰:「我不能。」 即日召長孫無忌、房玄齡、李勣與遂良等定策,立晉王為皇太子。 時頻有飛雉集於宮殿之內,太宗問群臣曰:「是何祥也?」 對曰:「昔秦文公時,有童子化為雉,雌者鳴於陳倉,雄者鳴於南陽。 童子曰:得雄者王,得雌者霸。 文公遂以為寶雞。 後漢光武得雄,遂起南陽而有四海。 陛下舊封秦王,故雄雉見於秦地,此所以彰表明德也。」 太宗悅曰:「立身之道,不可無學,遂良博識,深可重也。」 尋授太子賓客。
Chu Suiliang was the son of Chu Liang, who had served as Regular Attendant-in-Ordinary. Near the end of the Daye era he accompanied his father in Longyou. When Xue Ju declared himself ruler, he appointed Suiliang Master of Ceremonies. After Xue Ju's defeat he submitted to the Tang and was appointed Army-Armor Section staff officer under the Qinzhou area command. In 636 he was promoted from secretary to diarist of the imperial presence. Suiliang was widely read in literature and history and was especially accomplished in clerical script. Ouyang Xun, a friend of his father, held him in high regard. Emperor Taizong once said to Palace Attendant Wei Zheng, "Since Yu Shinan died, I have had no one with whom to discuss calligraphy." Wei Zheng replied, "Chu Suiliang's brushwork is vigorous and forceful and captures the manner of Wang Xizhi very well." The emperor summoned him that same day to serve at court as a calligrapher. Taizong once offered gold and silk from the imperial treasury to buy works attributed to Wang Xizhi. People across the empire rushed ancient writings to court as gifts, and at the time no one could tell authentic pieces from forgeries. Suiliang identified the provenance of each work he examined without a single mistake. In 641 an edict ordered ceremonies at Mount Tai. The emperor first traveled to Luoyang, where a comet appeared in the Supreme Palace Enclosure and crossed the Gentlemen's Quarters. Suiliang said to Taizong, "Your Majesty has quelled chaos and restored order, and your achievements surpass those of earlier sages. You are about to announce completion of your mandate at Mount Tai, to the great fortune of the realm. Yet upon reaching Luoyang a comet appeared at once. This may mean that something is still out of accord with Heaven. Moreover, Emperor Wu of Han deliberated for years before he finally performed the rites at Mount Tai. I humbly beg Your Majesty to consider the matter with care." Taizong was deeply persuaded and issued an edict canceling the Feng and Shan ceremonies. That year he was promoted to censor and concurrently supervised the imperial diary. Taizong once asked, "As diarist of the imperial presence, what do you record? As a rule, may the sovereign read it?" Suiliang replied, "Today's diarists of the imperial presence are the ancient left and right historians. They record the ruler's words and deeds, noting both good and evil, so that these may serve as a mirror and a warning and the sovereign may be kept from unlawful conduct. I have never heard of an emperor or king reading the histories in person." Taizong said, "If I do something wrong, will you be sure to record it?" Suiliang said, "Upholding the Way is less important than upholding one's office. My duty is to hold the brush: whatever the sovereign does, I must record it." Vice Director of the Yellow Gate Liu Ji said, "Even if Suiliang did not record it, the realm would still record it." Taizong agreed that this was so. At that time the Prince of Wei was a favorite of Taizong, and his ceremonial treatment and stipend matched those of the heir apparent. That year Taizong asked his attending ministers, "What is the most urgent matter for the state today?" Vice Director of the Secretariat Cen Wende said, "The Analects says, 'Guide them with virtue and align them with ritual.' From that perspective, ritual and righteousness are what matter most." Suiliang stepped forward and said, "Today the four quarters look up to your virtue. Who would dare do wrong? But the crown prince and the other princes must have clearly fixed ranks. Your Majesty should establish a precedent for all generations to come and leave it to your descendants." Taizong said, "That is true. I am nearly fifty and already feel my strength failing. I have already installed my eldest son as heir in the Eastern Palace, yet my younger sons and sons by concubines number nearly fifty. What weighs on my mind is largely this. Yet since antiquity, when the lines of legitimate and secondary sons lacked good advisers, has the state not been overturned? Search out worthy and virtuous men to tutor the heir apparent, and do the same for all the princes. Find upright men for every one of them. Moreover, when officials serve a prince for many years, their bond of loyalty grows deep, and many plots against the throne arise from just such attachments." Thereupon he decreed that officials in princes' households might serve no more than four terms before rotation. In 643 Taizong asked Suiliang, "Shun had lacquer vessels made, and Yu had his sacrificial stands carved. More than ten men remonstrated with Shun and Yu at the time. Why such strenuous remonstrance over mere eating vessels?" Suiliang replied, "Carving and polishing harm farming, and brocade work injures women's labor. To be the first to indulge in luxury and excess is the first step toward ruin. If lacquer vessels are not enough, vessels will be made of gold; if gold is not enough, they will be made of jade. That is why remonstrating ministers must speak at the first sign of excess. Once luxury has run its course, there is nothing left to remonstrate about." Taizong agreed and added, "For a ruler to neglect the people and pursue luxury and excess is to invite ruin in the blink of an eye." At that time many young princes were appointed area commanders and prefects. Suiliang submitted a memorial: "In the two Han dynasties the realm was governed through commanderies and kingdoms, and apart from the commanderies the sons were granted separate domains. Territory was carved up and borders divided, mixing Zhou institutions into the system. Our Tang prefectures and counties follow the Qin model in origin. When princes are still young they are sometimes made prefects. Does Your Majesty not intend, by placing your own flesh and blood in office, to guard the four quarters? In establishing this policy Your Majesty has surpassed the former sages. In my humble view, one small point has not yet been fully realized. What is it? Prefects are the leaders of their commanderies, and the people depend on them for security. With one good man in office the district revives; with one bad man the whole prefecture is worn down and exhausted. That is why a ruler who loves his people constantly chooses worthy men for office. Some say that when a river nourishes the land for nine li, the capital itself shares in the blessing; or the people break into song and erect shrines to a living official while he still serves. Emperor Xuan of Han said, 'Those who govern with me are only good prefects. In my humble view, among Your Majesty's sons those who are still young and not yet fit to govern people should remain in the capital for the present and be instructed in the classics. First, they will fear Heaven's majesty and not dare break the law; second, by observing court ritual they will naturally learn how to conduct themselves. Through such long practice they will learn on their own how to be proper men. Only when they are truly fit to govern a prefecture should they be sent out. I respectfully note that Emperors Ming, Zhang, and He of Han were able to show brotherly love toward their younger brothers. From their reigns down, they should be taken as the standard. When they enfeoffed the princes, although each had his own domain, those who were still young were summoned to remain in the capital, instructed in ritual and law, and showered with favor. Through the reigns of those three emperors the princes numbered in the tens and hundreds. Only two princes turned out badly; the rest, nourished by harmony and shaped by instruction, all became good men. The precedent has already been proved. I beg Your Majesty to consider it carefully." Taizong accepted the advice wholeheartedly. That year Crown Prince Chengqian was deposed for his crimes. The Prince of Wei, Li Tai, attended the emperor in person, and Taizong openly promised to make him crown prince. He then told his attending ministers, "Yesterday Green Sparrow threw himself into my arms and said, 'Today I have at last truly become your son. This is the day of my rebirth. I have only one son. After I die I will kill him for Your Majesty and pass the realm to the Prince of Jin. The bond between father and son is a matter of natural feeling. When I saw him speak this way, I was deeply moved." Suiliang stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty has spoken unwisely. I humbly beg Your Majesty to think this through carefully and not let a mistake stand. After Your Majesty is gone, when the Prince of Wei holds power as ruler of the realm, how could he kill his own beloved son and pass the throne to the Prince of Jin? Your Majesty once made Chengqian crown prince, yet you also favored the Prince of Wei, whose ceremonial treatment sometimes exceeded Chengqian's. This came about because the lines of legitimate and secondary sons were not kept distinct. The lesson of the Yin dynasty is not far off and should serve as a clear warning. Now that Your Majesty is about to make the Prince of Wei heir, I beg you to make separate arrangements for the Prince of Jin. Only then will he be safe." Taizong wept openly and said, "I cannot do it." That same day he summoned Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Li Ji, Suiliang, and others to settle the succession and installed the Prince of Jin as crown prince. At that time wild pheasants were frequently seen flying into the palace precincts. Taizong asked his ministers, "What omen does this portend?" They replied, "In the time of Duke Wen of Qin a boy was transformed into a pheasant. The female cried at Chencang and the male at Nanyang. The boy said, 'He who obtains the male will become king; he who obtains the female will become hegemon.' Duke Wen thereupon took this as the omen of the treasured cock. Later Emperor Guangwu of Han obtained the male bird, rose from Nanyang, and won the realm. Your Majesty was once Prince of Qin, so the male pheasant appears in Qin territory. This is how your bright virtue is made manifest." Taizong was pleased and said, "One cannot establish oneself without learning. Suiliang is broadly learned and deserves great respect." Soon afterward he was appointed mentor of the crown prince.
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時薛延陀遣使請婚,太宗許以女妻之,納其財聘,既而不與。 遂良上疏曰:
At that time the Xueyantuo sent envoys to request a marriage alliance. Taizong promised them a princess, accepted their bride-price gifts, and then refused to give her. Suiliang submitted a memorial:
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時太宗欲親征高麗,顧謂侍臣曰:「高麗莫離支賊殺其王,虐用其人。 夫出師吊伐,當乘機便,今因其弒虐,誅之甚易。」 遂良對曰:「陛下兵機神算,人莫能知。 昔隋末亂離,手平寇亂。 及北狄侵邊,西蕃失禮,陛下欲命將擊之,群臣莫不苦諫,陛下獨斷進討,卒並誅夷。 海內之人,徼外之國,畏威懾伏,為此舉也。 今陛下將興師遼東,臣意熒惑。 何者? 陛下神武,不比前代人君。 兵既渡遼,指期克捷,萬一差跌,無以威示遠方,若再發忿兵,則安危難測。」 太宗深然之。 兵部尚書李勣曰:「近者延陀犯邊,陛下必欲追擊,此時陛下取魏徵之言,遂失機會。 若如聖策,延陀無一人生還,可五十年間疆場無事。」 帝曰:「誠如卿言,由魏徵誤計耳。 朕不欲以一計不當而尤之,後有良算,安肯矢謀。」 由是從勣之言,經畫渡遼之師。 遂良以太宗銳意三韓,懼其遺悔,翌日上疏諫曰:
At that time Taizong wished to campaign in person against Goguryeo. Turning to his attending ministers he said, "Yeon Gaesomun of Goguryeo murdered his king and cruelly abused his people. To send an army on a punitive expedition one must seize the right moment. Now, with his regicide and cruelty as our cause, destroying him would be very easy." Suiliang replied, "Your Majesty's military stratagems and divine calculations are beyond anyone's knowledge. At the end of the Sui you yourself pacified the rebel chaos. When the northern barbarians invaded the frontier and the western tribes showed disrespect, Your Majesty wished to send generals against them. All the ministers remonstrated strenuously, yet Your Majesty decided alone to advance, and in the end they were all destroyed. The people within the seas and the states beyond the frontiers feared your majesty and submitted. It was because of such actions. Now that Your Majesty is about to raise an army in Liaodong, I am deeply troubled. Why? Your Majesty is divinely martial and not to be compared with rulers of former ages. Once the army has crossed the Liao, victory is expected on schedule. But if anything goes wrong, you will have no way to display your majesty to distant lands. If you must send angry troops again, the outcome for the state cannot be foreseen." Taizong was deeply persuaded. Minister of War Li Ji said, "When the Tiele recently violated the frontier, Your Majesty wished to pursue them, but at that time you followed Wei Zheng's advice and lost the opportunity. Had Your Majesty's plan been followed, not one Tiele man would have returned alive, and the frontier could have been peaceful for fifty years." The emperor said, "What you say is true. It was Wei Zheng's mistaken counsel. I do not wish to blame him for one mistaken plan. If he offers good counsel in future, how could I refuse to heed it?" Thereupon he followed Li Ji's advice and planned the campaign to cross the Liao. Because Taizong was set on the Three Han kingdoms, Suiliang feared the emperor would later regret the decision. The next day he submitted a remonstrance memorial:
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太宗不納。 十八年,拜黃門侍郎,參綜朝政。 高麗莫離支遣使貢白金,遂良言於太宗曰:「莫離支虐弒其主,九夷所不容,陛下以之興兵,將事吊伐,為遼山之人報主辱之恥。 古者,討弒君之賊,不受其賂。 昔宋督遺魯君以郜鼎,桓公受之於太廟,臧哀伯諫曰:『君人者昭德塞違,今滅德立違,而置其賂器於太廟,百官象之,其又何誅焉? 武王克商,遷九鼎於洛邑,義士猶或非之,而況將昭違亂之賂器,置諸太廟,其若之何?』 夫《春秋》之書,百王取法,若受不臣之筐篚,納弒逆之朝貢,不以為愆,何所致伐? 臣謂莫離支所獻,自不得受。」 太宗納焉,以其使屬吏。
Taizong did not accept his advice. In 644 he was appointed vice director of the Yellow Gate and took part in governing the court. Yeon Gaesomun of Goguryeo sent envoys offering tribute of white gold. Suiliang said to Taizong, "Yeon Gaesomun cruelly murdered his sovereign, an act intolerable among the eastern peoples. Your Majesty is raising an army to punish him and avenge for the people of Liaodong the shame done their lord. In antiquity, when punishing regicides, one did not accept their bribes. Formerly Minister Du of Song presented the tripod of Zou to the Duke of Lu, and Duke Huan received it in the Grand Temple. Zang Aibo remonstrated, 'A ruler should display virtue and block wrongdoing. Now you extinguish virtue and establish wrongdoing, yet place his bribe in the Grand Temple. When the hundred officials take this as their model, how can wrongdoing be punished? When King Wu conquered Shang and moved the nine tripods to Luoyi, men of righteousness still criticized him. How much more objectionable is it to display the bribe of a rebel and place it in the Grand Temple? The Spring and Autumn Annals is the standard for a hundred kings. If you accept gifts from an unsubmissive man and receive tribute from a regicide without regarding it as fault, on what grounds can you launch a punitive expedition? I hold that what Yeon Gaesomun offers must not be accepted." Taizong accepted this advice and handed the envoys over to the officials for punishment.
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太宗既滅高昌,每歲調發千餘人防遏其地,遂良上疏曰:
After Taizong destroyed Gaochang, more than a thousand men were levied each year to garrison the region. Suiliang submitted a memorial:
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二十年,太宗於寢殿側別置一院,令太子居,絕不令往東宮。 遂良復上疏諫曰:
In 646 Taizong set up a separate courtyard beside his sleeping quarters for the crown prince to live in and absolutely forbade him to go to the Eastern Palace. Suiliang again submitted a remonstrance memorial:
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太宗從之。
Taizong accepted his advice.
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遂良前後諫奏及陳便宜書數十上,多見採納,其年,加銀青光祿大夫。 二十一年,以本官檢校大理卿,尋丁父憂解。 明年,起復舊職,俄拜中書令。
Suiliang submitted dozens of remonstrances and practical proposals, many of which were adopted. That year he was promoted to grand master of splendid happiness with silver seal. In 647 he was made acting chief of the Court of Judicial Review while retaining his present office. Soon afterward he resigned to observe mourning for his father. The following year he was recalled to his former post and soon appointed chief of the Secretariat.
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二十三年,太宗寢疾,召遂良及長孫無忌入臥內,謂之曰:「卿等忠烈,簡在朕心。 昔漢武寄霍光,劉備托葛亮,朕之後事,一以委卿。 太子仁孝,卿之所悉,必須盡誠輔佐,永保宗社。」 又顧謂太子曰:「無忌、遂良在,國家之事,汝無憂矣。」 仍命遂良草詔。 高宗即位,賜爵河南縣公。 永徽元年,進封郡公。 尋坐事出為同州刺史。 三年,征拜吏部尚書、同中書門下三品,監修國史,加光祿大夫。 其月,又兼太子賓客。 四年,代張行成為尚書右僕射,依舊知政事。
In 649 Taizong fell gravely ill. He summoned Suiliang and Zhangsun Wuji to his bedside and said, "Your loyalty and steadfastness are engraved in my heart. Emperor Wu of Han entrusted Huo Guang, and Liu Bei entrusted Zhuge Liang. I entrust all my affairs after death to you. The crown prince is benevolent and filial, as you know. You must assist him with full sincerity and preserve the altars of state forever." He then turned to the crown prince and said, "With Wuji and Suiliang at your side, you need not worry about the affairs of state." He also ordered Suiliang to draft his final edict. When Gaozong took the throne, Suiliang was granted the title Marquis of Henan County. In 650 he was promoted to duke of a commandery. Soon afterward, because of an affair, he was sent out as prefect of Tongzhou. In 652 he was recalled and appointed minister of personnel with third rank at the Secretariat-Chancellery, put in charge of compiling the national history, and made grand master for splendid happiness. That same month he also served concurrently as mentor of the crown prince. In 653 he replaced Zhang Xingcheng as right vice director of the Department of State Affairs and continued to manage court affairs.
11
六年,高宗將廢皇后王氏,立昭儀武氏為皇后,召太尉長孫無忌、司空李勣、尚書左僕射於志寧及遂良以籌其事。 將入,遂良謂無忌等曰:「上意欲廢中宮,必議其事,遂良今欲陳諫,眾意如何?」 無忌曰:「明公必須極言,無忌請繼焉。」 及入,高宗難於發言,再三顧謂無忌曰:「莫大之罪,絕嗣為甚。 皇后無胤息,昭儀有子,今欲立為皇后,公等以為何如?」 遂良曰:「皇后出自名家,先朝所娶,伏事先帝,無愆婦德。 先帝不豫,執陛下手以語臣曰:『我好兒好婦,今將付卿。』 陛下親承德音,言猶在耳。 皇后自此未聞有愆,恐不可廢。 臣今不敢曲從,上違先帝之命,特願再三思審。 愚臣上忤聖顏,罪合萬死,但願不負先朝厚恩,何顧性命?」 遂良致笏於殿陛,曰:「還陛下此笏。」 仍解巾叩頭流血。 帝大怒,令引出。 長孫無忌曰:「遂良受先朝顧命,有罪不加刑。」 翌日,帝謂李勣曰:「冊立武昭儀之事,遂良固執不從。 遂良既是受顧命大臣,事若不可,當且止也。」 勣對曰:「此乃陛下家事,不合問外人。」 帝乃立昭儀為皇后,左遷遂良潭州都督。 顯慶二年,轉桂州都督。 未幾,又貶為愛州刺史。 明年,卒官,年六十三。
In 655 Gaozong was about to depose Empress Wang and make Lady Wu empress. He summoned Grand Mentor Zhangsun Wuji, Minister of Works Li Ji, Left Vice Director Yu Zhining, and Suiliang to deliberate the matter. Before they entered, Suiliang said to Wuji and the others, "The emperor intends to depose the empress and will surely raise the matter. I mean to remonstrate. What do you think?" Wuji said, "You must speak with full force. I will follow after you." When they entered, Gaozong found it hard to speak. Again and again he turned to Wuji and said, "Of great crimes, having no heir is the gravest. The empress has no children, but Lady Wu has a son. I now wish to make her empress. What do you think?" Suiliang said, "The empress comes from an eminent family and was married by the former emperor. She served the late emperor without fault in wifely conduct. When the late emperor was ill he took Your Majesty's hand and said to me, 'I have a good son and a good daughter-in-law. I now entrust them to you. Your Majesty received this charge in person. His words are still in our ears. Since then no fault has been heard against the empress. I fear she cannot be deposed. I dare not bend to comply and violate the late emperor's command. I beg Your Majesty to think this through again and again. In offending Your Majesty I deserve death ten thousand times over, but I wish only not to fail the deep grace of the former court. What care I for my life?" Suiliang placed his court tablet on the hall steps and said, "I return this tablet to Your Majesty." He removed his headcloth and knocked his head on the floor until blood flowed. The emperor was furious and ordered him led out. Zhangsun Wuji said, "Suiliang received the late emperor's deathbed charge. Even if he has offended, he should not be punished." The next day the emperor said to Li Ji, "On the matter of making Lady Wu empress, Suiliang stubbornly refused to comply. Since Suiliang is a minister who received the deathbed charge, if the matter cannot be done, it should be stopped for now." Li Ji replied, "This is Your Majesty's family affair. It is not fitting to ask outsiders." The emperor thereupon made Lady Wu empress and demoted Suiliang to area commander of Tanzhou. In 657 he was transferred to area commander of Guizhou. Before long he was demoted again to prefect of Aizhou. The following year he died in office at the age of sixty-three.
12
遂良卒後二歲餘,許敬宗、李義府奏言長孫無忌所構逆謀,並遂良搧動,乃追削官爵,子孫配流愛州。 弘道元年二月,高宗遺詔放還本郡。 神龍元年,則天遺制復遂良及韓瑗爵位。
More than two years after Suiliang's death, Xu Jingzong and Li Yifu memorialized that Zhangsun Wuji had plotted rebellion and that Suiliang had incited him. Suiliang's offices and titles were posthumously stripped, and his descendants were banished to Aizhou. In the second month of 683, Gaozong's deathbed edict ordered them returned to their native commandery. In 705, Empress Wu's deathbed decree restored the titles of Suiliang and Han Yuan.
13
=韓瑗=
Han Yuan
14
韓瑗,雍州三原人也。 祖紹,隋太僕少卿。 父仲良,武德初為大理少卿,受詔與郎楚之等掌定律令。 仲良言於高祖曰:「周代之律,其屬三千,秦法已來,約為五百。 若遠依周制,繁紊更多。 且官吏至公,自當奉法,苟若徇己,豈顧刑名? 請崇寬簡,以允惟新之望。」 高祖然之。 於是采定《開皇律》行之,時以為便。 貞觀中,位至刑部尚書、秦州都督府長史、潁川縣公。 瑗少有節操,博學有吏才。 貞觀中,累至兵部侍郎,襲父潁川公。 永徽三年,拜黃門侍郎。 四年,與中書侍郎來濟皆同中書門下三品,監修國史。 五年,加銀青光祿大夫。 六年,遷侍中,其年兼太子賓客。 時高宗欲廢王皇后,瑗涕泣諫曰:「皇后是陛下在籓府時先帝所娶,今無愆過,欲行廢黜,四海之士,誰不惕然? 且國家屢有廢立,非長久之術。 願陛下為社稷大計,無以臣愚,不垂采察。」 帝不納。 明日,瑗又諫,悲泣不能自勝。 帝大怒,促令引出。 尋而尚書左僕射褚遂良以忤旨左授潭州都督,瑗復上疏理之曰:
Han Yuan was a native of Sanyuan in Yongzhou. His grandfather Shao served as vice director of the imperial stud under the Sui. His father Zhongliang, at the beginning of the Wude era, served as vice chief of the Court of Judicial Review and was ordered with Lang Chuzhi and others to oversee the codification of law. Zhongliang said to Emperor Gaozu, "The laws of the Zhou had three thousand articles, but since the Qin there have been about five hundred. If we follow the Zhou model closely, the laws will become even more complex. Moreover, if officials are truly impartial they will uphold the law of their own accord. If they indulge themselves, what care have they for the statutes? I ask that leniency and simplicity be honored to fulfill the hope of a new beginning." Emperor Gaozu approved. Thereupon they adopted the Kaihuang Code and put it into practice, and at the time it was considered convenient. During the Zhenguan era he rose to minister of punishments, chief administrator of the Qinzhou area command, and Duke of Yingchuan County. From youth Yuan had integrity, was broadly learned, and had talent for administration. During the Zhenguan era he rose to vice minister of war and inherited his father's title as Duke of Yingchuan. In 652 he was appointed vice director of the Yellow Gate. In 653 he and Vice Director of the Secretariat Lai Ji were both given third rank at the Secretariat-Chancellery and put in charge of compiling the national history. In 654 he was made grand master of splendid happiness with silver seal. In 655 he was promoted to palace attendant and that year also served concurrently as mentor of the crown prince. At that time Gaozong wished to depose Empress Wang. Yuan wept as he remonstrated, "The empress was married to Your Majesty by the late emperor when you were still prince. She has committed no fault. If you depose her, who throughout the realm will not be alarmed? Moreover, repeated depositions and installations of empresses are no policy for long-term stability. I beg Your Majesty, for the sake of the altars of state, not to dismiss my counsel because I am foolish." The emperor did not accept his advice. The next day Yuan remonstrated again, weeping so bitterly he could not control himself. The emperor was furious and ordered him led out at once. Soon afterward Left Vice Director Chu Suiliang was demoted to area commander of Tanzhou for opposing the emperor's will. Yuan again submitted a memorial in his defense:
15
古之聖王,立諫鼓,設謗木,冀欲聞逆耳之言,甘苦口之議,發揚大化,裨益洪猷,垂令譽於將來,播休聲於不朽者也。 伏見詔書以褚遂良為潭州都督,臣夙夜思之,用增感激。 臣識慚知遠,業謝通經,載撫愚情,誠為未可。 遂良運偶昇平,道昭前烈,束髮從宦,方淹累稔。 趨侍陛下,俄歷歲年,不聞涓滴之愆,常睹勤勞之效。 竭忠誠於早歲,罄直道於茲年。 體國忘家,捐身徇物,風霜其操,鐵石其心。 誠可重於皇明,詎專方於曩昔? 且先帝納之於帷幄,寄之以心膂,德逾水石,義冠舟車,公家之利,言無不可。 及纏悲四海,遏密八音,竭忠國家,親承顧托,一德無二,千古懍然。 此不待臣言,陛下備知之矣。 臣嘗有此心,未敢聞奏。 且萬姓失業,旰食忘勞; 一物不安,納隍軫慮,在於微細,寧得過差。 況社稷之舊臣,陛下之賢佐,無聞罪狀,斥去朝廷,內外氓黎,咸嗟舉措。 觀其近日言事,披誠懇切,詎肯後陛下之德,異於堯、舜; 懼陛下之過,塵於史冊。 而乃深遭厚謗,重負丑言,可以痛志士之心,損陛下之明也。 臣聞晉武弘裕,不貽劉毅之誅; 漢祖深仁,無恚周昌之直。 而遂良被遷,已經寒暑,違忤陛下,其罰塞焉。 伏願纟面鑑無辜,稍寬非罪,俯矜微款,以順人情。
The sage kings of antiquity set up remonstrance drums and erected complaint posts, hoping to hear words that grate on the ear and accept counsel that tastes bitter in the mouth, so as to extend great transformation, benefit vast plans, leave a fine reputation to posterity, and spread good fame forever. I have seen the edict appointing Chu Suiliang area commander of Tanzhou. Day and night I have pondered it, and my distress has only grown. My knowledge is limited and my learning falls short of mastery of the classics, yet as I consider this in my foolish heart, I cannot believe it right. Suiliang's fate met an age of peace, and his conduct illumined the former sages. From youth he entered office and has served for many years. In attending Your Majesty he has already passed many years. Not a drop of fault has been heard against him, and his diligent service has constantly been seen. He exhausted his loyalty in his early years and has spent the straight path in these later years. He has embodied the state and forgotten his family, given his person to public duty. His conduct is as firm as wind and frost, his heart as hard as iron and stone. He deserves to be valued in the present reign. How could his worth belong only to former times? Moreover the late emperor took him into his inner council and entrusted him with his deepest trust. His virtue exceeded water and stone, his righteousness surpassed all others. For the benefit of the state, nothing he said was unacceptable. When grief enveloped the realm and music was stilled, he exhausted his loyalty for the state and personally received the deathbed entrustment. His single-minded devotion was without equal and inspires awe through the ages. This needs no words from me. Your Majesty knows it fully already. I have long felt this in my heart but did not dare report it to the throne. Moreover the myriad people have lost their livelihoods, and Your Majesty eats late and forgets fatigue; if one thing is not at peace you take it to heart as if falling into a pit. In matters minute, how can there be excess error? How much more when an old minister of the altars of state, Your Majesty's worthy assistant, is expelled from court with no crime heard against him. Within and without, the people all sigh at this act. Judging from his recent remonstrance, he spoke with earnest sincerity. How could he wish to lag behind Your Majesty's virtue or differ from Yao and Shun? He feared only that Your Majesty's fault would be recorded in the histories. Yet he has suffered heavy slander and bears shameful accusations. This pains the hearts of loyal men and diminishes Your Majesty's reputation for wisdom. I have heard that Emperor Wu of Jin was magnanimous and did not execute Liu Yi; the Han founder was deeply humane and bore no resentment toward Zhou Chang's blunt remonstrance. Suiliang has been transferred and has already passed a full year. In opposing Your Majesty he has been punished enough. I humbly beg Your Majesty to examine the case of an innocent man, ease his unjust punishment, and show pity for this humble plea so as to accord with the people's feelings.
16
疏奏,帝謂瑗曰:「遂良之情,朕亦知之矣。 然其悖戾犯上,以此責之,朕豈有過,卿言何若是之深也!」 瑗對曰:「遂良可謂社稷忠臣,臣恐以諛佞之輩,蒼蠅點白,損陷忠貞。 昔微子去之而殷國以亡,張華不死而綱紀不亂,國之慾謝,善人其衰。 今陛下富有四海,八紘清泰,忽驅逐舊臣,而不垂省察乎! 伏願違彼覆車,以收往過,垂勸誡於事君,則群生幸甚。」 帝竟不納。 瑗以言不見用,憂憤上表,請歸田裡,詔不許。 顯慶二年,許敬宗、李義府希皇后之旨,誣奏瑗與褚遂良潛謀不軌,以桂州用武之地,故授遂良桂州刺史,實以為外援。 於是更貶遂良為愛州刺史,左授瑗振州刺史。 四年,卒官,年五十四。 明年,長孫無忌死,敬宗等又奏瑗與無忌通謀,遣使殺之。 及使至,瑗已死,更發棺驗屍而還,籍沒其家,孫配徙嶺表。 神龍元年,則天遺制令復其官爵。
When the memorial was submitted, the emperor said to Yuan, "I know Suiliang's feelings as well. But he was perverse and rebellious in offending his sovereign. For this he is being punished. How could I be at fault? Why do you speak so strongly!" Yuan replied, "Suiliang may truly be called a loyal minister of the state. I fear that flatterers, like flies spotting white cloth, will slander and destroy the loyal and steadfast. When Weizi left, the Yin state perished. When Zhang Hua lived, order was preserved. When a state is about to fall, good men decline. Your Majesty possesses the four seas and the realm is at peace. Will you suddenly drive out an old minister without careful examination! I humbly beg you to avoid the mistake of the overturned cart, correct past errors, and set an example of how to serve one's lord. Then the people would be greatly blessed." The emperor in the end did not accept his advice. Because his words were not heeded, Yuan submitted a memorial in grief and anger requesting retirement to his estate. The emperor refused. In 657 Xu Jingzong and Li Yifu, acting on the empress's wishes, falsely memorialized that Yuan and Chu Suiliang had plotted rebellion. Because Guizhou was a strategic military region, they had appointed Suiliang prefect of Guizhou as external support for the plot. Thereupon Suiliang was further demoted to prefect of Aizhou and Yuan was demoted to prefect of Zhenzhou. In 659 he died in office at the age of fifty-four. The following year Zhangsun Wuji died. Jingzong and others again memorialized that Yuan had conspired with Wuji and sent envoys to kill him. When the envoys arrived Yuan was already dead. They opened his coffin to verify the corpse, confiscated his family's property, and banished his grandson to the far south. In 705 Empress Wu's deathbed decree ordered restoration of his offices and titles.
17
=來濟=
Lai Ji
18
來濟,揚州江都人,隋左翊衛大將軍榮國公護子也。 宇文化及之難,闔門遇害。 濟幼逢家難,流離艱險,而篤志好學,有文詞,善談論,尤曉時務。 舉進士,貞觀中累轉通事舍人。 太子承乾之敗,太宗謂侍臣曰:「欲何以處承乾?」 群臣莫敢對,濟進曰:「陛下上不失作慈父,下得盡天年,即為善矣。」 帝納其言。 俄除考功員外郎。 十八年,初置太子司議郎,妙選人望,遂以濟為之,仍兼崇賢館直學士。 尋遷中書舍人,與令狐德棻等撰《晉書》。 永徽二年,拜中書侍郎,兼弘文館學士,監修國史。 四年,同中書門下三品。 五年,加銀青光祿大夫,以修國史功封南陽縣男,賜物七百段。 六年,遷中書令、檢校吏部尚書。 時高宗欲立昭儀武氏為宸妃,濟密表諫曰:「宸妃古無此號,事將不可。」 武皇后既立,濟等懼不自安; 後乃抗表稱濟忠公,請加賞慰,而心實惡之。 顯慶元年,兼太子賓客,進爵為侯,中書令如故。 二年,又兼太子詹事。 尋而許敬宗等奏濟與褚遂良朋黨構扇,左授台州刺史。 五年,徙庭州刺史。 龍朔二年,突厥入寇,濟總兵拒之,謂其眾曰:「吾嘗掛刑網,蒙赦性命,當以身塞責,特報國恩。」 遂不釋甲冑赴賊,沒於陣。 時年五十三,贈楚州刺史,給靈輿遞還鄉。 有文集三十捲,行於代。 兄亙濟兄亙,有學行,與濟齊名。 上元中,官至黃門侍郎、同中書門下三品。
Lai Ji was a native of Jiangdu in Yangzhou, son of Hu, Duke of Rong, who had served as grand general of the left wing guard under the Sui. In the disaster wrought by Yuwen Huaji, his entire household was killed. Ji suffered family disaster in youth and drifted through hardship, yet he studied with firm resolve. He had literary talent, was skilled in discourse, and especially understood current affairs. He passed the jinshi examination and during the Zhenguan era rose to master of ceremonies. When Crown Prince Chengqian was deposed, Taizong asked his attending ministers, "What should be done with Chengqian?" No minister dared reply. Ji stepped forward and said, "If above Your Majesty does not fail as a loving father and below he may live out his natural years, that would be best." The emperor accepted his advice. Soon afterward he was appointed vice director in the Bureau of Appointments. In 644 the office of crown prince reviewer was first established. Men of outstanding reputation were selected, and Ji was appointed to the post while also serving as academician-director of the Chongxian Hall. Soon he was promoted to secretariat draftsman and with Linghu Defen and others compiled the Book of Jin. In 651 he was appointed vice director of the Secretariat, concurrently academician of the Hongwen Hall, and put in charge of compiling the national history. In 653 he was given third rank at the Secretariat-Chancellery. In 654 he was made grand master of splendid happiness with silver seal. For compiling the national history he was enfeoffed as baron of Nanyang County and granted seven hundred rolls of goods. In 655 he was promoted to chief of the Secretariat and acting minister of personnel. At that time Gaozong wished to establish Lady Wu as Lady of the Inner Quarters. Ji submitted a secret memorial: "Antiquity had no such title. The matter cannot be done." After Empress Wu was established, Ji and others lived in fear; later she submitted a memorial praising Ji as loyal and fair and requesting that he be rewarded, though in her heart she hated him. In 656 he served concurrently as mentor of the crown prince, was advanced to marquis, and retained his post as chief of the Secretariat. In 657 he also served concurrently as steward of the crown prince's household. Soon Xu Jingzong and others memorialized that Ji had formed a faction with Chu Suiliang and incited trouble. He was demoted to prefect of Taizhou. In 660 he was transferred to prefect of Tingzhou. In 662 the Turks invaded. Ji commanded the army to resist them and told his troops, "I once faced execution and was pardoned. I must repay the state's grace with my life." He did not remove his armor and charged the enemy, dying in battle. He was fifty-three. Posthumously he was made prefect of Chuzhou, and his body was conveyed home in a state funeral carriage. His collected works in thirty juan circulated in his time. His elder brother Gen had learning and integrity and was as famous as Ji. During the Shangyuan era he rose to vice director of the Yellow Gate with third rank at the Secretariat-Chancellery.
19
=上官儀=
Shangguan Yi
20
上官儀,本陝州陝人也。 父弘,隋江都宮副監,因家於江都。 大業末,弘為將軍陳稜所殺,儀時幼,藏匿獲免。 因私度為沙門,游情釋典,尤精《三論》,兼涉獵經史,善屬文。 貞觀初,楊仁恭為都督,深禮待之。 舉進士。 太宗聞其名,召授弘文館直學士。 累遷秘書郎。 時太宗雅好屬文,每遣儀視草,又多令繼和,凡有宴集,儀嘗預焉。 俄又預撰《晉書》成,轉起居郎,加級賜帛。 高宗嗣位,遷秘書少監。 龍朔二年,加銀青光祿大夫、西台侍郎、同東西台三品,兼弘文館學士如故。 本以詞彩自達,工於五言詩,好以綺錯婉媚為本。 儀既貴顯,故當時多有效其體者,時人謂為上官體。 儀頗恃才任勢,故為當代所嫉。 麟德元年,宦者王伏勝與梁王忠抵罪,許敬宗乃構儀與忠通謀,遂下獄而死,家口籍沒。 子庭芝,歷位周王府屬。 與儀俱被殺。 庭芝有女,中宗時為昭容,每侍帝草制誥,以故追贈儀為中書令、秦州都督、楚國公; 庭芝黃門侍郎、岐州刺史、天水郡公,仍令以禮改葬。
Shangguan Yi was originally a native of Shan in Shanzhou. His father Hong served as deputy director of the Jiangdu palace under the Sui, and the family settled in Jiangdu. At the end of the Daye era Hong was killed by the general Chen Suo. Yi was still young and escaped by hiding. He then privately became a monk, immersed himself in Buddhist scriptures, and was especially expert in the Three Treatises. He also studied the classics and histories and was skilled at literary composition. At the beginning of the Zhenguan era Yang Rengong was area commander and treated him with great respect. He passed the jinshi examination. Taizong heard of him and appointed him academician-director of the Hongwen Hall. He was promoted to secretary. Taizong loved literary composition. He often had Yi review his drafts and compose matching verses. Yi was a regular guest at court banquets. Soon he took part in completing the Book of Jin, was transferred to diarist of the imperial presence, and received a promotion in rank and a gift of silk. When Gaozong succeeded to the throne he was promoted to vice director of the Secretariat. In 662 he was made grand master of splendid happiness with silver seal, vice director of the Western Terrace, with third rank at the Eastern and Western Terraces, and retained his post as academician of the Hongwen Hall. He had distinguished himself through literary brilliance, was accomplished in five-character poetry, and favored ornate and graceful style as his foundation. Once Yi had risen to high rank, many imitated his style, which people called the Shangguan style. Yi relied on his talent and wielded his power, and was envied by his contemporaries. In 664 the eunuch Wang Fusheng and Prince Zhong of Liang were convicted of crimes. Xu Jingzong framed Yi as having conspired with Zhong. Yi was imprisoned and died, and his household was confiscated. His son Tingzhi served as an official in the household of the Prince of Zhou. He was killed together with Yi. Tingzhi had a daughter who under Emperor Zhongzong served as Lady of the Bright Countenance and often helped the emperor draft edicts. For this reason Yi was posthumously made chief of the Secretariat, area commander of Qinzhou, and Duke of Chu; Tingzhi was made vice director of the Yellow Gate, prefect of Qizhou, and duke of Tianshui Commandery, and both were ordered reburied with full honors.
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=史臣曰=
The Historian's Commentary
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史臣曰:褚河南上書言事,亹癖有經世遠略。 魏徵、王珪之後,骨鯁風彩,落落負王佐器者,殆難其人。 名臣事業,河南有焉。 昔齊人饋樂而仲尼去,戎王溺妓而由余奔,婦人之言,聖哲懼罹其禍,況二佞據衡軸之地,為正人之魑魅乎! 古之志士仁人,一言相期,死不之悔,況於君臣之間,受託孤之寄,而以利害禍福,忘平生之言哉! 而韓、來諸公,可謂守死善道,求福不回者焉。
The historian says: Chu Suiliang of Henan, in his memorials on affairs of state, was diligent and possessed far-reaching plans for governing the realm. After Wei Zheng and Wang Gui, among those who bore the bearing of a true minister and openly possessed the capacity of a king's assistant, his equal was hard to find. Among the achievements of famous ministers, Chu of Henan had his place. When the men of Qi presented music, Confucius departed. When the Rong king drowned himself in entertainers, Youyu fled. Even sages feared the calamity of a woman's words. How much more when two flatterers held the pivot of power and became demons to upright men! Men of purpose and humanity in antiquity, once they pledged themselves with a single word, did not regret it even unto death. How much more between lord and minister, when one has received a deathbed entrustment, can one forget one's lifelong pledge for the sake of gain, loss, or personal safety! Han Yuan, Lai Ji, and the others may truly be called men who held to the good Way unto death and sought no blessing by turning back.
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=贊=
Eulogy
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贊曰:褚公之言,和樂愔愔,鐘石在虡,動成雅音。 二猘雙吠,三賢一心。 人皆觀望,我不浮沉。
The eulogy says: Lord Chu's words were harmonious and serene; like bells and stones on their stand, when struck they formed elegant music. Two mad dogs barked together; three worthies were of one heart. While others watched and waited, I would not drift with the tide.