Volume 77 Biographies 27: Wei Ting, Yang Zuan, Liu Dewei, Yan Lide, Liu Heng, Cui Yixuan

韋挺子待價弟萬石

Wei Ting; his son Daijia; his younger brother Wanshi

楊纂族子弘禮弘武武子元亨元禧元禕

Yang Zuan; his clan nephews Hongli and Hongwu; Hongwu's sons Yuanheng, Yuanxi, and Yuanyi

劉德威子審禮孫易從審禮從弟延嗣

Liu Dewei; his son Shenli; his grandson Yicong; Shenli's younger cousin Yansi

閻立德弟立本

Yan Lide; his younger brother Liben

柳亨族子范兄子奭亨孫渙澤

Liu Heng; his clan nephew Fan; his nephew Shi; Heng's grandsons Huan and Ze

崔義玄子神慶

Cui Yixuan; his son Shenqing

韋挺，雍州萬年人，隋民部尚書沖子也。少與隱太子相善，及高祖平京城，引為隴西公府祭酒。武德中，累遷太子左衛驃騎，檢校左率。太子遇之甚厚，宮臣罕與為比。七年，高祖避暑仁智宮，會有上書言事者，稱太子與宮臣潛構異端。時慶州刺史楊文干構逆伏誅，辭涉東宮，挺與杜淹、王珪等並坐流於越巂。及太宗在東宮，征拜主爵郎中。貞觀初，王珪數舉之，由是遷尚書右丞。俄授吏部侍郎，轉黃門侍郎，進拜御史大夫，封扶陽縣男。太宗以挺女為齊王祐妃。常與房玄齡、王珪、魏徵、戴胄等俱承顧問，議以政事。又與高士廉、令狐德棻等同修《氏族志》，累承賞賚。太宗嘗謂挺曰：「卿之任御史大夫，獨朕意耳，左右大臣無為卿地者，卿勉之哉！」挺陳謝曰：「臣駑下，不足以辱陛下高位。且臣非勳非舊，而超處籓邸故僚之上，臣願後之，以勸立功者。」太宗不許。尋改授銀青光祿大夫，行黃門侍郎，兼魏王泰府事。時泰有寵，太子承乾多過失，太宗微有廢立之意。中書侍郎杜正倫以漏洩禁中語左遷，時挺亦預泰事，太宗謂曰：「朕已罪正倫，不忍更置卿於法。」特原之。尋遷太常卿。初，挺為大夫時，馬周為監察御史，挺以周寒士，殊不禮之。至是，周為中書令，太宗嘗復欲用挺在門下，周密陳挺傲狠，非宰相器，遂寢。十九年，將有事於遼東，擇人運糧，周又奏挺才堪粗使，太宗從之。挺以父在隋為營州總管，有經略高麗遺文。因此奏之。太宗甚悅，謂挺曰：「幽州以北，遼水二千餘里無州縣，軍行資糧無所取給，卿宜為此使。但得軍用不乏，功不細矣」。以人部侍郎崔仁師為副使，任自擇文武官四品十人為子使，以幽、易、平三州驍勇二百人，官馬二百匹為從。詔河北諸州皆取挺節度，許以便宜行事。太宗親解貂裘及中廄馬二匹賜之。挺至幽州，令燕州司馬王安德巡渠通塞。先出幽州庫物，市木造船，運米而進。自桑乾河下至盧思台，去幽州八百里，逢安德還曰：「自此之外，漕渠壅塞。」挺以北方寒雪，不可更進，遂下米於台側權貯之，待開歲發春，方事轉運，度大兵至，軍糧必足，仍馳以聞。太宗不悅，詔挺曰：「兵尚拙速，不貴工遲。朕欲十九年春大舉，今言二十年運漕，甚無謂也。」乃遣繁畤令韋懷質往挺所支度軍糧，檢覆渠水。懷質還奏曰：「挺不先視漕渠，輒集工匠造船，運米即下。至盧思台，方知渠閉，欲進不得，還復水涸，乃便貯之無通平夷之區。又挺在幽州，日致飲會，實乖至公。陛下明年出師，以臣度之，恐未符聖策。」太宗大怒，令將作少監李道裕代之，仍令治書侍御史唐臨馳傳械挺赴洛陽，依議除名，仍令白衣散從。及前軍破蓋牟城，詔挺統兵士鎮蓋牟，示漸用之也。挺城守去大軍懸遠，與高麗新城鄰接，日夜戰鬥，鼓噪之聲不絕。挺不堪其憂，且不平於失職，素與術士公孫常善，乃與常書以敘所懷。會常以他事被拘，自縊而死，索其囊中，得挺書，論城中危蹙，兼有嘆悵之辭。太宗以挺怨望，謫為象州刺史。歲余卒，年五十八。

Wei Ting was a native of Wannian in Yongzhou, the son of Wei Chong, who had served as Minister of the Household under the Sui. In his youth he was close to the Hidden Crown Prince, and when Gaozu took the capital he was appointed libationer in the household of the Duke of Longxi. During the Wude period he rose in succession to Commissar of the Heir Apparent's Left Guards and acting Left Commandant. The Crown Prince treated him with exceptional favor, and few of the palace officials could rival him in standing. In the seventh year, while Gaozu was summering at Renzhi Palace, a memorial arrived charging that the Crown Prince and his palace officials were secretly plotting sedition. At that time Yang Wengan, the prefect of Qingzhou, had plotted rebellion and was put to death; his confession implicated the Eastern Palace, and Ting, together with Du Yan, Wang Gui, and others, were all exiled to Yuexi. When Taizong held the Eastern Palace, Ting was summoned and appointed Director of Principal Registers. Early in the Zhenguan reign, Wang Gui recommended him repeatedly, and he was promoted to Right Vice Minister of the Department of State Affairs. He was soon made Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, then Vice Minister of the Secretariat, and finally promoted to Censor-in-Chief and enfeoffed as Baron of Fuyang. Taizong gave Ting's daughter in marriage to Li You, Prince of Qi. He was regularly consulted along with Fang Xuanling, Wang Gui, Wei Zheng, Dai Zhou, and others on matters of state. He also worked with Gao Shilian, Linghu Defen, and others on revising the Genealogical Records, and received repeated imperial rewards. Taizong once told him, "Your appointment as Censor-in-Chief was entirely my own decision; none of the ministers at court had a hand in it — apply yourself! Ting declined and said, "Your servant is unworthy and not fit to hold so exalted a post under Your Majesty. Moreover, I have neither distinguished service nor long tenure, yet I stand above former colleagues from the princely household. I ask to be ranked lower, so as to encourage those who earn merit." Taizong would not agree. He was soon made Silver-Green Glory Grand Master, acting Vice Minister of the Secretariat, with concurrent duties in Prince Tai's household. At that time Prince Tai was in favor, while the Crown Prince Chengqian had committed many faults, and Taizong was beginning to consider replacing him. Vice Minister of the Secretariat Du Zhenglun was demoted for leaking palace secrets; since Ting had also been involved in Prince Tai's affairs, Taizong said, "I have already punished Zhenglun, and I cannot bear to subject you to the law as well. He granted him a special pardon. He was soon promoted to Minister of Court Ceremonials. Earlier, when Ting was Censor-in-Chief, Ma Zhou had been an investigating censor; Ting, regarding Zhou as a man of humble birth, had treated him with conspicuous disrespect. By then Zhou had become Director of the Secretariat. When Taizong again considered appointing Ting to the Secretariat, Zhou spoke at length of Ting's arrogance and harshness and declared him unfit for the chief ministership, and the appointment was dropped. In the nineteenth year, as preparations began for a campaign in Liaodong, men were chosen to transport supplies. Zhou again memorialized that Ting was fit for rough administrative work, and Taizong agreed. Ting's father had served in the Sui as regional commander of Yingzhou and had left writings on strategy against Goguryeo. On this basis he presented them to the throne. Taizong was greatly pleased and told him, "North of Youzhou, for more than two thousand li beyond the Liao River there are no prefectures or counties where an army on the march can draw supplies. You are the man for this mission. If you keep the army supplied, the achievement will be no small one." Cui Renshi, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, was appointed his deputy. Ting was permitted to choose ten civil and military officials of the fourth rank as sub-commissioners, and was given two hundred picked troops from You, Yi, and Ping prefectures and two hundred government horses as his escort. An edict directed all prefectures in Hebei to follow Ting's orders and authorized him to act at his own discretion. Taizong personally removed his sable coat and presented him with two horses from the imperial stables. When Ting reached Youzhou, he ordered Wang Ande, the secretary of Yanzhou, to survey the canal and determine whether it was open or obstructed. He first drew goods from the Youzhou treasury, purchased timber to build ships, and began shipping grain forward. From the Sanggan River down to Lusi Terrace was eight hundred li from Youzhou. When he met Ande on his return, Ande reported, "Beyond this point the transport canal is blocked. Ting judged that in the northern cold and snow they could advance no farther, so he unloaded the grain beside the terrace for temporary storage, intending to resume transport when spring came. He estimated that by the time the main army arrived the supplies would be adequate, and hurried a report to the throne. Taizong was displeased and sent an edict to Ting: "In warfare, clumsy speed is valued; skilled delay is not. I intend a major campaign in the spring of the nineteenth year, yet you speak of transporting supplies in the twentieth — that is absurd. He then sent Wei Huaizhi, magistrate of Fanshi, to Ting's post to assess army provisions and inspect the canal. Huaizhi returned and reported, "Ting did not first inspect the transport canal but hastily gathered craftsmen to build ships and sent the grain downstream at once. At Lusi Terrace he discovered the canal was blocked and could go no farther; on the return journey the water had dried up, so he simply stored the grain where there was no level route onward. Moreover, while at Youzhou, Ting held drinking parties every day — conduct far removed from impartial public service. When Your Majesty campaigns next year, in my judgment the plan will hardly succeed. Taizong was furious. He ordered Li Daoyu, Chief Director of Palace Construction, to replace him, and sent Supervising Secretary Tang Lin posthaste to escort Ting in fetters to Luoyang. By official deliberation Ting's name was struck from the rolls, and he was reduced to following as a commoner in undyed dress. When the vanguard captured Gaemu fortress, an edict ordered Ting to command troops and garrison the place, signaling that he might gradually be restored to favor. Ting's garrison was far from the main army and bordered on Goguryeo's Xincheng. Fighting went on day and night, and the din of drums and battle cries never ceased. Ting could not endure the strain and was also bitter over his demotion. He had long been friendly with the magician Gongsun Chang and wrote to him to unburden his feelings. When Chang was detained on another charge and hanged himself, a search of his belongings turned up Ting's letter, describing the city's peril and containing words of complaint and regret. Taizong, judging that Ting harbored resentment, demoted him to prefect of Xiangzhou. A little more than a year later he died, at the age of fifty-eight.

子待價，初為左千牛備身。永徽中，江夏王道宗得罪，待價即道宗之婿也，緣坐左遷盧龍府果毅。時將軍辛文陵率兵招慰高麗，行至吐護真水，高麗掩其不備，襲擊敗之。待價與中郎將薛仁貴受詔經略東蕃，因率所部救之。文陵苦戰，賊漸退，軍始獲全。待價被重瘡，流矢中其左足，竟不言其功，以足疾免官而歸。後累授蘭州刺史。時吐蕃屢為邊患，高宗以沛王賢為涼州大都督，以待價為司馬。俄又遷蕭州刺史，頻有守禦之功，征拜右武衛將軍，兼檢校右羽林軍事。儀鳳三年，吐蕃又犯塞，待價復以本官檢校涼州都督，兼知鎮守兵馬事。俄又征還舊職，復封扶陽侯。則天臨朝，拜吏部尚書，攝司空。營高宗山陵，功畢，加金紫光祿大夫，改為天官尚書、同鳳閣鸞台三品，賜物一千段，仍與一子五品。待價素無藻鑑之才，自武職而起，居選部，既銓綜無敘，甚為當時所嗤。垂拱元年十月，復為燕然道行軍大總管，以御突厥。明年春還。六月，拜文昌右相，依舊同鳳閣鸞台三品。既累登非據，頗不自安，頻上表辭職，則天每降優制不許之。又表請削官秩，回恩贈父，於是贈挺潤州刺史。明年，上疏請自效戎旅之用，於是拜安息道行軍大總管，督三十六總管以討吐蕃，進封扶陽郡公。軍至寅識迦河，與吐蕃合戰，初勝後敗。又屬天寒凍雪，師人多死，糧饋又不支給，乃旋師弓月，頓於高昌。則天大怒，副將閻溫古以逗留伏法，待價坐除名，配流繡州，尋卒。

His son Daijia began as a guard of the Left Thousand-Bull unit. During the Yonghui period, Prince Jiangxia Li Daozong was punished. Daijia, who was married to Daozong's daughter, was implicated and demoted to captain of the Lulong militia. At that time General Xin Wenling led troops to pacify Goguryeo. When they reached the Tuhuzhen River, the Goguryeo forces caught them unprepared and routed them. Daijia and Majordomo Xue Rengui received orders to manage the eastern frontier and led their troops to the rescue. Wenling fought fiercely until the enemy gradually withdrew, and the army was at last saved. Daijia was badly wounded; a stray arrow struck his left foot. He never spoke of his achievements and was dismissed on account of his foot injury, then returned home. He was later appointed in succession to the prefecture of Lanzhou. At that time Tibet was a repeated menace on the frontier. Gaozong appointed Prince Xian of Pei Grand Governor of Liangzhou, with Daijia as his secretary. He was soon transferred to prefect of Xiao, where he won repeated successes in defense. He was summoned and appointed General of the Right Martial Guards, with concurrent oversight of the Right Forest Army. In the third year of Yifeng, Tibet invaded the frontier again. Daijia was again appointed acting Governor of Liangzhou in his former capacity, with charge of garrison troops. He was soon recalled to his former post and again enfeoffed as Marquis of Fuyang. When Wu Zetian assumed power, she appointed him Minister of Personnel and acting Minister of Works. He supervised construction of Gaozong's mausoleum. When the work was finished he was promoted to Grand Master of the Golden-Purple Glory Light, made Minister of the Heavenly Officials with equal Third Rank at the Phoenix Pavilion and Crane Platform, granted a thousand rolls of goods, and given a fifth-rank post for one of his sons. Daijia had never possessed a gift for judging men. Rising from a military career to head the selection bureau, his appointments were chaotic, and he was widely ridiculed at court. In the tenth month of the first year of Chuigong he was again appointed Great General on Campaign of the Yanran circuit to repel the Turks. He returned the following spring. In the sixth month he was appointed Right Chancellor of the Literary Gloss Palace, retaining equal Third Rank at the Phoenix Pavilion and Crane Platform. Having risen repeatedly beyond his deserts, he grew uneasy and often memorialized to resign, but Wu Zetian each time sent gracious edicts refusing his request. He also asked to reduce his own rank and transfer the honor to his father; Ting was accordingly posthumously enfeoffed as prefect of Runzhou. The following year he memorialized offering himself for military service. He was appointed Great General on Campaign of the Anxi circuit, commanding thirty-six subordinate generals against Tibet, and promoted to Duke of Fuyang Commandery. The army reached the Yanshijia River and engaged the Tibetans. They were victorious at first, then defeated. Severe cold and blizzards followed, and many soldiers perished. Provisions ran short, so the army withdrew to Gongyue and encamped at Gaochang. Wu Zetian was furious. Her deputy Yan Wengu was executed for delay, while Daijia was struck from the rolls and exiled to Xiuzhou, where he soon died.

弟萬石，頗有學業，而特善音律。上元中，自吏部郎中遷太常少卿。當時郊廟樂調及宴會雜樂，皆萬石與太史令姚玄辯增損之，時人以為稱職。尋又兼知吏部選事，卒官。挺從祖兄子安石，別有傳。

His younger brother Wanshi was a man of considerable learning and was especially accomplished in music. During the Shangyuan period he was promoted from Director in the Ministry of Personnel to Vice Minister of Court Ceremonials. At that time the music for suburban and ancestral rites, as well as the miscellaneous pieces used at banquets, were all revised by Wanshi and the Director of Astronomy Yao Xuanbian, and contemporaries judged them competent in their posts. He soon took on concurrent charge of personnel selection in the Ministry of Personnel and died in office. Anshi, a son of Ting's second cousin, is treated in a separate biography.

楊纂，華州華陰人也。祖儉，周東雍州刺史。父文偉，隋溫州刺史。纂略涉經史，尤明時務。少與琅邪顏師古、燉煌令狐德棻友善。大業中，進士舉，授朔方郡司法書佐，坐楊玄感近屬除名，乃家於蒲城。義軍渡河，於長春宮謁見。累授侍御史。數上書言事，因被召問，擢為考功郎中。貞觀初，長安令，賜爵長安縣男。有婦人袁氏妖逆，為人所告，纂究問之，不得其狀。袁氏後又事發伏誅，太宗以纂為不忠，將殺之。中書令溫彥博以纂過誤，罪不至死，固諫，乃赦之。三遷吏部侍郎。八年，副特進蕭瑀為河南道巡察大使，與瑀情有不協，屢相表奏，瑀因以獲罪。纂尋拜尚書左丞。纂既長於吏道，所在皆有聲績。俄又除吏部侍郎。前後典選十餘載，銓敘人倫，稱為允當。然而抑文雅，進酷吏，觀時任數，頗為時論所譏。後歷太常少卿、雍州別駕，加銀青光祿大夫。復為尚書左丞，遷太僕卿，檢校雍州別駕。遷戶部尚書。永徽初卒，贈幽州都督，謚曰敬。子守愚，則天時官至雍州長史；守挹，岐州刺史。族子弘禮。

Yang Zuan was a native of Huayin in Huazhou. His grandfather Jian had served as prefect of Eastern Yongzhou under the Zhou. His father Wenwei had been prefect of Wenzhou under the Sui. Zuan had a working knowledge of the classics and histories and was especially well versed in affairs of the day. In his youth he was close friends with Yan Shigu of Langya and Linghu Defen of Dunhuang. During the Daye period he passed the jinshi examination and was appointed judicial secretary of Shuofang commandery. Because he was a relative of Yang Xuangan, his name was struck from the rolls, and he settled in Pucheng. When the righteous army crossed the river, he presented himself at Changchun Palace. He was appointed in succession to the post of attendant censor. He submitted several memorials on public affairs, was summoned for questioning, and was promoted to Director of Merit in the Ministry of Personnel. Early in the Zhenguan reign he served as magistrate of Chang'an and was enfeoffed as Baron of Chang'an County. A woman surnamed Yuan was accused of sorcery and sedition. Zuan investigated but could not establish the facts of the case. When Yuan's crimes later came to light and she was executed, Taizong judged Zuan disloyal and was about to put him to death. Director of the Secretariat Wen Yanbo argued that Zuan's offense was a mistake and did not warrant death. He remonstrated firmly, and Zuan was pardoned. He was promoted three times, eventually reaching Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. In the eighth year he served as deputy to Special Palace Attendant Xiao Yu, inspection commissioner on the Henan circuit. He and Xiao Yu were on bad terms and repeatedly memorialized against each other, and Xiao Yu was consequently punished. Zuan was soon appointed Left Vice Minister of the Department of State Affairs. Zuan was skilled in administrative affairs, and wherever he served he left a distinguished record. Before long he was again made Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. He presided over official selection for more than ten years in all, evaluating and ranking candidates, and was widely regarded as even-handed. Yet he disfavored men of refined learning, promoted harsh officials, and tailored his conduct to the times—a course that drew considerable criticism from his contemporaries. He later served in succession as Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and Vice Prefect of Yongzhou, and was granted the honorary rank of Silver-Gleam Glory Grand Master of the Palace. He again served as Left Vice Minister of the Department of State Affairs, was transferred to Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud, and concurrently served as Vice Prefect of Yongzhou. He was appointed Minister of Revenue. He died early in the Yonghui reign. Posthumously he was made Protector-General of Youzhou, with the posthumous epithet Respected (Jing). His son Shouyu, during Empress Wu's reign, rose to chief secretary of Yongzhou; Shouyi served as prefect of Qizhou. A clansman, Hongli:

弘禮，隋尚書令素弟之子也。父岳，大業中為萬年令，與素子玄感不協，嘗密上表稱玄感必為亂。及玄感被誅，岳在長安系獄，帝遽使赦之。比使至，岳已為留守所殺，弘禮等遂免從坐。高祖受禪，以楊素隋代有勳業，詔弘禮襲封清河郡公，拜太子通事舍人。貞觀中，歷兵部員外郎，仍為西河道行軍大總管府長史，三遷中書舍人。太宗有事遼東，以弘禮有文武材，擢拜兵部侍郎，專典兵機之務。弘禮每入參謀議，出則統眾攻戰。駐蹕之陣，領馬步二十四軍，出其不意以擊之，所向摧破。太宗自山下見弘禮所統之眾，人皆盡力，殺獲居多，甚壯之。謂許敬宗等曰：「越公兒郎，故有家風矣。」時諸宰相併在定州留輔皇太子，唯有褚遂良、許敬宗及弘禮在行在所，掌知機務。二十年，拜中書侍郎。明年，加銀青光祿大夫，尋遷司農卿，兼充昆丘道副大總管，諸道軍將咸受節度。於是破處月，降處密，殺焉耆王，降馺支部，獲龜茲、于闐王。凱旋，未及行賞，太宗晏駕。弘禮頗忤大臣之旨，由是出為涇州刺史。永徽初，論昆丘之功，改授勝州都督。尋遷太府卿。四年卒，贈蘭州都督，謚曰質。弟弘武。

Hongli was a son of the younger brother of Yang Su, who had served as Director of the Department of State Affairs under the Sui. His father Yue had been magistrate of Wannian during the Daye period. He was on bad terms with Yang Su's son Xuangan and once secretly memorialized the throne that Xuangan would inevitably rebel. When Xuangan was executed, Yue was imprisoned in Chang'an. The emperor immediately sent orders to pardon him. But before the messenger arrived, Yue had already been executed by the acting governor of Chang'an. Hongli and his kin were thus spared punishment as associates. When Gaozu accepted the transfer of the throne, he recognized Yang Su's distinguished service under the Sui. Hongli was ordered to inherit the title Duke of Qinghe and was appointed palace attendant in charge of miscellaneous affairs for the Crown Prince. During the Zhenguan reign he served as deputy director in the Ministry of War, then as chief secretary on the staff of the Grand General commanding the Western River circuit army, and was promoted three times to drafting secretary in the Secretariat. When Taizong campaigned in Liaodong, Hongli was promoted to Vice Minister of War for his combined civil and military abilities and was put solely in charge of military planning. Hongli took part in strategic deliberations when at headquarters and led troops in assault when in the field. At the encamped battle formation at Zhuji, he led twenty-four combined cavalry and infantry armies and struck with surprise attacks, crushing the enemy wherever he advanced. Watching from the foot of the mountain, Taizong saw the troops under Hongli's command fighting with all their strength and amassing many kills and captures. He was greatly impressed. He said to Xu Jingzong and the others, "The sons of the Duke of Yue truly show their family's tradition." At the time the other chief ministers had all remained at Dingzhou to assist the Crown Prince; only Chu Suiliang, Xu Jingzong, and Hongli accompanied the emperor on campaign and handled urgent state affairs. In the twentieth year of the reign he was appointed Vice Director of the Secretariat. The following year he was granted the honorary rank of Silver-Gleam Glory Grand Master of the Palace. He was soon transferred to Minister of Public Works and concurrently appointed deputy grand general on the Kunqiu circuit, with all regional commanders placed under his authority. In these campaigns he defeated the Chuyue, accepted the surrender of the Chumi, killed the king of Yanqi, brought the Sabu tribe to submission, and took captive the kings of Kucha and Khotan. He returned in triumph, but before rewards could be distributed, Emperor Taizong died. Hongli had seriously offended the chief ministers and was consequently transferred out to serve as prefect of Jingzhou. Early in the Yonghui reign, in recognition of his service on the Kunqiu campaign, he was reassigned as Protector-General of Shengzhou. He was soon appointed Minister of the Court of the Imperial Treasury. He died in the fourth year of the reign. Posthumously he was made Protector-General of Lanzhou, with the posthumous epithet Integrity (Zhi). His younger brother, Hongwu:

弘武少修謹，武德初，拜左千牛備身。永徽中，為吏部郎中。孝敬初，為皇太子精擇僚采，以弘武為中舍人。麟德中，將有事於東嶽，弘武自荊州司馬擢拜司戎少常伯。從駕還，高宗特令弘武補授吏部選人五品已上官，由是漸見親委。後母榮國夫人楊氏，以與弘武同宗，又稱薦之，俄遷西台侍郎。乾封二年，與戴至德、李安期等同東西台三品。及在政事，頗以清簡見稱。總章元年，卒於官，贈汴州刺史，謚曰恭。

Hongwu was from youth disciplined and conscientious. Early in the Wude reign he was appointed attendant of the Left Office of the Palace Horse Guard. During the Yonghui reign he served as a director in the Ministry of Personnel. When the Crown Prince's household was being carefully staffed early in the Xiaojing era, Hongwu was appointed palace secretary. During the Linde era, as preparations were underway for ceremonies at Mount Tai, Hongwu was promoted from secretary-general of Jingzhou to Lesser Director on the Left of the Guard of the Realm. On the return from the imperial tour, Gaozong specially authorized Hongwu to appoint fifth-rank officials and above from among personnel candidates, and from this he gradually gained the emperor's trust. His stepmother, Lady Yang of the State of Glory, who was of the same Yang clan, also recommended him, and he was soon transferred to Vice Director of the Western Terrace. In the second year of Qianfeng he was made a Third-Rank official of the combined Eastern and Western Terraces, serving alongside Dai Zhide and Li Anqi. In office he won praise for his integrity and restraint. He died in office in the first year of Zongzhang. Posthumously he was made prefect of Bianzhou, with the posthumous epithet Respectful (Gong).

子元亨，則天時為司府少卿；元禧，尚食奉御。元禧頗有醫術，為則天所任。嘗忤張易之之意，易之密奏元禧是楊素兄弟之後，素父子在隋有逆節，子孫不合供奉。則天乃下制曰：「隋尚書令楊素，昔在本朝，早荷殊遇。稟凶邪之德，懷諂佞之才，惑亂君上，離間骨肉。搖動冢嫡，寧唯掘蠱之禍？誘扇後主，卒成請蹯之釁。隋室喪亡，蓋惟多僻，究其萌兆，實此之由。生為不忠之人，死為不義之鬼，身雖倖免，子竟族誅。斯則奸逆之謀，是其庭訓；險薄之行，遂成門風。刑戮雖加，枝胤仍在，豈可復肩隨近侍，齒跡朝行？朕接統百王，恭臨四海，上嘉賢佐，下捍賊臣，常欲從容於萬機之餘，褒貶於千載之外，況年代未遠，耳目所存者乎？其楊素及兄弟子孫，並不得令任京官及侍衛。」於是左貶元亨為睦州刺史，元禧為資州長史，元禧弟緱氏令元禕為梓州司馬。張易之誅後，元亨等皆復任京職，元亨至齊州刺史，元禧台州刺史，元禕宣州刺史。

His son Yuanheng, during Empress Wu's reign, served as Vice Minister of the Court of the Imperial Treasury; Yuanxi served as commissioner of imperial provisions. Yuanxi was skilled in medicine and enjoyed Empress Wu's trust. After he once offended Zhang Yizhi, Yizhi secretly memorialized that Yuanxi was a descendant of Yang Su's kin, that Yang Su and his son had committed treason under the Sui, and that their descendants were unfit to serve at court. Empress Wu then issued an edict: "Yang Su, who had served as Director of the Department of State Affairs under the Sui, was once greatly favored in our own dynasty. He was by nature vicious and corrupt, skilled in flattery and sycophancy; he misled the sovereign and set kin against kin. He undermined the legitimate heir—the uprooting-sorcery scandal was hardly his only crime. He goaded the last Sui emperor until their quarrel culminated in the notorious affair of 'requesting the emperor's leg.' The fall of the Sui was brought on by many depravities, but tracing the first seeds of disaster leads back to him. He lived as a traitor and died a faithless spirit. Though he himself narrowly escaped punishment, his sons were ultimately wiped out to the last clan. Treason and rebellion were the lessons taught in his household; Cunning and depravity became the family way. Even after executions, his line survives. How can his descendants again walk among imperial attendants and take their place in the court ranks? Having inherited the throne from a hundred sage rulers and ruling over the realm, I honor worthy ministers and cast out traitors. I have long wished, even amid the press of governance, to render judgment for posterity—and all the more when the events are recent and still fresh in living memory. None of Yang Su's brothers and their descendants shall be permitted to hold offices in the capital or serve as imperial guards." Accordingly Yuanheng was demoted to prefect of Muzhou, Yuanxi to chief secretary of Zizhou, and Yuanxi's younger brother Yuanyi, formerly magistrate of Gou County, to secretary of Zizhou. After Zhang Yizhi's execution, Yuanheng and the others were all restored to office; Yuanheng eventually became prefect of Qizhou, Yuanxi prefect of Taizhou, and Yuanyi prefect of Xuanzhou.

劉德威

Liu Dewei

劉德威，徐州彭城人也。父子將，隋毗陵郡通守。德威姿貌魁偉，頗以干略見稱。大業末，從左光祿大夫裴仁基討賊淮左，手斬賊帥李青珪，傳首於行在所。後與仁基同歸李密，密素聞其名，與麾下兵，令於懷州鎮守。武德元年，密與王世充戰敗入朝，德威亦率所部隨密歸款。高祖嘉之，授左武候將軍，封滕縣公。及劉武周南侵，詔德威統兵擊之，又判并州總管府司馬。俄而裴寂失律於介州，齊王元吉棄并州還朝，留德威總知留府事。元吉才出，武周已至城下，百姓相率投賊。武周獲德威，令率其本兵往浩州招慰。德威自拔歸朝，高祖親勞問之，兼陳賊中虛實及晉、絳諸部利害，高祖皆嘉納之。改封彭城縣公。未幾，檢校大理少卿。從擒建德，平世充，皆有功，轉刑部侍郎，加散騎常侍，妻以平壽縣主。貞觀初，歷大理、太僕二卿，加金紫光祿大夫。俄出為綿州刺史，以廉平著稱，百姓為之立碑。尋檢校益州大都督府長史。十一年，復授大理卿。太宗嘗問之曰：「近來刑網稍密，其過安在？」德威奏言：「誠在主上，不由臣下。人主好寬則寬，好急則急，律文失入減三等，失出減五等。今則反是，失入則無辜，失出便獲大罪。所以吏各自愛，競執深文，非有教使之然，畏罪之所致耳。陛下但舍所急，則『寧失不經』復行於今日矣。」太宗深然之。數歲，遷刑部尚書，兼檢校雍州別駕。十七年，馳驛往濟州推齊王祐還，至濮州，聞祐殺長史權萬紀，德威入據濟州，遣使以聞。詔德威便發河南兵馬，以申經略，會遭母憂而罷。十八年，起為遂州刺史，三遷同州刺史。永徽三年卒，年七十一。贈禮部尚書、幽州都督，謚曰襄，陪葬獻陵。德威閨門友穆，接物寬平，所得財貨，多以分贍宗親。子審禮襲爵。

Liu Dewei was a native of Pengcheng in Xuzhou. His father Zijiang had served as acting governor of Piling commandery under the Sui. Dewei was a man of imposing stature and was widely noted for his practical ability and strategic sense. At the end of the Daye era he followed Left Glory Grand Master of the Palace Pei Renji in campaigning against bandits along the lower Huai. He personally beheaded the bandit leader Li Qinggui and sent the head to the emperor's field headquarters. He later joined Renji in submitting to Li Mi. Mi, who had long heard of his reputation, gave him a command and posted him to hold Huaizhou. In the first year of Wude, Li Mi was defeated by Wang Shichong and surrendered to the Tang court. Dewei led his troops in following Mi to submit. Gaozu commended him, appointing him General of the Left Martial Guard and enfeoffing him as Duke of Teng County. When Liu Wuzhou invaded from the north, Dewei was ordered to command troops against him and was concurrently appointed secretary of the Bingzhou headquarters. Soon afterward Pei Ji suffered defeat at Jiezhou. Prince of Qi Li Yuanji abandoned Bingzhou and returned to court, leaving Dewei in overall charge of the headquarters there. Yuanji had barely departed when Wuzhou's forces were already at the city walls, and the populace surrendered to the enemy in droves. Wuzhou captured Dewei and ordered him to lead his former troops to Haozhou to win over the local population. Dewei escaped and returned to the Tang court. Gaozu personally received him and questioned him at length. Dewei reported on conditions among the rebels and on the strategic situation in Jin and Jiang, and Gaozu welcomed all his counsel. His title was changed to Duke of Pengcheng County. Before long he was appointed acting Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. He distinguished himself in the captures of Dou Jiande and Wang Shichong. He was transferred to Vice Minister of Justice, given the additional title of Palace Attendant, and married to the Princess of Pingshou County. Early in the Zhenguan reign he served in succession as Minister of Judicial Review and Minister of the Imperial Stud, and was granted the honorary rank of Golden-Gleam Glory Grand Master of the Palace. He was soon transferred to serve as prefect of Mianzhou, where his integrity and fairness won renown and the people erected a monument in his honor. He was soon appointed acting chief secretary of the Yizhou headquarters. In the eleventh year of the reign he was again appointed Minister of Judicial Review. Taizong once asked him, "Punishments have grown noticeably harsher of late. Where does the fault lie?" Dewei replied, "Truly the cause lies with Your Majesty, not with your officials. When the ruler favors leniency, officials are lenient; when he favors severity, they are severe. The law stipulates that an erroneous conviction reduces the official's penalty by three degrees, an erroneous acquittal by five. Today it is the reverse: a judge who wrongly convicts goes unpunished, while one who wrongly acquits faces heavy punishment. That is why officials look out for themselves and compete in applying the harshest interpretation of the law—not because anyone orders them to, but because they fear punishment. If Your Majesty would only set aside this emphasis on severity, the principle that it is better to err in acquittal than in conviction would prevail again." Emperor Taizong strongly agreed. Several years later he was appointed Minister of Justice and concurrently served as Vice Prefect of Yongzhou. In the seventeenth year he rode post-horses to Jizhou to escort Prince of Qi Li You back to court. Reaching Puzhou, he learned that Li You had killed his chief secretary Quan Wanji. Dewei entered and secured Jizhou, then dispatched a messenger to report to the throne. An edict ordered him to mobilize Henan troops immediately to take control of the situation, but he was compelled to withdraw when his mother died. In the eighteenth year he was recalled from mourning to serve as prefect of Suizhou, and was later promoted three times, eventually becoming prefect of Tongzhou. He died in the third year of the Yonghui reign, at the age of seventy-one. Posthumously he was made Minister of Rites and Protector-General of Youzhou, with the posthumous epithet Xiang (Assisting). He was buried near Xian Mausoleum. Within his household Dewei was cordial and harmonious; in dealing with others he was generous and even-handed. Much of what he acquired he distributed among his kinsmen. His son Shenli inherited his title.

審禮，少喪母，為祖母元氏所養。隋末，德威從裴仁基討擊，道路不通。審禮年未弱冠，自鄉里負載元氏，渡江避亂。及天下定，始西入長安。元氏若有疾，審禮必親嘗湯藥，元氏顧謂孫曰：「我兒孝順，貫徹幽微，吾一顧念，宿疾頓輕。」貞觀中，歷左驍衛郎將。丁父憂去職。及葬，跣足隨車，流血灑地，行路稱之。服闋當襲爵，累表讓弟，朝議不許。永徽中，累遷將作大匠，兼檢校燕然都護，襲封彭城郡公。審禮父歿雖久，猶悲慕不已，每見父時僚舊，必嗚咽流涕。母鄭氏早亡，事繼母平壽縣主，稍疾輒憂懼形於容色，終夕不寐。撫繼母男延景，友愛甚篤。所得祿俸，皆送母處，以資延景之費；而審禮妻子處飢寒，晏然未嘗介意。再從同居，家無異爨，合門二百餘口，人無間言。稍遷工部尚書，兼檢校左衛大將軍。儀鳳二年，吐蕃寇涼州，命審禮為行軍總管，與中書令李敬玄合勢討擊。遇賊於青海，敬玄後期不至，審禮事敗，為賊所執。永隆二年，卒於蕃中。贈工部尚書，謚曰僖。延景，官至陝州刺史，睿宗初，以後父追贈尚書右僕射。

Shenli lost his mother at a young age and was raised by his grandmother, née Yuan. At the end of the Sui, Dewei joined Pei Renji on campaign, but communications were cut off. Shenli was still in his teens. He carried his grandmother Yuan on his back from their home village, crossed the Yangzi, and fled the turmoil. Only after the realm was pacified did they travel west to Chang'an. Whenever Yuan fell ill, Shenli always tasted her medicine himself. Yuan would turn to her grandson and say, "This child is truly filial—his devotion reaches into the smallest details. The moment I think of him, my chronic ailments ease." During the Zhenguan reign he served as commander in the Left Martial Roaming Guard. He left office to observe mourning for his father. At the funeral he walked barefoot behind the coffin, the blood from his torn feet staining the ground—a display of grief that passersby praised. When his mourning ended he was due to inherit the title, but he repeatedly petitioned to yield it to his younger brother. The court would not allow it. During Yonghui he rose to Grand Master of Palace Construction and acting Protector-General of Yanran, and inherited the title Duke of Pengcheng. Long after his father's death, Shenli still mourned him deeply. Whenever he met his father's former colleagues, he would weep aloud. His mother, Lady Zheng, had died young. He cared for his stepmother, the Princess of Pingshou County; at the slightest sign of illness his face showed fear and he would go without sleep all night. He raised his stepmother's son Yanjing with deep affection. He sent all his salary to his stepmother to cover Yanjing's expenses; while Shenli's own wife and children lived in hunger and cold—yet he remained untroubled and never complained. Cousins of the second and third degree lived together under one roof with a single kitchen. More than two hundred people shared the household, and no one spoke ill of one another. He was later promoted to Minister of Works and acting Grand General of the Left Guard. In 677, when Tibet invaded Liangzhou, Shenli was appointed campaign commander and joined Chief Minister Li Jingxuan in a joint offensive. They met the enemy at Qinghai Lake. Jingxuan failed to arrive on time, the campaign collapsed, and Shenli was captured. In 681 he died in Tibetan captivity. He was posthumously honored as Minister of Works with the posthumous name Xi. Yanjing rose to prefect of Shanzhou. At the start of Emperor Ruizong's reign he was posthumously made Right Vice Minister of State as the empress's father.

審禮子易從，歷位岐州司兵參軍。審禮之沒吐蕃，詔許易從入蕃省之。及審禮卒，易從號哭，晝夜不止，毀瘠過禮。吐蕃哀其志行，還其父屍柩，易從徒跣萬里，扶護歸彭城，為朝野之所嗟賞。後歷彭州長史、任城男。永昌中，坐為徐敬貞所誣構遇害。易從在官仁恕，及將刑，人吏無遠近奔走，競解衣相率造功德，以為長史祈福，州人從之者十餘萬。其為人所愛如此。易從子升，開元中，為中書舍人、太子右庶子。

Shenli's son Yicong served as army registrar in Qizhou. After Shenli was lost in Tibet, the court authorized Yicong to travel there to see him. When Shenli died, Yicong wailed day and night without stopping, wasting away beyond what mourning rites required. Moved by his devotion, the Tibetans returned his father's coffin. Yicong walked barefoot three thousand miles, escorting it home to Pengcheng—a feat admired throughout the court and the realm. He later served as chief administrator of Pengzhou and was enfeoffed as Baron of Rencheng. During Yongchang he was framed by Xu Jingzhen and put to death. Yicong was known for his kindness in office. When he was about to be executed, officials and commoners from far and near rushed to strip off their clothes and perform acts of merit on his behalf; more than a hundred thousand people in the prefecture joined them. Such was the affection in which he was held. Yicong's son Sheng served under Emperor Xuanzong as a secretariat drafter and right censor to the crown prince.

審禮從父弟延嗣，文明年為潤州司馬，屬徐敬業作亂，率眾攻潤州，延嗣與刺史李思文固守不降。俄而城陷，敬業執延嗣，邀之令降，辭曰：「延嗣世蒙國恩，當思效命，州城不守，多負朝廷。終不能苟免偷生，以累宗族，豈以一身之故，為千載之辱？今日之事，得死為幸。」敬業大怒，將斬之，其黨魏思溫救之獲免，乃囚之於江都獄。俄而賊敗，竟以裴炎近親，不得敘功，遷為梓州長史，再轉汾州刺史卒。宗族至刺史者二十餘人。

Shenli's cousin Yansi was prefectural secretary of Runzhou during the Wensheng era. When Xu Jingye rebelled and besieged the city, Yansi and Prefect Li Siwen held out and refused to surrender. Soon the city fell. Jingye captured Yansi and pressed him to submit. Yansi replied, "My family has received the state's favor for generations. I should have given my life in its service. I failed to hold the city and have already wronged the court. I could never save myself at the cost of disgracing my clan for generations. How could I preserve my own life and bring eternal shame on my family? As for what faces me today, to die is my good fortune." Jingye flew into a rage and was about to execute him, but his follower Wei Siwen intervened and saved him. Yansi was imprisoned in the jail at Jiangdu instead. When the rebels were soon defeated, he received no reward because of his kinship to Pei Yan. He was transferred to chief administrator of Zizhou, then prefect of Fenzhou, where he died. More than twenty men of the clan rose to the rank of prefect.

閻立德

Yan Lide

閻立德，雍州萬年人，隋殿內少監毗之子也。其先自馬邑徙關中。毗初以工藝知名，立德與弟立本，早傳家業。武德中，累除尚衣奉御，立德所造袞冕大裘等六服並腰輿傘扇，咸依典式，時人稱之。貞觀初，歷遷將作少匠，封太安縣男。高祖崩，立德以營山陵功，擢為將作大匠。貞觀十年，文德皇后崩，又令攝司空，營昭陵。坐怠慢解職。俄起為博州刺史。十三年，復為將作大匠。十八年，從征高麗，及師旅至遼澤，東西二百餘里泥淖，人馬不通。立德填道造橋，兵無留礙。太宗甚悅。尋受詔造翠微宮及玉華宮，咸稱旨，賞賜甚厚。俄遷工部尚書。二十三年，攝司空，營護太宗山陵。事畢，進封為公。顯慶元年卒，贈吏部尚書、并州都督。玄邃子，官至司農少卿。玄邃子知微，聖歷初，歷位右豹韜衛將軍。時突厥默啜有女請和親，則天令淮陽王武延秀往納其女，命知微攝春官尚書送赴虜廷。默啜以延秀非皇室諸王，大怒，遂拘之別所，與知微率眾自恆岳道攻陷趙、定二州。知微經歲余自突厥所還，則天以其隨賊入寇，令百官臠割，然後斬之，並夷其三族。

Yan Lide was a native of Wannian in Yongzhou and the son of Pi, who had served as Sui Palace Attendant of the Inner Hall. His family had migrated from Mayi to the Guanzhong region. Pi had first won renown as a craftsman; Lide and his younger brother Liben inherited the family trade from an early age. During Wude he was repeatedly appointed Master of Imperial Robes. The six ceremonial garments he produced—including the sacrificial robes and great fur cloak—as well as imperial litters, parasols, and fans all conformed to canonical specifications, and contemporaries praised his work. At the start of the Zhenguan reign he rose to Vice Master of Palace Construction and was enfeoffed Baron of Tai'an. After Gaozu's death, Lide was promoted to Grand Master of Palace Construction for overseeing the imperial tomb. In 636, when Empress Wende died, he was again ordered to serve as acting Minister of Works and build Zhaoling. He was dismissed for negligence. He was soon reappointed prefect of Bozhou. In 639 he returned to the post of Grand Master of Palace Construction. In 644 he accompanied the campaign against Goguryeo. When the army reached the Liaodong marshes, two hundred li of mud blocked the way and neither men nor horses could pass. Lide filled in the road and built bridges, and the army advanced without delay. Taizong was greatly pleased. He was soon ordered to build Cuwei Palace and Yuhua Palace. Both projects met with the emperor's approval, and he received lavish rewards. He was soon promoted to Minister of Works. In 649 he served as acting Minister of Works and supervised construction of Taizong's tomb. When the work was complete his title was raised to duke. He died in 656 and was posthumously honored as Minister of State and area commander of Bingzhou. His son Xuansui rose to Vice Director of the Court of the Imperial Granaries. Xuansui's son Zhiwei served under Empress Wu as general of the Right Leopard-Bow Guard. When the Türk chieftain Mo-ch'o sought a marriage alliance, Empress Wu sent Prince Huaiyang Wu Yanxiu to receive his daughter and appointed Zhiwei acting Minister of Rites to escort the party to the Türk court. Mo-ch'o was furious that Yanxiu was not a prince of the imperial clan. He imprisoned him separately, then joined Zhiwei in leading troops down the Heng Mountains route to capture Zhao and Ding prefectures. More than a year later Zhiwei returned from Türk captivity. Empress Wu, holding that he had aided the enemy invasion, ordered the officials to carve his flesh before beheading him and exterminated his clan to the third degree.

立本，顯慶中累遷將作大匠，後代立德為工部尚書，兄弟相代為八座，時論榮之。總章元年，遷右相，賜爵博陵縣男。立本雖有應務之才，而尤善圖畫，工於寫真。《秦府十八學士圖》及貞觀中《凌煙閣功臣圖》，並立本之跡也，時人咸稱其妙。太宗嘗與侍臣學士泛舟於春苑，池中有異鳥，隨波容與。太宗擊賞，數詔座者為詠，召立本令寫焉。時閣外傳呼云：「畫師閻立本。」時已為主爵郎中，奔走流汗，俯伏池側，手揮丹粉，瞻望座賓，不勝愧赧。退誡其子曰：「吾少好讀書，倖免面牆，緣情染翰，頗及儕流。唯以丹青見知，躬廝役之務，辱莫大焉！汝宜深誡，勿習此末伎。」立本為性所好，欲罷不能也。及為右相，與左相姜恪對掌樞密。恪既歷任將軍，立功塞外；立本唯善於圖畫，非宰輔之器。故時人以《千字文》為語曰：「左相宣威沙漠，右相馳譽丹青。」咸亨元年，百司復舊名，改為中書令。四年卒。

Liben rose to Grand Master of Palace Construction during Xianqing and later succeeded his brother Lide as Minister of Works. The brothers held one of the eight highest offices in turn—a distinction widely admired. In 668 he was appointed Right Chancellor and enfeoffed Baron of Boling. Though Liben was capable in administrative affairs, he was above all a painter, especially skilled at portraiture. The "Eighteen Scholars of the Qin Prince's Mansion" and the Zhenguan-era "Meritorious Ministers of Lingyan Pavilion" were both his work, and contemporaries acclaimed their excellence. Taizong once went boating on the Spring Garden pond with his ministers and scholars. An unusual bird floated at ease upon the waves. Delighted, Taizong had those present compose poems about it and summoned Liben to paint the scene. From outside the hall came the call, "The painter Yan Liben—" By then he already held the rank of Master of Principal Honored Ranks. He ran up sweating, knelt by the pond, and painted with cinnabar while stealing glances at the guests—overcome with humiliation. Afterward he warned his sons, "I loved books from youth and was fortunate enough to receive a proper education. I took up the brush as well and kept pace with my peers. Yet I am known only for painting and am summoned to perform the work of a servant. There is no greater disgrace! Take this to heart and do not learn this low craft." Yet painting was Liben's true passion, and he could not bring himself to give it up. As Right Chancellor he shared control of state affairs with Left Chancellor Jiang Kuo. Kuo had served as a general and won distinction on the frontier; Liben was known only for painting—not the makings of a chief minister. People of the day summed it up in a line from the Thousand-Character Classic: "The left chancellor spreads his fame across the desert; the right chancellor wins renown with his brush." In 670, when offices reverted to their former titles, he was redesignated Chief Minister of the Secretariat. He died in 673.

柳亨，蒲州解人，魏尚書左僕射慶之孫也。父旦，隋太常少卿、新城縣公。亨，隋末歷熊耳、王屋二縣長，陷於李密。密敗歸國，累授駕部郎中。亨容貌魁偉，高祖甚愛重之，特以殿中監竇誕之女妻焉，即帝之外孫也。三遷左衛中郎將，封壽陵縣男。未幾，以譴出為邛州刺史。加散騎常侍，被代還，數年不調。因兄葬，遇太宗游於南山，召見與語，頗哀矜之。數日，北門引見，深加誨獎，拜銀青光祿大夫，行光祿少卿。太宗每誡之曰：「與卿舊親，情素兼宿，卿為人交遊過多，今授此職，宜存簡靜。」亨性好射獵，有饕湎之名。此後頗自勖勵，杜絕賓客，約身節儉，勤於職事。太宗亦以此稱之。二十三年，以修太廟功，加金紫光祿大夫。久之，拜太常卿，從幸萬年宮，檢校岐州刺史。永徽六年卒，贈禮部尚書、幽州都督，謚曰敬。

Liu Heng was a native of Jie County in Puzhou and the grandson of Liu Qingzhi, Wei Left Vice Minister of State. His father Dan had served as Sui Vice Minister of Imperial Sacrifices and Duke of Xincheng. At the end of the Sui, Heng served as magistrate of Xiong'er and Wangwu counties and was caught up in Li Mi's rebellion. After Li Mi's defeat he submitted to the Tang and was appointed master of the transport bureau. Heng was tall and imposing. Gaozu favored him greatly and gave him the daughter of Palace Attendant Dou Yan in marriage—she was the emperor's maternal granddaughter. After three promotions he became colonel of the Left Guard and was enfeoffed Baron of Shouling. Soon afterward he was demoted to prefect of Qiongzhou after being censured. He was given the added title of regular attendant, but after his term ended he went several years without a new posting. While attending his elder brother's funeral he met Taizong on an outing to South Mountain. The emperor summoned him, spoke with him, and was deeply moved by his circumstances. A few days later Taizong received him at the North Gate, exhorted and rewarded him, and appointed him Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of Imperial Entertainments, acting as vice minister of the same office. Taizong repeatedly warned him, "We are old kin, and I have long held you dear. You keep too wide a circle of friends. In this new office you must live simply and quietly." Heng loved archery and hunting and had a reputation for gluttony and heavy drinking. Thereafter he applied himself rigorously, stopped entertaining guests, lived frugally, and devoted himself to his duties. Taizong praised him for the change. In 649, for his work on the imperial ancestral temple, he was promoted to gold-gleaming grand master of imperial entertainments. He was later appointed Minister of Imperial Sacrifices, accompanied the emperor to Wannian Palace, and served as acting prefect of Qizhou. He died in 655 and was posthumously honored as Minister of Rites and area commander of Youzhou, with the posthumous name Jing.

亨族子范，貞觀中為侍御史。時吳王恪好畋獵，損居人，范奏彈之。太宗因謂侍臣：「權萬紀事我兒，不能匡正，其罪合死。」范進曰：「房玄齡事陛下，猶不能諫止畋獵，豈可獨罪萬紀？」太宗大怒，拂衣而入。久之，獨引范謂曰：「何得逆折我？」范曰：「臣聞主聖臣直，陛下仁明，臣敢不盡愚直。」太宗意乃解。范，高宗時歷位尚書右丞、揚州大都督府長史。

Heng's clansman Fan served as an attending censor during the Zhenguan reign. When Prince Wu of Wu indulged in hunting and harmed local residents, Fan memorialized the throne to impeach him. Taizong then told his ministers, "Quan Wanji attends my son yet failed to correct him. That is a capital offense." Fan replied, "Fang Xuanling serves Your Majesty yet could not stop your own hunting. How can Wanji alone be punished?" Taizong flew into a rage, shook off his robes, and stalked off. After some time he summoned Fan alone and said, "How dare you talk back to me so bluntly?" Fan answered, "I have heard that when the ruler is wise the minister speaks plainly. Your Majesty is benevolent and enlightened—how could I fail to speak my mind?" Taizong's anger subsided. Under Emperor Gaozong, Fan served as right vice director of the Department of State Affairs and chief administrator of Yangzhou.

亨兄子奭。奭父則，隋左衛騎曹，因使卒於高麗。奭入蕃迎喪柩，哀號逾禮，深為夷人所慕。貞觀中，累遷中書舍人。後以外生女為皇太子妃，擢拜兵部侍郎。妃為皇后，奭又遷中書侍郎。永徽三年，代褚遂良為中書令，仍監修國史。俄而後漸見疏忌，奭憂懼，頻上疏請辭樞密之任，轉為吏部尚書。及後廢，累貶愛州刺史。尋為許敬宗、李義府所構，雲奭潛通宮掖，謀行鴆毒，又與褚遂良等朋黨構扇，罪當大逆。高宗遣使就愛州殺之，籍沒其家。奭既死非其罪，甚為當時之所傷痛。神龍初，則天遺制，與褚遂良、韓瑗等並還官爵。子孫親屬當時緣坐者，咸從曠蕩。

Shi, nephew of Heng's elder brother. Shi's father Ze had served as Sui cavalry adjutant of the Left Guard and died in Goguryeo while on an embassy. Shi went into Goguryeo to bring back his father's coffin, mourning with such unrestrained grief that it exceeded proper ritual—and the foreigners deeply admired him for it. During the Zhenguan reign he rose through successive appointments to the post of Secretariat drafter. After his sister's daughter became consort to the crown prince, he was elevated to vice minister of war. When she was made empress, Shi was promoted again, this time to vice director of the Secretariat. In Yonghui 3 (652) he succeeded Chu Suiliang as director of the Secretariat and was also put in charge of compiling the dynastic history. Before long Empress Wang fell from favor; alarmed, Shi repeatedly memorialized the throne asking to be relieved of his confidential duties at court and was reassigned as minister of civil appointments. When the empress was deposed, he was stripped of rank repeatedly until he was sent as prefect of Ai Prefecture. Before long Xu Jingzong and Li Yifu manufactured charges that Shi had been in secret contact with the inner palace and was plotting poison, and that he had conspired in a clique with Chu Suiliang and others—a capital offense of treason. Emperor Gaozong sent agents to Ai Prefecture to execute him and seized all his family's assets. Shi had died for crimes he did not commit, and the injustice deeply grieved men of the time. At the start of the Shenlong era, Wu Zetian's posthumous edict restored official rank to him together with Chu Suiliang, Han Yuan, and the rest. All descendants and kin who had been punished by association were fully pardoned under the general amnesty.

開元初，亨孫渙為中書舍人，表曰：「臣堂伯祖奭，去明慶三年，與褚遂良等五家同被譴戮。雖蒙遺制蕩雪，而子孫亡沒並盡。唯有曾孫無忝，見貫龔州，蒙雪多年，猶同遠竄。陛下自臨宇縣，優政必被，鴻恩及於泉壤，大造加於亡絕。先天已後，頻降絲綸，曾任宰相之家，並許收其淪滯。況臣伯祖往叨執政，無犯受誅，藁窆尚隔故鄉，後嗣遂編蠻服。臣不申號訴，義所難安。伏乞許臣伯祖還葬鄉里，其曾孫無忝放歸本貫。」疏奏，敕令奭歸葬，官造靈輿遞還。無忝後歷位潭州都督。

Early in the Kaiyuan era Liu Huan, grandson of Liu Heng, wrote as a Secretariat drafter: "Your servant's grand-uncle Shi, in the third year of Xianqing, was executed along with four other families including Chu Suiliang's. Though the posthumous amnesty cleared their names, every descendant had perished. Only the great-great-grandson Wutan survived, registered in exile at Gong Prefecture; though exonerated years ago, he still lived as though banished to the farthest margins. Since Your Majesty took the throne, your gracious rule has reached every corner of the empire, your boundless kindness even to the dead beneath the earth, and new life to families that had been wiped out. Since the Xiantian era you have issued edict after edict allowing families of former chancellors to recall kin who had languished in disgrace. My grand-uncle once served at the highest level of government yet was put to death though guilty of nothing; his coffin still lies far from his homeland, and his heirs have been enrolled among the distant southern register. If I do not make this appeal, I cannot live with myself. I humbly ask that my grand-uncle be permitted burial in his native district, and that Wutan be allowed to return to his proper registry. The memorial was accepted. An imperial order directed that Shi be brought home for burial, with an official funeral carriage sent by relay to convey his remains. Wutan later served as military commissioner of Tanzhou.

渙弟澤，景雲中為右率府鎧曹參軍。先是，姚元之、宋璟知政事，奏請停中宗朝斜封官數千員。及元之等出為刺史，太平公主又特為之言，有敕總令復舊職。澤上疏諫曰：

Huan's younger brother Liu Ze served during the Jingyun era as equipment officer in the Right Guard directorate. Earlier, when Yao Yuanzhi and Song Jing held power, they had petitioned to dismiss the several thousand irregular appointees of Emperor Zhongzong's "slanted seal" era. After Yao and Song were sent out as regional prefects, Princess Taiping interceded for the dismissed officials, and an edict restored them all to their former posts. Liu Ze memorialized the throne in protest:

臣聞藥不毒，不可以蠲疾；詞不切，不可以補過。是以習甘旨者，非攝養之方；邇諛佞者，積危殆之本。臣實愚朴，志懷剛勵，或聞政之不當，事之不直，常慷慨關心，夢寐懷憤。每願殉身以諫，伏死而爭。但利於社稷，有便於君上，雖蒙禍被難，殺身不悔也。竊見神龍以來，群邪作孽，法網不振，綱維大紊，實由內寵專命，外嬖擅權，因貴憑寵，賣官鬻爵。硃紫之榮，出於僕妾之口；賞罰之命，乖於章程之典。妃主之門，有同商賈；舉選之署，實均阛阓。屠販之子，悉由邪而忝官；黜斥之人，咸因奸而冒進。天下為亂，社稷幾危，賴陛下聰明神武，拯其將墜。此陛下耳目之所親擊，固可永為炯誡者也。臣聞作法於理，猶恐其亂，作法於亂，誰能救之？只如斜封授官，皆是僕妾汲引，迷謬先帝，昧目前朝，豈是孝和情之所憐，心之所愛？陛下初即位時，納姚元之、宋璟之計，所以咸令黜之。頃日已來，又令敘之。將謂為斜封之人不忍棄也，以為先帝之意不可違也？若斜封之人不忍棄也，是韋月將、燕欽融之流亦不可褒贈也，李多祚、鄭克義之徒亦不可清雪也。陛下何不能忍於此而獨能忍於彼？使善惡不定，反覆相攻，使君子道消，小人道長，為邪者獲利，為正者銜冤，奈何導人以為非，勸人以為僻？將何以懲風俗，將何以止奸邪？今海內咸稱太平公主令胡僧慧范曲引此輩，將有誤於陛下矣。謗議盈耳，咨嗟滿衢，故語曰：「姚、宋為相，邪不如正。太平用事，正不如邪。」《書》曰：「無偏無陂，遵王之義，無反無側，王道正直。」臣恐因循，流近致遠，積小為大，累微起高。勿謂何傷，其禍將長；勿謂何害，其禍將大。又賞罰之典，紀綱不謬，天秩有禮，君爵有功，不可因怒以妄罰，不可因喜以妄賞。伏見尚醫奉御彭君慶，以邪巫小道，超授三品，奈何輕用名器，加非其才？昔公主為子求郎，明帝不許；今聖朝私愛，賞及憸人。董狐不亡，豈有所隱？臣聞賞一人而千萬人悅者賞之，罰一人而千萬人勸者罰之。臣雖未睹聖朝之妄罰，已睹聖朝之妄賞矣，《書》曰：「官不及私暱，惟其能；爵罔及惡德，惟其賢。」臣恐近習之人為其先容，有謬於陛下也。惟陛下熟思而察之。雖往者不可諫，而來者猶可追。願杜請謁之路，塞恩幸之門，鑑誡前非，無累後悔。申畫一之法，明不二之刑，不詢之謀勿庸，無稽之言勿應，則天下之化，人無間焉，日新之德，天鑑不遠。

I have heard that medicine must be bitter to cure disease; and words must be blunt to set things right. Those who feed only on sweetness know nothing of true nourishment; those who keep flatterers close are hoarding the seeds of ruin. I am no clever courtier, but my conscience is stiff: whenever I hear of wrong policy or crooked conduct, it burns in me waking and sleeping alike. I would gladly risk my life to speak out, die face down if I must, but speak I will. If it serves the realm and the throne, no penalty would make me regret it. Since the Shenlong era I have watched corruption run wild—the law in shreds, order in ruins—because palace favorites monopolized power and royal intimates sold rank and office to the highest bidder. Scarlet and purple robes were dispensed on a servant girl's whim; rewards and punishments bore no relation to the statutes. The consorts' households traded like market stalls; the Board of Civil Appointments might as well have been a bazaar. Butchers' sons bought their way into office; dismissed criminals clawed their way back through bribery and intrigue. The empire teetered on the brink; only Your Majesty's wisdom and force pulled it back from the edge. You saw this with your own eyes; let it stand forever as a warning. They say: even in good times, bad precedent is dangerous; establish bad precedent in troubled times and who can undo it? The "slanted seal" appointments were procured by servants and concubines—they deluded the late emperor and stain the present reign. Did Emperor Zhongzong truly cherish these men? When you first ascended the throne you followed Yao Yuanzhi and Song Jing's counsel and dismissed them all. Recently you have ordered them restored. Is it because you cannot bear to cast them aside—or because you feel bound by the late emperor's wishes? If you cannot abandon these appointees, then you cannot honor Wei Yuejiang and Yan Qinrong, nor clear the names of Li Duozuo and Zheng Keyi. Why is your forbearance reserved only for the corrupt? You leave good and evil in flux, the upright silenced and the crooked rewarded—why teach the realm that vice pays and virtue does not? How then will you reform public morals or restrain corruption? The empire whispers that Princess Taiping used the monk Huifan to manipulate these appointments—and to mislead you. The streets buzz with complaint, and people say: "When Yao and Song governed, vice gave way to virtue. Under Princess Taiping, virtue gives way to vice. The Book of Documents says: "Without partiality or bias, follow the royal way; without crookedness or deviation, the king's path is straight." I fear that small concessions now will swell into great calamity—that neglect today breeds disaster tomorrow. Do not ask "what harm can it do"—the harm will grow; do not ask "what damage"—the damage will be vast. Rewards and punishments are the backbone of government: rank must follow merit, never rage or favor. You must not punish in anger nor reward on whim. I see that Peng Junqing, the chief imperial physician, was leapfrogged to the third rank for sorcery and mumbo-jumbo—how can such a precious office be wasted on unworthy hands? When a princess once asked Emperor Ming to make her son a court gentleman, he refused; today private favor extends even to the venal. If Dong Hu still walked among us, could this be concealed from the annals? The wise ruler rewards where the multitude approves and punishes where the multitude is satisfied. I have not yet seen wrongful punishments under this reign, but I have seen wrongful rewards. The Book of Documents says: "Office goes not to personal favorites, but to the capable; rank never touches the wicked, but only the worthy. I fear those closest to you may have paved the way and led you astray. I beg Your Majesty to consider this carefully. What is done is done—but what lies ahead can still be set right. Close the doors to favor-seeking, shut off the paths of private patronage, learn from past mistakes, and spare yourself future regret. Uphold uniform law, apply justice without exception, heed no counsel undeliberated and no rumor unfounded—then the realm will be transformed without division, your virtue renewed day by day, under heaven's approving gaze.

澤後參選，會有敕令選人上書陳事，將加收擢，澤又上書曰：

Later, while Liu Ze was undergoing examination for office, an edict invited candidates to submit memorials on public affairs with promotion promised in return. Liu Ze wrote again:

頃者韋氏險诐，奸臣同惡。賞罰紊弛，綱紀紛綸，政以賄成，官因寵進，言正者獲戾，行殊者見疑，海內寒心，實將莫救。賴神明佑德，宗廟降靈，天討有罪，人用不保，陛下睿謀神聖，勇智聰明，安宗廟於已危，拯黎庶於將溺。今尨眉鮐背，歡欣踴躍，望聖朝之撫輯，聽聖朝之德音。今陛下蠲煩省徭，法明德舉，萬邦愷樂，室家胥慶。臣又聞危者保其存也，亂者有其理也。伏惟陛下安不忘危，理不忘亂，存不忘亡，則克享天心，國家長保矣。《詩》曰：「罔不有初，鮮克有終。」伏惟陛下慎厥終，修其初，非禮勿視，非禮勿動。《書》曰：「惟德罔小，萬邦惟慶，惟不德罔大，墜厥宗。」甚可畏也，甚可懼也，伏惟陛下慎之哉！夫驕奢起於親貴，綱紀亂於寵幸。願陛下禁之於親貴，則天下隨風矣；制之於寵幸，則天下法明矣。《詩》曰：「刑於寡妻，至於兄弟，以御於家邦。」若親貴為之而不禁，寵幸撓之而見從，是政之不常，令之不一，則奸詐斯起，暴亂生焉。雖嚴刑峻制，朝施暮戮，而法不行矣。縱陛下親之愛之，莫若安之福之。寵祿之過，罪之漸也，非安之也；驕奢之淫，危之本也，非福之也。前事不忘，後之師也，伏願陛下精求俊哲，朝夕納誨。縱有逆於耳、謬於心者，無速之罰，姑籌之以道，省於厥躬。雖木朴忌忤，願恕之以直，開諫諍之路也。或有順於耳、便於身者，無急之賞，當求諸非道，稽之典訓。其不協於德，必置之以法，用杜側媚之行也。有羞淫巧於陛下者，遽黜之，則淫巧息矣；有進忠讜於陛下者，遽賞之，則忠讜進矣。臣又聞生於富者驕，生於貴者傲。石碏曰：「臣聞愛子，教之以義方，不納於邪，驕奢淫逸，所自邪也。」《書》曰：「罔淫於逸，罔游於樂。」穆王有命，「實賴前後左右有位之士，繩愆糾謬，格其非心。」今儲宮肇建，王府初啟，至於僚友，必惟妙擇。今驕奢之後，流波未變；慢游之樂，餘風或存。夫小人幸臣，易合於意；奇伎淫巧，多適於心。臣恐狎於非德，茲為愈怠。《書》曰：「慎簡乃僚，無以巧言令色，其惟吉士。僕臣正，厥後克正；僕臣諛，厥後自聖。」伏願采溫良博聞之士，恭儉忠鯁之人，任以東宮及諸王府官，仍請東宮量署拾遺補闕之職。令朝夕講論，出入時從，授以訓誥，交修不迨。臣又聞馳騁畋獵，令人發狂。名教之中，自有樂地。承前貴戚，鮮克由禮。或打球擊鼓，比周伎術；或飛鷹奔犬，盤遊藪澤。此甚為不道，非進德修業之本也。《書》曰：「內作色荒，外作禽荒。」又曰：「無若丹硃傲，惟慢游是好。朋淫於家，用殄厥世。」伏惟陛下誕降謀訓，敦勤學業，示之以好惡，陳之以成敗，以義制事，以禮制心，圖之於未萌，慮之於未有，則福祿長享，與國並休矣。臣又聞富不與驕期而驕自至，驕不與罪期而罪自至，罪不與死期而死自至。信矣斯語，明哉至誡！頃韋庶人、安樂公主、武延秀等可謂貴矣，可謂寵矣，權侔人主，威震天下。然怙侈滅德，神怒人棄。豈不謂愛之太極，富之太多，不節之以禮，不防之以法，終轉吉為凶，變福為禍。諺曰：「千人所指，無病自死。」不其然歟？《書》曰：「殷鑑不遠，在彼夏王。」今陛下何勸，豈非皇祖謀訓之則也？今陛下何懲，豈非孝和寵任之甚也？《禮》曰：「愛而知其惡，憎而知其善。」可不慎哉！夫寵愛之心則不免，去其太甚，閒之禮節，適則可矣。今諸王、公主、駙馬，亦陛下之所親愛也。矯枉之道，在於厥初，鑑誡之義，其取不遠。使觀過務善，居寵思危，庶夙夜惟寅，聿修厥德。《經》曰：「在上不驕，高而不危，所以長守貴也；制節謹度，滿而不溢，所以長守富也。富貴不離其身，然後能保其社稷。」《書》曰：「制於官刑，警於有位。敢有常舞於宮，酣歌於室，時謂巫風；敢有徇於貨色，常於游畋，時謂淫風；敢有侮聖言，逆忠直，遠耆德，比頑童，時謂亂風。惟茲三風十愆，卿士有一於身，家必喪；邦君有一於身，國必亡。」甚可畏也，甚可懼也！伏惟陛下必察而明之，必信而勸之。有奢僭驕怠者，削其祿封；樸素修業者，錫以紳服。以勖其非心，使其奉命，無使久而忽之，無使遠而墜之。臣聞非知之艱，行之惟艱。又曰：「常厥德，保厥位，厥德匪常，九有以亡。」伏惟陛下慎之哉！前車之覆，實惟明證；先王之誡，可以終吉。若陛下奉伊尹之訓，崇傅說之命，不作無益，不啟私門，刑不差，賞不濫，則惟德是輔，惟人之懷，天祿永終，景福是集。儻陛下忘精一之德，開恩幸之門，爵賞有差，刑罰不當，則忠臣正士，亦不復談矣。

Not long ago the Wei faction was treacherous and wicked ministers joined in their crimes. Rewards and punishments collapsed, discipline unraveled, office bought with bribes and rank granted through favor; honest speech brought punishment and integrity bred suspicion—the realm lost heart and stood on the verge of ruin. Heaven protected the righteous, the ancestral spirits intervened, and Your Majesty—with sacred wisdom, courage, and clarity—saved the altars of state from collapse and the people from drowning. Now gray-haired elders leap for joy, awaiting the court's benevolent rule and hanging on every word of its virtuous decrees. You have eased burdens, lightened labor, clarified the law, and elevated the worthy—the empire rejoices and every household celebrates. I have also heard that those in peril must guard what keeps them alive, and those in disorder must hold fast to principle. If in security you remember danger, in order you remember chaos, in survival you remember extinction, you will enjoy heaven's favor and the state will endure. The Book of Odes says: "Everything has a beginning; few see it through to the end. Guard the ending as carefully as the beginning: do not look on what is unseemly, do not act on what is unseemly. The Book of Documents says: "No virtue is too slight to bring the realm joy; no wickedness is too great to overturn a dynasty. This is deeply terrifying—I beg Your Majesty to heed it! Pride and extravagance arise among the royal kin; discipline collapses where favorites hold sway. Restrain them among the kin and nobility, and the realm will follow your lead; restrain them among the favorites, and the law will be clear to all. The Book of Odes says: "He sets an example for his wife, then for his brothers, and so governs family and state. If the nobility may do as they please and favorites may override the law, policy becomes capricious and orders contradictory—fraud flourishes and violence follows. Even the harshest penalties, carried out morning and night, would not make the law prevail. If you truly love them, the greatest kindness is to secure their safety and true welfare. Overindulgence in rank and stipend is the first step toward ruin—not security; unchecked pride and luxury are the root of calamity—not fortune. Remember the past—it is your teacher. Seek out the wise and listen to counsel every day. When counsel wounds the ear or seems wrong, do not punish in haste—weigh it by principle and examine yourself. However blunt and awkward the speaker, forgive his honesty and keep open the road of frank counsel. When flattery pleases the ear and suits your convenience, do not reward in haste—investigate whether it accords with principle and with precedent. What fails the test of virtue must be punished by law, to cut off sycophantic intrigue. Remove at once anyone who dares peddle debauchery and trickery before you, and such arts will die out; reward at once anyone who speaks loyal and fearless truth, and honest counsel will flourish. I have also heard that wealth breeds arrogance and rank breeds pride. Shi Que said: "I have heard that loving a son means teaching him the path of righteousness and keeping him from evil. Pride, excess, dissipation, and idleness are themselves the roots of corruption. 《Book of Documents》 says: "Do not wallow in idleness; do not lose yourself in pleasure." King Mu commanded: "We depend entirely on worthy men at our side—before and behind, left and right—to correct faults, set errors right, and turn aside unworthy impulses." Now that the crown prince's household is newly established and the princely estates are first opened, every aide and companion must be chosen with the greatest care. After years of pride and excess, the tide has not yet fully receded; the taste for idle pleasure may still linger. Petty flatterers easily tell one what one wants to hear; exotic tricks and decadent amusements often strike exactly the right note. I fear that through constant exposure to unworthy ways, he will only grow more lax. 《Book of Documents》 says: "Choose your attendants with care. Do not take men of clever speech and ingratiating manner—only men of virtue. If attendants are upright, their master can be upright; if attendants flatter, their master will fancy himself beyond reproach. I beg that gentle, learned, and well-informed men—reverent, frugal, loyal, and fearless in speech—be appointed to offices in the crown prince's household and the princely establishments, and that the Eastern Palace be allowed to establish posts for remonstrance and correction. Let them instruct him morning and evening, accompany him whenever he goes abroad, teach him by precept and example, and keep one another to the work without slackening. I have also heard that reckless riding and hunting can drive a man to frenzy. Within the bounds of ritual and moral teaching, there is joy enough. Among the noble kin of recent times, few have kept to the rites. Some played ball games and beat drums, competing in feats of skill; others flew hawks and ran hounds, roaming through marshes and wilds. This is deeply unworthy—not the way to build virtue and cultivate character. 《Book of Documents》 says: "Within, he debauches himself with pleasure; without, he debauches himself with the chase. It also says: "Do not be like arrogant Dan Zhu, who cared for nothing but idle roaming. He led his household into debauchery together—and so destroyed his house." Born to counsel and instruction, Your Majesty should apply yourself earnestly to learning: show him what to love and what to hate, teach him success and failure, govern conduct by righteousness and the heart by ritual, plan before trouble sprouts and reflect before danger appears—then blessings will endure and you will share the realm's prosperity. I have also heard that wealth does not set a date for pride, yet pride arrives unbidden; pride does not set a date for guilt, yet guilt follows on its own; guilt does not set a date for death, yet death comes of itself. How true these words are—and how clear a warning they offer! Not long ago Consort Wei, Princess Anle, Wu Yanxiu, and their like were as noble as anyone could be, as favored as anyone could wish—their power rivaled the throne, their might shook the empire. Yet trusting in excess, they destroyed their own virtue—heaven turned against them and men cast them off. Was it not because they were loved beyond measure and enriched beyond need, unrestrained by ritual and unguarded by law, that fortune at last became disaster and blessing became ruin? A proverb says: "When a thousand fingers point at you, you die though no wound be found. Is that not exactly so? 《Book of Documents》 says: "Yin's warning is not far off—it lies in that king of Xia. What should Your Majesty take as encouragement now, if not the counsel and instruction of the imperial forebear? What should Your Majesty take as warning, if not the excessive favor shown in the Xiaohé reign? 《Book of Rites》 says: "Love them, yet know their faults; dislike them, yet know their virtues. Can one fail to be careful! Affection itself cannot be denied—but remove what is excessive, set ritual in between, and moderation will do. The princes, princesses, and imperial sons-in-law are also among those Your Majesty loves. The way to set a crooked course straight lies at the very start; the lesson to be drawn from warning is near at hand. Let them study others' faults and strive for goodness, hold favor yet think of danger—then perhaps day and night they will be reverent and ever cultivate their virtue. 《Classic of Filial Piety》 says: "He who holds high rank does not grow proud; though elevated, he is not imperiled—thus he long preserves his station; he restrains himself and keeps within bounds, full yet never overflowing—thus he long preserves his wealth. Only when wealth and rank remain with him can he preserve his house and state. 《Book of Documents》 says: "Take warning from the punishments ordained for officials—let those in office be warned. Those who dare dance constantly in the palace and sing drunkenly in their chambers—this is called the shaman wind; those who dare pursue wealth and pleasure, constantly roaming in the hunt—this is called the licentious wind; those who dare scorn the sage's words, oppose the loyal and upright, keep away from worthy elders, and consort with vicious youths—this is called the wind of disorder. Of these three winds and ten offenses—if a minister or grandee harbors even one in himself, his house will perish; if a ruler harbors even one in himself, his state will fall." How terrifying this is—how dreadful! I beg Your Majesty to see this clearly, believe it firmly, and act upon it. Those guilty of excess, presumption, pride, or sloth—cut their stipends and fiefs; those who are plain, frugal, and devoted to self-cultivation—reward them with ceremonial honors. Thus warn wayward hearts and keep them to their duty—do not let the effort lapse with time, nor let it fade through neglect. I have heard that knowing is not the hard part—doing is. It is also said: "Keep your virtue constant and you keep your place; let your virtue waver and the realm will be lost. I beg Your Majesty to heed this! The wrecked chariot ahead is proof enough; the warnings of former kings can bring lasting good fortune. If Your Majesty heeds the teaching of Yi Yin, honors the charge of Fu Yue, undertakes nothing useless, opens no door to private favor, never errs in punishment nor overflows in reward—then virtue alone will be your aid and the people's hearts your refuge; heaven's blessings will endure to the end, and great fortune will gather upon you. But if Your Majesty forgets the virtue of single-minded integrity, opens the door to favoritism, makes rank and reward uneven and punishments unjust—then loyal ministers and upright men will fall silent.

睿宗覽而善之，令中書省重詳議，擢拜監察御史。開元中，累遷太子右庶子。出為鄭州刺史，未行病卒，贈兵部侍郎。

Emperor Ruizong read the memorial and approved it, ordered the Secretariat to review it further, and promoted Liu Ze to Supervising Censor. During the Kaiyuan reign, he rose in succession to Right Vice Director of the crown prince's household. He was appointed Prefect of Zhengzhou, but fell ill and died before taking up the post; he was posthumously made Vice Minister of War.

崔義玄

Cui Yixuan

崔義玄，貝州武城人也。大業末，往依李密，初不見用。義玄見群鼠渡洛，又槊刃有花文，謂所親曰：「此王敦敗亡之兆也。」時黃君漢守據柏崖，義玄往說之曰：「見機而作，不俟終日。今群盜蜂起，九州幅裂，神器所歸，必在有德。唐公據有秦京，名應符籙，此真主也。足下孤城獨立，宜遵寇恂、竇融之策，及時歸誠，以取封侯也。」君漢然之，即與義玄歸國。拜懷州總管府司馬。世充遣將高毗侵掠河內，義玄擊敗之，多下城堡。君漢將分子女金帛與之，義玄皆拒而不受，以功封清丘縣公。後從太宗討世充，屢獻籌策，太宗頗納用之。東都平，轉隰州都督府長史。貞觀初，歷左司郎中，兼韓王府長史，行州府事。與友人孟神慶雖志好不同，各以介直匡正府幕，王並委任之。永徽初，累遷婺州刺史。屬睦州女子陳碩真舉兵反，遣其黨童文寶領徒四千人掩襲婺州。義玄將督軍拒戰，時百姓訛言碩真嘗升天，犯其兵馬者無不滅門，眾皆兇懼。司功參軍崔玄籍言於義玄曰：「起兵仗順，猶且不成，此乃妖誑，豈能得久？」義玄以為然，因命玄籍為先鋒，義玄率兵繼進，至下淮戌，擒其間諜二十餘人。夜有流星墜賊營，義玄曰：「此賊滅之征也。」詰朝進擊，身先士卒，左右以盾蔽箭，義玄曰：「刺史尚欲避箭，誰肯致死？」由是士卒戮力，斬首數百級，余悉許其歸首。進兵至睦州界，歸降萬計。及碩真平，義玄以功拜御史大夫。義玄少愛章句之學，《五經》大義，先儒所疑及音韻不明者，兼采眾家，皆為解釋，傍引證據，各有條疏。至是，高宗令義玄討論《五經》正義，與諸博士等詳定是非，事竟不就。高宗之立皇后武氏，義玄協贊其謀。及長孫無忌等得罪，皆義玄承中旨繩之。顯慶元年，出為蒲州刺史。尋卒，年七十一，贈幽州都督，謚曰貞。則天時思其功，重贈揚州大都督，賜其家實封二百戶。子神基襲爵。長壽中，為司賓卿、同鳳閣鸞台平章事。為相月餘，為酷吏所陷，減死配流。後漸錄用，中宗初，為大理卿。神基弟神慶。

Cui Yixuan was a native of Wucheng in Beizhou. At the end of the Daye era he went to join Li Mi, but at first found no employment. Yixuan saw a swarm of rats cross the Luo River, and noticed patterned markings on his spear blade; he told those close to him: "These are signs that Wang Shichong will fall. At that time Huang Junhan held Baiya; Yixuan went to persuade him, saying: "When you see your opening, act—do not wait until the day is done. Bandits swarm like bees; the realm is torn apart; the Mandate will fall to whoever holds virtue. The Duke of Tang holds the Qin capital; his name matches the celestial portents—he is the true sovereign. You hold a lone city in isolation—you should follow the example of Kou Xun and Dou Rong, submit in good time, and win a marquisate." Junhan agreed, and at once submitted to the Tang together with Yixuan. He was appointed Vice Administrator of the Huaizhou commandery headquarters. Wang Shichong sent the general Gao Pi to raid Henei; Yixuan defeated him and captured many fortified towns. Junhan was about to divide the captives, gold, and silk with him, but Yixuan refused everything; for his merit he was enfeoffed as Duke of Qingqiu. Later he followed Emperor Taizong in the campaign against Shichong, repeatedly offering strategic counsel, much of which Taizong accepted. When the Eastern Capital was pacified, he was transferred to chief administrator of the Xizhou regional headquarters. At the start of the Zhenguan era he served as Director in the Left Department of the Ministry of Revenue, and concurrently as chief administrator of the Prince of Han's household, handling prefectural affairs. He and his friend Meng Shenqing differed in temperament and tastes, yet each by his upright bluntness kept the princely household in order, and the prince entrusted them both. At the start of the Yonghui era he rose in succession to Prefect of Wuzhou. When Chen Shuozhen, a woman of Muzhou, raised troops in rebellion, she sent her follower Tong Wenbao with four thousand men to strike Wuzhou by surprise. As Yixuan prepared to lead the army out to fight, the people were spreading rumors that Shuozhen had ascended to heaven and that anyone who crossed her forces would see his whole clan destroyed—the troops were terrified. Merit Evaluator Cui Xuanji said to Yixuan: "Even armies raised in a just cause sometimes fail—this is nothing but sorcerer's trickery. How can it last? Yixuan agreed, appointed Xuanji as vanguard, and led the main force after him; reaching Xiahuai garrison, they captured more than twenty rebel spies. That night a shooting star fell into the rebel camp; Yixuan said: "This is a sign the rebels will be destroyed. At dawn they pressed the attack; he led from the front. His attendants tried to shield him with their shields; Yixuan said: "If the prefect himself dodges arrows, who will fight to the death?" Thereupon the soldiers fought with all their might, taking several hundred heads; the rest were allowed to surrender. As the army advanced to the border of Muzhou, tens of thousands came over in surrender. When Shuozhen was suppressed, Yixuan was made Censor-in-Chief for his merit. From youth Yixuan loved philological study; on the great themes of the 《Five Classics》, points earlier scholars had doubted and passages whose pronunciation was unclear, he drew on many schools, explained them all, and cited evidence for each in systematic commentaries. At this point Emperor Gaozong ordered Yixuan to compile the Correct Meaning of the 《Five Classics》, working with the court erudites to settle disputed points—but the project was never finished. When Gaozong elevated Empress Wu, Yixuan helped advance the plan. When Zhangsun Wuji and others fell from favor, it was Yixuan who, carrying out secret imperial orders, prosecuted them. In the first year of Xianqing he was posted out as Prefect of Puzhou. He died soon after, at seventy-one; posthumously made Regional Inspector of Youzhou, with the posthumous name Zhen, "Upright." During Wu's reign, remembering his service, she again honored him as Grand Regional Inspector of Yangzhou and granted his family a fief of two hundred taxable households. His son Shenji inherited the title. During the Changshou era he served as Director of the Directorate for Tributary Envoys and Associate Director of the Phoenix Pavilion and Orchid Terrace—that is, as chief minister. After little more than a month as chancellor, he was framed by a ruthless official, spared from death, and sent into exile. He was gradually brought back into service and, early in Zhongzong's reign, was appointed Minister of Justice. Shenji's younger brother Shenqing.

神慶，明經舉，則天時，累遷萊州刺史。因入朝，待制於億歲殿，奏事稱旨。則天以神慶歷職皆有美政，又其父嘗有翊贊之勳，甚賞慰之，擢拜并州長史。因謂曰：「并州，朕之枌榆，又有軍馬，比日簡擇，無如卿者。前後長史，皆從尚書為之，以其委重，所以授卿也。」因自為按行圖，擇日而遣之。神慶到州，有豪富偽作改錢文敕，文書下州，穀麥踴貴，百姓驚擾。神慶執奏，以為不便，則天下制褒賞之。先是，并州有東西二城，隔汾水，神慶始築城相接，每歲省防禦兵數千人，邊州甚以為便。尋而兄神基下獄當死，神慶馳赴都告事，得召見。則天出神基推狀以示之，神慶據狀申理，神基竟得減死，神慶亦緣坐貶授歙州司馬。長安中，累轉禮部侍郎，數上疏陳時政利害，則天每嘉納之。轉太子右庶子，賜爵魏縣子。時有突厥使入朝，准儀注，太子合預朝參，先降敕書。神慶上疏曰：「伏以五品已上所以佩龜者，比為別敕徵召，恐有詐妄，內出龜合，然後應命。況太子元良國本，萬方所瞻，古來徵召皆用玉契，此誠重慎之極，防萌之慮。昨緣突厥使見，太子合預朝參，直有文符下宮，曾不降敕處分。今人稟淳化，內外同心，然古人慮事於未萌之前，所以長無悔吝之咎。況太子至重，不可不深為誡慎。以臣愚見，太子既與陛下異宮，伏望每召太子，預報來日，非朔望朝參，應須別喚，望降墨敕及玉契。」則天甚然之。尋令神慶與詹事祝欽明更日於東宮侍讀。俄歷司刑、司禮二卿。神慶嘗受詔推張昌宗，而竟寬其罪。神龍初，昌宗等伏誅，神慶坐流於欽州。尋卒，年七十餘。明年，敬暉等得罪，緣昌宗被流貶者例皆雪免，贈神慶幽州都督。

Shenqing passed the classics examination and, under Wu Zetian, rose in succession to prefect of Laizhou. On coming to court he was kept on staff at Yisui Hall, and his memorials pleased the throne. Wu Zetian noted that Shenqing had governed well in every post and that his father had once rendered loyal service to the throne. She rewarded him warmly and appointed him chief secretary of Bingzhou. She told him, "Bingzhou is my homeland, and it holds troops and horses. In the recent round of appointments, no one was better suited than you. Past chief secretaries have all been drawn from the Ministry of Personnel. Because this post carries such weight, I am giving it to you. She personally drew up a map for his inspection tour and chose an auspicious day to send him on his way. When Shenqing arrived, a wealthy local had forged an edict altering the coinage. Official notices reached the prefecture, grain prices shot up, and the populace was thrown into alarm. Shenqing memorialized that the change was ill-advised. Wu Zetian issued an edict commending and rewarding him. Bingzhou had long been divided into eastern and western cities on opposite banks of the Fen River. Shenqing joined them with new construction, saving several thousand garrison troops each year, to the great benefit of the frontier prefectures. Soon afterward his brother Shenji was imprisoned and condemned to death. Shenqing rode posthaste to the capital to plead his case and was granted an audience. Wu Zetian showed him Shenji's interrogation record. Shenqing argued the case point by point, and Shenji's sentence was reduced from death. Shenqing himself was implicated and demoted to secretary of Shezhou. During the Chang'an period he rose to Vice Minister of Rites and repeatedly memorialized on the strengths and failings of current policy. Wu Zetian praised and accepted his counsel each time. He was made Right Vice Director of the Crown Prince's household and enfeoffed as Viscount of Wei County. When a Türk envoy came to court, ritual procedure required the Crown Prince to attend the audience, and an edict was issued in advance. Shenqing memorialized: "Officials of the fifth rank and above wear tortoise insignia because special summons may be fraudulent. The tally is issued from within the palace, and only then may they obey. The Crown Prince is the foundation of the state and the hope of the realm. Since antiquity, summons to the heir have used jade tallies. This is the utmost caution—the prevention of trouble before it sprouts. Yesterday, because of the Türk envoy's audience, the Crown Prince was to attend court—but only a routine notice reached the Eastern Palace. No imperial edict was issued. The realm today enjoys enlightened rule and unity within and without. Yet the ancients took thought before trouble arose, and so they long remained free of regret. The Crown Prince's position is too weighty for anything less than the deepest caution. In my humble view, since the Crown Prince already resides apart from Your Majesty, I ask that each summons announce the day in advance. Apart from the regular new- and full-moon audiences, every special summons should require an edict in the imperial hand and a jade tally. Wu Zetian strongly approved. She soon ordered Shenqing and Household Administrator Zhu Qinming to take turns lecturing at the Eastern Palace. He soon served in succession as Minister of Punishments and Minister of Rites. Shenqing had once been ordered to investigate Zhang Changzong but ultimately treated his offense leniently. Early in the Shenlong reign, Changzong and his faction were executed, and Shenqing was exiled to Qinzhou on account of the case. He soon died, aged over seventy. The following year, when Jing Hui and others fell from power, those exiled on Zhang Changzong's account were pardoned by precedent. Shenqing was posthumously honored as Regional Commander of Youzhou.

開元中，神慶子琳等皆至大官，群從數十人，趨奏省闥。每歲時家宴，組珮輝映，以一榻置笏，重疊於其上。開元、天寶間，中外族屬無緦麻之喪，其福履昌盛如此。東都私第門，琳與弟太子詹事珪、光祿卿瑤，俱列棨戟，時號「三戟崔家」。琳位終太子少保。

During the Kaiyuan reign, Shenqing's son Lin and others all rose to high office, and several dozen kinsmen attended court at the palace gates. At the family's seasonal gatherings, official regalia glittered, and a couch was piled high with court tablets stacked one upon another. Between the Kaiyuan and Tianbao reigns, no member of the clan, near or far, wore mourning—such was the scale of their prosperity. At the gate of their Eastern Capital mansion, Lin and his brothers Gui, Household Administrator of the Heir Apparent, and Yao, Minister of Imperial Entertainment, all displayed halberd regalia. They were known as "the Three-Halberd Cui family." Lin's highest post was Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent.

史臣曰：周、隋已來，韋氏世有令人，郁為冠族，而安石嗣立，竟大其門。挺恃才傲物，固虧長者之風，賓王報之以不仁，難與議乎君子矣！議者以堯、舜有溢美，桀、紂有溢惡，蓋以一為凶德，則群惡所歸。楊素父子，傾覆隋祚，醜聲流聞，雖弘禮、弘武之正士，而元亨兄弟，竟以凶族竄逐。古人守死善道，不無為也。德威奏議，練刑名之要，俾長秋卿，美哉！審禮仁孝，治行可為世范，卒與禍會，悲夫！二閻曲學甚工，措思精巧，藝成而下，垂誡宜然。柳氏世稱謇諤，奭、澤有正人風彩，忠規獻納，抑有人焉。義玄附麗武後，神慶寬縱穢臣，弈世纖邪，以至傾敗，宜哉！

The historiographer writes: From the Zhou and Sui dynasties onward, the Wei clan produced admirable men generation after generation and ranked among the foremost families. When Anshi succeeded to the line, he enlarged the house still further. Ting relied on his talents and treated others with arrogance, falling short of the bearing of a true elder. The Guest King repaid him with harshness—hardly conduct fit for a gentleman! Critics say that Yao and Shun are overpraised and Jie and Zhou overcondemned. Once a man is branded with a vicious reputation, every evil is laid at his door. Yang Su and his sons brought down the Sui, and their ill fame spread far. Though Hongli and Hongwu were upright men, the Yuanheng brothers were still expelled as members of a disgraced house. The ancients held to the right path even unto death—and they did not do so in vain. Dewei's memorials mastered the essentials of penal law and made him fit for the Ministry of Justice—admirable indeed! Shenli was a man of filial devotion whose conduct in office could serve as a model for the age—yet he met disaster in the end. How lamentable! The two Yans were masters of their craft, their conceptions exquisitely refined. When skill outruns rank, the warning they left behind is only fitting. The Liu clan was known for blunt honesty across generations. Shi and Ze had the bearing of true gentlemen, offering loyal remonstrance to the throne—men of that stamp were not lacking. Yixuan clung to Empress Wu, and Shenqing indulged corrupt favorites. Generation after generation of petty vice led at last to ruin—no more than they deserved!

贊曰：韋子驕矜，終損功名。楊家積惡，宗門擯落。閻以藝辱，劉以孝愆。二崔能吏，行無取焉。

Encomium: The Wei scion's pride and arrogance cost him his reputation in the end. The Yang house accumulated wickedness, and its clan was cast out. The Yans were humbled by their craft; the Lius by a lapse in filial duty. The two Cuis were capable administrators, but in conduct there was little to admire.

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