Volume 92 Biographies 42: Wei Yuanzhong, Wei Anshi, Ziao Zhizhong, Zong Chuke, Ji Chune

魏元忠韋安石（子陟斌斌子況從父兄子抗從祖兄子巨源趙彥昭附）蕭至忠（宗楚客紀處訥附）

Wei Yuanzhong and Wei Anshi (With appended accounts of his sons Zhi and Bin, Bin's son Kuang, his paternal cousin Kang, his grand-uncle's grandson Juyuan, and Zhao Yanzhao) Xiao Zhizhong (With appended accounts of Zong Chuke and Ji Chune)

魏元忠，宋州宋城人也。本名真宰，以避則天母號改焉。初，為太學生，志氣倜儻，不以舉薦為意，累年不調。時有左史盩厔人江融撰《九州設險圖》，備載古今用兵成敗之事，元忠就傳其術。儀鳳中，吐蕃頻犯塞，元忠赴洛陽上封事，言命將用兵之工拙，曰：

Wei Yuanzhong came from Songcheng in Song prefecture. His birth name was Zhenzai; he changed it to avoid the taboo on the posthumous title of Empress Wu's mother. Early on he studied at the Imperial Academy, spirited and unconventional, and cared little about securing a recommendation; for years he went without an official post. At that time the Left Historiographer Jiang Rong of Zhouzhi wrote the Diagram of Strategic Terrain in the Nine Provinces, a comprehensive record of military successes and failures through history, and Yuanzhong studied the art under him. During the Yifeng reign, as Tibetans repeatedly breached the border, Yuanzhong traveled to Luoyang and submitted a sealed memorial on how well or poorly generals were chosen and armies deployed. He wrote:

臣聞理天下之柄，二事焉，文與武也。然則文武之道，雖有二門，至於製勝禦人，其歸一揆。方今王略遐宣，皇威遠振，建禮樂而陶士庶，訓軍旅而懾生靈。然論武者以弓馬為先，而不稽之以權略；談文者以篇章為首，而不問之以經綸。而奔競相因，遂成浮俗。臣嚐讀魏、晉史，每鄙何晏、王衍終日談空。近觀齊、梁書，才士亦復不少，並何益於理亂哉？從此而言，則陸士衡著《辨亡論》，而不救河橋之敗，養由基射能穿劄，而不止鄢陵之奔，斷可知矣。昔趙岐撰禦寇之論，山濤陳用兵之本，皆坐運帷幄，暗合孫、吳。宣尼稱“有德者必有言，仁者必有勇”，則何平叔、王夷甫豈得同日而言載！

I have heard that governing the realm rests on two pillars: civil and military affairs. Though civil and military learning follow different paths, when it comes to prevailing over foes and mastering others, both aim at the same end. Today the royal design reaches far and imperial might resounds abroad: rites and music shape the educated and the common people, while disciplined armies keep all living under heaven in awe. Yet those who speak of war prize archery and horsemanship above all and never weigh matters by strategic calculation; while those who speak of letters prize literary compositions and never ask whether a man can govern the realm. Rivalry feeds on rivalry until the age has sunk into empty fashion. When I read the histories of Wei and Jin, I have always despised how He Yan and Wang Yan could spend entire days discoursing on emptiness. Looking recently at the histories of Qi and Liang, one finds no lack of talented men—yet what did any of them do for the rise or fall of states? From this it follows: Lu Ji wrote his Discourse on Perishing States yet could not avert defeat at Heqiao; Yang Youji's arrows could pierce a willow leaf yet could not stop the flight at Yanling—the lesson is plain. Long ago Zhao Qi wrote on repelling invaders and Shan Tao expounded the foundations of war; both directed campaigns from behind the curtain in ways that tacitly matched Sunzi and Wuzi. Confucius said, "The virtuous must have words to speak; the benevolent must have courage"—how then could He Yan and Wang Yan ever be mentioned in the same breath!

臣聞才生於代，代實須才，何代而不生才，何才而不生代。故物有不求，未有無物之歲；士有不用，未有無士之時。夫有誌之士，在富貴之與貧賤，皆思立於功名，冀傳芳於竹帛。故班超投筆而歎，祖逖擊楫而誓，此皆有其才而申其用矣。且知己難逢，英哲罕遇，士之懷琬琰以就埃塵，抱棟梁而困溝壑者，則悠悠之流，直睹此士之貧賤，安知此士之方略哉。故漢拜韓信，舉軍驚笑；蜀用魏延，群臣觖望。嗟乎，富貴者易為善，貧賤者難為功，至於此也！

I have heard that talent arises from its age and every age truly needs talent—what age has ever lacked talent, what talent has ever lacked its age? There are things no one seeks, yet there has never been a year without goods to be had; there are scholars left unused, yet there has never been an age without men of talent. Men of resolve, whether rich or poor, high or low, all wish to win merit and fame and hope their names will live on in the histories. Ban Chao threw down his brush and sighed; Zu Ti struck the oar and swore his oath—each had talent and found the chance to use it. Yet true patrons are rare and heroic rulers seldom appear; when a man carrying jade sinks into the dust and one who could be a pillar of state languishes in a ditch, the crowd sees only his poverty—how could they know his designs? When Han appointed Han Xin, the whole army was astonished and laughed; when Shu employed Wei Yan, the ministers were resentful. Alas! The rich and honored find it easy to do good, while the poor and lowly can scarcely achieve merit—so it has always been.

亦有位處立功之際，而不展其志略，身為時主所知，竟不能盡其才用，則貧賤之士焉足道哉！漢文帝時，魏尚、李廣並身任邊將，位為郡守。文帝不知魏尚之賢而囚之，不知李廣之才而不能用之。常歎李廣恨生不逢時，令當高祖日，萬戶侯豈足道哉。夫以李廣才氣，天下無雙，匈奴畏之，號為“飛將”，爾時胡騎憑淩，足伸其用。文帝不能大任，反歎其生不逢時。近不知魏尚、李廣之賢，而乃遠想廉頗、李牧。故馮唐曰，雖有頗、牧而不能用，近之矣。從此言之，疏斥賈誼，復何怪哉。此則身為時主所知，竟不能盡其才用。晉羊祜獻計平吳，賈充、荀勖沮其策，祜歎曰：“天下不如意恒十居七八。 ”緣荀、賈不同，竟不大舉。此則位處立功之際，而不得展其志略。而布衣韋帶之人，懷一奇，抱一策，上書闕下，朝進而望夕召，何可得哉。

Some men stand at the very moment to win glory yet never unfold their designs; though known to their sovereign, their gifts are never fully used—what wonder, then, that poor and obscure men go unheard? Under Emperor Wen of Han, Wei Shang and Li Guang both served on the frontier as commandery administrators. Emperor Wen failed to recognize Wei Shang's worth and had him imprisoned; he failed to recognize Li Guang's talent and could not put him to use. He often lamented that Li Guang was born in the wrong age, saying that had he lived under Emperor Gaozu, a marquisate of ten thousand households would have been nothing to speak of. Li Guang's talent and spirit were unmatched under heaven; the Xiongnu feared him and called him the Flying General—at a time when barbarian horsemen pressed the borders, he could have proved his full worth. Emperor Wen would not give him great responsibility, yet sighed that he had been born in the wrong age. He failed to recognize the worth of Wei Shang and Li Guang beside him, yet dreamed of Lian Po and Li Mu from ages past. Thus Feng Tang said: though one has men like Lian Po and Li Mu, one cannot use them—how near the truth that was. Seen in this light, is it any wonder that Jia Yi was cast aside? This is the case of a man known to his sovereign who is never allowed to use his gifts to the full. In Jin, Yang Hu proposed a plan to conquer Wu, but Jia Chong and Xun Xu blocked it. Hu sighed and said, "Under heaven, things go against one's wishes seven or eight times out of ten." Because Xun and Jia disagreed, no great campaign was ever launched. This is the case of a man placed at the moment to win glory who cannot unfold his designs. As for commoners in plain dress who hold one brilliant plan and submit a memorial at court, hoping to be summoned the same evening they arrive—how can they expect such fortune?

臣請曆訪內外文武職事五品已上，得不有智計如羊祜、武藝如李廣，在用與不用之間，不得騁其才略。伏願降寬大之詔，使各言其誌。無令汲黯直氣，臥死於淮陽。仲舒大才，位屈於諸侯相。

I ask that we survey all civil and military officials of fifth rank and above, at court and in the provinces—are there not men with Yang Hu's strategic mind or Li Guang's martial prowess who, whether used or ignored, cannot fully deploy their gifts? I humbly ask that Your Majesty issue a broad and generous edict allowing every man to speak his mind. Do not let a man of Ji An's upright spirit die in obscurity at Huaiyang. Dong Zhongshu had great talent yet was reduced to serving as a feudal lord's chancellor.

又曰：

He also wrote:

臣聞帝王之道，務崇經略。經略之術，必仗英奇。自國家良將，可得言矣。李靖破突厥，侯君集滅高昌，蘇定方開西域，李勣平遼東，雖奉國威靈，亦其才力所致。古語有之，“人無常俗，政有理亂，兵無強弱，將有能否”。由此觀之，安邊境，立功名，在於良將也。故趙充國征先零，馮子明討南羌，皆計不空施，機不虛發，則良將立功之驗也。然兵革之用，王者大事，存亡所係。若任得其才，則摧凶而扼暴。苟非其任，則敗國而殄人。北齊段孝玄云：“持大兵者，如擎盤水。傾在俯仰間，一致蹉跌，求止豈得哉！ ”從此而言，周亞夫堅壁以挫吳、楚，司馬懿閉營而困葛亮，俱為上策。此皆不戰而卻敵，全軍以製勝。是知大將臨戎，以智為本。漢高之英雄大度，尚曰“吾寧鬥智”；魏武之綱神冠絕，猶依法孫、吳。假有項籍之氣，袁紹之基，而皆泯智任情，終以破滅，何況復出其下哉！

I have heard that the way of emperors and kings is to exalt grand strategy. Grand strategy depends on extraordinary men. Our own state's fine generals are proof enough. Li Jing shattered the Turks, Hou Junji destroyed Gaochang, Su Dingfang opened the Western Regions, and Li Ji pacified Liaodong—though they served the state's majesty, their victories owed much to their own ability. An old saying has it: "Men have no fixed ways; governments rise and fall; armies are not inherently strong or weak—it is the general who makes the difference." Seen in this light, securing the borders and winning glory depend on fine generals. Zhao Chongguo's campaign against the Xianling and Feng Ziming's attack on the Southern Qiang wasted neither plan nor opportunity—proof of what fine generals can achieve. Yet the use of arms is the gravest business of kings, on which survival itself depends. Appoint the right man and you crush the vicious and restrain the violent. Appoint the wrong man and you ruin the state and destroy the people. Duan Xiaoxuan of Northern Qi said, "Commanding a great army is like carrying a tray of water." It spills in an instant; one misstep and there is no stopping it! Seen in this light, Zhou Yafu's holding fast behind his walls to break Wu and Chu, and Sima Yi's closing camp to wear down Zhuge Liang, were both supreme strategies. Each repelled the enemy without fighting and preserved the army intact to win. This shows that when a great general faces battle, intelligence is the foundation. Emperor Gaozu of Han, heroic and magnanimous, still said, "I would rather match wits than strength"; Cao Cao, whose commanding spirit crowned the age, still followed the teachings of Sunzi and Wuzi. Men with Xiang Yu's spirit and Yuan Shao's foundation both abandoned strategy for impulse and were destroyed in the end—what hope for those beneath them?

且上智下愚，明暗異等，多算少謀，眾寡殊科。故魏用柏直以拒漢，韓信輕為豎子；燕任慕容評以抗秦，王猛謂之奴才。即柏直、慕容評智勇俱亡者也。夫中材之人，素無智略，一旦居元帥之任，而意氣軒昂，自謂當其鋒者無不摧碎，豈知戎昭果毅、敦《詩》說《禮》之事乎！故李信求以二十萬眾獨舉鄢郢，其後果辱秦軍；樊噲願得十萬眾橫行匈奴，登時見折季布，皆其事也。

The wise and the foolish, the clear-sighted and the blind, belong to different orders; the many calculations of the skilled and the few plans of the inept are worlds apart. When Wei employed Bo Zhi to resist Han, Han Xin dismissed him as a mere boy; when Yan entrusted Murong Ping to resist Qin, Wang Meng called him a lackey. Bo Zhi and Murong Ping were men utterly lacking in wisdom and courage. Men of middling talent, devoid of strategy, once made marshals swell with pride and believe nothing can withstand their charge—what do they know of martial discipline, resolute command, or the study of the Odes and Rites? Li Xin asked to take two hundred thousand men alone against Yan and Ying, and in the end brought shame on Qin's army; Fan Kuai vowed to take a hundred thousand men and sweep the Xiongnu, only to be rebuffed at once by Ji Bu—such cases are legion.

當今朝廷用人，類取將門子弟，亦有死事之家而蒙抽擢者。此等本非幹略見知，雖竭力盡誠，亦不免於傾敗，若之何使當閫外之任哉？後漢馬賢討西羌，皇甫規陳其必敗；宋文帝使王玄謨收復河南，沈慶之懸知不克。謝玄以書生之姿，拒苻堅天下之眾，郗超明其必勝；桓溫提數萬之兵，萬里而襲成都，劉真長期於決取。雖時有今古，人事皆可推之，取驗大體，觀其銳誌與識略耳。明者隋分而察，成敗之形，昭然自露。京房有言，“後之視今，亦猶今之視古。 ”則昔賢之與今哲，意況何殊。當事機之際也。皆隨時而立功，豈復取賢於往代，待才於未來也？即論知與不知，用與不用。夫建功者，言其所濟，不言所起；言其所能，不言所藉。若陳湯、呂蒙、馬隆、孟觀，並出自貧賤，勳濟甚高，未聞其家代為將帥。董仲舒曰：“為政之用，譬之琴瑟，不調甚者，必解弦而更張之，乃可鼓也。 ”故陰陽不和，擢士為相；蠻夷不龔，拔卒為將，即更張之義也。以四海之廣，億兆之眾，其中豈無卓越奇絕之士？臣恐未之思也，夫何遠之有。

Today the court mostly appoints sons of general families; some from families of men who died in service are also promoted. Such men are not known for ability or strategy; though they serve with utmost loyalty, they cannot escape defeat—how can they be entrusted with command beyond the frontier? In Later Han, when Ma Xian campaigned against the Western Qiang, Huangfu Gui declared he would certainly fail; When Emperor Wen of Song sent Wang Xuamo to recover Henan, Shen Qingzhi knew beforehand he would fail. Xie Xuan, a scholar in bearing, held off Fu Jian's hosts from across the realm, and Chi Chao foresaw his certain victory; Huan Wen led tens of thousands of troops ten thousand li to strike Chengdu, and Liu Zhenchang expected a decisive victory. Though ages differ, human affairs follow the same patterns; judge the broad outcome by a man's keen resolve and strategic insight. The clear-sighted judge step by step, and the shape of victory or defeat reveals itself plainly. Jing Fang said, "Those who come after will view our age just as we view antiquity." How different in spirit, then, are the sages of old from the wise men of today? It is the moment when affairs hang in the balance. Men win glory in their own age—why seek worthies only from the past or wait for talent from the future? This comes down to knowing talent or not, and using it or not. When judging merit, speak of what a man accomplished, not where he came from; speak of what he can do, not what connections he had. Chen Tang, Lü Meng, Ma Long, and Meng Guan all rose from poverty and obscurity to win great merit, yet none came from a family of generals. Dong Zhongshu said, "Governing is like a lute: when badly out of tune, one must loosen the strings and stretch them anew before it can be played." When yin and yang fall out of harmony, a scholar is raised to be chancellor; when barbarians grow rebellious, a common soldier is promoted to general—that is what it means to stretch the strings anew. With the four seas so vast and hundreds of millions of people, how could there not be outstanding and matchless men among them? I fear only that Your Majesty has not thought to seek them—how could such men be far away?

又曰：

He also wrote:

臣聞賞者禮之基，罰者刑之本。故禮崇謀夫竭其能，賞厚義士輕其死，刑正君子勖其心，罰重小人懲其過。然則賞罰者，軍國之綱紀，政教之藥石。綱紀舉而眾務自理，藥石行而文武用命。彼吐蕃蟻結蜂聚，本非敵，薛仁貴、郭待封受閫外之寄，奉命專征，不能激勵熊羆，乘機掃撲。敗軍之後，又不能轉禍為福，因事立功，遂乃棄甲喪師，脫身而走。幸逢寬政，罪止削除，國家綱漏吞舟，何以過此。天皇遲念舊恩，收其後效，當今朝廷所少，豈此一二人乎？且賞不勸謂之止善，罰不懲謂之縱惡。仁貴自宣力海東，功無尺寸，坐玩金帛，瀆貨無厭，今又不誅，縱惡更甚。臣以疏賤，幹非其事，豈欲間天皇之君臣，生厚薄於仁貴？直以刑賞一虧，百年不復，區區所懷，實在於此。

I have heard that reward is the foundation of rites and punishment the root of penal law. When rites honor strategists, they give their all; when rewards are generous, men of honor face death lightly; when penal law is just, gentlemen are encouraged; when punishments are severe, the base are chastened for their faults. Reward and punishment are the cords that bind army and state, the medicine of government and instruction. Raise those cords and the myriad affairs govern themselves; apply that medicine and civil and military alike obey. The Tibetans swarm like ants and bees and are no true match—yet Xue Rengui and Guo Daifeng, entrusted with command beyond the passes and ordered on independent campaigns, could not rouse their troops or seize the moment to sweep them away. After defeat they could not turn disaster to triumph or win merit from the crisis; they cast off their armor, lost their army, and fled. By fortune they met lenient treatment and were merely dismissed; the state's laws are so lax they might as well have holes big enough to swallow a boat—what could exceed this? The Emperor still remembers past service and awaits their future merit—is the court today really so short of capable men that it needs these two alone? When rewards fail to encourage, goodness ceases; when punishments fail to chastise, evil runs unchecked. Rengui exerted himself in the eastern sea campaign yet won no real merit; he hoarded gold and silk and was insatiable in bribes—if he goes unpunished now, indulgence of evil will only grow worse. I am lowly and presumptuous to speak on matters not my own—do I wish to come between Emperor and ministers, or breed ill will toward Rengui? It is simply that once reward and punishment are bent, a century may pass before they are restored—and that is what weighs on my mind.

古人云：“國無賞罰，雖堯、舜不能為化。 ”今罰不能行，賞亦難信，故人間議者皆言，“近日征行，虛有賞格而無其事。 ”良由中才之人不識大體，恐賞賜勳庸，傾竭倉庫，留意錐刀，將此益國。徇目前之近利，忘經久之遠圖，所謂錯之毫厘，失之千里者也。且黔首雖微，不可欺以得誌，瞻望恩澤，必因事而生心。既有所因，須應之以實，豈得懸不信之令，設虛賞之科？比者師出無功，未必不由於此。文子曰：“同言而信，信在言前；同令而行，誠在令外。 ”故商君移木以表信，曹公割發以明法，豈禮也哉，有由然也。自蘇定方定遼東，李勣破平壤，賞絕不行，勳仍淹滯，數年紛紜，真偽相雜，縱加沙汰，未至澄清。臣以吏不奉法，慢自京師，偽勳所由，主司之過。其則不遠，近在尚書省中，不聞斬一台郎，戮一令史，使天下知聞，天皇何能照遠而不照近哉！神州化首，萬國共尊，文昌政本，四方是則，軌物宣風，理亂攸在。臣是以披露不已，冒死盡言。

The ancients said, "In a state without reward and punishment, even Yao and Shun cannot bring transformation." Today punishment cannot be enforced and rewards are not believed, so people everywhere say, "Recent campaigns promise rewards that are never paid." This is because men of middling talent fail to grasp the larger design, fearing that rewarding merit would drain the treasury; they fixate on pennies, thinking that will benefit the state. They pursue immediate profit and forget long-term design—missing by a hair's breadth, erring by a thousand li. Though the common people are humble, they cannot be deceived about what they hope for; watching for imperial favor, they will surely act on what they see. Once they see cause, they expect real response—how can the throne issue unbelievable orders and set empty reward statutes? Recent campaigns have failed to win merit—perhaps for no other reason than this. Master Wen said, "When words are alike, trust lies before the words;" when orders are alike, sincerity lies outside the order." Lord Shang moved a tree to display trust, and Cao Cao cut his hair to clarify the law—this was not mere ritual, but had its reason. Since Su Dingfang pacified Liaodong and Li Ji took Pyongyang, rewards have gone unpaid and merit has stagnated; for years confusion has reigned, true and false mixed, and though sifted, clarity has not been reached. I hold that officials do not uphold the law, starting negligently from the capital; false merit arises from the fault of the responsible offices. The precedent is close at hand—in the Ministry of Personnel itself; not one desk officer beheaded, not one clerk executed, to make the realm take notice: how can the Emperor see far and not near! The divine land is the head of civilization, honored by all states; the Secretariat is the root of government, the model for the four quarters—setting standards and proclaiming policy, order and disorder depend on it. Therefore I disclose without end, risking death to speak fully.

且明鏡所以照形，往事所以知今，臣識不稽古，請以近事言之。貞觀年中，萬年縣尉司馬玄景舞文飾智，以邀乾沒，太宗審其奸詐，棄之都市。及征高麗也，總管張君乂擊賊不進，斬之旗下。臣以偽勳之罪，多於玄景；仁貴等敗，重於君乂。向使早誅薛仁貴、郭待封，則自餘諸將，豈敢失利於後哉？韓子云：“慈父多敗子，嚴家無格虜。 ”此言雖小，可以喻大。公孫弘有言：“人主病不廣大，人臣病不節儉。 ”臣恐天皇病之於不廣大，過在於慈父，斯亦日月之一蝕也。又今之將吏，率多貪暴，所務唯狗馬，所求唯財物，無趙奢、吳起散金養士之風，縱使行軍，悉是此屬。臣恐吐蕃之平，未可旦夕望也。

A bright mirror shows form and past affairs inform the present; I do not claim knowledge of antiquity—let me speak from recent affairs. In the Zhenguan era, Wannian county assistant Sima Xuanjing twisted the law for profit; Taizong judged his treachery and had him executed in the market. During the campaign against Goguryeo, overall commander Zhang Junyi failed to advance against the enemy and was beheaded beneath his banner. The crimes of false merit outnumber Xuanjing's; the defeats of Rengui and others outweigh Junyi's. Had Rengui and Guo Daifeng been punished early, would the other generals have dared to fail afterward? Han Feizi said, "A fond father has many failed sons; a strict household has no unruly slaves." Though this saying is small, it illustrates what is large. Gongsun Hong said, "The ruler's fault is lack of breadth; the minister's fault is lack of frugality." I fear the Emperor's fault lies in lack of breadth, in being too fond a father—this too is an eclipse of sun and moon. Today's generals and officials are mostly greedy and violent; they pursue horses and hounds and seek only wealth—none has Zhao She's or Wu Qi's spirit of spending gold to nurture troops; on campaign they are all alike. I fear that pacifying the Tibetans cannot be expected soon.

帝甚歎異之，授秘書省正字，令直中書省，仗內供奉。尋除監察御史。

The Emperor was greatly impressed and appointed him Rectifier in the Secretariat, with attendance at court and service in the inner guard. Soon afterward he was made supervisory censor.

文明年，遷殿中侍御史。其年，徐敬業據揚州作亂，左玉鈐衛大將軍李孝逸督軍討之，則天詔元忠監其軍事。孝逸至臨淮，而偏將雷仁智為敬業先鋒所敗，敬業又攻陷潤州，回兵以拒孝逸。孝逸懼其鋒，按甲不敢進。元忠謂孝逸曰：“朝廷以公王室懿親，故委以閫外之事，天下安危，實資一決。且海內承平日久，忽聞狂狡，莫不注心傾耳，以俟其誅。今大軍留而不進，則解遠近之望，萬一朝廷更命他將代公，其將何辭以逃逗撓之罪？幸速進兵以立大效，不然，則禍難至矣。 ”孝逸然其言，乃部勒士卒以圖進討。

In the Wenhua era he was promoted to palace attendant censor. That year Xu Jingye seized Yangzhou in rebellion; Left Jade Bell Guard General Li Xiaoyi commanded the army against him, and Empress Wu ordered Yuanzhong to oversee military affairs. Xiaoyi reached Linhuai, where flank general Lei Renzhi was defeated by Jingye's vanguard; Jingye also captured Runzhou and turned to face Xiaoyi. Xiaoyi feared Jingye's momentum and held his army without advancing. Yuanzhong said to Xiaoyi, "The court has entrusted you with command beyond the passes because you are imperial kin; the safety of the realm depends on your single decision. The realm has long been at peace; at news of this rebel, all await his destruction. If the army now holds back, it will disappoint hopes near and far; should the court replace you with another general, how will he escape the charge of delay? Advance quickly and win great merit; otherwise disaster will come. Xiaoyi agreed and arrayed his troops for attack.

時敬業屯於下阿溪，敬業弟敬猷率偏師以逼淮陰。元忠請先擊敬猷，諸將咸曰：“不如先攻敬業，敬業敗，則敬猷不戰而擒矣。若擊敬猷，則敬業引兵救之，是腹背受敵也。 ”元忠曰：“不然，賊之勁兵精卒，盡在下阿，蟻聚而來，利在一決，萬一失捷，則大事雲矣。敬猷本出博徒，不習戰鬥，其眾寡弱，人情易搖，大軍臨之，其勢必克。既克敬猷，我之乘勝而進。彼若引救淮陰，計程則不及，又恐我之進掩江都，必邀我於中路。彼則勞倦，我則以逸待之，破之必矣。譬之逐獸，弱者先擒，豈可舍必擒之弱獸，趨難敵之強兵？恐未可也。 ”孝逸從之，乃引兵擊敬猷，一戰而破之，敬猷脫身而遁。孝逸乃進軍，與敬業隔溪相拒。前軍總管蘇孝祥為賊所破，孝逸又懼，欲引退。初，敬業至下阿，有流星墜其宮，及是，有群烏飛噪於陣上，元忠曰：“驗此，即賊敗之兆也。風順荻乾，火攻之利。 ”固請決戰，乃平敬業。元忠以功擢司刑正，稍遷洛陽令。

Jingye was encamped at Xia'a Creek, and his younger brother Jingyou led a flank force against Huaiyin. Yuanzhong asked to strike Jingyou first; the generals all said, "Better attack Jingye first—once Jingye falls, Jingyou will be taken without a fight." If we attack Jingyou, Jingye will come to his rescue and we will be caught between two armies. Yuanzhong said, "No. The rebels' best troops are all at Xia'a, massed for a decisive battle—one defeat and all is lost. Jingyou is a gambler by origin, unskilled in war; his force is small and weak, morale easily shaken—the great army will surely defeat him. Once Jingyou is defeated, we advance in victory. If he marches to rescue Huaiyin, he cannot arrive in time; he will also fear we advance on Jiangdu and must intercept us on the road. He will be weary while we wait at ease—defeat is certain. It is like hunting: take the weak first—how abandon prey sure to fall and rush at the strong? That cannot be right. Xiaoyi agreed, attacked Jingyou, and routed him in one battle; Jingyou fled. Xiaoyi then advanced and faced Jingye across the creek. Front-army commander Su Xiaoxiang was defeated; Xiaoyi again grew afraid and wished to withdraw. When Jingye reached Xia'a, a meteor had fallen on his camp; now crows cried over the lines. Yuanzhong said, "This proves the rebels will be defeated. The wind favors us and the reeds are dry—fire attack will prevail." He pressed for battle and pacified Jingye. Yuanzhong was promoted to Director in the Ministry of Justice for his merit and soon became magistrate of Luoyang.

尋陷周興獄，詣市將刑，則天以元忠有討平敬業功，特免死配流貴州。時承敕者將至市，先令傳呼，監刑者遽釋元忠令起，元忠曰：“未知敕虛實，豈可造次。 ”徐待宣敕，然始起謝，觀者鹹歎其臨刑而神色不撓。聖曆元年，召授侍御史，擢拜御史中丞。又為來俊臣、侯思止所陷，再被流於嶺表。復還，授御史中丞。元忠前後三被流，於時人多稱其無罪。則天嚐謂曰：“卿累負謗鑠，何也？ ”對曰：“臣猶鹿也，羅織之徒，有如獵者，苟須臣肉作羹耳。此輩殺臣以求達，臣復何辜。”

Soon he fell into Zhou Xing's prison and was taken to the execution ground; Empress Wu, remembering his merit in pacifying Jingye, spared his life and exiled him to Guizhou. When the edict-bearer was about to reach the market, a herald was sent ahead; the executioner hastily released Yuanzhong and told him to rise. Yuanzhong said, "Not knowing whether the edict is genuine, how can I act rashly?" He waited calmly for the proclaimed edict, then rose to give thanks; onlookers marveled at his composure facing death. In the first year of Shenglü he was summoned as attendant censor, then promoted to vice censor-in-chief. Again he was framed by Lai Junchen and Hou Sizhi and twice exiled to the south. He returned and was appointed vice censor-in-chief. Yuanzhong was exiled three times; many at the time said he was innocent. Empress Wu once asked him, "You have been slandered again and again—why?" He replied, "I am like a deer; those who weave accusations are like hunters—they need my flesh for their stew." They kill me to advance—what crime have I committed?"

聖曆二年，擢拜鳳閣侍郎、同鳳閣鸞台平章事，檢校并州長史。未幾，加銀青光祿大夫，遷左肅政台御史大夫，兼檢校洛州長史。政號清嚴。長安中，相王為并州元帥，元忠為副。時奉宸令張易之嚐縱其家奴淩暴百姓，元忠笞殺之，權豪莫不敬憚。時突厥與吐蕃數犯塞，元忠皆為大總管拒之。元忠在軍，唯持重自守，竟無所克獲，然亦未嚐敗失。

In the second year of Shenglü he was promoted to Vice Minister of the Phoenix Pavilion and made Associate Director of the Phoenix Pavilion and Crane Terrace, with concurrent duty as prefect of Bingzhou. Soon he was given the silver-blue glory grandee rank and became censor-in-chief of the Left Bureau for Correcting Governance, with concurrent duty as prefect of Luoyang. His administration was known as pure and strict. In the Chang'an era, the Prince of Xiang was marshal of Bingzhou and Yuanzhong was his deputy. Attendant Zhang Yizhi often let his slaves bully the people; Yuanzhong had them flogged to death, and the powerful all feared him. The Turks and Tibetans repeatedly raided the frontier; Yuanzhong served as overall commander against them. In the field he held to caution; he won no victories, yet never suffered defeat.

中宗在春宮時，元忠檢校太子左庶子。時張易之、昌宗權寵日盛，傾朝附之。元忠嚐奏則天曰：“臣承先帝顧眄，受陛下厚恩，不徇忠死節，使小人得在君側，臣之罪也。 ”則天不悅。易之、昌宗由是含怒。因則天不豫，乃譖元忠與司禮丞高戩潛謀曰：“主上老矣，吾屬當挾太子而令天下。 ”則天惑其言，乃下元忠詔獄，召太子、相王及諸宰相，令昌宗與元忠等殿前參對，反復不決。昌宗又引鳳閣舍人張說令執證元忠。說初偽許之，及則天召說驗問，說確稱元忠實無此語。則天乃悟元忠被誣，然以昌宗之故，特貶授端州高要尉。

When Zhongzong was crown prince, Yuanzhong served as Left Vice Director of the Crown Prince's household. Zhang Yizhi and Changzong's power grew daily, and the court flocked to them. Yuanzhong once told Empress Wu, "I received the late emperor's favor and Your Majesty's kindness; if I do not die loyal and let petty men reach your side, that is my crime." Empress Wu was displeased. Yizhi and Changzong thereby harbored resentment. When Empress Wu fell ill, they slandered Yuanzhong and Director of Rites Gao Jian, claiming they plotted: "The ruler is old; we should seize the crown prince and command the realm." Empress Wu was misled and imprisoned Yuanzhong; she summoned the crown prince, the Prince of Xiang, and all chancellors, and had Changzong confront Yuanzhong in the hall—without resolution. Changzong again brought Attendant Zhang Shuo to testify against Yuanzhong. Shuo at first feigned agreement, but when Empress Wu questioned him, he firmly declared Yuanzhong had said no such thing. Empress Wu then saw Yuanzhong had been slandered, yet because of Changzong demoted him to military adjutant of Gaoyao in Duan prefecture.

中宗即位，其日驛召元忠，授衛尉卿、同中書門下三品。旬日，又遷兵部尚書，知政事如故。尋進拜侍中，兼檢校兵部尚書。時則天崩，中宗居諒暗，多不視事，軍國大政，獨委元忠者數日。未幾，遷中書令，加授光祿大夫，累封齊國公，監修國史。神龍二年，元忠與武三思、祝欽明、徐彥伯、柳衝、韋承慶、崔融、岑羲、徐堅等撰《則天皇后實錄》二十卷。編次文集一百二十卷奏之。中宗稱善，賜元忠物千段，仍封其子衛王府諮議參軍升為任城縣男。時元忠特承寵榮，當朝用事。初元忠作相於則天朝，議者以為公清。至是再居政事，天下莫不延首傾屬，冀有所弘益。元忠乃親附權豪，抑棄寒俊，竟不能賞善罰惡，勉修時政，議者以此少之。四年秋，代唐璟為尚書右僕射，兼中書令，仍知兵部尚書事，監修國史。未幾，元忠請歸鄉拜掃，特賜錦袍一領、銀千兩，並給千騎四人，充其左右，手敕曰：“衣錦晝遊，在乎茲日；散金敷惠，諒屬斯辰。 ”元忠至鄉里，竟自藏其銀，無所賑施。及還，帝又幸白馬寺以迎勞之，其恩遇如此。

When Zhongzong took the throne, Yuanzhong was summoned that same day and appointed Minister of the Court of Imperial Stud and Associate Director of the Secretariat and Chancellery. Within ten days he was promoted to Minister of War, with governance as before. Soon he was made Palace Attendant, with concurrent duty as Minister of War. Empress Wu had died; Zhongzong was in mourning and for days did not attend to affairs—military and civil policy was entrusted to Yuanzhong alone. Soon he became Director of the Secretariat, was given the glory grandee rank, enfeoffed as Duke of Qi, and made supervisor of the national history. In the second year of Shenlong, Yuanzhong with Wu Sansi, Zhu Qinming, Xu Yanbo, Liu Chong, Wei Chengqing, Cui Rong, Cen Xi, Xu Jian, and others compiled the Veritable Record of Empress Zetian in twenty chapters. They arranged and presented her collected works in one hundred twenty chapters. Zhongzong praised the work and bestowed a thousand lengths of goods on Yuanzhong; he also enfeoffed his son Sheng, adviser in the Prince of Wei's household, as Baron of Rencheng. Yuanzhong especially enjoyed favor and held power at court. When Yuanzhong first became chancellor under Empress Wu, commentators held him fair and upright. When he again held power, the realm looked to him with hope that he would bring real benefit. Yuanzhong then courted the powerful and suppressed the worthy; he neither rewarded good nor punished evil nor strove to reform government—commentators thought less of him for it. In the autumn of the fourth year he replaced Tang Jing as Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and Director of the Secretariat, still overseeing the Ministry of War and the national history. Soon Yuanzhong asked leave to return home to sweep the tombs; he was granted a brocade robe, a thousand taels of silver, a thousand riders and four attendants, with a handwritten edict: "To tour one's home in brocade by day—let this be that day;" to scatter gold in generosity—surely this is the season." At home he hoarded the silver and gave nothing to the needy. On his return the Emperor met him at White Horse Temple with such favor.

是時，安樂公主嚐私請廢節湣太子，立己為皇太女。中宗以問元忠，元忠固稱不可，乃止。尋遷左僕射，餘並如故。元忠又嫉武三思專權用事，心常憤歎，思欲誅之。三年秋，節湣太子起兵誅三思，元忠及左羽林大將軍李多祚等皆潛預其事。太子既斬三思，又率兵詣闕，將請廢韋後為庶人，遇元忠子太仆少卿升於永守門，協令從己。太子兵至玄武樓下，多祚等猶豫不戰，元忠又持兩端，由是不克，升為亂兵所殺。中宗以元忠有平寇之功，又素為高宗、天後所禮遇，竟不以升為累，委任如初。

Princess Anle once privately asked to depose Crown Prince Jiemin and make herself heir apparent. Zhongzong asked Yuanzhong, who firmly refused, and the matter ended. Soon he became Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, with other posts unchanged. Yuanzhong resented Wu Sansi's monopoly of power and longed to destroy him. In the autumn of the third year Crown Prince Jiemin raised troops to kill Sansi; Yuanzhong and Left Feathered Forest General Li Duozuo and others secretly joined the plot. After killing Sansi the crown prince led troops to the palace to depose Empress Wei; he met Yuanzhong's son Sheng, Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Stud, at Yongshou Gate and ordered him to follow. At the Xuanwu Tower Duozuo and others hesitated; Yuanzhong wavered, and the plot failed—Sheng was killed by the mutineers. Zhongzong, remembering Yuanzhong's merit and his long favor under Gaozong and Empress Wu, did not blame him for Sheng's death and entrusted him as before.

是時，三思之黨兵部尚書宗楚客與侍中紀處訥等又執證元忠及升，雲素與節湣太子同謀構逆，請夷其三族，中宗不許。元忠懼不自安，上表固請致仕。手製聽解左僕射，以特進、齊國公致仕於家，仍朝朔望。楚客等又引右衛郎將姚庭筠為御史中丞，令劾奏元忠，由是貶渠州員外司馬。侍中楊再思、中書令李嶠皆依楚客之旨，以致元忠之罪，唯中書侍郎蕭至忠正議雲當從寬宥。楚客大怒，又遣給事中冉祖雍與楊再思奏言：“元忠既緣犯逆，不合更授內地官。 ”遂左遷思州務川尉。頃之，楚客又令御史袁守一奏言：“則天昔在三陽宮不豫，內史狄仁傑奏請陛下監國，元忠密進狀雲不可。據此，則知元忠懷逆日久，伏請加以嚴誅。 ”中宗謂楊再思等曰：“以朕思之，此是守一大錯。人臣事主，必在一心，豈有主上少有不安，即請太子知事？乃是狄仁傑樹私惠，未見元忠有失。守一假借前事羅織元忠，豈是道理。 ”楚客等遂止。元忠行至涪陵而卒，年七十餘。

Sansi's faction, Minister of War Zong Chuke and Palace Attendant Ji Chune, again testified that Yuanzhong and Sheng had long plotted with Crown Prince Jiemin and asked to exterminate their clans; Zhongzong refused. Yuanzhong grew fearful and petitioned to retire. An edict allowed him to resign as Left Vice Director and retire as Special Advanced Grandee and Duke of Qi, still attending on the first and fifteenth of each month. Chuke appointed Yao Tingyun vice censor-in-chief to impeach Yuanzhong, and he was demoted to outer assistant in Qú prefecture. Yang Zaisi and Li Qiao followed Chuke to condemn Yuanzhong; only Xiao Zhizhong argued for leniency. Chuke sent Ran Zuyong and Yang Zaisi to memorialize that Yuanzhong, having committed treason, should not receive an inner appointment. He was then demoted to commandant of Wuchuan in Si prefecture. Soon Chuke had Censor Yuan Shouyi memorialize that when Empress Wu was ill at Sanyang Palace, Di Renjie asked Zhongzong to oversee the state while Yuanzhong secretly opposed it. This proves Yuanzhong long harbored treason—he should be severely punished." Zhongzong told Yang Zaisi and others, "As I see it, Shouyi is greatly in error. A minister must serve with one heart—when the ruler is slightly unwell, how can one immediately ask the crown prince to govern? That was Di Renjie currying private favor; Yuanzhong was not at fault. Shouyi, using past events, frames Yuanzhong—how is that reasonable?" Chuke and others thereupon desisted. Yuanzhong died at Fuling on the road, aged over seventy.

韋安石，京兆萬年人，周大司空、鄖國公孝寬曾孫也。祖津，大業末為民部侍郎。煬帝之幸江都，敕津與段達、元文都等於洛陽留守，仍檢校民部尚書事。李密逼東都，津拒戰於上東門外。兵敗，為密所囚，及王世充殺文都等，津獨免其難。密敗，歸東都，世充僭號，深被委遇。及洛陽平，高祖與津有舊，征授諫議大夫，檢校黃門侍郎。出為陵州刺史，卒。父琬，成州刺史。叔琨，戶部侍郎。琨弟遂，倉部員外。

Wei Anshi came from Wannian in Jingzhao, great-grandson of Zhou Grand Minister of Works and Duke of Yun, Wei Xiaokuan. His grandfather Jin, at the end of the Daye era, was Vice Minister of the Household. When Emperor Yang went to Jiangdu, he left Jin with Duan Da, Yuan Wenshu, and others to guard Luoyang, with concurrent duty over the Ministry of the Household. Li Mi pressed the eastern capital; Jin fought him outside the Shangdong Gate. Defeated, he was taken by Mi; when Wang Shichong killed Wenshu and others, Jin alone escaped. After Mi's defeat he returned to Luoyang; Shichong usurped the throne and deeply trusted him. When Luoyang fell, Gaozu, who knew Jin of old, appointed him Remonstrator and Reviewer and concurrent Vice Director of the Yellow Gate. He served as prefect of Ling prefecture and died there. His father Wan was prefect of Cheng prefecture. His uncle Kun was Vice Minister of the Household. Kun's younger brother Sui was Outer Assistant in the Ministry of Revenue.

安石應明經舉，累授乾封尉，蘇良嗣甚禮之。永昌元年，三遷雍州司兵，良嗣時為文昌左相，謂安石曰：“大材須大用，何為徒勞於州縣也。 ”特薦於則天，擢拜膳部員外郎、永昌令、并州司馬。則天手製勞之曰：“聞卿在彼，庶事存心，善政表於能官，仁明彰於鎮撫。如此稱職，深慰朕懷。 ”俄拜并州刺史，又曆德、鄭二州刺史。安石性持重，少言笑，為政清嚴，所在人吏鹹畏憚之。久視年，遷文昌右丞，尋拜鸞台侍郎、同鳳閣鸞台平章事，兼太子左庶子。長安三年，為神都留守，兼判天官、秋官二尚書事。後與崔神慶等同為侍讀，尋知納言事。是歲，又加檢校中台左丞，兼太子左庶子、鳳閣鸞台三品如故。

Anshi passed the classics examination and became Qianfeng Assistant; Su Liangsi greatly honored him. In the first year of Yongchang he rose thrice to Yongzhou Arms Officer; Liangsi, then Left Chancellor, told him, "Great timber needs great use—why waste yourself in county posts?" He recommended Anshi to Empress Wu, who promoted him to Outer Assistant in the Ministry of Provisions, Magistrate of Yongchang, and Vice Director of Bingzhou. Empress Wu wrote by hand to praise him: "I hear that at your post you attend to all affairs, govern well, and rule with benevolence and clarity. Such service deeply comforts me." Soon he became Prefect of Bingzhou, then of De and Zheng prefectures. Anshi was grave, spoke little, and governed with purity and strictness; wherever he served, officials and people feared him. In the Jiushi era he became Right Vice Director of the Secretariat, then Vice Director of the Crane Terrace and Associate Director of the Phoenix Pavilion and Crane Terrace, with concurrent duty as Left Vice Director of the Crown Prince's household. In the third year of Chang'an he was Divine Capital Guardian, with concurrent duty over the Ministries of Astronomy and Punishments. Later he lectured with Cui Shenqing and others, and soon oversaw the Office of the Master of Documents. That year he was also made Vice Director of the Left Platform with his previous ranks unchanged.

時張易之兄弟及武三思皆恃寵用權，安石數折辱之，甚為易之等所忌。嚐於內殿賜宴，易之引蜀商宋霸子等數人於前博戲。安石疏奏曰：“蜀商等賤類，不合預登此筵。 ”因顧左右令逐出之，座者皆為失色。則天以安石辭直，深慰勉之。時鳳閣侍郎陸元方在座，退而告人曰：“此真宰相，非吾等所及也。 ”則天嚐幸興泰宮，欲就捷路，安石奏曰：“千金之子，且有垂堂之誡，萬乘之尊，不宜輕乘危險。此路板築初成，無自然之固，鑾駕經之，臣等敢不請罪。 ”則天登時為之回輦。安石俄又舉奏易之等罪狀，初有敕付安石及夏官尚書唐休璟推問，未竟而事變。四年，出為揚州大都督府長史。

Zhang Yizhi's brothers and Wu Sansi relied on favor for power; Anshi several times humiliated them and was deeply resented. At an inner banquet Yizhi brought Shu merchants including Song Bazi to gamble before the throne. Anshi memorialized, "Shu merchants and other base sorts should not attend this feast." He ordered them driven out; all at table turned pale. Empress Wu, finding his words straight, deeply praised and encouraged him. Vice Director Lu Yuanfang, seated there, later said, "This is a true chancellor—not our equal." Empress Wu once wished to take a shortcut to Xingtai Palace; Anshi memorialized, "Even the son of a wealthy house is warned against sitting beneath the eaves; the sovereign should not lightly court danger. This road was newly built and not naturally firm; if Your Majesty's carriage passes, we dare not escape blame." Empress Wu at once turned her carriage back. Anshi soon memorialized Yizhi's crimes; an edict ordered him and Tang Xiujing to investigate, but before it finished affairs changed. In the fourth year he became Chief Administrator of the Yangzhou Metropolitan Prefecture.

神龍初，征拜刑部尚書。是歲，又遷吏部尚書，復知政事。俄代張柬之為中書令，封鄖國公，以嚐為宮僚，賜實封三百戶，又兼相王府長史。俄轉戶部尚書，復為侍中，監修國史。中宗與庶人嚐因正月十五日夜幸其第，賜賚不可勝數。又中宗嚐幸安樂公主城西池館，公主具舟楫，請禦樓船，安石諫曰：“禦輕舟，乘不測，臣恐非帝王之事。 ”乃止。

At the beginning of Shenlong he was summoned as Minister of Punishments. That year he became Minister of Personnel and again held power. Soon he replaced Zhang Jianzhi as Director of the Secretariat, was enfeoffed as Duke of Yun, granted three hundred households of fief as a former palace officer, and became Chief Administrator of the Prince of Xiang's household. Soon he became Minister of the Household and again Palace Attendant, supervising the national history. Zhongzong and Empress Wei once visited his home on the Lantern Festival night with gifts beyond counting. Zhongzong once visited Princess Anle's western lodge; she prepared boats and asked to board the tower ship. Anshi remonstrated, "Light boats and unforeseen waters are not fit for a sovereign." The Emperor desisted.

睿宗踐祚，拜太子少保，改封郇國公。俄又曆侍中、中書令。景雲二年，加開府儀同三司。時太平公主與竇懷貞等潛有異圖，將引安石預其事，公主屢使子婿唐晙邀安石至宅，安石竟拒而不往。睿宗嚐密召安石，謂曰：“聞朝廷傾心東宮，卿何不察也？ ”安石對曰：“陛下何得亡國之言，此必太平之計。太子有大功於社稷，仁明孝友，天下所稱，願陛下無信讒言以致惑也。 ”睿宗矍然曰：“朕知之矣，卿勿言也。 ”太平於簾中竊聽之，乃構飛語，欲令鞫之，賴郭元振保護獲免。俄而遷尚書左僕射，兼太子賓客，依舊同中書門下三品，雖假以崇寵，實去其權。其冬，罷知政事，拜特進，充東都留守。太常主簿李元澄，即安石之子婿，其妻病死，安石夫人薛氏疑元澄先所幸婢厭殺之。其婢久已轉嫁，薛氏使人捕而捶之致死。由是為御史中丞楊茂謙所劾，出為蒲州刺史。無幾，轉青州刺史。

When Ruizong took the throne he became Junior Tutor of the Crown Prince and was re-enfeoffed as Duke of Xun. Soon he again served as Palace Attendant and Director of the Secretariat. In the second year of Jingyun he was given Grandee with the Opening of an Office and Equal Treatment to the Three Excellencies. Princess Taiping and Dou Huaizhen secretly plotted and tried to draw Anshi in; the princess repeatedly sent her son-in-law Tang Jun to invite him, but he refused. Ruizong once secretly summoned him and said, "I hear the court favors the Eastern Palace—why do you not investigate?" Anshi replied, "Your Majesty, how can you speak words that would lose the state? This must be the Princess's scheme. The crown prince has great merit, is benevolent, bright, and filial, and is praised by all—I pray Your Majesty not believe slander." Ruizong started and said, "I understand; speak no more." Taiping listened behind the curtain and fabricated rumors to have him interrogated; Guo Yuanzhen protected him. Soon he became Left Vice Director and Tutor of the Crown Prince, still Third Rank chancellor; though honored in name, his power was removed. That winter he left government, became Special Advanced Grandee, and was made Eastern Capital Guardian. Director Li Yuancheng was Anshi's son-in-law; when his wife died Lady Xue suspected a former maid had killed her by curse. The maid had long been remarried; Lady Xue had her seized and beaten to death. Vice Censor-in-Chief Yang Maoqian impeached him and he was sent out as Prefect of Pu. Soon he was moved to Prefect of Qing.

安石初在蒲州時，太常卿薑皎有所請托，安石拒之，皎大怒。開元二年，皎弟晦為御史中丞，以安石等作相時，同受中宗遺製，宗楚客、韋溫削除相王輔政之辭，安石不能正其事，令侍御史洪子輿舉劾之。子輿以事經赦令，固稱不可。監察御史郭震希皎等意，越次奏之，於是下詔曰：“青州刺史韋安石、太子賓客韋嗣立、刑部尚書趙彥昭等，往在先朝，曲蒙厚賞，因緣幸會，久在廟堂，朋黨比周，聞於行路。景龍之末，長蛇縱禍，倉卒之間，人神憤怨，未聞舍生取義，直道昌言，遂削太上皇輔政之辭，用韋氏臨朝之策。比常隱忍，復以崇班，將期愧畏，稍懲前惡，而尚款回邪，苟安榮寵。宜從謫官之典，以勵事君之節。安石可沔州別駕，嗣立可岳州別駕，彥昭可袁州別駕，並員外置。 ”安石既至沔州，晦又奏云：“安石嚐檢校定陵造作，隱官物入己。 ”敕符下州征贓。安石歎曰：“此祇應須我死耳！ ”憤激而卒，年六十四。開元十七年，贈蒲州刺史。天寶初，以子貴，追贈開府儀同三司、尚書左僕射、郇國公，諡曰文貞。二子陟、斌，並早知名。

At Pu, Director Jiang Jiao made a request Anshi refused; Jiao was greatly angered. In Kaiyuan 2, Jiao's brother Hui was vice censor-in-chief; because when Anshi was chancellor he had received Zhongzong's testament, and Zong Chuke and Wei Wen had deleted the Prince of Xiang's role in assisting government without Anshi correcting it, Hui ordered Hong Ziyu to impeach them. Ziyu said the matter was covered by amnesty and refused. Supervisory Censor Guo Zhen, pleasing Jiao, skipped rank to memorialize; an edict said, "Prefect Wei Anshi, Tutor Wei Sili, Minister Zhao Yanzhao, and others long held power in the former court, forming factions heard on every road. At the end of Jinglong disaster struck; gods and men were angry, yet they did not speak straight—they deleted the retired emperor's words on assisting government and used the Wei clan's policy of holding court. They concealed this and again received rank, yet still clung to crooked ways and favor. They should be demoted to encourage loyalty to one's lord." Anshi was made Military Adjutant of Mian, Sili of Yue, Yanzhao of Yuan—all outer posts. At Mian, Hui memorialized that Anshi had hidden official goods while inspecting Ding Mausoleum construction. An edict ordered the prefecture to collect the goods. Anshi sighed, "This simply means I must die!" He died in anger and agitation, aged sixty-four. In Kaiyuan 17 he was posthumously made Prefect of Pu. At the beginning of Tianbao, because of his son's honor, he was posthumously given Grandee with Opening of an Office, Left Vice Director, Duke of Xun, with posthumous title Cultured and Upright. His two sons Zhi and Bin were both known early for their talent.

陟字殷卿，代為關中著姓，人物衣冠，弈世榮盛。安石晚有子，及為并州司馬，始生陟及斌，俱少聰敏，頗異常童。陟自幼風標整峻，獨立不群，安石尤愛之。神龍二年，安石為中書令，陟始十歲，拜溫王府東閣祭酒，加朝散大夫，累遷秘書太堂丞，有文彩，善隸書，辭人、秀士已遊其門矣。開元初，丁父憂，居喪過禮。自此杜門不出八年，與弟斌相勸勵，探討典墳，不舍晝夜，文華當代，俱有盛名。於時才名之士王維、崔顥、盧象等，常與陟唱和遊處。廣平宋公見陟歎曰：“盛德遺範，盡在是矣。 ”曆洛陽令，轉吏部郎中。張九齡一代辭宗，為中書令，引陟為中書舍人，與孫逖、梁涉對掌文誥，時人以為美談。

Zhi, courtesy name Yinqing, came from a family long numbered among the eminent clans of Guanzhong—refined in bearing, distinguished in rank, and prosperous through the generations. Anshi became a father only in his later years. While serving as military aide in Bingzhou he had Zhi and Bin, both precocious boys who stood apart even among gifted children. Zhi carried himself with a grave, dignified bearing even as a boy, aloof from his peers—and Anshi doted on him above all. In Shenlong 2, when Anshi was chief minister, the ten-year-old Zhi was made libationer of the eastern pavilion in the Prince of Wen's household and given the rank of Chaosan Daifu. He rose to assistant director in the Secretariat, showed real literary gifts, and wrote an elegant clerical hand; poets and promising scholars were already calling at his door. At the opening of the Kaiyuan era he entered mourning for his father and observed the rites with more than customary rigor. For eight years he kept his doors closed. He and his brother Bin spurred each other on, poring over the classics without rest by day or night, until both won contemporary fame for their literary brilliance. Wang Wei, Cui Hao, Lu Xiang, and other leading literary names of the day often exchanged verse with Zhi and kept his company. When Lord Song of Guangping met Zhi he exclaimed, "The great virtue and worthy example of the clan are embodied in this lad alone." He served as magistrate of Luoyang, then moved to bureau director in the Ministry of Personnel. Zhang Jiuling, the reigning master of prose, as chief minister brought Zhi in as a drafting official. Zhi shared charge of imperial edicts with Sun Su and Liang She—a pairing the age spoke of with admiration.

後為禮部侍郎。陟好接後輩，尤鑒於文，雖辭人後生，靡不諳練。曩者主司取與，皆以一場之善，登其科目，不盡其才。陟先責舊，仍令舉人自通所工詩筆，先試一日，知其所長，然後依常式考核，片善無遺，美聲盈路。後為吏部侍郎，常病選人冒名接腳，闕員既少，取士良難，正調者被擠，偽集者冒進。陟剛腸嫉惡，風彩嚴正，選人疑其有瑕，案聲盤詰，無不首伏。每歲皆贖得數百員闕，以待淹滯，常謂所親曰：“使陟知銓衡一二年，則無人可選矣。”

He later became vice minister of rites. Zhi delighted in cultivating younger talent and had an especially keen eye for writing; he knew every aspiring poet of the day. Previously the examiners had promoted candidates on the strength of a single good performance and thus failed to measure their full ability. Zhi first rebuked the old practice, then had every candidate declare his strengths in verse and prose and sit a preliminary day-long trial so he could see what each did best before the formal examination. No merit went unrecognized, and his reputation spread everywhere. As vice minister of personnel he deplored the practice whereby candidates falsely assumed vacant posts or "foot-in" slots: with so few openings, finding worthy men was hard—legitimate appointees were squeezed out while impostors pushed ahead. Stern and upright by nature, Zhi confronted every candidate who looked dubious: at his desk, with a sharp rap and relentless questioning, all eventually confessed. Each year he recovered hundreds of improper appointments to give long-waiting candidates their chance. He often told friends, "Let me run the board of appointments for a year or two, and there will be nobody left worth selecting."

陟門地豪華，早踐清列，侍兒閹閽，列侍左右者十數，衣書藥食，鹹有典掌，而輿馬僮奴，勢侔於王家主第。自以才地人物，坐取三公，頗以簡貴自處，善誘納後進，其同列朝要，視之蔑如也。如道義相知，靡隔貴賤，而布衣韋帶之士，恒虛席倒屣以迎之，時人以此稱重。

Zhi came from great wealth and entered high office young. A dozen maids and chamber attendants waited at his side; stewards managed his wardrobe, library, medicine, and meals; his equipage, horses, and servants rivaled a princely house. Confident that his talent, pedigree, and person destined him for one of the Three Ducal offices, he held himself loftily aloof. He was generous with younger men, but regarded his peers among the high ministers with thinly veiled contempt. Where friendship was grounded in principle he made no distinction of rank. For plain scholars in hemp sashes he would always clear a seat and rush out shoeless to receive them—conduct for which the age honored him.

李林甫忌之，出為襄陽太守，兼本道采訪使，又改陳留采訪使，復加銀青光祿大夫。天寶中襲封郇國公，以親累貶鍾離太守，重貶義陽太守。尋移河東太守，充本道采訪使。

Li Linfu resented him and had him sent out as prefect of Xiangyang and commissioner for the circuit, then reassigned as commissioner for Chenliu, with the additional rank of Yinqing Guanglu Daifu. During Tianbao he inherited the title Duke of Xun, then was demoted to prefect of Zhongli because of kin association, and demoted again to prefect of Yiyang. He was soon transferred to Hedong as prefect and circuit commissioner.

十二年入考，在華清宮。右相楊國忠惡其才望，恐踐台衡，乃引河東人吳象之謂曰：“子能使人告陟乎？吾以子為御史。 ”象之曰：“能。 ”乃告陟與御史中丞吉溫結托，欲謀陷朝廷，又誘陟侄韋元誌證之。陟坐貶為桂州桂嶺尉，未之任，再貶昭州平樂尉。

In the twelfth year he came in for his performance review at Huaqing Palace. Chancellor of the Right Yang Guozhong hated Zhi's ability and reputation and feared he might reach the top of government. He summoned Wu Xiangzhi of Hedong and asked, "Can you get someone to accuse Zhi?" I'll make you a censor. Wu Xiangzhi replied, "I can." He duly denounced Zhi for collusion with the censor-in-chief Ji Wen in a plot against the throne, and induced Zhi's nephew Wei Yuanzhi to corroborate the charge. Zhi was demoted to assistant magistrate of Guilin in Guizhou; before he could take up the post he was demoted again to assistant magistrate of Pingle in Zhaozhou.

會祿山反，陷洛陽，陟愛弟斌為賊所得。國忠欲構陟與賊通應，潛令吏卒伺其所居，欲協之令陟憂死。其士豪人勸陟曰：“昔張燕公竄逐，藏於陳氏，以免危亡。詔命儻來，誰敢申覆？未若輕舟千里，且泛溪洞，候事清徐出，豈不美也！ ”陟慨然應之曰：“我積信於國朝，非一代也。況素所秉心，無負神理，命之合爾，其敢逃刑？燕公之謀，誠愧厚意，不能從也。 ”因謝遣之，乃堅臥不動。

When An Lushan rebelled and took Luoyang, Zhi's beloved younger brother Bin fell into rebel hands. Guozhong tried to frame Zhi for colluding with the rebels, secretly posting officials to watch his residence in the hope of driving him to death by grief. Local worthies urged Zhi: "When Duke Yan of Zhang was driven into exile he took shelter with the Chen clan and so escaped with his life." If an imperial order comes down, who dares appeal? Better take a light boat far away and hide among the rivers and caverns until the storm passes—would that not be wise? Zhi answered with deep feeling: "My family has built up the dynasty's trust over generations—not just one reign." My conscience is clear before Heaven. If this is my appointed end, how dare I flee the law? Yan Gong's scheme shames me for its goodwill, but I cannot accept it. He thanked them and sent them away, then lay still and did not stir.

經歲餘，潼關失守，肅宗即位於靈武，起為吳郡太守，兼江南東道采訪使。未到郡，肅宗使中官賈遊嚴手詔追之。未至鳳翔，會江東永王擅起兵，令陟招諭，除御史大夫，兼江東節度使。陟以季廣琛從永王下江，非其本意，懼罪出奔，未有所適，乃有表請拜廣琛為丹陽太守、兼御史中丞、緣江防禦使，以安反側。因與淮南節度使高適、淮西節度使來瑱等同至安州。陟謂適、瑱曰：“今中原未復，江淮動搖，人心安危，實在茲日。若不齊盟質信，以示四方，令知三帥協心，萬里同力，則難以集事矣。 ”陟推瑱為地主，乃為載書，登壇誓眾曰：“淮西節度使、兼御史大夫瑱，江東節度使、御史大夫陟，淮南節度使、御史大夫適等，銜國威命，各鎮方隅，糾合三垂，翦除凶慝，好惡同之，無有異志。有渝此盟，墜命亡族。皇天後士，祖宗神明，實鑒斯言。 ”陟等辭旨慷慨，血淚俱下，三軍感激，莫不隕泣。其後江表樹碑以紀忠烈。

More than a year later Tong Pass fell. When Suzong took the throne at Lingwu, Zhi was recalled as prefect of Wu and commissioner for Jiangnan East. Before he reached his post, Suzong sent the eunuch Jia Youyan with a handwritten edict summoning him back. Before he reached Fengxiang, Prince Yong of Jiangdong had raised troops on his own authority. Zhi was ordered to win over the region, appointed censor-in-chief and military commissioner of Jiangdong. Ji Guangchen, who had followed Prince Yong downriver, had not meant to rebel but fled in fear of punishment with nowhere to go. Zhi memorialized that Guangchen be made prefect of Danyang, vice censor-in-chief, and river-defense commissioner to reassure the discontented. He then went with Huainan commissioner Gao Shi and Huaixi commissioner Lai Tian to Anzhou. Zhi said to Shi and Tian, "The heartland is still unreclaimed and the Jiang-Huai region trembles. The fate of men's loyalty hangs on what we do today." Unless we bind ourselves in sworn alliance and show the realm that the three commanders speak with one voice across a thousand miles, we cannot succeed. Zhi proposed Tian as host of the ceremony and drafted a covenant. Mounting the altar he swore before the assembly: "Huaixi commissioner and concurrent censor-in-chief Lai Tian, Jiangdong commissioner and censor-in-chief Wei Zhi, Huainan commissioner and censor-in-chief Gao Shi—we bear the imperial mandate, each guarding our sector, rallying the three frontiers and cutting down the wicked. Our aims are one and our hearts united." Whoever breaks this oath shall fall from life and perish with his clan. Heaven and Earth, the spirits of our ancestors—bear witness to these words. Zhi and the others spoke with burning conviction, blood and tears mingling. The whole army was stirred; every man wept. Later the region south of the Yangtze raised a stele to commemorate their loyal valor.

無何，有詔令陟赴行在。陟以廣琛雖承恩命，猶且遲回，恐後變生，禍貽於陟，欲往招慰，然後赴征，乃發使上表，懇言其急。陟馳至曆陽，見廣琛，且宣恩旨，勞徠行賞，陟自以私馬數匹賜之，安其疑懼。即日便赴行在，謁見肅宗，肅宗深器之，拜御史大夫。拾遺杜甫上表論房琯有大臣度，真宰相器，聖朝不容，辭旨迂誕，肅宗令崔光遠與陟及憲部尚書顏真卿同訊之。陟因入奏曰：“杜甫所論房琯事，雖被貶黜，不失諫臣大體。 ”上由此疏之。時朝臣立班多不整肅，至有班頭相吊哭者，乃罷陟御史大夫，顏真卿代，授吏部尚書。自後任事寵臣，皆後來初用，望風畏忌，道竟不行。因宗人伐墓柏，坐不能禁，出為絳州刺史。乾元二年，入為太常卿。呂諲再入相，薦為禮部尚書、東京留守，判尚書省事，兼東京畿觀察處置等使。逆賊史思明寇逼河洛，副元帥李光弼議守河陽，令陟率東京官屬入關回避，乃令兵守陝州。有詔遷吏部尚書，留守如故，令止於永樂，不許至京，候光弼收復河洛，令陟依前居守。

Before long an edict ordered Zhi to proceed to the emperor's camp. Zhi feared that although Guangchen had received imperial favor he still wavered, and that delay might bring disaster upon himself. He wished to reassure Guangchen before answering the summons, and sent an urgent memorial to that effect. Zhi rode hard to Liyang, met Guangchen, announced the imperial message, offered comfort and rewards, and gave him several of his own horses to ease his fears. That same day he reached the emperor's camp and was received by Suzong, who held him in high regard and appointed him censor-in-chief. Remonstrance official Du Fu memorialized that Fang Guan had the stature of a great minister and the makings of a true chancellor, yet the court would not keep him. The language was extravagant and far-fetched. Suzong ordered Cui Guangyuan, Zhi, and Minister of Justice Yan Zhenqing to investigate. Zhi entered and reported: "Du Fu's defense of Fang Guan, though Fang was demoted, still upheld the proper role of a remonstrating minister." The emperor took offense and grew distant from him. Court formations had grown so disorderly that men at the head of the ranks were seen weeping over one another. Zhi was removed as censor-in-chief—Yan Zhenqing took his place—and appointed minister of personnel instead. Thereafter the favored ministers then in power were all recent appointees who feared and avoided him, and his reforms never took hold. When clansmen felled cypresses at a family tomb and he failed to stop them, he was sent out as prefect of Jiangzhou. In Qianyuan 2 he returned to the capital as minister of ceremonies. When Lü Yin returned to the chancellorship he recommended Zhi as minister of rites and intendant of the eastern capital, with charge of secretariat affairs and oversight of the eastern capital region. When the rebel Shi Siming threatened the He-Luo region, vice commander Li Guangbi planned to hold Heyang and ordered Zhi to lead eastern capital officials into the passes for safety while troops guarded Shaanzhou. An edict promoted him to minister of personnel while keeping him as intendant, but ordered him to remain at Yongle and not enter the capital until Guangbi had recovered the He-Luo region, when he was to resume his former duties.

陟早有台輔之望，間被李林甫、楊國忠所擠。及中原兵起，天下事殷，陟常自謂負經緯之器，遭後生騰謗，明主見疑，常鬱鬱不得誌，乃歎曰：“吾道窮於此乎，有誌不伸，得非天命乎！ ”因遘疾，上元元年八月，卒於虢州，時年六十五，贈荊州大都督。永泰元年，詔曰：“竭忠之臣，歿不廢命，奉上之節，行固無私，言念飾終，抑惟恒典。故金紫光祿大夫、吏部尚書、兼御史大夫、充東京留守、兼判留司尚書省事、東京畿觀察處置使、上柱國、郇國公韋陟，敦敏直方，端嚴峻整，弘敷典禮，表正人倫，學冠通儒，文含大雅。頃者詢謨舊德，保厘成周，眷彼郊圻，資其慎固。而凶胡殘醜，密邇河洛，命居陝、虢，時俟翦除。才加喉舌之榮，遽嬰霜露之疾。方期克享眉壽，冀其有瘳，奄此殂歿，良深震悼。升車而復，以申三禭之恩；在牖加紳，宜崇八座之寵。可贈尚書左僕射。 ”太常博士程皓議諡為“忠孝”。刑部尚書顏真卿以為忠則以身許國，見危致命，孝則晨昏色養，取樂庭闈，不合二行殊難，以成“忠孝”。主客員外郎歸崇敬又駁之，紛議不已。右僕射郭英乂不達其體，請從太常之狀而奏。陟子允。

Zhi had long been expected for the highest offices, but was repeatedly pushed aside by Li Linfu and Yang Guozhong. When war engulfed the heartland and the empire's troubles multiplied, Zhi felt himself born to govern yet was slandered by juniors and mistrusted by his sovereign. Depressed and unable to act, he sighed: "Has my road ended here? Ambition thwarted—is this not fate?" He fell ill and died at Guozhou in the eighth month of Shangyuan 1, aged sixty-five. He was posthumously made grand general of Jingzhou. In Yongtai 1 an edict declared: "A loyal minister, though dead, does not abandon his charge; service to the throne brooks no selfishness. To honor him at life's end is the constant way." The late Jinzi Guanglu Daifu, Minister of Personnel, concurrent censor-in-chief, intendant of the eastern capital with charge of remaining secretariat affairs, commissioner for the eastern capital region, Shangzhuguo, Duke of Xun Wei Zhi—was diligent and perceptive, upright and stern, a champion of ritual and moral order, a scholar among scholars, a writer of the highest elegance. Lately, as a veteran counselor, he had guarded and governed the eastern capital; the realm relied on his steadfast defense of that critical region. Yet the rebel barbarians pressed close on He-Luo. He was posted to Shaan and Guo, awaiting the day they would be destroyed. He had barely received the honor of a court voice when he was suddenly stricken with mortal illness. We had looked for him to live out a long span and hoped for his recovery; his sudden death fills us with shock and grief. Let the carriage be raised to return him, extending the grace of the three funeral shrouds; and let the sash be added at the window, honoring the dignity owed a minister of the Eight Seats. He is posthumously appointed left vice director of the Department of State Affairs. Court ritualist Cheng Hao proposed the posthumous name "Loyal and Filial." Minister of justice Yan Zhenqing argued that loyalty means giving one's life for the state in peril, while filial piety means daily care for parents at home—the two virtues are distinct and cannot easily be fused into "Loyal and Filial." Principal secretary of the bureau of receptions Gui Chongjing objected as well, and debate raged on. Right vice director Guo Yingyi missed the point and asked that the court ritualists' proposal be adopted. Zhi's son was Yun.

斌，景雲初安石為宰輔時，授太子通事舍人。早修整，尚文藝，容止嚴厲，有大臣體，與兄陟齊名。開元十七年，司徒薛王業為女平恩縣主求婚，以斌才地奏配焉。遷秘書丞。天寶初，轉國子司業，徐安貞、王維、崔顥，當代辭人，特為推挹。天寶中，拜中書舍人，兼集賢院學士。兄陟先為中書舍人，未幾遷禮部侍郎。陟在南省，斌又掌文誥。改太常少卿。天寶五載，右相李林甫構陷刑部尚書韋堅，斌以親累貶巴陵太守，移臨安太守，加銀青光祿大夫。斌授五品時，兄陟為河東太守，堂兄由為右金吾將軍，縚為太子少師，四人同時列戟，衣冠之盛，罕有其比。

Bin, when Anshi became chief minister at the start of the Jingyun era, was appointed director of communications to the crown prince. From youth he was polished and cultivated, devoted to letters, stern and imposing in bearing, with the deportment of a great minister. He was as renowned as his elder brother Zhi. In Kaiyuan 17, Situ Prince Ye of Xue sought a husband for his daughter, Princess Ping'en, and because of Bin's talent and pedigree memorialized to match them in marriage. He was promoted to secretary assistant. At the start of Tianbao he became vice director of the directorate of education. Xu Anzhen, Wang Wei, and Cui Hao, the leading writers of the day, singled him out for praise. During Tianbao he was made a drafting official and also an academician of the Hall of Assembled Worthies. His elder brother Zhi had first served as drafting official and soon rose to vice minister of rites. Zhi served in the southern secretariat; Bin again held charge of imperial edicts. He was transferred to vice minister of ceremonies. In Tianbao 5, Chancellor of the Right Li Linfu framed Minister of Justice Wei Jian. Bin was demoted to prefect of Baling through kin association, then transferred to prefect of Lin'an with the rank of Yinqing Guanglu Daifu. When Bin received fifth rank, his brother Zhi was prefect of Hedong, his elder cousin You was general of the right Jinwu Guard, and cousin Tao was junior tutor of the crown prince. All four bore halberds at their gates at once—a display of rank rarely matched.

十四載，安祿山反，陷洛陽，斌為賊所得，偽授黃門侍郎，憂憤而卒。及克復兩京，肅宗乾元元年，贈秘書監。安石兄叔夏別有傳。從父兄子抗，從祖兄子巨源。

In the fourteenth year An Lushan rebelled and took Luoyang. Bin fell into rebel hands, was given the false title of vice director of the palace gate, and died of grief and rage. After the two capitals were recovered, Suzong in Qianyuan 1 posthumously made him director of the secretariat. Anshi's elder brother Shuxia has a separate biography. His paternal cousin's son was Kang; his father's elder cousin's son was Juyuan.

抗，弱冠舉明經，累轉吏部郎中，以清謹著稱。景雲初，為永昌令，不務威刑而政令肅一。都輦繁劇，前後為政，寬猛得中，無如抗者。無幾，遷右台御史中丞，人吏詣闕請留，不許，因立碑於通衢，紀其遺惠。開元三年，自左庶子出為益州長史。四年，入為黃門侍郎。

Kang passed the Mingjing examination in his early twenties, rose to bureau director in the Ministry of Personnel, and was known for purity and prudence. At the start of Jingyun he was magistrate of Yongchang. Without harsh punishments he kept government uniformly strict. The capital district was complex and demanding. Of all who governed it before and after, none matched Kang in balancing lenience and severity. Soon he was promoted to vice censor-in-chief of the right office. Officials and commoners petitioned the throne to keep him, but in vain; they raised a stele at the crossroads to record his legacy of good rule. In Kaiyuan 3 he left the post of left subordinate director to become long administrator of Yizhou. In the fourth year he returned to the capital as vice director of the palace gate.

八年，河曲叛胡康待賓擁徒作亂，詔抗持節慰撫。抗素無武略，不為寇所憚。在路遲留不敢進，因墜馬稱疾，竟不至賊所而還。俄以本官檢校鴻臚卿，代王晙為御史大夫，兼按察京畿。時抗弟拯為萬年令，兄弟同領本部，時人榮之。尋以薦御史非其人，出為安州都督，轉蒲州刺史。十一年，入為大理卿，其年代陸象先為刑部尚書，尋又分掌吏部選事。十四年卒。抗曆職以清儉自守，不務產業，及終，喪事殆不能給。玄宗聞其貧，特令給靈輿，遞送還鄉。贈太子少傅，諡曰貞。抗為京畿按察使時，舉奉天尉梁升卿、新豐尉王倕、金城尉王冰、華原尉王燾為判官及度支使，其後升卿等皆名位通顯，時人以抗有知人之鑒。

In the eighth year the rebel Hu Kang Daibin of the Hequ region gathered followers and rose in revolt. Kang was ordered to proceed with full credentials to pacify the region. Kang had no military experience and the bandits did not fear him. He lingered on the road and dared not advance, then fell from his horse and pleaded illness, and never reached the rebels at all. Soon, retaining his original rank, he was made acting director of the office of the imperial stud and replaced Wang Jun as censor-in-chief, with additional charge of investigating the capital region. At the time his younger brother Zheng was magistrate of Wannian. The two brothers together governed the same region—a distinction the age admired. Soon, because he had recommended an unworthy man as censor, he was sent out as military commissioner of Anzhou and then transferred to prefect of Pu. In the eleventh year he became director of the court of judicial review. That year he replaced Lu Xiangxian as minister of justice, and soon also shared charge of personnel selection. He died in the fourteenth year. Kang served with purity and frugality and never built up estates. At his death his family could barely afford the funeral. Xuanzong learned of his poverty and specially ordered a funeral carriage and relay transport to send him home. He was posthumously made junior tutor of the crown prince, with the posthumous name Zhen ("Upright"). As investigating commissioner for the capital region Kang recommended Liang Shengqing of Fengtian, Wang Wei of Xinfeng, Wang Bing of Jincheng, and Wang Tao of Huayuan as judges and fiscal commissioners. All later rose to prominence, and the age credited Kang with a discerning eye for talent.

巨源，周京兆尹總曾孫也。祖匡伯，襲祖爵鄖國公，入隋改封舒國公，官至尚衣奉禦。巨源則天時累遷司賓少卿，轉司府卿、文昌右丞、同鳳閣鸞台平章事。三年，轉夏官侍郎，依前平章事。有吏才，勾覆省內文案，下符剝徵，雖為下所怨苦，然亦頗收其利。證聖初，出為鄜州刺史，尋拜地官尚書、神都留守。長安二年，詔入轉刑部尚書，又加太子賓客，再為神都留守。

Juyuan was the great-grandson of Zong, governor of Jingzhao under Zhou. His grandfather Kuangbo inherited the title Duke of Yun, was re-enfeoffed as Duke of Shu under Sui, and rose to director of imperial wardrobe attendants. Under Empress Wu, Juyuan rose to vice director of the bureau of guest affairs, then director of the treasury, right vice director of the secretariat, and concurrent associate director of the Phoenix Pavilion and Luan Terrace. In the third year he was transferred to vice minister of war while continuing as associate director. He had administrative talent and audited secretariat documents, issuing orders and pressing collections. Though subordinates resented him, the treasury profited. At the start of Zhensheng he was sent out as prefect of Fu, then appointed minister of earthly affairs and intendant of the divine capital. In Chang'an 2 he was recalled to minister of justice, also made senior mentor to the crown prince, and again intendant of the divine capital.

神龍初，入拜工部尚書，封同安縣子。又遷吏部尚書、同中書門下三品，進封郇縣伯。時安石為中書令，以是巨源近屬，罷知政事。巨源尋遷侍中、中書令，進封舒國公，附入韋後三等親，敘為兄弟，編在屬籍。是歲，巨源奉制與唐休璟、李懷遠、祝欽明、蘇環等定《垂拱格》及《格後敕》，前後計二十卷，頒下施行。時武三思先有實封數千戶在貝州，時屬大水，刺史宋璟議稱租庸及封丁並合捐免；巨源以為穀稼雖被湮沉，其蠶桑見在，可勒輸庸調，由是河朔戶口頗多流散。

At the start of Shenlong he entered as minister of works and was enfeoffed as viscount of Tong'an. He was again transferred to minister of personnel and third rank under the secretariat and chancellery, and advanced to earl of Xun. At the time Anshi was chief minister; because Juyuan was a close kinsman, he was removed from managing state affairs. Juyuan soon became palace attendant and chief minister, was advanced to duke of Shu, attached himself to Empress Wei's third-rank kin, was reckoned as her brother, and entered the imperial genealogy. That year Juyuan was ordered with Tang Xiujing, Li Huaiyuan, Zhu Qinming, and Su Huan to compile the Chui Gong Code and Post-Code Edicts—twenty volumes in all—which were promulgated throughout the realm. Wu Sansi already held a substantive fief of several thousand households in Beizhou when a great flood struck. Prefect Song Jing proposed that land tax, corvée, and fief obligations all be remitted; Juyuan argued that though grain fields were flooded, mulberry and silkworm crops remained and corvée and tax could still be collected. The population north of the Yellow River largely fled as a result.

景龍二年，順天翊聖皇后衣箱中裙上有五色雲起，久則方歇，巨源以為非常佳瑞，請布告天下，許之。中宗又令畫工圖其狀以示百僚，仍大赦天下，內外五品已上官母妻各加封邑。時中宗即雅信符瑞，巨源又讚成其妖妄。是歲星墜如雷，野雉皆雊，咎征若此，不聞巨源有言，蓋與韋皇后繼敘源流，佞媚官爵，疑其開導，以踵則天。時有驍衛將軍迦葉誌忠、太常少卿鄭愔、兵部尚書宗楚客、右補闕趙延禧等，或相諷諭，或上表章，謬說符祥，朋黨取媚，識者嗟憤。

In Jinglong 2 five-colored clouds appeared on a skirt in Empress Shuntian Yisheng's wardrobe and lingered long before fading. Juyuan hailed this as a marvelous omen and asked that it be proclaimed to the realm. The request was granted. Zhongzong had painters depict the phenomenon for the court, proclaimed a general amnesty, and added fiefs to the mothers and wives of officials of fifth rank and above. Zhongzong already doted on portents and omens, and Juyuan egged on his delusions. That same year stars fell like thunder and wild pheasants crowed everywhere—clear omens of disaster—yet Juyuan said nothing. Having tied himself to Empress Wei for rank and favor, he was suspected of paving the way to revive Wu Zetian's path. General Ye Zhizhong of the brave guard, vice minister of ceremonies Zheng Yin, minister of war Zong Chuke, remonstrance official Zhao Yanxi, and others either offered veiled flattery or submitted memorials falsely praising omens, forming factions to curry favor. Thoughtful men sighed in anger.

景龍三年，拜尚書左僕射，依舊知政事。未幾，又拜尚書令、同中書門下三品，仍舊監修國史。時國家將有事於南郊，而巨源希韋後之旨，協同祝欽明之議，言皇后合助郊祀，竟以皇后為亞獻，巨源為終獻，又以大臣女為齋娘。及韋庶人之難，家人令巨源逃匿，巨源曰：“吾國之大臣，豈得聞難不赴？ ”乃出，至都街，為亂兵所殺，時年八十。

In Jinglong 3 he was appointed left vice director of the Department of State Affairs while continuing to manage state affairs. Soon he was also made director of the Department of State Affairs and third rank under the secretariat and chancellery, still supervising compilation of the national history. When the state prepared the southern suburban sacrifice, Juyuan sought to please Empress Wei. Agreeing with Zhu Qinming, he argued the empress should assist at the rite. The empress became secondary offerer, Juyuan the final offerer, and ministers' daughters were made fasting maidens. When Empress Wei's coup collapsed, his family urged him to flee. Juyuan said, "I am a great minister of the state—how can I hear of trouble and not go?" He went out into the capital street and was killed by mutinous soldiers, aged eighty.

夫古之諡，在乎勸沮，將杜小人之業，冀長君子之風。故為善者雖存不貴仕，而沒有餘名，此賢達所以砥節也；為惡者雖生有所幸，死懷所懲，此回邪所以易心也。嗚呼！巨源嚐未斯察，而乃聞義不從，與惡相濟，蓄罔上之誌，協群凶之謀，苟容聖朝，貪昧厚祿。自以宰臣之貴，不崇朝而賈害者，固鬼得而誅之也。彼則匹夫之微，未受命而行刑者，固人得而誅之也。幽明之憤，斷焉可知，天地之心，自此而見矣。

Ancient posthumous names were meant to encourage virtue and deter vice—to block petty men's pursuits and nurture gentlemen's conduct. Those who did good, though they did not crave office in life, left honorable names in death—thus the worthy tempered their character; those who did evil, though lucky in life, feared punishment in death—thus the crooked were moved to change. Alas! Juyuan never grasped this. He heard righteousness and turned away, abetted evil, nursed treasonous intent, and joined the wicked in their plots—clinging to office while gorging on emolument. He deemed himself precious as a chief minister, yet within a morning met his doom—as if ghosts themselves had executed him. They were but common men, meting out punishment without mandate—yet men could justly slay them. The wrath of the seen and unseen worlds is plain to see; the mind of Heaven and Earth stands revealed.

頃者皇運中興，功臣翼政。時序未幾，邪逆執權，奸慝者拜爵於私門，忠正者黜降於藩郡。巨源此際，用事方殷。且於阿韋何親，而結為昆季；於國家何力，而累忝大官。此則暗通中人，附會武氏，托城社之固，亂皇家之基。其罪一也。

Recently the dynasty was restored and meritorious ministers helped govern. Hardly had time passed when the wicked seized power. Traitors were ennobled at private gates; the loyal were banished to frontier posts. At that moment Juyuan's power was at its height. What kin was he to the Wei clan that he was joined to them as sworn brothers? What service had he done the state that he repeatedly held the highest offices? This was secretly courting palace favorites, clinging to the Wu clan, trading on the dynasty's strength, and undermining the imperial foundation. That was his first crime.

又國之大事，在祀與戎，酌於禮經，陳於郊祭。將以對越天地，光揚祖宗，即告成功，以觀海內。惟昔亞獻，不聞婦人，阿韋蓄無君之忱，懷自達之意，潛圖帝位，議啄皇孫，升壇擬儀，拜賜明命，將預家事，無守國章。巨源創跡於前，悖逆演成於後。時有禮部侍郎徐堅、太常博士唐紹、蔣欽緒、彭景直並言之莫從。其罪二也。

Again, the state's greatest affairs are sacrifice and war, ordained in the classics and enacted at the suburban rites. They answer Heaven and Earth, honor the ancestors, proclaim success, and display it to the realm. Never before had a woman served as secondary offerer. Empress Wei nursed treasonous ambition, secretly coveted the throne, and plotted against the imperial grandson. She mounted the altar in imitation of the rite, received investiture as if by mandate, treating state ritual as family business. Juyuan blazed the trail; rebellion and treason followed. Vice minister of rites Xu Jian and court ritualists Tang Shao, Jiang Qinxu, and Peng Jingzhi all objected, but were ignored. That was his second crime.

又上天不吊，先帝遇毒，悔禍無徵，阿韋將篡。畫計未果，逆心尚搖，周章夷猶，倉卒迷謬。於是太平公主矯為陳謨，上官昭容紿草遺詔，故得今上輔政，阿韋參謀。將大業垂成，而休命中輟者，職由巨源躡韋溫之足，楚客附巨源之耳，梟聲遽發，狼顧相驚，以阿韋臨朝，以韋溫當國。其罪三也。

Again, Heaven showed no mercy: the late emperor was poisoned. No sign of repentance appeared, and Empress Wei prepared to seize the throne. Their plot had not yet succeeded; rebel hearts still wavered, hesitating in confusion and haste. Princess Taiping forged a memorial of counsel; Shangguan Zhaorong falsified the deathbed edict. Thus the present emperor was made regent and Empress Wei given a share in rule. Just as the coup neared success and the dynasty's repose was broken, Juyuan followed Wei Wen's lead, Chuke clung to Juyuan's coattails, the owl's cry rang out, and wolves glanced back in panic—Empress Wei at court, Wei Wen in power. That was his third crime.

又人為邦本，財實聚人，奪其財則人心自離，無其人則國本何恃。巨源屢踐台輔，專行勾征，廢越條章，崇尚侵刻，樹怨天下，剝害生靈，兆庶流離，戶口減耗。況以三思食邑，往在貝州，時屬久陰，災逢多雨。租庸捐免，申令昭明，匪今獨然，自古不易。三思慮其封物，巨源啟此異端，以為稼穡湮沉，雖無菽粟，蠶桑織紝，可輸庸調。致使河朔黎人，海隅士女，去其鄉井，鬻其子孫，饑寒切身，朝夕奔命。其罪四也。

Again, people are the root of the state and wealth gathers people. Strip their wealth and hearts depart; without people, what supports the realm? Juyuan repeatedly held the highest offices, pressing audits and collections, violating regulations, favoring harsh exaction, earning the realm's hatred, harming the people, and driving the masses to flee. Consider Sansi's fief in Beizhou, when prolonged rains brought disaster. Remission of land tax and corvée was clearly ordained—not a novelty, but immemorial custom. Sansi feared for his fief income; Juyuan opened this perverse path, arguing that though grain was lost, silk tax could still be collected. The people of Hebei and the coast fled their homes, sold their children, and ran for their lives in hunger and cold from dawn to dusk. That was his fourth crime.

但巨源長於華宗，仕於累代，作萬國之相，處具瞻之地，蔽日月之屋輝，負丘山之重責，今乃妄加褒述，安能分謗者哉！

Juyuan sprang from a glorious clan, served many reigns, stood as minister to the realm in a place all eyes watched, bearing responsibility heavy as mountains—yet to praise him now would share none of the blame.

當時雖不從邕議，而論者是之。巨源與安石及則天時文昌右相待價，並是五服之親，自餘近屬至大官者數十人。

Though Yan's proposal was not adopted at the time, commentators approved it. Juyuan, Anshi, and the right vice director of the secretariat under Empress Wu were peers in standing—all within the five degrees of mourning kinship. Dozens of other close kinsmen also reached high office.

趙彥昭者，甘州張掖人也。父武孟，初以馳騁佃獵為事。嚐獲肥鮮以遺母，母泣曰：“汝不讀書而佃獵如是，吾無望矣。 ”竟不食其膳。武孟感激勤學，遂博通經史。舉進士，官至右台侍御史，撰《河西人物志》十卷。

Zhao Yanzhao was from Zhangye in Ganzhou. His father Wumeng at first made his living as a hunter and tenant farmer. Once he brought fresh game to his mother. She wept and said, "You won't study yet spend your days hunting like this—I have no hope for you." She refused to eat what he brought. Moved to his core, Wumeng applied himself to study until he mastered the classics and histories. He passed the jinshi examination, became a censor of the right office, and compiled the ten-volume Record of Figures of Hexi.

彥昭少以文辭知名。中宗時，累遷中書侍郎、同中書門下三品，兼修國史，充修文館學士。景龍四年，金城公主出降吐蕃讚普，中宗命彥昭為使，彥昭以既充外使，恐失其寵，殊不悅。司農卿趙履溫私謂曰：“公國之宰輔，而為一介之使，不亦鄙乎？ ”彥昭曰：“計將安出？ ”履溫因為陰托安樂公主密奏留之，中宗乃遣左驍衛大將軍楊矩代彥昭而往。

Yanzhao was known from youth for his literary gifts. Under Zhongzong he rose to vice director of the secretariat and third rank under the secretariat and chancellery, also revising the national history and serving as academician of the Hall for Cultivation of Literature. In Jinglong 4 Princess Jincheng was sent to marry the Tibetan zanpu. Zhongzong appointed Yanzhao envoy. Yanzhao, fearing that foreign service would cost him favor at court, was deeply displeased. Minister of agriculture Zhao Lüwen said privately, "You are a chief minister of the state yet would serve as a mere envoy—is that not beneath you?" Yanzhao asked, "What do you propose?" Lüwen secretly had Princess Anle memorialize to keep him at court. Zhongzong then sent General Yang Ju of the left brave guard in Yanzhao's place.

睿宗時，出為涼州都督，為政清嚴，將士已下皆動足股栗。又為宋州刺史，入為吏部侍郎，又為刑部尚書、關內道持節巡邊使、檢校左御史台大夫。

Under Ruizong he was sent out as military commissioner of Liangzhou. His rule was pure and stern; generals and soldiers alike trembled before him. He later served as prefect of Song, returned as vice minister of personnel, then minister of justice, commissioner inspecting the Guannei border with full credentials, and acting grand censor of the left office.

彥昭素與郭元振、張說友善。及蕭至忠等伏誅，元振、說等稱彥昭先嚐密圖其事，乃以功遷刑部尚書，封耿國公，賜實封一百戶。殿中侍御史郭震奏：“彥昭以女巫趙五娘左道亂常，托為諸姑，潛相影援。既因提挈，乃踐台階。驅車造門，著婦人之服；攜妻就謁，申猶子之情。於時南憲直臣，劾以霜憲，暫加微貶，旋登寵秩。同惡相濟，一至於此。乾坤交泰，宇宙再清，不加貶削，法將安措？請付紫微黃門，準法處分。 ”俄而姚崇入相，甚惡彥昭之為人，由是累貶江州別駕，卒。

Yanzhao had long been friendly with Guo Yuanzhen and Zhang Yue. When Xiao Zhizhong and others were executed, Yuanzhen and Yue claimed Yanzhao had secretly helped plan it. For this he was promoted to minister of justice, enfeoffed as Duke of Geng, and given a substantive fief of one hundred households. Palace censor Guo Zhen memorialized: "Yanzhao relied on the witch Zhao Wuniang, who used sorcery to subvert order. He called her his aunt and secretly drew on her support." Raised by her patronage, he then climbed to high office. He drove to her door dressed as a woman; and brought his wife to visit her, playing the dutiful nephew. Upright censors of the southern bureau impeached him with full severity. He received a brief demotion, then was soon restored to favor. Villains abetting one another had come to this. Heaven and Earth are at peace and the realm is cleansed anew—if he is not punished, where is the law? I ask that he be referred to the chancellery for punishment according to law. Soon Yao Chong entered the chancellorship and deeply despised Yanzhao's character. Yanzhao was repeatedly demoted to vice prefect of Jiangzhou, where he died.

蕭至忠，秘書少監德言曾孫也。少仕為畿尉，以清謹稱。嚐與友人期於路隅，會風雪凍冽，諸人皆奔避就宇下。至忠曰：“寧有與人期而求安失信乎？ ”獨不去，眾鹹歎服。神龍初，武三思擅權，至忠附之，自吏部員外擢拜御史中丞。遷吏部侍郎，仍兼御史中丞。恃武三思勢，掌選無所忌憚，請謁杜絕，威風大行。尋遷中書侍郎，兼中書令。

Xiao Zhizhong was a great-grandson of the Secretariat Director Xiao Deyan. As a young man he served as a magistrate in the capital district and was known for his integrity and careful conduct. He once agreed to meet a friend at a street corner. When a bitter wind and stinging snow blew in, the others all fled to shelter beneath a roof. Zhizhong said, "Can a man keep another's appointment and still seek his own comfort by breaking faith? He alone remained. The rest looked on and sighed in admiration. At the beginning of the Shenlong reign, Wu Sansi seized power. Zhizhong joined his faction and rose from Vice Director in the Ministry of Personnel to Censor-in-Chief. He was transferred to Vice Minister of Personnel, retaining his concurrent post as Censor-in-Chief. Backed by Wu Sansi's influence, he ran the selection process without fear or restraint, closed the door to private petitions, and his stern authority spread far and wide. Before long he was made Vice Director of the Secretariat and concurrent Director of the Secretariat.

節湣太子誅武三思後，有三思黨與宗楚客、紀處訥令侍御史冉祖雍奏言：“安國相王及鎮國太平公主亦與太子連謀舉兵，請收付製獄。 ”中宗召至忠令按其事，至忠泣而奏曰：“陛下富有四海，貴為天子，豈不能保一弟一妹，受人羅織？宗社存亡，實在於此。臣雖愚昧，竊為陛下不取。《漢書》云：‘一尺布，尚可縫，一斗粟，尚可舂，兄弟二人不相容。 ’願陛下詳察此言。且往者則天皇后欲令相王為太子，王累日不食，請迎陛下。固讓之誠，天下傳說，足明冉祖雍等所奏，鹹是構虛。 ”帝深納其言而止。尋轉黃門侍郎、同中書門下平章事。至忠上疏陳時政，曰：

After Crown Prince Jiemin killed Wu Sansi, Sansi's partisans Zong Chuke and Ji Chune had Supervising Censor Ran Zuyong submit a memorial: "The Prince of An, the Senior Imperial Prince, and Princess Taiping of Zhen also plotted with the Crown Prince to raise troops. We ask that they be seized and sent to the imperial prison. Zhongzong summoned Zhizhong to investigate. Zhizhong wept as he replied: "Your Majesty holds all within the four seas and stands supreme as Son of Heaven—can you not shield one brother and one sister from being framed? The fate of the altars of state truly hangs on this. I am a dull man, yet even I cannot believe this is a course Your Majesty should take. The Book of Han says: 'A foot of cloth can still be sewn; a peck of millet can still be threshed—yet two brothers cannot live under one roof. I beg Your Majesty to weigh these words carefully. Moreover, when Empress Wu once wished to make the Prince of An Crown Prince, the prince went days without eating and begged that Your Majesty be restored instead. That steadfast refusal is known throughout the realm—enough to prove that Ran Zuyong and the others have invented everything they say. The Emperor took his counsel to heart and dropped the case. Soon afterward he was appointed Vice Director of the Chancellery and Concurrent Director of the Chancellery. Zhizhong submitted a memorial on current affairs, saying:

臣聞王者列職分司，為人求理，求理之道，必在用賢。得其人則公務克修，非其才則厥官如曠。官曠則事廢，事廢則人殘，漸至淩遲，率由於此。頃者選曹授職，政事官人，或異才升，多非德進。皆因依貴要，互為粉飾，苟得即是，曾無遠圖，上下相蒙，誰肯言及？臣聞官爵者公器也，恩幸者私惠也，祇可金帛富之，粱肉食之，以存私澤也。若以公器為私用，則公議不行，而勞人解體；以小私而妨至公，則私謁門開，而正言路絕，儉人遞進，君子道消，日削月朘，卒見凋弊者，為官非其人也。昔漢館陶公主為子求郎，明帝謂曰：“郎官上應列宿，出宰百里，苟非其人，則人受其殃。 ”賜錢十萬而已。此即至公之道不虧，恩私之情無替，良史直筆，將為美談，於今稱之，不輟其口者也。當今列位已廣，冗員倍多，祈求未厭，日月增數。陛下降不貲之澤，近戚有無涯之請，賣官利己，鬻法徇私。台寺之內，朱紫盈滿，官秩益輕，恩賞彌數。儉利之輩，冒進而莫識廉隅；方雅之流，知難而斂分丘隴。才者莫用，用者不才，二事相形，十有其五。故人不效力而官匪其人，欲求其理，實亦難哉。

I have heard that a king divides offices and duties to bring order to the people, and that the path to order must run through appointing the worthy. Find the right man and public business is done; put the wrong man in place and the office stands empty as though abandoned. Empty offices mean ruined affairs; ruined affairs mean a broken people. The slow slide into decay begins here. Recently the Selection Office has filled posts in the civil administration: some men of unusual talent have risen, but most have climbed without virtue. All lean on the powerful, flatter one another, seize whatever they can, and never look ahead. Superiors and subordinates lie to each other—who dares speak? I have heard that office and rank are public instruments, while favor is a private gift. Gold and silk may enrich a man, fine grain and meat may feed him—that is how private kindness is kept. If public instruments are turned to private ends, public judgment fails and those who serve the state lose heart; if small private ends block the greater public good, the door to backroom favor opens, the road for honest speech closes, petty men advance one after another, and the gentleman's way fades—cut back day by day, shaved month by month, until the realm withers, all because the wrong men hold office. In Han times, when the Princess of Guantao asked that her son be made a palace gentleman, Emperor Ming said, "That rank answers to the stars above and governs a hundred-li district below. If the man is unfit, the people will pay for it. He gave her one hundred thousand cash and nothing more. Supreme fairness remained intact and private affection untouched—a good historian's straight brush made it a celebrated story, and people still speak of it without end. Today posts already abound and redundant appointments have more than doubled. Petitions never stop, and their number grows by the day. Your Majesty has poured out boundless grace, while close kin make endless demands—selling office for gain, peddling law for private ends. Inside the ministries and courts, red and purple robes crowd every hall. Ranks grow lighter even as rewards multiply. Men greedy for small gain push ahead without a corner of integrity; men of true refinement, seeing the odds, retreat to their fields and hills. The talented go unused; those in office lack talent. Set the two beside each other and half the appointments fail. People give no real service while offices hold the wrong men. To seek good order under such conditions is truly hard.

臣竊見宰相及近侍要官子弟，多居美爵，此並勢要親戚，罕有才藝，遞相囑托，虛踐官榮。《詩》云：“東人之子，職勞不賚。西人之子，粲粲衣服。私人之子，百僚是試。或以其酒，不以其漿。壥壥佩遂，不以其長。 ”此言王政不平，眾官廢職，私家之子，列試於榮班，非任之人，徒長其飾佩。臣愚伏願陛下想居安思危之義，行改弦易張之道。愛惜爵賞，審量材識，官無虛授，人必為官，進大雅於樞近，退小子於閑僻，政令惟一，威恩以信，私不害公，情不撓法，則天下幸甚。臣伏見永徵故事，宰相子弟多居外職者，非直抑強宗、分大族，亦以退不肖、擇賢才。伏願陛下遠稽舊典，近遵先聖，特降明敕，令宰相已下及諸司長官子弟，並改授外官，庶望分職四方，共寧百姓，表裏相統，遐邇乂安。

I see that sons of chancellors and favored officials mostly hold handsome ranks. These are men of power and kinship, rarely of talent or skill. They recommend one another in turn and walk through office and glory without earning either. The Classic of Poetry says: "The sons of the east, laboring at their tasks, receive no reward. The sons of the west, splendid in their robes. The sons of private houses, set among the hundred officials for trial. Some given wine, not given broth. Trimmed with dangling jade, not by their worth. This describes a king's rule out of balance and officials neglecting their duties—private sons paraded through the ranks of honor, unfit men who only lengthen the ornaments at their belts. Your humble servant begs Your Majesty to remember what it means to live in peace yet think of danger, and to follow the way of changing the tune and restringing the instrument. Treasure ranks and rewards, weigh talent and judgment carefully, grant no empty office and put no unfit man in place. Advance great men to posts near the center; send lesser men to distant duties. Make commands one, make authority and grace trustworthy. Let private ends not harm the public, let affection not bend the law—and All-under-Heaven would be greatly blessed. I recall the precedent of the Yonghui reign, when sons of chancellors often served outside the capital—not only to check powerful clans and divide great houses, but also to push aside the unworthy and choose the able. I humbly ask Your Majesty, looking back to ancient law and forward to the sage-kings, to issue a clear edict requiring sons of chancellors and of every department head to take posts outside the capital, so that duties may be divided across the realm, the people kept at peace, inner and outer government aligned, and far and near alike secure.

疏奏不納。

The memorial was rejected.

明年，代韋巨源為侍中，仍依舊修史。尋遷中書令。時宗楚客、紀處訥潛懷奸計，自樹朋黨，韋巨源、世再思、李嶠皆唯諾自全，無所匡正。至忠處於其間，頗存正道，時議翕然重之。中宗亦曰：“諸宰相中，至忠最憐我。 ”韋庶人又為亡弟贈汝南王洵與至忠亡女為冥婚合葬。及韋氏敗，至忠發墓，持其女柩歸，人以此譏之。至忠又以女適庶人舅崔從禮之子。成禮日，中宗為蕭氏婚主，韋庶人為崔氏婚主，時人謂之“天子嫁女，皇后娶婦”。

The following year he replaced Wei Juyuan as Director of the Chancellery, still charged with compiling the histories. Soon afterward he was promoted to Director of the Secretariat. At that time Zong Chuke and Ji Chune secretly nursed treacherous plans and built their own factions. Wei Juyuan, Shi Zaisi, and Li Qiao all nodded agreement to save themselves and offered no correction. Zhizhong stood among them yet largely held to the right path, and public opinion rallied to him. Zhongzong also said, "Of all my chancellors, Zhizhong cares for me most. Empress Wei also arranged a ghost marriage and joint burial between her dead younger brother, the posthumously enfeoffed Prince of Runan Xun, and Zhizhong's dead daughter. When the Wei faction fell, Zhizhong opened the tomb and carried his daughter's coffin home. People mocked him for it. Zhizhong also married his daughter to the son of Empress Wei's maternal uncle Cui Congli. On the wedding day Zhongzong acted as marriage sponsor for the Xiao side and Empress Wei for the Cui side. People said, "The Son of Heaven gives away a daughter while the empress takes a bride."

未幾，左僕射竇懷貞、侍中岑羲及至忠並戶部尚書李晉、太子少保薛稷、左散騎常侍賈膺福、左羽林大將軍常元楷、右羽林將軍李慈等與太平公主謀逆事泄，至忠遽遁入山寺，數日，捕而伏誅，籍沒其家。至忠雖清儉刻己，然簡約自高，未嚐接待賓客，所得俸祿，亦無所賑施。及籍沒，財帛甚豐，由是頓絕聲望矣。

Before long Left Vice Director Dou Huaizhen, Director of the Chancellery Cen Xi, Zhizhong, Minister of Revenue Li Jin, Junior Tutor of the Crown Prince Xue Ji, Left Regular Attendant Jia Yingfu, Left General of the Forest Militant Guards Chang Yuankai, Right General of the Forest Militant Guards Li Ci, and others plotted rebellion with Princess Taiping. When the plot was exposed, Zhizhong fled into a mountain monastery. Days later he was captured and executed, and his property was confiscated. Zhizhong was frugal and hard on himself, yet aloof and proud in his simplicity. He never entertained guests, and never gave away what he earned in salary. Yet when his estate was seized, silks and coin proved plentiful, and his reputation collapsed overnight.

弟元嘉，工部侍郎；廣微，工部員外。

His younger brother Yuanjia was Vice Minister of Works; Guangwei was Assistant Director in the Ministry of Works.

宗楚客者，蒲州河東人，則天從父姊之子也。兄秦客，垂拱中潛勸則天革命稱帝，由是累遷內史。後與楚客及弟晉卿並以奸贓事發，配流嶺外。秦客死，楚客等尋復追還。楚客累遷夏官侍郎、同鳳閣鸞台平章事。神龍初，為太仆卿。武三思用事，引楚客為兵部尚書、同中書門下三品，晉卿累遷將作大匠。節湣太子既殺武三思，兵敗，逃於鄠縣，楚客遣使追斬之，仍令以其首祭三思及崇訓喪柩。韋庶人及安樂公主尤加親信，未幾，遷中書令。楚客雖跡附韋氏，而嚐別有異圖，與侍中紀處訥共為朋黨，故時人呼為宗、紀。

Zong Chuke came from Hedong in Pu prefecture. He was the son of Empress Wu's paternal aunt. His elder brother Qinke, in the Chuigong era, secretly urged Wu Zetian to overturn the dynasty and take the throne. He rose repeatedly until he became Director of the Secretariat. Later Qinke, Chuke, and his younger brother Jinqing were all caught in bribery and corruption and exiled beyond the Lingnan passes. Qinke died. Chuke and the others were soon recalled. Chuke rose repeatedly to Vice Minister of War and Concurrent Director of the Phoenix Pavilion and Phoenix Terrace Chancellery. At the beginning of Shenlong he served as Minister of the Imperial Stud. When Wu Sansi held power, he brought Chuke in as Minister of War and Concurrent Third Rank under the Secretariat and Chancellery. Jinqing rose repeatedly to Grand Master of Palace Construction. After Crown Prince Jiemin killed Wu Sansi but was defeated and fled to E county, Chuke sent men to pursue and behead him, then had his head offered before the coffins of Sansi and Chongxun. Empress Wei and Princess Anle trusted him still more. Before long he was made Director of the Secretariat. Though Chuke outwardly followed the Wei clan, he secretly nursed other designs. With Director of the Chancellery Ji Chune he formed a faction, and people called them "Zong and Ji."

景龍中，西突厥娑葛與阿史那忠節不和，屢相侵擾，西陲不安。安西都護郭元振奏請徒忠節於內地，楚客與晉卿、處訥等各納忠節重賂，奏請發兵以討娑葛，不納元振所奏。娑葛知而大怒，舉兵入寇，甚為邊患。於是監察御史崔琬劾奏楚客等曰：

In the Jinglong era the Western Türk Suoge and Ashina Zhongjie fell out and repeatedly raided each other, unsettling the western frontier. Protector-General of Anxi Guo Yuanzhen asked that Zhongjie be moved inland. Chuke, Jinqing, Chune, and the others each took heavy bribes from Zhongjie and memorialized for troops to attack Suoge, rejecting Yuanzhen's plan. When Suoge learned of this he raged, raised troops, and invaded, becoming a serious frontier threat. Thereupon Supervising Censor Cui Wan impeached Chuke and the others, saying:

臣聞四牡項領，良禦不乘；二心事君，明罰無舍。謹案宗楚客、紀處訥等，性惟險詖，誌越溪壑，幸以遭逢聖主，累忝殊榮，承愷悌之恩，居弼諧之地。不能刻意砥操，憂國如家，微效涓塵，以裨川嶽。遂乃專作威福，敢樹朋黨，有無君之心，闕大臣之節。潛通獫狁，納賄不貲；公引頑凶，受賂無限。醜問充斥，穢行昭彰。且境外之交，情狀難測，今娑葛反叛，邊鄙不寧，由此賊臣，取怨中國。論之者懼禍以結舌，語之者避罪以鉗口。但晉卿昔居榮職，素闕忠誠，屢抵嚴刑，皆由黷貨。今又叨忝，頻沐殊恩，厚祿重權，當朝莫比。曾無悛改，仍徇贓私，此而可容，孰不可恕？臣謬參直指，義在觸邪，請除巨蠹，用答天造。楚客、處訥、晉卿等驕恣跋扈，人神同疾，不加天誅，詎清王度。並請收禁，差三司推鞫。

I have heard: four strong horses with necks held high—and still a good driver will not take the reins; serving two masters—and stern punishment will not spare. I respectfully charge Zong Chuke, Ji Chune, and the rest: treacherous by nature, their ambition vaulting over gullies; lucky enough to serve a sage ruler, they have piled up extraordinary honors, enjoyed generous grace, and sat in the seat of a harmonizing minister. They would not temper their will, care for the state as for their own house, or offer even a mote of service to aid the realm. Instead they monopolized power and profit, dared to build factions, nursed a heart without a ruler, and lacked a minister's integrity. Secretly they dealt with frontier barbarians and took bribes beyond counting; openly they brought in vicious men and took unlimited bribes. Filthy rumors filled the air; foul conduct stood plain for all to see. Dealings beyond the border are hard to read. Now Suoge has rebelled and the frontier is unsettled—because of these traitorous ministers the court has earned hatred abroad. Those who discuss the matter fear disaster and seal their lips; those who speak fear punishment and clamp their mouths shut. Jinqing once held honorable rank and has never been loyal. Again and again he has faced severe punishment—all for greed in office. Now again he holds high rank he does not deserve, repeatedly bathed in extraordinary grace. His salary is thick and his power heavy—none in court compare. He has never repented and still pursues corrupt gain. If this can be tolerated, what cannot be forgiven? I am unworthy to serve in the Censorate's straight mission, yet righteousness demands striking down evil. I ask that these great parasites be removed to answer Heaven's trust. Chuke, Chune, Jinqing, and the like are arrogant and overbearing—men and spirits alike loathe them. If Heaven's punishment is not applied, how can royal order be restored? I ask that all be arrested and that the Three Offices be charged to investigate and try them.

舊制，大臣有被御史對仗劾彈者，即俯僂趨出，立於朝堂待罪。楚客更吒鰓作色而進，自言以執性忠鯁，被琬誣奏。中宗竟不能窮核其事，遽令琬與楚客等結為義兄弟以和解之。韋氏敗，楚客與晉卿等皆伏誅。

By old rule, when a high minister was impeached by a censor during court assembly in the emperor's presence, he was to bow low, hurry out, and stand in the hall awaiting judgment. Chuke instead flushed and barked as he stepped forward, claiming that his nature was upright and blunt and that Wan had slandered him. Zhongzong never fully investigated. Instead he abruptly ordered Wan and Chuke and the others to become sworn brothers and settle the matter. When the Wei faction fell, Chuke, Jinqing, and the others were all executed.

紀處訥者，秦州上邽人也。娶武三思妻之姊，由是累遷太府卿。神龍中，嚐因穀貴，中宗召處訥親問其故。武三思諷知太史事右驍衛將軍迦葉誌忠、太史令傅孝忠奏言，“其夜有攝提星入太微，至帝座。此則王者與大臣私相接，大臣能納忠，故有斯應。 ”帝以為然，降敕褒述處訥，賜衣一副、彩六十段。無幾，進拜侍中，與楚客等同時伏誅。

Ji Chune came from Shanggui in Qin prefecture. He married the elder sister of Wu Sansi's wife and through that connection rose repeatedly until Grand Master of the Imperial Storehouse. During Shenlong, when grain prices rose, Zhongzong summoned Chune in person to ask why. Wu Sansi prompted Jiaye Zhizhong, General of the Right Victorious Cavalry Guard charged with astronomical affairs, and Chief Astronomer Fu Xiaozhong to memorialize: "That night the Sheti star entered Taiwei and reached the Emperor's throne. This means the king met privately with his minister; the minister was able to offer loyal counsel, and Heaven answered. The Emperor believed it, issued an edict praising Chune, and gave him one set of robes and sixty bolts of colored silk. Before long he was promoted to Director of the Chancellery and, together with Chuke and the others, was executed.

史官曰：大帝、孝和之朝，政不由己，則天在位，已絕綴旒，韋後司晨，前蹤覆轍。當是時，奸邪有黨，宰執求容，順之則惡其名彰，逆之則憂其禍及，欲存身致理者，非中智常才之所能也。況元忠、安石、巨源、至忠、彥昭等行非純一，識昧存亡，徇利貪榮，有始無卒，不得其死，宜哉！楚客、晉卿、處訥等讒諂並進，威虐貫盈，不使逃刑，可謂政正。

The Historian writes: In the reigns of the High Ancestor and Filial Harmony, policy was not their own. Wu Zetian on the throne had already cut the crown's trailing tassels; Empress Wei ruled at dawn—the same ruin walked the road again. At that time the wicked had their factions and chancellors sought only to fit in. Follow them and your evil name blazed; resist them and disaster might reach you. To preserve oneself and still govern well took more than middling wit and ordinary talent. As for Yuanzhong, Anshi, Juyuan, Zhizhong, Yanzhao, and the like—their conduct was not pure, their judgment blind to survival and ruin, their hearts set on profit and glory, their careers begun but not finished. That they did not die as they deserved is only fitting! Chuke, Jinqing, Chune, and the like pushed slander and flattery together until arrogance and cruelty filled the court. If they had escaped punishment, how could rule be called upright?

讚曰：為唐重臣，食唐重祿。顛危不持，富貴何足。二宗、一紀，讒邪酷毒。與前數公，死不知辱。

Appraisal: Great ministers of Tang, fed on Tang's heavy salary— When the realm tottered they did not hold it up—what were wealth and rank worth? The two Zongs and one Ji—slanderous, wicked, cruel, and venomous— Together with the men named above, they died without shame.

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