Volume 93 Biographies 43: Lou Shide, Wang Xiaojie, Tang Xiujing, Zhang Renyuan, Xue Ne, Wang Jun

婁師德，鄭州原武人也。弱冠，進士擢第，授江都尉。揚州長史盧承業奇其才，嚐謂之曰：「吾子台輔之器，當以子孫相托，豈可以官屬常禮待也？」

Lou Shide was a native of Yuanwu in Zheng Prefecture. At his coming of age he passed the jinshi examination and was appointed magistrate of Jiangdu. Lu Chengye, prefectural secretary of Yangzhou, marveled at his talent and once said to him, "You are material for the highest offices. I ought to entrust my descendants to you—how could I treat you with the ordinary courtesies owed a subordinate official?"

上元初，累補監察御史。屬吐蕃犯塞，募猛士以討之，師德抗表請爲猛士。髙宗大悅，特假朝散大夫，眾軍西討，頻有戰功，遷殿中侍御史，兼河源軍司馬，並知營田事。天授初，累授左金吾將軍，兼檢校豐州都督，仍依舊知營田事。則天降書勞曰：「卿素積忠勤，兼懷武略，朕所以寄之襟要，授以甲兵。自卿受委北陲，總司軍任，往還靈、夏，檢校屯田，收率既多，京坻遽積。不煩和糴之費，無復轉輸之艱，兩軍及北鎮兵數年鹹得支給。勤勞之誠，久而彌著，覽以嘉尚，欣悅良深。」

At the beginning of the Shangyuan era he was repeatedly promoted to supervising censor. When the Tibetans raided the frontier, brave warriors were recruited to attack them, and Shide submitted a memorial volunteering to serve among them. Emperor Gaozong was greatly pleased and specially granted him the provisional rank of Palace Gentleman for Dispersing Affairs. Leading the armies west in punitive action, he won repeated battle honors, was promoted to palace censor, and concurrently served as army marshal of the Heyuan Army while overseeing agricultural garrison affairs. At the beginning of the Tianshou era he was repeatedly appointed Left Golden Guard General and concurrently acting inspector-general of Feng Prefecture, still overseeing agricultural garrison affairs as before. Empress Wu sent a letter of commendation, saying, "You have long accumulated loyal diligence and also possess military strategy. That is why I entrust you with a vital post and confer arms upon you. Since you were entrusted with the northern frontier and took overall charge of military duties, traveling between Ling and Xia and inspecting garrison agriculture, your collections were abundant and the capital granaries were swiftly filled. Without the expense of purchased grain or the hardship of transport, the two armies and the northern garrison troops were supplied for several years. Your diligent sincerity grows more evident with time. Reading of it I am greatly pleased and deeply gratified."

長壽元年，召拜夏官侍郎、判尚書事。明年，同鳳閣鸞台平章事。則天謂師德曰：「王師外鎮，必藉邊境營田，卿須不憚劬勞，更充使檢校。」又以爲河源、積石、懷遠等軍及河、蘭、鄯、廓等州檢校營田大使。稍遷秋官尚書。萬歳登封元年，轉左肅政御史大夫，仍並依舊知政事。證聖元年，吐蕃寇洮州，令師德與夏官尚書王孝傑討之，與吐蕃大將論飲陵、讚婆戰於素羅汗山，官軍敗績，師德貶授原州員外司馬。

In the first year of Changshou he was summoned and appointed Vice Minister of the Ministry of War and acting director of the Department of State Affairs. The next year he became Grand Chancellor of the Phoenix Pavilion and Crane Terrace. Empress Wu said to Shide, "When imperial armies are stationed abroad, they must rely on frontier garrison agriculture. You must not shrink from toil and must again serve as commissioner to inspect it." He was also appointed commissioner to inspect garrison agriculture for the Heyuan, Jishi, Huaiyuan, and other armies and for He, Lan, Shan, and Kuo prefectures. He was gradually promoted to Minister of the Ministry of Punishments. In the first year of Wansui Dengfeng he was transferred to Left Censor-in-Chief of the Bureau of Integrity and still continued to manage state affairs as before. In the first year of Zhengsheng the Tibetans raided Tao Prefecture. Shide was ordered to join Minister of War Wang Xiaojie in attacking them. At Mount Suluohan they fought the Tibetan generals Lun Qinling and Zanpo. The imperial army was defeated, and Shide was demoted to acting magistrate of Yuan Prefecture.

萬歳通天二年，入爲鳳閣侍郎、同鳳閣鸞台平章事。是歳，兼檢校右肅政御史大夫，仍知左肅政台事，以與王懿宗、狄仁傑分道安撫河北諸州。神功元年，拜納言，累封譙縣子。尋詔師德充隴右諸軍大使，仍檢校河西營田事。聖曆二年，突厥入寇，復令檢校并州長史，仍充天兵軍大總管。是歳九月卒，贈涼州都督，諡曰貞。

In the second year of Wansui Tongtian he entered the capital as Vice Minister of the Phoenix Pavilion and Grand Chancellor of the Phoenix Pavilion and Crane Terrace. That year he was also appointed acting Right Censor-in-Chief of the Bureau of Integrity and still directed affairs of the Left Bureau of Integrity, and together with Wang Yizong and Di Renjie he was sent in separate routes to pacify the prefectures of Hebei. In the first year of Shengong he was appointed Chief Minister and enfeoffed as Viscount of Qiao County. Soon he was ordered to serve as commissioner of the armies of Longyou and still to inspect garrison agriculture in Hexi. In the second year of Shengli the Turks invaded, and he was again ordered to inspect the prefectural governor of Bing and to serve as grand general of the Tianbing Army. That year, in the ninth month, he died. He was posthumously appointed Governor of Liang Prefecture and given the posthumous title Zhen.

初，狄仁傑未入相時，師德嚐薦之，及爲宰相，不知師德薦已，數排師德，令充外使。則天嚐出師德舊表示之，仁傑大慚，謂人曰：「吾爲婁公所含如此，方知不逮婁公遠矣。」師德頗有學涉，器量寬厚，喜怒不形於色。自專綜邊任，前後三十餘年，恭勤接下，孜孜不怠。雖參知政事，深懷畏避，竟能以功名始終，甚爲識者所重。

Earlier, before Di Renjie entered the chancellorship, Shide had once recommended him. When Renjie became chancellor he did not know that Shide had recommended him and repeatedly pushed Shide aside, sending him out as a foreign envoy. Empress Wu once produced Shide's old memorial and showed it to him. Renjie was deeply ashamed and said to others, "I was so contained by Lord Lou, and only now do I know how far I fall short of Lord Lou." Shide was broadly learned, magnanimous in capacity, and did not show anger or joy on his face. From the time he took sole charge of frontier duties, more than thirty years passed in which he respectfully and diligently received subordinates and worked tirelessly without slackening. Although he participated in managing state affairs, he deeply feared and avoided prominence, yet in the end he preserved his reputation and office from beginning to end, and men of discernment greatly valued him.

王孝傑，京兆新豐人也。髙宗末，爲副總管，從工部尚書劉審禮西討吐蕃，戰於大非川，爲賊所獄。吐蕃讚普見孝傑，垂泣曰：「貌類吾父。」厚加敬禮，由是免死，尋得歸。則天時，累遷右鷹揚衛將軍。孝傑久在吐蕃中，悉其虛實。長壽元年，爲武威軍總管，與左武衛大將軍阿史那忠節率眾以討吐蕃，乃克復龜茲、於闐、疏勒、碎葉四鎮而還。則天大悅，謂侍臣曰：「昔貞觀中貝綾，得此蕃城，其後西陲不守，並陷吐蕃。今既盡復於舊，邊境自然無事。孝傑建斯功效，竭此款誠，遂能裹足徒行，身與士卒齊力。如此忠懇，深是可嘉。」乃拜孝傑爲左衛大將軍。明年，遷夏官尚書、同鳳閣鸞台三品，封淸源男。延載初，入爲瀚海道行軍總管，餘如故。證聖初，又爲朔方道總管，尋坐與吐蕃戰敗免官。

Wang Xiaojie was a native of Xinfeng in Jingzhao. At the end of the Gaozong reign he served as deputy grand general and followed Minister of Works Liu Shenli west to attack the Tibetans. They fought at the Da Fei River and were captured by the enemy. When the Tibetan tsenpo saw Xiaojie he wept and said, "Your appearance resembles my father." He treated him with great respect and courtesy, and thereby Xiaojie escaped death and soon returned home. In Empress Wu's time he was repeatedly promoted to General of the Right Eagle-Flying Guard. Xiaojie had long been among the Tibetans and knew their situation in full. In the first year of Changshou he was grand general of the Wuwei Army and, with Grand General of the Left Martial Guard Ashina Zhongjie, led troops to attack the Tibetans, recovering the four garrisons of Kucha, Khotan, Kashgar, and Suyab before returning. Empress Wu was greatly pleased and said to her attending ministers, "In the Zhenguan era Pei Lin obtained these barbarian cities, but afterward the western frontier was not held and all fell to the Tibetans. Now they have all been fully recovered as of old, and the borderlands will naturally be without trouble. Xiaojie achieved this merit and showed such sincere devotion that he bound his feet and walked on foot, exerting himself together with the soldiers. Such loyal earnestness is deeply worthy of praise." Thereupon Xiaojie was appointed Grand General of the Left Guard. The next year he was promoted to Minister of War and Third Rank of the Phoenix Pavilion and Crane Terrace, and enfeoffed as Baron of Qingyuan. At the beginning of Yanzai he entered service as marching grand general of the Hanhai Circuit, with the rest as before. At the beginning of Zhengsheng he again served as grand general of the Shuofang Circuit, but soon was dismissed from office for defeat in battle against the Tibetans.

萬歳通天年，契丹李盡忠、孫萬榮反叛，復詔孝傑白衣起爲淸邊道總管，統兵十八萬以討之。孝傑軍至東峽石穀遇賊，道隘，虜甚眾，孝傑率精銳之士爲先鋒，且戰且前，及出穀，布方陣以捍賊。後軍總管蘇宏暉畏賊眾，棄甲而遁。孝傑既無後繼，爲賊所乘，營中潰亂，孝傑墮穀而死，兵士爲賊所殺及奔踐而死殆盡。時張說爲節度管記，馳奏其事。則天問孝傑敗亡之狀，說曰：「孝傑忠勇敢死，乃誠奉國，深入寇境，以少禦眾，但爲後援不至，所以致敗。」於是追贈孝傑夏官尚書，封耿國公。拜其子無擇爲朝散大夫。遣使斬宏暉以徇。使未至幽州，而宏暉已立功贖罪，竟免誅。開元中，無擇官至左驍衛將軍，以恩例贈孝傑特進。

In the Wansui Tongtian era the Khitan Li Jinzhong and Sun Wanrong rebelled. Xiaojie was again ordered to rise in plain clothes as grand general of the Qingbian Circuit and command one hundred eighty thousand troops to attack them. When Xiaojie's army reached East Xiashi Valley it encountered the rebels. The road was narrow and the barbarians were very numerous. Xiaojie led elite troops as the vanguard, fighting as he advanced, and after leaving the valley deployed a square formation to resist the enemy. Su Honghui, deputy grand general of the rear army, feared the enemy's numbers, cast off his armor, and fled. Xiaojie had no follow-up support and was overtaken by the enemy. The camp fell into disorder. Xiaojie fell into a ravine and died, and the soldiers were killed by the enemy or trampled to death in flight until nearly all were gone. At the time Zhang Yue was staff recorder of the frontier command and galloped to memorialize the matter. Empress Wu asked about the circumstances of Xiaojie's defeat and death. Yue said, "Xiaojie was loyal, brave, and willing to die—truly devoted to the state. He penetrated deep into enemy territory and with few opposed many, but because rear support did not arrive, he was therefore defeated." Thereupon Xiaojie was posthumously promoted to Minister of War and enfeoffed as Duke of Geng. His son Wuzhe was appointed Palace Gentleman for Dispersing Affairs. An envoy was sent to execute Honghui as a warning. Before the envoy reached Youzhou, Honghui had already earned merit to redeem his crime and in the end escaped execution. In the Kaiyuan era Wuzhe reached the office of General of the Left Martial Courage Guard, and by grace Xiaojie was posthumously granted Special Advancement.

唐休璟，京兆始平人也。曾祖規，周驃騎大將軍、安邑縣公。祖宗，隋大業末爲朔方郡丞。時爲梁師都舉兵，將據城，宗抗節不從，乃爲所害。

Tang Xiujing was a native of Shiping in Jingzhao. His great-grandfather Gui was General of Fast Cavalry and Duke of Anyi in Zhou. His grandfather Zong, at the end of the Sui Daye era, was assistant prefect of Shuofang Commandery. At that time Liang Shidu raised troops and was about to seize the city. Zong maintained integrity and would not follow, and was therefore killed.

休璟少以明經擢第。永徽中，解褐吳王府典簽，無異材，調授營州戸曹。調露中，單於突厥背叛，誘扇奚、契丹侵掠州縣，後奚、羯胡又與桑乾突厥同反。都督周道務遣休璟將兵擊破之於獨護山，斬獲甚眾，超拜豐州司馬。永淳中，突厥圍豐州，都督崔智辯戰歿。朝議欲罷豐州，徙百姓於靈、夏，休璟以爲不可，上書曰：「豐州控河遏賊，實爲襟帶，自秦、漢已來，列爲郡縣，田疇良美，尤宜耕牧。隋季喪亂，不能堅守，乃遷徙百姓就寧、慶二州，致使戎羯交侵，乃以靈、夏爲邊界。貞觀之末，始募人以實之，西北一隅，方得寧謐。今若廢棄，則河傍之地復爲賊有，靈、夏等州人不安業，非國家之利也。」朝廷從其言，豐州復存。

Xiujing in youth passed the mingjing examination. In the Yonghui era he took his first office as record keeper of the Prince of Wu's household. Showing no special talent, he was transferred and appointed revenue officer of Ying Prefecture. In the Diaolu era the Shanyu Turks rebelled, inciting the Xi and Khitan to raid prefectures and counties. Later the Xi and Jiehu again rebelled together with the Sanggan Turks. Governor Zhou Daowu sent Xiujing to lead troops and defeated them at Mount Duhu, beheading and capturing a great number. He was promoted beyond precedent to army marshal of Feng Prefecture. In the Yongchun era the Turks besieged Feng Prefecture and Governor Cui Zhibian died in battle. Court discussion wished to abolish Feng Prefecture and move the people to Ling and Xia. Xiujing thought this impossible and submitted a memorial, saying, "Feng Prefecture controls the river and checks the enemy—it is truly a strategic belt. From Qin and Han onward it has been listed as a commandery and county. Its fields are excellent and it is especially suited to farming and herding. In the disorder at the end of Sui it could not be firmly held, and the people were moved to Ning and Qing prefectures, causing Rong and Jie to invade one another in turn, so that Ling and Xia became the border. At the end of Zhenguan people were first recruited to fill it, and the northwest corner alone then attained peace. If it is now abandoned, the lands beside the river will again be possessed by the enemy, and the people of Ling, Xia, and other prefectures will be unable to settle in their occupations—this is not to the state's advantage." The court accepted his view, and Feng Prefecture was preserved.

垂拱中，遷安西副都護。會吐蕃攻破焉耆，安息道大總管、文昌右相韋待價及副使閻溫古失利，休璟收其餘眾，以安西土。遷西州都督，上表請復取四鎮。則天遣王孝傑破吐蕃，拔四鎮，亦休璟之謀也。聖曆中，爲司衛卿，兼涼州都督、右肅政御史大夫，持節隴右諸軍州大使。

In the Chuigong era he was promoted to vice protector-general of Anxi. When the Tibetans broke Yanqi, the grand general of the Anxi Circuit and Right Vice Director Wei Daojia together with Vice Commissioner Yan Wengu suffered defeat. Xiujing gathered the remaining troops and stabilized the lands of Anxi. He was promoted to Governor of Xizhou and submitted a memorial requesting recovery of the four garrisons. Empress Wu sent Wang Xiaojie to break the Tibetans and recover the four garrisons—this too was Xiujing's plan. In the Shengli era he was Minister of the Court of Imperial Regalia, concurrently Governor of Liang Prefecture and Right Censor-in-Chief of the Bureau of Integrity, and held credentials as commissioner of the armies and prefectures of Longyou.

久視元年秋，吐蕃大將麹莽布支率騎數萬寇涼州，入自洪源穀，將圍昌鬆縣。休璟以數千人往擊之，臨陣登髙，望見賊衣甲鮮盛，謂麾下曰：「自欽陵死，讚婆降，麹莽布支新知賊兵，欲曜威武，故其國中貴臣酋豪子弟皆從之。人馬雖精，不習軍事，吾爲諸君取之。」乃被甲先登，與賊六戰六克，大破之，斬其副將二人，獲首二千五百級，築京觀而還。是後休璟入朝，吐蕃亦遣使來請和，因宴屢覘休璟。則天問其故，對曰：「往歳洪源戰時，此將軍雄猛無比，殺臣將士甚眾，故欲識之。」則天大加歎異，擢拜右武威、右金吾二衛大將軍。

In the autumn of the first year of Jiushi the Tibetan general Qu Mangbuzhi led tens of thousands of horsemen to raid Liang Prefecture, entering by Hongyuan Valley and about to besiege Changsong County. Xiujing went with several thousand men to attack them. On the battlefield he climbed high and, seeing the enemy's armor and weapons bright and fresh, said to his subordinates, "Since Qinling died and Zanpo surrendered, Qu Mangbuzhi has newly taken command of the enemy army and wishes to display martial power, so the noble ministers, tribal chiefs, and sons of the powerful in his state all follow him. Though men and horses are elite, they are not practiced in military affairs. I will take them for you all." Thereupon he donned armor and led the ascent. He fought the enemy six times and won six times, routed them completely, beheaded two of their deputy generals, captured two thousand five hundred heads, built a victory mound, and returned. Afterward Xiujing entered court, and the Tibetans also sent envoys to request peace. At the banquet they repeatedly scrutinized Xiujing. Empress Wu asked the reason. They replied, "In the battle at Hongyuan last year this general was incomparably fierce and bold and killed many of our officers and soldiers, so we wished to recognize him." Empress Wu greatly marveled and promoted him to Grand General of the Right Martial Power and Right Golden Guard.

休璟尤諳練邊事，自碣石西逾四鎮，綿亙萬里，山川要害，皆能記之。長安中，西突厥烏質勒與諸蕃不和，舉兵相持，安西道絕，表奏相繼。則天令休璟與宰相商度事勢，俄頃間草奏，便遣施行。後十餘日，安西諸州表請兵馬應接，程期一如休璟所畫。則天謂休璟曰：「恨用卿晚。」因遷夏官尚書、同鳳閣鸞台三品。又謂魏元忠及楊再思、李嶠、姚元崇、李迥秀等曰：「休璟諳練邊事，卿等十不當一也。」

Xiujing was especially well versed in frontier affairs. From Jieshi west beyond the four garrisons, stretching ten thousand li, he could remember every mountain pass and strategic point. In the Chang'an era the Western Turk Wuzhile was at odds with the various tribes and raised troops against one another. The Anxi route was cut off and memorials followed in succession. Empress Wu ordered Xiujing to consult with the chancellors on the situation. In a short while he drafted a memorial and it was immediately sent for execution. More than ten days later the prefectures of Anxi submitted memorials requesting troops and horses for support, and the timing matched exactly what Xiujing had planned. Empress Wu said to Xiujing, "I regret employing you so late." He was then promoted to Minister of War and Third Rank of the Phoenix Pavilion and Crane Terrace. She also said to Wei Yuanzhong, Yang Zaisi, Li Jiao, Yao Yuanchong, Li Jiongxiu, and others, "Xiujing is well versed in frontier affairs. Not one of you equals ten of him."

尋轉太子右庶子，依舊知政事。以契丹入寇，復拜夏官尚書，兼檢校幽，營等州都督，兼安東都護。時中宗在春宮，將行，進啟於皇太子曰：「張易之兄弟幸蒙寵遇，數侍宴禁中，縱情失禮。非人臣之道，惟加防察。」中宗即位，召拜輔國大將軍、同中書門下三品，封酒泉郡公，顧謂曰：「卿曩日直言，朕今不忘。初欲召卿計事，但以遐遠，兼懷北狄之憂耳。」未幾，加特進，拜尚書右僕射。是歳秋，大水，休璟兩上表自咎，請免官甚切，辭多不載。中宗竟不允，手製答曰：「陰陽乖爽，事屬在予，待罪私門，難依來表。」尋遷中書令，充京師留守，俄加檢校吏部尚書。又以宮僚之舊，賜實封三百戸，累封宋國公。休璟在任，無所弘益。

Soon he was transferred to Right Vice Director of the Heir Apparent's Household and still managed state affairs as before. Because the Khitan invaded, he was again appointed Minister of War and concurrently acting governor of You and Ying prefectures and Protector-General of Andong. At the time Emperor Zhongzong was in the Eastern Palace. About to depart, he submitted a report to the Crown Prince, saying, "The brothers Zhang Yizhi have fortunately received favor and often attend banquets within the forbidden palace, indulging themselves beyond propriety. This is not the way of a minister—only strengthen watch and inspection." When Zhongzong acceded, Xiujing was summoned and appointed Grand General of Assisting the State and Third Rank of the Secretariat and Chancellery, enfeoffed as Duke of Jiuquan. The emperor turned and said to him, "Your forthright words of old—I have not forgotten them today. At first I wished to summon you to consult on affairs, but because you were far away I also harbored concern over the northern barbarians." Before long he was granted Special Advancement and appointed Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. That autumn there were great floods. Xiujing twice submitted memorials blaming himself and requesting removal from office with great urgency. Most of the wording is not recorded. Zhongzong in the end did not consent and replied in his own hand, "Yin and yang are out of harmony—the matter lies with me. To await punishment at home is hard to accept from your memorial." Soon he was promoted to Director of the Secretariat, placed in charge as capital intendant, and shortly afterward additionally appointed acting Minister of Personnel. Because of his old ties as a palace official, he was granted a real fief of three hundred households and repeatedly enfeoffed as Duke of Song. While Xiujing held office he accomplished nothing of broad benefit.

景龍二年，致仕於家，年力雖衰，進取彌銳。時尚宮賀婁氏頗關預國政，憑附者皆得寵榮，休璟乃爲其子娶賀婁氏養女爲妻，因以自達。由是起爲太子少師、同中書門下三品，監修國史，仍封宋國公。休璟年逾八十，而不知止足，依托求進，爲時所譏。景雲元年，又拜特進，充朔方道行軍大總管，以備突厥，停其舊封，別賜實封一百戸。二年，表請致仕。許之。祿及一品子課並令全給。休璟初得封時，以絹數千匹分散親族，又以家財數十萬大開塋域，備禮葬其五服之親，時人稱之。延和元年七月薨，年八十六，贈荊州大都督，諡曰忠。子先慎襲爵，官至陳州刺史。次子先擇，開元中爲右金吾衛將軍。

In the second year of Jinglong he retired at home. Though his years and strength were declining, his ambition grew ever sharper. At the time Lady Helou of the Inner Palace greatly intervened in state affairs, and those who attached themselves to her all obtained favor and glory. Xiujing therefore had his son marry Helou's adopted daughter as wife and thereby gained access. Thereby he was raised again as Junior Preceptor of the Heir Apparent and Third Rank of the Secretariat and Chancellery, supervised compilation of the national history, and still was enfeoffed as Duke of Song. Xiujing was over eighty years old and did not know when to stop, relying on connections to seek advancement, and was mocked by his contemporaries. In the first year of Jingyun he was again appointed Special Advancement and Grand General on campaign of the Shuofang Circuit to guard against the Turks. His old fief was suspended and a separate real fief of one hundred households was granted. In the second year he submitted a memorial requesting retirement. It was granted. His salary and the stipend of a first-rank son were both ordered paid in full. When Xiujing first received his enfeoffment he distributed several thousand bolts of silk among his kin, and with several hundred thousand in household wealth he greatly opened a cemetery domain and buried his relatives within the five degrees of mourning with full rites. Men of the time praised him. In the seventh month of the first year of Yanhe he died at age eighty-six. He was posthumously appointed Grand Governor of Jing Prefecture and given the posthumous title Zhong. His son Xianshen inherited the title and reached the office of Prefect of Chen. His second son Xianze, in the Kaiyuan era, was General of the Right Golden Guard.

張仁愿，華州下邽人也。本名仁亶，以音類睿宗諱改焉。少有文武材幹，累遷殿中侍御史。時有御史郭霸上表稱則天是彌勒佛身，鳳閣舍人張嘉福與洛州人王慶之等請立武承嗣爲皇太子，皆請仁愿連名署表，仁愿正色拒之，甚爲有識所重。尋而夏官尚書王孝傑爲吐刺軍總管，統眾以禦吐蕃，詔仁愿往監之。仁愿與孝傑不協，因人奏事，稱孝傑軍誣罔之狀。孝傑由是免爲庶人，仁愿遽遷侍御史。

Zhang Renyuan was a native of Xia Gui in Hua Prefecture. His original name was Renyan; it was changed because the sound resembled the taboo name of Emperor Ruizong. In youth he had both civil and military talent and was repeatedly promoted to palace censor. At the time the censor Guo Ba submitted a memorial declaring that Empress Wu was the bodily incarnation of Maitreya Buddha. The Phoenix Pavilion Secretariat Officer Zhang Jiafu together with Wang Qingzhi of Luo Prefecture and others requested that Wu Chengsi be established as crown prince. All asked Renyuan to join in signing the memorial. Renyuan sternly refused, and was greatly valued by men of discernment. Soon Minister of War Wang Xiaojie was grand general of the Tuci Army and commanded the masses to defend against the Tibetans. Renyuan was ordered to go and supervise him. Renyuan was not in harmony with Xiaojie and, taking advantage of an audience, reported Xiaojie's army's false and deceptive conduct. Xiaojie was thereby dismissed as a commoner, and Renyuan was swiftly promoted to attendant censor.

萬歳通天二年，監察御史孫承景監淸邊軍，戰還，書戰圖以奏。每陣必畫承景躬當矢石、先鋒禦賊之狀，則天歎曰：「御史乃能盡誠如此！」擢拜右肅政台中丞，令仁愿敘錄承景下立功人。仁愿未發都，先問承景對陣勝負之狀。承景身實不行，問之皆不能對，又虛增功狀。仁愿廷奏承景罔上之罪，於是左遷崇仁令，擢仁愿爲肅政台中丞、檢校幽州都督。會突厥默啜入寇，攻陷趙、定，擁眾回至幽州，仁愿勒兵出城邀擊之，流矢中手，賊亦引退。則天遣使勞問，賜以醫藥。累遷并州大都督府長史。

In the second year of Wansui Tongtian the supervising censor Sun Chengjing supervised the Qingbian Army. Returning from battle he drew battle maps and submitted them. In every formation he necessarily drew Chengjing personally facing arrows and stones and leading the vanguard to resist the enemy. Empress Wu sighed and said, "A censor can be so utterly devoted!" He was promoted to Central Director of the Right Bureau of Integrity, and Renyuan was ordered to record those below Chengjing who had earned merit. Before Renyuan departed the capital he first asked Chengjing about the circumstances of victory and defeat in the opposing formations. Chengjing had in fact not gone himself; asked about it he could not answer anything, and he had falsely inflated the account of merit. Renyuan memorialized at court Chengjing's crime of deceiving the sovereign. Thereupon Chengjing was demoted to magistrate of Chongren, and Renyuan was promoted to Central Director of the Bureau of Integrity and acting Governor of You Prefecture. When Mochuo of the Turks invaded, attacked, and captured Zhao and Ding and led his masses back to You Prefecture, Renyuan marshaled troops, went out of the city, and intercepted them. A stray arrow struck his hand and the enemy also withdrew. Empress Wu sent an envoy to express sympathy and bestowed medicine. He was repeatedly promoted to prefectural governor of the Metropolitan Prefecture of Bing.

神龍二年，中宗還京，以仁愿爲左屯衛大將軍，兼檢校洛州長史。時都城穀貴，盜竊甚眾，仁愿一切皆捕獲杖殺之。積屍府門，遠近震懾，無敢犯者。初，髙宗時賈敦頤爲洛州刺史，亦有政績，與仁愿皆爲一時之最。故時人爲之語曰：「洛州有前賈後張，可敵京兆三王。」其見稱如此。

In the second year of Shenlong Emperor Zhongzong returned to the capital and appointed Renyuan Grand General of the Left Garrison Guard and concurrently acting Prefect of Luo. At the time grain in the capital was costly and theft was very numerous. Renyuan captured all of them and had them beaten to death. Corpses piled up at the prefectural gate. Near and far were shaken and awed, and none dared offend. Earlier, in the Gaozong era Jia Dunyi was Prefect of Luo and also had administrative achievements. Both he and Renyuan were the foremost of their time. Therefore men of the time made a saying about them, "In Luo there are Jia before and Zhang after, a match for the three Wangs of Jingzhao." They were praised to this extent.

三年，突厥入寇。朔方軍總管沙吒忠義爲賊所敗。詔仁愿攝御史大夫，代忠義統眾。仁愿至軍而賊眾已退，乃躡其後，夜掩大破之。先，朔方軍北與突厥以河爲界，河北岸有拂雲神祠。突厥將入寇，必先詣祠祭酹求福，因牧馬料兵而後渡河。時突厥默啜盡眾西擊突騎施娑葛，仁愿請乘虛奪取漠南之地，於河北築三受降城，首尾相應，以絕其南寇之路。太子少師唐休璟以爲兩漢已來，皆北守黃河，今於寇境築城，恐勞人費功，終爲賊虜所有，建議以爲不便。仁愿固請不已，中宗竟從之。仁愿表留年滿鎮兵以助其功。時咸陽兵二百餘人逃歸，仁愿盡擒之，一時斬於城下，軍中股慄，役者盡力，六旬而三城俱就。以拂雲祠爲中城，與東、西兩城相去各四百餘里，皆據津濟，遙相應接，北拓地三百餘里，於牛頭朝那山北置烽候一千八百所。自是突厥不得度山放牧，朔方無復寇掠，減鎮兵數萬人。

In the third year the Turks invaded. Grand General of the Shuofang Army Shazha Zhongyi was defeated by the enemy. Renyuan was ordered to act as Censor-in-Chief and replace Zhongyi in commanding the masses. Renyuan reached the army but the enemy masses had already withdrawn. He then followed their tracks and by night launched a surprise attack, routing them completely. Earlier, north of the Shuofang Army and the Turks took the river as boundary. On the north bank of the river was the Fuyun Spirit Shrine. When the Turks were about to invade they always first went to the shrine to offer sacrifice and libation and seek blessing, then pastured horses and gathered troops before crossing the river. At the time Mochuo of the Turks led his entire host west to attack the Turgesh Suoge. Renyuan requested to seize the vacant lands south of the desert and build three Accepting-Surrender cities north of the river in mutual support, to cut off their southern raiding route. Junior Preceptor of the Heir Apparent Tang Xiujing thought that from the two Han dynasties onward all had held the Yellow River on the north. Now to build cities in enemy territory would, he feared, waste labor and effort and in the end become possessions of the enemy bandits. He submitted advice that it was inadvisable. Renyuan firmly requested without cease, and Zhongzong in the end followed him. Renyuan submitted a memorial requesting that garrison troops whose terms had expired be retained to assist the work. At the time more than two hundred Xianyang soldiers fled home. Renyuan captured them all and at once beheaded them below the city wall. The army trembled in fear and the laborers exerted all their strength. In sixty days all three cities were completed. The Fuyun Shrine became the middle city. East and west cities were each more than four hundred li apart, all occupying crossings, responding to one another from afar, extending the land northward more than three hundred li, and placing one thousand eight hundred beacon stations north of Mount Niutou Chaona. From this the Turks could no longer cross the mountains to pasture, Shuofang had no further raids, and garrison troops were reduced by tens of thousands.

仁愿初建三城，不置壅門及卻敵、戰格之具。或問曰：「此邊城禦賊之所，不爲守備，何也？」仁愿曰：「兵貴在攻取，不宜退守。寇若至此，即當並力出戰，回顧望城，猶須斬之，何用守備生其退恧之心也？」其後常元楷爲朔方軍總管，始築壅門以備寇，議者以此重仁愿而輕元楷焉。仁愿在朔方，奏用監察御史張敬忠、何鸞、長安尉寇、泚、鄠縣尉王易從、始平主簿劉體微分判軍事，太子文學柳彥昭爲管記，義烏尉晁良貞爲隨機。敬忠等皆以文吏著稱，多至大官，時稱仁愿有知人之鑒。

When Renyuan first built the three cities he did not install barrier gates, enemy-repelling structures, or battle frameworks. Someone asked, "This is a frontier city for resisting the enemy—why make no defensive preparations?" Renyuan said, "In warfare what is prized is attack and seizure, not withdrawal and defense. If the enemy reaches here, one should at once combine strength and go out to fight. If one looks back toward the city one must still behead him—what use is there in defensive preparations that breed a mind of retreat and shame?" Later Chang Yuankai was grand general of the Shuofang Army and first built barrier gates to guard against the enemy. Discussants therefore valued Renyuan more and Yuankai less. While in Shuofang Renyuan memorialized employing supervising censors Zhang Jingzhong, He Luan, Chang'an magistrate Kou Bi, E county magistrate Wang Yicong, and Shiping chief clerk Liu Tiwai to divide and judge military affairs; Heir Apparent Literary Scholar Liu Yanzhao as staff recorder; and Yiwu magistrate Chao Liangzhen as adjutant. Jingzhong and the others were all famed as civil clerks and mostly reached high office. Men of the time said Renyuan had discernment in knowing men.

景龍二年，拜左衛大將軍、同中書門下三品，累封韓國公。春還朝，秋復督軍備邊。中宗賦詩祖餞，賞賜不可勝紀。尋加鎮軍大將軍。睿宗即位，以老致仕，特全給祿俸，又拜兵部尚書，加光祿大夫，依舊致仕。開元二年卒，贈太子少傅，傅物二百段，命五品官一人爲監護使。子之輔，開元初爲趙州刺史。

In the second year of Jinglong he was appointed Grand General of the Left Guard and Third Rank of the Secretariat and Chancellery, and repeatedly enfeoffed as Duke of Han. In spring he returned to court; in autumn he again supervised troops to guard the frontier. Emperor Zhongzong composed a poem to send him off and bestowed rewards beyond counting. Soon he was additionally appointed Grand General of the Pacifying Army. When Emperor Ruizong acceded he retired on account of age, but his salary was specially paid in full. He was again appointed Minister of War and granted Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, still retiring as before. He died in the second year of Kaiyuan. He was posthumously appointed Junior Tutor of the Heir Apparent, granted two hundred bolts of burial goods, and a fifth-rank official was appointed superintendent of funeral rites. His son Zhifu, at the beginning of Kaiyuan, was Prefect of Zhao.

薛訥，絳州萬泉人也，左武衛大將軍仁貴子也。爲藍田令，有富商倪氏於御史台理其私債，中丞來俊臣受其貨財，斷出義倉米數千石以給之。訥曰：「義倉本備水旱，以爲儲蓄，安敢絕眾人之命，以資一家之產？」竟報上不與。會俊臣得罪，其事乃不行。其後突厥入寇河北，則天以訥將門，使攝左武威衛將軍、安東道經略。臨行，於同明殿召見與語，訥因奏曰：「醜虜恁淩，以盧陵爲辭。今雖有制升儲，外議猶恐未定。若此命不易，則狂賊自然款伏。」則天深然其言。尋拜幽州都督，兼安東都護。轉并州大都督府長史，兼檢校左衛大將軍。久當邊鎮之任，累有戰功。

Xue Ne was a native of Wanquan in Jiang Prefecture, son of Grand General of the Left Martial Guard Xue Rengui. He was magistrate of Lantian. A wealthy merchant of the Ni clan had a private debt adjudicated at the Censorate. Central Director Lai Junchen accepted his bribes and ordered several thousand shi of charity-granary grain disbursed to him. Ne said, "The charity granary exists to prepare for flood and drought as stored reserve. How dare one cut off the lives of the multitude to enrich one household's property?" In the end he reported upward and did not grant it. When Junchen fell into crime the matter was not carried out. Afterward when the Turks invaded Hebei, Empress Wu because Ne was from a general's house ordered him to act as General of the Left Martial Prestige Guard and commissioner of the Andong route. On the eve of departure he was summoned to audience and conversation in Tongming Hall. Ne thereupon submitted, "The ugly barbarians rely on insolence and take Prince Luling as their pretext. Though there is now an edict elevating the heir, outside discussion still fears it is not settled. If this command is not changed, the mad rebels will naturally submit in good faith." Empress Wu deeply approved his words. Soon he was appointed Governor of You and concurrently Protector-General of Andong. He was transferred to prefectural governor of the Metropolitan Prefecture of Bing and concurrently acting Grand General of the Left Guard. Long holding frontier garrison duties, he repeatedly had battle merit.

玄宗即位，於新豐講武，訥爲左軍節度。時元帥與禮官得罪，諸部頗亦失序。唯訥及解琬之軍不動。玄宗令輕騎召訥等，至軍門，皆不得入。禮畢，上甚加慰勞。

When Emperor Xuanzong acceded, at Xinfeng he reviewed troops in martial display. Ne was commander of the left army. At the time the commander-in-chief and the ritual officer were punished, and the various units were also somewhat disordered. Only the armies of Ne and Jie Wan did not move. Emperor Xuanzong ordered light cavalry to summon Ne and the others. Reaching the army gate, none were admitted. When the rites were completed the emperor greatly added words of comfort and reward.

時契丹及奚與突厥連和，屢爲邊患，訥建議請出師討之。開元二年夏，詔與左監門將軍杜賓客、定州刺史崔宣道等率眾二萬，出檀州道以討契丹等。杜賓客以爲時屬炎暑，將土負戈甲，齎資糧，深入寇境，恐難爲製勝。中書令姚元崇亦以爲然。訥獨曰：「夏月草茂，羔犢生息之際，不費糧儲，亦可漸進。一舉振國威靈，不可失也。」時議鹹以爲不便。玄宗方欲威服四夷，特令訥同紫微黃門三品，總兵擊奚、契丹，議者乃息。六月，師至灤河，遇賊，時既蒸暑，諸將失計會，盡爲契丹等所覆。訥脫身走免，歸罪於崔宣道及蕃將李思敬等八人，詔盡令斬之，特免杜賓客之罪。下製曰：「并州大都督府長史兼檢校左衛大將軍、和戎大武等諸軍州節度大使、同紫微黃門三品薛訥，總戎禦邊，建議爲首。暗於料敵，輕於接戰，張我王師，衄之虜境。觀其疇昔，頗常輸罄，每欲資忠報主，見義忘身。特緩嚴刑，俾期來效，宜赦其罪，所有官爵等並從除削。」

At the time the Khitan and Xi allied with the Turks and repeatedly became frontier troubles. Ne submitted advice requesting dispatch of troops to attack them. In the summer of the second year of Kaiyuan he was ordered together with Left Gate General Du Binke, Prefect of Ding Cui Xuandao, and others to lead twenty thousand men and go out by the Tan route to attack the Khitan and others. Du Binke thought that the season was hot summer, the soldiers would bear armor and carry provisions, and penetrating deep into enemy territory would be hard to use for assured victory. Director of the Secretariat Yao Yuanchong also thought so. Ne alone said, "In summer the grass is lush—it is the season when lambs and calves are born and reared. Without expending grain stores one may also advance gradually. One stroke to shake the state's martial majesty must not be missed." At the time discussion all thought it inadvisable. Emperor Xuanzong wished to awe the four barbarians by force and specially ordered Ne Third Rank of the Purple Palace and Yellow Gate and overall commander to strike the Xi and Khitan, and discussants then ceased. In the sixth month the army reached the Luan River and encountered the enemy. The season was already steaming hot and the generals lost coordination. All were overrun by the Khitan and others. Ne escaped with his body and shifted blame to Cui Xuandao and the barbarian general Li Sijing and eight others. An edict ordered all beheaded and Du Binke's crime specially remitted. An edict was issued, saying, "Xue Ne, prefectural governor of the Metropolitan Prefecture of Bing, concurrently acting Grand General of the Left Guard, Commissioner of the Armies and Prefectures of He Rong Da Wu and other circuits, and Third Rank of the Purple Palace and Yellow Gate, overall commanded troops to defend the frontier and was foremost in submitting the plan. He was dark in estimating the enemy and light in joining battle, displayed our royal army, and suffered defeat in barbarian territory. Observing his past conduct, he has often been utterly defeated, yet each time wished to support loyalty and repay his lord, seeing righteousness and forgetting his person. His severe punishment is specially relaxed so that he may come to future merit. His crime should be pardoned, and all offices and titles are removed and stripped."

其年八月，吐蕃大將坌達延、乞力徐等率眾十萬寇臨洮軍，又進寇蘭州及渭州之渭源縣，掠群牧而去。詔訥白衣攝左羽林將軍，爲隴右防禦使，與大仆少卿王晙等率兵邀擊之。十月，訥領眾至渭源，遇賊戰於武階驛，與王晙掎角夾攻之，大破賊眾。追奔至洮水，又戰於長城堡，豐安軍使王海賓先鋒力戰死之。將士乘勢進擊，又敗之，殺獲萬人，擒其將六指鄉彌洪，盡收其所掠羊馬，並獲其器械，不可勝數。時有詔將以十二月親征吐蕃，及聞訥等克捷，玄宗大悅，乃停親征。追贈王海賓左金吾衛大將軍，賜物三百段、粟三百石，名其稚子爲忠嗣，拜朝散大夫。命紫微舍人倪若水往，即便敘錄功狀，拜訥爲左羽林軍大將軍，復封平陽郡公，仍拜子暢朝散大夫。俄又充涼州鎮軍大總管。尋以年老，特聽致仕。八年卒，年七十餘，贈太常卿，諡曰昭定。訥沉勇寡言，臨大敵而益壯。訥弟楚玉，開元中，爲幽州大都督府長史，以不稱職見代而卒。

That year, in the eighth month, the Tibetan generals Benda Yan, Qili Xu, and others led one hundred thousand men to raid the Lin Tao Army and further advanced to raid Lan Prefecture and Weiyuan County in Wei Prefecture, plundering the herd pastures before departing. Ne was ordered in plain clothes to act as General of the Left Feathered Forest and defensive commissioner of Longyou, and together with Vice Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud Wang Jun and others to lead troops and intercept them. In the tenth month Ne led his masses to Weiyuan and encountered the enemy in battle at Wujie Post. Together with Wang Jun he attacked from converging angles and routed the enemy masses completely. Pursuing the flight to the Tao River they again fought at Changcheng Fort. Feng'an Army Commissioner Wang Haibin died in the vanguard fighting with all his strength. Officers and soldiers took advantage of the momentum to press the attack and again defeated them, killing and capturing ten thousand men, capturing the enemy general Liuzhi Xiangmihong, recovering all the sheep and horses they had plundered, and obtaining their weapons beyond counting. At the time there was an edict that in the twelfth month the emperor would personally campaign against the Tibetans. When he heard of Ne's and the others' victory Emperor Xuanzong was greatly pleased and stopped the personal campaign. Wang Haibin was posthumously promoted to Grand General of the Left Golden Guard, granted three hundred bolts of goods and three hundred shi of grain, his infant son was named Zhongsi and appointed Palace Gentleman for Dispersing Affairs. Purple Palace Secretariat Officer Ni Ruoshui was ordered to go and at once record the account of merit. Ne was appointed Grand General of the Left Feathered Forest Army, again enfeoffed as Duke of Pingyang, and his son Chang was appointed Palace Gentleman for Dispersing Affairs. Soon he was again appointed Grand General of the Pacifying Army of Liang Prefecture. Soon because of old age he was specially permitted to retire. He died in the eighth year at age over seventy. He was posthumously appointed Minister of Ceremonies and given the posthumous title Zhaoding. Ne was deep, brave, and sparing of speech, and before a great enemy grew all the bolder. Ne's younger brother Chuyu, in the Kaiyuan era, was prefectural governor of You and was replaced for incompetence and died.

王晙，滄州景城人，徙家於洛陽。祖有方，岷州刺史。晙弱冠明經擢第，曆遷殿中侍御史，加朝散大夫。時朔方軍元帥魏元忠討賊失利，歸罪於副將韓思忠，奏請誅之。晙以思忠既是偏裨，製不由已，又有勇智可惜，不可獨殺非辜，乃廷議爭之。思忠竟得釋，而晙亦由是出爲渭南令。

Wang Jun was a native of Jingcheng in Cang Prefecture and moved his household to Luoyang. His grandfather Youfang was Prefect of Min. Jun at his coming of age passed the mingjing examination and was repeatedly promoted to palace censor, with additional rank as Palace Gentleman for Dispersing Affairs. At the time the commander-in-chief of the Shuofang Army Wei Yuanzhong attacked the enemy without success and shifted blame to Deputy General Han Sizhong, memorializing a request to execute him. Jun argued that Sizhong, as a subordinate commander, was not master of his own orders and had courage and wisdom worth sparing—he could not be executed alone while innocent. He therefore disputed the matter at court. Sizhong in the end was released, and Jun was therefore sent out as magistrate of Weinan.

景龍未，累轉爲桂州都督。桂州舊有屯兵，常運衡、永等州糧以饋之，晙始改築羅郭，奏罷屯兵及轉運。又堰江水，開屯田數千頃，百姓賴之。尋上疏請歸鄉拜墓，州人詣闕請留晙，乃下敕曰：「彼州往緣寇盜，戸口凋殘，委任失材，乃令至此。卿處事強濟，遠邇寧靜，築城務農，利益已廣，隱括綏緝，復業者多。宜須政成，安此黎庶，百姓又有表請，不須來也。」晙在州又一年，州人立碑以頌其政。再轉鴻臚大卿，充朔方軍副大總管，兼安西大都護，豐安、定遠、三城及側近軍並受晙節度。後轉太仆少卿、隴右群牧使。

At the end of Jinglong he was repeatedly transferred and became Governor of Gui. Gui Prefecture formerly had garrison troops who regularly transported grain from Heng and Yong prefectures to supply them. Jun first rebuilt the outer wall, memorialized abolition of the garrison troops and transport. He also dammed the river water and opened several thousand qing of garrison fields. The people relied on this. Soon he submitted a memorial requesting return home to visit the tombs. The people of the prefecture went to the palace to request that Jun be retained, and an edict was issued, saying, "That prefecture in the past because of bandits and robbers had declining households and wasted population, and appointment lost the right men, which led to this. You handle affairs with force and success; far and near are quiet. Building walls and devoting effort to farming—the benefit is already broad. Hidden registration, pacification, and gathering—many have returned to their occupations. Governance must be completed and these common people settled. The people have again submitted memorials requesting it—you need not come." Jun remained in the prefecture one more year, and the people of the prefecture erected a stele to praise his administration. He was again transferred to Minister of Ceremonial Reception and appointed Deputy Grand General of the Shuofang Army and Grand Protector-General of Anxi. The Feng'an, Dingyuan, and Three Cities armies and nearby forces all received Jun's command. Later he was transferred to Vice Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud and Commissioner of the Herd Pastures of Longyou.

開元二年，吐蕃精甲十萬寇臨洮軍，晙率所部二千人卷甲倍程，與臨洮兩軍合勢以拒之。賊營於大來穀口，吐蕃將坌達延又率兵繼至。晙乃出奇兵七百人，衣之蕃服，夜襲之。相去五里，置鼓角，令前者遇寇大呼，後者擊鼓以應之。賊眾大懼，疑有伏兵，自相殺傷，死者萬計。俄而攝右羽林將軍薛訥率眾邀擊吐蕃，至武階穀，去大來穀二十里，爲賊所隔。晙率兵迎訥之軍，賊置兵於兩軍之間，連亙數十里。晙夜出壯士銜枚擊之，賊又大潰。乃與訥合軍，掩其餘眾，追奔至洮水，殺獲不可勝數，盡收所掠牧馬而還。以功加銀青光祿大夫，封淸源縣男，兼原州都督，仍拜其子班爲朝散大夫。尋除并州大都督府長史。明年，突厥默啜爲九姓所殺，其下酋長多款塞投降，置之河曲之內。俄而小殺繼立，降者漸叛。晙上疏曰：

In the second year of Kaiyuan one hundred thousand elite Tibetan armored troops raided the Lin Tao Army. Jun led his command of two thousand men in rolled armor at double pace and combined strength with the two Lin Tao armies to resist them. The enemy encamped at Dalai Valley mouth, and the Tibetan general Benda Yan again led troops in succession to arrive. Jun then sent seven hundred surprise troops dressed in barbarian clothing and raided them by night. Five li apart he placed drums and horns, ordering those in front upon encountering the enemy to shout loudly and those behind to beat drums in response. The enemy masses were greatly terrified, suspected an ambush, and killed and wounded one another. The dead were beyond counting. Soon Acting General of the Right Feathered Forest Xue Ne led masses to intercept the Tibetans and reached Wujie Valley, twenty li from Dalai Valley, and was blocked by the enemy. Jun led troops to meet Ne's army. The enemy placed troops between the two armies, stretching continuously for several tens of li. Jun by night sent strong men with gags in their mouths to strike them, and the enemy again fled in complete rout. Thereupon he joined armies with Ne, enveloped the remaining masses, pursued the flight to the Tao River, killed and captured beyond counting, recovered all the plundered herd horses, and returned. For merit he was granted Silver Blue-Glazed Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, enfeoffed as Baron of Qingyuan County, concurrently Governor of Yuan Prefecture, and his son Ban was appointed Palace Gentleman for Dispersing Affairs. Soon he was appointed prefectural governor of the Metropolitan Prefecture of Bing. The next year Mochuo of the Turks was killed by the Nine Surnames. The tribal chiefs below mostly submitted to the frontier in good faith and were placed within the River Bend. Soon Xiaosha succeeded and the submitters gradually rebelled. Jun submitted a memorial, saying:

望至秋冬之際，令朔方軍盛陳兵馬，告其禍福，啗以繒帛之利，示以麋鹿之饒，說其魚米之鄉，陳其畜牧之地。並分配淮南、河南寬鄉安置，仍給程糧，送至配所。雖復一時勞弊，必得久長安穩。二十年外，漸染淳風，將以充兵，皆爲勁卒。若以北狄降者不可南中安置，則髙麗俘虜置之沙漠之曲，西域編氓散在青、徐之右，唯利是視，務安疆埸，何獨降胡，不可移徙。

I hope that by the autumn and winter season the Shuofang Army may grandly display troops and horses, inform them of fortune and misfortune, entice them with the profit of silks and brocades, show them the abundance of deer and elk, speak to them of lands rich in fish and rice, and set forth places for herding and grazing. All should be distributed and settled in broad townships of Huainan and Henan, still given travel grain and escorted to their assigned places. Though there will be temporary labor and hardship, long-term peace and stability will surely be obtained. After twenty years they will gradually be imbued with pure custom, and when they fill the armies all will be strong soldiers. If northern barbarian submitters cannot be settled in the south, then should Goguryeo captives be placed in desert bends and western-region registered people scattered east of Qing and Xu—only profit is considered and frontier peace is sought. Why should submitter Hu alone be immovable?

近者，在邊將士，爰及安蕃使人，多作諛辭，不爲實對。或言北虜破滅，或言降戸安靜，誌欲自言功效，非有以徇邦家。伏願察斯利口，行茲遠慮，邊荒淸晏，黎元幸甚。

Recently frontier officers and soldiers, as well as envoys pacifying the barbarians, often make flattering words and do not answer according to fact. Some say the northern barbarians are destroyed, or that submitter households are quiet—intending to speak of their own achievements, not truly to serve the state and family. I humbly wish you to examine these smooth tongues and carry out this far-sighted plan. If the frontier wilderness is clear and quiet, the common people will be greatly fortunate.

臣料留住之議，謀者雲遵故事，必言降戸之輩，舊置河曲之中，昔年既得康寧，今日還應穩便。但同時異事，先典攸傳。往者頡利破亡，邊境寧謐，降戸之輩，無復他心，所以多曆歳年，此類皆無動靜。今虜見未破滅，降戸私使往來，或畏北虜之威，或懷北虜之惠，又是北虜戚屬，夫豈不識親疏，將比昔年，安可同日！

I anticipate that those who advocate retaining them will say we should follow precedent and will surely say that submitter masses of old were placed within the River Bend, and since peace was once obtained the present arrangement should again be stable. But the same time differs in events—ancient canons transmit this. In the past when Jieli was destroyed the frontier was quiet and submitter masses had no further other minds, so for many years this kind had no movement at all. Now the barbarians see they are not yet destroyed; submitter households privately send envoys back and forth, either fearing the northern barbarians' might or cherishing the northern barbarians' favor—and they are also kin of the northern barbarians. How would they not know near from far? Compared with former years, how can it be the same day!

臣料其中頗有三策。若盛陳兵馬，散令分配，內獲精兵之實，外袪黠虜之謀，暫勞永安，此上策也。若多屯士卒，廣爲備擬，亭障之地，蕃、漢相參，費甚人勞，此下策也。若置之朔塞，任之來往，通傳信息，結成禍胎，此無策也。伏願察斯三者，詳其善惡，利害之狀，長短可尋。縱因遷移，或致逃叛，但有移得之者，即是今日良圖，留待河冰，恐即有變。臣蒙天澤，叨居重鎮，逆耳利行，敢不盡言。

I anticipate that among them there are roughly three strategies. If troops and horses are grandly displayed and orders given to distribute them, within one obtains the reality of elite soldiers and without one dispels cunning barbarian plots—temporary labor for lasting peace: this is the upper strategy. If many garrison troops are stationed and preparations broadly made, with barbarian and Han mixed at beacon posts—great expense of wealth and labor: this is the lower strategy. If they are placed in the northern frontier and allowed to come and go, transmitting information and forming seeds of disaster: this is no strategy at all. I humbly wish you to examine these three, detail their good and bad—the shape of benefit and harm, long and short can be traced. Even if migration should cause flight and rebellion, whoever is obtained by moving them is today's good plan. To wait for the river ice may fear immediate change. Your subject has received heaven's grace and presumptuously holds a weighty post. What benefits the state though it offends the ear—how dare I not speak fully?

疏奏未報，降虜果叛，敕晙帥并州兵西濟河以討之。晙乃間行倍道，以夜繼晝，卷甲舍幕而趨之。夜於山中忽遇風雪甚盛，晙恐失期，仰天誓曰：「晙若事君不忠，不討有罪，明靈所殛，固自當之，而士眾何辜，令其艱苦！若誠心忠烈，天監孔明，當止雪回風，以濟戎事。」言訖，風回而雪止。時叛者分爲兩道，其在東者，晙追及之，殺一千五百餘人，生獲一千四百餘人，駝馬牛羊甚眾。晙以功遷左散騎常侍、持節朔方道行軍大總管，尋遷御史大夫。

The memorial was submitted without reply. The submitter barbarians indeed rebelled. An edict ordered Jun to lead Bing Prefecture troops west across the river to attack them. Jun then traveled by hidden routes at double pace, continuing day from night, rolling armor and abandoning tents as he hastened. By night in the mountains he suddenly encountered very heavy wind and snow. Jun feared missing the deadline and swore to heaven, saying, "If Jun serves his lord without loyalty and does not punish the guilty, let the spirits strike me—I alone should bear it. But what crime have the soldiers that they should suffer such hardship! If my heart is truly loyal and fierce, heaven's scrutiny is bright and clear—let the snow stop and the wind turn back to aid the military affair." When the words were finished the wind turned back and the snow stopped. At the time the rebels divided into two routes. Those in the east Jun overtook and killed more than one thousand five hundred men, captured alive more than one thousand four hundred men, and camels, horses, cattle, and sheep in great number. For merit Jun was promoted to Left Regular Attendant and Grand General on campaign of the Shuofang Circuit with credentials, and soon promoted to Censor-in-Chief.

時突厥夾跌部落及仆固都督勺磨等散在受降城左右居止，且謀引突厥共爲表裏，陷軍城而叛。晙因入奏，密請誅之。八年秋，晙誘夾跌等黨與八百餘人於中受降城誅之，由是乃授晙兵部尚書，復充朔方軍大總管。

At the time the Jiedie tribal division of the Turks and Protector-General Taomo of the Pugu and others were scattered living around the Accepting-Surrender cities and plotted to bring in the Turks as inner and outer together to trap the garrison cities and rebel. Jun therefore entered to memorialize and secretly requested their execution. In the autumn of the eighth year Jun lured more than eight hundred partisans of Jiedie and others and executed them at the Middle Accepting-Surrender City. Thereby Jun was appointed Minister of War and again appointed Grand General of the Shuofang Army.

九年，蘭池州胡苦於賦役，誘降虜餘燼，攻夏州反叛，詔隴右節度使、羽林將軍郭知運與晙相知討之。晙奏：「朔方軍兵自有餘力，其郭知運請還本軍。」未報，而知運兵至，與晙頗不相協。晙所招撫降者，知運縱兵擊之，賊以爲晙所賣，皆相率叛走。晙進封淸源縣公，仍兼御史大夫。俄而賊眾復相結聚，晙坐左遷梓州刺史。十年，拜太子詹事，累封中山郡公。屬車駕北巡，以晙爲吏部尚書，兼太原尹。十一年夏，代張說爲兵部尚書、同中書門下三品，追錄破胡之功，加金紫光祿大夫，仍充朔方軍節度大使。其年冬，上親郊祀，追晙赴京，以會大禮。晙以時屬冰壯，恐虜騎乘隙入寇，表辭不赴，手敕慰勉，仍賜衣一副。會許州刺史王喬家奴告喬與晙潛謀構逆，敕侍中源乾曜、中書令張說鞫其狀。晙既無反狀，乃以違詔追不到，左遷蘄州刺史。十四年，累遷戸部尚書，復爲朔方軍節度使。二十年卒，年七十餘，贈尚書左丞相，諡曰忠烈。

In the ninth year the Lan Chi Prefecture Hu, bitter over tax and corvée labor, incited the remaining flames of submitter barbarians to attack Xia Prefecture and rebel. An edict ordered Longyou Military Commissioner and Feathered Forest General Guo Zhiyun to join forces with Jun in attacking them. Jun memorialized, "The Shuofang Army troops have strength to spare. Guo Zhiyun should be ordered back to his original army." Before reply Zhiyun's army arrived and was rather not in harmony with Jun. Those submitters Jun had summoned and pacified Zhiyun led troops to attack. The rebels thought Jun had sold them out and all joined in fleeing and rebelling. Jun was advanced in enfeoffment to Duke of Qingyuan County and still concurrently Censor-in-Chief. Soon the rebel masses again gathered together. Jun was demoted for the fault to Prefect of Zi. In the tenth year he was appointed Supervisor of the Heir Apparent's Household and repeatedly enfeoffed as Duke of Zhongshan Commandery. When the imperial carriage toured north he was appointed Minister of Personnel and concurrently Prefect of Taiyuan. In the summer of the eleventh year he replaced Zhang Yue as Minister of War and Third Rank of the Secretariat and Chancellery, recorded merit for breaking the Hu, was granted Golden Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, and still appointed Military Commissioner of the Shuofang Army. That winter the emperor personally performed suburban sacrifice and recalled Jun to the capital to attend the great rite. Jun because the season was strong ice feared barbarian horsemen would seize the gap and invade. He submitted a memorial declining to come. An edict in the emperor's hand comforted and encouraged him and still bestowed one set of robes. When Prefect of Xu Wang Qiao's household slave reported that Qiao and Jun secretly plotted treason, an edict ordered Director of the Chancellery Yuan Qianyao and Director of the Secretariat Zhang Yue to investigate the facts. Jun had no sign of rebellion and was therefore demoted for disobeying the edict in not arriving in time to Prefect of Qi. In the fourteenth year he was repeatedly promoted to Minister of Revenue and again became Military Commissioner of the Shuofang Army. He died in the twentieth year at age over seventy. He was posthumously appointed Left Director of the Department of State Affairs and given the posthumous title Zhonglie.

往歳，魏元忠爲張易之、昌宗所構，左授髙要尉，晙密狀申明之。宋璟時爲鳳閣舍人，謂晙曰：「魏公且全矣，子須威嚴而坐理，恐子之狼狽也。」晙曰：「魏公忠而獲罪，晙爲義所激，顛沛無恨。」璟歎曰：「璟不能申魏公之枉，深負朝廷矣。」晙氣貌雄壯，時人謂之有熊虎之狀。然慕義激勵，有古人之風，禦下整肅，人吏畏而愛之。晙卒後，信安王禕於幽州討奚告捷，奏稱軍士鹹見晙與蕃將髙昭領兵馬先軍討賊，上聞而嗟異久之。戸部郎中楊伯城上疏，請晙等墳特乞增修封域，量加表異，降使饗祭，優其子孫。玄宗乃遣使就其家廟祭，仍如其子官秩。

In former years Wei Yuanzhong was framed by Zhang Yizhi and Changzong and demoted to Assistant Magistrate of Gaoyao. Jun secretly memorialized to clarify the matter. Song Jing at the time was Phoenix Pavilion Secretariat Officer and said to Jun, "Lord Wei will be safe, but you must sit in judgment with stern dignity—I fear you will be thrown into disorder." Jun said, "Lord Wei was loyal yet punished. Jun was stirred by righteousness and has no regret in hardship." Jing sighed and said, "Jing could not clarify Lord Wei's wrong. I have deeply failed the court." Jun's bearing was heroic and strong. Men of the time said he had the appearance of bear and tiger. Yet he admired righteousness and was stirred to action, having the air of ancients. In commanding subordinates he was orderly and strict; clerks and officials both feared and loved him. After Jun died, Prince Xin'an Yi in You Prefecture attacked the Xi and reported victory, memorializing that soldiers all saw Jun together with the barbarian general Gao Zhao leading troops and horses as the vanguard army attacking the enemy. The emperor heard and marveled for a long time. Director in the Ministry of Revenue Yang Bocheng submitted a memorial requesting that Jun's and others' tombs specially be granted enlarged burial domains and marked distinctions, with envoys sent to offer sacrifice and their sons and grandsons favored. Emperor Xuanzong then sent an envoy to offer sacrifice at his household shrine, still according to the rank of his son.

史臣曰：婁師德應召而慷愾，勇也；薦仁傑而入用，忠也；不使仁傑知之，公也；營田贍軍，智也；恭勤接下，和也；參知政事，功名有卒，是人之難也，又何愧於將相乎！王孝傑，唐休璟、張仁愿、薛訥、王晙等，皆韜武幹，亟立邊功。然孝傑失於再擒，休璟虧於餘行。先敗後勝，薛訥何慚；止雪回風，王晙難掩；仁愿操履，中否相兼。

The historiographer says: Lou Shide answered the summons with generous indignation—courage; recommended Renjie and put him to use—loyalty; did not let Renjie know it—impartiality; garrison agriculture to supply the army—wisdom; respectful diligence in receiving subordinates—harmony; participated in managing state affairs and preserved reputation and office to the end—this is what is hard for a man. How could he be ashamed before generals and chancellors! Wang Xiaojie, Tang Xiujing, Zhang Renyuan, Xue Ne, Wang Jun, and others all concealed martial capacity and repeatedly established frontier merit. Yet Xiaojie failed in being twice captured; Xiujing was deficient in his later conduct. Defeat first and victory afterward—what shame has Xue Ne? Stopping snow and turning back the wind—Wang Jun is hard to conceal; Renyuan's conduct mixed the acceptable and the unacceptable.

贊曰：拯物之心，不形於色。將相之材，人何以測。臣有始終，功無爽忒。多忌梁公，自招慚德。唐、張、訥、晙，善陣能師。共服戎虜，不憂邊陲。

The encomium says: A heart to support others does not show on the face. The material of generals and chancellors—how can men measure it? Ministers have beginning and end; merit is without deviation. Much jealousy toward Lord Liang—self-invited shame upon one's virtue. Tang, Zhang, Ne, and Jun—good at formations, able as commanders. Together they subdued the martial barbarians and did not worry over the frontier.

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