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卷九十三 列傳第四十三: 婁師德 王孝傑 唐休璟 張仁願 薛訥 王晙

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

Chapter 97 of 舊唐書 · Old Book of Tang
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Chapter 97
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1
Liu Youqiu was a native of Wuqiang in Jizhou commandery. During the Shengli reign he entered an imperial special examination and was appointed assistant magistrate of Langzhong. When the prefect failed to treat him with proper respect, he resigned his post and went home. After some time he was appointed magistrate of Chaoyi. Initially, though Huan Yanfan, Jing Hui, and the others had put the Zhang Yizhi brothers to death, they ultimately failed to kill Wu Sansi. Youqiu told Huan and Jing, "As long as Sansi remains alive, none of you will ever have a grave to rest in. If you do not act soon, I fear you will regret it too late even to bite your own navel in anguish." Huan, Jing, and the others ignored his advice; in the end they were falsely accused by Sansi and perished in exile beyond the Ling mountain passes.
2
When Empress Wei was about to seize the throne, Youqiu secretly conspired with Prince Lin, the future Emperor Xuanzong, to overthrow her. That night he entered the inner palace with Zhong Shaojing, director of the imperial park, changshang guoyi Ma Sizong, Princess Taiping's son Xue Chongjian, and others, and together they put down the coup. Of the more than a hundred edicts issued that night, every one was drafted by Youqiu. For his services he was promoted to secretarial drafter and assigned to deliberations on state affairs. He was enfeoffed as Baron of Zhongshan, with an actual income fief of two hundred households. The next day his two sons were also given fifth-rank offices, and both his grandfather and father were posthumously honored as prefects.
3
祿 西 使
When Emperor Ruizong took the throne, Youqiu was promoted to Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and acting Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs while retaining his role in governance. He was advanced to Duke of Xu, with his actual fief income raised to five hundred households in all, and received a thousand bolts of silk and other goods, twenty servants, a residence, ten qing of land, four horses, and an assortment of gold and silver vessels. He was then transferred to Minister of Revenue and removed from active participation in governance. A little over a month later he was transferred to Minister of Personnel and promoted to Palace Attendant. An imperial letter was issued that read, "Recently the royal house fell into misfortune. Emperor Zhongzong departed this life, maternal relatives monopolized power, treacherous ministers seized control of the state, the altars of soil and grain were nearly overturned, and the throne itself was almost lost. I, together with the princes and nobles, stood on the brink of disaster. You saw danger and resolved to act, adapted skillfully in the midst of upheaval, supported the heir apparent, rallied men of righteousness, destroyed the chief villain, and drove out the wicked. Our state's restoration depended on service such as yours; your merit is great, and I am deeply gratified. Therefore I entrusted you with the helm of state and enfeoffed you with feudal lands, yet the revenue attached to your fief was still limited and the honors bestowed upon you remained insufficient. In the Western Han, when enfeoffments were granted, additional households were often chosen; and when the Eastern Han fixed rewards, great fiefs were again enlarged. Accordingly I am granting you an additional two hundred households of actual fief income, for seven hundred households in all. May your line endure through the ages, from sons to grandsons without end, even as high banks become valleys and great rivers shrink to ribbons. Because you risked your life in the crisis, you deserve special honor. I therefore grant you exemption from ten capital offenses, to be inscribed on metal and iron and passed down to posterity. Preserve this achievement and remain forever a pillar of the state—could anything be finer!"
4
殿 殿
In 712 he was appointed Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, given third-rank status equal to the chancellors, and charged with overseeing the national history. Youqiu initially believed his merit outranked that of the other court ministers and sought the post of Left Vice Director together with the directorship of the Secretariat. Before long Dou Huaizhen was made Left Vice Director and Cui Shi Director of the Secretariat. Youqiu was deeply resentful, and his displeasure showed plainly in his words and bearing. Cui Shi had also attached himself to Princess Taiping and was plotting rebellion. Youqiu then joined Right General of the Feathered Forest Zhang Wei in proposing that the imperial guard be used to eliminate them. He had Wei secretly report to Emperor Xuanzong, "Among the chief ministers are Cui Shi and Cui Yi, both promoted by Princess Taiping. They are already plotting, and the matter is grave. If Your Highness does not act soon, this will surely become a grave disaster. If events take an unexpected turn, how will the Retired Emperor be kept safe? As the ancients said, 'He who ought to act decisively but fails to do so will suffer disorder in return.' I beg that these traitors be put to death at once. Liu Youqiu and I have already settled our plans. I am ready to see this through with my own life and go to my death as willingly as if I were going home. As I command the palace guard, I shall cut them down at once upon receiving Your Highness's order." The emperor was deeply convinced. Wei also leaked the plot to Attending Censor Deng Guangbin. Emperor Xuanzong was greatly alarmed and immediately reported the whole affair. Emperor Ruizong sent Youqiu and the others to the imperial prison by edict and ordered the judges to investigate them. The judges ruled that Youqiu and the others had driven a wedge between close kin and deserved death. Emperor Xuanzong repeatedly intervened on their behalf and saved them from execution. Youqiu was banished to Feng prefecture and Wei to Peak prefecture.
5
祿
More than a year later, Princess Taiping and her faction were executed. That same day an edict was issued: "Liu Youqiu was touched by heaven's signs and endowed with the pure spirit of mountains and rivers. His learning embraced all schools of thought, and his literary skill mastered every form of expression. Righteous in action, his keen insight shone like the sun; loyal in counsel, he acted with the swift certainty of a stone cast into water. He won great merit in a time of peril and offered fine counsel at the founding of the new reign. He preserved honest remonstrance without regard for himself, and the wicked came to hate him for it. The first signs of trouble appeared, slander began to spread in secret, the chief minister was driven out, and calumniators multiplied. Now that the villains have been destroyed and great reform is to be proclaimed, it is time to seek counsel at the founding of the new order and to restore the worthy to office. Let him be restored to his former rank of Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with the Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon, acting Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, with charge over military and state affairs and oversight of the national history, as Senior Pillar of the State and Duke of Xu. Let his former fief of seven hundred households be restored, and grant him one suit of brocade robes."
6
殿 祿 祿
At the beginning of the Kaiyuan reign the Left and Right Vice Directors were redesignated Left and Right Chancellors. Youqiu was appointed Left Chancellor of the Department of State Affairs and concurrently Director of the Palace Gate. Before long he was made Junior Mentor to the Heir Apparent and removed from active participation in governance. Yao Chong had long envied him and memorialized that Youqiu was discontent in a powerless post and had voiced complaints. Youqiu was demoted to prefect of Mu, and six hundred households were stripped from his actual fief. After more than a year he was transferred to prefect of Hangzhou. In the third year he was transferred to prefect of Guiyang commandery but died on the road, embittered, at the age of sixty-one. He was posthumously honored as Minister of Rites, given the posthumous title Wenxian, and granted a place in Emperor Ruizong's temple. He was later posthumously honored again as Minister of Education. Zhong Shaojing was a native of Gan in Qian prefecture. He began as a clerk in the Ministry of Agriculture. Because of his skill in calligraphy he served directly in the Phoenix Pavilion. During Empress Wu's reign the gate inscription of the Bright Hall, the inscriptions on the Nine Cauldrons, and the gate plaques of the various palaces were all written by Shaojing. During the Jinglong reign he served as director of the imperial park. When Emperor Xuanzong moved against the Wei clan, Shaojing led household slaves and corvée laborers to join him in the night. When the coup succeeded, Shaojing was that same night appointed Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and Vice Director of the Secretariat, with a role in confidential state affairs. The next day he was promoted to Director of the Secretariat, given the additional title of Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, enfeoffed as Duke of Yue, granted an actual income fief of five hundred households, and given two thousand bolts of silk and other goods and ten horses. Once Shaojing held power at court, he dispensed rewards and punishments as he pleased and was widely despised. Before long he submitted a memorial declining his office. Emperor Ruizong heeded Xue Ji's advice and transferred him to Minister of Revenue, then sent him out as prefect of Shu.
7
綿 歿 祿 使 使 使
When Emperor Xuanzong took the throne, Shaojing was again summoned as Minister of Revenue and then transferred to Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent. Yao Chong had long disliked Shaojing's character and memorialized that he had spoken resentfully. Shaojing was demoted to prefect of Mian. After he became implicated in an offense, he was repeatedly demoted until he reached the post of assistant magistrate of Yanchuan, and all his ranks, titles, and actual fief income were stripped away. Before long he was transferred to vice prefect of Wen. He came to court and, weeping, memorialized, "Does Your Majesty not remember what happened in those days? How can you bear to cast me off in the wilderness beyond the frontier, never again to see the imperial court? Of those who won merit in those days, all have now died. I alone remain, old and frail. Will Your Majesty not show me compassion?" Emperor Xuanzong was deeply moved and that same day appointed him Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and Right Mentor of the Heir Apparent. After some time he was transferred to Junior Mentor of the Heir Apparent. He died at over eighty years of age. Shaojing was a devoted collector of calligraphy, painting, and antiquities, amassing several dozen or even several hundred scrolls by the Two Wangs and Chu Suiliang. He was later posthumously honored again as Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent. Guo Yuanzhen was a native of Guixiang in Wei prefecture. He passed the jinshi examination and was appointed magistrate of Tongquan. Bold and chivalrous by nature, he paid little heed to minor duties. He seized and sold more than a thousand people under his jurisdiction to entertain guests, to the great suffering of the common people. Empress Wu heard of him, summoned him for an audience, and was greatly impressed. When the Tibetans requested peace, Yuanzhen was appointed an officer of the Right Martial Guard's Armor Bureau and sent as envoy to Tibet. The Tibetan general Lun Qinling requested the withdrawal of troops from the Four Garrisons and a division of the lands of the Ten Surnames. The court sent Yuanzhen to investigate the matter on the spot. Yuanzhen returned and submitted a memorial that read:
8
Empress Wu accepted his advice.
9
使 使 使
He also submitted a memorial saying, "I believe the Tibetan people have long grown weary of corvée labor and frontier service, and all wish for peace as soon as possible. Their general Lun Qinling wishes to carve up the territory of the Four Garrisons and monopolize military command, and therefore does not wish to submit. If the court sends marriage-alliance envoys every year and Qinling repeatedly refuses to comply, the Tibetan people will resent him more deeply by the day and look to the court's favor more eagerly. Even if he wished to raise a large army, it would be difficult. This would also be a gradual means of sowing discord and would surely make both rulers and subjects estranged from one another." Empress Wu strongly agreed. Within a few years the Tibetan ruler and his ministers did indeed become mutually suspicious, and the great general Lun Qinling was executed. His younger brother Zanpo and his elder brother's son Mangbuzhi both came to surrender. Empress Wu ordered Yuanzhen and Fumeng Lingqing, commander of the Heyuan Army, to lead cavalry to receive them. Later the Tibetan general Qu Mangbuzhi led troops in a raid. Tang Xiujing, military governor of Liang, mustered troops and defeated him. Yuanzhen took part in planning the campaign and, for his services, was appointed Director in the Bureau of Receptions.
10
使
In 701 he was transferred to military governor of Liang and grand envoy over the army prefectures of Longyou. Previously Liang's territory extended no more than four hundred-odd li from north to south. Pressed by the Turks and Tibetans, the two foes frequently appeared each year beneath the city walls, and the people suffered greatly. Yuanzhen first built Hecheng City at Pokou on the southern border and established Baiting Army in the northern desert to control the key routes. He expanded the prefecture's territory by fifteen hundred li, and from then on the raiders no longer reached the city walls. Yuanzhen also ordered Li Hantong, prefect of Gan, to establish garrison farms and make full use of the region's water and land. Formerly a hu of grain in Liang sold for thousands of cash. After Hantong organized the harvests, within a few years the land grew abundant, until a bolt of silk could buy dozens of hu of grain and enough military grain was stored to supply the army for decades. Yuanzhen was imposing in bearing and skilled at winning loyalty. During his five years in Liang, both barbarians and Chinese feared and admired him. His orders were obeyed, cattle and sheep covered the fields, and no one picked up lost objects on the roads.
11
西 西 使 使
During the Shenlong reign he was transferred to General of the Left Valiant Guard and concurrently acting Protector-General of Anxi. At that time the Western Turk chieftain Wuzhile commanded a powerful tribe and came to the frontier seeking peace. Yuanzhen went to his royal tent to discuss military affairs. It was snowing heavily. Yuanzhen stood before the tent and spoke with Wuzhile. Before long the snow had deepened and the wind turned bitterly cold. Yuanzhen never shifted his feet, but Wuzhile was old and could not endure the cold. When the meeting ended, he died. Suoge, Wuzhile's son, believed Yuanzhen had caused his father's death and plotted to raise troops and attack him. The deputy envoy, Censor-in-Chief Jie Wan, learned of the plot and urged Yuanzhen to flee by night. Yuanzhen replied, "I deal with others in good faith—what have I to fear? Besides, I am deep in the enemy's territory; where could I flee?" He then lay down calmly in his tent. The next day he entered the tent in person, wept bitterly, and performed the rites of mourning and condolence. Suoge was moved by his conduct and restored friendly relations with Yuanzhen, sending envoys with five thousand horses and local tribute. An imperial order appointed Yuanzhen Grand Commander on Campaign of the Jinshan Circuit.
12
宿 使 西使 便
Previously Suoge and Ashina Quechuo Zhongjie had been at odds and repeatedly raided each other's territory. Quechuo's forces were few and weak, and he gradually found himself unable to hold out. Yuanzhen memorialized asking that Quechuo be summoned to court for palace guard duty and that his tribe be resettled in Guazhou, Shazhou, and other prefectures. The emperor approved. When Quechuo reached Boxian City he met the frontier commissioner and General of the Right Martial Guard Zhou Yiti, who told him, "The court honors you with high rank and generous stipends because you command a tribe with soldiers under you. If you go to court alone now, you will be nothing but an old barbarian—who at court will be glad to see you? Not only will you find rank and salary hard to obtain, but your very life may be in others' hands. The chief ministers Zong Chuke and Ji Chune now monopolize power. Why not give them rich gifts and ask to remain instead of going? Then raise the Anxi troops and bring in the Tibetans to attack Suoge, install Ashina Xian as khan to win over the Ten Surnames, and send Guo Qian'gu to Ferghana to levy armor and horses for the army. You will both have your revenge and keep your tribe intact. That would be nothing like entering court and placing yourself at others' mercy!" Quechuo agreed, mustered troops, and captured Khotan Kan City, seizing gold, jewels, and captives. He then sent men by secret routes to bribe Zong and Ji. When Yuanzhen learned of the plot, he immediately submitted a memorial that read:
13
The memorial was submitted but ignored.
14
便 西便西 使 西 西
After Chuke and his faction accepted Quechuo's bribes, they proposed sending Acting Censor-in-Chief Feng Jiabin with credentials to pacify Quechuo, Censor Lu Shousu to manage the Four Garrisons, and an envoy bearing the imperial seal to notify Yuanzhen at once. Niu Shijiang was appointed Vice Protector of Anxi and immediately took command of recruitment west of Gan and Liang, also calling in the Tibetans, to attack Suoge. Suoge's envoy Sula, who had come to present horses, learned of Chuke's plan and galloped back to warn Suoge. That same day Suoge dispatched five thousand cavalry from Anxi, five thousand from Bochuan, five thousand from Yanqi, and five thousand from Shule. Yuanzhen was then at Shule and did not dare move from the stockade at the river mouth. Quechuo waited at the mouth of the Jishu River to meet Jiabin, but Suoge's troops fell upon him, captured Quechuo alive, and killed Jiabin and his party. Lu Shousu was also killed when he reached Picheng. Niu Shijiang was killed at Huoshao City as well. Anxi fell, and the routes to the Four Garrisons were severed.
15
使 使 使 西
Chuke again memorialized asking that Zhou Yiti replace Yuanzhen in command, summoning Yuanzhen back with the intent to destroy him. Ashina Xian was installed as khan of the Ten Surnames, and troops were stationed at Yanqi to capture Suoge. Suoge wrote to Yuanzhen, "We bear the Han no ill will; our quarrel is only with Quechuo. Yet Minister Zong took Quechuo's gold and plotted falsely to destroy my tribe. Vice Censor Feng and Commander Niu came one after another—are we to sit and await death? I also hear that Ashina Xian is coming, which will only disturb the frontier prefectures. I fear there will never be peace. I beg the envoy to discuss a settlement." Yuanzhen reported Suoge's letter to the throne. Chuke was enraged and memorialized that Yuanzhen harbored treacherous intent. Yuanzhen sent his son Hong by a secret route to report the full situation. Zhou Yiti was ultimately found guilty and banished to Baizhou. Yuanzhen was restored in Zhou Yiti's place. Suoge was pardoned and enfeoffed as khan of the Fourteen Surnames. Yuanzhen reported that the western frontier was still unsettled and required pacification. He lingered on duty and did not dare return to the capital.
16
祿
When Chuke and his faction were executed and Emperor Ruizong took the throne, Yuanzhen was summoned as Minister of the Stud and given the additional title of Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. He was given third-rank status equal to the chancellors and replaced Song Jing as Minister of Personnel. Before long he was transferred to Minister of War and enfeoffed as Baron of Guantao. At that time Yuanzhen's father Ai was elderly and living at home. He was appointed prefect of Ji on the spot and permitted to retire. That winter he was removed from governance together with Wei Anshi, Zhang Yue, and others. He became Grand Commander of the Shuofang Army and first built Dingyuan City as a base for campaign planning, a fortification still relied upon today. The following year he again received third-rank status equal to the chancellors. When Xiao Zhizhong, Dou Huaizhen, and others attached themselves to Princess Taiping and secretly plotted rebellion, Emperor Xuanzong dispatched the imperial guard to execute them. Emperor Ruizong ascended Chengtian Gate, and Yuanzhen personally led troops to guard him. When the affair was settled and merits were assessed, he was advanced to Duke of Dai, granted an actual income fief of four hundred households, and given a thousand bolts of silk and other goods. He was also ordered to serve concurrently as Censor-in-Chief and, bearing credentials, to become Grand Commander of the Shuofang Circuit to guard against the Turks, but he never departed.
17
When Emperor Xuanzong held military exercises at Mount Li, Yuanzhen was seated beneath the command banner for disorderly troops and was about to be beheaded as an example. Liu Youqiu and Zhang Yue remonstrated before the emperor's horse, saying, "Yuanzhen rendered great service in supporting the throne. Though guilty, he should be pardoned." He was pardoned but banished to Xinzhou. Before long, remembering his former services, the emperor recalled him and appointed him military aide of Raozhou. Yuanzhen, confident in his achievements, was resentful and unable to achieve his ambitions. He died of illness on the road. He was posthumously honored as Junior Mentor to the Heir Apparent. He left a collected writings in twenty scrolls. Zhang Yue, whose courtesy name was Daoji, came from a Fanyang family that had lived for generations in Hedong and had recently moved to Luoyang in Henan. At twenty he entered an imperial examination by edict, placed second in the policy response, and was appointed collator to the Heir Apparent. He rose in turn to Remonstrance on the Right and took part in compiling the Three Teachings Pearl of Excellence. In 700 Empress Wu visited the Sanyang Palace. From summer through autumn she did not return to the capital on time, and Yue submitted a remonstrance memorial that read:
18
The memorial was submitted but ignored.
19
At the beginning of the Chang'an reign, when compilation of the Three Teachings Pearl of Excellence was completed, he was transferred to Right Historiographer and inner attendant, placed in charge of examination and tribute selection, and promoted to Phoenix Pavilion Drafter. At that time Zhang Yizhi, Director of the Lin Platform, and his brother Changzong framed Censor-in-Chief Wei Yuanzhong on charges of rebellion and summoned Yue to testify. When Yue came before the throne, he declared openly that Yuanzhong had not rebelled and that this was Yizhi's false accusation. Yuanzhong thereby escaped execution. Yue, for opposing the imperial will, was exiled to Qinzhou. He remained in exile beyond the Ling ranges for more than a year. When Emperor Zhongzong took the throne, Yue was summoned as Vice Director in the Ministry of War and later promoted to Vice Minister of Works. During the Jinglong reign he left office to mourn his mother. When recalled and appointed Vice Director of the Palace Gate, he repeatedly memorialized to decline, speaking with great earnestness, until an gracious edict finally allowed him to refuse. At that time customs were lax and many regarded recall from mourning as an honor, but Yue steadfastly declined and completed the full mourning period, winning great praise from discerning observers. When mourning ended he again became Vice Minister of Works, and before long was appointed Vice Minister of War and made a scholar of the Hongwen Academy.
20
宿
When Emperor Ruizong took the throne, Yue was transferred to Vice Director of the Secretariat and concurrently Chief Administrator of Yongzhou. That autumn Prince Qiao Chongfu plotted rebellion at the Eastern Capital and died. The regent arrested several hundred associates and interrogated them about the plot, but for a long time no verdict was reached. Emperor Ruizong sent Yue to investigate the case. In a single night he captured the chief plotters Zhang Lingjun and Zheng Yin and learned the full circumstances. All who had been wrongly imprisoned were released. Emperor Ruizong commended him, saying, "In investigating this case you neither wronged the innocent nor let the guilty escape. Without your loyalty and integrity, how could this have been done?"
21
使 使
When Emperor Xuanzong was crown prince, Yue and Director of Studies Chu Wuliang both served as his lecturers and were treated with deep affection and respect. The following year he became Co-Drafter of the Secretariat and was charged with overseeing the national history. In the second month of that year Emperor Ruizong told his ministers, "A diviner has reported that within five days armed troops will enter the palace. You must prepare for this on my behalf." Those around him looked at one another in silence. Yue stepped forward and said, "This is a slander's plot, intended to unsettle the Eastern Palace. If Your Majesty has the crown prince oversee the state, the roles of ruler and minister will be fixed, ambition will have no opening, and disaster will not arise." Emperor Ruizong was greatly pleased and that same day ordered the crown prince to oversee the state. The following year he ordered the crown prince to ascend the throne. Before long Princess Taiping installed Xiao Zhizhong, Cui Shi, and others as chief ministers. Because Yue would not attach himself to her, he was transferred to Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, removed from governance, and ordered to remain on duty at the Eastern Capital. When Yue learned that Taiping and her faction secretly harbored treacherous designs, he sent a girdle knife to Emperor Xuanzong through an envoy and asked to strike first. Emperor Xuanzong deeply approved. When Zhizhong and the others were executed, Yue was summoned as Director of the Secretariat, enfeoffed as Duke of Yan, and granted an actual income fief of two hundred households. That winter, when official titles were changed, he was appointed Director of the Purple Micro Palace.
22
使
From the last years of Empress Wu's reign, a Pot-Han barbarian play was performed in late winter. Emperor Zhongzong had once mounted the tower to watch it. On this occasion, with foreign tribes coming to court, the play was performed again. Yue submitted a remonstrance memorial saying, "I have heard that when Han Xuan went to Lu he saw the rites of Zhou and sighed; and when Confucius met with Qi he repeatedly condemned the offenses of performers. If even the feudal states held such standards, how much more should the imperial court! Now foreign tribes seek peace and envoys have come to court. We should receive them with rites and music and display our military might. Though they are called barbarians, they must not be treated lightly. Who knows whether among them there may not be another Juzhi in eloquence or another Youyu in talent? Moreover, the Pot-Han play has no precedent in the classics. Naked bodies and bare feet—what virtue is there to display? Splashing water and throwing mud—how utterly unseemly! Its customs differ from the rites of Lu and are as unseemly as the performers of Qi. I fear this is not the principle of winning the distant through civil virtue, nor the rite of defeating the enemy at the banquet table." From that time the play was abolished.
23
使 使 使 宿 使
Before long he was framed by Yao Chong and sent out as prefect of Xiangzhou while also serving as inspector of the Hebei Circuit. Before long he was demoted for an offense to prefect of Yuezhou, had three hundred households of his actual fief income suspended, was made General of the Right Feathered Forest, and concurrently acting military governor of Youzhou. He was made acting Chief Administrator of the Bingzhou Metropolitan Area Command, concurrently envoy of the Tianbing Army, acting Censor-in-Chief, and compiler of the national history, carrying the draft history with the army to continue his work. In the autumn of the eighth year the Shuofang envoy Wang Jun executed more than a thousand surrendered tribesmen of the river bend, including Abu Si. At that time the Datong, Hengye, and other armies of Bingzhou included tribes of the Nine Surnames, Tongluo, Bayegu, and others, all of whom were shaken with fear. Yue led twenty light cavalry, went straight to their tribes bearing credentials, lodged in their tents, and summoned the chieftains to reassure them. The deputy envoy Li Xian believed that barbarians could not be trusted and that one should not lightly venture into uncertainty. He sent an urgent dispatch to remonstrate. Yue replied in a letter: "My flesh is not that of a yellow sheep—I have no fear of being eaten; My blood is not that of a wild horse—I have no fear of being slashed. When a gentleman faces danger, he lays down his life—this is my moment to die in service." Thereupon the Nine Surnames were moved by his loyalty, and their hearts were reassured.
24
西 使
In the fourth month of the ninth year the Hu rebel Kang Daibin rose in rebellion, seized Changquan County, styled himself Yehu, and captured six prefectures including Lanchi. An edict ordered Wang Jun to lead troops against him and placed Yue in charge of overall strategy. At that time the rebel Hu allied with the Tangut tribes, attacked Yincheng and Liangu to seize the granary stores. Yue commanded ten thousand cavalry and infantry through Hehe Pass in a surprise attack and routed them completely. Pursuing them to Luotuo Dam, the Hu and Tangut turned on one another in mutual slaughter. Blocked by nightfall, the Hu fled west into Mount Tiejian, and the remaining bands scattered in defeat. Yue gathered the Tangut people and restored them to their homes and livelihoods. The deputy envoy Shi Xian proposed executing the Tangut to prevent them from rebelling. Yue said, "The Way of the former kings was to allow the doomed to perish and strengthen what still endured. To kill them all would be to defy Heaven's Way." He then memorialized for the establishment of Lin Prefecture to resettle the surviving Tangut. That year he was appointed Minister of War and Third Rank at the Chancellery and Secretariat, while continuing to compile the national history as before.
25
使 西 使
The next year Yue was again appointed military governor of the Shuofang Army and sent to inspect the Five Cities and manage the disposition of troops. At that time Kang Yuanzi, a remnant follower of Kang Daibin and a surrendered Hu of Fangqu in Qing Prefecture, declared himself khan, rebelled, plotted to seize the imperial stud horses, and intended to cross the Yellow River westward and flee beyond the frontier. Yue advanced, captured him, and also seized his family at Mount Mupan. He sent them to the capital for execution, fully pacified the rebel band, and took more than three thousand captives, men and women. Thereupon more than fifty thousand remnant Hu from the six prefectures of the river bend were relocated to Xu, Ru, Tang, Deng, Xian, Yu, and other prefectures, finally clearing the thousand-li stretch of rebellious territory south of the river. For his merit in suppressing the rebels, Yue was again granted an actual income fief of two hundred households. Previously frontier garrison troops had numbered more than six hundred thousand. Yue argued that with no strong enemy at hand there was no need for so large a host, and memorialized to dismiss more than two hundred thousand troops and return them to garrison farming. Emperor Xuanzong was quite skeptical. Yue memorialized: "I have long served on the frontier and know border affairs thoroughly. Military commanders care only about protecting themselves and using subordinates for private profit. Victory over the enemy does not require maintaining idle hordes of troops at the expense of farming. If Your Majesty still has doubts, I pledge the lives of my entire household as guarantee. With Your Majesty's wisdom, the Four Barbarians submit in awe—there is no danger that reducing the army will invite invasion." The emperor assented.
26
宿
At that time the rotating palace guards had grown progressively poorer and weaker, and deserters were nearly all gone. Yue also proposed abolishing the old system entirely and instead recruiting able-bodied men for garrison duty, without screening by corvée status and with favorable regulations, so that fugitives would compete to enlist. The emperor agreed. Within ten days he raised one hundred and thirty thousand elite troops, assigned them to the various guard corps on rotating shifts to reinforce the capital. This was the origin of the Kuoriders.
27
便耀 便
That year the emperor planned to return to the capital but also to visit Bingzhou en route. Yue submitted advice: "Taiyuan is where the dynasty's royal enterprise began. When Your Majesty tours there, displaying majesty and martial splendor, you should also erect a stele to commemorate its virtue and express your enduring gratitude. If you then proceed to the capital, the route passes through Hedong, where Emperor Wu of Han once offered sacrifice to Houtu at Shimao. That rite has long been abandoned, and no dynasty since has been able to perform it. I urge Your Majesty to revive this fallen rite and offer sacrifice for the harvest on behalf of the farmers—it would be a true blessing for the common people." The emperor accepted his advice. After the sacrifice to Houtu was completed, Yue replaced Zhang Jiazhen as Director of the Chancellery. In the fourth month of summer the emperor personally composed an edict: "In conduct he holds steadfastly to the upright Way; I have repeatedly heard his sincere counsel for improvement; in speech he never flatters, naturally possessing the substance of true counsel. Government orders await his revisions; books and records depend on his editing. Both talent and reputation are distinguished—promotion is only fitting. Evaluation: upper-middle."
28
便 殿殿 殿
Yue was also the first to propose the feng and shan rites. In the thirteenth year he was ordered to compile the ritual regulations for the eastern fengshan together with Right Regular Attendant Xu Jian, Vice Minister of Rites Wei Shao, and others. Where the old rites proved inadequate, Yue made numerous corrections; details are recorded in the Rites Treatise. Before long the emperor summoned Yue, ritual officials, and academicians to a banquet in the Hall of Assembled Immortals and said to Yue, "Now that I feast here with you and other men of talent, this hall should be renamed the Hall of Assembled Worthies." An edict was then issued renaming the Lizheng Academy as the Academy of the Hall of Assembled Worthies. Yue was appointed Academician of the Academy of Assembled Worthies and placed in charge of its affairs.
29
使 便 宿使
When the eastern fengshan was imminent, Yue was made Right Counselor and concurrent Director of the Chancellery, and Yuan Qianyao was made Left Counselor and concurrent Palace Counselor—symbolically inscribing achievement on Mount Tai to show that the chief ministers assist in the kingly transformation. Yue also composed the "Ode to the Fengshan Altar" to commemorate imperial virtue. Yuan Qianyao had originally opposed the fengshan, but Yue supported it, and for this reason the two were quite at odds. When ascending the mountain, Yue brought his personal associates—acting supply officers and clerks—to accompany him, promoting them by rank into the fifth grade, while most other officials were denied ascent. Moreover, the soldiers in the procession received only honors and no gifts, for which he was much resented at court and beyond. Earlier, Censor-in-Chief Yuwen Rong had proposed registering all fugitive households and surplus fields outside the tax rolls empire-wide, establishing ten Agricultural Encouragement Commissioners, and dispatching them to conduct inspections. Yue considered it disruptive and repeatedly submitted memorials in opposition. After returning from the eastern fengshan, Rong secretly memorialized to divide the Ministry of Personnel into ten selection boards, with Rong, Minister of Rites Su Ting, and others each managing appointments. Whenever Rong and his faction submitted requests, Yue blocked them, throwing the appointment process into disorder. Rong then joined with Censor-in-Chief Cui Yinpu and Vice Censor Li Linfu in impeaching Yue for consulting shamans, divining by night, and accepting bribes. An edict ordered Chief Minister Yuan Qianyao, Minister of Justice Wei Kang, Vice Minister of Justice Hu Gui, and Censor-in-Chief Cui Yinpu to interrogate him at the Ministry of State Affairs. Yue's elder brother Guang, Left Sub-Prefect of the Crown Prince's Household, went to the court hall, cut off his ear, and pleaded his brother's innocence. At that time Chancellery Clerk Zhang Guan and Left Guard Commandant Fan Yaochén had exploited Yue's power to accept bribes and issue fraudulent credentials. The privately ordained monk Wang Qingze also came and went with Yue to divination sessions. All were interrogated by Yinpu and confessed. After two nights of interrogation, the emperor sent the eunuch Gao Lishi to observe him. He reported back: "Yue sits on a mat of straw, eats from earthenware bowls, his hair unkempt and face grimy, punishing himself in the utmost grief and fear." The emperor took pity on him. Lishi memorialized: "Yue once served as lecturer-in-waiting and has rendered great service to the state." The emperor approved. Yue was removed from his concurrent post as Director of the Chancellery. Guan and Qingze were beaten to death, and more than ten others implicated in the case were demoted and banished. Yinpu, Rong, and their faction feared that if Yue were restored to power he would threaten them, and submitted secret memorials to denigrate him further. The next year an edict ordered Yue to retire, while still directing him to compile history at home.
30
駿 使
When Yue was chief minister, the emperor planned to campaign against Tibet. Yue secretly memorialized proposing peace to quiet the frontier, but the emperor refused. When Guazhou fell and Wang Han was killed, Yue obtained a fighting ram from Yizhou and submitted a memorial presenting it as an oblique admonition. The memorial read: "Your servant has heard that brave warriors wear roosters on their caps and martial men don the headdress of the crested myna. Following this principle of likeness, I have obtained this fighting ram. Born far away in Yuexi, it possesses a fierce and resolute nature—it does not shrink from strong foes, it does not flinch from death in battle. Though a small creature, its spirit cannot be broken. Humbly considering that Your Majesty selects good families from the Six Commanderies and seeks fierce warriors from the four directions—no bird hides its talent, no beast conceals its skill. Were it permitted to display its marvel in the imperial garden and contest strength in the heavenly arena, it would rear back in fury to gather its spirit and advance stamping to strike with all its might. Their clashes would be like rushing clouds colliding, their impacts like rolling stones striking together—staking bones for victory, splashing blood in contest for supremacy—enough to make the bold flush with rage and the fierce beat their hands in approval. I hope this may in some small measure echo the enlightened lord's purpose in buying the steed's bones and bowing to the angry frog. Were the ram able to speak, it would surely say, 'If the fight does not stop, death will follow at once.' It depends on the utmost benevolence without cruelty—measuring one's strength before offering counsel. Your servant, having injured his foot, cannot yet walk, and respectfully sends his son to present it at the Jinming Gate." The emperor deeply grasped his meaning and granted him one thousand bolts of silk and colored fabrics.
31
祿
In the seventeenth year he was again appointed Left Counselor of the Ministry of State Affairs and Academician of the Academy of Assembled Worthies, soon replacing Yuan Qianyao as Left Counselor. On the day he assumed office, the emperor ordered provisions and pavilions arranged, music performed, wine and food sent from the inner palace, and composed an imperial poem to commemorate the occasion. Before long he was given the additional title of Grand Master of Glorious Affairs with the same privileges as the Three Excellencies for his work compiling the rites for visiting the imperial tombs. At that time his eldest son Jun served as Attendant Drafting at the Chancellery; his second son Jiao married Princess Ningqin and was appointed Captain of the Feathered Forest; and Yue's brother Guang, Tutor of the Prince of Qing, was specially granted Grand Master for Splendid Happiness with the Silver Seal. No one of the time could match his honors and favor.
32
使
In the eighteenth year he fell ill. Each day the emperor sent palace eunuchs to inquire after his health and personally wrote out prescriptions for him. He died in the twelfth month at the age of sixty-four. The emperor grieved deeply for a long time, hastened to perform mourning rites at the Guangshun Gate, and canceled the New Year's court assembly of the nineteenth year. An edict read:
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使 祿 婿 婿 婿 使祿 祿 祿 祿 祿 祿
From the time the emperor was crown prince, Yue had already enjoyed his favor. When Princess Taiping held power and the heir's position grew perilous, Yue alone opposed her faction, petitioned for the crown prince to supervise the state, and through deep planning and secret counsel finally resolved the internal crisis, becoming a founding minister of the Kaiyuan era. He thrice held the highest governance and directed literary affairs for thirty years in all. His prose was brilliant and elegant, his thought refined and meticulous. The court's major compositions were all composed at special imperial command under his hand, and poets throughout the realm recited them. He excelled especially at stele inscriptions and tomb epitaphs—no contemporary could match him. He delighted in nurturing younger scholars, making good use of his talents, and drawing in literary men to assist the kingly transformation. In those long years of peace, his ambition was to adorn the flourishing age. The feng on Mount Tai, the sacrifice at Shimao, the visit to the Five Tombs, the founding of the Academy of Assembled Worthies, and the restoration of Emperor Taizong's policies—all were initiatives that Yue led. Moreover he cherished integrity and valued his promises—in relations between ruler and subject and among friends, his devotion to righteousness was profound. At that time Attendant Drafting Xu Jian, proud of his literary ability, often complained that many academicians at the Academy of Assembled Worthies were unworthy and that their provisions were too lavish. He once said to the court assembly: "What use are these people to the state? Such wasteful expenditure." He was about to propose abolishing the academy. Yue said: "Since ancient times, when emperors achieved success they fell into extravagance—some built ponds and terraces, others indulged in music and women. Now the sage emperor honors Confucianism and esteems the Way, personally lecturing, correcting books, and extensively recruiting scholars. The Lizheng Academy is the Son of Heaven's office of rites and music—a model for all ages and an unchanging institution. The cost is small; the benefit is great. Master Xu's words—how narrow-minded!" When the emperor learned of this, he came to regard Xu Jian with disfavor. After Yue suffered slander and was removed from governance, he devoted himself to the Academy's literary and historical duties. For every major military or state matter, the emperor sent palace eunuchs first to consult him. Yue once composed the stele inscription for his father, Zhi, posthumously enfeoffed as Governor of Danzhou. When the emperor heard of it, he personally wrote the stele title and granted it: "Alas, the Tomb of Accumulated Goodness." His collected works comprised thirty volumes. The Minister of Ceremonies proposed the posthumous title Wen Zhen. Left Department Director Yang Bocheng objected that it was unsuitable, while Vice Minister of Works Zhang Jiuling argued that the Minister of Ceremonies' proposal should stand. Debate continued without resolution. Emperor Xuanzong personally composed Yue's spirit-way stele inscription and in his own hand granted the posthumous title Wen Zhen, settling the matter. Yue's sons Jun and Jiao were both accomplished writers. While Yue served in the Secretariat, the brothers already held charge of imperial drafting. When Jun's mourning for his father ended, he was appointed Vice Minister of Revenue and then transferred to the Ministry of War. In the twenty-sixth year he was demoted for accumulated offenses to prefect of Raozhou, then recalled as Left Mentor to the Heir Apparent and restored as Vice Minister of Revenue. In the ninth year he was transferred to Minister of Justice. He believed his talent and reputation qualified him for the chief ministership, but Li Linfu constantly blocked him. After Linfu died, he attached himself to the powerful minister Chen Xilie, expecting to secure the post. Before long Yang Guozhong came to power and took a strong dislike to him. He removed Xilie from governance, brought in Vice Director of the Secretariat Wei Jiansu to replace him, and made Jun Director of the Court of Judicial Review. Jun was deeply disappointed and often despondent. During the An Lushan rebellion he accepted a false appointment as Director of the Secretariat and managed the rebels' central administration. Li Xian and Lu Jin listed officials who had joined the rebels; Jun was judged deserving of death. Emperor Suzong, out of old regard for Yue, specially spared Jun from death and banished him for life to Hepu commandery. Yue's son Jiao, as the emperor's son-in-law, received exceptional favor from Emperor Xuanzong. He was permitted to maintain an inner residence in the palace, attended the emperor in literary matters, and received countless precious gifts. At that time his elder brother Jun also served in the Hanlin Academy. Jiao often showed Jun what he had received, and Jun joked to Jiao, "These are gifts between father-in-law and son-in-law, not the emperor bestowing favors on a scholar." During the Tianbao reign Emperor Xuanzong once visited Jiao's inner residence and said, "Xilie has repeatedly declined confidential duties. I am choosing his replacement—who would be suitable?" Jiao, startled, did not reply. The emperor at once said, "None surpasses my beloved son-in-law." Jiao descended the steps and expressed his thanks. Yang Guozhong heard of this and resented it. When Xilie was removed as chief minister and Wei Jiansu was chosen to replace him, Jiao was deeply embittered. In the first month the Fanyang military governor An Lushan came to court. Lushan had recently won merit by defeating the Xi and Khitan and received especially lavish favor. Lushan requested the concurrent title of Co-Drafter of the Secretariat, and the matter was sent to the Secretariat for deliberation. Guozhong said, "Lushan has indeed won military merit, yet he cannot even read. If such an appointment is issued, I fear the foreign peoples will look down on the empire." Emperor Xuanzong then stopped the appointment and made him Left Vice Director only. When Lushan returned to his command, the emperor ordered the palace eunuch Gao Lishi to give a farewell feast at Chan Slope. When Lishi returned, the emperor asked, "Was Lushan satisfied?" Lishi said, "He seemed deeply gloomy. He must have learned that the chief minister's appointment did not go through." The emperor told Guozhong. Guozhong said, "No one else knew of this deliberation—it must have been Zhang Jiao who told him." The emperor was enraged and drove out all the Zhang brothers. Jun was sent out as prefect of Jian'an, Jiao as military aide of Luxi commandery, and Shang as military aide of Yichun commandery. Within the year Jiao was recalled and again promoted to Minister of Ceremonies.
34
祿 祿 祿 祿
During the An Lushan rebellion Emperor Xuanzong fled to Shu. Chief ministers Wei Jiansu, Yang Guozhong, Censor-in-Chief Wei Fangjin, and others followed him, while many court officials did not. Stopping at Xianyang, the emperor said to Gao Lishi, "Yesterday we left the capital in haste and officials did not know where to go. Who should arrive today?" Lishi said, "The Zhang brothers have received the state's favor for generations and are connected by marriage. They will surely arrive first. Fang Guan has long been regarded as chief-minister material and is highly valued by Lushan. He will surely not come." The emperor said, "That remains to be seen." That day Fang Guan arrived. The emperor was greatly pleased and asked about Jun and Jiao. Guan said, "When I left the capital I stopped at their residence. We had arranged to travel together, but Jun replied that he had already gone south of the city to fetch horses. Judging by his behavior, he had no real intention of coming." Before long Jun and his brothers did accept false appointments from Lushan. Jiao and Chen Xilie became rebel chief ministers, and Jiao died among the rebels. Appendix: Chen Xilie was a native of Songzhou. He was versed in arcane learning and had read widely in every field. During the Kaiyuan reign Emperor Xuanzong devoted attention to classical learning. After Chu Wuliang and Yuan Xingchong died, he found Xilie and Feng Chaoyin of Fengxiang, who often lectured on the Laozi and the Book of Changes within the palace. He rose in turn to Vice Director of the Secretariat Library and replaced Zhang Jiuling in sole charge of the Academy of Assembled Worthies. Every composition of Emperor Xuanzong passed through Xilie's hands. Li Linfu knew the emperor favored Xilie deeply and that he was gentle and easy to control. He therefore brought him in as chief minister to share governance, and the two got on very well. Though Linfu held office for a long time and his secret schemes were enough to secure his position, this was also due to Xilie's support and cooperation. He rose in turn to concurrent Minister of War and Left Chief Minister, was enfeoffed as Duke of Yingchuan, and received favor equal to Linfu. When Linfu died, Yang Guozhong came to power and had long envied him. He brought in Wei Jiansu as a colleague, removed Xilie from governance, and had him serve as Grand Preceptor to the Heir Apparent. Xilie lost favor and grew resentful. During the An Lushan rebellion he, together with Zhang Jiao and Daxi Xun, jointly managed the rebels' central administration. Under the six-rank system of sentencing, Xilie deserved execution. Emperor Suzong, because the Retired Emperor had long favored him, granted him death at home. The historian remarks: Duke Liu of Xu possessed untamed talent and met a perilous age. He was able to risk his life in decisive action and help restore the dynasty—from a commoner in the morning to a noble by evening. Had he not held death lightly and profit dearly, and disdained unrighteous wealth, how could he have reached such heights? Duke Guo of Dai and Duke Zhang of Yan left the scholar's robe for the general's platform, commanded armies like tigers and leopards, and broke the power of the northern barbarians. When they reached the helm of state they helped bring about an age of peace. They combined military and civil excellence as few have—only Yi Yin and Yan Ying compare. Alas, Jun and Jiao sought advancement too hastily and lost their integrity in the rebel court. Since the Wude era, the four chief ministers widely called worthy—Fang, Du, Yao, and Song—all suffered worthless sons who ruined their fathers' achievements. This was not the misfortune of the House of Yan alone. Xilie was gentle and clever, excelled in philosophical disputation, and in the end died because of reputation. This is what is meant by the saying that even Li Lou cannot see his own eyebrows—like He Yan and Xi Kang, he suffered the same fatal blindness. The eulogy says: Jizi and Weizi left King Zhou; Hong Yao and San Yisheng supported the rise of the Zhou. Plots that stray from righteousness perish in an instant. Youqiu lacked virtue; Daoji was truly worthy. Grand is Marquis Guo—his merit and virtue shine brilliantly.
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