Volume 94 Biographies 44: Su Weidao, Li Jiao, Cui Rong, Lu Cangyong, Xu Yanbo

魏知古魏知古，深州陸澤人也。性方直，早有才名。弱冠舉進士，累授著作郎，兼修國史。長安中，歴遷鳳閣舍人、衞尉少卿。時睿宗居籓，兼檢校相王府司馬。神龍初，擢拜吏部侍郎，仍並依舊兼修國史，尋進位銀靑光祿大夫。明年，丁母憂去職，服闋授晉州刺史。睿宗即位，以故吏召拜黃門侍郎，兼修國史。

Wei Zhigu was a native of Luze in Shen Prefecture. Upright by nature, he gained an early reputation for ability. At twenty he passed the jinshi examination, was appointed Writer of the Palace Library on successive occasions, and also helped compile the national history. During the Chang'an period he rose in turn to Phoenix Pavilion attendant and vice minister of the guard. While Emperor Ruizong was still a prince in his fief, he also served as acting marshal of the Prince of Xiang's household. Early in the Shenlong era he was promoted to vice minister of personnel while continuing to compile the national history; he was soon advanced to grand master of splendid happiness with silver-green insignia. The next year he left office to mourn his mother; when the mourning period ended he was appointed prefect of Jin Prefecture. When Emperor Ruizong came to the throne, he recalled him as a former subordinate and appointed him vice minister of the yellow gate, again with responsibility for the national history.

景雲二年，遷右散騎常侍。睿宗女金仙、玉眞二公主入道，有制各造一觀，雖屬季夏盛暑，尚營作不止。知古上疎諫曰：

In the second year of the Jingyun era he was transferred to regular cavalier attendant of the right. Emperor Ruizong's daughters, Princesses Jinxian and Yuzhen, took religious vows; an edict directed that a monastery be built for each, and though it was the sweltering late summer, work on them never stopped. Zhigu submitted a memorial of remonstrance, saying:

臣聞《穀梁傳》曰：「古之君人者，必時視人之所勤：人勤於力則功築罕，人勤於財則貢賦少，人勤於食則百事廢。」《書》曰：「不作無益害有益。」又曰：「罔咈百姓以從己之欲。」《禮》曰：「季夏之月，樹木方盛，無有斬伐，不可興土功以妨農。」又曰：「季夏行冬令，則風寒不時。」《語》曰：「修己以安百姓。」此皆興化立理之教，爲政養人之本。今陛下爲公主造觀，將樹功德以祈福祐。但兩觀之地，皆百姓之宅，卒然迫逼，令其轉移，扶老攜幼，投竄無所，發剔椽瓦，呼嗟道路。乖人事，違天時，起無用之作，崇不急之務，群心搖搖，衆口籍籍。陛下爲人父母，欲何以安之？且國有簡冊，君舉必記，動則左史書之，言則右史書之。是以非禮勿言，非禮勿動。夫如是，則君之所舉，可不愼歟！微臣備位諫諍，兼秉史筆，書而不法，後嗣何觀？臣愚必以爲不可。伏願俯順人欲，仰稽天意，降德音，下明策，速罷功役，收之桑楡。

Your subject has heard that the Guliang Commentary says: "Ancient rulers always watched what their people were busy with: when the people wore themselves out with labor, public works were few; when they wore themselves out with taxes, tribute was light; when they wore themselves out with food production, everything else fell into neglect." The Book of Documents says: "Do nothing useless that would harm what is useful." It also says: "Do not mislead and thwart the people to satisfy your own desires." The Rites say: "In late summer, when the trees are in full leaf, there must be no felling; no earthworks may be started that would interfere with farming." It also says: "If winter ordinances are enforced in late summer, wind and cold will come at the wrong season." The Analects say: "Cultivate yourself so as to bring peace to the people." These are all teachings for fostering civilization and establishing order—the very foundation of governing and caring for the people. Your Majesty is now building monasteries for the princesses, intending to accumulate merit and pray for divine protection. Yet both monastery sites stand on common people's homes. Suddenly forced to move, they support the elderly and lead the young, fleeing with nowhere to go; rafters and tiles are stripped away, and cries of distress fill the roads. This runs counter to human affairs and violates the season; useless projects are launched and non-urgent tasks are elevated; hearts are unsettled everywhere, and murmuring fills every mouth. Your Majesty is parent to the people—how do you mean to set their minds at ease? Moreover, the state keeps records: every act of the ruler is recorded—his deeds by the left historian, his words by the right. Hence the saying: do not speak what is not ritual; do not act what is not ritual. If that is so, can the ruler's every act fail to demand the utmost caution? Your humble subject holds a remonstrator's post and also wields the historian's brush; if I record what is not lawful, what will posterity have to read? Your subject is convinced that this cannot be allowed. I humbly pray that Your Majesty will heed the people's wishes, align with Heaven's intent, issue a gracious edict and clear policy, halt the labor at once, and let the people return to their homes and fields.

疎奏不納。

The memorial was not accepted.

頃之，又進諫曰：「臣聞人以君爲天，君以人爲本。人安則政理，本固則邦寧。自陛下翦除兇逆，君臨寶位，蒼生颙颙，以爲朝有新政。今風教頽替，日甚一日，府庫空虚，人力雕弊，造作不息，官員日增。今諸司試及員外、檢校等官，僅至二千餘人，太府之布帛以殫，太倉之米粟難給。又金仙、玉眞等觀造作，咸非急務，臣先奏請停，竟仍未止。今歳前水後旱，五穀不熟，若至來春，必甚饑饉。陛下爲人父母，欲何方以賑恤？療饑拯溺，須及其時。又突厥爲患，其來自久，本無禮儀，焉有誠信。今雖遣使，來請結婚，豺狼之心，首鼠何定。弱則卑順，強則驕逆。屬草衰月滿，弓勁馬肥，乘中國饑虚，在和親際會，倘或窺犯亭障，國家何以防之？臣所論者，事甚急切，伏願特垂詳察。」睿宗嘉其切直，尋令同中書門下平章事。玄宗在春宮，又令兼左庶子。未幾，遷戸部尚書，餘如故。明年，擢拜侍中。

Before long he submitted another remonstrance: "Your subject has heard that the people regard the ruler as Heaven, and the ruler regards the people as his foundation. When the people are secure, government is well ordered; when the foundation is firm, the realm is at peace. Since Your Majesty cut down the wicked and took the throne, the people looked up eagerly, expecting a new order at court. Now customs and instruction are in decline, worsening by the day; the treasuries are empty, the people exhausted, construction never stops, and officials multiply daily. Trial appointees, supernumeraries, and acting inspectors in the various offices now number nearly two thousand; the grand treasury's cloth and silk are exhausted, and the grand granary can scarcely meet demand. Moreover, work on the Jinxian, Yuzhen, and other monasteries is none of it urgent; I memorialized earlier asking that it stop, yet it still has not. This year brought flood early and drought later; the grain did not ripen—come next spring, famine will surely be severe. Your Majesty is parent to the people—from what will you provide relief? Relieving famine and saving the drowning must be done in season. Moreover, the Turks have long been a menace; they have never known ritual propriety—how could they be trusted? Though they now send envoys to request a marriage alliance, their hearts are wolfish—who can say which way a wavering creature will turn? When weak they are humble and compliant; when strong they are arrogant and defiant. Now the grass is withering and the moon full, their bows strong and horses fat; seizing China's hunger and weakness at the very moment of the marriage alliance, if they should probe and raid the border—how will the state defend itself? What I discuss is extremely urgent; I humbly beg Your Majesty to give it your closest attention." Emperor Ruizong praised his blunt honesty and soon appointed him associate grand councilor of the Secretariat-Chancellery. While Xuanzong was crown prince, he was also made left vice director of the heir apparent's household. Before long he was transferred to minister of revenue; his other duties remained unchanged. The following year he was promoted to palace attendant.

先天元年冬，從上畋獵於渭川，因獻詩諷曰：「嘗聞夏太康，五弟訓禽荒。我後來冬狩，三驅盛禮張。順時鷹隼撃，講事武功揚。奔走未及去，翾飛豈暇翔。非熊從渭水，瑞雀想陳倉。此欲誠難縱，茲遊不可常。子雲陳《羽獵》，僖伯諫漁棠。得失鑒齊、楚，仁恩念禹、湯。邕熙諒在宥，亭毒匪多傷。《辛甲》今爲史，《虞箴》遂孔彰。」手制褒之曰：「夫詩者，誌之所以，寫其心懷，實可諷諭君主。是故揚雄陳《羽獵》，馬卿賦《上林》，爰自《風雅》，率由茲道。予頃向温泉，觀省風俗，時因暇景，掩渭而畋，方開一面之羅，式展三驅之禮，躬親校獵，聊以從禽。豈意卿有箴規，輔予不逮，自非款誠夙著，其孰能繼於此耶？今賜卿物五十段，用申勸獎。」

In the winter of the first year of Xiantian he accompanied the emperor hunting on the Wei River and presented an admonitory poem: "I have heard of King Taikang of Xia—his five younger brothers warned him against his obsession with the hunt. Our sovereign later held a winter hunt, the grand rite of the three-sided drive in full array. In season hawks and falcons struck; martial exercises were held and military prowess displayed. They fled before they could escape; in frantic flight, how could they find time to soar? No bear came forth from the Wei River; no auspicious sparrow appeared at Chencang. Such desire is hard indeed to indulge; this sort of outing must not become routine. Yang Xiong wrote the "Feather Hunt"; Xibo remonstrated against fishing at Tang. Take Qi and Chu as mirrors of gain and loss; look to Yu and Tang for benevolence and grace. Harmony surely lies in mercy; nurturing the realm should not mean much killing. The "Xin Jia" is now part of history; the "Yu Admonition" shines forth all the more." The emperor wrote in his own hand to praise him: "Poetry records intent and expresses the heart; it can truly admonish and instruct the ruler. Thus Yang Xiong wrote the "Feather Hunt" and Sima Xiangru the "Shanglin"—from the "Airs and Elegies" onward, all have followed this path. I recently went to the hot springs to observe local customs; in a moment of leisure I hunted along the Wei, opening the net on one side and performing the three-sided drive, personally directing the hunt merely to follow the game. I never expected you to offer such admonition and help me where I fall short—who but one of long-proven sincerity could have done as you have? I now bestow fifty lengths of goods upon you as encouragement and reward."

二年，累封梁國公。竇懷貞等將謀逆也，知古獨密奏其事。及懷貞誅，賜實封二百戸、物五百段。仍以前賞猶薄，又手敕曰：「魏知古去年十月已前，屢申啓沃，毎竭忠誠，姦臣有謀，預奏其兆。事君之節，良有可嘉，可更賜實封一百戸。」其年冬，令往東都知吏部尚書事，深以爲稱職，手制曰：「卿以宰臣，往知大選，官人之委，情寄尤切。遂能端本革弊，忘私徇公，正色而行，厝心不撓。鏡已澈則妍媸必鑒，衡已舉則輕重罔違。朕遠聞之，益用嘉嘆。今賜卿衣裳一副，以示所懷。」

In the second year he was enfeoffed as Duke of Liang. When Dou Huai Zhen and others were plotting rebellion, Zhigu alone secretly reported it. When Huai Zhen was executed, he was granted a substantive fief of two hundred households and five hundred lengths of goods. Finding the earlier reward still insufficient, the emperor wrote again in his own hand: "Before last October Wei Zhigu repeatedly offered loyal counsel; when treacherous ministers plotted, he reported the signs in advance. His loyalty in serving his lord is truly commendable; let him be granted an additional substantive fief of one hundred households." That winter he was sent to the Eastern Capital to oversee the Ministry of Personnel; he was regarded as thoroughly fit for the role. The emperor wrote: "As a chief minister you go to oversee the great selection of officials—a charge to which I am especially committed. You have rectified abuses at the root, set aside private interest for the public good, acted with stern integrity, and held firm without wavering. With a clear mirror, beauty and ugliness are surely seen; with the balance raised, light and heavy are never mistaken. Hearing of this from afar, I am all the more moved to praise you. I now bestow a set of robes upon you to express my regard."

開元元年，官名改易，改爲黃門監。二年，還京，上屢有顧問，恩意甚厚，尋改紫微令。姚崇深忌憚之，陰加讒毀，乃除工部尚書，罷知政事。三年卒，時年六十九。御史大夫宋璟聞而嘆曰：「叔向古之遺直，子産古之遺愛，能兼之者，其在魏公。」贈幽州都督，謚曰忠。

In the first year of Kaiyuan, when official titles were revised, he became director of the yellow gate. In the second year he returned to the capital; the emperor consulted him repeatedly and showed him great favor; he was soon made director of the purple forbidden palace. Yao Chong deeply feared and resented him and secretly slandered him; he was then made minister of works and removed from participation in government. In the third year he died, at the age of sixty-nine. Censor-in-chief Song Jing heard of it and sighed: "Shuxiang embodied the upright integrity of antiquity; Zichan embodied its benevolent love—who but the Duke of Wei could have combined both?" He was posthumously made military commissioner of You Prefecture, with the posthumous title Loyal.

知古初爲黃門侍郎，表薦洹水令呂太一、蒲州司功參軍齊璟、前右内率府騎曹參軍柳澤。及知吏部尚書事，又擢用密縣尉宋遙、左補闕袁暉、右補闕封希顏、伊闕尉陳希烈，後咸累居淸要，時論以爲有知人之鑒。文集七巻。盧懷愼盧懷愼，滑州靈昌人。其先家於范陽，爲山東著姓。祖悊，爲靈昌令，因徙焉。懷愼少淸謹，舉進士，歴監察御史、吏部員外郎。景龍中，遷右御史臺中丞，上疎以陳時政得失。今略載其三篇。

When Zhigu was first vice minister of the yellow gate, he recommended Lü Taiyi, magistrate of Huanshui; Qi Jing, registrar of merit at Pu Prefecture; and Liu Ze, former cavalry adjutant of the right inner rate office. When he oversaw the Ministry of Personnel, he further promoted Song Yao, magistrate of Mi County; Yuan Hui, left remonstrator; Feng Xiyan, right remonstrator; and Chen Xilie, magistrate of Yique—all later rose to important posts, and contemporaries held that he had a true eye for talent. His collected writings comprise seven scrolls. Lu Huai Shen was a native of Lingchang in Hua Prefecture. His ancestors were established in Fanyang and were a prominent clan of the eastern provinces. His grandfather Ti served as magistrate of Lingchang and moved the family there. Huai Shen was pure and careful from youth; he passed the jinshi examination and served in turn as investigating censor and vice director in the Ministry of Personnel. During the Jinglong era he was made vice censor-in-chief of the right censorate and submitted memorials on the strengths and failings of current policy. Three of his memorials are recorded here in brief.

其一曰：

The first reads:

臣聞孔子曰：「爲邦百年，可以勝殘去殺。」又曰：「茍有用我者，期月而已，三年有成。」故《書》云「三載考績」，校其功也。昔子産相鄭，更法令，布刑書，一年而人歌之曰：「取我田疇而伍之，取我衣冠而褚之，孰殺子産，吾其與之！」二年而人又歌之曰：「我有子弟，子産教之，我有田疇，子産殖之，子産而死，誰其嗣之？」終有遺愛，流芳史策。子産，賢者也，其爲政尚累年而化成，況其常材乎。

Your subject has heard Confucius say: "Governing a state for a hundred years, one can overcome cruelty and put an end to killing." He also said: "If someone would employ me, in a month it would show; in three years there would be achievement." Hence the Book of Documents says, "Examine achievements at the end of three years"—to assess one's accomplishments. Long ago Zichan served as chief minister of Zheng, revised laws, and promulgated the penal code; after one year the people sang: "He took our fields and grouped them in fives; he took our robes and stored them away—who will kill Zichan? We will help!" After two years they sang again: "We have sons and younger brothers—Zichan teaches them; we have fields—Zichan makes them flourish; if Zichan dies, who will succeed him?" In the end he left a legacy of love, and his fame flows through the historical records. Zichan was a worthy man, yet his governing still required years before the people were transformed—how much more so for ordinary talent?

臣竊見比來州牧、上佐及兩畿縣令，下車布政，罕終四考。在任多者一二年，少者三五月，遽即遷除，不論課最。或有歴時未改，便傾耳而聽，企踵而望，爭求冒進，不顧廉恥。亦何暇爲陛下宣風布化，求瘼恤人哉！禮義未能興行，風俗未能齊一，戸口所以流散，倉庫所以空虚，百姓雕弊，日更滋甚，職爲此也。何則？人知吏之不久，則不從其教；吏知遷之不遙，又不盡其力，偸安爵祿，但養資望。陛下雖勤勞之懷，宵衣旰食，然僥幸路啓，上下相蒙，共爲茍且而已，寧盡至公乎？此國之病也。昔賈誼所謂蹠盭之病，乃小小者耳。此弊久而不革，臣恐爲膏肓，雖和、緩不能療，豈蹠盭而已哉！

Your subject has observed that in recent times prefects, senior assistants, and magistrates of the two capital districts rarely complete a full four terms of assessment after taking office. Most serve one or two years, some only three or five months, then are suddenly transferred without regard to their performance ratings. Some, though their term has not expired, already strain to listen and watch for promotion, scrambling ahead without regard for integrity or shame. How then could they find time to spread Your Majesty's moral influence, relieve suffering, and care for the people! Ritual and righteousness cannot be established, customs cannot be unified, households disperse, treasuries lie empty, and the people's hardship grows worse daily—all because of this. Why? When the people know officials will not stay long, they ignore their guidance; when officials know promotion is near, they slack off, content to draw salary and build résumés rather than serve wholeheartedly. Though Your Majesty toils from dawn till dusk, the door to opportunism stands open; officials deceive one another and settle for expediency—how could they truly serve the public good? This is the state's malady. The affliction Jia Yi called a toenail ailment was trivial by comparison. If this abuse persists unreformed, I fear it will reach the vital organs—no physician could cure it. Far worse than a toenail ailment!

漢宣帝綜核名實，興理致化。黃霸，良二千石也，就增秩賜金，以旌其能，而不遷於潁川，前代之美政也。又古之爲吏者長子孫，倉氏、瘐氏，即其後也。《書》云：「事不師古，以克永代，匪説攸聞。」臣望請諸州都督、刺史、上佐及兩畿縣令等，在任未經四考已上，不許遷除。察其課效尤異者，或錫以車裘，或就加祿秩，或降使臨問，並璽書慰勉。若公卿有闕，則擢以勸能。其政績無聞及犯貪暴者，免歸田裏。以明聖朝賞罰之信，則萬方之人，一變於道矣。致此之美，革彼之弊，易於反掌，陛下何惜而不行哉！

Emperor Xuan of Han matched names to reality and brought order and moral transformation. Huang Ba was an exemplary prefect; the court raised his rank and gave him gold to honor his merit, yet left him in Yingchuan—a fine policy of earlier dynasties. In antiquity, officials' sons and grandsons often succeeded them—the Cang and Yu clans are examples. The Book of Documents says: "He who does not follow antiquity in governing cannot secure lasting rule—such counsel is unheard of. I ask that regional commanders, prefects, senior aides, and magistrates of the two capital circuits not be transferred or promoted until they have completed at least four performance reviews. Those with outstanding performance might receive carriages and furs, on-the-spot promotions, imperial envoys sent to inquire of them, or edicts of commendation. When high offices fall vacant, promote them to reward capable service. Those who achieve nothing or who are greedy and cruel should be dismissed and sent home to their villages. Make the court's reward and punishment unmistakable, and the people everywhere will reform at once. Achieving this good and ending that abuse is as easy as turning one's hand—why hesitate to act?

其二曰：

Second:

臣聞《尚書》云：「唐、虞稽古，建官惟百；夏、商官倍，亦克用乂。」此省官之義也。又云：「官不必備，惟其才。」又云：「無曠庶官，天工人其代之。」此爲官擇人之義也。臣竊見京諸司員外官，所在委積，多者數餘十倍，近古以來未之有也。官不必備，此則有餘，人代天工，多不厘務。廣有除拜，無所裨益，俸祿之費，歳巨億萬，空竭府藏而已，豈致理之基哉！方今倉庫空虚，百姓雕弊，河、渭漕輓，西給京師，公私損耗，不可勝紀。況邊隅未靜，兵革猶興，節用愛人，正在今日，增官廣費，豈曰其時？倘水旱成災，租稅減入，水衡無貫朽之蓄，京瘐闕流衍之儲。或疆塲外守，兵車遠出；或收茂無歳，賑救在辰。此軍國之急務也，陛下將何以濟之乎？《書》云：「無輕人事，惟艱；無安厥位，惟危。」又云：「不見是圖。」此皆愼微之深旨也。

The Book of Documents says: "Tang and Yu looked to antiquity and established but a hundred offices; Xia and Shang doubled the offices, yet still governed well. This is the principle of keeping the bureaucracy lean. It also says: "Posts need not all be filled—only talent matters. It also says: "Let no office stand idle—Heaven's work is done by men." This is the principle of choosing the right people for office. I observe that supernumerary officials in the capital's offices lie piled up everywhere—in some bureaus exceeding the regular staff tenfold, unprecedented in recent history. Posts need not all be filled, yet here they overflow; Heaven's work should be done by men, yet most perform no duties. Appointments multiply without purpose; salaries cost hundreds of millions yearly, draining the treasury—how can this be the foundation of good government? Granaries stand empty, the people exhausted; grain barged on the Yellow and Wei feeds the capital, and losses public and private are beyond reckoning. The frontiers are unsettled and war continues—now is the time for frugality and care for the people, not for swelling the bureaucracy and its costs. Should flood or drought strike and tax revenue fall, the treasury will have no rotting strings of cash, and the capital granaries no surplus. troops may need to defend distant frontiers; or harvests may fail and famine relief become urgent. These are urgent matters of state and army—how will Your Majesty meet them? The Book of Documents says: "Do not treat human affairs lightly—think how hard they are; do not rest secure in your place—think how perilous it is. It also says: "Do not pursue what is not clearly right." These are profound lessons in vigilance against small beginnings.

臣竊見員外官中，或簪裾雅望，或臺閣舊人，或明習憲章，或諳閑政要，皆一時之良幹也。多不司案牘，空屍祿俸，滯其才而不申其用，尊其位而不盡其力。周稱多士，漢曰得人，豈其然歟？必有異於此矣。臣望請諸司員外官有才能器識、衆共聞知，堪爲州牧縣宰及上佐者，並請遷擢，使宣力四方，申其智效。有老病及不堪理務者，咸從廢省，使賢不肖較然殊貫。此濟時之切務也，安可謂行之艱哉？

Among supernumeraries are men of courtly reputation, veterans of the central offices, masters of law, and seasoned administrators—all capable men of their day. Most handle no documents, drawing salary for nothing—their talents wasted, their ranks honored yet their abilities unused. The Zhou praised their many worthy men; the Han boasted of finding talent—is this what they meant? Surely they meant something quite different. I ask that capable supernumeraries known to all be promoted to prefectures and counties, sent forth to serve and prove their worth. The aged, infirm, and incompetent should all be removed, so worthy and unworthy stand clearly apart. This is urgent business for the times—surely it cannot be called difficult.

其三曰：

Third:

臣聞天吏逸德，烈於猛火；貪人敗類，取興大風。則知冒於寵賂，侮於鰥寡，爲政之蠹，莫先於茲。臣竊見内外官人，有不率憲章，公犯贓汙，侵牟萬姓，劓割蒸人，鞫按非虚，刑憲已及者，或俄復舊資，雖負殘削之名，還膺牧宰之任，或江、淮、嶺、磧，微示懲貶，而徇財黷貨，罕能悛革，委以共理，俟河之淸。臣聞明主之於萬姓也，必暢以平分，而無偏施。若犯罪之吏，作牧遐方，便是屈法惠姦，恤近遺遠矣。凡左降之人，鮮能省過，必懷自棄，長惡滋深。則小州遠郡，蠻陬夷落，何負於聖化，獨受其弊政乎！昔孟嘗廉明，方臨合浦；隱之淸絜，乃蒞番禺。郅都之鎭靜朔方，耿恭之輯寧疎勒。地則遐僻，必擇賢良，務以寧濟爲懷，豈以遐荒見隔？況邊僥之地，夷夏雜處，負險恃遠，易擾難安，彌藉循良，以寄綏撫。若委失其任，官非其才，淩虐黎庶，侵剝蕃部，小則坐致流亡，大則起爲盜賊。由此言之，不可用凡材，而況於猾吏乎！其内外官人有犯贓賄推勘得實者，臣望請削跡簪裾，十數年間不許齒録。《書》云：「旌別淑匿，黜陟幽明。」即其義也。若不循此道，去邪有疑，善政能官，甄獎或未之偏，擔贓負賄，僥幸或即蒙升，則賞罰無章，沮勸安寄？浮競之風轉扇，廉恥之行漸隤，其源不塞，爲蠹斯甚。

I have heard that corrupt officials are fiercer than raging fire; greedy men who ruin their kind stir up great storms. Bribery and mistreatment of widows and orphans are the worst cankers of government. I see officials who violate the law, rob the people, and are duly convicted—yet some soon recover their former rank and again govern prefectures and counties; others receive only a token demotion to the Yangtze, Huai, Ling, or frontier regions, yet continue their greed and rarely reform. To assign them to govern is to wait for the Yellow River to run clear. A wise ruler treats all the people with even-handed justice, without favoring some over others. To assign convicted officials to govern distant regions is to bend the law for the wicked—caring for the center and abandoning the periphery. Demoted officials rarely reform; they give up on themselves and grow worse. What have remote prefectures and frontier tribes done to deserve the court's reform, that they alone should suffer bad governors! Meng Chang was noted for integrity when he governed Hepu; Yin Zhi was known for purity when he governed Panyu. Zhi Du pacified the northern frontier; Geng Gong restored order at Shule. Remote lands require the worthy chosen with peace as the aim—distance should not excuse neglect. Frontier regions where Han and non-Han peoples mix, dangerous and distant, are hard to govern—they depend all the more on upright officials to maintain order. Wrong appointments that oppress the people and exploit frontier tribes may drive them to flee—or to rebel. Ordinary men will not suffice—much less corrupt ones! Officials convicted of bribery should be stripped of rank and barred from office for a decade or more. The Book of Documents says: "Distinguish the good from the bad; demote the unworthy and promote the worthy. That is the principle. Without this policy, the wicked may escape, the worthy go unrewarded, and the corrupt may be promoted by luck—how then can reward and punishment guide conduct? Ambition and cynicism spread; integrity erodes—unless the source is cut off, the damage will be grave.

疎奏不納。累遷黃門侍郎，賜爵漁陽伯。

The memorial was not accepted. He was promoted to Vice Minister of the Yellow Gate and enfeoffed as Baron of Yuyang.

先天二年，與侍中魏知古於東都分掌選事，尋征還同中書門下三品。開元三年，遷黃門監。懷愼與紫微令姚崇對掌樞密，懷愼自以爲吏道不及崇，毎事皆推讓之，時人謂之「伴食宰相。」四年，兼吏部尚書。其秋，以疾篤，累表乞骸骨，許之。旬日而卒，贈荊州大都督，謚曰文成。懷愼臨終遺表曰：

In 713, he and Palace Attendant Wei Zhigu shared responsibility for personnel appointments at the Eastern Capital; soon he was recalled and made a third-rank grand counselor of the Secretariat and Chancellery. In 715 he was appointed Director of the Yellow Gate. Lu Huai Shen and Yao Chong, Director of the Secretariat, shared control of state affairs; Huai Shen judged himself less capable than Chong and deferred to him on every matter—people called him "the dinner-party chancellor. The following year he also served as Minister of Personnel. That autumn, gravely ill, he repeatedly asked to retire; the emperor consented. He died within ten days; posthumously honored as Grand Defender of Jingzhou with the title Wencheng, "Cultured and Accomplished." On his deathbed Lu Huai Shen submitted a final memorial:

臣素無才識，叨沐恩榮，待罪樞密，頗積年序。報國之心，空知自竭；推賢之誌，終未克申。孤負明恩，夙夜惶懼。臣染疾已久，形神欲離，鳧鴈之飛，未爲之少，而犬馬之誌，終祈上聞，其鳴也哀，乞求聖察。

I have no real talent, yet have enjoyed imperial favor and served at the heart of government for many years. My wish to serve the state has been sincere, though my ability to do so limited; my wish to recommend worthy men I never fulfilled. I have failed Your Majesty's grace and live in constant anxiety. Long ill, my body and spirit near parting—the geese may fly on, but this old servant's plea I must still raise; hear my mournful cry, I beg Your Majesty's attention.

宋璟立性公直，執心貞固，文學足以經務，識略期於佐時，動惟直道，行不茍合，聞諸朝野之説，實爲社稷之臣。李傑勤苦絶倫，貞介獨立，公家之事，知無不爲，幹時之材，衆議推許。李朝隱操履堅貞，才識通贍，守文奉法，頗懷鐵石之心，事上竭誠，實盡人臣之節。盧從願淸貞謹愼，理識周密，始終若一，朝野共知，簡要之才，不可多得。並明時重器，聖代良臣。比經任使，微有愆失，所坐者小，所棄者大，所累者輕，所貶者遠。日月雖近，譴責傷深，望垂矜録，漸加進用。

Song Jing is upright by nature, resolute in principle, learned enough for statecraft, and shrewd enough to serve the times; he acts with integrity and never compromises—court and countryside alike call him a pillar of the realm. Li Jie is unmatched in diligence, upright and independent; on public business he leaves nothing undone—a man of the times widely praised for his ability. Li Chaoyin is steadfast in conduct, broad in talent and learning; he upholds the law with an iron will and serves his sovereign with complete devotion—a true minister in every respect. Lu Congyuan is pure, careful, and thorough in judgment, consistent from first to last—known throughout court and country as a concise and capable man, rare to find. All are pillars of the age and worthy ministers of this enlightened reign. Recently in office they committed minor faults—punished lightly for small offenses, yet cast aside for great service and banished far away. Though their demotion was recent, the rebuke cut deep; I beg Your Majesty's compassion to recall them and gradually restore them to office.

臣竊聞黃帝所以垂衣裳而天下理者，任風、力也；帝堯所以光宅天下者，任稷、祼也。且朝廷者天下之本，賢良者風化之源，得人則庶績其凝，失士則彜倫攸斁。臣毎見陛下憂勞庶政，勤求理道，愼舉群司，必期稱職，使鹓鷺成列，草澤無遺。故得歳稔時和，政平訟理，比陛下用賢之明效也。臣非木石，早識天心，瞑目不遙，厚恩未報。黜殯之義，敢不庶幾，城郢之言，思布愚懇。

I have heard that the Yellow Emperor could govern effortlessly because he employed Feng Hou and Limu; Emperor Yao brought light to the realm because he employed Hou Ji and Qi. The court is the foundation of the realm, worthy men the source of moral influence—find the right people and all affairs prosper; lose them and order collapses. I see Your Majesty labor over every affair of state, diligently seeking good governance, carefully choosing officials and expecting them to perform—filling the court with talent and leaving none hidden in the wilds. Hence abundant harvests, harmonious seasons, peaceful government, and settled lawsuits—the clear fruit of Your Majesty's wise use of talent. I am not made of wood or stone; I have long understood Heaven's will. Death is near, yet Your Majesty's deep grace I have not repaid. In the spirit of those who remonstrated even at burial, I dare offer this counsel; as one who would speak plainly before the end, I lay out my humble plea.

上深嘉納之。懷愼淸儉，不營産業，器用服飾，無金玉綺文之麗。所得祿俸，皆隨時分散，而家無餘蓄，妻子匱乏。及車駕將幸東都，四門博士張星上言：「懷愼忠淸直道，終始不虧，不加寵贈，無以勸善。」乃下制賜其家物壹伯段、米粟貳伯石。明年，上還京師，因校獵於城南，經懷愼別業，見家人方設祥齋，憫其貧匱，賜絹百匹。仍遣中書侍郎蘇颋爲其碑文，上自書焉。懷愼子奐子奐，早修整，歴任皆以淸白聞。開元中，爲中書舍人、御史中丞、陜州刺史。二十四年，玄宗幸京師，次陜城頓，審其能政，於廳事題贊而去，曰：「專城之重，分陜之雄。人多惠愛，性實謙沖。亦既利物，在乎匪躬。斯爲國寶，不墜家風。」尋除兵部侍郎。天寶初，爲晉陵太守。時南海郡利兼水陸，環寶山積，劉巨鱗、彭杲相替爲太守、五府節度，皆坐贓鉅萬而死。乃特授奐爲南海太守。遐方之地，貪吏斂跡，人用安之。以爲自開元已來四十年，廣府節度淸白者有四：謂宋璟、裴伷先、李朝隱及奐。中使市舶，亦不幹法。加銀靑光祿大夫。經三年，入爲尚書右丞，卒。弟弈，亦傳淸白，歴御史中丞而死王事，見《忠義傳》。弈子杞，德宗朝位至宰輔，別有傳。源乾曜源乾曜，相州臨漳人。隋比部侍郎師之孫也。父直心，髙宗時爲司刑太常伯，坐事配流嶺南而卒。乾曜舉進士，景雲中，累遷諫議大夫。時久廢公卿百官三九射禮，乾曜上疎曰：「夫聖王之教天下也，必制禮以正人情，人情正則孝於家，忠於國。此道不替，所以理也。所以君子三年不爲禮，禮必壞；三年不爲樂，樂必崩。竊以古之擇士，先觀射禮，以明和容之義，非取一時之樂。夫射者，別正邪，觀德行，中祭祀，辟寇戎。古先哲王，莫不遞襲。臣竊見數年已來，射禮便廢，或縁所司惜費，遂令大射有虧。臣愚以爲所費者財，所全者禮。故孔子云：『爾愛其羊，我愛其禮。』今乾坤再辟，日月貞明，臣望大射之儀，春秋不廢，聖人之教，今古常行，則天下幸甚。」乾曜尋出爲梁州都督。

The emperor warmly approved the memorial. Huai Shen lived plainly and frugally, building no estate; his furnishings and dress had none of the splendor of gold, jade, or brocade. He gave away his salary as it came in, leaving nothing in reserve; his wife and children lived in want. When the emperor was about to visit the Eastern Capital, Erudite Zhang Xing of the Four Gates memorialized: "Huai Shen was loyal, upright, and incorrupt from first to last—without imperial reward, how can virtue be encouraged? The emperor issued an edict granting his family one hundred bolts of cloth and two hundred shi of grain. The following year, when the emperor returned to the capital, he went hunting south of the city and passed Lu Huai Shen's country house. Finding the family observing a mourning rite and moved by their poverty, he granted them one hundred bolts of silk. He also had Su Ting, Vice Director of the Secretariat, draft the epitaph—and wrote the inscription himself. Lu Huai Shen's son Huan was disciplined from an early age, and in every post he held he won renown for spotless conduct. Under Kaiyuan he rose to Secretariat drafter, vice censor-in-chief, and prefect of Shaan Prefecture. In Kaiyuan 24, when Emperor Xuanzong traveled to the capital and stopped at Shancheng, he inspected Huan's able governance and left an inscription of praise in the prefectural hall: "The burden of a walled prefecture—the strength of the divided Shaan mandate. The people loved him for his kindness, and his character was genuinely humble. He had already served the common good; what counted was selfless devotion to duty. Such a man is a national treasure—and the family's reputation remains unblemished. Soon after he was made vice minister of war. Early in the Tianbao period he served as prefect of Jinling. Nanhai Commandery then offered riches from land and sea trade alike, with hoarded treasure piled high. Liu Julin and Peng Gao had served in turn as prefect and military commissioner of the five prefectures, and both were put to death after amassing fortunes in graft. Huan was therefore specially appointed prefect of Nanhai. In that far southern post, corrupt officials kept their distance, and the people lived in peace. People said that in the forty years since Kaiyuan only four governors of Guang Prefecture had remained clean: Song Jing, Pei Youxian, Li Chaoyin, and Huan. Even when imperial envoys came to buy tribute goods from overseas trade, he refused to let them violate the law. He was promoted to Silver-and-Blue Gleaming Grand Master of the Palace. Three years later he was recalled to the capital as right vice director of the Ministry of State Affairs, where he died. His younger brother Yi likewise upheld the family's reputation for integrity. He served as vice censor-in-chief and died in the line of duty; his account appears in the Biographies of Loyalty and Righteousness. Yi's son Qi rose to the chancellorship under Emperor Dezong and has his own biography. Yuan Qianyao was a native of Linzhang in Xiang Prefecture. He was the grandson of Shi, vice director of the Sui Ministry of Revenue. His father Zhixin served under Emperor Gaozong as grand minister of justice and of rites, but after an offense was banished to Lingnan, where he died. Qianyao passed the jinshi examination and, during the Jingyun period, rose in succession to remonstrating censor. The formal archery ceremonies for the court had long fallen into disuse. Qianyao submitted a memorial: "A sage ruler governs by establishing ritual to correct human conduct. When conduct is corrected, filial piety flourishes at home and loyalty in the state. So long as this principle endures, good government follows. As the saying goes, if ritual is neglected for three years, it collapses; if music is neglected for three years, it falls apart. In antiquity, men were chosen for office by first testing them in the archery rite, which taught harmony and proper bearing—not mere sport. Archery distinguishes right from wrong, reveals character, serves the sacrifices, and prepares men to repel enemies. Every sage king of antiquity handed it down in turn. In recent years I have watched the archery rites fall away, perhaps because the offices responsible begrudged the expense, leaving the Great Archery Ceremony incomplete. What is spent is money; what is preserved is ritual itself. Confucius said it plainly: "You care for the sheep; I care for the ritual." Now that the realm has been renewed and the times are bright, I pray that the Great Archery Ceremony may be kept every spring and autumn, so that the sage's teaching endures forever. That would be the realm's good fortune indeed. Soon afterward Qianyao was posted out as regional commander of Liang Prefecture.

開元初，邠王府僚吏有犯法者，上令左右求堪爲王府長史者，太常卿姜皎薦乾曜公淸有吏幹，因召見與語。乾曜神氣淸爽，對答皆有倫序，上甚悅之，乃拜少府少監，兼邠王府長史。尋遷戸部侍郎、兼御史中丞。無幾，轉尚書左丞。四年冬，擢拜黃門侍郎、同紫微黃門平章事。旬日，與姚元之倶罷知政事。

Early in Kaiyuan, when an official in the household of the Prince of Bin broke the law, the emperor ordered a search for a suitable chief administrator. Minister of Rites Jiang Jiao recommended Qianyao as upright and capable, and the emperor summoned him for an interview. Qianyao's manner was clear and alert, and every answer he gave was well ordered. The emperor was greatly pleased and made him vice director of the palace storehouse and chief administrator of the Prince of Bin's household. He was soon promoted to vice minister of revenue and vice censor-in-chief. Not long after he became left vice director of the Ministry of State Affairs. In the winter of Kaiyuan 4 he was elevated to vice director of the Yellow Gate and appointed associate grand councillor of the Secretariat. Ten days later he and Yao Yuanzhi were both removed from the chancellorship.

時行幸東都，以乾曜爲京兆尹，仍京師留守。乾曜政存寬簡，不嚴而理。嘗有仗内白鷹，因縱遂失所在，上令京兆切捕之。俄於野外獲之，其鷹掛於叢棘而死，官吏懼得罪，相顧失色。乾曜徐曰：「事有邂逅，死亦常理，主上仁明，當不以此置罪。必其獲戾，吾自當之，不須懼也。」遂入自請失旨之罪，上一切不問之，衆咸伏乾曜臨事不懾，而能引過在己也。在京兆三年，政令如一。

When the emperor traveled to the Eastern Capital, Qianyao was appointed governor of Jingzhao and left behind as custodian of the capital. Qianyao governed with leniency and restraint, achieving order without harshness. Once a white hunting hawk from the imperial guard escaped and could not be found. The emperor ordered the governor of Jingzhao to capture it at once. It was soon found in the countryside, but the bird had caught in a thicket and died. The officials feared punishment and exchanged pale, frightened looks. Qianyao said calmly, "Accidents happen, and death is only natural. Our lord is benevolent and wise; he will not punish us for this. If anyone is to be blamed, I alone will answer for it. There is no need to be afraid. He then went in and asked to be punished for the failure. The emperor dismissed the matter entirely. Everyone admired Qianyao for facing the crisis without flinching and taking responsibility upon himself. Through three years as governor of Jingzhao, his administration remained steady and consistent.

八年春，復爲黃門侍郎、同中書門下三品，尋加銀靑光祿大夫，遷侍中。久之，上疎曰：「臣竊見形要之家並求京職，俊乂之士多任外官，王道平分，不合如此。臣三男倶是京任，望出二人與外官，以葉均平之道。」上從之，於是改其子河南府參軍弼爲絳州司功，太祝絜爲鄭尉。因下制曰：「源弼等父在樞近，深惟謙挹，恐代官之咸列，慮時才之未序，率先庶僚，崇是讓德，既請外其職，復降資以授。《傳》不云乎：『晉範宣子讓，其下皆讓。』『晉國之人，於是大和。』道之或行，仁豈云遠！」因令文武百僚父子兄弟三人並任京司者，任自通容，依資次處分，由是公卿子弟京官出外者百餘人。俄又有上書者，以爲「國之執政，同其休戚，若不稍加崇寵，何以責其盡心？」十年十一月，敕中書門下共食實封三百戸，自乾曜及張嘉貞始也。

In the spring of Kaiyuan 8 he returned to the chancellorship as vice director of the Yellow Gate and associate of the Three Departments, was soon promoted to Silver-and-Blue Gleaming Grand Master, and then became palace attendant. Before long he submitted a memorial: "I observe that powerful families all seek posts in the capital, while able men are mostly sent to the provinces. The kingly Way demands fairness, and this should not continue. All three of my sons hold posts in the capital. I ask that two of them be sent to provincial offices, so that I may practice the fairness I preach. The emperor agreed. Bi, his son and army aide of Henan Prefecture, was reassigned as merit officer in Jiang Prefecture, and Jie, grand sacrificer, was made captain in Zheng Prefecture. An edict followed: "Yuan Bi and the others—their father holds a post at the heart of government yet remains deeply modest. Fearing that one family might monopolize office after office, and anxious lest able men go unrewarded, he has led the officials by example in the virtue of yielding. He asked that his sons be sent abroad—and accepted lower rank for them as well. Does not the Commentary say, "When Fan Xuanzi of Jin yielded, all beneath him yielded as well"?" And the people of Jin were greatly reconciled. When the Way can be practiced like this, how far can benevolence be? Officials throughout the court whose fathers, sons, and brothers—three men together—all held capital posts were told to arrange transfers according to rank and qualification. More than a hundred sons of high ministers were sent out from the capital as a result. Soon another memorial argued that "the men who govern the state share its fortunes and misfortunes. If they receive no special reward, how can they be expected to serve with full devotion? In the eleventh month of Kaiyuan 10, an edict granted the Secretariat and Chancellery a combined three hundred taxable households as enfeoffment income—the first such grant, beginning with Qianyao and Zhang Jiazhen.

乾曜後扈從東封，拜尚書左丞相，仍兼侍中。乾曜在政事十年，時張嘉貞、張説相次爲中書令，乾曜不敢與之爭權，毎事皆推讓之。及李元纮、杜暹知政事，乾曜遂無所參議，但唯諾署名而已。初，乾曜因姜皎所薦，遂擢用；及皎得罪，爲張嘉貞所擠，乾曜竟不救之，議者以此譏焉。十七年夏，停兼侍中事。其秋，遷太子少師，以祖名師，固辭，乃拜太子少傅，封安陽郡公。十九年，駕幸東都，乾曜以年老辭疾，不堪扈從，因留京養疾。是年冬卒，詔贈幽州大都督，上於洛城南門舉哀，輟朝二日。乾曜從孫光裕乾曜從孫光裕，亦有令譽。歴職淸謹，撫諸弟以友義聞。初爲中書舍人，與楊滔、劉令植等同刪定《開元新格》。歴刑部戸部二侍郎、尚書左丞，累遷鄭州刺史，稱爲良吏。尋卒。光裕子洧光裕子洧，亦早有美稱。閨門雍睦，士友推之，歴踐淸要。天寶中，爲給事中、蔸鄭州刺史、襄州刺史、本道采訪使。及安祿山反，既犯東京，乃以洧爲江陵郡大都督府長史、本道采訪防禦使、攝御史中丞，以兵部郎中徐浩爲襄州刺史、本州防禦守捉使以禦之。洧至鎭卒。李元紘李元紘，其先滑州人，世居京兆之萬年。本姓丙氏。曾祖粲，隋大業中屯衞大將軍。屬關中賊起，煬帝令粲往京城以西二十四郡逐捕盜賊，粲撫循士衆，甚得其心。及義旗入關，粲率其衆歸附，拜宗正卿，封應國公，賜姓李氏。髙祖與之有舊，特蒙恩禮，遷爲左監門大將軍，以年老特令乘馬於宮中檢校。年八十餘卒，謚曰明。祖寬，髙宗時爲太常卿，別封隴西郡公。父道廣，則天時爲汴州刺史。時屬突厥及契丹寇陷河北，兼發河南諸州兵募，百姓騷擾。道廣寬猛折衷，稱爲善政，存收慰撫，汴州獨不逃散。尋入爲殿中監、同鳳閣鸞臺平章事，累封金城縣侯。卒，贈秦州都督，謚曰成。

Qianyao later accompanied the emperor on the eastern feng and shan rites and was appointed left director of the Ministry of State Affairs while retaining his post as palace attendant. Qianyao spent ten years in the chancellorship. Zhang Jiazhen and Zhang Yue served in succession as director of the Secretariat, and Qianyao never contested their authority, deferring to them on every matter. When Li Yuanhong and Du Xian joined the chancellorship, Qianyao ceased to participate in deliberations and merely nodded assent and signed documents. Qianyao had first risen through Jiang Jiao's recommendation; but when Jiang Jiao fell from favor and was driven out by Zhang Jiazhen, Qianyao never came to his aid. Critics held this against him. In the summer of Kaiyuan 17 he was relieved of his concurrent post as palace attendant. That autumn he was appointed junior preceptor to the heir apparent, but because his grandfather's given name was Shi, he declined the post and was instead made junior tutor to the heir apparent and enfeoffed as Duke of Anyang. In Kaiyuan 19, when the emperor traveled to the Eastern Capital, Qianyao pleaded old age and illness and was unable to accompany the court. He remained in the capital to recover. He died that winter. An edict posthumously granted him the title of great regional commander of You Prefecture. The emperor mourned him at the south gate of Luoyang and suspended court for two days. Qianyao's grandnephew Guangyu likewise enjoyed an excellent reputation. In every post he served with integrity and discretion, and was known for treating his younger brothers with fraternal devotion. He first served as a secretariat drafter and, with Yang Tao, Liu Lingzhi, and others, helped revise the New Statutes of Kaiyuan. He rose through the vice ministries of justice and revenue to left vice director of the Ministry of State Affairs, then became prefect of Zheng Prefecture, where he was praised as an able administrator. He died soon afterward. Guangyu's son Wei likewise won early praise. His household was harmonious, his peers respected him, and he rose through a series of prestigious offices. During Tianbao he served as supervising censor, concurrently as prefect of Zheng and Xiang Prefectures, and as regional investigating commissioner of his circuit. When An Lushan rebelled and seized the Eastern Capital, Wei was appointed chief administrator of the Jiangling commandery, regional investigating and defense commissioner, and acting vice censor-in-chief. Xu Hao, bureau director in the Ministry of War, was made prefect of Xiang Prefecture and defense commissioner to hold the line against the rebels. Wei died soon after reaching his post. Li Yuanhong's family originally came from Hua Prefecture and had long lived in Wannian, in the Jingzhao region. The clan's original surname was Bing. His great-grandfather Can served under the Sui as a general of the garrison guard during the Daye reign. When rebels broke out in the Guanzhong region, Emperor Yang sent Can to hunt bandits across the twenty-four commanderies west of the capital. Can treated his troops with care and won their deep loyalty. When the rebel armies entered the pass, Can led his men over to their side. He was appointed director of the imperial clan, enfeoffed as Duke of Ying, and granted the imperial surname Li. Emperor Gaozu knew him from earlier days and treated him with special favor. He was promoted to left general of the gate guard and, because of his age, was uniquely allowed to ride a horse while inspecting the palace grounds. He died in his eighties and was posthumously titled Ming. His grandfather Kuan served under Emperor Gaozong as minister of rites and was separately enfeoffed as Duke of Longxi. His father Daoguang served under Empress Wu as prefect of Bian Prefecture. At the time Turks and Khitans were ravaging Hebei, and conscription was ordered across the Henan prefectures, throwing the people into turmoil. Daoguang tempered severity with mercy and was praised for good governance. Through careful relief and reassurance, Bian Prefecture alone saw no mass flight. He was soon recalled as director of the palace domestic service and appointed associate grand councillor, and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Jincheng. He died and was posthumously made regional commander of Qin Prefecture, with the posthumous title Cheng.

元紘少謹厚。初爲涇州司兵，累遷雍州司戸。時太平公主與僧寺爭碾硙，公主方承恩用事，百司皆希其旨意，元紘遂斷還僧寺。竇懷貞爲雍州長史，大懼太平勢，促令元紘改斷，元紘大署判後曰：「南山或可改移，此判終無搖動。」竟執正不撓，懷貞不能奪之。俄轉好畤令，遷潤州司馬，所歴咸有聲績。開元初，三遷萬年縣令，賦役平允，不嚴而理。俄擢爲京兆尹，尋有詔令元紘疎決三輔。諸王公權要之家，皆縁渠立硙，以害水田，元紘令吏人一切毀之，百姓大獲其利。又歴工部、兵部、吏部三侍郎。十三年，戸部侍郎楊易、白知愼坐支度失所，皆出爲刺史。上令宰臣及公卿已下精擇堪爲戸部者，多有薦元紘者，將授以戸部尚書，時執政以其資淺，未宜超授，加中大夫，拜戸部侍郎。元紘因條奏人間利害及時政得失以奏之，上大悅，因賜衣一副、絹二百匹。明年，擢拜中書侍郎、同中書門下平章事。頃之，加銀靑光祿大夫，賜爵淸水男。

Yuanhong was careful and steadfast from youth. He first served as army aide in Jing Prefecture and rose in turn to registrar of Yong Prefecture. When Princess Taiping disputed a water mill with a Buddhist monastery, the princess was then in favor and in power, and every office sought to please her. Yuanhong ruled in the monastery's favor. Dou Huaizhen, chief administrator of Yong Prefecture, feared the princess's power and pressed Yuanhong to reverse the ruling. Yuanhong wrote boldly on the judgment: "The southern mountains may be moved, but this verdict will not. He held to his ruling without yielding, and Huaizhen could not make him change it. He was soon made magistrate of Haoqi and then vice administrator of Run Prefecture, earning distinction in every post he held. Early in Kaiyuan, after three promotions he became magistrate of Wannian County, where taxes and labor service were assessed fairly and order was kept without harshness. He was soon promoted to governor of Jingzhao, and an edict soon followed appointing him to hear and decide cases across the Three Adjuncts. Princes, nobles, and the powerful had built mills along the canals, choking off the irrigated fields. Yuanhong ordered his officers to tear them all down, and the people reaped a great benefit. He went on to hold the vice ministerships of Works, War, and Personnel in turn. In the thirteenth year, Vice Ministers of Revenue Yang Yi and Bai Zhishèn were demoted for botching fiscal administration and were both sent out to serve as prefects. The emperor told the chief ministers and all officials to choose carefully who should head the Revenue Ministry. Many recommended Yuanhong, and he was nearly made minister, but the men in power judged his standing too slight for so great a promotion. He was given the rank of Senior Mentor of the Palace and appointed vice minister instead. Yuanhong followed with a detailed memorial on what helped or harmed the people and what was right or wrong in current policy. The emperor was delighted and gave him a suit of clothes and two hundred bolts of silk. The following year he was promoted to vice director of the Secretariat and made a co-signer of Secretariat-Chancellery documents. Before long he was also made Silver-Green Glorious Grand Mentor and enfeoffed as Baron of Qingshui.

元紘性淸儉。既知政事，稍抑奔競之路，務進者頗憚之。時初廢京司職田，議者請於關輔置屯，以實倉稟。元紘建議曰：「軍國不同，中外異制。若人閑無役，地棄不墾，發閑人以耕棄地，省饋運以實軍糧，於是乎有屯田，其爲益多矣。今百官所退職田，散在諸縣，不可聚也。百姓所有私田，皆力自耕墾，不可取也。若置屯田，即須公私相換，征發丁夫，征役則業廢於家，免庸則賦闕於國。内地置屯，古所未有，得不補失，或恐未可。」其議遂止。

Yuanhong was by nature upright and austere. Once he entered the administration, he began to choke off the scramble for promotion, and the ambitious grew wary of him. The capital offices' allotment fields had just been abolished, and some proposed establishing military colonies in the Guanzhong heartland to fill the state granaries. Yuanhong argued: "Military affairs and civil government are not the same, and the interior and the frontier follow different rules. When the people have no corvée to perform and land lies fallow, then sending idle men to open abandoned fields and saving transport costs to fill the army's granaries—that is what military colonies are for, and the gain is great. The allotment fields now being returned by the hundred offices are scattered across many counties and cannot be assembled in one place. The private fields held by common people are all opened by their own labor and cannot simply be seized. To establish colonies here would require swapping public and private land and conscripting laborers. Levy corvée and households lose their livelihood; waive labor dues and the state's revenue falls short. Establishing colonies in the interior is unheard of in antiquity. The gain may not outweigh the loss, and I fear it cannot be done." The proposal was dropped.

先是，左庶子呉兢舊任史官，撰《唐書》一百巻、《唐春秋》三十巻，其書未成，以丁憂罷職。至是，上疎請終其功，有詔特令就集賢院修成其書。及張説致仕，又令在家修史。元紘奏曰：「國史者，記人君善惡，國政損益，一字褒貶，千載稱之，前賢所難，事匪容易。今張説在家修史，呉兢又在集賢撰録，遂令國之大典，散在數處。且太宗別置史館，在於禁中，所以重其職而秘其事也。望勒説等就史館參詳撰録，則典冊有憑，舊章不墜矣。」從之，乃詔説及呉兢並就史館修撰。

Earlier, Left Household Mentor Wu Jing had served as a historiographer and had drafted one hundred juan of the Book of Tang and thirty juan of the Annals of Tang, but the works were unfinished when he left office to observe mourning. At this point he memorialized the throne asking to finish the work, and an edict specially ordered him to complete the books at the Hall of Assembled Worthies. When Zhang Yue retired, he too was ordered to compile history at home. Yuanhong memorialized: "The national history records a ruler's good and evil and the gain and loss of state policy. One word of praise or blame is remembered for a thousand years. Former worthies found this hard—it is no light task. Now Zhang Yue is compiling history at home while Wu Jing is drafting and recording at the Hall of Assembled Worthies, so the state's great canonical works are scattered in several places. Moreover, Emperor Taizong had specially established the Historiography Office within the palace precincts precisely to dignify the office and keep its work secret. I ask that Yue and the others be ordered to the Historiography Office to examine and compile together, so the canonical records have a fixed home and old regulations are not lost." The emperor agreed and ordered both Yue and Wu Jing to the Historiography Office to compile.

元紘在政事累年，不改第宅，僕馬弊劣，未曾改飾，所得封物，皆散之親族。右丞相宋璟嘗嘉嘆之，毎謂人曰：「李侍郎引宋遙之美才，黜劉晃之貪冒，貴爲國相，家無儲積。雖季文子之德，何以加也！」後與杜暹多所異同，情遂不叶，至有相執奏者，上不悅，由是罷知政事，出爲曹州刺史，以疾去官。久之，拜戸部尚書，仍聽致仕。二十一年疾瘳，起爲太子詹事，旬日而卒。贈太子少傅，諡曰文忠。杜暹杜暹，濮州濮陽人也。父承誌，則天初爲監察御史。時懷州刺史李文暕以皇枝近屬，爲讎人所告，承誌推出之。俄而文暕得罪，承誌坐貶，授方義令。累轉天官員外郎。既羅織事起，承誌恐懼，遂稱疾去官而歸，卒於家。自暹髙祖至暹，五代同居，暹尤恭謹，事繼母以孝聞。初舉明經，補婺州參軍，秩滿將歸，州吏以紙萬餘張以贈之，暹惟受一百，餘悉還之。時州僚別者，見而嘆曰：「昔淸吏受一大錢，復何異也！」俄授鄭尉，復以淸節見知。華州司馬楊孚，公直士也，深賞重之。尋而孚遷大理正，暹坐公事下法司結罪，孚謂人曰：「若此尉得罪，則公淸之士何以勸矣？」特薦之於執政，由是擢拜大理評事。

Yuanhong served in the administration for years without altering his house. His servants and horses were shabby and never replaced, and whatever he received as enfeoffment he gave away among his kin. Right Chancellor Song Jing once praised him warmly, often saying to others: "Vice Minister Li advanced Song Yao's fine talent and removed Liu Huang for greed and presumption. Though he stands as a state minister, his house holds no store of wealth. Even the virtue of Ji Wenzi—what could surpass it!" Later he and Du Xian clashed on many points until they no longer agreed, even submitting rival memorials to the throne. The emperor was displeased, Yuanhong was removed from the administration and sent out as governor of Cao Prefecture, and he later resigned because of illness. After some time he was appointed Minister of Revenue and permitted to retire. In the twenty-first year, when his illness had passed, he was recalled as Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent and died ten days later. He was posthumously made Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent and given the posthumous name Wenzhong, "Cultured and Loyal." Du Xian was a native of Puyang in Pu Prefecture. His father Chengzhi served as investigating censor in the early reign of Empress Wu. At that time Li Wenlián, prefect of Huai Prefecture and a close kinsman of the imperial house, was denounced by an enemy. Chengzhi investigated and cleared him. Before long Wenlián was condemned, and Chengzhi was demoted and appointed magistrate of Fangyi. After successive promotions he became outer gentleman of the Celestial Office. When the fabricated "net" prosecutions began, Chengzhi grew afraid, claimed illness, resigned, and returned home, where he died. From Xian's great-grandfather down to Xian himself, five generations lived under one roof. Xian was especially respectful and cautious, and was known for serving his stepmother with filial devotion. He first passed the Classics examination and was appointed military adjutant of Wu Prefecture. When his term ended and he was about to go home, the prefectural clerks gave him more than ten thousand sheets of paper as a parting gift. Xian accepted only one hundred and returned the rest. Prefectural colleagues who were leaving saw this and sighed, "In olden days a pure official accepted one large coin—how is this any different!" Shortly afterward he was appointed warden of Zheng County and again won notice for his upright integrity. Yang Fu, military administrator of Hua Prefecture, was an upright man and held him in deep esteem. Before long Fu was transferred to senior rectifier of the Court of Judicial Review. Xian was convicted on an official matter and tried in the judicial office. Fu said to others, "If this warden is punished, how are upright men ever to be encouraged?" He specially recommended him to those in power, and Xian was thereupon promoted to review official of the Court of Judicial Review.

開元四年，遷監察御史，仍往磧西覆屯。會安西副都護郭虔瓘與西突厥可汗史獻、鎭守使劉遐慶等不葉，更相執奏，詔暹按其事實。時暹已回至涼州，承詔復往磧西，因入突厥騎施，以究虔賫等犯狀。蕃人賫金以遺，暹固辭不受。左右曰：「公遠使絶域，不可失蕃人情。」暹不得已受之，埋幕下，既去出境，乃移牒令收取之。蕃人大驚，度磧追之，不及而止。暹累遷給事中，丁繼母憂去職。十二年，安西都護張孝嵩遷爲太原尹，或薦暹往使安西，蕃人伏其淸愼，深思慕之，乃奪情擢拜黃門侍郎，兼安西副大都護。暹單騎赴職。明年，於闐王尉遲眺陰結突厥及諸蕃國圖爲叛亂，暹密知其謀，發兵捕而斬之，並誅其黨與五十餘人，更立君長，於闐遂安。暹以功特加光祿大夫。暹在安西四年，綏撫將士，不憚勤苦，甚得夷夏之心。

In the fourth year of Kaiyuan he was made investigating censor and sent to the Western Regions to re-examine the military colonies. It happened that Vice Protector-General of Anxi Guo Qianjin was at odds with the Western Türk qaghan Shi Xian, Defense Commissioner Liu Xiaqing, and others, each submitting rival memorials to the throne. An edict ordered Xian to investigate the facts. By then Xian had already returned to Liang Prefecture. Receiving the edict, he went again to the Western Regions and entered Turgish Türk territory to investigate the offenses of Qianjin and the others. A foreign envoy presented gold as a gift, and Xian firmly refused to accept it. Those around him said, "You have come on a mission to a distant land—you cannot spurn the foreigners' goodwill." Xian had no choice but to accept it, buried it beneath his tent, and after he had crossed the border sent a dispatch telling them to come and retrieve it. The foreigners were greatly alarmed, crossed the desert in pursuit, failed to overtake him, and gave up. Xian was promoted in succession to gentleman of the rear chancellery and left office to mourn his stepmother. In the twelfth year, Protector-General of Anxi Zhang Xiaosong was transferred to governor of Taiyuan. Some recommended Xian to serve in Anxi; the foreigners respected his upright caution and deeply admired him. He was therefore recalled from mourning, promoted to vice director of the Yellow Gate, and made concurrently vice protector-general of Anxi. Xian traveled alone on horseback to take up the post. The next year the king of Khotan, Yuchi Tiao, secretly allied with the Türks and various foreign states to plot rebellion. Xian learned of the plot in secret, sent troops to capture and behead him, and executed more than fifty of his followers. A new ruler was installed, and Khotan was secure. For this achievement Xian was specially promoted to Glorious Grand Mentor. Xian spent four years in Anxi, comforting officers and soldiers and unafraid of hardship, and won the hearts of both foreigners and Chinese.

十四年，詔暹同中書門下平章事，仍遣中使往迎之。及謁見，又賜絹二百匹、馬一匹、宅一區。後與李元紘不葉，罷知政事，出爲荊州大都督府長史。又歴魏州刺史、太原尹。二十年，上幸北都，拜暹爲戸部尚書，便令扈從入京。行幸東都，詔暹爲京留守。暹因抽當番衞士，繕修三宮，增峻城隍，躬自巡檢，未嘗休懈。上聞而嘉之，賜敕書曰：「卿素以淸直，兼之勤幹。自委居守，毎事多能，政肅官僚，惠及黎庶。城隍宮室，隨事修營，且有成功，不疲人力。甚善甚善，慰朕懷也。」俄代李林甫爲禮部尚書，累封魏縣侯。二十八年，病卒，年六十餘，詔贈尚書右丞相。

In the fourteenth year an edict made Xian a co-signer of Secretariat-Chancellery documents and sent a palace envoy to escort him back. When he had audience, he was again granted two hundred bolts of silk, one horse, and one residence. Later he and Li Yuanhong fell out; he was removed from the administration and sent out as chief administrator of the Great Protectorate of Jingzhou. He also served in turn as governor of Wei Prefecture and governor of Taiyuan. In the twentieth year, when the emperor visited the Northern Capital, Xian was appointed Minister of Revenue and ordered to accompany him back to the capital. On the imperial progress to the Eastern Capital, an edict appointed Xian regent of the capital. Xian drew on the palace guards on rotation to repair the three palaces, raise and strengthen the city walls, and personally inspected the work, never slackening. When the emperor heard of this he commended him and granted a written edict: "You have always been upright and pure, and moreover diligent and capable. Since I entrusted you with keeping the capital, you have been capable in every matter, disciplined the bureaucracy, and brought benefit to the people. You have repaired the walls and palace halls as occasion required, and with success, without exhausting the labor force. Very good, very good—it puts my mind at ease." Shortly afterward he replaced Li Linfu as Minister of Rites and was enfeoffed in succession as Marquis of Wei County. In the twenty-eighth year he died of illness at over sixty years of age. An edict posthumously granted him the title Right Chancellor.

暹在家孝友，愛撫異母弟昱甚厚。然素無學術，毎當朝談議，渉於淺近。常以公淸勤儉爲己任，時亦矯情爲之。弱冠便自誓不受親友贈遺，以終其身。及卒，上甚悼惜之，遣中使就家視其喪事，内出絹三百匹以賜之。尚書省及故吏賻贈者，其子孝友遵其素約，皆拒而不受。太常謚曰「貞肅」。右司員外郎劉同升、都官員外郎韋廉以暹有忠孝之美，所謚不盡其行，建議駁之。太常博士裴總執曰：「杜尚書往以墨缞受職事，雖云奉國，不得爲孝。請依舊爲定。」孝友又詣闕陳訴上聞，而更令所司詳定，竟謚曰貞孝。韓休韓休，京兆長安人。伯父大敏，則天初爲鳳閣舍人。時梁州都督李行褒爲部人誣告，云有逆謀，則天令大敏就州推究。或謂大敏曰：「行褒諸李近屬，太后意欲除之，忽若失旨，禍將不細，不可不爲身謀也。」大敏曰：「豈有求身之安而陷人非罪！」竟奏雪之。則天俄又命御史重覆，遂構成其罪，大敏坐推反失情，與知反不告同罪，賜死於家。父大智，官至洛州司功。

At home Xian was filial and brotherly and treated his younger half-brother Yu with great affection. Yet he had never possessed learning, and whenever he joined court discussion his remarks tended to be shallow and commonplace. He constantly made uprightness, purity, diligence, and frugality his charge, though at times he also affected them. From early adulthood he swore never to accept gifts from relatives and friends for the rest of his life. When he died the emperor deeply mourned him, sent a palace envoy to his home to oversee the funeral, and issued from the inner palace three hundred bolts of silk as a gift. The Ministry of Revenue and former subordinates offered funeral gifts, but his son Xiaoyou, honoring his father's lifelong pledge, refused them all. The Minister of Ceremonies proposed the posthumous name "Upright and Stern." Outer Gentleman of the Right Office Liu Tongsheng and Outer Gentleman of the Office of Punishments Wei Lian argued that Xian possessed the excellence of loyalty and filial piety and that the proposed posthumous name did not exhaust his conduct, and submitted a memorial of objection. Erudite of the Minister of Ceremonies Pei Zong maintained: "When Vice Minister Du formerly accepted office while wearing mourning garb, though it was said to serve the state, it cannot count as filial piety. I ask that the original name be upheld. Xiaoyou again went to the palace gate to petition the emperor. The emperor heard of it and ordered the responsible office to examine the matter again. In the end the posthumous name was settled as "Upright and Filial." Han Xiu was a native of Chang'an in Jingzhao. His father's elder brother Damin served as secretariat archivist in the early reign of Empress Wu. At that time Military Commissioner of Liang Prefecture Li Xingbao was falsely denounced by men of his command, who claimed he harbored treasonous designs. Empress Wu ordered Damin to go to the prefecture and investigate. Someone said to Damin, "Xingbao is a close kinsman of the Li clan. The Empress Dowager wishes to eliminate him. If you miss her intent, the disaster will be no small matter—you cannot fail to look out for yourself." Damin said, "How could one seek personal safety and yet frame another for a crime he did not commit!" In the end he memorialized and cleared him. Empress Wu soon ordered censors to reinvestigate, and they fabricated his guilt. Damin was convicted of erroneous judgment in a treason case, condemned under the same statute as one who knows of treason and does not report it, and was ordered to die at home. His father Dazhi rose to the post of record keeper of Luo Prefecture.

休早有詞學，初應制舉，累授桃林丞。又舉賢良。玄宗時在春宮，親問國政，休對策與校書郎趙冬曦並爲乙第，擢授左補闕。尋判主爵員外郎，歴遷中書舍人、禮部侍郎，兼知制誥，出爲虢州刺史。時虢州以地在兩京之間，駕在京及東都，並爲近州，常被支稅草以納閑廄。休奏請均配餘州，中書令張説駁之曰：「若獨免虢州，即當移向他郡，牧守欲爲私惠，國體固不可依。」又下符不許之。休復將執奏，僚吏曰：「更奏必忤執政之意。」休曰：「爲刺史不能救百姓之弊，何以爲政！必以忤上得罪，所甘心也。」竟執奏獲免。歳餘，以母艱去職，固陳誠乞終禮，制許之。服闋，除工部侍郎，仍知制誥，遷尚書右丞。

Xiu early showed talent in letters. He first entered the palace examination and was appointed in succession as magistrate of Taolin. He also passed the "Exemplary and Good" examination. When Xuanzong was crown prince he personally questioned the candidates on state affairs. Xiu's examination answer, together with that of collator Zhao Dongxi, both ranked in the second class, and he was promoted to left remonstrator. Shortly afterward he was assigned as outer gentleman of the Directorate of Enfeoffment, promoted in succession to secretariat drafting official and vice minister of rites, concurrently drafting imperial edicts, and then sent out as governor of Guo Prefecture. At that time Guo Prefecture lay between the two capitals. Whenever the imperial carriage was at Chang'an or Luoyang it was counted among the nearby prefectures and was constantly levied for fodder tax to supply the idle stables. Xiu memorialized asking that the burden be evenly distributed among the other prefectures. Chief Minister Zhang Yue rejected it, saying, "If Guo Prefecture alone is exempted, the burden will simply shift to other commanderies. Prefects and governors seeking to do personal favors—the body politic cannot rely on that." An order was also sent down forbidding it. Xiu was about to persist in memorializing when his staff said, "If you memorialize again you will surely offend those in power." Xiu said, "As a prefect I cannot remedy the people's hardship—how can I govern! If I must offend my superiors and suffer punishment for it, I accept that willingly. He persisted in memorializing and obtained an exemption. After a little more than a year he left office to mourn his mother, earnestly petitioned to complete the full mourning rites, and the emperor granted his request. When mourning ended, he was appointed vice minister of works, continued drafting imperial edicts, and was promoted to right vice director of the Department of State Affairs.

開元二十一年，侍中裴光庭卒，上令蕭嵩舉朝賢以代光庭才，嵩盛稱休誌行，遂拜黃門侍郎、同中書門下平章事。休性方直，不務進趨，及拜，甚允當時之望。俄有萬年尉李美玉得罪，上特令流之嶺外，休進曰：「美玉卑位，所犯又非巨害，今朝廷有大姦，尚不能去，豈得舍大而取小也！臣竊見金吾大將軍程伯獻，依恃恩寵，所在貪冒，第宅輿馬，僭擬過縱。臣請先出伯獻而後罪美玉。」上初不許之，休固爭曰：「美玉微細猶不容，伯獻巨猾豈得不問！陛下若不出伯獻，臣即不敢奉詔流美玉。」上以其切直，從之。初，蕭嵩以休柔和易制，故薦引之。休既知政事，多折正嵩，遂與休不葉。宋璟聞之曰：「不謂韓休乃能如是，仁者之勇也。」

In the twenty-first year of Kaiyuan, chief minister Pei Guangting died. The emperor ordered Xiao Song to recommend worthy officials to replace him. Song lavishly praised Xiu's character and conduct, and Xiu was appointed vice director of the Secretariat and concurrent chief minister. Xiu was upright by nature and did not court advancement. When he was appointed, the appointment greatly satisfied public expectation. Soon the Wannian assistant commandant Li Meiyu offended the law. The emperor specially ordered him exiled beyond the Ling Mountains. Xiu stepped forward and said, "Meiyu holds a low post and his offense was not grave. The court now has a great villain it still cannot remove—how can it let the great go and punish the small! I have seen General of the Golden Guards Cheng Boxian rely on imperial favor to indulge greed wherever he goes—his mansions, carriages, and horses all exceed what his rank allows. I ask that Boxian be removed first and Meiyu punished afterward." The emperor at first refused. Xiu pressed his case: "If even Meiyu's petty offense cannot stand, how can Boxian's great villainy go uninvestigated! If Your Majesty does not remove Boxian, I dare not obey the edict to exile Meiyu." Impressed by his blunt honesty, the emperor agreed. At first Xiao Song had considered Xiu gentle and easy to manage, and had recommended him for that reason. Once Xiu entered government, he often corrected Xiao Song, and the two fell out. When Song Jing heard of it he said, "I never expected Han Xiu to act like this—the courage of a benevolent man."

其年夏，加銀靑光祿大夫。十二月，轉工部尚書，罷知政事。二十四年，遷太子少師，封宜陽子。二十七年病卒，年六十八，贈揚州大都督，謚曰文忠。寶應元年，重贈太子太師。

That summer he was promoted to Silver-and-Blue-Green Glory Grand Master of the Palace. In the twelfth month he was transferred to minister of works and removed from the chief council. In the twenty-fourth year he was made junior preceptor of the heir apparent and enfeoffed as Baron of Yiyang. In the twenty-seventh year he died of illness at sixty-eight. He was posthumously honored as great governor-general of Yang Prefecture, with the posthumous title Wenzhong (Cultured and Loyal). In the first year of Baoying he was again posthumously honored as grand preceptor of the heir apparent.

子洽、洪、汯、滉，皆有學尚，風韻髙雅。洽，天寶初爲殿中侍御史卒。洪，爲司庫員外郎。洽弟渾，除大理司直。御史大夫王鉷犯法，籍沒其家，洽兄浩爲萬年主簿，捕其資財，有所容隱，爲京兆尹鮮于仲通所發，配流循州。洪、汯並坐貶職。後遇赦，量移洪爲華州長史。屬安祿山反，西京失守，洪陷於賊，賊授官，將見委任，洪與浩及汯、滉、渾同奔山谷，以投行在。至谷口，洪、浩、渾及洪子四人並爲賊所擒，並命於通衢。洪重交友，籍甚於時，見者掩涕，肅宗聞其重臣子，能以忠而死，贈太常卿。浩贈吏部郎中，渾贈太常少卿。汯，上元中爲諫議大夫。滉、洄，別有傳。裴耀卿裴耀卿，贈戸部尚書守眞子也。少聰敏，數歳解屬文，童子舉。弱冠拜秘書正字，俄補相王府典簽。時睿宗在蕃，甚重之，令與掾丘悅、文學韋利器更直府中，以備顧問，府中稱爲學直。及睿宗升極，拜國子主簿。開元初，累遷長安令。長安舊有配戸和市之法，百姓苦之。耀卿到官，一切令出儲蓄之家，預給其直，遂無姦僦之弊，公私甚以爲便。在職二年，寬猛得中。及去官，縣人甚思詠之。十三年，爲濟州刺史。其年，車駕東巡，州當大路，道里綿長，而戸口寡弱，耀卿躬自條理，科配得所。時大駕所歴凡十餘州，耀卿稱爲知頓之最。又歴宣、冀二州刺史，皆有善政，入爲戸部侍郎。

His sons Qia, Hong, Yin, and Huang all pursued learning and carried themselves with refined elegance. Qia served as palace censor in the early Tianbao era and died in that post. Hong was outer gentleman of the Directorate of Granaries. Qia's younger brother Hun was appointed direct clerk of the Court of Judicial Review. When censor-in-chief Wang Ang broke the law and his property was confiscated, Qia's elder brother Hao, chief clerk of Wannian County, helped seize his assets but concealed part of them. Metropolitan governor Xianyu Zhongtong exposed this, and Hao was exiled to Xun Prefecture. Hong and Yin were both demoted for their association with the case. Later, when an amnesty was granted, Hong was transferred to chief administrator of Hua Prefecture. When An Lushan rebelled and Chang'an fell, Hong was caught behind rebel lines. The rebels gave him an office and were about to entrust him with real duties. Hong fled with Hao, Yin, Huang, and Hun into the hills to reach the emperor's mobile court. At Gukou, Hong, Hao, Hun, and Hong's four sons were captured by the rebels and executed in the open road. Hong was famed for his loyalty to friends, and those who saw his death wept openly. When Suzong heard that a great minister's son had died for loyalty, he posthumously honored Hong as chamberlain for ceremonials. Hao was posthumously honored as bureau director of the Ministry of Personnel, and Hun as vice chamberlain for ceremonials. Yin served as remonstrance grand master during the Shangyuan era. Huang and Hui have separate biographies. Pei Yaojing was the son of the posthumously honored minister of revenue Shouzhen. From childhood he was clever; by several years of age he could compose essays and passed the child prodigy examination. At twenty he was appointed regular scribe of the Secretariat; soon afterward he became chief registrar of the Prince of Xiang's household. At that time Ruizong was still in his princely fief and valued him highly. He had Yaojing rotate duty in the household with aide Qiu Yue and literary scholar Wei Liqi as resident advisers; the household called them the Scholarly Duty Officers. When Ruizong took the throne, Yaojing was appointed chief clerk of the Directorate of Education. At the beginning of Kaiyuan he rose in succession to magistrate of Chang'an. Chang'an had long used a system of assigned households and government requisition markets, and the people suffered under it. When Yaojing took office, he required all supplies to come from households that kept stores, with payment made in advance. The abuses of forced purchase disappeared, and both officials and commoners found the change greatly convenient. In two years in office he balanced leniency and severity. When he left office, the people of the county missed him and sang his praise. In the thirteenth year he became governor of Ji Prefecture. That year, when the emperor toured east, Ji Prefecture lay on the main route for a long stretch while its population was sparse and weak. Yaojing personally organized the work and apportioned levies fairly. Among the more than ten prefectures the imperial progress passed through, Yaojing was acclaimed as the best at provisioning the imperial halt. He later served as governor of Xuan and Ji Prefectures, governing both well, and then entered the capital as vice minister of revenue.

二十年，禮部尚書、信安王祎受詔討契丹，詔以耀卿爲副。俄又令耀卿賫絹二十萬匹分賜立功奚官，就部落以給之。耀卿謂人曰：「夷虜貪殘，見利忘義，今賫持財帛，深入寇境，不可不爲備也。」乃令先期而往，分道互進，一朝而給付並畢。時突厥及室韋果勒兵邀險，謀劫襲之，比至而耀卿已還。

In the twentieth year, minister of rites and Prince of Xin'an Li Shen received orders to campaign against the Khitan, and Yaojing was appointed his deputy. Soon Yaojing was also ordered to carry two hundred thousand bolts of silk to reward meritorious Xi officials, delivering the gifts in their own camps. Yaojing told others, "Barbarians are greedy and cruel and forget righteousness at the sight of profit. Carrying wealth deep into enemy country, we cannot fail to take precautions." He sent the payments ahead of schedule by separate routes, and within a single day all distributions were finished. The Turks and Shiwei did indeed mass troops to ambush the passes and planned to rob him, but by the time they arrived Yaojing was already back.

其冬，遷京兆尹。明年秋，霖雨害稼，京城穀貴。上將幸東都，獨召耀卿問救人之術，耀卿對曰：

That winter he was transferred to metropolitan governor of Jingzhao. The next autumn, heavy rains ruined the harvest and grain prices in the capital soared. The emperor was about to visit the Eastern Capital and summoned Yaojing alone to ask how the people might be saved. Yaojing replied:

臣聞前代聖王，亦時有憂害，更施惠澤，活國濟人，由是蒼生仰德，史冊書美。伏以陛下仁聖至深，憂勤庶政，小有饑乏，降情哀矜，躬親支計，救其危急。上玄降鑒，當更延福祚，是因有小災而增輝聖德也。今既大駕東巡，百司扈從，太倉及三輔先所積貯，且隨見在發重臣分道賑給，計可支一二年。從東都更廣漕運，以實關輔。待稍充實，車駕西還，即事無不濟。臣以國家帝業，本在京師，萬國朝宗，百代不易之所。但爲秦中地狹，收粟不多，倘遇水旱，便即匱乏。往者貞觀、永徽之際，祿稟數少，毎年轉運不過一二十萬石，所用便足，以此車駕久得安居。今國用漸廣，漕運數倍於前，支猶不給。陛下數幸東都，以就貯積，爲國大計，不憚劬勞，只爲憂人而行，豈是故欲不往。若能更廣陜運，支粟入京，倉稟常有三二年糧，即無憂水旱。今天下輸丁約有四百萬人，毎丁支出錢百文，五十文充營窖等用，貯納司農及河南府、陜州以充其費。租米則各隨遠近，任自出腳送納東都。從都至陜，河路艱險，既用陸腳，無由廣致。若能開通河漕，變陸爲水，則所支有餘，動盈萬計。且河南租船候水始進，呉人不便河漕，由是所在停留，日月既淹，遂生隱盜。臣望沿流相次置倉。

I have heard that sage kings of former ages also suffered calamities at times, then extended further grace, reviving the state and saving the people. The common people looked up to their virtue, and history recorded their praise. Your Majesty's benevolence and sagacity run deep, and you toil over every branch of government. At the slightest hunger you show pity and personally direct relief to save people in urgent need. Heaven watches over you, and your fortune should only grow—small disasters, met with grace, add luster to sagely virtue. Now that the imperial carriage is touring east with the hundred offices in attendance, dispatch senior officials at once from the grand granary and the stores of the Three Adjuncts to distribute relief by separate routes from what is on hand. That should suffice for one or two years. From the Eastern Capital, broaden canal transport to fill the Guan region. Once stores are somewhat replenished and the imperial carriage returns west, nothing need fail. I believe the empire's foundation belongs in the capital, where all lands pay court—a seat that should not change for a hundred generations. But the Qin region is narrow and its harvests are small; if flood or drought strikes, supplies are quickly exhausted. In the Zhenguan and Yonghui eras, salary grain allotments were smaller and annual transport did not exceed one or two hundred thousand shi—enough for daily needs, so the court could long remain settled in Chang'an. Now state expenditure has grown, and canal transport is several times what it once was, yet supply still falls short. Your Majesty has repeatedly visited the Eastern Capital to rely on stored grain—a great plan for the state, undertaken without sparing labor, and driven only by concern for the people. Surely you do not wish to stay away by nature. If transport through Shaan can be expanded and grain supplied into the capital so that granaries always hold two or three years' grain, there will be no fear of flood or drought. Today tax-paying males throughout the realm number roughly four million. Let each pay one hundred cash, fifty of which would fund granary construction and the like, deposited with the Directorate of Agriculture and the offices of Henan Prefecture and Shaanzhou to meet the costs. As for rent grain, each locality should pay transport according to distance and deliver it to the Eastern Capital on its own account. From the capital to Shaanzhou the river route is perilous. Because land transport costs are used, large quantities cannot be moved. If the river route can be opened and transport changed from land to water, costs would fall and savings would run into the tens of thousands. Moreover, Henan rent barges wait for favorable water before advancing, and men from Wu are unused to canal transport. Wherever they stop, long delays breed concealed theft. I propose placing granaries in succession along the water route.

上深然其言。尋拜黃門侍郎、同中書門下平章事，充轉運使，語在《食貨志》。凡三年，運七百萬石，省腳錢三十萬貫。或説耀卿請進所省腳錢，以明功利。耀卿曰：「此蓋公卿盈縮之利耳，不可以之求寵也。」乃奏充所司和市、和糴等錢。

The emperor strongly approved his proposal. Soon he was appointed vice director of the Secretariat and concurrent chief minister, and served as transport commissioner; details are recorded in the Monograph on Food and Commodities. Over three years he transported seven million shi of grain and saved three hundred thousand strings in transport costs. Some urged Yaojing to present the saved transport costs to the throne to display his achievement. Yaojing said, "This is merely surplus profit for the high officials—it cannot be used to seek favor." He then memorialized that the savings be applied to his office's funds for government purchase and proportional grain buying.

明年，遷侍中。二十四年，拜尚書左丞相，罷知政事，累封趙城侯。時夷州刺史楊浚犯贓處死，詔令杖六十，配流古州。耀卿上疎諫曰：

The next year he was promoted to chief minister. In the twenty-fourth year he was appointed left grand counselor of the Department of State Affairs, removed from the chief council, and cumulatively enfeoffed as Marquis of Zhaocheng. At that time Yang Jun, governor of Yi Prefecture, was condemned to death for corruption; an edict ordered sixty strokes of the rod and exile to Gu Prefecture. Yaojing submitted a memorial of remonstrance:

伏以聖恩天覆，仁育庶類，凡死罪之屬，不欲屍諸市朝，全其性命，流竄而已。所以政致刑措，獄無冤人，曠古以來，未有斯美。臣愚以爲全生免死，誠爲至化，有恥且格，爲訓將來。茍有未安，不敢緘默。

Sage grace covers all like Heaven and nurtures every living thing in benevolence. For all who merit death, the court does not wish to expose their corpses in the marketplace—it preserves their lives and merely exiles them. Because of this, government has reached the point where punishments lie unused and prisons hold no wronged persons—a beauty unmatched since antiquity. I believe that preserving life and sparing death is the highest transformation, and that shame and reform will instruct generations to come. If anything here is amiss, I dare not keep silent.

臣以爲刺史、縣令，與諸吏稍別，人之父母，風化所瞻，一爲本部長官，即合終身致敬。決杖者，五刑之末，只施於抶撲徒隸之間，官廕稍髙，即免鞭撻。令決杖贖死，誠則已優，解體受笞，事頗爲辱。法至於死，天下共之，刑至於辱，或有所恥。況本州刺史，百姓所崇，一朝對其人吏，背脊加杖，屈挫拘執，人或哀憐，忘其免死之恩，且有傷心之痛，恐非敬官長勸風俗之意。

I believe prefects and county magistrates differ from other officials—they are parents to the people and exemplars of custom. Once one becomes chief officer of a locality, the people owe him lifelong respect. The deciding rod is the least of the five punishments and is applied only to bondservants and common laborers. Officials of even modest rank are exempt from whipping. To commute death to the rod is already lenient, but to strip the body and receive beating is a grave disgrace. When the law reaches death, all under Heaven share in it; when punishment reaches disgrace, some feel shame. Moreover, as governor he is revered by the people. To have him beaten before his own subordinates, bound and humiliated, may move some to pity and make them forget the grace of sparing his life, while the pain of the disgrace itself remains. I fear this is not how one honors chief officers and encourages proper custom.

又雜犯死罪，無杖刑，奏報三覆，然後行決。今非時不覆，決杖便發，倘獄或未盡，又暑熱不耐，因杖或死，即是促其處分，不得順時。將欲生之，卻夭其命，又恐非聖明寬宥之意。前後頻在州縣，或縁雜犯決人，毎大暑盛夏之時，決杖多死，秋冬已後，至有全者。伏望凡刺史、縣令於本部決杖及夏暑生長之時，所定杖刑，並乞停減。即副陛下好生之德，於死者皆有再生之恩。

Moreover, for miscellaneous capital offenses there is no rod punishment; the memorial must be reviewed three times before the sentence is carried out. Now, at an improper season, there is no triple review and the rod is applied at once. If the case is not yet complete, or if the heat of summer proves unbearable and the beating itself causes death, the sentence is being rushed and does not accord with the season. Intending to preserve life yet cutting it short—I fear this is not the intent of sage clemency. In my repeated service in prefectures and counties, when people were sentenced for miscellaneous offenses, many died from the rod in the great heat of midsummer; after autumn and winter some survived intact. I humbly ask that whenever prefects and county magistrates decide the rod within their jurisdictions, and during the season of summer heat, all rod punishments be suspended or reduced. This would accord with Your Majesty's virtue of cherishing life and would be, for those condemned to death, a grace of renewed life.

俄而特進蓋嘉運破突騎施立功還，詔加河西、隴右兩節度使，仍令經略吐蕃。嘉運既承恩寵，日夕酣宴，不時赴軍。耀卿密上疎曰：「伏見蓋嘉運立功破賊，更委兩軍，以勇果之才，承戰勝之勢，吐蕃小醜，不足殲夷。然臣近日與其同班，觀其舉措，精勁勇烈，誠則有餘，言氣矜誇，恐難成事。莫敖敗於蒲騷之役，舉趾稍髙，《春秋》書之爲懲誡。恐其有驕敵之色，臣竊憂之。入秋防邊，日月稍逼，接對人吏，須識其宜。今將撫邊軍，未言發日，若臨事始去，人吏未識，雖決在一時，恐將非制勝萬全之道。況兵未訓練，不知禮法，人未懷惠，士未同心，求其忘性命於一時，憚嚴刑於少選，縱威逼而進，因而立功，恐非師出以律，久長之義。又萬人性命，決在將軍，不得已而行之，鑿兇門而即路。今酣宴朝夕，優渥有餘，亦恐非愛人憂國之意，不可不察。若不可回換，即望速遣進途，仍乞聖恩，勗以嚴命。」疎奏，上乃促嘉運赴軍，竟以無功而還。

Soon vice director of attendants Gai Jiayun returned after defeating the Turgesh with merit. An edict made him military commissioner of both Hexi and Longyou and ordered him to conduct strategy against Tibet. Having received imperial favor, Jiayun feasted and drank day and night and did not report to the army when he should. Yaojing submitted a secret memorial: "I have observed that Gai Jiayun achieved merit by defeating the rebels and has been entrusted with command of two armies. With courageous, resolute talent and the momentum of victory behind him, the petty Tibetans are scarcely worth exterminating. Yet I have recently sat with him at court and watched his conduct. He is keen, fierce, and brave—sincerity he has in abundance—but his speech and bearing are proud and boastful. I fear he will find it hard to succeed. When Mo Ao was defeated at Pusao, he raised his step a little too high; the Spring and Autumn Annals recorded it as a warning. I fear he shows the contempt of one who treats the enemy lightly, and I worry about it privately. With autumn approaching and border defense imminent, time grows short. In meeting and managing staff and officials, one must know what is appropriate. He is about to take command of the border armies, yet no departure date has been set. If he waits until the crisis is upon him before leaving, his staff will not know him. Though decisions may rest in a moment, I fear this is not the way to secure a full victory. Moreover, the troops are untrained and ignorant of discipline; the people have not received kindness, and the soldiers are not united. To expect them momentarily to stake their lives while fearing harsh punishment only in the next breath, and to advance by coercion alone in hopes of merit—I fear this is not what is meant by sending troops forth in accordance with law, nor a policy built to last. Again, tens of thousands of lives rest in the general's hands. When one has no choice but to proceed, one bores the Gate of Ill Omen and takes to the road. Yet now he feasts merrily morning and evening, enjoying lavish favor in abundance—a spirit, I fear, not of loving the people and worrying for the state. This cannot go unexamined. If he cannot be replaced, I hope he may be quickly sent on his way, and I beg that Your Majesty's grace may urge him with stern orders. When the memorial was submitted, the Emperor urged Jiayun to hurry to the army. In the end he returned without achievement.

天寶元年，改爲尚書右僕射，尋轉左僕射。一歳薨，年六十三，贈太子太傅，謚曰文獻。子綜，吏部郎中。綜子佶。耀卿孫佶佶，字弘正，幼能屬文。弱冠舉進士，補校書郎，判入髙等，授藍田尉。時有詔命畿内諸縣城奉天，時嚴郢爲京兆，政尚峻暴，加以朝旨甚迫，尹正之命，急如風霆。本曹尉韋重規其室方娠而疾，畏郢之暴，不敢以事故免。佶因請代，役無愆程，當時義之。德宗南狩，佶詣行在，拜拾遺，轉補闕。李懷光以河中叛，朝廷欲以含垢爲意，佶抗議請討，上深器之，前席慰勉。三遷吏部員外，歴駕部兵部郎中，遷諫議大夫。會黔中觀察使韋士宗慘酷馭下，爲夷獠所逐，俾佶代之，酋渠自化。其後爲瘴毒所侵，堅請入覲，拜同州刺史。征入爲中書舍人，遷尚書右丞。時兵部尚書李巽兼鹽鐵使，將以使局置於本行，經構已半，會佶拜命，堅執以爲不可，遂令徹之。巽恃恩而強，時重佶之有守，就拜吏部侍郎。以疾除國子祭酒，尋遷工部尚書致仕。元和八年卒，年六十二，贈吏部尚書。佶淸勁温敏，凡所定交，時稱爲第一流。與鄭餘慶特相友善，佶歿後，餘慶行朋友之服，搢紳美之。史臣曰史臣曰：魏知古、盧懷愼、源乾曜、李元紘、杜暹、韓休、裴耀卿，悉蘊器能，咸居宰輔。或心存啓沃，或志在薦賢，或出愛子爲外官，或止屯田於關輔，或不受蕃人之賂，或堅劾伯獻之姦，或廣漕渠以充國用：此皆立事立功，有足嘉尚者也。盧、李、杜三君子，又以淸白垂美簡書，公孫弘之流也。乾曜職當機密，無所是非，持祿保身，焉用彼相？贊贊曰：盧、魏、乾曜，弼違進賢。裴、韓、李、杜，遠財劾姦。汗簡書事，淸風肅然。萬歳之後，其名不刊。

In the first year of Tianbao he was made right vice director of the Department of State Affairs, and soon afterward was transferred to left vice director. Within a year he died, aged sixty-three. He was posthumously granted grand mentor of the heir apparent, with the posthumous title Wenxian ("Cultural Contribution"). His son Zong served as bureau director in the Ministry of Personnel. Zong's son was Ji. Yaojing's grandson Ji, styled Hongzheng, could compose literary pieces from childhood. At age twenty he passed the jinshi examination, was appointed collator, ranked in the upper grade, and was made assistant magistrate of Lantian. At the time an edict ordered all counties around the capital to fortify Fengtian. Yan Ying was then grand protector of Jingzhao, and his rule was harsh and violent. Court orders pressed hard, and the chief prefect's commands fell like thunder. Wei Chonggui of the same bureau had a pregnant, ill wife, but feared Yan's cruelty and did not dare request leave on that account. Ji therefore offered to take his place. The work missed no deadline, and contemporaries praised his conduct. When Emperor Dezong fled south, Ji went to the temporary court, was appointed remonstrance official, and was then made advisory censor. When Li Huaiguang rebelled at Hezhong, the court wished to swallow the insult. Ji protested and urged a punitive campaign. The Emperor thought highly of him, drew forward on his mat, and consoled and encouraged him. He was promoted three times to vice director in the Ministry of Personnel, served successively as bureau director in the transport and war bureaus, and was promoted to remonstrance and debate grandee. When Qianzhong observation commissioner Wei Shizong ruled his subordinates with cruelty and was driven out by the frontier tribes, Ji was sent to replace him, and the chieftains submitted on their own. Later he was stricken by malarial illness. He repeatedly petitioned to return to court and was appointed prefect of Tongzhou. He was summoned to court as a drafting officer of the Secretariat and was promoted to right vice director of the Department of State Affairs. At the time Minister of War Li Xun also served as salt and iron commissioner and planned to place the commissioner's office within his own ministry; construction was already half finished. When Ji took office he firmly objected and had the work dismantled. Xun traded on imperial favor and tried to force the issue, but the court respected Ji's steadfastness and promptly made him vice director of the Ministry of Personnel. Because of illness he was appointed libationer of the Directorate of Education, and soon was promoted to minister of works and retired. In the eighth year of Yuanhe he died, aged sixty-two, and was posthumously granted minister of personnel. Ji was clear-minded, forceful, warm, and quick-witted; all his close friends were counted among the finest men of the age. He was especially close to Zheng Yuqing. After Ji died, Yuqing wore the mourning of a friend, and courtiers praised the gesture. The historian writes: Wei Zhigu, Lu Huaishen, Yuan Ganyao, Li Yuanhong, Du Xian, Han Xiu, and Pei Yaojing all possessed talent and all rose to chief minister. Some devoted themselves to counsel at court, some to recommending talent, some sent beloved sons to serve outside the capital, some halted military colonies in the Guanzhong region, some refused barbarian bribes, some firmly impeached Cheng Boxian's corruption, and some expanded the canals to enrich the treasury—all established their work and won merit truly worthy of praise. The three gentlemen Lu, Li, and Du further left reputations for integrity that grace the historical record—men in the mold of Gongsun Hong. Ganyao held a post at the heart of state secrets yet pronounced no judgments on right and wrong—he held his salary and preserved himself. What use was a minister like that? The eulogy praises: Lu, Wei, and Ganyao, who assisted through dissent and advanced worthy men. Pei, Han, Li, and Du kept wealth at arm's length and impeached corruption. Recorded in the bamboo annals, their integrity stands solemn and clear. Ten thousand years hence, their names will endure undiminished.

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