Volume 95 Biographies 45: Ruizong's Sons

崔日用崔日用，滑州靈昌人，其先自博陵徙家焉。進士舉，初為芮城尉。大足元年，則天幸長安，路次陜州。宗楚客時為刺史，日用支供頓事，廣求珍味，稱楚客之命，遍饋從官。楚客知而大加賞嘆，盛稱薦之，由是擢為新豐尉。無幾，拜監察御史。

Cui Riyong was from Lingchang in Huazhou; his forebears had relocated their household from Boling. After earning his jinshi degree, he began his career as magistrate of Ruicheng. In 701, when Empress Wu traveled to Chang'an, her route took her through Shaan Prefecture. Zong Chuke was serving as prefect at the time. Riyong handled provisioning for the imperial stopover, procured delicacies far and wide, and distributed them to every member of the entourage in Chuke's name. Chuke was so pleased when he heard of it that he lavished praise on Riyong and recommended him at length, and Riyong was accordingly promoted to magistrate of Xinfeng. Shortly afterward he received appointment as investigating censor.

神龍中，秘書監鄭普思納女後宮，潛謀左道，日用遽奏劾之。普思方承恩，中宗不之省。日用廷爭懇至，詞甚抗直，普思竟伏其罪。時宗楚客、武三思、武延秀等遞為朋黨，日用潛皆附之，驟遷兵部侍郎兼修文館學士。中宗暴崩，韋庶人稱制，日用恐禍及己。知玄宗將圖義舉，乃因沙門普潤、道士王曄密詣籓邸，深自結納，潛謀翼戴。玄宗嘗謂曰：「今謀此舉，直為親，不為身。」日用曰：「此乃孝感動天，事必克捷。望速發，出其不意，若少遲延，或恐生變。」及討平韋氏，其夜，令權知雍州長史事。以功授銀青光祿大夫、黃門侍郎，參知機務，封齊國公，食實封二百戶。

During the Shenlong period (705–707), Zheng Pusi, Director of the Secretariat, placed a daughter in the inner palace and secretly engaged in forbidden cult practices. Riyong immediately submitted an impeachment memorial against him. Pusi was riding high on imperial favor at the time, and Emperor Zhongzong took no notice. Riyong pressed his case passionately in open court debate, speaking with blunt forthrightness, and Pusi ultimately confessed his crimes. Zong Chuke, Wu Sansi, Wu Yanxiu, and their allies were then taking turns as court factions. Riyong quietly attached himself to each in turn and was rapidly promoted to Vice Minister of War and concurrently a Xiuxian Hall academician. After Emperor Zhongzong died suddenly and Empress Wei seized power as regent, Riyong feared he would be caught up in the coming purge. Learning that Prince Lin (the future Xuanzong) was planning a coup, he used the monk Purun and the Daoist Wang Ye as intermediaries to visit the prince's residence in secret, pledged himself deeply, and plotted to help place him on the throne. Xuanzong once told him, "In what we are planning now, I act solely for my family—not for my own gain. Riyong replied, "Such filial devotion moves Heaven itself—the enterprise is bound to succeed. Strike at once, while they are unprepared. Even a brief delay may bring unforeseen trouble." The night the Wei faction was overthrown, he was appointed acting Administrator of Yong Prefecture. For his service he was made Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and Vice Director of the Yellow Gate, with a seat in deliberating state affairs; he was enfeoffed as Duke of Qi with a substantive fief of two hundred households.

為相月餘，與中書侍郎薛稷不協，於中書忿競，由是轉雍州長史，停知政事。尋出為揚州長史，歷婺、汴二州刺史、兗州都督、荊州長史。因入奏事，言：「太平公主謀逆有期，陛下往在宮府，欲有討捕，猶是子道臣道，須用謀用力。今既光臨大寶，但須下一制，誰敢不從？忽奸宄得志，則禍亂不小。」上曰：「誠如此，直恐驚動太上皇，卿宜更思之。」日用曰：「臣聞天子孝與庶人孝全別。庶人孝，謹身節用，承順顏色；天子孝，安國家，定社稷。今若逆黨竊發，即大業都棄，豈得成天子之孝乎！伏請先定北軍，次收逆黨，即不驚動太上皇。」玄宗從其議。及討蕭至忠、竇懷貞之際，又令權檢校雍州長史，加實封通前滿四百戶。尋拜吏部尚書。

After barely a month as chief minister he clashed with Vice Director Xue Ji; their bitter dispute at the Secretariat cost him his post, and he was reassigned as Administrator of Yong Prefecture with his seat in government withdrawn. He was soon sent out as Senior Administrator of Yangzhou, then served in turn as prefect of Wu and Bian, Military Commissioner of Yanzhou, and Senior Administrator of Jingzhou. On a visit to court he said, "Princess Taiping's rebellion is imminent. When Your Majesty was still in the princely residence and wished to move against her, you were bound by the roles of son and subject and had to rely on stratagem and force. Now that you occupy the throne, a single edict is all that is required. Who would dare disobey? If the traitors gain the upper hand even briefly, the resulting turmoil will be grave indeed. The Emperor replied, "If matters stand as you say, I am chiefly afraid of alarming the Retired Emperor. You should reconsider." Riyong said, "I have heard that the Son of Heaven's filial piety and the commoner's filial piety are entirely different things. For the commoner, filial piety means disciplining oneself, living frugally, and deferring to a parent's wishes; for the Son of Heaven it means securing the realm and stabilizing the altars of state. If the rebels strike now, the imperial enterprise itself will be lost—how could that fulfill a Son of Heaven's filial duty! I beg Your Majesty to secure the Northern Army first and then arrest the rebels; the Retired Emperor need not be disturbed at all." Xuanzong adopted his plan. During the campaign against Xiao Zhizhong and Dou Huaizhen he was again made provisional Inspector of Yong Prefecture, and his substantive fief was raised to four hundred households in all. He was soon appointed Minister of Personnel.

日用嘗采《毛詩》、《大雅》、《小雅》二十篇及司馬相如《封禪書》，因上生日表上之，以申規諷，並述告成之事。手詔答曰：「夫詩者，動天地，感鬼神，厚於人，美於教矣。朕志之所尚，思與之齊，庶乎采詩之官，補朕之闕。且古者封禪，升中告成，朕以菲德，未明於至道。竦然以聽，頗壯相如之詞；惕然載懷，復慚夷吾之語。卿洽聞殫見，溫故知新，逮此發揮，益彰忠懇。豈非討蓬山之籍，心不忘於起予；因蘭殿之祥，言固深於啟沃，朕循環覽諷，用慰於懷。今賜卿衣裳一副、物五十段，以示無言不酬之信也。」

Riyong once compiled twenty pieces from the Mao Odes, the Greater and Lesser Elegantiae, and Sima Xiangru's Letter on the Feng and Shan Sacrifices, and presented them in a birthday memorial as gentle admonition, together with an account of announcing the completion of great undertakings. The Emperor answered in his own hand: "Poetry moves Heaven and Earth, stirs spirits and ghosts, enriches humankind, and adorns moral instruction. What my heart esteems in poetry I wish to match; may the officers who gather songs help remedy my shortcomings. In antiquity the feng and shan rites ascended Mount Tai to announce the completion of great deeds; my own virtue is slight, and I am far from grasping the highest Way. I listened with awe, and Xiangru's rhetoric indeed stirred me; yet I bore Guan Zhong's warning in mind as well and felt shame anew. Your learning is broad and your insight complete; in reviving the old to illuminate the new, this presentation shows your loyal earnestness all the more clearly. Surely in searching the libraries of Penglai you did not forget to awaken me; and on this auspicious day in the Orchid Hall your words offered counsel of real depth. I have read them again and again, and they comfort my heart. I now grant you one set of robes and fifty lengths of goods, as proof that no loyal word goes unrewarded."

尋出為常州刺史，削實封三百戶，轉汝州刺史。開元七年，差降口賦，特下敕曰：「唐元之際，逆黨構凶，崔日用當時潛論其事，及於戡翦，實預元謀，而所食之封，後以例減。功既居多，特宜準初食之封，與二百戶。」十年，轉并州大都督長史。尋卒，時年五十，贈吏部尚書，謚曰昭。後又贈荊州大都督，子宗之襲。

He was soon sent out as prefect of Changzhou; three hundred households were stripped from his substantive fief, and he was transferred to prefect of Ruzhou. In 719, when household levies were reduced across the empire, a special edict declared: "At the restoration of the Tang, the rebel faction plotted treason. Cui Riyong had secretly discussed the matter beforehand and truly shared in the original design; yet his fief was later reduced under the general rule. His merit was outstanding, and his fief should be restored to the original grant of two hundred households. In 722 he was transferred to Senior Administrator of the Bingzhou Metropolitan Command. He died soon afterward at the age of fifty. He was posthumously appointed Minister of Personnel and given the posthumous title Zhao ("Illustrious"). He was later posthumously made Metropolitan Governor of Jingzhou as well; his son Zongzhi inherited the title.

日用才辯過人，見事敏速，每朝廷有事，轉禍為福，以取富貴。及先天已後，復求入相，竟亦不遂。常謂人曰：「吾一生行事，皆臨時制變，不必重專守始謀。每一念之，不覺芒刺在於背也。」崔日知日用從父兄日知，亦有吏幹。景雲中為洛州司馬。會譙王重福入東都作亂，群臣皆避難逃匿，日知獨督率人吏赴留守，與屯營合勢討賊。重福既死，以功加銀青光祿大夫，累遷京兆尹。坐贓為御史李如璧所劾，左遷歙縣丞，俄又歷遷殿中監。日知素與張說友善，說薦之，奏請授御史大夫，上不許。遂以為左羽林懷大將軍，而以河南尹崔隱甫為御史大夫，隱甫由是與說不葉。日知俄遷太常卿。自以歷任年久，每朝士參集，常與尚書同列，時人號為「尚書裏行」，遂為口實。開元十六年，出為潞州大都督府長史。尋以年老致仕，卒，謚曰襄。張嘉貞張嘉貞，蒲州猗氏人也。弱冠應五經舉，拜平鄉尉，坐事免歸鄉里。長安中，侍御史張循憲為河東采訪使，薦嘉貞材堪憲官，請以己之官秩授之。則天召見，垂簾與之言，嘉貞奏曰：「以臣草萊而得入謁九重，是千載一遇也。咫尺之間，如隔雲務，竟不睹日月，恐君臣之道有所未盡。」則天遽令卷簾，與語大悅，擢拜監察御史。累遷中書舍人，歷秦州都督、并州長史，為政嚴肅，甚為人吏所畏。

Riyong's eloquence and quick wit surpassed others'. Whenever crisis struck the court he turned disaster to advantage and secured wealth and high office. After the Xiantian period (712–713) he sought a return to the chancellorship but never achieved it. He often said, "Everything I have done in life I decided on the spot; there is no need to cling stubbornly to one's first plan. Even now, whenever I think of it, I feel as though needles were pricking my back. Cui Rizhi, Riyong's paternal cousin, likewise possessed administrative talent. During the Jingyun era (710–711) he served as Vice Prefect of Luozhou. When Prince Chongfu of Qiao raised rebellion in the Eastern Capital, the officials all fled and hid; Rizhi alone rallied the local staff to the garrison command and joined the encamped troops to suppress the rebels. After Chongfu's death Rizhi was promoted to Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of Splendid Happiness for his service and eventually rose to Metropolitan Governor of Jingzhao. Impeached for corruption by Censor Li Rubi, he was demoted to assistant magistrate of She County but was soon promoted again, eventually reaching Director of the Palace Domestic Service. Rizhi had long been on good terms with Zhang Yue, who recommended him and petitioned for his appointment as Censor-in-Chief; the Emperor refused. Rizhi was instead made General of the Left Feathered Forest Guard, while Cui Yinpu, Metropolitan Governor of Henan, was appointed Censor-in-Chief; Yinpu and Yue became estranged as a result. Rizhi was soon transferred to Minister of Rites. Because he had served so long, whenever officials gathered at court he was placed in the same row as the Ministers; contemporaries dubbed him "the Minister in practice," and the nickname stuck. In 728 he was sent out as Senior Administrator of the Luzhou Metropolitan Command. He soon retired on grounds of age and later died; he was given the posthumous title Xiang ("Assisting"). Zhang Jiazhen was a native of Yishi in Pu Prefecture. At twenty he took the Five Classics examination, was appointed magistrate of Pingxiang, but was dismissed for an offense and returned home. During the Chang'an period (701–705), Attending Censor Zhang Xunxian, serving as Investigation Commissioner of Hedong, recommended Jiazhen as qualified for a censor's post and offered to surrender his own rank to secure the appointment. Empress Wu summoned him for audience and spoke with him from behind the screen. Jiazhen said, "That a commoner like myself should gain audience in the inner palace is a chance that comes once in a thousand years. Yet within a foot's distance I am separated as if by clouds and mist and cannot behold Your Majesty's face; I fear the bond between ruler and subject is not fully honored. Empress Wu immediately ordered the screen raised, spoke with him at length with great pleasure, and promoted him to investigating censor. He rose to Secretariat Drafter and served in turn as Military Commissioner of Qinzhou and Senior Administrator of Bingzhou; his administration was stern and severe, and officials and clerks alike feared him.

開元初，因奏事至京師，上聞其善政，數加賞慰。嘉貞因奏曰：「臣少孤，兄弟相依以至今。臣弟嘉祐，今授鄯州別駕，與臣各在一方，同心離居，魂絕萬里。乞移就臣側近，臣兄弟盡力報國，死無所恨。」上嘉其友愛，特改嘉祐為忻州刺史。

Early in the Kaiyuan reign he came to the capital on official business; the Emperor heard reports of his excellent administration and repeatedly praised and encouraged him. Jiazhen then said, "I lost my parents young; my brothers have depended on one another ever since. My younger brother Jiayou has just been appointed Vice Prefect of Binzhou; we are posted to opposite ends of the empire, united in heart yet separated in body, our spirits torn apart by ten thousand li. I beg that he be transferred to a post near mine; my brother and I will serve the state with all our strength and die without regret. The Emperor admired his brotherly devotion and specially transferred Jiayou to prefect of Xinzhou.

時突厥九姓新來內附，散居太原以北，嘉貞奏請置軍以鎮之，於是始於并州置天兵軍，以嘉貞為使。六年春，嘉貞又入朝。俄有告其在軍奢僭及贓賄者，御史大夫王晙因而劾奏之，按驗無狀，上將加告者反坐之罪。嘉貞奏曰：「昔者天子聽政於上，瞍賦矇誦，百工諫，庶人謗，而後天子斟酌焉。今反坐此輩，是塞言者之路，則天下之事無由上達。特望免此罪，以廣謗誦之道。」從之，遂令減死，自是帝以嘉貞為忠。嘉貞又嘗奏曰：「今誌力方壯，是效命之秋，更三數年，即衰老無能為也。惟陛下早垂任使，死且不憚。」上以其明辯，尤重之。八年春，宋璟、蘇颋罷知政事，擢嘉貞為中書侍郎、同中書門下平章事。數月，加銀青光祿大夫，遷中書令。

The nine Turkic clans had recently submitted and were scattered north of Taiyuan. Jiazhen petitioned to establish a garrison army, and the Heavenly Troops Army was accordingly founded at Bingzhou with Jiazhen as its commissioner. In the spring of the sixth year (718) Jiazhen returned to court. Soon someone accused him of extravagance and corruption in the army. Censor-in-Chief Wang Jun impeached him on that basis, but the investigation found no evidence, and the Emperor was about to punish the accuser for false reporting. Jiazhen said, "In antiquity the Son of Heaven heard government from above: the blind sang ballads, the sightless recited, craftsmen remonstrated, and commoners criticized—only then did the ruler weigh all these voices. If Your Majesty punishes these accusers now, you will block the path of those who speak, and nothing under Heaven will reach Your Majesty's ears. I beg Your Majesty to waive punishment in this case and keep the channels of criticism open. The Emperor agreed and commuted the death sentence; from that time he regarded Jiazhen as a loyal minister. Jiazhen also once said, "My mind and strength are at their peak—this is the season to serve with my life. In a few more years I will be old and useless. I beg Your Majesty to employ me while I am still able; I do not fear death. The Emperor valued him all the more for his clarity and eloquence. In the spring of 720, when Song Jing and Su Ting left office, Jiazhen was promoted to Vice Director of the Secretariat and appointed Associate Chief Minister. Within months he was made Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and promoted to Director of the Secretariat.

嘉貞斷決敏速，善於敷奏，然性強躁自用，頗為時論所譏。時中書舍人苗延嗣、呂太一、考功員外郎員嘉靜、殿中侍御史崔訓，皆嘉貞所引，位列清要，常在嘉貞門下共議朝政，時人為之語曰：「令公四俊，苗、呂、崔、員。」

Jiazhen decided cases with swift judgment and was skilled at court presentation, but his nature was forceful, impatient, and self-willed, and contemporary opinion often criticized him. The Secretariat Drafters Miao Yansi and Lü Taiyi, Director of Evaluations Yuan Jiajing, and Palace Attending Censor Cui Xun were all Jiazhen's protégés, holding prestigious posts and constantly gathered at his door to discuss policy. A contemporary saying ran: "The Chief Minister's four talents: Miao, Lü, Cui, and Yuan."

開元十年，車駕幸東都。有洛陽主簿王鈞為嘉貞修宅，將以求御史，因受贓事發，上特令朝堂集眾決殺之。嘉貞促所由速其刑以滅口，乃歸罪於御史大夫韋抗、中丞韋虛心，皆貶黜之。其冬，秘書監姜皎犯罪，嘉貞又附會王守一奏請杖之，皎遂死於路。俄而廣州都督裴伷先下獄，上召侍臣問當何罪，嘉貞又請杖之。兵部尚書張說進曰：「臣聞刑不上大夫，以其近於君也。故曰：『士可殺，不可辱。』臣今秋受詔巡邊，中途聞姜皎以罪於朝堂決杖，配流而死。皎官是三品，亦有微功。若其有犯，應死即殺，應流即流，不宜決杖廷辱，以卒伍待之。且律有八議，勛貴在焉。皎事已往，不可追悔。伷先只宜據狀流貶，不可輕又決罰。」上然其言。嘉貞不悅，退謂說曰：「何言事之深也？」說曰：「宰相者，時來即為，豈能長據？若貴臣盡當可杖，但恐吾等行當及之。此言非為伷先，乃為天下士君子也。」初，嘉貞為兵部員外郎，時張說為侍郎。及是，說位在嘉貞下，既無所推讓，說頗不平，因以此言激怒嘉貞，由是與說不葉。上又以嘉貞弟嘉祐為金吾將軍，兄弟並居將相之位，甚為時人之所畏憚。十一年，上幸太原行在所，嘉祐贓汙事發。張說勸嘉貞素服待罪，不得入謁，因出為幽州刺史，說遂代為中書令。嘉貞惋恨，謂人曰：「中書令幸有二員，何相迫之甚也！」明年，復拜戶部尚書，兼益州長史，判都督事。敕嘉貞就中書省與宰相會宴，嘉貞既恨張說擠己，因攘袂勃罵，源乾曜、王晙共和解之。

In 722 the Emperor traveled to the Eastern Capital. The Luoyang Registrar Wang Jun had built a residence for Jiazhen in hopes of securing a censor's post; when a bribery case came to light, the Emperor ordered a public assembly at court to decide his execution. Jiazhen pressed the officials to hurry the execution and silence him, then shifted blame onto Censor-in-Chief Wei Kang and Vice Censor-in-Chief Wei Xuxin; both were demoted. That winter Director of the Secretariat Jiang Jiao was convicted of a crime; Jiazhen again joined Wang Shouyi in petitioning for corporal punishment, and Jiang died on the road into exile. Soon afterward Military Commissioner of Guangzhou Pei Xianxian was imprisoned; the Emperor asked his ministers what sentence was appropriate, and Jiazhen again petitioned for corporal punishment. Minister of War Zhang Yue stepped forward and said, "I have heard that punishment does not reach high officials, because they stand close to the ruler. Hence the saying: 'A gentleman may be killed, but he must not be humiliated. This autumn I received orders to tour the frontier; midway I learned that Jiang Jiao had been beaten at court for his crime and died on the road into exile. Jiang held third-rank office and had rendered some service. If he was guilty, let him be executed if death was warranted or exiled if exile was warranted; he should not have been beaten and humiliated at court as though he were a common soldier. Moreover, the law provides the Eight Deliberations, under which meritorious nobles are protected. What is done to Jiang cannot be undone. Pei should be exiled according to the facts of his case; he must not be beaten again on a whim. The Emperor agreed. Jiazhen was displeased. As he withdrew he said to Yue, "Why press the point so hard? Yue replied, "A chief minister takes office when the time comes—who can hold the post forever? If every noble minister may be beaten, I fear we ourselves will soon face the same fate. I spoke not for Pei's sake but for gentlemen and scholars everywhere." Earlier, when Jiazhen was Vice Director of the Ministry of War, Zhang Yue was Vice Minister. Now Yue ranked below Jiazhen, and with no deference on either side Yue was deeply resentful; he used these words deliberately to provoke Jiazhen, and the two became estranged. The Emperor also appointed Jiazhen's younger brother Jiayou as General of the Golden Guards; with both brothers holding posts of general and minister, contemporaries feared them greatly. In 723, when the Emperor visited the traveling palace at Taiyuan, Jiayou's corruption was exposed. Zhang Yue urged Jiazhen to wear mourning dress and await judgment, barring him from court audience; Jiazhen was sent out as prefect of Youzhou, and Yue replaced him as Director of the Secretariat. Jiazhen was bitter and said to others, "There are fortunately two Directors of the Secretariat—why hound me so relentlessly! The following year he was reappointed Minister of Revenue and concurrently Senior Administrator of Yizhou, with authority over the military commissioner's affairs. The Emperor ordered Jiazhen to attend a Secretariat banquet with the chief ministers; still resenting Zhang Yue's maneuver against him, Jiazhen rolled up his sleeves and erupted in furious abuse until Yuan Qianyao and Wang Jun intervened to calm him.

明年，坐與王守一交往，左轉臺州刺史。復代盧從願為工部尚書、定州刺史，知北平軍事，累封河東侯。將行，上自賦詩，詔百僚於上東門外餞之。至州，於恆嶽廟中立頌，嘉貞自為其文，乃書於石，其碑用白石為之，素質黑文，甚為奇麗。先是，嶽祠為遠近祈賽，有錢數百萬，嘉貞自以為頌文之功，納其數萬。十七年，嘉貞以疾請就醫東都，制從之。至都，目瞑無所見，上令醫人內直郎田休裕、郎將呂弘泰馳傳往省療之。其秋卒，年六十四，贈益州大都督。謚曰恭肅。

The following year, for associating with Wang Shouyi, he was demoted to prefect of Taizhou. He again replaced Lu Congyuan as Minister of Works and prefect of Dingzhou, with authority over Beiping military affairs, and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Hedong. Before his departure the Emperor composed a poem in his honor and ordered the officials to see him off outside the Upper East Gate. On reaching his post he erected a eulogy stele at the Mount Heng temple, composing the text himself and carving it on white stone with black inscription—a work of striking beauty. The shrine had accumulated several million in cash from offerings near and far; Jiazhen, claiming the merit of his eulogy, took tens of thousands for himself. In 729 Jiazhen, ill, petitioned to seek treatment in the Eastern Capital; the Emperor granted his request. On reaching the capital he had gone blind; the Emperor dispatched the physicians Inner Attendant Tian Xiuyu and Commandant Lü Hongtai by relay post to treat him. He died that autumn at the age of sixty-four and was posthumously appointed Metropolitan Governor of Yizhou. He was given the posthumous title Gongsu ("Respectful and Solemn").

嘉貞雖久歷清要，然不立田園。及在定州，所親有勸植田業者，嘉貞曰：「吾忝歷官榮，曾任國相，未死之際，豈憂饑餒？若負譴責，雖富田莊，亦無用也。比見朝士廣占良田，及身沒後，皆為無賴子弟作酒色之資，甚無謂也。」聞者皆嘆伏。

Though Jiazhen had long held prestigious posts, he never established landed estates. At Dingzhou some associates urged him to acquire farmland. Jiazhen said, "I have enjoyed the honors of high office and once served as chief minister—before I die, why should I fear hunger? If I fall under censure and punishment, even vast estates will be useless. I have lately seen officials seize vast estates, only to leave them after death as resources for worthless sons and nephews to squander on wine and women—what folly that is. All who heard him sighed in admiration.

初，嘉貞作相，薦萬年縣主簿韓朝宗，擢為監察御史。及嘉貞卒後十數歲，朝宗為京兆尹，因奏曰：「自陛下臨御已來，所用宰相，皆進退以禮，善始令終，身雖已沒，子孫咸在朝廷。唯張嘉貞晚年一子，今猶未登官序。」上亦惘然，遽令召之，賜名延賞，特拜左內率府兵曹參軍。德宗朝，位至宰輔，自有傳。張嘉祐嘉祐，有幹略，自右金吾將軍貶浦陽府折沖，至二十五年，為相州刺史。相州自開元已來，刺史死貶者十數人，嘉祐訪知尉遲迥周末為相州總管，身死國難，乃立其神祠以邀福。經三考，改左金吾將軍。後吳兢為鄴郡守，又加尉遲神冕服。自後郡守無患。蕭嵩蕭嵩，貞觀初左僕射、宋國公瑀之曾侄孫。祖鈞，中書舍人，有名於時。嵩美須髯，儀形偉麗。初，娶會稽賀晦女，與吳郡陸象先為僚婿。象先時為洛陽尉，宰相子，門望甚高。嵩尚未入仕，宣州人夏榮稱有相術，謂象先曰：「陸郎十年內位極人臣，然不及蕭郎一門盡貴，官位高而有壽。」時人未之許。

When Jiazhen first became chief minister he recommended Han Chaozong, registrar of Wannian County, and promoted him to investigating censor. More than ten years after Jiazhen's death, Chaozong, now Metropolitan Governor of Jingzhao, memorialized: "Since Your Majesty's accession, every chief minister appointed has risen and retired with propriety, beginning and ending well; though they have died, their descendants still serve at court. Only Zhang Jiazhen's son, born in his later years, has still not entered official service. The Emperor was moved as well and immediately summoned the youth, bestowing the name Yanbao and specially appointing him Military Staff Officer of the Left Inner Rate. Under Emperor Dezong he rose to chief minister; his career is recorded in a separate biography. Zhang Jiayou was capable and resourceful. Demoted from Right General of the Golden Guards to colonel of the Puyang garrison, by 737 he had become prefect of Xiangzhou. Since the Kaiyuan reign more than ten Xiangzhou prefects had died or been demoted in office. Jiayou learned that Yuwen Jiong had served as area commander of Xiang at the end of the Northern Zhou and died for the state, and he established a shrine to Jiong's spirit to seek divine protection. After three evaluations he was transferred to Left General of the Golden Guards. Later, when Wu Jing became prefect of Ye, he added imperial regalia to Yuwen's spirit image as well. From then on prefects of the commandery suffered no mishaps. Xiao Song was the great-grandnephew of Xiao Yu, Left Vice Director of the Secretariat and Duke of Song in early Zhenguan. His grandfather Jun had been a Secretariat Drafter renowned in his day. Song had a magnificent beard and a grand, imposing bearing. He first married the daughter of He Hui of Kuaiji and thereby became brothers-in-law with Lu Xiangxian of Wu Commandery. Xiangxian was then Vice Magistrate of Luoyang, a chief minister's son of very high family standing. Song had not yet entered office. Xia Rong of Xuanzhou, who claimed skill in physiognomy, told Xiangxian, "Within ten years you will reach the highest rank, yet you will not equal the Xiao clan in nobility—they will hold high office and enjoy long life. Contemporaries did not believe him.

神龍元年，嵩調補洺州參軍。尋而侍中、扶陽王桓彥範出為洺州刺史，見之推重，待以殊禮。景雲元年，為醴泉尉。時陸象先已為中書侍郎，引為監察御史。及象先知政事，嵩又驟遷殿中侍御史。開元初，為中書舍人。與崔琳、王丘、齊澣同列，皆以嵩寡學術，未異之，而紫微令姚崇許其致遠，眷之特深。歷宋州刺史，三遷為尚書左丞、兵部侍郎。

In 705 Song was appointed administrator of Mingzhou. Soon Attending Secretariat Director Huan Yanfan, Prince of Fuyang, went out as prefect of Mingzhou, esteemed Song on meeting him, and treated him with exceptional courtesy. In 710 he served as magistrate of Liquan. Lu Xiangxian was then Vice Director of the Secretariat and secured his appointment as investigating censor. When Xiangxian entered the government, Song was rapidly promoted to Palace Attending Censor. Early in the Kaiyuan reign he became Secretariat Drafter. He served alongside Cui Lin, Wang Qiu, and Qi Huan, who all regarded him as poorly educated and unremarkable, but Yao Chong, Director of the Purple Asterism, foresaw his future success and favored him deeply. He served as prefect of Songzhou and after three promotions became Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and Vice Minister of War.

十五年，涼州刺史、河西節度王君滷恃眾每歲攻擊吐蕃。吐蕃大將悉諾邏恭祿及燭龍莽布支攻陷瓜州城，執刺史田元獻及君滷父壽，盡取城中軍資及倉糧，仍毀其城而去。又攻玉門軍及常樂縣，縣令賈師順嬰城固守，賊遂引退。無何，君滷又為回紇諸部殺之於鞏筆驛，河、隴震駭。玄宗以君滷勇將無謀，果及於難，擇堪邊任者，乃以嵩為兵部尚書、河西節度使，判涼州事。嵩乃請以裴寬、郭虛己、牛仙客在其幕下，又請以建康軍使、左金吾將軍張守珪為瓜州刺史，修築州城，招輯百姓，令其復業。又加嵩銀青光祿大夫。時悉諾邏恭祿威名甚振，嵩乃縱反間於吐蕃，言其與中國潛通，贊普遂召而誅之。明年秋，吐蕃大下，悉末明復率眾攻瓜州，守珪出兵擊走之。隴右節度使、鄯州都督張誌亮引兵至青海西南馮波谷，與吐蕃接戰，大破之。八月，嵩又遣副將杜賓客率弩手四千人，與吐蕃戰於祁連城下，自晨至暮，散而復合，賊徒大潰，臨陣斬其副將一人，散走山谷，哭聲四合。露布至，玄宗大悅，乃加嵩同中書門下三品，恩顧莫比。

In 727 Wang Junyao, prefect of Liangzhou and Military Commissioner of Hexi, relying on his large force attacked Tibet every year. The Tibetan generals Sinoluogonglu and Zhulongmangbuzhi captured Guazhou, seized Prefect Tian Yuanxian and Junyao's father Shou, stripped the city of all military stores and grain, and destroyed the walls before withdrawing. They also attacked Yumen Army and Changle County, but Magistrate Jia Shishun held the walls firm and the enemy withdrew. Before long Junyao was killed by Uyghur tribes at Gongbi Post, sending shock through the He and Long frontier regions. Xuanzong judged that Junyao, a brave but unstrategic general, had brought disaster on himself; he selected Song as Minister of War and Military Commissioner of Hexi, with authority over Liangzhou affairs. Song requested Pei Kuan, Guo Xuji, and Niu Xianke for his staff, and asked that Zhang Shougui, commissioner of the Jiankang Army and Left General of the Golden Guards, be made prefect of Guazhou to rebuild the city walls, gather the populace, and restore their livelihoods. Song was further promoted to Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. Sinoluogonglu's reputation was then at its height; Song spread disinformation among the Tibetans that he was secretly communicating with China, and the Tibetan ruler summoned and executed him. The following autumn Tibet invaded in force; Ximoming again led troops against Guazhou, but Shougui drove them off. Zhang Zhiliang, Military Commissioner of Longyou and Area Commander of Shanzhou, led troops to Fengbo Valley southwest of Qinghai, engaged the Tibetans, and won a great victory. In the eighth month Song sent Vice General Du Binke with four thousand crossbowmen to fight the Tibetans below Qilian Fortress. The battle raged from morning to evening; the enemy broke and re-formed repeatedly, then collapsed in rout. One Tibetan vice general was beheaded on the field; the survivors fled into the valleys wailing on all sides. When the victory bulletin arrived Xuanzong was delighted and made Song Associate of the Third Rank of the Secretariat-Chancellery; his favor was unmatched.

十七年，授宇文融、裴光庭宰相，又加嵩兼中書令。自十四年燕國公張說罷中書令後，缺此位四年，而嵩居之。常帶河西節度，遙領之。加集賢殿學士、知院事，兼修國史，進位金紫光祿大夫。子衡，尚新昌公主，嵩夫人賀氏入覲拜席，玄宗呼為親家母，禮儀甚盛。尋又進封徐國公。二十一年二月，侍中裴光庭卒。光庭與嵩同位數年，情頗不協，及是，玄宗遣嵩擇相，嵩以右丞韓休長者，舉之。及休入相，嵩舉事，休峭直，輒不相假，互於玄宗前論曲直，因讓位。玄宗眷嵩厚，乃許嵩授尚書右丞相，令罷相，以休為工部尚書。尋又以嵩子華為給事中。

In 729 Yuwen Rong and Pei Guangting were appointed chief ministers, and Song was further made concurrent Director of the Secretariat. Since Zhang Yue, Duke of Yan, had left the post of Director of the Secretariat in 726, the office had been vacant for four years; Song now filled it. He continued to hold the Hexi commission in absentia. He was made Academician of the Jixian Hall with charge of academy affairs, concurrently editor of the national history, and promoted to Golden-Gleaming Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. His son Heng married Princess Xinchang; when Song's wife Lady He attended court and bowed at the feast, Xuanzong addressed her as his mother-in-law by marriage with great ceremony. He was soon further enfeoffed as Duke of Xu. In the second month of 733 Attending Secretariat Director Pei Guangting died. Guangting and Song had shared power for years on poor terms; the Emperor now asked Song to recommend a successor. Song nominated Han Xiu, the Right Vice Director, as a man of mature judgment. When Han Xiu became chief minister he was stern and upright and would not defer to Song; they argued before the Emperor until Song offered to resign. The Emperor's affection for Song remained strong; he permitted Song to take the title Right Chancellor of the Department of State Affairs while leaving the chancellorship, and made Han Xiu Minister of Works. He soon appointed Song's son Hua as Drafting Attendant.

二十四年，拜太子太師。及幽州節度使張守珪坐賂遺中官牛仙童，貶為括州刺史，嵩嘗賄仙童，李林甫發之，貶青州刺史。尋又追拜太子太師，嵩又請老。嵩性好服餌，及罷相，於林園植藥，合煉自適。華時為工部侍郎，衡以主婿三品，嵩皤然就養十餘年，家財豐贍，衣冠榮之。天寶八年薨，年八十餘，贈開府儀同三司。蕭華子華，天寶末轉兵部侍郎。祿山之亂，從駕不及，陷賊，偽署魏州刺史。乾元元年，郭子儀與九節度之師渡河攻安慶緒於相州，華潛通表疏，俟官軍至為內應。賊伺知之，禁錮華於獄。崔光遠收魏州，破械出華。魏人美華之惠政，詣光遠請留，朝廷正授魏州刺史。既而史思明率眾南下，子儀懼華復陷，乃表崔光遠代華，召至軍中。及相州兵潰，華歸京，仍以偽命所汙，降授試秘書少監。華謹重方雅，綽有家法，人士稱之。尋遷尚書右丞。乾元二年，出為河中尹、河中晉絳節度使。

In 736 he was appointed Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent. When Zhang Shougui, Military Commissioner of Youzhou, was demoted to prefect of Kuozhou for bribing the eunuch Niu Xiantong, Li Linfu exposed Song's own bribery of Xiantong, and Song was demoted to prefect of Qingzhou. He was soon reappointed Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent, but Song again petitioned to retire. Song loved taking medicines and elixirs; after leaving office he planted herbs in his garden and compounded them for his own use. Hua was then Vice Minister of Works; Heng, as the emperor's son-in-law, held third rank. Song lived in white-haired retirement for more than ten years, his household wealthy and honored among the gentry. He died in 749 at more than eighty years of age and was posthumously made Grand Master of the Palace with ceremonial equal to the Three Excellencies. Xiao Hua was transferred to Vice Minister of War at the end of the Tianbao era. During the An Lushan rebellion he failed to accompany the court in its flight, fell into rebel hands, and was appointed prefect of Weizhou under the rebel regime. In 758 Guo Ziyi and the armies of the nine commissioners crossed the Yellow River to attack An Qingxu at Xiangzhou; Hua secretly sent memorials pledging to serve as an inside collaborator when the imperial army arrived. The rebels discovered his plot and imprisoned him. Cui Guangyuan recovered Weizhou, broke his chains, and freed him. The people of Wei admired his benevolent administration and petitioned Guangyuan to retain him; the court formally appointed him prefect of Weizhou. Soon Shi Siming led his forces south; Guo Ziyi feared Hua would be captured again and memorialized for Cui Guangyuan to replace him, summoning Hua to headquarters. After the rout at Xiangzhou Hua returned to the capital but, still tainted by his service under the rebels, was demoted to provisional Vice Director of the Secretariat. Hua was careful, dignified, and refined, with strong family discipline; men of standing praised him. He was soon promoted to Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. In 759 he was sent out as Governor of Hezhong and Military Commissioner of Hezhong, Jin, and Jiang.

上元元年十二月，制曰：「弼予之選，審象是求，天步未平，廟謨尤切。必資明表，佇以佐時，畫一之才，取則不遠。正議大夫、前河中尹、兼御史中丞、充本府晉絳等州節度觀察等使、上柱國、嗣徐國公、賜紫金魚袋蕭華，公輔成名，承家繼業，詞標麗則，德蘊謨明。再履宮坊，尤知至行，致君望美，閱相求能。且推伊陟之賢，更啟漢臣之閤，還依日月，佐理陰陽。俾參政於紫宸，用建中於皇極。可中書侍郎、同中書門下平章事、集賢殿崇文館大學士，監修國史。」

In the twelfth month of 760 an edict declared: "In choosing one to assist me, I seek one who reads the signs of the times; the realm is not yet pacified, and statecraft is urgently needed. I require a brilliant exemplar to aid the age; talent to unify policy is close at hand. Proper Counselor Xiao Hua, former Governor of Hezhong, concurrently Vice Censor-in-Chief and Military Commissioner of Jin and Jiang prefectures, Pillar of the State, heir to the Duke of Xu, bearer of the gold and purple fish tally: renowned as a chief minister, heir to a distinguished house, his words elegant and his virtue steeped in wise counsel. Twice serving in the palace administration, he knows utmost conduct well; in serving the ruler he aspires to excellence; in reviewing ministers he seeks true ability. He extends the worth of Yi Zhi, reopens the gate of Han ministers, returns to stand beside the sun and moon, and assists in ordering the realm. Let him take part in government at the Purple Asterism Hall and employ the Mean to establish the supreme pole. He is appointed Vice Director of the Secretariat, Associate Chief Minister, Grand Academician of the Jixian and Chongwen Halls, and supervisor of editing the national history."

時中官李輔國專典禁兵，怙寵用事，求為宰相，諷宰臣裴冕等薦己，華頗拒之，輔國怒。肅宗方寢疾，輔國矯命罷華相位，守禮部尚書，仍引元載代華。肅宗崩，代宗在諒暗，元載希輔國旨，貶華為硤州員外司馬，卒於貶所。蕭衡、蕭華後人衡子復，德宗朝位亦至宰輔。華子恆、悟。恆子俯，大和中宰輔。悟子仿，咸通中宰輔，皆自有傳。張九齡張九齡，字子壽，一名博物。曾祖君政，韶州別駕，因家於始興，今為曲江人。父弘愈，以九齡貴，贈廣州刺史。九齡幼聰敏，善屬文。年十三，以書幹廣州刺史王方慶，大嗟賞之，曰：「此子必能致遠。」登進士第，應舉登乙第，拜校書郎。玄宗在東宮，舉天下文藻之士，親加策問，九齡對策高第，遷右拾遺。時帝未行親郊之禮，九齡上疏曰：

The eunuch Li Fuguo then controlled the palace guard, wielded power through imperial favor, and sought the chancellorship, pressuring chief ministers such as Pei Mian to recommend him. Hua resisted firmly, and Fuguo was enraged. While Emperor Suzong lay ill, Fuguo forged an order removing Hua from the chancellorship and retaining him as Minister of Rites, then installed Yuan Zai in his place. After Suzong's death, while Daizong was in mourning seclusion, Yuan Zai, courting Fuguo's favor, demoted Hua to acting military adjutant of Xiazhou; he died in exile. Among the later descendants of Xiao Heng and Xiao Hua, Heng's son Fu rose to chief minister under Emperor Dezong. Hua's sons were Heng and Wu. Heng's son Fu became chief minister in the Dahe era (827–835). Wu's son Fang became chief minister in the Xiantong era (860–874); each has a separate biography. Zhang Jiuling, style name Zishou, also known as Bowu. His great-grandfather Junzheng was Vice Prefect of Shaozhou and settled the family at Shixing; the clan is now counted as from Qujiang. His father Hongyu was posthumously made prefect of Guangzhou because of Jiuling's eminence. Jiuling was clever and perceptive as a boy and skilled at literary composition. At thirteen he presented a letter to Guangzhou Prefect Wang Fangqing, who greatly admired him and said, "This youth is bound to go far. He passed the jinshi examination, earned the second grade in the special examination, and was appointed Collator. When Xuanzong was crown prince he gathered literary talents from across the empire and personally examined them; Jiuling ranked at the top and was promoted to Right Reminder. The Emperor had not yet performed the suburban sacrifice in person; Jiuling submitted a memorial stating:

九齡以才鑒見推，當時吏部試拔萃選人及應舉者，咸令九齡與右拾遺趙冬曦考其等第，前後數四，每稱平允。開元十年，三遷司勛員外郎。時張說為中書令，與九齡同姓，敘為昭穆，尤親重之，常謂人曰：「後來詞人稱首也。」九齡既欣知己，亦依附焉。十一年，拜中書舍人。

Jiuling was esteemed for his talent and discernment. The Ministry of Personnel repeatedly assigned him and Right Reminder Zhao Dongxi to grade candidates for the outstanding selection and civil examinations; they did so four times in succession, and each time their judgments were praised as fair. In 722, after three promotions, he became Vice Director of the Bureau of Merit. Zhang Yue was then Director of the Secretariat; he shared Jiuling's surname and treated him as a kinsman of the younger generation, cherishing him greatly and often saying, "Among later men of letters he stands first. Jiuling, delighted to find a patron, attached himself to Yue as well. In 723 he was appointed Secretariat Drafter.

十三年，車駕東巡，行封禪之禮。說自定侍從升中之官，多引兩省錄事主書及己之所親攝官而上，遂加特進階，超授五品。初，令九齡草詔，九齡言於說曰：「官爵者，天下之公器，德望為先，勞舊次焉。若顛倒衣裳，則譏謗起矣。今登封霈澤，千載一遇。清流高品，不沐殊恩。胥吏末班，先加章紱。但恐制出之後，四方失望。今進草之際，事猶可改，唯令公審籌之，無貽後悔也。」說曰：「事已決矣，悠悠之談，何足慮也！」竟不從。及制出，內外甚咎於說。時御史中丞宇文融方知田戶之事，每有所奏，說多建議違之，融亦以此不平於說。九齡復勸說為備，說又不從其言。無幾，說果為融所劾，罷知政事，九齡亦改太常少卿，尋出為冀暫刺史。九齡以母老在鄉，而河北道里遼遠，上疏固請換江南一州，望得數承母音耗，優制許之，改為洪州都督。俄轉桂州都督，仍充嶺南道按察使。上又以其弟九章、九臯為嶺南道刺史，令歲時伏臘，皆得寧覲。

In 725 the Emperor traveled east and performed the feng and shan sacrifices. Yue himself fixed the posts for attendants at the Mount Tai ascent, promoting many recording clerks and chief clerks from the two secretariats and his own intimates acting in office, then specially advancing them and leap-promoting them to fifth rank. Yue first ordered Jiuling to draft the edict. Jiuling told him, "Office and rank are the public vessels of the realm; virtue and reputation come first, merit and seniority next. If ranks are turned upside down, ridicule and slander will follow. The blessings of the feng sacrifice come once in a thousand years. Men of pure reputation and high rank receive no special grace, while clerks of the lowest ranks are first given insignia and ribbons. I fear that once the edict is issued, the empire will be disappointed. The draft can still be revised. I beg Your Excellency to consider carefully and leave no cause for regret. Yue replied, "The matter is settled. Idle talk is not worth worrying about!" He did not heed the advice. When the edict was issued, court and country alike blamed Yue. Vice Censor-in-Chief Yuwen Rong had just mastered the field-household system; whenever he memorialized, Yue often opposed him, and Rong grew resentful. Jiuling again urged Yue to take precautions; Yue again refused. Before long Yue was impeached by Rong and left office; Jiuling was transferred to Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and soon sent out as prefect of Jizhou. Jiuling's mother was elderly in their home district, and the Hebei posting was far away; he memorialized firmly to exchange it for a Jiangnan prefecture so he could hear from her more often. The Emperor graciously agreed and made him Area Commander of Hongzhou. He was soon transferred to Area Commander of Guizhou and also served as Investigation Commissioner of the Lingnan Circuit. The Emperor also appointed his younger brothers Jiuzhang and Jiugao as prefects on the Lingnan Circuit so that at seasonal festivals they could all visit their mother in peace.

初，張說知集賢院事，常薦九齡堪為學士，以備顧問。說卒後，上思其言，召拜九齡為秘書少監、集賢院學士，副知院事。再遷中書侍郎。常密有陳奏，多見納用。尋丁母喪歸鄉里。二十一年十二月，起復拜中書侍郎、同中書門下平章事。明年，遷中書令，兼修國史。時范陽節度使張守珪以裨將安祿山討奚、契丹敗衄，執送京師，請行朝典。九齡奏劾曰：「穰苴出軍，必誅莊賈；孫武教戰，亦斬宮嬪。守珪軍令必行，祿山不宜免死。」上特舍之。九齡奏曰：「祿山狼子野心，面有逆相，臣請因罪戮之，冀絕後患。」上曰：「卿勿以王夷甫知石勒故事，誤害忠良。」遂放歸籓。

When Zhang Yue directed the Jixian Academy he often recommended Jiuling as fit to be an academician and imperial adviser. After Yue's death the Emperor recalled his recommendation and appointed Jiuling Vice Director of the Secretariat Library, Jixian Academician, and deputy director of academy affairs. He was soon promoted to Vice Director of the Secretariat. He often submitted confidential memorials, many of which the Emperor adopted. He soon mourned his mother's death and returned home. In the twelfth month of 733 he was recalled from mourning and appointed Vice Director of the Secretariat and Associate Chief Minister. The following year he was promoted to Director of the Secretariat and concurrently editor of the national history. Military Commissioner of Fanyang Zhang Shougui had his lieutenant An Lushan campaign against the Xi and Khitan; when Lushan was defeated, Shougui seized him and sent him to the capital, requesting that court law be applied. Jiuling memorialized: "When Rangju led the army forth, he executed Zhuang Jia; when Sun Wu taught warfare, he beheaded palace women as well. Shougui's military orders must be enforced; Lushan ought not be spared death. The Emperor specially pardoned him. Jiuling said, "Lushan has the heart of a wolf cub and the face of a rebel. I beg to execute him for his crime and forestall future trouble. The Emperor replied, "Do not, like Wang Yifu who recognized Shi Le too late, mistakenly harm a loyal man." Lushan was released and sent back to the frontier.

二十三年，加金紫光祿大夫，累封始興縣伯。李林甫自無學術，以九齡文行為上所知，心頗忌之。乃引牛仙客知政事，九齡屢言不可，帝不悅。二十四年，遷尚書右丞相，罷知政事。後宰執每薦引公卿，上必問：「風度得如九齡否？」故事皆搢笏於帶，而後乘馬，九齡體羸，常使人持之，因設笏囊。笏囊之設，自九齡始也。

In 735 he was made Golden-Gleaming Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and enfeoffed as Earl of Shixing County. Li Linfu lacked learning himself and resented that the Emperor valued Jiuling's literary conduct and integrity. He brought Niu Xianke into government; Jiuling repeatedly objected, and the Emperor was displeased. In 736 he was transferred to Right Chancellor of the Department of State Affairs and left the chancellorship. Whenever chief ministers later recommended high officials, the Emperor always asked, "Does his bearing match Jiuling's? By precedent officials tucked their court tablets in their belts before mounting a horse. Jiuling's health was frail, and he often had an attendant carry his tablet; he therefore devised the tablet pouch. The tablet pouch began with Jiuling.

初，九齡為相，薦長安尉周子諒為監察御史。至是，子諒以妄陳休咎，上親加詰問，令於朝堂決殺之。九齡坐引非其人，左遷荊州大都督府長史。俄請歸拜墓，因遇疾卒，年六十八，贈荊州大都督，謚曰文獻。九齡在相位時，建議復置十道采訪使，又教河南數州水種稻，以廣屯田。議置屯田，費功無利，竟不能就，罷之。性頗躁急，動輒忿詈，議者以此少之。

When Jiuling was chief minister he had recommended Chang'an Vice Magistrate Zhou Ziliang as investigating censor. Ziliang then rashly predicted fortune and calamity; the Emperor personally interrogated him and ordered his execution at court. Jiuling was demoted to Senior Administrator of the Jingzhou Metropolitan Command for having recommended an unfit man. He soon requested leave to visit his parents' tombs, fell ill on the journey, and died at sixty-eight. He was posthumously made Metropolitan Governor of Jingzhou and given the posthumous title Wenxian ("Literary Exemplar"). As chief minister Jiuling proposed restoring the ten-circuit investigation commissioners and urged several Henan prefectures to plant rice by irrigation to expand garrison agriculture. The garrison-field project cost labor without profit and was eventually abandoned. His nature was impatient and quick to anger; commentators thought less of him for it.

子拯，伊闕令。祿山之亂陷賊，不受偽命。兩京克復，詔加太子右贊善。弟九臯，自尚書郎歷唐、徐、宋、襄、廣五州刺史。九章，歷吉、明、曹三州刺史，鴻臚卿。

His son Zheng served as magistrate of Yique. During the An Lushan rebellion he fell into rebel hands but refused to accept appointment under the rebel regime. After the two capitals were recovered he was appointed Right Supporter of the Heir Apparent. His younger brother Jiugao rose from a Secretariat director's post to serve in turn as prefect of Tang, Xu, Song, Xiang, and Guang prefectures. Jiuzhang served in turn as prefect of Ji, Ming, and Cao prefectures and as Director of the Court for Diplomatic Reception.

九齡為中書令時，天長節百僚上壽，多獻珍異，唯九齡進《金鏡錄》五卷，言前古興廢之道，上賞異之。又與中書侍郎嚴挺之、尚書左丞袁仁敬、右庶子梁升卿、御史中丞盧怡結交友善。挺之等有才幹，而交道終始不渝，甚為當時之所稱。至德初，上皇在蜀，思九齡之先覺，下詔褒贈，曰：「正大廈者柱石之力，昌帝業者輔相之臣。生則保其榮名，歿乃稱其盛德，節終未允於人望，加贈實存乎國章。故中書令張九齡，維嶽降神，濟川作相，開元之際，寅亮成功。讜言定其社稷，先覺合於蓍策，永懷賢弼，可謂大臣。竹帛猶存，樵蘇必禁，爰從八命之秩，更進三臺之位。可贈司徒，仍遣使就韶州致祭。」有集二十卷。張仲方九臯曾孫仲方，少朗秀。為兒童時，父友高郢見而奇之，曰；「此子非常，必為國器，吾獲高位，必振發之。」後郢為御史大夫，首請仲方為御史。歷金州刺史。郡人有田產為中人所奪，仲方三疏奏聞，竟理其冤。入為度支郎中，駁李吉甫謚，吉甫之黨惡之，出為遂州司馬。稍遷復、曹、鄭三郡守。為諫議大夫。時鄠縣令崔發因辱小黃門，敬宗赫怒，付臺推鞫。及元日大赦，獨發不得宥。仲方上疏，其略曰：「鴻恩將布於天下，而不行御前；霈澤始被於昆蟲，而獨遺崔發。」由是發得不死，時論美之。大和九年，為京兆尹，將相從累者皆大戮，仲方密令識之。旋詔下許令收葬，得認遺骸，實仲方之力也。是時軍人橫恣，仲方脂韋，坐不稱職，出為華州刺史，改秘書監。開成二年卒，年七十二，贈禮部尚書，謚曰成。李適之李適之，一名昌，恆山王承乾之孫也。父象，官至懷州別駕。適之神龍初起家拜左衛郎將。開元中，累遷通州刺史，以強幹見稱。時給事中韓朝宗為按察使，特表薦之，擢拜秦州都督。俄轉陜州刺史，入為河南尹。適之性簡率，不務苛細，人吏便之。歲餘，拜御史大夫。開元二十七年，兼幽州大都督府長史，知節度事。適之以祖得罪見廢，父又遭則天所黜，葬禮有闕，上疏請歸葬昭陵之闕內。於是下詔追贈承乾為恆山湣王，象為越州都督、郇國公，伯父厥及亡兄數人並有褒贈。數喪同至京師，葬禮甚盛，仍刊石於墳所。俄拜刑部尚書。適之雅好賓友，飲酒一斗不亂，夜則宴賞，晝決公務，庭無留事。

When Jiuling was Director of the Secretariat, on the Tianzhang Festival the officials offered birthday congratulations, most presenting rare treasures; Jiuling alone presented five scrolls of the Golden Mirror Records on the rise and fall of dynasties in antiquity, which the Emperor greatly admired. He also formed lasting friendships with Vice Director Yan Tingzhi, Left Vice Director Yuan Renjing, Right Subordinate Mentor Liang Shengqing, and Vice Censor-in-Chief Lu Yi. Tingzhi and the others were men of talent, and their friendships with Jiuling never wavered from beginning to end—a quality much praised at the time. Early in the Zhide era (756–758), the Retired Emperor in Shu recalled Jiuling's foresight and issued an edict of praise and posthumous honors: "To set straight a great hall requires pillar and stone; to flourish an imperial enterprise requires a assisting minister. In life one preserves honored name; in death one proclaims great virtue. His end did not satisfy the hopes of men, and an added posthumous grant truly belongs in the state's regulations. The late Director of the Secretariat Zhang Jiuling: spirit descended from the sustaining mountain, he crossed the stream to serve as minister; in the Kaiyuan era he diligently assisted the throne to success. His forthright counsel secured the altars of state; his foresight matched the oracle stalks; to cherish such a worthy assistant forever is to know a great minister. His name endures on bamboo and silk; fuel-gathering at his tomb must be forbidden. From the rank of eight orders let him advance to the position of the Three Excellencies. He is posthumously appointed Minister of Education, and an envoy is dispatched to Shaozhou to perform sacrifice. He left collected works in twenty scrolls. Zhang Zhongfang, great-grandson of Jiugao, was bright and refined as a youth. As a child his father's friend Gao Ying saw him and marveled, saying, "This child is extraordinary and will surely be a pillar of the state. If I gain high office, I will surely raise him up. Later, when Gao became Censor-in-Chief, he was the first to recommend Zhongfang as censor. He served as prefect of Jinzhou. A local man's fields were seized by a eunuch; Zhongfang memorialized three times and ultimately righted the injustice. He entered office as Director in the Bureau of Revenue and opposed Li Jifu's posthumous title; Jifu's faction hated him and he was sent out as military adjutant of Suizhou. He was gradually promoted to serve as prefect of Fu, Cao, and Zheng. He became Remonstrance and Policy Advisor. E Prefect Cui Fa insulted a junior eunuch attendant, provoking Emperor Jingzong's fierce anger; he was handed over to the censorate for investigation. When the New Year's general amnesty was proclaimed, Cui Fa alone was excluded. Zhongfang memorialized in essence: "The great grace is about to spread over the empire, yet it does not reach before the throne; the generous rain first reaches even insects, yet Cui Fa alone is left out. Cui Fa was spared death as a result, and contemporaries praised Zhongfang. In 835, as Metropolitan Governor of Jingzhao, when ministers and generals connected to the Sweet Dew incident were slaughtered en masse, Zhongfang secretly ordered their bodies identified. Before long an imperial edict allowed the dead to be gathered for burial, and the remains could be identified—an outcome owed entirely to Zhongfang's efforts. Soldiers were running rampant at the time, and Zhongfang was regarded as too mild and ineffectual for the crisis. He was found unfit for office, appointed governor of Hua Prefecture, and later transferred to be Director of the Secretariat. He died in the second year of the Kaicheng era, at the age of seventy-two. He was posthumously appointed Minister of Rites and given the posthumous name Cheng. Li Shizhi, also known as Chang, was a grandson of the Prince of Hengshan, Li Chengqian. His father, Xiang, rose to the post of vice-prefect of Huaizhou. Shizhi began his career at the start of the Shenlong era, when he was appointed a captain in the Left Guard. During the Kaiyuan reign he rose through several posts to become governor of Tong Prefecture, where he earned a reputation for vigorous and capable administration. When Han Chaozong of the Secretariat was serving as an inspection commissioner, he singled Shizhi out in a memorial of recommendation, and Shizhi was promoted to Area Commander of Qin Prefecture. He was soon transferred to governor of Shan Prefecture and then recalled to the capital as Intendant of Henan. Shizhi was straightforward by nature and did not fuss over petty detail, which made life easier for his staff and subordinates. A little over a year later he was appointed Censor-in-Chief. In the twenty-seventh year of Kaiyuan he also served as chief administrator of the Youzhou metropolitan commandery and oversaw the military commission there. Shizhi's grandfather had been condemned and stripped of rank, and his father had later been demoted by Empress Wu, leaving the family funerals incomplete. He submitted a memorial asking that the remains be reinterred in the vacant place at Zhaoling. The throne then issued an edict posthumously restoring Chengqian as Prince Min of Hengshan and honoring Xiang as Area Commander of Yue and Duke of Xun, while several uncles and deceased elder brothers received posthumous awards as well. Several coffins were brought to the capital together, the funeral was conducted on a grand scale, and commemorative stones were carved at the burial site. He was soon appointed Minister of Justice. Shizhi was fond of entertaining friends and could drink a gallon of wine without losing his composure. He held banquets at night and cleared official business by day, so that nothing lingered on his desk.

天寶元年，代牛仙客為左相，累封清和縣公。與李林甫爭權不葉，適之性疏，為其陰中。林甫嘗謂適之曰：「華山有金鑛，采之可以富國，上未之知。」適之心善其言，他日從容奏之。玄宗大悅，顧問林甫，對曰：「臣知之久矣。然華山陛下本命，王氣所在，不可穿鑿，臣故不敢上言。」帝以為愛己，薄適之言疏。隴右節度皇甫惟明、刑部尚書韋堅、戶部尚書裴寬、京兆尹韓朝宗，悉與適之善，林甫皆中傷之，構成其罪，相繼放逐。適之懼不自安，求為散職。五載，罷知政事，守太子少保。遽命親故歡會，賦詩曰：「避賢初罷相，樂聖且銜杯。為問門前客，今朝幾個來？」竟坐與韋堅等相善，貶宜春太守。後御史羅希奭奉使殺韋堅、盧幼臨、裴敦復、李邕等於貶所，州縣且聞希奭到，無不惶駭。希奭過宜春郡，適之聞其來，仰藥而死。李季卿子季卿，弱冠舉明經，頗工文詞。應制舉，登博學宏詞科，再遷京兆府鄠縣尉。肅宗朝，累遷中書舍人，以公事坐貶通州別駕。代宗即位，大舉淹抑，自通州徵為京兆少尹。尋復中書舍人，拜吏部侍郎。俄兼御史大夫，奉使河南、江淮宣慰，振拔幽滯，進用忠廉，時人稱之。在銓衡數年，轉右散騎常侍。季卿有宇量，性識博達，善與人交，襟懷豁如。其在朝以進賢為務，士以此多之。大曆二年卒，贈禮部尚書。李融孫融，立性嚴整，善吏事。貞元十年，歷官至渭州節度使卒。嚴挺之嚴挺之，華州華陰人。叔父方嶷，景雲中戶部郎中。挺之少好學，舉進士。神龍元年，制舉擢第，授義興尉。遇姚崇為常州刺史，見其體質昂藏，雅有吏幹，深器異之。及崇再入為中書令，引挺之為右拾遺。

In the first year of Tianbao he succeeded Niu Xianke as Left Chancellor and was enfeoffed in succession as Duke of Qinghe County. He clashed with Li Linfu over power, and because Shizhi was open and unsuspecting, Linfu undermined him from the shadows. Linfu once told Shizhi, "Mount Hua holds gold ore. Mining it could enrich the empire, but His Majesty does not yet know of it. Shizhi was pleased by the suggestion and, on a later occasion, mentioned it to the emperor in an easy, informal manner. Xuanzong was delighted and turned to Li Linfu for confirmation. Linfu answered, "I have known of this for a long time. But Mount Hua is Your Majesty's natal mountain, the seat of the dynasty's vital force. It must not be mined, and that is why I did not dare bring it up. The emperor took this as proof of Linfu's devotion to him and began to look on Shizhi's counsel as careless and ill-considered. Huangfu Weiming, military commissioner of Longyou; Wei Jian, Minister of Justice; Pei Kuan, Minister of Revenue; and Han Chaozong, Intendant of Jingzhao—all were close to Shizhi. Li Linfu slandered each of them, fabricated charges, and they were exiled in succession. Fearing for his safety, Shizhi asked to be given a honorific post without real responsibility. In the fifth year of Tianbao he was dismissed from the chancellorship and retained only the title of Junior Tutor to the Heir Apparent. He immediately summoned relatives and friends to a celebration and wrote a poem that began, "Having stepped aside from the chancellorship, I now take joy in wine and lift my cup. Tell me, guests at my gate—how many of you came today? In the end he was demoted to prefect of Yichun on the charge of his association with Wei Jian and the others. Later the censor Luo Xiyi was dispatched to execute Wei Jian, Lu Youlin, Pei Dunfu, Li Yong, and others in exile. Wherever word spread that Xiyi was coming, officials and commoners alike were seized with dread. When Xiyi passed through Yichun, Shizhi learned that he was on his way and swallowed poison to die. Li Jiqing, styled Zi Jiqing, passed the Mingjing examination in his youth and showed considerable talent for literary composition. He took the special imperial examination and passed in Broad Learning and Eloquent Composition, then rose twice to the post of county magistrate of Hu in the Jingzhao metropolitan prefecture. Under Emperor Suzong he rose through several posts to Secretariat Drafter, but was later demoted to vice-prefect of Tong Prefecture on an official charge. When Emperor Daizong came to the throne, he launched a broad effort to recall men who had long been passed over, and Jiqing was summoned from Tong Prefecture to serve as Junior Intendant of Jingzhao. He was soon restored as Secretariat Drafter and then appointed Vice Minister of Personnel. Shortly afterward he was also made Censor-in-Chief and sent on a consolation mission through Henan and the Jiang-Huai region, where he promoted neglected talent and advanced loyal, upright men—conduct for which contemporaries praised him. After several years overseeing personnel selection, he was transferred to Right Regular Attendant. Jiqing had a generous spirit and wide-ranging knowledge, was skilled at friendship, and carried himself with an open and easy manner. At court he made the promotion of worthy men his chief concern, and for this the scholarly class held him in high regard. He died in the second year of the Dali era and was posthumously appointed Minister of Rites. Li Rong, styled Sun Rong, was upright and disciplined by nature and skilled in administrative affairs. In the tenth year of Zhenyuan he died in office as military commissioner of Wei Prefecture, having risen through a series of posts. Yan Tingzhi was a native of Huayin in Hua Prefecture. His uncle Fangyan served as a director in the Ministry of Revenue during the Jingyun era. Tingzhi was studious from youth and passed the jinshi examination. In the first year of Shenlong he passed a special imperial examination and was appointed magistrate of Yixing. When Yao Chong was governor of Chang Prefecture, he noticed Tingzhi's imposing bearing and natural talent for administration and came to think very highly of him. When Chong returned to power as Director of the Secretariat, he brought Tingzhi in as a Right Reminder.

睿宗好樂，聽之忘倦，玄宗又善音律。先天二年正月望，胡僧婆陀請夜開門燃百千燈，睿宗禦延喜門觀樂，凡經四日。又追作先天元年大酺，睿宗禦安福門樓觀百司酺宴，以夜繼晝，經月餘日。挺之上疏諫曰：

Emperor Ruizong loved music and would listen until he forgot his fatigue, and Emperor Xuanzong was also accomplished in musical theory. On the first full moon of the second year of Xiantian, the foreign monk Botuo asked that the city gates be opened at night and a hundred thousand lamps lit. Ruizong watched the performances from Yanxi Gate for four days in all. They also staged again the grand communal feast of the first year of Xiantian. Ruizong watched from the tower of Anfu Gate as the ministries held their banquets, night after day, for more than a month. Tingzhi submitted a memorial of remonstrance, which read:

上納其言而止。

The emperor accepted his advice and put a stop to the festivities.

時侍御史任知古恃憲威，於朝行詬詈衣冠，挺之深讓之，以為不敬，乃為臺司所劾，左遷萬州員外參軍。開元中，為考功員外郎。典舉二年，大稱平允，登科者頓減二分之一。遷考功郎中，特敕又令知考功貢舉事，稍遷給事中。時黃門侍郎杜暹、中書侍郎李元纮同列為相，不葉。暹與挺之善，元纮素重宋遙，引為中書舍人。及與起居舍人張咺等同考吏部等第判，遙復與挺之好尚不同，遙言於元纮。元纮詰譙挺之，挺之曰：「明公位尊國相，情溺小人，乃有憎惡，甚為不取也。」詞色俱厲。元纮曰：「小人為誰？」挺之曰：「即宋遙也。」因出為登州刺史、太原少尹。殿中監王毛仲使太原、朔方、幽州，計會兵馬，事隔數年，乃牒太原索器仗。挺之以不挾敕，毛仲寵幸久，恐有變故，密奏之。尋遷濮、汴二州刺史。挺之所歷皆嚴整，吏不敢犯，及蒞大郡，人乃重足側息。

At that time the attending censor Ren Zhigu abused the authority of the censorate and hurled insults at court officials in procession. Tingzhi sharply rebuked him for disrespect, but the censorate in turn impeached Tingzhi, and he was demoted to an outside staff post in Wan Prefecture. During the Kaiyuan reign he served as an outside director in the Bureau of Evaluations. He oversaw the examinations for two years and won wide praise for fairness, cutting the number who passed by half. He was promoted to director in the Bureau of Evaluations and, by special edict, was again put in charge of the civil examinations. He was later promoted step by step to Secretariat Drafter. At that time Du Xian, Vice Director of the Chancellery, and Li Yuanhong, Vice Director of the Secretariat, served together as chancellors and did not get along. Du Xian was friendly with Tingzhi, while Yuanhong had long favored Song Yao and brought him in as a Secretariat drafter. When he joined with the diarist Zhang Xuan and others to grade the Ministry of Personnel lists, Yao again clashed with Tingzhi over standards and reported the disagreement to Yuanhong. Yuanhong challenged and rebuked Tingzhi. Tingzhi replied, "Your Excellency holds the highest office in the land, yet you indulge petty men and harbor personal grudges—that is hardly fitting for a chief minister. His words and manner were both fierce. Yuanhong asked, "Who is this petty man? Tingzhi answered, "Song Yao." For this he was sent out to serve as governor of Deng Prefecture and then Junior Intendant of Taiyuan. Wang Maoqi of the Palace Domestic Service had been sent to Taiyuan, Shuofang, and You to audit troops and horses. Years passed, and he then sent an official dispatch to Taiyuan demanding arms and equipment. Tingzhi noted that Maoqi carried no imperial commission. Maoqi had long enjoyed the emperor's favor, and Tingzhi feared trouble might follow, so he reported the matter in a secret memorial. He was soon transferred to serve as governor of Pu and then Bian Prefecture. Every post Tingzhi held was run with strict discipline, and subordinates did not dare transgress. When he took charge of a major prefecture, people walked in fear and scarcely dared breathe aloud.

二十年，毛仲得罪賜死，玄宗思曩日之奏，擢為刑部侍郎，深見恩遇，改太府卿。與張九齡相善，九齡入相，用挺之為尚書左丞，知吏部選，陸景融知兵部選，皆為一時精選。時侍中裴耀卿、禮部尚書李林甫與九齡同在相位，九齡以詞學進，入視草翰林，又為中書令，甚承恩顧。耀卿與九齡素善，林甫巧密，知九齡方承恩遇，善事之，意未相與。林甫引蕭炅為戶部侍郎，嘗與挺之同行慶吊，客次有《禮記》，蕭炅讀之曰：「蒸嘗伏獵。」炅早從官，無學術，不識「伏臘」之意，誤讀之。挺之戲問，炅對如初。挺之白九齡曰：「省中豈有『伏獵侍郎。』」由是出為岐州刺史，林甫深恨之。九齡嘗欲引挺之同居相位，謂之曰：「李尚書深承聖恩，足下宜一造門款狎。」挺之素負氣，薄其為人，三年，非公事竟不私造其門，以此彌為林甫所嫉。及挺之囑蔚州刺史王元琰，林甫使人詰於禁中，以此九齡罷相，挺之出為洺州刺史，二十九年，移絳郡太守。

In the twentieth year Wang Maoqi fell from favor and was ordered to die. Xuanzong remembered Tingzhi's earlier memorial, promoted him to Vice Minister of Justice, and showed him deep favor before appointing him Director of the Grand Treasury. He was close to Zhang Jiuling. When Jiuling became chancellor, he appointed Tingzhi Left Assistant Director of the Department of State Affairs to oversee personnel selection, with Lu Jingrong overseeing military appointments—both were regarded as outstanding appointments of the day. At that time Pei Yaojing as Palace Attendant, Li Linfu as Minister of Rites, and Zhang Jiuling all served together as chancellors. Jiuling had risen through literary talent, reviewed drafts in the Hanlin Academy, and also served as Director of the Secretariat, enjoying exceptional favor from the throne. Yaojing and Jiuling had long been on good terms. Linfu was subtle and calculating; seeing that Jiuling was in favor, he treated him well outwardly, but in his heart he was no ally. Li Linfu had brought Xiao Jiong in as Vice Minister of Revenue. Once, on a condolence visit with Tingzhi, Xiao Jiong picked up a copy of the Book of Rites at an inn and read aloud, "The seasonal offerings—prostrate hunting. Jiong had entered office young and had little learning. He did not know the term for the wax and harvest festivals and misread the characters. Tingzhi questioned him in jest, and Jiong repeated the same mistake. Tingzhi told Zhang Jiuling, "Can the Secretariat really harbor a 'Prostrate Hunting Vice Minister'? For this remark Xiao Jiong was sent out as governor of Qi Prefecture, and Li Linfu came to hate Tingzhi deeply. Jiuling once wanted to bring Tingzhi into the chancellorship with him and said, "Minister Li enjoys deep favor from His Majesty. You ought to call on him at least once and cultivate a cordial acquaintance. Tingzhi had always been proud by nature and despised Linfu's character. For three years he never paid a private visit to Linfu's house except on official business, and this only deepened Linfu's resentment. When Tingzhi interceded for Wang Yuanyan, prefect of Yu, Li Linfu had him questioned inside the palace. Zhang Jiuling was dismissed from the chancellorship as a result, and Tingzhi was sent out as governor of Ming Prefecture. In the twenty-ninth year he was transferred to be prefect of Jiang Commandery.

天寶元年，玄宗嘗謂林甫曰：「嚴挺之何在？此人亦堪進用。」林甫乃召其弟損之至門敘故，云「當授子員外郎」，因謂之曰：「聖人視賢兄極深，要須作一計，入城對見，當有大用。」令損之取絳郡一狀，云：「有少風氣，請入京就醫。」林甫將狀奏云：「挺之年高，近患風，且須授閑官就醫。」玄宗嘆叱久之。林甫奏授員外詹事，便令東京養疾。

In the first year of Tianbao, Xuanzong once asked Li Linfu, "Where is Yan Tingzhi? He is still a man worth promoting. Li Linfu then summoned Tingzhi's younger brother Sunzhi to his house to renew old acquaintance, promising that Sunzhi's son would be given an outside post. He told Sunzhi, "His Majesty thinks very highly of your elder brother. You must find a way for him to enter the capital for an audience—he will surely be given a major appointment." He had Sunzhi obtain a petition from Jiang Commandery stating, "He has a mild wind disorder and asks permission to enter the capital for treatment." Li Linfu then submitted the petition with the comment, "Tingzhi is elderly and has recently suffered from wind disorder. He should be given an honorary post and allowed to seek treatment." Xuanzong sighed and muttered his displeasure for a long while. Li Linfu then memorialized to appoint Tingzhi an outside household tutor and sent him at once to convalesce in the Eastern Capital.

挺之素歸心釋典，事僧惠義。及至東都，郁郁不得志，成疾。自為墓誌曰：「天寶元年，嚴挺之自絳郡太守抗疏陳乞，天恩允請，許養疾歸閑，兼授太子詹事。前後歷任二十五官，每承聖恩，嘗忝獎擢，不盡驅策，駑蹇何階，仰答鴻造？春秋七十，無所展用，為人士所悲。其年九月，寢疾，終於洛陽某裏之私第。十一月，葬於大照和尚塔次西原，禮也。盡忠事君，叨載國史，勉拙從仕，或布人謠。陵谷可以自紀，文章焉用為飾。遺文薄葬，斂以時服。」挺之與裴寬皆奉佛。開元末，惠義卒，挺之服缞麻送於龕所。寬為河南尹，僧普寂卒，寬與妻子皆服缞绖，設次哭臨，妻子送喪至嵩山。故挺之誌文云「葬於大照塔側」，祈其靈祐也。挺之素重交結，有許與，凡舊交先歿者，厚撫其妻子，凡嫁孤女數十人，時人重之。

Tingzhi had long devoted himself to Buddhist teaching and was a follower of the monk Huiyi. When he reached the Eastern Capital he was despondent over his thwarted ambitions and fell ill. He wrote his own epitaph, which began: "In the first year of Tianbao, Yan Tingzhi, then prefect of Jiang Commandery, submitted a forthright memorial asking leave. Heaven's grace granted his request, allowing him to retire for his health and appointing him concurrently Household Tutor to the Heir Apparent. He had held twenty-five offices in all. Each time he received the emperor's favor and was honored with promotion, yet he could not fully repay that debt—what steps had this broken nag to climb in answering such vast grace? At seventy he had no scope left to serve, and men of standing mourned for him. In the ninth month of that year he took to his sickbed and died at his private residence in a lane of Luoyang. In the eleventh month he was buried, as proper ritual dictated, on the western plain beside the pagoda of the monk Dazhao. He had served his sovereign with loyalty and been recorded, however undeservedly, in the state histories; he had done his clumsy best in office, and his name sometimes passed among the people's songs. The changing hills and valleys could serve as his own record; what need had he for literary ornament? He left instructions for a simple burial, to be laid in his ordinary clothes. Tingzhi and Pei Kuan were both devoted Buddhists. At the end of the Kaiyuan reign Huiyi died; Tingzhi wore hemp mourning and escorted his remains to the shrine niche. Pei Kuan was Metropolitan Governor of Henan; when the monk Puji died, Kuan and his entire family wore mourning dress, set up a mourning shelter, and his wife and children escorted the funeral to Mount Song. Hence Tingzhi's epitaph reads "buried beside the Dazhao Pagoda," seeking spiritual blessing there. Tingzhi had long valued friendship and kept his promises; he generously supported the families of deceased friends and married off dozens of orphaned daughters; contemporaries greatly respected him for it.

子武，廣德中黃門侍郎、成都尹、劍南節度使。史臣曰史臣曰：崔日用附會三思，以取高位，預討韋氏，遂握重權。自言「吾一生行事，皆臨時制變，不必專守始謀」，信矣。與夫守死善道者，不可同年而語也。張嘉貞雖不立田園，奈急於勢利，朋比近習，杖姜皎、伷先，非中立之士也。蕭嵩位極中令，異政無聞，樹破虜之勛，真致遠之器。九齡文學政事，咸有所稱，一時之選也。適之臨下雖簡，在公克勤，惜乎不得其死也！挺之才略器識，不下諸公，恥近權門，為人所惡，不登臺輔，養疾宮僚。雖富貴在天，窮達有命，彼林甫者，誠可投畀豺虎也。

His son Wu served in the Guangde era as Vice Director of the Yellow Gate, Governor of Chengdu, and Military Commissioner of Jiannan. The historian writes: Cui Riyong attached himself to Wu Sansi to gain high office, took part in suppressing the Wei clan, and thus seized great power. His own words—"Everything I have done in life I decided on the spot; there is no need to cling stubbornly to one's first plan"—are all too true. He cannot be mentioned in the same breath as those who hold steadfast to the righteous path even unto death. Though Zhang Jiazhen established no landed estates, he was eager for power and profit, formed factions with court intimates, and had Jiang Jiao and Pei Xianxian beaten—he was no impartial statesman. Xiao Song rose to Director of the Secretariat without distinctive policies to his name, yet he built merit defeating foreign enemies—truly a man destined for far-reaching achievement. Jiuling won praise in both letters and government; he was the outstanding choice of his generation. Shizhi was informal with subordinates but diligent in public affairs—alas that he did not die a proper death! Tingzhi's talent and discernment matched the best of his peers; he scorned to court the powerful, earned enemies, never reached the chancellorship, and ended his days nursing illness as a palace official. Though wealth and honor come from Heaven and fortune has its own decree, that man Linfu truly deserves to be cast to wolves and tigers.

贊曰：開元之代，多士盈庭。日用無守，嘉貞近名。嵩、齡、適、挺，各有度程。大位俱極，半慚德馨。

The encomium reads: In the Kaiyuan age, talented men filled the court. Riyong lacked constancy; Jiazhen courted reputation. Song, Jiuling, Shizhi, and Ting each had his own measure of worth. They all reached the highest offices, yet each fell somewhat short of true moral fragrance.

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