1
李乂李乂，本名尚真，趙州房子人也。 少與兄尚一、尚貞俱以文章見稱，舉進士。 景龍中，累遷中書舍人。 時中宗遣使江南分道贖生，以所在官物充直。 乂上疏曰：「江南水鄉，采捕為業，魚鱉之利，黎元所資，土地使然，有自來矣。 伏以聖慈含育，恩周動植，布天下之大德，及鱗介之微品。 雖雲雨之私，有霑於末類； 而生成之惠，未洽於平人。 何則？ 江湖之饒，生育無限； 府庫之用，支供易殫。 費之若少，則所濟何成； 用之倘多，則常支有闕。 在於拯物，豈若憂人。 且鬻生之徒，唯利斯視，錢刀日至，網罟年滋，施之一朝，營之百倍，未若回救贖之錢物，減困貧之徭賦，活國愛人，其福勝彼。」
Li Yi, whose original name was Shangzhen, came from Fangzi in Zhao prefecture. While still young he and his brothers Shangyi and Shangzhen were all celebrated for their writing and passed the jinshi examination. In the Jinglong period he rose through successive appointments to Secretariat Drafter. At that time Emperor Zhongzong dispatched envoys to the Jiangnan region by separate routes to buy captive animals for release, paying with official goods held in each district. Yi submitted a memorial that read: "Jiangnan is a country of waterways; gathering and fishing are its trades. Fish and turtles are what the people live on—the land has made it so since long ago. I humbly reflect that Your Majesty's sacred kindness nurtures all life, extending favor to every plant and animal, spreading imperial virtue even to the tiniest fish and shellfish. Though the gentle rain of grace may touch even the humblest creatures; the blessing of nurturing life has not yet fully reached the common people. Why is this? Rivers and lakes teem with life beyond measure; yet treasury outlays to support the policy are quickly spent dry. If the expense is modest, little is actually saved; if it is large, the ordinary budget will fall short. To rescue animals—how can that compare with relieving human distress? Moreover, sellers of captive animals care only for profit: money flows in every day and nets multiply year by year. One day's outlay from the court yields a hundredfold in their trade. Far better to divert the ransom funds and lighten levies on the poor—reviving the state and cherishing the people would bring a greater blessing still."
2
乂知制誥凡數載。 景雲元年，遷吏部侍郎，與宋璟、盧從願同時典選，銓敘平允，甚為當時所稱。 尋轉黃門侍郎。 時睿宗令造金仙、玉真二觀，乂頻上疏諫，帝每優容之。 開元初，特令乂與中書侍郎蘇颋纂集起居註，錄其嘉謨昌言可體國經遠者，別編奏之。 乂在門下，多所駁正。 開元初，姚崇為紫微令，薦乂為紫微侍郎，外托薦賢，其實引在己下，去其糾駁之權也。 俄拜刑部尚書。 乂方雅有學識，朝廷稱其有宰相之望，會病卒。 兄尚一，清源尉，早卒； 尚貞，官至博州刺史。 兄弟同為一集，號曰《李氏花萼集》，總二十卷。 薛登薛登，本名謙光，常州義興人也。 父士通，大業中為鷹揚郎將。 江都之亂，士通與鄉人聞人嗣安等同據本郡，以禦寇賊。 武德二年，遣使歸國，高祖嘉之，降璽書勞勉，拜東武州刺史。 俄而輔公祏於江都構逆，遣其將西門君儀等寇常州，士通率兵拒戰，大破之，君儀等僅以身免。 及公祏平，累功封臨汾侯。 貞觀初，歷遷泉州刺史，卒。
For several years Yi served as drafter of imperial proclamations. In Jingyun 1 he became Vice Minister of Personnel. He shared charge of appointments with Song Jing and Lu Congyuan, and their even-handed evaluations won wide praise. He was soon made Vice Minister of the Palace Secretariat. When Emperor Ruizong ordered the building of the Golden Immortal and Jade Perfected monasteries, Yi memorialized repeatedly in protest, and the emperor each time received him leniently. Early in Kaiyuan he was specially assigned, with Secretariat Vice Minister Su Ting, to compile the court diaries, extract counsel and speeches that could serve long-range statecraft, and present them in a separate memorial. While serving in the Chancellery, Yi frequently struck down or revised draft documents. Early in Kaiyuan, when Yao Chong headed the Purple Tenuity Bureau, he recommended Yi as vice director—ostensibly to advance talent, but in truth to place him under his own authority and strip him of the power to review and reject. Before long he was appointed Minister of Justice. Refined and learned, Yi was spoken of at court as a man with the makings of a chief minister, but he died of illness before that could come to pass. His elder brother Shangyi, magistrate of Qingyuan, died young; Shangzhen rose to serve as governor of Bo prefecture. The brothers jointly published a collection called the Li Brothers' Flower Calyx Anthology, twenty juan in all. Xue Deng, whose original name was Qian'guang, came from Yixing in Chang prefecture. His father Shitong was a General of Soaring Hawks in the Daye era. When chaos engulfed Jiangdu, Shitong joined his countryman Wenren Sian and others in holding their home commandery against marauders. In Wude 2 he sent envoys to pledge allegiance. Emperor Gaozu praised him, sent an imperial letter of encouragement, and appointed him governor of Dongwu. Soon Fu Gongshi rose in rebellion at Jiangdu and sent generals such as Ximen Junyi against Chang. Shitong met them in battle, routed them utterly, and Junyi's party escaped only with their lives. After Gongshi's defeat, his accumulated merit won him the title Marquis of Linfen. Early in Zhenguan he rose to governor of Quan prefecture, where he died.
3
謙光博涉文史，每與人談論前代故事，必廣引證驗，有如目擊。 少與徐堅、劉子玄齊名友善。 文明中，解褐閬中主簿。 天授中，為左補闕，時選舉頗濫，謙光上疏曰：
Qian'guang was widely read in letters and history. When he discussed events of earlier times, he cited evidence so fully that he seemed to have witnessed them himself. In his youth he ranked with Xu Jian and Liu Zixuan in reputation and counted them among his close friends. During Wenming he entered official service as chief clerk of Langzhong. In the Tianshou period he became Left Remonstrator. Appointments had grown lax, and Qian'guang submitted a memorial that began:
4
尋轉水部員外郎，累遷給事中、檢校常州刺史。 屬宣州狂寇硃大目作亂，百姓奔走，謙光嚴備安輯，闔境肅然。 轉刑部侍郎，加銀青光祿大夫，再遷尚書左丞。 景雲中，擢拜御史大夫。 時僧惠範恃太平公主權勢，逼奪百姓店肆，州縣不能理。 謙光將加彈奏，或請寢之，謙光曰：「憲臺理冤滯，何所回避，朝彈暮黜，亦可矣。」 遂與殿中慕容玽奏彈之，反為太平公主所構，出為岐州刺史。 惠範既誅，遷太子賓客，轉刑部尚書，加金紫光祿大夫、昭文館學士。 開元初，為東都留守，又轉太子賓客。 以與太子同名，表請行字，特敕賜名登。 尋以孽子悅千牛為憲司所劾，放歸田裏。 朝廷以其家貧，又特給致仕祿。 七年卒，年七十三，贈晉州刺史。 撰《四時記》二十卷。 韋湊韋湊，京兆萬年人。 曾祖瓚，隋尚書右丞。 祖叔諧，蒲州刺史。 父玄，桂州都督府長史。 湊，永淳二年，解褐授婺州參軍，累轉揚府法曹參軍。 州人前仁壽令孟神爽豪縱，數犯法，交通貴戚，前後官吏莫敢繩按，湊白長史張潛，請因事除之。 會神爽坐事推問，湊無所假借，神爽妄稱有密旨，究問引虛，遂杖殺之，遠近稱伏。 湊，景龍中歷遷將作少匠、司農少卿。 嘗以公事忤宗楚客，出為貝州刺史。
He was soon made vice director in the Ministry of Works' water bureau, then rose to Supervising Secretary and acting governor of Chang. When the rebel Zhu Damu of Xuanzhou threw the region into turmoil and the people scattered in panic, Qian'guang tightened defenses, restored order, and the whole circuit grew calm. He became Vice Minister of Justice, received the Silver-Green Tally grand master title, and was later promoted to Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. In the Jingyun period he was elevated to Censor-in-Chief. The monk Huifan, backed by Princess Taiping's influence, seized commoners' shops by force, and local officials could not stop him. Qian'guang prepared to impeach him, but others urged him to let the matter drop. He said: "The Censorate exists to clear injustice—why should I shrink back? If I am impeached at dawn and dismissed at dusk, so be it." He and Palace Censor Murong Ting then jointly impeached Huifan, but Princess Taiping framed him instead, and he was demoted to governor of Qi. After Huifan was put to death, he became Mentor of the Heir Apparent, then Minister of Justice, with the Gold-Purple Tally title and a post as Zhaowen Hall academician. Early in Kaiyuan he served as Defender of the Eastern Capital, then returned to the post of Mentor of the Heir Apparent. Because his personal name matched the heir apparent's, he memorialized to use his style name instead, and an imperial edict specially granted him the name Deng. Soon his illegitimate son Yue, a Thousand-Ox Guardsman, was impeached by the censorate, and Deng was sent home to his estate. Learning that his family was poor, the court also granted him a special retirement stipend. He died in the seventh year at seventy-three; posthumously he was honored as governor of Jin. He wrote Records of the Four Seasons in twenty juan. Wei Cou came from Wannian in the Jingzhao region. His great-grandfather Zan served as Sui Right Vice Director of the Secretariat. His grandfather Shuxie was governor of Pu prefecture. His father Xuan was chief administrator of the Guizhou military headquarters. Cou entered service in Yongchun 2 as military aide in Wu prefecture and later became legal aide in the Yangzhou prefectural office. Meng Shenshuang, a former Renshou magistrate in the prefecture, was violent and lawless and cultivated ties with powerful families; no previous official had dared prosecute him. Cou informed Chief Administrator Zhang Qian and asked leave to bring him down when the chance came. When Shenshuang was brought in for questioning, Cou showed no mercy. Shenshuang falsely claimed a secret imperial order protected him, but investigation exposed the lie, and Cou had him beaten to death. People near and far applauded. In the Jinglong period Cou rose to Vice Director of Palace Buildings and Vice Minister of the Imperial Granaries. He once clashed with Zong Chuke over official business and was posted out as governor of Bei.
5
睿宗即位，拜鴻臚少卿，加銀青光祿大夫。 景雲二年，轉太府少卿，又兼通事舍人。 時改葬節湣太子，優詔加謚； 又雪李多祚等罪，還其官爵，仍議更加贈官。 湊上書曰：
When Emperor Ruizong acceded, Cou became Vice Director of the Court for Dependencies and received the Silver-Green Tally grand master title. In Jingyun 2 he became Vice Director of the Imperial Treasury and also served concurrently as Herald for Foreign Envoys. The Jiemin Crown Prince was being reburied, and an edict of special favor enlarged his posthumous title; the convictions of Li Duozuo and others were cleared and their offices restored, while the court also debated further posthumous honors. Cou submitted a memorial that read:
6
書奏，睿宗引湊謂曰：「誠如卿言。 事已如此，如何改動？」 湊曰：「太子實行悖逆，不可褒美，請稱其行，改謚以一字。 多祚等以兵犯君，非曰無罪，只可雲放，不可稱雪。」 帝然其言。 當時執政以制令已行，難於改易，唯多祚等停贈官而已。
When the memorial reached him, Emperor Ruizong summoned Cou and said, "What you say is true. But matters have already gone this far—how can we change them now? Cou replied: "The crown prince truly committed treason and must not be praised. Name his conduct plainly and change the posthumous title by a single character. Duozuo and his fellows took up arms against their sovereign—they were not innocent. Say they were released, not that their guilt was cleared. The emperor agreed. Those in power held that the edicts had already gone forth and were hard to revise; only the added posthumous honors for Duozuo and his fellows were stopped.
7
明年春，起金仙、玉真兩觀，用工巨億。 湊進諫曰：「陛下去夏，以妨農停兩觀作，今正農月，翻欲興功。 雖知用公主錢，不出庫物，但土木作起，高價雇人，三輔農人，趨目前之利，舍農受雇，棄本逐末。 臣聞一夫不耕，天下有受其饑者，臣竊恐不可。」 帝不應。 湊又奏曰：「日陽和布氣，萬物生育，土木之間，昆蟲無數。 此時興造，傷殺甚多，臣亦恐非仁聖本旨。」 睿宗方納其言，令在外詳議。 中書令崔湜、侍中岑羲謂湊曰：「公敢言此，大是難事。」 湊曰：「叨食厚祿，死且不辭，況在明時，必知不死。」 尋出為陜州刺史，無幾，轉汝州刺史。 開元二年夏，敕靖陵建碑，征料夫匠。 湊以自古園陵無建碑之禮，又時正旱儉，不可興功，飛表極諫，工役乃止。 尋遷岐州剌史。
The following spring work resumed on the Golden Immortal and Jade Perfected monasteries at a cost of hundreds of millions. Cou remonstrated: "Last summer Your Majesty halted the two monasteries because they harmed the harvest. Now, in the heart of the farming season, you wish to resume construction. Even if the princess's funds are used and nothing is drawn from the treasury, once building begins labor is hired at high wages. Farmers of the capital districts, tempted by quick pay, leave the fields for hire and abandon the essential for the trivial. I have heard that when one man leaves the plow, someone in the realm goes hungry. I fear this cannot be allowed. The emperor did not answer. Cou submitted again: "The sun now spreads spring warmth and all things quicken. Between earth and timber countless insects teem. Building now would kill vast numbers of them, and I fear that is not the intent of a benevolent sage-ruler. Only then did Emperor Ruizong accept his counsel and order the matter debated further outside court. Chief Minister Cui Shi and Palace Attendant Cen Yi told Cou, "You dared say this—that was no small feat. Cou replied, "I enjoy a generous stipend and would not refuse even death; and in an enlightened age, I knew I would not die." Soon he was posted out as governor of Shan, and not long after was transferred to Ru. In the summer of Kaiyuan 2 an edict ordered a stele raised at Jing Mausoleum and laborers requisitioned. Cou argued that imperial tombs had never had steles by ancient rite, and that drought and scarcity made work impossible. He sent an urgent memorial in strong protest, and the labor was stopped. He was soon transferred to governor of Qi.
8
四年，入為將作大匠。 時有敕復孝敬廟為義宗，湊上書曰：
In the fourth year he returned to the capital as Director of Palace Buildings. An edict then restored the Xiaojing Temple under the title Temple of Righteous Ancestor. Cou submitted a memorial that read:
9
於是敕太常議，遂停義宗之號。
The emperor then ordered the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to deliberate, and the title of Righteous Ancestor was dropped.
10
湊前後上書論時政得失，多見采納。 再遷河南尹，累封彭城郡公。 以公事左授杭州刺史，轉汾州刺史。 十年，拜太原尹兼節度支度營田大使。 其年卒官，年六十五。 贈幽州都督，謚曰文。 子見素，自有傳。 湊從子虛心。 湊從子虛心虛心父維，少習儒業，博涉文史，舉進士。 自大理丞累至戶部郎中，善於剖判，時員外郎宋之問工於詩，時人以為戶部有二妙。 終於左庶子。 虛心舉孝廉，為官嚴整，累至大理丞、侍御史。 神龍年，推按大獄，時僕射竇懷貞、侍中劉幽求意欲寬假，虛心堅執法令，有不可奪之志。 景龍中，西域羌胡背叛，時並擒獲，有敕盡欲誅之。 虛心論奏，但罪元首，其所全者千餘人。 虛心有孝行，及丁父憂，哀毀過禮，鬚鬢盡白，朝廷深所嗟尚。 後遷御史中丞、左右丞、兵部侍郎、荊揚潞長史兼采訪使，所在官吏振肅，威令甚舉，中外以為標準。 歷戶部尚書、東京留守，卒，年六十七。 虛心季弟虛舟季弟虛舟，亦以舉孝廉，自御史累至戶部、司勛、左司郎中，歷荊州長史，洪、魏州刺史兼采訪使，多著能政。 入為刑部侍郎，終大理卿。 家有禮則，父子兄弟更踐郎署，時稱「郎官家」。 韓思復韓思復，京兆長安人也。 祖倫，貞觀中為左衛率，賜爵長山縣男。 思復少襲祖爵。 初為汴州司戶參軍，為政寬恕，不行杖罰。 在任丁憂，家貧，鬻薪終喪制。 時姚崇為夏官侍郎，知政事，深嘉嘆之，擢授司禮博士。
Cou repeatedly memorialized on the strengths and failings of current policy, and many of his proposals were adopted. He was again promoted to Metropolitan Governor of Henan and was enfeoffed as Duke of Pengcheng. After a demotion on official grounds he became governor of Hang, then was transferred to Fen. In the tenth year he was appointed Metropolitan Governor of Taiyuan and concurrently commissioner for military supplies, finance, and agricultural colonies. That same year he died in office at sixty-five. Posthumously he was honored as Area Commander of You, with the posthumous title Wen. His son Jiansu has a separate biography. Cou's nephew was Xuxin. Cou's nephew Xuxin: Xuxin's father Wei studied Confucian learning in his youth, became widely read in letters and history, and passed the jinshi examination. He rose from aide in the Court of Judicial Review to director in the Ministry of Revenue and excelled at deciding cases. Vice Director Song Zhiwen was celebrated for poetry, and people said the ministry had two outstanding talents. He rose at last to Left Vice Director of the Crown Prince's Household. Xuxin entered service through the Filial and Incorrupt recommendation, governed with stern discipline, and rose to aide in the Court of Judicial Review and palace censor. During Shenlong he investigated major criminal cases. Left Vice Director Dou Huaizhen and Palace Attendant Liu Youqiu wished to show leniency, but Xuxin held fast to the law with unshakable resolve. In the Jinglong period Qiang and Hu of the western frontier rebelled and were captured in large numbers; an edict ordered them all put to death. Xuxin memorialized that only the leaders should be punished, thereby sparing more than a thousand lives. Xuxin was famed for filial piety. When his father died he mourned beyond the prescribed rites until his hair and beard turned white, and the court greatly admired him. He later served as Vice Censor-in-Chief, left and right vice director, Vice Minister of War, and chief administrator of Jing, Yang, and Lu with touring commissioner duties. Wherever he went officials straightened up, his authority was firmly enforced, and he became a model inside and outside the court. He served as Minister of Revenue and Defender of the Eastern Capital, and died at sixty-seven. Xuxin's youngest brother Xuzhou also entered through Filial and Incorrupt recommendation. He rose from censor to director in several ministries, served as chief administrator of Jing and as governor of Hong and Wei with touring commissioner duties, and earned a reputation for capable government. He entered the capital as Vice Minister of Justice and ended his career as chief judge of the Court of Judicial Review. The household observed strict propriety, and fathers, sons, and brothers served in turn as courtiers, earning the nickname "the Courtier clan." Han Sifu came from Chang'an in the Jingzhao region. His grandfather Lun served as Commandant of the Left Guard in the Zhenguan era and was enfeoffed as Baron of Changshan. Sifu inherited his grandfather's title while still young. His first post was revenue aide in Bian prefecture, where he governed leniently and never ordered beatings. While in office his father died. The family was poor, and he sold firewood to see the mourning period through. Yao Chong, then Vice Minister of War and active in government, admired him greatly and appointed him Erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
11
景龍中，累遷給事中。 時左散騎常侍嚴善思坐譙王重福事下制獄，有司言：「善思昔嘗任汝州刺史，素與重福交遊，召至京師，竟不言其謀逆，唯奏雲『東都有兵氣』。 據狀正當匿反，請從絞刑。」 思復駁奏曰：「議獄緩死，列聖明規； 刑疑從輕，有國常典。 嚴善思往在先朝，屬韋氏擅內，恃寵宮掖，謀危宗社。 善思此時遂能先覺，因詣相府有所發明，進論聖躬必登宸極。 雖交遊重福，蓋謀陷韋氏。 及其謁見，猶不奏聞，將此行藏，即從極法。 且敕追善思，書至便發，向懷逆節，寧即奔命？ 一面疏網，誠合順生； 三驅取禽，來而可宥。 惟刑是恤，事合昭詳。 請付刑部集群官議定奏裁，以符慎獄。」 是時議者多雲善思合從原宥，有司仍執前議請誅之。 思復又駁曰：「臣聞刑人於市，爵人於朝，必僉謀攸同，始行之無惑。 謹按諸司所議，嚴善思十才一入，抵罪惟輕。 夫帝閽九重，塗遠千里。 故借天下之耳以聽，聽無不聰； 借天下之目以視，視無不接。 今群言上聞，采擇宜審，若棄多就少，臣實懼焉。 輿誦一乖，下情不達，雖欲從眾，其可及乎！ 凡百京司，逢時之泰，列官分職，有賢有親。 親則列籓諸王，陛下愛子； 賢則胙茅開國，陛下名臣。 見無禮於君，寧肯雷同不異？ 今措詞多出，法令從輕。」 上納其奏，竟免善思死，配流靜州。 思復尋轉中書舍人，數上疏陳得失，多見納用。
In the Jinglong period he rose to Supervising Secretary. Left Regular Attendant Yan Shansi was implicated in Prince Qiao Chongfu's case and sent to the imperial prison. The responsible offices argued: "Shansi had once been governor of Ru and was close to Chongfu. Summoned to the capital, he never reported the plot, reporting only that 'there is a martial aura in the eastern capital. On the facts he had concealed treason and should be strangled.' Sifu rebutted: "Deliberating cases and deferring execution is the enlightened rule of successive emperors; when the law is doubtful, apply the lighter penalty—that is the standing law of the realm. In the previous reign, when the Wei clan seized power within the palace and, relying on imperial favor, plotted against the dynasty, Shansi perceived the danger early, went to the chief minister's office with revelations, and argued that Your Majesty was destined to take the throne. Though he associated with Chongfu, that association was presumably aimed at bringing down the Wei faction. Yet when he was received in audience he still did not report the plot. To punish such conduct with death Moreover, when the edict summoning Shansi arrived he set out at once. If he had harbored treason, would he have come so promptly? To loosen the net on one side is truly to let him live; in the three-sided hunt, game that comes forward may be spared. Mercy in punishment is what clear deliberation requires. I ask that the Ministry of Justice assemble officials to deliberate and report a decision, in keeping with careful adjudication. Most of those deliberating favored pardoning Shansi, but the responsible offices still pressed for execution. Sifu rebutted again: "I have heard that punishments belong in the marketplace and honors in the court—only when deliberation is unanimous can action proceed without doubt. Reviewing the deliberations of the various offices, only one in ten argued for punishment, and even then for the lighter penalty. The emperor's gate stands nine layers deep; the road to it stretches a thousand li. Therefore he borrows the ears of the empire to listen, and nothing escapes his hearing; he borrows the eyes of the empire to see, and nothing escapes his sight. Many voices have now reached Your Majesty, and the choice should be made with care. If the many are set aside for the few, I truly fear the consequences. Once public report goes awry, sentiment below cannot reach the throne. Even if one wishes to follow the multitude, how can that be achieved? All the capital offices, in this age of great peace, divide duties among officials—some are worthy men, some are kin of the throne. Among kin are the feudatory princes, Your Majesty's beloved sons; among the worthy are the enfeoffed lords and Your Majesty's famed ministers. Seeing discourtesy toward the ruler, would they all echo one another without dissent? Now the wording of many memorials favors leniency under the law. The emperor accepted his memorial and spared Shansi from death, banishing him to Jing prefecture instead. Sifu was soon made Secretariat Drafter. He repeatedly memorialized on policy strengths and failings, and many of his proposals were adopted.
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開元初，為諫議大夫。 時山東蝗蟲大起，姚崇為中書令，奏遣使分往河南、河北諸道殺蝗蟲而埋之。 思復以為蝗蟲是天災，當修德以禳之，恐非人力所能翦滅。 上疏曰：「臣聞河南、河北蝗蟲，頃日更益繁熾，經歷之處，苗稼都損。 今漸翾飛河西，遊食至洛，使命來往，不敢昌言，山東數州，甚為惶懼。 且天災流行，埋瘞難盡。 望陛下悔過責躬，發使宣慰，損不急之務，召至公之人，上下同心，君臣一德，持此誠實，以答休咎。 前後驅蝗使等，伏望總停。 《書》云：『皇天無親，惟德是輔； 人心無親，惟惠是懷。』 不可不收攬人心也。」 上深然之，出思復疏以付崇。 崇乃請遣思復往山東檢蝗蟲所損之處，及還，具以實奏。 崇又請令監察御史劉沼重加詳覆，沼希崇旨意，遂箠撻百姓，回改舊狀以奏之。 由是河南數州，竟不得免。 思復遂為崇所擠，出為德州刺史，轉絳州刺史。 入為黃門侍郎，加銀青光祿大夫，代裴漼為御史大夫。 思復性恬淡，好玄言，安仁體道，非紀綱之任。 無幾，轉太子賓客。 十三年卒，年七十餘。 思復子朝宗子朝宗，天寶初為京兆尹。 思復曾孫佽曾孫佽，字相之，少有文學，性尚簡淡。 舉進士，累辟籓方。 自襄州從事征拜殿中侍御史，遷刑部員外。 求為澧州刺史。 歲滿受代，宰相牛僧孺鎮鄂渚，辟為從事，征拜刑部郎中，轉京兆少尹，遷給事中。 出為桂州觀察使。 桂管二十餘郡，州掾而下至邑長三百員，由吏部而補者什一，他皆廉吏量其才而補之。 佽既至桂，吏以常所為官者數百人引謁，一吏執籍而前曰：「具員請補其闕。」 佽戒曰：「在任有政者，不奪所理； 有過者，必繩以法。 缺者當俟稽諸故籍，取其可者，然後補之。」 會春衣使內官至，求賄於郵吏，三豪家因厚其資以求邑宰，佽悉諾之。 使去，坐以撓法，各笞其背。 自是豪猾斂跡，皆得清廉吏以蘇活其人。 未幾，詔置五管都監，計所費盡一境地征，不足飽其意，佽特用儉約處之，遂為定制，君子以為難。 開成二年，卒於官，贈工部侍郎。 張廷珪張廷珪，河南濟源人，其先自常州徙焉。 廷珪少以文學知名，性慷慨，有誌尚。 弱冠應制舉。 長安中，累遷監察御史。 則天稅天下僧尼出錢，欲於白司馬阪營建大像。 廷珪上疏諫曰：
Early in Kaiyuan he became Remonstrating Grand Master. Locusts swarmed across Shandong. Yao Chong, then Chief Minister, memorialized that envoys be sent to Henan and Hebei to kill the locusts and bury them. Sifu held that locusts were a heaven-sent calamity to be expelled through moral cultivation, not exterminated by human effort. He memorialized: "I hear that locusts in Henan and Hebei have grown fiercer still, destroying crops wherever they pass. They are now spreading west of the river and feeding as far as Luoyang. Envoys come and go but dare not speak plainly, and several Shandong prefectures are deeply alarmed. When a heaven-sent calamity spreads, burial cannot exhaust it. I hope Your Majesty will repent and examine yourself, send envoys to console the people, cut non-urgent affairs, summon the most impartial men, unite court and country in one purpose, and answer heaven's signs with sincere reform. I humbly ask that all the locust-expelling envoys already sent out be recalled. The Documents says, 'High Heaven has no favorites; it assists only virtue; the people's hearts have no favorites; they cherish only kindness. You must not fail to win the people's hearts. The emperor strongly approved and sent Sifu's memorial to Yao Chong. Chong then asked that Sifu be sent to Shandong to inspect locust damage and report the facts on his return. Chong also ordered Investigating Censor Liu Zhao to review the reports. Eager to please Chong, Zhao beat the people and altered the earlier findings in his memorial. As a result several Henan prefectures could not escape the disaster. Sifu was then forced out by Chong and posted as governor of De, then transferred to Jiang. He returned to the capital as Vice Minister of the Palace Secretariat, received the Silver-Green Tally grand master title, and replaced Pei Huan as Censor-in-Chief. Sifu was tranquil by nature, fond of philosophical discourse, and at ease in benevolence—not suited to the role of enforcing discipline. Before long he was made Mentor of the Heir Apparent. He died in the thirteenth year at over seventy. Sifu's son Chaozong became Metropolitan Governor of Jingzhao early in Tianbao. Sifu's great-grandson Ci, styled Xiangzhi, showed literary talent in youth and valued simplicity and detachment. He passed the jinshi examination and was repeatedly summoned to serve in regional administrations. From aide in Xiang prefecture he was summoned as Palace Censor, then promoted to vice director in the Ministry of Justice. He requested appointment as governor of Li prefecture. When his term ended, Chief Minister Niu Sengru, stationed at Ezhou, summoned him as aide. He was then recalled as director in the Ministry of Justice, made Vice Metropolitan Governor of Jingzhao, and promoted to Supervising Secretary. He was posted out as Observation Commissioner of Gui. Gui administered more than twenty prefectures with three hundred posts from prefectural aides down to district magistrates. Only one in ten was filled through the Ministry of Personnel; the rest were appointed by honest officials according to talent. When Ci reached Gui, clerks presented several hundred men who customarily held office. One clerk came forward with a register and said, "The posts are full—please fill the vacancies. Ci warned them: "Those currently in office who have governed well shall keep their posts; those at fault will be punished by law. Vacancies must await review of the old registers; only then appoint those who are fit. When the palace envoy for spring clothing arrived and sought bribes from postal clerks, three powerful families paid heavily to secure district magistracies, and Ci appeared to assent to all of them. When the envoy left, he charged them with obstructing the law and had each flogged. From then on the powerful curbed themselves, and honest officials were appointed who revived the people's welfare. Soon an edict established a general supervisor of the Five Circuits whose expenses consumed an entire circuit's land tax and still left them unsatisfied. Ci governed with exceptional frugality, and his practice became the standard—men of principle called it a rare achievement. He died in office in Kaicheng 2 and was posthumously honored as Vice Minister of Public Works. Zhang Tinggui came from Jiyuan in Henan; his family had moved there from Chang prefecture. Tinggui was famed in youth for literary talent, and he was generous by nature with high aspirations. At twenty he entered the special imperial examination. During the Chang'an reign he rose to investigating censor. Empress Wu levied contributions from monks and nuns empire-wide to build a great image at White Horse Slope. Tinggui submitted a memorial of remonstrance that read:
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則天從其言，即停所作，仍於長生殿召見，深賞慰之。 景龍末，為中書舍人，再轉洪州都督，仍為江南西道按察使。
Empress Wu accepted his counsel, halted construction at once, and summoned him to the Hall of Long Life to praise and comfort him warmly. Late in Jinglong he became Secretariat Drafter, then Area Commander of Hong prefecture and Investigating Commissioner of the Jiangnan West Circuit.
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開元初，入為禮部侍郎。 時久旱，關中饑儉，下制求直諫昌言、弘益政理者。 廷珪上疏曰：
Early in Kaiyuan he returned to the capital as Vice Minister of Rites. A long drought had brought famine to Guanzhong, and an edict sought forthright counsel that would improve governance. Tinggui submitted a memorial that read:
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再遷黃門侍郎。 時監察御史蔣挺以監決杖刑稍輕，敕朝堂杖之，廷珪奏曰：「御史憲司，清望耳目之官，有犯當殺即殺，當流即流，不可決杖。 士可殺，不可辱也。」 時制命已行，然議者以廷珪之言為是。 俄坐泄禁中語，出為沔州刺史，又歷蘇、宋、魏三州刺史。 入為少府監，加金紫光祿大夫，封范陽男。 四遷太子詹事，以老疾致仕。 二十二年卒，年七十余，贈工部尚書，謚曰貞穆。 廷珪素與陳州刺史李邕親善，屢上表薦之，邕所撰碑碣之文，必請廷珪八分書之。 廷珪既善楷隸，甚為時人所重。 王求禮王求禮，許州長社人。 則天朝為左拾遺，遷監察御史。 性忠謇敢言，每上封彈事，無所畏避。 時契丹李盡忠反叛，其將孫萬榮寇陷河北數州，河內王武懿宗擁兵討之，畏懦不敢進。 既而賊大掠而去，懿宗條奏滄、瀛百姓為賊詿誤者數百家，請誅之。 求禮執而劾之曰：「此詿誤之人，比無良吏教習，城池又不完固，為賊驅逼，茍徇圖全，豈素有背叛之心哉！ 懿宗擁強兵數十萬，聞賊將至，走保城邑，罪當誅戮。 今乃移禍於詿誤之人，豈是為臣之道？ 請斬懿宗以謝河北百姓。」 懿宗大懼，則天竟降制赦之。
He was again promoted to Vice Minister of the Palace Secretariat. Investigating Censor Jiang Ting was ordered beaten in court because the beating he supervised in a case was deemed too light. Tinggui memorialized: "Censors are the disciplinary arm of the state, the ruler's eyes and ears of pure repute. If guilty they should be executed or exiled—not beaten. A gentleman may be killed, but he must not be humiliated. The order had already been carried out, but deliberators held Tinggui's words to be correct. Soon he was charged with leaking palace secrets and posted as governor of Mian, then served in succession at Su, Song, and Wei. He returned to the capital as Director of the Palace Domestic Service, received the Gold-Purple Tally grand master title, and was enfeoffed as Baron of Fanyang. After four appointments as Mentor of the Heir Apparent, he retired because of age and illness. He died in the twenty-second year at over seventy and was posthumously honored as Minister of Public Works, with the posthumous title Zhenmu. Tinggui had long been close to Li Yong, governor of Chen, and repeatedly recommended him. For every stele text Yong composed, he asked Tinggui to inscribe it in clerical script. Skilled in regular and clerical script, he was greatly esteemed in his time. Wang Qiuli came from Changshe in Xu prefecture. Under Empress Wu he served as Left Reminder, then became investigating censor. Loyal, upright, and fearless in speech, he submitted sealed impeachments without hesitation. When the Khitan Li Jinzhong rebelled, his general Sun Wanrong overran several Hebei prefectures. Wang Wuyizong of Henei led troops against them but, cowed by fear, dared not advance. After the rebels looted the region and withdrew, Wuyizong memorialized that several hundred households in Cang and Ying had been misled by the enemy and should be executed. Qiuli impeached him, saying: "These people were misled. They had no good officials to guide them, their defenses were weak, and the rebels drove them to save themselves—how can they be said to have harbored treason from the start? Wuyizong commanded hundreds of thousands of troops, yet fled to walled towns when he heard the enemy approach—his crime deserves death. Now he shifts blame onto the misled—is that the conduct of a minister? I ask that Wuyizong be beheaded to answer to the people of Hebei. Wuyizong was terrified, and Empress Wu ultimately issued an edict pardoning the people.
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契丹陷幽州，饋輓不給，左相豆盧欽望請輟京官兩月俸料以助軍，求禮謂欽望曰：「公祿厚俸優，輟之可也。 國家富有四海，足以儲軍國之用，何藉貧官薄俸。 公此舉豈宰相法邪？」 欽望作色拒之，乃奏曰：「秦、漢皆有稅算以贍軍，求禮不識大體，妄有訟辭。」 求禮對曰：「秦皇、漢武稅天下，虛中以事邊，奈何使聖朝則效？ 不知欽望此言是大體耶！」 事遂不行。
When the Khitan captured Youzhou and supplies failed, Left Chief Minister Dou Lu Qinwang proposed that capital officials forgo two months' salary for the army. Qiuli told him: "Your salary is generous—you may forgo it. The state is rich within the four seas and can supply military needs—why take from poor officials' thin salaries? Is this the way of a chief minister? Qinwang flushed with anger and rejected him, then memorialized that Qin and Han had levied taxes to supply armies and that Qiuli did not understand larger principles and rashly disputed the matter. Qiuli replied: "The First Emperor and Emperor Wu taxed the empire and emptied the center to serve the frontier—must our sage dynasty imitate them? Does Qinwang not know whether his words accord with larger principles? The proposal was not carried out.
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時三月雪，鳳閣侍郎蘇味道等以為瑞，草表將賀，求禮止之曰：「宰相調燮陰陽，而致雪降暮春，災也，安得為瑞？ 如三月雪為瑞雪，則臘月雷亦瑞雷也。」 舉朝嗤笑，以為口實。 求禮竟以剛正，名位不達而卒。 辛替否辛替否，京兆人也。 景龍年為左拾遺。 時中宗置公主府官屬，安樂公主府所補尤多猥濫。 又駙馬武崇訓死後，棄舊宅別造一宅，侈麗過甚。 時又盛興佛寺，百姓勞弊，帑藏為之空竭。 替否上疏諫曰：
Snow fell in the third month. Vice Minister Su Weidao and others took it as an omen of good fortune and drafted a congratulatory memorial. Qiuli stopped them: "Chief ministers harmonize yin and yang, yet snow falls in late spring—that is a calamity, not a blessing. If snow in the third month is auspicious, then thunder in the twelfth month is auspicious too. The whole court laughed and made it a byword. Qiuli never rose high in rank because of his stern uprightness and died without attaining great office. Xin Tifou came from the Jingzhao region. In the Jinglong period he served as Left Reminder. Emperor Zhongzong had established official staffs for princesses' households, and appointments in Princess Anle's household were especially numerous and improper. After her consort Wu Chongxun died, she abandoned their old residence and built another of excessive splendor. Buddhist temples were also being built on a vast scale, exhausting the people and emptying the treasury. Tifou submitted a memorial of remonstrance that read:
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疏奏不納。 歲餘，安樂公主被誅。
The memorial was not accepted. A little over a year later, Princess Anle was executed.
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睿宗即位，又為金仙、玉真公主廣營二觀。 先是，中宗時斜封受官人一切停任，凡數百千人，又有敕放令卻上。 替否時為左補闕，又上疏陳時政曰：
When Emperor Ruizong acceded, construction again expanded on the two monasteries for the Golden Immortal and Jade Perfected princesses. Earlier, under Emperor Zhongzong, all who had received office through irregular sealed appointments had been dismissed—several hundred or more—and an edict then allowed them to return. Tifou was then Left Remonstrator and again memorialized on current policy, saying:
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疏奏，睿宗嘉其公直。 稍遷為右臺殿中侍御史。 開元中，累轉潁王府長史。 天寶初卒，年八十余。 史臣曰史臣曰：夫好聞其善，惡聞其過，君人者之常情也； 寧諂媚以取容，不逆耳以招禍，臣人者之常情也。 能反此者，不亦善乎！ 李、薛等六君，吐忠讜之言，補朝廷之失，有犯無隱，不愧古人，有唐之良臣也。 贊贊曰：臣之事君，有邪有正。 君之使臣，從諫則聖。 李、薛輸忠，救人之命。 韋、韓讜言，醫國之病。 辛、王章疏，犯顏竦聽。 張子法言，實裨時政。
Emperor Ruizong praised his fairness and uprightness when the memorial was submitted. He was soon made Palace Censor of the Right Bureau. In Kaiyuan he rose to chief administrator of the Prince of Ying's household. He died early in Tianbao at over eighty. The historiographer writes: To love hearing praise and hate hearing fault is the common disposition of rulers; to prefer flattery for favor rather than unwelcome words that invite disaster is the common disposition of ministers. To reverse this—is that not excellence itself? Li, Xue, and the other six spoke loyal and forthright words, repaired the court's failings, and offended without concealment. They did not disgrace the ancients—they were worthy ministers of Tang. Commentary: In how ministers serve their ruler, there is the crooked and the straight. In how rulers employ ministers, to heed remonstrance is sagely. Li and Xue offered loyalty and saved lives. Wei and Han spoke bluntly and cured the state's ills. Xin and Wang submitted forthright memorials that made the ruler listen in awe. Zhang's words accorded with law and truly benefited governance.