1
崔日用
Cui Riyong
2
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 reign, when Secretariat Director Zheng Pusi sent his daughter into the inner palace and secretly pursued unorthodox rites, Cui Riyong at once memorialized to impeach him. Pusi was then in high favor, and Emperor Zhongzong took no notice. Riyong disputed him earnestly at court in very blunt terms, and in the end Pusi admitted his guilt. At the time Zong Chuke, Wu Sansi, Wu Yanxiu and others took turns as a faction; Riyong secretly joined them all and was suddenly promoted to Vice Minister of War and Academician of the Hall for Cultivating Literature. When Emperor Zhongzong died suddenly and Empress Wei seized power, Riyong feared calamity would overtake him. Knowing that Emperor Xuanzong was planning a righteous rising, he went by way of the monk Purun and the Daoist Wang Ye to the prince's residence in secret, bound himself closely to him, and secretly plotted to support his enthronement. The Emperor once told him, "In plotting this action now, it is solely for kin, not for oneself. Riyong said, "This is filial devotion that moves Heaven; the matter is certain to succeed. I hope you will launch at once and catch them unprepared; if you delay even a little, I fear trouble may arise." When the Wei faction was put down, that same night he was ordered to serve provisionally as Administrator of Yongzhou. For his merit he was made Silver-Gleam Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and Vice Minister of the Yellow Gate, given a role in state affairs, enfeoffed as Duke of Qi, and granted an actual fief of two hundred households.
3
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 serving as chief minister for a little over a month, he quarreled with Vice Minister of the Secretariat Xue Ji at the Secretariat; he was therefore made Administrator of Yongzhou and ceased handling state affairs. Soon he was posted out as Administrator of Yangzhou, then served in turn as Governor of Wu and Bian, Military Commissioner of Yanzhou, and Administrator of Jingzhou. When he came in to report on affairs he said, "Princess Taiping's plot to rebel is imminent. When Your Majesty was still in the palace residence and wished to seize and suppress her, that was still the way of son and subject—you had to use stratagem and force. Now that you have taken the throne, you need only issue one edict—who would dare not obey? If traitors suddenly get their way, the harm and turmoil will be considerable. The Emperor said, "If that is truly so, I fear only alarming the Retired Emperor; you should reconsider." Riyong said, "I have heard that the Son of Heaven's filial piety and the common people's filial piety are completely different. The common people's filial piety is to keep the person disciplined and spending restrained and to defer to their parents' wishes; the Son of Heaven's filial piety is to secure the state and settle the altars of soil and grain. If the rebel faction rises now, the great enterprise will all be cast away—how could that fulfill the Son of Heaven's filial piety! I beg that you first secure the Northern Army, then seize the rebel faction—the Retired Emperor will then not be alarmed." The Emperor adopted his plan. When Xiao Zhibo and Dou Huaizhen were suppressed, he was again ordered to serve provisionally as Inspector-General of Yongzhou, and his actual fief was increased to a total of four hundred households. Soon he was appointed Minister of Personnel.
4
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 culled twenty pieces from the Mao Odes, the Greater and Lesser Elegantiae, and Sima Xiangru's "Feng and Shan Sacrifice" and, on a birthday memorial, presented them to offer admonition and also to describe the matter of announcing completion. The Emperor's handwritten reply said, "Poetry moves Heaven and earth, touches spirits and ghosts, is generous toward people, and is beautiful in teaching. What my will esteems, I wish to align with it, so that perhaps the officers who gather poems may supply what I lack. Moreover, in antiquity the feng and shan sacrifices ascended the central peak to announce completion; with my slight virtue I am not clear on the utmost Way. Startled, I listened and was quite heartened by Xiangru's words; wary, I bore it in mind and again felt ashamed at Guan Zhong's words. You are broadly informed and exhaustively perceptive, warm the old to know the new; in reaching this expression you further display loyal earnestness. Is it not that in searching the registers of Mount Peng your heart does not forget to rouse me; through the auspice of the Orchid Hall your words are indeed deep in counsel; I read them round and round to comfort my heart. Now I grant you one set of garments and fifty lengths of goods, to show the faith that no word goes unrewarded."
5
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。
Soon he was sent out as Governor of Changzhou, his actual fief was cut by three hundred households, and he was transferred to Governor of Ruzhou. In the seventh year of Kaiyuan, when corvée levies were reduced by decree, a special edict said, "At the time of the Restoration of Tang, the rebel faction plotted harm; Cui Riyong at the time secretly discussed the matter and, when it was suppressed, truly took part in the original plot, yet the fief he received was later reduced by precedent. His merit was especially great; it is fitting that his fief be restored to the original grant of two hundred households. In the tenth year he was transferred to Chief Administrator of the Metropolitan Area of Bingzhou. Soon he died at the age of fifty; he was posthumously made Minister of Personnel, with the posthumous title Zhao. Later he was again posthumously made Metropolitan Governor of Jingzhou; his son Zongzhi inherited the title.
6
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。」
Riyong's talent and eloquence surpassed others and he saw affairs swiftly; whenever the court had trouble he turned calamity into fortune to gain wealth and rank. After the Xiantian era he again sought to become chief minister but in the end did not succeed. He often told people, "In all my life's actions I adapt on the spot; one need not cling heavily to the original plan. Each time I think of it, I cannot help feeling bristles on my back."
7
崔日知
Cui Rizhi
8
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。
Riyong's elder cousin by the same clan, Rizhi, also had administrative ability. In the Jingyun era he served as Vice Magistrate of Luozhou. When Prince of Qiao Li Chongfu entered the Eastern Capital to rebel, the ministers all fled and hid; Rizhi alone led clerks and staff to the garrison commander and joined camp forces to suppress the rebels. After Chongfu died, for his merit he was promoted to Silver-Gleam Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and rose in succession to Metropolitan Governor of Jingzhao. For corruption he was impeached by Censor Li Rubi, demoted to Assistant Magistrate of She County, and soon rose again in succession to Director of the Palace Directorate. Rizhi had long been friendly with Zhang Yue; Yue recommended him and memorialized to appoint him Censor-in-Chief, but the Emperor did not consent. He was therefore made General of the Left Feathered Forest Guard, while Metropolitan Governor of Henan Cui Yinpu was made Censor-in-Chief; Yinpu therefore fell out with Yue. Rizhi was soon transferred to Minister of Rites. Considering that he had served many years, whenever courtiers assembled he was regularly ranked with the Ministers; people of the time called him "the Minister in practice," and it became a byword. In the sixteenth year of Kaiyuan he was sent out as Chief Administrator of the Metropolitan Area of Luzhou. Soon, on account of age, he retired from office; he died, with the posthumous title Xiang.
9
張嘉貞
Zhang Jiazhen
10
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。
Zhang Jiazhen was a native of Yishi in Pu Prefecture. At twenty he answered the Five Classics examination, was appointed Vice Magistrate of Pingxiang, and was dismissed and returned home for an offense. In the Chang'an era, Investigating Censor Zhang Xunxian was Commissioner for the Hedong Circuit and recommended Jiazhen as fit for a censorial post, asking to transfer his own rank to him. Empress Wu summoned him and, with the curtain lowered, spoke with him; Jiazhen memorialized, "That I, a man of the wilds, may enter audience in the Ninefold Palace is a meeting once in a thousand years. Within a foot's distance it is as if separated by clouds and mist; I cannot see sun and moon after all—I fear the way of ruler and subject is not fully fulfilled. Empress Wu at once ordered the curtain rolled up; she spoke with him with great delight and promoted him Investigating Censor. He rose in succession to Drafting Attendant of the Secretariat, served as Military Commissioner of Qinzhou and Chief Administrator of Bingzhou, and in governing was stern and severe, greatly feared by clerks and staff.
11
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。
In early Kaiyuan, when he came to the capital to report on affairs, the Emperor heard of his good government and repeatedly added praise and consolation. Jiazhen therefore memorialized, "I was orphaned young; my brothers have relied on one another until now. My younger brother Jiayou is now appointed Vice Prefect of Binzhou; he and I are each in a different region—of one heart but living apart, our souls are severed by ten thousand li. I beg that he be moved near me; my brothers will do our utmost to repay the state and will die without regret. The Emperor praised their brotherly affection and specially changed Jiayou to Governor of Xinzhou.
12
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。
At the time the nine surnames of the Turks had newly submitted and were scattered north of Taiyuan; Jiazhen memorialized to establish an army to garrison them, and so the Heavenly Troops Army was first established at Bingzhou, with Jiazhen as its commissioner. In the spring of the sixth year Jiazhen again entered court. Soon someone reported that in the army he was extravagant and had taken bribes; Censor-in-Chief Wang Jun therefore impeached him; investigation found no basis, and the Emperor was about to punish the accuser with counter-charge. Jiazhen memorialized, "In antiquity the Son of Heaven heard government above; the blind recited and the sightless chanted, the hundred craftsmen remonstrated, and the common people criticized—only then did the Son of Heaven weigh it. To counter-charge these men now is to block the road of those who speak, and then affairs under Heaven cannot reach above. I especially beg to waive this punishment, to broaden the way of criticism and recitation. The Emperor consented and ordered the death penalty reduced; from this the Emperor regarded Jiazhen as loyal. Jiazhen also once memorialized, "Now my will and strength are in their prime—it is the season to devote my life; in another few years I will be old and feeble and unable to act. Only if Your Majesty early bestows employment, I will not fear death. The Emperor, because of his clarity in argument, especially valued him. In the spring of the eighth year Song Jing and Su Ting ceased handling government affairs; Jiazhen was promoted Vice Minister of the Secretariat and Associate Chief Minister of the Secretariat and Chancellery. Several months later he was made Silver-Gleam Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and transferred to Chief Minister of the Secretariat.
13
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 swiftly and was skilled at presenting memorials, yet by nature he was forceful, impatient, and self-willed, and was rather ridiculed in contemporary opinion. At the time Drafting Attendant Miao Yansi, Lü Taiyi, Evaluation Section Vice Director Yuan Jiajing, and Palace Investigation Censor Cui Xun were all introduced by Jiazhen, held clear and important posts, and were constantly at Jiazhen's door discussing court government; people of the time made a saying: "The Chief Minister's four talents: Miao, Lü, Cui, Yuan."
14
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 the tenth year of Kaiyuan the imperial carriage visited the Eastern Capital. The Luoyang Registrar Wang Jun built a residence for Jiazhen intending to seek the post of censor; when the bribery affair broke out, the Emperor specially ordered him executed by collective decision in the court hall. Jiazhen urged the responsible officials to hurry the punishment to silence him, then blamed Censor-in-Chief Wei Kang and Vice Censor-in-Chief Wei Xuxin, who were all demoted. That winter Secretariat Director Jiang Jiao committed an offense; Jiazhen again joined Wang Shouyi in memorializing to request beating with the staff, and Jiao died on the road. Soon Military Commissioner of Guangzhou Pei Xianxian was imprisoned; the Emperor summoned attendants to ask what punishment was fitting, and Jiazhen again requested beating with the staff. Minister of War Zhang Yue advanced and said, "I have heard that punishment does not reach the grand masters, because they are close to the ruler. Therefore it is said, 'A gentleman may be killed but may not be insulted. This autumn I received orders to tour the border; midway I heard that Jiang Jiao, for his crime, was beaten with the staff in the court hall and died on assignment to exile. Jiao's office was third rank and he also had slight merit. If he had an offense, if death was fitting then kill him, if exile was fitting then exile him—he should not have been beaten with the staff and humiliated in court, treated like a common soldier. Moreover the law has the Eight Deliberations; merit and nobility are among them. Jiao's affair is already past and cannot be regretted. Xianxian should only be exiled according to the facts; he should not lightly again be punished by beating. The Emperor approved his words. Jiazhen was displeased; retiring he said to Yue, "Why speak on the affair so deeply? Yue said, "A chief minister takes office when the time arrives—who can hold the post for long? If every noble minister ought to be beaten with the staff, I fear we too will soon come to the same. I speak thus not for Xianxian alone but for gentlemen and scholars throughout the realm." At first, when Jiazhen was Vice Director in the Ministry of War, Zhang Yue was Vice Minister. By then Yue stood below Jiazhen yet offered no deference; displeased, he used these words to provoke him, and the two fell out. The Emperor also appointed Jiazhen's younger brother Jiayou General of the Golden Guards; with both brothers in ministerial and military posts, contemporaries greatly feared them. In the eleventh year, when the Emperor visited the Taiyuan traveling palace, Jiayou's corruption came to light. Zhang Yue urged Jiazhen to wear plain garments and await punishment and not enter audience; he was sent out as Governor of Youzhou, and Yue replaced him as Chief Minister of the Secretariat. Jiazhen brooded and said, "The Secretariat may have two chiefs—why press me so hard? The following year he was again made Minister of Revenue and concurrently Chief Administrator of Yizhou, with authority over military affairs. Ordered to banquet with the chief ministers at the Secretariat, Jiazhen—hating Zhang Yue for forcing him out—rolled up his sleeves and reviled him; Yuan Qianyao and Wang Jun together restrained them.
15
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 next year, for associating with Wang Shouyi, he was demoted to Governor of Taizhou. He again replaced Lu Congyuan as Minister of Works and Governor of Dingzhou, commanding Pingbei military affairs, and was enfeoffed in succession as Marquis of Hedong. As he was to depart, the Emperor composed a poem himself and ordered the hundred officials to see him off outside the Upper East Gate. At the prefecture he set up a eulogy in the Mount Heng temple, wrote the text himself, and inscribed it on stone; the stele was white stone with black characters, strikingly beautiful. The shrine had long drawn prayers from far and near, with cash in the millions; Jiazhen, claiming merit for his eulogy, took several tens of thousands. In the seventeenth year Jiazhen, ill, asked to seek treatment in the Eastern Capital; an edict granted his request. At the capital his eyes were shut and he could see nothing; the Emperor sent the inner-attending physician Tian Xiuyu and Commandant Lü Hongtai by rapid relay to treat him. That autumn he died at sixty-four; he was posthumously made Metropolitan Governor of Yizhou. He received the posthumous title Gongsu.
16
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 eminent posts, he established no private estates. At Dingzhou, intimates urged him to plant estates; Jiazhen said, "I have enjoyed honorable rank and once served as chief minister; before death, why fear hunger? If I bear censure, even vast estates are useless. I have seen courtiers seize broad estates; after death their worthless sons use them only for wine and women—utterly pointless. Those who heard him sighed in admiration.
17
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。
When Jiazhen first became chief minister he recommended Han Chaozong, Registrar of Wannian County, and made him Investigating Censor. More than ten years after Jiazhen's death, Chaozong as Metropolitan Governor memorialized, "Since Your Majesty began to rule, every chief minister has advanced and retired with propriety; though dead, their sons and grandsons remain at court. Only Zhang Jiazhen, in his later years, had one son who still has not entered office. The Emperor too was moved; he at once summoned the son, granted the name Yanbao, and specially appointed him Army Adjutant of the Left Inner Rate Office. Under Emperor Dezong he reached the chancellorship; he has his own biography.
18
張嘉祐
Zhang Jiayou
19
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。
Jiayou was capable and resourceful; demoted from General of the Right Golden Guards to Colonel of Puyang, by the twenty-fifth year he was Governor of Xiangzhou. Since Kaiyuan, a dozen governors of Xiangzhou had died or been demoted; Jiayou learned that Yuwen Jiong had died for the state as commander there and erected his shrine to seek blessing. After three evaluations he was made General of the Left Golden Guards. Later, when Wu Jing governed Ye Prefecture, he again added ceremonial cap and robes to the Yuwen spirit. Thereafter prefectural governors suffered no ill fortune.
20
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。
Xiao Song was the great-grandnephew of Xiao Yu, Left Vice Director and Duke of Song, in early Zhenguan. His grandfather Jun was Drafting Attendant of the Secretariat and famed in his day. Song had a fine beard and a grand, imposing bearing. At first he married He Hui's daughter of Kuaiji and was, with Lu Xiangxian of Wu, a colleague son-in-law. Xiangxian was then Vice Magistrate of Luoyang, a chief minister's son, of very exalted lineage. Song had not yet entered office; Xia Rong of Xuancheng, famed for physiognomy, told Xiangxian, "Within ten years you will reach the summit of rank, yet you will not equal the Xiao clan in nobility, high office, and long life. People of the time did not believe it.
21
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 the fifteenth year Wang Junhu, Military Commissioner of Hexi and Governor of Liangzhou, relying on his troops, attacked Tibet each year. Tibetan generals Xinuoluo Gonglu and Zhulong Mangbuzhi took Guazhou, seized Governor Tian Yuanxian and Junhu's father Shou, stripped the city of stores and grain, and destroyed the walls before withdrawing. They also attacked Yumen Army and Changle County; Magistrate Jia Shishun held firm and the enemy withdrew. Soon Junhu was killed by Uyghur tribes at Gongbi Post; the He and Long region was shaken with fear. The Emperor judged Junhu a brave but unstrategic general who had met disaster; choosing one fit for the border, he made Song Minister of War and Military Commissioner of Hexi with authority over Liangzhou. Song requested Pei Kuan, Guo Xuji, and Niu Xianke for his staff, and Zhang Shougui as Governor of Guazhou to rebuild the walls, gather the people, and restore their livelihoods. Song was further promoted to Silver-Gleam Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. Xinuoluo Gonglu's fame was then very great; Song spread word in Tibet that he dealt secretly with China, and the tsenpo summoned and executed him. The next autumn Tibet invaded in force; Suming again attacked Guazhou, and Shougui led troops out and repulsed him. Zhang Zhiliang, Military Commissioner of Longyou, led troops to Fengbo Valley southwest of Qinghai, fought Tibet, and won a great victory. In the eighth month Song sent Vice General Du Binke with four thousand crossbowmen to fight below Qilian City; from dawn to dusk the enemy broke and re-formed, then collapsed; a deputy was beheaded in battle and the rest fled into the hills, wailing everywhere. When the victory report arrived, the Emperor was greatly pleased and made Song Associate Chief Minister; none enjoyed such favor.
22
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 the seventeenth year Yuwen Rong and Pei Guangting became chief ministers, and Song was further made Chief Minister of the Secretariat. Since Zhang Yue left the chief ministership in the fourteenth year, the post had been vacant four years until Song filled it. He continued to hold the Hexi commission and governed it at a distance. He was made Academician of the Hall of Assembled Worthies, charged with the academy and editing the national history, and advanced to Golden-Gleam Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. His son Heng married Princess Xinchang; when Lady He paid court respects, the Emperor addressed her as mother-in-law by marriage with great ceremony. Soon he was further enfeoffed as Duke of Xu. In the second month of the twenty-first year Attendant-in-Chief Pei Guangting died. Guangting and Song had long been at odds; the Emperor sent Song to choose a successor, and Song recommended Han Xiu, Right Vice Director, as a man of mature years. When Xiu became chief minister, he was stern on every matter Song raised and would not yield; they argued before the throne, and Song yielded his post. The Emperor still favored Song; he allowed him to become Right Chief Minister and leave the chancellorship, making Xiu Minister of Works. Soon Song's son Hua was made Drafting Attendant.
23
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。
In the twenty-fourth year he was appointed Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent. When Zhang Shougui was demoted for bribing the eunuch Niu Xiantong, Song's own bribe was exposed by Li Linfu and he was demoted to Governor of Qingzhou. Soon he was again appointed Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent; Song again asked to retire. Song loved medicines and elixirs; after leaving office he planted herbs in his gardens and compounded them for himself. Hua was Vice Minister of Works and Heng, as imperial son-in-law, held third rank; white-haired, Song was supported more than ten years in wealth and honor. In the eighth year of Tianbao he died at over eighty; he was posthumously made Grand Master of Glorious Affairs with the Same Honors as the Three Excellencies.
24
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。
The eunuch Li Fuguo controlled the forbidden troops, sought the chancellorship, and urged Pei Mian and others to recommend him; Hua refused, and Fuguo was enraged. Emperor Suzong lay ill; Fuguo forged an order removing Hua from the chancellorship, retaining him as Minister of Rites, and installing Yuan Zai in his place. When Suzong died, Daizong was in mourning; Yuan Zai, courting Fuguo, demoted Hua to Vice Administrator of Xia Prefecture, where he died.
25
蕭衡、蕭華後人
Descendants of Xiao Heng and Xiao Hua
26
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。
Fu, son of Heng, also reached the chancellorship under Dezong. Hua's sons were Heng and Wu. Fu, son of Heng, became chief minister in the Dahe reign. Fang, son of Wu, was chief minister in Xiantong; each has his own biography.
27
張九齡
Zhang Jiuling
28
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：
Zhang Jiuling, style name Zishou, also called Bowen. His great-grandfather Junzheng was Vice Prefect of Shaozhou and settled the family at Shixing; they are now of Qujiang. His father Hongyu, because of Jiuling's eminence, was posthumously made Governor of Guangzhou. From youth Jiuling was clever and skilled at writing. At thirteen he presented writings to Governor Wang Fangqing of Guangzhou, who greatly admired him and said, "This boy will surely go far. He passed the jinshi, placed in the second class, and was appointed Proofreader. When the Emperor was Heir Apparent he examined literary men throughout the realm; Jiuling ranked high and was made Right Reminder. The Emperor had not yet performed the suburban sacrifice in person; Jiuling memorialized as follows:
29
伏以天才者，百神之君，而王者之所由受命也。 自古繼統之主，必有郊配之義，蓋以敬天命以報所受。 故於郊之義，則不以德澤未洽，年谷不登，凡事之故，而闕其禮。 《孝經》云：「昔者周公郊祀後稷以配天。」 斯謂成王幼沖，周公居攝，猶用其禮，明不暫廢。 漢丞相匡衡亦云：「帝王之事，莫重乎郊祀。」 董仲舒又云：「不郊而祭山川，失祭之序，逆於禮正，故《春秋》非之。」 臣愚以為匡衡、仲舒，古之知禮者，皆謂郊之為祭所宜先也。 伏惟陛下紹休聖緒，其命惟新，御極已來，於今五載，既光太平之業，未行大報之禮，竊考經傳，義或未通。 今百穀嘉生，鳥獸咸若，夷狄內附，兵革用寧。 將欲鑄劍為農，泥金封禪，用彰功德之美，允答神只之心。 能事畢行，光耀帝載。 況郊祀常典，猶闕其儀，有若怠於事天，臣恐不可以訓。 伏望以迎日之至，展焚柴之禮，升紫壇，陳采席，定天位，明天道，則聖朝典則，可謂無遺矣。
I consider that Heaven is lord of the hundred spirits and the source from which kings receive the mandate. Since antiquity, successive rulers have performed suburban sacrifice to revere Heaven's mandate and repay what they received. Therefore they did not omit the suburban rite for lack of widespread virtue, poor harvests, or any other cause. The Classic of Filial Piety says, "In antiquity the Duke of Zhou at the suburban sacrifice matched Hou Ji to Heaven. This means that when King Cheng was young and the Duke held the regency, he still performed the rite—it was not set aside. Chancellor Kuang Heng of Han also said, "Among royal affairs nothing outweighs the suburban sacrifice. Dong Zhongshu said, "To sacrifice to mountains and rivers without the suburban rite reverses proper order; the Spring and Autumn Annals condemns it." Kuang Heng and Dong Zhongshu, ancient masters of ritual, held that the suburban rite must precede all others. Your Majesty continues the sage succession; five years have passed since you took the throne—you have achieved great peace yet not the great reporting sacrifice; by the classics, this may be amiss. Now grain flourishes, beasts thrive, barbarians submit, and arms rest. You would cast swords into ploughshares and seal merit on Mount Tai, manifesting virtue and answering the spirits. When the rite is fully performed, it will glorify the imperial record. The suburban sacrifice is a standing rite, yet its observance is still lacking—as if Heaven were neglected, which I fear cannot instruct the realm. I beg that at the winter solstice you perform the firewood-burning rite, ascend the purple altar, spread the colored mat, fix Heaven's position and clarify Heaven's Way—then the court's ritual canon will be complete.
30
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 talent and judgment; whenever the Ministry tested candidates, Jiuling and Right Reminder Zhao Dongxi graded them several times, and each round was praised as fair. In the tenth year of Kaiyuan he was promoted three times to Vice Director of the Merit Section. Zhang Yue was then Chief Minister; sharing Jiuling's surname, he treated him as kin and often said, "Among later writers he will stand first. Delighted at such patronage, Jiuling attached himself to Yue as well. In the eleventh year he was appointed Drafting Attendant of the Secretariat.
31
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 the thirteenth year the Emperor traveled east and performed the feng and shan rites. Yue chose who would attend the central ascent, elevating many registrars, clerks, and his own intimates to acting posts and promoting them past the fifth grade. Jiuling was told to draft the edict and told Yue, "Rank is the realm's public vessel—virtue and reputation first, merit and seniority next. If you invert rank and merit, scandal will follow. The feng grace comes once in a millennium. Men of clear reputation and high rank receive no special favor. Low clerks are first given seals and ribbons. I fear that when the edict appears, the realm will be disappointed. The draft can still be changed; I beg you consider carefully and leave no regret. Yue said, "It is decided—idle gossip is not worth heeding!" He would not listen. When the edict appeared, court and country blamed Yue. Yuwen Rong had mastered field-household policy; Yue often opposed his memorials, and Rong resented him. Jiuling again urged precaution; Yue again refused. Soon Yue was impeached by Rong and left office; Jiuling became Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and was sent to Jizhou. His mother was old at home and Hebei was remote; he begged a Jiangnan post to hear from her, and was made Military Commissioner of Hongzhou. Soon he was transferred to Guizhou and still served as Investigating Commissioner of Lingnan. The Emperor also appointed his brothers Jiuzhang and Jiugao to Lingnan so they could visit their parents at the festivals.
32
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 Yue directed the Hall of Assembled Worthies he often recommended Jiuling as an academician for counsel. After Yue's death the Emperor recalled his words and made Jiuling Vice Director of the Secretariat and Academician with deputy charge of the hall. He was again promoted Vice Minister of the Secretariat. He often memorialized in secret and much was adopted. Soon he mourned his mother and returned home. In the twelfth month of the twenty-first year he was recalled from mourning as Vice Minister and Associate Chief Minister. The next year he became Chief Minister of the Secretariat and edited the national history. Zhang Shougui sent his subordinate An Lushan to the capital in bonds after a defeat against the Xi and Khitan and asked for punishment. Jiuling memorialized, "When Rang Ju took the field he executed Zhuang Jia; when Sun Wu trained troops he beheaded palace women. Shougui's orders must stand; Lushan ought not be spared. The Emperor specially pardoned him. Jiuling said, "Lushan has a wolf's heart and a traitor's face; execute him now and forestall later harm. The Emperor said, "Do not, like Wang Yifu with Shi Le, wrongly kill a loyal man." He was released back to the frontier.
33
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 the twenty-third year he was made Golden-Gleam Grand Master and enfeoffed Baron of Shixing. Li Linfu lacked learning; jealous that the Emperor knew Jiuling's literary merit, he resented him. He brought in Niu Xianke; Jiuling repeatedly objected, and the Emperor was displeased. In the twenty-fourth year he became Right Chief Minister and left the chancellorship. Whenever ministers were recommended, the Emperor asked, "Is his bearing like Jiuling's? By custom officials tucked the tablet in the belt before riding; frail, Jiuling had it carried for him, and the tablet pouch was invented. The tablet pouch began with Jiuling.
34
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。
As chief minister he recommended Zhou Ziliang, Vice Magistrate of Chang'an, as Investigating Censor. Ziliang rashly spoke of omens; the Emperor interrogated him and ordered him executed in court. For recommending the wrong man, Jiuling was demoted Chief Administrator of Jingzhou. Soon he asked to visit the family tombs, fell ill and died at sixty-eight; he was posthumously Governor of Jingzhou, title Wenxian. As chief minister he proposed restoring ten investigating commissioners and teaching Henan prefectures to plant rice for garrison fields. The garrison-field plan cost labor without profit and was abandoned. He was quick-tempered and prone to angry outbursts, for which critics faulted him.
35
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 was Magistrate of Yique. In the rebellion he was captured but refused rebel orders. When the capitals were recovered, he was made Right Supporter of the Heir Apparent. His brother Jiugao rose from Ministry Director to five governorships. Jiuzhang governed Ji, Ming, and Cao and became Director of the Court for Imperial Entertainments.
36
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。
On the Emperor's birthday, while others gave treasures, Jiuling presented five scrolls of the Record of the Golden Mirror on the rise and fall of dynasties, which the Emperor greatly prized. He befriended Yan Tingzhi, Yuan Renjing, Liang Shengqing, and Lu Yi. They were talented men whose friendship never wavered, much praised at the time. In Zhide the Retired Emperor in Shu recalled Jiuling's foresight and praised him: "Great halls need pillars; great enterprises need ministers. Honor them in life and praise them in death—when the end falls short, added gifts remain in the state's law. Former Chief Minister Zhang Jiuling—spirit of the peak, minister across the ford; in Kaiyuan he lit the age. His counsel secured the realm; his foresight matched the oracle; he was truly a great minister. His records remain; his tomb must be protected; let his rank rise to the Three Terraces. Posthumously make him Minister of Education and send sacrifice to Shaozhou. He left collected works in twenty scrolls.
37
張仲方
Zhang Zhongfang
38
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。
Jiugao's great-grandson Zhongfang was bright and refined from boyhood. As a boy, Gao Ying, his father's friend, marveled and said, "This boy is extraordinary and will be a pillar of the state; if I rise high I will raise him up. When Ying became Censor-in-Chief he first made Zhongfang a censor. He served as Governor of Jin Prefecture. When a eunuch seized a man's fields, Zhongfang memorialized thrice and righted the wrong. As Revenue Director he opposed Li Jifu's posthumous title; Jifu's faction sent him to Suizhou. He later governed Fu, Cao, and Zheng. He became Remonstrance Official. Magistrate Cui Fa insulted a junior eunuch; Jing Zong in rage sent him to the censorate. At the New Year amnesty, Fa alone was excluded. Zhongfang memorialized in summary, "Mercy spreads under Heaven yet not before the throne; grace touches even insects yet Cui Fa is left out. Fa was spared, and contemporaries praised Zhongfang. In Dahe 9, as Metropolitan Governor, when slaughtered ministers were piled up, he secretly had them identified. An edict then allowed burial; identifying the dead was his work. When soldiers ran wild, he appeased Wei but was judged unfit and made Governor of Hua, then Secretariat Director. In Kaicheng 2 he died at seventy-two; posthumously Minister of Rites, title Cheng.
39
李適之
Li Shizhi
40
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。
Li Shizhi, also called Chang, was grandson of Prince Chengqian of Hengshan. His father Xiang rose to Vice Prefect of Hua. At the start of Shenlong Shizhi entered office as Left Guard Commandant. In Kaiyuan he rose to Governor of Tong and was praised as forceful. Han Chaozong, investigating commissioner, recommended him; he became Military Commissioner of Qin. Soon he governed Shan and then became Metropolitan Governor of Henan. Plain and direct, he avoided petty severity and was convenient to clerks and people. After a year he was made Censor-in-Chief. In Kaiyuan 27 he concurrently commanded Youzhou and knew military affairs. His grandfather was condemned and his father demoted by Empress Wu; with funeral rites lacking, he begged burial in the gap at Zhaoling. An edict posthumously made Chengqian Prince Min of Hengshan, Xiang Duke of Xun and Commissioner of Yue, and honored several deceased kin. Several coffins came to the capital together; the burials were splendid, with stone carved at the graves. Soon he was appointed Minister of Punishments. He loved guests, could drink a dou without losing composure, feasted at night and cleared the docket by day.
41
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。
In Tianbao 1 he replaced Niu Xianke as Left Chief Minister and was enfeoffed Duke of Qinghe. He vied with Li Linfu for power; loose by nature, Shizhi was undermined in secret. Linfu told Shizhi, "Mount Hua has gold mines that could enrich the state—the Emperor does not know. Shizhi liked the idea and later memorialized it at leisure. The Emperor was delighted and asked Linfu, who said, "I have known it long. But Mount Hua is Your Majesty's natal mountain, seat of royal qi—it must not be mined; I dared not speak. The Emperor thought Linfu cared for him and deemed Shizhi careless. Weiming, Wei Jian, Pei Kuan, and Han Chaozong were Shizhi's friends; Linfu slandered them into exile one after another. Fearing for himself, Shizhi sought an honorary post. In the fifth year he left office and kept the post of Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent. He summoned kin and friends and wrote, "Having left office to yield to the worthy, I enjoy the sage and hold the cup. I ask the guests at my gate—how many come today? For friendship with Wei Jian and others he was demoted Governor of Yichun. Luo Xiyi was sent to kill exiles including Wei Jian; wherever his mission was heard, terror spread. When Xiyi reached Yichun, Shizhi heard of it and took poison.
42
李季卿
Li Jiqing
43
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。
His son Jiqing, at twenty, passed the Classics exam and wrote well. He passed the Broad Learning and Grand Phrasing exam and became Vice Magistrate of E in Jingzhao. Under Suzong he rose to Drafting Attendant, then was demoted Vice Prefect of Tong for a public offense. When Daizong succeeded, he recalled the long-suppressed; Jiqing was summoned from Tong as Vice Governor of Jingzhao. Soon he was again Drafting Attendant and Vice Minister of Personnel. As Vice Censor-in-Chief he comforted Henan and Jiang-Huai, promoted the neglected and the loyal, and won praise. After several years in appointments he became Right Regular Cavalier Attendant. Jiqing was broad-minded, learned, sociable, and open-hearted. At court he made promoting talent his task, and gentlemen esteemed him. In Dali 2 he died and was posthumously made Minister of Rites.
44
孫融，立性嚴整，善吏事。 貞元十年，歷官至渭州節度使卒。
His grandson Rong was stern and skilled in administration. In Zhenyuan 10 he reached Military Commissioner of Wei and died.
45
嚴挺之
Yan Tingzhi
46
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。
Yan Tingzhi was a native of Huayin in Hua Prefecture. His uncle Fangdie was a Ministry of Revenue director in Jingyun. From youth Tingzhi loved learning and passed the jinshi. In Shenlong 1 he passed the decree exam and was appointed Vice Magistrate of Yixing. When Yao Chong was Governor of Changzhou he saw Tingzhi's imposing bearing and prized his talent. When Chong again became chief minister he made Tingzhi Right Reminder.
47
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：
Ruizong loved music to the point of weariness; Xuanzong too was skilled in music. On the Xiantian 2 first-month full moon the monk Botuo asked to open the gates at night for lamps; Ruizong watched from Yanxi Gate for four days. They staged the Xiantian 1 great feast again; Ruizong watched from Anfu Gate as day ran into night for over a month. Tingzhi remonstrated as follows:
48
微臣竊惟陛下應天順人，發號施令，躬親大禮，昭布鴻澤，孜孜庶政，業業萬幾。 蓋以天下心為心，深戒安危之理，此誠堯、舜、禹、湯之德教也。 奈何親禦城門，以觀大酺，累日兼夜，臣愚竊所未諭。
Your servant considers that Your Majesty, responding to Heaven and the people, issues orders, performs great rites, spreads grace, and labors over myriad affairs. You take the realm's heart as your own and guard safety and danger—truly the teaching of Yao, Shun, Yu, and Tang. Why then attend the city gate for the great feast day and night—I do not understand.
49
夫酺者，因人所利，合醵為歡，無相奪倫，不至糜弊。 且臣卜其晝，史冊攸存，君舉必書，帝王重慎。 今乃暴衣冠於上路，羅妓樂於中宵。 雜鄭、衛之音，縱倡優之樂。 陛下還淳復古，宵衣旰食，不矜細行，恐非聖德所宜。 臣以為一不可也。 誰何警夜，伐鼓通晨，以備非常，存之善教。 今陛下不深惟戒慎，輕違動息，重門弛禁，巨猾多徒。 倘有躍馬奔車，流言駭叫，一塵聽覽，有累宸衷。 臣以為二不可也。 且一人向隅，滿堂不樂； 一物失所，納隍增慮。 陛下北宮多暇，西墉暫臨。 青春日長，已積埃塵之弊； 紫微漏永，重窮歌舞之樂。 倘令有司跛倚，下人饑倦，以陛下近猶不恤，而況於遠乎！ 聖情攸聞，豈不懍然只畏。 臣以為三不可也。 且元正首祚，大禮頻光，百姓颙颙，咸謂業盛配天，功垂曠代。 今陛下恩似薄於眾望，酺即過於往年。 王公貴人，各承微旨； 州縣坊曲，競為課稅。 籲嗟道路，貿易家產，損萬人之力，營百戲之資。 適欲同其歡，而乃遺其患，復令兼夜，人何以堪？ 臣以為四不可也。
A feast gathers contributions for joy; it should not overturn order or waste resources. Histories record the ruler's acts; emperors must weigh them heavily. Now robes and caps are exposed on the road and music spreads at midnight. Zheng and Wei music mingles with performers' songs. You rise early and retire late to restore antiquity—such conduct ill suits sage virtue. This is the first thing that must not be. Night patrols and dawn drums guard against the unexpected—good teaching preserves them. Now caution is lightly set aside, the gates relaxed, and villains abound. If horses raced or cries alarmed the throne, the imperial heart would be burdened. This is the second thing that must not be. When one man faces a corner, the whole hall loses joy; when one thing is out of place, care deepens. Your Majesty has leisure in the Northern Palace and attends the western wall. Spring days lengthen while dust of neglect accumulates; the palace water-clock runs long while song and dance are exhausted again. If officials limp and subordinates hunger while Your Majesty nearby is unconcerned, what of those far away! If the throne heard of it, would you not be filled with dread? This is the third thing that must not be. At the New Year the people look up, saying the enterprise matches Heaven and the achievement spans the age. Now grace seems thinner than hope, and the feast exceeds former years. Dukes and nobles each receive a slight signal; prefectures, counties, and wards compete in levying taxes. On the roads people sigh and trade family property, draining ten thousand men to fund a hundred shows. You would share their joy yet leave them harm; ordering night as well—how can they bear it? This is the fourth thing that must not be.
50
《書》曰：「罔咈百姓，以從己之欲。」 況自去夏霪霖，經今亢旱，農乏收成，市有騰貴。 損其實，崇其虛，馳不急之務，擾方春之業。 前代聖主明王，忽於細微而成過患多矣，陛下可效之哉？ 伏望晝則歡娛，暮令休息，要令兼夜，恐無益於聖朝。
The Book says, "Do not oppose the people to follow your own desires. Since last summer's rains and this drought, harvests fail and prices soar. You diminish the solid for the empty, rush unurgent tasks, and disturb spring work. Sage rulers who neglected small things brought great harm—can Your Majesty follow them? I beg joy by day and rest at evening; to require night as well will not benefit the court.
51
上納其言而止。
The Emperor accepted his words and stopped.
52
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。
Censor Ren Zhigu reviled officials in court; Tingzhi reproved him and was impeached and demoted to Wan Prefecture. In Kaiyuan he was Vice Director of the Evaluation Section. For two years he examined candidates with great fairness; admissions fell by half. He became Director of the Evaluation Section, then Drafting Attendant. Vice Ministers Du Xian and Li Yuanhong were chief ministers together and fell out. Xian was friendly with Tingzhi; Yuanhong favored Song Yao and made him Drafting Attendant. Examining Ministry grades with Zhang Xuan, Yao differed from Tingzhi and spoke to Yuanhong. Yuanhong reproached him; Tingzhi said, "You are chief minister yet dote on petty men and bear hatred—this is unfitting. His words and bearing were severe. Yuanhong asked, "Who is the petty man? Tingzhi said, "Song Yao." He was sent out Governor of Deng and Vice Governor of Taiyuan. Wang Maoqi went to Taiyuan, Shuofang, and Youzhou to reckon troops; years later he demanded weapons from Taiyuan without an edict. Tingzhi, seeing no edict and fearing Maoqi's long favor, secretly memorialized. Soon he governed Pu and Bian. Wherever he served he was stern; clerks dared not offend; in great prefectures people trembled.
53
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 Maoqi was put to death; the Emperor recalled Tingzhi's memorial and promoted him Vice Minister of Punishments, then Director of the Imperial Treasury. Friendly with Zhang Jiuling, when Jiuling became chief minister he made Tingzhi Left Assistant Chief Minister over Personnel and Lu Jingrong over War—both were choicest men. Pei Yaoji and Li Linfu shared office with Jiuling, who had risen by literary learning and enjoyed great favor as chief minister. Yaoji and Jiuling were old friends; crafty Linfu served Jiuling well but was not yet allied in intent. Linfu brought in Xiao Jiong as Vice Minister of Revenue; at a condolence visit Jiong read from the Book of Rites, "Steaming and offering, lying in wait for the hunt. Jiong had entered office young without learning and misread "winter and summer sacrifices" as "lying in wait for the hunt." Tingzhi jested and asked again; Jiong answered as before. Tingzhi told Jiuling, "How can the Secretariat harbor a 'Hunt-in-Wait Vice Minister'? For this he was sent out as Governor of Qi, and Linfu deeply resented him. Jiuling wished to share office with Tingzhi and said, "Minister Li enjoys great favor—you should visit his gate and cultivate him. Proud by nature and disdainful of Linfu, for three years Tingzhi never visited him except on public business, which made Linfu hate him all the more. When Tingzhi entrusted Wang Yuanyan, Linfu interrogated him in the palace; Jiuling lost the chancellorship, Tingzhi was sent to Ming, and in year 29 to Jiang.
54
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 Tianbao 1 the Emperor asked Linfu, "Where is Yan Tingzhi? This man too is fit for use. Linfu summoned Tingzhi's brother Sun, promised his son a post, and said, "The Emperor favors your brother—have him enter the city for audience and he will be greatly used." He had Sun take a Jiang petition saying Tingzhi had slight wind ailment and begged to enter the capital for treatment. Linfu memorialized that Tingzhi was old, recently ill with wind, and needed an honorary post for treatment. The Emperor sighed and reproached at length. Linfu appointed him Vice Director of the Heir Apparent's Household and sent him to convalesce in the Eastern Capital.
55
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 scriptures and served the monk Huiyi. At the Eastern Capital he was depressed and unfulfilled, and fell ill. He wrote his own epitaph: "In Tianbao 1, Yan Tingzhi, Administrator of Jiang, memorialized for leave; Heaven granted it, allowing retirement and appointing him Director of the Heir Apparent's Household. He held twenty-five offices, each time favored yet not fully used—how could a lame nag repay such grace? At seventy he had nothing left to accomplish—men of the time grieved for him. In the ninth month he fell ill and died at a private residence in Luoyang. In the eleventh month he was buried west of the Dazhao pagoda, as ritual required. Loyal in service, recorded in state history; striving in office, sometimes praised in popular song. Hills and valleys record themselves—what need of literary ornament? He left writings, asked for a simple burial, and was enshrouded in ordinary garments. Tingzhi and Pei Kuan both followed Buddhism. At the end of Kaiyuan, when Huiyi died, Tingzhi wore hemp mourning to the niche. Kuan, as Metropolitan Governor of Henan, when Puji died wore mourning with wife and children, wailed at a mourning station, and sent them to escort the funeral to Mount Song. Hence the epitaph says "buried beside the Dazhao pagoda," praying for the monk's blessing. Tingzhi valued friendship; he generously supported the families of dead friends and married off dozens of orphaned daughters—contemporaries esteemed him.
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子武，廣德中黃門侍郎、成都尹、劍南節度使。
His son Wu, in Guangde, was Vice Minister of the Yellow Gate, Governor of Chengdu, and Military Commissioner of Jiannan.
57
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。
The historian writes: Cui Riyong joined Sansi to rise high, helped suppress the Wei faction, and grasped heavy power. His saying that he adapted on the spot and need not cling to the original plan was indeed true. He cannot be compared with those who hold to death and preserve the Way. Zhang Jiazhen established no estates, yet he craved power, formed factions, and had Jiang Jiao and Xianxian beaten—he was no impartial man. Xiao Song reached the chief ministership without notable policy, yet broke the barbarians—truly a man who could go far. Jiuling was praised in both letters and government—a choice man of his age. Shizhi was easy below yet diligent in office—alas that he did not die naturally! Tingzhi's talent was not below his peers; shunning power's gate, he was hated, never reached the chancellorship, and ended convalescing as a palace official. Though fortune is Heaven's and fate Heaven's, that Linfu might truly be cast to wolves and tigers.
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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 says: In the Kaiyuan era the court was full of talent. Riyong lacked constancy; Jiazhen courted fame. Song, Jiuling, Shizhi, and Tingzhi each had his measure. All reached the summit of rank, yet half fell short of true virtue.