1
Gao Xianzhi was ethnically Korean. His father Sheji had first served with the Hexi armies and, through long service, rose to become a Ten-General of the Four Garrisons and a palace guard general. Xianzhi was handsome, an expert horseman and archer, and bold, decisive, and ferocious in battle. As a young man he accompanied his father to Anxi and, thanks to his father's service record, was granted the rank of General of Resist-the-Enemy. By his twenties he already held general's rank, equal in grade to his father. Under commissioners Tian Renwan and Gai Jiayun he saw little use; Fumeng Lingcha later promoted him again and again. Near the end of the Kaiyuan reign he was made Deputy Protector of Anxi and overall commander of the Four Garrisons' forces.
2
小勃律國王為吐蕃所招，妻以公主，西北二十餘國皆為吐蕃所制，貢獻不通。 後節度使田仁琬、蓋嘉運並靈察累討之，不捷，玄宗特敕仙芝以馬步萬人為行營節度使往討之。 時步軍皆有私馬，自安西行十五日至撥換城，又十餘日至握瑟德，又十餘日至疏勒，又二十餘日至蔥嶺守捉，又行二十餘日至播密川，又二十餘日至特勒滿川，即五識匿國也。 仙芝乃分為三軍：使疏勒守捉使趙崇玭統三千騎趣吐蕃連雲堡，自北谷入； 使撥換守捉使賈崇瓘自赤佛堂路入； 仙芝與中使邊令誠自護密國入，約七月十三日辰時會於吐蕃連雲堡。 堡中有兵千人，又城南十五里因山為柵，有兵八九千人。 城下有婆勒川，水漲不可渡。 仙芝以三牲祭河，命諸將選兵馬，人賫三日幹糧，早集河次。 水既難渡，將士皆以為狂。 既至，人不濕旗，馬不濕韉，已濟而成列矣。 仙芝喜謂令誠曰：「向吾半渡賊來，吾屬敗矣，今既濟成列，是天以此賊賜我也。」 遂登山挑擊，從辰至巳，大破之。 至夜奔逐，殺五千人，生擒千人，餘並走散。 得馬千餘匹，軍資器械不可勝數。
The king of Lesser Bolü had been won over by Tibet, which married a princess to him; more than twenty kingdoms in the northwest fell under Tibetan control, and tribute routes were cut off. Commissioners Tian, Gai, and Lingcha had campaigned against them repeatedly without victory; the emperor then appointed Xianzhi Mobile-Camp Commissioner with ten thousand infantry and cavalry to lead the punitive expedition. The foot soldiers all brought their own mounts. From Anxi it was a fifteen-day march to Baraghan, then another ten-odd days to Wusede, another ten-odd to Kashgar, more than twenty to the Congling garrison, another twenty-odd to the Bomichuan, and another twenty-odd to Telmanchuan — the territory of the Five Shi kingdoms. Xianzhi split his army three ways: he sent the Kashgar commissioner Zhao Chongpin with three thousand horsemen against the Tibetan stronghold at Lianyunbao by the northern valley; the Baraghan commissioner Jia Chongguan by the Chifotang road; and he himself, with the palace envoy Bian Lingcheng, entered from Humi, all three columns to converge at Lianyunbao at the chen hour on the thirteenth of the seventh month. The fort held a thousand men, and fifteen li to the south a mountain stockade held eight or nine thousand more. Below the walls ran the Bole River, now in flood and impassable. Xianzhi sacrificed to the river, ordered his commanders to pick their men and mounts, issued three days' rations to each soldier, and had them muster at the river at dawn. With the river so swollen, the troops thought him mad. When they reached the bank, neither banner nor saddle was wet: they had already crossed and were drawn up in line. Xianzhi said happily to Lingcheng, "Had the enemy struck while we were midstream, we were lost; now that we are across and formed up, Heaven has delivered these foes into my hands." He then stormed the heights and, fighting from the chen hour until si, routed them completely. He pursued through the night, killing five thousand, taking a thousand prisoners, and driving the rest to flight. He seized more than a thousand horses and booty beyond reckoning.
3
玄宗使術士韓履冰往視日，懼不欲行，邊令誠亦懼。 仙芝留令誠等以羸病尪弱三千餘人守其城，仙芝遂進。 三日，至坦駒嶺，直下峭峻四十餘里，仙芝料之曰：「阿弩越胡若速迎，即是好心。」 又恐兵士不下，乃先令二十餘騎詐作阿弩越城胡服上嶺來迎。 既至坦駒嶺，兵士果不肯下，云：「大使將我欲何處去？」 言未畢，其先使二十人來迎，云：「阿弩越城胡並好心奉迎，娑夷河藤橋已斫訖。」 仙芝陽喜以號令，兵士盡下。 娑夷河，即古之弱水也，不勝草芥毛發。 下嶺三日，越胡果來迎。 明日，至阿弩越城，當日令將軍席元慶、賀婁餘潤先修橋路。 仙芝明日進軍，又令元慶以一千騎先謂小勃律王曰：「不取汝城，亦不斫汝橋，但借汝路過，向大勃律去。」 城中有首領五六人，皆赤心為吐蕃。 仙芝先約元慶云：「軍到，首領百姓必走入山谷，招呼取以敕命賜彩物等，首領至，齊縛之以待我。」 元慶既至，一如仙芝之所教，縛諸首領。 王及公主走入石窟，取不可得。 仙芝至，斬其為吐蕃者五六人。 急令元慶斫藤橋，去勃律猶六十里，及暮，才斫了，吐蕃兵馬大至，已無及矣。 藤橋闊一箭道，修之一年方成。 勃律先為吐蕃所詐借路，遂成此橋。 至是，仙芝徐自招諭勃律及公主出降，並平其國。
The emperor had sent the diviner Han Lübing to observe the sun; Lübing feared and did not wish to go on, and Bian Lingcheng also feared. Xianzhi left Lingcheng with three thousand sick and weak men to hold the fort and pressed on. On the third day they came to Tanjuling, where the trail dropped sheer for forty li. Xianzhi reasoned, "If the Anüyue tribesmen meet us promptly, their hearts are with us." Fearing his men would refuse the descent, he sent ahead twenty horsemen disguised as Anüyue tribesmen to ride down and welcome the army. At Tanjuling the troops would not budge. "Commissioner," they cried, "where are you leading us?" Before he could answer, his twenty scouts rode up, calling, "The Anüyue are ready to receive you — the vine bridge over the Suoyi has been cut down." Xianzhi pretended delight and gave the order; the men all descended. The Suoyi was the ancient Weak Water, which would not bear even a blade of grass or a strand of hair. Three days below the pass, the Yue tribesmen did come out to meet them. The next day they reached Anüyue City, and that same day he sent Generals Xi Yuanqing and Helou Yurun ahead to repair the bridge and road. The following day Xianzhi marched on and sent Yuanqing ahead with a thousand horsemen to tell the king of Lesser Bolü, "We do not mean to seize your city or destroy your bridge — we ask only passage on our way to Greater Bolü." Five or six chieftains in the city were wholly devoted to Tibet. Xianzhi had told Yuanqing beforehand, "When we arrive the chiefs and people will flee into the hills. Summon them with imperial gifts; when they come, bind them all and hold them for me." Yuanqing did exactly as instructed and seized the chieftains. The king and princess escaped into a cave and could not be captured. When Xianzhi arrived, he executed five or six of the Tibetan loyalists. He ordered Yuanqing to cut the vine bridge at once. Bolü still lay sixty li away; the bridge was severed only at dusk, and Tibetan forces were already pouring in — too late to stop them. The vine bridge spanned no more than an arrow's shot and had taken a year to build. Bolü had been tricked into letting Tibet use its roads, and the bridge had been built for that purpose. Thereupon Xianzhi patiently persuaded the king of Bolü and the princess to surrender and pacified the kingdom.
4
天寶六載八月，仙芝虜勃律王及公主趣赤佛堂路班師。 九月，復至婆勒川連雲堡，與邊令誠等相見。 其月末，還播密川，令劉單草告捷書，遣中使判官王廷芳告捷。 仙芝軍還至河西，夫蒙靈察都不使人迎勞，罵仙芝曰：「啖狗腸高麗奴！ 啖狗屎高麗奴！ 於闐使誰與汝奏得？」 仙芝曰：「中丞。」 「焉耆鎮守使誰邊得？」 曰：「中丞。」 「安西副都護使誰邊得？」 曰：「中丞。」 「安西都知兵馬使誰邊得？」 曰：「中丞。」 靈察曰：「此既皆我所奏，安得不待我處分懸奏捷書！ 據高麗奴此罪，合當斬，但緣新立大功，不欲處置。」 又謂劉單曰：「聞爾能作捷書。」 單恐懼請罪。 令誠具奏其狀曰：「仙芝立奇功，今將憂死。」 其年六月，制授仙芝鴻臚卿、攝御史中丞，代夫蒙靈察為四鎮節度使，征靈察入朝。 靈察大懼，仙芝每日見之，趨走如故，靈察益不自安。 將軍程千里時為副都護，大將軍畢思琛為靈察押衙，行官王滔、康懷順、陳奉忠等，嘗構譖仙芝於靈察。 仙芝既領節度事，謂程千里曰：「公面似男兒，心如婦人，何也？」 又謂思琛曰：「此胡敢來！ 我城東一千石種子莊被汝將去，憶之乎？」 對曰：「此是中丞知思琛辛苦見乞。」 仙芝曰：「吾此時懼汝作威福，豈是憐汝與之！ 我欲不言，恐汝懷憂，言了無事矣。」 又呼王滔等至，捽下將笞，良久皆釋之，由是軍情不懼。
In the eighth month of Tianbao 6, Xianzhi took the king of Bolü and the princess captive and withdrew by the Chifotang road. In the ninth month they returned to Lianyunbao on the Bole River and met Bian Lingcheng and the others. At month's end they were back at Bomichuan; Xianzhi had Liu Dan draft the victory memorial and sent the palace envoy Wang Tingfang to court with the news. When the army reached Hexi, Fumeng Lingcha sent no envoy to welcome them and cursed Xianzhi: "Korean cur who eats dog guts! Korean cur who eats dog shit! Who got you your posting as commissioner of Khotan?" Xianzhi said, "You did, Vice Commissioner." "And who got you the Yanqi garrison?" He said, "You did, Vice Commissioner." "And the deputy protectorship of Anxi?" He said, "You did, Vice Commissioner." "And command of Anxi's armies?" He said, "You did, Vice Commissioner." Lingcha said, "Since I recommended you for every one of these posts, how dare you send in a victory report without waiting for my approval! For this the Korean wretch deserves death, but since he has just won a great victory I will let it pass." He turned to Liu Dan. "I hear you can draft victory memorials." Dan pleaded for mercy in terror. Lingcheng reported the whole affair to court: "Xianzhi has won a signal victory and now fears for his life." That sixth month an edict made Xianzhi Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and acting censor-in-chief, replaced Lingcha as commissioner of the Four Garrisons, and recalled Lingcha to the capital. Lingcha was terrified; Xianzhi still called on him daily and waited on him as before, which only deepened Lingcha's unease. General Cheng Qianli was deputy protector; Grand General Bi Sichen was Lingcha's chief adjutant; and staff officers Wang Tao, Kang Huaishun, and Chen Fengzhong had once slandered Xianzhi to Lingcha. Once in command, Xianzhi said to Cheng Qianli, "You have a man's face but a woman's heart — why is that?" He said to Sichen, "This barbarian dares show his face here! You seized my thousand-shi seed estate east of the city — do you remember?" Sichen answered, "The Vice Commissioner knew my hardships and granted it at my plea." Xianzhi said, "I gave it to you then because I feared you would abuse your power — not out of pity! I kept silent lest you worry; now that I have said it, let there be no trouble between us." He summoned Wang Tao and the others, had them thrown down for a beating, then after a long while released them — and from that the troops ceased to fear him.
5
In the eighth year he came to court, was granted special advancement, made grand general of the Left Golden Crow Guard, and given a fifth-rank post for one son. In the ninth year he campaigned against Shi, conquered it, and returned with its king as prisoner. Xianzhi was greedy; he took from Shi more than ten great blocks of kingfisher stone, five or six camel-loads of gold, and famous horses and jades beyond count. Sheji had once thought Xianzhi too timid to make his way; now, after his victories, his wealth ran to tens of thousands and he gave freely — no request went unanswered. That year he came to court as Grand Master for Splendid Happiness with the Ceremonial of the Three Dukes, then was made prefect of Wuwei and commissioner of Hexi in place of An Sishun. Sishun stirred the frontier tribes to mutilate themselves in petition to keep him; Censor Pei Zhounan reported it; the emperor retained Sishun and made Xianzhi grand general of the Right Forest of Feathers. In the fourteenth year he was enfeoffed as Duke of Miyun.
6
十一月，安祿山據范陽叛。 是日，以京兆牧、榮王琬為討賊元帥，仙芝為副。 命仙芝領飛騎、彍騎及朔方、河西、隴右應赴京兵馬，並召募關輔五萬人，繼封常清出潼關進討，仍以仙芝兼御史大夫。 十二月，師發，玄宗禦望春亭慰勞遣之，仍令監門將軍邊令誠監其軍，屯於陜州。 是月十一日，封常清兵敗於汜水。 十三日，祿山陷東京，常清以餘眾奔陜州，謂仙芝曰：「累日血戰，賊鋒不可當。 且潼關無兵，若狂寇奔突，則京師危矣。 宜棄此守，急保潼關。」 常清、仙芝乃率見兵取太原倉錢絹，分給將士，餘皆焚之。 俄而賊騎繼至，諸軍惶駭，棄甲而走，無復隊伍。 仙芝至關，繕修守具，又令索承光守善和戍。 賊騎至關，已有備矣，不能攻而去，仙芝之力也。
In the eleventh month An Lushan rebelled from Fanyang. That day Prince Rong Wan, metropolitan governor of Jingzhao, was named commander to suppress the rebels, with Xianzhi as his deputy. Xianzhi was ordered to take the flying and strong cavalry and the Shuofang, Hexi, and Longyou forces marching to the capital, recruit fifty thousand men from the Guanzhong region, follow Feng Changqing through Tong Pass to attack the rebels, and was made censor-in-chief as well. In the twelfth month the army marched; the emperor saw them off at Wangchun Pavilion and sent Gate-Guard General Bian Lingcheng to supervise the force, which encamped at Shanzhou. On the eleventh of that month Feng Changqing was defeated at Sishui. On the thirteenth Lushan took the Eastern Capital; Changqing fled with his survivors to Shanzhou and told Xianzhi, "We have fought for days in blood — the rebel host cannot be stopped. Tong Pass is undefended; if the rebels break through, the capital is lost. We must abandon this position and fall back at once to Tong Pass." Changqing and Xianzhi took the cash and silk from the Taiyuan depot, distributed them to the troops, and burned what remained. Rebel cavalry overtook them; the army panicked, cast off its armor, and fled in disorder. At the pass Xianzhi repaired the defenses and posted Suo Chengguang at the Shanhe garrison. When the rebels reached the pass they found it ready and withdrew without attacking — thanks to Xianzhi.
7
Feng Changqing was from Yishi in Pu prefecture. His maternal grandfather, banished to Anxi for a crime, guarded the south gate of Hucheng, was well read, and each day sat Changqing on the gate tower to teach him — the boy read widely. After his grandfather died Changqing was left poor and alone. Past thirty, Fumeng Lingcha was commissioner of the Four Garrisons and Gao Xianzhi commander — a capable man who marched with thirty-odd brilliantly dressed attendants. Changqing, indignant, petitioned to join them as an attendant. Changqing was slight, hollow-eyed, short-legged, and lame; Xianzhi thought him homely and refused him. The next day he petitioned again. Xianzhi said, "My attendants are full — why keep coming back?" Changqing flared up and said boldly, "I admire your integrity and wish to serve you — that is why I came unintroduced. Why turn me away so harshly? If you judge men by their talent and character, that is what gentlemen expect; if you judge by looks alone, you may lose another Ziyu!" Xianzhi still refused him. Thereafter Changqing attended Xianzhi's door morning and night for many days until Xianzhi, unable to refuse further, made him an attendant.
8
Late in Kaiyuan the Daxi tribes rebelled, marching north from Black Mountain toward Suyab; the emperor ordered Lingcha to intercept them. Lingcha sent Xianzhi with two thousand horsemen from Fucheng to Lingling Ridge, where they met and attacked the rebels. The Daxi were exhausted from the long march; nearly all were cut down. In camp Changqing secretly drafted the victory report, detailing every halt, well, encounter, and stratagem with meticulous precision. Everything Xianzhi would have said was there, complete; Xianzhi was astonished. When the army returned Lingcha held a reward ceremony; Xianzhi doffed his servant's hose, buckled on his sword, and presented himself. Judge Liu Tiao and Dugu Jun pressed him: "Who wrote that victory report? How could your staff hold such a man?" Xianzhi said, "My attendant Feng Changqing." Tiao and the others bowed to Xianzhi and had Changqing sit with them, talking as with an old friend; the company marveled. For defeating the Daxi he was made garrison chief at Diezhou and appointed judge on the spot. Through repeated victories he rose to garrison general, guoyi, and zhechong.
9
天寶六年，從仙芝破小勃律。 十二月，仙芝代夫蒙靈察為安西節度使，便奏常清為慶王府錄事參軍，充節度判官，賜紫金魚袋。 尋加朝散大夫，專知四鎮倉庫、屯田、甲仗、支度、營田事。 仙芝每出征討，常令常清知留後事。 常清有才學，果決。 知留後時，仙芝乳母子鄭德詮已為郎將，德銓母在宅內，仙芝視之如兄弟，家事皆令知之，威望動三軍。 常清出回，諸將皆引前，德詮見常清出其門，素易之，自後走馬突常清而去。 常清至使院，命左右密引至，厅連節度使宅院，凡經數重門，德詮既過，命隨後閉之。 德詮至，常清離席謂之曰：「常清起自細微，預中丞兵馬使傔，中丞再不納，郎將豈不知乎？ 今中丞過聽，以常清為留後使，郎將何得無禮，對中使相淩！」 因叱之曰：「郎將須暫死以肅軍容。」 因令勒回，杖六十，面仆地，曳出。 仙芝妻及乳母於門外號哭救之，不得，因以其狀上仙芝。 仙芝覽之，驚曰：「已死矣！」 及見常清，遂無一言，常清亦不之謝。 諸大將有罪者，擊殺二人，於是軍中股慄。
In Tianbao 6 he followed Xianzhi in the conquest of Lesser Bolü. In the twelfth month Xianzhi replaced Lingcha as commissioner of Anxi and had Changqing made recorder on the Prince of Qing's staff, commission judge, and granted a purple-gold fish tally. He was soon made Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and put in charge of the Four Garrisons' stores, garrison agriculture, arms, disbursements, and military colonies. Whenever Xianzhi campaigned he left Changqing in charge at headquarters. Changqing was learned, capable, and decisive. As rear commander, Xianzhi's foster brother Zheng Dequan was already a langjiang; Xianzhi treated Dequan and his mother like family and let them into every household matter — their sway over the army was immense. When Changqing returned, the generals made way; Dequan, who had always despised him, spurred his horse and rode straight through him from behind. Changqing went to headquarters and had his men bring Dequan in secretly through the linked gates of the commissioner's compound; once Dequan had passed, the gates were shut behind him. When Dequan arrived Changqing rose and said, "I came from nothing and twice asked to serve the Vice Commissioner as attendant — he refused me both times. You know that, do you not? Now the Vice Commissioner has made me rear commander — how dare you show such disrespect before a palace envoy!" He shouted, "You must die for a moment to restore discipline in the ranks." He had him brought back, beaten sixty strokes, face down, and dragged out. Xianzhi's wife and foster mother wailed at the gate in vain and reported the affair to Xianzhi. Xianzhi read the report and cried in alarm, "He is dead!" When he saw Changqing he said nothing; Changqing offered no thanks. He executed two guilty senior officers, and the whole army trembled.
10
In the tenth year Xianzhi became commissioner of the West and had Changqing made his judge. When Wang Zhengjian became commissioner of Anxi he had Changqing made deputy for disbursements and military colonies and campaigning major. In the eleventh year, when Zhengjian died, Changqing was made deputy grand protector of Anxi, acting censor-in-chief, and deputy commissioner of the Four Garrisons with full authority over the command. In the thirteenth year he came to court as acting censor-in-chief, received a fifth-rank post for a son, a mansion, and posthumous titles for his parents. Soon Beiting Protector Cheng Qianli was recalled to court; Changqing was left acting protector of Beiting and commissioner of Yixi as well. Changqing was frugal and strict: on campaign he used the post relays and kept no more than one or two private horses; his rewards and punishments were exact.
11
十四載，入朝，十一月，謁玄宗於華清宮。 時祿山已叛，玄宗言兇胡負恩之狀，何方誅討？ 常清奏曰：「祿山領兇徒十萬，徑犯中原，太平斯久，人不知戰。 然事有逆順，勢有奇變，臣請走馬赴東京，開府庫，募驍勇，挑馬箠渡河，計日取逆胡之首懸於闕下。」 玄宗方憂，壯其言。 翌日，以常清為范陽節度，俾募兵東討。 其日，常清乘驛赴東京召募，旬日得兵六萬，皆傭保市井之流。 乃斫斷河陽橋，於東京為固守之備。 十二月，祿山渡河，陷陳留，入罌子谷，兇威轉熾，先鋒至葵園。 常清使驍騎與柘羯逆戰，殺賊數十百人。 賊大軍繼至，常清退入上東門，又戰不利，賊鼓噪於四城門入，殺掠人吏。 常清又戰於都亭驛，不勝。 退守宣仁門，又敗。 乃從提象門入，倒樹以礙之。 至谷水，西奔至陜郡，遇高仙芝，具以賊勢告之。 恐賊難與爭鋒，仙芝遂退守潼關。
In the fourteenth year he came to court and in the eleventh month was received by the emperor at Huaqing Palace. Lushan had already rebelled; the emperor spoke of the rebel's ingratitude and asked how he might be destroyed. Changqing said, "Lushan leads a hundred thousand rebels straight against the heartland; after so long at peace, our people scarcely know war. Yet fortune turns, and tactics surprise; let me ride to the Eastern Capital, open the treasuries, raise bold men, ford the river at a gallop, and within days hang the rebel's head at the palace gates." The emperor, anxious, took heart from his bold words. The next day he was made commissioner of Fanyang and ordered east to raise an army. That same day he rode post-horses to the Eastern Capital and in ten days raised sixty thousand men — hirelings and street rabble every one. He cut the Heyang Bridge and prepared a stubborn defense of the Eastern Capital. In the twelfth month Lushan crossed the river, took Chenliu, entered Yingzigu, and his vanguard reached Kuiyuan as his power swelled. Changqing sent his best horsemen against the Zhejie vanguard and killed several hundred rebels. The main rebel host followed; Changqing fell back to the Upper East Gate, fought again and lost; the rebels stormed all four gates, killing and plundering throughout the city. He fought again at Duting Station and was beaten. He withdrew to Xuanren Gate and was defeated again. He retreated through Tixiang Gate and felled trees to block pursuit. At the Gu River he fled west to Shan commandery, met Gao Xianzhi, and told him the full strength of the rebel host. Fearing the rebels were too strong to meet in the field, Xianzhi withdrew to Tong Pass.
12
When the emperor heard of Changqing's defeat he stripped his rank and ordered him to serve in plain clothes under Xianzhi. Xianzhi set Changqing to inspect the left and right wings of the army, dressed in plain black. Army supervisor Bian Lingcheng interfered in every decision. Xianzhi mostly ignored him. Lingcheng reported to court that Xianzhi and Changqing had dallied, fled, and been defeated. The emperor in anger sent Lingcheng with an edict to execute them both.
13
At Tong Pass Lingcheng led Changqing to the lane south of the post station and read the edict of execution. Changqing said, "I have lived only so as not to die under rebel blades and defile the imperial banners; though I failed against the traitors, I welcome death." After his defeat he had meant to ride to court; at Weinan an edict sent him back to Tong Pass, and he drafted a memorial accepting blame. On the day of his execution he gave it to Lingcheng to present. The memorial read:
14
The palace envoy Luo Fengxian came with an oral edict forgiving my capital crime, accepting my day's service, and ordering me back to Shanzhou under Gao Xianzhi's command. A condemned prisoner suddenly unbound; a defeated general allowed to redeem himself. Your servant Changqing bows in true joy and gratitude. Since the city fell I have thrice sent memorials declaring my loyalty, yet never been granted audience. I did not come to cling to life but to lay plans for the realm and break the rebels' designs. I hoped to bow at the palace gates, speak my heart to Your Majesty, describe the rebel armies, and offer other plans for their defeat. To repay the grace that spared me and the favor of a lifetime. Who could know that Chang'an would grow ever farther and audience be denied; Hangu Pass so remote that I had no time to speak my heart! I read in the Spring and Autumn that Lang Shen said he had not yet found his place to die — I have found mine.
15
昨者與羯胡接戰，自今月七日交兵，至於十三日不已。 臣所將之兵，皆是烏合之徒，素未訓習。 率周南市人之眾，當漁陽突騎之師，尚猶殺敵塞路，血流滿野。 臣欲挺身刃下，死節軍前，恐長逆胡之威，以挫王師之勢。 是以馳禦就日，將命歸天。 一期陛下斬臣於都市之下，以誡諸將； 二期陛下問臣以逆賊之勢，將誡諸軍； 三期陛下知臣非惜死之徒，許臣竭露。 臣今將死抗表，陛下或以臣失律之後，誑妄為辭； 陛下或以臣欲盡所忠，肝膽見察。 臣死之後，望陛下不輕此賊，無忘臣言，則冀社稷復安，逆胡敗覆，臣之所願畢矣。 仰天飲鴆，向日封章，即為屍諫之臣，死作聖朝之鬼。 若使歿而有知，必結草軍前。 回風陣上，引王師之旗鼓，平寇賊之戈鋋。 生死酬恩，不任感激，臣常清無任永辭聖代悲戀之至。
We fought the Jie rebels from the seventh of this month until the thirteenth without pause. The men I led were a rabble, never drilled. Leading market rabble against Fanyang's shock cavalry, we still killed until the roads were choked and the fields ran with blood. I wished to die sword in hand before the ranks, but feared that would only swell the rebels' pride and break our army's spirit. So I rode post-horses toward the capital to lay my life before the throne. First, that Your Majesty execute me in the capital to warn the generals; second, that Your Majesty question me on the rebels' strength to warn the armies; third, that Your Majesty know I am no coward and let me speak all I know. Facing death I submit this memorial; Your Majesty may think that after my defeat these are the lies of a desperate man; or Your Majesty may see that I speak with all my heart laid bare. After I die, may Your Majesty not underestimate this enemy or forget my words — then the realm may be restored and the rebels destroyed, and my life's wish fulfilled. I drink poison looking up to Heaven and seal this memorial facing the sun — a corpse that remonstrates, a ghost of the holy court. If the dead have knowledge, I shall tie grass before the imperial host. On the field of battle I shall guide the imperial banners and level the rebels' weapons. Living or dead I repay Your Majesty's grace, overcome with gratitude — your servant Changqing bids eternal farewell with deepest sorrow.
16
常清既刑，陳其屍於蘧蒢上。 仙芝歸至厅，令誠索陌刀手百餘人隨而從之，曰：「大夫亦有恩命。」 仙芝遽下，遂至常清所刑處。 仙芝曰：「我退，罪也，死不辭； 然以我為減截兵糧及賜物等，則誣我也。」 謂令誠曰：「上是天，下是地，兵士皆在，足下豈不知乎！」 其召募兵排列在外，素愛仙芝，仙芝呼謂之曰：「我於京中召兒郎輩，雖得少許物，裝束亦未能足，方與君輩破賊，然後取高官重賞。 不謂賊勢憑陵，引軍至此，亦欲固守潼關故也。 我若實有此，君輩即言實； 我若實無之，君輩當言枉。」 兵齊呼曰：「枉」，其聲殷地。 仙芝又目常清之屍，謂之曰：「封二，子從微至著，我則引拔子為我判官，俄又代我為節度使，今日又與子同死於此，豈命也夫！」 遂斬之。
After Changqing was executed his body was laid on a rush mat. Xianzhi returned to headquarters; Lingcheng summoned more than a hundred men with mo dao and followed him, saying, "The Grand Master has an edict too." Xianzhi hurried down to where Changqing had been executed. Xianzhi said, "My retreat was a crime and I do not refuse death; but to charge me with embezzling rations and imperial gifts is slander." He said to Lingcheng, "Heaven is above, earth below, and the soldiers are all here — you know the truth!" The recruited troops stood outside; they had always loved Xianzhi. He called to them, "When I raised you in the capital we got a little gear but not enough; we were about to break the rebels and win rank and reward together. I did not expect the rebels to press so hard; we came here to hold Tong Pass. If I truly did these things, say so; if I did not, say I am wronged." The soldiers roared "Wronged!" until the ground shook. Xianzhi looked at Changqing's corpse and said, "Feng the Second, you rose from nothing; I made you my judge, then you replaced me as commissioner, and today we die together — is this fate?" Then he was beheaded.
17
Ge Shuhan was descended from the Geshu tribe of the Turgesh. Many frontier peoples took their clan name from their tribe, and so the name Geshu became their surname. His grandfather Ju was Left Commander of the Clear Way. His father Daoyuan was deputy protector of Anxi; the family had lived in the west for generations. The Hans were wealthy; he was bold and chivalrous, kept his word, and gambled and drank freely. At forty, after his father's death, he spent three years in the capital as a guest; the Chang'an commandant slighted him, and in indignation he reformed himself, took up his sword, and went west to Hexi. He first served Commissioner Wang Chui; when Chui attacked Xincheng he put Han in charge of strategy, and the whole army stood in awe of him. Later Commissioner Wang Zhongsi made him a yamen general. He loved the Zuo Commentary and the Book of Han, gave freely, and valued loyalty; men of talent flocked to him. Zhongsi made him deputy of the Great Battle Army and once sent him against Tibet at Xincheng; a fellow deputy refused his orders because Han was arrogant — Han beat him to death, and the army trembled. He was promoted to langjiang of the Left Guard. When Tibet raided the border he met them at Kubo Sea; their army descended the mountains in three columns; Han with a short spear charged the van and shattered all three — from that he won fame.
18
In Tianbao 6 he was made acting general of the Right Martial Guard, deputy commissioner of Longxi, commander of Guanxi forces, and commander of the Heyuan army. Each harvest season Tibet had raided Jishi to seize the grain — the "Tibetan wheat estate" — and no one had dared resist. Han sent Wang Nande and Yang Jinghui to Jishi with a hidden force to ambush them. Five thousand Tibetan horsemen came; Han led a charge from the city and killed nearly all; the survivors fled into the ambush — not one horse returned. His slave Zuojun, fifteen or sixteen, was strong as well. Han was a master of the spear; overtaking a foe he laid the spear on his shoulder and shouted; when the man turned Han stabbed his throat and hurled him several feet — none survived. Zuoche would dismount and take heads — his usual practice.
19
That winter, while the emperor was at Huaqing Palace, Wang Zhongsi was impeached. Han was summoned to court; the emperor was pleased with him and made him Chamberlain for Court Ceremonials (Honglu qing), prefect of Xiping, acting Palace Aide to the Censor-in-Chief, and acting Longyou commissioner for disbursements and military colonies in Zhongsi's place, in charge of commission affairs. He pleaded passionately for Zhongsi; the emperor withdrew to the inner palace and Han followed, kowtowing, speaking with passion through tears; the emperor was moved and demoted Zhongsi to prefect of Hanyang — the court admired his loyalty.
20
The next year he built Shenwei garrison on the Qinghai; Tibet came and destroyed it; then built a city on Dragon Colt Island in the lake; a white dragon was seen, and it was named Responding Dragon City — Tibet dared not approach the Qinghai again. Tibet held Shibao Fortress, distant and perilous — for years it could not be taken. In the eighth year a hundred thousand men from the Shuofang and Hedong horse herds were placed under Han to take Shibao. Han sent Gao Xiuyan and Zhang Shouyu to attack; within ten days the fortress fell. The emperor rewarded him with Special Advancement, acting supernumerary Chamberlain for Court Ceremonials, a fifth-rank post for a son, a thousand bolts of goods, a manor and a residence, and acting Censor-in-Chief. In the eleventh year he was made Grand Master for Splendid Happiness with the Ceremonial of the Three Dukes.
21
Han had long been at odds with Lushan and Sishun; the emperor often reconciled them as brothers. That winter all three came to court; the emperor had Gao Lishi and other eunuchs entertain them at the pool pavilion of Cui Huitong east of the capital. Han's mother was of the Yuchi clan, from Khotan. Lushan, who disliked Han because Sishun did, suddenly said, "My father was Hu and my mother Turkic; your father was Turkic and your mother Hu. We are kin — why should we not be friends?" Han replied, "The ancients said a wild fox howling at its den is ill omened — it has forgotten its roots. How could I not give you my whole heart!" Lushan thought this mocked his foreign birth and raged, cursing, "How dare a Turk speak so!" Han started to reply; Gao Lishi caught his eye and Han held his tongue.
22
In the twelfth year he was made Duke of Liang with three hundred households, commissioner of Hexi, and soon Prince of Xiping. Yang Guozhong was at odds with Lushan and repeatedly reported his rebellious intentions; he richly rewarded Han to win his loyalty. In the thirteenth year he was made Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent, given another three hundred households, and made censor-in-chief as well.
23
24
When An Lushan rebelled, because Feng Changqing and Gao Xianzhi had been defeated, the emperor summoned Han and appointed him Vanguard Commander of the Heir Apparent's Army; Tian Liangqiu was made Vice Censor-in-Chief and Campaigning Major; Wang Sili, Qian'er Dafu, Li Chengguang, Su Fading, Guan Chongsi, and the barbarian generals Huoba Guiren, Li Wuding, Hun E, Qibi Ning, and others were made deputy generals — Hexi, Longyou, and Shuofang troops and barbarian soldiers together with Gao Xianzhi's old troops, two hundred thousand in all, to resist the rebels at Tong Pass. The emperor saw them off from the Hall of Diligent Government; the officials feasted them outside the walls. In the fifteenth year he was made Left Vice Director and Associate Grand Councilor.
25
At Tong Pass someone advised him, "Lushan marches under the banner of punishing Yang Guozhong — leave thirty thousand to hold the pass and march your best troops back to kill Guozhong, as the Han did against the Seven States — what say you?" Han agreed in his heart but did not act. Someone leaked the plan to Guozhong, who in terror memorialized, "In peace forget not danger — Tong Pass is strong but has no reserve; if things go wrong, will not the capital tremble? He asked to train three thousand boys from the horse herds in the imperial park." The emperor agreed and sent Jiannan generals Li Fu and Liu Guangting to command them. He also recruited ten thousand men at Bashang under his confidant Du Qianyun. Han feared a plot against him, asked that Qianyun's troops be attached to Tong Pass, summoned Qianyun there on pretense of consultation, and executed him. From then on Han was uneasy. His old stroke had worsened; he no longer managed army affairs himself but left them to Tian Liangqiu. Liangqiu dared not decide alone; orders conflicted and discipline collapsed. Generals Wang Sili and Li Chengguang vied for command and would not cooperate — the men lost heart.
26
Han had repeatedly urged that though Lushan had seized Hebei he lacked popular support — hold firm and wear them down, let them split of themselves, and destroy this bandit without heavy losses. Rebel general Cui Qianyu was secretly massing at Shan, but scouts reported "the rebels were unprepared"; the emperor believed it and ordered a full assault at once. Han memorialized, "The rebels have risen in treason; Lushan is a veteran commander — he will not be unprepared; this is a trap. The rebels have marched far — they need a quick fight. Our army fights on its own ground — we should hold firm, not sally lightly; to leave the pass lightly is to fall into their trap. I beg to watch the situation longer." Yang Guozhong, fearing Han plotted against him, repeatedly urged an advance. The emperor, long at peace and unused to war, was swayed by Guozhong; palace envoys pressed Han in succession. Han had no choice and led the army out.
27
六月四日，次於靈寶縣之西原。 八日，與賊交戰，官軍南迫險峭，北臨黃河； 崔乾祐以數千人先據險要。 翰及良丘浮船中流以觀進退，謂乾祐兵少，輕之，遂促將士令進，爭路擁塞，無復隊伍。 午後，東風急，乾祐以草車數十乘縱火焚之，煙焰亙天。 將士掩面，開目不得，因為兇徒所乘，王師自相排擠，墜於河。 其後者見前軍陷敗，悉潰，填委於河，死者數萬人，號叫之聲振天地，縛器械，以槍為楫，投北岸，十不存一二。 軍既敗，翰與數百騎馳而西歸，為火拔歸仁執降於賊。 祿山謂之曰：「汝常輕我，今日如何？」 翰懼，俯伏稱：「肉眼不識陛下，遂至於此。 陛下為撥亂主，今天下未平，李光弼在土門，來填在河南，魯炅在南陽，但留臣，臣以尺書招之，不日平矣。」 祿山大喜，遂偽署翰司空。 作書招光弼等，諸將報書皆讓翰不死節。 祿山知事不諧，遂閉翰於苑中，潛殺之。
On the fourth of the sixth month they camped on the western plain of Lingbao. On the eighth they fought; the imperial army was pinned south against steep ground and north against the Yellow River; Cui Qianyu had seized the heights with several thousand men. Han and Liangqiu watched from a boat midstream, thought Qianyu's force small, and ordered an advance — the troops jammed the road in disorder. In the afternoon a strong east wind rose; Qianyu fired dozens of hay carts — smoke filled the sky. The men could not see for the smoke; the rebels pressed them; the imperial troops trampled one another into the river. The rear ranks saw the van collapse and fled; tens of thousands drowned in the river, their cries shaking heaven and earth; using spears as oars they tried the north bank — fewer than one in ten survived. Defeated, Han fled west with a few hundred horsemen and was seized by Huoba Guiren and surrendered to the rebels. Lushan said, "You always despised me — how is it today?" Han prostrated himself in fear and said, "My mortal eyes failed to see Your Majesty, and thus it came to this. Your Majesty is heaven's chosen restorer; the realm is not yet settled — Li Guangbi holds Tumen, Lai Tian is in Henan, Lu Jiong in Nanyang; keep me and I will summon them by letter, and peace will come in days." Lushan was delighted and made Han Minister of Works in his false court. He wrote to summon Guangbi and the others; every reply rebuked Han for failing to die with honor. Lushan saw the plan would fail, imprisoned Han in the park, and had him killed in secret.
28
While holding Tong Pass Han wielded imperial military power, indulged revenge, and falsely accused Revenue Minister An Sishun of communicating with Lushan — forging a letter, seizing Sishun at the gate, and presenting him to court. That third month Sishun and his brother Yuanzhen, Grand Master of the Stud, were executed and their families exiled beyond the Ling ranges — the realm judged it a gross injustice.
29
Commentary. The historiographer writes: The great rebel rose; Lushan overturned the order — he spoke of punishing Guozhong but aimed at the throne itself. Peace had lasted so long that warcraft had faded; Feng Changqing and Gao Xianzhi in turn led untrained troops and market rabble against the rebels — and lost their armies. Ge Shuhan, invalid at home, was raised to sole command; two hundred thousand held the pass — yet he did not lead in person and his deputies were unfit. They met the rebels and were swiftly destroyed — the emperor fled, they were captured — all because the wrong men were given command. The Rites says, "A grandee dies for the multitude." It also says, "The strategist who fails must die." Han took office under the rebels and clung to life — his loyalty is plain; how could he not blush before Yan Gaoqing! We also hear that ancient emperors, appointing a general, would push the chariot wheel and say, "Beyond the gate, the general decides." Consider Yang Guozhong's interference and Bian Lingcheng's supervision — the court hamstrung its generals; one cannot blame the three commanders alone. Let later ages take this deeply to heart!