1
=馮盎=馮盎，高州良德人也。 累代為本部大首領。 盎少有武略，隋開皇中為宋康令。 仁壽初，潮、成等五州獠叛，盎馳至京，請討之。 文帝敕左僕射楊素與盎論賊形勢，素曰：「不意蠻夷中有此人，大可奇也。」 即令盎發江、嶺兵擊之。 賊平，授金紫光祿大夫，仍除漢陽太守。
Feng Ang was a native of Liangde in Gaozhou. For generation after generation his clan had served as the great chieftains of the local tribe. From youth Ang showed martial ability; under Emperor Wen of Sui in the Kaihuang period he was appointed magistrate of Songkang. Early in the Renshou era the Liao tribes of Chao, Cheng, and four other prefectures rose in revolt; Ang hurried to the capital and asked leave to suppress them. Emperor Wen ordered the Left Vice Director Yang Su to confer with Ang on the rebels' dispositions. Su remarked, "To find such a man among the southern tribes is truly extraordinary. At once he directed Ang to raise forces from the river counties and the Lingnan commanderies to attack the rebels. After the rebels were subdued, he received the title Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon and was also installed as Administrator of Hanyang.
2
武德三年，廣、新二州賊帥高法澄、洗寶徹等並受林士弘節度，殺害隋官吏，盎率兵擊破之。 既而寶徹兄子智臣又聚兵於新州，自為渠帥，盎趨往擊之。 兵交，盎卻兜鍪大呼曰：「爾等頗識我否？」 賊多棄戈肉袒而拜，其徒遂潰，擒寶徹、智臣等，嶺外遂定。 或有說盎曰：「自隋季崩離，海內騷動。 今唐雖應運，而風教未浹，南越一隅，未有所定。 公克平五嶺二十余州，豈與趙佗九郡相比？ 今請上南越王之號。」 盎曰：「吾居南越，於茲五代，本州牧伯，唯我一門，子女玉帛，吾之有也。 人生富貴，如我殆難，常恐弗克負荷，以墜先業。 本州衣錦便足，余復何求？ 越王之號，非所聞也。」
In Wude 3 the rebel chiefs Gao Facheng and Xian Baochè in Guang and Xin, acting under Lin Shihong, slew Sui officials; Ang marched out and routed them. Not long after, Baochè's nephew Zhichen mustered troops in Xin Prefecture and set himself up as bandit chief; Ang rushed to engage him. As the armies clashed, Ang pulled off his helmet and cried out, "Do any of you know who I am? Many rebels cast aside their weapons, bared their chests, and prostrated themselves; the rest broke and fled. Baochè, Zhichen, and others were taken prisoner, and the Lingnan frontier was pacified. Some advised Ang, "Ever since the fall of the Sui the empire has been in uproar. Though the Tang now possess Heaven's mandate, their transforming influence has not yet spread; the southern lands are still unconquered. You have pacified more than twenty prefectures across the Five Ridges — how does that compare to Zhao Tuo's nine commanderies? We beg you to take for yourself the title King of Southern Yue. Ang answered, "My family has ruled southern Yue for five generations. I alone among the prefects of this region hold sway — sons and daughters, jade and silk, all are already mine. Few men enjoy wealth and status like mine; I often fear I cannot sustain it and will ruin my ancestors' estate. Returning home in glory is enough for me — what more could I want? The title King of Southern Yue is not for me to accept."
3
四年，盎以南越之眾降，高祖以其地為羅、春、白、崖、儋、林等八州，仍授盎上柱國、高羅總管，封吳國公，尋改封越國公。 拜其子智戴為春州刺史，智或東合州刺史，徙封盎耿國公。 貞觀五年，盎來朝，太宗宴賜甚厚。 俄而羅竇諸洞獠叛，詔令盎率部落二萬為諸軍先鋒。 時有賊數萬屯據險要，不可攻逼。 盎持弩語左右曰：「盡吾此箭，可知勝負。」 連發七矢，而中七人，賊退走，因縱兵乘之，斬首千余級。 太宗令智戴還慰省之，自後賞賜不可勝數。 盎奴婢萬余人，所居地方二千里，勤於簿領，詰擿奸狀，甚得其情。 二十年卒。 贈左騎衛大將軍、荊州都督。
In the fourth year Ang submitted with the armies of southern Yue. Gaozu organized his territory into eight prefectures — Luo, Chun, Bai, Ya, Dan, Lin, and others — and made Ang Superior Pillar of State and overall commander of Gaoluo, enfeoffing him as Duke of Wu, soon afterward retitling him Duke of Yue. His son Zhidai was made Prefect of Chun, Zhihuo Prefect of Donghe, and Ang was transferred to the rank of Duke of Geng. In Zhenguan 5 Ang presented himself at court, and Taizong entertained and rewarded him most generously. Before long the Liao of Luodou and the other cave districts rose in revolt; the court ordered Ang to lead twenty thousand of his tribesmen as the vanguard of the campaign. Tens of thousands of rebels held the mountain passes and could not be dislodged by direct assault. Ang raised his crossbow and said to his attendants, "When I have shot these arrows, you will know how the battle stands. He fired seven bolts in a row and struck down seven men. The rebels broke and fled; he drove his troops after them and took more than a thousand heads. Taizong sent Zhidai home to comfort and look after him; from then on rewards and gifts poured in without end. Ang kept more than ten thousand slaves and servants and ruled a domain of two thousand li. He was assiduous in paperwork, probing and exposing misconduct until he had the truth of every case. He died in the twentieth year of Zhenguan. He was posthumously made General-in-Chief of the Left Cavalry Guard and Area Commander of Jingzhou.
4
=阿史那社爾=阿史那社爾，突厥處羅可汗子也。 年十一，以智勇稱於本蕃，拜為拓設，建牙於磧北，與欲谷設分統鐵勒、紇骨、同羅等諸部。 在位十年，無所課斂。 諸首領或鄙其不能富貴，社爾曰：「部落既豐，於我便足。」 諸首領鹹畏而愛之。
Ashina She'er was a son of the Türk Qaghan Chulu. At eleven he was already renowned in his tribe for wisdom and courage. He was made Tuo She, set up his headquarters north of the desert, and with Yugu She jointly ruled the Tiele, Hegu, Tongluo, and other tribes. For ten years in office he exacted no levies from his people. Some chieftains looked down on him for not enriching himself. She'er said, "My tribes are already prosperous — that is wealth enough for me. The chieftains came to respect and love him alike.
5
武德九年，延陀、回紇等諸部皆叛，攻破欲谷設，社爾擊之，復為延陀所敗。 貞觀二年，遂率其余眾保於西偏，依可汗浮圖。 後遇頡利滅，而西蕃葉護又死，奚利邲咄陸可汗兄弟爭國，社爾揚言降之，引兵西上，因襲破古蕃，半有其國，得眾十余萬，自稱都布可汗。 謂其諸部曰：「首為背叛破我國者，延陀之罪也。 今我據有西方，大得兵馬，不平延陀而取安樂，是忘先可汗，為不孝也。 若天令不捷，死亦無恨。」 其酋長鹹諫曰：「今新得西方，須留鎮壓。 若即棄去，遠擊延陀，只恐葉護子孫必來復國。」 社爾不從，親率五萬余騎討延陀於磧北，連兵百余日。 遇我行人劉善因立同娥設為咥利始可汗，社爾部兵又苦久役，多委之逃。 延陀因縱擊敗之，復保高昌國。 其舊兵在者才萬余人，又與西蕃結隙。
In Wude 9 the Tiele, Uyghurs, and other tribes all rose in revolt, overthrew Yugu She, and when She'er struck back he was defeated again by the Tiele. In Zhenguan 2 he led his surviving followers westward and placed himself under the Qaghan Fotu. After Jieli fell and the Western Türk Yabghu died as well, the brothers of the qaghans Xieli and Dudulu fought over the realm. She'er announced his submission, marched west, and in a surprise attack broke the Western Türks, seizing half their territory and more than a hundred thousand followers, and proclaimed himself Qaghan Dubu. He told his tribes, "The Tiele were the first to betray us and destroy our state — that is their crime. Now that I hold the West and command great armies, if I do not settle accounts with the Tiele but seek only my own comfort, I would forget the former qaghan and be unfilial. If Heaven does not grant me victory, I shall die without regret. His chieftains all urged him, "We have only just won the West and must stay to hold it. If we leave now to attack the Tiele in the distance, the Yabghu's descendants will surely return and reclaim the realm." She'er would not heed them. He personally led more than fifty thousand horsemen north of the desert against the Tiele, and the fighting went on for more than a hundred days. He ran into the Tang envoy Liu Shanyin, who had installed Tong'e She as Qaghan Xielishi. She'er's men, worn down by the long campaign, deserted in great numbers. The Tiele pressed their attack and routed him; he fled once more to Gaochang. Only a little more than ten thousand of his old soldiers remained, and he was again at odds with the Western Türks.
6
九年，率眾內屬，拜左騎衛大將軍。 歲餘，令尚衡陽長公主，授駙馬都尉，典屯兵於苑內。 十四年，授行軍總管，以平高昌。 諸人鹹即受賞，社爾以未奉詔旨，秋毫無所取。 及降別敕，然後受之。 及所取，唯老弱故弊而已。 軍還，太宗美其廉慎，以高昌所得寶刀並雜彩千段賜之，仍令檢校北門左屯營，封畢國公。 十九年，從太宗征遼，至駐蹕陣，頻遭流矢，拔而又進。 其所部兵士，人百其勇，盡獲殊勛。 師旋，兼授鴻臚卿。 二十一年，為昆丘道行軍大總管，征龜茲。 明年，軍次西突厥，擊處密，大破之，余眾悉降。 又下龜茲大撥換城，虜龜茲王白訶黎布失畢及大臣那利等百余人而還。 屬太宗崩，請以身殉葬，高宗遣使喻以先旨，不許。 遷右衛大將軍。 永徽四年，加位鎮軍大將軍。 六年卒，贈輔國大將軍、并州都督，陪葬昭陵。 起冢以象蔥山，仍為立碑，謚曰元。 子道真，位至左屯衛大將軍。
In the ninth year he led his people to submit to the Tang and was made General-in-Chief of the Left Cavalry Guard. A year later he was married to the Princess of Hengyang, appointed Commandant of Escort Cavalry, and placed in command of garrison troops within the imperial park. In the fourteenth year he was made Campaign Commander and pacified Gaochang. The others all accepted their rewards at once, but She'er had received no imperial order and took not a single thing. Only when a separate edict was issued did he accept anything. What he took was only what was old, weak, or worn out. When the army returned, Taizong praised his integrity and restraint, gave him the precious swords taken at Gaochang together with a thousand lengths of assorted silks, put him in charge of the Left Garrison Camp at the North Gate, and enfeoffed him as Duke of Bi. In the nineteenth year he followed Taizong on the Liaodong campaign. At the Zhubi formation he was hit again and again by stray arrows, yet each time he pulled them out and pressed on. The soldiers under his command fought with redoubled courage, and all won extraordinary honors. When the army returned he was also made Minister of Ceremonies for Foreign Dependencies. In the twenty-first year he was made Grand Campaign Commander of the Kunqiu Route and marched against Kucha. The next year his army reached the Western Türks, attacked Chumi, and routed them; the survivors all submitted. He also took the great city of Boluohuan in Kucha, captured the Kucha king Baihela Bushibi and the minister Nali along with more than a hundred others, and returned. When Taizong died he asked to be buried with him. Gaozong sent an envoy to explain the late emperor's wishes and refused. He was transferred to General-in-Chief of the Right Guard. In Yonghui 4 he was given the additional rank of General Who Pacifies the Army. He died in the sixth year and was posthumously made General Who Assists the State and Area Commander of Bingzhou, with the honor of burial at Zhaoling. A tomb mound was raised in the shape of Mount Cong, a stele was set up, and he was given the posthumous title Yuan. His son Daozhen rose to General-in-Chief of the Left Garrison Guard.
7
貞觀初，阿史那蘇尼失者，啟民可汗之母弟，社{人小}叔祖也。 其父始畢可汗以為沙缽羅設，督部落五萬家，牙直靈州之西北，驍雄有恩惠，甚得種落之心。 及頡利政亂，而蘇尼失所部獨不攜離。 突利之來奔也，頡利乃立蘇尼失為小可汗。 及頡利為李靖所破，獨騎而投之，蘇尼失遂舉其眾歸國，因令子忠擒頡利以獻。 太宗賞賜優厚。 拜北寧州都督、右衛大將軍，封懷德郡王。 貞觀八年卒。
Early in Zhenguan, Ashina Sunishi was the younger brother of Qaghan Qimin's mother and She'er's grand-uncle. His father Qaghan Shibi had made him Shaboluo She, in charge of fifty thousand tribal households, with his headquarters northwest of Lingzhou. Bold and generous, he won the deep loyalty of the tribes. When Jieli's rule collapsed, Sunishi alone among the dispossessed chiefs did not desert him. When Tuli came over to the Tang, Jieli installed Sunishi as Lesser Qaghan. When Li Jing defeated Jieli and Jieli came alone on horseback to seek him out, Sunishi led all his followers to submit to the Tang and had his son Zhong capture Jieli and present him to the court. Taizong rewarded him most generously. He was made Area Commander of Beining, General-in-Chief of the Right Guard, and enfeoffed as Prince of Huaide Commandery. He died in Zhenguan 8.
8
忠以擒頡利功，拜左屯衛將軍，妻以宗女定襄縣主，賜名為忠，單稱史氏。 貞觀九年，遷右衛大將軍。 永徽初，封薛國公，累遷右驍衛大將軍。 所歷皆以清謹見稱，時人比之金日磾。 上元初卒，贈鎮軍大將軍，陪葬昭陵。
For capturing Jieli, Zhong was made General of the Left Garrison Guard, married to an imperial clanswoman, the Princess of Dingxiang County, granted the name Zhong, and known simply as the Shi clan. In Zhenguan 9 he was transferred to General-in-Chief of the Right Guard. Early in Yonghui he was enfeoffed as Duke of Xue and eventually rose to General-in-Chief of the Right Valiant Cavalry Guard. In every post he was praised for integrity and restraint; contemporaries compared him to Jinti. He died early in the Shangyuan era and was posthumously made General Who Pacifies the Army, with the honor of burial at Zhaoling.
9
子暕，襲封薛國公，垂拱中，歷位司仆卿。
His son Jian inherited the title Duke of Xue and during the Chuigong era served as Director of the Stud.
10
=契苾何力=契苾何力，其先鐵勒別部之酋長也。 父葛，隋大業中繼為莫賀咄特勒，以地逼吐谷渾，所居隘狹，又多瘴癘，遂入龜茲，居於熱海之上。 特勤死，何力時年九歲。 降號大俟利發。 至貞觀六年，隨其母率眾千余家詣沙州，奉表內附，太宗置其部落於甘、涼二州。 何力至京，授左領軍將軍。
Qibi Heli — his forebears had been chieftains of a separate branch of the Tiele. His father Ge succeeded as Moheduo Tegin during the Daye era of Sui. Their lands bordered Tuyuhun, the territory was cramped, and malarial vapors were rife, so they moved into Kucha and settled above the Hot Sea. When the Tegin died, Heli was nine years old. He was given the lesser title Great Irkin. In Zhenguan 6 he followed his mother in leading more than a thousand households to Shazhou and submitted a memorial pledging allegiance to the Tang. Taizong settled their tribe in Gan and Liang prefectures. When Heli reached the capital he was made General of the Left Army Guard.
11
七年，與涼州都督李大亮、將軍薛萬均同征吐谷渾。 軍次赤水川，萬均率騎先行，為賊所攻，兄弟皆中槍墮馬，徒步而鬥，兵士死者十六七。 何力聞之，將數百騎馳往，突圍而前，縱橫奮擊，賊兵披靡，萬均兄弟由是獲免。 時吐谷渾主在突淪川，何力復欲襲之，萬均懲其前敗，固言不可。 何力曰：「賊非有城郭，逐水草以為生，若不襲其不虞，便恐鳥驚魚散，一失機會，安可傾其巢穴耶！」 乃自選驍兵千余騎，直入突淪川，襲破吐谷渾牙帳，斬首數千級，獲駝馬牛羊二十余萬頭，渾主脫身以免，俘其妻子而還。 有詔勞於大鬥拔谷。 萬均乃排毀何力，自稱己功。 何力不勝憤怒，拔刀而起，欲殺萬均，諸將勸止之。 太宗聞而責問其故，何力言萬均敗恧之事，太宗怒，將解其官回授，何力固讓曰：「以臣之故而解萬均，恐諸蕃聞之，以為陛下厚蕃輕漢，轉相誣告，馳競必多。 又夷狄無知，或謂漢臣皆如此輩，固非安寧之術也。」 太宗乃止。 尋令北門宿衛，檢校屯營事，敕尚臨洮縣主。
In the seventh year he campaigned against Tuyuhun together with Li Daliang, Area Commander of Liangzhou, and the general Xue Wanjun. When the army reached the Chishui River, Wanjun led the cavalry ahead and was ambushed. Both brothers were speared and thrown from their horses but fought on foot; six or seven soldiers in ten were killed. When Heli heard of it he galloped forward with several hundred horsemen, broke through the encirclement, and struck fiercely in every direction until the enemy scattered. Wanjun and his brothers were thus saved. The Tuyuhun ruler was then at Tulun River. Heli wanted to strike again, but Wanjun, chastened by his earlier defeat, insisted it could not be done. Heli said, "These enemies have no walled cities but live by following water and pasture. If we do not strike while they are unprepared, they will scatter like startled birds — and once the chance is lost, how can we overturn their nest? He then chose more than a thousand elite horsemen himself and drove straight into Tulun River, surprising and destroying the Tuyuhun headquarters. Several thousand heads were taken and more than two hundred thousand camels, horses, cattle, and sheep captured. The Tuyuhun ruler escaped; Heli took his wife and children and returned. An edict ordered that he be rewarded at Dadou Valley. Wanjun then slandered Heli and claimed the credit for himself. Heli, unable to contain his fury, drew his blade and rose to kill Wanjun; the other generals restrained him. When Taizong heard of it he questioned the cause. Heli told of Wanjun's shameful defeat. Taizong was angry and was about to strip Wanjun of his post and give it to Heli, but Heli firmly declined. "If Wanjun is dismissed because of me," he said, "the frontier peoples will think Your Majesty favors the tribes over the Han. Mutual slander and rivalry will surely multiply. Moreover the barbarians are simple-minded; some may conclude that all Han officials are like this — that is no way to secure peace. Taizong thereupon desisted. Soon afterward he was assigned to garrison the North Gate, put in charge of the garrison camps, and commanded to marry the Princess of Lintao County.
12
十四年，為蔥山道副大總管，討平高昌。 時何力母姑臧夫人、母弟賀蘭州都督沙門並在涼府。 十六年，詔許何力觀省其母，兼撫巡部落。 時薛延陀強盛，契苾部落皆願從之。 何力至，聞而大驚曰：「主上於汝有厚恩，任我又重，何忍而圖叛逆！」 諸首領皆曰：「可敦及都督已去，何故不行？」 何力曰：「我弟沙門孝而能養，我以身許國，終不能去也。」 於是眾共執何力至延陀所，置於可汗牙前。 何力箕踞而坐，拔佩刀東向大呼曰：「豈有大唐烈士，受辱蕃庭，天地日月，願知我心！」 又割左耳以明誌不奪也。 可汗怒，欲殺之，為其妻所抑而止。 初，太宗聞何力之延陀，明非其本意。 或曰：「人心各樂其土，何力今入延陀，猶魚之得水也。」 太宗曰：「不然，此人心如鐵石，必不背我。」 會有使自延陀至，具言其狀，太守泣謂群臣曰：「契苾何力竟如何？」 遽遣兵部侍郎崔敦禮持節入延陀，許降公主，求何力。 由是還，拜右驍衛大將軍。 太宗既許公主於延陀，行有日矣，何力抗表固言不可。 太宗曰：「吾聞天子無戲言，既已許之，安可廢？」 何力曰：「然。 臣本請延緩其事，不謂總停。 臣聞六禮之內，婿合親迎，宜告延陀親來迎婦，縱不敢至京邑，即當使詣靈州。 畏漢必不敢來，論親未可有成日。 既憂悶，臣又攜離，不盈一年，自相猜忌。 延陀誌性狠戾，若死，必兩子相爭，坐而制之，必然之理。」 太宗從之。 延陀恐有詐，竟不至靈州。 自後常悒悒不得誌，一年而死，兩子果爭權，各立為主。
In the fourteenth year he was made Deputy Grand Commander of the Congshan Route and helped pacify Gaochang. At that time Heli's mother Lady Guzang and his maternal younger brother Shamun, Area Commander of Helanzhou, were both residing at the Liang prefecture headquarters. In the sixteenth year an edict allowed Heli to visit his mother and also charged him with pacifying and inspecting the tribes. Xueyantuo was then at the height of its power, and the Qibi tribes all wished to join them. When Heli arrived and heard of it, he cried out in alarm: "The Sovereign has shown you deep favor and entrusted me with heavy responsibility — how can you bear to plot rebellion! All the chieftains said, "The khatun and the area commander have already gone — why should we not follow?" Heli said, "My younger brother Shamun is filial and can care for our mother. I have pledged myself to the state — I cannot leave." Thereupon the tribesmen seized Heli and carried him to the Xueyantuo camp, placing him before the khan's headquarters. Heli sat with legs sprawled, drew his belt knife, faced east, and shouted: "Can a stalwart of Great Tang suffer disgrace in a barbarian court? Heaven and earth, sun and moon — let them know my heart! He then cut off his left ear to show that his resolve could not be broken. The khan was enraged and wanted to kill him, but his wife restrained him and he desisted. When Taizong first heard that Heli had gone over to Xueyantuo, he understood at once that it was not Heli's true intent. Some said, "Every man delights in his native land; now that Heli has joined Xueyantuo, it is like a fish returned to water. Taizong said, "Not so. This man's heart is iron and stone; he will never betray me." Just then an envoy arrived from Xueyantuo and reported everything in detail. Taizong wept and said to his ministers, "What has become of Qibi Heli?" He immediately sent Vice Minister of War Cui Dunli with imperial credentials into Xueyantuo, promising a princess in marriage in exchange for Heli's return. Heli was thus returned and appointed General-in-Chief of the Right Martial Guard. Taizong had already promised a princess to Xueyantuo and the wedding day was near when Heli submitted a memorial firmly urging against it. Taizong said, "I have heard that a Son of Heaven does not speak in jest. Having already promised, how can the pledge be withdrawn? Heli said, "Indeed. Your subject originally asked only to delay the matter; I did not mean to cancel it entirely. I have heard that among the six rites of marriage the groom must come in person to welcome the bride. Tell Xueyantuo to fetch his bride himself — and even if he dares not come to the capital, require him to come at least as far as Lingzhou. Fearing the Tang he will surely not come, and with the betrothal unsettled no wedding day can be fixed. With vexation on both sides and your subject also removed from them, within a year they will turn suspicious of one another. Xueyantuo is fierce and harsh by nature. When he dies his two sons will surely fight over power — and we can control them without stirring from our seats. That is inevitable." Taizong followed his advice. Xueyantuo, fearing treachery, in the end never came to Lingzhou. Thereafter he remained dejected and frustrated; within a year he died, and the two sons did indeed fight for power, each proclaiming himself ruler.
13
太宗征遼東，以何力為前軍總管，軍次白崖城，為賊所圍，被矛中腰，瘡重疾甚，太宗自為傅藥。 及拔賊城，敕求傷之者高突勃，付何力自殺之。 何力奏言：「犬馬猶為其主，況於人乎？ 彼為其主，況致命冒白刃而刺臣，是其義勇士也。 本不相識，豈是冤仇？」 遂舍之。 二十二年，為昆丘道總管，擊龜茲，獲其王訶梨布失畢及諸首領等。 太宗崩，何力欲殺身以殉，高宗諭而止之。
When Taizong campaigned against Liaodong, Heli served as Vanguard Commander. At Baiya City the army was surrounded; Heli was speared in the waist and his wound was grave. Taizong personally dressed it for him. After the enemy city was taken, an edict sought out Gao Tublue, the man who had wounded him, and handed him over to Heli to execute. Heli memorialized, "Even dogs and horses serve their masters — how much more so men? He acted for his lord, and moreover risked his life and braved naked steel to spear me — that is a righteous warrior. We were strangers to begin with — how could this be a personal vendetta? He thereupon released him. In the twenty-second year he was made Commander of the Kunqiu Route, attacked Kucha, and captured its king Helibushibi along with various chieftains. When Taizong died, Heli wished to take his own life in sacrifice; Gaozong admonished him and forbade it.
14
永徽二年，處月、處密叛，以何力為弓月道大總管，討平之，擒其渠帥處密時健俟斤、合支賀等以歸。 顯慶二年，遷左驍衛大將軍，累封郕國公，兼檢校鴻臚卿。 龍朔元年，又為遼東道行軍大總管。 九月，次於鴨綠水，其地即高麗之險阻，莫離支男生以精兵數萬守之，眾莫能濟。 何力始至，會層冰大合，趣即渡兵，鼓噪而進，賊遂大潰，追奔數十里，斬首三萬級，余眾盡降，男生僅以身免。 會有詔班師，乃還。 其年，九姓叛，以何力為鐵勒道安撫大使。 乃簡精騎五百馳入九姓中，賊大驚，何力乃謂曰：「國家知汝被詿誤，遂有翻動，使我舍汝等過，皆可自新。 罪在酋渠，得之則已。」 諸姓大喜，共擒偽葉護及設、特勤等同惡二百余人以歸，何力數其罪而誅之。 乾封元年，又為遼東道行軍大總管，兼安撫大使。 高麗有眾十五萬，屯於遼水，又引靺鞨數萬據南蘇城。 何力奮擊，皆大破之。 斬首萬余級，乘勝而進，凡拔七城。 乃回軍會英國公李勣於鴨綠水，共攻辱夷、大行二城，破之。 勣頓軍於鴨綠柵，何力引蕃漢兵五十萬先臨平壤。 勣仍繼至，共拔平壤城，執男建，虜其王還。 授鎮軍大將軍，行左衛大將軍，徙封涼國公，仍檢校右羽林軍。 儀鳳二年卒，贈輔國大將軍、并州都督，陪葬昭陵，謚曰烈。
In Yonghui 2 the Chuyue and Chumi rebelled. Heli was made Grand Commander of the Gongyue Route, suppressed them, and captured their chieftains Chumi Shijian Irkin, Hezhih, and others. In Xianqing 2 he was promoted to General-in-Chief of the Left Martial Guard, enfeoffed as Duke of Bi, and concurrently appointed Acting Minister of Reception. In Longshuo 1 he was again made Grand Commander of the Liaodong Campaign. In the ninth month the army halted at the Yalu River, a strategic strongpoint of Goguryeo. Molizhi Nansheng held it with tens of thousands of elite troops, and none could cross. When Heli arrived, thick ice had formed in layers. He hurried troops across the river, advanced with drums and shouts, and the enemy broke and fled. The pursuit ran for several tens of li; thirty thousand heads were taken, the rest surrendered, and Nansheng barely escaped alive. Just then an edict ordered withdrawal, and he returned. That same year the Nine Surnames rebelled, and Heli was appointed Pacification Commissioner of the Tiele Route. He chose five hundred elite horsemen and galloped into the heart of the Nine Surnames. The rebels were terrified. Heli told them, "The state knows you were misled into revolt. I am sent to pass you by in mercy — all of you may start anew. Guilt rests with the tribal leaders; once they are taken, that is enough. The tribes rejoiced and together seized the false yabgu and more than two hundred co-conspirators, including she and tegin, and handed them over. Heli listed their crimes and executed them. In Qianfeng 1 he was again made Grand Commander of the Liaodong Campaign and concurrently Pacification Commissioner. Goguryeo had one hundred fifty thousand troops encamped at the Liao River and also brought in tens of thousands of Mohe to hold Nansu City. Heli struck fiercely and routed them all. More than ten thousand heads were taken. Pressing the advantage, he captured seven cities in all. He then turned back and joined the Duke of Ying, Li Ji, at the Yalu River. Together they attacked the cities of Ruyi and Daxing and captured them. Ji halted his army at the Yalu stockade while Heli led five hundred thousand tribal and Han troops to advance first on Pyongyang. Ji followed after, and together they captured Pyongyang, seized Namgeon, and carried off the king. He was appointed General Who Pacifies the Army and acting General-in-Chief of the Left Guard, his title was changed to Duke of Liang, and he remained Acting Commander of the Right Forest Guard Army. He died in Yifeng 2. Posthumously he was honored as General Who Assists the State and Area Commander of Bingzhou, buried with honors at Zhaoling, with the posthumous name Lie.
15
有三子：明、光、貞。 明，左鷹揚衛大將軍，兼賀蘭都督，襲爵涼國公。 光，則天時右豹韜衛將軍，為酷吏所殺。 貞，司膳少卿。
He had three sons: Ming, Guang, and Zhen. Ming was General-in-Chief of the Left Hawk Yang Guard and concurrently Area Commander of Helan; he inherited the dukedom of Liang. Guang served under Wu Zetian as General of the Right Leopard Guard and was killed by cruel officials. Zhen was Vice Director of the Commissariat.
16
=黑齒常之=黑齒常之，百濟西部人。 長七尺余，驍勇有謀略。 初在本蕃，仕為達率兼郡將，猶中國之刺史也。 顯慶五年，蘇定方討平百濟，常之率所部隨例送降款。 時定方縶左王及太子隆等，仍縱兵劫掠，丁壯者多被戮。 常之恐懼，遂與左右十余人遁歸本部，鳩集亡逸，共保任存山，築柵以自固，旬日而歸附者三萬余人。 定方遣兵攻之，常之領敢死之士拒戰，官軍敗績，遂復本國二百余城，定方不能討而還。 龍朔三年，高宗遣使招諭之，常之盡率其眾降。 累轉左領軍員外將軍。
Heichi Changzhi was a native of western Baekje. He stood over seven feet tall, fierce and brave, and skilled in strategy. In his native kingdom he had served as Daeshu and concurrently as Junjiang — the equivalent of a Chinese prefect. In Xianqing 5 Su Dingfang pacified Baekje. Changzhi led his followers in the customary submission of surrender. Dingfang bound the Left King, Crown Prince Rong, and others, yet let his troops plunder freely. Able-bodied men were slaughtered in large numbers. Terrified, Changzhi fled with a dozen followers back to his territory, gathered scattered refugees, and together they held Mount Imseok and built stockades to defend themselves. Within ten days more than thirty thousand had joined him. Dingfang sent troops against him, but Changzhi led death-defying warriors to resist and routed the government army. He recovered more than two hundred cities of the kingdom, and Dingfang could not subdue him and withdrew. In Longshuo 3 Gaozong sent envoys to summon him, and Changzhi led his entire following in submission. Through successive promotions he rose to Outside General of the Left Army Guard.
17
儀鳳中，吐蕃犯邊，常之從李敬玄擊之。 劉審禮之沒賊，敬玄欲抽軍，卻阻泥溝，而計無所出。 常之夜率敢死之兵五百人進掩賊營，吐蕃首領跋地設棄軍宵遁，敬玄因此得還。 高宗嘆其才略，擢授左武衛將軍，兼檢校左羽林軍，賜金五百兩、絹五百匹，仍充河源軍副使。 時吐蕃贊婆及素和貴等賊徒三萬余屯於良非川。 常之率精騎三千夜襲賊營，殺獲二千級，獲羊馬數萬，贊婆等單騎而遁。 擢常之為大使，又賞物四百匹。 常之以河源軍正當賊沖，欲加兵鎮守，恐有運轉之費，遂遠置烽戍七十余所，度開營田五千余頃，歲收百余萬石。 開耀中，贊婆等屯於青海，常之率精兵一萬騎襲破之，燒其糧貯而還。 常之在軍七年，吐蕃深畏憚之，不敢復為邊患。 嗣聖元年，遷左武衛大將軍，仍檢校左羽林軍。 垂拱二年，突厥犯邊，命常之率兵拒之。 躡至兩井，忽逢賊三千余眾，常之見賊徒爭下馬著甲，遂領二百余騎，身當先鋒直沖，賊遂棄甲而散。 俄頃，賊眾大至。 及日將暮，常之令伐木，營中燃火如烽燧，時東南忽有大風起，賊疑有救兵相應，遂狼狽夜遁。 以功進封燕國公。 三年，突厥入寇朔州，常之又充大總管，以李多祚、王九言為副。 追躡至黃花堆，大破之，追奔四十餘里，賊散走磧北。 時有中郎將爨寶璧表請窮追余賊，制常之與寶璧會，遙為聲援。 寶璧以為破賊在朝夕，貪功先行，竟不與常之謀議，遂全軍而沒。 尋為周興等誣構，雲與右鷹揚將軍趙懷節等謀反繫獄，遂自縊而死。
During the Yifeng era Tibet invaded the frontier, and Changzhi followed Li Jingxuan to repel them. When Liu Shenli fell into enemy hands, Jingxuan wanted to withdraw but was blocked at a muddy ravine and could find no way out. Changzhi led five hundred death-defying troops in a night raid on the enemy camp. The Tibetan leader Bodhishe abandoned his army and fled under cover of darkness, and Jingxuan was thus able to withdraw. Gaozong admired his talent and promoted him to General of the Left Martial Guard and Acting Commander of the Left Forest Guard, granted him five hundred taels of gold and five hundred bolts of silk, and made him Deputy Commander of the Heyuan Army. At the time more than thirty thousand Tibetan raiders under Zanpo and Suhegui were encamped at the Liangfei River. Changzhi led three thousand elite horsemen in a night raid, killed and captured two thousand, seized tens of thousands of sheep and horses, and Zanpo and the others fled alone on horseback. Changzhi was promoted to commissioner and rewarded with four hundred bolts of goods. Since the Heyuan Army lay directly in the enemy's path, Changzhi wanted to strengthen the garrison but feared the cost of supply. He therefore established more than seventy distant beacon towers and outposts, opened more than five thousand qing of garrison farms, and harvested more than a million shi of grain each year. During the Kaiyao era Zanpo and others encamped at Qinghai Lake. Changzhi led ten thousand elite cavalry in a raid, burned their grain stores, and withdrew. Changzhi served in the army for seven years. Tibet deeply feared him and did not again threaten the frontier. In the first year of Sisheng he was promoted to General-in-Chief of the Left Martial Guard and remained Acting Commander of the Left Forest Guard. In Chuigong 2 the Turks invaded the frontier, and Changzhi was ordered to lead troops against them. Pursuing as far as Liangjing, he suddenly encountered more than three thousand enemy. Seeing them scramble to dismount and don armor, Changzhi led more than two hundred horsemen and charged at the head of the vanguard. The enemy cast off their armor and fled. In a moment the enemy arrived in force. As dusk fell, Changzhi ordered trees cut and fires lit in camp like beacon towers. A sudden strong wind rose from the southeast. The enemy suspected reinforcements and fled in disorder under cover of night. For his merit he was enfeoffed as Duke of Yan. In the third year the Turks invaded Shuozhou. Changzhi again served as Grand Commander, with Li Duozuo and Wang Jiuyan as his deputies. He pursued them to Huanghuadui and routed them, chasing the fleeing enemy for more than forty li until they scattered north of the desert. At the time Middle General Cuan Baobi memorialized asking to pursue the remaining enemy to the end. An edict ordered Changzhi and Baobi to join forces and provide distant support. Baobi thought victory was only days away, greedily sought glory, and advanced without consulting Changzhi at all. His entire army was wiped out. Soon afterward he was falsely accused by Zhou Xing and others of plotting rebellion with Right Hawk Yang General Zhao Huaijie and others. Imprisoned, he hanged himself.
18
常之嘗有所乘馬為兵士所損，副使牛師獎等請鞭之。 常之曰：「豈可以損私馬而決官兵乎！」 竟赦之。 前後所得賞賜金帛等，皆分給將士； 及死，時甚惜之。
Once a soldier damaged a horse Changzhi was riding. Deputy Commander Niu Shijiang and others asked to have him flogged. Changzhi said, "How can I punish a soldier for damaging my private horse! In the end he pardoned him. All the gold, silk, and other rewards he received, before and after, he distributed among his officers and men. When he died, the court deeply mourned his loss.
19
=李多祚=李多祚，代為靺鞨酋長。 多祚驍勇善射，意氣感激。 少以軍功歷位右羽林軍大將軍，前後掌禁兵，北門宿衛二十余年。
Li Duozuo — for generations his clan had served as chieftains of the Mohe. Duozuo was fierce and brave, skilled at archery, and full of martial spirit. From youth he rose through military merit to General-in-Chief of the Right Forest Guard. He successively commanded the imperial guard and garrisoned the North Gate for more than twenty years.
20
神龍初，張柬之將誅張易之兄弟，引多祚將籌其事，謂曰：「將軍在北門幾年？」 曰：「三十年矣。」 柬之曰：「將軍擊鐘鼎食，金章紫綬，貴寵當代，位極武臣，豈非大帝之恩乎？」 曰：「然。」 又曰：「將軍既感大帝殊澤，能有報乎？ 大帝之子見在東宮，逆豎張易之兄弟擅權，朝夕危逼。 宗社之重，於將軍，誠能報恩，正屬今日。」 多祚曰：「茍緣王室，惟相公所使，終不顧妻子性命。」 因即引天地神祗為要誓，詞氣感動，義形於色。 遂與柬之等定謀誅易之兄弟，以功進封遼陽郡王，食實封八百戶，仍拜其子承訓為衛尉少卿。 其年，將有事於太廟，特令多祚與安國相王登輦夾侍。 監察御史王覿上疏諫曰：「竊惟祔廟之禮，在於尊祖奉先； 肅事之儀，豈厭惟親與德。 伏見恩敕令安國相王與李多祚參乘，且多祚夷人，有功於國，適可加之寵爵，豈宜逼奉至尊，侍帝弟而連衡，與吾君而共輦？ 誠恐萬方之人，不允所望。 昔文帝引趙談參乘，盎伏車前曰：『臣聞天子所共六尺輿者，皆天下豪英。 今漢雖乏人，陛下獨奈何與刀鋸之余共載！』 於是斥而下之。 多祚雖無趙談之累，亦非卿相之重，不自循省，無聞固讓，豈國乏良輔，更無其人。 史官所書，將示於後。 何袁盎之強諫，獨微臣之不及。 惟陛下詳擇焉。」 上謂覿曰：「多祚雖是夷人，緣其有功，委以心腹，特令侍輦，卿勿復言也。」
At the beginning of the Shenlong era, Zhang Jianzhi was preparing to execute the Zhang Yizhi brothers. He enlisted Duozuo to help plan the affair and asked, "General, how many years have you garrisoned the North Gate? He replied, "Thirty years." Zhang said, "General, you feast from bell and tripod, wear golden seal and purple cord — honored and favored beyond your peers, risen to the summit of military men — is this not the late emperor's grace?" He replied, "Yes." He also said, "General, having felt the late emperor's special grace, can you repay it? The late emperor's son is now in the Eastern Palace, while the treacherous Zhang Yizhi brothers monopolize power and press their threat day and night. The fate of altar and state rests with you, General — if you can truly repay that grace, today is the day." Duozuo said, "If it serves the royal house, I shall go wherever the Chancellor sends me, never sparing my wife and children." Thereupon he invoked Heaven and Earth and the spirits as witnesses to a sworn pledge. His words moved all who heard, and righteousness showed plainly in his face. He then joined Jianzhi and the others in plotting to execute the Yizhi brothers. For his merit he was enfeoffed as Prince of Liaoyang Commandery with eight hundred actual fief households, and his son Chengxun was appointed Vice Director of the Ministry of Guardians. That year, when rites were to be held at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, Duozuo was specially ordered to mount the imperial carriage alongside the Prince of An State as attendants flanking the emperor. Censor Wang Di memorialized in remonstrance: "I respectfully consider that the rite of enshrining in the ancestral temple lies in honoring ancestors and serving the forefathers; the solemn ceremony — does it not value kinship and virtue alone? I see that the gracious edict orders the Prince of An State and Li Duozuo to ride as companions. Duozuo is a barbarian who has served the state with merit — he may suitably receive honored titles and ranks. How can he be compelled to attend the Son of Heaven, stand beside the emperor's brother as an equal, and share the carriage with our sovereign? I truly fear the people of all lands will not approve as hoped. In former times Emperor Wen had Zhao Tan ride as companion. Yuan Ang prostrated himself before the carriage and said, 'I have heard that those who share the Son of Heaven's six-foot carriage are all heroes of the realm. Now though Han lacks men, how can Your Majesty alone ride with the dregs of executioners! Thereupon Zhao Tan was driven off and removed from the carriage. Duozuo, though free of Zhao Tan's fault, is also not of ministerial or chancellor rank. Without examining himself, without the firm refusal one would expect — does the state lack worthy aides that no other man can be found? What the historians record will be shown to posterity. Why was Yuan Ang's forceful remonstrance honored while I alone fall short? May Your Majesty consider carefully. The emperor said to Wang Di, "Though Duozuo is a barbarian, because of his merit I have entrusted him as one close at heart and specially ordered him to attend the carriage. Speak no more of it."
21
節湣太子之殺武三思也，多祚與羽林大將軍李千里等率兵以從。 太子令多祚先至玄武樓下，冀上問以殺三思之意，遂按兵不戰。 時有宮闈令楊思勖於樓上侍帝，請拒其先鋒。 多祚子婿羽林中郎將野呼利為先軍總管，思勖挺刃斬之，兵眾大沮。 多祚俄為左右所殺，並殺其二子，籍沒其家。 睿宗即位，下制曰：「以忠報國，典冊所稱； 感義捐軀，名節斯在。 故右羽林大將軍、上柱國、遼陽郡王李多祚，三韓貴種，百戰余雄。 席寵禁營，乃心王室，仗茲誠信，翻陷誅夷。 賴彼神明，重清奸慝，永言徽烈，深合褒崇。 宜追歿後之榮，以復生前之命。 可還舊官，仍宥其妻子。」
When the Jiemin Crown Prince killed Wu Sansi, Duozuo joined General-in-Chief of the Feathered Forest Li Qianli and others in leading troops to follow him. The Crown Prince ordered Duozuo to advance first to below the Xuanwu Tower, hoping the emperor would question him about the intent behind Sansi's killing, and therefore held the troops at rest without fighting. At the time Palace Ward Chief Yang Sixun was attending the emperor on the tower and requested permission to repel the vanguard. Duozuo's son-in-law, Captain of the Feathered Forest Yehuli, was vanguard commander. Sixun drew his blade and cut him down, and the army's morale collapsed. Before long Duozuo was killed by those at the emperor's side. Both his sons were also killed, and his household goods were confiscated. When Emperor Ruizong ascended the throne, he issued an edict: "Serving the state with loyalty is what the canonical records praise; moved by righteousness to give one's body — integrity and reputation lie therein. The late General-in-Chief of the Right Forest Guard, Supreme Pillar of State, Prince of Liaoyang Commandery Li Duozuo — noble stock of the Three Han, a veteran hero of a hundred battles. He enjoyed favor in the forbidden camp and his heart was devoted to the royal house, yet relying on this sincerity and trust he was turned instead to execution and extermination. Thanks to the divine spirits, treachery was again cleared away. His noble merit deserves deep commendation. He should receive posthumous honor to restore the appointment he held in life. Let his former office be restored, and let his wife and children be pardoned."
22
=李嗣業=李嗣業，京兆高陵人也。 身長七尺，壯勇絕倫。 天寶初，隨募至安西，頻經戰鬥，於時諸軍初用陌刀，咸推嗣業為能。 每為隊頭，所向必陷。 節度使馬靈察知其勇健，每出師，令嗣業與焉。 累遷至中郎將。
Li Siye was a native of Gaoling in Jingzhao. He stood seven feet tall and was unmatched in strength and courage. Early in the Tianbao era he volunteered and went to Anxi. He fought in many engagements. At that time the armies were first adopting the long-handled saber, and all acclaimed Siye as its master. Whenever he served as squad leader, wherever he aimed he broke through. Military Commissioner Ma Lingcha knew his bravery and strength and, whenever he took the field, had Siye accompany him. He rose in successive promotions to Middle General.
23
天寶七載，安西都知兵馬使高仙芝奉詔總軍，專征勃律，選嗣業與郎將田珍為左右陌刀將。 於時吐蕃聚十萬眾於娑勒城，據山因水，塹斷崖谷，編木為城。 仙芝夜引軍渡信圖河，奄至城下。 仙芝謂嗣業與田珍曰：「不午時須破此賊。」 嗣業引步軍持長刀上，山頭拋櫑蔽空而下，嗣業獨引一旗於絕險處先登，諸將因之齊上。 賊不虞漢軍暴至，遂大潰，填溪谷，投水溺死，僅十八九。 遂長驅至勃律城擒勃律王、吐蕃公主，斬藤橋，以兵三千人戍。 於是拂林、大食諸胡七十二國皆歸國家，款塞朝獻，嗣業之功也。 由此拜右威衛將軍。 十載，又從平石國，及破九國胡並背叛突騎施，以跳蕩加特進，兼本官。 初，仙芝紿石國王約為和好，乃將兵襲破之，殺其老弱，虜其丁壯，取金寶瑟瑟駝馬等，國人號哭，因掠石國王東，獻之於闕下。 其子逃難奔走，告於諸胡國。 群胡忿之，與大食連謀，將欲攻四鎮。 仙芝懼，領兵二萬深入胡地，與大食戰，仙芝大敗。 會夜，兩軍解，仙芝眾為大食所殺，存者不過數千。 事窘，嗣業白仙芝曰：「將軍深入胡地，後絕救兵。 今大食戰勝，諸胡知，必乘勝而並力事漢。 若全軍沒，嗣業與將軍俱為賊所虜，則何人歸報主？ 不如馳守白石嶺，早圖奔逸之計。」 仙芝曰：「爾，戰將也。 吾欲收合余燼，明日復戰，期一勝耳。」 嗣業曰：「愚者千慮，或有一得，勢危若此，不可膠柱。」 固請行，乃從之。 路隘，人馬魚貫而奔。 會跋汗那兵眾先奔，人及駝馬塞路，不克過。 嗣業持大棒前驅擊之，人馬應手俱斃。 胡等遁，路開，仙芝獲免。 仙芝表其功，加驃騎左金吾大將軍。
In Tianbao 7, Anxi Chief Military Commissioner Gao Xianzhi received orders to command the army in a campaign against Balur. He selected Siye and Commandant Tian Zhen as left and right long-saber generals. At that time Tibet gathered a hundred thousand men at Suole City, taking the mountain and using the water, cutting trenches across cliff valleys, and weaving timbers into a fortress. Xianzhi led the army by night across the Xintu River and suddenly arrived below the city. Xianzhi said to Siye and Tian Zhen, "Before noon this enemy must be broken. Siye led infantry bearing long swords uphill while trebuchet stones from the mountaintop filled the sky. Siye alone took one banner and was first to ascend at the most perilous spot; the other generals followed and charged together. The enemy did not expect Han troops to arrive so suddenly. They broke in utter rout, filling ravines and gullies and drowning as they cast themselves into the water — only one or two in ten survived. They drove straight through to Balur city, captured the King of Balur and the Tibetan princess, cut the vine bridge, and left three thousand troops to garrison the place. Thereupon seventy-two foreign states — among them Byzantium and the Arabs — all submitted to the empire, came to the frontier with tribute, and sent missions to court. This was Siye's achievement. For this he was appointed General of the Right Majestic Guard. In the tenth year he again followed in the pacification of Shi Kingdom and in crushing the rebellious Nine-States Hu and the renegade Turgish. For his bold assault he received the special advancement Tejin while retaining his original office. At first Xianzhi deceived the King of Shi with a pledge of friendship, then led troops in a surprise attack and broke the kingdom, killing the old and weak, carrying off the able-bodied, and seizing gold, jewels, sésè horses, and the like. The people wailed in grief. He then seized the king of Shi and took him east to present at the capital. His son fled in distress and spread word among the various Hu states. The Hu peoples were enraged and joined in conspiracy with the Arabs, preparing to attack the Four Garrisons. Xianzhi was afraid. He led twenty thousand troops deep into Hu territory and fought the Arabs, suffering a great defeat. Night fell and the two armies disengaged. Xianzhi's force was slaughtered by the Arabs; those who survived numbered no more than a few thousand. The situation was dire. Siye reported to Xianzhi, "The general has penetrated deep into Hu territory with reinforcements cut off behind. Now that the Arabs have won, once the Hu peoples learn of it they will surely take advantage of victory and unite their strength against Han. If the entire army perishes and both Siye and the general are taken by the enemy, who will return to report to the sovereign? Better to ride swiftly to hold Baishi Ridge and devise a plan for escape early. Xianzhi said, "You are a fighting general. I wish to gather the surviving embers and fight again tomorrow, seeking one victory. Siye said, "Even the foolish may hit upon something in a thousand calculations. With danger this grave, one cannot cling rigidly to fixed plans." He pressed his request firmly, and Xianzhi at last acceded. The road was narrow; men and horses fled single file like a string of fish. Just then the troops of Bohanna had fled ahead; men and camels blocked the road so passage was impossible. Siye seized a great club and struck forward as vanguard; men and horses fell dead at each blow. The Hu fled, the road cleared, and Xianzhi escaped. Xianzhi memorialized his merit and he was promoted to General of the Left Gold Crow Guard, Biaoqi rank.
24
及祿山反，兩京陷，上在靈武，詔嗣業赴行在。 嗣業自安西統眾萬里，威令肅然，所過郡縣，秋毫不犯。 至鳳翔謁見，上曰：「今日得卿，勝數萬眾，事之濟否，實在卿也。」 遂與郭子儀、仆固懷恩等常犄角為先鋒將。 嗣業每持大棒沖擊，賊眾披靡，所向無敵。
When Lushan rebelled and the two capitals fell, the emperor was at Lingwu and ordered Siye to proceed to the temporary court. Siye led his troops from Anxi ten thousand li. His authority was stern and orderly, and the commanderies and counties he passed through suffered not the slightest harm. Arriving at Fengxiang he had audience. The emperor said, "Today in gaining you I have gained the equal of tens of thousands. Whether this affair succeeds truly rests with you. Thereafter with Guo Ziyi, Pugu Huai'en, and others he regularly served as vanguard general in paired formation. Siye always charged wielding his great club; rebel ranks broke before him and nowhere did he meet a match.
25
祿山之亂，兩京未復，肅宗在鳳翔。 至德二年九月，嗣業從廣平王收復京城，與賊大戰於香積寺北，西拒灃水，東臨大川，十里間軍容不斷。 嗣業時為鎮西、北庭支度行營節度使，為前軍，朔方右行營節度使郭子儀為中軍，關內行營節度王思禮為後軍。 戈鋌鼓鞞，震曜山野，距賊軍數里，列長陣而待之。 賊將李歸仁初以銳師數來挑戰，我師攢矢而逐之，賊軍大至，逼我追騎，突入我營，我師囂亂。 嗣業謂郭子儀曰：「今日之事，若不以身啖寇，決戰於陣，萬死而冀其一生。 不然，則我軍無孑遺矣。」 嗣業乃脫衣徒搏，執長刀立於陣前大呼，當嗣業刀者，人馬俱碎，殺十數人，陣容方駐。 前軍之士盡執長刀而出，如墻而進。 嗣業先登奮命，所向摧靡。 是時，賊先伏兵於營東，偵者知之，元帥廣平王分回紇銳卒，令擊其伏兵，賊將大敗。 嗣業出賊營之背，與回紇合勢，表裏夾攻，自午及酉，斬首六萬級，填溝壑而死者十二三。 賊帥張通儒、安守忠、李歸仁等收合殘卒，東走保陜郡。 慶緒又命嚴莊率眾數萬，赴陜助通儒輩以拒官軍。 廣平王、郭子儀、王思禮等大軍營於陜西。 嗣業與子儀遇賊於新店，與之力戰，數合，我師初勝而後敗，嗣業逐急應接。 回紇從南山望見官軍敗，曳白旗而下，徑抵賊背，穿賊陣，賊陣西北角先陷。 嗣業又率精騎前擊，表裏齊進，賊眾大敗，走河北。 子儀遂收東都。 嗣業以功加開府儀同三司、衛尉卿，封虢國公，食實封二百戶。
During Lushan's rebellion the two capitals had not yet been recovered; Emperor Suzong was at Fengxiang. In the ninth month of Zhide 2, Siye followed the Prince of Guangping in recovering the capital. They fought a great battle with the rebels north of Xiangjisi Temple — the west barred by Feng River, the east facing a great stream — and for ten li the battle lines were unbroken. Siye then served as Military Commissioner of the Zhendi and Beiting Supply Expeditions as the vanguard; Guo Ziyi, Military Commissioner of the Right Shuofang Expedition, commanded the center; and Wang Sili, Military Commissioner of the Guannei Expedition, the rear. Spears and halberds, drums and war hides — the glare shook mountain and field. Several li from the rebel army they deployed in a long battle line and waited. Rebel general Li Guiren first sent elite troops repeatedly to challenge. Our forces gathered arrows and pursued them. The rebel army arrived in force, pressed our pursuing horsemen, and burst into our camp — our army fell into uproar. Siye said to Guo Ziyi, "In today's affair, unless we offer our bodies to feed the enemy and decide the battle in the ranks — ten thousand deaths hoping for one life — otherwise not one of our army will survive. Siye stripped to the waist, grasped a long sword, stood before the battle line and shouted. Those who met Siye's blade — men and horses alike were shattered. He killed more than a dozen, and only then did the formation steady. The vanguard soldiers all took up long swords and advanced like a moving wall. Siye was first to ascend and fought with all his life; wherever he turned, resistance crumbled. At that time the rebels had hidden troops east of camp. Scouts discovered them. The commander, the Prince of Guangping, detached elite Uyghur soldiers to strike the ambush, and the rebel generals were routed. Siye emerged behind the rebel camp and joined forces with the Uyghurs in pincer attack from within and without. From noon until dusk they took sixty thousand heads; one or two in ten of those who fell filled ravines and ditches in death. Rebel commanders Zhang Tongru, An Shouzhong, Li Guiren, and others gathered the remnants and fled east to hold Shaan Commandery. Qingxu also ordered Yan Zhuang to lead tens of thousands to Shaan to assist Tongru's group in resisting the government army. The Prince of Guangping, Guo Ziyi, Wang Sili, and the main army encamped west of Shaan. Siye and Ziyi encountered the enemy at Xindian and fought them fiercely through several engagements. Our army at first won and then lost; Siye pressed hard amid the emergency to respond. The Uyghurs from the southern hills saw the government army losing and descended trailing white banners, going straight to the rebel rear and piercing their battle line — the northwest corner of the rebel formation broke first. Siye again led elite cavalry in a forward assault; inner and outer forces advanced together and the rebel masses were routed, fleeing north of the river. Ziyi thereupon recovered the Eastern Capital. For his merit Siye received the additional honors of Grand Mentor with Protocol Equal to the Three Excellencies and Minister of Guardians; he was enfeoffed as Duke of Guo with two hundred actual fief households.
26
乾元二年，諸將同圍相州。 是時築堤引漳水灌城，經月余，城不拔。 是時，軍無統帥，諸將自圖全，人無鬥志。 賊每出戰，嗣業被堅沖突，履鋒冒刃，為流矢所中。 數日，瘡欲愈，臥於帳中，忽聞金鼓之聲，因而大叫，瘡中血出數升注地而卒。 上聞之震悼，嗟惜久之，詔曰：「臨難忘身，為臣之大節； 念功加贈，經國之常典。 故衛尉卿、兼懷州刺史、充北庭行營節度使、虢國公李嗣業，植操沈厚，秉心忠烈，懷幹時之勇略，有戡難之遠謀。 久仕邊陲，備經任使。 自兇渠構亂，中夏不寧，持感激之誠，總驍果之眾，親當矢石，頻立勛庸。 壯節可嘉，將謀於百勝； 忠誠未遂，空恨於九原。 言念其功，良深憫悼。 死於王事，禮有可加，宜贈裂土之封，用廣飾終之義。 可贈武威郡王。 其賻贈及緣葬事，所司倍於常式，仍令官給靈輿，遞還所在。 以其子佐國襲其官爵，食實封二百戶。」
In Qianyuan 2 the generals jointly besieged Xiangzhou. At that time they built dikes to divert Zhang River water to flood the city. After more than a month the city still was not taken. At that time the army had no commander-in-chief; each general sought his own safety and the men lacked fighting spirit. Whenever the rebels came out to fight, Siye donned heavy armor and charged forward, treading blades and braving edges, and was struck by stray arrows. Several days later his wounds were nearly healed. Lying in his tent he suddenly heard the sound of gongs and drums; he cried out at once, and blood poured several sheng from his wounds onto the ground — and he died. When the emperor heard, he was deeply shaken and grieved and sighed in lament for a long time. An edict read: "Facing peril without forgetting one's body — this is the great principle of a minister; remembering merit with posthumous honors — this is the constant practice of governing the state. The late Commandant of the Guard Li Siye, Duke of the State of Guo, had also served as Prefect of Huaizhou and Military Commissioner of the Beiting Field Headquarters. Steadfast in character, deep and unwavering, he bore a loyal and resolute heart and possessed both the courage and strategy the times demanded and far-reaching plans for quelling calamity. He had long served on the frontier and had seen every sort of assignment through. From the day the rebel chieftain stirred chaos and the heartland knew no peace, he served with grateful devotion, rallied fierce and resolute troops, braved arrows and stones in person, and won distinction again and again. His stalwart integrity deserved all praise, and he was poised to plan triumph upon triumph; Yet his loyal devotion remained unfulfilled, and he carried only futile regret to the grave. When We consider his merit, Our pity and mourning run deep. He died in the sovereign's service, and the rites permit further honor: let there be granted a fief entailing land, that the rites due the dead may be amply observed. Let him be posthumously enfeoffed as Prince of Wuwei Commandery. For funeral gifts and all matters connected with his burial, the responsible offices shall observe double the usual standard, and an official funeral carriage shall be furnished and escorted by relay to his home district. His son Zuoguo shall inherit his office and title, with a substantive fief of two hundred households."
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=白孝德=白孝德，安西胡人也，驍悍有膽力。 乾元中，事李光弼為偏裨。 史思明攻河陽，使驍將劉龍仙率鐵騎五千臨城挑戰。 龍仙捷勇自恃，舉右足加馬鬣上，嫚罵光弼。 光弼登城望，顧諸將曰：「孰可取者？」 仆固懷恩請行，光弼曰：「此非大將所為。」 歷選其次，左右曰：「白孝德可。」 光弼乃招孝德前，問曰：「可乎？」 曰：「可。」 光弼問：「所要幾何兵？」 孝德曰：「可獨往耳。」 光弼壯之。 終問所欲，對曰：「願選五十騎於軍門為繼，兼請大軍鼓噪以增氣勢，他無所用。」 光弼撫其背以遣之。 孝德挾二矛，策馬截流而渡。 半濟，懷恩賀曰：「克矣。」 光弼曰：「未及，何知其克？」 懷恩曰：「觀其攬轡便辟，可萬全者。」 龍仙見其獨來，甚易之，足不降鬣。 稍近，將動，孝德搖手示之，若使其不動，龍仙不之測，乃止。 孝德呼曰：「侍中使余致辭，非他也。」 龍仙去十步與之言，褻罵如初。 孝德息馬伺便，因瞋目曰：「賊識我乎？」 龍仙曰：「誰耶？」 曰：「我，國之大將白孝德也。」 龍仙曰：「是何豬狗！」 孝德發聲寔啖，持矛躍馬而搏之。 城上鼓噪，五十騎繼進。 龍仙矢不暇發，環走堤上。 孝德追及，斬首，攜之而歸，賊徒大駭。 其後，累戰功至安西北庭行營節度、鄜坊邠寧節度使，歷檢校刑部尚書，封昌化郡王。 以家難去職，服闋復舊官。
Bai Xiaode was a Hu native of Anxi, fierce and bold, and possessed of great courage and strength. During the Qianyuan era he served under Li Guangbi as a junior officer. When Shi Siming attacked Heyang, he sent his fierce general Liu Longxian at the head of five thousand armored horsemen to ride up beneath the walls and issue a challenge. Confident in his swiftness and courage, Longxian planted his right foot atop his horse's mane and showered Guangbi with insults. Guangbi climbed the wall to look out. Turning to his generals he said, "Who can take him?" Pugu Huaien volunteered. Guangbi said, "This is not work for a grand general." They went down the list in turn; those beside him said, "Bai Xiaode will do." Guangbi then summoned Xiaode forward and asked, "Will it work?" He said, "It will." Guangbi asked, "How many troops do you need?" Xiaode said, "I can go alone." Guangbi admired his daring. When Guangbi finally asked what he wanted, Xiaode replied, "Let me choose fifty horsemen at the army gate as reinforcements, and ask that the main army raise a battle clamor to swell our momentum — nothing else is needed." Guangbi clapped him on the back and sent him off. Xiaode tucked two spears under his arms and spurred his horse across the ford. Halfway across, Huaien cried, "He is taken!" Guangbi said, "Not yet — how do you know he is taken?" Huaien said, "See how he gathers the reins and adapts his seat — that is a man who can be absolutely sure of victory." Longxian saw him come alone and thought him an easy mark; he did not lower his foot from the mane. As he drew nearer and was about to move, Xiaode waved his hand at him as if to tell him to hold still; Longxian could not fathom it and did not stir. Xiaode called out, "The chief minister sends me to convey words — nothing more." Longxian came ten paces forward to speak with him and reviled him with vulgar abuse as before. Xiaode rested his horse, waiting for his opening; then with a glare he said, "Do you, bandit, know me?" Longxian said, "Who are you?" He said, "I am Bai Xiaode, a great general of the realm!" Longxian said, "What kind of swine and cur are you?!" Xiaode let out a battle roar, seized his spear, spurred his horse forward and closed with him. On the walls the army raised a battle clamor, and the fifty horsemen followed in support. Longxian had no time to loose his arrows and circled along the embankment. Xiaode caught up with him, cut off his head, and carried it back; the rebel troops were utterly terrified. Thereafter he accumulated battle honors until he became Military Commissioner of the Anxi-Beiting Field Headquarters and of Fufang Binning, served successively as Acting Minister of Justice, and was enfeoffed as Prince of Changhua Commandery. He left office on account of family mourning, and when the mourning period ended he resumed his former post.
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大歷十四年九月，轉太子少傅，尋卒，時年六十六，贈太子太保。
In the ninth month of Dali 14 he was transferred to Junior Tutor of the Heir Apparent; soon afterward he died at age sixty-six and was posthumously appointed Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent.
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=【贊】=史臣曰：歷代武臣，壯勇出眾者有諸，節行勵俗者鮮矣，矧蠻夷之人乎！ 如馮盎智勇守節，社尒廉慎知足，蘇尼失恩惠，史忠清謹。 凡用兵破吐蕃、谷渾，勇也； 心如鐵石，忠也； 不解萬均官，恕也； 阻延陀之親，智也； 舍高突勃之死，識也。 立大功，居顯位，夙夜匪懈者，何力有焉。 常之以私馬恕官兵，與將士均賞賜，古之名將，無以加焉。 多祚忘身許國，孝德壯勇立功，皆三軍之傑也，豈九夷之陋哉！ 嗣業力贊中興，終歿王事，未可倫而擬也。
= Praise = The court historian writes: Throughout the ages, many military officers have stood out for bold courage, but few have cultivated conduct that admonishes custom — how much less among barbarian peoples! Consider Feng Ang, wise and courageous, who upheld his integrity; She'er, frugal, cautious, and content; Sunishi, generous and gracious; and Zhong, pure and careful. In campaigning to break Tibet and Tuyuhun — that was courage; a heart like iron and stone — that was loyalty; refusing to strip Wanjun of his office — that was forbearance; blocking alliance with the Tiele — that was wisdom; renouncing the death of Gao Tubo — that was discernment. To establish great merit, hold exalted rank, and never slacken day or night — what man could match Qibi Heli? Changzhi pardoned his officers and men with his private horses and shared rewards equally with his soldiers — among famed generals of old, none can surpass him. Duozuo forgot himself in service to the state, and Xiaode with bold courage won distinction — all were champions of the three armies. How could they be the baseness of the Nine Yi! Siye powerfully aided the restoration and at last died in the sovereign's service — he cannot be ranked alongside or compared to the others.
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贊曰：君子之居，九夷無陋。 壯哉嗣業，孰出其右！
The praise reads: "Where the noble man dwells, even the Nine Yi are not base." How mighty was Siye — who could stand to his right!