1
宇文融，京兆萬年人，隋禮部尚書平昌公弼之玄孫也。 祖節，貞觀中為尚書右丞，明習法令，以幹局見稱。 時江夏王道宗嘗以私事托於節，節遂奏之，太宗大悅，賜絹二百匹，仍勞之曰：「朕所以不置左右僕射者，正以卿在省耳。」 永徽初，累遷黃門侍郎、同中書門下三品，代于志寧為侍中。 坐房遺愛事配流桂州而卒。 父嶠，萊州長史。
Yu Wenrong came from Wannian in Jingzhao. He was the great-great-grandson of Bi, Duke of Pingchang, who had served Sui as Minister of Rites. His grandfather Jie served as Right Vice Director of the Secretariat during the Zhenguan era. Well versed in law and noted for administrative skill, he won wide respect. Once Prince of Jiangxia Li Daozong asked Jie to handle a private matter, and Jie reported it to the throne. Emperor Taizong was delighted, granted him two hundred bolts of silk, and told him, "The reason I have not appointed Left and Right Vice Directors is that you are already here in the Secretariat." In the early Yonghui reign he rose through repeated promotions to Vice Director of the Yellow Gate and Third-Rank Associate of the Secretariat and Chancellery, and succeeded Yu Zhining as Palace Attendant. Implicated in the Fang Yiai affair, he was exiled to Guizhou, where he died. His father Qiao served as long-term administrator of Laizhou.
2
融，開元初累轉富平主簿，明辯有吏幹，源乾曜、孟溫相次為京兆尹，皆厚禮之，俄拜監察御史。 時天下戶口逃亡，免役多偽濫，朝廷深以為患。 融乃陳便宜，奏請檢察偽濫，搜括逃戶。 玄宗納其言，因令融充使推勾。 無幾，獲偽濫及諸免役甚眾，特加朝散大夫，再遷兵部員外郎，兼侍御史。 融於是奏置勸農判官十人，並攝御史，分往天下，所在檢括田疇，招攜戶口。 其新附客戶，則免其六年賦調，但輕稅入官。 議者頗以為擾人不便，陽翟尉皇甫憬上疏曰：
In the early Kaiyuan era Rong rose through several posts to chief clerk of Fuping. Clear-spoken and capable as an administrator, he was warmly received by Yuan Qianyao and Meng Wen when each served in turn as prefect of Jingzhao. He was soon appointed investigating censor. Throughout the empire registered households were fleeing, and corvée exemptions were widely falsified. The court regarded the problem as grave. Rong proposed a practical remedy and memorialized the throne to inspect falsified exemptions and register fugitive households. Xuanzong accepted the proposal and appointed Rong commissioner to investigate and verify the registers. Within a short time he uncovered large numbers of falsified exemptions and other abuses. He received a special promotion to Grand Master of Palace Leisure, then moved up to vice director of the Ministry of War while retaining his post as attending censor. Rong then memorialized for ten agricultural encouragement assistant officials, each also acting as censor, to be sent throughout the empire to inspect fields and register households. Newly attached client households were exempted from six years of tax and corvée, paying only a light levy into the government. Many critics argued that the policy disturbed the people. Huangfu Jing, magistrate of Yangdi, submitted a memorial:
3
左拾遺楊相如上書，咸陳括客為不便。 上方委任融，侍中源乾曜及中書舍人陸堅皆贊成其事，乃貶憬為盈川尉。 於是諸道括得客戶凡八十餘萬，田亦稱是。 州縣希融旨意，務於獲多，皆虛張其數，亦有以實戶為客者。 歲終征得客戶錢數百萬，融由是擢拜御史中丞。 言事者猶稱括客損居人，上令集百僚於尚書省議。 公卿已下懼融恩勢，皆雷同不敢有異詞，唯戶部侍郎楊瑒獨建議以括客不利居人，征籍外田稅，使百姓困弊，所得不補所失。 無幾，瑒出為外職。
Left Reminder Yang Xiangru also submitted a memorial, both men arguing that registering client households was harmful. The emperor was then relying heavily on Rong. Palace Attendant Yuan Qianyao and drafting secretary Lu Jian supported the policy, and Huangfu Jing was demoted to magistrate of Yingchuan. The various circuits eventually registered more than eight hundred thousand client households, with comparable amounts of land reported as well. Prefectures and counties, eager to please Rong, competed to inflate their totals. Some even reclassified genuine households as client households. By year's end several million in client-household levies had been collected, and Rong was promoted to vice censor-in-chief. Critics still argued that registering client households harmed established residents. The emperor ordered the officials gathered at the Ministry of Revenue to debate the policy. From the highest ministers down, officials feared Rong's influence and echoed approval without dissent. Only Vice Minister of Revenue Yang Chang argued that registering client households harmed resident households, that taxing unregistered land exhausted the people, and that the gains did not offset the losses. Before long Yang Chang was transferred to an outside post.
4
融乃馳傳巡歷天下，事無大小，先牒上勸農使而後申中書，省司亦待融指捴而後決斷。 融之所至，必招集老幼宣上恩命，百姓感其心，至有流淚稱父母者。 融使還具奏，乃下制曰：「
Rong then toured the empire by post relay. Every matter, large or small, went first to the agricultural encouragement commissioner and only then to the Secretariat; provincial offices waited for his instructions before acting. Wherever Rong went he gathered old and young to proclaim the emperor's decree. Moved by his sincerity, some common people wept and called him their father and mother. When Rong returned and submitted his full report, the emperor issued an edict: "
5
夫食為人天，富而後教，經教彜體，前哲至言。 故平糴行於昔王，義倉加於近代，所以存九年之蓄，收上中之斂。 穰賤則農不傷財，災饉則時無菜色，救人活國，其利博哉！ 今流戶大來，王田載理，敖庾之務，寤寐所懷。 其客戶所稅錢，宜均充所在常平倉用，仍許預付價值，任粟麥兼貯。 並舊常平錢粟，並委本道判官勾當處置，使斂散及時，務以矜恤。 且分災恤患，州黨之常情； 損餘濟闕，親鄰之善貸。 故木鐸云徇，里胥均功，夜績相從，齊俗以贍。 今陽和布澤，丁壯就田，言念鰥煢，事資拯助。 宜委使司與州縣商量，勸作農社，貧富相恤，耕耘以時。 仍每至雨澤之後，種獲忙月，州縣常務，一切停減。 使趨時急於備寇，尺璧賤於寸陰，是則天無虛施，人無遺力。
Food sustains humanity; only after people are secure can they be taught. The canonical norms handed down by the sages express this truth at its deepest. Kings of old practiced equitable grain purchase; recent dynasties added charity granaries to store nine years' reserves and gather taxes of the better grades. When grain is plentiful and cheap, farmers are not ruined; when famine strikes, no one need go hungry. To save the people and sustain the state—what greater benefit is there? Now fugitive households are returning in great numbers, royal fields are being brought under order, and filling the granaries is ever on Our mind. Tax money collected from client households should be used for local ever-normal granaries, with advance payment permitted and both millet and wheat allowed in storage. Existing ever-normal funds and grain, together with the new levies, are to be managed by circuit assistant officials so that collection and release are timely and the people treated with care. Sharing disaster and relieving distress is the ordinary duty of community and neighborhood; using surplus to help those in need is the proper kindness among kin and neighbors. Hence the wooden clapper proclaimed the law, village clerks apportioned labor, neighbors spun together at night, and communities thereby sustained one another. Now as spring spreads its blessings and able-bodied men return to the fields, We think of widows and orphans and know they need help. Dispatch offices and local officials should consult together, encourage agricultural associations, have rich and poor support one another, and see that planting is done in season. Whenever the rains come and the busy seasons of planting and harvest arrive, the ordinary duties of prefectures and counties should all be reduced. Let timely work be more urgent than defense against invasion; let a foot of jade be valued less than an inch of daylight—then Heaven's gifts will not be wasted and no labor will be lost.
6
又政在經遠，功惟久著，今逃亡初復，居業未康，循逃戶及籍外剩田，猶宜勞徠，理資存撫。 其十道分判官，三五年內，使就厥功，令有終始。 當道覆屯，及須推劾，並以委之，不須廣差餘使，示專其事，不擾於人。 政術有能，必行賞罰。 其已奏復業歸首，勾當州縣，每季一申，不須挾名，致有勞擾。 其歸首戶，各令新首處與本貫計會年戶色役，勿欺隱及其兩處征科。 宣布天下，使明知朕意。」
Government must look to the long term and prove itself over time. Fugitives are only now returning and livelihoods are not yet secure; fugitive households and unregistered surplus land still require effort to attract settlers and steady governance to support them. The assistant officials of the ten circuits should, within three to five years, be required to complete their work with a clear beginning and end. Circuit review of garrison farms and matters requiring investigation should all be entrusted to them. No additional commissioners need be sent, so that responsibility is clear and the people are not disturbed. Where officials prove capable, rewards and punishments must follow. For households already reported as having resumed occupation and surrendered, handling prefectures and counties should report quarterly without attaching names, so as to avoid harassment. Surrendering households must have their new place of registration coordinate with their original domicile in reckoning annual household taxes and corvée, with no concealment leading to double collection. Proclaim this throughout the realm so that all may clearly know Our intent."
7
中書令張說素惡融之為人，又患其權重，融之所奏，多建議爭之。 融揣其意，先事圖之。 中書舍人張九齡言於說曰：「宇文融承恩用事，辯給多詞，不可不備也。」 說曰：「此狗鼠輩，焉能為事！」 融尋兼戶部侍郎。 從東封還，又密陳意見，分吏部為十銓典選事，所奏又為說所抑。 融乃與御史大夫崔隱甫連名劾說，廷奏其狀，說由是罷知政事。 融恐說復用為己患，數譖毀之。 上惡其朋黨，尋出融為魏州刺史。 俄轉汴州刺史，又上表請用《禹貢》九河舊道，開稻田以利人，並回易陸運本錢，官收其利。 雖興役不息，而事多不就。
Chief Minister Zhang Yue had long disliked Rong's character and feared his power. He contested most of what Rong proposed. Rong guessed his intentions and moved against him first. Drafting secretary Zhang Jiuling told Yue, "Yu Wenrong enjoys imperial favor and wields power. He is eloquent and slippery—you must guard against him." Yue replied, 'Those dog-and-rat creatures—what can they do!'" Soon afterward Rong was additionally appointed vice minister of revenue. After returning from the eastern feng and shan rites, he again submitted secret proposals to divide the Ministry of Personnel into ten selection boards. Yue blocked that memorial as well. Rong then joined Vice Censor-in-Chief Cui Yinpu in impeaching Yue. They presented the case at court, and Yue was removed from office. Fearing Yue might return to power, Rong repeatedly slandered him. The emperor disliked their factional scheming and soon transferred Rong to prefect of Weizhou. He was soon transferred to prefect of Bianzhou and memorialized to reopen the old course of the Nine Rivers described in the Tribute of Yu, develop paddy fields for the people's benefit, and convert overland transport capital so the state could take the profit. Though corvée labor never ceased, most of the projects came to nothing.
8
十六年，復入為鴻臚卿，兼戶部侍郎。 明年，拜黃門侍郎，與裴光庭並兼同中書門下平章事。 融既居相位，欲以天下為己任，謂人曰：「使吾居此數月，庶令海內無事矣。」 於是薦宋璟為右丞相，裴耀卿為戶部侍郎，許景先為工部侍郎，甚允朝廷之望。 然性躁急多言，又引賓客故人，晨夕飲謔，由是為時論所譏。 時禮部尚書、信安王祎為朔方節度使，殿中侍御史李宙劾之，驛召將下獄。 祎既申訴得理，融坐阿黨李宙，出為汝州刺史，在相凡百日而罷。
In the sixteenth year he returned to court as minister of ceremonial and concurrent vice minister of revenue. The next year he was appointed vice director of the Yellow Gate and, together with Pei Guangting, was made associate of the Secretariat and Chancellery of the same rank. Once in the chief ministership, Rong wished to take the empire as his charge and told others, "Give me a few months in this post and I shall leave the realm at peace." He then recommended Song Jing as right chief minister, Pei Yaoqing as vice minister of revenue, and Xu Jingxian as vice minister of works—appointments that greatly satisfied the court. Yet he was impetuous, talkative, and fond of entertaining guests and old friends morning and night, and contemporary opinion mocked him for it. At the time Minister of Rites Prince of Xin'an Li Xin served as military governor of Shuofang. Palace Attendant Li Zhou impeached him, and he was summoned by urgent relay to be imprisoned. When Li Xin successfully defended himself, Rong was punished for supporting Li Zhou and sent out as prefect of Ruzhou. He had held the chief ministership only a hundred days.
9
裴光庭時兼御史大夫，又彈融交遊朋黨及男受贓等事，貶昭州平樂尉。 在嶺外歲餘，司農少卿蔣岑舉奏融在汴州回造船腳，隱沒鉅萬，給事中馮紹烈又深文案其事實，融於是配流巖州。 地既瘴毒，憂恚發疾，遂詣廣府，將停留未還。 都督耿仁忠謂融曰：「明公負朝廷深譴，以至於此，更欲故犯嚴命，淹留他境，仁忠見累，誠所甘心，亦恐朝廷知明公在此，必不相容也。」 融遽還，卒於路。 上聞之，思其舊功，贈臺州刺史。
Pei Guangting, then also vice censor-in-chief, impeached Rong again for factional ties and for his son accepting bribes. Rong was demoted to commandant of Pingle in Zhaozhou. After more than a year in the south, Vice Minister of Agriculture Jiang Cen reported that Rong had diverted ship-transport fees while in Bianzhou and concealed tens of thousands. Drafting secretary Feng Shaolie investigated the case in detail, and Rong was exiled to Yanzhou. The region was malarial, and grief and resentment brought on illness. He went to Guang prefecture intending to linger there rather than continue into exile. Protector-general Geng Renzhong told Rong, "You bear the court's heavy punishment and have come to this. If you deliberately violate the imperial order and linger in another jurisdiction, I shall be implicated—and I would accept that—but I fear the court will not tolerate your remaining here." Rong hurried back but died on the road. When the emperor heard of it, he remembered Rong's earlier service and posthumously granted him prefect of Taizhou.
10
韋堅，京兆萬年人。 父元珪，先天中，銀青光祿大夫，開元初，袞州刺史。 堅姊為贈惠宣太子妃，堅妻又楚國公姜皎女，堅妹又為皇太子妃，中外榮盛，故早從官敘。 二十五年，為長安令，以幹濟聞。 與中貴人善，探候主意。 見宇文融楊慎矜父子以勾剝財物爭行進奉而致恩顧，堅乃以轉運江淮租賦，所在置吏督察，以裨國之倉廩，歲益鉅萬。 玄宗以為能。
Wei Jian came from Wannian in Jingzhao. His father Yuangui held the rank of Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of the Palace in the Xiantian era and served as prefect of Yanzhou in the early Kaiyuan reign. Jian's elder sister had been consort to the posthumously honored Heir Apparent of Huixuan; his wife was a daughter of Duke of Chu Jiang Jiao; his younger sister was consort to the crown prince. With such connections inside and outside the family, he entered official service early. In the twenty-fifth year he became magistrate of Chang'an and was known for administrative efficiency. He cultivated ties with palace favorites and watched the emperor's intentions closely. Seeing Yu Wenrong and Yang Shenjin and his son compete to squeeze wealth from the people and present it to the throne, Jian took charge of transporting Jiang-Huai rent and tax levies, posting officials throughout to supervise collection and thereby fill the state granaries by tens of thousands each year. Xuanzong regarded him as capable.
11
堅跪上諸郡輕貨，又上百牙盤食，府縣進奏，教坊出樂叠奏。 玄宗歡悅，下詔敕曰：
Jian knelt and presented light goods from the prefectures, then a hundred tooth-tray dishes of food. Prefectures and counties submitted memorials while the Music Bureau sent out musicians in layered performance. Delighted, Xuanzong issued an edict:
12
時堅姊故惠宣太子妃亦出寶物供樓上鋪設，進食竟日而罷。
Jian's elder sister, the former consort of the Heir Apparent of Huixuan, also supplied treasures to furnish the upper hall. The feast lasted all day.
13
李林甫以堅姜氏婿，甚狎之。 至是懼其詭計求進，承恩日深，堅又與李適之善，益怒之，恐入為相，乃與腹心構成其罪。 四月，進銀青光祿大夫、左散騎常侍、陜郡太守、水陸轉運使，勾當緣河及江淮南租庸轉運處置使並如故； 又以判官元捴、豆盧友除監察御史。 三年正月，堅又加兼御史中丞，封韋城男。 九月，拜守刑部尚書，奪諸使，以楊慎矜代之。
Li Linfu was very familiar with Jian, who was Jiang Jiao's son-in-law. But he now feared Jian's scheming for advancement. As imperial favor deepened and Jian grew close to Li Shizhi, Linfu grew angrier still, fearing Jian might become chief minister, and with trusted followers fabricated charges against him. In the fourth month Jian was promoted to Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of the Palace, left regular attendant, prefect of Shaan Commandery, and commissioner of water and land transport, retaining his posts handling rent, corvée, and transport along the Yellow River and south of the Jiang-Huai. His assistant officials Yuan Cong and Doulu You were additionally appointed investigating censors. In the first month of the third year he was additionally made vice censor-in-chief and enfeoffed as Baron of Weicheng. In the ninth month he was appointed acting minister of justice, stripped of his commissioner posts, and replaced by Yang Shenjin.
14
五載正月望夜，堅與河西節度、鴻臚卿皇甫惟明夜遊，同過景龍觀道士房，為林甫所發，以堅戚裏，不合與節將狎暱，是構謀規立太子。 玄宗惑其言，遽貶堅為縉雲太守，惟明為播川太守。 尋發使殺惟明於黔中，籍其資財。 六月，又貶堅為江夏員外別駕。 又構堅與李適之善，貶適之為宜春太守。 七月，堅又長流嶺南臨封郡，堅弟將作少匠蘭、鄠縣令冰、兵部員外郎芝、堅男河南府戶曹諒並遠貶。 至十月，使監察御史羅希奭逐而殺之，諸弟及男諒並死。 堅妻姜氏，林甫以其久遭輕賤，特放還本宗。 倉部員外郎鄭章貶南豐丞，殿中侍御史鄭欽說貶夜郎尉，監察御史豆盧友貶富水尉，監察御史楊惠貶巴東尉，連累者數十人。 又敕嗣薛王琄夷陵郡員外別駕長任，其母隨男任； 女婿新貶巴陵太守盧幼林長流合浦郡。 肅宗時為皇太子，恐懼上表，稱與新婦離絕。 七載，嗣薛王琄停，仍於夜郎郡安置，其母亦勒隨男。 堅貶黜後，林甫諷所司發使於江淮、東京緣河轉運使，恣求堅之罪以聞，因之綱典船夫溢於牢獄，郡縣征剝不止，鄰伍盡成裸形，死於公府，林甫死乃停。
On the lantern-night of the first month of the fifth year, Jian and Huangfu Weiming, military governor of Hexi and minister of ceremonial, went out together at night and passed through the Daoist chambers of Jinglong Temple. Linfu exposed the visit. As an imperial relative by marriage, Jian should not have been intimate with a frontier general; Linfu framed this as a plot to install the crown prince. Misled, Xuanzong hastily demoted Jian to prefect of Jinyun and Weiming to prefect of Bochuan. Soon an envoy was sent to kill Weiming in Qianzhong and confiscate his property. In the sixth month Jian was again demoted to supernumerary vice prefect of Jiangxia. Linfu again used Jian's friendship with Li Shizhi against him and had Shizhi demoted to prefect of Yichun. In the seventh month Jian was sentenced to long exile in Linchuan Commandery in Lingnan. His younger brothers Lan, director of palace construction; Bing, magistrate of Huo County; Zhi, vice director of the Ministry of War; and his son Liang, registrar of the Henan prefecture revenue office, were all exiled far away. By the tenth month investigating censor Luo Xi'yi was sent to pursue and kill him. All the younger brothers and his son Liang also died. Jian's wife, of the Jiang clan, had long suffered humiliation. Linfu specially allowed her to return to her original clan. Vice director of the Ministry of Revenue Zheng Zhang was demoted to assistant magistrate of Nanfeng; palace attendant Zheng Qinshuo to magistrate of Yelang; investigating censor Doulu You to magistrate of Fushui; investigating censor Yang Hui to magistrate of Badong. Dozens were implicated. An edict also ordered Heir of Prince of Xue Juan to serve indefinitely as supernumerary vice prefect of Yiling Commandery, his mother accompanying him. His son-in-law Lu Youlin, newly demoted from prefect of Baling, was sentenced to long exile in Hepu Commandery. Suzong, then crown prince, submitted a memorial in fear, stating that he was separated from his new wife. In the seventh year Heir of Prince of Xue Juan was suspended and settled in Yelang Commandery; his mother was also ordered to accompany him. After Jian's fall, Linfu prompted officials to dispatch envoys to the Jiang-Huai and Eastern Capital transport offices along the Yellow River to hunt for crimes to report against Jian. Transport overseers and boatmen filled the prisons; prefectures and counties squeezed the people without cease; neighbors were stripped bare; many died in government custody. The persecution stopped only when Linfu died.
15
楊慎矜，隋煬帝玄孫也。 曾祖隋齊王暕，祖正道，大業末，隨宇文化及至河北，為竇建德所破，因與其祖母蕭皇后入於建德軍，建德送於突厥處羅可汗牙。 貞觀初，李靖擊破頡利可汗，胡酋康蘇密以蕭后及正道歸，授尚衣奉御。 父隆禮，長安中天官郎中，神龍後，歷洛、梁、滑、汾、懷五州刺史，皆以清嚴能檢察人吏絕於欺隱聞。 景雲中，以名犯玄宗上字，改為崇禮。 開元初，擢為太府少卿，雖錢帛充牣，丈尺間皆躬自省閱，時議以為前後為太府者無與為比。 擢拜太府卿，加銀青光祿大夫，進封弘農郡公。 在職二十年，公清如一。 年九十餘，授戶部尚書致仕。 時太平且久，御府財物山積，以為經楊卿者無不精好，每歲勾剝省便出錢數百萬貫。
Yang Shenjin was a great-grandson of Emperor Yang of Sui. His great-grandfather was Sui Prince of Qi Yang Jian; his grandfather was Zhengdao. At the end of the Daye era he followed Yuwen Huaji to Hebei, was defeated by Dou Jiande, and entered Jiande's army with his grandmother Empress Xiao. Jiande sent them to the camp of the Türk qaghan Chuluohou. In the early Zhenguan era Li Jing defeated Qaghan Jieli. The barbarian chieftain Kang Sumi returned Empress Xiao and Zhengdao, and Zhengdao was appointed attendant of palace attire. His father Longli served as director in the Bureau of Personnel in Chang'an. After Shenlong he held successive prefectures—Luo, Liang, Hua, Fen, and Huai—and was known for strict, capable inspection that left officials no room for concealment. In the Jingyun era his name violated a character in Xuanzong's personal name and was changed to Chongli. In the early Kaiyuan era he was promoted to vice director of the palace storehouse. Though money and silk filled the rooms, he personally inspected every measure. Contemporary opinion held that no previous or later director of the palace storehouse could compare with him. He was promoted to director of the palace storehouse, given the additional rank of Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of the Palace, and advanced in enfeoffment to Duke of Hongnong Commandery. He held office for twenty years with unwavering integrity. At more than ninety he was appointed minister of revenue and retired. Peace had long endured and the imperial storehouse overflowed. Whatever passed through Director Yang was thought to be refined and excellent, and each year several million strings in cash were squeezed out in savings.
16
慎矜沈毅有材幹，任氣尚朋執。 初，為汝陽令，有能名。 崇禮罷太府，玄宗訪其子堪委其父任者。 宰臣以慎餘、慎矜，慎名三人皆勤恪清白有父風，而慎矜為其最，因拜監察御史，知太府出納。 慎餘先為司農丞，除太子舍人，監京倉。 尋丁父憂。 二十六年服闋，累遷侍御史，仍知太府出納。 慎名授大理評事，攝監察御史，充都含嘉倉出納使，甚承恩顧。 慎矜於諸州納物者有水漬傷破及色下者，皆令本州征折估錢，轉市輕貨，州縣征調，不絕於歲月矣。 在臺數年，又專知雜事，風格甚高。
Shenjin was deep, resolute, and capable, but willful and fond of factional stubbornness. He first served as magistrate of Ruyang and earned a reputation for ability. When Chongli left the palace storehouse, Xuanzong asked which son could be entrusted with his father's duties. The chief ministers said Shenyu, Shenjin, and Shenming were all diligent, upright, and like their father, with Shenjin foremost. He was appointed investigating censor and put in charge of palace storehouse receipts and disbursements. Shenyu had earlier served as assistant director of agriculture. He was appointed crown prince's attendant and supervised the capital granary. He soon entered mourning for his father. In the twenty-sixth year, when mourning ended, he was promoted to attending censor and again put in charge of palace storehouse receipts and disbursements. Shenming was appointed reviewing official of the Court of Judicial Review, additionally acting as investigating censor, and served as commissioner for the capital Hanjia Granary—greatly favored by the emperor. For tribute goods damaged by water, broken, or of inferior quality, Shenjin ordered the originating prefecture to levy compensatory appraisal money and convert it to light goods. Prefectures and counties extracted levies without cease, month after month. After several years at the Censorate he again handled miscellaneous affairs exclusively; his bearing was very lofty.
17
時散騎常侍、陜郡太守韋堅兼御史中丞，為水陸漕運使，權傾宰相。 侍御史王鉷推堅獄，慎矜引身中立以候望，鉷恨之，林甫亦憾焉。 慎矜與鉷父瑨中外兄弟，鉷即表侄，少相狎，鉷入臺，慎矜為臺端，亦有推引。 及鉷遷中丞，雖與鉷同列，每呼為王鉷，鉷恃與林甫善，漸不平之。 五載，慎矜遷戶部侍郎，中丞、使如故。 林甫見慎矜受主恩，心嫉之，又知王鉷於慎矜有間，又誘而啖之，鉷乃伺其隙以陷之。 慎矜奪鉷職田，背詈鉷，詆其母氏，鉷不堪其辱。 慎矜性疏快，素昵於鉷，嘗話讖書於鉷，又與還俗僧史敬忠遊處，敬忠有學業。 鉷於林甫構成其罪，云慎矜是隋家子孫，心規克復隋室，故蓄異書，與兇人來往，而說國家休咎。
At the time Regular Attendant and Prefect of Shaan Commandery Wei Jian concurrently served as vice censor-in-chief and commissioner of water and land canal transport—his authority rivaled the chief minister. Attending censor Wang Hong investigated Jian's case. Shenjin held himself neutral and waited; Hong resented this, and Linfu also bore a grudge. Shenjin and Hong's father Jiao were cousins; Hong was his nephew by the female line. They had been close since youth, and when Hong entered the Censorate Shenjin, as its head, had promoted him. When Hong rose to vice censor-in-chief, Shenjin still addressed him as "Wang Hong" though they sat at the same rank. Hong, relying on his ties to Linfu, grew resentful. In the fifth year Shenjin was transferred to vice minister of revenue while retaining his posts as vice censor-in-chief and commissioner. Linfu envied Shenjin's imperial favor and, knowing Hong's rift with him, tempted Hong further. Hong then watched for a chance to destroy him. Shenjin seized Hong's official field allotment, cursed him behind his back, and slandered his mother's family. Hong could not endure the insult. Shenjin was open and forthright and had long been close to Hong; he once discussed prognostication books with him and also associated with the former monk Shi Jingzhong, a learned man. Hong, with Linfu, fabricated charges that Shenjin, as a Sui descendant, schemed to restore the Sui dynasty, kept forbidden books, consorted with dangerous men, and discussed the state's fortunes.
18
時十一月，玄宗在華清宮，林甫令人發之。 玄宗震怒，繋之於尚書省，詔刑部尚書蕭隱之、大理卿李道邃、少卿楊璹、侍御史楊釗、殿中侍御史盧鉉同鞫之； 又使京兆士曹吉溫往東京收慎矜兄少府少監慎餘、弟洛陽令慎名等雜訊之； 又令溫於汝州捕史敬忠獲之，便赴行在所。 先令盧鉉收太府少卿張瑄於會昌驛，繋而推之，瑄不肯答辯。 鉉百端拷訊不得，乃令不良枷瑄，以手力絆其足，以木按其足間，其枷柄向前，挽其身長校數尺，腰細欲絕，眼鼻皆血出，謂之「驢駒拔撅」，瑄竟不肯答。 又使鉉與御史崔器入城搜慎矜宅，無所得，拷其小妻韓珠團，乃在豎櫃上作一暗函盛讖書等，鉉於袖中出而納之，詬以示慎矜。 慎矜曰：「他日不見，今乃來，是命也。 吾死也。」 及溫以敬忠至戲水驛東十餘里，使證說之：「若至溫湯，即求首陳不可得矣。」 去溫湯十餘里，敬忠乞紙筆於桑樹下具吐之。 比見慎矜，敬忠證之，慎矜皆引實。 二十五日，詔楊慎矜、慎餘、慎名並賜自盡； 史敬忠決重杖一百； 鮮于賁、范滔並決重杖，配流遠郡； 慎矜外甥前通事舍人辛景湊決杖配流。 義陽郡司馬、嗣虢王巨與敬忠相識，解官於南賓郡安置； 太府少卿張瑄決六十，長流嶺南臨封郡，亦死於流所。 慎矜兄弟並史敬忠莊宅官收，以男女配流嶺南諸郡； 其張瑄、万俟承暉、鮮于賁等準此配流。 乃使臨察御史顏真卿送敕至東京，殿中侍御史崔寓引慎名，令河南法曹張萬頃宣敕示之。 慎名見慎矜賜自盡，初尚撫膺，及聞慎餘及身皆爾，遂止。 及宣敕了，慎名曰：「今奉聖恩，不敢稽留晷刻，但以寡姊老年，請作數行書以別之。」 寓揖真卿，真卿許之。 慎名神色不變，入房中作書曰：「拙於謀運，不能靜退。 兄弟並命，唯姊尚存，老年孤煢，何以堪此！」 書後又數條事。 又宅中作一板池，池中魚一皆放之，遂縊而死。 監察御史平冽賫敕至大理寺，慎餘聞死，合掌指天而縊。
It was the eleventh month. Xuanzong was at Huaqing Palace, and Linfu had the matter exposed. Xuanzong was enraged, imprisoned Shenjin in the Ministry of Revenue, and ordered Minister of Justice Xiao Yinshi, Chief Justice Li Daosui, Assistant Chief Justice Yang Fan, Attending Censor Yang Zhao, and Palace Attendant Lu Xuan to interrogate him jointly. He also sent Jingzhao assistant magistrate Ji Wen to the Eastern Capital to seize Shenjin's elder brother Shenyu, vice director of the palace storehouse, his younger brother Shenming, magistrate of Luoyang, and others for joint interrogation. Ji Wen was also ordered to capture Shi Jingzhong at Ruzhou and send him directly to the traveling palace once taken. Lu Xuan was first ordered to seize Vice Director of the Palace Storehouse Zhang Xuan at Huichang Post Station and press him under imprisonment. Xuan refused to answer. Lu Xuan tortured him by every means without success, then had ruffians cangue Xuan, bind his feet, and press wood between them while pulling his body forward several feet until his waist nearly snapped, blood streaming from eyes and nose—a method called 'donkey-foal uprooting.' Xuan still refused to answer. Lu Xuan and Censor Cui Qi searched Shenjin's residence and found nothing. They tortured his junior wife Han Zhutuan and discovered a hidden compartment in a vertical cabinet holding prognostication books. Lu Xuan produced them from his sleeve, placed them inside, and flung them before Shenjin. Shenjin said, "Before it was not seen; now it appears—it is fate. I shall die." When Ji Wen brought Jingzhong to a place more than ten li east of Xishui Post Station, he told him, 'If you reach the hot springs, it will be too late to confess first.'" More than ten li from the hot springs, Jingzhong begged for paper and brush under a mulberry tree and confessed fully. When Jingzhong confronted Shenjin, he testified against him, and Shenjin acknowledged everything. On the twenty-fifth day an edict ordered Yang Shenjin, Shenyu, and Shenming all granted permission to kill themselves. Shi Jingzhong was sentenced to one hundred heavy blows. Xianyu Fen and Fan Tao were both sentenced to heavy blows and exiled to distant commanderies. Shenjin's nephew, former attendant of affairs master Xin Jingcou, was sentenced to blows and exile. Ju, heir of Prince of Guo and acting military administrator of Yiyang Commandery, who knew Jingzhong, was dismissed and settled in Nanbin Commandery. Vice director of the palace storehouse Zhang Xuan was sentenced to sixty blows and long exile in Linchuan Commandery in Lingnan; he too died in exile. The Shenjin brothers' and Shi Jingzhong's estates were confiscated; their men and women were exiled to various commanderies in Lingnan. Zhang Xuan, Wanqi Chenghui, Xianyu Fen, and others were exiled on the same terms. Investigating censor Yan Zhenqing was sent to deliver the edict to the Eastern Capital. Palace attendant Cui Yu brought out Shenming and had Henan legal officer Zhang Wanqing proclaim the edict. When Shenming learned that Shenjin was granted self-extermination, he at first beat his breast. When he heard that Shenyu and he himself were treated the same way, he stopped. When the edict had been read, Shenming said, "Receiving the sage's grace, I dare not delay even a moment; but my widowed elder sister is old, and I ask to write a few lines in parting." Cui Yu bowed to Yan Zhenqing, and Zhenqing permitted it. Shenming's expression did not change. Entering the room he wrote, "Clumsy in plotting my course, unable to retire quietly. My brothers and I all meet death; only my elder sister remains. Old, alone, and bereft—how can she bear this!" After the letter he added several more matters. He then made a plank pool in the residence, released every fish in it, and hanged himself. Investigating censor Ping Lie arrived at the Court of Judicial Review with the edict. When Shenyu heard he was condemned to death, he joined his palms, pointed to heaven, and hanged himself.
19
初，慎矜至溫湯，正食，忽見一鬼物長丈餘，硃衣冠幘，立於門扇後，慎矜叱之，良久不滅，以熱羹投之乃滅。 無何，下獄死。 兄弟甚友愛，事寡姊如母，皆偉儀形，風韻高朗，愛客喜飲，籍甚於時。 慎名嘗覽鏡，見其鬚面神彩，有過於人，覆鏡嘆惋曰：「吾兄弟三人，盡長六尺餘，有如此貌、如此材而見容當代以期全，難矣！ 何不使我少體弱耶？」 竟如其言。
When Shenjin first reached the hot springs, while eating he suddenly saw a ghostly figure more than ten feet tall in vermilion hat and headcloth standing behind the door. Shenjin shouted at it; it did not vanish for a long time until he threw hot broth at it. Before long he was imprisoned and died. The brothers were deeply affectionate and treated their widowed elder sister as a mother. All were tall and imposing, with lofty bearing; they loved guests and wine and were greatly renowned in their day. Shenming once looked in a mirror, saw that the spirit in his beard and face surpassed other men, covered the mirror, and sighed, "We three brothers are all more than six feet tall, with such looks and such talent—yet to be tolerated in this age and hope to survive is hard! Why did Heaven not make my body somewhat weaker?" In the end it happened as he said.
20
王鉷，太原祁人也。 祖方翼，夏州都督，為時名將，生、瑨、珣、 瑨，開元初並歷中書舍人。 珣，兵部侍郎、秘書監。 鉷，即瑨之孽子， 為鄠縣尉、京兆尹稻田判官。 二十四年，再遷監察御史。 二十九年，累除戶部員外郎，常兼御史， 充京和市和糴使，遷戶部郎中。 三載，長安令柳升以賄敗。 初，韓朝宗為京兆尹，引升為京令。 朝宗又於終南山下為茍家觜買山居，欲以避世亂。 玄宗怒，敕鉷推之，朝宗自高平太守貶為吳興別駕。 又加鉷長春宮使。 四載，加勾戶口色役使，又遷御史中丞，兼充京畿采訪使。 五載，又為京畿、關內道黜陟使，又兼充關內采訪使。
Wang Hong came from Qi in Taiyuan. His grandfather Fangyi, protector-general of Xiazhou, was a famous general of the age. He had sons Sheng, Jiao, and Xun. Jiao, in the early Kaiyuan era, successively served as drafting secretary. Xun served as vice minister of war and director of the Secretariat. Hong was Jiao's son by a concubine. He served as magistrate of Huo County and assistant official for paddy fields under the prefect of Jingzhao. In the twenty-fourth year he was again promoted to investigating censor. In the twenty-ninth year he rose to vice director of the Ministry of Revenue while regularly serving also as censor. He served as commissioner for capital market purchase and equitable grain purchase, then was transferred to director of the Ministry of Revenue. In the third year Liu Sheng, magistrate of Chang'an, was ruined by bribery. Han Chaozong had served as prefect of Jingzhao and introduced Sheng as magistrate of the capital. Chaozong also bought a mountain residence at Goujiazui below Mount Zhongnan, intending to escape future turmoil. Xuanzong was angry and ordered Hong to investigate. Chaozong was demoted from prefect of Gaoping to supernumerary vice prefect of Wuxing. Hong was additionally made commissioner of Changchun Palace. In the fourth year he was additionally made commissioner for registering households and corvée labor, promoted again to vice censor-in-chief, and concurrently made investigation commissioner of the capital region. In the fifth year he also served as promotion-and-demotion commissioner of the capital region and Guannei Circuit and concurrently as investigation commissioner of Guannei.
21
時右相李林甫怙權用事。 誌謀不利於東儲，以除不附己者，而鉷有吏幹，倚之轉深，以為己用。 既為戶口色役使，時有敕給百姓一年復。 鉷即奏征其腳錢，廣張其數，又市輕貨，乃甚於不放。 輸納物者有浸漬，折估皆下本郡徵納。 又敕本郡高戶為租庸腳士，皆破其家產，彌年不了。 恣行割剝，以媚於時，人用嗟怨。 古制，天子六宮，皆有品秩高下，其俸物因有等差。 唐法沿於周、隋，妃嬪宮官，位有尊卑，亦隨其品而給授，以供衣服鉛粉之費，以奉於宸極。 玄宗在位多載，妃御承恩多賞賜，不欲頻於左右藏取之。 鉷探旨意，歲進錢寶百億萬，便貯於內庫，以恣主恩錫賫。 鉷云：「此是常年額外物，非徵稅物。」 玄宗以為鉷有富國之術，利於王用，益厚待之。 丁嫡母憂，起復舊職，使如故。
At the time Right Chief Minister Li Linfu wielded power and controlled affairs. He plotted against the crown prince and removed those not loyal to him. Because Hong had administrative talent, Linfu relied on him ever more deeply and used him as his instrument. Once Hong was commissioner for household registration and corvée labor, an edict granted the people one year's exemption from corvée. Hong memorialized to levy transport fees instead, inflated the numbers, and converted the proceeds to light goods—the burden was worse than if no exemption had been granted. For tribute goods damaged by soaking, compensatory appraisal was charged back to the originating commandery. An edict also ordered wealthy households of each commandery to serve as transport corvée laborers for rent and corvée duties. Families were ruined and the burden dragged on for years. He wantonly squeezed the people to please the court, and popular resentment grew. By ancient regulation the Son of Heaven's six palaces all had ranks, and stipends varied accordingly. Tang law followed Zhou and Sui. Consorts and palace officials held ranks of high and low and received grants accordingly to cover clothing and toiletries for service at court. Xuanzong had reigned many years. Favored consorts received many rewards, and he did not wish to draw constantly from the palace storehouses. Hong divined his intent and each year presented billions in money and treasures for storage in the inner treasury, thereby supplying the emperor's lavish grants. Hong said, "These are annual surpluses beyond the regular quota, not levied tax goods." Xuanzong thought Hong had methods to enrich the state and treated him ever more generously. When he entered mourning for his principal mother he was recalled from mourning to his old posts, his commissioner duties unchanged.
22
七載，又加檢察內作事，遷戶部侍郎，仍兼御史中丞，賜紫金魚袋。 八載，兼充閑廄使及苑內營田五坊宮苑等使、隴右群牧都支度營田使，餘並如故。 太白山人李渾言於金星洞見老人，云有玉版石記符，聖上長生久視。 玄宗令鉷入山洞求而得之。 因上尊號，加鉷銀青光祿大夫、都知總監及栽接等使。 九載五月，兼京兆尹，使並如故。
In the seventh year he was additionally made inspector of inner construction affairs, promoted to vice minister of revenue while retaining the vice censor-in-chief post, and granted the purple-gold fish bag. In the eighth year he concurrently held the posts of commissioner of the free stable, commissioner of palace farms, five wards, and palace parks, and chief commissioner of pasturage, expenditure, and farm settlement in Longyou—all other posts unchanged. Li Hun, a recluse of Mount Taibai, said he had seen an old man in Jinxing Cave who spoke of a jade-plaque stone inscription talisman promising the sage ruler long life. Xuanzong ordered Hong to enter the cave to seek it, and he obtained it. Thereupon a exalted title was submitted, and Hong was additionally given the rank of Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of the Palace and the post of commissioner general of supervision and grafting. In the fifth month of the ninth year he concurrently served as prefect of Jingzhao while retaining his commissioner posts.
23
鉷威權轉盛，兼二十餘使，近宅為使院，文案堆積，胥吏求押一字，即累日不遂。 中使賜遺，不絕於門，雖晉公林甫亦畏避之。 林甫子岫為將作監，供奉禁中； 鉷子準衛尉少卿，亦鬥雞供奉，每謔岫，岫常下之。 萬年尉韋黃裳、長安尉賈季鄰常於廳事貯錢數百繩，名倡珍饌，常有備擬，以候準所適。 又於宅側自有追歡之所。 鉷與弟戶部郎中銲，召術士任海川遊其門，問其相命，言有王否。 海川震懼，潛匿不出。 鉷懼泄其事，令逐之，至馮翊郡，得，誣以他事杖殺之。 定安公主男韋會任王府司馬，聞之，話於私庭，乃被侍兒說於傭保者。 或有憾於會，告於鉷，鉷遣賈季鄰收於長安獄，入夜縊之，明辰載屍還其家。 會皇堂外甥，同產兄王繇尚永穆公主，而惕息不敢言。
Hong's power grew ever greater. He held more than twenty commissioner posts at once. He set up a commissioner office near his residence; documents piled up, and clerks seeking a single seal might wait days without success. Palace envoys bearing gifts never ceased at his gate. Even Li Linfu, Duke of Jin, feared and avoided him. Linfu's son Xiu was director of palace construction and attended within the forbidden precinct. Hong's son Zhun was vice director of the Court of Imperial Stud and also attended with cockfighting. He always mocked Xiu, who usually came off worse. Wei Huangshang, magistrate of Wannian, and Jia Jilin, magistrate of Chang'an, often kept hundreds of strings of cash in their offices along with famous singers and fine food, always ready wherever Zhun might go. Beside his residence he also kept his own house of pleasure. Hong and his younger brother Han, director of the Ministry of Revenue, summoned the adept Ren Haichuan and asked about his physiognomy and fate, inquiring whether kingship was indicated. Haichuan was terrified and hid himself, refusing to come out. Fearing the matter would leak, Hong ordered him pursued. He was captured in Fupi Commandery, falsely charged with another offense, and beaten to death. Wei Hui, son of Princess of Ding'an and military affairs official of a princely establishment, heard of it and spoke of it privately. A maid told the hired guards. Someone who bore a grudge against Hui reported to Hong. Hong sent Jia Jilin to seize him in Chang'an prison, strangled him at night, and the next morning returned his corpse to his home. Hui was a maternal nephew of the imperial clan; his full brother Wang Yao had married Princess of Yongmu. Yet he trembled and dared not speak.
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十載，封太原縣公，又兼殿中監。 十一載四月，銲與故鴻臚少卿邢璹子縡情密累年，縡潛構逆謀，引右龍武軍萬騎刻取十一月殺龍武將軍，因燒諸城門及市，分數百人殺楊國忠及右相李林甫、左相陳希烈等。 先期二日事發，玄宗臨朝，召鉷，上於玉案前過狀與鉷。 鉷好弈棋，縡善棋，鉷因銲與之交故，至是意銲在縡處金城坊，密召之，日晏，始令捕賊官捕之。 萬年尉薛榮光、長安尉賈季鄰等捕之，逢銲於化度寺門。 季鄰為鉷所引用，為赤尉，銲謂之曰：「我與邢縡故舊，縡今反，恐事急妄相引，請足下勿受其言。」 榮先等至縡門，縡等十餘人持弓刃突出，榮先等遂與格戰。 季鄰以銲語白鉷，鉷肐謂之曰：「我弟何得與之有謀乎！」 鉷與國忠共討逐縡，縡下人曰：「勿損太夫人。」 國忠為劍南節度使，有隨身官以白國忠曰：「賊有號，不可戰。」 須臾，驃騎大將軍、內侍高力士領飛龍小兒甲騎四百人討之，縡為亂兵所斬，擒其黨善射人韋瑤等以獻。 國忠以白玄宗，玄宗以鉷委任深，必不與之知情，鉷與銲別生，嫉其富貴，故欲陷鉷耳，遂特原銲不問，然意欲鉷請罪之。 上密令國忠諷之，國忠不敢泄上意，諷鉷曰：「且主上眷大夫深，今日大夫須割慈存門戶，但抗疏請罪郎中。 郎中亦未必至極刑，大夫必存，何如並命！」 鉷俯首久曰：「小弟先人餘愛，平昔頻有處分，義不欲捨之而謀存。」 乃進狀。 十二日，鉷入朝，左相陳希烈言語侵之，鉷恨之，憤訴言氣頗高。 鉷朝回，於中書侍郎廳修表，令人進狀，門司已不納矣。 須臾，敕希烈推之。 鉷以表示宰相，林甫曰：「大夫後之矣。」 遂不許。 俄銲至，國忠問：「大夫知否？」 銲未及應。 侍御史裴冕恐銲引之，冕叱詈之曰：「足下為臣不忠，為弟不義。 聖上以大夫之故，以足下為戶部郎中，又加五品，恩亦厚矣。 大夫豈知縡事乎？」 國忠愕然，謂銲曰：「實知，即不可隱； 不知，亦不可妄引。」 銲方曰：「七兄不知。」 季鄰證其罪。 及日暮，奏之。 銲決杖死於朝堂，賜鉷自盡於三衛廚。 明日，移於資聖寺廊下，裴冕言於國忠，令歸宅權斂之，又請令妻、女送墓所，國忠義而許之，令鉷判官齊奇營護之。 男準除名，長流嶺南承化郡，備長流珠崖郡，至故驛殺之； 妻薛氏及在室女並流。 初，鉷與御史中丞、戶部侍郎楊慎矜親，且情厚，頗為汲引，及貴盛爭權，鉷附於李林甫，為所誘，陷慎矜家。 經五年而鉷至赤族，豈天道歟！
In the tenth year he was enfeoffed as Duke of Taiyuan County and again concurrently served as director of the palace department. In the fourth month of the eleventh year Han and Zao, son of former vice minister of ceremonial Xing Suo, had been intimate for years. Zao secretly formed a treasonous plot, drawing the Ten Thousand Riders of the Right Dragon Martial Guard to set a date in the eleventh month to kill the Dragon Martial general, burn the city gates and markets, and send several hundred men to kill Yang Guozhong, Right Chief Minister Li Linfu, Left Chief Minister Chen Xilie, and others. Two days before the appointed time the plot was exposed. Xuanzong held court, summoned Hong, and passed the report across the jade desk to him. Hong loved chess; Zao was skilled at it. Because of Han's friendship with Zao, Hong thought Han was at Zao's place in Jincheng Ward and secretly summoned him. Not until late in the day did he order officials to arrest him. Xue Rongguang, magistrate of Wannian, Jia Jilin, magistrate of Chang'an, and others pursued him and met Han at the gate of Huadu Temple. Jilin, whom Hong had promoted, was a red-uniformed magistrate. Han told him, 'Zao and I are old friends. He is now in rebellion, and I fear that in urgency he may falsely implicate me. Please do not accept his words.'" Rongguang and the others reached Zao's gate. Zao and more than ten men with bows and blades burst out, and they fought. Jilin reported Han's words to Hong. Hong glared and said, 'How could my younger brother have plotted with them!'" Hong and Guozhong jointly pursued Zao. Zao's followers cried, 'Do not harm the Grand Lady.' Guozhong was military governor of Jiannan. An attendant reported to him, 'The rebels have a battle cry—do not fight.'" Before long, Flying Dragon General and palace attendant Gao Lishi led four hundred armored Flying Dragon youths against them. Zao was cut down by the disorderly soldiers, and his follower the skilled archer Wei Yao and others were captured and presented. Guozhong reported to Xuanzong. Xuanzong thought Hong was too deeply trusted to have known of the plot—Hong and Han were half-brothers, and Han envied his wealth and wished to trap him—so he specially pardoned Han without inquiry, yet expected Hong to plead guilty. The emperor secretly ordered Guozhong to hint to Hong. Guozhong dared not reveal the emperor's intent and told Hong, 'The ruler favors you deeply. Today you must sever affection to preserve your house—submit a memorial pleading guilty for the director. The director may not necessarily face the extreme penalty; you will certainly be preserved—how is that compared with dying together!" Hong bowed his head a long time and said, "My younger brother is my late father's remaining affection. I have often indulged him—I cannot abandon him to save myself." Thereupon he submitted a memorial. On the twelfth day Hong entered court. Left Chief Minister Chen Xilie insulted him; Hong resentfully complained in an angry, high tone. Returning from court, Hong revised his memorial in the vice director of the Secretariat's hall and had someone submit it, but the gate office would no longer accept it. Before long an edict ordered Xilie to investigate. Hong showed the memorial to the chief minister. Linfu said, 'Grandee, you are too late.'" He would not permit it. Soon Han arrived. Guozhong asked, 'Do you know, Grandee?'" Han had not yet answered. Attending censor Pei Mian, fearing Han would implicate Hong, shouted at him, 'You are disloyal as a minister and unrighteous as a younger brother. Because of the Grandee the sage ruler made you director of the Ministry of Revenue and raised you five ranks—the grace was great. Did the Grandee know of Zao's affair?" Guozhong was startled and said to Han, 'If you truly know, you cannot conceal it. If you do not know, you must not falsely implicate him.'" Han then said, 'Seventh Brother did not know.'" Jilin testified to his guilt. When evening came, the report was submitted. Han was beaten to death in the court hall; Hong was granted self-extermination in the Three Guards kitchen. The next day Hong's body was moved beneath the corridor of Zisheng Temple. Pei Mian asked Guozhong to allow temporary encoffining at home and that wife and daughters be sent to the tomb. Guozhong, deeming it righteous, permitted it and ordered Hong's assistant official Qi Qi to arrange matters. Hong's son Zhun was removed from the register and long exiled to Chenghua Commandery in Lingnan; Bei was long exiled to Zhuya Commandery. At the old post station they were killed. His wife, of the Xue clan, and unmarried daughters were all exiled. At first Hong was close to Vice Censor-in-Chief and Vice Minister of Revenue Yang Shenjin and had greatly promoted him. When both rose and contended for power, Hong attached himself to Li Linfu, was tempted by him, and destroyed the Shenjin family. Five years later Hong's clan was extinguished—is this not Heaven's way!
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【贊】=史臣曰：夫奸佞之輩，惟事悅人； 聚斂之臣，無非害物。 賈禍招怨，敗國喪身，罕不由斯道也。 君人者，中智已降，亦心緣利動，言為甘聞，誌雖慕於聖明，情不勝於嗜欲，徒有賢佐，無如之何，所以禮經戒其勿畜。 宇文融、韋堅、楊慎矜、王鉷，皆開元之幸人也，或以括戶取媚，或以漕運承恩，或以聚貨得權，或以剝下獲寵，負勢自用，人莫敢違。 張說、李林甫手握大權，承主恩顧，尚遭淩擯，以身下之，他人即可知也。 然天道惡盈，器滿則覆，終雖不令，其弊已多，良可痛也。 宋璟、裴耀卿、許景先獲居重任，因融薦之，此亦有鳳之一毛也。 玄宗以聖哲之姿，處高明之位，未免此累，或承之羞，後之帝王，得不深鑒！
[Commentary] The historian says: Treacherous flatterers serve only to please others; ministers who amass wealth invariably harm the people. Inviting calamity and drawing resentment, ruining the state and losing one's life—few escape this path. Rulers of middling intelligence and below are moved by profit and love sweet words. Though they admire the sages, appetite overcomes intent; even worthy assistants cannot restrain them. The Book of Rites therefore warns against keeping such men. Yu Wenrong, Wei Jian, Yang Shenjin, and Wang Hong were all favorites of the Kaiyuan era—some by registering households, some by canal transport, some by amassing wealth, some by stripping those below. Empowered, they did as they pleased, and none dared resist. Zhang Yue and Li Linfu held great power and imperial favor, yet still suffered bullying and had to yield. Others may be judged by the same measure. Yet Heaven hates excess; when the vessel is full it overturns. Though their ends were unhappy, the harm was already great— truly lamentable. Song Jing, Pei Yaoqing, and Xu Jingxian obtained heavy responsibilities through Rong's recommendation—this too counts as one feather of the phoenix. Xuanzong, with sage wisdom and in the highest seat, still could not escape this burden—a warning to those who follow. Later emperors should take deep heed!
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贊曰：財能域人，聚則民散。 如何帝王，誌求餘羨。 融、堅、矜、鉷，因利乘便。 以僥寵榮，宜招後患。
The commentary says: Wealth can confine men; when gathered, the people scatter. Why do emperors in will seek surplus profit? Rong, Jian, Shenjin, and Hong rode profit and seized opportunity. By chance winning favor and glory, they were bound to invite later calamity.