1
李光弼，營州柳城人。 其先，契丹之酋長。 父楷洛，開元初，左羽林將軍同正、朔方節度副使，封薊國公，以驍果聞。 光弼幼持節行，善騎射，能讀班氏《漢書》。 少從戎，嚴毅有大略，起家左衛郎。 丁父憂，終喪不入妻室。
Li Guangbi was from Liucheng in Ying Prefecture. His forebears had been chieftains of the Khitan. His father Kailuo, in the early Kaiyuan era, served as Left General of the Feathered Forest Guards with concurrent appointment and as deputy military commissioner of Shuofang; he was enfeoffed Duke of Ji and was famed for his martial valor. In youth Li Guangbi was upright in conduct, excelled at mounted archery, and could read Ban Gu's Book of Han. He took up arms while still young—stern, resolute, and far-sighted—and began his career as a gentleman of the Left Guard. When his father died he observed the full mourning period and did not enter his wife's chamber until it was complete.
2
天寶初，累遷左清道率兼安北都護府、朔方都虞候。 五載，河西節度王忠嗣補為兵馬使，充赤水軍使。 忠嗣遇之甚厚，常云：「光弼必居我位。」 邊上稱為名將。 八載，充節度副使，封薊郡公。 十一載，拜單於副使都護。 十三載，朔方節度安思順奏為副使、知留後事。 思順愛其材，欲妻之，光弼稱疾辭官。 隴右節度哥舒翰聞而奏之，得還京師。 祿山之亂，封常清、高仙芝戰敗，斬於潼關。 又以哥舒翰率師拒賊。 尋命郭子儀為朔方節度，收兵河西。 玄宗眷求良將，委以河北、河東之事，以問子儀，子儀薦光弼堪當閫寄。 十五載正月，以光弼為雲中太守，攝御史大夫，充河東節度副使、知節度事。 二月，轉魏郡太守、河北道采訪使，以朔方兵五千會郭子儀軍，東下井陘，收常山郡。 賊將史思明以卒數萬來援常山，追擊破之，進收槁城等十餘縣，南攻趙郡。 三月八日，光弼兼范陽長史、河北節度使，拔趙郡。 自祿山反，常山為戰場，死人蔽野，光弼酹其屍而哭之，為賊幽閉者出之，誓平寇難，以慰其心。 六月，與賊將蔡希德、史思明、尹子奇戰於常山郡之嘉山，大破賊黨，斬首萬計，生擒四千。 思明露發跣足，奔於博陵。 河北歸順者十餘郡。
In the early Tianbao era he rose through repeated promotions to Left Commandant of the Clear Way, concurrently holding appointments in the Protectorate General of Anbei and as chief inspector of Shuofang. In Tianbao 5, Wang Zhongsi, military commissioner of Hexi, appointed him army and horse commissioner and assigned him to command the Chishui Army. Zhongsi treated him with exceptional generosity and often declared: "Guangbi will surely take my place." He was acclaimed on the frontier as a renowned commander. In Tianbao 8 he served as deputy military commissioner and was enfeoffed Duke of Ji Commandery. In Tianbao 11 he was appointed deputy commissioner and protector-general of Chanyu. In Tianbao 13 An Sishun, military commissioner of Shuofang, memorialized the throne to appoint him deputy commissioner with control of circuit affairs as acting regent. Sishun admired his ability and wished to give him his daughter in marriage; Guangbi pleaded illness and resigned his office. Geshu Han, military commissioner of Longyou, heard of this and memorialized the throne, and Guangbi was permitted to return to the capital. During the An Lushan rebellion, Feng Changqing and Gao Xianzhi were defeated in battle and executed at Tong Pass. Geshu Han was then ordered to lead an army to resist the rebels. Soon afterward Guo Ziyi was appointed military commissioner of Shuofang and gathered troops in Hexi. Emperor Xuanzong eagerly sought able generals and entrusted the affairs of Hebei and Hedong to him; he asked Ziyi, and Ziyi recommended Guangbi as fit to bear military command. In the first month of the fifteenth year Guangbi was appointed prefect of Yunzhong, acting censor-in-chief, and deputy military commissioner of Hedong with control of circuit affairs. In the second month he was transferred to prefect of Wei Commandery and Hebei circuit inspector; with five thousand Shuofang troops he joined Guo Ziyi's army, marched east through Jingxing Pass, and recovered Changshan Commandery. The rebel general Shi Siming came with tens of thousands of troops to relieve Changshan; Guangbi pursued and defeated him, then advanced to recover more than ten counties including Gaocheng and attacked Zhaojun to the south. On the eighth day of the third month Guangbi was additionally appointed chief administrator of Fanyang and military commissioner of Hebei and captured Zhaojun. Since An Lushan's rebellion Changshan had been a battlefield and the dead covered the fields; Guangbi poured libations before the corpses and wept, released those imprisoned by the rebels, and swore to suppress the rebels and console the people's hearts. In the sixth month he fought rebel generals Cai Xide, Shi Siming, and Yin Ziqi at Jiashan in Changshan Commandery, routed the rebels, beheaded tens of thousands, and captured four thousand alive. Siming fled to Boling with hair loose and barefoot. More than ten commanderies in Hebei submitted to the court.
3
光弼以范陽祿山之巢穴，將先斷之，使將絕根本。 會哥舒翰潼關失守，玄宗幸蜀，人心驚駭。 肅宗理兵於靈武，遣中使劉智達追光弼、子儀赴行在，授光弼戶部尚書，兼太原尹、北京留守、同中書門下平章事，以景城、河間之卒五千赴太原。 時節度王承業軍政不修，詔御史崔眾交兵於河東。 眾侮易承業，或裹甲持槍，突入承業廳事玩謔之。 光弼聞之素不平。 至是，交眾兵於光弼。 眾以麾下來，光弼出迎，旌旗相接而不避。 光弼怒其無禮，又不即次兵，令收系之。 頃中使至，除眾御史中丞，懷其敕問眾所在。 光弼曰：「眾有罪，系之矣！」 中使以敕示光弼，光弼曰：「今只斬侍御史； 若宣制命，即斬中丞； 若拜宰相，亦斬宰相。」 中使懼，遂寢之而還。 翌日，以兵仗圍眾，至碑堂下斬之，威震三軍。 命其親屬吊之。
Guangbi regarded Fanyang as An Lushan's base and intended to cut it off first, thereby severing the rebels at the root. Just then Geshu Han lost Tong Pass, Emperor Xuanzong fled to Shu, and the people were stricken with terror. Emperor Suzong organized troops at Lingwu, sent the inner envoy Liu Zhida to summon Guangbi and Ziyi to the imperial camp, appointed Guangbi Minister of Revenue with concurrent posts as Mayor of Taiyuan, defender of the Northern Capital, and Grand Councilor, and sent five thousand troops from Jingcheng and Hejian to Taiyuan. At that time Military Commissioner Wang Chengye did not maintain military discipline, and an edict ordered Censor Cui Zhong to transfer troops in Hedong. Zhong treated Chengye with contempt; some men in armor bearing spears burst into Chengye's main hall to mock him. Guangbi had long been displeased when he heard of this. At this point Zhong's troops were transferred to Guangbi. Zhong came with his subordinates; Guangbi went out to receive him, their banners meeting head-on without yielding. Guangbi, angered at his discourtesy and that he did not immediately halt his troops, ordered him seized and bound. Shortly an inner envoy arrived with an appointment making Zhong Vice Censor-in-Chief; bearing the edict he asked where Zhong was. Guangbi said: "Zhong is guilty—I have bound him!" The envoy showed the edict to Guangbi; Guangbi said: "For now I would behead only the Attending Censor; if you proclaim the formal appointment, I will behead the Vice Censor-in-Chief; if he is appointed Grand Councilor, I will behead the Grand Councilor as well." The envoy was afraid, let the matter drop, and returned. The next day he surrounded Zhong with armed troops and beheaded him below the stele hall, and awe shook the entire army. He ordered Zhong's relatives to mourn him.
4
二年，賊將史思明、蔡希德、高秀巖、牛廷玠等四偽帥率眾十餘萬來攻太原。 光弼經河北苦戰，精兵盡赴朔方，麾下皆烏合之眾，不滿萬人。 思明謂諸將曰：「光弼之兵寡弱，可屈指而取太原，鼓行而西，圖河隴、朔方，無後顧矣！」 光弼所部將士聞之皆懼，議欲修城以待之，光弼曰：「城周四十里，賊垂至，今興功役，是未見敵而自疲矣。」 乃躬率士卒百姓外城掘壕以自固。 作塹數十萬，眾莫知所用。 及賊攻城於外，光弼即令增壘於內，環輒補之。 賊城外詬詈戲侮者，光弼令穿地道，一夕而擒之，自此賊將行皆視地，不敢逼城。 強弩發石以擊之，賊驍將勁卒死者十二三。 城中長幼鹹伏其勤智，懦兵增氣而皆欲出戰。 史思明揣知之，先歸，留蔡希德等攻之。 月餘，我怒而寇怠，光弼率敢死之士出擊，大破之，斬首七萬餘級，軍資器械一皆委棄。 賊始至及遁，五十餘日，光弼設小幕，宿於城東南隅，有急即應，行過府門，未嘗回顧。 賊退三日，決軍事畢，始歸府第。 轉檢校司徒，收清夷、橫野等軍，擒賊將李弘義以歸。 詔曰：「銀青光祿大夫、檢校司徒、兼戶部尚書、同中書門下平章事、兼御史大夫、鴻臚卿、太原尹、北京留守、河東節度副大使、薊國公光弼，全德挺生，英才間出，幹城禦侮，坐甲安邊。 可守司空、兼兵部尚書、中書門下平章事，進封魏國公，食實封八百戶。」
In the second year the rebel generals Shi Siming, Cai Xide, Gao Xiuyan, and Niu Tingjie—four pretender commanders—led more than a hundred thousand men to attack Taiyuan. Guangbi had fought hard through Hebei; his elite troops had all gone to Shuofang, and those under his command were a hastily gathered force of fewer than ten thousand. Siming said to his generals: "Guangbi's troops are few and weak; Taiyuan can be taken at a finger's count; march west with drums beating, aim at Hexi, Longyou, and Shuofang, and we need look to nothing behind us!" Guangbi's officers and men heard this and were all afraid; they discussed repairing the walls to await the enemy. Guangbi said: "The wall circuit is forty li; the enemy is nearly upon us—if we now begin public works, we will weary ourselves before we have seen the foe." He then personally led soldiers and commoners to dig trenches outside the outer wall to strengthen their defenses. Trenches numbering in the hundreds of thousands were dug; the troops did not know their purpose. When the rebels attacked from outside the city, Guangbi immediately ordered ramparts added inside and repaired them in succession around the circuit. Rebels outside the walls who cursed and mocked in sport—Guangbi ordered tunnels dug, and in one night they were captured; thereafter rebel generals watched the ground as they walked and did not dare press close to the walls. With powerful crossbows and catapult stones they struck the enemy; two or three tenths of the rebels' fierce generals and crack troops were killed. Old and young in the city all admired his diligence and wisdom; timid soldiers gained spirit and all wished to sally forth to fight. Shi Siming perceived this and withdrew first, leaving Cai Xide and others to continue the attack. After more than a month our side was fierce while the invaders slackened; Guangbi led dare-to-die troops in a sally and routed them, beheading more than seventy thousand; military supplies, weapons, and equipment were all abandoned. From the rebels' arrival until their flight, more than fifty days—Guangbi set up a small tent and lodged in the southeast corner of the city; when there was urgency he responded at once, and passing the prefectural gate he never once looked back. Three days after the rebels withdrew, once military affairs were settled, he at last returned to his official residence. He was transferred to Acting Minister of Works, gathered the Qingyi and Hengye armies and others, captured the rebel general Li Hongyi, and brought him back. An edict said: "The Silver and Blue Light Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, Acting Minister of Works, concurrently Minister of Revenue, Grand Councilor, concurrently Censor-in-Chief, Minister of Ceremonies, Mayor of Taiyuan, Defender of the Northern Capital, deputy grand military commissioner of Hedong, Duke of Ji—Guangbi—complete in virtue and emergent in his age, a rare talent appearing between generations, a bulwark against insult, maintaining armor to pacify the frontier. He may serve as Minister of Works, concurrently Minister of War, and Grand Councilor; advance in enfeoffment to Duke of Wei; with eight hundred households of substantive fief."
5
初，光弼次汴州，聞思明悉眾且至，謂許叔冀曰：「大夫能守此城浹旬，我必將兵來救。」 叔冀曰：「諾。」 光弼還東京，思明至汴，叔冀與戰不利，遂與董秦、梁浦、劉從諫率眾降思明。 賊勢甚熾，遣梁浦、劉從諫、田神功等將兵徇江淮，謂之曰：「收得其地，每人貢兩船玉帛。」 思明乘勝而西。 光弼整眾徐行，至洛，謂留守韋陟曰：「賊乘鄴下之勝，再犯王畿，按甲以挫其鋒，不利速戰。 洛城非禦備之所，公計若何？」 陟曰：「加兵陜州，退守潼關，據險以待之，足挫其銳矣！」 光弼曰：「此蓋兵家常勢，非用奇之策也。 夫兩軍相寇，貴進尺寸之間耳。 今委五百里而不顧，是張賊勢也。 若移軍河陽，北阻澤潞、三城以抗，勝則擒之，敗則自守，表裏相應，使賊不敢西侵，此則猿臂之勢也。 夫辨朝廷之禮，光弼不如公； 論軍旅之事，公不如光弼。」 陟無以應。 判官韋損曰：「東京帝宅，侍中何不守之？」 光弼曰：「若守洛城，汜水、崿嶺皆須人守，子為兵馬判官，能守之乎？」 遂移牒留守及河南尹並留司官、坊市居人，出城避寇，空其城，率軍士運油鐵諸物，以為戰守之備。 時史思明已至偃師，光弼悉軍赴河陽。 賊已至洛城，光弼軍方至石橋。 日暮，令秉炬徐行，與賊相隨，而不敢來犯。 乙夜，入河陽三城。 排閱守備，號令嚴明，與士卒同甘苦，鹹誓力戰。 賊憚光弼威略，頓兵白馬寺，南不出百里，西不敢犯宮闕，於河陽南築月城，掘壕以拒光弼。 十月，賊攻城。 於中潬城西大破逆黨五千餘眾，斬首千餘級，生擒五百餘人，溺死者大半。
Initially, when Guangbi was stationed at Bianzhou and heard Siming was coming with his entire force, he said to Xu Shuji: "Sir, if you can hold this city for ten days, I will surely bring troops to rescue you." Shuji said: "Agreed." Guangbi returned to the Eastern Capital; Siming reached Bian; Shuji fought unfavorably and then, with Dong Qin, Liang Pu, and Liu Congjian, led his troops to surrender to Siming. The rebel strength was very great; he dispatched Liang Pu, Liu Congjian, Tian Shenggong, and others to lead troops through Jianghuai, saying to them: "When you take the land, each man shall submit two boatloads of silks and treasures." Siming pressed his victory westward. Guangbi reorganized his troops and marched slowly; reaching Luoyang he said to the defender Wei Zhi: "The rebels, riding their victory below Ye, are again violating the imperial domain; hold armor to blunt their edge—swift battle is not advantageous. Luoyang is not a place for defense—what is your plan?" Zhi said: "Reinforce Shanzhou, withdraw to Tong Pass, and hold perilous ground to await them—that will suffice to blunt their keen edge!" Guangbi said: "That is the common military practice, not a strategy employing the unexpected. When two armies contend, what matters is advancing inch by inch. Now to abandon five hundred li without a glance is to magnify the rebels' strength. If we shift the army to Heyang, with Ze, Lu, and the Three Cities blocking to the north—if we win we capture them, if we lose we hold ourselves; inner and outer respond to each other so the rebels dare not invade west—this would be an ape's-arm posture. In distinguishing court ritual, Guangbi is not your equal, sir; in discussing military affairs, you, sir, are not Guangbi's equal." Zhi had no reply. Adjutant Wei Sun said: "The Eastern Capital is the imperial residence—why, Vice Director, do you not defend it?" Guangbi said: "If we defend Luoyang, Sishui and Eling would both require men to guard them—you are the army and horse adjutant; could you guard them?" He then issued orders to the defender, the Henan prefect, all remaining officials, and residents of wards and markets to leave the city to avoid the rebels, emptied the city, and led soldiers to transport oil, iron, and other materials for battle and defense. At that time Shi Siming had already reached Yanshi; Guangbi led his entire army to Heyang. The rebels had already reached Luoyang when Guangbi's army had only reached Shiqiao. At dusk he ordered torches carried and marched slowly, following alongside the rebels, yet they did not dare attack. At the second watch he entered the Three Cities of Heyang. He inspected the defenses, his commands were strict and clear, he shared hardship with the soldiers, and all swore to fight with all their strength. The rebels feared Guangbi's prestige and strategy; they halted at Baima Temple, did not advance south of a hundred li, did not dare west to violate the palace precincts, and south of Heyang built crescent ramparts and dug trenches to resist Guangbi. In the tenth month the rebels attacked the city. West of Zhongtan City he routed more than five thousand rebels, beheaded more than a thousand, captured more than five hundred alive, and more than half drowned.
6
初，光弼謂李抱玉曰：「將軍能為我守南城二日乎？」 抱玉曰：「過期若何？」 光弼曰：「過期而救不至，任棄也。」 抱玉稟命，勒兵守南城，將陷，抱玉紿賊曰：「吾糧盡，明日當降。」 賊眾大喜，斂軍以俟之。 抱玉復得繕完設備，明日，堅壁請戰。 賊怒見欺，急攻之。 抱玉出奇兵，表裏夾擊，殺傷甚眾，賊帥周摯領軍而退。 光弼自將於中潬城，城外置柵，柵外大掘塹，闊二丈，深亦如之。 周摯舍南城，並力攻中潬。 光弼命荔非元禮出勁卒於羊馬城以拒賊。 光弼於城東北角樹小紅旗，下望賊軍。 賊恃眾直逼其城，以車二乘載木鵝、蒙沖、鬥樓、橦車隨其後，督兵填城下塹，三面各八道過其兵，又當塹開柵，各置一門。 光弼遙望賊逼城，使人語荔非元禮曰：「中丞看賊填塹開柵過兵，居然不顧，何也？」 元禮報曰：「太尉擬守乎，擬戰乎？」 光弼曰：「戰。」 元禮曰：「若戰，賊為我填塹，復何嫌也！」 光弼曰：「吾智不及公，公其勉之！」 元禮俟柵開，率其勇敢出戰，一逼賊軍，退走數百步。 元禮料敵陣堅，雖出處馳突，不足破賊，收軍稍退，以怠其寇而攻之。 光弼望見收軍，大怒，使人喚元禮，欲按軍令。 元禮曰：「戰正忙，喚作何物？」 良久，令軍中鼓噪出柵門，徒搏齊進，賊大潰。
Initially Guangbi said to Li Baoyu: "General, can you hold the south city for me for two days?" Baoyu said: "If the time passes, then what?" Guangbi said: "If rescue does not come when the time passes, you may abandon it." Baoyu received the order, drilled his troops and defended the south city; when it was about to fall, Baoyu deceived the rebels, saying: "My grain is exhausted; tomorrow I shall surrender." The rebel host rejoiced greatly and drew in their troops to wait. Baoyu was again able to repair and complete his defenses; the next day he shut the gates and requested battle. The rebels, angered at being deceived, attacked urgently. Baoyu sent out surprise troops and struck from inner and outer sides; many were killed and wounded, and the rebel commander Zhou Zhi led his army in retreat. Guangbi personally commanded at Zhongtan City; outside the city he set palisades, and outside the palisades dug a great trench two zhang wide and equally deep. Zhou Zhi abandoned the south city and combined forces to attack Zhongtan. Guangbi ordered Li Feiyuanli to send crack troops out from the sheep-and-horse rampart to resist the rebels. Guangbi set up a small red flag at the northeast corner of the city and looked down at the rebel army. The rebels, relying on their numbers, pressed straight to the wall; two carts carrying wooden geese, covered assault boats, fighting towers, and battering rams followed behind; they drove troops to fill the trench below the wall; on three sides eight passages each carried their troops across; they also opened palisades across the trench, each with one gate. Guangbi, watching from afar as the rebels pressed the wall, sent someone to say to Li Feiyuanli: "Vice Director, you see the rebels filling the trench and opening palisades to pass troops, yet pay no heed—why?" Yuanli replied: "Grand Marshal, do you intend to defend or to fight?" Guangbi said: "Fight." Yuanli said: "If we fight, the rebels are filling the trench for us—what is there to dislike!" Guangbi said: "My wisdom does not match yours—do your utmost!" Yuanli waited until the palisade opened, led his brave men out to fight, pressed the rebel army once, and withdrew several hundred paces. Yuanli judged the enemy formation firm; though he charged in and out, it was insufficient to break the rebels; he withdrew his troops slightly to slacken the invaders and then attack. Guangbi saw the withdrawal and was greatly angered; he sent someone to summon Yuanli, intending to enforce military law. Yuanli said: "The battle is busy—what are you calling me for?" After a long while he ordered the army to drum and shout and go out through the palisade gate; they closed in hand to hand and the rebels were routed in great disorder.
7
周摯復整軍押北城而下，將攻之。 光弼遽率眾入北城，登城望曰：「彼雖眾，亂而囂，不足懼也。 當為公等日午而破之。」 命出將戰。 及期，不決，謂諸將曰：「向來戰，何處最堅而難犯？」 或曰：「西北角。」 遽命郝玉曰：「爾往擊之。」 玉曰：「玉，步卒也，請騎軍五百翼之。」 光弼與之三百。 又問：「何處最堅？」 曰：「東南隅。」 即命論惟貞以所部往擊之。 對曰：「貞，蕃將也，不知步戰，請鐵騎三百。」 與之百。 光弼又出賜馬四十匹分給，且令之曰：「爾等望吾旗而戰，若麾旗緩，任爾觀望便宜； 吾旗連麾三至地，則萬眾齊入，生死以之，少退者斬無舍。」 玉策馬赴賊，有一人將援槍刺賊，洞馬腹，連刺數人； 一人逢賊，不戰而退。 光弼召不戰者斬，賞援槍者絹五百疋。 須臾，郝玉奔歸。 光弼望之，驚曰：「郝玉退，吾事危矣。」 命左右取玉頭來。 玉見使者曰：「馬中箭，非敢敗也。」 使者馳報，光弼令換馬遣之。 玉換馬復入，決死而前。 光弼連麾，三軍望旗俱進，聲動天地，一鼓而賊大潰，斬萬餘級，生擒八千餘人，軍資器械糧儲數萬計，臨陣擒其大將徐璜玉、李秦授、周摯。 其大將安太清走保懷州。 思明不知摯等敗，尚攻南城。 光弼悉驅俘囚臨河以示之，殺數十人以威之，餘眾懼，投河赴南岸，光弼皆斬之。 初，光弼將戰，謂左右曰：「戰，危事，勝負系之。 光弼位為三公，不可死於賊手，茍事之不捷，繼之以死。」 及是擊賊，常納短刀於靴中，有決死之誌，城上面西拜舞，三軍感動。 賊既敗走，光弼收懷州，思明來救，迎擊於沁水之上，又敗之。 城將安太清極力拒守，月餘不下。 光弼令仆固懷恩、郝玉由地道而入，得其軍號，乃登陴大呼，我師同登，城遂拔。 生擒安太清、周摯、楊希文等，送於闕下，即日懷州平。 以功進爵臨淮郡王，累加實封至一千五百戶。
Zhou Zhi again reorganized his army and pressed down from the north city, about to attack. Guangbi hastily led his troops into the north city, ascended the wall, looked out, and said: "Though they are many, they are disorderly and clamorous—not to be feared. I shall break them for you at midday." He ordered the generals out to fight. When the time came and there was no decision, he said to the generals: "In the fighting just now, where was strongest and hardest to breach?" Someone said: "The northwest corner." He immediately ordered Hao Yu: "You go strike it." Yu said: "Yu is an infantryman; I request five hundred cavalry to flank me." Guangbi gave him three hundred. He asked again: "Where was strongest?" They said: "The southeast corner." He immediately ordered Lun Weizhen to lead his command and strike it. He replied: "Weizhen is a frontier general and does not know infantry fighting; I request three hundred iron cavalry." He gave him one hundred. Guangbi also brought out forty reward horses to distribute, and moreover ordered them: "You shall fight watching my flag; if I wave the flag slowly, you may observe and act as you see fit; if my flag waves three times to the ground, then the whole host shall enter together; life and death by it—whoever retreats even slightly shall be beheaded without mercy." Yu spurred his horse toward the rebels; one man was about to thrust with a spear and pierced a horse's belly, consecutively piercing several men; one man encountered the rebels and retreated without fighting. Guangbi summoned the one who did not fight and beheaded him; he rewarded the spear-thruster with five hundred bolts of silk. In a moment Hao Yu came galloping back. Guangbi saw him and said in alarm: "Hao Yu has retreated—my affair is in peril." He ordered his attendants to bring Yu's head. Yu, seeing the messenger, said: "My horse was struck by an arrow—I did not dare fail." The messenger galloped back to report; Guangbi ordered a horse changed and sent him back. Yu changed horses and entered again, advancing resolved to die. Guangbi waved his flag repeatedly; the three armies all advanced watching the flag; the sound shook heaven and earth; at one drum the rebels were routed in great disorder; more than ten thousand were beheaded, more than eight thousand captured alive, military supplies, weapons, grain, and stores numbered in the tens of thousands; on the battlefield he captured their great generals Xu Huangyu, Li Qinshou, and Zhou Zhi. Their great general An Taiqing fled to hold Huai Prefecture. Siming did not know Zhi and the others had been defeated and was still attacking the south city. Guangbi drove all the captives to the riverbank to show them, beheaded several tens to intimidate them; the rest were afraid and threw themselves into the river toward the south bank; Guangbi beheaded them all. Initially, when Guangbi was about to fight, he said to those beside him: "Battle is a perilous affair; victory and defeat depend on it. Guangbi's rank is one of the Three Dukes; he cannot die at the rebels' hands; if the affair is not successful, I shall follow with death." At this time when he struck the rebels he constantly kept a short knife in his boot, with resolve to die; on the wall he bowed and danced facing west; the three armies were moved. After the rebels were defeated and fled, Guangbi recovered Huai Prefecture; Siming came to rescue; he met and struck them above the Qin River and defeated them again. The city commander An Taiqing resisted with all his strength; for more than a month it was not taken. Guangbi ordered Pugu Huai'en and Hao Yu to enter by tunnel, obtained their army signals, then ascended the ramparts and shouted loudly; our army ascended together and the city was taken. An Taiqing, Zhou Zhi, Yang Xiwen, and others were captured alive and sent to the court; on that same day Huai Prefecture was pacified. For his merit he was advanced in rank to Prince of Linhuai Commandery; his substantive fief was cumulatively increased to one thousand five hundred households.
8
觀軍容使魚朝恩屢言賊可滅之狀，朝旨令光弼速收東都。 光弼屢表：「賊鋒尚銳，請候時而動，不可輕進。」 仆固懷恩又害光弼之功，潛附朝恩，言賊可滅。 由是中使督戰，光弼不獲已，進軍列陣於北邙山下。 賊悉精銳來戰，光弼敗績，軍資器械並為賊所有。 時李抱玉亦棄河陽，光弼渡河保聞喜。 朝旨以懷恩異同致敗，優詔征之。 光弼自河中入朝，抗表請罪，詔釋之。 光弼懇讓太尉，遂加開府儀同三司、侍中、河南尹、行營節度使； 俄復拜太尉，充河南、淮南、山南東道、荊南等副元帥，侍中如故，出鎮臨淮。 史朝義乘邙山之勝，寇申、光等十三州，自領精騎圍李岑於宋州。 將士皆懼，請南保揚州，光弼徑赴徐州以鎮之，遣田神功擊敗之。 浙東賊首袁晁攻剽郡縣，浙東大亂。 光弼分兵除討，克定江左，人心乃安。
The army-inspection commissioner Yu Chao'en repeatedly spoke of conditions in which the rebels could be destroyed; court orders commanded Guangbi to recover the Eastern Capital quickly. Guangbi repeatedly memorialized: "The rebels' edge is still keen; I ask to wait for the right moment and not advance lightly." Pugu Huai'en also resented Guangbi's merit; he secretly attached himself to Chao'en and said the rebels could be destroyed. Thereupon inner envoys pressed for battle; Guangbi could not refuse and advanced his army, forming battle lines below Mount Beimang. The rebels sent all their elite to fight; Guangbi was defeated; military supplies, weapons, and equipment all fell into rebel hands. At that time Li Baoyu also abandoned Heyang; Guangbi crossed the river and held Wenxi. Court orders held that Huai'en's dissent had caused the defeat; an edict of favor summoned him. Guangbi entered court from Hezhong, submitted a memorial requesting punishment, and an edict pardoned him. Guangbi earnestly declined the post of Grand Marshal; he was then given Grand Preceptor of the Palace with the same rank as the Three Excellencies, Palace Attendant, Henan Prefect, and campaign commissioner; Shortly he was again appointed Grand Marshal, made deputy supreme commander of Henan, Huainan, the Eastern Circuit of Shannan, and Jingnan, Palace Attendant as before, and went out to garrison Linhuai. Shi Chaoyi, riding the victory at Mount Beimang, raided thirteen prefectures including Shen and Guang; he personally led elite cavalry to besiege Li Cen at Song Prefecture. Officers and men were all afraid and requested to withdraw south to defend Yangzhou; Guangbi went straight to Xuzhou to stabilize the situation and dispatched Tian Shenggong to defeat them. Yuan Chao, rebel leader of Zhedong, attacked and plundered commanderies and counties; Zhedong was in great disorder. Guangbi divided troops to suppress and pacify them, settled the lands east of the Yangzi, and the people's hearts were then at ease.
9
初，光弼將止臨淮，在道舁疾而行。 監軍使以袁晁方擾江淮，光弼兵少，請保潤州以避其鋒。 光弼曰：「朝廷寄安危於我，今賊雖強，未測吾眾寡，若出其不意，當自退矣。」 遂徑往泗州。 光弼未至河南也，田神功平劉展後，逗留於揚府，尚衡、殷仲卿相攻於兗、鄆、來瑱旅拒於襄陽，朝廷患之。 及光弼輕騎至徐州，史朝義退走，田神功遽歸河南，尚衡、殷仲卿、來瑱皆懼其威名，相繼赴闕， 進封臨淮王，賜鐵券，圖形淩煙閣。
Initially Guangbi intended to stop at Linhuai and was carried on a litter along the road because of illness. The army-supervising commissioner, because Yuan Chao was then disturbing Jianghuai and Guangbi had few troops, requested to hold Runzhou to avoid their edge. Guangbi said: "The court has entrusted its safety and peril to me; though the rebels are strong now, they cannot measure our numbers; if we strike where they do not expect it, they should withdraw of themselves." He then went straight to Sizhou. Before Guangbi had reached Henan, after Tian Shenggong pacified Liu Zhan he lingered at Yang Prefecture; Shang Heng and Yin Zhongqing attacked each other at Yan and Yun; Lai Tian's brigade resisted at Xiangyang; the court was troubled by this. When Guangbi arrived at Xuzhou with a light cavalry escort, Shi Chaoyi withdrew; Tian Shenggong hastily returned to Henan; Shang Heng, Yin Zhongqing, and Lai Tian all feared his prestige and successively went to court. He was advanced in enfeoffment to Prince of Linhuai, granted an iron certificate, and his likeness was placed in the Lingyan Pavilion.
10
廣德初，吐蕃入寇京畿，代宗詔征天下兵。 光弼與程元振不協，遷延不至。 十月，西戎犯京師，代宗幸陜。 朝廷方倚光弼為援，恐成嫌疑，數詔問其母。 吐蕃退，乃除光弼東都留守，以察其去就。 光弼伺知之，辭以久待敕不至，且歸徐州，欲收江淮租賦以自給。 代宗還京，二年正月，遣中使往宣慰。 光弼母在河中，密詔子儀輿歸京師。 其弟光進，與李輔國同掌禁兵，委以心膂。 至是，以光進為太子太保、兼御史大夫、涼國公、渭北節度使，上遇之益厚。
At the beginning of the Guangde era the Tibetans invaded the capital region; Emperor Daizong ordered troops summoned from throughout the realm. Guangbi was not in accord with Cheng Yuanzhen and delayed and did not arrive. In the tenth month the western barbarians violated the capital; Emperor Daizong fled to Shan. The court was then relying on Guangbi as support and feared suspicion would arise; it repeatedly issued edicts inquiring after his mother. When the Tibetans withdrew, Guangbi was appointed defender of the Eastern Capital to observe his intentions. Guangbi perceived this; he declined on the grounds that he had long awaited an edict that did not come, and moreover returned to Xuzhou, intending to collect Jianghuai land taxes and grain levies to supply himself. Emperor Daizong returned to the capital; in the first month of the second year he dispatched an inner envoy to offer consolation. Guangbi's mother was in Hezhong; a secret edict ordered Ziyi to bring her by carriage to the capital. His younger brother Guangjin, together with Li Fuguo, jointly controlled the forbidden troops and was entrusted as a trusted intimate. At this time Guangjin was made Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent, concurrently Vice Censor-in-Chief, Duke of Liang, and military commissioner of Weibei; the emperor treated him with still greater favor.
11
光弼御軍嚴肅，天下服其威名，每申號令，諸將不敢仰視。 及懼朝恩之害，不敢入朝，田神功等皆不稟命，因愧恥成疾，遣衙將孫珍奉遺表自陳。 七月，薨於徐州，時年五十七。 輟朝三日，贈太保，謚曰武穆。 光弼既疾亟，將吏問以後事，曰：「吾久在軍中，不得就養，既為不孝子，夫復何言！」 因取已封絹布各三千疋、錢三千貫文分給將士。 部下護喪柩還京師。 代宗遣中官開府魚朝恩吊問其母於私第，又命京兆尹第五琦監護喪事。 十一月，葬於三原，詔宰臣百官祖送於延平門外。 母李氏，有須數十莖，長五六寸，以子貴，封韓國太夫人，二子皆節制一品。 光弼十年間三入朝，與弟光進在京師，雖與光弼異母，性亦孝悌，雙旌在門，鼎味就養，甲第並開，往來追歡，極一時之榮。
Guangbi commanded the army with strict discipline; the realm submitted to his prestige; whenever he issued commands the generals did not dare look up. When he feared harm from Chao'en he did not dare enter court; Tian Shenggong and others all did not obey orders; because of shame and humiliation he fell ill; he sent his yamen general Sun Zhen to present a final memorial stating his case. In the seventh month he died at Xuzhou; he was then fifty-seven. Court was suspended for three days; he was posthumously given Grand Preceptor; his posthumous title was Wumu. When Guangbi's illness was critical, the generals and officials asked about affairs after his death; he said: "I have long been in the army and could not go to support my parents; I am already an unfilial son—what more is there to say!" He then took already sealed silk and cloth, three thousand bolts each, and cash, three thousand strings, and distributed them to the generals and soldiers. His subordinates escorted the coffin back to the capital. Emperor Daizong dispatched the inner official Commissioner of the First Rank Yu Chao'en to offer condolences to his mother at her private residence, and also ordered the Henan prefect Diwu Qi to supervise the funeral affairs. In the eleventh month he was buried at Sanyuan; an edict ordered chief ministers and all officials to escort him in farewell outside Yanping Gate. His mother, Lady Li, had several dozen whiskers, five or six inches long; because of her son's eminence she was enfeoffed Grand Lady of Han; both sons held first-rank military commissionerships. Within ten years Guangbi entered court three times; he and his younger brother Guangjin were in the capital; though of a different mother from Guangbi, Guangjin was also filial and fraternal; double insignia at the gate, delicacies brought for their parents' support, grand mansions opened side by side—they came and went in mutual joy, reaching the summit of glory for a time.
12
王思禮，營州城傍高麗人也。 父虔威，為朔方軍將，以習戰聞。 思禮少習戎旅，隨節度使王忠嗣至河西，與哥舒翰對為押衙。 及翰為隴右節度使，思禮與中郎周泌為翰押衙，以拔石堡城功，除右金吾衛將軍，充關西兵馬使，兼河源軍使。 十一載，加雲麾將軍。 十二載，翰征九曲，思禮後期，欲引斬之，續使命釋之。 思禮徐言曰：「斬則斬，卻喚何物？」 諸將皆壯之。 十三年，吐蕃蘇毗王款塞，詔翰至磨環川應接之。 思禮墜馬損腳，翰謂中使李大宜曰：「思禮既損腳，更欲何之？」
Wang Sili was a native of Gaoli beside Yingzhou city. His father Qianwei was a general of the Shuofang Army and was known for mastery of warfare. Sili from youth practiced military affairs; he followed Military Commissioner Wang Zhongsi to Hexi and paired with Geshu Han as commander's adjutants. When Han became military commissioner of Longyou, Sili and Central Gentleman Zhou Bi served as Han's commander's adjutants; for the merit of capturing Stone Fort City he was made General of the Right Golden Guard, army and horse commissioner of Guanxi, and concurrently commander of Heyuan Army. In the eleventh year he was given the additional title General of the Cloudy Pennant. In the twelfth year Han campaigned at Nine Bends; Sili was late; Han was about to have him beheaded; a follow-up envoy ordered his release. Sili said slowly: "Behead then behead—why call me back?" All the generals admired him. In the thirteenth year the Tibetan Supi king came to the frontier in submission; an edict ordered Han to Mo Huan Chuan to receive him. Sili fell from his horse and injured his foot; Han said to the inner envoy Li Dayi: "Sili has already injured his foot—where does he think he is going?"
13
十四載六月，加金城太守。 祿山反，哥舒翰為元帥，奏思禮加開府儀同三司，兼太常卿同正員，充元帥府馬軍都將，每事獨與思禮決之。 十五載二月，思禮白翰謀殺安思順父元貞，於紙隔上密語翰，請抗表誅楊國忠，翰不應。 復請以三十騎劫之，橫馱來潼關殺之，翰曰：「此乃翰反，何預祿山事。」 六月，潼關失守，思禮西赴行在，至安化郡。 思禮與呂崇賁、李承光並引於纛下，責以不能堅守，並從軍令。 或救之可收後效，遂斬承光而釋思禮、崇賁，與房琯為副使。 便橋之戰又不利，除為關內節度使。 尋遣守武功。 賊將安守忠及李歸仁、安泰清來戰，思禮以其眾退守扶風。 賊兵分至大和關，去鳳翔五十里。 王師大駭，鳳翔戒嚴，中官及朝官皆出其孥，上使左右巡御史虞候書其名，乃止。 遂命司徒郭子儀以朔方之眾擊之而退。 九月，思禮從元帥廣平王收西京，既破賊，思禮領兵先入景清宮。 又從子儀戰陜城、曲沃、新店，賊軍繼敗，收東京。 思禮又於絳郡破賊六千餘眾，器械山積，牛馬萬計。 遷戶部尚書、霍國公，食實封三百戶， 與子儀等九節度圍安慶緒於相州。 思禮領關內及潞府行營步卒三萬、馬軍八千，大軍潰，唯思禮與李光弼兩軍獨全。 及光弼鎮河陽，制以思禮為太原尹、北京留守、河東節度使、兼御史大夫，貯軍糧百萬，器械精銳。 尋加守司空。 自武德已來，三公不居宰輔，唯思禮而已。
In the sixth month of the fourteenth year he was given the additional post Prefect of Jincheng. When Lushan rebelled, Geshu Han became supreme commander; he memorialized to give Sili Grand Preceptor of the Palace with the same rank as the Three Excellencies, concurrently Minister of Ceremonies with regular appointment, and cavalry commander of the supreme commander's headquarters; in each affair he alone decided with Sili. In the second month of the fifteenth year Sili told Han of a plan to kill An Sishun's father Yuanzhen; on a paper screen he whispered secretly to Han and requested to submit a memorial resisting and executing Yang Guozhong; Han did not respond. He again requested to use thirty horsemen to seize him, carry him across on horseback to Tong Pass and kill him; Han said: "This would be Han rebelling—what has it to do with Lushan's affair." In the sixth month Tong Pass was lost; Sili went west to the imperial camp and reached Anhua Commandery. Sili, Lü Chongben, and Li Chengguang were all brought before the banner; they were charged with failing to hold firm and were all subject to military law. Someone pleaded that they could be spared to gather later merit; Chengguang was then beheaded while Sili and Chongben were released; he served as deputy to Fang Guan. The Battle of Bian Bridge was again unfavorable; he was appointed military commissioner of Guannei. Shortly he was dispatched to defend Wugong. The rebel generals An Shouzhong, Li Guiren, and An Taiqing came to fight; Sili withdrew his troops to defend Fufeng. Rebel troops arrived separately at Dahe Pass, fifty li from Fengxiang. The imperial army was greatly alarmed; Fengxiang was placed under martial law; inner officials and court officials all sent out their wives and children; the emperor sent Left and Right Patrol Censors to record their names before it stopped. The emperor then ordered Minister of Works Guo Ziyi to strike them with the Shuofang host and drive them back. In the ninth month Sili followed the supreme commander the Prince of Guangping in recovering the Western Capital; after the rebels were broken Sili led troops first into Jingqing Palace. He again followed Ziyi in fighting at Shancheng, Quwo, and Xindian; the rebel army was repeatedly defeated and the Eastern Capital was recovered. Sili again at Jiang Commandery defeated more than six thousand rebels; weapons piled like mountains; cattle and horses numbered in the tens of thousands. He was transferred to Minister of Revenue and Duke of Huo, with three hundred households of substantive fief. Together with Ziyi and eight other military commissioners he besieged An Qingxu at Xiang Prefecture. Sili commanded thirty thousand infantry of the Guannei and Lu Prefecture campaign forces and eight thousand cavalry; the great army was routed; only Sili's and Li Guangbi's two armies remained intact. When Guangbi garrisoned Heyang, an order made Sili Mayor of Taiyuan, defender of the Northern Capital, military commissioner of Hedong, and concurrently Vice Censor-in-Chief; he stored a million units of army grain and had sharp weapons and equipment. Shortly he was given the additional post Acting Minister of Works. Since Wude, the Three Dukes had not held chief-ministerial posts—only Sili did.
14
鄧景山，曹州人也。 文吏見稱。 天寶中，自大理評事至監察御史。 至德初，擢拜青齊節度使，遷揚州長史、淮南節度。 為政簡肅，聞於朝廷。 居職四年，會劉展作亂，引平盧副大使田神功兵馬討賊。 神功至揚州，大掠居人資產，鞭笞發掘略盡，商胡大食、波斯等商旅死者數千人。
Deng Jingshan was a native of Cao Prefecture. He was acclaimed as a civil official. During Tianbao he rose from reviewer of the Court of Judicial Review to investigating censor. At the beginning of Zhide he was promoted and appointed military commissioner of Qing and Qi, then transferred to chief administrator of Yangzhou and military commissioner of Huainan. His governance was simple and stern and was known at court. In the fourth year of his tenure Liu Zhan rebelled; he summoned the deputy ambassador of Pinglu Tian Shenggong's troops to suppress the rebels. When Shenggong reached Yangzhou he plundered the residents' property on a great scale, flogged and dug until little remained; merchants of Dashi, Persia, and others—traveling merchants—died by the thousands.
15
辛雲京者，河西之大族也。 代掌戎旅，兄弟數人，並以將帥知名。 雲京有膽略，志氣剛決，不畏強禦，每在戎行，以擒生斬馘為務。 累建勛勞，官至北京都知兵馬使、代州刺史。 鄧景山統馭失所，為軍士所殺，請雲京為節度使，因授兼太原尹，以北門委之。 雲京質性沈毅，部下有犯令者，不貸絲毫，其賞功效亦如之，故三軍整肅。 回紇恃舊勛，每入漢界，必肆狼貪。 至太原，雲京以戎狄之道待之，虜畏雲京，不敢惕息。 數年間，太原大理，無烽警之虞。 累加檢校左僕射、同中書門下平章事。
Xin Yunjing was of a great clan of Hexi. For generations they commanded military affairs; several brothers, all famed as generals and commanders. Yunjing had courage and strategy, will and spirit firm and decisive, feared no strong oppression; whenever in the military line he made capturing alive and beheading the slain his task. He repeatedly achieved merit and labor; his office reached Chief of Army and Horse Affairs of the Northern Capital and prefect of Dai. Deng Jingshan lost control in command; he was killed by the soldiers; they requested Yunjing as military commissioner; he was therefore appointed concurrently Mayor of Taiyuan and the northern gate was entrusted to him. Yunjing's nature was deep and resolute; subordinates who violated orders were not forgiven in the slightest; rewards for merit were likewise exact—therefore the three armies were disciplined. The Uyghurs relied on old merit; whenever they entered Han territory they always indulged wolfish greed. When they reached Taiyuan, Yunjing treated them by the ways of barbarians; the barbarians feared Yunjing and did not dare breathe easily. Within several years Taiyuan was greatly pacified; there was no worry of beacon alarms. He was cumulatively given Acting Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and Grand Councilor.
16
【贊】=史臣曰：凡言將者，以孫、吳、韓、白為首。 如光弼至性居喪，人子之情顯矣； 雄才出將，軍旅之政肅然。 以奇用兵，以少敗眾，將今比古，詢事考言，彼四子者，或有慚德。 邙山之敗，閫外之權不專； 徐州之留，郡側之人伺隙。 失律之尤雖免，匪躬之義或虧，令名不全，良可惜也。 然閫外之事，君側之人，得不慎諸？ 思禮法令嚴整，儲廩豐盈，節制之才，固不易得。 景山始以文吏，或有虛名。 仗鉞揚州，召匪人而劫掠士庶； 分茅並部，持小法而全昧機權。 貴馬賤人，眾怒身死，宜哉！ 雲京賞善懲惡，靜亂安邊，功著軍中，寵加身後，不亦美歟！
[Comment] The historian says: Whenever generals are discussed, Sun, Wu, Han, and Bai are placed first. As for Guangbi's utmost filiality in mourning, a son's feeling was manifest; heroic talent emerging as a general, military affairs were sternly ordered. Employing the unexpected in war, defeating the many with the few—comparing generals today with antiquity, inquiring into affairs and examining words, those four masters perhaps had cause for shame in virtue. The defeat at Mount Beimang—authority outside the gate was not exclusive; the stay at Xuzhou—men beside the throne watched for openings. Though the chief fault of violating military discipline was escaped, the duty of giving one's body for the ruler was perhaps lacking; his good name was not complete—a great pity indeed. Yet affairs outside the gate and men beside the throne—must one not be cautious? Sili's laws and orders were strict and orderly, storehouses and granaries full—talent for military commissionership was indeed not easily obtained. Jingshan began as a civil official; perhaps he had an empty reputation. Bearing the axe at Yangzhou, he summoned wicked men who plundered officials and commoners; granted a fief at Bing Prefecture, he held to petty laws yet wholly lacked strategic judgment. He valued horses and slighted men; the multitude's anger brought his death—fitting indeed! Yunjing rewarded good and punished evil, pacified disorder and secured the frontier; merit was manifest in the army, favor was added after death—is this not beautiful indeed!
17
贊曰：光弼雄名，思禮刑清。 始致亂者鄧景山，何以救之辛雲京。
The comment says: Guangbi's heroic name, Sili's clear punishments. The one who first brought disorder was Deng Jingshan; by what means was it remedied? Xin Yunjing.