1
崔器，深州安平人也。 曾祖恭禮，狀貌豐碩，飲酒過鬥。 貞觀中，拜駙馬都尉，尚神堯館陶公主。 父肅然，平陰丞。
Cui Qi came from Anping in Shen prefecture. His great-grandfather Gongli was tall and powerfully built and could drink more than a dou of wine in one sitting. During the Zhenguan reign he was made Commandant of the Horse Stables for Imperial Sons-in-Law and married Princess Taogu of the Shenyao line. His father Suran served as assistant magistrate of Pingyin.
2
器有吏才，性介而少通，舉明經，歷官清謹。 天寶六載，為萬年尉，逾月拜監察御史。 中丞宋渾為東畿采訪使，引器為判官； 渾坐贓流貶嶺南，器亦隨貶。 十三年，量移京兆府司錄，轉都官員外郎，出為奉先令。 逆胡陷西京．器沒於賊，仍守奉先。 居無何，屬賊黨同羅叛賊，長安守將安守忠、張通儒並亡匿。 又渭上義兵起，一朝聚徒數萬，器懼，所受賊文牒符敕，一時焚之，榜召義師，欲應渭上軍。 及渭上軍破，賊將崔乾祐先鎮蒲、同，使麾下騎三十人捉器，器遂北走靈武。
Qi had a gift for administration. Upright and unyielding, with little tact, he passed the Mingjing examination and served throughout with scrupulous integrity. In 747 he became warden of Wannian County, and within a month was appointed supervisory censor. When Chief Censor Song Hun served as visiting commissioner of the Eastern Capital circuit, he took Qi on as his legal aide; when Hun was convicted of graft and exiled to Lingnan, Qi was banished along with him. In 754 he was transferred by quota to recorder of Jingzhao prefecture, promoted to vice director in the Ministry of Justice, and sent out as magistrate of Fengxian. When the rebel armies seized the Western Capital, Qi was caught in occupied territory yet continued to govern Fengxian. Soon afterward the Tongluo contingent turned against the rebel forces, and Chang'an's defenders An Shouzhong and Zhang Tongru both vanished. Patriot militia also rose along the Wei River, and within a morning tens of thousands had assembled. Terrified, Qi burned every rebel commission, pass, and order in his possession, posted notices calling loyal troops, and prepared to march to the Wei River army. When the Wei River force was broken, the rebel general Cui Qianyou—already holding Pu and Tong—sent thirty horsemen to seize Qi, and Qi fled north to Lingwu.
3
器素與呂諲善，諲引為御史中丞、兼戶部侍郎。 從肅宗至鳳翔，加禮儀使。 克復二京，為三司使。 器草儀註，駕入城，令陷賊官立於含元殿前，露頭跣足，撫膺頓首請罪，以刀杖環衛，令扈從群官宰臣已下視之。 及收東京，令陳希烈已下數百人如西京之儀。 器性陰刻樂禍，殘忍寡恩，希旨奏陷賊官準律並合處死。 肅宗將從其議。 三司使、梁國公李峴執奏，固言不可，乃六等定罪，多所原宥，唯陳希烈、達奚珣斬於獨柳樹下。 後蕭華自相州賊中仕賊官歸闕，奏云：「賊中仕官等重為安慶緒所驅，脅至相州，初聞廣平王奉宣恩命，釋放陳希烈已下，皆相顧曰：『我等國家見待如此，悔恨何及。』 及聞崔器議刑太重，眾心復搖。」 肅宗曰：「朕幾為崔器所誤。」
Qi had long been close to Lü Yin, who recommended him as vice censor-in-chief and concurrent vice minister of revenue. He followed Emperor Suzong to Fengxiang and was additionally appointed commissioner of court ritual. After the two capitals were recovered, he became commissioner of the Three Offices. Qi drafted the ceremonial protocol. When the imperial procession entered the city, he had officials who had served the rebels stand before Hanyuan Hall bareheaded and barefoot, beating their breasts and kowtowing for pardon, ringed by guards with blades and staves, while every accompanying official from the chief ministers down was made to watch. When the Eastern Capital was retaken, he required several hundred men, including Chen Xilie, to undergo the same humiliation as at the Western Capital. Qi was secretive, cruel, and delighted in others' ruin—ruthless and devoid of mercy. Currying favor, he memorialized that every official who had served the rebels deserved death under the statutes. Suzong was on the point of accepting his proposal. Li Xian, Duke of Liang and commissioner of the Three Offices, submitted a forceful memorial insisting this must not be done. Guilt was then graded into six classes; many were spared, and only Chen Xilie and Daxi Xun were beheaded beneath the Lone Willow Tree. Later Xiao Hua, who had held office under the rebels at Xiangzhou before returning to court, memorialized: "Those of us who served in the rebel realm were driven again by An Qingxu to Xiangzhou. When we first heard that the Prince of Guangping proclaimed the imperial grace and released Chen Xilie and the rest, we looked at one another and said, 'The throne has treated us with such mercy—what regret could exceed this? When we heard that Cui Qi's proposed punishments were too harsh, our hearts wavered anew. Suzong said, "I came within a hair's breadth of letting Cui Qi lead me astray."
4
呂諲驟薦器為吏部侍郎、御史大夫。 上元元年七月，器病腳腫，月余疾亟，瞑目則見達奚珣，叩頭曰：「大尹不自由。」 左右問之，器答曰：「達奚大尹嘗訴冤於我，我不之許。」 如是三日而器卒。
Lü Yin suddenly recommended Qi for vice director of the Ministry of Personnel and censor-in-chief. In the seventh month of 760, Qi's legs swelled with edema; after more than a month his illness turned grave. Whenever he closed his eyes he saw Daxi Xun kowtowing and saying, "Great Chief, you are not free of this. When those at his bedside asked, Qi answered, "Chief Daxi once pleaded his case to me, and I refused him." After three days of this, Qi died.
5
趙國珍，牂柯之苗裔也。 天寶中，以軍功累遷黔府都督，兼本管經略等使。 時南蠻閣羅鳳叛，宰臣楊國忠兼劍南節度，遙制其務，屢喪師徒。 中書舍人張漸薦國珍有武略，習知南方地形，國忠遂奏用之。 在五溪凡十余年，中原興師，唯黔中封境無虞。 代宗踐祚，特嘉之，召拜工部尚書。 大歷三年九月，以疾終，贈太子太傅。
Zhao Guozhen was descended from the Zangke people. During the Tianbao reign he rose through repeated military achievements to governor of Qian prefecture and concurrent commissioner of the circuit's military affairs. At that time the southern chieftain Geluofeng rebelled. Chief Minister Yang Guozhong also held the Jiannan command and directed operations from afar, losing armies again and again. Secretariat drafter Zhang Jian recommended Guozhen for his military skill and intimate knowledge of southern terrain, and Guozhong memorialized for his appointment. He spent more than ten years in the Five Streams region; while the central plains convulsed with war, only the Qianzhong frontier remained secure. When Emperor Daizong took the throne he singled Guozhen out for praise and summoned him to court as minister of works. In the ninth month of 768 he died of illness and was posthumously created grand preceptor of the heir apparent.
6
崔瓘，博陵人也。 以士行聞，蒞職清謹。 累遷至澧州刺史，下車削去煩苛，以安人為務。 居二年，風化大行，流亡繈負而至，增戶數萬。 有司以聞，優詔特加五階，至銀青光祿大夫，以甄能政。 遷潭州刺史、兼御史中丞，充湖南都團練觀察處置使。 瓘到官，政在簡肅，恭守禮法。 將吏自經時艱，久不奉法，多不便之。 大歷五年四月，會月給糧儲，兵馬使臧玠與判官達奚覯忿爭，覯曰：「今幸無事。」 玠曰：「有事何逃？」 厲色而去。 是夜，玠遂構亂，犯州城，以殺達奚覯為名。 瓘惶遽走，逢玠兵至，遂遇害。 代宗聞其事，悼惜久之。
Cui Guan came from Boling. He was known for moral cultivation and served with scrupulous integrity. He rose in turn to prefect of Li prefecture, and upon taking office stripped away burdensome regulations, making the people's welfare his chief concern. Within two years local custom was transformed; refugees returned carrying infants on their backs, and registered households increased by tens of thousands. The authorities reported his success; an exceptional edict raised him five ranks to silver-green grand master of splendor in recognition of his governance. He was transferred to prefect of Tan, concurrent vice censor-in-chief, and military governor and observation commissioner of Hunan. When Guan took up his post his administration was spare and strict; he reverently upheld ritual and law. Officers and clerks, long accustomed to lawlessness through the recent turmoil, found his ways deeply inconvenient. In the fourth month of 770, at the monthly distribution of grain stores, army commissioner Zang Zhi quarreled with legal aide Daxi Gun. Gun said, "For the moment all is well. Zhi retorted, "If trouble comes, where will you run?" He stalked off, his face dark with anger. That night Zhi incited a mutiny and stormed the prefectural city on the pretext of killing Daxi Gun. Guan fled in panic, ran into Zhi's soldiers, and was slain. When Daizong heard the news, he grieved for him a long while.
7
敬括，河東人也。 少以文詞稱。 鄉舉進士，又應制登科，再遷右拾遺、內供奉、殿中侍御史。 天寶末，宰臣楊國忠出不附己者，括以例為果州刺史。 累遷給事中、兵部侍郎、大理卿。 性深厚。 誌尚簡淡，在職不務求名，因循而已。 大歷初，叛臣周智光伏誅，詔選循良為近輔，以括為同州刺史。 歲餘，入為御史大夫。 遲重推誠於下，未嘗以私害公，士頗稱焉； 而從容養望，不舉綱紀，士亦以此少之。 大歷六年三月卒。
Jing Kuo came from Hedong. In his youth he was known for literary talent. He passed the provincial jinshi examination and also the special palace examination, then rose twice to right reminder, inner attendant, and attending censor in the palace bureau. At the end of the Tianbao era, Chief Minister Yang Guozhong drove out those who would not align with him; by precedent Kuo was sent out as prefect of Guo. He rose in turn to imperial attendant, vice minister of war, and chief of the Court of Judicial Review. His temperament was deep and steady. His aims were modest; in office he sought no fame and was content simply to follow precedent. Early in the Dali era, after the rebel Zhou Zhiguang was executed, an edict called for humane officials to serve near the throne, and Kuo was made prefect of Tong. After more than a year he entered court as censor-in-chief. Deliberate and grave, he dealt sincerely with subordinates and never sacrificed the public good to private interest; men of quality praised him; yet he cultivated his standing at an easy pace and did not tighten discipline, and for this men of quality thought somewhat less of him. He died in the third month of 771.
8
韋元甫，少修謹，敏於學行。 初任滑州白馬尉，以吏術知名。 本道采訪使韋涉深器之，奏充支使，與同幕判官員錫齊名。 元甫精於簡牘，錫詳於訊覆，涉推誠待之，時謂「員推韋狀。」 元甫有器局，所蒞有聲，累遷蘇州刺史、浙江西道都團練觀察等使。 大歷初，宰臣杜鴻漸首薦之，征為尚書右丞。 會淮南節度使缺，鴻漸又薦堪當重寄，遂授揚州長史、兼御史大夫、淮南節度觀察等使。 在揚州三年，政尚不擾，事亦粗理。 大歷六年八月，以疾卒於位。
From youth Wei Yuanfu cultivated careful conduct and was quick in both learning and action. His first post was as aide in Baima district of Hua prefecture, where he became known for administrative skill. The circuit visiting commissioner Wei She valued him highly and memorialized for him to serve as requisition officer; he won equal renown with his fellow staff judge Yuan Xi. Yuanfu excelled at drafting documents and Xi at interrogation; She trusted both openly, and contemporaries called them "Yuan pushes the case, Wei writes the brief. Yuanfu had breadth of vision; wherever he served he made a reputation, rising to prefect of Su and military governor and observation commissioner of Zhexi West circuit. Early in the Dali era Chief Minister Du Hongjian first recommended him, and he was summoned as vice director of the right department of the State Chancellery. When the Huainan command fell vacant, Hongjian again recommended him as fit for grave responsibility, and he was appointed chief administrator of Yangzhou, concurrent censor-in-chief, and Huainan military governor and observation commissioner. For three years at Yangzhou his government favored leaving the people undisturbed, and affairs were kept in reasonable order. In the eighth month of 771 he died in office of illness.
9
魏少遊，鉅鹿人也。 早以吏幹知名，歷職至朔方水陸轉運副使。 肅宗幸靈武，杜鴻漸等奉迎，留少遊知留後，備宮室掃除之事。 少遊以肅宗遠離宮闕，初至邊籓，故豐供具以悅之。 將至靈武，少遊整騎卒千余，干戈耀日，於靈武南界鳴沙縣奉迎，備威儀振旅而入。 肅宗至靈武，殿宇禦幄，皆象宮闈，諸王、公主各設本院，飲食進禦，窮其水陸。 肅宗曰：「我至此本欲成大事，安用此為！」 命有司稍去之。 累遷衛尉卿。 乾元二年十月，議率朝臣馬以助軍，少遊與漢中郡王瑀沮其議，上知之，貶渠州長史。 後為京兆尹，請中書門下及兩省五品已上、尚書省四品已上、諸司正員三品已上、諸王、駙馬中期周已上親及女婿外甥，不得任京兆府判官、畿令、赤縣丞簿尉，敕從之。 遷刑部侍郎。
Wei Shaoyou came from Julu. Early on he was known for administrative competence, rising to deputy commissioner for Shuofang water-and-land transport. When Suzong went to Lingwu, Du Hongjian and others went out to welcome him; Shaoyou was left behind as acting commissioner to prepare palaces and attend to cleaning. Because Suzong had left the palace far behind and had only just reached the frontier, Shaoyou lavished supplies upon him to win his favor. As the emperor neared Lingwu, Shaoyou drew up more than a thousand mounted troops, weapons flashing in the sun, and at Mingsha county on Lingwu's southern border welcomed him with full ceremonial escort, entering in martial array. When Suzong reached Lingwu, halls and imperial screens all imitated the palace; each prince and princess had a separate courtyard; provisions sent to the throne exhausted every delicacy of land and water. Suzong said, "I came here to accomplish great deeds—what need of all this! He ordered the officials to pare it back by degrees. He rose in turn to minister of the imperial regalia. In the tenth month of 759 there was discussion of requiring court officials to contribute horses for the army; Shaoyou and the Prince of Hanzhong, Li Yu, obstructed the plan. When the emperor learned of it, he demoted Shaoyou to chief administrator of Qu prefecture. Later, as mayor of the capital, he petitioned that no one from the secretariat-chancellery of fifth rank or higher, from the two departments of fifth rank or higher, from the ministries of third full rank or higher, no prince, imperial son-in-law, or relative for whom one observes a year of mourning or more, and no son-in-law or sister's son, might serve as legal aide in the metropolitan prefecture, as magistrate of a capital district, or as assistant or clerk in a red county; the throne approved. He was transferred to vice minister of justice.
10
大歷二年四月，出為洪州刺史、兼御史大夫，充江南西道都團練觀察等使。 四年六月，封趙國公。 賈明觀者，本萬年縣捕賊小胥，事劉希暹，恃魚朝恩之勢，恣行兇忍，毒甚豺虺。 朝恩、希暹既誅，元載當權，納明觀奸謀，容之，特令江西效力。 明觀未出城，百姓萬眾聚於城外，皆懷磚石候之，期投擊以快意。 載聞之，特令所由吏擁百姓入城內，由是獲免。 在洪州二年，少遊為觀察使，承元載意茍容之。 及路嗣恭代少遊，到州，即日杖殺，識者以是減魏之名，多路之政。 大歷六年三月己未卒於官，贈太師。
In the fourth month of 767 he went out as prefect of Hong, concurrent censor-in-chief, and military governor and observation commissioner of Jiangxi West circuit. In the sixth month of 769 he was enfeoffed duke of Zhao. Jia Mingguan had been a junior clerk for apprehending thieves in Wannian county; he served Liu Xixian and, relying on the eunuch Yu Chao'en's power, committed cruelties more vicious than wolves or vipers. After Chao'en and Xixian were executed, Yuan Zai held power, took Mingguan's treacherous counsel, sheltered him, and specially ordered him to serve in Jiangxi. Mingguan had not yet left the city when tens of thousands of commoners gathered outside the walls with bricks and stones, waiting to strike him down and vent their rage. When Zai heard of it, he specially ordered subordinate officials to drive the crowd back into the city, and so Mingguan escaped harm. For two years at Hongzhou, Shaoyou as observation commissioner indulged him according to Zai's wishes. When Lu Sigong replaced Shaoyou and reached the prefecture, he had Mingguan flogged to death that same day. The knowing held that this diminished Wei's reputation and enhanced Lu's. On the third day jiwei of the third month of 771 he died in office and was posthumously created grand preceptor.
11
少遊居職，緣飾成務，有規檢，善任人，果於集事。 前後四領京尹，雖無鶴赫之名，而齪齪廉謹，有足稱者。
In office Shaoyou polished his tasks, kept to regulations, knew how to employ men, and was resolute in bringing affairs to completion. Four times he headed the capital mayoralty; though he won no striking renown, he was scrupulously frugal and careful and was in some measure praiseworthy.
12
廣德元年冬，吐蕃寇京師，乘輿幸陜。 以伯玉有幹略，可當重寄，乃拜江陵尹、兼御史大夫，充荊南節度觀察等使。 尋加檢校工部尚書，封城陽郡王。 大歷初，丁母憂，朝廷以王昂代其任，伯玉潛諷將吏不受詔，遂起復以本官為荊南節度等使，時議醜之。 大歷十一年二月入覲，以疾卒於京師。
In the winter of 763 Tibet invaded the capital region and the emperor withdrew to Shaan prefecture. Because Wei Boyu had capacity and resolve fit for grave responsibility, he was appointed mayor of Jingling, concurrent censor-in-chief, and military governor and observation commissioner of Jingnan. Soon he was made minister of works by inspection and enfeoffed prince of Chengyang commandery. Early in the Dali era he entered mourning for his mother; the court sent Wang Ang to replace him. Boyu secretly incited his officers and clerks to refuse the order, and was recalled from mourning to his former post as Jingnan commissioner—contemporaries despised him for it. In the second month of 776 he came to court for audience and died of illness in the capital.
13
李承，趙郡高邑人，吏部侍郎至遠之孫，國子司業畬之第二子也。 承幼孤，曄鞠養之。 既長，事兄以孝聞。 舉明經高第，累至大理評事，充河南采訪使郭納判官。 尹子奇圍汴州，陷賊，拘承送洛陽。 承在賊庭，密疏奸謀，多獲聞達。 兩京克復，例貶撫州臨川尉。 數月除德清令，旬日拜監察御史。 淮南節度使崔圓請留充判官，累遷檢校刑部員外郎、兼侍御史。 圓卒，歷撫州、江州二刺史，課績連最。 遷檢校考功郎中兼江州刺史，征拜吏部郎中。 尋為淮南西道黜陟使，奏於楚州置常豐堰以禦海潮，屯田瘠鹵，歲收十倍，至今受其利。 時梁崇義縱恣倨慢，朝廷將加討伐。 李希烈揣知之，上表數崇義過惡，請率先誅討。 上悅之，每對朝臣多稱希烈忠誠。 承自黜陟回，因奏之曰：「希烈將兵討伐，必有微勛，但恐立功之後，縱恣跋扈，不稟朝憲，必勞王師問罪。」 上初未之信。 無幾，希烈既平崇義，果有不順之跡，上思承言，故驟加擢用。 建中二年七月，拜同州刺史、河中尹、晉絳都防禦觀察使。 九月，轉襄州刺史、山南東道節度觀察鹽鐵等使。 希烈既破崇義，擁兵襄州，遂有其地。 朝廷慮不受命，欲以禁兵送承，承請單騎徑行。 既至，希烈處承於外館，迫脅萬態，承恬然自安，誓死王事。 希烈不能屈，遂剽虜闔境所有而去，襄、漢為之空。 承治之一年，頗得完復。
Li Cheng was a native of Gaoyi in Zhao commandery, grandson of Vice Minister of Personnel Zhiyuan and second son of the director of the imperial academy, She. Cheng lost his father in childhood; his elder brother Ye raised and nurtured him. When he came of age, he was known for filial devotion to his elder brother. He passed the Mingjing examination with high standing and rose to reviewing censor in the Court of Judicial Review, serving as legal aide to Henan visiting commissioner Guo Na. When Yin Ziqi besieged Bianzhou, Cheng was captured by the rebels and sent under guard to Luoyang. In the rebel camp he secretly reported their plots; much of what he learned reached the court. When the two capitals were recovered, by precedent he was demoted to aide in Linchuan district of Fu prefecture. Within several months he was made magistrate of Deqing; ten days later he was appointed supervisory censor. Huainan military governor Cui Yuan asked to retain him as legal aide; he rose in turn to vice minister of justice by inspection and concurrent attending palace censor. When Yuan died he served in turn as prefect of Fu and Jiang; his performance evaluations were repeatedly ranked highest. He was promoted to director of examination by inspection and concurrent prefect of Jiang, then summoned as director in the Ministry of Personnel. Soon he became visiting commissioner for promotion and demotion of Huainan West circuit; he memorialized to build the Changfeng Weir at Chu prefecture to hold back sea tides and reclaim saline land for garrison farming, increasing the harvest tenfold—a benefit that endures to this day. At that time Liang Chongyi was insolent and defiant; the court was preparing to send forces against him. Li Xilie divined their intent and submitted a memorial listing Chongyi's crimes, asking to take the lead in punishing him. The emperor was pleased; before the court he often praised Xilie's loyalty. When Cheng returned from his commission, he memorialized: "Xilie will surely win some merit on campaign—but I fear that once he has merit he will grow insolent and defiant, disregard imperial authority, and the royal army will be forced to march against him. At first the emperor did not credit him. Before long Xilie had pacified Chongyi and indeed showed signs of rebellion; the emperor recalled Cheng's warning and swiftly promoted him. In the seventh month of 781 he was made prefect of Tong, mayor of the Hezhong metropolitan area, and commissioner of defense and observation for Jin and Jiang. In the ninth month he was transferred to prefect of Xiang and military governor and observation commissioner of Shannan East circuit, with charge of salt and iron. After Xilie defeated Chongyi he massed troops at Xiangzhou and thereupon held that territory. The court feared Xilie would refuse the appointment and wished to send palace troops to escort Cheng; Cheng asked to ride through alone. When he arrived, Xilie lodged Cheng in an outer guesthouse and assailed him with every sort of coercion; Cheng remained calm, sworn to the throne unto death. Xilie could not break him; he then plundered everything of value in the circuit and withdrew, leaving Xiang and Han stripped bare. After a year under Cheng's governance the region was largely restored.
14
初，希烈雖歸蔡州，留將校等於襄州守當時所掠得財帛什物等，後使襄、漢，往來不絕。 承亦使腹心臧叔雅往來許、蔡，厚結希烈腹心周曾、王玢、姚憺等。 及曾等謀殺希烈，以眾歸朝，多承首建謀也。 累賜密詔褒美之。 承尋改檢校工部尚書，兼潭州刺史、湖南都團練觀察使。 建中四年七月，卒於位，年六十二，贈吏部尚書。 承少有雅望，至其從官，頗以貞廉才術見稱於時。
At first, though Xilie had returned to Cai prefecture, he left officers at Xiang to guard the goods plundered there; afterward traffic between Xiang and Han never ceased. Cheng also sent his trusted agent Zang Shuya back and forth between Xu and Cai, lavishly cultivating Xilie's intimates Zhou Ceng, Wang Bin, Yao Tan, and others. When Ceng and the others plotted to kill Xilie and bring their forces back to the court, the plan owed much to Cheng's original design. Secret edicts praising him were bestowed again and again. Cheng was soon made minister of works by inspection and concurrent prefect of Tan and military governor and observation commissioner of Hunan. In the seventh month of 783 he died in office at age sixty-two and was posthumously created minister of personnel. From youth Cheng bore an elegant reputation; in office he was praised in his own day for integrity, talent, and ability.
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史臣曰：自古酷吏濫刑，幸免者多矣，茍無強魂為祟，沮議者惑焉。 器深文樂禍，居官令終，非達奚訴冤，無以顯其陰責矣。 國珍守黔溪，瓘修禮法，括推誠馭下，元甫為政寬簡，少遊規檢集事，皆可稱者。 伯玉破敵立功，足為猛士，丁憂冒寵，終是武夫。 承忠愨謀議，勤勞盡瘁，方之者鮮矣。
The Historian comments: Since antiquity harsh officials who abused the law have often escaped retribution; unless a vengeful spirit intervenes, those who would restrain them are left in doubt. Qi heaped severity upon the fallen and delighted in their ruin, yet died in high office—an end that was not natural; had Daxi not pleaded his case from beyond the grave, Qi's hidden guilt would never have been revealed. Guozhen held the Qian streams secure, Guan restored ritual and law, Kuo dealt sincerely with subordinates, Yuanfu governed with lenience and simplicity, and Shaoyou kept to regulations and brought affairs to completion—each has something to praise. Boyu broke the enemy and won merit worthy of a fierce warrior; yet seizing office while still in mourning for his mother shows him still a soldier at heart. Cheng's loyal counsel and service unto exhaustion—few can be compared with him.
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贊曰：崔器深文，達奚作祟。 七子伊何？ 李承為最。
The Eulogy says: Cui Qi piled on severity—Daxi returned to haunt him. Of these seven men, what are they? Li Cheng stands foremost.