1
嚴武，中書侍郎挺之子也。 神氣雋爽，敏於聞見。 幼有成人之風，讀書不究精義，涉獵而已。 弱冠以門廕策名，隴右節度使哥舒翰奏充判官，遷侍御史。 至德初，肅宗興師靖難，大收才傑，武杖節赴行在。 宰相房琯以武名臣之子，素重之，及是，首薦才略可稱，累遷給事中。 既收長安，以武為京兆少尹、兼御史中丞，時年三十二。 以史思明阻兵不之官，優遊京師，頗自矜大。 出為綿州刺史，遷劍南東川節度使； 入為太子賓客、兼御史中丞。
Yan Wu was the son of Ting, who had served as Vice Director of the Secretariat. He had a keen, commanding presence and was unusually quick to grasp what he heard and saw. Even as a boy he carried himself like an adult; he read widely but never troubled to master texts in depth. At his coming of age he qualified through family privilege; Geshu Han, military commissioner of Longyou, had him appointed as aide on memorial and then promoted him to Attending Censor. Early in the Zhide reign, as Emperor Suzong mobilized to put down the rebellion and recruited talent far and wide, Wu took up his commission and hurried to the emperor's camp. Chief Minister Fang Guan had always held Wu in esteem as the son of a distinguished official; now he was first to recommend him for his ability and was instrumental in promoting him repeatedly until he reached Supervising Secretary. Once Chang'an had been retaken, he was appointed Vice Governor of the capital district and concurrent Vice Censor-in-Chief at the age of thirty-two. With Shi Siming's armies blocking the routes, he never took up his post and instead lingered in the capital, growing rather full of himself. He was sent out to serve as prefect of Mianzhou and later promoted to military commissioner of eastern Jiannan. He was recalled to the capital as a guest of the heir apparent and concurrent Vice Censor-in-Chief.
2
上皇誥以劍兩川合為一道，拜武成都尹、兼御史大夫，充劍南節度使； 入為太子賓客，遷京兆尹、兼御史大夫。 二聖山陵，以武為橋道使。 無何，罷兼御史大夫，改吏部侍郎，尋遷黃門侍郎。 與宰臣元載深相結托，冀其引在同列。 事未行，求為方面，復拜成都尹，充劍南節度等使。 廣德二年，破吐蕃七萬余眾，拔當狗城。 十月，取鹽川城，加檢校吏部尚書，封鄭國公。
The retired emperor ordered the two Jiannan circuits merged into one command; Wu was named governor of Chengdu, concurrent Censor-in-Chief, and military commissioner of Jiannan. He returned to court as guest of the heir apparent, then was moved to governor of the capital district with the concurrent title of Censor-in-Chief. When the tombs of the two deceased emperors were under construction, he was appointed commissioner for bridges and roads. Shortly afterward he relinquished the concurrent censorate, became vice minister of personnel, and soon after was promoted to vice minister of the palace secretariat. He cultivated a close alliance with Chief Minister Yuan Zai in the hope that Zai would elevate him to the highest council. Before that plan could succeed he asked for a frontier command and was again named governor of Chengdu and military commissioner of Jiannan. In 764 he routed over seventy thousand Tibetan troops and took Danggou Fort. That October he seized Yanchuan Fort, received the additional appointment as acting minister of personnel, and was enfeoffed as Duke of Zheng.
3
前後在蜀累年，肆誌逞欲，恣行猛政。 梓州刺史章彜初為武判官，及是小不副意，赴成都杖殺之，由是威震一方。 蜀土頗饒珍產，武窮極奢靡，賞賜無度，或由一言賞至百萬。 蜀方閭裏以征斂殆至匱竭，然蕃虜亦不敢犯境。 而性本狂蕩，視事多率胸臆，雖慈母言不之顧。 初為劍南節度使，舊相房琯出為管內刺史，琯於武有薦導之恩，武驕倨，見琯略無朝禮，甚為時議所貶。 永泰元年四月，以疾終，時年四十。
During his long years in Shu he gave free rein to his appetites and ruled with arbitrary severity. Zhang Yi of Zizhou had once served as his aide; when Yi displeased him even slightly, Wu summoned him to Chengdu and had him clubbed to death, and thereafter his terror held the whole region. Shu was rich in rare goods, and Wu spent without limit; a single pleasing word from him could bring a reward of a million cash. Taxes and levies nearly beggared the countryside, yet frontier tribes likewise dared not cross his borders. By nature he was headstrong and impulsive, governing mostly on whim; he would not even listen to his own mother. When he first took command in Jiannan, his former patron Fang Guan was serving as a circuit prefect; though Guan had launched his career, Wu treated him with arrogant disrespect and scarcely a trace of formal courtesy, drawing widespread condemnation. He died of illness in the fourth month of 765, at the age of forty.
4
郭英乂
Guo Yingyi
5
郭英乂，先朝隴右節度使、左羽林軍將軍知運之季子也。 少以父業，習知武藝，策名河、隴間，以軍功累遷諸衛員外將軍。 至德初，肅宗興師朔野，英乂以將門子特見任用，遷隴右節度使、兼御史中丞。 既收二京，征還闕下，掌禁兵。 遷羽林軍大將軍，加特進。 以家艱去職。
Guo Yingyi was the youngest son of Zhiyun, who had served as military commissioner of Longyou and general of the Left Forest Army. He followed his father's trade, mastered the military arts, made his name on the northwest frontier, and rose through battlefield merit to outside general in the palace guards. Early in the Zhide reign, when Suzong campaigned in the north, Yingyi was singled out for appointment as a general's son and made military commissioner of Longyou with the concurrent vice censorate. After the two capitals were retaken he was recalled to court to command the palace armies. He was promoted to grand general of the Forest Army and granted the extraordinary rank of tejin. He resigned to observe mourning for a parent.
6
朝廷方討史思明，選任將帥，乃起英乂為陜州刺史，充陜西節度、潼關防禦等使，尋加御史大夫，兼神策軍節度。 代宗即位，加檢校戶部尚書、兼御史大夫。 元帥雍王自陜統諸軍討賊洛陽，留英乂在陜為後殿。 東都平，以英乂權為東都留守。 既至東都，不能禁暴，縱麾下兵與朔方、回紇之眾大掠都城，延及鄭、汝等州，比屋蕩盡。 廣德元年，策勛加實封二百戶，征拜尚書右僕射，封定襄郡王。 恃富而驕，於京城創起甲第，窮極奢靡。 與宰臣元載交結，以久其權。
While the court was fighting Shi Siming it recalled him as prefect of Shaanzhou, gave him command of Shaanxi and Tong Pass, and soon added the censorate and command of the Divine Strategy Army. On Daizong's accession he received the additional posts of acting minister of revenue and concurrent Censor-in-Chief. When the Prince of Yong marched from Shaan to attack the rebels at Luoyang, Yingyi was left behind to guard the rear. After Luoyang was secured he was appointed acting intendant of the eastern capital. Once in Luoyang he failed to keep order and allowed his men, together with Shuo-fang and Uyghur troops, to sack the city and ravage Zheng, Ru, and neighboring prefectures until scarcely a household was left untouched. In 763 his fief was increased by two hundred households for merit; he was recalled to court as right vice director of the department of state affairs and enfeoffed as Prince of Dingxiang. Flush with wealth, he grew arrogant and erected in the capital a palatial residence of staggering extravagance. He allied himself with Chief Minister Yuan Zai to keep his power secure.
7
會劍南節度使嚴武卒，載以英乂代之，兼成都尹，充劍南節度使。 既至成都，肆行不軌，無所忌憚。 玄宗幸蜀時舊宮，置為道士觀，內有玄宗鑄金真容及乘輿侍衛圖畫。 先是，節度使每至，皆先拜而後視事。 英乂以觀地形勝，乃入居之，其真容圖畫，悉遭毀壞。 見者無不憤怒，以軍政苛酷，無敢發言。 又頗恣狂蕩，聚女人騎驢擊球，制鈿驢鞍及諸服用，皆侈靡裝飾，日費數萬，以為笑樂。 未嘗問百姓間事，人頗怨之。 又以西山兵馬使崔旰得眾心，屢抑之。 旰因蜀人之怨，自西山率麾下五千余眾襲成都，英乂出軍拒之，其眾皆叛，反攻英乂。 英乂奔於簡州，普州刺史韓澄斬英乂首以送旰，並屠其妻子焉。
When Yan Wu died as military commissioner of Jiannan, Yuan Zai sent Yingyi to replace him as governor of Chengdu and military commissioner of the circuit. On reaching Chengdu he behaved with brazen lawlessness and feared no one. The palace Xuanzong had used during his flight to Shu was converted into a Daoist temple housing his gilded portrait and paintings of the imperial procession and guard. Hitherto every new commissioner had bowed before the imperial image before taking up his duties. Finding the site commanding, Yingyi moved into the temple himself and had the portrait and paintings destroyed. All who witnessed it were outraged, yet his brutal rule left no one daring to protest. He further indulged in wild excesses, assembling women to play donkey polo on saddles inlaid with precious metal and decked in lavish finery, spending tens of thousands a day for sport. He never troubled himself with the people's welfare, and popular resentment ran deep. He also repeatedly slighted Cui Gan, commissioner of the western hills forces, who had won the soldiers' loyalty. Drawing on popular anger in Shu, Gan marched from the western hills with over five thousand men to strike Chengdu; Yingyi met him in the field, but his own troops mutinied and turned on him. Yingyi fled toward Jian Prefecture; Han Cheng, prefect of Puzhou, cut off his head and sent it to Gan, then massacred his wife and children.
8
崔寧，衛州人，本名旰。 雖儒家子，喜縱橫之術。 衛州刺史茹璋授旰符離令，既罷，久不調，遂客遊劍南，從軍為步卒，事鮮于仲通。 又隨李宓討雲南，宓戰敗，旰歸成都。 行軍司馬崔論見旰，悅其狀貌，又以其宗姓厚遇，薦為衙將。 歷事崔圓、裴冕。 冕遭流謗，朝廷將遣使推按，旰部下截耳稱冤，中使奏之。 旰亦赴京師，授司戈，歷司階、折沖郎將軍等官。
Cui Ning, a native of Weizhou, was originally named Gan. Though raised in a scholar's household, he was drawn to the arts of political maneuver and intrigue. Ru Zhang, prefect of Weizhou, made him magistrate of Fuli; when his term ended he received no further appointment and wandered into Jiannan as a soldier under Xianyu Zhongtong. He later followed Li Mi's ill-fated campaign into Yunnan and returned to Chengdu after Mi's defeat. Campaigning staff officer Cui Lun took a liking to his bearing, favored him as a kinsman, and recommended him for a post as yamen general. He served in turn under Cui Yuan and Pei Mian. When Pei Mian fell victim to slander and the court prepared to send investigators, Gan's men mutilated their ears in protest of his innocence, and the palace envoy reported the affair. Gan went to the capital as well, receiving appointments from lance-corporal up through irregularly attendant general.
9
寶應初，蜀中亂，山賊擁絕縣道，代宗憂之。 嚴武薦旰為利州刺史，既至，山賊遁散，由是知名。 嚴武為劍南節度，赴鎮過利州，心欲辟旰為部將，以利非屬部，旰難輒去，俾旰籌之。 旰曰：「節度使張獻誠見忌，且又好利，誠能重賂之，旰可以從大夫矣。」 武至劍南，遺獻誠奇錦珍貝，價兼百金，獻誠大悅。 武乃遺獻誠書求旰，獻誠然之，令旰移疾去郡。 旰乃之劍南，武奏為漢州刺史。 久之，吐蕃與諸雜羌戎寇陷西山柘、靜等州，詔嚴武收復。 武遣旰統兵西山，旰善撫士卒，皆願致死命。 始次賊城，周圍皆石礫，攻具無所設。 唯東南隅環丈之地，壤土可穴，諜知之以告。 旰晝夜穿地道攻之，再宿而拔其城。 因拓地數百里，下城寨數四。 番眾相語曰：「崔旰，神兵也。」 將更前進，以糧盡還師。 武大悅，裝七寶輿迎旰入成都，以誇士眾，賞賫過厚。
Early in the Baoying era Shu fell into disorder as mountain bandits cut the county roads, greatly worrying Emperor Daizong. Yan Wu recommended him as prefect of Lizhou; on his arrival the bandits melted away, and his reputation was made. When Yan Wu took up the Jiannan command and passed through Lizhou, he wanted Gan on his staff, but Lizhou lay outside his circuit and Gan could not simply depart—so Wu asked him to find a way. Gan said, "Commissioner Zhang Xiancheng is touchy and greedy; if you reward him handsomely, I can join your staff. Once in Jiannan, Wu sent Xiancheng brocades and jewels worth a hundred gold pieces, to his great delight. Wu then wrote asking for Gan; Xiancheng consented and had Gan resign the prefecture on grounds of illness. Gan then joined Wu in Jiannan, and Wu had him appointed prefect of Hanzhou. Before long Tibetans and allied Qiang and Rong tribes overran the western hills prefectures of Zhe and Jing; the court ordered Yan Wu to retake them. Wu sent Gan to lead the western campaign; Gan won his men's devotion, and they were ready to die for him. When he first encamped before the enemy stronghold, the ground was nothing but stone and rubble, leaving no place to deploy siege engines. Only on the southeast corner was a patch of earth about thirty feet across suitable for tunneling, which his scouts reported. Gan dug through day and night and took the city within two days. He extended Tang control for hundreds of li and reduced four fortified posts. The tribesmen said among themselves, "Cui Gan commands supernatural forces. They were preparing to push farther when exhausted supplies forced a withdrawal. Wu was overjoyed, sent a jeweled carriage to bring Gan into Chengdu in triumph before the troops, and lavished rewards beyond measure.
10
初，天寶中，劍南節度使鮮于仲通嘗建一使院，院宇甚華麗。 及玄宗幸蜀，嘗居之，因為道觀，兼寫玄宗真容，置之正室。 英乂因入觀行香，悅其竹樹，遂奏請以仲通舊院為軍營，乃移去真容自居之。 旰聞之，謂將士曰：「英乂反矣！ 不然，何得除毀玄宗真容而自居之？」 乃率兵攻成都。 英乂出兵於城西門，令柏茂琳為前軍，郭英幹為左軍，郭嘉琳為後軍，與旰戰。 茂琳等軍累敗，軍人多投旰。 旰令降將統兵與英乂轉戰，大敗之。 兵至子城，英乂單騎奔簡州，為普州刺史韓澄所殺。 時邛、劍所在起兵相攻，劍南大亂。
During the Tianbao reign, military commissioner Xianyu Zhongtong had built a splendid headquarters compound in Jiannan. When Xuanzong fled to Shu he had stayed there; the building was later converted to a Daoist temple with his portrait installed in the main hall. Yingyi visited the temple to burn incense, admired its grounds, and petitioned to turn Zhongtong's old compound into barracks, removing the portrait and taking up residence himself. Hearing this, Gan told his officers, "Yingyi has committed treason! Otherwise why would he destroy the emperor's portrait and live in that hall himself? He then marched on Chengdu at the head of his army. Yingyi led his forces out the west gate with Bai Maolin in the van, Guo Yinggan on the left, and Guo Jialin in the rear, to meet Gan in battle. Maolin's forces suffered repeated defeats, and soldiers defected to Gan in large numbers. Gan put defecting officers in command and routed Yingyi in repeated engagements. When the fighting reached the inner citadel, Yingyi fled alone toward Jian Prefecture and was killed by Han Cheng of Puzhou. Meanwhile Qiong, Jian, and other districts erupted in mutual warfare, plunging all Jiannan into chaos.
11
永泰二年二月，乃以黃門侍郎平章事杜鴻漸兼成都尹、山南西道劍南東川西川邛南等道副元帥、劍南西川節度使。 鴻漸出駱谷，有謀者曰：「相公駐車閬州，遙制劍南，數移牒述英乂過失，言旰有方略； 旰腹心攝諸州刺史者皆奏正之，令旰及將校不疑怨。 然後與東川節度使張獻誠及諸賊帥合議，數出兵攻旰。 既數道連兵，未經一年，兵勢減耗，旰窮，必束身歸朝。 此上策也。」 鴻漸畏懦，計疑未決。 會旰使至，卑辭厚禮，送繒錦數千匹。 鴻漸貪其利，遂至成都，日與判官杜亞、楊炎將吏等高會縱觀，軍州政事悉委旰，乃連表聞薦。
In the second month of 766 Du Hongjian, vice minister of the palace secretariat and chief councilor, was appointed governor of Chengdu, deputy commander-in-chief over the Shannan and Jiannan commands, and military commissioner of western Jiannan. As Hongjian emerged through Luogu Pass, an adviser urged him: "Hold at Lang Prefecture and govern Jiannan from a distance—send repeated dispatches detailing Yingyi's crimes and praising Gan's ability; have Gan's loyalists holding prefectures confirm their appointments by memorial, so Gan and his officers feel no grievance. Then concert with eastern commissioner Zhang Xiancheng and other rebel leaders to attack Gan again and again. With several columns united, within a year his strength will be spent, Gan will be cornered, and he will surely surrender to the throne. That is the best course. Hongjian was timid and could not settle on a plan. Then Gan's envoy arrived with humble words, lavish gifts, and several thousand bolts of brocade. Greedy for the gifts, Hongjian proceeded to Chengdu, spent his days feasting with aides Du Ya and Yang Yan and his staff, handed all civil and military affairs to Gan, and sent a stream of recommending memorials to court.
12
先時，張獻誠數與旰戰，獻誠屢敗，旌節皆為旰所奪。 朝廷因鴻漸之請，加成都尹，兼西山防禦使、西川節度行軍司馬，仍賜名曰寧。 大歷二年，鴻漸歸朝，遂授寧西川節度使。 恃地險人富，乃厚斂財貨，結權貴，令弟寬留京師。 元載及諸子有所欲，寬恣與之，故寬驟歷御史知雜事、御史中丞。 寬兄審亦任郎中、諫議大夫、給事中。 寧在蜀十余年，地險兵強，肆侈窮欲，將吏妻妾，多為所淫汙，朝廷患之而不能詰。 累加尚書左僕射。
Earlier Zhang Xiancheng had fought Gan repeatedly, suffered defeat after defeat, and lost his command banners to him. At Hongjian's urging the court made him governor of Chengdu, defender of the western hills, and campaigning deputy of the west circuit, and bestowed the name Ning. When Hongjian returned to the capital in 767, Ning was appointed full military commissioner of western Jiannan. Secure in a rich and defensible province, he levied heavy taxes, cultivated the powerful at court, and kept his brother Kuan in the capital. Whatever Yuan Zai and his sons wanted, Kuan supplied without stint, and rose swiftly to vice censor-in-chief. Cui Kuan's older brother Shen likewise held the posts of Langzhong, Remonstrance Grandee, and Palace Attendant. Cui Ning spent over a decade in Shu, where the terrain was perilous and the army formidable. He gave free rein to luxury and every appetite, and many officers' and officials' wives and concubines fell victim to his abuses. The court resented this but had no power to call him to account. He was successively elevated to Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs.
13
大歷十四年入朝，遷司空、平章事，兼山陵使，尋代喬琳為御史大夫、平章事。 寧以為選擇御史當出大夫，不謀及宰相，乃奏請以李衡、於結等數人為御史。 楊炎大怒，其狀遂寢。 炎又數讒毀劉晏，寧又求解之。 寧既厚結元載已久，楊炎又出自載門，寧初附炎，炎因此大怒。
In the fourteenth year of the Dali reign he came to the capital, was appointed Minister of Works and Co-Director of the Chancellery, and concurrently made Commissioner for the Imperial Mausoleums. Before long he succeeded Qiao Lin as Censor-in-Chief and Co-Director of the Chancellery. Cui Ning believed the appointment of censors was the Censor-in-Chief's prerogative and ought not to be discussed with the chancellors. He submitted a memorial proposing Li Heng, Yu Jie, and several others for the post of censor. Yang Yan flew into a rage, and the proposal was dropped. Yang Yan again and again defamed Liu Yan, and Cui Ning once more pleaded for him. Cui Ning had for years cultivated a deep alliance with Yuan Zai, while Yang Yan himself had risen from Zai's circle. When Ning initially attached himself to Yan, Yan was all the more enraged.
14
其年十月，南蠻大下，與吐蕃三道合進。 一出茂州，過文川及灌口。 一出扶、文，過方維、白壩。 一出黎壩、雅，過邛、郲。 戎酋誡其眾曰：「吾要蜀川為東府，凡伎巧之工皆送邏娑，平歲賦一縑而已。」 是蠻之入，連陷郡邑，士庶奔亡山谷。 屬寧在朝，軍中無帥，德宗促寧還鎮。 炎懼寧怨己，入蜀難制，謂德宗曰：「蜀川天下奧壤，自寧擅置其中，朝廷失其外府十四年矣。 今寧來朝，尚有全師守蜀。 貨利之厚，適中奉給，貢賦所入，與無地同。 始寧與諸將等夷，獨因叛亂得位，不敢自有，以恩柔煦育，威令不行。 今雖歸之，必無功，是徒遣也； 若有功，義不可奪。 則西川之奧，敗固失之，勝亦非國家所有。 陛下熟察。」 帝曰：「卿策何從？」 炎曰：「請無歸寧。 今硃泚所部范陽勁兵，戍在近甸，促令與禁兵雜往，舉無不捷。 因是役得置親兵內其腹中，蜀將必不敢動。 然後換授他帥，以收其權，得千里肥饒之地，是因小禍受大福也。」 帝曰：「善」，即止寧不行。 乃發禁兵四千、范陽兵五千，赴援東川。 出軍自江油趣白壩，與山南兵合擊，蠻兵敗走。 范陽軍又擊破於七盤，遂拔新城，戎、蠻大敗。 凡斬馘六千，生擒六百，傷者殆半，饑寒隕於崖谷者八九萬。
In the tenth month of that year the southern tribes launched a major invasion, joining with the Tibetans in a three-pronged advance. One force issued from Maozhou, crossing Wenchuan and Guankou. Another came through Fu and Wen, passing Fangwei and Baiba. A third came through Liba and Ya, passing Qiong and Lang. The tribal leader warned his men: "I mean to make the Shu region our eastern domain. Every skilled artisan will be sent to Luosuo, and in normal years the levy will be no more than a single bolt of silk. As the invaders pushed in, they took one district after another, and officials and common people scattered into the hills and ravines. Cui Ning was then at court, and with no general in command of the forces, Emperor Dezong pressed him to return to his post. Yang Yan feared Cui Ning would bear a grudge and, once back in Shu, prove impossible to control. He told Dezong, "The Shu region is the richest strategic ground in the realm. Ever since Ning has ruled it as his private domain, the court has been without its outer capital for fourteen years. Even with Ning at court, Shu is still held by his intact army. Its wealth is so great that it barely suffices for the court's needs, yet the tribute and taxes it yields might as well belong to no territory at all. At first Ning had stood on equal footing with the other generals and won his position only through rebellion. He did not dare assert himself, ruling instead through soft favors and indulgence, so that his authority never took hold. If he is sent back now, he is bound to accomplish nothing; the expedition would be pointless. Yet if he succeeds, it would be unjust to strip him of command. In either case—defeat or victory—the heartland of western Shu would no longer truly be the state's to command. Your Majesty should weigh this with care. The emperor asked, "What course do you recommend?" Yang Yan replied, "I urge that Ning not be allowed to return. The crack Fanyang troops under Zhu Ci are stationed close to the capital. Send them together with the palace guard, and no operation will fail. In the process we can insert loyal troops into the army's core, and the Shu commanders will not dare stir. Then replace him with another commander, recover control, and gain a thousand li of rich territory—a small trouble exchanged for a great gain." The emperor said, "Well said," and halted Cui Ning's departure. The court then sent four thousand palace guards and five thousand Fanyang soldiers to reinforce eastern Shu. The relief force marched from Jiangyou toward Baiba, united with the Shannan troops in a joint strike, and routed the invaders. The Fanyang troops defeated them again at Qipan, took Xincheng, and the Rong and tribal forces were shattered. Six thousand heads were taken, six hundred prisoners captured, nearly half the enemy wounded, and eighty or ninety thousand more died of hunger and cold in the mountain gorges.
15
寧遂罷西川節度使，制授檢校司空、同中書門下平章事、御史大夫、京畿觀察使，兼靈州大都督、單於鎮北大都護、朔方節度等使，兼鄜坊丹延都團練觀察使。 托以重臣綏靖北邊，但令居鄜州。 雖以寧為節度，每道皆置留後，自得奏事，炎悉諷令伺寧過犯。 杜希全為靈州，王翃為振武，李建徽為鄜州，及戴休顏、杜從政、呂希倩等，皆炎署置也。 寧巡邊至夏州，刺史呂希倩與寧同力招撫党項，歸降者甚多。 炎惡之，因奏希倩撫綏之功，才堪委任。 召歸朝，除右僕射知省事，以神武將軍時常春代之。
Cui Ning was stripped of the western Shu governorship and appointed Acting Minister of Works, Co-Director of the Chancellery, Censor-in-Chief, and Capital Region Observation Commissioner, while also holding the titles of Grand Commander of Lingzhou, Commander-in-Chief of Danyu Zhenbei, Military Governor of Shuofang, and Consolidated Training and Observation Commissioner over Bian, Fang, Dan, and Yan. On the pretext of posting a high minister to settle the northern border, he was told only to take up residence at Bianzhou. Though Ning remained nominal governor, Yang Yan installed a resident deputy in every circuit who could report directly to the throne, and secretly ordered them all to seek out Ning's missteps. Du Xiquan in Lingzhou, Wang Hong in Zhenwu, Li Jianhui in Bianzhou, and Dai Xiuyan, Du Congzheng, Lü Xiqian, and the rest were all installed by Yang Yan. On a frontier tour Cui Ning reached Xiazhou, where Prefect Lü Xiqian joined him in winning over the Tangut peoples; a great many submitted. Yang Yan took offense and submitted a memorial praising Xiqian's success in pacification and declaring him fit for higher responsibility. Lü Xiqian was summoned back to court, made Right Vice Director with charge of Secretariat affairs, and replaced in Xiazhou by the Divine Martial General Shi Changchun.
16
硃泚之亂，上卒迫行幸，百僚諸王鮮有知者。 寧後數日自賊中來，上初喜甚。 寧私謂所親曰：「聖上聰明英邁，從善如轉規，但為盧杞所惑至此爾。」 杞聞之，潛與王翃圖議陷之。 初，涇原兵作亂之夕，寧與翃及御史大夫於頎俱出延平門而西，數下馬便液，每下輒良久。 翃等促之，不敢前。 又懼賊兵追及，翃乃大聲而言曰：「已至此，不必顧望。」 至奉天，翃具以事聞。 會硃泚行反間，偽除柳渾宰相，署寧中書令。 寧朔方掌書記康湛時為盩厔尉，翃逼湛作寧遺硃泚書，使寧無以自辯，翃遂獻之。 杞因誣奏曰：「崔寧初無葵藿向日之心，聞於城中與硃泚堅為盟約，所以後於百辟。 今事果驗。 使兇渠外逼，奸臣內謀，則大事去矣。」 因俯伏歔欷曰：「臣備位宰相，危不能持，顛不能扶，宜當萬死，伏待斧鉞。。」 上命左右扶起之。 既還，俄有中人引寧於幕後，二力士自後縊殺之，時年六十一。 初，將誅寧，召至朝堂，云令江淮宣慰。 尋命翰林學士陸贄草誅寧制； 贄求寧與泚書，將以狀生之。 復亂言云，其書已失。 寧既得罪，籍沒其家，中外稱其冤，乃赦其家，歸其資產。 貞元十二年六月，寧故將、夏、綏、銀節度使韓潭奏請以新加禮部尚書恩制以雪寧之罪。 詔從之，任其家收葬。
When Zhu Ci rose in rebellion the emperor was abruptly driven to take flight, and scarcely any of the court officials or princes had forewarning. A few days later Cui Ning arrived from the rebel-held city, and at first the emperor was overjoyed. In private Cui Ning told those close to him, "The Son of Heaven is brilliant and resolute, and accepts good advice as readily as a wheel turns—but Lu Qi has led him to this disaster. When Lu Qi learned of this, he secretly conspired with Wang Hong to frame him. On the evening of the Jingyuan mutiny, Cui Ning, Wang Hong, and Censor-in-Chief Yu Yi all left through Yanping Gate and headed west. Again and again they dismounted to relieve themselves, lingering long each time. Hong and the rest pressed him to move, yet he would not go forward. Afraid the rebels would catch up, Wang Hong cried out, "We have come this far—there is no point in looking back. After they reached Fengtian, Wang Hong laid the entire matter before the emperor. At the same time Zhu Ci employed a ruse of disinformation, falsely appointing Liu Hun chancellor and naming Cui Ning Zhongshu Ling. Kang Zhan, who had been Cui Ning's chief secretary in Shuofang and was then magistrate of Zhouzhi, was coerced by Wang Hong into forging a letter from Ning to Zhu Ci, leaving Ning unable to clear himself; Hong then presented it to the throne. Lu Qi then lodged a false accusation: "Cui Ning never had a heart turned toward the throne like the sunflower toward the sun. I hear that inside the city he entered a firm pact with Zhu Ci—that is why he came days after the rest of the court. Now the truth of it has been confirmed. If a vicious enemy closes in from outside while traitors conspire within, the dynasty itself is finished. Then he threw himself down, weeping, and said, "I occupy the chancellor's seat yet could neither hold firm in crisis nor steady the throne in ruin. I deserve death ten thousand times over and submit myself to execution. The emperor commanded his attendants to lift him up. Soon after he withdrew, palace eunuchs summoned Cui Ning behind a curtain, where two brawny executioners garroted him from behind. He was sixty-one. Before Cui Ning was to be killed, he was called to the audience hall under the pretense of sending him as Pacification Commissioner to Jianghuai. Shortly after, the emperor ordered the Hanlin Academician Lu Zhi to compose the decree ordering Ning's execution. Lu Zhi asked to see Ning's letter to Zhu Ci, hoping to test the charge against the document itself. Cui Ning answered incoherently that the letter was already gone. Once Cui Ning was condemned, his estate was seized. Court and country alike called it a miscarriage of justice, and the throne eventually pardoned his family and returned their assets. In the sixth month of the twelfth year of Zhenyuan, Han Tan—once Cui Ning's officer and now military governor of Xia, Sui, and Yin—petitioned that the recent honorific appointment as Minister of Rites be applied to exonerate Ning. The emperor assented and allowed the family to recover the body for burial.
17
初，寧入朝，留弟寬守成都。 瀘州楊子琳乘間以精騎數千突入成都，據城守之。 寬屢戰力屈，子琳威聲頗盛。 寧妾任氏魁偉果幹，乃出其家財十萬募勇士，信宿間得千人，設隊伍將校，手自麾兵，以逼子琳。 子琳懼，城內糧盡，乃拔城自潰。 子琳素有妖術，其夕致大雨，引舟至庭除，登之而遁。
When Cui Ning first came to the capital, he left his brother Cui Kuan to hold Chengdu. Yang Zilin of Luzhou took advantage of the opening, leading several thousand crack horsemen in a sudden rush into Chengdu, which he then occupied. Cui Kuan fought again and again until his strength gave out, while Yang Zilin's prestige swelled. Cui Ning's concubine, Lady Ren, was imposing in stature and resolute in action. She poured one hundred thousand coins of family wealth into recruiting fighters; within two nights she raised a thousand men, formed companies and appointed officers, and herself led the force against Yang Zilin. Yang Zilin grew afraid. With provisions exhausted inside the walls, he broke camp and fled in disorder. Yang Zilin was known for sorcery. That night he summoned a torrential rain, had a boat brought into the courtyard, stepped aboard, and vanished.
18
崔密、密子崔繪
Cui Mi, and his son Cui Hui.
19
寧季弟密，密子繪，父子皆以文雅稱，歷使府從事。 繪生四子：蠡、黯、確、顏，皆以進士擢第。
Cui Ning's younger brother Mi and Mi's son Hui were both celebrated for literary elegance and served as aides in various military headquarters. Cui Hui fathered four sons—Li, An, Que, and Yan—each of whom earned the jinshi degree.
20
蠡，字越卿，元和五年擢第，累辟使府。 寶歷中，入朝監察御史。 大和初，為侍御史，三遷戶部郎中，出為汝州刺史。 開成初，以司勛郎中征，尋以本官知制誥。 明年，正拜舍人。 三年，權知禮部貢舉。 四年，拜禮部侍郎，轉戶部。 上疏論國忌日設僧齋，百官行香，事無經據。 詔曰：「朕以郊廟之禮，嚴奉祖宗，備物盡誠，庶幾昭格。 恭惟忌日之感，所謂終身之憂。 而近代以來，歸依釋、老，征二教以設食，會百辟以行香。 將以有助聖靈，冥資福祚。 有異皇王之術，頗乖教義之宗。 昨得崔蠡奏論，遂遣討尋本末，禮文令式，曾不該明，習俗因循，雅當整革。 其兩京、天下州府，以國忌日為寺觀設齋焚香，從今已後，並宜停罷。」 蠡尋為華州刺史、鎮國軍等使，再歷方鎮。 子蕘。
Cui Li, courtesy name Yueqing, passed the examinations in the fifth year of Yuanhe and was repeatedly invited into service on military staffs. In the Baoli reign he entered court as Supervising Censor. At the start of the Dahe reign he served as Attending Censor, rose through three promotions to Director in the Ministry of Revenue, and was then appointed Prefect of Ruzhou. At the beginning of Kaicheng he was recalled as Director in the Ministry of Personnel and soon added the duty of drafting imperial edicts. The following year he received formal appointment as Secretariat Drafter. In the third year he was made acting head of the Ministry of Rites with charge over the civil examinations. In the fourth year he was promoted to Vice Minister of Rites, then moved to Vice Minister of Revenue. He submitted a memorial arguing that holding Buddhist vegetarian feasts in temples on state mourning days and requiring all officials to burn incense had no foundation in classical ritual. The edict read: "We observe the rites of the suburban altars and ancestral temples, serving our forebears with strict devotion, offering every requisite gift in utmost sincerity, that their spirits may be clearly received. With reverence we regard the feeling of a mourning anniversary—what the sages called a sorrow lasting one's whole life. Yet in recent generations people have looked to Buddhism and Daoism, invoking both faiths to lay out offerings and assembling the whole court to burn incense. The aim was to assist the imperial dead in the unseen realm and quietly accumulate merit and blessing. Such practice diverges from the way of true kingship and strays far from the foundations of proper doctrine. Yesterday We received Cui Li's memorial and ordered an investigation of its origins. Neither ritual codes nor administrative regulations ever clearly prescribed it; the custom has simply lingered by inertia—and ought now to be corrected. Henceforth, in both capitals and every prefecture in the realm, the practice of holding temple feasts and burning incense on state mourning days is abolished entirely. Cui Li was soon made Prefect of Huazhou and commissioner of the Zhenguo Army, and twice held frontier commands. His son was Cui Rao.
21
蕘，字野夫。 大中二年，擢進士第，累官至尚書郎、知制誥。 正拜中書舍人、戶部侍郎。 乾符中，自尚書右丞遷吏部侍郎。 蕘美文詞，善談論，而馭事簡率，銓管非所長。 出為陜州觀察使，以器韻自高，不屑細故，權移仆下。 時河南寇盜蜂起，王仙芝亂漢南，朝綱不振，而蕘自恃清貴，不恤人之疾苦。 百姓訴旱，蕘指庭樹曰：「此尚有葉，何旱之有？」 乃笞之，吏民結怨。 既而為軍人所逐，饑渴甚，投民舍求水，民以溺飲之。 初為軍人所俘，翦其髭發，拜而獲免。 以失守貶端州司馬，復入為左散騎常侍，卒。
Cui Rao, courtesy name Yefu. In the second year of Dazhong he earned the jinshi degree and advanced to Secretariat Gentleman and drafter of edicts. He received formal appointment as Secretariat Drafter and Vice Minister of Revenue. In the Qianfu reign he was transferred from Right Assistant Director of the Secretariat to Vice Minister of Personnel. Cui Rao wrote elegantly and debated well, but handled office business with loose informality; managing appointments was not his forte. When he was sent out as Observation Commissioner of Shanzhou, he carried himself with lofty airs, scorned petty affairs, and let power slip down to his underlings. Bandits swarmed across Henan like wasps; Wang Xianzhi wreaked havoc in southern Han; the court's authority crumbled—yet Cui Rao, trusting in his own refined rank, paid no heed to the people's hardship. When villagers came pleading about drought, Cui Rao pointed to a tree in the courtyard and said, "See—it still has leaves. What drought is there? He had them flogged, and officials and commoners alike seethed with resentment. Before long his own troops expelled him. Half dead from hunger and thirst, he stumbled into a peasant home to beg for water—and the people gave him urine to drink. When first taken by his troops he was held captive; they shaved his beard and queue, but he bowed in submission and was allowed to go. Demoted to vice prefect of Duanzhou for failing to hold his command, he later returned to court as Left Regular Attendant of the Imperial Insignia and died in office.
22
子居敬、居儉。 居敬終尚書郎，居儉中興終戶部尚書。
He had two sons: Jujing and Jujian. Jujing rose no higher than a secretariat director; Jujian eventually served as Minister of Revenue, reaching that post during the Zhongxing era.
23
黯，字直卿，大和二年，進士擢第。 開成初，為青州從事。 入為監察御史，奏郊廟祭器不虔，請敕有司。 文宗謂宰臣曰：「宗廟之事，朕合親奉其禮，但以千乘萬騎，動費國用，每有司行事之日，被衣冠坐以俟旦。 比聞主者不虔，祭器勞敝，非事神蠲潔之義。 卿宜嚴敕有司，道吾此意。」 黯具條奏以聞。 尋遷員外郎。 會昌中，為諫議大夫。
Cui An, courtesy name Zhiqing, passed the jinshi examination in the second year of Dahe (828). Early in the Kaicheng reign he served as staff officer of Qing prefecture. Recalled to the capital as Investigating Censor, he reported that sacrificial vessels at the suburban altars and ancestral temples were not being maintained with due reverence, and asked that the responsible agencies be ordered to correct this. Emperor Wenzong told his chief ministers, "In ancestral temple matters I ought to perform the rites myself, but a procession of thousands of chariots and horsemen drains the treasury. On each day the officials carry out the ceremony I don ceremonial robes and hat and sit waiting for dawn. Lately I hear the officiants have grown careless and the sacrificial vessels worn and neglected—hardly the spirit of serving the gods in purity and cleanliness. You should sternly instruct the responsible agencies and make My intention known. Cui An submitted a detailed memorial reporting back. He was soon promoted to Supernumerary Director. During the Huichang reign he served as Remonstrance Grand Master.
24
崔確、崔顏
Cui Que and Cui Yan.
25
確，字嶽卿，顏，字希卿，位皆至尚書郎。
Que, courtesy name Yueqing, and Yan, courtesy name Xiqing, both attained the rank of secretariat director.
26
嚴震，字遐聞，梓州鹽亭人。 世為田家，以財雄於鄉里。 至德、乾元已後，震屢出家財以助邊軍，授州長史、王府諮議參軍。 東川節度判官韋收薦震才用於節度使嚴武，遂授合州長史。 及嚴武移西川，署為押衙，改恆王府司馬。 嚴武以宗姓之故，軍府之事多以委之，又歷試衛尉、太常少卿。 嚴武卒，乃罷歸。 東川節度使又奏為渝州刺史，以疾免。 山南西道節度使又奏為鳳州刺史，加侍御史，丁母憂罷。 起復本官，仍充興、鳳兩州團練使，累加開府儀同三司、兼御史中丞。 為政清嚴，興利除害，遠近稱美。 建中初，司勛郎中韋楨為山、劍黜陟使，薦震理行為山南第一，特賜上下考，封鄖國公。 在鳳州十四年，能政不渝。
Yan Zhen, courtesy name Xiawen, was a native of Yanting in Zizhou prefecture. His family were farmers for generations, but their wealth made them the most powerful household in the district. After the Zhide and Qianyuan eras Yan Zhen repeatedly contributed his family fortune to support the border armies and was appointed chief secretary of a prefecture and advisory officer on a princely staff. Wei Shou, aide to the Dongchuan military commission, recommended Yan Zhen's abilities to the military commissioner Yan Wu, who then appointed him chief secretary of He prefecture. When Yan Wu moved to Xichuan command, he appointed Yan Zhen guard officer of the headquarters, then made him vice prefect on the staff of the Prince of Heng. Because they shared the same surname, Yan Wu entrusted Yan Zhen with much of the military headquarters' business; he also served in succession as Vice Minister of the Guard and Vice Minister of Ceremonies. When Yan Wu died he was relieved of office and returned home. The Dongchuan military commissioner again recommended him as prefect of Yu prefecture, but illness prevented him from taking up the post. The Shannan West circuit military commissioner next recommended him as prefect of Feng prefecture and Attending Censor; he resigned when his mother died. Recalled from mourning to his former posts, he was also made regimental commissioner of Xing and Feng prefectures, and eventually received the honorary title of Grand General of the Palace Guards with rank equal to the Three Dukes, concurrent Vice Censor-in-Chief. He governed with austere integrity, promoted public good and cleared away abuses, and won praise throughout the region. Early in Jianzhong, Director of Merits Wei Zhen served as commissioner for evaluating officials in the mountain and sword circuits; he rated Yan Zhen's governance the best in Shannan, the emperor granted him the highest personnel evaluation, and he was enfeoffed as Duke of Yun. He served at Feng prefecture for fourteen years, and his capable administration never slackened.
27
建中三年，代賈耽為梁州刺史、兼御史大夫、山南西道節度觀察等使。 及硃泚竊據京城，李懷光頓軍咸陽，又與之連結。 泚令腹心穆庭光、宋瑗等賫白書誘震同叛，震集眾斬庭光等。 時李懷光連賊，德宗欲移幸山南。 震既聞順動，遣吏馳表往奉天迎駕，仍令大將張用誠領兵五千至盩厔已東迎護，上聞之喜。 既而用誠為賊所誘，欲謀背逆，朝廷憂之。 會震又遣牙將馬勛奉表迎候，上臨軒召勛與之語，勛對曰：「臣請計日至山南取節度使符召用誠，即不受召，臣當斬其首以復。」 上喜曰：「卿何日當至？」 勛克日時而奏，帝勉勞之。 勛既得震符，乃請壯丁五人偕行。 既出駱谷，用誠以勛未知其謀，乃以數百騎迎勛，勛與俱之傳舍，用誠左右森然。 勛先聚草發火於驛外，軍士爭附火。 勛乃從容出懷中符示之曰：「大夫召君。」 用誠惶懼起走，壯士自背束手而擒之。 不虞用誠子居後，引刀斫勛，勛左右遽承其臂，刀下不甚，微傷勛首。 遂格殺其子，而仆用誠於地。 壯士跨其腹，以刃擬其喉曰：「出聲即死！」 勛即其營，軍士已被甲執兵矣。 勛大言曰：「汝等父母妻子皆在梁州，一朝棄之，欲從用誠反逆，有何利也？ 但滅汝族耳！ 大夫使我取張用誠，不問汝輩，欲何為乎？」 眾皆詟服。 於是縛用誠送州，震杖殺之，拔其副將，使率其眾迎駕。 勛以藥封首馳赴行在，愆約半日，上頗憂之，及勛至，上喜動顏色。 翌日，車駕發奉天，及入駱谷，李懷光遣數百騎來襲，賴山南兵擊之而退，輿駕無警急之患。 尋加震檢校戶部尚書，賜實封二百戶。
In the third year of Jianzhong he succeeded Jia Dan as prefect of Liang prefecture, concurrent Censor-in-Chief, and military and observation commissioner of Shannan West circuit. When Zhu Ci seized the capital Li Huaiguang was encamped at Xianyang and was in league with him as well. Zhu Ci sent his trusted agents Mu Tingguang and Song Yuan and others with personal letters urging Yan Zhen to join the rebellion; Yan Zhen assembled his forces and had Tingguang and the others executed. Li Huaiguang was in league with the rebels, and Emperor Dezong planned to move the court into Shannan. As soon as Yan Zhen learned of the emperor's movement toward loyal territory, he dispatched clerks with an urgent memorial to Fengtian to welcome the imperial procession, and ordered his great general Zhang Yongcheng to lead five thousand men east of Zhouzhi to receive and escort the court; the emperor was overjoyed when he heard of it. Before long Zhang Yongcheng was won over by the rebels and planned to turn traitor, filling the court with alarm. Then Yan Zhen sent his adjutant Ma Xun with another memorial to attend the emperor; the emperor received him in audience at the palace steps. Ma Xun answered, "Allow me to set a date to reach Shannan, take the military commissioner's seal of authority and summon Zhang Yongcheng—if he refuses the summons, I shall strike off his head and report back. The emperor was pleased and asked, "On what day will you arrive? Ma Xun fixed a day and hour and submitted his answer, and the emperor commended and rewarded him. Once Ma Xun had Yan Zhen's seal of authority, he asked for five strong men to accompany him. Once they had passed through Luogu Pass, Zhang Yongcheng, believing Ma Xun unaware of his plot, rode out with several hundred cavalry to meet him. Ma Xun went with him to a relay station where Yongcheng's men stood ranks deep on every side. Ma Xun first piled grass and set it ablaze outside the relay station, and the soldiers all rushed to warm themselves at the fire. Then Ma Xun calmly produced the seal from his robe and showed it, saying, "The commissioner summons you. Zhang Yongcheng leapt up in panic and tried to flee, but the strong men seized him from behind with his arms pinned. Unexpectedly Zhang Yongcheng's son was lurking behind and struck at Ma Xun with a blade; Ma Xun's men instantly caught the arm, so the blow was not heavy—a glancing cut to Ma Xun's head. They thereupon beat the son to death and threw Zhang Yongcheng to the ground. A strong man straddled his belly and pressed a blade to his throat, saying, "One sound and you die! Ma Xun marched straight into their camp—the soldiers were already armored and armed. Ma Xun shouted, "Your parents, wives, and children are all at Liang prefecture—will you cast them aside in a morning to follow Zhang Yongcheng in treason? What good can that do you? You will only bring destruction on your whole families! The commissioner sent me only to take Zhang Yongcheng, not to question the rest of you—what do you mean to do? The men all cowered into submission. They bound Zhang Yongcheng and sent him to the prefectural seat; Yan Zhen had him beaten to death with the staff, promoted a deputy in his place, and ordered him to lead the troops to welcome the emperor. Ma Xun dressed his wound and galloped to the emperor's camp. He was half a day late on his promise, and the emperor grew anxious—but when Ma Xun arrived the emperor's face lit with joy. The next day the imperial procession left Fengtian. As they entered Luogu Pass Li Huaiguang sent several hundred cavalry to attack, but Shannan troops drove them back and the imperial train met with no serious danger. Yan Zhen was soon given the additional title of acting Minister of Revenue and granted an actual fief of two hundred households.
28
三月，德宗至梁州。 山南地貧，糧食難給，宰臣議請幸成都府。 震奏曰：「山南地接京畿，李晟方圖收復，藉六軍聲援。 如幸西川，則晟未見收復之期也。 幸陛下徐思其宜。」 議未決，李晟表至，請車駕駐蹕梁、洋，以圖收復，群議乃止。 梁、漢之間，刀耕火耨，民以采穭為事，雖節察十五郡，而賦額不敵中原三數縣。 自安、史之後，多為山賊剽掠，戶口流散大半。 洎六師駐蹕，震設法勸課，鳩聚財賦，以給行在，民不至煩，供億無闕。 其年六月，收復京城，車駕將還京師，進位檢校尚書左僕射。 詔曰：「朕遭罹寇難，播越梁、岷，蒸庶煩於供億，武旅勤於扞衛。 凡百執事，各奉厥司，眷於是邦，復我興運，宜加崇大，以示將來。 宜改梁州為興元府，官名品制，同京兆、河南府； 鄭縣升為赤，諸縣升為畿。 見任州縣官，考滿日放選，百姓給復一年。 洋州宜升為望，見任州縣官，考滿減兩選。 山南西道將士，並與甄敘。」 以震為興元尹，賜實封二百戶。
In the third month Emperor Dezong reached Liang prefecture. Shannan was poor and grain scarce, and the chief ministers debated urging the emperor to move on to Chengdu. Yan Zhen memorialized, "Shannan adjoins the capital region. Li Sheng is working to recover the city and needs the moral support of the imperial army. If Your Majesty proceeds to Xichuan, Li Sheng will have no hope of a date for recovery. I pray Your Majesty will weigh this carefully. Before a decision was made, Li Sheng's memorial arrived asking that the court remain at Liang and Yang prefectures while planning recovery, and the discussion ended. Between Liang and Han the people burned clearings for fields and lived by gathering wild grain; though the circuit encompassed fifteen prefectures, its tax quota was less than that of a handful of counties in the central plain. Since the An Lushan rebellion mountain bandits had ravaged the region and more than half the population had dispersed. When the imperial army arrived Yan Zhen devised methods to encourage production and gathered revenue to supply the mobile court without overburdening the people, and provisions never ran short. That June, when the capital was recovered and the emperor prepared to return, Yan Zhen was promoted to Acting Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. The edict read, "We have suffered rebellion and been driven into Liang and Min; the people have been burdened with provisioning and the troops have labored in our defense. Every official has done his duty. Because this land has sheltered us and helped restore the dynasty's fortunes, it should be greatly honored as a sign to posterity. Liang prefecture shall be renamed Xingyuan Prefecture, with official titles and institutions equal to those of the capitals Jingzhao and Henan; Zheng county shall be raised to imperial status, and all other counties to metropolitan status. Current prefectural and county officials shall be released for new appointments when their evaluations are complete, and the people granted one year's tax remission. Yang prefecture shall be raised to distinguished status; incumbent officials there shall advance two selection cycles early upon completing their evaluations. All officers and soldiers of Shannan West circuit shall receive evaluation for promotion and rewards. Yan Zhen was appointed Governor of Xingyuan and granted an actual fief of two hundred households.
29
貞元元年十一月，德宗親祀昊天上帝於南郊，震入朝陪祭。 十一年二月，加同平章事。 貞元十五年六月卒，時年七十六，廢朝三日，冊贈太保，賻布帛米粟有差。 及喪將至，令百官以次赴宅吊哭。
In the eleventh month of the first year of Zhenyuan Emperor Dezong personally sacrificed to High Heaven at the southern altar; Yan Zhen came to court to assist in the rites. In the second month of the eleventh year of Zhenyuan he was granted the title of Grand Councillor. He died in the sixth month of the fifteenth year of Zhenyuan at seventy-six. Court business was suspended for three days; he was posthumously appointed Grand Preceptor, with graded gifts of cloth, silk, grain, and rice. When the funeral procession was nearing, the emperor ordered officials to go in turn to his residence to mourn.
30
嚴礪，震之宗人也。 性輕躁，多奸謀，以便佞在軍，歷職至山南東道節度都虞候、興州刺史、兼監察御史。 貞元十五年，嚴震卒，以礪權留府事，兼遺表薦礪才堪委任。 七月，超授興元尹，兼御史大夫，山南西道節度、支度營田、觀察使。 詔下，諫官御史以為除拜不當。 是日，諫議、給事、補闕、拾遺並歸門下省共議：礪資歷甚淺，人望素輕，遽領節旄，恐非允當。 既兼雜話，發論喧然。 拾遺李繁獨奏云：「昨除拜嚴礪，眾以為不當，諫議大夫苗拯云：『已三度表論，未見聽允。』 給事中許孟容曰：『誠如此，不曠職矣。』」 又云：「李元素、陳京、王舒並見拯及孟容言議。」 上遣三司使詰之。 拯狀云：「實於眾中言曾論奏，不言三度。」 繁證之不已。 孟容等又云：「拯實言兩度。」 拯請依眾狀。 翌日，貶拯萬州刺史，李繁播州參軍，並同正。 礪在位貪殘，士民不堪其苦。 素惡鳳州刺史馬勛，誣奏貶賀州司戶。 縱情肆志，皆此類也。
Yan Li was a kinsman of Yan Zhen. He was impulsive and scheming, and rose in the army through flattery, eventually serving as chief intendant of the East Shannan military commission, prefect of Xing prefecture, and concurrent Investigating Censor. In the fifteenth year of Zhenyuan, when Yan Zhen died, Yan Li was left to manage headquarters affairs; Yan Zhen's deathbed memorial also recommended Yan Li as capable of greater responsibility. In the seventh month he was abruptly appointed Governor of Xingyuan, concurrent Censor-in-Chief, and military commissioner of Shannan West with charge over supplies, military colonies, and observation. When the edict was issued, remonstrating officials and censors judged the appointment improper. That day remonstrance officials, reviewing secretaries, and remonstrators all withdrew to the Chancellery to confer: Yan Li's experience was very thin, he had little standing in public opinion, and to rush the military seal on him was hardly fitting. Other matters were discussed as well, and the debate grew heated. Remonstrator Li Fan alone submitted: "Yesterday's appointment of Yan Li was widely considered improper. Remonstrance Grand Master Miao Zheng said, 'I have already memorialized three times and received no heed. Reviewing Secretary Xu Mengrong said, 'If that is so, he has not been derelict in duty.' Li Fan also reported, "Li Yuansu, Chen Jing, and Wang Shu all heard Miao Zheng and Xu Mengrong's exchange. The emperor sent an envoy from the Three Offices to investigate. Miao Zheng deposed, "I did say in the assembly that I had memorialized, but I did not say three times. Li Fan continued to testify against him. Xu Mengrong and others said, "Miao Zheng actually said two times. Miao Zheng asked to be judged by the majority deposition. The next day Miao Zheng was demoted to prefect of Wan prefecture and Li Fan to staff officer at Bo prefecture, both retaining regular rank. In office Yan Li was greedy and brutal, and officials and commoners alike could not endure the misery. He had long hated Feng prefecture governor Ma Xun and brought a false charge that got Ma Xun demoted to registrar of He prefecture. He indulged his every whim; this was typical of his conduct.
31
元和四年三月卒。 卒後，御史元稹奉使兩川按察，糾劾礪在任日贓罪數十萬。 詔征其贓，以死，恕其罪。
He died in the third month of the fourth year of Yuanhe (809). After his death the censor Yuan Zhen was sent on an inspection mission to the two Sichuan circuits and impeached Yan Li for embezzling several hundred thousand in office. An edict ordered recovery of the embezzled funds, but because he was dead his crimes were pardoned.
32
史臣曰：爵人於朝，與眾共之； 刑人於市，與眾棄之。 縊崔寧，除嚴礪，時君之政可知矣，輔相之才可見矣！ 武不稟父風，有違母誨，凡為人子者，得不戒哉！ 雖有周、孔之才，不足稱也，況狂夫乎！ 英乂失政，其死也宜哉。 嚴震立功，其道也顯矣。
The historian writes: To ennoble a man at court is to share the decision with the public; To punish a man at the marketplace is to cast him out together with the public. To garrote Cui Ning while elevating Yan Li—what that says about the emperor's rule and his ministers' judgment needs no further comment! Yan Wu failed to live up to his father's example and defied his mother's counsel—what son would not take that as a warning! Even men with the gifts of the Duke of Zhou and Confucius would not deserve praise for such conduct—how much less a reckless bully! Guo Yingyi's misrule made his violent end only fitting. Yan Zhen's loyal service stands in bright contrast—his merit speaks for itself.
33
贊曰：英乂失政，崔寧廢身。 武為士子，震作純臣。
In summary: Guo Yingyi fell through misrule; Cui Ning destroyed himself. Yan Wu disgraced his scholar's upbringing; Yan Zhen proved a loyal servant of the throne.