Volume 120 Biographies 70: Guo Ziyi

郭子儀子曜晞曖曙晤映晞子鋼曖子釗鏦釗子仲文族弟幼明子昕

Guo Ziyi's line included his sons Yao, Xi, Ai, Shu, Wu, and Ying, another son Xi, his son Gang, Ai's son Zhao (whose sons were Cong and Zhongwen), and his clansman Youming's son Xin.

郭子儀，華州鄭縣人。父敬之，歷綏、渭、桂、壽、泗五州刺史，以子儀貴，贈太保，追封祁國公。子儀長六尺余，體貌秀傑，始以武舉高等補左衛長史，累歷諸軍使。天寶八載，於木剌山置橫塞軍及安北都護府，命子儀領其使，拜左衛大將軍。十三載，移橫塞軍及安北都護府於永清柵北築城，仍改橫塞為天德軍，子儀為之使，兼九原太守、朔方節度右兵馬使。

Guo Ziyi came from Zheng County in Hua Prefecture. His father Guo Jingzhi had governed five prefectures—Sui, Wei, Gui, Shou, and Si—and when Ziyi rose to greatness, the court posthumously honored him as Grand Mentor and created him Duke of Qi. More than six feet tall and striking in bearing, Ziyi first joined the bureaucracy as chief secretary of the Left Guard after ranking high in the military exams, then served in a series of frontier army commands. In Tianbao 8 (749), the court founded the Hengsai Army and Anbei Protectorate at Mount Mula and put Ziyi in charge, promoting him to general-in-chief of the Left Guard. In Tianbao 13 (754), the Hengsai forces and Anbei headquarters were relocated to a new fortress north of Yongqing; the unit became the Tiande Army under Ziyi, who also served as prefect of Jiuyuan and Shuofang's deputy army commissioner.

十四載，安祿山反。十一月，以子儀為衛尉卿，兼靈武郡太守，充朔方節度使，詔子儀以本軍東討。遂舉兵出單於府，收靜邊軍，斬賊將周萬頃，傳首闕下。祿山遣大同軍使高秀巖寇河曲，子儀擊敗之，進收雲中馬邑，開東陘，以功加御史大夫。十五載正月，賊將蔡希德陷常山郡，執顏杲卿，河北郡縣皆為賊守。二月，子儀與河東節度使李光弼率師下井陘，拔常山郡，破賊於九門，南攻趙郡，生擒賊四千，皆舍之，斬偽太守郭獻璆，獲兵仗數萬。師還常山，賊將史思明以數萬人踵其後，我行亦行，我止亦止。子儀選驍騎五百更挑之，三日至行唐，賊疲乃退，我軍乘之，又敗於沙河。祿山聞思明敗，乃以精兵益之。我軍至恆陽，賊亦隨至。子儀堅壁自固，賊來則守，賊去則追，晝揚其兵，夕襲其幕，賊人不及息。數日，光弼議曰：「賊怠矣，可以戰。」六月，子儀、光弼率仆固懷恩、渾釋之、陳回光等陣於嘉山，賊將史思明、蔡希德、尹子奇等亦結陣而至，一戰敗之，斬馘四萬級，生擒五千人，獲馬五千匹，思明露髪跣足奔於博陵。於是河北十余郡皆斬賊守者以迎王師。子儀將北圖范陽，軍聲大振。

In Tianbao 14 (755), An Lushan rose in rebellion. That November, Ziyi became minister of the imperial stud and prefect of Lingwu, took command of Shuofang, and received orders to march east against the rebels. He mobilized from the Chanyu Protectorate, retook the Jingbian Army, executed the rebel commander Zhou Wanqing, and sent his head to the throne. When Lushan dispatched Gao Xiuyan of the Datong Army to strike the river bend, Ziyi routed him, recaptured Yunzhong and Mayi, reopened the eastern pass, and earned promotion to censor-in-chief. In the first month of 756, Cai Xide took Changshan, captured Yan Gaoqing, and left Hebei's counties in rebel hands. In the second month, Ziyi and Li Guangbi descended Jingxing, recovered Changshan, smashed the rebels at Jiumen, and drove into Zhao Commandery—taking four thousand prisoners whom they freed, executing the puppet prefect Guo Xianyao, and capturing vast stores of arms. Marching back to Changshan, they found Shi Siming trailing with tens of thousands, matching their every halt and step. Ziyi sent five hundred picked cavalry to skirmish in rotation; by the third day at Xingtang the rebels were spent and fell back, and the Tang forces chased them to another victory on the Sha River. Learning of Siming's defeat, Lushan reinforced him with crack troops. When the Tang army reached Hengyang, the rebels closed in behind them. Ziyi dug in: defending when attacked, pursuing when they withdrew, parading strength by day and striking camps at night until the enemy could not catch their breath. After several days Li Guangbi argued in council that the rebels had grown slack and the moment had come to give battle. In the sixth month, Ziyi and Guangbi drew up at Jia Mountain with Pugu Huai'en, Hun Jiezhi, and Chen Huiguang against Siming, Cai Xide, and Yin Ziqi; one battle broke them—forty thousand slain or captured, five thousand prisoners, five thousand horses—and Siming fled barefoot and disheveled toward Boling. Thereupon more than ten Hebei prefectures killed their puppet officials and opened their gates to the Tang. Ziyi turned toward Fanyang in the north, and the campaign's momentum swelled.

是月，哥舒翰為賊所敗，潼關不守，玄宗幸蜀，肅宗幸靈武，子儀副使杜鴻漸為朔方留後，奏迎車駕。七月，肅宗即位，以賊據兩京，方謀收復，詔子儀班師。八月，子儀與李光弼率步騎五萬至自河北。時朝廷初立，兵眾寡弱，雖得牧馬，軍容缺然。及子儀、光弼全師赴行在，軍聲遂振，興復之勢，民有望焉。詔以子儀為兵部尚書、同中書門下平章事，依前靈州大都督府長史、朔方軍節度使。肅宗大閱六軍，南趨關輔，至彭原郡，宰相房琯請兵萬人，自為統帥以討賊，帝素重琯，許之。兵及陳濤，為賊所敗，喪師殆盡。方事討除，而軍半殪，唯倚朔方軍為根本。十一月，賊將阿史那從禮以同羅、仆骨五千騎出塞，誘河曲九府、六胡州部落數萬，欲迫行在。子儀與回紇首領葛邏支往擊敗之，斬獲數萬，河曲平定。

That same month Geshu Han's defeat lost Tong Pass; Xuanzong fled to Shu and Suzong to Lingwu, while Du Hongjian, Ziyi's deputy left in charge of Shuofang, urged the court to welcome the new emperor. In the seventh month Suzong was enthroned; with Chang'an and Luoyang in enemy hands, he ordered Ziyi to pull his army back for the reconquest. In the eighth month, Ziyi and Li Guangbi arrived from Hebei with fifty thousand foot and horse. The fledgling court had thin ranks; even with remounts at hand, the army still lacked proper kit. Once Ziyi and Guangbi marched their intact armies to the imperial headquarters, morale revived and common people began to believe restoration possible. The throne appointed Ziyi minister of war and grand councilor, while he kept his posts at Lingzhou and as Shuofang commissioner. Suzong inspected the Six Armies and marched toward Guanzhong; at Pengyuan, Fang Guan asked for ten thousand troops to command himself, and the emperor, who trusted him deeply, agreed. At Chen Tao, Fang Guan's force was smashed and almost wiped out. With the great offensive barely begun, half the imperial force was gone, leaving Shuofang as the sole pillar. In the eleventh month, Ashina Congli led five thousand Tongluo and Pugu cavalry from beyond the passes and stirred tens of thousands from the river-bend settlements to threaten the emperor's position. Ziyi marched with the Uyghur leader Geluozhi, crushed the coalition, and took tens of thousands of heads and captives, pacifying the bend.

賊將崔乾祐守潼關。二年三月，子儀大破賊於潼關，崔乾祐退保蒲津。時永樂尉趙復、河東司戶韓旻、司士徐炅、宗子李藏鋒等，陷賊在蒲州，四人密謀俟王師至，則為內應。及子儀攻蒲州，趙復等斬賊守陴者，開門納子儀。乾祐與麾下數千人北走安邑，安邑百姓偽降，乾祐兵入將半，下懸門擊之，乾祐未入，遂得脫身東走。子儀遂收陜郡永豐倉。自是潼、陜之間無復寇鈔。

The rebel Cui Qianyou guarded Tong Pass. In the third month of 757, Ziyi broke the rebels at Tong Pass, forcing Cui Qianyou back to Pujin. Meanwhile Zhao Fu, Han Min, Xu Jiong, and Li Cangfeng, caught inside rebel-held Puzhou, plotted a rising when Tang troops appeared. As Ziyi besieged Puzhou, they killed the wall guards and admitted his army. Qianyou fled north to Anyi with a few thousand men; the townspeople feigned submission, then dropped the gate on his column before he could enter, and he slipped away east. Ziyi next seized the Yongfeng granary in Shaan Commandery. After that, banditry between Tong and Shaan ceased.

是月，安祿山死，朝廷欲圖大舉，詔子儀還鳳翔。四月，進位司空，充關內、河東副元帥。五月，詔子儀帥師趨京城。師於潏水之西，與賊將安太清、安守忠戰，王師不利，其眾大潰，盡委兵仗於清渠之上。子儀收合余眾，保武功，詣闕請罪，乞降官資，乃降為左僕射，余如故。九月，從元帥廣平王率蕃漢之師十五萬進收長安。回紇遣葉護太子領四千騎助國討賊，子儀與葉護宴狎修好，相與誓平國難，相得甚好。子儀奉元帥為中軍，與賊將安守忠、李歸仁戰於京西香積寺之北，王師結陣橫亙三十里，賊眾十萬陳於北。歸仁先薄我軍，我軍亂，李嗣業奮命馳突，擒賊十余騎乃定。回紇以奇兵出賊陣之後夾攻之，賊軍大潰，自午至酉，斬首六萬級。賊將張通儒守長安，聞歸仁等敗，是夜奔陜郡。翌日，廣平王入京師，老幼百萬，夾道歡叫，涕泣而言曰：「不圖今日復見官軍。」廣平王休士三日，率師東趨。肅宗在鳳翔聞捷，群臣稱賀，帝以宗廟被焚，悲咽不自勝，臣僚無不感泣。

That month An Lushan died; the court prepared a grand campaign and recalled Ziyi to Fengxiang. In the fourth month he became minister of works and deputy supreme commander for Guannei and Hedong. In the fifth month the emperor ordered him to advance on Chang'an. West of the Wei River they clashed with An Taiqing and An Shouzhong, suffered a disastrous rout, and littered the Qing Canal with discarded arms. Ziyi regrouped at Wugong, presented himself to accept blame, and asked for demotion; he was lowered to left vice director of the Secretariat while retaining his other titles. In the ninth month he served under the Prince of Guangping, leading one hundred fifty thousand Tang and allied troops to retake Chang'an. The Uyghurs sent Prince Yehu with four thousand riders; Ziyi banqueted with him, pledged to end the crisis together, and won his warm trust. Ziyi anchored the prince at the center against An Shouzhong and Li Guiren north of Xiangji Temple; the Tang front spanned thirty li facing one hundred thousand rebels. When Li Guiren hit the front, the line buckled until Li Siye charged, grabbed a dozen rebel horsemen, and held the formation. Uyghur horsemen swept behind the rebel line in a pincer; the enemy army collapsed, and from noon to evening sixty thousand were slain. Zhang Tongru, garrison commander in Chang'an, fled overnight to Shaan when he heard of Guiren's rout. The next day the prince entered the city; a million citizens lined the streets in tears, crying that they never expected to see imperial soldiers again. After three days' rest, the prince led the army eastward. At Fengxiang, Suzong rejoiced at the news, then broke down remembering the burned ancestral shrines, and the whole court wept with him.

十月，安慶緒遣嚴莊悉其眾十萬來赴陜州，與張通儒同抗官軍。賊聞官軍至，悉其眾屯於陜西，負山為陣。子儀以大軍擊其前，回紇登山乘其背，遇賊潛師於山中，與鬥過期，大軍稍卻。賊分兵三千人，絕我歸路，眾心大搖，子儀麾回紇令進，盡殺之。師馳至其後，於黃埃中發十余箭，賊驚顧曰：「回紇來！」即時大敗，僵屍遍山澤。嚴莊、張通儒走歸洛陽，遂與安慶緒渡河保相州。子儀奉廣平王入東都，陳兵於天津橋南，士庶歡呼於路。偽侍中陳希烈、偽中書令張垍等三百余人素服請罪，王慰撫遣之。是時，河東、河西、河南賊所盜郡邑皆平，以功加司徒，封代國公，食邑千戶。尋入朝，天子遣兵仗戎容迎於灞上，肅宗勞之曰：「雖吾之家國，實由卿再造。」子儀頓首感謝。十二月，還東都，命子儀經營北討。乾元元年七月，破賊河上，擒偽將安守忠以獻，遂朝京師，敕百僚班迎於長樂驛，帝御望春樓待之，進位中書令。九月，奉詔大舉，子儀與河東節度使李光弼、關內節度使王思禮、北庭行營節度李嗣業、襄鄧節度使魯炅、荊南節度季廣琛、河南節度使崔光遠、滑濮節度許叔冀、平盧兵馬使董秦等九節度之師討安慶緒。帝以子儀、光弼俱是元勛，難相統屬，故不立元帥。唯以中官魚朝恩為觀軍容宣慰使。十月，子儀自杏園渡河，圍衛州。安慶緒與其驍將安雄俊、崔乾祐、薛嵩、田承嗣悉其眾來援，分為三軍。子儀陣以待之，預選射者三千人伏於壁內，誡之曰：「俟吾小卻，賊必爭進，則登城鼓噪，弓弩齊發以迫之。」既戰，子儀偽遁，賊果乘之，及壘門，遽聞鼓噪，俄而弓弩齊發，矢註如雨，賊徒震駭，子儀整眾追之，賊眾大敗。是役也，獲偽鄭王安慶和以獻，遂收衛州。進軍趨鄴，與賊再戰於愁思岡，賊軍又敗，乃連營圍之。慶緒遣薛嵩以所乘馬十匹求救於史思明，且言禪代。十二月，思明遣將李歸仁率眾赴之，營於滏陽。

In the tenth month, An Qingxu dispatched Yan Zhuang with one hundred thousand men to Shaanzhou alongside Zhang Tongru to block the Tang. The rebels gathered west of Shaan, anchoring their battle line on the hills. Ziyi attacked head-on as Uyghurs scaled the heights; rebel ambushes in the hills delayed the engagement and the main Tang line edged back. Rebels sent three thousand men to sever the retreat; morale wavered until Ziyi drove the Uyghurs forward and they wiped out the detachment. Uyghur riders raced to the rear and fired a volley from the dust; the enemy looked back in terror shouting that the Uyghurs had come. Instantly they were routed, and the slopes and marshes were heaped with dead. Yan Zhuang and Zhang Tongru ran to Luoyang, then crossed the Yellow River with An Qingxu to defend Xiangzhou. Ziyi brought the prince into Luoyang and drew up troops south of the Tianjin Bridge as the city shouted its joy. Over three hundred puppet officials, including Chen Xilie and Zhang Ao, surrendered in mourning dress; the prince reassured and released them. With rebel territories in Hedong, Hexi, and Henan restored, he was made minister of education, created Duke of Dai, and granted a thousand-household fief. He soon came to court; the emperor sent a military escort to Bashang, where Suzong told him, "This realm is mine, but you remade it. Ziyi kowtowed in thanks. In the twelfth month he went back to Luoyang to organize the northern offensive. In Qianyuan 1, seventh month, he defeated the rebels on the river, sent up An Shouzhong as a captive, and was welcomed at Changle Post and received at Wangchun Tower, rising to grand councilor. In the ninth month nine circuits—under Ziyi, Li Guangbi, Wang Sili, Li Siye, Lu Jiong, Ji Guangchen, Cui Guangyuan, Xu Shuji, and Dong Qin—were ordered to destroy An Qingxu. Since both Ziyi and Guangbi were paramount heroes, the throne appointed no single supreme commander over them. Only the eunuch Yu Chao'en was named army-inspecting envoy and imperial commissioner. In the tenth month Ziyi crossed from Xingyuan and invested Weizhou. An Qingxu marched with An Xiongjun, Cui Qianyou, Xue Song, and Tian Chengsi in three armies to break the siege. Ziyi drew up to meet them, hid three thousand archers on the walls, and instructed them to raise a clamor and volley when he pretended to give ground. Ziyi faked a retreat; the rebels chased to the ramparts; drums and arrows burst forth; the rebels shattered, and Ziyi reformed and routed them. They captured the puppet Prince of Zheng, An Qinghe, and took Weizhou. Pressing toward Ye, they beat the rebels again at Chousi Ridge and tightened the siege. Qingxu sent Xue Song with ten of his own horses to plead with Shi Siming and offered to yield the throne. In the twelfth month, Siming dispatched Li Guiren to camp at Fuyang.

二年正月，史思明自率范陽精卒復陷魏州，乃偽稱燕王。王師雖眾，軍無統帥，進退無所承稟，自冬徂春，竟未破賊，但引漳水以灌其城，城中食盡，易子而食。二月，思明率眾自魏州來。李光弼、王思禮、許叔冀、魯炅前軍遇賊於鄴南，與之接戰，夷傷相半，魯炅中流矢。子儀為後陣，未及合戰，大風遽起，吹沙拔木，天地晦暝，跬步不辯物色。我師潰而南，賊軍潰而北，委棄兵仗輜重，累積於路。諸軍各還本鎮。子儀以朔方軍保河陽，斷浮橋，有詔令留守東都。三月，以子儀為東都畿、山南東道、河南諸道行營元帥。

In the second year, first month, Siming led Fanyang veterans, recaptured Weizhou, and proclaimed himself King of Yan. The allied host was huge but leaderless; through winter into spring Ye never fell—only the Zhang was dammed to starve the city until families traded children for food. In the second month Siming marched from Weizhou. Guangbi, Wang Sili, Xu Shuji, and Lu Jiong's vanguard clashed south of Ye with roughly equal losses; Lu Jiong took an arrow. Ziyi was in the rear when a sandstorm uprooted trees and blacked out the field so men could not see a pace ahead. The Tang line collapsed southward and the rebel line northward, leaving the roads littered with arms and wagons. Each contingent withdrew to its own territory. Ziyi held Heyang with Shuofang troops, severed the floating bridge, and was ordered to stay in Luoyang. In the third month he became field marshal over the Eastern Capital, Shannan East, and Henan circuits.

中官魚朝恩素害子儀之功，因其不振，媒孽之，尋召還京師。天子以趙王系為天下兵馬元帥，李光弼副之，委以陜東軍事，代子儀之任。子儀雖失兵柄，乃思王室，以禍難未平，不遑寢息。俄而史思明再陷河洛，朝廷旰食，復慮蕃寇逼迫京畿，三年正月，授子儀邠寧、鄜坊兩鎮節度使，仍留京師。言事者以子儀有社稷大功，今殘孽未除，不宜置之散地，肅宗深然之。上元元年九月，以子儀為諸道兵馬都統，管崇嗣副之，令率英武、威遠等禁軍及河西、河東諸鎮之師，取邠寧、朔方、大同、橫野，徑抵范陽。詔下旬日，復為朝恩所間，事竟不行。

Yu Chao'en, jealous of Ziyi's fame, used the defeat to slander him, and Ziyi was soon recalled. The emperor made the Prince of Zhao supreme commander with Li Guangbi as deputy, replacing Ziyi in the east. Stripped of command, he still burned for the dynasty and could not rest while rebellion lingered. When Siming retook the heartland, the court ate in haste, fearing barbarian raids on Chang'an; in the third year's first month Ziyi was given Binning and Fufang but kept in the capital. Officials urged that a man of Ziyi's stature should not sit idle while rebels remained; Suzong strongly concurred. In Shangyuan 1, ninth month, he was named overall commander with Guan Chongsi as deputy to lead palace guards and western armies through Binning and Shuofang toward Fanyang. Within ten days Yu Chao'en sabotaged the order and the campaign was canceled.

上元二年二月，李光弼兵敗於邙山，河陽失守，魚朝恩退保陜州。三年二月，河中軍亂，殺其帥李國貞。時太原節度鄧景山亦為部下所殺，恐其合從連賊，朝廷憂之。後輩帥臣未能彈壓，勢不獲已，遂用子儀為朔方、河中、北庭、潞、儀、澤、沁等州節度行營兼興平、定國副元帥，充本管觀察處置使，進封汾陽郡王，出鎮絳州。三月，子儀辭赴鎮，肅宗不豫，群臣莫有見者。子儀請曰：「老臣受命，將死於外，不見陛下，目不瞑矣。」帝乃引至臥內，謂子儀曰：「河東之事，一以委卿。」子儀嗚咽流涕。賜禦馬、銀器、雜彩，別賜絹四萬疋、布五萬端以賞軍。子儀至絳，擒其殺國貞賊首王元振數十人誅之。太原辛雲京聞子儀誅元振，亦誅害景山者，由是河東諸鎮率皆奉法。四月，代宗即位，內官程元振用事，自矜定策之功，忌嫉宿將，以子儀功高難制，巧行離間，請罷副元帥，加實封七百戶，充肅宗山陵使。子儀既謝恩，上表進肅宗所賜前後詔敕，因自陳訴曰：

In Shangyuan 2, second month, Guangbi lost at Mount Mang, Heyang fell, and Yu Chao'en pulled back to Shaanzhou. In the third year, second month, troops at Hezhong murdered their commander Li Guozhen. When Taiyuan commissioner Deng Jingshan was likewise murdered, the court feared a rebel alliance and grew alarmed. Unable to restrain the mutinies, the throne turned to Ziyi as deputy supreme commander and commissioner over Shuofang, Hezhong, Beiting, and other circuits, created him Prince of Fenyang, and sent him to Jiangzhou. In the third month Ziyi prepared to depart; Suzong was unwell and had seen no courtier. Ziyi pleaded: "I have been ordered to serve until death in the provinces—if I do not see Your Majesty, I cannot die in peace. Suzong brought him to the bedside and said, "All matters in Hedong I leave entirely in your hands." Ziyi wept aloud. The court bestowed an imperial horse, silverware, and colored silks, plus forty thousand bolts of silk and fifty thousand lengths of cloth to reward the troops. At Jiangzhou he seized dozens of mutineers led by Wang Yuanzhen, who had murdered Guozhen, and put them to death. When Taiyuan's Xin Yunjing heard of Yuanzhen's execution, he too punished Deng Jingshan's murderers, and Hedong's garrisons thereafter mostly kept discipline. In the fourth month Daizong ascended; eunuch Cheng Yuanzhen, vaunting his role in the succession, envied old commanders and, finding Ziyi too powerful to manage, slandered him, stripped his deputy commander title, added seven hundred fief households, and made him overseer of Suzong's tomb. After accepting the honors, Ziyi submitted the accumulated edicts Suzong had given him and filed a personal appeal:

臣德薄蟬翼，命輕鴻毛，累蒙國恩，猥廁朝列。會天地震蕩，中原血戰，臣北自靈武，冊先皇帝，乃舉兵而南，大搜於岐陽。先帝憂勤宗社，托臣以家國，俾副陛下掃兩京之妖昆。陛下雄圖丕斷，再造區宇，自後不以臣寡劣，委文武之二柄，外敷邦教，內調鼎飪，是以常許國家之死，實荷日月之明。臣本愚淺，言多詆直，慮此招謗，上瀆冕旒。陛下居高聽卑，察臣不貳，皇天後土，察臣無私。伏以器忌滿盈，日增兢惕，焉敢偷全，久妨賢路？自受恩塞下，制敵行間，東西十年，前後百戰。天寒劍折，濺血沾衣；野宿魂驚，飲冰傷骨。跋涉難阻，出沒死生，所仗唯天，以至今日。陛下曲申惠獎，念及勤勞，貽臣詔書一千余首，聖旨微婉，慰諭綢繆，彰微臣一時之功，成子孫萬代之寶。自靈武、河北、河南、彭原、鄜坊、河東、鳳翔、兩京、絳州，臣所經行，賜手詔敕書凡二十卷，昧死上進，庶煩聽覽。

My virtue is thinner than a cicada's wing and my life lighter than a goose down, yet the throne has heaped favor on me and placed me among ministers. When the realm convulsed and the heartland ran with blood, I came from Lingwu to support the late emperor, then marched south and gathered forces at Qiyang. The late emperor, laboring for the dynasty, entrusted me with house and realm to help Your Majesty cleanse the two capitals of rebels. Your Majesty's decisive vision restored the empire; despite my unworthiness you gave me both civil and military authority at home and abroad, and I pledged my life to the state under your radiant trust. I am dull and blunt of speech, often giving offense; I feared slander had already stained your ear. Yet Your Majesty listens from on high and sees my loyalty; heaven and earth know I am without private aim. Vessels fear overfilling; each day I grow more wary—how could I cling to office and block better men? Since the frontier honors, fighting east and west for ten years through a hundred battles, in freezing cold blades snapped and blood spattered our coats; sleeping in the open we shook with fear, drinking melted ice we hurt to the bone. Through hardships and the brink of death I relied on heaven alone to reach this day. Your Majesty rewarded my labor with more than a thousand edicts—gracious, intimate words that ennoble my service and become my heirs' heirloom. Hand-edicts from every campaign—from Lingwu to the two capitals and Jiangzhou—fill twenty scrolls, which I risk death to submit for your review.

詔答曰：「朕不德不明，俾大臣憂疑，朕之過也。朕甚自愧，公勿以為慮。」代宗以子儀頃同患難，收復兩京，禮之逾厚。時史朝義尚據洛陽，元帥雍王率師進討，代宗欲以子儀副之，而魚朝恩、程元振亂政，殺裴茂、來瑱，子儀既為所間，其事遂寢，乃留京師。

The reply read: "My virtue is wanting and my judgment unclear; I have troubled my ministers—the fault is mine. I am deeply ashamed; do not brood on it. Daizong, remembering shared hardship and the recovery of the capitals, honored Ziyi ever more generously. While Shi Chaoyi held Luoyang and the Prince of Yong marched against him, Daizong wanted Ziyi as deputy, but Yu and Cheng's faction killed Pei Miao and Lai Tian and slandered Ziyi until the appointment died and he stayed in Chang'an.

俄而梁崇義據襄陽叛，仆固懷恩阻兵於汾州，引回紇、吐蕃之眾入寇河西。明年十月，吐蕃陷涇州，虜刺史高暉，暉遂與蕃軍為鄉導，引賊深入京畿，掠奉天、武功，濟渭而南，緣山而東。渭北行營兵馬使呂日將逆戰於盩厔，自辰至酉，殺蕃軍數千，然其徒多殞。賊將逼京師，君上計無所出，遽詔子儀為關內副元帥，出鎮咸陽。子儀自相州不利，李光弼代掌兵柄，及征還朝廷，部曲散去。及是承詔，部下唯二十騎，強取民家畜產以助軍。至咸陽，蕃軍已過渭水。其日，天子避狄幸陜州。子儀聞上避狄，雪涕還京，至則車駕已發。射生將王獻忠從駕，沿路遂以四百騎叛，仍逼豐王已下十王欲投於賊。子儀入開遠門，遇之，詰豐王等所向，遂護送行在。子儀以三千騎傍南山，至商州，得武關防兵及六軍散卒四千人，招輯亡逸，其軍漸振。蕃犯京城，得故邠王守禮子廣武王承宏，立帝號，假署百官。子儀遣六軍兵馬使張知節、烏崇福、羽林軍使長孫全緒等將兵萬人為前鋒，營於韓公堆，盛張旗幟，鼓鞞震山谷。全緒遣禁軍舊將王甫入長安，陰結少年豪俠以為內應，一日，齊擊鼓於硃雀街，蕃軍惶駭而去。大將李忠義先屯兵苑中，渭北節度使王仲升守朝堂。子儀以大軍續進，至浐西。射生將王撫自署為京兆尹，聚兵二千人，擾亂京城，子儀召撫殺之。詔子儀權京城留守。

Soon Liang Chongyi rebelled in Xiangyang, Pugu Huai'en mutinied at Fenzhou, and Uyghur and Tibetan armies raided Hexi. Next tenth month Tibet took Jingzhou and captured Prefect Gao Hui, who then guided them deep toward the capital, looting Fengtian and Wugong, crossing the Wei and marching east along the hills. Weibei commissioner Lu Riji fought them at Zhouzhi from morning to evening, killing thousands of Tibetans at heavy cost. With the enemy nearing Chang'an and no plan at hand, the emperor suddenly named Ziyi deputy commander of Guannei and sent him to Xianyang. After Xiangzhou, Li Guangbi took his command; recalled to court, his retinue melted away. On this new order he had only twenty riders and forcibly seized civilian livestock for the march. By the time he reached Xianyang, the Tibetans had crossed the Wei. That day the emperor fled east to Shaanzhou before the invaders. Hearing of the flight, Ziyi wept and raced back to Chang'an, but the imperial train was already gone. Archer-captain Wang Xianzhong, escorting the court, mutinied with four hundred riders and tried to deliver the Prince of Feng and nine other princes to the enemy. Ziyi entered Kaiyuan Gate, intercepted them, demanded their destination, and escorted the princes to the emperor. With three thousand riders he traced the southern hills to Shangzhou, collected Wuguan guards and four thousand stragglers, and slowly rebuilt his army. The Tibetans found Cheng Hong, son of the former Prince of Bin, proclaimed him emperor, and installed a puppet bureaucracy. He sent Zhang Zhijie, Wu Chongfu, and Changsun Quanxu with ten thousand vanguard troops to Han Gongdui, where banners and drums filled the valleys. Changsun Quanxu sent Wang Fu into the city to organize young allies; one day drums rolled on Zhuque Street and the Tibetans fled in terror. Li Zhongyi held the imperial park; Weibei commissioner Wang Zhongsheng guarded the audience hall. Ziyi advanced the main body to west of Chan. Wang Fu declared himself Jingzhao governor, raised two thousand men, and terrorized the city until Ziyi had him killed. The throne named Ziyi acting defender of the capital.

自西蕃入寇，車駕東幸，天下皆咎程元振，諫官屢論之。元振懼，又以子儀復立功，不欲天子還京，勸帝且都洛陽以避蕃冠，代宗然之，下詔有日。子儀聞之，因兵部侍郎張重光宣慰回，附章論奏曰：

After the Tibetan invasion and the emperor's flight east, the empire blamed Cheng Yuanzhen; censors repeatedly attacked him. Fearing indictment and fearing Ziyi's renewed glory, Yuanzhen urged moving the court to Luoyang to escape Tibet; Daizong agreed and an edict was drafted. Ziyi learned of the plan and, when Vice Minister Zhang Chongguang returned from a mission, appended a memorial arguing:

臣聞雍州之地，古稱天府，右探隴、蜀，左扼崤、函，前有終南、太華之險，後有清渭、濁河之固，神明之奧，王者所都。地方數千里，帶甲十余萬，兵強士勇，雄視八方，有利則出攻，無利則入守。此用武之國，非諸夏所同，秦、漢因之，卒成帝業。其後或處之而泰，去之而亡，前史所書，不唯一姓。及隋氏季末，煬帝南遷，河、洛丘墟，兵戈亂起。高祖唱義，亦先入關，惟能翦滅奸雄，底定區宇。以至於太宗、高宗之盛，中宗、玄宗之明，多在秦川，鮮居東洛。間者羯胡構亂，九服分崩，河北、河南，盡從逆命。然而先帝仗朔方之眾，慶緒奔亡；陛下藉西土之師，朝義就戮。豈唯天道助順，抑亦地形使然，此陛下所知，非臣飾說。

Yongzhou, the ancient 'Heavenly Storehouse,' reaches Long and Shu on the right and Xiao and Han on the left, with Zhongnan and Taihua before it and the Wei and Yellow rivers behind—the seat of kings blessed by the spirits. Thousands of li wide, with over one hundred thousand armored men—it dominates the realm, attacking when strong and retreating when not. It is a land made for war unlike the eastern heartland; Qin and Han built empires from it. History shows that holding it brought peace and abandoning it brought ruin—not once alone. At the Sui's fall Emperor Yang fled south; Luoyang lay in ruins and war spread. Gaozu too entered the Pass first and cut down traitors to settle the realm. From Taizong and Gaozong through Zhongzong and Xuanzong, emperors mostly ruled from Qinchuan, not Luoyang. When the Jie rebels rose, the nine domains shattered and Hebei and Henan obeyed the enemy. Yet the late emperor's Shuofang armies drove Qingxu to flight; Your Majesty's western troops brought Chaoyi to execution. Heaven helped the righteous, but terrain mattered too—you know this; I do not flatter.

近因吐蕃淩逼，鑾駕東巡。蓋以六軍之兵，素非精練，皆市肆屠沽之人，務掛虛名，茍避征賦，及驅以就戰，百無一堪。亦有潛輸貨財，因以求免。又中官掩蔽，庶政多荒。遂令陛下振蕩不安，退居陜服。斯蓋關於委任失所，豈可謂秦地非良者哉！今道路云云，不知信否，咸謂陛下已有成命，將幸洛都。臣熟思其端，未見其利。夫以東周之地，久陷賊中，宮室焚燒，十不存一。百曹荒廢，曾無尺椽，中間畿內，不滿千戶。井邑榛荊，豺狼站嗥，既乏軍儲，又鮮人力，東至鄭、汴，達於徐方，北自覃懷，經於相土，人煙斷絕，千里蕭條。將何以奉萬乘之牲餼，供百官之次舍？矧其土地狹厄，才數百里間，東有成臯，南有二室，險不足恃，適為戰場。陛下奈何棄久安之勢，從至危之策，忽社稷之計，生天下之心。臣雖至愚，竊為陛下不取。

Recently Tibet pressed the capital and the court fled east. The Six Armies were never trained—mostly peddlers dodging taxes; in battle scarcely one in a hundred could fight. Some bought their way out with bribes. Eunuchs hid abuses and government rotted. Thus Your Majesty was driven out to Shaan. That was bad appointments—not proof that Chang'an is unsound! Rumors say Your Majesty has decided on Luoyang. I have weighed the move and see no gain. Eastern Zhou lands, long in rebel hands, are burned—nine palaces in ten gone. Offices are empty without a beam; inside the walls barely a thousand households survive. Thorns choke the towns, wolves howl, stores are gone and hands are few—from Zheng and Bian to Xuzhou, from Tanhuai to Xiangtu, the land is empty for a thousand li. How will you feed imperial sacrifices or house the bureaucracy? Luoyang's ground is narrow—Chenggao east, Song peaks south—defenses weak, fit only for battle. Why abandon long security for peril, neglect the dynasty, and unsettle the empire? Forgive my bluntness—I beg you not to take this course.

代宗省表，垂泣謂左右曰：「子儀用心，真社稷臣也。可亟還京師。」十一月，車駕自陜還宮，子儀伏地請罪，帝駐車勞之曰：「朕用卿不早，故及於此。」乃賜鐵券，圖形淩煙閣。

Reading it, Daizong wept and said, "Ziyi's heart is truly that of a pillar of state. Return to Chang'an at once. In the eleventh month the court returned; Ziyi kowtowed for blame; the emperor stopped to say, "I used you too late, and this befell us." He granted an iron certificate and ordered Ziyi's portrait in the Lingyan Pavilion.

是時，河北副元帥仆固懷恩方頓軍汾州，掠並、汾諸縣以為己邑。乃以子儀兼關內河東副元帥、河中節度觀察使，出鎮河中。蕃戎既退，仆固懷恩部下離散。是月，懷恩子瑒主兵榆次，為帳下將張惟嶽所殺，傳首京師。惟嶽以瑒之眾歸於子儀，懷恩懼，棄其母而走靈州。明年九月，以子儀守太尉，充北道邠寧、涇原、河西已東通和蕃及朔方招撫觀察使，其關內河東副元帥、中書令如故。子儀以懷恩未誅，不宜讓使，堅辭太尉，曰：「太尉職雄任重，竊憂非據，輒敢上聞。伏奉詔書，未允誠懇。臣疇昔之分，早知止足，今茲累請，竊懼滿盈。義實由衷，事非矯飾，誌之所至，敢不盡言。自兵亂已來，紀綱浸壞，時多躁競，俗少廉隅。德薄而位尊，功微而賞厚，實繁有眾，不可殫論。臣每見之，深以為念。昔范宣子讓，其下皆讓，欒騕為汰，不敢違也。臣誠薄劣，竊慕古人，務欲以身率先，大變浮俗，是用勤勤懇懇，願罷此官，庶禮讓興行，由臣而致也。臣位為上相，爵為真王，參啟沃之謀，受腹心之寄，恩榮已極，功業已成，尋合乞骸，保全余齒。但以冠仇在近，家國未安，臣子之心，不敢寧處。茍西戎即敘，懷恩就擒，疇昔官爵，誓無所受，必當追蹤范蠡，繼跡留侯。臣之鄙懷，切在於此。」優詔不許。子儀見上，感泣懇讓，乃止。

Meanwhile Pugu Huai'en camped at Fenzhou, looting Bing and Fen as private fief. Ziyi was named deputy commander of Guannei and Hedong and commissioner of Hezhong, and sent to garrison there. When the invaders withdrew, Huai'en's men scattered. That month Huai'en's son Chang held Yuci until officer Zhang Weiyue killed him and sent his head to court. Weiyue surrendered Chang's troops to Ziyi; Huai'en fled to Lingzhou, abandoning even his mother. Next ninth month he became Defender-in-Chief and pacification commissioner for Binning, Jingyuan, Hexi, allied Tibetans, and Shuofang, keeping his deputy commander and grand councilor titles. With Huai'en still at large, Ziyi refused the Defender-in-Chief post, writing, "The office is too weighty for me—I dare report my unfitness. Your edict came, yet my plea was denied. I have long known my limits; repeated refusal fears hubris. This is sincere, not show; I must speak fully. Since rebellion, discipline has rotted; men scramble for rank and lack integrity. Many hold high rank with thin virtue and rich reward for slight merit—too many to list. Each time I see it, I shudder. When Fan Xuanzi yielded, others yielded; even the dissolute Luan Yao dared not refuse. I am unworthy yet imitate the ancients, hoping my example might restore modesty—thus I beg to resign. As chief minister and true prince I share the dynasty's secrets; honors are complete—I should retire in peace. Yet with barbarians near and the realm unsettled, a loyal subject cannot rest. If Tibet submits and Huai'en is taken, I will accept no former rank and follow Fan Li and Zhang Liang into retirement. That is my earnest wish. A gentle edict refused. Seeing the emperor, Ziyi wept and pleaded until he desisted.

十月，仆固懷恩引吐蕃、回紇、党項數十萬南下，京師大恐，子儀出鎮奉天。帝召子儀問禦戎之計，子儀曰：「以臣所見，懷恩無能為也。」帝問其故，對曰：「懷恩雖稱驍勇，素失士心，今所以能為亂者，引思歸之人耳。懷恩本臣偏將，其下皆臣之部曲，臣恩信嘗及之，今臣為大將，必不忍以鋒刃相向，以此知其無能為也。」虜寇邠州，子儀在涇陽，子儀令長男朔方兵馬使曜率師援之，與邠寧節度使白孝德閉城拒守。懷恩前鋒至奉天，近城挑戰，諸將請擊之，子儀止之曰：「夫客兵深入，利在速戰，不可爭鋒。彼皆吾之部曲，緩之自當攜貳；若迫之，是速其戰，戰則勝負未可知。敢言戰者斬！」堅壁待之，果不戰而退。子儀自涇陽入朝，帝御安福門待之，命子儀樓上行朝見之禮，宴賜隆厚。

In the tenth month Huai'en led hundreds of thousands of Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Tanguts south; the capital panicked and Ziyi marched to Fengtian. Daizong asked his plan; Ziyi said, "Huai'en cannot succeed. Asked why, he said, "Huai'en is fierce but has lost his army; he only leads homesick men. Huai'en was my subordinate; his men are still my old troops, and I cannot bear to cut them down—that is why he will fail." When raiders hit Binzhou, Ziyi at Jingyang sent his son Yao with Shuofang troops to help Bai Xiaode hold the walls. Huai'en's vanguard taunted Fengtian; officers wanted to fight, but Ziyi said invaders profit from speed and forbade a clash. They are my own men; delay will turn them against Huai'en; pressure forces battle, and the outcome is uncertain. Whoever speaks of fighting—behead him! He held fast; they never fought and withdrew. From Jingyang he was received at Anfu Gate with ceremony on the tower and a lavish feast.

十一月，以子儀為尚書令，上表懇辭曰：「臣以薄劣，素乏行能，逢時擾攘，猥蒙驅策，內參朝政，外總兵權。上不能翼戴三光，下不能糾逖群慝，功微賞厚，任重恩深，覆餗之憂，實盈寤寐。臣昨所以固辭太尉，乞保余年，殊私曲臨，遂見矜許。竊謂陛下已知其願，深察其心，豈意未歷旬時，復延寵命。以臣褊淺，又寡智謀，安可謬職南宮，當茲大任？況太宗昔居籓邸，嘗踐此官，累聖相承，曠而不置。皇太子為雍王之日，陛下以其總兵薄伐，平定關東，飲至策勛，再有斯授。豈臣末職，敢亂大倫？德薄位尊，難逃天子之責；負乘致冠，復速神明之誅。伏乞天慈，俯停新命。」答詔不允。翌日，敕所司令子儀於尚書省視事。詔宰相百僚送上，遣射生五百騎執戟翼從，自朝堂至省，賜教坊樂。子儀不受，復上表曰：

In the eleventh month he was named Director of the Imperial Secretariat and declined, citing unworthiness in an age of turmoil where he had shared civil and military power. I neither upheld heaven's light nor checked evil; reward outran merit and grace outweighed service—I live in fear of failure. I refused the Defender-in-Chief to preserve my old age, and Your Majesty kindly agreed. I thought you understood my wish—yet within ten days came another honor. I am narrow and unwise—how can I hold the Southern Palace at such a charge? Taizong once held this office as prince; later emperors left it empty by tradition. When the crown prince was Prince of Yong, you gave him this office after he pacified Guandong. How can a lesser man like me disturb that precedent? Thin virtue and high rank invite the emperor's rebuke; unfit office invites heaven's punishment. I beg you to withdraw this appointment. The edict refused. Next day he was ordered to take up duty at the Secretariat. Councilors escorted him with five hundred halberd-bearing guards and Music Bureau performers from court to ministry. He refused again and memorialized:

臣伏以尚書令，武德之際，太宗為之，昨瀝懇上陳，請罷斯職；而陛下未垂亮察，務欲褒崇，區區微誠，益用惶懼。何則？太宗立極之主，聖德在人，自後因廢此官，永代作則。陛下守文繼體，固當奉而行之，豈可猥私老臣，隳厥成式，上掩陛下之德，下貽萬方之非。臣雖至愚，安敢輕受？況久經兵亂，僭賞者多，一人之身，兼官數四，硃紫同色，清濁不分，「爛羊」之謠，復聞聖代。臣頃觀其弊，思革其源，以逆寇猶存，未敢輕議。今元兇沮敗，計日成擒，中外無虞，妖氛漸息。此陛下作法之際，審官之時，固合始於老臣，化及班列。豈可輕為此舉，以亂國章？國章亂於上，則庶政隳於下，海內之政皆亂，則國家又安得永代而無患哉！陛下茍能從臣之言，俯察誠請，彼貪榮冒進者，亦將各讓其所兼之官，自然天下文明，百工式敘，太平之業，可得而復也。臣誠蒙鄙，識昧古今，誌之所切，實在於此。

The Director's post—Taizong held it in Wude; yesterday I asked to abolish it; yet you insist on honoring me, and my fear grows. Why? Taizong abolished this office as a model for all time. You should follow that precedent, not favor me and stain your virtue and the empire's norms. How dare I accept lightly? After long war, offices pile on one man, ranks blur, and the 'rotten sheep' satire returns even in a sage reign. I saw these abuses but stayed silent while rebels remained. Now the chief rebel nears capture and the realm calms. This is the moment to reform ranks—begin with me. Do not disorder the state's statutes for my sake. If statutes break at the top, government collapses below and the dynasty cannot endure. If you heed me, the greedy will yield extra offices and good order may return. My earnest wish lies here alone.

手詔答曰：「優崇之命，所以報功；總領之司，期於賦政。卿入居臺鉉，出統戎旃，爰自先朝，累匡多難，靖群氛於海表，凝庶績於天階。敏事而寡言，居敬而行簡，人難其易，爾易其難。所以命掌六聯，首茲百辟，顧循時議，僉謂允諧。而屢拜封章，懇懷讓揖，守淳素之道，語政理之源，無待禮成，曲從德讓。宜宣示於外，編之史冊。」遣內侍魚朝恩傳詔，賜美人盧氏等六人、從者八人，並車服、帷帳、床蓐、珍玩之具。

The reply said: "This honor repays merit; this office expects governance. You have served civil and military roles since the former reign, pacifying the realm. You act swiftly yet speak little—others find easy tasks hard, you the reverse. Hence you head the six ministries, and opinion calls it fitting. Your repeated refusals show virtue; I yield to your modesty. Let this be proclaimed and recorded. Yu Chao'en delivered the edict with six concubines, eight attendants, and rich furnishings.

時蕃虜屢寇京畿，倚蒲、陜為內地，常以重兵鎮之。永泰元年五月，以子儀都統河南道節度行營，出鎮河中。八月，仆固懷恩誘吐蕃、回紇、党項、羌、渾、奴剌，山賊任敷、鄭庭、郝德、劉開元等三十余萬南下，先發數萬人掠同州，期自華陰趨藍田，以扼南路，懷恩率重兵繼其後。回紇、吐蕃自涇、邠、鳳翔數道寇京畿，掠奉天、醴泉。京師震恐，天子下詔親征，命李忠臣屯東渭橋，李光進屯雲陽，馬璘、郝廷玉屯便橋，駱奉先、李日越屯盩啡，李抱玉屯鳳翔。周智光屯同州，杜冕屯坊州，天子以禁軍屯苑內。京城壯丁，並令團結。城二門塞其一。魚朝恩括士庶私馬，重兵捉城門，市民由竇穴而遁去，人情危迫。

Barbarians repeatedly raided the capital; heavy garrisons held Pu and Shaan. In Yongtai 1, fifth month, he took command of Henan field armies at Hezhong. In the eighth month Huai'en stirred Tibet, Uyghurs, Tanguts, and over three hundred thousand allies south—first looting Tongzhou toward Lantian while he followed with the main host. Uyghurs and Tibet raided from several routes, looting Fengtian and Liquan. The emperor ordered personal campaign; Li Zhongchen, Li Guangjin, Ma Lin, and others took assigned posts around the capital. Zhou Zhiguang held Tongzhou, Du Mian Fangzhou, palace guards the imperial park. Capital militia were mobilized. One city gate was sealed. Yu Chao'en seized private horses and locked the gates until people fled through holes in panic.

是時，急召子儀自河中至，屯於涇陽，而虜騎已合。子儀一軍萬余人，而雜虜圍之數重。子儀使李國臣、高升拒其東，魏楚玉當其南，陳回光當其西，硃元琮當其北。子儀率甲騎二千出沒於左右前後，虜見而問：「此誰也？」報曰：「郭令公也。」回紇曰：「令公存乎？仆固懷恩言天可汗已棄四海，令公亦謝世，中國無主，故從其來。今令公存，天可汗存乎？」報之曰：「皇帝萬歲無疆。」回紇皆曰：「懷恩欺我。」子儀又使諭之曰：「公等頃年遠涉萬里，翦除兇逆，恢復二京。是時子儀與公等周旋艱難，何日忘之。今忽棄舊好，助一叛臣，何其愚也！且懷恩背主棄親，於公等何有？」回紇曰：「謂令公亡矣，不然，何以至此。令公誠存，安得而見之？」子儀將出，諸將諫曰：「戎狄之心，不可信也，請無往。」子儀曰：「虜有數十倍之眾，今力固不敵，且至誠感神，況虜輩乎！」諸將曰：「請選鐵騎五百衛從。」子儀曰：「適足以為害也。」乃傳呼曰：「令公來！」虜初疑，持滿註矢以待之。子儀以數十騎徐出，免胄而勞之曰：「安乎？久同忠義，何至於是？」回紇皆舍兵下馬齊拜曰：「果吾父也。」子儀召其首領，各飲之酒，與之羅錦，歡言如初。子儀說回紇曰：「吐蕃本吾舅甥之國，無負而至，是無親也。若倒戈乘之，如拾地芥耳。其羊馬滿野，長數百里，是謂天賜，不可失也。今能逐戎以利舉，與我繼好而凱旋，不亦善乎！」會懷恩暴死於鳴沙，群虜無所統攝，遂許諾，乃遣首領石野那等入朝。子儀遣朔方兵馬使白元光與回紇會軍。吐蕃知其謀，是夜奔退。回紇與元光追之，子儀大軍繼其後，大破吐蕃十余萬於靈武臺西原，斬首五萬，生擒萬人，收其所掠士女四千人，獲牛羊駝馬，三百里內不絕。子儀自涇陽入朝，加實封二百戶，還鎮河中。

Ziyi was rushed from Hezhong to Jingyang as enemy cavalry converged. His ten thousand men were ringed by barbarian hosts. He posted Li Guochen, Gao Sheng, Wei Chuyu, Chen Huiguang, and Zhu Yuancong on four sides. Ziyi rode two thousand armored horsemen back and forth; the enemy asked who he was. They answered, "Duke Guo." The Uyghurs said, "Is the Duke alive? Huai'en told them the emperor and Duke Guo were dead and China had no ruler. Now you say the Duke lives—does the emperor live?" They answered, "The emperor lives ten thousand years." The Uyghurs cried, "Huai'en lied!" Ziyi sent word: "Years ago you crossed ten thousand li to restore the two capitals with us. We shared that hardship—have you forgotten? Why abandon old friendship to aid a rebel? Huai'en betrayed lord and kin—what do you owe him?" They said, "We thought you dead—else why are we here? If you live, let us see you." Generals warned that barbarians could not be trusted. Ziyi said they outnumbered him but sincerity might move them. They offered five hundred guards. Ziyi said guards would only provoke harm. He called, "The Duke comes!" They nocked arrows and waited. He rode out with a few dozen horsemen, bareheaded, and said, "Are you well? After so long as allies—why this? The Uyghurs dropped weapons, dismounted, and bowed as one: "It is truly our father." He summoned their chiefs, shared wine and brocade, and talked as warmly as in old days. He told the Uyghurs: "Tibet is our marriage kin; they came uninvited—that is to be without family." If you turn your blades on them, victory is as easy as picking greens from the ground. Sheep and horses cover the plain for hundreds of li—heaven's gift, not to be missed. Drive the barbarians off for gain, go home in triumph, and renew friendship with us—would that not be best? When Huai'en died suddenly at Mingsha, the tribes lost their leader, agreed to terms, and sent chieftain Shiye Na to court. Ziyi sent Shuofang officer Bai Yuanguang to join the Uyghurs. Ziyi sent Shuofang officer Bai Yuanguang to join the Uyghurs. Tibet learned of the plot and fled that night. Uyghurs and Yuanguang pursued; Ziyi's main force followed and crushed over one hundred thousand Tibetans west of Lingwu, taking fifty thousand heads, ten thousand captives, four thousand rescued civilians, and herds stretching three hundred li. In Dali 1, twelfth month, Zhou Zhiguang of Huazhou killed inspector Zhang Zhibin and rebelled; the emperor sent Ziyi's son-in-law Zhao Zong with oral orders for Ziyi to attack.

大歷元年十二月，華州節度使周智光殺監軍張誌斌謀叛，帝以同、華路阻，召子儀女婿工部侍郎趙縱受口詔往河中，令子儀起軍討之。縱請為蠟書，令家僮間道賜子儀。奉詔大閱軍戎，將發，同華將吏聞軍起，乃斬智光父子，傳首京師。二年二月，子儀入朝，宰相元載、王縉、僕射裴冕、京兆尹黎幹、內侍魚朝恩共出錢三十萬，置宴於子儀第，恩出羅錦二百匹，為子儀纏頭之費，極歡而罷。九月，吐蕃寇涇州，詔子儀以步騎三萬自河中移屯涇陽。十月，蕃軍退至靈州，邀擊敗之，斬馘二萬。十二月，盜發子儀父墓，捕盜未獲。人以魚朝恩素惡子儀，疑其使之。子儀心知其故，及自涇陽將入，議者慮其構變，公卿憂之。及子儀入見，帝言之，子儀號泣奏曰：「臣久主兵，不能禁暴，軍士殘人之墓，固亦多矣。此臣不忠不孝，上獲天譴，非人患也。」朝廷乃安。三年三月，還河中。八月，吐蕃寇靈武。九月，詔子儀率師五萬自河中移鎮奉天。是月，白元光大破吐蕃靈武。十月，子儀入朝，還鎮河中。時議以西蕃侵寇，京師不安，馬璘雖在邠州，力不能拒，乃以子儀兼邠寧慶節度，自河中移鎮邠州，徙馬璘為涇原節度使。八年十月，吐蕃寇涇州，子儀遣先鋒兵馬使渾瑊逆戰於宜祿，不利。會馬璘設伏於潘源，與瑊合擊，大破蕃軍，俘斬數萬計。回紇赤心賣馬一萬匹，有司以國計不充，請市千匹。子儀以回紇前後立功，不宜阻意，請自納一年奉物，充回紇馬價，雖詔旨不允，內外稱之。九年，入朝，代宗召對延英。語及西蕃棄斥，苦戰不暇，言發涕零。既退，復上封論備吐蕃利害，曰：

Zong requested a wax-sealed letter and sent a servant by a secret route to deliver it. As Ziyi mustered to march, Tong-Hua officers killed Zhou Zhiguang and his son and sent their heads to Chang'an. In the second month of year two, Yuan Zai, Wang Jin, Pei Mian, Li Gan, and Yu Chao'en feasted at Ziyi's mansion, pooling three hundred thousand cash; Yu Chao'en added two hundred bolts of silk as gift money. In the ninth month, Tibet raided Jingzhou; Ziyi was ordered to move thirty thousand troops from Hezhong to Jingyang. In the tenth month he intercepted the retreating Tibetans at Lingzhou, taking twenty thousand heads and captives. In the twelfth month, robbers violated his father's tomb; none were caught. Because Yu Chao'en hated Ziyi, rumor blamed him for the desecration. Ziyi knew better; as he returned from Jingyang, courtiers feared he might rebel. At audience the emperor mentioned the tomb; Ziyi wept and said, "I long commanded armies and could not stop violence—my men have robbed many graves." My disloyalty and unfiliality drew heaven's punishment—not men's malice. The emperor wept, consoled him, and sent him back to his command. Only then did the court settle. In the third month of year three he returned to Hezhong. In the eighth month Tibet attacked Lingwu. In the ninth month he was ordered to lead fifty thousand men from Hezhong to Fengtian. That month Bai Yuanguang routed Tibet at Lingwu. In the tenth month he attended court and returned to Hezhong. With Tibet pressing the capital and Ma Lin unable to hold Binzhou alone, Ziyi took Bin-Ning-Qing command at Binzhou while Ma Lin moved to Jingyuan. In year eight, tenth month, Tibet raided Jingzhou; Hun Jian fought at Yilu and fared badly. Ma Lin ambushed at Panyuan; with Hun Jian he crushed the Tibetans, taking tens of thousands. Uyghur Chixin offered ten thousand horses; the treasury could afford only one thousand. Ziyi offered his year's salary to buy the full herd for allies who had served the dynasty; though refused, all praised him. In year nine Daizong received him at Yanying Hall. Speaking of Tibet's raids and endless war, he wept. He then submitted a sealed memorial on defending against Tibet:

朔方，國之北門，西禦犬戎，北虞獫狁，五城相去三千餘里。開元、天寶中，戰士十萬，戰馬三萬，才敵一隅。自先皇帝龍飛靈武，戰士從陛下收復兩京，東西南北，曾無寧歲。中年以仆固之役，又經耗散，人亡三分之二，比於天寶中有十分之一。今吐蕃充斥，勢強十倍，兼河、隴之地，雜羌、渾之眾，每歲來窺近郊。以朔方減十倍之軍，當吐蕃加十倍之騎，欲求制勝，豈易為力！入近內地，稱四節度，每將盈萬，每賊兼乘數四。臣所統將士，不當賊四分之一，所有征馬，不當賊百分之二，誠合固守，不宜與戰。又得馬璘牒，賊擬涉渭而南。臣若堅壁，恐犯畿甸；若過畿內，則國人大恐，諸道易搖。外有吐蕃之強，中有易搖之眾，外畏內懼，將何以安？

Shuofang is the northern gate, guarding west against Tibet and north against steppe raiders, with garrisons three thousand li apart. Under Kaiyuan and Tianbao, a hundred thousand men and thirty thousand horses barely matched one enemy sector. Since Suzong's rise at Lingwu, the armies that restored the capitals have known no year of peace. The Pugu rebellion cost two-thirds of our strength—one-tenth of Tianbao levels. Tibet is ten times stronger, and Qiang and Hun in He-Long yearly probe the capital's outskirts. Tenfold fewer Shuofang troops against tenfold more Tibetan cavalry—victory is hard. Near the capital they field four commands of ten thousand each, with multiple mounts per rider. My troops are a quarter of theirs, my horses two percent—we must defend, not seek battle. Ma Lin reports the enemy may cross the Wei southward. If I hold fast, they may strike the capital district; if they pass inside, the people will panic and the provinces waver. Strong enemies without, shaky morale within—how can we be secure?

臣伏以陛下橫制勝之術，力非不足，但慮簡練未精，進退未一，時淹師老，地闊勢分。願陛下更詢讜議，慎擇名將，俾之統軍，於諸道各抽精卒，成四五萬，則制勝之道必矣，未可失時。臣又料河南、河北、山南、江淮小鎮數千，大鎮數萬，空耗月餼，曾不習戰。臣請抽赴關中，教之戰陣，則軍聲益振，攻守必全，亦長久之計也。臣猥蒙任遇，垂二十年，今齒發已衰，願避賢路，止足不誡，神明所鑒。

Your power is enough, but training, unity, and concentration are lacking. Choose great generals, concentrate forty or fifty thousand elite troops from every circuit, and victory is assured—do not miss the moment. Small posts in Henan, Hebei, Shannan, and Jiang-Huai consume rations but never train. Bring them to Guanzhong for training—that strengthens attack and defense for the long term. After twenty years of service, I am old and ask to yield to better men—heaven knows my heart.

詔曰：「卿憂深虛遠，殊沃朕心，始終倚賴，未可執辭也。」

The edict replied: "Your counsel nourishes us; we still rely on you—do not resign."

德宗即位，詔還朝，攝冢宰，充山陵使，賜號「尚父」，進位太尉、中書令，增實封通計二千戶，給一千五百人糧，二百匹馬草料，所領諸使副元帥並罷。諸子弟女婿拜官者十余人。建中二年夏，子儀病甚，德宗令舒王誼傳詔省問。及門，郭氏子弟迎拜於外，王不答拜；子儀臥不能興，以手叩頭謝恩而已。六月十四日薨，時年八十五，德宗聞之震悼，廢朝五日，詔曰：

Dezong recalled him, made him chief mourner, titled him Imperial Father, promoted him to Defender-in-Chief and grand councilor, doubled his fief, and stripped his military commands. More than ten sons and sons-in-law received office. In Jianzhong 2, gravely ill, he received an imperial inquiry through Prince Shu Yi. At the gate the Guo kin bowed; the prince did not bow in return; Ziyi could not rise and only knocked his head in thanks. On the fourteenth of the sixth month he died at eighty-five; Dezong mourned five days and decreed:

天地以四時成物，元首以股肱作輔，公臺之任，鼎足相承，上以調三光，下以蒙五嶽。允釐庶績，鎮撫四夷，體元和之氣，根貞一之德，功至大而不伐，身處高而更安。尚父比呂望之名，為師增周公之位，盛業可久，歿而彌光。故太尉、兼中書令、上柱國、汾陽郡王、尚父子儀，天降人傑，生知王佐，訓師如子，料敵若神。昔天寶多難，羯胡作禍，鹹秦失險，河洛為戎。公能扶翼肅宗，載造區夏。於國有患，勞其戡定；於邊有寇，藉其驅除。安社稷必在於絳侯，定羌戎無逾於充國。絳臺綏四散之眾，涇陽降十萬之虜。勛高今古，名璟夷狄，而勞乎征鎮，二紀於茲。

Heaven completes the seasons; the ruler relies on ministers as arms and legs to harmonize heaven and earth. He ordered the realm, pacified barbarians, great in merit yet humble, high in rank yet steady. Imperial Father rivaled Lü Wang and Zhou Gong—his glory outlives death. Defender-in-Chief, Grand Councilor, Prince of Fenyang, Imperial Father Guo Ziyi—nature's gift to kings, training men like sons and reading enemies like a god. In Tianbao's calamity the Jie rebels seized the passes and turned the heartland to war. He upheld Suzong and remade the empire. When the state was threatened, he pacified it; when the frontier was raided, he drove the enemy away. Like the Marquis of Jiang he saved the state; like Zhao Chongguo he settled the frontier. At Jiang he rallied scattered troops; at Jingyang he broke a hundred thousand barbarians. His fame shook the steppe through twenty years of campaigns.

頃以春秋既高，疆埸多事，罷彼旌鉞，寵在臺衡。以公柱石四朝，籓翰萬里，忠貞懸於日月，寵遇冠於人臣，尊其元老，加以崇號，期壽考之永，養勛賢之德。膏肓生疾，藥石靡攻，人之雲亡，梁木斯壞。雖賻禮加等，輟朝增日，悼之流涕，曷可弭忘！更議追崇，名位斯極，而尊為尚父，官協太師，雖爵秩則同，而體望尤重。斂以袞冕，旌我元臣。聖祖園陵，所宜陪葬，式墓表文終之德，象山追去病之勛。千載如存，九原可作，冊命之禮，有司備焉。可贈太師，陪葬建陵。仍令所司備禮冊命，賻絹三千匹、布三千端、米麥三千石。

In old age he was relieved of command but honored at court. Pillar of four reigns, loyalty bright as the sun, the court honored his age and merit and wished him long life. Illness entered his marrow; medicine failed; the nation's beam broke. We suspend court and weep—how can we forget! We elevate him posthumously; Imperial Father and Grand Preceptor exceed ordinary rank. Let ceremonial robes enshroud our chief minister. Let him be buried beside the imperial tomb as befits his final virtue and Huo Qubing's glory. Let the rites of investiture be prepared as if he still lived. Posthumously grant Grand Preceptor and burial at Jianling. Prepare investiture rites and grant three thousand bolts of silk, cloth, and shi of grain.

舊令一品墳高丈八，而詔特加十尺。群臣以次赴宅吊哭。兇喪所須，並令官給。及葬，上御安福門臨哭送之，百僚陪位隕泣，賜謚曰忠武，配饗代宗廟庭。

Statute height was one zhang eight chi; the edict added ten chi. Ministers came in turn to mourn at his house. The state supplied all funeral needs. Dezong wept at Anfu Gate at the funeral; posthumous name Loyal and Martial, enshrined with Daizong.

子曜、旰、晞、昢、晤、曖、曙、映等八人，婿七人，皆朝廷重官。諸孫數十人，每群孫問安，不盡辨，頷之而已。參佐官吏六十余人，後位至將相，升朝秩貴位，勒其姓名於石，今在河中府。人士榮之。

Eight sons and seven sons-in-law held high office. With dozens of grandsons he could only nod, unable to name each. Sixty staff later became generals and ministers; their names are carved in stone at Hezhong. Men of note took pride in it.

史臣裴垍曰：汾陽事上誠藎，臨下寬厚，每降城下邑，所至之處，必得士心。前後遭罹幸臣程元振、魚朝恩譖毀百端，時方握強兵，或方臨戎敵，詔命征之，未嘗不即日應召，故讒謗不能行。代宗幸陜時，令以數十騎覘賊，及在涇陽，又陷於胡虜重圍之中，皆以身許國，未嘗以危亡易慮，亦遇天幸，竟免患難。田承嗣方跋扈魏州，傲狠無禮，子儀嘗遣使至，承嗣西望拜之，指其膝謂使者曰：「茲膝不屈於人若干歲矣，今為公拜。」李靈曜據汴州，公私財賦一皆遏絕，獨子儀封幣經其境，莫敢留之，必持兵衛送。其為豺虎所服如此。麾下老將若李懷光輩數十人，皆王侯重貴，子儀頤指進退，如仆隸焉。幕府之盛，近代無比。始與李光弼齊名，雖威略不逮，而寬厚得人過之。歲入官俸二十四萬貫，私利不在焉。其宅在親仁裏，居其裏四分之一，中通永巷，家人三千，相出入者不知其居。前後賜良田美器，名園甲館，聲色珍玩，堆積羨溢，不可勝紀。代宗不名，呼為大臣。天下以其身為安危者殆二十年。校中書令考二十有四。權傾天下而朝不忌，功蓋一代而主不疑，侈窮人欲而君子不之罪。富貴壽考，繁衍安泰，哀榮終始，人道之盛，此無缺焉。唯以讒怒，誣奏判官戶部郎中張譚杖殺之，物議為薄。

Historian Pei Ba wrote: Ziyi served with loyalty and ruled subordinates with grace, winning every city he entered. Cheng Yuanzhen and Yu Chao'en slandered him endlessly, yet he obeyed every summons the same day, so calumny failed. At Shaan and Jingyang he risked his life on reconnaissance and in encirclement, trusting fate and escaping harm. Even the arrogant Tian Chengsi bowed to Ziyi's envoy, saying his knees had not bent for years until now. Li Lingyao seized all goods at Bianzhou except Ziyi's sealed tribute, which was escorted through untouched. Even predators submitted thus. Veterans like Li Huai'guang, though princes in rank, obeyed Ziyi like servants. No staff in recent times matched his. He matched Li Guangbi in fame but surpassed him in winning loyalty. His official salary was two hundred forty thousand strings; he took no private cut. His Qinren Ward mansion filled a quarter of the ward with three thousand household members. Imperial gifts of estates, gardens, and treasures overflowed beyond count. Daizong called him Great Minister, not by name. For nearly twenty years the empire's safety rested on him. He served as grand councilor twenty-four times in the rolls. Power unmatched yet never envied, merit supreme yet never doubted, luxury vast yet never condemned. Wealth, honor, long life, and a glorious end—human fortune found no fuller example. Only when angered by slander he had judge Zhang Tan beaten to death—critics judged that petty.

曜，子儀長子。性孝友廉謹。子儀薨，出征於外，留曜治家，少長千人，皆得其所。諸弟爭飾池館，盛其車服，曜以儉樸自處。累遷至太子賓客。建中初，子儀罷兵柄，乃遍加諸子官，以曜為太子少保。子儀曜遵遺命，四朝所賜名馬珍玩，悉皆上獻，德宗復賜之，曜乃散諸昆弟。子儀薨後，楊炎、盧杞相次秉政，奸諂用事，尤忌勛族。子儀之婿太仆卿趙縱、少府少監李洞清、光祿卿王宰，皆以有人告訐細過，相次貶黜。曜家大恐，賴宰相張鎰力為庇護。奸人幸其危懼，多論奪田宅奴婢，曜不敢訴。德宗微知之，詔曰：「尚父子儀，有大勛力，保乂皇家，嘗誓以山河，琢之金石，十世之宥，其可忘也！其家前時與人為市，以子儀身歿，名被誣構，欲論奪之，有司無得為理。」詔下方已。曜居喪得禮，若儒家子，服未闋寢疾，或勸其茹蔥薤，曜竟不屬口。建中四年三月卒，贈太子太傅。

Yao was Ziyi's eldest son. He was filial, friendly, honest, and careful. When Ziyi died on campaign, Yao ran the household of a thousand kin fairly. Brothers flaunted wealth; Yao lived plainly. He rose to crown prince's guest. When Ziyi lost command, Yao became crown prince's junior mentor. They surrendered imperial gifts per Ziyi's will; Dezong returned them and Yao shared them among kin. After Ziyi's death Yang Yan and Lu Qi persecuted great clans. Sons-in-law Zhao Zong, Li Dongqing, and Wang Zai were demoted on petty denunciations. Yao's family feared ruin until Zhang Yi protected them. Predators seized their property while Yao dared not protest. Dezong decreed: "Imperial Father Ziyi's ten-generation pardon must not be forgotten! No official may seize Guo property by false claims after Ziyi's death. When the edict was promulgated, the seizures stopped. Yao mourned by Confucian rites; ill before mourning ended, he refused even scallions and leeks. In Jianzhong 4, third month, he died and was posthumously made grand mentor of the crown prince.

晞，子儀第三子。少善騎射，常從父征伐。初以戰功授左贊善大夫，從廣平王收復兩京，晞力戰於香積寺、陜西，皆出奇兵克捷，以功加銀青光祿大夫、鴻臚卿。後河中軍亂，殺節度使李國貞、荔非元禮於絳，詔以子儀為河東關內副元帥，鎮絳州，時四方擾叛，多逐戎帥，子儀至絳，誅其元惡，其黨頗不自安，欲謀翻變。晞知其謀，選親兵四千，伏甲以防之，常持弓警夜，不寐者凡七十日，叛將竟不敢發，以功拜殿中監。廣德二年，仆固懷恩誘吐蕃、回紇入寇。加晞御史中丞，領朔方軍以援邠州，與馬璘合勢，大破蕃軍。其年冬，懷恩誘虜再寇邠州，陣於涇北，子儀令晞率步卒五千、騎軍五百，出西南掩擊之。晞以兵寡不敵，持而不戰，及至晡晚，乘其半濟而擊之，大破獯虜，斬首五千級。是時連戰皆捷，詔加御史大夫，子儀固讓不受。永泰二年，檢校左散騎常侍。大歷七年，加開府儀同三司。十二年，丁母憂；服除，加檢校工部尚書，判秘書省事。建中二年，丁父喪，持服京城。硃泚構逆，遣人就第問訊，欲令掌兵，晞佯瘖，噤口不言，泚以兵脅之，晞終不語，賊知其不可用，乃止。晞潛奔奉天，僅而獲免。

Xi was Ziyi's third son. From youth he excelled at riding and archery and campaigned with his father. He earned office at Xiangji and Shaan under the Prince of Guangping with daring surprise attacks. After mutineers killed commanders at Jiang, Ziyi executed ringleaders but their faction plotted revolt. Xi learned of the plot, kept four thousand guards alert seventy nights, and earned palace supervisor. In Guangde 2, Huai'en stirred Tibet and Uyghurs to invade. Made censor-in-chief, he led Shuofang to Binzhou and with Ma Lin crushed the Tibetans. That winter Xi led five thousand foot and five hundred horse in a concealed strike north of Jing. Outnumbered, he waited until dusk and struck the enemy half across the river, taking five thousand heads. After successive victories an edict promoted him; Ziyi refused the honor for him. In Yongtai 2 he became acting left regular palace attendant. In Dali 7 he received grand general with honorific acting grand master. In year twelve he mourned his mother; after mourning he became acting minister of works overseeing the Secretariat. In Jianzhong 2 he mourned his father in the capital. When Zhu Ci coerced him to command, Xi feigned muteness until the rebels gave up. He fled secretly to Fengtian and barely escaped.

初，晞兄曜襲父代國公，實封二千戶，及曜卒，詔曰：「故尚父、太尉中書令、汾陽王，功格上玄，道光下土，積其善慶，垂裕無窮。雖嫡長雲殂，支宗斯盛，汾陽舊邑，盍有丕承。其男前左散騎常侍、駙馬都尉、食實封五百戶曖，夙稟義方，居忠履孝，儷崇銀榜，攄美金章，繼撫先封，允宜聽復。曖兄檢校工部尚書、守太子賓客、趙國公晞，並弟右金吾將軍、祁國公、食實封二百五十戶曙，太子左諭德映等，並休有令名，保其先業，宜允推恩之典，以明延嗣之誠。其實封二千戶，宜準式減半，余可分襲。曖可襲代國公，仍通前襲三百戶；晞可二百五十戶；曙可五十戶，通前三百七十戶；映可二百三十五戶。」尋又詔尚父子儀男晞、曖、映、曙四人所襲實封，各減五十戶，以賜郭曜男鉾、郭晤男鐇，各襲一百戶。

When Yao died, the throne recalled Ziyi's merit and the survival of the clan. Though the eldest line ended, the branch flourishes to inherit Fenyang. Ai, horse commandant with five hundred households, should resume the fief for loyalty and filial piety. Xi, Shu, Ying, and others should share the extended grace of succession. The two-thousand-household fief should be halved by statute and divided. Ai may inherit Duke of Dai with three hundred prior households; Xi two hundred fifty; Shu fifty plus three hundred seventy prior; Ying two hundred thirty-five. Later each son's fief was reduced fifty households for Yao's and Wu's grandsons.

晞至行在，復檢校工部尚書、太子詹事；從駕還京，改太子賓客。晞子鋼為朔方節度使杜希全賓佐，希全以鋼攝豐州刺史。晞以鋼幼弱，恐不任邊職，貞元七年，晞上章請罷鋼官。德宗遣中使召之，鋼疑以他事見攝，乃單騎走入吐蕃。蕃將見鋼獨叛，不納，置之筏上，流入黃河令歸，杜希全得之，送赴京師，賜鋼自盡，晞亦坐子免官。明年，復授太子賓客。貞元十年卒，贈兵部尚書。晞次子鈞。鈞子承嘏別有傳。

Xi rejoined the court as acting minister of works and crown prince's household administrator; then became crown prince's guest after the return. Xi's son Gang served Shuofang commissioner Du Xiquan as acting Fengzhou prefect. In Zhengyuan 7 Xi asked to remove young Gang from frontier office. Summoned by imperial envoy, Gang fled alone into Tibet. Tibet sent him back on a raft; the court ordered Gang to kill himself and removed Xi. Next year he was again crown prince's guest. In Zhengyuan 10 he died, posthumously minister of war. Xi's second son was Jun. Jung's son Chengjia has his own biography.

曖，子儀第六子。年十余歲，尚代宗第四女升平公主，時升平年亦與暖相類。大歷中，恩寵冠於戚裏，歲時錫賚珍玩，不可勝紀。大歷十三年，有詔毀除白渠水支流碾硙，以妨民溉田。升平有脂粉硙兩輪，郭子儀私硙兩輪，所司未敢毀徹。公主見代宗訴之，帝謂公主曰：「吾行此詔，蓋為蒼生，爾豈不識我意耶？可為眾率先。」公主即日命毀。由是勢門碾硙八十余所，皆毀之。曖檢校左散騎常侍。建中末，公主坐事，留之禁中，曖亦不令出入。既而硃泚之亂，不知車駕幸奉天，為賊所逼，欲授偽官，曖辭以居喪被疾。既而與兄晞、弟曙及升平公主皆奔奉天，德宗喜，並釋前咎，待之如初，復銀青光祿大夫、檢校左散騎常侍。從駕至山南，改太常卿同正員。

Ai was Ziyi's sixth son. At ten he married Daizong's daughter Princess Shengping, near his own age. In the Dali era imperial favor and gifts were unmatched among kin. In Dali 13 an edict abolished branch canal mills that blocked irrigation. Shengping and Ziyi each kept two mills until officials dared not touch them. The princess complained; Daizong said the edict was for the people—she should lead by example. Take the lead for all. She destroyed her mills that same day. Then eighty powerful families' mills were torn down. Ai became acting left regular palace attendant. Late in Jianzhong the princess was confined and Ai was locked out with her. During Zhu Ci's revolt, Ai refused puppet office citing mourning illness. He fled with Xi, Shu, and Shengping to Fengtian; Dezong pardoned them and restored honors. He followed the court to Shannan as minister of imperial sacrifices.

貞元中，帝為皇孫廣陵郡王納曖女為妃。曖，貞元十六年七月卒，贈尚書左僕射。升平公主，元和五年十月薨，贈虢國大長公主，謚曰懿。廣陵王即位，為憲宗皇帝，妃生穆宗皇帝。元和十五年，穆宗即位，尊郭妃為皇太后，詔曰：「追遠飾終，先王令典。況積仁累義，事已顯於身前；祥會慶傳，福遂流於天下。式光盛德，爰舉徽章，尊尊親親，於是乎在。皇太后父贈尚書左僕射曖，克荷崇構，有勞王家，孝友本於生知，英華發於事任，實修一德，歷仕三朝。建中末年，屬有大難，畢力扈駕，忘軀即戎，忠貞之節，國史明備。才高望洽，是膺沁水之祥；德厚流光，乃啟塗山之祚。肆予小子，獲纘大業，未展定申之命，敢緣褒紀之恩，俾繼維師，用不縟禮。可贈太傅。」曖子釗、鏦、銛。

In Zhengyuan the emperor married Ai's daughter to Prince of Guangling. Ai died in Zhengyuan 16, seventh month, posthumously left vice director of the Secretariat. Princess Shengping died in Yuanhe 5, posthumously Grand Princess of Guo, posthumous Yi. Their daughter became empress to Xianzong and mother of Muzong. In Yuanhe 15 Muzong honored her as empress dowager, citing ancient rites. Her accumulated virtue was plain in life; her blessings spread through the realm. Thus the court raised her honors and cherished kin. Her father Ai served three reigns with filial loyalty and talent. In Jianzhong's crisis he escorted the emperor at risk of life—history records his loyalty. His talent won Qinshui's blessing; his virtue opened Tushan's succession. I, Muzong, extend grace though full rites are not yet due. Posthumously grant him Grand Mentor. Ai's sons were Zhao, Cong, and Xian.

曙，代宗朝累歷司農卿，居父憂。建中三年冬，舒王誼為淮西、山南諸大元帥，以曙檢校左庶子，為元帥府都押牙。京城亂，從幸山南，轉太府卿。隨駕還京，拜左金吾衛大將軍。貞元末卒。

Shu served as minister of imperial granaries under Daizong and mourned his father. In Jianzhong 3 winter Shu served Prince Shu Yi as chief adjutant. In capital chaos he followed the court to Shannan as minister of the treasury. Returning to Chang'an, he became left golden guard general. He died at the end of Zhengyuan.

釗，偉姿儀，身長七尺，方口豐下，沈默寡言。母升平長公主。代宗朝，釗為外孫，恩寵逾等，起家為太常寺奉禮郎。德宗朝，累官至太子右庶子。元和初，為左金吾衛大將軍，充左街使。九年十一月，檢校工部尚書，兼邠州刺史，充邠寧節度使。數歲，檢校戶部尚書，入為司農卿。釗，大勛之後，姻聯戚裏，而謙和接物，恭慎自持，居家臨民，無驕怠之色，無奢侈之失，士君子重之。十五年正月，憲宗寢疾彌旬，諸中貴人秉權者欲議廢立，紛紛未定。穆宗在東宮，心甚憂之，遣人問計於釗，釗曰：「殿下身為皇太子，但旦夕視膳，謹守以俟，又何慮乎！」迄今稱釗得元舅之體。

Zhao was tall and handsome, seven feet, silent and grave. His mother was Princess Shengping. As Daizong's grandson he entered the Grand Sacrifices Office. Under Dezong he rose to right guardian of the heir apparent. In Yuanhe he became left golden guard general and left street commissioner. In Yuanhe 9, eleventh month, he became acting minister of works and Binning commissioner. After years as revenue minister he became minister of imperial granaries. Despite imperial connections, Zhao was humble and esteemed by scholars. In Yuanhe 15 Xianzong fell ill and eunuchs debated succession. Muzong asked his counsel; Zhao said a crown prince need only attend the emperor and wait. He is praised as the model imperial uncle.

穆宗即位，冊皇太后南內，推崇外氏，以釗兼司農卿。未幾，檢校戶部尚書，充河陽三城懷節度使。歲中，換河中尹、河中晉絳慈隰節度使。釗歷踐籓鎮，以汾陽胄胤，材能選用，不獨憑椒房之勢，所蒞簡約不撓，其俗自理。敬宗即位，尊郭太后為太皇太后，征釗為兵部尚書，兼檢校尚書左僕射。明年，出為梓州刺史、劍南東川節度使。文宗即位，加司空。大和三年冬，南蠻陷巂州，遂寇西川，杜元穎失於控禦，蠻軍陷成都府外城。朝廷未暇除帥，乃以釗兼領西川節度。蠻軍已寇樟州，諸道援軍未至，川軍寡弱，不可令戰。釗致書於蠻首領泬巔，責以侵寇之意，泬巔曰：「杜元穎不守疆埸，屢侵吾圉，以是修報也。」與釗修好而退。朝廷嘉之，授成都尹、劍南西川節度使。與南詔立約，疆陲不擾。以疾求代。四年，入為太常卿、檢校司徒。十二月，在道卒，詔贈司徒。子仲文、仲辭。

Muzong made Zhao concurrent minister of imperial granaries. Soon he was revenue minister and Heyang commissioner. Mid-year he became Heyang governor and military commissioner. As Ziyi's heir he governed frontiers by ability, not only by kinship, and order followed. Jingzong summoned him as minister of war and acting left vice director. Next year he went out as Jiannan East commissioner. Wenzong added minister of works. In Taihe 3 winter Nanzhao took Qiongzhou and breached Chengdu's outer wall. The court made Zhao concurrent western Sichuan commander. With relief late and Sichuan weak, battle was impossible. Zhao rebuked chieftain Ju Dian, who blamed Du Yuanying's border failures. They renewed friendship and withdrew. The court praised him and made him Chengdu governor and western Sichuan commissioner. He treaty with Nanzhao and kept the border quiet. Ill, he asked to be replaced. In year four he became minister of imperial sacrifices and acting minister of education. In the twelfth month he died on the road, posthumously minister of education. His sons were Zhongwen and Zhongci.

仲文，大和末為殿中少監。開成初，詔仲文襲父太原郡公，制上，給事中封敕奏曰：「伏準制書，贈司徒郭釗嫡男仲文襲封太原郡公者，臣近訪知郭釗妻沈氏，公主之女，代宗皇帝外孫，有男仲辭，已選尚主。仲文不合假冒，自稱嫡子。若仲文承嫡，即沈氏須黜居別室，仲辭不合配尚貴主。伏以郭仲文，尚父子儀之孫，太皇太后之侄，戚裏勛門，無與儔比，婚姻嫡庶，朝野具知，奪宗之配，實玷風教。且仲文、仲辭既非同出，襲封尚主，不可並行。伏請付臺勘當。」詔曰：「以萬年縣尉仲辭襲封。」仲文落下，以太皇太后侄，不之罪。尋以仲辭為銀青光祿大夫、檢校中少監、駙馬都尉，襲封太原郡公，尚饒陽公主。又仲辭兄詹事府丞仲恭，為銀青光祿大夫，尚金堂公主。

At the end of Taihe, Zhongwen was vice supervisor of the palace. At Kaicheng's start, Feng Chi challenged Zhongwen's succession, noting Zhao's wife Lady Shen had son Zhongci already chosen to marry a princess. Zhongwen falsely claimed to be the legitimate heir. If Zhongwen were legitimate, Lady Shen would be set aside and Zhongci could not marry a princess. As Ziyi's grandson and the empress dowager's nephew, Zhongwen's false claim stained propriety known to all. Succession and imperial marriage could not both go to conflicting claims. He asked the censorate to investigate. The edict awarded succession to Wanian defender Zhongci. Zhongwen lost office but escaped punishment as the empress dowager's nephew. Zhongci became horse commandant, Duke of Taiyuan, and married Princess Raoyang. Brother Zhonggong married Princess Jintang.

幼明，尚父子儀之母弟也。性謹願無過，不工武藝，喜賓客飲宴，居家禦眾，皆得其歡心。以子儀勛業，累歷大卿監，大歷八年卒，贈太子太傅。

Youming was Ziyi's maternal uncle. Youming was mild, unwarlike, and hospitable, beloved at home. Through Ziyi's merit he rose to high office; died in Dali 8, posthumously grand mentor of the crown prince.

子昕，肅宗末為四鎮留後。自關、隴陷蕃，為虜所隔，其四鎮、北庭使額，李嗣業、荔非元禮皆遙領之。昕阻隔十五年，建中二年，與伊西北庭節度使李元忠俱遣使於朝，德宗嘉之。詔曰：「四鎮、二庭，統任西夏五十七蕃十姓部落，國朝以來，相次率職。自關、隴失守，東西阻絕，忠義之徒，泣血相守，慎固封略，奉尊朝法，皆候伯守將交修共理之所致也。伊西北庭節度使李元忠，可北庭大都護；四鎮節度留後郭昕，可安西大都護、四鎮節度使。其將吏已下敘官，可超七資。」

His son Xin was Four Garrisons regent under Suzong. After Tong and Long fell, Li Siye and Lifei Yuanli held Four Garrisons and Beiting titles in name only. Cut off fifteen years, in Jianzhong 2 Xin and Li Yuanzhong sent envoys to court; Dezong praised them. The edict recalled the Four Garrisons and Beiting governing western tribes since the dynasty's rise. Loyal garrisons held the frontier by joint effort though cut off from the east. Li Yuanzhong was named Beiting grand protector; Xin was named Anxi grand protector and Four Garrisons commissioner. Subordinates could advance seven ranks.

李元忠，本姓曹，名令忠，以功賜姓名。時昕使自回紇歷諸蕃部，方達於朝。又有袁光庭者，為伊州刺史，隴右諸郡皆陷，光庭堅守伊州，吐蕃攻之累年，兵盡食竭，光庭先刃其妻子，自焚而死。因昕使知之，贈工部尚書。

Li Yuanzhong was born Cao Lingzhong and received his new name for merit. Xin's envoys passed through Uyghurs and many tribes to reach court. Yizhou prefect Yuan Guangting held for years, then killed his family and burned himself when Tibet exhausted him. Learning via Xin's envoy, the court posthumously made Yuan minister of works.

史臣曰：天寶之季，盜起幽陵，萬乘播遷，兩都覆沒。天祚土德，實生汾陽。自河朔班師，關西殄寇，身扞豺虎，手披荊榛。七八年間，其勤至矣，再造王室，勛高一代。及國威復振，群小肆讒，位重懇辭，失寵無怨。不幸危而邀君父，不挾憾以報仇讎，晏然效忠，有死無二，誠大雅君子，社稷純臣。自秦、漢已還，勛力之盛，無與倫比。而晞、曖於缞粗之中，拔身虎口，赴難奉天，可謂忠孝之門有嗣矣。

The historian wrote: In Tianbao's fall rebels rose and both capitals fell. Heaven's earth virtue bore Guo of Fenyang. He withdrew from Hebei, cleared Guanxi, and fought through thorns and wolves. In seven or eight years of toil he remade the dynasty. When the realm revived, slander grew; he declined high rank without bitterness. He never held the emperor hostage or nursed revenge; loyal unto death—a pure pillar of state. Since Qin and Han none matched his merit. Xi and Ai, in mourning, escaped Zhu Ci and reached Fengtian—loyalty ran in the family.

贊曰：猗歟汾陽，功扶昊蒼。秉仁蹈義，鐵心石腸。四朝靜亂，五福其昌。為臣之節，敢告忠良。

The encomium sings: Great Fenyang, upholding heaven. Benevolence and righteousness, heart of iron. Four reigns, five blessings. His example speaks to all loyal ministers.

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