1
=李揆=李揆字端卿，隴西成紀人，而家於鄭州，代為冠族。 秦府學士、給事中玄道玄孫，秘書監、贈吏部尚書成裕之子。 少聰敏好學，善屬文。 開元末，舉進士，補陳留尉，獻書闕下，詔中書試文章，擢拜右拾遺。 改右補闕、起居郎，知宗子表疏。 遷司勛員外郎、考功郎中，並知制誥。 扈從劍南，拜中書舍人。
Li Kui, whose courtesy name was Duanching, came from Longxi Chenji but his family had long lived in Zhengzhou, where for generations they ranked among the foremost great houses. He was descended from Xuandao, who had served as a scholar in the Prince of Qin's household and as a superviser-remonstrator, and was the son of Chengyu, Director of the Secretariat, who was posthumously made Minister of Personnel. As a youth he was quick-witted and devoted to study, and he excelled at literary composition. Near the end of the Kaiyuan reign he passed the jinshi examination and was appointed defender of Chenliu. After he submitted a book to the court, the emperor ordered the Secretariat to examine his writings and promoted him to Right Remonstrance-reminder. He was then made Right Supplementation-reminder and Attendant of the Heir Apparent, with responsibility for memorials from members of the imperial clan. He rose to outer office director in the Ministry of Personnel and bureau director in the Ministry of Rites, serving in both offices as a drafter of imperial rescripts. When the court went to Jiannan he accompanied it and was appointed a drafter of the Secretariat.
2
乾元初，兼禮部侍郎。 揆嘗以主司取士，多不考實，徒峻其堤防，索其書策，殊未知藝不至者，文史之囿亦不能摛詞，深昧求賢之意也。 其試進士文章，請於庭中設《五經》、諸史及《切韻》本於床，而引貢士謂之曰：「大國選士，但務得者，經籍在此，請恣尋檢。」 由是數月之間，美聲上聞，未及畢事，遷中書侍郎、平章事、集賢殿崇文館大學士、修國史。
Early in the Qianyuan era he was additionally appointed Vice Minister of Rites. Kui had long felt that chief examiners, in selecting candidates, seldom tested real ability. They only raised barriers and demanded written answers, never recognizing that men without talent could not compose even within the familiar fields of letters and history. In this they utterly missed the purpose of seeking worthy men. For the jinshi literary examination he had copies of the Five Classics, the standard histories, and the Qieyun placed on couches in the courtyard. He then brought the candidates before him and said, "A great state chooses its scholars only to find the able. The books are here—consult them freely." Within a few months his reputation for fairness reached the emperor. Before the examination cycle was even finished, he was promoted to Vice Director of the Secretariat, Grand Councilor, Grand Academician of the Jixian and Chongwen halls, and compiler of the national history.
3
揆美風儀，善奏對，每有敷陳，皆符獻替。 肅宗賞嘆之，嘗謂揆曰：「卿門地、人物、文章，皆當代所推。」 故進人稱為三絕。 其為舍人也，宗室請加張皇后「翊聖」之號，肅宗召揆問之，對曰； 「臣觀往古后妃，終則有謚。 生加尊號，未之前聞。 景龍失政，韋氏專恣，加號翊聖，今若加皇后之號，與韋氏同。 陛下明聖，動遵典禮，豈可蹤景龍故事哉！」 肅宗驚曰：「凡才幾誤我家事。」 遂止。 時代宗自廣平王改封成王，張皇后有子數歲，陰有奪宗之議。 揆因對見，肅宗從容曰：「成王嫡長有功，今當命嗣，卿意何如？」 揆拜賀曰：「陛下言及於此，社稷之福，天下幸甚，臣不勝大慶。」 肅宗喜曰：「朕計決矣。」 自此頗承恩遇，遂蒙大用。
Kui was distinguished in bearing and skilled in audience with the throne. Whatever he proposed was apt counsel, offered to improve and replace what was amiss. Emperor Suzong admired him greatly and once told Kui, "Your family standing, your person, and your writings are all esteemed in our time." For this reason contemporaries called him unmatched in three respects. While he served as a Secretariat drafter, members of the imperial clan petitioned to add the honorific "Assistant Sage" to Empress Zhang. Emperor Suzong summoned Kui for his view, and he answered: "Your servant observes that in antiquity empresses and consorts received posthumous titles only after death. To bestow a grand honorific title during one's lifetime is without precedent. In the Jinglong era the court lost its way, the Wei clan seized power, and the title Assistant Sage was added. If Your Majesty now adds such a title to the empress, you will be repeating the Wei precedent. Your Majesty is enlightened and always observant of ritual—how could you follow the Jinglong precedent!" Emperor Suzong was startled and said, "Mediocre counsel nearly ruined my house." The proposal was then abandoned. At that time Daizong had been renamed from Prince of Guangping to Prince of Cheng. Empress Zhang had a young son, and there was secret talk of displacing the heir. On one audience Kui was present, and Emperor Suzong said calmly, "The Prince of Cheng is the eldest legitimate son and has rendered service. It is time to name the heir. What do you think?" Kui bowed in congratulation and said, "That Your Majesty speaks of this is a blessing to the altars of state and a great fortune for the realm. Your servant is overcome with joy." Emperor Suzong said gladly, "My mind is made up." From that time he enjoyed marked imperial favor and was soon entrusted with great power.
4
時京師多盜賊，有通衢殺人置溝中者，李輔國方恣橫，上請選羽林騎士五百人以備巡檢。 揆上疏曰：「昔西漢以南北軍相攝，故周勃因南軍入北軍，遂安劉氏。 皇朝置南北衙，文武區分，以相伺察。 今以羽林代金吾警夜，忽有非常之變，將何以制之？」 遂制罷羽林之請。
At that time bandits were numerous in the capital; murders on busy streets and bodies thrown into ditches were common. Li Fuguo, then riding high in power, asked that five hundred Imperial Guard horsemen be chosen for patrol duty. Kui submitted a memorial saying, "In Western Han the Southern and Northern Armies were meant to check each other. That was why Zhou Bo, by way of the Southern Army, entered the Northern Army and thereby secured the Liu house. Our dynasty established the Northern and Southern Bureaus, separating civil and military authority so that each might watch the other. If the Imperial Guard now replaces the Golden Crow in night patrol, and a sudden crisis arises, how will it be controlled?" The request for Imperial Guard patrols was then ordered withdrawn.
5
揆在相位，決事獻替，雖甚博辨，性銳於名利，深為物議所非。 又其兄皆自有時名，滯於冗官，竟不引進。 同列呂諲，地望雖懸，政事在揆之右，罷相，自賓客為荊南節度，聲問甚美。 懼其重入，遂密令直省至諲管內抅求諲過失。 諲密疏自陳，乃貶揆萊州長史同正員，其制旨曰：「扇湖南之八州，沮江陵之節制。」 揆既黜官，數日，其兄皆改授為司門員外郎。 後累年，揆量移歙州刺史。 初，揆秉政，侍中苗晉卿累薦元載為重官。 揆自恃門望，以載地寒，意甚輕易，不納，而謂晉卿曰：「龍章鳳姿之士不見用，麞頭鼠目之子乃求官。」 載銜恨頗深。 及載登相位，因揆當徙職，遂奏為試秘書監，江淮養疾。 既無祿俸，家復貧乏，孀孤百口，丐食取給。 萍寄諸州，凡十五六年，其牧守稍薄，則又移居，故其遷徙者，蓋十余州焉。 元載以罪誅，除揆睦州刺史，入拜國子祭酒、禮部尚書，為盧杞所惡。 德宗在山南，令充入蕃會盟使，加左僕射。 行至鳳州，以疾卒，興元元年四月也，年七十四。 贈司空，喪事官給。
As chief minister Kui decided affairs with apt corrective counsel and was highly eloquent, yet he was keen for fame and profit and was widely condemned. His elder brothers, too, enjoyed reputations of their own but languished in minor posts, and he never advanced them. His colleague Lü Yin, though far beneath him in birth and standing, had once outranked him in government. After leaving the chief ministership Lü went from imperial guest to military commissioner of Jingnan, where his reputation flourished. Fearing that Yin might return to high office, Kui secretly ordered secretariat officials to enter Yin's jurisdiction and hunt for faults. Yin submitted a secret memorial in his own defense, and Kui was demoted to senior administrator of Laizhou. The edict declared, "He stirred up the eight prefectures south of the lake and obstructed control from Jiangling." Within days of Kui's dismissal his brothers were all reassigned to outer office director posts in the Ministry of Justice. After several years Kui was transferred by quota to prefect of Shezhou. While Kui held power, Palace Attendant Miao Jinqing had repeatedly recommended Yuan Zai for high office. Kui, trusting in his own pedigree, looked down on Zai because of his humble origins and refused the recommendation. He told Jinqing, "Men of dragon markings and phoenix bearing go unused, while deer-headed, rat-eyed fellows come seeking office." Zai nursed a deep grudge against him. When Zai became chief minister, he took advantage of Kui's scheduled transfer and had him appointed acting Director of the Secretariat to convalesce in the Jianghuai region. With no salary and his household again in want, more than a hundred widows and orphans in his family lived by begging. For fifteen or sixteen years he drifted from prefecture to prefecture. Whenever a local governor treated him harshly he moved on again, and in all he lived in more than ten different prefectures. After Yuan Zai was executed for his crimes, Kui was appointed prefect of Muzhou. He later entered court as Director of the Directorate of Education and Minister of Rites, but Lu Qi bore him ill will. While Dezong was in Shannan, Kui was appointed envoy to the western tribes for the alliance conference and was additionally made Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. He reached Fengzhou and died of illness in the fourth month of the first year of Xingyuan, at the age of seventy-four. He was posthumously made Minister of Works, and the state provided for his funeral.
6
=李涵=李涵，高平王道立曾孫。 父少康，宋州刺史。 涵簡素恭慎，有名宗室，累授贊善大夫、兼侍御史。 朔方節度郭子儀奏為關內鹽池判官。 肅宗北幸平涼，未有所適。 涵與朔方留後杜鴻漸，草箋具朔方兵馬招集之勢，軍資倉儲庫物之數，鹹推涵宗枝之英，純厚忠信，乃令涵奉箋至平涼謁見。 涵敷奏明辯，動合事機，肅宗大悅，除右司員外郎，累至司封郎中、宗正少卿。
Li Han was the great-grandson of Daoli, Prince of Gaoping. His father Shaokang had served as prefect of Songzhou. Han was plain, frugal, respectful, and cautious, a well-known member of the imperial clan who was repeatedly appointed gentleman attendant and concurrent palace censor. Guo Ziyi, military commissioner of Shuofang, recommended him as salt-pond administrator for the region within the passes. When Emperor Suzong went north to Pingliang, the court had not yet chosen its next refuge. Han and Du Hongjian, acting commissioner of Shuofang, drafted a memorial detailing the forces being gathered in Shuofang and the quantities of military supplies in store. All praised Han as an outstanding member of the imperial clan, pure, generous, loyal, and trustworthy, and Han was sent to present the memorial at Pingliang. Han spoke clearly and persuasively, and his words always matched the moment. Emperor Suzong was greatly pleased and appointed him outer office director in the Right Secretariat. He later rose to bureau director in the Ministry of Rites and Vice Director of the Imperial Clan Court.
7
寶應元年，初平河朔，代宗以涵忠謹洽聞，遷左庶子、兼御史中丞、河北宣慰使。 會丁母憂，起復本官而行，每州縣郵驛，公事之外，未嘗啟口，疏飯飲水，席地而息。 使還，請罷官終喪制，代宗以其毀瘠，許之。 服闋，除給事中，遷尚書左丞。 以幽州之亂，充河朔宣慰使。 大歷六年正月，為蘇州刺史、兼御史大夫，充浙江西道都團練觀察等使。 十一年，來朝，拜御史大夫。 京畿觀察使李棲筠歿，代之。 德宗即位，以涵和易，無剸割之才，除太子少傅，充山陵副使。 涵判官殿中侍御史呂渭上言：「涵父名少康，今官名犯諱，恐乖禮典。」 宰相崔祐甫奏曰：「若朝廷事有乖舛，群臣悉能如此，實太平之道。」 除渭司門員外郎。 尋有人言：「涵昔為宗正少卿，此時無言，今為少傅，妄有奏議。」 詔曰：「呂渭僭陳章奏，為其本使薄訴官名。 朕以宋有司城之嫌，晉有詞曹之諱，嘆其忠於所事，亦謂確以上聞。 乃加殊恩，俾膺厚賞。 近聞所陳「少」字，往歲已任少卿，昔是今非，罔我何甚！ 豈得謬當朝典，更廁周行，宜佐遐籓，用誡薄俗。 可歙州司馬同正。」 由是改涵為檢校工部尚書、兼光祿卿，仍充山陵副使。 無幾，以右僕射致仕。 興元元年九月卒，追贈太子太保。
In the first year of Baoying, when the Hebei region was first pacified, Daizong promoted Han—known for loyalty, prudence, and thoroughness—to Left Guardian of the Heir Apparent, with concurrent appointment as Censor-in-chief and Hebei pacification commissioner. He was in mourning for his mother but was recalled to his former post and set out. At every postal station along the way, apart from official business he scarcely spoke, ate plain food and drank water, and slept on the ground. When the mission ended he asked to leave office and complete his mourning. Daizong, seeing how grief had wasted him, granted the request. When mourning ended he was appointed Supervising Secretary and later promoted to Left Assistant Director of the Department of State Affairs. Because of the turmoil in Youzhou he was appointed Hebei-Shuo pacification commissioner. In the first month of the sixth year of Dali he was made prefect of Suzhou, concurrent Chief Censor, and overall training-and-defense and observation commissioner of western Zhejiang. In the eleventh year he came to court and was appointed Chief Censor. When Li Qiyun, observation commissioner of the capital region, died, Han succeeded him. When Dezong took the throne, judging Han easygoing and lacking the talent for decisive action, he was made Junior Tutor of the Heir Apparent and deputy commissioner for the imperial tombs. Han's aide, Palace Attendant-in-chief Lü Wei, submitted a statement: "Han's father's name is Shaokang. His present official title violates taboo and may conflict with ritual propriety." Chief Minister Cui Youfu memorialized, "If whenever court affairs go astray all ministers can speak up like this, that is truly the way to great peace." Wei was appointed outer office director in the Ministry of Justice. Soon someone objected: "When Han was Vice Director of the Imperial Clan Court he said nothing about this; now, as Junior Tutor, his aide presumptuously submitted this opinion." An edict declared, "Lü Wei presumptuously submitted a memorial, making a petty complaint about an official title on behalf of his chief. We recalled that in Song there was the taboo involving the Minister of Works and in Jin the taboo involving the Bureau of Documents. We admired his loyalty to his chief and thought he had been earnest in reporting upward. We therefore granted him special favor and a generous reward. We have lately learned that the character shao in question was no issue when Han already held the post of Vice Director years ago. What was acceptable then is unacceptable now—how greatly he has deceived Us! How can he wrongly hold a post at court and again stand among the imperial ranks? He should serve in a distant frontier prefecture as a warning to shallow custom. He is demoted to vice prefect of Shezhou with concurrent regular status." Han was therefore reassigned as acting Minister of Public Works and concurrent Director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments, while retaining his post as deputy commissioner for the imperial tombs. Before long he retired as Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. He died in the ninth month of the first year of Xingyuan and was posthumously made Grand Protector of the Heir Apparent.
8
=陳少遊=陳少遊，博州人也。 祖儼，安西副都護。 父慶，右武衛兵曹參軍，以少遊累贈工部尚書。 少遊幼聰辯，初習《莊》、《列》、《老子》，為崇玄館學生，眾推引講經。 時同列有私習經義者，期升坐日相問難。 及會，少遊攝齊升坐，音韻清辯，觀者屬目。 所引文句，悉兼他義，諸生不能對，甚為大學士陳希烈所嘆賞，又以同宗，遇之甚厚。 既擢第，補渝州南平令，理甚有聲。 至德中，河東節度王思禮奏為參謀，累授大理司直、監察殿中侍御史、節度判官。 寶應元年，入為金部員外郎。 尋授侍御史、迥紇糧料使，改檢校職方員外郎。 充使檢校郎官，自少遊始也。 明年，仆固懷恩奏為河北副元帥判官、兵部郎中、兼侍御史。 遷晉州刺史，改同州刺史，未視事，又歷晉、鄭二州刺史。 少遊為理，長於權變，時推幹濟，然厚斂財貨，交結權幸，以是頻獲遷擢。 無幾，澤潞節度使李抱玉表為副使、御史中丞、陳鄭二州留後。
Chen Shaoyou was a native of Bozhou. His grandfather Yan had served as Vice Protector-general of Anxi. His father Qing had been a military staff officer of the Right Martial Guards; because of Shaoyou he was repeatedly posthumously made Minister of Public Works. Shaoyou was clever and eloquent as a youth. He first studied the Zhuangzi, Liezi, and Laozi, entered the Chongxuan Hall as a student, and his fellows recommended him to lecture on the classics. Some of his fellows had privately studied the classics and arranged to question one another on the day he took the lectern. When the day came, Shaoyou gathered his robes and ascended the seat. His voice was clear and his argument keen, and every eye in the hall was on him. Every passage he cited carried additional meanings, and the students could not answer him. Grand Academician Chen Xilie greatly admired him, and because they shared the same surname clan, treated him with exceptional favor. After passing the examination he was appointed magistrate of Nanping in Yuzhou, where his governance won wide renown. In the Zhide era Wang Silu, military commissioner of Hedong, recommended him as staff adviser. He rose through appointments as rectifier in the Court of Judicial Review, investigating palace censor, and military commissioner aide. In the first year of Baoying he entered court as outer office director in the Ministry of Revenue. Soon he was made attendant censor and grain-supply commissioner for the Uyghurs, and was reassigned as acting outer office director in the Ministry of War. The practice of appointing an envoy with acting courtier rank began with Shaoyou. The following year Pugu Huai'en recommended him as aide to the deputy commander-in-chief of Hebei, bureau director in the Ministry of War, and concurrent attendant censor. He was made prefect of Jinzhou, then reassigned to Tongzhou. Before he could take up that post he served again as prefect of Jin and Zheng. In governing, Shaoyou was skilled at expedient adaptation and was praised for practical ability. Yet he levied heavy taxes, cultivated the powerful and favored at court, and thereby won frequent promotion. Before long Li Baoyu, military commissioner of Zelu, recommended him as deputy commissioner, Censor-in-chief, and acting governor of Chen and Zheng.
9
永泰二年，抱玉又奏為隴右行軍司馬，拜檢校左庶子，依前兼中丞。 其年，除桂州刺史、桂管觀察使。 少遊以嶺僥遐遠，欲規求近郡。 時中官董秀掌樞密用事，少遊乃宿於其裏，候其下直，際晚謁之，從容曰：「七郎家中人數幾何？ 每月所費復幾何？」 秀曰：「久忝近職，家累甚重，又屬時物騰貴，一月過千餘貫。」 少遊曰：「據此之費，俸錢不足支數日，其餘常須數求外人，方可取濟。 倘有輸誠供億者，但留心庇覆之，固易為力耳。 少遊雖不才，請以一身獨供七郎之費，每歲請獻錢五萬貫。 今見有大半，請即受納，餘到官續送。 免貴人勞慮，不亦可乎？」 秀既逾於始望，欣愜頗甚，因與之厚相結。 少遊言訖，泣曰：「南方炎瘴，深愴違辭，但恐不生還再睹顏色矣。」 秀遽曰：「中丞美才，不當遠官，請從容旬日，冀竭蹇分。」 時少遊又已納賄於元載子仲武矣。 秀、載內外引薦，數日，拜宣州刺史、宣歙池都團練觀察使。
In the second year of Yongtai Baoyu again recommended him as marching army vice marshal of Longyou and acting Left Guardian of the Heir Apparent, while retaining his concurrent post as Censor-in-chief. That year he was appointed prefect of Guizhou and observation commissioner of the Gui circuit. Shaoyou, finding the Ling region remote and arduous, set about securing a post nearer the capital. At that time the eunuch Dong Xiu controlled secret affairs and wielded great power. Shaoyou lodged in his lane, waited until he left duty, and at dusk called on him. Calmly he asked, "Seventh Brother, how large is your household? And how much do you spend each month?" Xiu replied, "Having long held a post near the throne, my household burdens are heavy. With prices rising as they are, a month costs more than a thousand strings of cash." Shaoyou said, "At that rate your salary would not last a few days. The rest must constantly be sought from outsiders before you can make ends meet. If someone offers you sincere support, you need only take him under your protection—it is easily done. Though I lack talent, I ask to supply all of Seventh Brother's expenses myself, offering fifty thousand strings of cash each year. I have more than half of it on hand now—please accept it at once. The rest I will send once I take up my post. Would that not spare you worry?" Xiu, far beyond what he had first hoped for, was greatly pleased and formed a close bond with him. When Shaoyou had finished he wept and said, "The southern heat and miasma grieve me deeply at this parting. I fear I shall not return alive to see you again." Xiu said hastily, "Vice Censor, your talent is too fine for a distant post. Give me ten days or so; I hope to do what little I can." By then Shaoyou had also paid bribes to Yuan Zai's son Zhongwu. With recommendations from Xiu within the palace and Zai outside it, within a few days he was appointed prefect of Xuanzhou and overall training-and-defense and observation commissioner of Xuan, She, and Chi.
10
大歷五年，改越州刺史、兼御史大夫、浙東觀察使。 八年遷揚州大都督府長史、淮南節度觀察使。 仍加銀青光祿大夫，封潁川縣開國子。 所在悉心綏輯，而多以任數為政，好行小惠，胥吏得職，人亦獲安。 及朝廷多事。 奏請本道兩稅錢千增二百。 因詔諸道悉如淮南，鹽每一斗更加一百文。 少遊十餘年間，三總大籓，皆天下殷厚處也。 以故征求貿易，且無虛日，斂積財寶，累巨億萬，多賂遺權貴，視文雅清流之士，蔑如也。 初結元載，每年饋金帛約十萬貫，又多納賂於用事中官駱奉先、劉清潭、吳承倩等，由是美聲達於中禁。 後見元載在相位年深，以過犯漸見疑忌，少遊亦稍疏之。 無何，載子伯和貶官揚州，少遊外與之交結，而陰使人伺其過失，密以上聞。 代宗以為忠，待之益厚。
In the fifth year of Dali he was reassigned as prefect of Yuezhou, concurrent Chief Censor, and observation commissioner of eastern Zhejiang. In the eighth year he was made senior administrator of the Yangzhou metropolitan prefecture and military commissioner and observation commissioner of Huainan. He was additionally made Silver-Green Glory Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and enfeoffed as Viscount of Yingchuan county. Wherever he served he devoted himself to pacifying and ordering the region, yet he often governed by expedient stratagems and liked to grant small favors. Clerks fulfilled their duties and the people found a measure of security. When the court was beset by many crises, he memorialized that the circuit's two-tax payments be increased by two hundred cash per thousand. An edict then ordered every circuit to follow Huainan's example, adding one hundred cash to the price of each dou of salt. Over more than a decade Shaoyou thrice headed great frontier commands, each in one of the wealthiest regions of the empire. Levies and trade went on without a single idle day. He amassed wealth in the hundreds of millions, lavished bribes on the powerful and favored at court, and held refined scholars in contempt. At first he cultivated Yuan Zai, sending him gifts of gold and silk worth about a hundred thousand strings each year. He also paid many bribes to influential eunuchs such as Luo Fengxian, Liu Qingtan, and Wu Chengqian, and his reputation for generosity reached the inner palace. Later, seeing that Yuan Zai had long held the chief ministership and was gradually falling under suspicion for his faults, Shaoyou also grew somewhat distant from him. Before long Zai's son Bohe was demoted to an office in Yangzhou. Shaoyou cultivated him outwardly while secretly sending men to watch for his faults and reporting them to the throne. Daizong regarded this as loyalty and treated him all the more generously.
11
上即位，累加檢校禮部、兵部尚書。 建中三年，李納反叛，少遊以師收徐、海等州，尋棄之，退軍盱眙。 又加檢校左僕射，賜實封三百戶。 其年，就加同平章事。 關播嘗為少遊賓僚，盧杞早年與之同在仆固懷恩使府，故驟加其官秩。
When Dezong took the throne, Shaoyou was repeatedly given acting appointments as Minister of Rites and Minister of War. In the third year of Jianzhong Li Na rebelled. Shaoyou recovered Xu, Hai, and other prefectures with his army, then soon abandoned them and withdrew to Xuyi. He was additionally made acting Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and granted three hundred actual fief households. That year he was given the additional title of Associate Grand Councilor. Guan Bo had once served on Shaoyou's staff, and Lu Qi had been with him early in Pugu Huai'en's mission office; for these reasons his rank was suddenly raised.
12
四年十月，駕幸奉天，度支汴東兩稅使包佶在揚州，尚未知也。 佶判官崔沅遽報少遊，佶時所總賦稅錢帛約八百萬貫在焉，少遊意以為賊據京師，未即收復，遂脅取其財物。 先使判官崔就佶強索其納給文歷，並請供二百萬貫錢物以助軍費，佶答曰：「所用財帛，須承敕命。」 未與之。 勃然曰：「中丞若得，為劉長卿； 不爾，為崔眾矣。」 長卿嘗任租庸使，為吳仲孺所困，崔眾供軍吝財，為光弼所殺，故言及之，佶大懼，不敢固護，財帛將轉輸入京師者，悉為少遊奪之。 佶自謁，少遊止焉，長揖而遣，既懼禍，奔往白沙。 少遊又遣判官房孺復召之，佶愈懼，托以巡檢，因急棹過江，妻子伏案牘中。 至上元，復為韓滉所拘留。 佶先有兵三千，守禦財貨，令高越、元甫將焉，少遊盡奪之。 隨佶渡江者，又為韓滉所留，佶但領胥吏往江、鄂等州。 佶於彈丸中置表，以少遊脅取財帛事。 會少遊使繼至，上問曰：「少遊取包佶財帛，有之乎？」 對曰：「臣發揚州後，非所知也。」 上曰：「少遊國之守臣，或防他盜，供費軍旅，收亦何傷。」 時方隅阻絕，國命未振，遠近聞之大驚，鹹以聖情達於變通，明見萬里。 少遊後聞之，乃安。
In the tenth month of the fourth year the emperor fled to Fengtian. Bao Ji, commissioner of the eastern Bian two-tax revenues, was in Yangzhou and had not yet heard the news. Ji's aide Cui Yuan hastily reported to Shaoyou. The tax revenues under Ji's control amounted to about eight million strings of cash. Shaoyou supposed the rebels held the capital and it would not soon be recovered, and so seized the goods by force. He first sent his aide Cui to demand Ji's delivery records by force and also requested two million strings of cash and goods for military expenses. Ji replied, "Funds and goods may be used only on imperial order." He refused. Shaoyou said angrily, "Vice Censor, if you comply, you will fare like Liu Changqing; if not, you will fare like Cui Zhong." Liu Changqing had once served as transport commissioner and was trapped by Wu Zhongru; Cui Zhong had been stingy in supplying the army and was killed by Li Guangbi—hence the threat. Ji was terrified and did not dare resist. All the funds and goods destined for the capital were seized by Shaoyou. Ji came in person to call on him. Shaoyou detained him, bowed deeply, and sent him away. Fearing for his life, Ji fled to Baisha. Shaoyou again sent his aide Fang Rufu to summon him. Ji grew still more afraid, pleaded an inspection tour, and hurriedly crossed the river by boat, his wife and children hiding among the document cases. When he reached Shangyuan he was again detained by Han Huang. Ji had formerly had three thousand troops guarding the goods under Gao Yue and Yuan Fu; Shaoyou seized them all. Those who had crossed the river with Ji were again detained by Han Huang. Ji went on to Jiang, E, and other prefectures with only a few clerks. Ji placed a memorial inside a pellet ball reporting Shaoyou's seizure of the funds and goods. When Shaoyou's envoy arrived, the emperor asked, "Did Shaoyou take Bao Ji's funds and goods?" He replied, "After I left Yangzhou, I do not know." The emperor said, "Shaoyou is a guardian minister of the state. He may need to guard against other robbers and supply the army—what harm is there in taking them?" The regions were cut off and the dynasty's authority was not yet restored. Near and far, all who heard this were astonished, and took it as proof that the emperor understood expedient adaptation and saw clearly across the realm. When Shaoyou later heard of it he was reassured.
13
及李希烈陷汴州，聲言欲襲江淮。 少遊懼，乃使參謀溫述由壽州送款於希烈曰：「濠、壽、舒、廬，尋令罷壘，韜戈卷甲，佇候指揮。」 少遊又遣巡官趙詵於鄆州結李納。 其年，希烈僭號，遣其將楊豐賫偽赦書赴揚州，至壽州，為刺史張建封候騎所得，建封對中使二人及少遊判官許子瑞廷責豐而斬之。 希烈聞之大怒，即署其大將杜少誠為偽僕射、淮南節度，令先平壽州，後取廣陵。 建封於霍丘堅柵，嚴加守禁，少誠竟不能進。 後包佶入朝，具奏少遊奪財賦事狀，少遊大懼，乃上表，以所取包佶財貨，皆是供軍急用，今請據數卻納。 既而州府殘破，無以上填，乃與腹心孔目官等設法重稅管內百姓以供之。 無何，劉洽收汴州，得希烈偽起居註「某月日陳少遊上表歸順。」 少遊聞之，慚惶發疾，數日而卒，年六十一，贈太尉，賻布帛，葬祭如常儀。
When Li Xilie captured Bianzhou he declared his intention to strike at Jianghuai. Shaoyou was afraid and sent his staff adviser Wen Shu from Shouzhou to submit to Xilie, saying, "For Hao, Shou, Shu, and Lu—I shall soon order the forts dismantled, sheathe our swords and roll up our armor, and await your command." Shaoyou also sent touring official Zhao Shen to Yanzhou to ally with Li Na. That year Xilie declared himself emperor and sent his general Yang Feng with a false amnesty to Yangzhou. At Shouzhou he was seized by Zhang Jianfeng's scouts. Zhang rebuked Feng in open court before two palace envoys and Shaoyou's aide Xu Zirui, then beheaded him. Xilie was enraged and immediately appointed his great general Du Shaoqian false Vice Director and Huainan military commissioner, ordering him first to pacify Shouzhou and then take Guangling. Jianfeng built strong palisades at Huoqiu and guarded them strictly; Shaoqian could not advance. Later Bao Ji came to court and fully reported Shaoyou's seizure of the revenues. Shaoyou was terrified and submitted a memorial claiming that what he had taken from Bao Ji had all been urgently needed for the army and offering to return the full amount. The prefecture was ravaged and there was no way to make repayment. He therefore worked with trusted clerks to levy heavy taxes on the people under his jurisdiction to supply it. Before long Liu Qia recovered Bianzhou and obtained Xilie's false attendance diary, which recorded that on a certain day Chen Shaoyou had submitted a memorial of submission." When Shaoyou heard of it he was overcome with shame and fear, fell ill, and died within a few days at the age of sixty-one. He was posthumously made Grand Commandant, given funeral silks, and buried with the usual rites.
14
=盧鸑=盧鸑，幽州范陽人也，貞觀中工部侍郎義恭玄孫也。 父子騫，潁王府諮議參軍，以鸑贈秘書少監。 鸑少以門廕入仕，在職以幹局稱。 累授閬州錄事參軍、監察殿中御史、侍御史、金州刺史。 宰相楊炎遇之頗厚，召入左司郎中、京兆少尹，遷大尹。 鸑無術學，善事權要，為政苛躁。 盧杞甚惡之，諷有司彈奏，坐貶撫州司馬同正，改饒州刺史，遷福州刺史、福建觀察使。 貞元二年七月，以疾終。
Lu Bie was a native of Fanyang in Youzhou and the great-great-grandson of Yigong, who had served as Vice Minister of Public Works in the Zhenguan era. His father Ziqian had been advisory staff officer of the Prince of Ying's household; because of Bie he was posthumously made Vice Director of the Secretariat. Bie entered office early through yin privilege and was known in service for practical ability. He rose through appointments as records officer of Langzhou, investigating palace censor, attendant censor, and prefect of Jinzhou. Chief Minister Yang Yan treated him generously, brought him to court as bureau director in the Left Secretariat and junior magistrate of the capital district, and then promoted him to chief magistrate. Bie had no scholarly training, was skilled at cultivating the powerful and favored, and governed harshly and rashly. Lu Qi hated him and prompted the relevant offices to impeach him. He was demoted to vice prefect of Fuzhou, then reassigned as prefect of Raozhou, and later transferred to prefect of Fuzhou and observation commissioner of Fujian. In the seventh month of the second year of Zhenyuan he died of illness.
15
=裴谞=裴谞，字士明，河南洛陽人。 父寬，禮部尚書，有重名於開元、天寶間。 谞少舉明經，補河南府參軍，通達簡率，不好苛細。 積官至京兆倉曹，丁父喪，居東都。 是時，安祿山盜陷二京，東都收復，遷太子司議郎。 無幾，虢王巨奏署侍御史、襄鄧營田判官，丁母憂。 東都復為史思明所陷，谞藏匿山谷。 思明嘗為谞父將校，懷舊恩，又素慕谞名，欲必得之，因令捕騎數十跡逐得谞。 思明見之，甚喜，呼為郎君，不名，偽授御史中丞，主擊斷。 時思明殘殺宗室，谞陰緩之，全活者數百人。 又嘗疏賊短長以聞，事泄，思明大怒詬罵，僅而免死。 賊平，除太子中允，遷考功郎中，數召見言事。
Pei Xu, whose courtesy name was Shiming, was a native of Luoyang in Henan. His father Kuan had served as Minister of Rites and enjoyed a great reputation in the Kaiyuan and Tianbao eras. Xu passed the mingjing examination in youth and was appointed staff officer of Henan prefecture. He was open and straightforward and disliked petty exactness. He rose to granary officer of the capital district, then entered mourning for his father and resided in the eastern capital. At that time An Lushan rebelled and seized the two capitals. When the eastern capital was recovered, Xu was made Master of Petitions of the Heir Apparent. Before long the Prince of Guo recommended him as attendant censor and agricultural colony aide of Xiang and Deng. He then entered mourning for his mother. The eastern capital fell again to Shi Siming, and Xu hid in the mountains. Siming had once served under Xu's father and cherished the old bond. He had also long admired Xu's reputation and was determined to have him. He sent several dozen horsemen in pursuit, who tracked Xu down and captured him. When Siming saw him he was greatly pleased, addressed him as Young Master without using his personal name, and falsely appointed him Censor-in-chief in charge of judgments. At that time Siming was slaughtering members of the imperial clan. Xu secretly slowed the process, and several hundred lives were spared. He also once sent a memorial reporting the rebels' strengths and weaknesses to the court. When the matter leaked, Siming was furious and reviled him, and he barely escaped death. After the rebels were pacified he was appointed Palace Companion of the Heir Apparent and promoted to bureau director in the Ministry of Rites. He was repeatedly summoned to speak on affairs of state.
16
代宗居陜，谞步懷考功及南曹二印赴行在，上見而謂之曰：「疾風知勁草，果信矣。」 將以為御史中丞，為無載所排，為河東道租庸鹽鐵等使。 時關輔大旱，谞入計，代宗召見便殿，問谞：「榷酤之利，一歲出入幾何？」 谞久之不對。 上復問之，對曰：「臣有所思。」 上曰：「何思？」 對曰：「臣自河東來，其間所歷三百里，見農人愁嘆，谷菽未種。 誠謂陛下軫念，先問人之疾苦，而乃責臣以利。 孟子曰：理國者，仁義而已，何以利為？ 由是未敢即對也。」 上前坐曰：「微公言，吾不聞此。」 拜左司郎中。 上時訪以事，執政者忌之，出為虔州刺史，歷饒、廬、亳三州刺史。 入為右金吾將軍。
When Daizong was in Shan, Xu walked to the mobile court carrying the seals of the Ministry of Rites and the Southern Bureau. The emperor saw him and said, "The fierce wind reveals the tough grass—how true that saying is." He was about to be made Censor-in-chief but was blocked by Yuan Zai and was instead appointed commissioner of transport, salt, and iron for the Hedong circuit. The capital region was suffering a great drought. Xu came to present accounts, and Daizong summoned him to the side hall and asked, "What are the yearly receipts and expenditures of the wine monopoly?" Xu was silent for a long time. The emperor asked again, and he replied, "Your servant has something on his mind." The emperor said, "What is it?" He replied, "Coming from Hedong, over the three hundred li I traveled I saw farmers grieving. Grain and beans had not yet been sown. I truly thought Your Majesty would be concerned and first ask about the people's suffering, yet you press me about profit. Mencius said that governing a state requires only benevolence and righteousness—why speak of profit? For that reason I did not dare answer at once." The emperor came forward and sat down. "But for your words," he said, "I would not have heard this." He was appointed bureau director in the Left Secretariat. The emperor often consulted him on affairs of state. Those in power envied him, and he was sent out as prefect of Qianzhou, then served as prefect of Rao, Lu, and Bo. He later entered court as general of the Right Golden Crow Guard.
17
建中初，上以刑名理天下，百吏震悚。 時十月禁屠殺，以甫近山陵，禁益嚴。 尚父、汾陽王郭子儀隸人殺羊以入，門者覺之，谞列奏狀，上以為不畏強禦，累遣宣諭。 或謂谞曰：「郭公有社稷功，豈不為蓋之？」 谞笑曰：「非爾所解。 且郭公威權太盛，上新即位，必謂黨附者眾。 今發其細過，以明不弄權耳。 吾上以盡事君之道，下以安大臣，不亦可乎？」 時於朝堂別置三司以決庶獄，辯爭者輒擊登聞鼓，谞上疏曰：「夫諫豉謗木之設，所以達幽枉，延直言。 今輕猾之人，援桴鳴鼓，始動天聽，竟因纖微。 若然者，安用吏理乎！」 上然之，悉歸有司。 谞以法吏舞文，多挾宿怨，因獻《獄官箴》以諷。 無何，坐所善僧抵法，貶閬州司馬。 征為右庶子，改千牛上將軍。 會吐蕃入寇，尋拜吏部侍郎、兼御史大夫，為吐蕃使，不行。 無幾，轉太子賓客、兵部侍郎、河南尹、東都副留守。
Early in the Jianzhong era the emperor governed the realm through penal law, and all officials were shaken with fear. At that time slaughter was forbidden in the tenth month because the imperial tombs were near, and the prohibition was especially strict. The Meritous Father, Prince of Fenyang Guo Ziyi, had a servant kill a sheep and bring it in. The gate guards detected it, and Xu submitted a detailed memorial. The emperor thought he did not fear the powerful and repeatedly sent imperial commendation. Someone said to Xu, "The Prince has rendered great service to the state—would you not cover for him?" Xu smiled and said, "That is not something you would understand. Moreover the Prince's authority is too great. The emperor has newly taken the throne and is sure to think his faction numerous. By exposing a small fault now, I make clear that he does not manipulate power. In doing so I fulfill my duty to the throne above and reassure a great minister below—is that not fitting?" At that time three offices were separately established in the court hall to decide common cases, and disputants would strike the Audience Drum. Xu submitted a memorial saying, "The remonstrance drum and the slander post were established to reach hidden wrongs and draw forth straight speech. Now frivolous and cunning men strike the drum and reach the emperor's ear, yet in the end their cases turn on trifles. If that is so, what need is there for officials to govern?" The emperor approved and returned all such cases to the regular offices. Because legal clerks twisted the written law and often bore old grudges, Xu presented the Admonition for Prison Officials as an indirect remonstrance. Before long, because a monk he favored violated the law, he was demoted to vice prefect of Langzhou. He was recalled as Right Guardian of the Heir Apparent and reassigned as senior general of the Thousand-Ox Guard. When the Tibetans invaded he was soon appointed Vice Minister of Personnel and concurrent Chief Censor, and was named envoy to Tibet but did not go. Before long he was made Guest of the Heir Apparent, Vice Minister of War, magistrate of Henan, and deputy protector of the eastern capital.
18
谞自河南凡五代為官，入視事，未嘗當正處，不鞫認於贓罪，以寬厚和易為理。 貞元九年十一月，以疾終，年七十五，贈禮部尚書。
Through five reigns in office from Henan onward, whenever Xu took up his duties he never sat in the main seat, did not press confessions in embezzlement cases, and governed with generous forbearance and easy mildness. In the eleventh month of the ninth year of Zhenyuan he died of illness at the age of seventy-five and was posthumously made Minister of Rites.
19
=【贊】=史臣曰：李揆發言沃心，幸遇明主； 蔽賢固位，終非令人。 少遊逐勢利隨時，盧惎事權要巧宦，察言觀行，皆無可稱。 涵節行著聞，谞和易為理，庶幾近仁也。
The historian comments: Li Kui's words enriched the sovereign's heart, and he was fortunate to meet an enlightened ruler; yet in screening out the worthy and clinging to his post he was not, in the end, a man to be admired. Shaoyou chased profit and power as the times shifted; Lu Qi cultivated the powerful and favored as a crafty office-seeker—in examining their words and conduct, none is praiseworthy. Han's conduct was renowned, and Xu governed with easy mildness—they come close to true benevolence.
20
贊曰李、陳、盧鸑，言行非真。 涵、谞和易，庶乎近仁。
The eulogy says: Li, Chen, and Lu Bie—their words and conduct were not genuine. Han and Xu, easy and mild in manner—they come close to benevolence.