1
段秀實段秀實，字成公，隴州汧陽人也。 祖達，左衛中郎。 父行琛，洮州司馬，以秀實贈揚州大都督。 秀實性至孝，六歲，母疾，水漿不入口七日，疾有間，然後飲食。 及長，沈厚有斷。
Duan Xiushi, whose courtesy name was Chenggong, came from Qianyang in Long prefecture. His grandfather Da served as a middle officer of the Left Guard. His father Xingchen had been secretary of Tao prefecture; on account of Xiushi's achievements he was posthumously enfeoffed as Great Governor-General of Yangzhou. Xiushi was profoundly filial. When he was six, his mother fell ill and he refused all food and drink for seven days; he resumed eating only after she had begun to recover. As an adult he was grave, steadfast, and resolute.
2
天寶四載，安西節度馬靈察署為別將，從討護蜜有功，授安西府別將。 七載，高仙芝代靈察，舉兵圍怛邏斯，黑衣救至，仙芝大衄，軍士相失。 夜中聞都將李嗣業之聲，因大呼責之曰：「軍敗而求免，非丈夫也。」 嗣業甚慚，遂與秀實收合散卒，復得成軍。 師還，嗣業請於仙芝，以秀實為判官，授斥候府果毅。 十二載，封常清代仙芝，討大勃律，師次賀薩勞城，戰而勝。 常清逐之，秀實進曰：「賊兵羸，餌我也，請備左右，搜其山林。」 遂殲其伏，改綏德府折衝。 肅宗即位於靈武，征安西兵節度使梁宰，宰潛懷異圖。 秀實謂嗣業曰：「豈有天子告急，臣下晏然，信浮妄之說，豈明公之意耶？」 嗣業遂見宰，請發兵，從之。 乃出步騎五千，令嗣業統赴朔方，以秀實為援，累有戰功。 而秀實父歿，哀毀過禮。 嗣業既授節制，思秀實如失左右手，表請起復，為義王友，充節度判官。
In Tianbao year 4, Anxi commissioner Ma Lingcha appointed him deputy general. He took part in the attack on Humi with distinction and was given the post of deputy general of the Anxi command. In year 7, Gao Xianzhi succeeded Lingcha and led an army to besiege Talas. When the Black Robe forces arrived to relieve the city, Xianzhi was routed and the troops scattered. During the night he heard chief commander Li Siye and shouted a rebuke: "The army has been beaten and you seek only to save yourself—that is not how a true man behaves." Siye was deeply ashamed. He and Xiushi then rallied the scattered soldiers and restored the force. After the army returned, Siye asked Xianzhi to appoint Xiushi as his staff judge and had him made fruit commander of the reconnaissance command. In year 12, Feng Changqing succeeded Xianzhi and marched against Greater Bolü. The army encamped at Hesalao city, gave battle, and prevailed. As Changqing pressed the pursuit, Xiushi urged him forward: "The enemy is feigning weakness to lure us on. Post guards on both flanks and search the wooded hills." They destroyed the ambush and he was transferred to strike commander of Suide prefecture. When Suzong acceded at Lingwu he called up the Anxi army, but commissioner Liang Zai was secretly plotting treason. Xiushi said to Siye, "Can it be right that the Son of Heaven is in distress while his servants sit idle, trusting idle rumors? Is that what you intend?" Siye then went to Zai and pressed him to mobilize; Zai agreed. Five thousand foot and horse were dispatched under Siye's command toward Shuo-fang, with Xiushi as his second; they won repeated victories. Xiushi's father then died, and his mourning exceeded what the rites prescribed. Once Siye held independent command he felt as if he had lost both hands without Xiushi, memorialized for his recall from mourning, appointed him companion to the Prince of Yi, and made him staff judge.
3
安慶緒奔鄴，嗣業與諸軍圍之，安西輜重委於河內。 乃奏秀實為懷州長史，知軍州，加節度留後。 諸軍進戰於愁思岡，嗣業為流矢所中，卒於軍，眾推安西兵馬使荔非元禮代之。 秀實聞嗣業之喪，乃遺先鋒將白孝德書，令發卒護嗣業喪送河內。 秀實率將吏哭待於境，傾私財以奉葬事。 元禮多其義，奏試光祿少卿，依前節度判官。
When An Qingxu fled to Ye, Siye joined the allied armies in besieging him, while the Anxi baggage train was deposited at Henei. He memorialized to appoint Xiushi chief administrator of Huai prefecture with military and civil authority, and additionally as acting commissioner. The allied forces fought at Chousi Hill. Siye was killed by a stray arrow in camp, and the men chose Anxi army commander Lifei Yuanli as his successor. On hearing of Siye's death, Xiushi wrote to vanguard general Bai Xiaode instructing him to send troops to escort the coffin to Henei. Xiushi led his officers to the border to receive the procession in mourning and spent his private fortune on the funeral. Yuanli admired his conduct and recommended him for probationary vice director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments while retaining him as staff judge.
4
邙山之敗，軍徙翼城，元禮為麾下所殺，將佐亦多遇害，而秀實獨以智全。 眾推白孝德為節度使，人心稍定。 又遷試光祿卿，為孝德判官。 孝德改鎮邠寧，奏秀實試太常卿、支度營田二副使。 大軍西遷，所過掠奪。 又以邠寧乏食，難於饋運，乃請軍於奉天。 是時公廩亦竭，縣吏憂恐多逃匿，群行剽盜，孝德不能禁。 秀實私曰：「使我為軍候，當不如此。」 軍司馬言之，遂以秀實為都虞候，權知奉天行營事，號令嚴一，軍府安泰，代宗聞而嗟賞久之。 兵還於邠寧，復為都虞候，尋拜涇州刺史。
After the defeat at Mang Hill the army withdrew to Yicheng. Yuanli was murdered by his own men and many officers perished, but Xiushi alone escaped through his wits. The troops installed Bai Xiaode as commissioner and morale steadied somewhat. He was promoted to probationary director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments and served as Xiaode's staff judge. When Xiaode was reassigned to Binning, he recommended Xiushi as probationary director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and deputy for supply and army farms. As the main army marched west it looted every district along the route. Because Binning lacked grain and supply lines were strained, they asked to encamp the army at Fengtian. Public granaries were empty, county officials fled in panic, and bandits roamed in gangs; Xiaode could not suppress them. Xiushi remarked privately, "Put me in charge of discipline and this would not happen." The army marshal relayed this, and Xiushi was appointed chief inspector with provisional authority over the Fengtian camp. His discipline was ironclad, order returned to headquarters, and Daizong heard of it with prolonged admiration. When the troops returned to Binning he resumed as chief inspector and was soon appointed prefect of Jingzhou.
5
大曆元年，馬璘奏加開府儀同三司。 軍中有能引二十四弓而犯盜者，璘欲免之，秀實曰：「將有私愛，則法令不一，雖韓、白復生，亦不能為理。」 璘善其議，竟使殺之。 璘決事有不合理者，必固爭之，得璘引過乃已。 璘城涇州，秀實掌留後，歸還，加御史中丞。 璘既奉詔徙鎮涇州，其士眾嘗自四鎮、北庭赴難中原，僑居驟移，頗積勞怨。 刀斧將王童之因人心動搖，導以為亂。 或告其事，且曰：「候嚴，警鼓為約矣。」 秀實乃召鼓人，陽怒失節，且戒之曰：「每更籌盡，必來報。」 每白之，輒延數刻，四更畢而曙。 既差互，童之亂不能作。 明日，告者復曰：「今夜將焚草場，期救火者同作亂。」 秀實使嚴加警備。 夜半火發，乃使令於軍中曰：「救火者斬。」 童之居外營，請入救火，不許。 明日斬之，捕殺其黨凡十余人以徇，曰：「敢後徙者族！」 於是遷涇州。 既至其理所，人煙夐絕，且無廩食。 朝廷憂之，遂詔璘遙管鄭、潁二州，以贍涇原軍，俾秀實為留後，二州甚理。 璘思其績用，又奏行軍司馬，兼都知兵馬使。
In Dali year 1, Ma Lin was recommended for the honor of Grand Master with Gold Seal and Purple Ribbon. A soldier who could draw twenty-four bows had been caught stealing; Lin wanted to spare him. Xiushi said, "When a commander plays favorites, the law loses its force—even Han Xin and Bai Qi reborn could not govern such an army." Lin accepted his reasoning and had the man executed. Whenever Lin's decisions were unsound, Xiushi argued him down until Lin admitted his mistake. While Lin fortified Jingzhou, Xiushi served as rear-area administrator; on Lin's return he was promoted to vice censor-in-chief. When Lin was ordered to transfer his headquarters to Jingzhou, his troops—who had marched from the Four Garrisons and Beiting to save the empire—found themselves uprooted again and nursed deep grievances. The executioner officer Wang Tongzhi exploited the unrest to incite mutiny. An informant reported the plot, adding that they would rise when the night watch tightened, using the alarm drum as their signal." Xiushi summoned the drummer, rebuked him ostentatiously for negligence, and ordered him to report at the end of every watch." Each time the man reported, Xiushi delayed the drum by several quarters until the fourth watch had passed and dawn broke. With the timing thrown off, Tongzhi's uprising never materialized. The next day the informant warned that the conspirators would set the fodder yard ablaze that night and use the fire brigade as cover for a mutiny." Xiushi tightened security throughout the camp. " At midnight the fire broke out. He issued an army-wide order: "Anyone who fights the fire will be executed." Tongzhi, stationed in the outer camp, asked permission to enter and fight the blaze; Xiushi refused. The next day he executed Tongzhi, killed more than ten accomplices as a warning, and proclaimed, "Anyone who delays the transfer will be punished with extinction of his clan!" The army then marched to Jingzhou. At the new headquarters the land was nearly deserted and there were no public stores of grain. The court, alarmed at the shortage, ordered Lin to draw supplies remotely from Zheng and Ying prefectures to feed the Jingyuan army, with Xiushi as rear administrator; he governed both districts admirably. Impressed by his record, Lin recommended him as field marshal and overall commander of the army.
6
八年，吐蕃來寇，戰於鹽倉，我軍不利。 璘為寇戎所隔，逮暮未還，敗將潰兵爭道而入。 時都將焦令諶與諸將四五輩狼狽而至，秀實召讓之曰：「兵法：失將，麾下當斬。 公等忘其死而欲安其家耶！」 令諶等恐懼，下拜數十。 秀實乃悉驅城中士卒未出戰者，使驍將統之，東依古原，列奇兵示賊將戰，且以收合敗亡。 蕃眾望之，不敢逼。 及夜，璘方獲歸。 十一年，璘疾甚，不能視事，請秀實攝節度副使兼左廂兵馬使。 秀實乃以十將張羽飛為招召將，分兵按甲，以備非常。 璘卒，而軍中行哭赴喪事於內，李漢惠接賓客於外，非其親不得居喪側，族談離立者捕而囚之。 都虞候史廷幹、裨將崔珍張景華謀作亂，秀實乃送廷幹於京師，徙珍及景華外鎮，軍中遂定，不戮一人。 尋拜秀實涇州刺史、兼御史大夫，四鎮北庭行軍涇原鄭潁節度使。 三四年間，吐蕃不敢犯塞，清約率易，遠近稱之。 非公會，不聽樂飲酒，私室無妓媵，無贏財，退公之後，端居靜慮而已。 德宗嗣位，就加檢校禮部尚書、張掖郡王。
In year 8 the Tibetans invaded; at Yancang our forces were defeated. Lin was cut off by the enemy and failed to return by nightfall; routed officers and soldiers stampeded through the gates. Chief commander Jiao Lingchen and four or five other officers straggled in in disorder. Xiushi summoned them and rebuked them: "Military law demands that when the commander is lost, his subordinates pay with their lives. Have you forgotten your duty to die and seek only to save yourselves?" They were terrified and kowtowed repeatedly. Xiushi mustered every soldier in the city who had not yet fought, placed them under his best commanders, and drew up a screen of troops on the plain east of the city to feign readiness for battle, rallying the fugitives as he did so. The Tibetans sighted the formation and dared not advance. Lin did not make it back until nightfall. In year 11 Lin fell gravely ill and could not govern; he asked Xiushi to serve as acting deputy commissioner and commander of the left wing. Xiushi appointed tenth-rank commander Zhang Yufei to muster the troops, deployed the army under arms, and prepared for any emergency. When Lin died, mourning was conducted within headquarters while Li Hanhui received guests at the gate. Only kin were allowed beside the bier; anyone who clustered in factional talk was arrested. Chief inspector Shi Tinggan and staff generals Cui Zhen and Zhang Jinghua plotted a coup; Xiushi sent Tinggan to the capital and transferred Zhen and Jinghua to distant posts, restoring order without a single execution. Xiushi was soon appointed prefect of Jingzhou, chief censor, and military commissioner of the Jingyuan, Zheng, and Ying circuit of the Four Garrisons and Beiting field army. For three or four years the Tibetans did not raid the border. His austerity and simplicity won praise throughout the realm. Outside official functions he neither listened to music nor drank wine; he kept no entertainers or concubines and amassed no private fortune; after office hours he sat alone in contemplation. When Dezong acceded, Xiushi was concurrently appointed acting Minister of Rites and Prince of Zhangye.
7
建中元年，宰相楊炎欲行元載舊志，築原州城，開陵陽渠，詔中使上聞，仍問秀實可否之狀。 秀實以為方春不可興土功，請俟農隙。 炎以其沮己之謀，遂除司農卿，以邠寧節度李懷光兼涇原節度使，以事西拓。 無何，劉文喜叛，亦不果城。
In Jianzhong year 1, chief minister Yang Yan sought to revive Yuan Zai's plan to fortify Yuanzhou and open the Lingyang canal. The emperor sent a palace envoy to report on the project and to ask Xiushi's opinion. Xiushi argued that spring was no season for corvée labor and asked that work wait until after the harvest. Yan, resenting his opposition, transferred him to Minister of Agriculture and gave Binning commissioner Li Huai'guang the added post of Jingyuan commissioner to push the western expansion. Soon afterward Liu Wenxi rebelled, and the fortification was never built.
8
四年，朱泚盜據宮闕，源休教泚偽迎鑾駕，陰濟逆誌。 泚乃遣其將韓旻領馬步三千疾趨奉天。 時蒼黃之中，未有武備。 泚以秀實嘗為涇原節度，頗得士心，後罷兵權，以為蓄憤且久，必肯同惡，乃召與謀議。 秀實初詐從之，陰說大將劉海賓、何明禮、姚令言判官岐靈嶽同謀殺泚，以兵迎乘輿。 三人者，皆秀實夙所獎遇，遂皆許諾。 及韓旻追駕，秀實以為宗社之危，期於頃刻，乃使人走諭靈嶽，竊令言印。 不遂，乃倒用司農印印符以追兵。 旻至駱驛得符，軍人亦莫辯其印文，惶遽而回。 秀實謂海賓等曰：「旻之來，吾黨無遺類矣！ 我當直搏殺泚，不得則死，終不能向此賊稱臣。」 乃與海賓約，事急為繼，而令明禮應於外。 明日，泚召秀實議事，源休、姚令言、李忠臣、李子平皆在坐。 秀實戎服，與泚並膝，語至僭位，秀實勃然而起，執休腕奪其象笏，奮躍而前，唾泚面大罵曰：「狂賊，吾恨不斬汝萬段，我豈逐汝反耶！」 遂擊之。 泚舉臂自捍，才中其顙，流血匍匐而走。 兇徒愕然，初不敢動； 而海賓等不至，秀實乃曰：「我不同汝反，何不殺我！」 兇黨群至，遂遇害焉。 海賓、明禮、靈嶽相次被殺。 德宗在奉天聞其事，惜其委用不至，垂涕久之。
In year 4, Zhu Ci seized the capital. Yuan Xiu urged him to stage a false welcome for the emperor while secretly advancing the rebellion. Ci dispatched general Han Min with three thousand cavalry and infantry in a forced march on Fengtian. The court, caught off guard, had no defenses ready. Ci believed that Xiushi—who had once commanded Jingyuan and won the soldiers' loyalty, then been stripped of his army—must nurse a long grievance and would join the rebellion; he summoned him to counsel. Xiushi feigned compliance while secretly persuading generals Liu Haibin and He Mingli and Yao Lingyan's aide Qi Lingyue to assassinate Ci and march to receive the emperor. All three had long been in Xiushi's favor and gave their assent. When Han Min was sent to pursue the emperor, Xiushi saw the dynasty's peril as imminent and dispatched a runner to Qi Lingyue to steal Yao Lingyan's seal. When that failed, he stamped a recall order with the Minister of Agriculture seal applied upside down. Min received the order at Luoyi station; his men could not tell the seal was reversed and turned back in panic. Xiushi told Haibin and the others, "If Min reaches the emperor, our whole party is finished! I will strike Ci down with my own hands; if I fail I shall die—but I will never bow to this traitor." He arranged with Haibin to follow up if the attempt failed and told Mingli to act from outside. The next day Ci called Xiushi to council with Yuan Xiu, Yao Lingyan, Li Zhongchen, and Li Ziping in attendance. Xiushi came in armor and sat beside Ci. When the talk turned to usurpation, he sprang up, seized Yuan Xiu's wrist, snatched his court tablet, and lunged at Ci, spitting in his face and shouting, "Traitor! I wish I could cut you to pieces—did you think I would join your rebellion?" He struck Ci down. Ci threw up his arm to block the blow, which glanced off his forehead; bleeding, he crawled away. The conspirators stood frozen and dared not move; but Haibin and the others never came. Xiushi cried, "I will not rebel with you—then kill me!" The traitors rushed in and slew him. Haibin, Mingli, and Lingyue were executed in turn. At Fengtian, Dezong heard the news, lamented that he had not used Xiushi to his full capacity, and wept for a long while.
9
初，秀實見禁兵寡少，不足以備非常，乃上疏曰：「臣聞天子曰萬乘，諸侯日千乘，大夫曰百乘，此蓋以大制小，以十制一也。 尊君卑臣，強幹弱枝之義，在於此矣。 今外有不庭之虜，內有梗命之臣，竊觀禁兵不精，其數全少，卒有患難，將何待之！ 且猛虎所以百獸畏者，為爪牙也。 若去其爪牙，則犬彘馬牛悉能為敵。 伏願少留聖慮，冀裨萬一。」 及涇原兵作亂，召神策六軍，遂無一人至者。 秀實守節不二，竟歿於賊，其明略義烈如此。
Earlier, seeing how few and poorly trained the palace guard were, Xiushi memorialized: "I have read that the Son of Heaven commands ten thousand chariots, a feudal lord one thousand, a grandee one hundred—meaning that the greater rules the lesser and the many control the few. The principle of exalting the sovereign, subordinating ministers, and strengthening the center while weakening the periphery rests on this foundation. Yet now barbarians defy us on the frontier and disobedient ministers plot within. I see that the palace guard is neither well trained nor numerous; if disaster strikes, what shall we depend on? A tiger inspires fear among beasts because of its claws and fangs. Strip away its claws and fangs, and even dogs and cattle can stand against it. I beg Your Majesty to give this matter your attention, however slight the benefit may be." When the Jingyuan mutiny broke out, the Shence Six Armies were called up—and not one man answered. Xiushi held firm to his loyalty and died at the rebels' hands; such was his foresight and heroic devotion.
10
興元元年二月，詔曰：「見危致命之謂忠，臨義有勇之謂烈。 惟爾勵臣節，不憚殺身； 惟予式嘉乃勛，懋昭大典。 曰臺不德，罔克若天，遘茲殷憂，變起都邑。 惟爾卿士，嗷然靡依，逼畏所加，淄澠共混。 故開府儀同三司、檢校禮部尚書、兼司農卿、上柱國、張掖郡王段秀實，操行嶽立，忠厚精至，義形於色，勇必有仁。 頃者嘗鎮涇原，克著威惠，叛卒知訓，咨爾以誠。 賊泚藏奸，欺爾以詐。 守人臣之大節，見元惡之深情，端委國門，挺身白刃。 誓碎兇渠之首，以敵君父之仇，視死如歸，履虎致咥。 噫，天未悔禍，事乖垂成，雄風壯圖，振駭群盜。 昔王蠋守死以全節，周顗正色而抗詞，惟我信臣，無愧前哲。 聲震寰宇，義冠古今，足以激勵人倫，光昭史冊。 不有殊等之賞，孰表非常之功。 爰議疇庸，特超檢限，著之甲令，樹此風聲。 可贈太尉，謚曰忠烈，宣付史官，仍賜實封五百戶、莊宅各一區。 長子與三品正員官，諸子並與五品正員官。 仍廢朝三日，收京城之後，以禮葬祭，旌表門閭。 朕承天子人，臨馭億兆，一夫不獲，時予之辜，況誠信不達，屢致寇戎，使抱義之臣陷於兇逆。 有臨危致命，歿而逾彰； 有因事成功，權以合道。 茍利社稷，存亡一致，酬報之典，豈限常倫。 並委所司訪其事跡，續具條奏，當加褒異，錫其井賦。 圖形雲閣，書功鼎彜，以彰我有服節死義之臣，傳於不朽。」 德宗還京，又詔曰：「贈太尉秀實，授乎貞烈，激其頹風，蒼黃之中，密蘊雄斷。 將紓國難，詭收寇兵，撓其兇謀，果集吾事。 挺身徑進，奮擊渠魁，英名凜然，振邁千古。 宜差官致祭，並旌表門閭，緣葬所須，一切官給。 仍於墓所官為立碑，以揚徽烈。」 自貞元後累朝凡赦書節文褒獎忠烈，必以秀實為首。
In the second month of Xingyuan year 1, an edict proclaimed: "To face danger and give one's life is loyalty; to face duty with courage is valor. You alone upheld the integrity of a loyal servant and did not shrink from death; I therefore praise your merit and proclaim it in the grand rites of state. The throne has fallen short of virtue and cannot match Heaven's mandate; deep calamity has struck and rebellion has convulsed the capital. Ministers and officials cried out with nowhere to turn; under coercion and fear, right and wrong were confounded alike. The late Grand Master Duan Xiushi, acting Minister of Rites and concurrent Minister of Agriculture, Supreme Pillar of State and Prince of Zhangye—his conduct stood like a mountain, his loyalty ran deep, righteousness showed in his face, and his courage was always tempered by humanity. He had lately governed Jingyuan with a reputation for stern justice and kindness; the mutineers knew his discipline and turned to you in good faith. The traitor Zhu Ci concealed his treachery and lured you with deceit. He upheld a subject's highest duty, saw through the arch-villain, arrayed himself at the palace gate, and threw himself against drawn steel. He swore to strike down the rebel leader to avenge his sovereign, welcomed death as homecoming, and walked among tigers unafraid. Alas, Heaven had not yet lifted the curse; success slipped from his grasp; yet his heroic spirit struck terror into the rebels. Of old Wang Shu died to preserve his integrity and Zhou Yi faced down tyranny with stern words—our faithful servant stands unashamed beside these sages. His fame resounds through the realm, his righteousness crowns all ages, and he shall inspire humanity and shine forever in history. Without extraordinary reward, how can uncommon merit be displayed? We therefore rank his merit above ordinary limits, inscribe it in the statutes, and set this example for posterity. He is posthumously appointed Grand Commandant with the posthumous title Loyal and Valiant; the historiographers are to record this, and five hundred enfeoffed households plus an estate are granted. His eldest son is granted a regular third-rank office; all other sons receive regular fifth-rank offices. Court mourning is observed for three days; after the capital is recovered, he shall receive full rites of burial and sacrifice, and his household shall be publicly honored. We bear Heaven's mandate over the multitude; if a single man goes without, the fault is Ours—how much worse when trust fails and invaders come again and again, casting loyal men into the hands of traitors. Some face peril and give their lives, growing more glorious in death; others achieve success in crisis and bend expedience to the right path; when the state benefits, life and death are one; rewards for such service cannot be bound by ordinary rules. Let the relevant offices investigate such cases and report in detail; exceptional honors shall be granted, including well-field revenues. Their portraits shall hang in the Cloud Tower and their deeds be cast on bronze vessels, so that Our loyal servants who died for righteousness shall live forever." When Dezong returned to Chang'an, another edict read: "The posthumously appointed Grand Commandant Xiushi embodied steadfast valor and roused a failing age; amid sudden crisis he concealed a heroic resolve. He sought to save the dynasty, deceived the rebel forces into turning back, disrupted their plot, and brought Our cause to fruition. He charged forward and struck at the rebel leader; his heroic name stands awe-inspiring, resounding through the ages. Officials shall be sent to perform sacrifices; his household shall be honored; all funeral expenses shall be provided by the state. A state stele shall be erected at his tomb to proclaim his glory." From the Zhenyuan era onward, whenever amnesties and festival proclamations praised loyal martyrs, Xiushi was always named first.
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其子伯倫，累官至太子詹事。 大和二年正月奏：「亡父贈太尉秀實，準前後制敕令所司置廟立碑，今營造已畢，取今月二十五日行升祔禮。」 詔曰：「秀實忠衛宗社，功配廟食，義風所激，千載凜然。 間代勛力，須異等夷，宜賜綾絹五百疋，以度支物充。 仍令所司供少牢，並給鹵簿人夫，兼太常博士一人檢校。」 尋加伯倫檢校左散騎常侍，兼殿中監。 大和四年十一月，遷右金吾衛大將軍、兼御史大夫，充街使。 八年七月，檢校工部尚書，充福建等州都團練觀察使，入為太仆卿，卒。 宰臣李石奏曰：「伯倫，秀實之子。 自古歿身以衛社稷者，無如秀實之賢。」 文宗憫然曰：「伯倫宜加賻贈。」 仍輟朝一日，以禮忠臣之嗣。 顏真卿顏真卿，字清臣，瑯邪臨沂人也。 五代祖之推，北齊黃門侍郎。 真卿少勤學業，有詞藻，尤工書。 開元中，舉進士，登甲科。 事親以孝聞。 四命為監察御史，充河西隴右軍試覆屯交兵使。 五原有冤獄，久不決，真卿至，立辯之。 天方旱，獄決乃雨，郡人呼之為「御史雨」。 又充河東朔方試覆屯交兵使。 有鄭延祚者，母卒二十九年，殯僧舍垣地，真卿劾奏之，兄弟三十年不齒，天下聳動。 遷殿中侍御史、東都畿采訪判官，轉侍御史、武部員外郎。 楊國忠怒其不附己，出為平原太守。
His son Bolun rose to the post of Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent. In the first month of Dahe year 2 he memorialized: "My late father, posthumous Grand Commandant Xiushi, was by prior edicts to receive a temple and stele. Construction is complete; we request the enshrinement rite on the twenty-fifth of this month." The edict replied: "Xiushi loyally defended the altars of state; his merit warrants temple sacrifice; the moral force he embodied remains awe-inspiring after a thousand years. Merit of this order requires exceptional reward: grant five hundred bolts of silk from the revenue office stores. The relevant offices shall supply sacrificial victims, provide imperial escort and attendants, and assign one Erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to supervise." Bolun was soon appointed acting Left Regular Attendant and concurrent Supervisor of the Palace. In the eleventh month of Dahe year 4 he was made Great General of the Right Gold Crow Guard, concurrent Chief Censor, and street commissioner. In the seventh month of year 8 he was appointed acting Minister of Works and commissioner of Fujian; he later entered the capital as Minister of the Stud and died. Chief minister Li Shi reported: "Bolun was Xiushi's son. From antiquity, none who gave his life for the state matched Xiushi in worth." Wenzong said with compassion, "Bolun should receive additional funeral gifts." Court was suspended for one day in honor of the loyal servant's heir. Yan Zhenqing, whose courtesy name was Qingchen, came from Linyi in Langye. His fifth-generation ancestor Zhitui had been a Yellow Gate Attendant of Northern Qi. As a youth Zhenqing studied diligently, showed literary talent, and excelled at calligraphy. During the Kaiyuan reign he passed the jinshi examination in the top class. He was renowned for filial devotion to his parents. He was four times appointed investigating censor and served as trial reviewer of garrison and supply disputes for the Hexi and Longyou armies. At Wuyuan a wrongful case had languished unresolved; Zhenqing arrived and settled it at once. The region was in drought; rain fell when the case was resolved, and the people called it "the Censor's Rain." He also served as trial reviewer for the Hedong and Shuofang armies. When Zheng Yanzuo had left his mother's coffin in a monastery wall for twenty-nine years, Zhenqing impeached him; the brothers had been ostracized for thirty years, and the whole empire took notice. He was promoted to palace censor and Eastern Capital investigation staff judge, then to attendant censor and vice director in the Ministry of War. Yang Guozhong, angered that he would not ally with him, posted him out as prefect of Pingyuan.
12
安祿山逆節頗著，真卿以霖雨為托，修城浚池，陰料丁壯，儲廩實，乃陽會文士，泛舟外池，飲酒賦詩。 或讒於祿山，祿山亦密偵之，以為書生不足虞也。 無幾，祿山果反，河朔盡陷，獨平原城守具備，乃使司兵參軍李平馳奏之。 玄宗初聞祿山之變，嘆曰：「河北二十四郡，豈無一忠臣乎！」 得平來，大喜，顧左右曰：「朕不識顏真卿形狀何如，所為得如此！」 祿山初尚移牒真卿，令以平原、博平軍屯七千人防河津，以博平太守張獻直為副。 真卿乃募勇士，旬日得萬人，遣錄事參軍李擇交統之簡閱，以刁萬歲、和琳、徐浩、馬相如、高抗朗等為將。 祿山既陷洛陽，殺留守李憕、御史中丞盧奕、判官蔣清，以三首遣叚子光來徇河北。 真卿恐搖人心，乃許謂諸將曰：「我識此三人，首皆非也。」 遂腰斬子光，密藏三首。 異日，乃取三首冠飾，草續支體，棺斂祭殯，為位慟哭，人心益附。 祿山遣其將李欽溱、高邈、何千年等守土門。 真卿從父兄常山太守杲卿與長史袁履謙謀殺溱、邈，擒千年送京師。 土門既開，十七郡同日歸順，共推真卿為帥，得兵二十余萬，橫絕燕、趙。 詔加真卿戶部侍郎，依前平原太守。
As An Lushan's treason became plain, Zhenqing used seasonal rains as a cover to repair walls, dredge moats, secretly muster men, and fill granaries, while openly hosting literati for boating, wine, and poetry on the outer pond. Some informed on him to Lushan, who also had him watched but dismissed him as a harmless scholar. Soon Lushan rebelled and all Hebei fell—only Pingyuan stood ready. Zhenqing sent staff officer Li Ping in urgent report to the throne. When Xuanzong first heard of the rebellion he sighed, "Among the twenty-four commanderies of Hebei, is there not one loyal man?" When Ping arrived the emperor rejoiced and said to his attendants, "I do not even know what Yan Zhenqing looks like, yet he has done this!" Lushan at first still sent orders for Zhenqing to post seven thousand men from Pingyuan and Boping to guard the river crossings, with Boping prefect Zhang Xianzhi as his deputy. Zhenqing recruited ten thousand warriors in ten days, put recorder Li Zejiao in charge of their training, and appointed Diao Wansui, He Lin, Xu Hao, Ma Xiangru, Gao Kanglang, and others as generals. After Lushan captured Luoyang he killed garrison commander Li Guang, chief censor Lu Yi, and staff judge Jiang Qing, and sent their heads with Duan Ziguang to intimidate Hebei. Fearing panic among his men, Zhenqing told the generals, "I knew these three men—these are not their heads." He had Ziguang cut in two at the waist and secretly preserved the three heads. Later he restored the heads with proper adornment, supplied straw limbs, gave them full burial rites, and wept before their spirit tablets; loyalty to him deepened. Lushan posted generals Li Qin'an, Gao Miao, He Qiannian, and others to hold Tumen Pass. Zhenqing's cousin Gao Qing, prefect of Changshan, and chief administrator Yuan Lüqian killed Qin'an and Miao and sent He Qiannian captive to the capital. With Tumen opened, seventeen commanderies submitted the same day and chose Zhenqing as their leader, raising more than two hundred thousand men who blocked the rebels across Yan and Zhao. He was appointed vice director of the Ministry of Revenue while retaining his post as prefect of Pingyuan.
13
清河客李㟧，年二十余，與郡人來乞師，謂真卿曰：「聞公義烈，首唱大順，河朔諸郡恃公為長城。 今清河，實公之西鄰也，僕幸寓家，得其虛實，知可為長者用。 今計其蓄積，足以三平原之富，士卒可以二平原之強。 公因而撫之，腹心輔車之郡，其他小城，運之如臂使指耳。 唯公所意，誰敢不從。」 真卿借兵千人。 㟧將去，真卿謂之曰：「兵出也，吾子何以教我？」 㟧曰：「今聞朝廷使程千里統眾十萬自太行東下，將出𡻳口，為賊所扼，兵不得前。 今若先伐魏郡，斬袁知泰，太守司馬垂使為西南主； 分兵開𡻳口之路，出千里之兵使討鄴、幽陵； 平原、清河合同志十萬之眾徇洛陽，分兵而制其衝。 計王師亦不下十萬，公當堅壁，無與挑戰，不數十日，賊必潰而相圖矣。」 真卿然之，乃移牒清河等郡，遣其大將李擇交、副將平原縣令范東馥、裨將和琳、徐浩等進兵，與清河四千人合勢，而博平以千人來，三郡之師屯於博平，去堂邑縣西南十里。 袁知泰遣其將白嗣深、乙舒蒙等以二萬人來拒戰，賊大敗，斬首萬余級。 肅宗幸靈武，授工部尚書、兼御史大夫、河北采訪招討使。 祿山乘虛遣史思明、尹子奇急攻河北諸郡，饒陽、河間、景城、東安相次陷沒，獨平原、博平、清河三郡城守，然人心危盪，不可復振。
Li Mo of Qinghe, barely twenty, came with local men to request troops and told Zhenqing, "Your righteous leadership has launched the restoration; the Hebei commanderies look to you as their bulwark. Qinghe is your western neighbor; I have lived there and know its strengths—it can serve your purpose. Its stores are three times those of Pingyuan and its troops twice as strong. Win it over and you gain a vital ally; the lesser towns will follow as the arm moves the fingers. Whatever you command, who would refuse?" Zhenqing lent him a thousand troops. As Mo was leaving, Zhenqing asked, "The troops are marching—what counsel do you offer?" Mo replied, "The court has sent Cheng Qianli with a hundred thousand men down the Taihang toward Lukou, but the rebels hold the pass and he cannot advance. First strike Wei commandery, kill Yuan Zhita, and make prefect Sima Chui commander of the southwest; send a detachment to open Lukou and free Qianli's army to attack Ye and Youling; Pingyuan and Qinghe with a hundred thousand allies march on Luoyang while detachments hold the strategic crossings. The imperial army numbers at least a hundred thousand. Hold your walls and avoid battle; within ten days the rebels will collapse and turn on each other." Zhenqing agreed, summoned Qinghe and neighboring districts, and sent Li Zejiao, Fan Dongfu, He Lin, and Xu Hao forward. With four thousand from Qinghe and a thousand from Boping, the allied force encamped at Boping, ten li southwest of Tangyi. Yuan Zhita sent Bai Sishen and Yi Shumeng with twenty thousand men to meet them; the rebels were routed and more than ten thousand were beheaded. When Suzong reached Lingwu he appointed Zhenqing Minister of Works, concurrent Chief Censor, and Hebei investigation and suppression commissioner. Lushan sent Shi Siming and Yin Ziqi in a swift offensive; Raoyang, Hejian, Jingcheng, and Dong'an fell in turn. Only Pingyuan, Boping, and Qinghe still held out, but morale collapsed beyond recovery.
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至德元年十月，棄郡渡河，歷江淮、荊襄。 二年四月，朝於鳳翔，授憲部尚書，尋加御史大夫。 中書舍人兼吏部侍郎崔漪帶酒容入朝，諫議大夫李何忌在班不肅，真卿劾之； 貶漪為右庶子，何忌西平郡司馬。 元帥廣平王領朔方蕃漢兵號二十萬來收長安，出辭之日，百僚致謁於朝堂。 百僚拜，答拜，辭亦如之。 王當闕不乘馬，步出木馬門而後乘。 管崇嗣為王都虞候，先王上馬，真卿進狀彈之。 肅宗曰：「朕兒子每出，諄諄教誡之，故不敢失禮。 崇嗣老將，有足疾，姑欲優容之，卿勿復言。」 乃以奏狀還真卿。 雖天子蒙塵，典法不廢。 洎鑾輿將復宮闕，遣左司郎中李巽先行，陳告宗廟之禮，有司署祝文，稱「嗣皇帝」。 真卿謂禮儀使崔器曰：「上皇在蜀，可乎？」 器遽奏改之。 中旨宣勞，以為名儒深達禮體。 時太廟為賊所毀，真卿奏曰：「春秋時，新宮災，魯成公三日哭。 今太廟既為盜毀，請築壇於野，皇帝東向哭，然後遣使。」 竟不能從。 軍國之事，知無不言。 為宰相所忌，出為同州刺史，轉蒲州刺史。 為御史唐旻所構，貶饒州刺史。 旋拜升州刺史、浙江西道節度使，征為刑部尚書。 李輔國矯詔遷玄宗居西宮，真卿乃首率百僚上表請問起居，輔國惡之，奏貶蓬州長史。
In the tenth month of Zhide year 1 he abandoned his post, crossed the river, and traveled through the Jiang-Huai and Jing-Xiang regions. In the fourth month of year 2 he had audience at Fengxiang and was appointed Minister of Justice, soon also Chief Censor. Palace drafter and vice director of Personnel Cui Yi appeared drunk at court; remonstrance grandee Li Heji behaved improperly in the ranks—Zhenqing impeached them; Cui Yi was demoted to Right Vice Heir Apparent and Li Heji to secretary of Xiping commandery. The Prince of Guangping led two hundred thousand Shuofang and Han troops to recover Chang'an; on the day of his departure the officials came to pay their respects in court. The officials bowed; he returned their bows; the farewell followed the same form. Before the palace gate the prince did not mount but walked out through the Wooden Horse Gate before riding. Guan Chongsi, the prince's chief inspector, mounted before the prince did; Zhenqing memorialized to impeach him. Suzong said, "I instruct my son earnestly whenever he goes forth, so he would not breach etiquette. Chongsi is an old general with a foot ailment; for now I wish to be lenient—say no more." The emperor returned the memorial to Zhenqing. Even though the emperor had fallen on hard times in exile, he did not neglect ritual and law. When the emperor's carriage was about to return to the capital, Li Xun of the Secretariat was sent ahead to announce the temple rites. The officials drafted the prayer text, referring to the emperor as "the succeeding Son of Heaven." Yan Zhenqing said to Cui Qi, the commissioner of ritual: "The Retired Emperor is still in Shu—is this acceptable? Cui Qi immediately memorialized the throne to have the wording changed. An imperial message praised him, acknowledging that as a leading scholar he had a deep grasp of ritual propriety. At that time the Imperial Ancestral Temple had been destroyed by rebels. Yan Zhenqing memorialized: "In the Spring and Autumn period, when the new palace burned, Duke Cheng of Lu mourned for three days. Since the Imperial Ancestral Temple has been destroyed by rebels, I ask that an altar be built in the open country, that the emperor face east and mourn, and only then send out envoys. In the end his proposal was not adopted. On military and state affairs, he spoke out whenever he had something to say. Resented by the chief ministers, he was sent out to serve as prefect of Tong Prefecture, then transferred to Pu Prefecture. Framed by the censor Tang Min, he was demoted to prefect of Rao Prefecture. He was soon appointed prefect of Sheng Prefecture and military commissioner of the Zhejiang West Circuit, then recalled to serve as Minister of Justice. Li Fuguo forged an edict moving Emperor Xuanzong to the Western Palace. Yan Zhenqing was the first to lead the whole court in submitting a memorial inquiring after the retired emperor's health. Fuguo resented this and had him demoted to senior administrator of Peng Prefecture.
15
代宗嗣位，拜利州刺史，遷戶部侍郎，除荊南節度使，未行而罷，除尚書左丞。 車駕自陜將還，真卿請皇帝先謁五陵、九廟而後還宮。 宰相元載謂真卿曰：「公所見雖美，其如不合事宜何？」 真卿怒，前曰：「用舍在相公耳，言者何罪？ 然朝廷之事，豈堪相公再破除耶！」 載深銜之。 旋改檢校刑部尚書知省事，累進封魯郡公。 時元載引用私黨，懼朝臣論奏其短，乃請：百官凡欲論事，皆先白長官，長官白宰相，然後上聞。 真卿上疏曰：
When Emperor Daizong came to the throne, Yan Zhenqing was appointed prefect of Li Prefecture, then promoted to Vice Minister of Revenue and named military commissioner of Jingnan. Before he could take up that post he was removed from it and appointed Left Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat. As the imperial carriage was about to return from Shaan, Yan Zhenqing asked that the emperor visit the Five Tombs and the Nine Temples before returning to the palace. Chief Minister Yuan Zai said to Yan Zhenqing: "Your view is admirable, but what of the fact that it does not suit present circumstances? Yan Zhenqing stepped forward angrily and said: "Whether I am kept or dismissed is for you to decide—but what crime is there in speaking out? Yet how can the chief minister again tear down the institutions of the court!" Yuan Zai deeply resented him. He was soon made Acting Minister of Justice with charge of routine affairs, and in time was enfeoffed as Duke of Lu. At that time Yuan Zai was filling the government with his own men. Fearing that court officials would report his misconduct, he proposed that whenever any official wished to raise a matter, he must first inform his department head, who would inform the chief minister, and only then would the matter reach the emperor. Yan Zhenqing submitted a memorial, saying:
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御史中丞李進等傳宰相語，稱奉進止：「緣諸司官奏事頗多，朕不憚省覽，但所奏多挾讒毀； 自今論事者，諸司官皆須先白長官，長官白宰相，宰相定可否，然後奏聞者。」 臣自聞此語已來，朝野囂然，人心亦多衰退。 何則？ 諸司長官皆達官也，言皆專達於天子也。 郎官、御史者，陛下腹心耳目之臣也。 故其出使天下，事無巨細得失，皆令訪察，回日奏聞，所以明四目、達四聰也。 今陛下欲自屏耳目，使不聰明，則天下何述焉。 《詩》云：「營營青蠅，止於棘。 讒言罔極，交亂四國。」 以其能變白為黑，變黑為白也。 詩人深惡之，故曰：「取彼讒人，投畀豺虎。 豺虎不食，投畀有北。」 則夏之伯明、楚之無極、漢之江充，皆讒人也，孰不惡之？ 陛下惡之，深得君人之體矣。 陛下何不深回聽察，其言虛誣者，則讒人也，因誅殛之； 其言不虛者，則正人也，因獎勵之。 陛下舍此不為，使眾人皆謂陛下不能明察，倦於聽覽，以此為辭，拒其諫諍，臣竊為陛下痛惜之。
The Assistant Censor-in-Chief Li Jin and others conveyed the chief minister's words, stating that they followed his instructions: "Because officials of the various departments submit memorials in great number, I do not shrink from reviewing them, but many of the submissions are laced with slander; from now on, those who wish to discuss affairs must first inform their department heads; the department heads must inform the chief minister; the chief minister decides whether the matter is acceptable, and only then is it memorialized to the throne. Since I heard this policy announced, court and countryside have been in uproar, and many hearts have grown timid. Why is this? The heads of the various departments are high officials whose words reach the emperor directly on their own authority. Gentlemen of the departments and the censors are Your Majesty's own eyes and ears. That is why, when they are sent out across the empire, they are charged to investigate everything, great or small, and report back on their return—this is how the ruler keeps wide-open eyes and ears. If Your Majesty now shuts off your own eyes and ears and refuses to see or hear clearly, what will the realm have left to tell you? The Book of Odes says: "Buzzing blue flies settle on the thorns. Slander knows no bounds and together throws the four states into chaos. This is because slander can turn white into black and black into white. The poet hated this deeply, and so said: "Take those slanderers and throw them to the wolves and tigers. If the wolves and tigers will not eat them, throw them to the northern wastes. Bo Ming of Xia, Wuji of Chu, and Jiang Chong of Han were all slanderers—who did not hate such men? Your Majesty's hatred of slander shows that you truly understand what it means to be a ruler. Why does Your Majesty not examine matters more carefully? Those whose accusations prove false are slanderers, and should be punished; those whose accusations prove true are upright men, and should be rewarded. Your Majesty has chosen not to do this, so that everyone will say you cannot see clearly, that you are weary of listening, and that you are using this policy as an excuse to reject honest counsel. I cannot but grieve for Your Majesty.
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臣聞太宗勤於聽覽，庶政以理，故著《司門式》云：「其有無門籍人，有急奏者，皆令監門司與仗家引奏，不許關礙。」 所以防壅蔽也。 並置立仗馬二匹，須有乘騎便往，所以平治天下，正用此道也。 天寶已後，李林甫威權日盛，群臣不先諮宰相輒奏事者，仍托以他故中傷，猶不敢明約百司，令先白宰相。 又閹官袁思藝日宣詔至中書，玄宗動靜，必告林甫，先意奏請，玄宗驚喜若神。 以此權柄恩寵日甚，道路以目。 上意不下宣，下情不上達，所以漸致潼關之禍，皆權臣誤主，不遵太宗之法故也。 陵夷至於今日，天下之蔽，盡萃於聖躬，豈陛下招致之乎？ 蓋其所從來者漸矣。 自艱難之初，百姓尚未彫弊，太平之理，立可便致。 屬李輔國用權，宰相專政，遞相姑息，莫肯直言。 大開三司，不安反側，逆賊散落，將士北走党項，合集士賊，至今為患。 偽將更相驚恐，因思明危懼，扇動卻反。 又今相州敗散，東都陷沒，先帝由此憂勤，至於損壽，臣每思之，痛切心骨。
I have heard that Emperor Taizong was diligent in listening and reviewing, and common affairs were thereby put in order. Therefore he set down in the Gate Office Regulations: "If someone without a gate pass has an urgent memorial, the Gate Guard Office and the palace guard are both to lead him in to memorialize, and no obstruction is permitted. This was meant to guard against obstruction and concealment. He also kept two horses saddled and ready in the palace guard, so that urgent business could be carried to him at once. This was precisely how he kept the realm in order. After the Tianbao era, as Li Linfu's power and authority grew daily, any minister who memorialized without first consulting the chief minister would still be attacked on some other pretext, yet even he did not dare openly require all offices to inform the chief minister first. Moreover, the eunuch Yuan Siyi daily carried edicts to the Secretariat; whatever Emperor Xuanzong did or did not do, he always told Linfu in advance, who would memorialize requests before they were needed. Xuanzong was astonished and delighted as though at the work of a god. By this means his power and imperial favor grew daily, until people were afraid even to meet one another's eyes in the streets. The sovereign's intent was not carried down, and the feelings of those below did not reach above—therefore the disaster at Tong Pass gradually arose. All of this was because powerful ministers misled their ruler and did not follow Emperor Taizong's methods. Decline has carried us down to today; all the concealment in the realm has gathered upon Your Sacred Person—did Your Majesty bring this upon yourself? Rather, it arose gradually over time. At the very start of the crisis, the people had not yet been worn down, and peace could still have been restored at once. But Li Fuguo wielded power, the chief ministers monopolized government, and they indulged one another in turn, none willing to speak frankly. They broadly opened the Three Commissions, could not set the restless at ease, rebels scattered, soldiers fled north to the Tangut tribes, gathered bandits together, and this remains a plague to this day. Rebel generals frightened one another in turn; because Shi Siming was fearful, he was stirred up and turned against the court again. Moreover, the defeat at Xiang Prefecture and the fall of the Eastern Capital wore the Late Emperor down until his life was shortened. Each time I think of it, grief cuts me to the bone.
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今天下兵戈未戢，瘡痏未平，陛下豈得不日聞讜言以廣視聽，而欲頓隔忠讜之路乎！ 臣竊聞陛下在陜州時，奏事者不限貴賤，務廣聞見，乃堯、舜之事也。 凡百臣庶以為太宗之理，可翹足而待也。 臣又聞君子難進易退，由此言之，朝廷開不諱之路，猶恐不言，況懷厭怠，令宰相宣進止，使御史臺作條目，不令直進。 從此人人不敢奏事，則陛下聞見，只在三數人耳。 天下之士，方鉗口結舌，陛下後見無人奏事，必謂朝廷無事可論，豈知懼不敢進，即林甫、國忠復起矣。 凡百臣庶，以為危殆之期，又翹足而至也。 如今日之事，曠古未有，雖李林甫、楊國忠猶不敢公然如此。 今陛下不早覺悟，漸成孤立，後縱悔之無及矣！ 臣實知忤大臣者，罪在不測，不忍孤負陛下，無任懇迫之至。
Now warfare under Heaven has not yet been stilled, wounds not yet healed—how can Your Majesty fail to daily hear frank speech to broaden your sight and hearing, yet wish suddenly to block the path of loyal remonstrance! I have privately heard that when Your Majesty was at Shaan Prefecture, those who memorialized were not limited by rank high or low, and every effort was made to broaden what was heard and seen—this was the conduct of Yao and Shun. Officials and commoners alike thought that a reign like Emperor Taizong's could be expected at any moment. I have also heard that for a gentleman it is hard to advance and easy to withdraw. From this it follows that even when the court opens a path where nothing is taboo, there is still fear that men will not speak—how much more so when there is weariness and slackness, when the chief minister announces decisions in advance, and when the Censorate is made to draw up regulations forbidding direct access! From this point on, if no one dares to memorialize, then what Your Majesty hears and sees will come from only two or three people. Men of talent under Heaven are just now clamping shut their mouths. Later, when Your Majesty sees that no one memorializes, you will surely think the court has no affairs worth discussing—how would you know they are afraid and dare not come forward? In that case Li Linfu and Yang Guozhong will rise again. Officials and commoners alike will think that disaster is again near at hand—and they will not have long to wait. A matter like today's has never existed since antiquity; even Li Linfu and Yang Guozhong did not dare to be so openly brazen. If Your Majesty does not awaken early, you will gradually become isolated, and later even if you regret it there will be no remedy! I know full well that to offend a chief minister is to risk punishment beyond measure, yet I cannot bear to fail Your Majesty. I plead with all the urgency I can muster.
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其激切如此。 於是中人爭寫內本布於外。
His remonstrance was this fierce and impassioned. Eunuchs then competed to copy the memorial and circulate it outside the palace.
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後攝祭太廟，以祭器不修言於朝，載坐以誹謗，貶硤州別駕、撫州湖州刺史。 元載伏誅，拜刑部尚書。 代宗崩，為禮儀使。 又以高祖已下七聖謚號繁多，乃上議請取初謚為定。 袁傪以諂言排之，遂罷。 楊炎為相，惡之，改太子少傅，禮儀使如舊，外示崇寵，實去其權也。
Later, while acting as officiant at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, he spoke in court about the sacrificial vessels not being properly maintained. Yuan Zai convicted him of slander and had him demoted to vice-prefect of Xia Prefecture, then prefect of Fu and Hu Prefectures. After Yuan Zai was executed, Yan Zhenqing was appointed Minister of Justice. When Emperor Daizong died, he was made commissioner of ritual. Also, because the posthumous titles of the seven sage emperors from Emperor Gaozu downward had become numerous, he submitted a proposal asking that the original posthumous titles be taken as fixed. Yuan Cuan blocked him with flattery and opposition, and the proposal was dropped. When Yang Yan became chief minister, he hated him and changed his post to Junior Tutor of the Heir Apparent while leaving him commissioner of ritual as before—outwardly showing honor, but in fact removing his authority.
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盧杞專權，忌之，改太子太師，罷禮儀使，諭於真卿曰：「方面之任，何處為便？」 真卿候杞於中書曰：「真卿以褊性為小人所憎，竄逐非一。 今已羸老，幸相公庇之。 相公先中丞傳首至平原，面上血真卿不敢衣拭，以舌舐之，相公忍不相容乎？」 杞矍然下拜，而含怒心。 會李希烈陷汝州，杞乃奏曰：「顏真卿四方所信，使諭之，可不勞師旅。」 上從之，朝廷失色，李勉聞之，以為失一元老，貽朝廷羞，乃密表請留。 又遣逆於路，不及。
When Lu Qi monopolized power, he envied him, changed his post to Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent, removed him as commissioner of ritual, and said to Yan Zhenqing: "For a regional appointment, which place would suit you best? Yan Zhenqing waited for Lu Qi at the Secretariat and said: "Because of my narrow temperament, I have been hated by petty men and banished more than once. Now I am worn and old; I am fortunate if the chief minister will shelter me. When your late brother, the assistant censor-in-chief, sent his head to Pingyuan, I did not dare wipe the blood from his face with my clothes, but licked it with my tongue—can you bear not to tolerate me?" Lu Qi started back and bowed, but nursed rage in his heart. When Li Xilie captured Ru Prefecture, Lu Qi memorialized, saying: "Yan Zhenqing is trusted throughout the empire; if he is sent to persuade Xilie, troops need not be mobilized. The emperor agreed. The court turned pale. When Li Mian heard of it, he thought the court would lose a senior elder and bring shame on the dynasty, and secretly memorialized asking that Yan Zhenqing be kept. He also sent men to intercept him on the road, but they did not arrive in time.
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初見希烈，欲宣詔旨，希烈養子千余人露刃爭前迫真卿，將食其肉。 諸將叢繞慢罵，舉刃以擬之，真卿不動。 希烈遽以身蔽之，而麾其眾，眾退，乃揖真卿就館舍。 因逼為章表，令雪己，願罷兵馬。 累遣真卿兄子峴與從吏凡數輩繼來京師。 上皆不報。 每於諸子書，令嚴奉家廟，恤諸孤而已。 希烈大宴逆黨，召真卿坐，使觀倡優斥黷朝政為戲，真卿怒曰：「相公，人臣也，奈何使此曹如是乎？」 拂衣而起，希烈慚，亦呵止。 時朱滔、王武俊、田悅、李納使在坐，目真卿謂希烈曰：「聞太師名德久矣，相公欲建大號，而太師至，非天命正位？ 欲求宰相，孰先太師乎？」 真卿正色叱之曰：「是何宰相耶！ 君等聞顏杲卿無？ 是吾兄也。 祿山反，首舉義兵，及被害，詬罵不絕於口。 吾今生向八十，官至太師，守吾兄之節，死而後已，豈受汝輩誘脅耶！」 諸賊不敢復出口。 希烈乃拘真卿，令甲士十人守，掘方丈坎於庭，曰「坑顏」，真卿怡然不介意。 後張伯儀敗績於安州，希烈令賚伯儀旌節首級誇示真卿，真卿慟哭投地。 後其大將周曾等謀襲汝州，因回兵殺希烈，奉真卿為節度。 事泄，希烈殺曾等，遂送真卿於龍興寺。 真卿度必死，乃作遺表，自為墓誌、祭文，常指寢室西壁下云：「吾殯所也。」 希烈既陷汴州，僭偽號，使人問儀於真卿，真卿曰：「老夫耄矣，曾掌國禮，所記者諸侯朝覲禮耳。」
When he first met Li Xilie and was about to announce the imperial edict, more than a thousand of Xilie's adopted sons drew their blades and pressed in on Yan Zhenqing, threatening to cut him to pieces. The generals swarmed around cursing and insulting him, raising their blades at him, but Yan Zhenqing did not stir. Li Xilie quickly shielded him with his own body, waved off his men, and when they withdrew, bowed to Yan Zhenqing and escorted him to quarters. Thereupon he pressed him to draft a memorial clearing his name and asking that troops be withdrawn. Repeatedly he sent Yan Zhenqing's nephew Xian and several parties of attendant officials in succession to the capital. The emperor gave no response to any of them. In each letter to his sons he wrote only to maintain the family temple faithfully and care for the orphans. Li Xilie gave a great banquet for the rebel party, summoned Yan Zhenqing to sit, and had him watch singers and actors revile and profane the court in mockery. Yan Zhenqing said angrily: "Sir, you are a subject of the throne—how can you let these people behave like this? Yan Zhenqing brushed off his robes and stood up. Li Xilie was ashamed and shouted for the performance to stop. At that time the envoys of Zhu Tao, Wang Wujun, Tian Yue, and Li Na were seated there. They looked at Yan Zhenqing and said to Li Xilie: "We have long heard of the Grand Preceptor's fame and virtue. Sir, you wish to assume a great title—and now the Grand Preceptor has arrived. Is this not Heaven's mandate for a rightful enthronement? If you seek a chief minister, who should come before the Grand Preceptor? Yan Zhenqing sternly rebuked them, saying: "What sort of chief minister would that be! Have you gentlemen not heard of Yan Gaoqing? He was my elder brother. When An Lushan rebelled, he was the first to raise loyal troops, and when he was killed he cursed his captors without ceasing. I am nearly eighty, have risen to Grand Preceptor, and will uphold my brother's integrity until I die. Do you think I would yield to your threats and blandishments!" The rebels dared not speak again. Li Xilie then detained Yan Zhenqing, set ten armored soldiers to guard him, and dug a square pit in the courtyard labeled "Yan's pit," but Yan Zhenqing remained calm and unconcerned. Later Zhang Boyi was defeated at An Prefecture. Li Xilie had Boyi's banner of command and severed head brought to display to Yan Zhenqing in boast. Yan Zhenqing wept in grief and threw himself to the ground. Later Li Xilie's generals Zhou Zeng and others plotted to strike at Ru Prefecture, turned their troops around and killed Xilie, and proclaimed Yan Zhenqing military commissioner. When the plot was exposed, Xilie killed Zeng and his accomplices and sent Zhenqing to Longxing Temple. Expecting death, Zhenqing drafted a final memorial, wrote his own epitaph and funeral ode, and often pointed to the west wall of his room, saying, "This is where I shall lie." After Xilie seized Bianzhou and declared himself emperor, he asked Zhenqing about court ritual. Zhenqing replied, "I am an old man who once managed state ceremonies—I remember only how feudal lords paid homage to the Son of Heaven."
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興元元年，王師復振，逆賊慮變起蔡州，乃遣其將辛景臻、安華至真卿所，積柴庭中，沃之以油，且傳逆詞曰：「不能屈節，當自燒。」 真卿乃投身赴火，景臻等遽止之，復告希烈。 德宗復宮闕，希烈弟希倩在朱泚黨中，例伏誅。 希烈聞之怒。 興元元年八月三日，乃使閹奴與景臻等殺真卿。 先曰：「有敕」。 真卿拜，奴曰：「宜賜卿死。」 真卿曰：「老臣無狀，罪當死，然不知使人何日從長安來？」 奴曰：「從大梁來。」 真卿罵曰：「乃逆賊耳，何敕耶！」 遂縊殺之，年七十七。
In Xingyuan year 1, as imperial forces rallied, the rebels feared a coup at Caizhou and sent generals Xin Jingzhen and An Hua to Zhenqing's quarters. They piled firewood in the courtyard, drenched it with oil, and announced: "If you will not submit, burn yourself." Zhenqing threw himself toward the flames; Jingzhen and the others pulled him back and reported to Xilie. When Dezong recovered the capital, Xilie's brother Xiqian, who had joined Zhu Ci's faction, was executed. Xilie flew into a rage on hearing the news. On the third day of the eighth month of Xingyuan year 1 he sent eunuchs with Jingzhen and others to kill Zhenqing. They announced, "There is an edict." Zhenqing bowed. The eunuch said, "You are sentenced to death." Zhenqing said, "This old servant deserves death—but when did the envoy leave Chang'an?" The eunuch replied, "From Daliang." Zhenqing shouted, "You are a traitor—what edict is there!" They strangled him. He was seventy-seven.
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及淮、泗平，貞元元年，陳仙奇使護送真卿喪歸京師。 德宗痛悼異常。 廢朝五日，謚曰文忠。 復下詔曰：「君臣之義，生錄其功，歿厚其禮，況才優匡國，忠至滅身。 朕自興嘆，勞於寤寐。 故光祿大夫、守太子太師、上柱國、魯郡公顏真卿，器質天資，公忠傑出，出入四朝，堅貞一誌。 屬賊臣擾亂，委以存諭，拘肋累歲，死而不撓，稽其盛節，實謂猶生。 朕致貽斯禍，慚悼靡及，式崇嘉命，兼延爾嗣。 可贈司徒，仍賜布帛五百端。 男頵、碩等喪制終，所司奏超授官秩。」 貞元六年十一月南郊，赦書節文授真卿一子五品正員官，故頵得錄用。 文宗詔曰：「朕每覽國史，見忠烈之臣，未嘗不嗟嘆久之，思有以報。 如聞從覽、弘式，實杲卿、真卿之孫。 永惟九原，既不可作，旌其嗣續，諒協典彜。 考績已深於宦途者，命列於中臺； 官次未齒於縉紳者，俾佐於左輔。 庶使天下再新義風。」 以真卿曾孫弘式為同州參軍。
After the Huai and Si regions were pacified, in Zhenyuan year 1 Chen Xianqi escorted Zhenqing's coffin to the capital. Dezong mourned him with extraordinary grief. Court was suspended for five days and he was given the posthumous title Cultured and Loyal. Another edict proclaimed: "Between ruler and subject, merit is recorded in life and honors multiplied in death—how much more when talent served the state and loyalty cost one's life. We sigh at the thought and are troubled waking and sleeping. The late Guardian Grand Preceptor Yan Zhenqing, Duke of Lu and Supreme Pillar of State—gifted by nature, outstanding in public loyalty, he served four reigns with unwavering resolve. When rebels ravaged the realm he was sent to negotiate; held captive for years, he died unbowed. Such integrity is as if he still lived. We brought this calamity upon him and cannot express our shame and grief; We therefore honor him with a grand posthumous rank and extend favor to his descendants. He is posthumously appointed Minister of Education and granted five hundred bolts of silk. When his sons Yun and Shuo completed mourning, the relevant offices recommended them for promotion beyond ordinary rank." At the southern suburban sacrifice in the eleventh month of Zhenyuan year 6, the amnesty granted one of Zhenqing's sons a regular fifth-rank office, and Yun was appointed. Wenzong's edict read: "Whenever We read the dynastic histories and encounter loyal martyrs, We sigh long and wonder how to repay them. We have heard that Conglan and Hongshi are grandsons of Gao Qing and Zhenqing. The dead cannot be recalled, but honoring their descendants accords with right principle. Those with long service records shall be appointed to central offices; those not yet established among officials shall serve as assistants in the capital. Thus may the moral wind of the realm be renewed." Zhenqing's great-grandson Hongshi was appointed army staff officer of Tongzhou.
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史臣曰：每思先軫免冑，子路結纓，雖云其忠，未聞於道。 如成公孝於家，能於軍，忠於國，是武之英也； 茍無楊炎弄權，若任之為將，遂展其才，豈有朱泚之禍焉！ 如清臣富於學，守其正，全其節，昌文之傑也； 茍無盧杞惡直，若任之為相，遂行其道，豈有希烈之叛焉！ 夫國得賢則安，失賢則危。 德宗內信奸邪，外斥良善，幾致危亡，宜哉。 噫，「仁以為己任，不亦重乎； 死而後已，不亦遠乎！」 二君守道歿身，為時垂訓，希代之士也，光文武之道焉。 贊贊曰：自古皆死，得正為順。 二公云亡，萬代垂訓。
The historiographer writes: I think of Xian Zhen baring his head and Zilu tying his cap-strings—loyal acts, yet not the fullness of the Way. Chenggong was filial at home, capable in the field, and loyal to the state—a hero of martial virtue; had Yang Yan not manipulated power and had he been made a general to use his full talent, would Zhu Ci's disaster have occurred! Qingchen was learned, upright, and preserved his integrity to the end—a paragon of civil culture; had Lu Qi not hated the upright and had he been made chief minister to enact his policies, would Li Xilie have rebelled! A state with worthy men is secure; without them it is in peril. Dezong trusted villains within and rejected the good without, nearly destroying the dynasty—as was fitting. Alas! "To take benevolence as one's burden—is it not heavy? Only at death does one rest—is it not a far-reaching aim!" Both men upheld the Way unto death, leaving lessons for their age—rare spirits who glorify the civil and martial traditions. The commentator says: All men die; to die upright is to die in accord with Heaven's order. Both men are gone, yet their example instructs ten thousand generations.