1
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 Duanqing, came from Chengji in Longxi, though his family had long lived in Zhengzhou and ranked among the foremost lineages of the age. He was descended from Xuantao, who had served as an academician in the Prince of Qin's household and as a supervising censor, and was the son of Chengyu, director of the Secretariat, who after death was posthumously honored as Minister of Personnel. As a youth he was quick-witted and devoted to learning, and showed a gift for writing. Near the close of the Kaiyuan reign he took the jinshi degree, served as assistant magistrate of Chenliu, and submitted a work to the court. The emperor ordered the Secretariat to examine his prose, after which he was elevated to Right Reminder. He was next made Right Supplementation Censor and Attendant of the Heir Apparent, with responsibility for memorials from members of the imperial clan. He rose to vice director in the Bureau of Merits and director in the Bureau of Evaluations, holding in each office the duty of drafting imperial edicts. Accompanying the court into Jiannan, he was appointed drafting secretary 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 given the additional post of vice minister of rites. Kui had observed that those who presided over examinations often tested candidates on form alone, raising barriers and demanding written responses without recognizing that men lacking real ability could not even frame an argument within the literary canon—thus missing entirely the purpose of seeking talent. When he tested jinshi candidates on their essays, he had copies of the Five Classics, the standard histories, and the Qieyun set out on tables in the courtyard and told the examinees: "Our realm seeks men of talent, not memorizers. The texts are here—use them as you will. Within months his reputation reached the emperor. Before the examination season ended he was promoted to vice director of the Secretariat, appointed chief minister, made grand academician of the imperial libraries, and assigned to compile 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 eloquent in audience. Each proposal he offered struck the mark of sound counsel. Emperor Suzong admired him greatly and once told him: "Your family standing, your character, and your prose are alike the finest of our day. People of the time therefore spoke of his "three unrivaled gifts." While he was still a drafting secretary, the imperial clan petitioned to add the honorific "Assisting Sage" to Empress Zhang's title. Suzong called Kui in for his view, and he answered: "In antiquity, empresses and consorts received posthumous titles only after death. To bestow such an honorific upon a living empress was without precedent. Under the misrule of the Jinglong years Empress Wei had seized power and taken the title Assisting Sage. To grant the same title now would repeat that unhappy precedent. Your Majesty is enlightened and devoted to ritual. How could you follow the example of the Jinglong era! Suzong started in alarm. "Mediocre advisers nearly ruined my house," he said. The proposal was dropped. At that time Daizong, formerly Prince of Guangping, had been redesignated Prince of Cheng. Empress Zhang had a young son, and quietly there was talk of setting him up as heir instead. On another audience Kui was present when Suzong said casually: "The Prince of Cheng is the eldest legitimate son and has earned distinction. It is time to name the heir. What do you think? Kui bowed in congratulation. "When Your Majesty speaks thus, the altars of state are blessed and the realm rejoices. Your servant is overcome with joy." Suzong said with satisfaction: "My mind is made up." From that time he enjoyed the emperor's favor and was soon entrusted with the highest responsibilities.
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。
Banditry was rife in the capital; murder victims were left in the streets. Li Fuguo, then riding high, asked to assign five hundred Imperial Guard cavalry to patrol duty. Kui memorialized: "In Western Han the Southern and Northern Armies were made to balance each other. That was how Zhou Bo, entering the Northern Army through the Southern, was able to save the Liu dynasty. Our dynasty likewise divided civil and military authority between the Southern and Northern Bureaus so that each might keep watch upon the other. If the Imperial Guard replaces the Gold Crow Guard on night patrol, who will restrain them should sudden trouble arise? The emperor accordingly rejected the request for Imperial Guard patrols.
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 was learned and forceful in debate, yet he was fiercely ambitious for rank and gain, and public opinion turned sharply against him. His elder brothers, men of reputation in their own right, languished in minor posts, yet he never brought them forward. His colleague Lü Yin, though of far humbler birth, had once outranked him in power. After leaving the chief ministership Yin had served as guest minister and then as military commissioner of Jingnan, where his reputation flourished. Fearing Yin's return to court, Kui secretly sent secretariat staff into his jurisdiction to dig up offenses. Yin lodged a secret defense of himself, and Kui was demoted to senior adjutant of Laizhou. The edict declared that he had "stirred unrest across the eight southern Hunan prefectures and obstructed military control at Jiangling. Within days of Kui's dismissal his brothers were all appointed vice directors in the Bureau of Gates. Years later he was transferred to the post of prefect of Shezhou. While Kui was in power, Chief Minister Miao Jinqing had repeatedly recommended Yuan Zai for high office. Trusting in his own pedigree, Kui looked down on Zai's humble origins and refused the recommendation, telling Jinqing: "Men of true distinction go unused while creatures with the heads of deer and the eyes of rats come begging for posts. Zai never forgave the insult. Once Zai became chief minister and Kui was due for reassignment, he had him named acting director of the Secretariat and sent to convalesce in the Jiang-Huai region. Without salary and with his household 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 coldly he moved on, passing through more than ten jurisdictions in all. After Yuan Zai was executed for his crimes, Kui was made prefect of Muzhou, then recalled to serve as chancellor of the National University and minister of rites, but Lu Qi bore him ill will. While Dezong was in exile in Shannan, Kui was appointed envoy to Tibet for the peace conference and promoted to Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. He reached Fengzhou but died of illness there in the fourth month of the first year of Xingyuan, aged seventy-four. He was posthumously honored as Grand Marshal, and the state provided for his funeral.
6
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 Li Daoli, Prince of Gaoping. His father Shaokang had served as prefect of Songzhou. Han was plain, modest, and careful in conduct, esteemed among the imperial clan, and rose through posts as gentleman attendant of the heir apparent and palace censor. Guo Ziyi, military commissioner of Shuofang, recommended him as judge of the salt ponds within the passes. When Suzong fled north to Pingliang he had not yet chosen a destination. Han and Du Hongjian, acting commissioner of Shuofang, drafted a memorial detailing the forces being mustered in Shuofang and the stores of grain, arms, and supplies on hand, praising Han as a worthy scion of the imperial house, steadfast and loyal. Han was sent to Pingliang to present it in person. Han spoke with clarity and force, and his counsel matched the moment. Suzong was delighted and appointed him vice director in the Right Secretariat, then promoted him through the Bureau of Enfeoffments to vice director of the Court of the Imperial Clan.
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, as Hebei was brought back under control, Daizong, knowing Han for loyalty and steady judgment, made him left attendant of the heir apparent, censor-in-chief, and pacification commissioner for Hebei. When his mother died he was recalled from mourning to resume his post. At every relay station along the way he spoke only on official business, ate plain food, drank water, and slept on the ground. On his return he asked leave to complete the full mourning period. Daizong, seeing how grief had wasted him, consented. When mourning ended he was made supervising censor and then left vice director of the Department of State Affairs. When trouble broke out in Youzhou he was again appointed pacification commissioner for Hebei. In the first month of the sixth year of Dali he was made prefect of Suzhou, chief censor, and overall military governor 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 came to the throne he judged Han too mild for hard decisions and made him junior tutor of the heir apparent and deputy commissioner for the imperial tombs. Han's aide, palace censor Lü Wei, memorialized: "His father's name is Shaokang, yet his present title violates that taboo. This may offend ritual propriety. Chief Minister Cui Youfu replied: "If every minister spoke up whenever the court erred, that would be the way to true peace." Lü Wei was promoted to vice director in the Bureau of Gates. Soon someone objected: "When Han was vice director of the Court of the Imperial Clan, Lü Wei said nothing. Now that Han is junior tutor, this memorial is opportunistic. An edict declared: "Lü Wei overstepped his place by memorializing a petty complaint about his superior's title. Recalling how the Song avoided the name Sicheng and the Jin the name Cicao, We admired his loyalty to his superior and thought his report forthright. We therefore showed him special favor and a generous reward. We have since learned that the character shao he cited was no issue when Han already held the title of vice director. What was acceptable then is unacceptable now—how greatly he has deceived Us! He cannot remain at court among the capital officials. Let him serve in a distant prefecture as a warning to shallow men. He is demoted to secretary of Shezhou with nominal rank." Han was reassigned as acting minister of works and director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments, while retaining his post as deputy commissioner for the imperial tombs. Not long afterward he retired with the title of Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. He died in the ninth month of the first year of Xingyuan and was posthumously honored as Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent.
8
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 staff officer in the Right Martial Guards and was posthumously honored as minister of works through Shaoyou's promotions. As a youth Shaoyou was quick and articulate. He studied the Zhuangzi, Liezi, and Laozi, entered the Hall of Venerating Mystery as a student, and his fellows chose him to lecture on the classics. Some classmates had studied the classics on their own and arranged a day to take the lectern and challenge one another in debate. When the day came, Shaoyou mounted the platform with measured step. His voice was clear and his reasoning sharp, and every eye in the hall was on him. Every passage he cited carried layered meanings his peers could not answer. Grand Academician Chen Xilie was deeply impressed and, finding they shared a clan name, treated him with great favor. After passing the examinations he was appointed magistrate of Nanping in Yuzhou, where his administration won wide praise. During the Zhide era Wang Silu, military commissioner of Hedong, took him on as staff planner. He rose through posts as rectifier in the Court of Judicial Review, investigating and palace censor, and military commissioner aide. In the first year of Baoying he was recalled to the capital as vice director in the Bureau of the Treasury. He was soon made attendant censor and commissioner for Uyghur grain supplies, then acting vice director in the Bureau of Appointments. The practice of appointing envoys with acting court rank began with Shaoyou. The following year Pugu Huai'en appointed him aide to the deputy commander-in-chief of Hebei, director in the Ministry of War, and attendant censor. He was made prefect of Jinzhou, then reassigned to Tongzhou before taking office, and later served again as prefect of Jin and Zheng. In office Shaoyou was resourceful and adaptable, and men praised his executive talent. Yet he taxed heavily, cultivated the powerful, and so rose rapidly through the ranks. Soon 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 had him named marching army secretary of Longyou and acting left attendant of the heir apparent while retaining the post of censor-in-chief. That year he was appointed prefect of Guizhou and observation commissioner of the Guiguan circuit. Shaoyou found the Lingnan frontier too remote and began scheming for a post nearer the capital. The eunuch Dong Xiu then controlled the secretariat. Shaoyou lodged in his lane, waited until he left the palace at dusk, and called on him casually: "Seventh Brother, how large is your household? And what does it cost you each month? Xiu replied: "I have long held a post at court, my household is large, and prices are soaring. It costs more than a thousand strings a month." Shaoyou said: "At that rate your salary would not last a few days. You must constantly beg help from outsiders to make ends meet. If someone offers you loyal support and supplies, you need only shelter him—it is an easy thing to do. I am no great man, but I will supply all of Seventh Brother's expenses myself—fifty thousand strings of cash each year. I have more than half of it here now—please accept it at once. The rest I will send after I reach my post. Would that not spare you worry as well?" Xiu, delighted beyond his hopes, formed a close bond with him. When he had finished, Shaoyou wept and said: "The southern heat and pestilence grieve me at our parting. I fear I shall never return alive to see you again. Xiu said at once: "Your talent is too fine for a distant post. Wait ten days at ease while I do what little I can." By then Shaoyou had also bribed Yuan Zai's son Zhongwu. With recommendations from Xiu within the palace and Zai outside, within days he was made prefect of Xuanzhou and overall military governor 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 transferred to prefect of Yuezhou, chief censor, and observation commissioner of Eastern Zhejiang. In the eighth year he was made senior adjutant of Yangzhou and military commissioner of Huainan. He was also granted the title of Silver-Green Glory Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and enfeoffed as Baron of Yingchuan. Wherever he served he worked to restore order, though he governed chiefly by calculation and small favors. His clerks did their jobs and the people found a measure of peace. When the court was beset by troubles, he memorialized to raise the circuit's two-tax levy 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 ten years Shaoyou held three of the empire's wealthiest great commands in succession. He taxed and traded without a day's pause, amassed hundreds of millions in wealth, lavished bribes on the powerful, and held refined scholars in contempt. He first cultivated Yuan Zai with annual gifts of gold and silk worth some one hundred thousand strings, and bribed influential eunuchs such as Luo Fengxian, Liu Qingtan, and Wu Chengqian until his praise reached the inner palace. Later, as Yuan Zai's long tenure bred suspicion of his misdeeds, Shaoyou drew somewhat apart from him. Soon Zai's son Bohe was demoted to Yangzhou. Shaoyou befriended him openly while secretly having his faults reported to the throne. Daizong took this for loyalty and treated him all the more favorably.
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 came to the throne, Shaoyou was repeatedly promoted to acting minister of rites and minister of war. In the third year of Jianzhong, when Li Na rebelled, Shaoyou recovered Xu, Hai, and other prefectures, then abandoned them and withdrew to Xuyi. He was further made acting Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and granted three hundred actual fief households. That year he was made co-chief minister on the spot. Guan Bo had once served on his staff, and Lu Qi had been with him in Pugu Huai'en's mission office in their youth—hence his sudden elevation in rank.
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 two taxes for Bian and the east, was in Yangzhou and had not yet heard the news. Ji's aide Cui Yuan rushed word to Shaoyou. Bao Ji had some eight million strings in tax revenues on hand. Believing the rebels would hold the capital for some time, Shaoyou seized the funds by force. He sent his aide Cui to demand Bao Ji's payment records and two million strings for military expenses. Ji replied: "These funds require an imperial order. He refused. Cui said angrily: "If you get your way, you will be like Liu Changqing; if not, like Cui Zhong. Liu Changqing had once been transport commissioner and was ruined by Wu Zhongru; Cui Zhong had hoarded army funds and was executed by Guo Guangbi. Ji was terrified and did not resist. All funds bound for the capital were seized by Shaoyou. Ji came to call on him in person. Shaoyou received him with a formal bow and dismissed him. Fearing for his life, Ji fled to Baisha. Shaoyou sent his aide Fang Rufu to summon him again. Ji, more frightened still, claimed an inspection tour and rowed hastily across the river, his wife and children hidden among the document cases. At Shangyuan he was detained again by Han Huang. Ji had left three thousand troops under Gao Yue and Yuan Fu to guard the treasure; Shaoyou seized them all. Those who crossed the river with Ji were detained by Han Huang as well, and Ji went on to Jiang, E, and other prefectures with only a few clerks. Ji hid a memorial inside a pellet, reporting Shaoyou's seizure of the funds. When Shaoyou's envoy next arrived, the emperor asked: "Did Shaoyou seize Bao Ji's funds—is that true? He replied: "After I left Yangzhou, I did not know." The emperor said: "Shaoyou is a guardian of the realm. If he took the funds to guard against other thieves or supply the army, what harm was there?" The regions were cut off and the dynasty still reeling. Near and far, men marveled that the emperor's judgment reached so far and adapted so wisely to circumstance. When Shaoyou later heard of this 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 announced his intention to strike the Jiang-Huai region. Terrified, Shaoyou sent his staff planner Wen Shu from Shouzhou to offer submission to Xilie: "At Hao, Shou, Shu, and Lu I shall soon dismantle the forts, sheathe our weapons, and await your orders. Shaoyou also sent touring officer 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, Prefect Zhang Jianfeng's scouts seized him. Before two palace envoys and Shaoyou's aide Xu Zirui, Jianfeng rebuked Feng publicly and beheaded him. Xilie was furious and appointed his general Du Shaoqian false vice director and military commissioner of Huainan, ordering him first to take Shouzhou and then Guangling. Jianfeng fortified Huoqiu and held it strictly. Shaoqian could not break through. Later Bao Ji reached court and reported the seizure in full. Shaoyou was terrified and memorialized that the funds had all been spent on urgent military needs and that he would repay the full amount. But his jurisdiction lay in ruins and he could not repay the throne. He and his trusted clerks therefore imposed heavy new taxes on the people to raise the sum. Before long Liu Qia recovered Bianzhou and found among Xilie's papers a false court diary entry: "On such-and-such a day Chen Shaoyou submitted a memorial of submission. When Shaoyou heard this he was stricken with shame and alarm, fell ill, and died within days, aged sixty-one. He was posthumously honored as Grand Marshal, and buried with the usual state rites.
14
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 Yue was a native of Fanyang in Youzhou and the great-great-grandson of Yigong, vice minister of works under Emperor Taizong. His father Ziqian had been advisory staff officer in the Prince of Ying's household and was posthumously honored as vice director of the Secretariat through Yue's promotions. Yue entered office young through hereditary privilege and was known in service for practical competence. He rose through posts as recorder of Langzhou, investigating and palace censor, attendant censor, and prefect of Jinzhou. Chief Minister Yang Yan favored him, recalled him as director in the Left Secretariat and junior metropolitan governor of Jingzhao, then promoted him to metropolitan governor. Yue had no scholarly training, cultivated the powerful, and governed with harsh impatience. Lu Qi detested him, had him impeached, and demoted him to secretary of Fuzhou. He was later made prefect of Raozhou, then of Fuzhou and observation commissioner of Fujian. He died of illness in the seventh month of the second year of Zhenyuan.
15
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 great renown in the Kaiyuan and Tianbao reigns. As a youth Xu passed the mingjing examination and served as staff officer of Henan prefecture. He was open and direct by nature and disliked petty detail. He rose to granary clerk of Jingzhao, then retired to the eastern capital to mourn his father. When An Lushan seized the two capitals and the eastern capital was later recovered, Xu was appointed gentleman for deliberation of the heir apparent. Soon the Prince of Guo had him appointed attendant censor and aide for the garrison fields of Xiang and Deng. He then entered mourning for his mother. When the eastern capital fell again to Shi Siming, Xu hid in the mountains. Siming had once served under Xu's father and, cherishing that old tie and long admiring Xu's reputation, was determined to have him. He sent dozens of mounted pursuers who tracked Xu down and captured him. Siming was delighted, addressed him as Young Master without using his name, and falsely appointed him censor-in-chief in charge of judicial decisions. As Siming slaughtered members of the imperial clan, Xu secretly slowed the process and saved several hundred lives. He also sent intelligence on the rebels' strengths and weaknesses to the court. When this was discovered, Siming raged at him and he barely escaped execution. After the rebellion was suppressed he was made gentleman attendant of the heir apparent, then director in the Bureau of Evaluations, and was repeatedly summoned to advise the throne.
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 at Shaan, Xu walked on foot to the mobile court carrying the seals of the Bureau of Evaluations and the Southern Bureau. The emperor said: "A fierce wind reveals the tough grass—how true that proves. He was to be made censor-in-chief, but Yuan Zai blocked the appointment and he was made commissioner of transport, salt, and iron for Hedong instead. A great drought afflicted the Guanzhong region. When Xu came to present accounts, Daizong received him in 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. Xu replied: "I have been thinking. The emperor said: "About what?" He replied: "Coming from Hedong I traveled three hundred li and saw farmers grieving—grain and beans still unplanted. I had hoped Your Majesty would first ask about the people's hardship, yet you question me about profit. Mencius said that to govern a state is nothing but benevolence and righteousness—why speak of profit? That is why I did not answer at once." The emperor leaned forward and said: "Without your words I would never have heard this." Xu was appointed director in the Left Secretariat. The emperor often consulted him, but those in power envied him and he was sent out as prefect of Qianzhou, then served successively at Rao, Lu, and Bo. He was recalled to serve as general of the Right Gold 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 through penal law, and every official trembled with fear. Slaughter was forbidden in the tenth month, and as the season drew near the imperial tombs the ban grew especially strict. The Esteemed Father, Guo Ziyi, Prince of Fenyang, had a servant slaughter a sheep and bring it in. The gate guards caught him, and Xu memorialized the offense. The emperor praised his fearlessness before the powerful and repeatedly commended him. Someone asked him: "The Duke has saved the dynasty—would you not cover this for him? Xu smiled and said: "That is not something you would understand. The Duke's power is too great. The new emperor is sure to suspect that his following is too large. By exposing this small fault I show that I do not court his power. Above, I fulfill my duty to the ruler; below, I reassure a great minister. Is that not fitting?" Separate tribunals had been set up in the court hall to decide common cases, and litigants would strike the Petition Drum. Xu memorialized: "The admonition drum and the slander post were established to reach hidden wrongs and give voice to honest counsel. Now frivolous and cunning men beat the drum, reach the emperor's ear, and in the end it is over trifles. If that is so, what need is there for officials and regular governance!" The emperor agreed and returned all such cases to the regular courts. Believing that legal clerks twisted the law and often pursued old grudges, Xu presented his "Admonition for Prison Officials" as an indirect critique. Soon he was demoted to secretary of Langzhou because a monk he favored had broken the law. He was recalled as right attendant of the heir apparent, then made general of the Palace Domestic Army. When Tibet invaded he was soon made vice minister of personnel and chief censor and appointed envoy to Tibet, but did not go. Not long afterward he became guest of the heir apparent, vice minister of war, metropolitan governor 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。
Five generations of Xu's family had served in Henan. When he took office he never sat in the chief seat, did not press confessions in corruption cases, and governed with generous mildness. He died of illness in the eleventh month of the ninth year of Zhenyuan, aged seventy-five, and was posthumously honored as minister of rites.
19
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 historiographer writes: Li Kui's counsel enriched the emperor's mind, and he was fortunate to serve an enlightened ruler; yet in blocking the worthy to hold his post he proved in the end no admirable man. Shaoyou chased profit with the times; Lu Yue curried favor with the powerful through crafty office-seeking. Judging their words and conduct, none deserves praise. Han was renowned for restraint and integrity; Xu governed with mild ease. Both nearly approached true benevolence.
20
贊曰李、陳、盧鸑，言行非真。 涵、谞和易，庶乎近仁。
The encomium reads: Li, Chen, and Lu Yue—their words and conduct were not genuine. Han and Xu were mild in manner—they nearly approached true benevolence.