1
姚令言，河中人也。 少應募，起於卒伍，隸涇原節度馬璘。 以戰功累授金吾大將軍同正，為衙前兵馬使，改試太常卿、兼御史中丞。 建中元年，孟暤為涇原節度留後，自以文吏進身，不樂軍旅，頻表薦令言謹肅，堪任將帥。 暤尋歸朝廷，遂拜令言為四鎮北庭行營涇原節度使、涇州刺史、兼御史大夫。
Yao Lingyan came from Hezhong. In his youth he enlisted as a soldier, rose from the ranks, and served under Ma Lin, military governor of Jingyuan. For repeated battlefield achievements he was promoted step by step to Acting Chief Commander of the Imperial Guard, served as commander of the headquarters guard, and was later given the provisional post of Minister of Ceremonies while also serving as Vice Censor-in-Chief. In the first year of Jianzhong, Meng Min served as acting military governor of Jingyuan; he had advanced as a civil official and disliked military life, and repeatedly memorialized that Lingyan was diligent and sober and fit to command troops. When Min soon returned to court, Lingyan was appointed military governor of Jingyuan in the Four-Garrisons and Beiting campaign command, prefect of Jingzhou, and concurrent Grand Censor.
2
建中四年，李希烈叛，寇陷汝州，詔哥舒曜率師攻之，營於襄城。 希烈兵數萬圍襄城，勢甚危急。 十月，詔令言率本鎮兵五萬赴援。 涇師離鎮，多攜子弟而來，望至京師以獲厚賞，及師上路，一無所賜。 時詔京兆尹王翃犒軍士，唯糲食菜啖而已，軍士覆而不顧，皆憤怒，揚言曰：「吾輩棄父母妻子，將死於難，而食不得飽，安能以草命捍白刃耶！ 國家瓊林、大盈，寶貨堆積，不取此以自活，何往耶？」 行次浐水，乃返戈，大呼鼓噪而還。 令言曰：「比約東都有厚賞，兒郎勿草草，此非求活之良圖也。」 眾不聽，以戈環令言請退，令言急奏之。 上恐，令內庫出繒彩二十車馳賜之，軍聲浩浩，令言不能戢。 街市居人狼狽走竄，亂兵呼曰：「勿走，不稅汝間架矣！」 德宗令普王與學士姜公輔往撫勞之，才出內門，賊已斬關，陣於丹鳳樓下。 是日，德宗倉卒出幸，賊縱入府庫輦運，極力而止。
In the fourth year of Jianzhong, Li Xilie rebelled and captured Ru Prefecture; the court ordered Geshu Yao to lead troops against him and encamp at Xiangcheng. Xilie's forces, tens of thousands strong, besieged Xiangcheng, and the situation was extremely critical. In the tenth month, the court ordered Lingyan to lead fifty thousand troops of his command to the relief. When the Jingyuan army left its garrison, many brought their sons and younger kinsmen along, expecting rich rewards when they reached the capital; but once the army was on the road, they received nothing at all. At that time the court had ordered Wang Xu, metropolitan governor of Jingzhao, to feast the soldiers, but only coarse grain and vegetables were offered; the troops overturned the food and would not touch it. All were enraged, and they said aloud: "We have abandoned parents, wives, and children to face death in hardship, yet we cannot eat our fill—how can we shield our worthless lives against bare blades? The state's Qionlin and Daying treasuries heap up precious goods—why not take from these to keep ourselves alive? Where else would we go?" When they reached the Chan River they turned their weapons, shouted, beat drums, and marched back. Lingyan said: "Our agreement was that we would receive rich rewards in the eastern capital, my lads—do not act rashly; this is no sound plan for survival." The crowd would not listen. They ringed Lingyan with spears and asked him to withdraw; Lingyan urgently reported this to the throne. The emperor was alarmed and ordered twenty cartloads of silk taken from the inner treasury and sent as gifts at once. The soldiers' clamor was tremendous, and Lingyan could not restrain them. People in the streets fled in panic. The disorderly troops cried: "Do not run—we will not tax your room-and-frame levies!" Dezong ordered Prince Pu and Academician Jiang Gongfu to go and comfort them. They had barely left the inner gate when the rebels had already broken through the passes and formed battle lines below Danfeng Tower. That day Dezong fled the capital in haste. The rebels entered the storehouses and drove off cartloads of goods until they could carry no more.
3
時太尉硃泚罷鎮居晉昌裏第，是夜，叛卒謀曰：「硃太尉久囚於宅，若迎為主，大事濟矣。」 泚嘗節制涇州，眾知其失權，廢居怏怏，又幸泚寬和，乃請令言率騎迎泚於晉昌裏。 泚初遲疑，以食飼之，徐觀眾意，既而諸校齊至，乃自第張炬火入居含元殿。 既僭號，乃以令言為侍中，與源休同知賊政事。 既以身先逆亂，頗盡心於賊，害宗室，圍奉天，皆令言為首帥也。 群兇宴樂，既醉，令言與源休論功，令言自此蕭何，源休曰：「帷幄之謀，成秦之業，無出予之右者。 吾比蕭何無讓，子當曹參可矣。」 時朝士在賊廷者，聞之皆笑，謂源休為火迫酂侯。 硃泚敗，令言與張廷芝尚有眾萬人，從泚將入吐蕃。 至涇州，欲投田希鑒，希鑒偽致禮誘之，與泚俱斬首來獻。
At that time Grand Preceptor Zhu Ci, having been removed from his command, lived at his mansion in Jinchang Lane. That night the mutinous soldiers said: "Grand Preceptor Zhu has long been confined in his residence—if we welcome him as our leader, the great affair will succeed." Ci had once commanded Jing Prefecture; the troops knew he had lost power and lived in resentful retirement. They also found Ci mild and tolerant, and they asked Lingyan to lead cavalry to welcome Ci from Jinchang Lane. Ci hesitated at first. They fed him, and he slowly watched the soldiers' mood. Once the commanders had all gathered, he left his mansion with torches blazing and entered the Hall of Unified Origin. Once he had usurped the throne he made Lingyan Director of the Secretariat, sharing rebel administration with Yuan Xiu. Since he himself had taken the lead in rebellion, he devoted himself heartily to the rebel cause; the slaughter of imperial clansmen and the siege of Fengtian were both led by Lingyan as chief commander. When the ringleaders feasted and were drunk, Lingyan and Yuan Xiu argued over merit. Lingyan styled himself Xiao He; Yuan Xiu said: "In counsel within the curtains and in completing Qin's enterprise, none stands above me. Compared with Xiao He I yield nothing—you may serve as Cao Shen. Court officials then in the rebel court heard this and all laughed, calling Yuan Xiu "Marquis of Zan, driven by fire." When Zhu Ci was defeated, Lingyan and Zhang Tingzhi still had ten thousand men and followed Ci, intending to enter Tibet. When they reached Jing Prefecture they wished to surrender to Tian Xijian; Xijian feigned courtesy to lure them in, then beheaded both together with Ci and presented their heads.
4
張光晟，京兆盩厔人，起於行間。 天寶末，哥舒翰兵敗潼關，大將王思禮所乘馬中流矢而斃，光晟時在騎卒之中，因下，以馬授思禮。 思禮問其姓名，不告而退，思禮陰記其形貌，常使人密求之。 無何，思禮為河東節度使，其偏將辛雲京為代州刺史，屢為將校譖毀，思禮怒焉。 雲京惶懼，不知所出。 光晟時隸雲京麾下，因間進曰：「光晟素有德於王司空，比不言諸，恥以舊恩受賞。 今使君憂迫，光晟請奉命一見司空，則使君之難可解。」 雲京然其計，即令之太原。 乃謁思禮，未及言舊，思禮識之，遽曰：「爾豈非吾故人乎？ 何相見之晚也！」 光晟遂陳潼關之事，思禮大喜，因執其手感泣曰：「吾有今日，子之力也。 求子頗久，竟此相遇，何慰如之？」 命同榻而坐，結為兄弟。 光晟遂述雲京之屈，思禮曰：「雲京比涉謗言，過亦不細，今為故人，特舍之矣。」 即日擢光晟為兵馬使，賚田宅、縑帛甚厚，累奏特進，試太常少卿，委以心腹。 及雲京為河東節度使，又奏光晟為代州刺史。
Zhang Guangcheng was a native of Zhouzhi in Jingzhao; he rose from the ranks. At the end of the Tianbao era, when Geshu Han was defeated at Tong Pass, the horse of Grand General Wang Sil encountered a stray arrow midstream and collapsed. Guangcheng was then among the mounted soldiers; he dismounted and gave his horse to Sil. Sil asked his name, but he would not tell him and withdrew. Sil secretly recorded his appearance and often sent men to seek him in secret. Before long Sil became military governor of Hedong; his subordinate general Xin Yunjing was prefect of Dai. After repeated slanders by officers, Sil grew angry at him. Yunjing was fearful and did not know what to do. Guangcheng was then under Yunjing's command; he privately said: "I once did a kindness for Vice Minister Wang and have not spoken of it, ashamed to receive reward for an old favor. Now that my lord is in distress, let Guangcheng beg leave to see the Vice Minister once—then your lordship's difficulty can be resolved." Yunjing approved the plan and sent him at once to Taiyuan. He called on Sil; before he could speak of old times, Sil recognized him and cried: "Are you not my old friend? Why have we met so late!" Guangcheng then recounted the affair at Tong Pass. Sil rejoiced greatly, took his hand, and wept: "That I have this day is your doing. I sought you for so long—at last we meet in this way. What could bring greater comfort?" He ordered him to share his couch, and they became sworn brothers. Guangcheng then explained Yunjing's grievance. Sil said: "Yunjing's recent involvement in slander was no small fault, but for your sake as an old friend I shall specially overlook it." That same day he promoted Guangcheng to headquarters commander of troops, gave him fields, mansions, and silks in great quantity, repeatedly memorialized for his extraordinary advancement, appointed him provisional Vice Minister of Ceremonies, and entrusted him as a confidant. When Yunjing became military governor of Hedong, he again memorialized to make Guangcheng prefect of Dai.
5
大歷末，遷單於都護、兼御史中丞、振武軍使。 代宗密謂之曰：「北蕃縱橫日久，當思所禦之計。」 光晟既受命，至鎮，威令甚行。 建中元年，回紇突董梅錄領眾並雜種胡等自京師還國，輿載金帛，相屬於道。 光晟訝其裝橐頗多，潛令驛吏以長錐刺之，則皆輦歸所誘致京師婦人也。 遂給突董及所領徒悉令赴宴，酒酣，光晟伏甲盡拘而殺之，死者千余人，唯留二胡歸國復命。 遂部其婦人，給糧還京，收其金帛，賞賚軍士。 後回紇遣使來訴，上不欲甚阻蕃情，征拜右金吾將軍。 回紇猶怨懟不已，又降為睦王傅，尋改太仆卿，負才怏怏不得誌。
In the late Dali era he was transferred to Protector-General of Chanyu, concurrent Vice Censor-in-Chief, and commissioner of the Zhenwu Army. Daizong said to him privately: "The northern barbarians have run rampant for many years—you must think of measures to check them." Once Guangcheng had received his commission and reached his post, his authority and commands were sternly enforced. In the first year of Jianzhong, the Uighur chieftain Tumidu led his followers together with various Turkic peoples homeward from the capital; their carts laden with gold and silk stretched along the road. Guangcheng was surprised that their baggage was so ample; he secretly ordered relay clerks to pierce the loads with long awls, and in every case they found women whom the Uighurs had lured to the capital. He then invited Tumidu and all his followers to a banquet; when the wine had gone deep he concealed armed men who seized and killed them all—more than a thousand dead. Only two barbarians were left alive and sent home to report. He then placed the women under guard, supplied grain, and sent them back to the capital; he seized their gold and silk and rewarded the troops. Later the Uighurs sent envoys to complain. The emperor did not wish to alienate them too deeply and summoned Guangcheng as Right Commander of the Imperial Guard. The Uighurs still complained without cease; he was reduced to tutor of Prince Mu, soon changed to Grand Master of the Imperial Stud, nursing his talents in resentment unable to realize his ambitions.
6
賊泚僭逆，署光晟偽節度使兼宰相。 及泚眾頻敗，遂擇精兵五千配光晟，營於九曲，去東渭橋凡十餘里。 光晟潛使於李晟，有歸順之意。 晟進兵入苑，光晟勸賊泚宜速西奔，光晟以數千人送泚出城，因率眾回降於晟。 晟以其誠款，又愛其材，欲奏用之，俾令歸私第，表請特減其罪。 每大宴會，皆令就坐，華州節度使駱元光詬之曰：「吾不能與反虜同席！」 拂衣還營。 晟不得已，拘之私第，後有詔言其狀跡不可原，乃斬之。
When rebel Ci usurped the throne, he appointed Guangcheng nominal military governor and concurrent chief minister. When Ci's forces suffered repeated defeats, he selected five thousand elite troops for Guangcheng and encamped them at Jiuqu, a little more than ten li from the eastern Wei Bridge. Guangcheng secretly sent word to Li Sheng that he intended to return to allegiance. When Sheng advanced into the imperial park, Guangcheng urged rebel Ci to flee west quickly; Guangcheng escorted Ci out of the city with several thousand men, then led the troops back to surrender to Sheng. Sheng considered his sincerity and also valued his ability; he wished to memorialize for his appointment and had him return to his private residence while petitioning for special mitigation of his crime. At every great banquet he was seated, but Luo Yuanguang, military governor of Huazhou, reviled him: "I cannot sit at the same table with a rebel turncoat!" He swept his robes and returned to camp. Sheng had no choice but to detain him in a private residence. Later an edict stated that his conduct could not be pardoned, and he was executed.
7
源休，相州臨漳人，京兆尹光輿之子也。 休以幹局，累授監察御史、殿中侍御史、青苗使判官，遷虞部員外郎，。 出潭州刺史，入為主客郎中，遷給事中、御史中丞、左庶子。 其妻即吏部侍郎王翊女也。 因小忿而離，妻族上訴，下御史臺驗理，休遲留不答款狀，除名，配流溱州。 久之，移岳州。
Yuan Xiu was a native of Linzhang in Xiang Prefecture, son of Guangxing, metropolitan governor of Jingzhao. For competence in administration he was promoted through Inspector, Palace Inspector, and secretary on the Green Sprouts mission, and transferred to Vice Director of the Ministry of Works. He went out as prefect of Tan, entered as Chief Director for Guest Affairs, and was promoted to Supervisor of Attendants, Vice Censor-in-Chief, and Left Assistant to the Heir Apparent. His wife was the daughter of Vice Minister of Personnel Wang Yi. Because of a small quarrel they separated; her clan petitioned the throne; the case was sent to the Censorate for investigation. Xiu delayed and would not answer the indictment; he was removed from office and exiled to Zhen Prefecture. After a long while he was transferred to Yue Prefecture.
8
建中初，楊炎執政，以京兆尹嚴郢威名稍著，心欲傾之。 郢，即王翊甥婿也。 休與王氏離絕之時，炎風聞休、郢有隙，遂擢休自流人為京兆少尹，俾令伺郢過失。 休既職久，與郢親善，炎怒之，奏令以本官兼御史中丞，奉使回紇。 休至振武，軍使張光晟已殺回紇突董等，上初欲遂絕其使，令休還，待命於太原。 久之方遣，仍令休歸其突董、翳密施大小梅錄等四屍。 突董者，即武義可汗之叔父也。 屍既至，可汗令宰臣已下具彩服車馬來迎。 其宰相頡於思迦坐大帳，立休等於帳外雪中，詰殺突董等故。 休曰：「突董等自與張光晟忿鬥而死，非天子命也。」 又問：「使者背唐國，負罪當死，不能自戮耶？ 不然，何假手於我殺之也？」 凡將殺者數矣，言頗悖慢，乃引去，供餼甚薄，留之五十余日，乃得還。 可汗使謂休曰：「我國人皆欲殺汝，唯我不然。 汝國已殺突董等，吾又殺汝，猶以血洗血，汙益甚爾。 吾今以水洗血，不亦善乎！ 所欠吾馬直絹一百八十萬疋，當速歸之。」 遣散支將軍康赤心等隨休來朝，休竟不得見其可汗。 尋遣赤心等歸，與之帛十萬疋、金銀十萬兩，償其馬直。 休履危而還，宰相盧杞又恐復命之日以口辯結恩，將至太原，遽奏為光祿卿。 休以其還使賞薄，居常怨望。
Early in Jianzhong, Yang Yan held power; Yan Yi, metropolitan governor of Jingzhao, was growing in renown, and Yan wished to bring him down. Yi was Wang Yi's nephew by marriage. When Xiu had broken with the Wang family, Yan heard that Xiu and Yi were at odds; he therefore promoted Xiu from exile to Vice Metropolitan Governor of Jingzhao, ordering him to watch for Yi's faults. After Xiu had long been in office he became close to Yi; Yan was angry and memorialized that he should retain his post while also serving as Vice Censor-in-Chief on an embassy to the Uighurs. When Xiu reached Zhenwu, Military Commissioner Zhang Guangcheng had already killed Tumidu and others. The emperor at first wished to break off relations entirely and ordered Xiu to return, to await orders at Taiyuan. Only after a long delay was he sent on, and he was still ordered to return the bodies of Tumidu, Yimishi, and the greater and lesser Meilu. Tumidu was the uncle of the Martial-Righteous qaghan. When the corpses arrived, the qaghan ordered ministers down to the common offices to meet them with colored robes, carriages, and horses. His chief minister Esen Sijia sat in a great tent and made Xiu and the others stand in the snow outside the tent, questioning them on the reason for killing Tumidu and the rest. Xiu said: "Tumidu and the others died in private quarrel with Zhang Guangcheng—it was not by the Son of Heaven's command." They asked again: "The envoy has betrayed Tang and deserves death—why do you not kill yourselves? Otherwise, why borrow our hands to kill them?" Several times they were about to be executed; their words were quite insolent. At last they were led away. Provisions were very meager; they were detained more than fifty days before being allowed to return. The qaghan sent word to Xiu: "All my people wished to kill you; only I did not. Your state has already killed Tumidu and the others; if I kill you too, it would still be washing blood with blood—the defilement would only grow worse. If I wash blood with water, is that not better! You still owe one million eight hundred thousand bolts of silk for our horses' price—return it quickly." He sent General Kang Chixin and others to accompany Xiu to court; Xiu never obtained audience with the qaghan. Soon Kang Chixin and the rest were sent back, with one hundred thousand bolts of silk and one hundred thousand taels of gold and silver to pay the horse price. Xiu had returned from peril, yet Chancellor Lu Qi feared that on the day of his audience he would win favor by eloquence; when Xiu was nearing Taiyuan, Qi hastily memorialized to appoint him Minister of Imperial Entertainments. Xiu felt his reward for the embassy was meager and often nursed resentment.
9
會涇原兵叛，立硃泚為主。 初但稱太尉，朝官謁泚者，悉勸奏迎鑾駕，既不合泚意而退。 及休至，遂屏人移時，言多悖逆，盛陳成敗，稱述符命，勸令僭號。 泚悅其言，以休為宰相，判度支。 休遂為謀主，至於兵食軍資，遷除補擬，內外咨謀，一稟休畫。 故時人云：「源休之逆，甚於硃泚。」 朝廷大臣之奔竄不獲者，多為休所誘致，以至戮辱，職休而為，蓋非一焉。 又勸泚鋤翦宗室，以絕人望，命萬年縣賊曹尉楊偡專其斷決，諸王子孫遇害不可勝數。 泚敗走，休隨至寧州。 泚死，休走鳳翔，為其部曲所殺，傳首來獻。 休三子並斬於東市，籍沒其家。
When the Jingyuan army rebelled, Zhu Ci was made leader. At first he was only called Grand Preceptor; court officials who visited Ci all urged him to welcome back the imperial carriage, which did not suit Ci's intent, and they withdrew. When Xiu arrived he had Ci dismiss attendants for a long while; his words were largely rebellious; he set forth success and failure at length, cited portents, and urged usurpation of the title. Ci was pleased with his words and made Xiu chancellor in charge of the treasury. Xiu became chief strategist; from military provisions and army funds to appointments and replacements, all affairs within and without were decided by Xiu's planning alone. Hence people said: "Yuan Xiu's treason exceeded Zhu Ci's." Many court grandees who had fled but could not escape were lured by Xiu to their ruin and humiliation—at Xiu's doing, and not one instance alone. He also urged Ci to root out the imperial clan to cut off popular hope, and appointed Yang Zheng of Wannian County rebel magistrate's office to exclusive adjudication; princes and their descendants who perished were beyond counting. When Ci was defeated and fled, Xiu followed to Ning Prefecture. When Ci died, Xiu fled to Fengxiang and was killed by his own troops; his head was sent in presentation. Xiu's three sons were all executed in the eastern market and his household goods were confiscated.
10
喬琳，太原人。 少孤貧誌學，以文詞稱。 天寶初，舉進士，補成武尉，累授興平尉。 朔方節度郭子儀辟為掌書記，尋拜監察御史。 琳倜儻疏誕，好談諧，侮謔僚列，頗無禮檢。 同院御史畢耀初與琳嘲誚往復，因成釁隙，遂以公事互相告訴，坐貶巴州員外司戶。 遂起為南郭令，改殿中侍御史，充山南節度張獻誠行軍司馬。 使罷，為劍南東川節度鮮于叔明判官。 改檢校駕部郎中、果綿遂三州刺史、兼御史中丞。 入為大理少卿、國子祭酒。 出為懷州刺史。 琳素與張涉友善，上在春宮，涉嘗為侍讀。 及嗣位，多以政事詢訪於涉，盛稱琳識度材略，堪備大用，因拜御史大夫、平章事。 琳本粗材，又年高有耳疾，上每顧問，對答失次，論奏不合時。 幸居相位凡八十余日，除工部尚書，罷知政事，尋加迎皇太后副使。
Qiao Lin was a native of Taiyuan. Orphaned and poor in youth, he devoted himself to study and won renown for his literary skill. At the beginning of the Tianbao era he passed the jinshi examination, was appointed magistrate of Chengwu, and was repeatedly promoted to magistrate of Xingping. Guo Ziyi, military governor of Shuofang, recruited him as chief secretary; he was soon appointed Inspector. Lin was free-spirited and unrestrained, fond of witty talk, and mocked his colleagues with little regard for ritual propriety. Bi Yao, an inspector of the same bureau, at first exchanged banter with Lin until ill will arose; they then accused each other on official business and were demoted to outside secretary of household in Ba Prefecture. He was then raised to magistrate of Nanguo, changed to Palace Inspector, and served as campaign staff officer to Zhang Xiancheng, military governor of Shannan. When the mission ended he became secretary to Xianyu Shuming, military governor of eastern Shannan in Jiannan. He was changed to Acting Director of the Ministry of Transport, prefect of Guo, Mian, and Sui, and concurrent Vice Censor-in-Chief. He entered court as Vice Minister of Justice and Chancellor of the National University. He went out as prefect of Huai. Lin had long been friendly with Zhang She; when the emperor was heir apparent, She had served as his tutor. When he succeeded to the throne he often consulted She on state affairs; She greatly praised Lin's judgment and talent as fit for high office, and Lin was appointed Grand Censor and Chief Minister. Lin was coarse material by nature, and in old age suffered from ear trouble; whenever the emperor questioned him his answers were disorderly and his memorials ill suited to the times. Fortunately he held the chancellorship only a little more than eighty days; he was appointed Minister of Works, removed from governing affairs, and soon added as deputy commissioner to welcome the Empress Dowager.
11
硃泚之亂，扈從至奉天，轉吏部尚書，遷太子少師。 再幸梁、洋，從至盩厔，托以馬乏遲留，上以琳舊老，心敬重之，慰諭頗至，以禦馬一匹給焉。 又懇辭以老疾不堪山阻登頓，上悵然，賜之所執策曰：「勉為良圖，與卿決矣。」 後數日，乃削發為僧，止仙遊寺。 賊泚聞之，遂令數十騎追至京城，俾為偽吏部尚書。 令源休被公服，饋肉食，琳雖辭讓，而僧言求施。 琳掌賊中吏部，選人前請曰：「所註某官不穩便。」 琳謂之曰：「足下謂此選竟穩便乎？」 及官軍收京師，當處極刑，時琳已七十余，李晟憫其衰老，表請減死。 上以其累經重任，頓虧臣節，自受逆命，頗聞譏諧悖慢之言，背義負恩，固不可舍，命斬之。 臨刑嘆曰：「喬琳以七月七日生，亦以此日死，豈非命歟！」
During Zhu Ci's rebellion he followed the emperor to Fengtian, was transferred to Minister of Personnel, and promoted to Junior Tutor of the Heir Apparent. On the second journey to Liang and Yang he followed as far as Zhouzhi, pleading that his horses were exhausted and he must linger; the emperor, respecting Lin as an elder, comforted him at length and gave him an imperial horse. He again begged off, saying his old illness could not bear the mountain passes and steep climbs; the emperor was sorrowful and gave him the whip he held, saying: "Strive for a good plan—I have parted with you." A few days later he shaved his head and became a monk, staying at Xianyou Temple. Rebel Ci heard of this and sent several dozen horsemen in pursuit to the capital, forcing him to serve as nominal Minister of Personnel. He had Yuan Xiu wear official robes and present meat food; though Lin declined, as a monk he begged for alms. Lin managed personnel selection in the rebel regime; a candidate came forward and said: "The office you registered for me is not secure." Lin said to him: "Do you think this selection is secure at all?" When the imperial army recovered the capital he was due for the extreme penalty; Lin was already over seventy, and Li Sheng pitied his age and memorialized to reduce the sentence to death. The emperor held that he had repeatedly held weighty office yet suddenly failed in ministerial duty, had accepted rebel orders, and was reported to have spoken with mocking insolence; betraying righteousness and ingratitude, he could not be spared, and the emperor ordered his execution. At the gallows he sighed: "Qiao Lin was born on the seventh day of the seventh month and dies on that day too—is this not fate!"
12
張涉者，蒲州人，家世儒者。 涉依國學為諸生講說，稍遷國子博士，亦能為文，嘗請有司日試萬言，時呼張萬言。 德宗在春宮，受經於涉。 及即位之夕，召涉入宮，訪以庶政，大小之事皆咨之。 翌日，詔居翰林，恩禮甚厚，親重莫比。 自博士遷散騎常侍。 上方屬意宰輔，唯賢是擇，故求人於不次之地。 涉舉懷州刺史喬琳為相，上授之不疑，天下聞之者皆愕然。 數月，琳以不稱職罷，上由是疏涉。 俄受前湖南都團練使辛京杲贓事發，詔曰：「尊師之道，禮有所加； 議故之法，恩有所掩。 張涉賄賂交通，頗駭時聽，常所親重，良深嘆惜。 宜放歸田裏。」
Zhang She came from Pu Prefecture, from a family of Confucian scholars. She lectured to students at the National University, was gradually promoted to Doctor of the National University, and could also write; he once asked the authorities for a daily examination of ten thousand characters, and was called Zhang Ten-Thousand-Characters. When Dezong was heir apparent he received the classics from She. On the night he took the throne he summoned She to the palace, consulted him on general administration, and sought his advice on matters great and small. The next day an edict placed him in the Hanlin Academy; favor and courtesy were very great, and none was more intimate or esteemed. From Doctor he was promoted to Regular Attendant. The emperor was intent on chief ministers and chose only the worthy, and therefore sought men through extraordinary appointments. She recommended Qiao Lin, prefect of Huai, as chancellor; the emperor appointed him without hesitation, and all who heard it in the realm were astonished. After several months Lin was removed for incompetence, and the emperor therefore grew distant from She. Soon the bribery case of former commander of Hunan, Xin Jinggao, came to light. An edict said: "The way of honoring one's teacher receives added ritual; in considering the law regarding old ties, favor may cover offenses. Zhang She took bribes and maintained improper contacts, which greatly shocked public opinion; though he had long been intimate and esteemed, the emperor deeply regretted it. He should be released to return to his fields."
13
蔣鎮，常州義興人，尚書左丞洌之子也。 與兄練並以文學進。 天寶末舉賢良，累授左拾遺、司封員外郎，轉諫議大夫。 時戶部侍郎、判度支韓滉上言：「河中鹽池生瑞鹽，實土德之上瑞。」 上以秋霖稍多，水潦為患，不宜生瑞，命鎮馳驛檢行之。 鎮奏與滉同，仍上表賀，請宣付史館，並請置神祠，錫其嘉號寶應靈慶池。 地霖潦彌月，壞居人廬舍非一，鹽池為潦水所入，其味多苦。 韓滉慮鹽戶減稅，詐奏雨不壞池，池生瑞鹽，鎮庇之飾詐，識者醜之。 轉給事中、工部侍郎，以簡儉稱於時。
Jiang Zhen came from Yixing in Chang Prefecture, son of Lie, Left Assistant Minister of the Secretariat. He and his elder brother Lian both advanced through literary learning. At the end of the Tianbao era he was nominated as worthy, was repeatedly appointed Left Reminder and Vice Director of the Ministry of Rites, and transferred to Remonstrance Grandee. At that time Han Huang, Vice Minister of Revenue and commissioner of the treasury, memorialized: "The salt ponds of Hezhong have produced auspicious salt—truly a supreme omen of the virtue of Earth." The emperor, because autumn rains had been rather heavy and flooding was a calamity, held that it was not fitting for omens to appear, and ordered Zhen to go by express relay and inspect. Zhen reported in agreement with Huang, still submitted a congratulatory memorial, asked that it be proclaimed to the History Office, and also asked to establish a spirit shrine, bestowing the honorable title Pool of Treasure Response and Spiritual Blessing. The land had been flooded by rain for a full month, ruining many dwellings of the people; floodwater had entered the salt ponds and the taste was mostly bitter. Han Huang, fearing reduced salt-tax from the salt households, falsely reported that rain did not harm the ponds and that the ponds produced auspicious salt; Zhen shielded him and embellished the fraud—those who knew were ashamed of them. He was transferred to Supervisor of Attendants and Vice Minister of Works, and was famed at the time for simplicity and frugality.
14
其妹婿源溥，即休之弟也，以姻媾之故，與休交好。 涇師之叛，鎮潛竄，夜至鄠縣西，馬躓墮溝澗中，傷足不能進。 時史練已與源休相率受賊偽官。 鎮仆人有逃歸投練，雲鎮病足在鄠。 練與源休聞之大喜，遂言於賊泚此。 泚素慕鎮清名，即令騎二百求之鄠縣西。 明日，擁鎮而至，署為偽宰相。 既知不免，每憂沮，常懷刃將自裁，多為兄練所救而罷。 數日後，復謀竄匿，竟以性懦畏怯，計終不果。 然源休與泚頻議，欲逼脅潛藏衣冠，大加殺戮，鎮輒力爭救，獲全者甚眾。 至是，與兄練等並授偽職，斬於東市西北街。
His brother-in-law Yuan Pu was Yuan Xiu's younger brother; because of the marriage tie he was on friendly terms with Xiu. When the Jingyuan army rebelled, Zhen fled in secret; by night he reached west of Hu County, his horse stumbled and fell into a ditch, injuring his foot so he could not advance. At that time Shi Lian had already followed Yuan Xiu in accepting rebel nominal offices. A servant of Zhen escaped and surrendered to Lian, saying Zhen's injured foot was in Hu. Lian and Yuan Xiu heard this with great joy and reported it to rebel Ci. Ci had long admired Zhen's pure reputation and at once sent two hundred horsemen to seek him west of Hu County. The next day they escorted Zhen in and appointed him nominal chancellor. Once he knew he could not escape, he was always dejected; he often carried a blade intending suicide, but was mostly stopped by his elder brother Lian. Several days later he again plotted to flee and hide, but in the end his timid and fearful nature meant the plan never succeeded. Yet Yuan Xiu and Ci often discussed forcing hidden gentry and officials into service and slaughtering them on a great scale; Zhen repeatedly strove to save them, and very many were spared. At this time he and his elder brother Lian and others, having all received rebel offices, were beheaded at the northwest street of the eastern market.
15
初鎮父洌，叔渙，當祿山、思明之亂，並授偽職，然以家風修整，為士大夫所稱。 鎮兄弟亦以教義禮法為己任，而貪祿愛死，節隳身戮，為天下笑。
Earlier Zhen's father Lie and uncle Huan, during the rebellions of Lushan and Siming, had both accepted nominal offices, yet because the family style was well ordered they were praised by scholar-officials. The Zhen brothers also took teaching righteousness and ritual law as their charge, yet they clung to salary and loved life; their integrity was ruined and their persons executed, and the realm laughed at them.
16
洪經綸，建中初為黜陟使。 至東都，訪聞魏州田悅食糧兵凡七萬人，經綸素昧時機，先以符停其兵四萬人，令歸農畝。 田悅偽順命，即依符罷之； 而大集所罷兵士，激怒之曰：「爾等在軍旅，各有父母妻子，既為黜陟使所罷，如何得衣食？」 遂大哭。 悅乃盡出家財衣服厚給之，各令還其部伍，自此人堅叛心，由是罷職。 及硃泚反，偽授太常少卿。
Hong Jinglun, early in Jianzhong, served as promotion-and-demotion commissioner. When he reached the eastern capital he learned on inquiry that Tian Yue of Weizhou had grain-paid troops totaling seventy thousand men; Jinglun, who had never understood the times, first by writ halted forty thousand of his troops and ordered them back to the fields. Tian Yue feigned compliance and at once dismissed them according to the writ; but then gathered the dismissed soldiers in great numbers and incited them, saying: "You in the army each have parents, wives, and children; now that the promotion-and-demotion commissioner has dismissed you, how will you get food and clothing?" They then wept loudly. Yue then gave out all his household wealth and clothing in generous gifts, had each return to his unit, and from this time men's hearts were set on rebellion; Jinglun was therefore removed from office. When Zhu Ci rebelled, he was given the nominal post of Vice Minister of Ceremonies.
17
彭偃，少負俊才，銳於進取，為當塗者所抑，形於言色。 大歷末，為都官員外郎。 時劍南東川觀察使李叔明上言，以「佛、道二教，無益於時，請粗加澄汰。 其東川寺觀，請定為二等：上寺留僧二十一人； 上觀留道士十四人，降殺以七，皆精選有道行者，余悉令返初。 蘭若、道場無名者皆廢。」 德宗曰：「叔明此奏，可為天下通制，不唯劍南一道。」 下尚書集議。 偃獻議曰：
Peng Yan possessed outstanding talent in youth, was keen to advance, was suppressed by those in power, and showed it in speech and countenance. In the late Dali era he was Vice Director of the Ministry of Justice. At that time Li Shuming, observation commissioner of eastern Shannan in Jiannan, memorialized that "the two teachings of Buddhism and Daoism are of no benefit to the age and requested rough clarification and reduction. For monasteries and abbeys in eastern Shannan, he asked that they be fixed in two grades: upper monasteries to retain twenty-one monks; upper abbeys to retain fourteen Daoist priests, reduced by seven in lower grades—all to be carefully selected men of the Way in practice; the rest were all ordered to return to lay life. Unnamed hermitages and ritual sites were all abolished." Dezong said: "Shuming's memorial may serve as a general regulation for the realm, not only for the Jiannan circuit." It was sent down to the Ministry of State for collective deliberation. Yan submitted a proposal, saying:
18
王者之政，變人心為上，因人心次之，不變不因，循常守固者為下。 故非有獨見之明，不能行非常之事。 今陛下以惟新之政，為萬代法，若不革舊風，令歸正道者，非也。 當今道士，有名無實，時俗鮮重，亂政猶輕。 唯有僧尼，頗為穢雜。 自西方之教，被於中國，去聖日遠，空門不行五濁，比丘但行粗法。 爰自後漢，至於陳、隋，僧之廢滅，其亦數乎！ 或至坑殺，殆無遺余。 前代帝王，豈惡僧道之善如此之深耶？ 蓋其亂人亦已甚矣。 且佛之立教，清凈無為，若以色見，即是邪法，開示悟入，唯有一門，所以三乘之人，比之外道。 況今出家者皆是無識下劣之流，縱其戒行高潔，在於王者，已無用矣，況是茍避征徭，於殺盜淫，無所不犯者乎！ 今叔明之心甚善，然臣恐其奸吏詆欺，而去者未必非，留者不必是，無益於國，不能息奸。 既不變人心，亦不因人心，強制力持，難致遠耳。
The government of a true king ranks transforming people's hearts highest, following people's hearts next, and holding to the unchanged and unresponsive lowest. Therefore without singular vision one cannot carry out extraordinary affairs. Now Your Majesty, with a renewing government as law for ten thousand generations—if you do not reform old customs and bring them back to the correct Way, that is wrong. Today's Daoist priests have name without substance; the age scarcely esteems them, and their disordering of government is still light. Only monks and nuns are rather foul and mixed. Since the teaching from the west spread in China, the days from the sage grow distant; the empty gate does not practice against the five defilements, and bhikṣus practice only coarse methods. From Later Han down to Chen and Sui, the abolition and destruction of monks—has it not occurred repeatedly! At times they were buried alive or slaughtered, almost none left. Did emperors of former ages hate the goodness of monks and Daoists so deeply? It is rather that their disordering of the people had already gone very far. Moreover, in establishing his teaching the Buddha was pure, quiet, and non-active; if one sees by form, that is already heterodox law; to open, show, awaken, and enter there is only one gate—hence people of the three vehicles are compared to outer ways. Moreover, those who leave home today are all ignorant and base streams; even if their precepts and conduct were lofty and pure, to a king they would already be useless—not to mention those who shirk corvée and taxes and violate killing, theft, and lust without exception! Now Shuming's intent is very good, yet I fear corrupt clerks will slander and deceive; those who leave are not necessarily bad, those who remain are not necessarily good—it benefits the state not and cannot still wickedness. Since it neither transforms people's hearts nor follows people's hearts, forced maintenance by power will hardly reach far.
19
臣聞天生烝人，必將有職，遊行浮食，王制所禁。 故有才者受爵祿，不肖者出租征，此古之常道也。 今天下僧道，不耕而食，不織而衣，廣作危言險語，以惑愚者。 一僧衣食，歲計約三萬有余，五丁所出，不能致此。 舉一僧以計天下，其費可知。 陛下日旰憂勤，將去人害，此而不救，奚其為政？ 臣伏請僧道未滿五十者，每年輸絹四疋； 尼及女道士未滿五十者，每年輸絹二疋； 其雜色役與百姓同。 有才智者令入仕，請還俗為平人者聽。 但令就役輸課，為僧何傷。 臣竊料其所出，不下今之租賦三分之一，然則陛下之國富矣，蒼生之害除矣。 其年過五十者，請皆免之。 夫子曰：「五十而知天命。」 列子曰：「不班白，不知道。」 人年五十，嗜欲巳衰，縱不出家，心已近道，況戒律檢其情性哉！ 臣以為此令既行，僧道規避還俗者固已太半。 其年老精修者，必盡為人師，則道、釋二教益重明矣。
I have heard that Heaven gives birth to the multitude and each must have an occupation; roaming and eating without labor is forbidden by royal institutions. Therefore the capable receive rank and salary, the unworthy pay land tax and levies—this is the constant way of antiquity. Today monks and Daoists throughout the realm eat without plowing and clothe themselves without weaving; they widely make alarming and dangerous words to delude the foolish. One monk's food and clothing, reckoned yearly, comes to a little more than thirty thousand; the output of five households cannot produce this. Take one monk to calculate for the realm—the expense can be known. Your Majesty toils in worry from dawn to dusk, about to remove harm to the people—if you do not remedy this, what sort of government is it? Your servant humbly asks that monks and Daoists under fifty years pay four bolts of silk yearly; nuns and female Daoist priests under fifty pay two bolts of silk yearly; their miscellaneous corvée duties to be the same as commoners. Those with talent and wisdom are to be ordered into office; those who ask to return to lay life as ordinary people are to be permitted. Only require them to perform corvée and pay levies—what harm is there in their being monks. Your servant privately estimates their payments would amount to at least one-third of present land tax and levies; then the state would grow richer and harm to the common people would be removed. Those over fifty years of age, I ask that all be exempted. Confucius said: "At fifty one knows Heaven's mandate." Liezi said: "Without gray hair, one does not know the Way." When a man is fifty, appetites have already declined; even if he does not leave home, his heart is already near the Way—how much more when precepts restrain his disposition! Your servant believes that once this order is enforced, more than half of monks and Daoists will already have evaded it by returning to lay life. Those old in years and refined in practice will surely all become teachers of others; then the two teachings of Dao and Buddha will be all the more honored and clarified.
20
議者是之，上頗善其言。 大臣以二教行之已久，列聖奉之，不宜頓擾，宜去其太甚，其議不行。
Those in deliberation approved it, and the emperor was quite pleased with his words. Grand ministers held that the two teachings had long been practiced and successive sage emperors upheld them; they should not be suddenly disturbed—only their excesses should be removed. The proposal was not adopted.
21
偃以才地當掌文誥，以躁求為時論所抑，郁郁不得誌。 涇師之亂，從駕不及，匿於田家，為賊所得。 硃泚素知之，得偃甚喜，偽署中書舍人，僭號辭令，皆偃為之。 賊敗，與偽中丞崔宣、賊將杜如江、吳希光等十三人，李晟收之，俱斬於安國寺前。
Yan, by talent and position, ought to have managed literary edicts, but because of impatient striving was suppressed in contemporary opinion and nursed resentment unable to realize his ambitions. During the Jingyuan army rebellion he could not keep up with the imperial train, hid in a farming household, and was seized by rebels. Zhu Ci had long known him; obtaining Yan he was very pleased and appointed him nominal Secretariat Drafter; usurpation proclamations and orders were all written by Yan. When the rebels were defeated, together with nominal Vice Censor Cui Xuan, rebel generals Du Rujiang, Wu Xiguang, and thirteen others, he was taken by Li Sheng and all were executed before Anguo Temple.
22
史臣曰：肇分陰陽，爰有生死，修短二事，賢愚一途。 故君子遇夷險之機，不易其節； 小人昧逆順之道，而陷於刑。 鴻毛泰山，斯為至論。 令言遠總師徒，首為叛逆； 光晟初當委任，危輸款誠； 源休雖曰士流，甚於元惡； 喬琳巧辭真主，俯就偽官； 蔣鎮貪祿隳節，皆曰小人。 經綸之徒，不足言爾。
The historiographer says: When yin and yang were first divided, there came life and death; long life and short life are two affairs, but the wise and foolish share one path. Therefore the gentleman, meeting occasions of ease or peril, does not alter his integrity; the petty man, ignorant of the way of compliance and resistance, falls into punishment. A swan's down and Mount Tai—this is the ultimate judgment. Lingyan from afar commanded master and troops and was first in rebellion; Guangcheng at first received appointment, then in peril offered sincere allegiance; Yuan Xiu, though called a gentleman by birth, was worse than the chief villain; Qiao Lin with clever words excused himself to the true sovereign yet stooped to accept rebel office; Jiang Zhen, clinging to salary and ruining integrity—all are called petty men. Men like Jinglun are not worth speaking of.
23
贊曰：時爭逆順，命擊死生。 君子守節，小人正刑。
The encomium says: The age contends over compliance and resistance; fate strikes at life and death. The gentleman keeps his integrity; the petty man receives proper punishment.