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○李抱玉李抱真王虔休盧從史李芃李澄族弟元素李抱玉李抱玉，武德功臣安興貴之裔。 代居河西，善養名馬，為時所稱。 群從兄弟，或徙居京華，習文儒，與士人通婚者，稍染士風。 抱玉少長西州，好騎射，常從軍幕，沉毅有謀，小心忠謹。
[Section] Li Baoyu; Li Baozhen; Wang Qianxiu; Lu Congshi; Li Peng; Li Cheng and his clansman Yuan Su — Li Baoyu. Li Baoyu was descended from An Xinggui, a founding minister of the Wude reign. His family had lived in Hexi for generations and was famed for breeding excellent horses. Some of his kinsmen had relocated to the capital, taken up literary study, and married into scholar families, acquiring a touch of genteel culture. Baoyu had been raised in Xizhou from youth. He was fond of riding and archery, served regularly on campaign staffs, and was known for calm resolve, shrewd counsel, and scrupulous loyalty.
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乾元初，太尉李光弼引為偏裨，屢建勳績，由是知名。 二年，自特進、右羽林軍大將軍、知軍事，遷鴻臚卿員外置同正員，持節鄭州諸軍事兼鄭州刺史、攝御史中丞、鄭陳潁亳四州節度。 時史思明陷洛陽，光弼守河陽，賊兵鋒方盛，光弼謂抱玉曰：「將軍能為我守南城二日乎？」 抱玉曰：「過期若何？」 光弼曰：「過期而救不至，任棄城也。」 賊帥周摯領安太清、徐黃玉等先次南城，將陷之，抱玉乃紿之曰：「吾糧盡，明日當降。」 賊眾大喜，斂軍以俟之。 抱玉因得繕完設備，明日，堅壁請戰。 賊怒欺紿，急攻之。 抱玉出奇兵，表裡夾攻，殺傷甚眾，摯軍退。 光弼自將於中潬城，摯舍南城攻中潬，不勝，乃整軍將攻北城。 光弼以兵出戰，大敗之。 固河陽，復懷州，皆功居第一，遷澤州刺史、兼御史中丞。 代宗即位，擢為澤潞節度使、潞州大都督府長史、兼御史大夫，加領陳、鄭二州，遷兵部尚書。 抱玉上言：「臣貫屬涼州，本姓安氏，以祿山構禍，恥與同姓，去至德二年五月，蒙恩賜姓李氏，今請割貫屬京兆府長安縣。」 許之，因是舉宗並賜國姓。
In the early Qianyuan era (758–759), Li Guangbi, Grand Preceptor, took him on as a subordinate officer. His repeated battlefield successes soon made his name known. In 759 he rose from extraordinary grand censor and commanding general of the Right Imperial Guard to provisional chief minister of state ceremonials with full commissioner's standing, with overall military command at Zhengzhou as vice censor-in-chief and as regional commander over Zheng, Chen, Ying, and Bo. Shi Siming had seized Luoyang, and Guangbi was defending Heyang while rebel strength was at its peak. Guangbi asked Baoyu, "Can you hold the southern city for me for two days? Baoyu asked, "What if the two days pass?" Guangbi replied, "If relief has not come by then, you are free to abandon the city." The rebel commander Zhou Zhi, with An Taiqing, Xu Huangyu, and others, had moved first against the southern city and was on the verge of taking it. Baoyu deceived them, saying, "Our provisions are gone; we will surrender tomorrow." The rebels were delighted and held their forces back to await the surrender. Baoyu used the delay to repair his defenses and stock supplies. The next day he shut the gates and challenged them to fight. Furious at the deception, the rebels launched a fierce assault. Baoyu sent out ambush forces and struck from both sides, inflicting heavy casualties, and Zhou Zhi's army retreated. Guangbi commanded in person at Zhongtan. Zhou Zhi left the southern city and assaulted Zhongtan without success, then regrouped to attack the northern city. Guangbi met them in the field and won a crushing victory. He ranked first in merit for holding Heyang and recovering Huaizhou, and was appointed prefect of Ze and vice censor-in-chief. When Daizong succeeded to the throne, Baoyu was made military governor of Zelu, chief administrator of Lu prefecture, and censor-in-chief, with added authority over Chen and Zheng, and was promoted to Minister of War. Baoyu memorialized the throne: "I am registered in Liangzhou and was born An. After Lushan's rebellion I was ashamed to bear that name; in May 757 I was honored with the imperial surname Li. I now ask that my registration be transferred to Chang'an county in the capital prefecture. The request was approved, and his entire clan received the imperial surname.
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廣德元年冬，吐蕃寇京師，乘輿幸陝，諸軍潰卒及村閭亡命相聚為盜，京城南面子午等五穀群盜頗害居人，朝廷遣薛景仙領兵為五穀使招討，連月不捷，乃詔抱玉兼鳳翔節度使討之。 抱玉探知賊帥行止之處，先分屯諸谷，乃設奇潛使輕銳數百南自洋州入攻之。 賊帥高玉方與諸偷會，遽為銳卒數十人掩擒之，因大搜獲偷黨，悉斬之，餘黨不討自潰，旬日內五穀平。 以功遷司空，余並如故。
In the winter of 763 Tibetans raided the capital and the emperor withdrew to Shan. Routed troops and village fugitives banded together as robbers, and the Five Valleys gangs south of the capital, including Ziwu, preyed heavily on the populace. Xue Jingxian was sent as Five Valleys commissioner to suppress them but met no success for months; Baoyu was then ordered to take concurrent command of Fengxiang and destroy the bandits. Baoyu learned where the bandit leaders were operating, posted troops in the valleys, then sent several hundred picked light troops in a surprise strike south from Yang prefecture. Bandit chief Gao Yu was meeting with his fellows when several dozen elite soldiers seized him by surprise. A sweep captured the rest of the gang, who were all executed; the remnants melted away without further fighting, and the Five Valleys were pacified within ten days. For this achievement he was promoted to Minister of Works; his other offices were unchanged.
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時吐蕃每歲犯境，上以岐陽國之西門，寄在抱玉，恩寵無比，遷同中書門下平章事，又兼山南西道節度使、河西隴右山南西道副元帥、判梁州事，連統三道節制，兼領鳳翔、潞、梁三大府，秩處三公。 抱玉以任位崇重，抗疏懇讓司空及山南西道節度、判梁州事，乞退授兵部尚書。 上嘉其謙讓，許之。 抱雲凡鎮鳳翔十餘年，雖無破虜之功，而禁暴安人，頗為當時所稱。 大曆十二年卒，上甚悼之，輟朝三日，贈太保。 李抱真李抱真，抱玉從父弟也。 抱玉為澤潞節度使，甚器抱真，任以軍事，累授汾州別駕。 當是時，僕固懷恩反於汾州，抱真陷焉，乃脫身歸京師。 代宗以懷恩倚回紇，所將朔方兵又勁，憂甚，召見抱真問狀，因奏曰：「郭子儀領朔方之眾，人多思之。 懷恩欺其眾，曰『子儀為朝恩所殺』，詐而用之。 今復子儀之位，可不戰而克。」 其後懷恩子瑒為其下所殺，懷恩奔遁，多如抱真策，因是遷殿中少監。 居頃之，為陳鄭、澤潞節度留後，抱真因中謝言曰：「臣雖無可取，當今百姓勞逸，系在牧守，願得一郡以自試。」 上許之，改授澤州刺史，兼為澤潞節度副使。 居二年，轉懷州刺史，復為懷澤潞觀察使留後，凡八年。 抱玉卒，抱真仍領留後。 抱真密揣山東當有變，上黨且當兵沖，是時乘戰余之地，土瘠賦重，人益困，無以養軍士。 籍戶丁男，三選其一，有材力者免其租徭，給弓矢，令之曰：「農之隙，則分曹角射； 歲終，吾當會試。」 及期，按簿而征之，都試以示賞罰，覆命之如初。 比三年，則皆善射，抱真曰：「軍可用矣。」 於是舉部內鄉兵，得成卒二萬，前既不廩費，府庫益實，乃繕甲兵，為戰具，遂雄視山東。 是時，天下稱昭義軍步兵冠諸軍。 無幾，復代李承昭為昭義軍及磁邢節度觀察留後，加散騎常侍。
Tibetans raided the frontier yearly, and the emperor treated Qiyang as the realm's western gate and placed it in Baoyu's hands with unmatched favor. He rose to grand councilor, became military governor of Shannan West, deputy commander-in-chief over Hexi, Longyou, and Shannan West, and administrator of Liang — commanding three circuits and heading Fengxiang, Lu, and Liang, with rank equal to the Three Excellencies. Finding his responsibilities too weighty, Baoyu petitioned earnestly to relinquish the Ministry of Works, the Shannan West governorship, and the Liangzhou post, asking to return to the Ministry of War alone. The emperor commended his humility and agreed. Baoyu governed Fengxiang for more than ten years in all. He won no great victories over invaders, but his suppression of violence and protection of the people won wide contemporary praise. He died in 777. The emperor grieved deeply, suspended court for three days, and posthumously enfeoffed him as Grand Guardian. Li Baozhen was Baoyu's younger cousin. While Baoyu was governor of Zelu he held Baozhen in high regard, entrusted him with military affairs, and repeatedly appointed him vice-prefect of Fen. When Pugu Huai'en rebelled at Fen, Baozhen was trapped there but made his way back to the capital. Daizong, deeply worried that Huai'en had Uyghur support and commanded the formidable Shuofang army, summoned Baozhen and questioned him. Baozhen replied, "Guo Ziyi once led the Shuofang troops, and the men still yearn for him. Huai'en deceived them, claiming that Ziyi had been killed by court intrigue, and led them under false pretenses. Restore Ziyi to command, and they will collapse without a battle. Later Huai'en's son Yang was killed by his own men and Huai'en fled — much as Baozhen had predicted. Baozhen was promoted to vice-director of the palace domestic service. Soon he became acting governor of Chen-Zheng and Zelu. At an audience of thanks Baozhen said, "I have little to offer, but the people's welfare depends on their local governors. I ask for a prefecture where I may prove myself. The emperor agreed and appointed him prefect of Ze and vice governor of Zelu. Two years later he became prefect of Huai and again served as acting observation commissioner of Huai and Zelu — eight years in all. When Baoyu died, Baozhen remained as acting governor. Baozhen privately concluded that Shandong would soon erupt in rebellion and that Shangdang would be a strategic battleground. The region was war-ravaged, the land poor and taxes heavy; the people grew poorer still and could not sustain the army. He registered adult males and selected one in three; the able-bodied were exempted from rent and labor service and given bows. He ordered them, "In slack farming seasons, divide into squads and practice archery; at year's end I will hold a general examination. When the time came he summoned them by register, held a collective examination with rewards and penalties, and sent them back to drill as before. Within three years they were all skilled archers. Baozhen said, "The army is ready. He then raised militia throughout his circuit and fielded twenty thousand trained troops. Having spent nothing from the granaries, his treasury grew rich; he outfitted armor and weapons and came to dominate Shandong. At the time the Zhaoyi infantry were considered the finest in the empire. Soon he succeeded Li Chengzhao as acting governor of the Zhaoyi army and the Ci-Xing circuits, with the additional title of regular attendant at the imperial secretariat.
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德宗即位，拜檢校工部尚書，兼潞州長史、昭義軍節度支度營田、澤潞磁邢觀察使。 建中二年，田悅以魏博反，乃悉兵圍邢州及臨洺益急，詔河東節度使馬燧及神策兵救之。 抱真與燧敗悅兵於雙岡，斬悅將楊朝光，又擊破悅於臨洺，遂解臨洺及邢州之圍，以功加檢校兵部尚書。 復與燧大破悅於洹水，悅以數百騎走歸魏州。 復與燧圍魏州，又敗悅於城下，以功加檢校右僕射。 時悅窘蹙，硃滔、王武俊皆反，聯兵救悅，抱真與燧等退次魏縣。 上幸奉天，中使告問至，諸將皆仰天慟哭。 李懷光席捲奔命，馬燧、李芃各引兵歸鎮。 硃泚既汙宮闕，時李希烈陷大梁，李納亦反鄆州。 無何，上幸梁州，李懷光又竊據河中。 抱真獨於擾攘傾潰之中，以山東三州外抗群賊，內輯軍士，群賊深憚之。
When Dezong succeeded, Baozhen was made acting Minister of Works, chief administrator of Lu, commissioner for Zhaoyi supplies and garrison farming, and observation commissioner over Zelu, Ci, and Xing. In 781 Tian Yue rebelled with Weibo and pressed the siege of Xing and Linming. Ma Sui of Hedong and the Shence army were ordered to the relief. Baozhen and Sui defeated Yue at Shuanggang, beheaded his general Yang Chaoguang, and routed him again at Linming, lifting both sieges. Baozhen was made acting Minister of War. With Sui he again crushed Yue at Huanshui, and Yue fled to Wei with only a few hundred horsemen. With Sui he besieged Wei and defeated Yue again beneath the walls, earning appointment as acting right vice director of the imperial secretariat. Yue was cornered when Zhu Tao and Wang Wujun also rebelled and marched to his relief. Baozhen, Sui, and the others fell back to Wei county. The emperor fled to Fengtian. When the palace envoy arrived with news, the generals looked heavenward and wept. Li Huai'guang rushed off to the emperor's aid; Ma Sui and Li Peng each withdrew to their own circuits. Zhu Ci had seized the capital; Li Xilie held Daliang, and Li Na rebelled at Yan. Soon the emperor withdrew to Liangzhou, and Li Huai'guang seized Hedong as well. Amid universal turmoil Baozhen alone, holding three Shandong prefectures, held the rebels at bay without and kept discipline within; the rebel hosts feared him deeply.
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興元初，遷檢校左僕射、平章事。 時硃滔悉幽薊軍，借兵回紇，擁眾五萬，南向以應泚，攻圍貝州。 初，群賊附於希烈，希烈僭偽，有臣屬群賊意，群心稍離。 上自奉天下罪己之詔，悉赦群賊，抱真乃遣門客賈林以大義說武俊，合從擊硃滔，武俊許之。 時兩軍尚相疑，抱真乃以數騎徑入武俊營。 其將去也，賓客皆止之，抱真遣軍司馬盧玄卿勒軍部分曰：「僕今日此舉，系天下安危。 僕死不還，領軍事以聽朝命，亦唯子； 奮勵士馬，東向雪僕之恥，亦唯子。」 言訖而去。 武俊設備甚嚴，抱真曰：「硃泚、希烈僭竊大位，硃滔攻圍貝州，此輩皆欲陵駕吾屬。 足下既不能自振數賊之上，舍九葉天子而北面臣反虜乎？ 乃者聖上奉天下罪己之詔，可謂禹、湯之主也。」 因言及播越，持武俊哭，涕泗交下，武俊亦哭，感動左右。 因退臥武俊帳中，酣寢久之。 武俊感其不疑，待之益恭，指心仰天曰：「此身已許公死敵矣。」 遂與結為兄弟而別，約明日合戰，遂擊破硃滔於經城，以功加檢校司空，實封五百戶。 貞元初，朝於京師，居頃之，還鎮。
In early 784 he was made acting left vice director of the imperial secretariat and grand councilor. Zhu Tao then mobilized the You-Ji armies, borrowed Uyghur troops, and with fifty thousand men marched south to support Ci, besieging Bei prefecture. The rebel hosts had initially rallied to Li Xilie, but when he declared himself emperor and sought to subordinate them, their loyalty began to fray. The emperor issued from Fengtian a self-reproach edict pardoning all rebels. Baozhen sent his retainer Jia Lin to persuade Wang Wujun in the name of righteousness to join against Zhu Tao, and Wujun agreed. The two armies still distrusted each other, so Baozhen rode into Wujun's camp with only a handful of men. His staff tried to dissuade him, but Baozhen sent his army marshal Lu Xuanqing to address the troops: "What I do today concerns the fate of the empire. If I do not return, take command and obey the court — that duty falls to you alone; and if you must rouse the army and march east to avenge my death, that too is yours alone. With that he rode off. Wujun had posted strict guards. Baozhen said, "Zhu Ci and Xilie have usurped the throne, and Zhu Tao is besieging Bei — they mean to dominate us all. If you cannot stand above these rebels, will you abandon the Son of Heaven of nine generations and bow north to a usurper? The emperor has just issued a self-reproach edict to the realm — he is a ruler in the mold of Yu and Tang. He spoke of the emperor's exile, seized Wujun's hands, and wept until both men were in tears, moving everyone present. He then retired to Wujun's tent and slept soundly for a long time. Moved by such trust, Wujun treated him with still greater respect, laid his hand on his heart, and swore to heaven, "This life is yours — I will die at your side against your enemies. They swore brotherhood and parted, agreeing to fight together the next day. They then routed Zhu Tao at Jingcheng. Baozhen was made acting Minister of Works with a substantive fief of five hundred households. Early in the Zhenyuan era he visited the capital, and after a brief stay returned to his post.
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抱真沉斷多智計，嘗欲招致天下賢俊，聞人之善，必令持貨幣數千里邀致之； 至與語無可採者，漸退之。 時天下無事，乃大起台榭，穿池沼以自娛。 晚節又好方士，以冀長生。 有孫季長者，為抱真練金丹，紿抱真曰：「服之當升仙」遂署為賓僚。 數謂參佐曰：「此丹秦皇、漢武皆不能得，唯我遇之，他年朝上清，不復偶公輩矣。」 復夢駕鶴衝天，寤而刻木鶴、衣道士衣以習乘之。 凡服丹二萬丸，腹堅不食，將死，不知人者數日矣。 道士牛洞玄以豬肪谷漆下之，殆盡。 病少間，季長復曰：「垂上仙，何自棄也！」 益服三千丸，頃之卒。 初，抱真久疾，好禨祥，或令厭勝，為巫祝所惑，請降官爵以禳除之。 是年，凡七上章讓司空，復為檢校左僕射。 貞元十年卒，時年六十二，廢朝三日，贈太保，賻以布帛米粟有差。
Baozhen was shrewd, resolute, and resourceful. He sought to gather talented men from across the empire; whenever he heard of someone's merit he sent envoys with gifts thousands of li to invite them; but if conversation revealed nothing worthwhile, he quietly let them go. When the empire was at peace he built grand pavilions and dug ornamental ponds for his amusement. In his later years he also turned to Daoist alchemists, hoping for immortality. A man named Sun Jichang prepared elixirs for him and promised, "Take this and you will ascend as an immortal." Baozhen appointed him to his staff. He told his staff repeatedly, "Neither the First Emperor nor Han Wudi could obtain this elixir — only I have. One day I will ascend to heaven and leave your company behind. He dreamed of riding a crane to heaven; on waking he carved a wooden crane, donned Daoist robes, and practiced mounting it. He swallowed twenty thousand pills until his belly hardened and he could not eat. For days before death he did not recognize anyone. The Daoist Niu Dongxuan purged him with lard, grain porridge, and lacquer — nearly killing him in the process. When he briefly recovered, Jichang urged, "You are on the verge of transcendence — why give up now! He took three thousand more pills and soon died. Baozhen had long been ill and obsessed with omens and exorcism, deluded by shamans into petitioning to lower his rank to ward off misfortune. That year he submitted seven petitions declining the Ministry of Works and was restored to acting left vice director of the imperial secretariat. He died in 794 at sixty-two. Court was suspended for three days; he was posthumously enfeoffed as Grand Guardian, with graded gifts of cloth, silk, rice, and grain for his funeral.
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抱真薨之日，其子殿中侍御史緘匿喪不發。 營田副使盧會昌令抱真從甥元仲經潛與緘謀，其明日，將吏會集，仲經詐為抱真令曰：「吾疾甚，不能蒞職，今令緘掌軍事，諸軍善佐之。」 節度副使李說及諸將吏俯首，皆曰：「諾」。 須臾，緘盛服而出，眾皆拜之，緘乃悉府藏頒賞軍士。 盧會昌仍詐為抱真表，請以職事付緘。 翌日，又令諸將連奏請緘領軍。 上已聞真疾病，請見明日。 如此者凡三日，緘乃出造中使，左右皆陳兵，甚嚴備。 中使謂緘曰：「朝廷已知相公薨歿，令以兵務屬延貴，侍御宜歸發喪行服也。」 緘愕然，出謂諸將曰：「有詔不許緘掌事，諸公意若何？」 將吏莫有對者。 緘懼而退，遽以使印及管鑰歸監軍。 是日，乃發喪，畢一哭。 中使召延貴，以口詔令視事，趣遣緘赴東都。 元仲經逃於外，延貴捕得殺之。 既歸罪仲經，盧會昌得不坐。 緘初謀亂，遣裨將陳榮詐以文書告成德節度使王武俊，求假財帛，武俊大怒曰：「吾與汝府公善者，冀恭王命，非同惡也。 今聞已亡，孰詐令其子而不俟朝旨耶？ 何敢告我，況有求也！」 乃囚陳榮而遣使讓緘焉。 王虔休王虔休，字君佐，汝州梁人也。 本名延貴。 少涉獵書籍，鄉里間以信義畏慕之，尤好武藝。 大曆中，汝州刺史李深用之為將。 久之，澤潞節度李抱真聞名，厚以財帛招之，累授兵馬使押衙。 建中初，抱真統兵馬與諸將征討河北，其雙岡、水寨營等陣，虔休攻戰居多，擢為步軍都虞候，累加兼御史中丞、大夫，賜實封百戶。 洎抱真卒，裨將元仲經等議立抱真子緘，軍中擾亂，虔休正色言於眾曰：「軍州是天子軍州，將帥闕，合待朝命，何乃云云，妄生異意！」 軍中服從其言，由是竟免潰亂。 朝廷知而嘉之，以邕王為昭義節度觀察大使，授虔休潞州左司馬，依前兼御史大夫，掌留後，仍賜名虔休。 號令安撫。 軍州大理。 二歲，遷潞州長史、昭義軍節度、澤潞磁邢洺觀察使，尋加檢校工部尚書。 貞元十五年卒，年六十二。 廢朝三日，贈左僕射，賻以布帛米粟。
On the day Baozhen died his son Jian, a palace attendant, concealed the death and did not announce mourning. Vice commissioner for garrison farming Lu Huichang had Baozhen's cousin Yuan Zhongjing plot secretly with Jian. The next day, when officers assembled, Zhongjing forged an order: "I am gravely ill and cannot command. Jian will take military affairs; support him well. Vice governor Li Shuo and the other officers bowed and assented. Shortly after, Jian appeared in full regalia; all bowed to him, and he distributed the entire treasury to the troops. Lu Huichang forged a memorial in Baozhen's name asking that command be transferred to Jian. The next day he had the generals submit joint petitions asking that Jian take command. The emperor had already heard Baozhen was ill and asked to see him the next day. This continued for three days; then Jian came out to meet the palace envoy, flanked by heavily armed troops. The envoy told Jian, "The court knows your father is dead. Military affairs are assigned to Yanguì. You should go home and observe mourning. Jian was stunned. He went out and asked the generals, "The edict forbids me to command — what do you think?" No officer spoke up. Frightened, Jian withdrew and hastily returned the command seal and keys to the army supervisor. That day he announced the death and performed the first mourning rites. The palace envoy summoned Yanguì, ordered him by oral edict to assume command, and directed Jian to proceed to the eastern capital. Yuan Zhongjing had fled; Yanguì captured and executed him. With blame placed on Zhongjing, Lu Huichang escaped punishment. When Jian first plotted his coup, he sent lieutenant Chen Rong with a forged letter to Wang Wujun of Chengde asking for money and supplies. Wujun was furious: "Your father and I were allies in honoring the throne — not partners in treason. Now I hear he is dead — who would trick his son into seizing power without waiting for the court? How dare he come to me — and ask for favors besides! He imprisoned Chen Rong and sent an envoy to rebuke Jian. Wang Qianxiu, courtesy name Junzuo, was a native of Liang in Ru prefecture. His original name was Yanguì. As a youth he read widely; neighbors respected him for integrity and admired his martial skill. During the Dali era Li Shen, prefect of Ru, employed him as an officer. Later Li Baozhen of Zelu heard of him and recruited him with generous gifts, appointing him repeatedly as headquarters guard officer and commander of horse and foot. Early in Jianzhong, Baozhen led campaigns in Hebei; Qianxiu fought in most of the major engagements at Shuanggang and Shuizhai. He was made chief adjutant of the infantry, promoted to vice and then full censor-in-chief, and granted a substantive fief of one hundred households. When Baozhen died, lieutenants including Yuan Zhongjing plotted to install his son Jian, throwing the army into turmoil. Qianxiu addressed the troops sternly: "This command belongs to the Son of Heaven. With no commander, we must await court orders — why breed sedition? The troops accepted his words, and the command was spared a mutiny. The court learned of this and commended him. The Prince of Yong was made grand observation commissioner of Zhaoyi; Qianxiu was appointed left administrator of Lu, retained his post as censor-in-chief as acting governor, and was granted the name Qianxiu. His orders restored calm. Army and prefecture were fully pacified. Two years later he became chief administrator of Lu, military governor of Zhaoyi, and observation commissioner over Zelu, Ci, Xing, and Ming, and soon was made acting Minister of Works. He died in 799 at sixty-two. Court was suspended for three days; he was posthumously made left vice director of the imperial secretariat, with gifts of cloth, silk, rice, and grain.
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虔休性恭勤，儉省節用，管內州倉庾皆積糧儲，可支軍人數歲。 又嘗撰《誕聖樂曲》以進，其表曰：
Qianxiu was respectful, diligent, and frugal. Every granary in his circuit held reserves sufficient to feed the army for years. He also composed the "Music for the Birth of the Sage" and presented it with a memorial that read:
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先時，有太常樂工劉玠流落至潞州，虔休因令造此曲以進，今《中和樂》起此也。 盧從史盧從史，其先自元魏已來，冠冕頗盛。 父虔，少孤，好學，舉進士，歷御史府三院、刑部郎中、江汝二州刺史、秘書監。 從史少矜力，習騎射，游澤、潞間，節度使李長榮用為大將。 德宗中歲，每命節制，必令採訪本軍為其所歸者。 長榮卒，從史因軍情，且善迎奉中使，得授昭義軍節度使。 漸狂恣不道，至奪部將妻妾，而辯給矯妄，從事孔戡等以言直不從引去。 前年丁父憂，朝旨未議起復，屬王士真卒，從史竊獻誅承宗計，以希上意，用是起授，委其成功。 及詔下討賊，兵出，逗留不進，陰與承宗通謀，令軍士潛懷賊號，又高其芻粟之價，售於度支，諷朝廷求宰相； 且誣奏諸軍與賊通，兵不可進。 上深患之。
Earlier the court musician Liu Jie had drifted to Lu; Qianxiu had him compose this piece for presentation. The present "Central Harmony Music" originated here. Lu Congshi — his family had held high office since the Northern Wei. His father Qian was orphaned young, loved learning, passed the jinshi examination, and served in the censorate, as director in the Ministry of Justice, as prefect of Jiang and Ru, and as director of the imperial library. Congshi prided himself on strength in youth, trained in riding and archery, and wandered between Ze and Lu until Li Changrong employed him as a senior general. In Dezong's middle years, whenever a governorship was filled, the court first investigated whom the local army would accept. When Changrong died, Congshi won army support and courted palace envoys skillfully, and was appointed military governor of Zhaoyi. He grew wildly lawless, even seizing his officers' wives. Eloquent but deceitful, he drove away staff such as Kong Kan when they spoke plainly and were ignored. Two years earlier he had entered mourning for his father and the court had not yet decided on recall. When Wang Shizhen died, Congshi secretly proposed killing Cheng Zong to please the emperor; he was recalled from mourning and entrusted with the campaign. When the campaign edict came he marched out but stalled, secretly conspiring with Cheng Zong, letting his men keep rebel slogans, inflating fodder prices sold to the commissariat, and hinting that he deserved a seat at court; and falsely reported that allied armies were colluding with the rebels so that no advance was possible. The emperor was deeply alarmed.
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護軍中尉吐突承璀將神策兵與之對壘，從史往往過其營博戲。 從史沓貪好得，承璀出寶帶、奇玩以炫燿之，時其愛悅而遺焉，從史喜甚，日益狎。 上知其事，取裴垍之謀，因戒承璀伺其來博，揖語，幕下伏壯士，突起，持捽出帳後縛之，內車中，馳以赴闕。 從者驚亂，斬十數人，余號令乃定，且宣諭密詔，追赴闕庭。 都將烏重胤素懷忠順，乃嚴戒其軍，眾不敢動。 會夜，使疾驅，未明出境，道路人莫知。 元和五年四月，制曰：
Army protector Tuhu Chenghui led Shence troops against him; Congshi often visited his camp to gamble. Congshi was greedy and acquisitive. Chenghui displayed jeweled belts and rare curios to dazzle him and gave them whenever Congshi showed delight; Congshi grew ever more intimate with him. The emperor adopted Pei Ji's plan: when Congshi came to gamble, Chenghui was to greet him while braves hidden in the tent seized him, bound him, loaded him into a carriage, and rushed him to court. His attendants panicked; more than ten were killed before order was restored and a secret edict announced that he was being taken to court. Commander Wu Chongyin, who had long been loyal, strictly restrained his troops and prevented a mutiny. They rode through the night and crossed the border before dawn; no one on the road knew. In the fourth month of 810 an edict declared:
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子繼宗等四人並貶嶺外。 李芃李芃，字茂初，趙郡人也。 解褐上邽主簿，三遷試大理評事，攝監察御史、山南東道觀察支使。 嚴武為京兆尹，舉為長安尉。 李勉為江西觀察使，署奏秘書郎、兼監察御史，為判官。 永泰初，轉兼殿中侍御史。
His sons Jizong and three others were all banished beyond the Ling range. Li Peng, courtesy name Maochu, was a native of Zhao commandery. He began as recorder of Shanggui, rose thrice to probationary appraiser of the Court of Judicial Review, and served as investigating censor and supply commissioner for Shannan East. When Yan Wu was metropolitan magistrate of the capital, he recommended Peng as bailiff of Chang'an. When Li Mian was observation commissioner of Jiangxi, he appointed Peng secretary of the palace library and concurrent investigating censor as his aide. Early in Yongtai (765) he became concurrent palace attendant censor.
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時宣、饒二州人方清、陳莊聚眾據山洞，西絕江路，劫商旅以為亂。 芃乃請於秋浦置州，守其要地，以破其謀。 李勉然其計，以聞，代宗嘉之，以宣州之秋浦、青陽、饒州之至德置池州焉。 芃攝行事，無幾，乃兼侍御史。 居無何，魏少游代勉為使，復署奏檢校虞部員外郎，賜金紫，為都團練副使。 頃之，攝江州刺史，州人便之。 丁母憂，免喪，永平軍節度李勉署奏檢校工部郎中、兼侍御史，為判官，尋攝陳州刺史。 歲中，即值李靈曜反於汴州，勉署芃兼亳州防禦使，練達軍事，兵備甚肅； 又開陳、潁運路，以通漕輓。
Fang Qing and Chen Zhuang of Xuan and Rao gathered bandits in mountain caves, cut the western river route, and plundered merchants. Peng proposed establishing a prefecture at Qiupu to hold the strategic point and break their plans. Li Mian approved and reported the plan; Daizong commended it and created Chi prefecture from Qiupu and Qingyang of Xuan and Zhide of Rao. Peng administered the new prefecture and soon received the concurrent post of attendant censor. Soon Wei Shaoyou replaced Mian and again appointed Peng acting director in the Ministry of Public Works with golden-purple robes as deputy training commissioner. Soon he served as acting prefect of Jiang, to the people's benefit. After mourning his mother he rejoined Li Mian of Yongping as acting director in the Ministry of Works and attendant censor, then served as acting prefect of Chen. That year Li Lingyao rebelled at Bian. Mian made Peng concurrent defense commissioner of Bo; Peng was skilled in military affairs and kept the army in strict readiness; and opened the Chen-Ying transport route to restore grain shipments.
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德宗嗣位，授檢校太常少卿、兼御史中丞、河陽三城鎮遏使。 撫勞備至，資廩善者，必先軍士。 間一年，為節度使路嗣恭之副，加檢校左庶子、河陽三城懷州節度觀察使，以東畿汜水等五縣隸焉。 時河南北連大兵，詔益以神策、汝、陝之師。 芃進收新鄉、共城，遂圍衛州。 明年，詔與河東節度馬燧等諸軍破田悅於洹水，以功加檢校兵部尚書，累封開郡王，實封一百戶。 進圍悅於魏州，將符璘以精騎五百夜降，芃耳開營以納之。 明日，歸璘於招討使。 上居奉天，斂軍還。
When Dezong succeeded, Peng was made acting vice minister of imperial sacrifices, vice censor-in-chief, and pacification commissioner of the three Heyang cities. He cared for his men exhaustively and always gave the best supplies to the soldiers first. A year later he became deputy to Lu Sigong, was made acting left subordinate heir apparent and military governor of Heyang and Huai, with five eastern capital counties including Si added to his jurisdiction. With major campaigns north and south of the Yellow River, an edict reinforced him with Shence troops and forces from Ru and Shan. Peng advanced to recover Xinxiang and Gongcheng and besieged Wei prefecture. The next year he joined Ma Sui of Hedong and other armies in defeating Tian Yue at Huanshui, was made acting Minister of War, enfeoffed as Prince of Kai, and granted a substantive fief of one hundred households. Besieging Yue at Wei, he received general Fu Lin's night defection with five hundred elite horsemen and opened the camp to admit them. The next day he sent Lin on to the campaign commissioner. When the emperor fled to Fengtian, he withdrew his army.
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興元初，檢校右僕射，無何，以疾固讓罷歸。 芃將請告，謂所親曰：「今年夏被蝗旱，人主厭兵革，然則天下城壘堅厚矣，戈鋋銛利矣，以力勝之，則有得失，其可盡乎！ 除弊之急，莫先德化，循而理之，斯易致耳。 方鎮之戴翼時主，宜先退讓，貪權持祿，吾所不取也。 吾既疾病，豈能言而不踐乎！」 乃手疏乞罷。 貞元元年卒，年六十四，廢朝一日，贈太子太保。 李澄李澄，遼東襄平人，隋蒲山公寬之後也，居京兆。 父鎬，清江太守，以澄贈工部尚書。 澄以武藝為偏將，累除試將作監，隸於江淮都統李峘。 建中初，以檢校太子賓客、兼御史中丞隸於永平軍節度使李勉。 及勉移理汴州，乃奏澄為滑州刺史。 四年冬，李希烈陷汴州，勉奔歸行在，澄遂以城降希烈，偽署尚書令，兼滑州永平軍節度使。
Early in Xingyuan (784) he was made acting right vice director of the imperial secretariat; soon illness compelled him to petition firmly for retirement. As Peng prepared to request retirement, he told his intimates: "This summer brought locusts and drought; the emperor is weary of war. Yet walls are strong and weapons sharp — victory by force alone cannot be final. The urgent cure is moral governance; rule patiently and success comes easily. Regional commanders who support the throne should yield first; I will not cling to power and salary. Now that I am ill, how can I speak thus and not act on it! He wrote a personal memorial requesting retirement. He died in 785 at sixty-four. Court was suspended for one day; he was posthumously made grand guardian of the heir apparent. Li Cheng was a native of Xiangping in Liaodong, descended from Sui's Duke of Pushan, Kuan, and lived in the capital region. His father Hao was prefect of Qingjiang; Cheng's honors posthumously enfeoffed him as Minister of Works. Cheng rose through martial skill to junior general and provisional director of imperial manufactories under Li Chuan, overall commander of Jianghuai. Early in Jianzhong he served as acting guest of the heir apparent and vice censor-in-chief under Li Mian of Yongping. When Mian moved his headquarters to Bian, he recommended Cheng as prefect of Hua. In the winter of 783 Li Xilie took Bian; Mian fled to the emperor's camp and Cheng surrendered Hua to Xilie, who made him minister of the imperial secretariat and military governor of Hua and Yongping.
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興元元年春，澄密令親信人盧融間道賚表達於奉天，上嘉之，乃以帛詔藏於蠟丸中，加澄刑部尚書，兼汴州刺史、汴滑節度觀察使。 澄秘而未宣，乃集州兵嚴加訓習。 希烈頗疑之，乃令養子六百人戍之，以虞其變。 希烈苦攻寧陵，邀澄率其眾至石柱。 澄令縱火焚營，而偽遁，誘六百人因驚行剽而加其罪，果大俘掠，悉令斬之以告。 希烈不能窮詰焉。 無凡，希烈遣其將翟暉等寇陳州，久之未復。 是歲十月，澄以汴州兵寡，度希烈不能制己，又會中官薛盈珍持節且至，加檢校兵部尚書，封武威郡王，賜實封五百戶。 澄乃乘勢力焚賊旌節，誓眾歸國。 及十一月，希烈既失澄，又聞翟暉大敗，由是奔歸蔡州。 澄遽率眾將復汴州，屯於城北門，恇怯不敢進。 及宣武軍節度使劉洽師至城東門，賊將田懷珍開關以納之。 翌日，澄方自北入，洽已據子城。 澄乃舍於浚儀縣，兩軍將士，日有忿競，不自安。 會鄭州賊將孫液通款於澄，澄遣其子清赴之。 先是，河陽軍節度使李芃遣其將雍顥攻鄭州，顥所過縱掠，液拒之尤固； 及清至，遂納之。 顥怒攻液，清以眾助之，殺登城者數十人，顥方引退，又焚陽武而歸。 澄乃出赴鄭州，朝廷特授清檢校太子賓客、兼御史中丞，更名克寧。
In the spring of 784 Cheng secretly sent his confidant Lu Rong by a hidden route with a memorial to Fengtian. The emperor commended him and sent an edict in a wax pellet, promoting him to Minister of Justice, prefect of Bian, and military governor of Bian and Hua. Cheng kept the edict secret and mustered the prefectural troops for strict training. Xilie grew suspicious and stationed six hundred adopted sons as a garrison to watch him. While Xilie besieged Ningling he summoned Cheng and his troops to Shizhu. Cheng set fire to the camp and feigned flight, provoking the six hundred into panic looting; he then had them all executed and reported their crimes to Xilie. Xilie could not pursue the matter further. Soon Xilie sent generals including Zhai Hui against Chen, and they were long absent. That October Cheng judged Bian's forces too few for Xilie to control him, learned that eunuch Xue Yingzhen was arriving with credentials, and received promotion to acting Minister of War, enfeoffment as Prince of Wuwei, and a substantive fief of five hundred households. Cheng seized the moment, burned the rebel banners and credentials, and swore his troops back to the dynasty. By November Xilie had lost Cheng and heard of Zhai Hui's crushing defeat; he fled back to Cai. Cheng hurried to recover Bian and camped at the north gate, but fear held him back from entering. When Liu Qia of Xuanwu reached the east gate, rebel general Tian Huaizhen opened the gates to admit him. The next day Cheng entered from the north only to find Qia already holding the inner city. Cheng withdrew to Junyi county; the two armies quarreled daily and lived in mutual unease. Rebel general Sun Ye of Zheng offered terms to Cheng, who sent his son Qing to accept. Earlier Li Peng of Heyang had sent general Yong Hao against Zheng; Hao plundered along the way and Ye resisted him fiercely; when Qing arrived, Ye submitted to him. Hao attacked in fury; Qing reinforced Ye and killed dozens on the walls. Hao withdrew, burning Yangwu as he went. Cheng went to Zheng in person; the court specially appointed Qing acting guest of the heir apparent and vice censor-in-chief, renaming him Kening.
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貞元元年三月，就加澄檢校左僕射、義成軍鄭滑許等州節度使。 二年卒，年五十四，廢朝一日，贈司空，賵布帛粟有差，仍令左散騎常侍歸崇敬充弔祭使，所緣喪葬，並勒官給。 澄實以八月癸未終，克寧秘之，以九月庚寅，欲自起視事。 其行軍司馬馬鉉不許，克寧陰遣殺之，乃墨絰而出，加卒於城門，將為不順。 劉洽出師屯於境上以制之，且使告諭切至，由是克寧不敢妄發，然道路絕商旅者凡十四五日。 及賈躭代澄，克寧護喪將歸，乃悉索府中財貨，以夜出城，軍人從而剽奪，及明殆盡。 澄柩至京師，又賜克寧莊一所、錢千貫、粟麥二千石。 澄初封隴西郡公，進武威郡王，每上疏連稱二封，頗為時人所哂。 李元素李元素，字大朴，蒲山公密之孫。 任侍御史，時杜亞為東都留守，惡大將令狐運，會盜發洛城之北，運適與其部下畋於北郊，亞意其為盜，遂執訊之，逮系者四十餘人。 監察御史楊寧按其事，亞以為不直，密表陳之，寧遂得罪。 亞將逞其宿怒，且以得賊為功，上表指明運為盜之狀，上信而不疑。 宰臣以獄大宜審，奏請覆之，命元素就決，亞迎路以獄成告。 元素驗之五日，盡釋其囚以還。 亞大驚，且怒，親追送，馬上責之，元素不答。 亞遂上疏，又誣元素。 元素還奏，言未畢，上怒曰：「出俟命。」 元素曰：「臣未盡詞。」 上又曰：「且去」。 元素復奏曰：「一出不得復見陛下，乞容盡詞。」 上意稍緩，元素盡言運冤狀明白，上乃寤曰：「非卿，孰能辨之！」 後數月，竟得其真賊，元素由是為時器重，遷給事中。 時美官缺，必指元素。 遷尚書右丞。 數月，鄭滑節度盧群卒，遂命元素兼御史大夫，鎮鄭滑，就加檢校工部尚書，在鎮稱理。
In the third month of 785 Cheng was made acting left vice director of the imperial secretariat and military governor of the Yicheng army and Zheng, Hua, Xu, and neighboring prefectures. He died in 786 at fifty-four. Court was suspended for one day; he was posthumously made Minister of Works, with graded gifts of cloth, silk, and grain. Gui Jingchong, left regular attendant, was sent as mourning envoy, and all funeral costs were paid by the state. Cheng had actually died on guiwei day in the eighth month; Kening concealed the death and on gengyin day in the ninth month tried to take command himself. His army marshal Ma Xuan refused; Kening had him killed secretly, donned mourning garb, posted extra guards at the gates, and prepared to rebel. Liu Qia marched to the border to restrain him and sent stern warnings; Kening dared not move, but travel was cut off for fourteen or fifteen days. When Jia Dan succeeded Cheng, Kening escorted the coffin home, looted the headquarters by night, and soldiers joined the plunder until nearly everything was gone by dawn. When Cheng's coffin reached the capital, Kening was granted an estate, one thousand strings of cash, and two thousand piculs of grain. Cheng was first enfeoffed Duke of Longxi, then Prince of Wuwei; he cited both titles in every memorial and was widely mocked for it. Li Yuansu, courtesy name Dapu, was a grandson of Duke of Pushan, Li Mi. He served as attendant censor. Du Ya, regent of the eastern capital, hated general Linghu Yun. When robbers struck north of Luoyang, Yun happened to be hunting in the northern suburbs with his men. Ya arrested him as the culprit and imprisoned more than forty people. Investigating censor Yang Ning reviewed the case; Ya considered him biased, secretly denounced him, and Yang was punished. Ya meant to vent old grudges and claim credit for catching the robbers; he memorialized identifying Yun as the culprit, and the emperor believed him. The chief ministers, finding the case too grave to rush, asked for review and sent Yuansu to decide. Ya met him on the road and declared the case closed. Yuansu investigated for five days and released every prisoner. Ya was shocked and furious; he rode after Yuansu and rebuked him from horseback. Yuansu did not answer. Ya then memorialized again, slandering Yuansu. Yuansu reported to court; before he finished the emperor snapped, "Leave and await orders. Yuansu said, "I have not finished speaking." The emperor said again, "Go now." Yuansu persisted: "If I leave now I may never see Your Majesty again — let me finish. The emperor relented. Yuansu laid out Yun's innocence clearly, and the emperor exclaimed, "Without you, who could have seen this!" Months later the real robbers were caught. Yuansu won wide respect and was made drafting attendant. Whenever a prestigious post opened, Yuansu was the name put forward. He was promoted to right assistant minister of the imperial secretariat. Months later Lu Qun of Zheng-Hua died; Yuansu was made concurrent censor-in-chief and governor of Zheng-Hua with acting Minister of Works, and governed well.
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元和初，征拜御史大夫。 自貞元中位缺，久難其人，至是元素以名望召拜，中外聳聽。 及居位，一無修舉，但規求作相。 久之，浸不得志，見客必曰：「無以某官散相疏也。」 見屬官必先拜，脂韋在列，大失人情。 李錡為亂江南，遂授元素浙西道節度觀察處置等使。 數月受代，入拜國子祭酒，尋遷太常卿，轉戶部尚書、判度支。
Early in Yuanhe he was summoned to court as censor-in-chief. The post had been vacant since Zhenyuan and long lacked a worthy holder; Yuansu's appointment by reputation stirred court and country alike. In office he accomplished nothing but schemed for the chancellorship. As hopes faded he told every visitor, "Do not treat me like some minor councilor. He bowed first to his own subordinates; sycophants filled his staff, and he lost all goodwill. When Li Qi rebelled in the lower Yangzi, Yuansu was made military governor and disposition commissioner of Zhexi. After several months he was replaced, became chancellor of the directorate of education, then minister of imperial sacrifices, then minister of revenue and commissariat administrator.
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元素少孤，奉長姊友敬加於人，及其姊歿，沉悲遘疾，上疏懇辭，從之。 數月，以出妻免官。 初，元素再娶妻王氏，石泉公方慶之孫，性柔弱，元素為郎官時娶之，甚禮重，及貴，溺情僕妾，遂薄之。 且又無子，而前妻之子已長，無良，元素寢疾昏惑，聽譖遂出之，給與非厚。 妻族上訴，乃詔曰：「李元素病中上表，懇切披陳，雲『妻王氏，禮義殊乖，願與離絕』。 初謂素有醜行，不能顯言，以其大官之家，所以令自處置。 訪聞不曾告報妻族，亦無明過可書，蓋是中情不和，遂至於此。 脅以王命，當日遣歸，給送之間，又至單薄。 不唯王氏受辱，實亦朝情悉驚。 如此理家，合當懲責。 宜停官，仍令與王氏錢物，通所奏數滿五千貫。」 元和五年卒，贈陝州大都督。 【贊】史臣曰：李抱玉、李抱真，以武勇之材，兼忠義之行，有唐之良將也。 且如農隙教潞人之射，數騎入武俊之營，非有奇謀，孰能如是。 惜乎服食求仙，為藥所誤。 王虔休不黨僭命，有足可嘉； 盧從史動多懷奸，自貽伊戚。 芃則老也知足，澄則過而改圖。 元素為御史時，執德不回； 居大夫日，其心甚短。 因緣七出，益露醜聲，善少惡多，又何足算。
Orphaned young, Yuansu honored his elder sister devotedly; when she died he fell into grief and illness and petitioned earnestly for leave, which was granted. Months later he was dismissed for divorcing his wife. Yuansu had remarried Lady Wang, granddaughter of Fang Qing, Duke of Shiquan — a gentle woman he had married as a young official and treated with respect until rank and concubines made him neglect her. She bore no children; his grown son by a former wife was worthless. Ill and confused, Yuansu heeded slander, divorced her, and gave her a meager settlement. Her family appealed to the throne, and an edict declared: "Li Yuansu, while ill, petitioned earnestly that his wife Lady Wang had violated ritual and he wished to divorce her. We assumed longstanding misconduct he could not state openly and, given her eminent family, allowed him to act on his own. Inquiry showed he never informed her family and no clear fault could be found — only mutual incompatibility. Compelled by imperial order she was sent home the same day with a settlement far too meager. Lady Wang was humiliated and the court was shocked. Such conduct in managing his household deserved punishment. He is dismissed from office and ordered to pay Lady Wang five thousand strings in all, as he himself had proposed." He died in 810 and was posthumously made grand protector of Shan. [Appraisal] The historiographer writes: Li Baoyu and Li Baozhen combined martial courage with loyal conduct — true Tang generals. Training Lu peasants to shoot in farming seasons, riding into Wang Wujun's camp with a handful of men — without exceptional daring, who could do such things? Alas that he swallowed elixirs seeking immortality and was destroyed by them. Wang Qianxiu refused the usurpers' cause and deserves praise; Lu Congshi's treachery brought ruin on himself. Peng in age knew when to be content; Cheng, having erred, changed course. As censor Yuansu held firm to principle; as censor-in-chief his spirit proved small. His divorce on flimsy grounds exposed his shame — virtues few, faults many; little worth counting.
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贊曰：抱玉、抱真，我朝良將。 虔休之心，亦多可尚。 史懷奸謀，芃將祿讓。 澄迷卻行，素貪一響。 吾誰與欺，豈如忠諒。
Appraisal: Baoyu and Baozhen — our court's fine generals. Qianxiu's loyalty, too, deserves respect. Congshi plotted treachery; Peng yielded rank and salary. Cheng turned from error; Yuansu grasped for a single note of fame. Whom would I deceive? Loyal sincerity is the measure.