1
李勉，字玄卿，鄭王元懿曾孫也。 父擇言，為漢褒相岐四州刺史、安德郡公，所歷皆以嚴干聞。 在漢州，張嘉貞為益州長史、判都督事，性簡貴，待管內刺史禮隔，而引擇言同榻，坐談政理，時人榮之。 勉幼勤經史，長而沉雅清峻，宗於虛玄，以近屬陪位，累授開封尉。 時升平日久，且汴州水陸所湊，邑居龐雜，號為難理，勉與聯尉盧成軌等，並有擒奸擿伏之名。
Li Mian, whose courtesy name was Xuanqing, was a great-grandson of Prince Zheng, Yuanyi. His father Ze Yan held the posts of prefect over Han, Bao, Xiang, and Qi and bore the title Duke of Ande; wherever he served, he was known for stern efficiency. When Ze Yan was in Han Prefecture, Zhang Jiazhen served as chief secretary of Yizhou and acted as military governor. Aloof and proud by nature, Zhang kept the prefects in his circuit at a formal distance, yet invited Ze Yan to share his couch and discuss affairs of government; contemporaries regarded this as a signal honor. As a boy Mian applied himself diligently to the classics and histories. In maturity he was reserved, refined, and austere, inclined toward Daoist subtlety, and through proximity to the throne was repeatedly appointed marshal of Kaifeng. Peace had lasted many years, and Bianzhou—where land and water traffic met—was crowded and chaotic, notorious as difficult to administer. Mian, along with associate marshal Lu Chenggui and others, earned a reputation for apprehending wrongdoers and uncovering concealed crimes.
2
至德初，從至靈武，拜監察御史。 屬朝廷右武，勳臣恃寵，多不知禮。 大將管崇嗣於行在朝堂背闕而坐，言笑自若，勉劾之，拘於有司，肅宗特原之，歎曰：「吾有李勉，始知朝廷尊也。」 遷司膳員外郎。 時關東獻俘百餘，詔並處斬，囚有仰天歎者，勉過問之，對曰：「某被脅制守官，非逆者。」 勉乃哀之，上言曰：「元惡未殄，遭點污者半天下，皆欲澡心歸化。 若盡殺之，是驅天下以資兇逆也。」 肅宗遽令奔騎宥釋，由是歸化日至。 克復西京，累歷清要，四遷至河南少尹。 累為河東節度王思禮、朔方河東都統李國貞行軍司馬，尋遷梁州都督、山南西道觀察使。 勉以故吏前密縣尉王晬勤干，俾攝南鄭令，俄有詔處死，勉問其故，乃為權幸所誣。 勉詢將吏曰：「上方藉牧宰為人父母，豈以譖言而殺不辜乎！」 即停詔拘晬，飛表上聞，晬遂獲宥，而勉竟為執政所非，追入為大理少卿。 謁見，面陳王晬無罪，政事條舉，盡力吏也。 肅宗嘉其守正，乃除太常少卿。 王晬後以推擇拜大理評事、龍門令，終有能名，時稱知人。
In the early Zhide period he accompanied the court to Lingwu and was appointed investigating censor. The court at the time favored military power, and meritorious officials, trusting in imperial favor, often showed little regard for propriety. The general Guan Congsi sat in the mobile court's audience hall with his back to the throne, chatting and laughing as though unconcerned. Mian impeached him and had him held by the proper authorities. Emperor Suzong personally pardoned Guan and sighed, "Only with Li Mian do I learn that the court commands respect." He was promoted to vice director in the Office of Provisions. More than a hundred captives from east of the Pass were presented at court, and an edict ordered them all put to death. One prisoner looked up to heaven and sighed. Mian stopped to question him, and the man answered, "I was forced to hold office under duress; I was no rebel." Moved to pity, Mian memorialized the throne: "The chief villain is not yet destroyed. Half the empire has been tainted by association, and all wish to purify their hearts and submit. If we execute them all, we will drive the world into the rebels' arms. To slaughter them all would be to drive the whole world to feed the rebels." Suzong at once sent mounted couriers to pardon and release them, and thereafter submissions came in day by day. After the recovery of Chang'an he rose through a series of prestigious posts, reaching vice governor of Henan after four promotions. He served successively as expeditionary vice marshal under Hedong military governor Wang Sil and under Shuofang-Hedong supreme commander Li Guozhen, then was appointed military governor of Liangzhou and observation commissioner of Shannan West Circuit. Mian had appointed his former subordinate Wang Hui, once magistrate of Mi County, to act as magistrate of Nanzheng on account of his diligence and ability. Soon an edict ordered Wang's execution. When Mian inquired, he learned that Wang had been framed by powerful favorites at court. Mian asked his officers and staff, "The throne now depends on local magistrates to be fathers and mothers to the people. How can it put an innocent man to death on a whispered accusation?" He at once withheld the edict, detained Wang Hui, and sent an urgent memorial to the throne. Wang was spared, but Mian was censured by the chief ministers and recalled to the capital as vice minister of justice. On presenting himself at court he told the emperor face to face that Wang Hui was innocent, that his administration was thorough and well ordered, and that he was an official who gave his utmost. Suzong commended his integrity and appointed him vice minister of rites. Wang Hui was later recommended and appointed reviewer in the Court of Judicial Review and magistrate of Longmen. He retained a reputation for competence to the end, and contemporaries praised Mian for discerning talent.
3
肅宗將大用勉，會李輔國寵任，意欲勉降禮於己。 勉不為之屈，竟為所抑，出歷汾州、虢州刺史，改京兆尹、檢校右庶子、兼御史中丞、都畿觀察使。 尋兼河南尹，明年罷尹，以中丞歸西台，又除江西觀察使。 賊帥陳莊連陷江西州縣，偏將呂太一、武日升相繼背叛，勉與諸道力戰，悉攻平之。 部人有父病，以蠱道為木偶人，署勉名位，瘞於其隴，或以告，曰：「為父禳災，亦可矜也。」 捨之。 大歷二年，來朝，拜京兆尹、兼御史大夫，政尚簡肅。 宦官魚朝恩為觀軍容使，仍知國子監事，恃寵含威，天憲在舌。 前尹黎干寫心候事，動必求媚，每朝恩入監，傾府人吏具數百人之餼以待之。 及勉蒞職旬月，朝恩入監，府吏先期有請，勉曰：「軍容使判國子監事，勉候太學，軍容宜厚具主禮。 勉忝京尹，軍容倘惠顧府廷，豈敢不具蔬饌。」 朝恩聞而銜之，因不復至太學，勉亦尋受代。
Suzong was on the point of giving Mian major responsibility when Li Fuguo, then in high favor, expected Mian to show him deference. Mian refused to bend and was ultimately blocked by Li Fuguo. He was sent out as prefect of Fen and Guo, then appointed metropolitan governor of Jingzhao, acting right vice grand mentor, censor-in-chief, and observation commissioner of the capital region. He soon also served as metropolitan governor of Henan. The following year he left that post and returned to the Censorate as chief censor, then was appointed observation commissioner of Jiangxi. The rebel leader Chen Zhuang overran prefectures and counties across Jiangxi. Subordinate generals Lü Taiyi and Wu Risheng rebelled in succession. Mian fought alongside troops from other circuits and subdued them all. A subordinate whose father was ill used sorcery to fashion a wooden figure, inscribed it with Mian's name and title, and buried it on his father's grave. When someone reported this, Mian said, "He did it to ward off disaster for his father. That deserves pity." He released the man without punishment. In 767 he came to court and was appointed metropolitan governor of Jingzhao and censor grandee. His rule was marked by simplicity and austerity. The eunuch Yu Chao'en served as army-observing commissioner and also supervised the Imperial University. Trusting in imperial favor, he wielded intimidating power as though the law itself were his to pronounce. The previous governor, Li Gan, fawned on him in every matter. Whenever Yu Chao'en visited the directorate, Li mobilized the entire prefectural staff to prepare food for hundreds of men. About ten days after Mian took office, Yu Chao'en came to the directorate. The prefectural clerks asked in advance how to receive him. Mian said, "As army-observing commissioner supervising the Directorate of Education, he should be received at the Imperial College with full honors befitting the host. As metropolitan governor I would be unworthy if he did not visit my yamen; but should he deign to come to the prefectural offices, I would of course provide a meal—nothing more." Yu Chao'en took offense and never visited the college again. Mian was soon replaced in his post.
4
四年，除廣州刺史，兼嶺南節度觀察使。 番禺賊帥馮崇道、桂州叛將硃濟時等阻洞為亂，前後累歲，陷沒十餘州。 勉至，遣將李觀與容州刺史王翃人並力招討，悉斬之，五嶺平。 前後西域舶泛海至者歲才四五，勉性廉潔，舶來都不檢閱，故末年至者四十餘。 在官累年，器用車服無增飾。 及代歸，至石門停舟，悉搜家人所貯南貨犀象諸物，投之江中，耆老以為可繼前朝宋璟、盧奐、李朝隱之徒。 人吏詣闕請立碑，代宗許之。 十年，拜工部尚書。 及滑亳永平軍節度令狐彰卒，遺表舉勉自代，因除之。 在鎮八年，以舊德清重，不嚴而理，東諸侯雖暴驁者，亦宗敬之。
In the fourth year he was appointed prefect of Guangzhou and military governor and observation commissioner of Lingnan. The bandit leaders Feng Chongdao of Panyu and the Gui Prefecture rebel Zhu Jishi and others held the mountain passes and rebelled. For years they had overrun more than ten prefectures. On arriving, Mian sent the general Li Guan and Rongzhou prefect Wang Hongren to campaign together against them. All were executed and the Five Ridges were pacified. In earlier years only four or five Western merchant ships reached port each year. Mian was incorruptible by nature and never inspected incoming vessels, so that in his last year more than forty ships arrived. Throughout his years in office he added no ornament to his furnishings, carriage, or dress. When he left office and returned north, he moored at Shimen, gathered every piece of southern treasure—ivory, rhinoceros horn, and the like—that his household had accumulated, and threw it all into the river. The elders held that he could stand beside such paragons of integrity as Song Jing, Lu Huan, and Li Chaoyin of the previous reign. Local officials petitioned the throne for a commemorative stele, and Emperor Daizong approved. In the tenth year he was appointed minister of works. When Linghu Zhang, military governor of the Huai-Bo-Yongping circuit, died, his final memorial recommended Mian as his successor, and Mian was appointed in his place. He governed the command for eight years. His long-standing moral authority brought order without harshness, and even the most unruly eastern warlords treated him with respect.
5
十一年，汴宋留後田神玉卒，詔加勉汴州刺史、汴宋節度使。 未行，汴州將李靈曜阻兵，北結田承嗣，承嗣使侄悅將銳兵戍之。 詔勉與李忠臣、馬燧等攻討，大破之，悅僅以身免。 靈曜北走，勉騎將杜如江擒之以獻，代宗褒賞甚厚。 既而李忠臣代鎮汴州，而勉仍舊鎮。 忠臣遇下貪虐，明年為麾下所逐，詔復加勉汴宋節度使，移理汴州，餘並如故。 德宗嗣位，加檢校吏部尚書，尋加平章事。 建中元年，檢校左僕射，充河南汴宋滑亳河陽等道都統，餘如故。 四年，李希烈反，以他盜為名，悉眾來寇汴州。 勉城守累月，救援莫至，謂其將曰：「希烈兇逆殘酷，若與較力，必多殺無辜，吾不忍也。」 遂潛師潰圍，南奔宋州。 詔以司徒平章事征。 既至朝廷，素服請罪，優詔復其位，勉引過備位而已。 無何，盧杞自新州員外司馬除澧州刺史，給事中袁高以杞邪佞蠹政，貶未塞責，停詔執表，遂授澧州別駕。 他日，上謂勉曰：「眾人皆言盧杞奸邪，朕何不知！ 卿知其狀乎？」 對曰：「天下皆知其奸邪，獨陛下不知，所以為奸邪也。」 時人多其正直，然自是見疏。 累表辭位，遂罷知政事，加太了太保。 貞元四年卒，年七十二，上頗愍悼之，冊贈太傅，賻物有差，喪葬官給。
In the eleventh year Tian Shenyu, acting military governor of Bian-Song, died. An edict appointed Mian prefect of Bian and military governor of Bian-Song. Before Mian could take up the post, the Bianzhou general Li Lingyao rebelled and allied himself with Tian Chengsi to the north. Chengsi sent his nephew Tian Yue with elite troops to hold the city. An edict ordered Mian, Li Zhongchen, Ma Sui, and others to attack them. The rebels were routed and Tian Yue barely escaped with his life. Li Lingyao fled north, but Mian's cavalry officer Du Rujiang captured him and presented him as a prisoner. Emperor Daizong rewarded Mian handsomely. Li Zhongchen was then assigned to garrison Bianzhou while Mian remained at his original command. Zhongchen governed with greed and cruelty and was driven out by his own troops the following year. An edict restored Mian as military governor of Bian-Song and transferred his headquarters to Bianzhou; his other titles remained unchanged. When Emperor Dezong succeeded to the throne, Mian was made acting minister of personnel and soon appointed chief councilor. In 780 he was made acting left vice director and supreme commander of the Henan, Bian-Song, Hua-Bo, He-Yang, and related circuits, with his other posts unchanged. In 783 Li Xilie rebelled. Rallying under another rebel's banner, he led his full army against Bianzhou. Mian held the city for months, but no relief came. He told his generals, "Xilie is savage and cruel. If we fight him head on, countless innocents will die. I cannot bring myself to do that." He secretly led his troops out through the siege lines and fled south to Songzhou. An edict recalled him to court as minister of education and chief councilor. On reaching court he appeared in plain dress to accept blame. A gracious edict restored his rank, and Mian simply acknowledged his fault and resumed his seat. Before long Lu Qi was appointed from acting chief secretary of Xin Prefecture to prefect of Li. Attendant Yuan Gao argued that Qi was corrupt and destructive and that demotion to a prefecture was insufficient punishment. He blocked the edict and submitted a memorial, and Qi was reduced to vice prefect of Li instead. On another occasion the emperor said to Mian, "Everyone says Lu Qi is treacherous and corrupt. Do you think I do not know it? Do you know what he is really like?" Mian answered, "The whole world knows he is treacherous and corrupt. Only Your Majesty does not know it. That is precisely what makes him treacherous and corrupt." Contemporaries admired his frankness, but from that day he fell from favor. He repeatedly asked to resign. He was removed from the chief council and appointed Grand Protector of the Heir Apparent. He died in 788 at the age of seventy-two. The emperor was deeply grieved and posthumously ennobled him as Grand Tutor, granted funeral gifts of appropriate rank, and provided state support for his burial.
6
勉坦率素淡，好古尚奇，清廉簡易，為宗臣之表。 善鼓琴，好屬詩，妙知音律，能自制琴，又有巧思。 ，及在相位向二十年，祿俸皆遺親黨，身沒而無私積。 其在大官，禮賢下士，終始盡心。 以名士李巡、張參為判官，卒於幕，三歲之內，每遇宴飲，必設虛位於筵次，陳膳執酹，辭色心妻惻，論者美之。 或曰：「勉失守梁城，亦可貶也。」 議者曰：「不然。 當賊烈之始亂，其慓悍陰禍，兇焰不可當，天方厚其毒而降之罰。 況勉應變非長，援軍莫至，又其時關輔已俶擾矣，人心已動搖矣。 以文吏之才，當虎狼之隊，其全師奔宋，非量力之恥也。 與其坐受喪敗，不猶愈乎！」
Mian was forthright and unpretentious, loved antiquity and valued the unusual, and lived with incorruptible simplicity. He was a model among the imperial clan. He played the zither well, enjoyed composing poetry, had a fine ear for music, could build his own instruments, and was gifted with inventive skill. During nearly twenty years in high office, he gave away his entire salary to relatives and friends, and at his death left no private fortune. In high office he honored the worthy and treated scholars with respect, devoting himself wholeheartedly from first to last. He appointed the renowned scholars Li Xun and Zhang Can as administrative aides. When they died in his service, for three years at every banquet he set an empty place of honor, laid out food, and poured libations with heart-rending grief. Commentators praised his devotion. Some said, "Mian lost Bianzhou and ought to have been demoted." Others replied, "That is not so. When Xilie first rebelled, his ferocity and hidden malice were irresistible; Heaven itself was visiting punishment on the realm through him. Moreover Mian was not a master of crisis, no relief force came, the capital region was already in turmoil, and popular morale was collapsing. A civil official facing a wolfish army—preserving his force and withdrawing to Song was not a failure to know his limits but a prudent choice. Better that than sitting still to be destroyed."
7
李皋，字子蘭，曹王明玄孫，嗣王戢之子。 少補左司御率府兵曹參軍。 天寶十一載嗣封授都水使者，三遷至秘書少監，皆同正。 多智數，善因事以自便。 奉太妃鄭氏以孝聞。
Li Gao, whose courtesy name was Zilan, was a great-great-grandson of Prince Ming of Cao and son of the succession prince Zhan. In youth he was appointed military staff officer in the Left Bureau of the Princely Guard Command. In 752, upon inheriting his princely title, he was appointed commissioner of waterways. After three promotions he reached acting vice director of the Secretariat. He was resourceful and adept at turning circumstances to his advantage. He was known for filial devotion to his mother, Imperial Consort Dowager Lady Zheng.
8
上元初，京師旱，米斗直數千，死者甚多。 皋度俸不足養，亟請外官，不允，乃故抵微法，貶溫州長史。 無幾，攝行州事。 歲儉，州有官粟數十萬斛，皋欲行賑救，掾吏叩頭乞候上旨，皋曰：「夫人日不再食，當死，安暇稟命！ 若殺我一身，活數千人命，利莫大焉。」 於是開倉盡散之，以擅貸之罪，飛章自劾。 天子聞而嘉之，答以優詔，就加少府監。 皋行縣，見一媼垂白而泣，哀而問之，對曰：「李氏之婦，有二子：鈞、鍔，宦游二十年不歸，貧無以自給。」 時鈞為殿中侍御史，鍔為京兆府法曹，俱以文藝登科，名重於時。 皋曰：「『入則孝，出則悌，行有餘力，然後可以學文。』 若二子者，豈可備於列位！」 由是舉奏，並除名勿齒。 改處州別駕，行州事，以良政聞。 征至京，未召見，因上書言理道，拜衡州刺史。 坐小法，貶潮州刺史。 時楊炎謫官道州，知皋事直，及為相，復拜衡州。 初，皋為御史覆訊，懼貽太妃憂，竟出則素服，入則公服，言貌如平常，太妃竟不知。 及為潮州，詭詞謂遷，至是復位，方泣以白，且言非疾不敢有聞。
At the beginning of the Shangyuan era the capital suffered drought. Grain sold for thousands of cash per dou and deaths were widespread. Gao found his salary insufficient to support his household and repeatedly asked for an outside post. When refused, he deliberately committed a minor offense and was demoted to chief secretary of Wenzhou. Before long he was acting prefect. In a year of famine the prefecture held several hundred thousand hu of government grain. Gao wished to distribute relief, but his clerks kowtowed and begged him to await imperial approval. Gao said, "When people cannot eat twice a day they die. Where is the time to wait for orders from above? If my death saves thousands of lives, no gain could be greater." He opened the granaries and distributed the grain. He then sent an urgent memorial impeaching himself for unauthorized distribution of state grain. The emperor commended him and replied with a gracious edict, promoting him on the spot to director of the Palace Workshops. While touring the counties Gao saw a white-haired old woman weeping. Moved to pity, he asked her story. She said, "I am a widow of the Li family. My two sons, Jun and E, have been away in office for twenty years without returning. I am too poor to support myself." At the time Li Jun served as attendant censor and Li E as legal officer in the metropolitan government of Jingzhao. Both had passed the civil examinations on literary merit and enjoyed high reputations. Gao said, "The Analects teach: 'At home be filial, abroad be respectful; only when there is strength to spare may one study the arts. Men such as these have no place in public office!" He memorialized against them, and both were struck from the rolls and expelled from office. He was transferred to vice prefect of Chu and acted as prefect, earning a reputation for good government. Summoned to the capital, he memorialized on principles of governance before being received in audience and was appointed prefect of Heng. He committed a minor offense and was demoted to prefect of Chao. Yang Yan was then in exile in Daozhou and knew Gao to be upright. When Yang became chief minister, Gao was restored to Heng. Earlier, when Gao served as censor investigating a case, he feared distressing his mother. He wore plain dress when he left home and official dress when he entered, speaking and appearing as usual, so that she never learned of his troubles. When he was sent to Chao he told her it was a promotion. Only when he was restored to Heng did he weep and tell her the truth, saying he had concealed bad news lest she worry unless he were ill.
9
建中元年，遷湖南觀察使。 前使辛京杲貪殘，有將王國良鎮邵州武岡縣，豪富，京杲以死罪加之。 國良危懼，因人所苦，遂散財聚眾據縣以叛，諸道同討，聯歲不能下。 皋授命日，乃曰：「驅疲甿，誅反側，非所以奉聖朝事。」 遣使遺國良書曰； 「觀將軍非敢大逆，蓋遭讒嫉，救誤死而已。 將軍遇我，何不速降？ 我與將軍同為辛京杲所構，我已蒙聖朝昭雪，使我何心持刃殺將軍耶！ 將軍以為不然，我以陣術破將軍陣，以攻法屠將軍城，非將軍所度也。」 國良捧書，且憂且喜，遣使請降，亦未必決。 皋即日赴縣受降，中道有候騎馳告曰：「國良軍中有變，言降是詐也。」 皋曰：「非爾輩所知。」 遂留麾下兵，單騎假稱使者，逕入國良壘中。 國良召使者入，皋遂大叫軍中曰：「有人識曹王否？ 只我是。 國良何不速降？」 一軍愕眙不敢動。 適有識者走至，傳呼曰：「是」。 國良匍匐叩頭請罪。 皋執手約為兄弟，盡焚攻守之備，散倉庫，給兵士，令復農桑。 有詔赦國良罪，賜名惟新。
In 780 he was appointed observation commissioner of Hunan. His predecessor Xin Jinggao was greedy and cruel. A general named Wang Guoliang garrisoned Wugang County in Shao Prefecture and was wealthy and powerful. Jinggao condemned him to death on trumped-up charges. Terrified, Wang Guoliang rallied popular grievances, distributed his wealth to raise followers, seized the county, and rebelled. Troops from several circuits campaigned against him for years without success. On the day Li Gao received his commission, he declared, "Driving exhausted commoners to war and executing rebels is no way to serve the sacred court." He sent a messenger with a letter to Wang Guoliang: "I can see that you, General, never intended outright treason. You were the victim of slander and envy, and acted only to save yourself from an unjust death. If you come to terms with me, why not surrender at once? Both of us were framed by Xin Jinggao. I have already been vindicated by the court—how could I bear to take up arms against you! If you disagree, I will break your battle lines with my tactics and raze your city with siegecraft—something you have not accounted for." Wang Guoliang read the letter with mingled anxiety and relief. He sent envoys offering surrender, but had not yet made up his mind. That same day Li Gao set out for the county seat to accept the surrender. Midway, scouts galloped up with word: "There is trouble in Wang Guoliang's camp—the surrender is a trick." Li Gao said, "That is beyond your understanding." He left his troops behind, rode in alone disguised as an envoy, and went straight into Wang Guoliang's camp. Wang Guoliang summoned the envoy inside. Li Gao then shouted through the camp, "Does anyone here know the Prince of Cao? I am he! Wang Guoliang, why don't you surrender at once?" The entire army stood frozen in shock, not daring to stir. Then a man who knew him ran forward shouting, "It is he!" Wang Guoliang prostrated himself and kowtowed in submission. Li Gao clasped his hand and pledged brotherhood. He burned all siege works, opened the storehouses, paid off the soldiers, and sent them back to farming. An edict pardoned Wang Guoliang and bestowed on him the name Weixin ("Renewed").
10
建中二年，丁母艱，奉喪至江陵。 會梁崇義反，乃授起復左衛大將軍，復還湖南，尋加散騎常侍李希烈反，遷江西道節度使、洪州刺史、兼御史大夫。 至州，集將吏而令曰：「嘗有功未申者，別為行； 有策謀及器能堪佐軍者，別為行。」 有裨將伊慎、李伯潛、劉旻皆自占，皋察其詞氣，驗其有功，悉補大將。 擢王鍔委之中軍，以馬彝、許孟容為賓佐。 繕甲兵，具戰艦，將軍二萬餘。 初，伊慎將江西兵從李希烈平襄州，及反，懼皋任之，乃陰遣遺之鎖甲，又詐為慎書往復，置遺於境。 上聞，即遣中使斬慎，皋表請捨令自效。 會與賊夾江為陣，中使又至，皋乃勉令以功自贖，賜之以所乘馬及器甲，令將鋒而先，皋率軍繼之，責其有功，果大破賊，斬首數百級，慎方得免罪。 賊樹堡柵於蔡山，皋度峻險不可攻，乃聲言西取蘄州，理戰艦，分兵傍南涯，與舟師溯江而上。 賊以老弱守柵，引軍循江隨戰艦，南北與皋兵相直。 去蔡山三百餘里，皋令步兵登舟，順流東下，不日拔蔡山。 賊還救，間一日方至，大破之，因進拔蘄州，降其將李良，又取黃州，斬首千餘，兵益振，舒王為元帥，加皋前軍兵馬使。
In 781, upon his mother's death, he escorted her coffin to Jiangling. When Liang Chongyi rebelled, Li Gao was recalled from mourning as General of the Left Guard and sent back to Hunan; he was soon also made Regular Attendant Cavalier. When Li Xilie rebelled, he was transferred to military commissioner of the Jiangxi Circuit, prefect of Hong Prefecture, and concurrently Censor-in-Chief. On reaching his post, he assembled his commanders and staff and announced, "Those with unreported past achievements, step forward in a separate line; Those with strategy or talent fit to serve the army, step forward in a separate line." Subordinate generals Yi Shen, Li Boqian, and Liu Min all stepped forward. Li Gao read their bearing and verified their records, and appointed them all major generals. He promoted Wang E to command the central army and made Ma Yi and Xu Morong his chief advisers. He readied armor and arms, built warships, and mustered more than twenty thousand troops. Earlier, Yi Shen had led Jiangxi troops under Li Xilie to capture Xiang Prefecture. When Xilie rebelled, fearing Li Gao would still employ Shen, Xilie secretly sent him chain mail as a gift and forged correspondence in Shen's name, leaving the gifts at the border. When the emperor heard of it, he dispatched an envoy to execute Yi Shen. Li Gao memorialized the throne asking that Shen be spared and allowed to prove his loyalty in battle. Just then they drew up against the enemy on opposite banks of the river. When the envoy arrived again, Li Gao urged Shen to win redemption through merit, gave him his own horse and armor, and sent him at the head of the vanguard while he followed with the main force. Shen broke the enemy soundly, taking several hundred heads, and only then escaped punishment. The rebels fortified Cai Mountain. Judging the heights too steep to assault directly, Li Gao announced a march on Qi Prefecture to the west, fitted out warships, sent troops along the south bank, and sailed upstream with his fleet. The rebels left the weak to hold the fort and marched their main force downstream alongside the warships, drawing up north and south opposite Li Gao's army. Three hundred-odd li downstream from Cai Mountain, Li Gao put his infantry aboard ship and swept downstream. Within days they took Cai Mountain. The enemy turned back to relieve the mountain but arrived a day too late. Li Gao routed them, took Qi Prefecture, and accepted the surrender of the rebel general Li Liang. He also captured Huang Prefecture, taking more than a thousand heads, and his army's morale soared. With the Prince of Shu as overall commander, Li Gao was made forward-army commissioner.
11
德宗居奉天，淮南節度陳少游強取鹽鐵錢，其使包佶以財幣溯江，次於蘄口。 時希烈已屠汴州，又遣驍將杜少誠將步騎萬餘來寇蘄、黃，將絕江道。 皋遣伊慎將七千眾御之，遇於永安戍。 慎列三柵，相去才四里，列鼓角中柵。 少誠至，分兵圍之，部隊未嚴，聲鼓而三柵齊出奮擊，不為行陣，賊亂，少誠敗走，斬首萬級，封屍為京觀。 以功加銀青光祿大夫，進封五百戶。 上至梁州，進獻繼至。 皋以上蒙塵於外，不敢居城府，乃於西塞山上游大洲屯軍，從近縣為軍市，商貨畢至。 加工部尚書。 駕還京師，又遣伊慎、王鍔將兵圍安州，州城阻□水為固，攻之累日不下。 希烈遣甥劉戒虛將步八千來援。 皋命李伯潛分師迎擊於應山，獲戒虛及大將二、裨將二十，斬首千餘。 面縛戒虛等之城下，乃使人說之，賊曰：「得大將及賓佐一二人為信，當降。」 皋乃使王鍔、馬彝繩城而入，城中大呼，乃出降。 希烈又遣兵援隨州，皋令伊慎擊於厲鄉，大破之，復平靜、白雁等關。 希烈懼，乃戢兵。 貞元初，拜江陵尹、荊南節度等使，江漢倚皋為固。 未幾，李思登以隨州降。 凡下州四、縣十七，大小十餘陣，未嘗敗衄。 淮西既平，請護喪祔東都，上遣中使吊，贈父右僕射，母曹國太妃。 葬畢來朝，詔還鎮，出東都以拜墓，觀者榮之。
While Emperor Dezong was at Fengtian, Chen Shaoyou, military commissioner of Huainan, forcibly seized salt-and-iron revenues. The envoy Bao Ji sailed upriver with the treasury goods and halted at Qikou. Li Xilie had already sacked Bian Prefecture and now sent the fierce general Du Shaocheng with more than ten thousand infantry and cavalry against Qi and Huang, aiming to sever the river route. Li Gao sent Yi Shen with seven thousand men to oppose them. They met at Yong'an garrison. Yi Shen set three camps four li apart and stationed drums and horns in the center camp. Du Shaocheng arrived and sent detachments to encircle the camps before his lines were fully set. At the blast of the drums all three camps charged at once in a headlong assault. The rebels broke, Du Shaocheng fled, and ten thousand heads were taken. The bodies were heaped into a victory mound. For this achievement he was promoted to Silver-Gleaming Grand Master for Splendid Happiness and granted an additional five hundred tax households. When the emperor moved to Liang Prefecture, Li Gao's contributions of supplies kept arriving. Because the emperor was in exile, Li Gao did not feel it fitting to occupy the prefectural seat. He encamped on Great Isle upstream on Mount Xisai, set up army markets with neighboring counties, and merchants flocked there. He was additionally appointed Minister of Works. After the emperor returned to the capital, Li Gao again sent Yi Shen and Wang E to besiege An Prefecture. The city was strongly defended by the Ru River, and the siege dragged on for days without success. Li Xilie sent his nephew Liu Jiexu with eight thousand foot soldiers to relieve the city. Li Gao ordered Li Boqian to take a detachment and intercept them at Yingshan. They captured Liu Jiexu, two major generals, and twenty subordinate commanders, taking more than a thousand heads. Li Gao paraded Jiexu and the others bound before the walls and sent envoys to negotiate. The defenders replied, "Give us one or two senior commanders or staff officers as hostages, and we will surrender." Li Gao sent Wang E and Ma Yi over the wall on ropes. The city erupted in cheers, and the garrison surrendered. Li Xilie sent another force to relieve Suizhou. Li Gao ordered Yi Shen to strike at Lixiang, routed them thoroughly, and recaptured Jing Pass, Baiyan Pass, and the other strongpoints. Li Xilie was cowed and held his army back. At the start of the Zhenyuan era, he was made magistrate of Jiangling and military commissioner of Jingnan. The Jiang and Han regions depended on him as their mainstay. Before long, Li Sideng surrendered Suizhou to him. In all he took four prefectures and seventeen counties in more than ten battles, large and small, without ever suffering a defeat. After Huai West was pacified, he petitioned to escort his parents' remains for burial in the Eastern Capital. The emperor sent an envoy to offer condolences, posthumously ennobling his father as Right Vice Director and his mother as Princess of Caoguo. After the funeral he came to court. Ordered back to his post, he paid his respects at the tombs as he left the Eastern Capital, to the admiration of all who saw him.
12
先，江陵東北有廢田傍漢古堤二處，每夏則溢，皋始命塞之，廣田五千頃，畝得一鐘。 規江南廢洲為廬捨，架江為二橋，流人自占二千餘戶。 自荊至樂鄉凡二百里，旅舍鄉聚凡十數，大者皆數百家。 楚俗佻薄，不穿井，飲陂澤，皋始命合錢開井以便人。
Previously, northeast of Jiangling lay abandoned farmland beside two ancient Han-era dikes that flooded every summer. Li Gao had them repaired and reclaimed five thousand qing of fields, each mu yielding a full zhong of grain. He laid out abandoned river islands south of the Yangtze for housing, built two bridges across the river, and more than two thousand displaced families settled there on their own. From Jingzhou to Lexiang, two hundred li of road, he established more than a dozen inns and market towns, the largest numbering several hundred households each. The people of Chu were careless about sanitation—they dug no wells and drank from ponds and marshes. Li Gao organized collective funds to dig wells for public use.
13
初平希烈，吳少誠殺陳仙奇，上以襄、鄧要厄，三年，除襄州刺史、山南東道節度等使，割汝、隨隸焉。 練兵積糧，市回鶻馬益騎兵，堂大畋以教士，少誠憚之。 性勤儉，知人疾苦，設監司，能參聽下，持將吏短長，賞罰必信。 所至常平物價，貴則出賣之，給將吏廩俸，豪家不得擅其利。 常運心巧思為戰艦，挾二輪蹈之，翔風鼓浪，疾若掛帆席，所造省易而久固。 又造欹器，進入內中。 每遺人物，常自秤量。 署之官匹帛皆印之，絕吏之私。
After Li Xilie was subdued, Wu Shaocheng murdered Chen Xianqi. Considering Xiang and Deng strategic passes, in 787 the court appointed Li Gao prefect of Xiang Prefecture and military commissioner of Shannan East Circuit, attaching Ru and Suizhou to his jurisdiction. He trained troops, stockpiled grain, bought Uighur horses to expand his cavalry, and held great hunts to drill his men. Wu Shaocheng grew wary of him. Diligent and frugal by nature, he understood people's hardships. He established supervisory offices, listened to reports from below, tracked his officers' strengths and failings, and always kept his word in reward and punishment. Wherever he served he stabilized grain prices, selling from stores when prices rose to pay his officers' salaries, denying powerful families any monopoly on profit. He constantly applied his ingenuity to warship design. Powered by two paddle wheels, they rode the wind and churned the waves, swift as sails full of wind—yet cheaper to build and more durable. He also devised a tipping vessel and presented it to the imperial inner court. Whenever he sent gifts, he weighed them himself. He stamped official shipments of cloth with his seal, shutting out embezzlement by his staff.
14
初，扶風馬彝未知名，皋始辟之，卒以正直稱。 漢陽王張柬之有林園在州西，公府多假之游宴，皋將買之，彝斂衽而言曰：「張漢陽有中興功，今遺業當百代保之，王縱欲之，奈何令其子孫自鬻焉！」 皋謝曰：「主吏失詞，為足下羞； 微足下，安得聞此言！」 以改過遷善、知人任下為己任，故賓從將佐多至大官。 貞元八年三月，暴卒於位，年六十，廢朝三日，贈右僕射，賻吊有差，謚曰成。 子象古、道古、復古。
Ma Yi of Fufeng was unknown when Li Gao first recruited him, but he came to be renowned for his integrity. The estate and garden of Prince of Hanyang Zhang Jianzhi lay west of the city, and the government often borrowed it for banquets. When Li Gao was about to purchase it, Ma Yi straightened his robes and said, "Zhang of Hanyang restored the dynasty. His family holding should be preserved for generations. Even if Your Highness desires it, how can you have his descendants sell their own heritage!" Li Gao apologized, "My staff misspoke and brought shame upon you; without you, I would never have heard such counsel!" He made correcting his faults, accepting good counsel, and knowing and trusting capable subordinates his personal standards, and many of his retainers and staff rose to high office. In the third month of 792 he died suddenly in office at the age of sixty. Court mourning was observed for three days. He was posthumously ennobled as Right Vice Director, funeral gifts were sent in due measure, and he was given the posthumous name Cheng ("Accomplished"). His sons were Li Xianggu, Li Daogu, and Li Fugu.
15
象古自衡州刺史為安南都護。 元和十四年，為楊清所殺，妻子支黨無焦類焉。 楊清者，代為南方酋豪，屬象古貪縱，人心不附，又惡清之強，自驩州刺史召為牙門將，郁郁不快。 無何，邕管黃家賊叛，詔象古發兵數道共討之，像古命清領兵三千赴焉。 清與其子志烈及所親杜士交潛謀回戈，夜襲安南，數日城陷，像古故及於害。 朝廷命唐州刺史桂仲武為都護，且招諭之。 赦清，以為瓊州刺史。 仲武至境，清不納，復約束部署，刑戮憯虐，人無聊生。 仲武使人諭其酋豪，數月間，歸附繼至，約兵七千餘人，收其城，斬清及其子志貞，籍沒其家。 志烈與士交敗，保於長州之鑿溪，尋以所部兵來降。
Li Xianggu rose from prefect of Heng Prefecture to protector-general of Annam. In 819 Yang Qing murdered him. His wife, children, kinsmen, and followers were wiped out to the last person. Yang Qing came from a line of southern tribal chieftains. Li Xianggu was greedy and self-indulgent, and the people did not support him. Resenting Yang Qing's strength, he summoned him from his post as prefect of Huan Prefecture to serve as a gate guard—a slight that left Yang deeply aggrieved. Before long, the Huang bandits rebelled in Yong and Guan. The court ordered Li Xianggu to attack on several fronts. Li Xianggu sent Yang Qing with three thousand men to join the campaign. Yang Qing, his son Zhilie, and his confidant Du Shijiao secretly plotted to turn their forces around. They struck Annam by night and took the city within days. Li Xianggu met his death in the attack. The court appointed Gui Zhongwu, prefect of Tang Prefecture, as the new protector-general and sent envoys to negotiate. Yang Qing was pardoned and appointed prefect of Qiong Prefecture. When Gui Zhongwu reached the frontier, Yang Qing refused to admit him. He tightened his grip, and his punishments grew savage until the people could barely survive. Gui Zhongwu won over the tribal leaders. Within months their allegiance shifted, until he mustered some seven thousand men, retook the city, executed Yang Qing and his son Zhizhen, and confiscated the family's property. Zhilie and Du Shijiao were defeated and fled to Zaoxi Creek in Chang Prefecture, then soon surrendered with the troops they still commanded.
16
道古登進士第，遷司門員外郎。 便佞巧宦，早升朝籍，常以酒餚棋博游公卿門，角賭之際，每偽為不勝而厚償之，故當時有虛名，而嗜利者悉與之狎。 歷處、隨、唐、睦四州刺史，由黔中觀察為鄂、岳、沔、蘄、安、黃團練觀察使，時元和十一年也。 初，以柳公綽在鎮無功，議將代之，裴度言：「道古嗣曹王皋之子，皋嘗以江漢兵遏希烈之亂，威惠至今在人，復用其子必能繼美。」 憲宗然之，故有此授。 及赴鎮，倍道而行，以數騎徑入安州城。 時公綽殊未意道古至，惶駭而出，家財多為所奪。 十二年，道古攻申州，克其羅城，乃進圍逼其中城。 城中守卒夜帥婦人登城而呼，懸門竊發，分出其眾，道古之眾驚亂，為虜所殺。 初，李聽守安州，未嘗退衄。 及道古至，誣奏聽，移去之，乃自帥兵出穆陵。 士卒驕惰，賜給多闕，其度支供軍錢，道古半以奉權倖，半以沒己，人皆怨怒，不肯力戰。 賊亦易道古，以羸兵抵之，故道古前後再攻破申州外城而不能拔。 至李愬入蔡州，乃降。
Li Daogu passed the jinshi examination and was promoted to deputy director in the Ministry of Justice. Smooth, fawning, and skilled at court advancement, he rose early in official rank. He cultivated powerful men with feasts, chess, and gambling, deliberately losing wagers and paying lavishly. He enjoyed a hollow reputation, and the profit-minded all courted his friendship. He served as prefect of Chu, Sui, Tang, and Mu prefectures, then rose from observation commissioner of Qianzhong to training and observation commissioner over E, Yue, Mian, Qi, An, and Huang—in 816. When Liu Gongchuo's tenure had yielded no results, the court considered replacing him. Pei Du argued, "Li Daogu is the son of Prince of Cao Li Gao. Li Gao once held the Jiang-Han line against Li Xilie's rebellion, and his prestige and kindness are remembered to this day. Appointing his son would carry on that legacy." Emperor Xianzong agreed, and Li Daogu received the appointment. He rushed to his post at forced marches and rode straight into An Prefecture with only a handful of men. Liu Gongchuo had no warning of his arrival and fled in panic. Li Daogu seized much of his household property. In 817 Li Daogu attacked Shen Prefecture, took the outer wall, and pressed the siege of the inner citadel. At night the defenders sent women onto the walls to shout. They unbarred the suspended gate, sallied out in separate bands, and caught Li Daogu's troops in panicked confusion. Many were slaughtered. When Li Ting had held An Prefecture, he had never suffered a reverse. When Li Daogu arrived, he brought false charges against Li Ting and had him removed, then took command of the force himself and marched out of Muleng Pass. His troops had grown proud and lax. Pay and rations fell short, and of the supply funds from the treasury Li Daogu half spent currying favor with the powerful and half pocketed for himself. The men were furious and would not fight. The rebels likewise held Li Daogu in contempt and met him with inferior troops. He twice breached the outer walls of Shen Prefecture but could never take the city. Only after Li Su stormed Cai Prefecture did they surrender.
17
元和十三年，入為宗正卿。 道古在鄂州日，以貪暴聞，懼終得罪，乃薦山人柳泌以媚於上。 後又為左金吾衛將軍。 憲宗季年頗信方士，銳於服食，詔天下搜訪奇士。 宰相皇甫鎛方諛媚固寵，道古言柳泌有道術，鎛得進之，待詔翰林。 憲宗服餌過當，暴成狂躁之疾，以至棄代。 穆宗在東宮，扼腕於其事，及居喪，皆竄逐誅之。 鎛既貶責，授道古循州司馬，終以服丹藥，歐血而卒。
In 818 he was recalled to the capital as director of the Directorate for Imperial Clansmen. While at E Prefecture Li Daogu had a reputation for greed and cruelty. Fearing eventual disgrace, he recommended the mountaintop recluse Liu Bi to curry favor with the emperor. He later served as general of the Left Jinwu Guard. In his later years Emperor Xianzong placed great faith in alchemists and eagerly pursued elixirs of immortality. He ordered an empire-wide search for wonder-workers. Chief Minister Huangfu Bo was then currying favor through flattery. Daogu claimed that Liu Bi possessed Daoist arts. Bo presented him to the throne, and Liu was retained at the Hanlin Academy. Emperor Xianzong took elixirs in excess and suddenly fell into violent mania, which led to his death. While still heir apparent, Muzong had been deeply troubled by these events. Once he assumed the throne in mourning, he banished and executed all those involved. After Bo was demoted and punished, Daogu was appointed acting chief secretary of Xun Prefecture. He ultimately died vomiting blood from the elixirs he had taken.
18
【史贊】
Historian's Commendation
19
史臣曰：李勉、李皋，稟性端莊，處身廉潔，臨民蒞事，動有美聲，可謂宗臣之英也。 若夫治軍旅，禦寇戎，謀必臧，戰必勝，則又勉不及皋遠矣。 道古便佞，奸以事君，何父子之不相類也。
The historiographer writes: Li Mian and Li Gao were upright and dignified by nature, lived with incorruptible integrity, and in governing the people and conducting affairs always earned praise. They may truly be called the finest of the imperial clan. In raising armies, repelling invaders, and achieving unfailing strategy and victory in battle, however, Mian fell far short of Gao. Daogu was sycophantic and treacherous in his service to the throne. How unlike father and son the two generations were!
20
贊曰：我宗之英，曰皋與勉，才雖不同，道豈相遠。
The commendation reads: The finest of our house are Gao and Mian. Their talents differed, yet how far apart could their moral way have been?