Volume 132 Biographies 82: Li Baoyu, Li Baozhen, Wang Qianxiu, Lu Congshi, Li Peng, Li Cheng

李抱玉李抱真王虔休盧從史李芃李澄族弟元素

Li Baoyu, Li Baozhen, Wang Qianxiu, Lu Congshi, Li Peng, and Li Cheng, with the latter's clansman cousin Yuansu.

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。

Li Baoyu was descended from An Xinggui, one of the founding contributors of the Wude reign. The family had lived in Hexi for generations, renowned for breeding fine horses. Some of his cousins had moved to the capital, taken up classical learning, and married into gentry families, acquiring a touch of scholarly refinement. Baoyu had grown up in the western regions, loved horsemanship and archery, and spent much of his youth in army camps. He was steady and resourceful, careful, loyal, and conscientious.

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。光弼自將於中氵單城，摯舍南城攻中氵單，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。

Early in the Qianyuan era, Li Guangbi took him on as a subordinate officer. His repeated battlefield successes soon made his name known. In the second year he rose from special advancement and grand general of the Right Yulin Guards to Honglu Qing with full concurrent rank, commissioned for all military affairs in Zhengzhou while serving as prefect, acting censor-in-chief, and military commissioner over Zheng, Chen, Ying, and Bo. Shi Siming had seized Luoyang, and Guangbi was holding Heyang against a rebel force at the height of its power. He asked Baoyu, "Can you hold the south wall for me for two days?" Baoyu asked, "What if two days pass and relief has not come?" Guangbi replied, "If relief has not arrived by then, you may abandon the city at your discretion." Rebel commander Zhou Zhi, with An Taiqing, Xu Huangyu, and others, camped first at the south wall and was poised to storm it. Baoyu deceived them: "Our provisions are gone—we will surrender tomorrow." The rebels were delighted and held their army back to wait. Baoyu used the respite to repair his defenses. The next day he shut the gates and challenged them to fight. Furious at having been tricked, the rebels assaulted the wall at once. Baoyu sent out ambush forces to strike them from front and rear. Casualties were heavy, and Zhou Zhi's army fell back. Guangbi took command at Zhongtan. Zhou Zhi left the south wall and assaulted Zhongtan without success, then re-formed his troops to strike the north wall. Guangbi marched out and routed them completely. He ranked first in merit for holding Heyang and recovering Huaizhou, and was promoted to prefect of Zezhou with concurrent rank as censor-in-chief. After Daizong's accession he was made military commissioner of Zelu, chief administrator at Lu prefecture, and grand censor, with added authority over Chen and Zheng, and was promoted to minister of war. Baoyu memorialized the throne: "I was registered in Liangzhou and bore the surname An. After An Lushan's rebellion I was ashamed to share that name, and in the fifth month of Zhide 2 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 granted, and his entire clan received the imperial surname as well.

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。

That winter, Tibetan forces threatened the capital and the emperor withdrew to Shan. Demobilized troops and village outlaws banded together as robbers. South of Chang'an, in the Five Valleys including Ziwu, gangs preyed heavily on the populace. Xue Jingxian was sent as Five Valleys commissioner to suppress them, but after months had achieved nothing. Baoyu was then ordered to take concurrent command at Fengxiang and finish the campaign. After locating the bandit leaders, he posted troops in the valleys and sent several hundred picked light infantry south from Yang prefecture in a surprise attack. Chief Gao Yu was conferring with his fellow bandits when a few dozen elite soldiers seized him by surprise. A sweep captured the rest of the gangs, who were all executed. The remaining bands melted away without a fight, and the Five Valleys were pacified within ten days. For this achievement he was promoted to minister of works; his other offices were unchanged.

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。

Tibetans raided the frontier every year, and the emperor treated Qiyang as the realm's western gate, entrusting it to Baoyu with unparalleled favor. He rose to associate grand councilor, concurrently commanded Southwest Shannan, served as deputy commander-in-chief over Hexi, Longyou, and Southwest Shannan, and governed Liangzhou—holding three circuits at once and the great prefectures of Fengxiang, Lu, and Liang, with rank equal to the Three Dukes. Finding his offices too weighty, Baoyu memorialized earnestly to decline the ministry of works, the Southwest Shannan commission, and authority over Liangzhou, asking instead to return to the post of minister of war. The emperor commended his humility and agreed. Baoyu held Fengxiang for more than ten years. He won no great victories over foreign foes, but in suppressing violence and keeping the peace he earned wide praise. He died in the twelfth year of Dali. The emperor mourned him deeply, suspended court for three days, and posthumously enfeoffed him as grand mentor.

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。

Li Baozhen was Baoyu's younger cousin. While Baoyu commanded Zelu, he prized Baozhen highly, put him in charge of military affairs, and repeatedly appointed him vice-prefect of Fenzhou. When Pugu Huai'en rebelled at Fenzhou, Baozhen was trapped in the uprising but slipped away and made his way back to the capital. Daizong was deeply alarmed: Huai'en had Uyghur support and commanded the formidable Shuofang army. He summoned Baozhen for a briefing. Baozhen said, "Guo Ziyi once led the Shuofang troops, and the men still miss him. Huai'en has deceived them with the lie that 'Ziyi was murdered by court intrigue,' and leads them on that pretense. Restore Ziyi to command, and the rebellion can be broken without a battle." Huai'en's son Chang was soon killed by his own men, and Huai'en fled—much as Baozhen had predicted. Baozhen was promoted to vice-director of the palace service. Shortly afterward he became acting commissioner of Chen-Zheng and Zelu. At his audience of thanks he said, "I have little to boast of, but the people's welfare depends on their prefects. Grant me one command so I may prove myself." The emperor agreed and appointed him prefect of Zezhou, with concurrent rank as deputy commissioner of Zelu. Two years later he became prefect of Huaizhou and again served as acting observation commissioner of Huai-Zelu—a total of eight years in those roles. After Baoyu's death, Baozhen remained as acting commissioner. Baozhen sensed that trouble was brewing in the east and that Shangdang would become a strategic battleground. The land was war-ravaged, the soil poor and taxes crushing; the people were exhausted and there was no money to pay the troops. He registered every adult male in the households, selected one man in three, exempted the able-bodied from taxes and corvée, issued bows and arrows, and ordered: "Between planting seasons, divide into squads and compete at archery; at year's end I will hold a general review." When the time came he called them up by the register, held a mass review with rewards and penalties, and renewed the standing orders. Within three years they were all expert archers. Baozhen said, "The army is ready." He then mobilized the local militia and fielded twenty thousand trained soldiers. Having spent nothing on rations, his treasury grew flush. He outfitted them with armor and weapons and came to dominate the eastern provinces. At the time the Zhaoyi infantry were considered the finest in the empire. Soon afterward he succeeded Li Chengzhao as acting commissioner of the Zhaoyi army and the Ci-Xing circuits, with additional rank as regular attendant.

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 to the throne, Baozhen was made acting minister of works, chief administrator of Luzhou, commissioner for supplies and farming of the Zhaoyi army, and observation commissioner over Zelu, Ci, and Xing. In Jianzhong 2, Tian Yue rebelled from Weibo and threw his full strength against Xingzhou and Linming. Ma Sui of Hedong and the Shence army were ordered to the rescue. Baozhen and Ma Sui defeated Tian Yue at Shuanggang and beheaded his general Yang Chaoguang, then routed him again at Linming and lifted both sieges. Baozhen was promoted to acting minister of war. With Ma Sui he again crushed Tian Yue on the Huan River; Yue fled to Weizhou with a few hundred horsemen. They besieged Weizhou together and defeated Yue again beneath the walls. Baozhen was promoted to acting right vice director. Tian Yue was cornered, but Zhu Tao and Wang Wujun also rebelled and marched to his relief. Baozhen, Ma Sui, and the others fell back to Weixian. The emperor withdrew to Fengtian. When the palace envoy brought word, the generals looked to heaven and wept. Li Huai'guang rushed away; Ma Sui and Li Peng each marched their armies home. Zhu Ci had seized the capital; Li Xilie held Daliang, and Li Na rebelled at Yanzhou. Soon the emperor withdrew to Liangzhou, and Li Huai'guang seized Hedong as well. Amid universal turmoil Baozhen alone held three eastern prefectures, held off the rebel hosts from without, and kept discipline within. The rebels feared him deeply.

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。

Early in the Xingyuan era he was promoted to acting left vice director and grand councilor. Zhu Tao mobilized the entire You-Ji army, borrowed Uyghur auxiliaries, and marched south with fifty thousand men to support Zhu Ci, besieging Beizhou. The rebel leaders had initially rallied to Li Xilie, but when he declared himself emperor and treated them as vassals, their loyalty began to fray. From Fengtian the emperor issued a self-reproach edict pardoning all rebels. Baozhen sent his retainer Jia Lin to persuade Wang Wujun on principle to join against Zhu Tao, and Wujun agreed. The two armies still distrusted each other, so Baozhen rode into Wang Wujun's camp with only a handful of escorts. His staff tried to stop him, but Baozhen sent his army marshal Lu Xuanqing to array the troops and said, "What I do today concerns the fate of the empire. If I do not return, take command and await the court's orders—that is also yours alone; to rouse the troops and march east to avenge my death—that too is yours alone." With that he rode off. Wujun's camp was on full alert. Baozhen said, "Zhu Ci and Li Xilie have seized the throne; Zhu Tao is besieging Beizhou. They mean to dominate us all. If you cannot stand above these rebels, will you abandon the emperor of nine generations and bow north to serve traitors? The Son of Heaven has just issued a self-reproach edict from Fengtian—a ruler in the mold of Yu and Tang." He spoke of the emperor's flight from the capital, seized Wang Wujun, and wept until tears streamed down both their faces, moving everyone present. He then retired to Wang Wujun's tent and slept soundly for a long time. Moved by such trust, Wang Wujun treated him with even greater respect, pointed to his heart, and said to heaven, "I have pledged this life to fight your enemies unto death." They swore brotherhood and parted, agreeing to fight together the next day. They routed Zhu Tao at Jingcheng, and Baozhen was promoted to acting minister of works with a substantive fief of five hundred households. Early in the Zhenyuan era he went to court; after a brief stay he returned to his post.

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，好礻幾祥，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 and resourceful. He wished to gather talented men from across the empire; whenever he heard of someone's merit, he sent agents bearing gifts for thousands of miles to invite them. If conversation revealed nothing worthwhile, he quietly let them go. When the realm was at peace he built grand pavilions and dug ornamental ponds for his own pleasure. In his later years he also turned to Daoist adepts, hoping for immortality. A man named Sun Jichang prepared elixir pills for him and promised that taking them would bring immortality. Baozhen made him a staff adviser. He often told his staff, "Neither the First Emperor nor Han Wudi could obtain this elixir—only I have been granted it. One day I shall ascend to the heavens and leave your company behind." He dreamed of riding a crane into the sky. On waking he carved a wooden crane, donned a Daoist robe, and practiced mounting it. He swallowed twenty thousand pills until his belly hardened and he stopped eating. Near death he was unresponsive for days. The Daoist Niu Dongxuan purged him with pork fat and grain lacquer until he had nearly voided everything. When he rallied slightly, Jichang said again, "You are on the verge of immortality—why throw that away?" He took three thousand more pills and soon died. Earlier, during his long illness, he had turned to divination and exorcism and, swayed by shamans, asked to reduce his rank and titles to ward off misfortune. That year he memorialized seven times to decline the ministry of works and was restored to acting left vice director. He died in the tenth year of Zhenyuan at sixty-two. Court was suspended for three days, he was posthumously enfeoffed as grand mentor, and graded gifts of cloth, silk, rice, and grain were sent to his family.

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。

On the day Baozhen died, his son Jian, a palace attendant censor, concealed the death and did not announce mourning. Deputy farming commissioner Lu Huichang had Baozhen's cousin Yuan Zhongjing plot secretly with Jian. The next day, when officers assembled, Zhongjing forged an order in Baozhen's name: "I am gravely ill and cannot command. Jian will take military affairs—support him well." Deputy commissioner Li Shuo and the other officers bowed and assented. Shortly afterward Jian appeared in full dress. All bowed to him, and he distributed the entire treasury to the troops as reward. Lu Huichang forged another memorial in Baozhen's name asking that command be transferred to Jian. The next day he had the generals submit joint memorials asking that Jian take command. The emperor had already heard Baozhen was ill and had summoned him to court the next day. This continued for three days. Then Jian went out to meet the palace envoy with armed escorts drawn up on every side. The envoy told Jian, "The court already knows your father is dead and has assigned military affairs to Yanguai. You should go home, announce the death, and observe mourning." Jian was stunned. He went out and asked the generals, "The court forbids me to take command—what do you think?" No one answered. Frightened, Jian withdrew and immediately returned the seal and keys to the army supervisor. That day they announced the death and held the first mourning rites. The envoy summoned Yanguai and by oral edict put him in command, ordering Jian to proceed to the eastern capital. Yuan Zhongjing had fled; Yanguai captured and executed him. With blame fixed on Zhongjing, Lu Huichang escaped punishment. In his plot Jian had sent 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 serving the throne—we were never partners in treason. Now I hear he is dead—who has tricked his son into seizing command 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.

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。

Wang Qianxiu, courtesy name Junzuo, was from Liang in Ruzhou. His original name was Yanguai. As a youth he read widely. Neighbors respected him for integrity and admired his martial skill. During the Dali era, Prefect Li Shen of Ruzhou employed him as an officer. Li Baozhen of Zelu heard of him and recruited him with rich gifts, appointing him repeatedly as army horse commissioner and headquarters escort. Early in Jianzhong, Baozhen led the army against Hebei. Qianxiu fought in most of the major engagements at Shuanggang and the water forts. He was promoted to chief infantry adjutant, given concurrent rank as censor-in-chief and grand censor, and granted a substantive fief of one hundred households. When Baozhen died, Yuan Zhongjing and others plotted to install his son Jian, throwing the army into turmoil. Qianxiu said sternly to the troops, "This command belongs to the Son of Heaven. When the commander dies we await the court's orders—why plot rebellion?" The army obeyed him, and a full-scale mutiny was averted. The court learned of this and commended him. The Prince of Yong became grand observation commissioner of Zhaoyi; Qianxiu was appointed left administrator of Luzhou, retained rank as grand censor, took charge as acting commissioner, and was granted the name Qianxiu. His orders brought calm and reassurance. Army and prefecture were well governed. Two years later he became chief administrator of Luzhou, military commissioner of Zhaoyi, and observation commissioner over Zelu, Ci, Xing, and Ming, and soon afterward acting minister of works. He died in the fifteenth year of Zhenyuan at the age of sixty-two. Court was suspended for three days. He was posthumously enfeoffed as left vice director, with gifts of cloth, silk, rice, and grain.

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. Granaries throughout his jurisdiction held reserves sufficient to feed the army for years. He also composed a "Birth of the Sage" musical work and presented it with this memorial:

臣聞於師，夫君子為能知樂，是故審音以知聲，審樂以知政，則理道備矣。清明廣大，終始周旋，與天地同其和，與四時合其序，豈止於鐘鼓管磬雲乎哉！臣伏見開元中天長節著於甲令，每於是日海縣歡娛，稱萬壽之無疆，樂一人之有慶，故能追堯接舜，邁禹逾湯，自周已後，不能議矣。臣竊以陛下降誕之辰，未有惟新之曲。雖太和已佈於六氣，而大樂未宣於八音，無乃臣子之分，或有所闕。愚臣不揆頑昧，敢思祖述，每思歌竊抃，忘寢與食久矣。適遇有知音者，與臣論及樂章，探微賾奧，窮理盡性，臣乃遣造《繼天誕聖樂》一曲。大抵以宮為調，表五音之奉君也；以土為德，知五運之居中也。凡二十五遍，法二十四氣而足成一歲也。每遍一十六拍，象八元、八凱登庸於朝也。所冀《雲門》、《咸池》，永傳於律呂，空桑、孤竹，合薦於宮懸，不聞沾滯之聲，長作中和之樂。可使九域之人，頓忘於肉味；四夷之俗，皆播於薰風。與唐惟休，終古盡善。臣不勝懇款屏營之至，謹昧死陳獻以聞。其所造譜，謹同封進。

I have learned from my teachers that the gentleman understands music: by discerning tones one knows sound, by discerning music one knows governance, and thus the way of order is complete. Clear and vast, circling from beginning to end, it harmonizes with Heaven and Earth and keeps pace with the four seasons—far more than bells, drums, pipes, and stones alone! Under Kaiyuan the Heavenly Longevity Festival was written into law; on that day the realm rejoiced, hailed boundless longevity, and celebrated the emperor's fortune—rivaling Yao and Shun, surpassing Yu and Tang. Since the Zhou, nothing had equaled it. Yet for Your Majesty's birthday there is still no new composition. Though great harmony pervades the six qi, the great music has not yet sounded through the eight tones—perhaps we subjects have fallen short in our duty. Unworthy as I am, I have long wished to follow the ancients; whenever I thought of composing a hymn I could scarcely eat or sleep. I recently met a connoisseur of music with whom I discussed composition, probing its deepest principles, and have had composed the piece "Continuing Heaven's Birth of the Sage." Broadly, it uses the gong mode as its key, showing how the five tones serve the ruler; and earth as the virtue, knowing that among the five cycles earth occupies the center. It has twenty-five repetitions, patterned on the twenty-four qi to complete a full year. Each repetition has sixteen beats, symbolizing the Eight Primes and Eight Supports taking office at court. May "Yunmen" and "Xianchi" endure through the pitch pipes; may the Kongsang and Guzhu instruments join the palace ensemble—no sluggish sound, but lasting music of perfect harmony. It may make the people of the nine regions forget the taste of meat; and spread the customs of the four quarters beneath the balmy breeze. With Tang there is only repose—goodness perfected for all time. I cannot express my earnest devotion and trembling respect; I humbly risk my life to present this for Your Majesty's hearing. The score is respectfully enclosed and submitted herewith.

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。

Earlier the court musician Liu Jie had drifted to Luzhou; Qianxiu had him compose this piece for presentation. Today's "Central Harmony Music" originated here.

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。

Lu Congshi's 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 Palace Library. Congshi prided himself on strength as a youth, trained in horsemanship and archery, and wandered between Ze and Lu until Li Changrong employed him as a senior general. In his middle years Dezong always inquired whom the local army favored before appointing a military commissioner. When Changrong died, Congshi won army support and courted palace envoys skillfully, and was appointed military commissioner of Zhaoyi. He grew wildly arrogant and lawless, even seizing his officers' wives and concubines. He was glib and deceitful; aides such as Kong Kan left when their frank counsel was ignored. Two years earlier he had entered mourning for his father before the court had considered recall. When Wang Shizhen died, Congshi secretly proposed executing Chengzong to please the throne and was recalled from mourning and entrusted with the campaign. When the campaign edict was issued his army marched but lingered without advancing. He conspired secretly with Chengzong, had soldiers keep rebel titles, inflated fodder prices sold to the fiscal commission, and hinted that he should be made chief minister; and falsely reported that other armies were colluding with the rebels so that the campaign could not proceed. The emperor was deeply alarmed.

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-protecting eunuch Tutu Chenghui led the Shence army against him; Congshi often visited his camp to gamble. Congshi was greedy; Chenghui displayed jeweled belts and rare curios and gave them when pleased. Congshi was delighted and grew more intimate daily. The emperor adopted Pei Ji's plan and instructed Chenghui: when Congshi came to gamble, bow and converse with him while stout men hidden beneath the tent would seize him, bind him behind the tent, place him in a carriage, and rush him to court. His followers panicked; more than ten were beheaded before order was restored and the secret edict proclaimed, ordering them to proceed to court. Chief commander Wu Zhongyin, long loyal, strictly restrained his troops, and they did not stir. They traveled by night at full speed and crossed the border before dawn; no traveler knew. In the fourth month of Yuanhe 5, an edict proclaimed:

邪以蓄眾，自致覆車；奸以事君，所宜用鉞。故楚人告變，韓信患釋於事先；蜀土征災，鐘會禍生於部下。況害深楚、蜀，功匪鐘、韓，構此厲階，佈於公議。懷私負德，合置於嚴科；屈法申恩，尚從於寬典。前昭義軍節度副大使、知節度事盧從史，擢自裨將，居於大籓，不思報國之誠，每設徇身之計。比丁家禍，曾無戚容，行棄人倫，孝虧大性。屬常山稱亂，朝制未行，固願興師，苟求復位。刻期效用，請以身先；指日投誠，誓雲獨致。示於懷撫，推以信誠。排眾論以釋其苴麻，決中心而授之鈇鉞，委以重任，命之專征。章奏所陳，事無違者；恩光是貸，予何愛焉。而乃冒利蓄奸，隳政敗度，成師既出，保敵而交通；邪計以行，臨戎而向背。諸侯盡力而不應，遺寇遊魂而是托。臣節既喪，恩豈念於生成；台位於求，禮頓虧於忠敬。肆其醜行，熾以凶威，至於逼脅軍中，潛施賊號；陵污麾下，實玷皇風。貨以籓身，虐而用眾，士庶怨而罔恤，將校勞而不圖。稟於陶鈞，行事至此，視於天地，負我何多，且辜覆載之仁，寧逭神鬼之責。況頃年上請，就食山東，及遣旋師，不時恭命，致動其眾，覬生其心，賴劉濟抗忠正之辭，使邪豎絕遲回之計。加以遍毀鄰境，密疏事情，反覆百端，高下萬變，心無恥愧，事至滿盈。朕念以始終，務於含貸，所期悔過，豈謂逾凶。而昭義軍忠節夙彰，義聲昭著，發其眾怒，葉以一心，顧大惡而不容，幸全軀而自免，宜從大戮，以正彝章。尚以曾列方隅，嘗經任使，惜君臣之體，抑中外之情，俾投魑魅之鄉，以解人神之憤。可貶驩州司馬。嗚呼！奸由事驗，自開棄絕之門；禍實己招，豈漏恢疏之網。凡百多士，宜諒朕懷。

Wickedness gathers followers and overturns its own chariot; treachery toward one's lord deserves the battle-axe. When the men of Chu reported a plot, Han Xin's trouble was resolved beforehand; when Shu campaigned against disaster, Zhong Hui's calamity arose from his own subordinates. How much worse when the harm exceeds Chu and Shu, the merit unlike Zhong's or Han's—he has built this ladder of calamity, as public opinion attests. Harbor private ends and betray grace—he deserves severe punishment; yet bending the law to show mercy, we still follow the lenient code. Former deputy military commissioner and acting commissioner of Zhaoyi Lu Congshi was promoted from a junior officer to a great frontier post, yet thought not of serving the state and constantly schemed for his own advancement. When he entered mourning for his father he showed no grief, abandoning human decency and filial duty. When Changshan rebelled and court orders had not yet been issued, he eagerly sought to raise troops and regain his post by any means. He set a deadline for results and asked to lead in person; pledged submission on a set day and swore he alone would achieve it. We showed him comforting favor and extended trust and sincerity. We set aside public debate to release him from mourning, resolved in our hearts to grant him command, entrusted him with heavy responsibility, and ordered him to campaign independently. Whatever he requested in memorials was granted; favors and grace were freely given—what would We withhold? Yet he coveted profit and harbored treachery, ruined government and broke regulations; though the army had marched out, he protected the enemy and kept in contact; wicked schemes were carried out, and facing battle he wavered between loyalty and treason. Other lords exerted all their strength but he did not respond, entrusting himself to remnant rebels. Ministerial duty was abandoned—how could he remember the grace that gave him life; he sought a seat at the council table, and loyalty and respect were cast aside. He indulged vile conduct and fierce intimidation, even coercing the army and secretly imposing rebel titles; he insulted and defiled his subordinates, truly staining the imperial dignity. He enriched himself with goods, was cruel toward the masses; soldiers and civilians resented him yet he showed no pity, and his officers toiled yet he made no plans for their welfare. Entrusted by Heaven's potter's wheel, his conduct reached this point; before Heaven and Earth, how deeply he has failed Us, betrayed the grace that covers all, and cannot escape the reckoning of spirits. Moreover, he recently requested provisions from Shandong, and when ordered to withdraw did not obey promptly, stirring his troops to covetous designs—only Liu Ji's forthright loyal words stopped the wicked from their wavering plans. He slandered neighboring territories and sent secret memorials, shifting position endlessly without shame until his offenses overflowed. We considered him from beginning to end and strove for forbearance, expecting repentance—who would have thought he would grow worse? Yet the Zhaoyi army's loyalty is long renowned; roused to wrath, they cast him off with one heart, unable to tolerate his great evil and fortunate to preserve themselves—they deserve the supreme penalty to uphold the law. Still, because he once held frontier office, cherishing the bond between ruler and minister and restraining feelings at court and in the army, We send him to the land of demons to appease the wrath of men and spirits. He is demoted to prefectural administrator of Huanzhou. Alas! Treachery is verified by deeds and opens the door to one's own ruin; calamity is self-invited—how could it escape the vast net of law? All you officers should understand Our mind.

子繼宗等四人並貶嶺外。

His sons Jizong and three others were all demoted beyond the Ling mountains.

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。

Li Peng, courtesy name Maochu, was from Zhao commandery. Upon entering service he became registrar of Shanggui; after three promotions he was made probationary assessor of the Court of Judicial Review, acting investigating censor, and support commissioner of Southeast Shannan. When Yan Wu served as intendant of the capital, he recommended Peng for the post of magistrate of Chang'an. When Li Mian was commissioner of Jiangxi, he recommended Peng for appointment as secretary and concurrent investigating censor, and made him his staff adjudicator. At the beginning of the Yongtai era, he was transferred to the concurrent post of palace investigating censor.

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。

At that time, Fang Qing and Chen Zhuang of Xuancheng and Raozhou rallied bands of men in mountain strongholds, severing the western river route and raiding travelers and merchants in rebellion. Peng then proposed establishing a new prefecture at Qiupu to hold a key position and thwart their plans. Li Mian endorsed the plan and reported it to the throne. Emperor Daizong approved, and Chizhou was created from Qiupu and Qingyang in Xuancheng and Zhide in Raozhou. Peng served as acting administrator, and before long he was given the concurrent title of attending censor. Soon afterward Wei Shaoyou succeeded Mian as commissioner. Peng was again recommended as acting vice director of the Ministry of Works, granted the gold seal and purple robe, and made deputy commissioner for mass training. Before long he was acting prefect of Jiangzhou, to the great benefit of the people there. After observing mourning for his mother and completing the period of mourning, Li Mian, military governor of Yongping Army, recommended him as acting director of the Ministry of Works and concurrent attending censor on his staff. Before long he was acting prefect of Chenzhou. That same year Li Lingyao rebelled at Bianzhou. Mian appointed Peng concurrent defender of Bozhou. Experienced in military affairs, he maintained the troops in excellent readiness. He also reopened the transport route through Chen and Ying to restore the grain supply lines.

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 Emperor Dezong ascended the throne, Peng was appointed acting vice minister of rites, concurrent vice censor in chief, and suppression commissioner of the three cities of Heyang. He was scrupulous in comforting and rewarding his men, and whenever the stores held good provisions, the soldiers always received them first. A year later he became deputy to Military Governor Lu Sigong and was given the additional titles of acting left household companion and military governor and observation commissioner of the three cities of Heyang and Huaizhou, with five counties including Sishui in the eastern capital region placed under his authority. At that time major campaigns were underway on both sides of the Yellow River, and an imperial edict reinforced him with the Shence Army and troops from Ru and Shan prefectures. Peng advanced and retook Xinxiang and Gongcheng, then laid siege to Weizhou. The next year he was ordered to join Military Governor Ma Sui of Hedong and other forces in defeating Tian Yue at Huanshui. For his achievements he was promoted to acting minister of war, enfeoffed successively as Prince of Kai commandery, with a fief of one hundred households. As the siege of Tian Yue at Weizhou continued, General Fu Lin came over by night with five hundred elite cavalry. Peng personally opened the camp to admit them. The next day he returned Fu Lin to the pacification commissioner. When the emperor withdrew to Fengtian, Peng withdrew his army.

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。

At the beginning of the Xingyuan era he was made acting right vice director, but before long, citing illness, he steadfastly declined the post and was allowed to retire. When Peng was about to request leave, he told those close to him: "This summer brought locusts and drought, and the sovereign is weary of war. Yet throughout the realm the walls and ramparts have grown thick and strong, and spears and blades sharper than ever. Victory by force alone brings as many losses as gains. Can we truly see such a course through to the end? The most urgent task is to remove abuses, and nothing should come before moral transformation. Govern steadily and patiently, and success will come easily. A regional commander who supports the throne should know when to yield. Clinging to power and salary for their own sake is something I will not do. I am already ill—how can I speak these words and then not live by them! He then wrote a personal memorial requesting to be relieved of office. He died in the first year of Zhenyuan, at the age of sixty-four. The court suspended audiences for one day and posthumously appointed him grand mentor of the heir apparent.

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。

Li Cheng was from Xiangping in Liaodong and a descendant of Duke Kuan of Kuanshan in the Sui dynasty; his family settled in Jingzhao. His father Hao had been prefect of Qingjiang; because of Cheng's status, Hao was posthumously appointed minister of works. Cheng entered service as a deputy general on the strength of his martial skill and was repeatedly promoted to probationary director of imperial construction, serving under Li Chan, overall commander of the Jianghuai region. At the beginning of the Jianzhong era he served under Li Mian, military governor of Yongping Army, with the titles of acting guest of the heir apparent and concurrent vice censor in chief. When Mian moved his headquarters to Bianzhou, he recommended Cheng for appointment as prefect of Huazhou. In the winter of the fourth year, Li Xilie took Bianzhou. Mian fled to the mobile court, and Cheng surrendered the city to Xilie, who falsely appointed him chancellor and concurrent military governor of Yongping Army at Huazhou.

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 the first year of Xingyuan, Cheng secretly sent his trusted agent Lu Rong by a hidden route with a memorial to Fengtian. The emperor was pleased and sent back an edict written on silk sealed in a wax pellet, appointing Cheng minister of justice, concurrent prefect of Bianzhou, and military governor and observation commissioner of Bian and Hua. Cheng kept the edict secret and began to muster and rigorously drill the prefectural troops. Xilie grew suspicious and posted six hundred of his adopted sons as a garrison to guard against any defection. While Xilie was pressing hard against Ningling, he summoned Cheng to bring his forces to Shizhu. Cheng had his camp set ablaze and staged a false retreat. When the six hundred men panicked and began looting, he used this as grounds against them, had them all executed, and reported the killings to Xilie. Xilie was unable to pursue the matter further. Before long, Xilie sent his generals Zhai Hui and others to attack Chenzhou, and they were away for a long time. In the tenth month of that year, Cheng calculated that with Bianzhou's small garrison Xilie could no longer control him. At the same time the palace eunuch Xue Yingzhen was approaching with imperial credentials, appointing him acting minister of war, enfeoffing him as Prince of Wuwei commandery, and granting a fief of five hundred households. Seizing the moment, Cheng burned the rebel banners and standards and rallied his men with an oath to return to the imperial cause. By November, Xilie had lost Cheng's support and learned that Zhai Hui had suffered a crushing defeat, and so he fled back to Caizhou. Cheng hurriedly led his forces to retake Bianzhou and encamped at the north gate, but fear held him back from entering the city. When Liu Qia, military governor of Xuanwu Army, arrived at the east gate, the rebel general Tian Huaizhen opened the gate to admit him. The next day Cheng finally entered from the north, but Liu Qia had already taken the inner city. Cheng withdrew to Junyi county, where officers and soldiers of the two armies clashed daily in angry disputes; he lived in constant unease. When the rebel general Sun Ye of Zhengzhou offered to surrender to Cheng, Cheng sent his son Qing to accept. Earlier, Li Peng, military governor of Heyang Army, had sent his general Yong Hao to attack Zhengzhou. Hao had plundered wherever he marched, and Sun Ye had resisted him all the more stubbornly. When Qing arrived, Sun Ye surrendered to him. Enraged, Hao attacked Sun Ye, but Qing brought his forces to assist and killed dozens of Hao's men who scaled the walls. Hao finally withdrew, burning Yangwu on his way back. Cheng then went to take charge at Zhengzhou. The court specially appointed Qing acting guest of the heir apparent and concurrent vice censor in chief, and gave him the new name Kening.

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。

In the third month of the first year of Zhenyuan, Cheng was promoted on the spot to acting left vice director and military governor of Yicheng Army over Zheng, Hua, Xu, and neighboring prefectures. He died in the second year, at the age of fifty-four. The court suspended audiences for one day and posthumously appointed him minister of works, with graded gifts of cloth, silk, and grain. The left regular attendant Guichongjing was sent as condolence envoy, and all funeral expenses along the route were to be paid by the state. Cheng had actually died on guiwei day in the eighth month, but Kening concealed the death. On gengyin day in the ninth month he intended to take office himself. His campaigning staff officer Ma Xuan objected, so Kening secretly had him killed. Kening then appeared in black mourning garb, posted additional troops at the city gates, and prepared to rebel. Liu Qia marched troops to the border to restrain him and sent emissaries with stern warnings. Kening did not dare act rashly, but travel and trade were suspended for fourteen or fifteen days. When Jia Dan succeeded Cheng, Kening prepared to escort the coffin home. He seized all the wealth in the prefectural treasury and tried to smuggle it out by night, but soldiers followed and looted until by dawn almost nothing remained. When Cheng's coffin reached the capital, the court also granted Kening an estate, one thousand strings of cash, and two thousand piculs of grain. Cheng had first been enfeoffed as Duke of Longxi commandery and later promoted to Prince of Wuwei commandery, yet in every memorial he listed both titles together—a habit that people of the time found laughable.

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。

Li Yuansu, courtesy name Dapu, was a grandson of Duke Mi of Kuanshan. While serving as attending censor, Du Ya was regent of the eastern capital and bore a grudge against the senior general Linghu Yun. When tombs were robbed north of Luoyang, Yun happened to be hunting in the northern suburbs with his men. Du Ya assumed they were the culprits, had them arrested and interrogated, and more than forty people were detained. Investigating censor Yang Ning looked into the matter, but Du Ya considered his findings biased and secretly memorialized against him. Yang Ning was punished as a result. Du Ya was eager to vent his long-standing anger and claim credit for catching the culprits. He memorialized, explicitly accusing Linghu Yun of robbery, and the emperor believed him without question. The chief ministers felt a case of this magnitude required careful review and requested a reinvestigation. Yuansu was sent to adjudicate, but Du Ya met him on the road and declared the case already closed. Yuansu reinvestigated for five days and released every prisoner. Du Ya was astonished and furious. He rode after Yuansu in person and berated him from horseback, but Yuansu made no reply. Du Ya then memorialized again, slandering Yuansu. When Yuansu reported back to the throne, before he could finish the emperor snapped: "Leave and await my orders. Yuansu said: "I have not finished speaking, Your Majesty." The emperor said again: "Go for now." Yuansu persisted: "If I leave now I may never see Your Majesty again. I beg you to let me finish. The emperor's anger softened. Yuansu laid out Linghu Yun's innocence clearly, and the emperor came to his senses: "Without you, who could have seen through this?" Months later the real culprits were caught, and Yuansu came to be highly regarded. He was promoted to drafting attendant. Whenever a prestigious office fell vacant, people would mention Yuansu. He was promoted to right assistant minister of the court of imperial appointments. Several months later Lu Qun, military governor of Zheng and Hua, died. Yuansu was appointed concurrent censor in chief and sent to govern Zheng and Hua, promoted on the spot to acting minister of works. His administration earned a reputation for good governance.

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。

At the beginning of the Yuanhe era he was summoned and appointed censor in chief. The office had been vacant since the Zhenyuan era, and for years no suitable candidate had been found. When Yuansu was summoned by virtue of his reputation, the entire court watched with keen anticipation. Once in office he accomplished nothing at all and devoted himself solely to scheming for the chancellorship. As time passed and his ambitions remained unfulfilled, he would tell every visitor: "Do not let a mere official title come between you and the chancellor. He would bow first to his own subordinates, and his obsequious, unctuous manner alienated everyone. When Li Qi rebelled in Jiangnan, Yuansu was appointed military governor, observation commissioner, and disposition commissioner of Zhexi circuit. After several months he was replaced. He returned to the capital as grand master of the national university, was soon made minister of rites, and then transferred to minister of revenue with responsibility for fiscal affairs.

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。

Yuansu lost his parents young and treated his elder sister with exceptional devotion and respect. When she died he was stricken with grief and illness and memorialized for leave, which was granted. Several months later he was dismissed from office for divorcing his wife. Yuansu had taken as his second wife Lady Wang, granddaughter of Duke Fangqing of Shiquan, a woman of gentle disposition. He had married her while still a mid-level official and treated her with great respect, but once he rose to high rank he doted on servant concubines and grew cold toward her. She bore him no children, while the son of his first wife had grown into a worthless man. Yuansu, ill and confused in bed, heeded slanderous talk and divorced her, granting her a meager settlement. Her family appealed to the throne, and an edict was issued: "Li Yuansu submitted a memorial while ill, earnestly stating that his wife Lady Wang had gravely violated the norms of ritual and righteousness and that he wished to divorce her. At first we assumed he had serious grounds he could not state openly, and because she came from a distinguished official family, we allowed him to handle the matter himself. Investigation showed he had never informed her family, nor was there any documented misconduct on her part. Apparently the two had simply fallen out, and matters had come to this pass. She was sent away the same day under imperial pressure, and even the settlement provided for her was miserably small. Lady Wang was not the only one shamed—the entire court was appalled. Household affairs handled in this manner deserve punishment. He is to be removed from office and ordered to pay Lady Wang a total of five thousand strings of cash in compensation." He died in the fifth year of Yuanhe and was posthumously appointed great governor of Shanzhou.

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。

The historiographer writes: Li Baoyu and Li Baozhen combined martial valor with loyal righteousness—they were among the Tang dynasty's finest generals. Consider teaching the people of Lu archery in the farming off-season, or riding into Wang Wujun's camp with only a handful of men—without extraordinary daring and cunning, who could accomplish such things? It is a pity that in seeking immortality through elixirs, they were undone by the very drugs they consumed. Wang Qianxiu refused to join the rebels and deserves full praise; Lu Congshi was habitually treacherous and brought ruin upon himself. Peng in his later years knew when to be satisfied; Cheng, after his mistake, changed course. As a censor, Yuansu held firm to principle and would not bend; but as grand censor his ambitions were petty. His divorce scandal exposed his shame; virtues were few and faults many—little remains worth counting.

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。

In praise: Baoyu and Baozhen were fine generals of our dynasty. Qianxiu's conduct, too, offers much to admire. Congshi harbored treachery; Peng was ready to yield rank and emolument. Cheng strayed, then reversed course; Yuansu was ever greedy for the premiership. Whom can the throne deceive—how could such men compare to the loyal and sincere?

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