1
徐浩徐浩，字季海，越州人。 父嶠，官至洛州刺史。 浩少舉明經，工草隸，以文學為張說所器重，調授魯山主簿。 說薦為麗正殿校理，三遷右拾遺，仍為校理。 幽州節度使張守珪奏在幕府，改監察御史。 丁父憂，服除，授京兆司錄，以母憂去職。 數年，調授河南司錄，歷河陽令，以善政稱。 拜太子司議郎，遷金部員外郎，歷憲部郎中。 安祿山反，出為襄陽太守、本郡防禦使，賜以金紫之服。 肅宗即位，召拜中書舍人，時天下事殷，詔令多出于浩。 浩屬詞贍給，又工楷隸，肅宗悅其能，加兼尚書左丞。 玄宗傳位誥冊，皆浩為之，參兩宮文翰，寵遇罕與為比。 除國子祭酒，坐事貶廬州長史。 代宗征拜中書舍人、集賢殿學士，尋遷工部侍郎、嶺南節度觀察使、兼御史大夫，又為吏部侍郎、集賢殿學士。 坐以妾弟冒選，托侍郎薛邕註授京尉，為御史大夫李棲筠所彈，坐貶明州別駕。
Xu Hao, whose courtesy name was Jihai, was a native of Yuezhou. His father Xu Qiao served as governor of Luozhou. As a young man Xu Hao passed the Mingjing examination and was skilled in cursive and clerical calligraphy. Zhang Yue valued his literary gifts and had him appointed chief clerk of Lushan. Zhang Yue recommended him as a collator in the Lizheng Hall; after three promotions he became a Right Reminder while continuing as collator. Youzhou military commissioner Zhang Shougui had him serve on his staff, after which he was made an investigating censor. After his father's death he observed mourning, then was appointed recorder of the Jingzhao circuit before resigning to mourn his mother. Some years later he became recorder of Henan and then magistrate of Heyang, where he earned a reputation for effective administration. He was named gentleman for discussion in the crown prince's household, promoted to vice director in the Ministry of Revenue, and served as a director in the Ministry of Justice. When An Lushan rose in rebellion, Xu Hao was sent out as administrator of Xiangyang and defensive commissioner of the prefecture, with the grant of gold-and-purple insignia. After Emperor Suzong acceded, Xu Hao was recalled as a drafting secretary of the Secretariat; with the empire in crisis, many of the court's edicts came from his pen. Xu Hao wrote with fluent abundance and was also accomplished in regular and clerical calligraphy; Emperor Suzong delighted in his talents and additionally appointed him concurrent Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. He drafted all the abdication documents for Emperor Xuanzong's transfer of the throne and handled literary matters for both the retired and reigning courts—favor seldom rivaled. He was appointed chancellor of the Directorate of Education but was later demoted to chief administrator of Luzhou for an offense. Emperor Daizong recalled him as drafting secretary and Jixian Hall academician, then soon promoted him to vice minister of Works, military commissioner and observation commissioner of Lingnan with concurrent rank as chief censor, and later as vice minister of Personnel and Jixian academician again. He was impeached by chief censor Li Qiyun and demoted to vice-prefect of Mingzhou for helping a half-brother secure an illicit appointment as a capital bailiff through Vice Minister Xue Yong.
2
德宗即位，征拜彭王傅。 建中三年，以疾卒，年八十，贈太子少師。 初，浩以文雅稱； 及授廣州，典選部，多積貨財，又嬖其妾侯莫陳氏，頗幹政事，為時論所貶。 趙涓趙涓，冀州人也。 幼有文學。 天寶初，舉進士，補郾城尉，累授監察御史、右司員外郎。 河南副元帥王縉奏充判官，授檢校兵部郎中、兼侍御史，遷給事中、太常少卿，出為衢州刺史。
When Emperor Dezong acceded, Xu Hao was recalled and appointed tutor to the Prince of Peng. He died of illness in the third year of Jianzhong at the age of eighty and was posthumously honored as Junior Tutor to the Heir Apparent. At first Xu Hao was known for literary refinement; but after he was posted to Guangzhou and headed the selection bureau, he amassed considerable wealth, and his favored concubine Lady Houmochen meddled in affairs of state—conduct for which contemporaries condemned him. Zhao Juan was a native of Jizhou. He showed literary talent from an early age. At the start of the Tianbao era he passed the jinshi examination and was appointed bailiff of Yancheng, later rising to investigating censor and vice director in the Right Office of the Secretariat. Henan deputy commander Wang Jin had him serve as administrative aide; he was made acting director in the Ministry of War with concurrent rank as attendant censor, then promoted to supervising secretary and vice minister of Rites before being sent out as prefect of Quzhou.
3
永泰初，涓為監察御史。 時禁中失火，燒屋室數十間，火發處與東宮稍近，代宗深疑之，涓為巡使，俾令即訊。 涓周歷需囿，按據跡狀，乃上直中官遺火所致也，推鞫明審，頗盡事情。 既奏，代宗稱賞焉。 德宗時在東宮，常感涓之究理詳細，及刺衢州，年考既深，又與觀察使韓滉不相得，滉奏免涓官，德宗見其名，謂宰臣曰：「豈非永泰初御史趙涓乎？」 對曰：「然。」 即拜尚書左丞。 無何，知吏部選，扈從梁州。 興元元年卒，贈戶部尚書。 子博宣子博宣，登進士第，文章俊拔，性率多酒。 陳許節度使曲環辟為從事，賓筵之間多所忽略，環不能容。 朝廷方討淮、蔡，環誣奏博宣受吳少誠賂為反間，又妄說國家休咎，扇惑軍情。 時博宣權知舞陽縣事，詔令環決杖四十，流於康州，人皆以為枉。
At the beginning of the Yongtai era Zhao Juan was an investigating censor. When a fire broke out in the inner palace and destroyed several dozen rooms near the Eastern Palace, Emperor Daizong grew deeply suspicious and appointed Zhao Juan inspection commissioner with orders to investigate at once. Zhao Juan searched the palace grounds, followed the evidence, and determined that a eunuch on duty had left a fire unattended; his investigation was thorough and brought the affair to light. When he submitted his findings, Emperor Daizong praised him. The crown prince Dezong had long admired Zhao Juan's thorough investigations. Later, as prefect of Quzhou, Zhao Juan's annual evaluation was overdue and he clashed with observation commissioner Han Huang, who memorialized for his dismissal. When Dezong saw the name he asked his chief ministers, "Is this not investigating censor Zhao Juan from the beginning of Yongtai?" They answered, "It is." He immediately appointed Zhao Juan Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. Soon afterward he was placed in charge of personnel selections and accompanied the court to Liangzhou. He died in the first year of Xingyuan and was posthumously honored as Minister of Revenue. His son Zhao Bozhuan passed the jinshi examination; his writing was brilliant, but he was frank by nature and drank heavily. Chenxu military commissioner Qu Huan recruited him as an aide, but Zhao Bozhuan often neglected propriety at banquets, which Qu Huan could not abide. While the court was campaigning against Huai and Cai, Qu Huan falsely accused Zhao Bozhuan of taking bribes from Wu Shaocheng to spy for the enemy and of spreading reckless talk about the state's fortunes to stir up the troops. Zhao Bozhuan was then acting magistrate of Wuyang; the court ordered Qu Huan to impose forty strokes of the staff and exile him to Kangzhou—a punishment widely regarded as unjust.
4
先是，侍御史盧南史坐事貶信州員外司馬，至郡，準例得廳吏一人，每月請紙筆錢，前後五年，計錢一千貫。 南史以官閑冗，放吏歸，納其紙筆錢六十余千。 刺史姚驥劾奏南史，以為贓，又劾南史買鉛燒黃丹。 德宗遣監察御史鄭楚相、刑部員外郎裴澥、大理評事陳正儀充三司使，同往按鞫。 將行，並召於延英，謂之曰：「卿等必須詳審，無令漏罪銜冤。」 三人將退，裴澥獨留，奏曰：「臣按姚驥奏狀，稱南史取廳吏紙筆錢計贓六十余貫，雖於公法有違，量事且非巨蠹。」 上曰：「此事亦未為甚，未知燒鉛何如？」 澥曰：「燒鉛為丹，格令不禁。 準天寶十三載敕，鉛、銅、錫不許私家買賣貨易，蓋防私鑄錢，本亦不言燒鉛為丹。 南史違敕買鉛，不得無罪。 伏以陛下自登寶位，及天寶、大歷以來，未曾降三司使至江南； 今忽錄此小事，令三司使往，非唯損耗州縣，亦恐遠處聞之，各懷憂懼。 臣聞開元中張九齡為五嶺按察使，有錄事參軍告齡非法，朝廷止令大理評事往按。 大歷中，鄂嶽觀察使吳仲孺與轉運使判官劉長卿紛競，仲孺奏長卿犯贓二十萬貫，時止差監察御史苗伾就推。 今姚驥所奏事狀無多，臣堪任此行，即請獨往，恐不須三司並行為使。」 德宗忻然曰：「卿言是矣。」 乃復召楚相、正儀與澥俱坐，謂之曰：「朕懵於理道，處事未精，適見裴澥所奏，深協事宜，亦不用三人總去，但行首一人行可也，卿等使宣付宰臣改敕。」 德宗不務大體，以察為明，皆此類也。 而博宣、南史坐誣枉擯逐，賴裴澥悟主，南史不至深罪，後得召還。 劉太真劉太真，宣州人。 涉學，善屬文，少師事詞人蕭穎士。 天寶末，舉進士。 大歷中，為淮南節度使陳少遊掌書記，征拜起居郎。 累歷臺閣，自中書舍人轉工部、刑部二侍郎。 性怯懦詭隨。 及轉禮部侍郎，掌貢舉，宰執姻族，方鎮子弟，先收擢之。 又常敘少遊勛績，擬之桓、文，大招物論。 貞元五年，貶信州刺史，到州尋卒。
Earlier, attendant censor Lu Nanshi had been demoted to supernumerary vice prefect of Xinzhou; on arrival he was entitled under precedent to one office clerk, who for five years had collected paper-and-brush allowances totaling one thousand strings of cash. Finding his post largely idle, Lu Nanshi released the clerk and retained more than sixty thousand in paper-and-brush allowances. Prefect Yao Ji impeached Lu Nanshi for embezzlement and also accused him of buying lead to smelt yellow cinnabar. Emperor Dezong dispatched investigating censor Zheng Chuxiang, vice director in the Ministry of Justice Pei Xie, and Court of Judicial Review reviewer Chen Zhengyi as a three-commissioner team to investigate the case. Before they departed he summoned them to Yanying Hall and said, "You must investigate thoroughly—let no crime go unpunished and no innocent man bear injustice." As the three were leaving, Pei Xie alone remained and said, "I have reviewed Prefect Yao Ji's memorial. Lu Nanshi's retention of more than sixty strings in paper-and-brush money violates the law, but by any measure it is not a grave corruption." The emperor said, "That offense is not grave either. What of the charge of smelting lead?" Pei Xie said, "Smelting lead into cinnabar is not forbidden by statute. The edict of the thirteenth year of Tianbao forbade private trade in lead, copper, and tin to prevent illicit coining; it said nothing about smelting lead into cinnabar. Lu Nanshi did violate the edict by purchasing lead and cannot be held entirely blameless. Yet since Your Majesty's accession, and indeed since the Tianbao and Dali eras, no three-commissioner mission has ever been sent to the Jiangnan region; to dispatch such a mission over this trifling matter will not only burden the prefectures and counties but may alarm distant regions when they hear of it. I recall that in the Kaiyuan era, when a recording secretary reported illegal conduct by Zhang Jiuling, inspection commissioner of the Five Ridges, the court sent only a Court of Judicial Review reviewer to investigate. In the Dali era, when E-Yue observation commissioner Wu Zhongru accused transport aide Liu Changqing of embezzling two hundred thousand strings amid their rivalry, the court sent only investigating censor Miao Pi to investigate. Prefect Yao Ji's charges are slight; I am fit for this mission and ask to go alone—there is no need for all three commissioners to travel together." Emperor Dezong said with pleasure, "You are right." He then recalled Zheng Chuxiang and Chen Zhengyi and said, "I am still unskilled in governance; Pei Xie's memorial accords with what is fitting. All three of you need not go—only the lead commissioner. Announce this and have the chief ministers revise the edict. Emperor Dezong neglected larger principles and mistook minute scrutiny for wisdom—this was typical of his conduct. Zhao Bozhuan and Lu Nanshi were wrongly impeached and driven out; thanks to Pei Xie's persuasion of the emperor, Lu Nanshi escaped severe punishment and was later recalled. Liu Taizhen was a native of Xuanzhou. Broadly learned and skilled at composition, he studied in his youth under the poet Xiao Yingshi. At the end of the Tianbao era he passed the jinshi examination. In the Dali era he served as recorder to Huainan military commissioner Chen Shaoyou before being summoned as attendant of the emperor. He rose through the censorate and secretariat, moving from drafting secretary to vice minister of Works and vice minister of Justice. By nature he was timid, evasive, and accommodating. As vice minister of Rites presiding over the civil examinations, he favored relatives of chief ministers and sons of regional commanders. He also often praised Chen Shaoyou's achievements by comparing him to Duke Huan and Duke Wen of Qi, provoking widespread criticism. In the fifth year of Zhenyuan he was demoted to prefect of Xinzhou and died soon after taking up the post.
5
太真尤長於詩句，每出一篇，人皆諷誦。 德宗文思俊拔，每有禦制，即命朝臣畢和。 貞元四年九月，賜宴曲江亭，帝為詩，序曰：
Liu Taizhen excelled above all at poetry; whenever he published a new piece, people recited it throughout the capital. Emperor Dezong's literary gifts were outstanding; whenever he composed an imperial poem, he ordered the entire court to write matching verses. In the ninth month of the fourth year of Zhenyuan he held a banquet at Qujiang Pavilion and composed a poem whose preface read:
6
朕在位僅將十載，實賴忠賢左右，克致小康。 是以擇三令節，錫茲宴賞，俾大夫、卿士得同歡洽也。 夫共其戚者同其休，有其初者貴其終，咨爾群僚，頒朕不暇，樂而能節，職思其憂，鹹若時則，庶乎理矣。 因重陽之會，聊示所懷。 早衣對庭燎，躬化勤意誠。 時此萬樞暇，適與佳節並。 曲池絜寒流，芳菊舒金英。 乾坤爽氣澄，臺殿秋光清。 朝野慶年豐，高會多歡聲。 永懷無荒誡，良士同斯情。
I have been on the throne for nearly ten years, and it is truly through loyal and worthy men at my side that we have achieved a modest peace and prosperity. Therefore I have chosen the three fine festivals for this banquet and reward, so that grand masters and ministers may share in joyous harmony. Those who share sorrow share joy; those who begin well must value the end. I address you, assembled officials: though I grant bounty without cease, rejoice with restraint and in your offices keep duty's cares in mind. If all accord with the season, good governance may be achieved. On the occasion of the Double Ninth Festival, I briefly set forth what is in my heart. Rising early to dress before the court torches, I personally lead with diligent and sincere purpose. Amid the myriad affairs of state, a moment of leisure now coincides with this fine festival. The winding pool holds clear cold currents; fragrant chrysanthemums unfold their golden blooms. Heaven and earth are clarified by crisp air; terraces and halls shine with clear autumn light. Court and countryside celebrate a bountiful year; at this lofty gathering many sounds of joy arise. Ever mindful of the admonition against dissipation, worthy men share this feeling.
7
因詔曰：「卿等重陽會宴，朕想歡洽，欣慰良多，情發於中，因制詩序。 今賜卿等一本，可中書門下簡定文詞士三五十人應制，同用『清』字，明日內於延英門進來。」 宰臣李泌等雖奉詔簡擇，難於取舍，由是百僚皆和。 上自考其詩，以太真及李紓等四人為上等，鮑防、于邵等四人為次等，張濛、殷亮等二十三人為下等； 而李晟、馬燧、李泌三宰相之詩，不加考第。
He then issued an edict: "At your Double Ninth gathering I thought of your joyous harmony and was greatly comforted. Feeling arose from within, and I therefore composed this poem and preface. I now grant each of you a copy. The Secretariat and Chancellery may select thirty to fifty men of letters to compose matching poems on imperial command, all using the rhyme word 'clear,' and submit them at Yanying Gate by tomorrow." Chief ministers such as Li Bi, though ordered to make selections, found it difficult to choose, and therefore the entire bureaucracy composed matching poems. The emperor himself graded the poems, ranking Liu Taizhen, Li Shu, and four others in the top grade; Bao Fang, Yu Shao, and four others in the second grade; and Zhang Meng, Yin Liang, and twenty-three others in the lowest grade; but the poems of chief ministers Li Sheng, Ma Sui, and Li Bi received no grade.
8
初，硃泚、懷光之亂，關輔薦饑，貞元三年以後，仍歲豐稔，人始復生人之樂。 德宗詔曰：「比者卿士內外，朝夕公務，今方隅無事，蒸民小康，其正月晦日、三月三日、九月九日三節日，宜任文武百僚擇勝地追賞。 每節宰相、常參官共賜錢五百貫文、翰林學士一百貫文，左右神威、神策等十軍各賜五百貫。 金吾英武、威遠及諸衛將軍共賜二百貫，客省奏事共賜一百貫，委度支每節前五日支付，永為常制。」 李紓李紓，字仲舒，禮部侍郎希言之子。 少有文學。 天寶末，拜秘書省校書郎。 大歷初，吏部侍郎李季卿薦為左補闕，累遷司封員外郎、知制誥，改中書舍人。 尋自虢州刺史征拜禮部侍郎。 德宗居奉天，擇為同州刺史，尋棄州詣梁州行在，拜兵部侍郎。 反正，兼知選事。 李懷光誅，河東節度及諸軍會河中，詔往宣勞節度，使還，敷奏合旨，拜禮部侍郎。
After the disorders of Zhu Ci and Li Huai Guang, the Guanzhong region had suffered repeated famine; from the third year of Zhenyuan onward harvests were abundant year after year, and people at last recovered the ordinary joys of life. Emperor Dezong issued an edict: "Officials within and without the court have lately been occupied morning and evening with public business. Now the realm is at peace and the people enjoy modest prosperity. On the three festivals—the last day of the first month, the third day of the third month, and the ninth day of the ninth month—civil and military officials of all ranks may choose scenic places for outings and rewards. On each festival the chief ministers and regular attendees at court are granted five hundred strings of cash together, Hanlin academicians one hundred strings, and each of the ten armies including the Left and Right Shenwei and Shence five hundred strings. The Jinwu Yingwu, Weiyuan, and guard generals receive two hundred strings together; those who present memorials at the Guest Bureau one hundred strings. The Ministry of Revenue shall pay five days before each festival as a permanent regulation. Li Shu, whose courtesy name was Zhongshu, was the son of Vice Minister of Rites Li Xiyan. He showed literary talent from an early age. At the end of the Tianbao era he was appointed collator in the Secretariat. At the start of the Dali era Vice Minister of Personnel Li Jiqing recommended him as Left Remonstrator; he rose to vice director in the Ministry of Rites in charge of edicts and then became drafting secretary. He was soon recalled from his post as prefect of Guo and appointed vice minister of Rites. When Emperor Dezong was at Fengtian, Li Shu was appointed prefect of Tongzhou; he soon abandoned the prefecture and went to the mobile court at Liangzhou, where he was made vice minister of War. After the restoration he was additionally placed in charge of personnel selections. After Li Huai Guang was executed, when the Hedong military commission and allied armies assembled at Hezhong, Li Shu was sent to proclaim the court's consolation. On his return his memorials pleased the emperor and he was appointed vice minister of Rites.
9
紓通達，善詼諧，好接後進，厚自奉養，鮮華輿馬，以放達蘊藉稱。 雖為大官，而佚遊佐宴，不嘗自忘。 嘗議享武成王不當視文宣廟，奏云：「準開元十九年敕，置齊太公廟，以張良配，太常卿及少卿、丞充三獻官。 又按《開元禮》祝文雲『皇帝遣某官昭告於齊太公、漢留侯』。 至上元年，敕追贈太公為武成王，享祭之典，一同文宣王，有司因差太尉充獻官，兼禦署祝板。 伏以太公即周之太師，張良即漢之少傅，聖朝列於祀典，已極褒崇； 今屈禮於至尊，施敬於臣佐，理或過當，神何敢歆。 伏以文宣垂教，百代宗師，五常三綱，非其訓不明，有國有家，非其制不立，故孟軻稱『生人已來，一人而已』。 由是正素王之位，加先聖之名，樂用宮懸，獻差太尉，尊師崇道，雅合政經。 且太公述作止於《六韜》，勛業形於一代，豈宜擬諸盛德，均其殊禮！ 其祝文請不進署，『敢昭告』請改為『敬祭於』，『其昭告』請改為『致祭於留侯』，其獻官請準舊式，差太常卿已下充。」 詔百僚進議。 文武官上言，互有異同。 詔曰：「帝德廣運，乃武乃文，文化武功，皇王之二柄，祀禮教敬，國章孔明。 自今宜上將軍以下充獻官，余依紓所奏。」 紓又奏詔為《興元紀功述》及郊廟樂章，諸所論著甚眾。 卒於官，年六十二。 貞元八年，贈禮部尚書。 邵說邵說，相州安陽人。 舉進士，為史思明判官，歷事思明、朝義，常掌兵事。 朝義之敗，說降於軍前，郭子儀愛其才，留於幕下。 累授長安令、秘書少監，遷吏部侍郎、太子詹事，以才幹稱。 談者或以宰相許之，金吾將軍裴儆謂諫議大夫柳載曰：「以鄙夫所度，說得禍不久矣。 且說與史思明父子定君臣之分，居劇官，掌兵柄，亡軀犯順，前後百戰，於賊庭掠名家子女以為婢仆者數十人，剽盜寶貨，不知紀極。 力屈然後降，朝廷宥以不死。 獲齒班序，無厚顏，而又遑遑求財，崇飾第宅，附托貴幸，以求大用，不知愧懼，而有得色，其能久乎！」 建中三年，嚴郢得罪，說與郢厚善，勸硃泚抗疏申其冤，說為草其奏，上知之，貶說歸州刺史，竟卒於貶所。 于邵于邵，字相門，其先家於代，今為京兆萬年人。 曾祖筠，戶部尚書。 邵天寶末進士登科，書判超絕，授崇文館校書郎。 累歷使府，入為起居郎，再遷比部郎中，尚二十考第於吏部，以當稱。 無何，出為道州刺史，未就道，轉巴州。 時歲儉，夷獠數千相聚山澤，圍州掠眾，邵勵州兵以拒之。 旬有二日，遣使說喻，盜邀邵面降，邵儒服出城，盜羅拜而降，圍解，節度使李抱玉以聞，超遷梓州，以疾不至，遷兵部郎中。 西川節度使崔寧請留為支度副使。 尋拜諫議大夫、知制誥，再遷禮部侍郎、史館修撰，為三司使。 以撰上尊號冊，賜階三品，當時大詔令，皆出於邵。 頃之，與御史中丞袁高、給事中蔣鎮雜理左丞薛邕詔獄。 邵以為邕犯在赦前，奏出之，失旨，貶桂州長史。 貞元初，除原王傅，後為太子賓客，與宰相陸贄不睦。 八年，出為杭州刺史，以疾請告，坐貶衢州別駕，移江州別駕，卒年八十一。
Li Shu was open and penetrating, skilled at wit, fond of mentoring younger talents, and lavish in his style of living, with splendid carriages and horses; he was known for being unrestrained yet refined. Though a high official, he delighted in leisure, travel, and banquets and never forgot himself. He once argued that sacrifices to King Wucheng should not be treated on a par with the temple of King Wenzuan, memorializing, "According to the edict of the nineteenth year of Kaiyuan, a temple to Lord Tai of Qi was established with Zhang Liang as associate; the Minister of Rites and his vice ministers and directors served as the three offering officials. Moreover, according to the Kaiyuan Rites, the prayer text reads, 'The emperor sends a certain official to proclaim to Lord Tai of Qi and Marquis Liu of Han.' In the first year of Shangyuan an edict posthumously ennobled Lord Tai as King Wucheng and made his sacrificial rites identical to those of King Wenzuan; the responsible offices therefore assigned the Grand Marshal as offering official and had him sign the imperial prayer board. I submit that Lord Tai was Grand Tutor of Zhou and Zhang Liang was Junior Tutor of Han; our dynasty has placed them in the sacrificial canon with the highest honor; To bend ritual before the supreme sovereign and show reverence to a ministerial assistant exceeds what is fitting—how would the spirits dare to accept such offerings? I submit that King Wenzuan handed down teaching as master for a hundred generations; without his instruction the five constants and three bonds would be unclear, and without his institutions states and families could not stand. Mencius therefore said, 'Since mankind began, there has been only one such man.' Hence he was given the position of uncrowned king and the title of prior sage, with palace music and the Grand Marshal as offering official—honoring the teacher and exalting the Way in a manner that elegantly accords with the canon of governance. Moreover Lord Tai's writings extend only to the Six Secret Teachings, and his achievements were manifest in a single age—how can he be compared to supreme virtue and given equal extraordinary rites! The prayer text should not be submitted for imperial signature; 'I dare proclaim' should be changed to 'I respectfully sacrifice to,' and 'proclaim to him' to 'offer sacrifice to Marquis Liu.' The offering officials should follow the old form, with the Minister of Rites and his subordinates assigned." An edict ordered all officials to submit opinions. Civil and military officials memorialized with differing views. An edict said, "The emperor's virtue extends far; he is both martial and civil. Civil transformation and martial achievement are the two handles of kingship; sacrificial rites teach reverence—the nation's regulations are brilliantly clear. From now on the General-in-Chief and those below shall serve as offering officials; the rest shall follow Li Shu's memorial. Li Shu also received edicts to compose the Account of Achievements at Xingyuan and suburban and temple music pieces; his writings were very numerous. He died in office at the age of sixty-two. In the eighth year of Zhenyuan he was posthumously honored as Minister of Rites. Shao Yue was a native of Anyang in Xiangzhou. He passed the jinshi examination and served as administrative aide to Shi Siming, then continued under Siming and his son Chaoyi, often managing military affairs. When Chaoyi was defeated, Shao Yue surrendered before the army; Guo Ziyi admired his talent and kept him on his staff. He rose to magistrate of Chang'an and vice director of the Secretariat, then to vice minister of Personnel and tutor to the heir apparent, earning a reputation for talent and capability. Some even spoke of him as a future chancellor. Jinwu general Pei Jing told remonstrating grand master Liu Zai, "By my estimate, Shao Yue will meet disaster before long. Shao Yue established the relation of ruler and minister with Shi Siming and his son, held weighty offices, wielded military power, and fought in a hundred battles in rebellion; in the rebel court he seized dozens of children of eminent families as servants and plundered treasures beyond reckoning. Only when his strength was exhausted did he surrender; the court spared his life. He was allowed a place at court without shame, yet hurried to amass wealth, lavishly adorned his residence, and relied on powerful favorites to seek high office, showing neither shame nor fear but satisfaction—how can he last! In the third year of Jianzhong Yan Yi fell from favor; Shao Yue, who was close to him, urged Zhu Ci to submit a forthright memorial asserting his innocence and drafted it himself. When the emperor learned of this, Shao Yue was demoted to prefect of Guizhou and ultimately died in exile. Yu Shao, whose courtesy name was Xiangmen, came from a family originally of Dai and was now registered as a native of Wannian in Jingzhao. His great-grandfather Yu Jun served as Minister of Revenue. At the end of the Tianbao era Yu Shao passed the jinshi examination; his documentary judgments were outstanding, and he was appointed collator in the Chongwen Hall. He served successively in commissioners' offices, entered the court as attendant of the emperor, and was twice promoted to director in the Ministry of Revenue while still having twenty annual evaluations pending at the Ministry of Personnel—he was considered well qualified. Soon afterward he was sent out as prefect of Daozhou but was transferred to Bazhou before taking up the post. That year harvests were poor; several thousand tribal forces gathered in the hills, besieged the prefecture, and plundered the people. Yu Shao rallied the prefectural troops to resist them. After twelve days he sent envoys to negotiate; the bandits invited Yu Shao to surrender in person. He went out in scholar's robes, and the bandits bowed in ranks and submitted, lifting the siege. Military commissioner Li Baoyu reported this, and Yu Shao was promoted ahead of schedule to Zizhou; illness kept him from going, and he was made director in the Ministry of War. Xichuan military commissioner Cui Ning asked that he be retained as deputy commissioner for fiscal support. He was soon appointed remonstrating grand master in charge of edicts, then twice promoted to vice minister of Rites and compiler in the Historiography Institute, and served as a three-commissioners envoy. For composing the book of the exalted honorific title he was granted third rank, and at that time major edicts all came from Yu Shao's pen. Shortly afterward he joined chief censor Yuan Gao and supervising secretary Jiang Zhen in jointly handling the edict-case of Left Vice Director Xue Yong. Yu Shao held that Xue Yong's offense fell before an amnesty and memorialized for his release; this displeased the emperor, and Yu Shao was demoted to chief administrator of Guizhou. At the beginning of Zhenyuan he was appointed tutor to the Prince of Yuan, later became guest of the heir apparent, and was on bad terms with chief minister Lu Zhi. In the eighth year he was sent out as prefect of Hangzhou; he requested sick leave and was demoted to vice-prefect of Quzhou, then transferred to vice-prefect of Jiangzhou, where he died at the age of eighty-one.
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邵性孝悌，內行修潔，老而彌篤。 初，樊澤常舉賢良方正，邵一見之於京師，曰：「將相之材也。」 不十五年，澤為節將。 崔元翰年近五十，始舉進士，邵異其文，擢第甲科，且曰：「不十五年，當掌詔令。」 竟如其言。 獨孤授舉博學宏詞，吏部考為乙第，在中書覆升甲科，人稱其當。 有集四十卷。 崔元翰崔元翰者，博陵人。 進士擢第，登博學宏詞制科，又應賢良方正、直言極諫科，三舉皆升甲第，年已五十余。 李汧公鎮滑臺，辟為從事。 後北平王馬燧在太原，聞其名，致禮命之，又為燧府掌書記。 入朝為太常博士、禮部員外郎。 竇參輔政，用為知制誥，詔令溫雅，合於典謨。 然性太剛褊簡傲，不能取容於時，每發言論，略無阿徇，忤執政旨，故掌誥二年，而官不遷。 竟罷知制誥，守比部郎中。 元翰苦心文章，時年七十余，好學不倦。 既介獨耿直，故少交遊，唯秉一操，伏膺翰墨。 其對策及奏記、碑誌、師法班固、蔡伯喈，而致思精密。 為時所擯，終於散位。 于公異于公異者，吳人。 登進士第，文章精拔，為時所稱。 建中末，為李晟招討府掌書記。 興元元年，收京城，公異為露布上行在云：「臣已肅清宮禁，祗奏寢園，鐘虡不移，廟貌如故。」 德宗覽之，泣下不自勝，左右為之嗚咽。 既而曰：「不知誰為之？」 或對曰：「于公異之詞也。」 上稱善久之。
Yu Shao was filial and brotherly by nature, refined and pure in private conduct, and became all the more earnest in old age. When Fan Ze was recommended as worthy and upright, Yu Shao saw him once in the capital and said, "This is material for generals and chancellors. Within fifteen years Fan Ze became a military commissioner. Cui Yuanhan was nearly fifty when he first passed the jinshi examination; Yu Shao was struck by his writing, placed him in the top grade, and said, "Within fifteen years he will preside over edicts. In the end it proved true. Dugu Shou passed the erudite and literary examination; the Ministry of Personnel graded him in the second class, but the Secretariat on review raised him to the top class, and people said the judgment was fitting. He left a collected works in forty juan. Cui Yuanhan was a native of Boling. He passed the jinshi examination, the erudite and literary decree examination, and the worthy and upright and forthright remonstrance examinations—all three times earning the top grade when he was already over fifty. When the Duke of Fen garrisoned Huatai, he recruited Cui Yuanhan as an aide. Later when Prince of Beiping Ma Sui was at Taiyuan, he heard of him, sent gifts and summoned him, and had him serve as recorder on his staff. He entered court service as erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and vice director in the Ministry of Rites. When Dou Can assisted in government, Cui Yuanhan was made drafter of edicts; his edicts were warm and elegant and accorded with the canon of governance. Yet by nature he was overly rigid, narrow, and proud, unable to win accommodation at court; whenever he spoke he scarcely flattered those in power, and though he handled edicts for two years his office was not promoted. In the end he was removed from drafting edicts and retained only his post as director in the Ministry of Revenue. Cui Yuanhan labored at his writing; even past seventy he loved learning without tiring. Upright, solitary, and direct, he had few social ties and held to a single principle, devoting himself to literature. His policy essays, memorials, stele inscriptions, and epitaphs took Ban Gu and Cai Yong as models, with refined and precise thought. Rejected by his age, he ended his career in an unsalaried post. Yu Gongyi was a native of Wu. He passed the jinshi examination; his writing was refined and outstanding and won praise from his contemporaries. At the end of Jianzhong he served as recorder on Li Sheng's pacification headquarters staff. In the first year of Xingyuan, when the capital was recovered, Yu Gongyi's victory bulletin to the mobile court read, "Your servant has already cleared the palace precincts and respectfully reports on the imperial tombs; bells and stands have not been moved, and the temple appearance is as before. When Emperor Dezong read it, tears flowed beyond his control, and those at his side sobbed with him. Then he said, "I do not know who wrote this? Someone replied, "It is the wording of Yu Gongyi. The emperor praised it at length.
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公異初應進士時，與舉人陸贄不協； 至是贄為翰林學士，聞上稱與，尤不悅。 時議者言之，公異少時不為後母所容，自遊宦成名，不歸鄉里； 及貞元中陸贄為宰相，奏公異無素行，黜之。 詔曰：「祠部員外郎于公異，頃以才名，升於省闥。 其少也，為父母之所不容，宜其引慝在躬，孝行不匱，匿名跡於畎畝，候安否於門閭，俾其親之過不彰，庶其誠之至必感。 安於棄斥，遊學遠方，忘其溫凊之戀，竟至存亡之隔，為人子者，忍至是乎！ 宜放歸田里，俾自循省。 其舉公異官尚書左丞盧邁，宜奪俸兩月。」 時中書舍人高郢薦監察御史元敦義，及睹公異譴逐，懼為所累，乃上疏首陳敦義虧於禮教，詔嘉郢之知過，俾敦義罷歸。 公異竟名位不振，感軻而卒，人士惜其才，惡贄之褊急焉。 呂渭呂渭，字君載，河中人。 父延之，越州刺史、浙江東道節度使。 渭舉進士，累授婺州永康令、大理評事。 浙西觀察使李涵辟為支使，再遷殿中侍御史。 涵自御史大夫改太子少傅，渭上言：「涵父名少康，今涵為少傅，恐乖朝典。」 由是特授渭司門員外郎。 尋為御史臺劾奏：「涵再任少卿，此時都不言； 今為少傅，疑以散慢，乃為不可。」 由是貶渭歙州司馬，改涵檢校工部尚書、兼光祿卿。
When Yu Gongyi first took the jinshi examination, he was not on good terms with fellow candidate Lu Zhi; by this time Lu Zhi was a Hanlin academician; when he heard the emperor's praise, he was especially displeased. At that time critics noted that in his youth Yu Gongyi had not been accepted by his stepmother and that once he achieved fame through office he never returned home; when in the Zhenyuan era Lu Zhi became chief minister, he memorialized that Yu Gongyi lacked proper conduct and had him dismissed. An edict said, "Vice director in the Ministry of Rites Yu Gongyi was recently raised to the inner offices on account of literary reputation. In his youth he was not accepted by his parents; he ought to have borne guilt upon himself and never ceased in filial conduct, concealed his tracks in the fields, and watched for their well-being at the gate and lane, so that his parents' faults would not be exposed and his utmost sincerity might move them. Content with rejection, he studied and traveled far away, forgot his longing for their comfort, and came even to the separation of life and death—for a son to be so hard-hearted! He should be sent back to the countryside to examine himself. Left Vice Director Lu Mai, who recommended Yu Gongyi for office, should have two months' salary withheld. At that time drafting secretary Gao Ying had recommended investigating censor Yuan Dunyi; on seeing Yu Gongyi's dismissal and fearing implication, he submitted a memorial first declaring that Dunyi was deficient in ritual teaching. An edict praised Gao Ying's awareness of his error and had Dunyi dismissed and sent home. Yu Gongyi never achieved fame or high office, died of grief, and men of letters regretted his talent while condemning Lu Zhi's narrow hastiness. Lü Wei, whose courtesy name was Junzai, was a native of Hezhong. His father Lü Yanzhi served as prefect of Yuezhou and military commissioner of Zhedong circuit. Lü Wei passed the jinshi examination and was successively appointed magistrate of Yongkang in Wuzhou and reviewer of the Court of Judicial Review. Zhexi observation commissioner Li Han recruited him as an administrative aide, and after two promotions he became attendant censor in the palace. When Li Han was changed from chief censor to Junior Tutor to the Heir Apparent, Lü Wei memorialized, "Li Han's father's name was Shaokang; now Li Han is Junior Tutor—I fear this violates court regulations. For this Lü Wei was specially appointed vice director in the Ministry of Justice for the Gate Office. Soon the Censorate impeached him, saying, "When Li Han twice held the post of vice minister, Lü Wei said nothing at the time; now that Li Han is Junior Tutor, it is suspected that out of laxity he declared it improper. For this Lü Wei was demoted to vice prefect of Shezhou, and Li Han was changed to acting Minister of Works with concurrent rank as Director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments.
12
渭累授舒州刺史、吏部員外、駕部郎中、知制詔、中書舍人，母憂罷。 服闋，授太子右庶子、禮部侍郎。 中書省有柳樹，建中末枯死，興元元年車駕還京後，其樹再榮，人謂之瑞柳。 渭試進士，取瑞柳為賦題，上聞而嘉之。 渭又結附裴延齡之子操，舉進士，文詞非工，渭擢之登第，為正人嗤鄙。 因入閣遺失請托文記，遂出為潭州刺史、兼御史中丞、湖南都團練觀察使，在任三歲，政甚煩碎。 貞元十六年卒，年六十六，贈陜州大都督。 子溫、恭、儉、讓。 子溫溫，字化光，貞元末登進士第，與翰林學士韋執誼善。 順宗在東宮，侍書王叔文勸太子招納時之英俊以自輔，溫與執誼尤為叔文所睠，起家再命拜左拾遺。 二十年冬，副工部侍郎張薦為入吐蕃使，行至鳳翔，轉侍御史，賜緋袍牙笏。 明年，德宗晏駕，順宗即位，張薦卒於青海，吐蕃以中國喪禍，留溫經年。 時王叔文用事，故與溫同遊東宮者，皆不次任用，溫在蕃中，悲嘆久之。 元和元年，使還，轉戶部員外郎。 時柳宗元等九人坐叔文貶逐。 唯溫以奉使免。
Lü Wei was successively appointed prefect of Shuzhou, vice director in the Ministry of Personnel, director in the Ministry of War for the Chariot Office, drafter of edicts, and drafting secretary, then left office to mourn his mother. When the mourning period ended he was appointed Right Vice Director in the heir apparent's household and vice minister of Rites. In the Secretariat there was a willow tree that withered and died at the end of Jianzhong; after the imperial carriage returned to the capital in the first year of Xingyuan the tree flourished again, and people called it the auspicious willow. When Lü Wei tested jinshi candidates he took the auspicious willow as the fu topic; the emperor heard of it and praised him. Lü Wei also attached himself to Pei Yanling's son Cao; when Cao took the jinshi examination his writing was poor, yet Lü Wei promoted him to pass, and upright men scorned him for it. Because he lost a record of solicitation when entering the inner court, he was sent out as prefect of Tanzhou with concurrent rank as chief censor and military training and observation commissioner of Hunan; during three years in office his administration was very trivial and minute. He died in the sixteenth year of Zhenyuan at the age of sixty-six and was posthumously honored as Grand Protector of Shazhou. His sons were Wen, Gong, Jian, and Rang. His son Lü Wen, whose courtesy name was Huaguang, passed the jinshi examination at the end of Zhenyuan and was on good terms with Hanlin academician Wei Zhiyi. When Emperor Shunzong was crown prince, attendant scribe Wang Shuwen urged him to recruit outstanding men of the time; Lü Wen and Wei Zhiyi were especially favored by Shuwen and from their first appointments were twice named Left Reminder. In the winter of the twentieth year he served as deputy to Vice Minister of Works Zhang Jian on a mission to Tibet; when they reached Fengxiang he was transferred to attendant censor and granted a crimson robe and ivory tablet. The next year Emperor Dezong died and Emperor Shunzong acceded; Zhang Jian died at Qinghai, and Tibet, citing China's mourning, detained Lü Wen for a year. At that time Wang Shuwen was in power; those who had associated with Lü Wen in the Eastern Palace were all appointed out of turn, while Lü Wen was in Tibet and lamented for a long time. In the first year of Yuanhe he returned from the mission and was transferred to vice director in the Ministry of Revenue. At that time Liu Zongyuan and nine others were punished because of Shuwen and banished. Only Lü Wen was spared because of his mission.
13
溫天才俊拔，文彩贍逸，為時流柳宗元、劉禹錫所稱。 然性多險詐，好奇近利，與竇群、羊士諤趣尚相狎。 群為韋夏卿所薦，自處士不數年至御史中丞，李吉甫尤奇待之。 三年，吉甫為中官所惡，將出鎮揚州，溫欲乘其有間傾之。 溫自司封員外郎轉刑部郎中，竇群請為知雜。 吉甫以疾在第，召醫人陳登診視，夜宿於安邑裏第。 溫伺知之，詰旦，令吏捕登鞫問之，又奏劾吉甫交通術士。 憲宗異之，召登面訊，其事皆虛，乃貶群為湖南觀察使，羊士諤資州刺史，溫均州刺史。 朝議以所責太輕，群再貶黔南，溫貶道州刺史。 五年，轉衡州，秩滿歸京，不得意，發疾卒。 溫文體富艷，有丘明、班固之風，所著《淩煙閣功臣銘》、《張始興畫贊》、《移博士書》，頗為文士所賞，有文集十卷。 子恭、儉恭、儉皆至侍御史，讓至太子右庶子，皆有美才。 自後吉甫再入中書，長慶以後，李德裕黨盛，呂氏諸子無至達官者。 鄭雲逵鄭雲逵，滎陽人。 大歷初，舉進士。 性果誕敢言。 客遊兩河，以畫幹於硃泚，泚悅，乃表為節度掌書記、檢校祠部員外郎，仍以弟滔女妻之。 泚將入覲，先令雲逵入奏； 及泚至京，以事怒雲逵，奏貶莫州參軍。 滔代泚後，請為判官。 滔助田悅為逆，雲逵渝之不從，遂棄妻子馳歸長安，帝嘉其來，留於客省，超拜諫議大夫。 奉天之難，雲逵奔赴行在，李晟以為行軍司馬，戎略多以咨之。 歷秘書少監、給事中，尋拜大理卿，遷刑部、兵部二侍郎、遷御史中丞，充順宗山陵橋道置頓使。
Lü Wen had outstanding natural talent; his writing was rich and flowing, and he was praised by contemporaries Liu Zongyuan and Liu Yuxi. Yet by nature he was much given to treachery and deceit, curious about novelty and drawn to profit, and was intimate in tastes with Dou Qun and Yang Shie. Dou Qun was recommended by Wei Xiaqing; from recluse scholar he rose within a few years to chief censor, and Li Jiji especially regarded him with wonder. In the third year Li Jiji was hated by palace eunuchs and was about to go out to garrison Yangzhou; Lü Wen wished to seize an opening to overthrow him. Lü Wen was transferred from vice director in the Ministry of Rites for the Seals Office to director in the Ministry of Justice; Dou Qun requested to serve as chief of miscellaneous affairs. Li Jiji was ill at his residence and summoned the physician Chen Deng to examine him; Deng lodged overnight at the residence in Anyi Lane. Lü Wen learned of this by spying; at dawn he ordered clerks to seize Chen Deng and interrogate him, and also memorialized to impeach Li Jiji for associating with occultists. Emperor Xianzong was surprised and summoned Chen Deng for questioning; the charges were entirely false, and Dou Qun was demoted to observation commissioner of Hunan, Yang Shie to prefect of Zizhou, and Lü Wen to prefect of Junzhou. Court discussion held that the punishments were too light; Dou Qun was again demoted to Qiannan, and Lü Wen to prefect of Daozhou. In the fifth year he was transferred to Hengzhou; when his term ended he returned to the capital, was discontented, fell ill, and died. Lü Wen's literary style was rich and ornate, in the manner of Zuo Qiuming and Ban Gu; his works the Inscription on Meritorious Ministers at Lingyan Pavilion, Eulogy on Zhang Shixing's Painting, and Letter Transferring the Erudite were much admired by men of letters, and he left a collected works in ten juan. His sons Gong and Jian both reached attendant censor, and Rang reached Right Vice Director in the heir apparent's household; all had fine talent. Afterward Li Jiji again entered the Secretariat; after Changqing, Li Deyu's faction flourished, and none of the Lü sons reached high office. Zheng Yunkui was a native of Xingyang. At the beginning of the Dali era he passed the jinshi examination. By nature he was bold, unrestrained, and daring in speech. Traveling as a guest in the two He regions, he presented his painting to Zhu Ci; Ci was pleased and had him serve as military commission recorder and acting vice director in the Ministry of Rites for the Sacrificial Office, and also gave him his younger brother Zhu Tao's daughter in marriage. When Zhu Ci was about to enter court audience, he first had Zheng Yunkui go in to memorialize; when Zhu Ci reached the capital he was angry with Zheng Yunkui over a matter and memorialized to demote him to aide in Mozhou. After Zhu Tao replaced Zhu Ci, he requested Zheng Yunkui as administrative aide. When Zhu Tao aided Tian Yue in rebellion, Zheng Yunkui admonished him but he would not listen; Yunkui then abandoned wife and children and galloped back to Chang'an. The emperor praised his return, kept him in the guest bureau, and promoted him ahead of schedule to remonstrating grand master. During the crisis at Fengtian, Zheng Yunkui rushed to the mobile court; Li Sheng made him march army marshal and often consulted him on military strategy. He successively served as vice director of the Secretariat and supervising secretary, soon became chief of the Court of Judicial Review, was promoted to vice minister of Justice and vice minister of War, then chief censor, and served as commissioner for arranging halts on the bridge road to Emperor Shunzong's mausoleum.
14
雲逵初為硃泚判官，常忤同幕蔡庭玉； 庭玉白泚，黜為莫州錄事參軍。 滔復奏為判官，因深構庭玉於滔； 滔為泚留後事，有請於泚，庭玉又輒隳之。 又有判官硃體微，亦蒙泚親信，與庭玉常從容言於泚曰：「滔非長者，不可付以兵權。」 滔竊知之。 後滔南討有功，雲逵數激怒之，滔乃抗表論庭玉等離間骨肉； 及滔叛，帝乃召泚以表示之，故歸罪於庭玉等以悅滔，滔亦終叛。 三年，雲逵奏：其弟前太仆丞方逵，「受性兇悖，不知君親，眾惡備身，訓教莫及，結聚兇黨，江中劫人。 臣亡父先臣昈杖至一百，終不能斃。 張延賞任揚州日，亦曾犯延賞法，決殺復蘇。 至於常言，皆呼臣亡父先臣名，親戚所知，無可教語。 昨聞於邠、寧、慶等州幹謁節度及州縣乞丐，今見在武功縣南，西戎俯近，恐有異謀； 若不冒死奏聞，必恐覆臣家族。」 詔令京兆府錮身遞送黔州，付李模於僻遠州驅使，勿許東西。
When Zheng Yunkui first served as Zhu Ci's administrative aide, he often offended fellow staff member Cai Tingyu; Tingyu reported to Zhu Ci, and Zheng Yunkui was dismissed to recording secretary in Mozhou. Zhu Tao again had him serve as administrative aide, and Zheng Yunkui therefore deeply framed Cai Tingyu before Zhu Tao; when Zhu Tao handled affairs as Zhu Ci's acting commissioner, if there was a request to Zhu Ci, Cai Tingyu would again promptly thwart it. There was also administrative aide Zhu Tiwai, who likewise enjoyed Zhu Ci's personal trust; with Cai Tingyu he often spoke at ease to Zhu Ci, saying, "Zhu Tao is not a man of mature character and cannot be entrusted with military authority. Zhu Tao secretly learned of this. Later when Zhu Tao had merit in the southern campaign, Zheng Yunkui repeatedly provoked him, and Zhu Tao therefore submitted a forthright memorial accusing Cai Tingyu and others of sowing discord between brothers; when Zhu Tao rebelled the emperor summoned Zhu Ci and showed him the memorial, and therefore placed blame on Cai Tingyu and others to please Zhu Tao—but Zhu Tao rebelled in the end anyway. In the third year Zheng Yunkui memorialized concerning his younger brother, former vice director in the Court of the Imperial Stud Fangkui, "By nature he is fierce and perverse, knows neither ruler nor parent, is hated by all, and teaching cannot reach him; he gathers violent factions and robs people on the river. Your servant's deceased father, the late minister Huan, beat him up to a hundred strokes and still could not kill him. When Zhang Yanshang was in Yangzhou he also once violated Yanshang's law and was sentenced to death but revived. As for his usual speech, he always calls out the personal names of your servant's deceased father and late minister; relatives know this—there is nothing by which he can be taught. Yesterday I heard that in Bin, Ning, Qing, and other prefectures he importunes military commissioners and local officials as a beggar; he is now seen south of Wugong county, with Western Rong close at hand—I fear he has sinister designs; if I do not risk death to report this, I fear he will destroy your servant's entire clan. An edict ordered the Jingzhao prefecture to shackle him and escort him by relay to Qianzhou, hand him to Li Mo to be driven in a remote prefecture, and not permit him to go east or west.
15
雲逵元和元年拜右金吾衛大將軍，歲中改京兆尹。 五年五月卒。 李益李益，肅宗朝宰相揆之族子。 登進士第，長為歌詩。 貞元末，與宗人李賀齊名。 每作一篇，為教坊樂人以賂求取。 唱為供奉歌詞。 其《征人歌》、《早行篇》，好事者畫為屏障； 「回樂峰前沙似雪，受降城外月如霜」之句，天下以為歌詞。 然少有癡病，而多猜忌，防閑妻妾，過為苛酷，而有散灰扃戶之譚聞於時，故時謂妒癡為「李益疾」； 以是久之不調，而流輩皆居顯位。 益不得意，北遊河朔，幽州劉濟辟為從事，常與濟詩而有「不上望京樓」之句。
In the first year of Yuanhe Zheng Yunkui was appointed general of the Right Jinwu Guard; within the year he was changed to metropolitan governor of Jingzhao. He died in the fifth month of the fifth year. Li Yi was a clansman of chief minister Li Hui in the Suzong reign. He passed the jinshi examination and excelled at songs and poems. At the end of Zhenyuan he was equally famous with his clansman Li He. Whenever he produced a new piece, musicians of the Music Bureau would bribe to obtain it. They sang them as lyrics for imperial service. His Song of the Campaigner and Early Journey were painted as screens by enthusiasts; the lines "Before Huile Peak the sand is like snow; outside Shouxiang city the moon is like frost" were taken throughout the realm as song lyrics. Yet he had a slight affliction of obsession and was much given to suspicion; his guarding of wife and concubines was excessively harsh, and there was talk at the time of scattering ash and bolting doors, so contemporaries called jealous obsession "Li Yi's ailment"; for this reason he long went without promotion while his contemporaries all held eminent posts. Li Yi was discontent, traveled north to Heshuo, and was recruited as an aide by Liu Ji of Youzhou; he often composed poems with Ji and had the line "not ascending Wangjing Tower."
16
憲宗雅聞其名，自河北召還，用為秘書少監、集賢殿學士。 自負才地，多所淩忽，為眾不容，諫官舉其幽州詩句，降居散秩。 俄復用為秘書監，遷太子賓客、集賢學士判院事，轉右散騎常侍。 太和初，以禮部尚書致仕，卒。 李賀李賀，字長吉，宗室鄭王之後。 父名晉肅，以是不應進士，韓愈為之作《諱辨》，賀竟不就試。 手筆敏捷，尤長於歌篇。 其文思體勢，如崇巖峭壁，萬仞崛起，當時文士從而效之，無能仿佛者。 其樂府詞數十篇，至於雲韶樂工，無不諷誦。 補太常寺協律郎，卒，時年二十四。 贊史臣曰：文學之士，代不乏才。 永泰、貞元之間，如徐浩、趙涓諸公，可謂一時之秀也。 然太真以畏懦聞，邵說以僭侈失，于公異、呂渭、李益皆有微累，故知全其德者罕矣。
Emperor Xianzong had long heard his name and recalled him from Hebei, appointing him vice director of the Secretariat and academician of the Jixian Hall. Confident in his talent and standing, he often looked down on others and was not tolerated at court; remonstrating officials cited his Youzhou poem lines, and he was demoted to an unsalaried rank. Soon he was again appointed director of the Secretariat, promoted to guest of the heir apparent and academician of the Jixian Hall presiding over institute affairs, and transferred to Right Regular Attendant. At the beginning of Taihe he retired as Minister of Rites and died. Li He, whose courtesy name was Changji, was a descendant of the imperial house, the Prince of Zheng. His father's name was Jinsu, and for this reason he did not take the jinshi examination; Han Yu wrote the Taboo Discourse for him, yet Li He in the end did not take the test. His brush was nimble, and he especially excelled at songs. The cast of his literary thought was like lofty cliffs and sheer precipices rising ten thousand ren; men of letters of the time followed and imitated him, but none could approximate him. His several dozen yuefu lyrics—even the Yunshao musicians all chanted and recited them. He was appointed harmonics officer in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and died at the age of twenty-four. The historian comments: Men of letters have never lacked talent in any age. Between Yongtai and Zhenyuan, such men as Xu Hao and Zhao Juan may be called the outstanding talents of their time. Yet Liu Taizhen was known for timidity and cowardice, Shao Yue was lost through presumptuous extravagance, and Yu Gongyi, Lü Wei, and Li Yi all had slight stains—thus one knows that those who preserved their virtue whole were few.
17
贊曰：名以才顯，才兼德尊。 徐、趙、劉、李，厥聲遠聞。 邵、于、呂、鄭，其名久存。 半乏全德，愧於後人。
The praise says: Names are displayed through talent; talent joined with virtue is honored. Xu, Zhao, Liu, and Li—their fame was heard from afar. Shao, Yu, Lü, and Zheng—their names long endure. Half lacked complete virtue—a shame before later generations.