1
劉玄佐劉玄佐，本名洽，滑州匡城人也。 少倜儻，不理生業； 為縣捕盜吏，違法，為令所笞，僅死，乃亡命從軍。 大歷中，為永平軍衙將。 李靈曜據汴州，洽將兵乘其無備，徑入宋州，遂詔以州隸永平軍，節度使李勉奏署宋州刺史。 建中二年，加兼御史中丞、亳潁節度等使。
Liu Xuanzuo's original name was Qia; he came from Kuangcheng in Hua Prefecture. As a young man he was dashing and free-spirited, caring little for honest livelihood. He became a county thief-catcher, broke the law, was flogged by the magistrate until near death, and fled into the ranks as a fugitive. In the Dali era he rose to yamen general of the Yongping Army. When Li Lingyao held Bian, Qia marched in while the enemy was off guard, seized Song, and the court subordinated that prefecture to Yongping; Commissioner Li Mian had him named Song prefect. In Jianzhong 2 he received concurrent appointment as Censor-in-Chief and commissioner over the Bo and Ying region.
2
李正己死，子納匿喪謀叛，而李洧以徐州歸順，納遣兵圍之。 詔洽與諸軍援洧，與賊接戰，大破之，斬首萬余級。 由是轉輸路通，加御史大夫。 又收濮州，降其將楊令暉，分兵挾之，徇濮陽，降其將高彥昭，以通濮陽津。 遷尚書，累封四百戶，兼曹濮觀察使，尋加淄青兗鄆招討使，又加汴滑都統副使。 李希烈攻汴州，德宗在奉天，連戰，賊稍卻。 興元初，進加檢校左僕射，加平章事。 希烈圍寧陵，洽大將劉昌言堅守不下。 希烈攻陳州，洽遣昌言與諸軍救之，大敗賊黨，獲其將翟崇暉。 希烈棄汴州，洽率軍收汴，詔加汴宋節度。 無幾，授本管及陳州諸軍行營都統，賜名玄佐。 是歲來朝，又拜涇原四鎮北庭等道兵馬副元帥，檢校司空，益封八百戶。
After Li Zhengzhi's death his son Na hid the mourning and prepared revolt; Li Wei brought Xu back to the dynasty, and Na laid siege to him. The court ordered Qia to reinforce Wei; in battle he smashed the rebels and took over ten thousand heads. With the transport route cleared, he was made Grand Censor. He recovered Pu, won over Yang Linghui, sent a detachment to support him, advanced on Puyang, won Gao Yanzhao, and secured the Puyang crossing. He was promoted to Minister with four hundred added households, made governor of Cao and Pu, then pacification commissioner over Zi, Qing, Yan, and Yan, and deputy coordinator of Bian and Hua. Li Xilie assaulted Bian while the emperor was at Fengtian; repeated fighting pushed the rebels back. Early in the Xingyuan period he was promoted to acting Left Vice Director and named a chief minister. Xilie encircled Ningling, but Qia's commander Liu Changyan held the city. When Xilie struck Chen, Qia sent Changyan with allied forces, shattered the enemy, and took Zhai Chonghui prisoner. Xilie quit Bian; Qia reoccupied the city and was appointed Bian-Song military governor. Soon he became overall commander of his circuit and Chen forces and received the name Xuanzuo. He attended court that year, was named deputy grand marshal over Jingyuan, the Four Garrisons, Beiting and related commands, made acting Minister of Works, and given eight hundred more households.
3
玄佐性豪侈，輕財重義，厚賞軍士，故百姓益困。 是以汴之卒，始於李忠臣，訖於玄佐，而日益驕恣，多逐殺將帥，以利剽劫。 又寵任小吏張士南及養子樂士朝，財物鉅萬。 士朝通玄佐嬖妾。 玄佐在鎮，李納每使來，必重贈遺，飾美女名樂，從其遊娛，故多得其陰事，常先為備，故納憚其心計。 貞元三年三月，薨於位，年五十八，廢朝三日，贈太傅。 將佐初匿喪，稱疾俟代，帝亦為隱，數日乃發喪。 子士寧、士幹。
Xuanzuo lived lavishly, spent freely for honor, and paid his soldiers handsomely—at the people's cost. From Li Zhongchen to Xuanzuo, Bian's troops grew ever bolder, ousting and killing officers to rob at will. He favored clerk Zhang Shinan and adopted son Yue Shichao with fortunes in the tens of thousands. Yue Shichao slept with Xuanzuo's concubine. At his post Xuanzuo pampered Na's envoys with women and music, learned their secrets, stayed ahead of plots, and made Na wary of him. He died in office in Zhenyuan 3, aged fifty-eight; mourning closed court three days and he was posthumously Grand Tutor. His staff hid the death and pleaded sickness until a successor came; the emperor too kept silence for days before the mourning was declared. He left sons Shinning and Shigan.
4
初，將佐匿喪，既發，帝遣問所欲立：「吳湊可乎？」 監軍孟介、行軍盧瑗皆曰「便」。 及湊次汜水，柩將遷，請備儀； 瑗不許，又令留什物俟新使，將士大怒。 玄佐子婿及親兵乃以三月晦夜激怒三軍。 明晨，衙兵皆甲胄，擁士寧登重榻，衣以墨缞，呼為留後。 軍士執城將曹金岸、浚儀令李邁，曰：「爾等皆請吳湊者！」 遂臠之，唯盧瑗獲免。 士寧乃以財物分賜將士，請之為帥，孟介以聞。 帝召宰臣問計，竇參曰：「今汴人挾李納以邀命，若不許，懼合於納。」 遂從之，授士寧起復金吾衛將軍同正、汴州刺史、宣武軍節度等使。 士寧位未定時，遣使通王武俊、劉濟、田緒，以士寧未受詔於國，皆留之。
When the mourning was finally announced, the court asked whom they wanted: "Would Wu Cou serve? Commissioner Meng Jie and officer Lu Yuan both said, "Very well." When Cou halted at Sishui and the bier was to be moved, he asked for proper ceremony; Yuan refused and detained the late commander's belongings for the successor; the troops erupted. On the last night of the third month, his sons-in-law and bodyguard incited the whole army. At dawn the guards armed, raised Shinning on a platform in mourning dress, and proclaimed him acting commissioner. They seized Cao Jin'an and Li Mai, crying, "You wanted Wu Cou! And hacked them apart; only Lu Yuan escaped. Shinning bought the troops with loot and asked to lead; Meng Jie reported it. The emperor consulted his ministers; Dou Can warned that denying them might drive Bian into Li Na's camp. So Shinning was recalled from mourning as Golden Crow general, Bian prefect, and Xuanwu military governor. Before his commission arrived, his envoys to Wang Wujun, Liu Ji, and Tian Xu were all held because he lacked court sanction.
5
士寧初授節制，諸將多不悅服。 性忍暴淫亂，或彎弓挺刃，手殺人於杯案間，悉烝父之妓妾，又強取人之婦女，好倮觀婦人。 每出畋獵，數日方還，軍府苦之。 其大將李萬榮與其父玄佐同里闬，少相善，寬厚得眾心； 士寧疑之，去其兵權，令攝汴州事。 萬榮深怨之，將伺其隙逐之。 十年正月，士寧以眾二萬畋於城南，兵既出，萬榮晨入士寧廨舍，召其所留心腹兵千余人，矯謂之曰：「有詔征大夫入朝，俾吾掌留務，汝輩人賜錢三千貫，無他憂也。」 兵士皆拜。 萬榮既約親兵於內，又召各營兵於外，以是言令之，軍士皆聽命。 萬榮乃分兵閉城門，馳使白士寧曰：「詔征大夫，宜速即路； 若遷延不行，當傳首以獻。」 士寧知眾不為用，計無所出，乃將五百騎走歸京師。 比至中牟，亡走大半； 至東都，所余僮隸婢妾數十人而已。 既至京師，詔令歸第服喪，禁絕出入。 萬榮乃斬士寧所親之將辛液、白英賢以令於軍，凡賞軍士錢二十萬貫，詔令籍沒士寧家財以分賞焉。 遂授萬榮宣武軍兵馬留後。
Many generals resented Shinning's first appointment. He was savage and lewd, killing guests at table, bedding his father's concubines, seizing women, and forcing them to strip for his gaze. His hunts lasted days and tormented the staff. Commander Li Wanrong, an old neighbor of Xuanzuo, had been his friend since youth and was beloved for his lenience. Shinning stripped him of troops and made him handle Bian's civil affairs. Wanrong brooded and waited to oust him. In the first month of year ten, with Shinning hunting south with twenty thousand men, Wanrong entered his office at dawn, gathered a thousand trusted soldiers, and lied: "An edict recalls the commissioner; I hold the post; you each get three thousand strings—nothing to fear. The men bowed in assent. He bound the inner guard and each camp with the same story; all obeyed. He sealed the gates and sent word: "You are recalled—leave at once; Delay, and we deliver your head. Seeing he had no force, Shinning fled to the capital with five hundred riders. By Zhongmou half his escort was gone. At Luoyang only a few dozen servants and concubines remained. In Chang'an he was confined to mourn at home with no visitors allowed. He executed Shinning's generals Xin Ye and Bai Yingxian, paid the army two hundred thousand strings, and confiscated Shinning's estate for bonuses. Wanrong was named acting Xuanwu commander.
6
初，萬榮遣兵三千備秋於京西，有親兵三百，前為劉士寧所驕者，日益橫。 萬榮惡之，悉置行籍中，由是深怨萬榮。 大將韓惟清、張彥琳請將往，不許； 萬榮令其子乃將之，未發。 惟清、彥琳不得誌，因親兵銜怨，乃作亂，共攻萬榮。 萬榮分兵擊之，叛卒兵械少，戰不勝，乃劫轉運財貨及居人而潰，殺傷千余人。 叛兵四出，多投宋州，刺史劉逸準厚撫之。 韓惟清走鄭州，張彥琳走東都，以束身歸罪，宥以不死，並流竄焉。 萬榮悉捕逃叛將卒妻孥數千人，皆誅之。 萬榮誅叛卒之後，人心恟々不安，軍卒數人呼於市曰：「今夜大兵四面至，城當破。」 眾驚駭。 萬榮悉捕得，或云士寧所教，萬榮斬之以聞； 遂以士寧廢處郴州。 十一年五月，授萬榮宣武軍節度使。 其年八月，萬榮病，遂署其子乃為司馬。 乃勒大將李湛、伊婁涚、張伾往外鎮，尋皆令殺之。 涚、伾皆已死，惟李湛至尉氏，尉氏鎮將郝忠節不肯殺湛。 是夜軍士逐出李乃，遂執送京師。 萬榮以其日病卒。 乃至京師，付京兆府杖殺。 劉士幹劉士幹，玄佐養子，前為太府少卿。 有樂士朝者，亦為玄佐養子，因冒劉姓，與士幹有隙。 及玄佐卒，或云為士朝所鴆。 士幹知之，及至京師，遣奴持刀於喪位，語士朝曰：「有吊客至。」 因誘殺之。 賜士幹死。 董晉董晉，字混成，河中盧鄉人。 明經及第。 至德初，肅宗自靈武幸彭原，晉上書謁見，授校書郎、翰林待制，再轉衛尉丞，出為汾州司馬。 未幾，刺史崔圓改淮南節度，奏晉以本官攝殿中侍御史，充判官，尋歸臺，授本官，遷侍御史、主客員外郎、祠部郎中。 大歷中，兵部侍郎李涵送崇徽公主使回紇，奏晉為判官。 使還，拜司勛郎中。 歷秘書太府太常少卿監、左金吾將軍。 旬日，德宗嗣位，改太常卿，遷右散騎常侍，兼御史中丞知臺事。 以清勤謹慎，故驟遷右職。 尋為華州刺史、兼御史中丞、潼關防禦使。 久之，加兼御史大夫。 硃泚僭逆於京師，使兇黨仇敬、何望之侵逼華州，晉奔遁赴行在，授國子祭酒，尋令往恆州宣慰。 從車駕還京師，遷左金吾衛大將軍，改尚書左丞。 時右丞元琇領度支使，為韓滉所擠貶黜，晉嫉之，見宰相極言非罪，舉朝稱之。 復拜太常卿。
Earlier he had sent three thousand men west for autumn duty; three hundred bodyguards spoiled under Shinning grew ever bolder. Wanrong listed them for deployment instead, and they hated him for it. Generals Han Weiqing and Zhang Yanlin asked to lead them; Wanrong refused. He ordered his son Nai to lead them before they marched. Frustrated, they joined the angry bodyguard in mutiny against Wanrong. Wanrong counterattacked; outgunned, the rebels looted supplies and civilians, killing over a thousand before fleeing. Many fled to Song, where Prefect Liu Yizhun sheltered them kindly. Han fled to Zheng, Zhang to Luoyang; both surrendered and were exiled rather than executed. He seized thousands of rebels' families and killed them all. After the massacre the city panicked; men shouted in the market that armies would surround the city that night. The people were terrified. He seized them; some blamed Shinning; he executed them and reported up. Shinning was banished to Chen. In year eleven, fifth month, he became Xuanwu military governor. In the eighth month he fell ill and named his son Nai adjutant. Nai sent Li Zhan, Yi Louzhuo, and Zhang Pi to outer posts, then had them killed. Louzhuo and Pi were dead; at Weishi garrison commander Hao Zhongjie refused to kill Li Zhan. That night the army expelled Nai and sent him to the capital. Wanrong died sick the same day. In Chang'an the metropolitan prefect had him beaten to death. Liu Shigan, Xuanzuo's adopted son, had been Vice Director of the Imperial Treasury. Yue Shichao, another adopted son who had taken the surname Liu, feuded with Shigan. Some said Shichao poisoned Xuanzuo when he died. Knowing this, Shigan in the capital sent a slave with a blade to the mourning hall and told Shichao, "Mourners have come. And killed him by the ruse. Shigan was executed. Dong Jin, styled Huncheng, came from Luxiang in Hezhong. He passed the Mingjing examination. Early in Zhide, when Suzong went from Lingwu to Pengyuan, Jin presented a memorial, was made proofreader and Hanlin attendant, later vice director of the household office, then Fen prefecture adjutant. Soon prefect Cui Yuan became Huainan commissioner and had Jin serve as acting palace censor and aide; he returned to the censorate and rose through reception and sacrifices bureaus. In Dali, Vice Minister Li Han took Princess Chonghui to the Uyghurs and named Jin his aide. On return he became director of the Bureau of Merits. He served as vice director of secretariat, treasury, and sacrifices, and as Left Golden Crow general. Within ten days of Dezong's accession he became director of sacrifices, right attendant, and acting chief of the censorate. His purity and diligence won rapid promotion. Soon he became Hua prefect, censor-in-chief, and Tong Pass defender. Later he was also made Grand Censor. When Zhu Ci rebelled in Chang'an, Jin fled to the emperor's camp, became chancellor of the Directorate of Education, then was sent to reassure Heng. He returned with the court, became left Golden Crow general-in-chief, then left vice director of the secretariat. When right vice director Yuan Xiu, head of finances, was ousted by Han Huang, Jin protested his innocence before the chiefs and won praise. He was again named director of sacrifices.
7
五年，遷門下侍郎、同平章事。 時政事決在竇參，晉但奉詔書，領然諾而已。 金吾衛將軍沈房有弟喪，公除，衣慘服入閣。 上問宰相，對曰：「準式，朝官有周年已下喪者，諸騑縵，不合衣淺色。」 帝曰：「南班安得有之？」 對曰：「因循而然。」 又問晉冠冕之制，對曰：「古人服冠冕者，動有佩玉之響，所以節步也。 《禮》雲『堂上接武，堂下布武』，至恭也； 步武有常，君前之禮，進趨而已。 今或奔走以致顛仆，非恭慎也。 在式，朝官皆是綾袍袱，五品已上金玉帶，取其文彩畫飭，以奉上也。 是以禹惡衣食而致美乎黻冕，君親一致。 昔尚書郎含香，老萊彩服，皆此義也。 服絁縵，非制也。」 上深然之，遂詔曰：「常參官入閣，不得趨走； 周期已下喪者，禁慘服朝會。」 又令服本品綾袍金玉帶。 晉明於禮學如此。
In the fifth year he became vice director of the chancellery and chief minister. Dou Can controlled policy; Jin only nodded through edicts. General Shen Fang, after formal mourning for his brother ended, entered the palace in undyed mourning. The emperor asked; they answered that officials in mourning under a year must wear dark coarse dress, not light colors. The emperor said, "How could the southern officials have that rule?" They answered, "It is only force of habit." Asked about court dress, Jin said the ancients wore jade pendants to measure their steps. The Rites teach overlapping steps on the dais and even steps below—utmost reverence. Pace was fixed; before the throne one only quickened one's step. Today men run and fall—that is not reverent conduct. By regulation officials wear damask robes; fifth rank and above wear gold and jade belts to honor the throne. Yu scorned plain dress yet adorned ceremonial robes—ruler and subject alike. The censor's incense and Old Lai's colored dress served the same principle. Wearing coarse mourning dress was improper. The emperor agreed and decreed that regular officials must not run in the inner hall. Those in mourning under a year were barred from undyed dress at court. He also required proper-rank damask robes and gold-jade belts. Such was Jin's command of ritual.
8
竇參驕滿既甚，帝漸惡之。 八年，參諷晉奏其侄給事中竇申為吏部侍郎，帝正色曰：「豈不是竇參遣卿奏也？」 晉不敢隱。 因問參過失，晉具奏之。 旬日，參貶官，晉憂懼，累上表辭位。 九年夏，改禮部尚書、兵部尚書、東都留守、東都畿汝州都防禦使。
Dou Can had grown insufferably arrogant, and the emperor turned against him. In year eight, Can had Jin propose his nephew Shen for a personnel post; the emperor snapped, "Did Dou Can put you up to this? Jin could not hide the truth. Asked about Can's faults, Jin laid them all out. Ten days later Can was demoted; Jin, fearful, repeatedly asked to resign. In the ninth year, summer, he became Minister of Rites and War, eastern capital garrison commander, and defender of Ji and Ru.
9
會汴州節度李萬榮疾甚，其子乃為亂，以晉為檢校左僕射、同平章事，兼汴州刺史、宣武軍節度營田、汴宋觀察使。 晉既受命，唯將幕官傔從等十數人，都不召集兵馬。 既至鄭州，宣武軍迎候將吏無至者。 晉左右及鄭州官吏皆懼，共勸晉云：「鄧惟恭承萬榮疾病之甚，遂總領軍州事。 今相公到此，尚不使人迎候，其情狀豈可料； 即恐須且遲回，以候事勢。」 晉曰：「奉詔為汴州節度使，即合準敕赴官，何可妄為逗留！」 人皆憂其不測，晉獨恬然。 未至汴州十數里，鄧惟恭方來迎候，晉俾其不下馬； 既入，乃委惟恭以軍政，眾服晉明於事體機變，而未測其深淺。
When Wanrong fell ill and Nai rebelled, Jin was made acting vice director, chief minister, Bian prefect, and Xuanwu military governor. He took only a dozen staff and summoned no troops. At Zheng, no Xuanwu officers had come to meet him. His staff and Zheng officials feared Deng Weigong had seized power during Wanrong's illness. He has not even sent a welcome party—his intent is unknowable. You should perhaps wait and see how matters stand. Jin said, "I am appointed Bian governor by decree and must go at once—how can I delay?" All feared for him; Jin alone was calm. A few li from Bian, Weigong finally came; Jin made him dismount. Inside, he gave Weigong the army; men admired his poise but could not read him.
10
初，萬榮逐劉士寧，代為節度使，委兵於惟恭，以其同鄉里。 及疾甚，李乃將為亂，惟恭乃與監軍同謀縛乃，送歸朝廷。 惟恭自以當便代居其位，故不遣候吏，以疑懼晉心，冀其不敢進。 不意晉之速至。 晉已近，方遽出迎之。 然心常怏怏，竟以驕盈慢法，潛圖不軌，配流嶺南。
Wanrong had entrusted the army to fellow townsman Weigong when he replaced Shinning. When Nai plotted revolt, Weigong and the commissioner bound him and sent him to court. Expecting the post himself, Weigong sent no welcome party to intimidate Jin. He did not expect Jin so soon. When Jin was near, he rushed out to meet him. Resentful and lawless, he plotted treason and was banished to the south.
11
朝廷恐晉柔懦，尋以汝州刺史陸長源為晉行軍司馬。 晉謙恭簡儉，每事因循多可，故亂兵粗安。 長源好更張雲為，數請改易舊事，務從削刻。 晉初皆然之，及案牘已成，晉乃命且罷。 又委錢穀支計於判官孟叔度。 叔度輕佻，好慢易軍人，皆惡之。 晉十五年二月卒，年七十六，廢朝三日，贈太傅，賜布帛有差。 卒後未十日，汴州大亂，殺長源、叔度等。 陸長源陸長源，字泳之，開元、天寶中尚書左丞、太子詹事余慶之孫，西河太守璪之子。 長源淑書史。 乾元中，陷河北諸賊，因佐昭義軍節度薛嵩卒後。 久之，歷建、信二州刺史。 浙西節度韓滉兼領江、淮轉運，奏長源檢校郎中、兼中丞，充轉運副使。 罷為都官郎中，改萬年縣令，出為汝州刺史。
Fearing Jin was too soft, the court named Lu Changyuan his adjutant. Humble and frugal, Jin mostly assented to precedent and kept the troops quiet. Changyuan loved reform and pressed for cuts and new rules. Jin agreed at first, then shelved the drafts when done. He put finances in the hands of aide Meng Shudu. Shudu was frivolous and insulted the soldiers, who hated him. He died in Zhenyuan 15, aged seventy-six; court mourned three days and made him Grand Tutor. Within ten days Bian erupted; Changyuan, Shudu, and others were killed. Lu Changyuan, styled Yongzhi, was grandson of Vice Director Yuqing and son of Xihe prefect Zao. He was learned in history. In Qianyuan he was trapped in Hebei among rebels, then served the Zhaoyi Army after Xue Song's death. He later governed Jian and Xin prefectures. Han Huang, governor of Zhexi and transport chief, named him transport deputy. He became director of punishments, magistrate of Wannian, then Ru prefect.
12
貞元十二年，授檢校禮部尚書、宣武軍行軍司馬，汴州政事，皆決斷之。 性輕佻，言論容易，恃才傲物，所在人畏而惡之。 及至汴州，欲以峻法繩驕兵； 而董晉判官楊凝、孟叔度亦縱恣淫湎，眾情共怒。 晉性寬緩，事務因循，以收士心。 長源每事守法，晉或茍且，長源輒執而正之。
In Zhenyuan 12 he became acting Minister of Rites and Xuanwu adjutant and ran Bian's government. Frivolous, careless, and arrogant, he was feared and hated wherever he served. At Bian he meant to discipline the arrogant troops with harsh law. Yet Jin's aides Yang Ning and Meng Shudu also debauched themselves, and all were furious. Jin was lenient and followed precedent to win hearts. Changyuan enforced the law and corrected Jin whenever he was lax.
13
及晉卒，令長源知留後事。 長源揚言曰：「將士多弛慢，不守憲章，當以法繩之。」 由是人人恐懼。 加以叔度苛刻，多縱聲色，數至樂營與諸婦人嬉戲，自稱孟郎，眾皆薄之。 舊例，使長薨，放散布帛於三軍制服。 至是，人請服，長源初固不允，軍人求之不已，長源等議給其布直。 叔度高其鹽價而賤為布直，每人不過得鹽三二斤，軍情大變。 或勸長源，故事有大變，皆賞三軍，三軍乃安。 長源曰：「不可使我同河北賊，以錢買健兒取旌節。」 兵士怨怒滋甚，乃執長源及叔度等臠而食之，斯須骨肉糜散。 長源死之日，詔下以為節度使，及聞其死，中外惜之，贈尚書右僕射。 劉全諒劉全諒，懷州武涉人也。 父客奴，由征行家於幽州之昌平。 少有武藝，從平盧軍。 開元中，有室韋首領段普恪，恃驍勇，數苦邊。 節度使薛楚玉以客奴有膽氣，令抗普恪。 客奴單騎襲之，斬首以獻，自白身授左驍衛將軍，充遊奕使，自是數有戰功。 性忠謹，為軍人所信。 天寶末，安祿山反，詔以安西節度封常清為范陽節度，以平盧節度副使呂知誨為平盧節度，以太原尹王承業為河東節度。 祿山既僭位於東都，遣腹心韓朝陽等招誘知誨； 知誨遂受逆命，誘殺安東副都護、保定軍使馬靈詧，祿山遂署知誨為平盧節度使。 客奴與平盧諸將同議，取知誨殺之； 仍遣與安東將王玄誌遙相應援，馳以奏聞。 十五載四月，授客奴柳城郡太守、攝御史大夫、平盧節度支度營田陸運、押兩蕃、渤海黑水四府經略及平盧軍使，仍賜名正臣。 又以王玄誌為安東副大都護、攝御史中丞、保定軍及營田使。 正臣仍領兵平盧來襲范陽，未至，為逆賊將史思明等大敗之。 正臣奔歸，為王玄誌所鴆而卒。 逆賊署徐歸道平盧節度，王玄誌與平盧將侯希逸等又襲殺歸道。 大歷九年，追贈正臣工部尚書。
When Jin died, Changyuan was left acting commissioner. He announced, "The troops are slack and lawless and must be disciplined. Everyone was terrified. Shudu was harsh, chased women in the music camp, called himself Master Meng, and was despised. By custom, when a commissioner died, cloth was issued to the army for mourning. The troops asked for mourning cloth; Changyuan refused, then offered cash instead. Shudu inflated salt prices and cheated the cash payment—each man got only a few pounds of salt—and the army turned. Some urged that custom required rewarding the army after upheaval to calm them. Changyuan said, "I will not buy troops with money like the Hebei rebels. The enraged troops seized Changyuan and Shudu, dismembered them, and devoured them on the spot. The day he died his commission as governor arrived; the court mourned him and made him Right Vice Director. Liu Quanliang came from Wushe in Huai Prefecture. His father Kerenu, a campaigner's son, settled in Changping, Youzhou. As a youth he joined the Pinglu Army for his fighting skill. In Kaiyuan the Shiwei chief Duan Puke repeatedly raided the border. Commissioner Xue Chuyu sent the bold Kerenu against him. Kerenu rode in alone, took Puke's head, rose from commoner to general and patrol commissioner, and won repeated victories. Loyal and careful, he was trusted by the army. When An Lushan rebelled at the end of Tianbao, Feng Changqing was named Fanyang governor, Lü Zhihui Pinglu governor, and Wang Chengye Hedong governor. After Lushan seized Luoyang, he sent Han Chaoyang to win over Zhihui. Zhihui accepted the rebels, killed Ma Lingzha, and was made Pinglu governor. Kerenu and the Pinglu generals plotted to kill Zhihui. They coordinated with Wang Xuanzhi in the east and reported urgently to court. In the fourth month of year 15 Kerenu was made Liucheng prefect, acting grand censor, Pinglu commander, and named Zhengchen. Wang Xuanzhi was made Andong vice protector and Baoding commander. Zhengchen marched on Fanyang but was crushed by Shi Siming before he arrived. He fled home and was poisoned by Wang Xuanzhi. The rebels made Xu Guidao governor; Wang Xuanzhi and Hou Xiyi killed him. In Dali 9 Zhengchen was posthumously made Minister of Works.
14
全諒本名逸準，以父勛授別駕、長史。 建中初，劉玄佐為宋亳節度使，召署為牙將，以勇果騎射聞。 玄佐以宗侄厚遇之，累署都知兵馬使，試太仆卿、兼御史中丞。 玄佐卒，子士寧代為節度使，疑宋州刺史翟良佐不附己，陽言出巡，至宋州，遽以逸準代良佐為刺史。 及董晉卒，兵亂，殺陸長源，監軍俱文珍與大將密召逸準赴汴州，令知留後。 朝廷因授以檢校工部尚書、汴州刺史，兼宣武軍節度觀察等使，仍賜名全諒。 貞元十五年二月卒，年四十九，廢朝一日，贈右僕射。 李忠臣李忠臣，本姓董，名秦，平盧人也，世家於幽州薊縣。 自雲曾祖文昱，棣州刺史； 祖玄獎，安東都護府錄事參軍； 父神嶠，河內府折沖。 忠臣少從軍，在卒伍之中，材力冠異。 事幽州節度薛楚玉、張守珪、安祿山等，頻委征討，積勞至折沖郎將、將軍同正、平盧軍先鋒使。
Quanliang, originally Yizhun, received vice-prefect and chief administrator posts through his father's merit. When Xuanzuo governed Song and Bo, he made Yizhun a yamen general famed for courage and archery. Xuanzuo favored him as a kinsman and promoted him to army commander, acting stud minister, and censor-in-chief. When Xuanzuo died, Shinning suspected Song prefect Zhai Liangzuo and replaced him with Yizhun on a fake inspection tour. After Jin's death and the mutiny that killed Changyuan, Commissioner Ju Wenzhen summoned Yizhun to act at Bian. The court made him acting Minister of Works, Bian prefect, Xuanwu governor, and named him Quanliang. He died in Zhenyuan 15, aged forty-nine; court mourned one day and made him Right Vice Director. Li Zhongchen, born Dong Qin of Pinglu, came from a Ji County, Youzhou family. His great-great-grandfather Wentyu was Di prefect. His grandfather Xuanjiang served the Andong protectorate. His father Shenqiao commanded Henan's assault corps. Zhongchen enlisted young and stood out in the ranks for strength. Under Xue Chuyu, Zhang Shougui, and An Lushan he fought often until he became assault commander and Pinglu vanguard.
15
及祿山反，與其倫輩密議，殺偽節度呂知誨，立劉正臣為節度，以忠臣為兵馬使。 攻長楊，戰獨山，襲榆關、北平，殺賊將申子貢、榮先欽，擒周釗送京師，忠臣功多。 又從正臣破漁陽，逆將李歸仁、李鹹、白秀芝等來拒戰，約數十合，並摧破之； 無何，潼關失守，郭子儀、李光弼退師，忠臣乃引軍北歸。 奚王阿篤孤初以眾與正臣合，後詐言請以萬余騎同收范陽，至後城南，中夜反攻，忠臣與戰，遂至溫泉山，破之； 擒大首領阿布離，斬以祭纛釁鼓。 正臣卒，又與眾議以安東都護王玄誌為節度使。
When Lushan rebelled, he and his peers killed the puppet governor Lü Zhihui, made Liu Zhengchen governor, and made Zhongchen army commander. He fought at Changyang and Dushan, raided Yuguan and Beiping, killed Shen Zigong and Rong Xianqin, sent Zhou Zhao captive to the capital—his merits were many. He again followed Liu Zhengchen in taking Yuyang, routing Li Guiren, Li Xian, Bai Xiuzhi, and other rebel commanders in dozens of clashes. Soon Tong Pass was lost and Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi pulled back; Zhongchen marched north with his army. The Xi chieftain A-Dugu first joined Liu Zhengchen, then falsely offered ten thousand riders to take Fanyang, only to wheel on them south of the city at midnight; Zhongchen fought him to Wenquan Mountain and broke him. He took the chief Abu Li captive, beheaded him, and offered his blood to the banner and drums. After Liu Zhengchen died, the officers chose Wang Xuanzhi, protect-general of Andong, as military governor.
16
至德二載正月，玄誌令忠臣以步卒三千自雍奴為葦筏過海。 賊將石帝庭、烏承洽來拒； 忠臣與董竭忠退之，轉戰累日，遂收魯城、河間、景城等，大獲資糧，以赴本軍。 復與大將田神功率兵討平原、樂安郡，下之； 擒偽刺史臧瑜等。 防河招討使李銑承制以忠臣為德州刺史。 屬史思明歸順，河南節度張鎬令忠臣以兵赴鄆州，與諸軍使收河南州縣。 又與裨將陽惠元大破賊將王福德於舒舍口，肅宗累下詔慰諭，仍令鎮濮州，尋移韋城。
In first month, Zhide 2, Wang Xuanzhi had Zhongchen ferry three thousand infantry from Yongnu across the sea on reed rafts. Rebel generals Shi Diting and Wu Chengqia met them in battle; Zhongchen and Dong Jiezhong beat them back after days of fighting, seized Lucheng, Hejian, Jingcheng, and other towns, and sent a great haul of supplies to the main force. With Tian Shen'gong he then took Pingyuan and Le'an commanderies; capturing the puppet prefect Zang Yu and others. River-defense commissioner Li Xian appointed Zhongchen prefect of De by imperial writ. When Shi Siming surrendered, Henan commissioner Zhang Hao sent Zhongchen to Yan to recover Henan prefectures with the other commanders. With Yang Huiyuan he smashed Wang Fude at Shushekou; Suzong repeatedly praised him in edict, kept him at Pu, then moved him to Weicheng.
17
乾元元年九月，改光祿卿同正。 其年，與郭子儀等九節度圍安慶緒於相州。 明年二月，諸軍潰歸，忠臣亦退。 至滎陽，賊將敬釭來襲官船，忠臣大破之，獲米二百余艘，以資汴州軍士。 尋拜濮州刺史、緣河守捉使，移鎮杏園渡。 及史思明陷汴州，節度使許叔冀與忠臣並力屈降賊。 思明撫忠臣背曰：「吾比只有左手，今得公，兼有右手矣！」 與俱寇河陽。 數日，忠臣夜以五百人斫其營，突圍歸。 李光弼以聞，詔加開府儀同三司、殿中監同正，賜實封二百戶。 召至京師，賜姓李氏，名忠臣，封隴西郡公，賜良馬、莊宅、銀器、彩物等。
In ninth month, Qianyuan 1, he became Minister of Imperial Entertainments, honorary regular rank. That year he joined Guo Ziyi and eight other commissioners in besieging An Qingxu at Xiang. The next second month the allied armies broke and fell back, Zhongchen with them. At Xingyang he routed Jing Gang's attack on supply boats and took two hundred grain barges for Bian's garrison. He was soon made Pu prefect and river-line defense commissioner, posted at Xingyuan Ford. When Shi Siming took Bian, Xu Shuji and Zhongchen were forced to surrender with him. Siming clapped Zhongchen's back and said, "I have had only a left hand till now—with you, sir, I have both! Together they marched on Heyang. Within days he led five hundred men in a night raid, broke out, and rejoined the Tang side. Li Guangbi reported his defection; the court made him Grand General with Three Excellencies honors and Palace Aide, with two hundred tax households. Summoned to court, he received the surname Li, the name Zhongchen, the title Duke of Longxi, horses, estates, silver, and brocade.
18
時陜西、神策兩節度郭英乂、衛伯玉鎮陜州，以忠臣為兩軍節度兵馬使。 魚朝恩亦在陜，俾忠臣與賊將李歸仁、李感義等戰於永寧、莎柵； 前後數十陣，皆摧破之。 會淮西節度王仲升為賊所擒，寶應元年七月，拜忠臣太常卿同正、兼御史中丞、淮西十一州節度。 尋加安州刺史，仍鎮蔡州。 其年，令忠臣會元帥諸軍收復東都。 二年六月，就加御史大夫。 時回紇可汗既歸其國，留判官安恪、石帝庭於河陽守禦財物，因此招聚亡命為寇，道路壅隔，詔忠臣討平之。
Guo Yingyi and Wei Boyu of Shaanxi and Shence circuits held Shaan; Li Zhongchen was made joint army commander. Yu Chaoen in Shaan sent Li Zhongchen against Li Guiren, Li Ganyi, and other rebels at Yongning and Shazha; crushing them in dozens of battles. When Huai-Xi governor Wang Zhongsheng was captured, in seventh month, Baoying 1, Li Zhongchen became Minister of Ceremonies, Censor-in-Chief, and governor of eleven Huai-Xi prefectures. He soon added An prefect and kept his seat at Cai. That year he joined the commander-in-chief's forces in retaking the Eastern Capital. In sixth month of year two he was promoted Censor Grandee. The Uyghur qaghan had gone home but left An Ke and Shi Diting at Heyang to guard plunder; they recruited outlaws and cut the roads, so Li Zhongchen was ordered to pacify them.
19
永泰元年，吐蕃犯西陲，京師戒嚴。 代宗命中使追兵，諸道多不時赴難。 使至淮西，忠臣方會鞠，即令整師飾駕。 監軍大將固請曰：「軍行須擇吉日。」 忠臣奮臂於眾曰：「焉有父母遇寇難，待揀好日，方救患乎！」 即日進發。 自此方隅有警，忠臣必先期而至。 由是代宗嘉其忠節，加本道觀察使，寵賜頗厚。 及同華節度周智光舉兵反，詔忠臣與神策將李太清等討平之。 大歷三年，加檢校工部尚書，實封通前三百戶。 五年，加蔡州刺史。 七年，檢校右僕射、知省事。 李靈曜之叛，田承嗣使侄悅援之，忠臣與諸軍大破悅等，汴州平。 十一年十二月，加檢校司空平章事、汴州刺史。
Yongtai 1 Tibet struck the western border and the capital went on alert. Daizong sent palace envoys to hurry reinforcements, but most circuits failed to come promptly. When the envoy reached Huai-Xi, Li Zhongchen was at a banquet but immediately ordered his army mounted and ready. The supervising general insisted, "We must pick an auspicious day to march. Li Zhongchen threw up his arm before the troops: "When your parents are under attack, do you wait for a lucky day to save them?" They marched that same day. After that, whenever trouble broke out on the frontiers, Li Zhongchen arrived ahead of schedule. Daizong rewarded his loyalty with the circuit observation commission and rich gifts. When Zhou Zhiguang of Tong-Hua rebelled, Li Zhongchen and Shence general Li Taiqing were sent to crush him. Dali 3 brought acting Minister of Works and three hundred cumulative tax households. In year five he added Cai prefect. Year seven he became acting Right Vice Director in charge of Secretariat business. When Li Lingyao rebelled and Tian Chengsi's nephew Yue came to aid him, Li Zhongchen and the allies routed Yue and pacified Bian. Twelfth month, year eleven, he became acting Minister of Works, co-director, and Bian prefect.
20
忠臣性貪殘好色，將吏妻女多被誘脅以通之。 又軍無紀綱，所至縱暴，人不堪命。 而以妹婿張惠光為衙將，恃勢兇虐，軍中苦之； 數有言於忠臣，不之信也。 俄以惠光為節度副使，令惠光子為衙將，陵橫甚於其父。 忠臣所信任大將李希烈，素善騎射，群情所伏，因眾心之怒，以十四年三月，與少將丁皓、賈子華、監軍判官蔣知璋等舉兵斬惠光父子，以脅逐忠臣。 單騎赴京師，朝廷方寵武臣，不之責也，依前檢校司空、平章事，留京師奉朝請。
Li Zhongchen was greedy, cruel, and lustful; he seduced or coerced many officers' wives and daughters. His troops lacked discipline and ravaged every post; the people could not endure it. He made his brother-in-law Zhang Huiguang a yamen general; arrogant and brutal, Huiguang tormented the army; many complained to Li Zhongchen, but he would not listen. Soon Huiguang became deputy governor and his son a yamen general, more overbearing still. Li Xilie, Li Zhongchen's trusted general and a peerless archer, rose in third month, year fourteen with Ding Hao, Jia Zihua, and Jiang Zhizhang, killed the Huiguangs, and drove Li Zhongchen out. He rode alone to court; the throne still favored soldiers and did not punish him, keeping him acting Minister of Works and co-director in attendance at court.
21
建中初，嘗因奏對，德宗謂之曰：「卿耳甚大，真貴人也。」 忠臣對曰：「臣聞驢耳甚大，龍耳甚小； 臣耳雖大，乃驢耳也。」 上說之。 時常侍張涉承恩用事，坐受財賄事露，帝將以法繩之——涉，即帝在春宮時侍講也。 忠臣奏曰：「陛下貴為天子，而先生以乏財抵法，以愚臣觀之，非先生之過也。」 帝意解，但令歸田裏。 前湖南觀察辛京杲嘗以忿怒杖殺部曲，有司劾奏京杲殺人當死，從之。 忠臣奏曰：「京杲合死久矣！ 儒生； 上問之，對曰：「渠柏叔某於某處戰死，兄弟某於某處戰死，渠嘗從行，獨不死，是以知渠合死久矣。」 上亦憫然，不令加罪，改授王傅而已。
Early in Jianzhong, at an audience Dezong said, "Your ears are huge—you must be a man of destiny. Li Zhongchen answered, "I have heard donkeys have large ears and dragons small ones; large as mine are, they are donkey's ears. The emperor was delighted. Attendant Zhang She, then in favor, was caught taking bribes; the emperor meant to punish him—She had been Dezong's tutor as crown prince. Li Zhongchen said, "Your Majesty is Son of Heaven, yet the Master faces the law for want of money—in my view, that is not his fault. The emperor relented and sent him home to his estate. Former Hunan observer Xin Jinggao had beaten a retainer to death in anger; the court recommended death and the emperor agreed. Li Zhongchen memorialized, "Xin Jinggao should have died long ago! You bookish fellow— The emperor asked what he meant; he said, "His father's brothers died in battle here and there, his brothers likewise—he marched with them yet alone survived, so I say he should have died long ago." The emperor was moved, spared punishment, and made him a royal tutor instead.
22
忠臣木強率直，不識書，不喜儒生； 及罷兵權，官位崇重，常郁郁不得誌。 及硃泚反，以為偽司空、兼侍中。 泚率兵逼奉天，命忠臣京城留守。 泚敗，忠臣走樊川別業，李晟下將士擒忠臣至，系之有司。 興元元年，並其子並誅斬之，時年六十九，籍沒其家。 李希烈李希烈，遼西人。 父大定。 希烈少從平盧軍，後隨李忠臣過海至河南。 寶應初，忠臣為淮西節度，署希烈為偏裨，累授將軍、試光祿卿、殿中監。 忠臣兼領汴州，希烈為左廂都虞候，加開府儀同三司。 大歷末，忠臣軍政不修，事多委妹婿張惠光，為押衙，弄權縱恣，人怨。 與少將丁皓等斬惠光父子，忠臣奔赴朝廷。 詔以忻王為淮西節度副大使，授希烈蔡州刺史、兼御史中丞、淮西節度留後，令滑亳節度李勉兼領汴州。
Blunt and uncultured, Li Zhongchen could not read and disliked scholars; Deprived of command though still grand in rank, he brooded in frustration. When Zhu Ci rebelled, Li Zhongchen accepted puppet Minister of Works and Palace Attendant. Zhu Ci marched on Fengtian and left Li Zhongchen to hold the capital. When Zhu Ci fell, Li Zhongchen fled to his Fanchuan villa; Li Sheng's men seized him and handed him to the courts. Xingyuan 1 he and his son were executed together at sixty-nine; his property was confiscated. Li Xilie was from Liaoxi. His father was Dading. Li Xilie joined the Pinglu Army young and later crossed the sea with Li Zhongchen to Henan. When Li Zhongchen governed Huai-Xi at the start of Baoying, he made Li Xilie a junior officer, then general, provisional Minister of Imperial Entertainments, and Palace Aide. When Li Zhongchen also held Bian, Li Xilie became left-wing chief adjutant and Grand General with Three Excellencies honors. By late Dali Li Zhongchen neglected command and left affairs to Zhang Huiguang, his adjutant and brother-in-law, who abused power and bred resentment. With Ding Hao and others he killed the Huiguangs and Li Zhongchen fled to court. The throne made Prince Xin deputy Huai-Xi envoy, gave Li Xilie Cai prefect, Censor-in-Chief, and Huai-Xi regent, and put Li Mian of Hua-Bo in charge of Bian.
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德宗即位後月余，加御史大夫，充淮西節度支度營田觀察使，又改淮西節度淮寧軍以寵之。 建中元年，又加檢校禮部尚書。 會山南東道節度梁崇義拒捍朝命，迫脅使臣，二年六月，詔諸軍節度率兵討之； 加希烈南平郡王，兼漢北都知諸兵馬招撫處置使。 希烈破崇義眾，遂討平之。 錄希烈功，加檢校右僕射、同平章事，賜實封五百戶。 淄青節度李正己又謀不軌，三年秋，加希烈檢校司空，兼淄青兗鄆登萊齊等州節度支度營田、新羅、渤海兩蕃使，令討襲正己。 希烈遂率所部三萬人移居許州，聲言遣使往青州招諭李納，其實潛與交通，又移牒汴州令備供擬，將與納同為亂。 李勉以其道路合自陳留，乃除道具饌以待之，希烈不從，乃大慢罵。 自是誌意縱肆，言多悖慢，日遣使交通河北諸賊帥等。 是歲長至日，硃滔、田悅、王武俊、李納各僭稱王，滔使至希烈，希烈亦僭稱建興王、天下都元帥。
A month after Dezong's accession he became Censor Grandee and full Huai-Xi commissioner for supplies, farming, and observation; the army was renamed Huaining to honor him. Jianzhong 1 added acting Minister of Rites. When Liang Chongyi of Shannan East defied the court and threatened envoys, in sixth month, year two, commissioners were ordered to campaign against him; Li Xilie was made Prince of Nanping and commissioner for all forces north of the Han. Li Xilie broke Liang Chongyi's army and pacified him. For his merit he became acting Right Vice Director and co-director, with five hundred tax households. When Li Zhengzhi of Zi-Qing plotted rebellion, autumn of year three Li Xilie became acting Minister of Works, commissioner over Zi-Qing-Yan-Yun-Deng-Lai-Qi, envoy to Silla and Bohai, and was sent against Li Zhengzhi. Li Xilie moved thirty thousand men to Xu, claiming he would summon Li Na of Qingzhou while secretly colluding with him, and ordered Bian to prepare supplies for a joint rebellion. Li Mian cleared the road from Chenliu and laid out rations; Li Xilie refused and poured out abuse. From then on he spoke with open defiance and daily sent envoys to Hebei rebel leaders. On the winter solstice that year Zhu Tao, Tian Yue, Wang Wujun, and Li Na each proclaimed himself king; Zhu Tao's envoys reached Li Xilie, who proclaimed himself King Who Establishes Prosperity and Grand Marshal of the Empire.
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四年，希烈遣其將襲陷汝州，執李元平而去，東都大擾亂。 朝廷猶為含容，遣太子太師顏真卿往宣慰。 真卿發後數日，以龍武將軍哥舒曜為東都兼汝州行營兵馬節度。 希烈既見真卿，但肆兇言，令左右慢罵，指斥朝廷。 又遣逆黨董待名、韓霜露、劉敬宗、陳質、翟暉等四人伺外，侵抄州縣，官軍皆為其所敗，荊南節度張伯儀全軍覆沒。 又令周曾、王玢、姚憺、呂從賁、康琳等來襲曜，曾、玢、憺等謀回軍據蔡州襲討希烈，事泄，並遇害。 神策軍使白誌貞又獻策謀，令嘗為節度、都團練使者各出家僮部曲一人及馬，令劉德信總之討希烈。 尋詔李勉為淮西招討使，哥舒曜為副。 至四月，曜率眾屯襄城，頻與賊戰，皆不勝。 八月，希烈率眾二萬圍襄城，李勉又令將唐漢臣率兵與劉德信同為曜之影援，皆望風敗衄。 希烈兇逆既甚，帝乃命舒王為荊襄、江西、沔鄂等道節度諸軍行營兵馬都元帥，大開幕府，文武僚屬之盛，前後出師，未有其比。 又令涇原諸道出兵，皆赴襄城。 軍未發，會涇州兵亂，車駕幸奉天。 其日，希烈大破曜軍於襄城，曜遁歸東都，賊因乘勝攻陷汴州，李勉奔歸宋州。
Year four his general seized Ru Prefecture and took Li Yuanping captive; the Eastern Capital was thrown into chaos. The court still showed restraint and sent Grand Preceptor Yan Zhenqing to mollify him. Days after Yan Zhenqing departed, Dragon Martial general Geshu Yao was made Eastern Capital and Ru field commander. When Li Xilie received Yan Zhenqing he spewed threats, had his followers revile him, and denounced the court. He sent Dong Daiming, Han Shuanglu, Liu Jingzong, Chen Zhi, and Zhai Hui to raid the countryside; government troops fell before them and Zhang Boyi of Jingnan lost his whole army. He sent Zhou Zeng, Wang Bin, Yao Dan, Lü Congben, and Kang Lin against Geshu Yao; Zeng, Bin, and Dan plotted to turn back, seize Cai, and kill Li Xilie, but the plot leaked and they were all killed. Shence commissioner Bai Zhiben proposed that every former governor and defense commissioner send one armed retainer and horse; Liu Dexin would lead them against Li Xilie. Li Mian was soon made Huai-Xi pacification commissioner with Geshu Yao as deputy. By fourth month Geshu Yao was at Xiangcheng fighting Li Xilie's men without success. In eighth month Li Xilie besieged Xiangcheng with twenty thousand men; Li Mian sent Tang Hanchen and Liu Dexin as covering forces for Geshu Yao, but all fled at sight of the enemy. Li Xilie's treason had grown unbearable, so the emperor made Prince Shu supreme commander over the Jing-Xiang, Jiang-Xi, Mian-E, and related circuits, opening a headquarters whose civil and military staff surpassed any campaign force before or since. He also ordered troops from Jingyuan and other circuits to march on Xiangcheng. Before those armies could move, the Jingzhou garrison mutinied and the emperor fled to Fengtian. That day Li Xilie routed Geshu Yao at Xiangcheng; Yao fled to Luoyang while the rebels pressed on to capture Bianzhou, driving Li Mian back to Songzhou.
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希烈性慘毒酷，每對戰陣殺人，流血盈前，而言笑飲饌自若，以此人畏而服從其教令，盡其死力。 其攻汴州，驅百姓，令運木土築壘道，又怒其未就，乃驅以填之，謂之濕梢。 既入汴州，於是僭號曰武成，以孫廣、鄭賁、李綬、李元平為宰相； 以汴州為大梁府，李清虛為尹，署百官。 遣兵東討，至寧陵，竟為劉洽所拒，不得前。 又遣將翟暉率精卒襲陳州，為劉洽、李納大破之，生擒暉以獻。 諸軍乘勝進攻汴州，希烈遁歸蔡州，擒其偽署將相鄭賁、劉敬宗等。 李臯、樊澤、曲環、張建封又四面討襲之，累拔其郡縣，希烈敗衄。 貞元二年三月，因食牛肉遇疾，其將陳仙奇令醫人陳仙甫置藥以毒之而死。 妻男骨肉兄弟共一十七人，並誅之。
Li Xilie was savagely cruel. In battle blood would pool at his feet while he ate and joked as calmly as at a banquet; men feared him and obeyed his orders to the death. At Bianzhou he forced civilians to haul timber and earth for siege ramps; when the work lagged, he drove them into the gaps to fill them—a method his men called the 'wet battering ram.' After taking Bianzhou he declared himself emperor of Wucheng and appointed Sun Guang, Zheng Ben, Li Shou, and Li Yuanping as his chancellors. He made Bianzhou his capital of Daliang, named Li Qingxu prefect, and filled out a full court. He sent an army east as far as Ningling, where Liu Qia blocked it and stopped its advance. He next sent Zhai Hui with elite troops against Chenzhou; Liu Qia and Li Na crushed the force and sent Hui back as a prisoner. Government armies then stormed Bianzhou; Li Xilie fled to Caizhou while his puppet ministers and generals, including Zheng Ben and Liu Jingzong, were captured. Li Gao, Fan Ze, Qu Huan, and Zhang Jianfeng harried him on every side, stripping away prefecture after prefecture until Li Xilie was broken. In third month, Zhenyuan 2, Li Xilie fell ill after eating beef; his general Chen Xianqi had the physician Chen Xianfu give him poison and kill him. Seventeen members of his household—wife, sons, and brothers—were all put to death.
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初，希烈於唐州得象一頭，以為瑞應，又上蔡、襄城獲其珍寶，乃是爛車釭及滑石偽印也。 陳仙奇陳仙奇者，起於行間，性忠果。 自希烈死，朝廷授淮西節度，頗竭誠節。 未幾，為別將吳少誠所殺，贈太子太保，賻布帛、米粟有差，喪事官給。 吳少誠吳少誠，幽州潞縣人。 父為魏博節度都虞候。 少誠以父勛授一子官，釋褐王府戶曹。 後至荊南，節度使庾準奇之，留為衙門將。 準入覲，從至襄漢，見梁崇義不遵憲度，知有異志，少誠密計有成擒之略，將自陳於闕下。 屬李希烈初授節制，銳意立功，見少誠計慮，乃以少誠所見錄奏，有詔慰飭，不次封通義郡王。 未幾，崇義違命，希烈受制專征，以少誠為前鋒。 崇義平，賜實封五千戶。 後希烈叛，少誠頗為其用。 希烈死，少誠等初推陳仙奇統戎事，朝廷已命仙奇，尋為少誠所殺，眾推少誠知留務。 朝廷遂授以申光蔡等州節度觀察兵馬留後，尋正授節度。
Li Xilie had once seized an elephant at Tangzhou and hailed it as a good omen; treasures taken at Shangcai and Xiangcheng proved to be rotted cart hubs and soapstone counterfeit seals. Chen Xianqi had risen from the ranks; he was loyal and resolute by nature. After Li Xilie's death the court made him Huai-Xi military governor, and he served with evident loyalty. Soon afterward Wu Shaocheng killed him. The court posthumously made him Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent, granted graded funeral gifts of cloth and grain, and paid for the rites. Wu Shaocheng was a native of Lu County in Youzhou. His father had been chief adjutant under the Weibo military governor. Through his father's service Wu Shaocheng received an initial appointment as household affairs officer in a princely establishment. He later entered the service of Jingnan; Governor Yu Zhun was impressed and kept him as a gate guard officer. When Yu Zhun went to court, Wu Shaocheng followed him to the Han River region, saw Liang Chongyi defying imperial orders, and secretly worked out a plan to capture him; he intended to present it at court himself. Li Xilie had just received his command and, eager for glory, forwarded Wu Shaocheng's plan to the throne; the emperor rewarded Shaocheng with an edict of praise and out-of-turn enfeoffment as Prince of Tongyi. Before long Liang Chongyi rebelled; Li Xilie, given sole command of the punitive campaign, made Wu Shaocheng his vanguard. After Liang Chongyi was suppressed, Wu Shaocheng received a substantive fief of five thousand households. When Li Xilie rebelled, Wu Shaocheng served him faithfully. After Li Xilie's death the troops first backed Chen Xianqi; the court had already appointed him, but Wu Shaocheng soon killed him and the army put Shaocheng in charge. The court then made him acting military governor of Shen, Guang, and Cai, and shortly afterward confirmed him in the post.
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少誠善為治，勤儉無私，日事完聚，不奉朝廷。 貞元三年，判官鄭常及大將楊冀謀逐少誠以聽命於朝，試校書郎劉涉假為手詔數十，潛致於大將，欲因少誠之出，閉城門以拒之。 屬少誠將出餞中使，常、冀等遂謀舉事； 臨發，為人所告，常、冀先遇害。 其將李嘉節等各持假詔請罪，少誠悉宥之。 其大將宋炅、曹齊奔歸京師。
Wu Shaocheng governed well—thrifty, diligent, and selfless—constantly building up his domain while ignoring the court. In Zhenyuan 3, adjutant Zheng Chang and general Yang Ji plotted to expel Wu Shaocheng and submit to the court; collator Liu She forged dozens of handwritten edicts and secretly circulated them among the generals, planning to shut the gates on Shaocheng when he left the city. When Wu Shaocheng was about to leave the city to escort an imperial envoy, Chang and Ji moved to act. On the eve of the attempt they were betrayed; Chang and Ji were killed first. Generals such as Li Jiajie came forward with the forged edicts to beg pardon; Wu Shaocheng pardoned them all. Generals Song Jiong and Cao Qi fled to the capital.
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十五年，陳許節度曲環卒，少誠擅出兵攻掠臨潁縣，節度留後上官涚遣兵赴救，臨潁鎮使韋清與少誠通，救兵三千余人，悉擒縛而去。 九月，遂圍許州。 尋下詔削奪少誠官爵，分遣十六道兵馬進討。 十二月，官軍敗衄於小溵河。 明年正月，夏州節度使韓全義為淮蔡招討處置使，北路行營諸軍將士，並取全義指揮，陳許節度留後上官涚充副使。 五月，全義與少誠將吳秀、吳少陽等戰於
In year 15, Qu Huan of Chen-Xu died; Wu Shaocheng on his own sent troops to raid Linru. Acting governor Shangguan Shui sent relief, but garrison commander Wei Qing was in league with Shaocheng and more than three thousand rescuers were captured and carried off. In ninth month he besieged Xuzhou. The court soon stripped Wu Shaocheng of rank and sent armies from sixteen circuits against him. In twelfth month imperial troops were routed on the Xiao River. Next first month Han Quanyi of Xiazhou was made Huai-Cai pacification commissioner with command over the northern route; Shangguan Shui of Chen-Xu served as his deputy. In fifth month Han Quanyi fought Wu Shaocheng's generals Wu Xiu and Wu Shaoyang at
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溵水南，官軍復敗。 七月，全義頓軍於五樓行營，為賊所乘，大潰，全義與都監軍使賈秀英、賈國良等夜遁，遂城守溵水。 汴宋、徐泗、淄青兵馬直趣陳州，列營四面。 少誠兵逼溵水五、六里下營，韓全義諸軍又退保陳州。 其汴州、河陽等兵各私歸本道，陳許將孟元陽與神策兵各率所部留軍溵水。 全義斬昭義、滑州、河陽、河中都將凡四人，然竟未嘗整陣交鋒，而王師累挫潰。 少誠尋引兵退歸蔡州。 遂下詔洗雪，復其官爵，累加檢校僕射。 順宗即位，加同中書門平章事。 元和初，遷檢校司空，依前平章事。 元和四年十一月卒，年六十，廢朝三日，贈司徒。 吳少陽吳少陽，本滄州清池人。 初，吳少誠父翔在魏博軍中，與少陽相愛。 及少誠知淮西留守，乃厚以金帛取少陽至，則名以堂弟，署為軍職，累奏官爵，出入少誠家，情旨甚暱。 少陽度少誠猜忍，懼為所害，乃請出外以任防捍之任，少誠乃表為申州刺史、兼御史大夫，凡五年。 少陽頗寬易，而少誠之眾悅附焉。 及少誠病亟，家僮單於熊兒者，偽以少誠意取少陽至，時少誠已不知人，乃偽署少陽攝副使、知軍州事。 少誠子元慶，年二十余，先為軍職，兼御史中丞，少陽密害之。 及少誠死，少陽自為留後。 時王承宗求繼士真，不受詔； 憲宗怒，以討承宗，不欲兵連兩河，乃詔遂王宥遙領彰義軍節度大使，以少陽為留後。 遂授彰義軍節度使、檢校工部尚書。 少陽據蔡州凡五年，不朝覲。 汝南多廣野大澤，得豢馬畜，時奪掠壽州茶山之利，內則數匿亡命，以富實其軍。 又屢以牧馬來獻，詔因善之。 元和九年九月卒，贈右僕射。
the south bank of the Yin River, and imperial troops were defeated again. In seventh month Han Quanyi encamped at Wulou; the rebels struck and his army collapsed. Quanyi fled by night with supervisors Jia Xiuying and Jia Guoliang and fell back to fortify Yinshui. Armies from Bian-Song, Xu-Si, and Zi-Qing marched straight to Chenzhou and encircled it. Wu Shaocheng camped within five or six li of Yinshui, and Han Quanyi's forces withdrew again to Chenzhou. Troops from Bianzhou, Heyang, and other commands drifted home, while Meng Yuanyang of Chen-Xu and the Shence army remained at Yinshui. Quanyi executed four generals from Zhaoyi, Hua, Heyang, and Hezhong, yet never fought a pitched battle while imperial armies kept breaking. Wu Shaocheng soon withdrew to Caizhou. The court then issued a reconciling edict, restored his titles, and repeatedly promoted him to honorary vice censor-in-chief. When Emperor Shunzong succeeded, Wu Shaocheng was made co-regulator of the Department of State Affairs and the Chancellery. At the start of Yuanhe he was promoted to honorary minister of works while retaining his chancellorship. He died in eleventh month, Yuanhe 4, at sixty; court mourned for three days and posthumously made him minister of education. Wu Shaoyang was originally from Qingchi in Cangzhou. Wu Shaocheng's father Xiang had served in Weibo and was close to Wu Shaoyang. When Wu Shaocheng took charge at Huai-Xi he lavished gold and silk to bring Wu Shaoyang in, styled him a cousin, gave him military office, and repeatedly secured court rank for him; Shaoyang moved freely in his household and they were on intimate terms. Fearing Wu Shaocheng's suspicious cruelty, Wu Shaoyang asked for an outside post on the frontier; Shaocheng had him made prefect of Shenzhou and grand censor, a post he held for five years. Wu Shaoyang was easygoing, and many of Wu Shaocheng's soldiers came to favor him. When Wu Shaocheng lay dying, his servant Shan Yu Xiong'er forged orders to summon Wu Shaoyang; Shaocheng was already insensible, and the servant falsely appointed Shaoyang acting deputy and commander of the prefecture. Shaocheng's son Yuanqing, a little over twenty and already a vice censor in military service, was secretly killed by Shaoyang. When Wu Shaocheng died, Wu Shaoyang made himself acting commander. At that time Wang Chengzong sought to succeed his father Shizhen and refused the imperial order. Emperor Xianzong, angry at Wang Chengzong and unwilling to fight on two fronts, named Prince Sui You nominal Zhangyi military governor and made Wu Shaoyang acting commander. Wu Shaoyang was then appointed Zhangyi military governor and honorary minister of works. Wu Shaoyang held Caizhou for five years without coming to court. Runan's open marshes let him raise horses and livestock; he repeatedly seized profits from Shouzhou's Tea Mountain and sheltered fugitives to fill out his army. He also sent horses to court as tribute, and imperial edicts treated him with favor. He died in ninth month, Yuanhe 9, and was posthumously made right vice censor-in-chief.
30
吳元濟，少陽長子也。 初為試協律郎、兼監察御史、攝蔡州刺史。 及父死，不發喪，以病聞，因假為少陽表，請元濟主兵務。 帝遣醫工候之，即稱少陽疾愈，不見而還。 先是，少陽判官蘇兆、楊元卿及其將侯惟清嘗同為少陽畫朝覲計； 及元濟自領軍，兇狠無義，唯暱軍中兇悍之徒。 素不便兆，縊殺之，歸其屍於家，械侯惟清而囚之。 時朝廷誤聞惟清已死，贈兵部尚書，贈蘇兆以右僕射。 楊元卿先奏事在京師，得盡言經略淮西事於宰相李吉甫。 始，少陽以病聞，元卿請凡淮西使在道路者，所在留止之。 及少陽卒，凡四十日，不為輟朝，但易將加兵於外以待。 其邸吏無何妄傳董重質已殺元濟，並屠其家； 李吉甫遽請對拜賀，乃輟朝。 數日，知元濟尚在。 時賊陰計已成，群眾四出，狂悍而不可遏，屠舞陽，焚葉縣，攻掠魯山、襄城。 汝州、許州及陽翟人多逃伏山谷荊棘間，為其殺傷驅剽者千里，關東大恐。
Wu Yuanji was Wu Shaoyang's eldest son. He had first served as trial director of music, investigating censor, and acting prefect of Caizhou. When his father died he concealed the death, reported illness, and forged a memorial in Wu Shaoyang's name asking that Yuanji take command. The emperor sent a physician; Yuanji claimed Shaoyang had recovered, refused to let him see the patient, and sent him back. Earlier, adjutants Su Zhao and Yang Yuanqing and general Hou Weiqing had helped Wu Shaoyang plan a visit to court. Once Wu Yuanji took command he turned savage and lawless, surrounding himself with the army's most brutal men. He had long hated Su Zhao, strangled him, and sent the body home; Hou Weiqing he shackled and imprisoned. The court mistakenly heard Hou Weiqing was dead and posthumously made him minister of war; Su Zhao was posthumously made right vice censor-in-chief. Yang Yuanqing, already at the capital on other business, was able to lay out the full Huai-Xi strategy to Chancellor Li Jifu. When Wu Shaoyang first reported illness, Yang Yuanqing urged that every Huai-Xi envoy on the road be detained. After Wu Shaoyang's death the court did not suspend audience for forty days, but quietly shifted generals and massed troops on the frontier. A clerk at the Huai-Xi residence soon spread a false report that Dong Chongzhi had killed Wu Yuanji and wiped out his family. Li Jifu rushed to request a special audience to offer congratulations, and only then was court suspended. Within days they learned Wu Yuanji was still alive. By then the rebels' plot was set; bands poured out, savage and uncontrollable, massacring Wuyang, burning Yexian, and raiding Lushan and Xiangcheng. People in Ruzhou, Xuzhou, and Yangdi fled into hills and thickets; killing and plunder spread for a thousand li, and the eastern provinces were terrified.
31
十月，以陳州刺史李光顏為忠武軍節度使，又以山南東道節度使嚴綬充申光蔡等州招撫使，仍令內常侍崔潭峻監綬軍。 十年正月，綬軍臨賊西境。 詔曰：
In tenth month Li Guangyan of Chenzhou was made Zhongwu military governor; Yan Shou of Shannan East was made pacification commissioner for Shen, Guang, and Cai, with palace attendant Cui Tanjun to supervise his army. In first month of year 10 Yan Shou's army reached the western edge of rebel territory. The emperor issued an edict:
32
二月，綬兵為賊所襲，敗於磁丘，退保唐州。 四月，光顏破賊黨，元濟遣人求援於鎮州王承宗、淄鄆李師道； 二帥上表於朝廷，請赦元濟之罪，朝旨不從。 自是兩河賊帥所在竊發，冀以沮撓王師。 五月，承宗、師道遣盜燒河陰倉，詔御史中丞裴度於軍前宣喻，觀用兵形勢。 度還奏曰：「臣觀諸將，唯光顏勇義盡心，必有成功。」 上意甚悅。 翌日，光顏奏大破賊於時曲，上曰：「度知光顏，可謂至矣！」 乃以度兼刑部侍郎。 自是中外相賀，決不赦賊，征天下兵環申、蔡之郊，大小十余鎮。 六月，承宗、師道遣盜伏於京城，殺宰相武元衡、中丞裴度； 衡先死，度重傷而免。 憲宗特怒，即命度為宰相，淮右用兵之事，一以委之。 七月，李師道遣嵩山僧圓凈結山賊與留邸兵，欲焚燒東都，先事敗而禍弭。 嚴綬退罷，乃以汴州節度使韓弘為淮右行營兵馬都統； 以高霞寓有名，用為唐鄧節度。
In second month Yan Shou's army was ambushed, routed at Ciqu, and fell back to Tangzhou. In fourth month Li Guangyan defeated rebel forces; Wu Yuanji sent for help to Wang Chengzong at Zhenzhou and Li Shidao in Zi-Yun. Both warlords memorialized the throne asking clemency for Wu Yuanji; the court refused. From then on rebel leaders on both banks of the Yellow River stirred up trouble everywhere, hoping to stall the imperial campaign. In fifth month Chengzong and Shidao sent agents to burn the Heyin granary; the court ordered Vice Censor Pei Du to the front to assess the campaign. Pei Du reported to the throne: "Of all the generals, only Li Guangyan serves with full courage and loyalty; he will succeed. The emperor was greatly pleased. The next day Li Guangyan reported a great victory at Shiqu; the emperor said, "Pei Du knows Li Guangyan as well as a man can be known! Pei Du was then also made vice minister of justice. Court and country rejoiced; pardon was ruled out; armies from more than ten commands ringed Shen and Cai. In sixth month Chengzong and Shidao sent assassins to the capital; they killed Chancellor Wu Yuanheng and wounded Vice Censor Pei Du. Wu Yuanheng was killed; Pei Du was badly wounded but survived. Emperor Xianzong, furious, immediately made Pei Du chancellor and entrusted him with the entire Huai-You campaign. In seventh month Li Shidao sent the monk Yuanjing of Song Mountain to join mountain bandits with agents in Luoyang, planning to burn the eastern capital; the plot failed before it could succeed. After Yan Shou was dismissed, Han Hong, military governor of Bianzhou, was appointed overall commander of the Huai-Xi campaign armies. Gao Xiayu, who enjoyed a strong reputation, was appointed military governor of the Tang-Deng circuit.
33
十一年春，諸軍雲合，惟李光顏、懷汝節度烏重胤心無顧望，旦夕血戰，繼獻戎捷。 六月，高霞寓為賊所擊，敗於鐵城，退保新興柵。 時諸軍勝負皆不實聞，多虛稱克捷； 及霞寓敗，中外恟々。 宰相諫官屢以罷兵為請，唯裴度堅於破賊。 尋以袁滋代霞寓為唐鄧帥，滋柔懦不能軍。 十二年正月，袁滋復貶，閑廄使李醖表請軍前自效，乃用醖為唐鄧帥以代滋。 醖軍壓境，拔賊文城柵，擒柵將吳秀琳，又獲賊將李祐。 李光顏亦拔賊郾城。 元濟始懼，盡發左右及守城卒，屬董重質以抗光顏、重胤。
In the spring of the eleventh year, imperial armies massed from every direction. Only Li Guangyan and Wu Chongyin, governor of Huairu, fought without hesitation, battling day and night and reporting one victory after another. In the sixth month, the rebels routed Gao Xiayu at Iron Fort, forcing him to retreat and hold Xinxing stockade. Reports from the field were unreliable at best, and many commanders falsely claimed triumphs they had not won. Xiayu's defeat sent shock and panic through the court and the country alike. Chancellors and censorial officials repeatedly urged the emperor to pull back the troops, but only Pei Du insisted on crushing the rebellion. Yuan Zi soon replaced Xiayu as commander of Tang-Deng, but he was too mild and indecisive to lead an army. In the first month of the twelfth year, Yuan Zi was demoted once more. Li Su, intendant of the Palace Stud, volunteered to serve at the front and was appointed commander of Tang-Deng in his place. Li Su advanced to the border, stormed the rebel stronghold at Wencheng stockade, captured its commander Wu Xiulin, and took the rebel general Li You prisoner as well. Li Guangyan captured the rebel-held city of Yancheng. Yuanji, alarmed at last, stripped his personal guard and city garrison bare and sent Dong Chongzhi to hold off Guangyan and Chongyin.
34
六月，元濟乞降，為群賊所制，不能自拔。 上以元兇已蹙，兵未臨於賊城，輓饋日殫，因延英問計於宰相。 裴度曰：「賊力已困，但群帥不一，故未能決降。」 上曰：「卿決能行乎？」 曰：「臣誓不與賊偕全。」 七月，詔以度為彰義軍節度使，兼申光蔡四面行營招撫使，以郾城為行在，蔡州為節度所。 八月，度至郾城，激勵士眾，軍士喜度至，以賞罰必行，皆願輸罄； 每出勞，軍士有流涕者。
In the sixth month Yuanji wanted to surrender, but the rebel hardliners around him would not let him break free. The chief rebel was clearly cornered, yet the imperial armies still had not reached Cai, and supply lines were draining daily. The emperor summoned his chancellors to the Yanying Hall to ask what should be done. Pei Du said, "The rebels are spent, but their commanders cannot agree among themselves, so they still cannot bring themselves to surrender. The emperor asked, "Are you certain you can see this through?" Pei Du answered, "I swear I shall not leave this war alive if the rebels do." In the seventh month an edict made Pei Du military governor of the Zhangyi Army and pacification commissioner over the Shen-Guang-Cai campaign, with Yancheng as his headquarters and Cai Prefecture as the seat of his command. When Pei Du reached Yancheng in the eighth month, the soldiers welcomed him, trusting that he would enforce discipline and reward merit. They were ready to give everything they had. Some soldiers wept whenever he came out to address them.
35
時李醖營文城柵，既得吳秀琳、李祐，知其可用，委信無疑，日夜與計事於帳中。 祐曰：「元濟勁軍，多在洄曲西境防捍，而守蔡者皆市人疲耄之卒，可以乘虛掩襲，直抵懸匏，比賊將聞之，元濟成擒矣！」 醖然之，咨於裴度。 度曰：「兵非出奇不勝，常侍良圖也。」 十一月，醖夜出軍，令李祐率勁騎三千為前鋒，田進誠三千為後軍，醖自率三千為中軍。 其月十日夜，至蔡州城下，坎墻而畢登，賊不之覺。 十一日，攻衙城，擒元濟並其家屬以聞。
Li Su was then encamped at Wencheng stockade. Having captured Wu Xiulin and Li You, he saw at once that both men were useful and placed his full trust in them, consulting with them day and night in his tent. Li You said, "Yuanji's best troops are mostly posted west at Huqu on the frontier. The men holding Cai are tired old townsmen. We can slip through the gap, strike straight at the city itself, and capture Yuanji before his generals even know we are coming. Li Su approved the plan and sought Pei Du's counsel. Pei Du replied, "War is not won by the obvious alone. Your plan is exactly right. In the eleventh month Li Su marched out by night. Li You led three thousand elite horsemen as vanguard, Tian Jincheng three thousand as rearguard, and Li Su himself commanded three thousand in the center. On the tenth night of that month they reached the walls of Cai, cut through the embankment, and scaled the city before the rebels knew they were there. On the eleventh they stormed the inner citadel, seized Yuanji and his family, and sent word of the victory.
36
初，元濟之叛，恃其兇狠，然治軍無紀綱。 其將趙昌洪、淩朝江、董重質等各權兵外寇。 李師道鄆州之鹽，城往來寧陵、雍丘之間，韓弘知而不禁。 淮右自少誠阻兵已來，三十余年，王師加討，未嘗及其城下，嘗走韓全義，敗於頔，故驕悍無所顧忌。 且恃城池重固，有陂浸阻回，故以天下兵環攻三年，所克者一縣而已。 及黜高霞寓、李遜、袁滋，諸軍始進。 又得陰山府沙阤驍騎、邯鄲勇卒，光顏、重胤之奮命，及丞相臨統，破諸將首尾之計，力擒元惡。
When Yuanji first rebelled, he counted on brute force but kept no real discipline in his ranks. Generals such as Zhao Changhong, Ling Chaojiang, and Dong Chongzhi each commanded their own forces and raided the surrounding country. Salt from Li Shidong's Yanzhou moved freely between Ningling and Yongqiu, and Han Hong looked the other way. Huai-Xi had been in arms since Wu Shaoqing's day, more than thirty years before. Imperial armies had never reached the walls of Cai; they had routed Han Quanyi and defeated Yu Di. The rebels had grown proud and feared nothing. They also trusted in thick walls, flooded moats, and tangled defenses. For three years armies from across the empire besieged them, yet only one county fell. Only after Gao Xiayu, Li Xun, and Yuan Zi were replaced did the allied armies begin to make real headway. They also had the Shatuo horsemen of the Yinshan garrison, the hard fighters from Handan, the relentless assaults of Guangyan and Chongyin, and a chancellor on the scene to break the old pattern of commanders hanging back at one end while pushing at the other. Only then was the chief rebel taken by force.
37
申、蔡之始，人劫於希烈、少誠之虐法，而忘其所歸。 數十年之後，長者衰喪，而壯者安於毒暴而恬於搏噬。 地既少馬，而廣畜騾，乘之教戰，謂之騾子軍。 尤稱勇悍，而甲仗皆畫為雷公星文，以為厭勝； 而少誠能以奸謀固眾心。
When the troubles began in Shen and Cai, the people were terrorized by the brutal rule of Li Xilie and Wu Shaoqing until they no longer remembered whose subjects they were. Decades later the old had died off, and the young had grown up on cruelty and bloodshed, treating robbery and slaughter as ordinary life. Horses were scarce there, so they bred mules in large numbers, trained them for war, and called the resulting force the Mule Army. These troops were feared for their ferocity. Their armor and weapons were painted with thunder gods and star signs meant to ward off harm. Wu Shaoqing, meanwhile, knew how to bind the people to him with sly manipulation.
38
初，韓全義敗於溵水，蔡兵於全義帳中得公卿間問訊書，少誠束而諭眾曰：「朝廷公卿以此書托全義，收蔡州日，乞一將士妻女以為婢妄。」 以此激怒其眾，絕其歸向之心。 是以蔡人有老死不聞天子恩宥者，故堅為賊用。 地雖中州，人心過於夷貊，乃至搜閱天下豪銳，三年而後屈者，彼非將才而力備，蓋勢驅性習，不知教義之所致也。
After Han Quanyi was beaten at the Yin River, Cai soldiers found in his baggage letters from court officials. Shaoqing had the papers read aloud to the troops: "The great ministers of the court sent these through Quanyi. When Cai falls, they mean to take our wives and daughters for servants and concubines. That lie turned the people against the throne and killed any wish to submit. Some in Cai grew old and died without ever hearing that the emperor might show mercy, and so they fought for the rebels to the end. Though Shen and Cai lay in the heartland of the empire, the people's loyalty had withered worse than in the frontier wilds. That the court had to scour the realm for its best troops and fight three years before the rebels broke was not because Wu Yuanji commanded great armies. Habit, fear, and long corruption had done the work; the people no longer knew what loyalty meant.
39
元濟至京，憲宗禦興安門受浮，百僚樓前稱賀，乃獻廟社，徇於兩京，斬之於獨柳，時年三十五。 其夜失其首。 妻沈氏，沒入掖庭； 弟二人、子三人，流於江陵誅之； 判官劉協庶七人皆斬。 光、蔡等州平，始復為王土矣。 【史臣曰】史臣曰：治亂，勢也，勢亂不能卒治。 長源以法繩驕軍，禍不旋踵； 則董公之寬柔不無謂。 古之名將，以陰謀怨望，鮮全其族者。 董秦始奮忠義，多長者言，宜其顯赫，及失意挾邪，俄被淮陰之戮，惜哉！ 吳少誠為希烈之亂胎，雖謀奪其軍，及嗣而滅。 而元濟效希烈之狂悖，謂無天地，人之兇險，一至於斯！ 是知王者禦治之道，其可忽諸！ 【贊】贊曰：聖哲之君，慎名與器。 不軌之臣，得寵則戾。 董怨而族，吳悖而菹。 好亂樂禍，可監前車。
When Yuanji was brought to the capital, Emperor Xianzong received the captive at Xing'an Gate while officials below the tower offered congratulations. Yuanji was then presented at the ancestral temple and the altars of soil and grain, paraded through both capitals, and beheaded at Duliou. He was thirty-five years old. That same night his head vanished. His wife, Lady Shen, was sent to the palace women's quarters. Two younger brothers and three sons were exiled to Jiangling and put to death. Seven men, including the staff officer Liu Xiexu, were beheaded. With Guang, Cai, and the surrounding prefectures pacified at last, the region returned to imperial rule. The historiographer remarks: Order and disorder follow larger forces. When those forces have turned toward chaos, they cannot be reversed overnight. When Li Changyuan tried to discipline the mutinous army by the book, catastrophe followed almost at once. In that light, Duke Dong's softer hand was not without reason. In old times, famous generals who provoked secret grudges rarely saw their families survive intact. Dong Qin began in loyal service and spoke with the gravity of a true elder; he earned his rise. But when fortune turned against him he turned vicious, and soon met the same end as Han Xin. What a waste. Wu Shaoqing grew out of Li Xilie's revolt. He schemed his way into command, but the house he built ended in ruin. Yuanji copied Xilie's madness and acted as though heaven and earth did not exist. Human wickedness can go no further. From this one sees how vital the art of kingship is. It cannot be treated lightly. Encomium: A wise ruler guards rank and reward with care. Men who break the law, once spoiled by favor, turn cruel. Dong's resentment destroyed his house; Wu's defiance ended in execution and public disgrace. Those who crave rebellion and rejoice in ruin need only look to the wreckage left behind.