1
薛播薛播,河中寶鼎人,中書舍人文思曾孫也。 父元暉,什邡令,以播贈工部郎中。 播,天寶中舉進士,補校書郎,累授萬年縣丞、武功令、殿中侍御史、刑部員外郎、萬年令。 播溫敏,善與人交,李棲筠、常袞、崔祐甫皆引擢之。 及祐甫輔政,用為中書舍人。 出汝州刺史,以公事貶泉州刺史。 尋除晉州刺史,河南尹,遷尚書左丞,轉禮部侍郎。 遇疾,貞元三年卒,贈禮部尚書。
Xue Bo was from Baoding in Hezhong. He was the great-grandson of Wen Si, who had served as Attendant Gentleman at the Secretariat. His father Yuan Hui had been magistrate of Shifang; on Bo's account Yuan Hui was posthumously granted the title Director in the Ministry of Works. During the Tianbao reign Bo passed the jinshi examination and entered service as a Collator. He rose through a series of posts: Assistant Magistrate of Wannian, Magistrate of Wugong, Palace Attendant Censor, Vice Director in the Ministry of Justice, and again Magistrate of Wannian. Bo was affable and quick-witted and excelled at cultivating relationships. Li Qiyun, Chang Gun, and Cui Youfu each took him up and advanced his career. Once Youfu assumed a leading role at court, Bo was appointed Attendant Gentleman at the Secretariat. He was sent out to serve as Prefect of Ruzhou, then demoted to Prefect of Quanzhou on account of an official infraction. He was soon appointed Prefect of Jinzhou and Intendant of Henan, then promoted to Left Vice Director of the Secretariat and finally Vice Minister of Rites. He fell ill and died in the third year of the Zhenyuan era (787). He was posthumously granted the title Minister of Rites.
2
初,播伯父元曖終於隰城丞,其妻濟南林氏,丹陽太守洋之妹,有母儀令德,博涉《五經》,善屬文,所為篇章,時人多諷詠之。 元曖卒後,其子彥輔、彥國、彥偉、彥雲及播兄據、摠並早孤幼,悉為林氏所訓導,以至成立,咸致文學之名。 開元、天寶中二十年間,彥輔、據等七人並舉進士,連中科名,衣冠榮之。 鮑防鮑防,襄州人。 幼孤貧,篤誌好學,善屬文。 天寶末舉進士,為漸東觀察使薛兼訓從事,累至殿中侍御史。 入為職方員外郎,改太原少尹,正拜節度使。 入為御史大夫,歷福建、江西觀察使,徵拜左散騎常侍。 扈從奉天,除禮部侍郎,尋遷工部尚書致仕。
Bo's uncle Yuan Ai had died in office as Assistant Magistrate of Xicheng, leaving a widow, Lady Lin of Jinan, younger sister of the Danyang prefect Yang. She was a woman of exemplary bearing and learning, well read in the Five Classics and accomplished as a writer; contemporaries often recited her compositions. After Yuan Ai's death his sons Yanfu, Yanguo, Yanwei, and Yanyun, along with Bo's elder brothers Ju and Zong, were left fatherless while still children. Lady Lin raised and tutored them all to maturity, and each won a reputation for literary accomplishment. Over the twenty years spanning the Kaiyuan and Tianbao reigns, all seven—Yanfu, Ju, and the rest—passed the jinshi examination one after another, a run of successes that became the pride of their clan. Bao Fang was a native of Xiangzhou. Orphaned in childhood and raised in poverty, he pursued his studies with single-minded devotion and showed a gift for writing. Near the close of the Tianbao era he passed the jinshi examination and joined the staff of Xue Jianxun, governor of Zhedong, rising eventually to Palace Attendant Censor. He was recalled to the capital as Vice Director in the Bureau of Appointments, then appointed Vice Intendant of Taiyuan and finally invested as full Military Governor. He returned to court as Censor-in-Chief, served as governor of Fujian and then Jiangxi, and was summoned back to receive appointment as Left Regular Attendant. He accompanied the emperor to Fengtian, was made Vice Minister of Rites, and soon after promoted to Minister of Works before retiring from office.
3
防歷洪、福、京兆,皆有政聲,唯總戎非所宜,而謬執兵柄。 以太原革車胡騎雄雜,而回鶻深入寇,防出拒戰,為虜所敗。 為禮部侍郎時,嘗遇知雜侍御史竇參於通衢,導騎不時引避,仆人為參所鞭; 及參秉政,遽令致仕。 防謂親友曰:「吾與蕭昕之子齒,而與昕同日懸車,非朽邁之致,以余忿見廢。」 防文學舊人,歷職中外,不因罪戾,而為俗吏所擯,竟以憤終。 眾頗憫防而咎參,故參之敗不旋踵,非不幸也。 李自良李自良,兗州泗水人。 初,祿山之亂,自良從兗鄆節度使能元皓,以戰功累授右衛率。 後從袁傪討袁晁陳莊賊,積功至試殿中監,隸浙江東道節度使薛兼訓。 兼訓移鎮太原,自良從行,授河東軍節度押衙。 兼訓卒,鮑防代,又事防為牙將。 會回鶻入寇,防令大將焦伯瑜、杜榮國將兵擊之。 自良謂防曰:「回鶻遠來求戰,未可與爭鋒。 但於歸路築二壘,以兵守之,堅壁不動,虜求戰不得,師老自旋。 俟其返昪,即乘之,縱不甚捷,虜必狼狽矣。 二壘阨其歸路,策之上也。」 防不從,促伯瑜等逆戰,遇虜於百井。 伯瑜等大敗而還,由是稍知名。 馬燧代防為帥,署奏自良代州刺史、兼御史大夫,仍為軍候。 自良勤恪有謀,燧深委信之。 建中年,田悅叛,燧與抱真東討; 自良常為河東大將,摧鋒陷陣,破田悅。 及討李懷光於河中,自良專河東軍都將,前後戰績居多。 燧之立功名,由自良協輔之力也。
In his stints governing Hong, Fu, and the capital region he earned a reputation for capable administration, but command of armies was not his strength—yet he insisted on holding military authority. Taiyuan's forces included large numbers of fierce nomadic cavalry. When the Uyghurs launched a deep raid, Fang marched out to meet them and was routed. While serving as Vice Minister of Rites he once met the supervising censor Dou Can on a public road. His escort failed to clear the way promptly, and Can had one of Fang's servants whipped. Once Dou Can seized power at court, Fang was abruptly forced into retirement. Fang told friends and kin, "I am the same age as Xiao Xin's son, yet I am retiring on the very day Xin does—not because I am worn out with age, but because Can's grudge has undone me. A veteran man of letters who had served at court and in the provinces, Fang was driven out not for any crime but by a coarse official's spite, and he died embittered. Public sympathy lay with Fang and blame with Can, so when Can's fall followed almost at once, few regarded it as undeserved. Li Ziliang was a native of Sishui in Yanzhou. When the An Lushan rebellion broke out, Ziliang served under Neng Yuanhao, military governor of Yan and He, and won repeated promotion for his battlefield record, eventually rising to Right Commander of the Guard. He later campaigned under Yuan Zai against the rebels Yuan Chao and Chen Zhuang, accumulating enough merit to be named Acting Director within the Palace, and was assigned to the staff of Xue Jianxun, governor of Zhedong. When Jianxun transferred his headquarters to Taiyuan, Ziliang went with him and was appointed chief military aide of the Hedong command. After Jianxun's death Bao Fang succeeded him, and Ziliang continued in service as one of Fang's guard officers. When the Uyghurs raided, Fang ordered his generals Jiao Boyu and Du Rongguo to take the field against them. Ziliang told Fang, "The Uyghurs have marched a great distance eager to fight. We should not meet them head-on. Instead, erect two fortified posts along their line of retreat and man them. Hold fast without giving battle. Denied a fight, their troops will tire and withdraw on their own. When they turn back in high spirits, strike at once. Even a modest success will leave them in disarray. Blocking their retreat with two forts—that is the best plan. Fang refused. He pressed Boyu and the others to give battle and met the enemy at Baijing. Boyu and his command were routed. Ziliang's counsel, ignored, nonetheless brought him a measure of notice. When Ma Sui replaced Fang as commander, he had Ziliang appointed Prefect of Daizhou and concurrent Censor-in-Chief while retaining him as army adjutant. Diligent, resourceful, and utterly dependable, Ziliang won Ma Sui's deepest trust. In the Jianzhong era, when Tian Yue rebelled, Ma Sui marched east with Bao Zhen to suppress him. Ziliang regularly led the Hedong vanguard, breaking enemy lines and helping bring Tian Yue to defeat. In the campaign against Li Huai'guang at Hezhong he served as chief commander of the Hedong forces and accounted for the lion's share of their victories. Ma Sui's reputation and achievements owed much to Ziliang's support on campaign.
4
貞元三年,從燧入朝,罷燧兵權,德宗欲以自良代燧。 自良懇辭事燧久,不欲代為軍帥,物議多之,乃授右龍武大將軍。 德宗以河東密邇胡戎,難於擇帥,翌日,自良謝,上謂之曰:「卿於馬燧存軍中事分,誠為得禮,然北門之寄,無易於卿。」 即日拜檢校工部尚書、兼御史大夫、太原尹、北都留守、河東節度支度營田觀察使。 在鎮九年,以簡儉守職,軍民胥悅。 雖出身戎伍,動必循法,略不以暴戾加人。 十一年五月,卒於軍,年六十三,上甚嗟惜之,廢朝一日,贈左僕射,賻布帛米粟有差。 李説李説,淮安王神通之裔也。 父遇,天寶中為御史中丞。 説以門廕歷仕,累佐使幕。 馬燧為河陽三城、太原節度,皆辟為從事。 累轉御史郎官,御史中丞,太原少尹,出為汾州刺史。 節度使李自良復奏為太原少尹、檢校庶子、兼中丞。
In the third year of Zhenyuan (787) Ziliang accompanied Ma Sui to the capital. The emperor stripped Sui of his command and intended to install Ziliang in his place. Ziliang declined firmly, saying he had served under Ma Sui too long to take his command. Public opinion applauded his loyalty, and the court appointed him Right General of the Majestic Dragon Guard instead. Hedong lay close to the northern frontier, and finding a suitable commander proved difficult. The next day, when Ziliang came to decline again, the emperor told him, "Your regard for Ma Sui's standing is proper, but for guarding the northern gate there is no one I would trust sooner than you. That same day he received appointment as Acting Minister of Works, concurrent Censor-in-Chief, Intendant of Taiyuan, Defender of the Northern Capital, and Military Governor of Hedong with full civil and military authority. He governed the region for nine years, administering with frugality and discipline, and won the satisfaction of both troops and populace. Though he had risen through the ranks as a soldier, he conducted himself by the book and rarely resorted to harsh or arbitrary punishment. In the fifth month of the eleventh year (795) he died in camp at the age of sixty-three. The emperor mourned him deeply, suspended court for a day, posthumously appointed him Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, and granted graded funeral gifts of cloth, silk, rice, and grain. Li Yue was a descendant of Prince Huai'an Li Shentong. His father Li Yu had served as Vice Censor-in-Chief during the Tianbao reign. Yue entered government by hereditary privilege and served on several governors' staffs in succession. Whenever Ma Sui held command—first at the Three Cities of Heyang, then at Taiyuan—he recruited Yue to his staff. He rose through censorial posts to Vice Censor-in-Chief and Vice Intendant of Taiyuan, then was sent out as Prefect of Fenzhou. When Li Ziliang became military governor, he had Yue recalled as Vice Intendant of Taiyuan, Acting Chamberlain for the Heir Apparent, and concurrent Vice Censor-in-Chief.
5
貞元十一年五月,自良病,凡六日而卒。 匿喪,陽言病甚,數日發喪。 先是,都虞候張瑤久在軍,素得士心,嘗請假遷葬,自良未許。 至是,説與監軍王定遠謀,乃給瑤假,以大將毛朝陽代瑤,然後遣使告自良病。 中使第五國珍自雲、朔使還,過太原,聞自良病,中使遲留信宿。 自良卒,國珍急馳至京,先説使至。 乃下制以通王領河東節度大使,以説為行軍司馬,充節度留後、北都副留守; 仍令國珍齎説官告及軍府將吏部內刺史等敕書三十余通往太原宣賜,軍中始定。
In the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zhenyuan (795), Ziliang fell ill and died six days later. Yue and his allies concealed the death, publicly claiming Ziliang was gravely ill, and only announced the funeral several days later. Zhang Yao, the army's chief inspector, had long served in the command and enjoyed the troops' loyalty. He had once asked leave to rebury a relative, which Ziliang had refused. Yue conspired with the army supervisor Wang Dingyuan. They granted Zhang Yao his leave, installed the general Mao Chaoyang in his post, and only then sent word that Ziliang had fallen ill. The palace envoy Diwu Guozhen was returning from a mission to Yun and Shuo when he passed through Taiyuan, heard that Ziliang was ill, and lingered two nights. When Ziliang died, Guozhen raced to the capital—but Yue's messenger had already arrived ahead of him. The court issued orders appointing the Prince of Tong nominal military governor of Hedong, with Li Yue as campaigning army marshal, acting military governor, and Vice Defender of the Northern Capital. Guozhen was sent back to Taiyuan bearing Yue's commission and more than thirty edicts appointing headquarters officers and prefects. Once these were proclaimed, the army quieted.
6
定遠恃立説之功,頗恣縱橫,軍政皆自專決,仍請賜印。 監軍有印,自定遠始也。 定遠既得印,益暴,將吏輒自補授,説浸不歡,遂成嫌隙。 是歲七月,定遠署虞候田宏為列將,以代彭令茵。 令茵不伏,揚言曰:「超補列將,非功不可,宏有何功,敢代予任!」 定遠聞而含怒,召令茵斬之,埋於馬糞之中。 家人請屍,不與,三軍皆怨。 説具以事聞。 德宗以定遠有奉天扈從之功,恕死停任。 制未至,定遠怒説奏聞,趨府謀殺説,升堂未坐,抽刀刺説,説走而獲免。 定遠馳至府門,召集將吏,於箱中陳敕牒官告二十余軸,示諸將曰:「有敕,令李景略知留後,遣説赴京,公等皆有恩命。」 指箱中示之,諸將方拜抃,大將馬良輔呼而麾眾曰:「箱中皆監軍舊官告,非恩命也,不可受,但備急變爾。」 定遠知事敗,走登乾陽樓,召其部下將卒,多不之應。 比夜,定遠墜城下槎枿,傷而不死。 尋有詔削奪,長流崖州。 大將高迪等同其謀,説皆斬之。 尋正拜河東節度使,檢校禮部尚書。
Wang Dingyuan, claiming credit for putting Yue in power, grew arrogant and took sole charge of military and civil affairs. He even petitioned for an official seal. The practice of issuing seals to army supervisors began with Dingyuan. Once he held the seal, Dingyuan grew still more brutal, appointing officers on his own authority. Yue's displeasure deepened, and enmity grew between them. That seventh month Dingyuan named the army inspector Tian Hong a ranked general to replace Peng Lingyin. Peng Lingyin refused to accept the change and declared openly, "Promotion to ranked general requires real merit. What has Hong done to take my place? Dingyuan, enraged, had Lingyin summoned and executed, then buried the body in a heap of horse manure. When his family asked for the body, Dingyuan refused. Resentment spread through the entire command. Yue reported the entire affair to the throne. Because Dingyuan had accompanied the emperor to Fengtian, Dezong spared his life and merely suspended him from office. Before the edict arrived, Dingyuan, furious at Yue's report, rushed to headquarters to kill him. He burst into the hall, drew his blade, and lunged at Yue, who fled and survived. Dingyuan galloped to the gate, assembled the officers, and produced from a chest more than twenty scrolls of edicts and commissions. He told them, "By imperial order Li Jinglue is to take command, Li Yue is recalled to the capital, and each of you has a new appointment. As the officers began to bow in acceptance, the general Ma Liangfu shouted, "Those are Dingyuan's old commissions, not new imperial orders. Do not accept them—he is only preparing a coup." Seeing his plot collapse, Dingyuan fled to the Qianyang Tower and called his followers. Few answered. That night he fell from the wall timbers, injured but alive. An edict soon stripped his rank and banished him to distant Yazhou. Yue executed Gao Di and the other conspirators. He was soon formally appointed Military Governor of Hedong and Acting Minister of Rites.
7
説在鎮六年,初勤心吏職,後遇疾,言語行步蹇澀,不能錄軍府之政,悉監軍主之。 又為孔目吏宋季等欺誑,軍政事多隳紊,如此累年。 十六年十月卒,年六十一,廢朝一日,贈左僕射。
Yue governed for six years. At first he attended diligently to administration, but illness later slowed his speech and gait until he could no longer manage headquarters affairs, which fell entirely to the army supervisor. Clerks such as Song Ji deceived him further, and military administration fell into disorder year after year. He died in the tenth month of the sixteenth year (800) at the age of sixty-one. The court mourned him for a day and posthumously appointed him Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs.
8
是月,制以河東節度行軍司馬鄭儋檢校工部尚書,兼太原尹、御史大夫、河東節度度支營田觀察等使、北都留守,在任不期年而卒。 嚴綬嚴綬,蜀人。 曾祖方約,利州司功。 祖挹之,符離尉。 父丹,殿中侍御史。 綬,大曆中登進士第,累佐使府。 貞元中,由侍御史充宣歙團練副使,深為其使劉贊委遇,政事多所咨訪。 十二年,贊卒,綬掌宣歙留務,傾府藏以進獻,由是有恩,召為尚書刑部員外郎。 天下賓佐進獻,自綬始也。
That same month Zheng Dan, campaigning marshal of Hedong, was appointed Acting Minister of Works, Intendant of Taiyuan, Censor-in-Chief, and full military governor with civil authority. He died in office before a year had passed. Yan Shou was a native of Shu. His great-grandfather Fangyue had served as Director of Merit in Lizhou. His grandfather Yizhi had been magistrate of Fuli. His father Dan had served as Palace Attendant Censor. Shou passed the jinshi examination during the Dali reign and served on several governors' staffs in succession. During Zhenyuan he rose from Attendant Censor to deputy commissioner of the Xuan-She defense command, where Governor Liu Zan relied on him heavily and consulted him on most administrative matters. When Liu Zan died in the twelfth year (796), Shou took charge of the command, emptied its treasury to send tribute to the court, and was rewarded with appointment as Vice Director in the Ministry of Justice. The practice of provincial staff sending tribute to the throne began with Shou.
9
未幾,河東節度使李説嬰疾,事多曠弛,行軍司馬鄭儋代綜軍政; 既而説卒,因授儋河東節度使。 是時姑息四方諸侯,未嘗特命帥守,物故即用行軍司馬為帥,冀軍情厭伏。 儋既為帥,德宗選朝士可以代儋為行軍司馬者。 因綬前日進獻,上頗記之,故命檢校司封郎中,充河東行軍司馬。 不周歲,儋卒,遷綬銀青光祿大夫、檢校工部尚書,兼太原尹、御中大夫、北都留守,充河東節度支度營田觀察處置等使。 元和元年,楊惠琳叛於夏州,劉辟叛於成都,綬表請出師討伐。 綬悉選精甲,付牙將李光顏兄弟,光顏累立戰功。 蜀、夏平,加綬檢校尚書左僕射。 尋拜司空,進階金紫,封扶風郡公。 綬在鎮九年,以寬惠為政,士馬蕃息,境內稱治。
Soon afterward Li Yue, military governor of Hedong, fell chronically ill. Affairs languished until the campaigning marshal Zheng Dan took over military administration. When Yue died, Dan was appointed military governor in his place. The court was then indulging regional commanders and rarely named outsiders to succeed them. When a governor died, his campaigning marshal was usually promoted, in the hope the army would accept the change. With Dan installed as governor, Dezong looked for a court official to replace him as campaigning marshal. The emperor remembered Shou's recent tribute and appointed him Acting Director in the Bureau of Enfeoffments as campaigning marshal of Hedong. Less than a year later Dan died, and Shou was promoted to Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, Acting Minister of Works, Intendant of Taiyuan, Censor-in-Chief, Defender of the Northern Capital, and full military governor of Hedong. In the first year of Yuanhe (806), when Yang Huilin rebelled at Xiazhou and Liu Pi at Chengdu, Shou memorialized offering to lead troops against them. Shou selected the best troops and entrusted them to his guard officer Li Guangyan and his brother, who won repeated victories on campaign. After the rebellions in Shu and Xia were suppressed, Shou was promoted to Acting Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. He was soon appointed Minister of Works, raised to the Golden Purple rank, and enfeoffed as Duke of Fufeng. During nine years in command he ruled with lenience and kindness. His forces and herds prospered, and the region was regarded as well governed.
10
四年,入拜尚書右僕射。 綬雖名家子,為吏有方略,然銳於勢利,不存名節,人士以此薄之。 嘗預百僚廊下食,上令中使馬江朝賜櫻桃。 綬居兩班之首,在方鎮時識江朝,敘語次,不覺屈膝而拜,御史大夫高郢亦從而拜。 是日,為御史所劾,綬待罪於朝,命釋之。 翌日,責江朝,降官一等。 尋出鎮荊南,進封鄭國公。 有漵州蠻首張伯靖者,殺長吏,據辰、錦等州,連九洞以自固,詔綬出兵討之。 綬遣部將李忠烈齎書曉諭,盡招降之。
In the fourth year he was recalled to court as Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. Though born to a distinguished house and capable in office, Shou was avid for power and profit and cared little for reputation. Men of standing looked down on him for it. Once, at a corridor feast for the hundred officials, the emperor sent the palace envoy Ma Jiangchao to distribute cherries. Shou stood at the head of the civil ranks. Having known Jiangchao from his days in the provinces, he fell into conversation about precedence and, without thinking, knelt and bowed to him. Censor-in-Chief Gao Ying bowed as well. That day the censors impeached him. Shou awaited judgment at court, but the emperor ordered him released. The next day the emperor rebuked Jiangchao and reduced his rank by one grade. He was soon sent out to govern Jingnan and advanced in rank to Duke of Zheng. A tribal leader of Xuzhou named Zhang Bojing killed the local prefect, seized Chen, Jin, and neighboring prefectures, and united nine cave districts in his defense. The court ordered Shou to campaign against him. Shou sent his officer Li Zhonglie with proclamations to win them over, and they all submitted.
11
九年,吳元濟叛,朝議加兵,以綬有弘恕之稱,可委以戎柄,乃授山南東道節度使,尋加淮西招撫使。 綬自帥師壓賊境,無威略以制寇; 到軍日,遽發公藏以賞士卒,累年蓄積,一旦而盡。 又厚賂中貴人以招聲援。 師徒萬余,閉壁而已,經年無尺寸功。 裴度見上,屢言綬非將帥之才,不可責以戎事,乃拜太子少保代歸。 尋檢校司空。 久之,進位太傅,食封至三千戶。 長慶二年五月卒,年七十七,詔贈太保。
In the ninth year (814) Wu Yuanji rebelled. The court resolved to send more troops. Shou's reputation for magnanimity led the court to entrust him with command, appointing him military governor of Shannan East Circuit and soon adding the title Commissioner for Pacification and Recruitment in Huaixi. Shou led his army to the rebel border himself but lacked the strategic authority to master the enemy. On his first day in camp he emptied the public treasury to reward the troops, spending in one day what had been saved over many years. He also lavished bribes on palace eunuchs to secure their backing at court. His force of more than ten thousand men simply held their walls. After a full year they had achieved nothing. Pei Du told the emperor repeatedly that Shou lacked the talent of a commander and should not be charged with military affairs. Shou was replaced and recalled as Heir Apparent Junior Tutor. He was soon appointed Acting Minister of Works. In time he was promoted to Grand Tutor with a fief income of three thousand households. He died in the fifth month of the second year of Changqing (822) at the age of seventy-seven. The court posthumously appointed him Grand Protector.
12
綬材器不逾常品,事兄嫂過謹,為時所稱。 常以寬柔自持,位躋上公,年至大耋,前後統臨三鎮,皆號雄藩,所親士親睹為將相者凡九人,其貴壽如此。 蕭昕蕭昕,河南人。 少補崇文進士。 開元十九年,首舉博學宏辭,授陽武縣主簿。 天寶初,復舉宏辭,授壽安尉,再遷左拾遺。 昕嘗與布衣張鎬友善,館而禮之,表薦之曰:「如鎬者,用之則為王者師,不用則幽谷一叟爾。」 玄宗擢鎬拾遺,不數年,出入將相。 及安祿山反,昕舉贊善大夫來瑱堪任將帥; 思明之亂,瑱功居多。 累遷憲部員外郎,為副元帥哥舒翰掌書記。 潼關敗,間道入蜀,遷司門郎中。 尋兼安陸長史,為河南等道都統判官。 遷中書舍人,兼揚府司馬,佐軍仍舊,入拜本官,累遷秘書監。 代宗幸陜,昕出武關詣行在,轉國子祭酒。 大曆初,持節弔回鶻。 時回鶻恃功,廷詰昕曰:「祿山、思明之亂,非我無以平定,唐國奈何市馬而失信,不時歸價?」 眾皆失色。 昕答曰:「國家自平寇難,賞功無絲毫之遺,況鄰國乎! 且僕固懷恩,我之叛臣,乃者爾助為亂,聯西戎而犯郊畿; 及吐蕃敗走,回紇悔懼,啟顙乞和。 非大唐存念舊功,則當匹馬不得出塞矣! 是回紇自絕,非我失信。」 回紇慚退,加禮以歸,為常侍。 十二年。 朱泚之亂,徒步出城,泚急求之,亡竄山谷間。 至奉天,遷太子少傅。 貞元初,兼禮部尚書,尋復知貢舉。 五年,致仕。 七年,卒於家,年九十,廢朝,諡曰懿。 杜亞杜亞,字次公,自云京兆人也。 少頗涉學,善言物理及歷代成敗之事。 至德初,於靈武獻封章,言政事,授校書郎。 其年,杜鴻漸為河西節度,辟為從事,累授評事、御史。 後入朝,歷工、戶、兵、吏四員外郎。 永泰末,劍南叛亂,鴻漸以宰相出領山、劍副元帥,以亞及楊炎並為判官。 使還,授吏部郎中、諫議大夫。 炎為禮部郎中、知制誥、中書舍人。 亞自以才用合當柄任,雖為諫議大夫,而心不悅。 李棲筠承恩,眾望必為宰相,亞厚結之。 元載得罪,亞與劉晏、李涵等七人同鞫訊之。 載死之翌日,亞遷給事中、河北宣慰使。 宰相常袞亦不悅亞,歲餘,出為洪州刺史、兼御史中丞、江西都團練觀察使。
Shou's abilities were unremarkable, but his scrupulous devotion to his elder brother and sister-in-law won contemporary praise. He cultivated a reputation for lenience and lived to great old age, rising to the highest noble rank. He governed three of the empire's mightiest commands in succession, and nine men in his circle rose to become generals or chief ministers. Such were the rewards of his long and privileged career. Xiao Xin was a native of Henan. In youth he was selected as a Chongwen jinshi. In the nineteenth year of Kaiyuan (731) he topped the Broad Learning and Grand Eloquence examination and was appointed Chief Clerk of Yangwu County. Early in the Tianbao reign he passed the Grand Eloquence examination again, was appointed Defender of Shou'an, and soon promoted to Left Reminder. Xin once befriended the commoner Zhang Hao, housed him with honor, and memorialized the throne: "A man like Hao, if used, would be a king's teacher; if passed over, no more than an old man in a secluded valley. Xuanzong appointed Hao Reminder, and within a few years he was moving in and out of the highest civil and military offices. When An Lushan rebelled, Xin recommended the Good Companion Lai Tian as fit for high command. In the campaigns against Shi Siming, Tian accounted for most of the victories. He rose to Vice Director in the Bureau of Justice and served as chief secretary to the deputy commander Geshu Han. After the defeat at Tong Pass he made his way by hidden routes into Shu and was appointed Director in the Bureau of Gates. He soon served concurrently as Chief Administrator of Anlu and as judge on the staff of the Henan theater commander. He was promoted to Attendant Gentleman at the Secretariat and concurrently Military Aide of Yang Prefecture. After further service on campaign he returned to court and eventually rose to Director of the Palace Library. When Emperor Daizong went to Shaan, Xin passed through Wu Pass to join the mobile court and was appointed Chancellor of the Directorate of Education. Early in the Dali reign he was dispatched with imperial credentials to offer condolences to the Uyghurs. The Uyghurs, proud of their service, confronted Xin in audience: "The rebellions of An Lushan and Shi Siming could not have been crushed without us. Why does Tang buy our horses yet fail to pay on time? The Tang envoys blanched. Xin replied, "Since pacifying the rebellions the court has rewarded every service without stint—how much more should it honor a neighboring state! Moreover Pugu Huai'en was our rebel subject, yet you aided his revolt and joined the Tibetans in raiding our capital approaches. When the Tibetans were routed, the Uyghurs were filled with remorse and fear and came begging for peace with foreheads pressed to the ground. Had Tang not remembered your former service, not a single horse of yours would have been allowed beyond the passes! It is the Uyghurs who have cut themselves off, not Tang that has broken faith. The Uyghurs withdrew abashed. Xin returned with added honors and was appointed Regular Attendant. In the twelfth year. During Zhu Ci's rebellion he fled the capital on foot. Ci searched for him urgently, and he hid in the mountains. Reaching Fengtian, he was appointed Heir Apparent Junior Tutor. Early in Zhenyuan he was made concurrent Minister of Rites and soon resumed charge of the civil service examinations. In the fifth year he retired. He died at home in the seventh year at the age of ninety. Court was suspended for mourning, and he was given the posthumous title Yi. Du Ya, style name Cigong, claimed descent from Jingzhao. In youth he studied widely and spoke fluently on practical affairs and the rise and fall of past dynasties. Early in the Zhide reign he submitted a sealed memorial on state affairs at Lingwu and was appointed Collator. That same year Du Hongjian became military governor of Hexi and recruited Ya to his staff, promoting him through Evaluator and Censor. He later entered court and served in succession as Vice Director in the Ministries of Works, Revenue, War, and Personnel. Late in Yongtai, when Jiannan rebelled, Hongjian went out as chancellor and deputy commander of the Shan-Jian theater, appointing both Ya and Yang Yan as his staff judges. On his return he was appointed Director in the Ministry of Personnel and Remonstrance Grandee. Yang Yan meanwhile had risen to Director in the Ministry of Rites, drafter of edicts, and Attendant Gentleman at the Secretariat. Ya believed his talents entitled him to the highest office. Though appointed Remonstrance Grandee, he was dissatisfied. Li Qiyun enjoyed imperial favor and was widely expected to become chancellor. Ya cultivated a close alliance with him. When Yuan Zai fell from power, Ya joined Liu Yan, Li Han, and five others in interrogating him. The day after Zai's execution Ya was promoted to Attendant Gentleman and Commissioner to Console Hebei. Chancellor Chang Gun likewise disliked him. After little more than a year Ya was sent out as Prefect of Hongzhou, concurrent Vice Censor-in-Chief, and commissioner of the Jiangxi defense command.
13
德宗初嗣位,勵精求賢,令中使召亞。 亞自揣必以宰輔見徵,乃促程而進,累路與人言議,語及行宰相事方面,或以公事諮祈,亞皆納之。 既至,帝微知之,不悅; 又奏對辭旨疏闊,出為陝州觀察使兼轉運使。 尋遷河中、晉、絳等州防禦觀察使。 楊炎作相,劉晏得罪,亞坐貶睦州刺史。
When Dezong first ascended the throne he sought to revive governance and ordered a palace envoy to summon Ya. Convinced he was to be summoned as chancellor, Ya hurried to the capital. Along the way he discussed affairs of state openly and accepted petitions from those who sought his favor. When he arrived the emperor learned of this and was displeased. His answers at audience proved vague and unsatisfactory, and he was sent out as governor of Shanzhou and transport commissioner. He was soon transferred to govern the Hezhong, Jin, and Jiang defense command. When Yang Yan became chancellor and Liu Yan fell, Ya was demoted to Prefect of Muzhou.
14
興元初,召拜刑部侍郎。 出為揚州長史、兼御史大夫、淮南節度觀察使。 時承陳少遊徵稅煩重,奢侈僭濫之後,又新遭王紹亂兵剽掠; 淮南之人,望亞之至,革刬舊弊,冀以康寧。 亞自以材當公輔之選,而聯出外職,志頗不適,政事多委參佐,招引賓客,談論而已。 揚州官河填淤,漕輓堙塞,又僑寄衣冠及工商等多侵衢造宅,行旅擁弊。 亞乃開拓疏啟,公私悅賴,而盛為奢侈。 江南風俗,春中有競渡之戲,方舟並進,以急趨疾進者為勝。 亞乃令以漆塗船底,貴其速進; 又為綺羅之服,塗之以油,令舟子衣之,入水而不濡。 亞本書生,奢縱如此,朝廷亟聞之。
Early in the Xingyuan era he was recalled and appointed Vice Minister of Justice. He was sent out as Chief Administrator of Yangzhou, concurrent Censor-in-Chief, and military governor of Huainan. The region still bore the burden of Chen Shaoyou's heavy taxes and extravagant rule, and had lately been ravaged by the rebel Wang Shao. The people of Huainan looked to Ya's arrival to sweep away old abuses and restore peace. Ya believed himself fit for the highest offices yet found himself repeatedly posted to the provinces. Discontented, he left most administration to his staff and occupied himself with entertaining guests. Yangzhou's canals were silted up and transport choked. Sojourning officials, merchants, and artisans had built houses across the thoroughfares, crowding travelers. Ya dredged and cleared the waterways to general relief, yet indulged himself in lavish display. In Jiangnan custom, spring brought boat-racing festivals in which paired boats raced and the swiftest won. Ya had the boat bottoms lacquered to make them faster. He also had fine silk garments oiled so the boatmen could wear them in the water without getting wet. A scholar by origin, Ya had become so extravagant that reports soon reached the court.
15
貞元五年,以戶部侍郎竇覦為淮南節度代亞。 亞猶以舊望,竇覦甚畏之。 改檢校吏部尚書,判東都尚書省事,充東都留守、都防禦使。 既病風,尚建利以固寵,奏請開苑內地為營田,以資軍糧; 減度支每年所給,從之。 亞不躬親部署,但委判官張薦、楊晪。 初,奏請取荒地營田,其苑內地堪耕食者,先為留司中官及軍人等開墾已盡。 晉計急,乃取軍中雜錢舉息與畿內百姓,每至田收之際,多令軍人車牛散入村鄉,收斂百姓所得菽粟將還軍。 民家略盡,無可輸稅,人多艱食,由是大致流散。 乃厚賂中官,令奏河南尹無政,亞自此亦規求兼領河南尹,事不果。 帝漸知虛誕,乃以禮部尚書董晉代為東都留守,召亞還京師。 既風疾漸深,又患腳膝,不任朝謁。 貞元十四年卒於家,年七十四,贈太子少傅。 王緯王緯,字文卿,太原人也。 祖景,司門員外、萊州刺史。 父之咸,長安尉; 與昆弟之賁、之渙皆善屬文。 之咸以緯貴,故累贈刺史。 緯舉明經,又書判入等,歷長安尉,出佐使府,授御史郎官,入朝為金部員外郎、劍南租庸使、檢校司封郎中、彭州刺史、檢校庶子、兼御史中丞、西川節度營田副使。 初,大曆中,路嗣恭為江西觀察使,陷害判官李泌,將誅之; 緯亦為路嗣恭判官,説諭救解,獲免。 貞元三年,泌為相,擢授緯給事中。 未數日,又擢為潤州刺史、兼御史中丞、浙江西道都團練觀察使。 十年,加御史大夫,兼諸道鹽鐵轉運使。 三歲,加檢校工部尚書。 緯性勤儉,歷官清潔,而傷於苛碎,多用削刻之吏,督察巡屬,人不聊生。 貞元十四年卒,年七十一,廢朝一日,贈太子少保。 李若初李若初,趙郡人。 貞觀中并州長史、工部侍郎弘節之曾孫也。 祖道謙,太府卿。 若初少孤貧,初為轉運使劉晏下微冗散職; 晏判官包佶重其勤幹,以女妻之。 歷陳州太康令。 刺史李芃初蒞官,若初獻計,請收斂羨余錢物,交結權貴,芃厚遇之。 累歲,芃遷河陽三城使,奏若初為從事,軍中之事,多以委之。 累授檢校郎中、兼中丞、懷州刺史。 轉虢州刺史,坐公事為觀察使劾奏,免歸。 久之,出為衢州刺史,遷福州刺史、兼御史中丞、福建都團練使。 尋遷越州刺史、浙江東道都團練觀察使。 十四年秋,代王緯為潤州刺史、兼御史大夫、浙江都團練觀察、諸道鹽鐵轉運使。 善於吏道,性嚴強,力束斂下,吏人甚畏服。 方整理鹽法,頗有次敘。 貞元十五年,遇疾卒,廢朝一日,贈禮部尚書。 于頎于頎,字休明,河南人也。 父庭謂,濟王府倉曹,累贈尚書左僕射。 頎少以吏事聞,累授京兆府士曹,為尹史翽所賞重。 翽出鎮襄、漢,奏為御史,充判官。 翽為亂兵所殺,頎挺出收葬遺骸,時人義之。 度支使第五琦署為河東租庸使,累授鳳翔少尹、度支郎中、兼御史中丞、轉運租庸糧料鹽鐵等使。 頎因奏移轉運汴州院於河陰,以汴州累遇兵亂,散失錢帛故也。 元載為諸道營田使,又署為郎官,令於東都、汝州開置屯田。 歷戶部侍郎、秘書少監、京兆尹、太府卿,代杜濟為京兆尹。
In the fifth year of Zhenyuan (789) Dou Xian, Vice Minister of Revenue, was appointed military governor of Huainan to replace him. Ya still carried his former prestige, and Dou Xian stood in awe of him. He was reassigned as Acting Minister of Personnel, head of the Eastern Capital secretariat, Defender of the Eastern Capital, and metropolitan defense commissioner. Though stricken with illness, he still sought profit to secure favor and memorialized to open imperial parklands as military farms to supply army grain. The court approved his plan and reduced the annual allotment from the Department of Public Works. Ya did not oversee the project himself but left it to his staff judges Zhang Jian and Yang Tian. When he petitioned to open wasteland for military farms, the cultivable parklands had already been seized and farmed by palace officials and soldiers. Pressed for funds, Yang Tian lent army money at interest to peasants near the capital. At harvest he sent soldiers through the villages to seize the grain and haul it back to camp. Households were stripped bare, unable to pay taxes or feed themselves, and the population largely fled. He bribed palace eunuchs to denounce the Intendant of Henan as incompetent, hoping thereby to seize that post himself, but the scheme failed. The emperor gradually learned the truth and replaced him with Minister of Rites Dong Jin as Defender of the Eastern Capital, recalling Ya to the capital. His illness worsened and his legs failed him, leaving him unable to attend court. He died at home in the fourteenth year of Zhenyuan (798) at the age of seventy-four and was posthumously appointed Heir Apparent Junior Tutor. Wang Wei, style name Wenqing, was a native of Taiyuan. His grandfather Jing had served as Vice Director in the Bureau of Gates and Prefect of Laizhou. His father Zhixian had been Defender of Chang'an. He and his brothers Zhiben and Zhihuan were all accomplished writers. Zhixian was repeatedly posthumously promoted to prefect on account of Wei's eminence. Wei passed the Mingjing examination and ranked in the document-judgment category. He served as Defender of Chang'an, on governors' staffs, and in censorial posts before entering court as Vice Director in the Bureau of the Treasury, Commissioner for Tax and Corvée in Jiannan, Acting Director in the Bureau of Enfeoffments, Prefect of Pengzhou, Acting Chamberlain for the Heir Apparent, concurrent Vice Censor-in-Chief, and deputy commissioner for military farms in Xichuan. During the Dali era, when Lu Sigong was governor of Jiangxi, he framed his staff judge Li Mi and was about to have him executed. Wei, who also served on Sigong's staff, persuaded him to relent, and Mi was spared. In the third year of Zhenyuan (787), when Mi became chancellor, he promoted Wei to Attendant Gentleman. Within days he was further promoted to Prefect of Runzhou, concurrent Vice Censor-in-Chief, and commissioner of the Zhejiang West defense command. In the tenth year he was made Censor-in-Chief and concurrent commissioner for salt and iron transport on all circuits. Three years later he was appointed Acting Minister of Works. Wei was diligent and frugal and maintained a clean record in office, but he was excessively meticulous, employing harsh subordinates who hounded his jurisdictions until the people could scarcely live. He died in the fourteenth year of Zhenyuan (798) at the age of seventy-one. The court mourned him for a day and posthumously appointed him Heir Apparent Junior Tutor. Li Ruochu was a native of Zhao Commandery. He was the great-grandson of Hongjie, who had served as Chief Administrator of Bingzhou and Vice Minister of Works under Emperor Taizong. His grandfather Daoqian had been Director of the Palace Treasury. Orphaned and poor in youth, Ruochu began in a minor post on the staff of Transport Commissioner Liu Yan. Yan's staff judge Bao Ji admired his diligence and gave him his daughter in marriage. He served as Magistrate of Taikang in Chen Prefecture. When Prefect Li Peng first took office, Ruochu proposed collecting surplus funds and cultivating ties with the powerful. Peng favored him generously. After several years Peng was transferred to command the Three Cities of Heyang and had Ruochu appointed to his staff, entrusting him with most military affairs. He rose through Acting Director, concurrent Vice Censor-in-Chief, and Prefect of Huaizhou. Transferred to Prefect of Guo Prefecture, he was impeached by his military governor for an official matter and dismissed. After a time he was appointed Prefect of Quzhou, then Fuzhou, with concurrent Vice Censor-in-Chief and metropolitan training commissioner of Fujian. He was soon promoted to Prefect of Yuezhou and commissioner of the Zhedong defense and observation command. In the autumn of the fourteenth year he succeeded Wang Wei as Prefect of Runzhou, Censor-in-Chief, Zhejiang defense commissioner, and salt and iron transport commissioner for all circuits. Skilled in administration and stern by nature, he enforced tight control over subordinates, who feared and obeyed him. He was then reorganizing the salt laws with considerable success. He fell ill and died in the fifteenth year of Zhenyuan (799). The court mourned for a day and posthumously appointed him Minister of Rites. Yu Yi, style name Xiuming, was a native of Henan. His father Tingwei had been Warehouse Clerk in the establishment of the Prince of Ji and was posthumously promoted to Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. Yi won early notice for administrative skill and rose to Clerk of Gentlemen in Jingzhao, where Intendant Shi Hui valued him highly. When Hui took command of Xiang and Han, he had Yi appointed Censor and staff judge. When Hui was killed by mutinous troops, Yi stepped forward to recover and bury his body, an act contemporaries praised as righteous. Commissioner of Public Works Diwu Qi appointed him Hedong tax and corvée commissioner. He rose through Vice Intendant of Fengxiang, Director in the Department of Public Works, Vice Censor-in-Chief, and various transport and supply commissions. Yi memorialized to relocate the transport depot from Bianzhou to Heyin, since Bianzhou had repeatedly suffered military disorder and lost its stores of cash and silk. Yuan Zai, commissioner for military farms on all circuits, appointed him a secretary and ordered him to establish farms at the Eastern Capital and in Ru Prefecture. He served as Vice Minister of Revenue, Vice Director of the Palace Library, Intendant of Jingzhao, and Director of the Palace Treasury, and replaced Du Ji as Intendant of Jingzhao.
16
及為大官,好任機數,專候權要,朝列中無勢利者,視之蔑如也。 曲事元載,親昵之。 而為政苛細無大體; 丁所生母憂罷。 及載得罪後,出為鄭州刺史,遷河南尹,以無政績代還。 時徵汾州刺史劉暹。 暹剛腸嫉惡,歷典數州,皆為廉使畏懼。 宰相盧杞恐暹為御史大夫,虧沮己之所見,遽稱薦頎為御史大夫,以其柔佞易制也。 從幸奉天,改左散騎常侍,歷左千牛上將軍,徙大理卿、太子少保、工部尚書。 因入朝仆地,為金吾仗衛掖起,改太子少師致仕。 貞元十五年卒,時年七十四。 盧徵盧徵,范陽人也,家於鄭之中牟。 少涉獵書記。 永泰中,江淮轉運使劉晏辟為從事,委以腹心之任,累授殿中侍御史。 晏得罪,貶珍州司戶。 元琇亦晏之門人,興元中,為戶部侍郎、判度支,薦徵為京兆司錄、度支員外。 琇得罪,坐貶為信州長史。 遷信州刺史。 入為右司郎中,驟遷給事中。 戶部侍郎竇參深遇之,方倚以自代。 貞元八年春,同州刺史闕,參請以尚書左丞趙憬補之,特詔用徵,以間參腹心也。 數歲,轉華州刺史。 徵冀復入用,深結托中貴,厚遺之。 故事,同、華以近地人貧,每正至端午降誕,所獻甚薄; 徵遂竭其財賦,每有所進獻,輒加常數,人不堪命。 疾病臥理者數年,貞元十六年卒,時年六十四。 楊憑楊憑,字虛受,弘農人。 舉進士,累佐使府。 徵為監察御史,不樂檢束,遂求免。 累遷起居舍人、左司員外郎、禮部兵部郎中、太常少卿、湖南江西觀察使,入為左散騎常侍、刑部侍郎、京兆尹。 憑工文辭,少負氣節; 與母弟凝、凌相友愛,皆有時名。 重交遊,尚然諾,與穆質、許孟容、李鄘、王仲舒為友,故時人稱楊、穆、許、李之友,仲舒以後進慕而入焉。 性尚簡傲,不能接下,以此人多怨之。 及歷二鎮,尤事奢侈。
Once he reached high office he relied on intrigue, courted the powerful, and treated colleagues without influence with open contempt. He curried favor with Yuan Zai and grew close to him. In government he was petty and lacked broad vision. He left office to observe mourning for his birth mother. After Zai's fall he was sent out as Prefect of Zhengzhou, then Intendant of Henan, and was recalled for lack of achievement. The court was then summoning Liu Xian, Prefect of Fenzhou. Xian was stern and incorruptible; in several prefectures he had governed, censorial commissioners feared him. Chancellor Lu Qi feared that if Liu Xian became Censor-in-Chief he would obstruct Qi's designs. Qi therefore hastily recommended Yi instead, judging him pliable and easy to control. He accompanied the emperor to Fengtian and was appointed Left Regular Attendant, then Left General of the Thousand-Ox Guard, Chief Justice, Heir Apparent Junior Tutor, and Minister of Works in succession. He collapsed during a court audience and was helped up by Golden Crow guards. He was reassigned as Heir Apparent Junior Tutor and retired. He died in the fifteenth year of Zhenyuan (799) at the age of seventy-four. Lu Zheng was a native of Fanyang whose family had settled in Zhongmou in Zheng Prefecture. In youth he studied secretarial work. During Yongtai, Transport Commissioner Liu Yan recruited him to his staff, entrusted him with confidential duties, and promoted him to Palace Attendant Censor. When Yan fell, Zheng was demoted to Registrar of Zhen Prefecture. Yuan Xiu, another of Yan's protégés, became Vice Minister of Revenue and head of the Department of Public Works in the Xingyuan era and recommended Zheng as Jingzhao Registrar and Vice Director in that department. When Xiu fell, Zheng was demoted to Chief Administrator of Xin Prefecture. He was promoted to Prefect of Xin Prefecture. He entered court as Director in the Right Secretariat and was soon promoted to Attendant Gentleman. Vice Minister of Revenue Dou Can favored him deeply and intended to make him his successor. In the spring of the eighth year of Zhenyuan (792), when the prefecture of Tong was vacant, Can proposed Left Vice Director Zhao Jing for the post, but a special edict appointed Zheng instead, inserting him between Can and his inner circle. Several years later he was transferred to Prefect of Hua Prefecture. Hoping to return to central office, Zheng cultivated palace eunuchs and lavished gifts on them. By custom, because Tong and Hua were near the capital and their populations poor, tribute at New Year, the Dragon Boat Festival, and the emperor's birthday had always been modest. Zheng exhausted local resources, exceeding the customary amounts on every tribute occasion until the people could not endure it. Ill for years he governed from his bed and died in the sixteenth year of Zhenyuan (800) at the age of sixty-four. Yang Ping, style name Xushou, was a native of Hongnong. He passed the jinshi examination and served on several governors' staffs. Appointed Investigating Censor, he disliked its constraints and asked to be relieved. He rose through Diary Attendant, Left Secretariat Vice Director, Director in the Ministries of Rites and War, Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and governor of Hunan and Jiangxi before entering court as Left Regular Attendant, Vice Minister of Justice, and Intendant of Jingzhao. Ping was accomplished in letters and possessed moral resolve from youth. He was close to his younger brothers Ning and Ling, and all three enjoyed contemporary renown. He valued friendship and kept his word. With Mu Zhi, Xu Mengrong, Li Yong, and Wang Zhongshu he formed a celebrated circle known as the friends of Yang, Mu, Xu, and Li; Zhongshu joined them as a junior admirer. Proud and aloof by nature, he treated subordinates coldly, and many resented him for it. Once he governed two commands, his extravagance grew still worse.
17
元和四年,拜京兆尹,為御史中丞李夷簡劾奏憑前為江西觀察使贓罪及他不法事,敕付御史臺覆按,刑部尚書李鄘、大理卿趙昌同鞫問臺中。 又捕得憑前江西判官、監察御史楊瑗系於臺,復命大理少卿胡珦、左司員外郎胡證、侍御史韋顗同推鞫之。 詔曰:「楊憑頃在先朝,委以藩鎮,累更選用,位列大官。 近者憲司奏劾,暴揚前事,計錢累萬,曾不報聞,蒙蔽之罪,於何逃責? 又營建居室,制度過差,侈靡之風,傷我儉德。 以其自尹京邑,人頗懷之,將議刑書,是加憫惻。 宜從遐譴,以誡百僚,可守賀州臨賀縣尉同正,仍馳驛發遣。」 先是,憑在江西,夷簡自御史出,官在巡屬。 憑頗疏縱,不顧接之。 夷簡常切齒。 及憑歸朝,修第於永寧里,功作並興,又廣蓄妓妾於永樂里之別宅,時人大以為言。 夷簡乘眾議,舉劾前事,且言修營之僭,將欲殺之。 及下獄,置對數日,未得其事。 夷簡持之益急,上聞,且貶焉,追舊從事以驗。 自貞元以來居方鎮者,為德宗所姑息,故窮極僭奢,無所畏忌。 及憲宗即位,以法制臨下,夷簡首舉憑罪,故時議以為宜; 然繩之太過,物論又譏其深切矣。 鄭元鄭元,舉進士第,累遷御史中丞。 貞元中為河中節度使杜確行軍司馬。 確卒,遂繼為節度使,入拜尚書左丞。 元和二年,轉戶部侍郎、兼御史大夫、判度支。 三年春,遷刑部尚書,兼京兆尹。 九月,復判度支,依前刑部尚書、兼御史大夫。 元性嚴毅,有威斷,更踐劇任,時稱其能。 元和四年,以疾辭職,守本官,逾月卒。 杜兼杜兼,京兆人,貞觀中宰相杜正倫五代孫。 舉進士,累辟諸府從事,拜濠州刺史。 兼性浮險,豪侈矜氣。 屬貞元中德宗厭兵革,姑息戎鎮,至軍郡刺史,亦難於更代。 兼探上情,遂練卒修武,占召勁勇三千人以上聞,乃恣兇威。 錄事參軍韋賞、團練判官陸楚,皆以守職論事忤兼,兼密誣奏二人通謀,扇動軍中。 忽有制使至,兼率官吏迎於驛中,前呼韋賞、陸楚出,宣制杖殺之。 賞進士擢第,楚兗公象先之孫,皆名家,有士林之譽; 一朝以無罪受戮,郡中股栗,天下冤嘆之。 又誣奏李藩,將殺之,語在藩事中。 故兼所至,人側目焉。 元和初,入為刑部、吏部郎中,拜給事中,除金商防禦使,旋授河南少尹、知府事,尋正拜河南尹。 皆杜佑在相位所借護也。 元和四年,卒於官。 裴玢裴玢,京兆人。 五代祖疏勒國王綽,武德中來朝,授鷹揚大將軍,封天郡公,因留闕下,遂為京兆人。 玢初事金吾將軍論惟明為傔力。
In the fourth year of Yuanhe (809) he was appointed Intendant of Jingzhao. Vice Censor-in-Chief Li Yijian impeached him for embezzlement and other offenses from his days as governor of Jiangxi. The case was referred to the Censorate, with Minister of Justice Li Yong and Chief Justice Zhao Chang conducting the inquiry. Ping's former Jiangxi staff judge Yang Yuan was also arrested. Vice Chief Justice Hu Xing, Left Secretariat Vice Director Hu Zheng, and Attendant Censor Wei Yi were ordered to interrogate him jointly. An edict declared, "Yang Ping was not long ago entrusted with a provincial command under the former emperor and rose to high rank. The censorate has now exposed his past conduct: wealth amounting to tens of thousands that he never reported. How can he escape the charge of concealment? He also built residences beyond proper scale, indulging extravagance that offends the court's frugal virtue. Because he had lately governed the capital and retained some public goodwill, the court showed mercy when sentencing. He is banished to serve as Defender of Linhe County in He Prefecture, with rank retained in name only, and is to be sent off at once by relay post. Earlier, when Ping governed Jiangxi, Yijian had served there as a touring censor under his command. Ping treated him with negligent disdain and refused his acquaintance. Yijian nursed bitter resentment. When Ping returned to court he built a mansion in Yongning Ward and kept a large household of entertainers in a separate residence in Yongle Ward, drawing widespread criticism. Yijian seized on public outrage to impeach Ping for past crimes and presumptuous building, intending at first to have him executed. After he was imprisoned, days of interrogation failed to establish the capital charge. Yijian pressed harder. The emperor heard the case and ordered demotion instead, summoning former staff to verify the lesser charges. Since Zhenyuan, regional commanders indulged by Emperor Dezong had grown extravagantly presumptuous without fear of reprisal. When Emperor Xianzong ascended and governed by law, Yijian's prosecution of Ping was widely regarded as appropriate. Yet public opinion also criticized Yijian for pressing the case too far. Zheng Yuan passed the jinshi examination and rose to Vice Censor-in-Chief. During Zhenyuan he served as campaigning marshal to Du Que, military governor of Hezhong. When Que died he succeeded him as military governor and later entered court as Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. In the second year of Yuanhe (807) he became Vice Minister of Revenue, concurrent Censor-in-Chief, and head of the Department of Public Works. In the spring of the third year he was appointed Minister of Justice and concurrent Intendant of Jingzhao. In the ninth month he resumed charge of the Department of Public Works while retaining his posts as Minister of Justice and Censor-in-Chief. Stern and decisive, Yuan took on demanding posts and was praised for his ability. In the fourth year of Yuanhe he resigned on account of illness and died within a month. Du Jian was a native of Jingzhao and fifth-generation descendant of Chancellor Du Zhenglun of the Zhenguan era. He passed the jinshi examination, served on several governors' staffs, and was appointed Prefect of Hao Prefecture. Jian was unstable in character, extravagant, and arrogant. In Zhenyuan, when Dezong was weary of war and indulged the commands, even prefects were hard to replace. Reading the emperor's mood, Jian drilled troops, recruited more than three thousand strong men, reported this to court, and then ruled by brute force. Registrar Wei Shang and training commissioner Lu Chu offended Jian by doing their duty. Jian secretly memorialized that they were conspiring to stir up the army. When an imperial envoy suddenly arrived, Jian met him at the post station, had Wei Shang and Lu Chu brought out, and executed them by edict with the staff. Shang had passed the jinshi examination; Chu was grandson of Duke Xiangxian of Yan. Both came from distinguished families with reputations among scholars. Executed without guilt in a single morning, they left the command terrified and the empire mourning an injustice. He also framed Li Fan and nearly had him killed; that story is told in Fan's biography. Wherever Jian went, people watched him with fear and distrust. Early in Yuanhe he entered court as Director in the Ministries of Justice and Personnel, became Attendant Gentleman, then Defense Commissioner of Jin-Shang, soon Vice Intendant of Henan, and finally full Intendant of Henan. All of this owed to the protection of Du You while he was chancellor. He died in office in the fourth year of Yuanhe (809). Pei Bin was a native of Jingzhao. His fifth-generation ancestor Chuo, king of Kucha, came to court in the Wude era, was appointed General of the Soaring Hawk and enfeoffed as Duke of Tian Commandery, and remained at the capital, where the family became Jingzhao natives. Bin first served as personal attendant to Golden Crow General Lun Weiming.
18
德宗幸奉天,以戰功封忠義郡王。 惟明鎮鄜坊,累署玢為都虞候。 後節度王棲曜卒,中軍將何朝宗謀作亂,中夜縱火,玢匿身不救火,遲明而擒朝宗。 德宗發三司使按問,竟斬朝宗及行軍司馬崔輅,以同州刺史劉公濟為節度使,以玢為坊州長史、兼侍御史,充行軍司馬。 明年,公濟卒,拜玢鄜州刺史、兼御史大夫,充節度觀察等使。 三年,改授山南西道節度觀察等使。
When Dezong went to Fengtian, Bin was enfeoffed as Prince of Zhongyi Commandery for his service in battle. When Weiming governed Mei and Fang, he repeatedly appointed Bin chief army inspector. After Military Governor Wang Qiyao died, Central Army General He Chaozong plotted a coup and set fires at midnight. Bin held back from fighting the blaze, then at dawn seized Chaozong. Dezong sent the Three Offices to investigate. Chaozong and campaigning marshal Cui Lu were executed. Liu Gongji of Tong Prefecture became military governor, and Bin was appointed Chief Administrator of Fang Prefecture, concurrent Attendant Censor, and campaigning marshal. The following year, when Gongji died, Bin was appointed Prefect of Mei Prefecture, Censor-in-Chief, and full military governor. Three years later he was transferred to military governor of Shannan West Circuit.
19
玢歷二鎮,頗以公清苦節為政; 不交權幸,不務貢獻,蔬食敝衣,居處才避風雨,而廩庫饒實,三軍百姓安業,近代將帥無比焉。 及綿疾辭位,請歸長安。 元和七年卒,年六十五,贈尚書左僕射,諡曰節。 薛伾薛伾,勝州刺史渙之子。 尚父汾陽王召置麾下,著名於諸將間。 左僕射李揆使西蕃,伾為將從役。 時賊泚之難,昆夷赴義,伾馳騎鄉導,至於武功,擢授左威衛將軍。 使絕域者前後數四,累遷左金吾衛大將軍、檢校工部尚書、兼將作監,出為鄜坊觀察使。 元和八年,卒於官,贈潞州大都督。 史臣曰史臣曰:薛播溫敏有文,鮑防董戎無術,李、嚴太原之政,可謂美矣。 蕭昕抱則哲之知,杜亞懷非次之望。 王緯清潔而傷苛碎,若初善理而性剛嚴。 于頎好任機權,趨附勢利。 盧徵厚斂貨賄,結托中人。 楊憑好奢,鄭元有斷。 杜兼殺戮端士,怙亂邀君。 裴玢發奸謀,安民和眾。 而玢敝衣糲食,不交權幸,帑庾咸實,郡邑以寧。 若夫君子無求備於人,舍短從長,彰善癉惡,則裴玢之善,抑之更揚; 杜兼之惡,欲蓋而彰耳。
Over two commands Bin governed with public integrity, austerity, and moral discipline. He shunned the powerful, refused extravagant tribute, ate plainly and dressed poorly, and lived in quarters that barely kept out the weather. Yet his granaries were full, troops and civilians secure in their livelihoods—a record unmatched among recent commanders. When chronic illness forced him to resign, he asked to return to Chang'an. He died in the seventh year of Yuanhe (812) at the age of sixty-five. The court posthumously appointed him Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs with the posthumous title Jie (Integrity). Xue Pi was the son of Huan, Prefect of Sheng Prefecture. The Sagely Father, Prince of Fenyang, took him into his service, and he won renown among the generals. When Left Vice Director Li Kui went as envoy to Tibet, Pi served on his military escort. During Zhu Ci's rebellion, when allied forces came to the emperor's aid, Pi rode ahead as guide as far as Wugong and was promoted to General of the Left Majestic Guard. He served four times as envoy to distant regions and rose through Left General of the Golden Crow Guard, Acting Minister of Works, concurrent Director of the Directorate of Works, to military governor of Mei and Fang. He died in office in the eighth year of Yuanhe (813) and was posthumously appointed Grand Governor of Lu Prefecture. The historiographer remarks: Xue Bo was gracious, quick-witted, and literate; Bao Fang was no soldier; and the Taiyuan administrations of Li Ziliang and Yan Shou were genuinely admirable. Xiao Xin possessed the discernment of a sage; Du Ya entertained ambitions beyond his station. Wang Wei was scrupulously honest but excessively meticulous; Ruochu was capable in administration but stern by nature. Yu Yi loved intrigue and courted the powerful. Lu Zheng extorted wealth and cultivated palace eunuchs. Yang Ping loved luxury; Zheng Yuan had decisive authority. Du Jian killed upright officials and used disorder to impose on the throne. Pei Bin exposed conspiracies and brought peace to troops and people alike. Yet he dressed plainly, shunned the powerful, filled the treasuries, and kept his jurisdictions at peace. If a gentleman does not demand perfection in others, overlooks faults for strengths, and makes virtue plain while exposing evil, then Pei Bin's goodness, though understated, shines all the brighter. Du Jian's wickedness, the more one would hide it, the more plainly it shows.