1
尚可孤，東部鮮卑宇文之別種也，代居松、漠之間。 天寶末歸國，隸范陽節度安祿山，後事史思明。 上元中歸順，累授左、右威衛二大將軍同正，充神策大將，以前後功改試太常卿，仍賜實封一百五十戶。 魚朝恩之統禁軍，愛其勇，甚委遇之，俾為養子，奏姓魚氏，名智德，以禁兵三千鎮於扶風縣，後移武功。 可孤在扶風、武功凡十余年，士伍整肅，軍邑安之。 朝恩死，賜可孤姓李氏，名嘉勛。 會李希烈反叛，建中四年七月，除兼御史中丞、荊襄應援淮西使，仍復本姓名尚可孤，以所統之眾赴山南，累有戰功。
Shang Kegu belonged to a collateral line of the Eastern Xianbei Yuwen clan and had lived for generations in the Songmo region. At the close of the Tianbao reign he submitted to the Tang court, came under the Fanyang command of An Lushan, and afterward served Shi Siming. During the Shangyuan period he returned to imperial allegiance and rose through successive appointments as acting generals-in-chief of the Left and Right Might Guards, then as a Shence grand general. For his accumulated service he was made provisional Grand Master of Ceremonies and granted a permanent fief of one hundred fifty households. When Yu Chao'en took command of the imperial guard, he admired Kegu's courage, entrusted him with great responsibility, and adopted him as a son. Yu had him enrolled under the surname Yu with the given name Zhide, and posted three thousand guardsmen at Fufeng County; the garrison was later shifted to Wugong. Kegu spent more than ten years altogether at Fufeng and Wugong, keeping his troops disciplined and the garrison towns secure. After Yu Chao'en's death, the court restored Kegu to the surname Li and the given name Jiaxun. When Li Xilie rose in rebellion, in the seventh month of Jianzhong 783 he was named concurrent Vice Censor-in-Chief and commissioner to reinforce Huaixi from the Jing-Xiang region, and his original name Shang Kegu was restored. He led his command into the Shannan circuit and won repeated victories.
2
及涇原兵叛，詔征可孤軍至藍田，賊眾方盛，遂營於七盤，修城柵而居之。 賊將仇敬等來寇，可孤頻擊破之，因收藍田縣。 興元元年三月，遷檢校工部尚書、兼御史大夫、神策京畿渭南商州節度使。 四月，仇敬又來寇，可孤率兵急擊，擒仇敬斬之，遂進軍與副元帥李晟決策攻討。 五月，晟率可孤及駱元光之軍收京城，可孤之師為先鋒。 京師平，以功升檢校右僕射，封馮翊郡王，增邑通前八百戶，實封二百戶。
When the Jingyuan garrison mutinied, an imperial order called Kegu's army to Lantian. With the rebels at the height of their strength, he established camp at Qipan, built walls and stockades, and held the position. Rebel commanders such as Qiu Jing launched attacks, but Kegu repulsed them again and again and recovered Lantian County. In the third month of 784 he was promoted to provisional Minister of Works and Grand Censor, and appointed military commissioner over the Shence forces and the circuits of Jingji, Weinan, and Shangzhou. In the fourth month Qiu Jing attacked once more. Kegu struck swiftly, captured and executed him, then marched forward to coordinate the campaign with Vice Commander Li Sheng. In the fifth month Li Sheng led the forces of Kegu and Luo Yuanguang to retake the capital, with Kegu's troops in the van. After the capital was restored, he was raised to provisional Right Vice Director of the Secretariat, enfeoffed as Prince of Fengyi, with his fief enlarged to eight hundred households in all and a permanent allotment of two hundred.
3
可孤性謹願沈毅，既有勛勣，眾會之中，未嘗言功。 賊平之後，營於白花亭，禦眾公平，號令嚴整，時人稱焉。 李晟甚親重之。 及李懷光以河中叛，詔可孤帥師與諸軍進討，次於沙苑，遇疾，卒於軍。 贈司徒，賻布帛米粟加等，喪葬所須，並令官給。
Kegu was by nature cautious, sincere, and steadfast. Even after his victories he never boasted of his achievements in company. After the rebellion was crushed he encamped at Baihua Pavilion, treating his men equitably and enforcing discipline so strictly that contemporaries praised him. Li Sheng held him in particular esteem. When Li Huai'guang rebelled from Hezhong, the court ordered Kegu to march with the other armies against him. He encamped at Shayuan, fell ill, and died in camp. He was posthumously honored as Grand Preceptor. The court granted enhanced funeral gifts of cloth, silk, and grain and provided all burial expenses from the public treasury.
4
李觀，洛陽人，其先自趙郡徙焉，秋官員外郎敬仁侄孫也。 少習武藝，沈厚寡言，有將帥識度。 乾元中，以策幹朔方節度使郭子儀； 子儀善之，令佐坊州刺史吳伷，充防遏使。 尋以憂免，居盩厔別業。 廣德初，吐蕃入寇，鑾駕之陜，覲於盩厔，率鄉里子弟千余人守黑水之西，戎人不敢近。 會嶺南節度楊慎微將之鎮，以觀權謀，奏充偏將，俾總軍政。 及徐浩、李勉繼領廣州，尤加信任，麾下兵甲悉委之。 平馮崇道、硃泚時有功，累遷大將。 李勉移鎮滑州，累奏授試殿中監，加開府儀同三司。 追赴闕，授右龍武將軍。
Li Guan was a native of Luoyang. His family had relocated from Zhao Commandery, and he was the grandnephew of Vice Minister of Justice Jingren. From youth he trained in the martial arts. Grave and taciturn, he showed the judgment expected of a field commander. During the Qianyuan era he offered a strategic plan to the Shuofang commissioner Guo Ziyi; Ziyi was pleased with him and assigned him to assist the prefect of Fangzhou, Wu Xian, as defense commissioner. He soon resigned to observe mourning and retired to his estate in Zhouzhi. Early in the Guangde era, when Tibetans raided the frontier and the emperor withdrew to Shaan, he came to Zhouzhi. Guan rallied more than a thousand local clansmen to hold the west bank of the Heishui River, and the enemy did not dare approach. When Yang Shenwei was appointed to the Lingnan command, he recommended Guan as deputy general for his strategic ability and placed the military administration in his hands. When Xu Hao and Li Mian succeeded one another at Guangzhou, they trusted him all the more and placed all troops and weapons under his control. He distinguished himself in the campaigns against Feng Chongdao and Zhu Ci and rose through successive promotions to senior general. When Li Mian transferred to Huazhou, he repeatedly recommended Guan for appointment as provisional Palace Reviser with the honorary rank of Grand General of the Household with ceremonial parity to the Three Excellencies. Recalled to court, he was appointed Right Dragon Martial General.
5
建中末，涇師叛，觀時上直，領衛兵千余人扈從奉天。 詔都巡警訓練諸軍戍卒，三數日間，加召二千余眾，列之通衢，整肅鼙鼓，城內因之增氣。 德宗倚賴之，賜封二百戶； 二子宏、寓，授八品京官。 及駕出奉天，與令狐建、李升、韋清等鹹執羈靮，周旋艱險，皆著功勞。 駕還京師，詔總後軍禁衛。
Late in the Jianzhong era, when the Jingzhou garrison mutinied, Guan was on palace duty and led more than a thousand guardsmen in escorting the emperor to Fengtian. The court ordered him to inspect and train the garrison forces. Within a few days he raised more than two thousand additional men, paraded them through the main streets with drums and horns in perfect order, and thereby lifted the city's morale. Emperor Dezong came to rely on him and granted him a fief of two hundred households; His sons Hong and Yu were given eighth-rank posts in the capital bureaucracy. When the imperial procession left Fengtian, he and Linghu Jian, Li Sheng, Wei Qing, and others all took the reins and shared the dangers of the flight, each earning distinction for his service. After the emperor returned to the capital, he was ordered to take overall command of the rear-guard imperial forces.
6
興元元年閏十月，拜四鎮北庭行軍涇原節度使、檢校兵部尚書。 在鎮四年，雖無拓境之績，勵卒儲糧，訓整寧輯。 及平涼之師會，渾瑊既無戎備，觀伺知狡謀，潛擇精兵五千要伏險道。 及瑊遁歸，賴觀遊軍及李元諒之師表裏以免。 帝優賞，賜賚甚厚，特詔褒美。 其年，朝京師，除少府監、檢校工部尚書，以疾終。 貞元四年，贈太子少傅。
In the intercalary tenth month of 784 he was made military commissioner of Jingyuan with authority over the Four Garrisons and Beiting campaign forces, and provisional Minister of War. During his four years in command he won no new territory, but he drilled his troops, built up grain stores, and brought the region to disciplined calm. At the assembly of forces at Pingliang, Hun Jian was caught unprepared. Guan detected the enemy's stratagem and secretly posted five thousand picked troops in ambush along the defile. When Jian fled, he owed his escape to Guan's mobile force coordinating with Li Yuanliang's troops on both flanks. The emperor rewarded him lavishly and issued a special edict commending his service. That year he came to the capital, was appointed Director of the Palace Workshops and provisional Minister of Works, and died of illness. In 788 he was posthumously honored as Junior Tutor to the Heir Apparent.
7
戴休顏，夏州人。 在軍伍以膽略稱。 大歷中，為郭子儀部將，以戰功累遷至鹽州刺史。 奉天之難，倍道以所部蕃漢三千人號泣赴難； 德宗嘉之，賜實封二百戶。 與渾瑊、杜希全、韓遊瑰等捍禦有功。 車駕再幸梁、洋，留守奉天。 及李懷光叛據咸陽，使誘休顏； 休顏集三軍斬其使，嬰城自守。 懷光大駭，遂自涇陽夜遁。 其月，拜檢校工部尚書、奉天行營節度使。 李晟收京師，乃與渾瑊破泚偏師，斬首三千級，休顏追賊至中渭橋。 李晟既清宮闕，休顏與瑊等率兵赴岐陽邀擊泚余眾。 及策勛，加檢校右僕射，封至六百戶。 七月，扈駕至京，特賜女樂、甲第以褒功伐，尋拜左龍武將軍。 貞元元年卒，年五十九，廢朝一日，贈賻有差。
Dai Xiuyan was a native of Xiazhou. In the ranks he was famed for courage and tactical daring. During the Dali era he served under Guo Ziyi and rose through successive promotions, on the strength of his battle record, to prefect of Yanzhou. During the crisis at Fengtian he forced the march with three thousand mixed Han and non-Han troops under his command, who came weeping to the emperor's aid; Emperor Dezong praised him and granted a permanent fief of two hundred households. Together with Hun Jian, Du Xiquan, Han Yougui, and others, he distinguished himself in the defense of the emperor. When the emperor withdrew again to Liang and Yang, Xiuyan remained behind to hold Fengtian. When Li Huai'guang rebelled and seized Xianyang, he sent agents to win Xiuyan over; Xiuyan assembled his forces, executed the envoy, and shut the gates to defend the city. Huai'guang was thrown into alarm and fled Jingyang by night. That month he was named provisional Minister of Works and commissioner of the Fengtian campaign army. After Li Sheng retook the capital, Xiuyan joined Hun Jian in crushing a detached force of Zhu Ci's army, taking three thousand heads, and pursued the enemy as far as the Middle Wei Bridge. Once Li Sheng had secured the palace, Xiuyan marched with Jian and others to Qiyang to cut off Zhu Ci's remaining troops. When rewards were distributed he was further promoted to provisional Right Vice Director, with his fief enlarged to six hundred households. In the seventh month he escorted the emperor to the capital and was specially rewarded with court musicians and a grand residence in recognition of his campaigns; he was soon appointed Left Dragon Martial General. He died in 785 at the age of fifty-nine. The court suspended court for a day and granted funeral gifts according to rank.
8
陽惠元，平州人。 以材力從軍，隸平盧節度劉正臣。 後與田神功、李忠臣等相繼泛海至青、齊間，忠勇多權略，稱為名將。 又以兵隸神策，充神策京西兵馬使，鎮奉天。
Yang Huiyuan was a native of Pingzhou. He entered military service on the strength of his physique and was assigned to the Pinglu command under Liu Zhengchen. Later he followed Tian Shen'gong, Li Zhongchen, and others in successive crossings to the Shandong coast. Loyal, brave, and resourceful, he came to be counted among the empire's notable commanders. He later brought his troops into the Shence army, served as Shence military commissioner for the western capital region, and garrisoned Fengtian.
9
初，大歷中，兩河平定，事多姑息。 李正己有淄、青、齊、海、登、萊、沂、密、德、棣、曹、濮、徐、兗、鄆十五州之地，養兵十萬； 李寶臣有恆、易、深、趙、滄、冀、定七州之地，有兵五萬； 田承嗣有魏、博、相、衛、洺、貝、澶七州之地，有兵五萬； 梁崇義有襄、鄧、均、房、復、郢六州之地，其眾二萬。 皆始因叛亂得侯，各擅土宇，雖泛稟朝旨，而威刑爵賞，生殺自專，盤根結固，相為表裏。 朝廷常示大信，不為拘限，緩之則嫌釁自作，急之則合謀。 或聞詔旨將增一城，浚一池，必皆怨怒有辭，則為之罷役； 而自於境內治兵繕壘以自固。 凡歷三朝，殆二十年，國家不敢興拳石撮土之役。
Earlier, after the Two He circuits were pacified in the Dali era, the court tended to deal with them indulgently. Li Zhengyi controlled fifteen prefectures—Zi, Qing, Qi, Hai, Deng, Lai, Yi, Mi, De, Di, Cao, Pu, Xu, Yan, and Yun—and maintained an army of one hundred thousand men; Li Baochen held seven prefectures—Heng, Yi, Shen, Zhao, Cang, Ji, and Ding—with fifty thousand troops; Tian Chengsi held seven prefectures—Wei, Bo, Xiang, Wei, Ming, Bei, and Chan—with fifty thousand troops; Liang Chongyi controlled six prefectures—Xiang, Deng, Jun, Fang, Fu, and Ying—with twenty thousand men. All had first won their titles through rebellion and each ruled his own domain as a private fief. Though they nominally acknowledged imperial orders, they exercised independent authority over rewards, punishments, and life and death. Their power was deeply entrenched and mutually reinforcing. The court habitually showed them great trust and refrained from tight control: leniency risked provoking trouble on their own initiative, while pressure drove them to combine against the throne. If they heard that the court planned to fortify a city or dig a moat anywhere in their domains, they would protest angrily until the project was abandoned; yet within their own territories they trained troops and built fortifications to strengthen their hold. Across three reigns and nearly twenty years, the central government did not dare undertake even the smallest public works in their regions.
10
代宗性寬柔無怒，一切從之。 凡河朔諸道健步奏計者，必獲賜賚。 及德宗即位，嚴察神斷，自誅劉文喜之後，知朝法不可犯，四盜俱不自安。 奏計者空還，無所賞賜，歸者多怨。 或傳說飛語，雲帝欲東封，汴州奏以城隘狹，增築城郭。 李正己聞之，移兵萬人屯於曹州，田悅亦加兵河上； 河南大擾，羽書警急。 乃詔移京西戎兵萬二千人以備關東。 帝御望春樓親誓師以遣之，曰：「嗚呼！ 東鄙之警，事非獲已。 唯爾將校群士，各以忠節，勤於王家； 南赴蜀門，西定涇壘，甲胄不解，瘡痍未平； 今載用爾分鎮於周、鄭之郊，敬聽明命。 夫王者之師，有征無戰，稽諸理道，用正邦國。 宜勵乃戈甲，保固城池，以德和人，以義制事。 將備其侵軼，不用越境攻取，戢而後動，可謂正矣！ 今外夷來庭，方春生植，品物資始，農桑是時。 俾爾將士，暴露中野，我心痛悼，郁如焚灼。 嗟爾有眾，其悉予懷。」 士卒多泣下。 及賜宴，諸將列坐； 酒至，神策將士皆不飲，帝使問之。 惠元時為都將，對曰：「臣初發奉天，本軍帥張巨濟與臣等約曰：『斯役也，將策大勛，建大名。 凱旋之日，當共為歡； 茍未戎捷，無以飲酒。』 故臣等不敢違約而飲。」 既發，有司供餼於道路，他軍無孑遺，唯惠元一軍瓶罍不發。 上稱嘆久之，降璽書慰勞。
Emperor Daizong was mild and forbearing by nature and acquiesced in all their demands. Whenever couriers from the Hebei circuits arrived to present their accounts, they invariably received rich rewards. When Emperor Dezong ascended the throne, his stern scrutiny and decisive rule showed, after the execution of Liu Wenxi, that imperial law could not be defied with impunity. The four warlords all grew uneasy. Envoys who came to report accounts returned empty-handed, without rewards, and many went home resentful. Rumors spread that the emperor intended to perform the eastern feng sacrifice. Bianzhou reported that its walls were too cramped and requested permission to expand the fortifications. Li Zhengyi, hearing this, shifted ten thousand troops to Caozhou; Tian Yue also reinforced his positions along the Yellow River; Henan was thrown into turmoil, and urgent dispatches flew to the capital. The court then ordered twelve thousand western capital troops transferred east to guard the pass. The emperor went in person to Wangchun Tower to review the troops before their departure, saying, "Alas! The alarm on the eastern frontier is a matter we could not avoid. You commanders and soldiers, each loyal to the throne and diligent in the royal service, have marched south to the Shu passes and west to secure the Jing ramparts, never laying aside your armor while your wounds are still unhealed; and now we call on you again to take up posts in the Zhou and Zheng region. Hear and heed this clear command. The army of a true king campaigns without needless battle; by the principles of the Way it sets the realm aright. Sharpen your arms, hold your cities firm, win men through virtue, and govern your conduct by righteousness. Prepare against their incursions, but do not cross borders to seize territory. Restrain yourselves until action is required—that is what is meant by fighting uprightly! Foreign envoys are now at court, spring has come, all things are beginning to grow, and this is the season for farming and sericulture. Yet I must send you, generals and soldiers, to lie exposed in the open fields. My heart grieves for you as though scorched by fire. Ah, you hosts of warriors—know fully what is in my heart." Many of the soldiers wept. At the farewell banquet the generals took their places; when wine was served, the Shence troops refused to drink. The emperor sent to inquire why. Huiyuan, who was then chief commander, answered: "When we first marched from Fengtian, our commander Zhang Juji made this pact with us: 'In this campaign we shall win great merit and earn a great name. On the day of triumph we shall feast together; until victory is won, we shall not drink. We dare not break that pact by drinking now. After they marched, the authorities provided rations along the route. Other armies consumed every last provision; only Huiyuan's command left its stores sealed. The emperor praised them at length and sent an imperial letter of commendation.
11
李元諒，本駱元光，姓安氏，其先安息人也。 少為宦官駱奉先所養，冒姓駱氏。 元諒長大美須，勇敢多計。 少從軍，備宿衛，積勞試太子詹事。 鎮國軍節度使李懷讓署奏鎮國軍副使，俾領州事。 元諒嘗在潼關領軍，積十數年，軍士皆畏服。
Li Yuanliang was born Luo Yuanguang, of the An clan; his forebears came from Parthia. As a youth he was raised by the eunuch Luo Fengxian and took the Luo surname as his foster family. Yuanliang was tall and bearded, brave, and full of stratagems. He entered military service young, served in the palace guard, and through long service rose to provisional Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent. The Zhenguo Army commissioner Li Huairang appointed him deputy commissioner and placed prefectural administration in his hands. He had commanded at Tong Pass for more than ten years, and his troops feared and obeyed him.
12
德宗居奉天，賊泚遣偽將何望之輕騎襲華州，刺史董晉棄州走； 望之遂據城，將聚兵以絕東道。 元諒自潼關將所部，仍令義兵因其未設備，徑攻望之。 遂拔華州，望之走歸。 元諒乃修城隍器械召募，不數日，得兵萬余人，軍益振。 以功加御史中丞。 賊泚數遣兵來寇，輒擊卻之。 是時，尚可孤守藍田，與元諒掎角； 賊東不能逾渭南，元諒功居多。 無幾，遷華州刺史、兼御史大夫、潼關防禦、鎮國軍節度使，尋加檢校工部尚書。
While Dezong was at Fengtian, Zhu Ci sent the rebel general He Wangzhi with light cavalry against Huazhou; Prefect Dong Jin fled the city; Wangzhi seized the city and prepared to mass troops to sever the eastern supply route. Yuanliang marched from Tong Pass and sent local volunteers, catching the enemy unprepared, to strike Wangzhi directly. He retook Huazhou and Wangzhi fled. He repaired the walls, moats, and armaments and recruited troops; within days he had more than ten thousand men and the army's morale soared. For this service he was promoted to Vice Censor-in-Chief. Zhu Ci sent repeated attacks, and Yuanliang repulsed them each time. At that time Shang Kegu held Lantian, coordinating with Yuanliang in mutual support; so the rebels could not advance east of the Wei, and Yuanliang's contribution was the greater part. Soon he was made prefect of Huazhou, Grand Censor, Tong Pass defense commissioner, and Zhenguo Army military commissioner, and shortly afterward provisional Minister of Works.
13
興元元年五月，詔元諒與副元帥李晟進收京邑。 兵次於浐西，賊悉眾來攻，元諒先士卒奮擊，大敗之。 進軍至苑東，與晟力戰，壞苑垣而入，賊聯戰皆敗，遂復京師。 元諒讓功於晟，出屯於章敬佛寺。 帝還宮，加檢校尚書右僕射，實封七百戶，賜甲第、女樂，仍與一子六品正員官。
In the fifth month of 784 the court ordered Yuanliang and Vice Commander Li Sheng to advance and retake the capital. The army encamped west of the Chan River. When the rebels attacked in full force, Yuanliang led from the front and routed them. Advancing to the eastern park, he fought fiercely with Sheng, broke through the park wall, defeated the rebels in successive engagements, and recovered the capital. Yuanliang deferred credit to Sheng and withdrew his camp to the Zhangjing Buddhist temple. When the emperor returned to the palace, Yuanliang was promoted to provisional Right Vice Director with a permanent fief of seven hundred households, granted a mansion and court musicians, and one son received a regular sixth-rank capital appointment.
14
李懷光反於河中，絕河津。 詔元諒與副元帥馬燧、渾瑊同討之。 時賊將徐庭光以銳兵守長春宮，元諒遣使招之。 庭光素輕易元諒，且慢罵之； 又以優胡為戲於城上，辱元諒先祖。 元諒深以為恥。 及馬燧以河東兵至，庭光降於馬燧，詔以庭光為試殿中監、兼御史大夫。 河中平，燧待庭光益厚。 元諒因遇庭光於軍門，命左右劫而斬之，乃詣燧匍匐請罪。 燧盛怒，將殺元諒； 久之，以其功高，乃止。 德宗以元諒專殺，慮有章疏，先令宰相諭諫官勿論。
Li Huai'guang rebelled in Hezhong and severed the Yellow River crossings. The court ordered Yuanliang to join Vice Commanders Ma Sui and Hun Jian in attacking him. The rebel general Xu Tingguang held Changchun Palace with elite troops; Yuanliang sent envoys to win him over. Tingguang had always despised Yuanliang and now reviled him with open contempt; and had comic performers on the wall mock Yuanliang's forebears. Yuanliang was deeply shamed by this. When Ma Sui arrived with the Hedong army, Tingguang surrendered to him and was appointed provisional Palace Reviser and Grand Censor. After Hezhong was pacified, Sui treated Tingguang with even greater favor. Yuanliang met Tingguang at the camp gate, had his men seize and behead him, then went to Sui and prostrated himself to accept punishment. Sui was furious and was about to execute Yuanliang; but after a long interval, considering Yuanliang's great merit, he stayed his hand. Dezong, fearing remonstrance over Yuanliang's unauthorized killing, first instructed the chief ministers to tell the censors not to raise the matter.
15
貞元三年，詔元諒將本軍從渾瑊與吐蕃會盟於平涼。 元諒謂瑊曰：「本奉詔，令營於潘原堡，以應援侍中。 竊思潘原去平涼六七十里，蕃情多詐，倘有急變，何由應赴？ 請次侍中為營。」 瑊以違詔，固止之。 元諒竟與瑊同進。 瑊營距盟所二十里，元諒營次之，壕柵深固。 及瑊赴會，乃戒嚴部伍，結陣營中。 是日，虜果伏甲，乘瑊無備竊發。 時士大夫皆朝服就執，軍士死者十七八。 瑊單馬奔還，群虜追躡，瑊營將李朝彩不能整眾，多已奔散； 瑊至，空營而已。 賴元諒之軍嚴固； 瑊既入營，虜皆散去。 是日無元諒軍，瑊幾不免。 元諒乃整軍，先遣輜重，次與瑊俱申號令，嚴其部伍而還，時謂元諒有將帥之風。 德宗嘉之，賜良馬十匹，金銀器、錦彩等甚厚。 丁母憂，加右金吾衛上將軍，起復本官。 帝念其勛勞，又賜姓李氏，改名元諒。
In 787 an edict ordered Yuanliang to lead his army with Hun Jian to the Pingliang alliance with Tibet. Yuanliang told Jian, "My orders were to encamp at Panyuan Fort to support Your Excellency. But Panyuan lies sixty or seventy li from Pingliang. The Tibetans are treacherous; if something sudden happens, how can we respond? Please let me camp beside Your Excellency. Jian refused, saying this would violate the edict. Yuanliang advanced with Jian in the end. Jian encamped twenty li from the alliance ground; Yuanliang camped next, with deep moats and stout palisades. When Jian went to the conference, Yuanliang kept his troops under strict guard in battle formation. That day the Tibetans had indeed hidden troops and struck while Jian was unprepared. Court officials in full dress were seized; seventy or eighty percent of the soldiers were killed. Jian fled alone on horseback with Tibetans in pursuit. His camp commander Li Chaocai could not rally the troops, and most had scattered; when Jian arrived, the camp was empty. Only Yuanliang's army held firm; once Jian entered his camp, the Tibetans withdrew. That day, without Yuanliang's force, Jian would scarcely have escaped. Yuanliang then reformed his army, sent the baggage train ahead, and withdrew in good order with Jian—contemporaries said he showed true commander's bearing. Dezong praised him and granted ten fine horses, gold and silver vessels, brocades, and other gifts in abundance. When his mother died he was made Senior General of the Right Golden Crow Guard, then recalled from mourning to his former post. Mindful of his service, the emperor also granted him the surname Li and the name Yuanliang.
16
四年春，加隴右節度支度營田觀察、臨洮軍使，移鎮良原。 良原古城多摧圮，隴東要地，虜入寇，常牧馬休兵於此。 元諒遠烽堠，培城補堞，身率軍士，與同勞逸。 芟林薙草，斬荊榛，俟乾，盡焚之，方數十里，皆為美田。 勸軍士樹藝，歲收粟菽數十萬斛，生殖之業，陶冶必備。 仍距城築臺，上彀車弩，為城守備益固。 無幾，又進築新城，以據便地。 虜每寇掠，輒擊卻之，涇、隴由是乂安，虜深憚之。 以疾，貞元九年十一月，卒於良原，年六十二。 帝甚悼惜，廢朝三日，贈司空，賻布帛米粟有差。
In the spring of the fourth year he was given authority over Longyou supply, farming, and inspection, made commander of the Linzhou army, and transferred to Liangyuan. Liangyuan's ancient walls were largely ruined. As a key point on the Longyou frontier, invaders often pastured horses and rested troops there. He extended the beacon line, rebuilt walls and battlements, and personally shared labor with his troops. He cleared woods and cut brush, burned the cleared ground when dry, and turned many tens of li into fertile fields. He urged the troops to farm; each year they harvested hundreds of thousands of bushels, and pottery and smelting works were fully established. He built platforms outside the walls mounting ballistas and crossbows, strengthening the defenses further. Before long he built a new city on more advantageous ground. Whenever the enemy raided he repulsed them; the Jing and Long region grew secure, and the Tibetans came to fear him deeply. He fell ill and died at Liangyuan in the eleventh month of 793 at the age of sixty-two. The emperor grieved deeply, suspended court for three days, posthumously honored him as Minister of Works, and granted funeral gifts according to rank.
17
韓遊瑰，河西靈武人。 仕本軍，累歷偏裨，積功至邠寧節度使。 德宗出幸奉天，衛兵未集，遊瑰與慶州刺史論惟明合兵三千人赴難，自乾陵北過赴醴泉以拒泚。 會有人自京城來，言賊信宿當至，上遽令追遊瑰等軍伍。 才入壁，泚黨果至。 乃出鬥城下，小不利，乃退入城。 賊急奪門，遊瑰與賊隔門血戰，會暝方解。 自是賊日攻城，遊瑰、惟明乘城拒守，躬當矢石，不暇寢息，赴難之功，遊瑰首焉。
Han Yougui was a native of Lingwu in Hexi. He rose through the ranks of his native army to military commissioner of Binning. When Dezong fled to Fengtian before the guard was assembled, Yougui joined Qingzhou Prefect Lun Weiming with three thousand men, marching north of Qianling toward Liquan to block Zhu Ci. Someone from the capital reported the rebels would arrive within days; the emperor hastily recalled Yougui's force. They had barely entered the walls when Zhu Ci's forces arrived. They sallied out below the walls, met a minor setback, and withdrew into the city. The rebels pressed the gates; Yougui fought them at the gate in bloody combat until dusk. The rebels attacked daily thereafter. Yougui and Weiming defended the walls in person, facing arrows and stones without rest; among those who came to the emperor's aid, Yougui's merit ranked first.
18
李懷光反，從駕山南。 德宗以禁軍無職局，六軍特置統軍一員，秩從二品，以遊瑰、惟明、賈隱林等分典從駕禁兵。 李晟移軍東渭橋，與駱元光、尚可孤分扼京東要路； 渾瑊與遊瑰、戴休顏分典京西要路，掎角進攻。 興元元年，檢校刑部尚書、兼御史大夫，例授「奉天定難功臣」。 李晟收京城，遊瑰三將亦破賊於咸陽。 德宗自興元還京，渾瑊與遊瑰、休顏三將從； 李晟、尚可孤、駱元光三將奉迎，論功行封，與瑊等相次，還鎮邠寧。
When Li Huai'guang rebelled, Yougui accompanied the emperor into the Shannan region. Because the imperial guard lacked a unified command, Dezong created the post of army commander-in-chief at the second rank and divided escort command among Yougui, Weiming, Jia Yinlin, and others. Li Sheng moved to the Eastern Wei Bridge and, with Luo Yuanguang and Shang Kegu, held the key eastern routes; Hun Jian with Yougui and Dai Xiuyan held the western routes, advancing in coordinated pincer fashion. In 784 he was made provisional Minister of Justice and Grand Censor and granted the title "Meritorious Minister Who Quelled the Fengtian Crisis." When Li Sheng retook the capital, Yougui's command also defeated rebels at Xianyang. When Dezong returned from Xingyuan, Hun Jian followed with Yougui and Xiuyan; Li Sheng, Shang Kegu, and Luo Yuanguang welcomed him. Rewards were distributed in succession with Jian and the others, and Yougui returned to Binning.
19
三年，以子欽緒與妖賊李廣弘同謀不軌，時遊瑰鎮長武城，事將發，欽緒奔於邠州； 邠州將吏械送京師。 遊瑰以子大逆，請代歸，固欲詣闕，詔不許。 遊瑰鎖系欽緒二子送京師，請從坐，上亦宥之。 十二月，遊瑰入朝，素服待罪，入朝堂； 遽命釋之，勞遇如故，復令還鎮。 初，遊瑰入覲，邠州將吏以其子謀叛，又禦軍無政，謂必受代，餞送之禮甚薄。 及遊瑰見上，盛論邊事，請築豐義城以備蕃寇，上以特達，委用如初。 及還鎮，軍中懼不自安。 大將範希朝善將兵，名聞軍中； 遊瑰畏其逼己，將因事誅之。 希朝懼，出奔鳳翔。 上素知名，召入宿衛。 及遊瑰遣五百人築豐義城，兩板而潰。 又寧州戍卒數百人，縱掠而叛。 其無方略，失士心，皆此類也。 自寧州卒叛，吐蕃入寇，遊瑰自率眾戍寧州。
In the third year his son Qinxu plotted with the sorcerer rebel Li Guanghong. When the plot was about to surface, Qinxu fled to Bin Prefecture while Yougui was at Changwu; the Bin Prefecture officers sent him to the capital in bonds. Yougui, deeming his son's treason his own fault, asked to return to court in his son's place; the emperor refused. He sent Qinxu's two sons to the capital in bonds and asked to share their punishment; the emperor pardoned him as well. In the twelfth month he came to court in plain dress to await judgment and entered the audience hall; he was immediately released, treated as before, and ordered back to his command. When he first came to court, his officers thought he would be replaced after his son's plot and his poor governance, and their farewell gifts were meager. At audience he spoke at length on frontier defense and asked to build Fengyi City against Tibetan raids; the emperor treated him with special trust as before. On his return the army feared for its security. Senior general Fan Xichao was a skilled commander famed throughout the army; Yougui feared his rivalry and planned to kill him on a pretext. Xichao fled in fear to Fengxiang. The emperor, who had long known his reputation, summoned him to the palace guard. When Yougui sent five hundred men to build Fengyi City, the wall collapsed after two courses. Several hundred Ning Prefecture garrison troops also mutinied and plundered as they went. His lack of strategy and loss of the troops' loyalty were all of this kind. After the Ningzhou mutiny, Tibetans invaded, and Yougui personally led troops to garrison Ning Prefecture.
20
四年七月，除將軍張獻甫代遊瑰，不俟獻甫至，又不告眾知，乃輕騎夜出歸朝。 將卒素驕，聞獻甫嚴急，因其無帥，縱兵大掠，且圍監軍楊明義第，請奏範希朝為帥。 都虞侯楊朝晟初逃難郊外，翌日聞請希朝，乃復入城，與軍眾曰：「所請甚愜，我來賀也。」 叛卒稍安。 朝晟乃與諸將密謀，晨率甲兵而出，召叛卒告曰：「前請者不獲，張尚書來，昨日已入邠州。 汝等謀叛，皆當死。 吾不盡殺，誰為賊首，各言之，以罪歸之，余悉不問。」 於眾中唱二百余人，立斬之，軍城方定。 上聞軍情欲希朝，乃授寧州刺史，為獻甫邠寧之副。 遊瑰至京，授右龍武統軍。 十四年卒。
In the seventh month of the fourth year Zhang Xianfu was appointed to replace him. Without waiting for Xianfu or informing the troops, he fled by night to court. The troops were unruly. Hearing Xianfu was strict and left without a commander, they looted widely and besieged supervisor Yang Mingyi's residence, demanding Fan Xichao as commander. Chief commandant Yang Chaocheng had fled the city. Hearing the next day they wanted Xichao, he re-entered and told the troops, "Your choice is excellent—I have come to congratulate you. The mutineers were somewhat calmed. Chaocheng then plotted with the other generals. At dawn he led armored troops out and told the mutineers, "Your request was denied. Vice Minister Zhang arrived yesterday and has already entered Bin Prefecture. You have plotted rebellion—you all deserve death. I will not slaughter you all. Who is the ringleader? Name him, and the guilt shall fall on him alone; the rest I will not punish. He singled out more than two hundred men from the crowd and executed them on the spot, and the garrison was finally pacified. Learning the troops wanted Xichao, the emperor made him prefect of Ningzhou as Xianfu's deputy at Binning. Yougui reached the capital and was appointed commander of the Right Dragon Martial Guard. He died in the fourteenth year of Zhenyuan.
21
李廣弘者，或云宗室親王之胤。 落發為僧，自雲見五嶽、四瀆神，己當為人主。 貞元三年，自邠州至京師，有市人董昌者，通導廣弘，舍於資敬寺尼智因之室。 智因本宮人。 董昌以酒食結殿前射生將韓欽緒、李政諫、南珍霞，神策將魏修、李傪，前越州參軍劉昉、陸緩、陸絳、陸充、徐綱等，同謀為逆。 廣弘言嶽瀆神言，可以十月十日舉事，必捷。 自欽緒已下，皆有署置為宰相，以智因尼為後。 謀於舉事日，夜令欽緒擊鼓於淩霄門，焚飛龍廄舍草積； 又令珍霞盜擊街鼓，集城中人； 又令政諫、修、傪等領射生、神策兵內應； 事克，縱剽五日，朝官悉殺之。 事未發，魏修、李傪上變，令內官王希遷等捕其黨與斬之，德宗因禁止諸色人不得輒入寺觀。
Li Guanghong was said by some to be a descendant of an imperial prince. He took monastic vows, claiming the gods of the Five Peaks and Four Rivers had told him he was destined to rule. In 787 he came from Bin Prefecture to the capital. A market broker named Dong Chang guided him and lodged him with the nun Zhiyin at Zijing Temple. Zhiyin had once been a palace woman. Dong Chang used feasts to win over Palace Front crossbow guards Han Qinxu, Li Zhengjian, and Nan Zhenxia, Shence generals Wei Xiu and Li Song, and former Yuezhou staff Liu Fang, Lu Huan, Lu Jiang, Lu Chong, and Xu Gang, among others, in a joint plot of treason. Guanghong said the peak and river gods promised that action on the tenth day of the tenth month would surely succeed. From Qinxu downward each was assigned a ministerial post, with the nun Zhiyin as empress. On the appointed night Qinxu was to beat drums at Lingxiao Gate and burn the hay at the Flying Dragon stables; Zhenxia was to strike the street drums illegally to rally the city; Zhengjian, Xiu, Song, and others were to lead crossbow and Shence troops in a coup from within; once successful, they would allow five days of looting and kill every court official. Before the plot unfolded, Wei Xiu and Li Song reported it. Dezong ordered the eunuch Wang Xiqian and others to arrest and execute the conspirators, and thereafter forbade unauthorized entry into temples and monasteries.
22
賈隱林者，滑州牙將也。 建中初，為本軍兵馬使，令率兵宿衛。 硃泚之亂，諸軍未集，隱林率眾扈從。 性質樸，在奉天，賊急攻城，隱林與侯仲莊逐急救應，難險備至。 既而懷光軍至，逆賊解圍，從臣稱慶。 隱林抃舞畢，奏曰：「賊泚奔遁，臣下大慶，此皆宗社無疆之休。 然陛下性靈太急，不能容忍，若舊性未改，賊雖奔亡，臣恐憂未艾也。」 上不以為忤，甚稱之。 累官至檢校右散騎常侍，封武威郡王。 將幸山南而卒，贈左僕射，賜其家實封三百戶，賻絹百匹、米百碩，喪葬官給。
Jia Yinlin was a garrison officer of Huazhou. Early in Jianzhong he became his army's military commissioner and was ordered to lead troops in palace guard duty. During Zhu Ci's rebellion, before the armies had gathered, Yinlin led his troops to escort the emperor. Plain and unassuming by nature, at Fengtian he and Hou Zhongzhuang rushed repeatedly to meet the fierce rebel assaults through every danger. When Huai'guang's army arrived the rebels lifted the siege, and the attending ministers congratulated the emperor. After his dance of celebration he memorialized, "The rebel Zhu Ci has fled and we rejoice—this is boundless fortune for the altars of state. Yet Your Majesty's temper is too impatient and intolerant. If that nature does not change, though the rebels flee, I fear our troubles will not end. The emperor took no offense and praised him warmly. He rose to provisional Right Regular Attendant and was enfeoffed as Prince of Wuwei. He died as the emperor was setting out for Shannan. He was posthumously honored as Left Vice Director; his family received a permanent fief of three hundred households, one hundred bolts of silk and one hundred bushels of grain, and state funeral expenses.
23
杜希全，京兆醴泉人也。 少從軍，嘗為郭尚父子儀裨將，積功至朔方軍節度使； 軍令嚴肅，士卒皆悅服。 初，德宗居奉天，希全首將所部與鹽州刺史戴休顏、夏州刺史時常春合兵赴難。 軍已次漠谷，為賊泚邀擊，乘高縱礧，又以大弩射之，傷者眾。 德宗令出兵援之，不得進； 希全退次邠州。 以赴難功，加檢校戶部尚書、行在都知兵馬使。 從幸梁州。 帝還京師，遷太子少師、檢校右僕射，兼靈州大都督、御史大夫、受降定遠城天德軍，靈鹽豐夏等州節度支度營田觀察押蕃落等使、余姚郡王。
Du Xiquan was a native of Liquan in Jingzhao. He entered the army young, served as a subordinate of Guo Ziyi, and rose to military commissioner of the Shuofang Army; his orders were strict and his soldiers obeyed gladly. When Dezong was at Fengtian, Xiquan was first to march with Yanzhou Prefect Dai Xiuyan and Xiazhou Prefect Shi Changchun to the emperor's aid. At Mogu Valley Zhu Ci's forces intercepted them, rolling stones from the heights and shooting with heavy crossbows; casualties were heavy. Dezong ordered reinforcements but they could not break through; Xiquan withdrew to Bin Prefecture. For his rescue service he was made provisional Minister of Revenue and acting commander of troops at the imperial encampment. He accompanied the emperor to Liangzhou. On the emperor's return he was made Junior Tutor, provisional Right Vice Director, Grand Governor of Lingzhou, Grand Censor, commander of the frontier fortresses and Tiande Army, commissioner over Ling, Yan, Feng, and Xia with supply and farming authority, overseer of frontier tribes, and Prince of Yuyao.
24
希全將赴靈州，當獻《體要》八章，多所規諫。 德宗深納之，乃著《君臣箴》以賜之，其辭曰：
As he prepared to depart for Lingzhou he submitted eight chapters of policy essentials with extensive remonstrance. Dezong accepted them deeply and composed the Admonition on Ruler and Minister to present to him, which reads:
25
夫惟德惠人，惟辟奉天，從諫則聖，共理惟賢。 皇立有極，駿命不易，總萬機以成務，齊六合之殊致。 一心不能獨鑒，一目不能周視，敷求哲人，式序在位。 於戲！ 君之任臣，必求一德； 臣之事君，鹹思正直。 何啟沃之所宜，自古今而未得？ 且以讜言者逆耳，讒諛者伺側，故下情未通，而上聽已惑； 俾夫忠賢，敗於兇慝。 譬彼輕舟，烝徒楫之； 亦有和羹，宰夫膳之。 孰雲理國，不自得師，覆車之軌，予其懲而。 高以下升，和由甘受，惟君無良，亦臣之咎。 聞諸辛毗，牽裾魏後，則有禽息，竭忠碎首，勉思獻替，以平可否。 勿謂無傷，自微而彰； 勿謂何害，積小成大。 事有隱而必見，令既出而焉悔！ 鼓鐘在宮，聲聞於外，浩然涉水，朕未有艾。 將負扆以虛心，期盡忠而納誨。 在昔稷、契，實匡舜、禹； 近茲魏徵，佑我文祖，君臣協德，混一區宇。 肆予寡昧，獲纘丕緒，臣哉鄰哉，爾翼爾輔。
Virtue alone benefits the people; Heaven's mandate rests on the sovereign alone. To heed remonstrance is to be sage; to govern jointly requires the worthy. The throne has its pole; the mandate does not shift. The ruler gathers all affairs to their completion and harmonizes the realm's divergent ends. One mind cannot see all alone; one eye cannot survey every quarter. Seek the wise broadly and set them in their proper ranks. Alas! In employing ministers the ruler must seek unified virtue; in serving the ruler the minister must think only of uprightness. What counsel and support require—has that not been hard to obtain from antiquity to the present? Blunt words offend the ear while flatterers wait at one's side; the lower feelings go unheard and the ruler's ear is already deceived; and the loyal and worthy perish at the hands of the vicious. Like a light boat, the multitude rows it; like the harmonizing broth, the cook prepares it. Who says governing a state needs no teacher? The ruts of overturned carts—I take as my warning. The high rises from the low; harmony comes through yielding; if the ruler lacks virtue, it is also the minister's fault. I have heard of Xin Pi seizing the Wei empress's robe, and of Qin Xi exhausting loyalty even to a shattered head—strive to offer counsel that sets right from wrong. Do not say there is no harm—from the small it grows manifest; do not say what harm—small things pile up until they are great. What is hidden will surely be seen; once the command is issued, how can one repent! Drums and bells in the palace resound outside; vast as fording the flood, my sorrow has not yet ceased. I shall lean on the screen with an open heart, expecting full loyalty and welcome remonstrance. In antiquity Ji and Qi truly aided Shun and Yu; recently Wei Zheng aided our literary ancestor; ruler and minister in concert unified the realm. Now I, small and dim, have received the great succession—O ministers, my neighbors! You are my wings, my support.
26
高秋始肅，我武惟揚，輟此禁衛，殿於大邦。 戀闕方甚，嘉言乃昌，是規是諫，金玉其相。 辭高理要，入德知方，總彼千慮，備於八章，宣父有言，啟予者商。 殷有盤銘，周有欹器，或誡以辭，或警以事。 披圖演義，發於爾誌，與金鏡而高懸，將座右而同置。 人皆有初，鮮慎厥終，汝其夙夜，期保朕躬。 無曰爾身在外，而爾誠不通，一言之應，千里攸同。 導彼遐徐，達余四聰，華夷仰德，時乃之功。 既往既來，懷賢忡忡，唱予和汝，式示深衷。
High autumn turns stern; my martial power is raised; I withdraw this palace guard and post it to the great frontier. Longing for court remains deep; fine words then flourish—this is counsel, this is remonstrance, gold and jade in mutual radiance. Words lofty and principles essential—through virtue one knows the way; gathering a thousand thoughts in eight chapters. The Master said: He who enlightens me is Shang. Yin had the pan inscription; Zhou had the tilting vessel—some admonished in words, some warned by example. Unroll the chart and expound its meaning from your purpose—with the golden mirror hung high, place it also beside my seat. All men have a beginning; few guard the end—rise early and late, and preserve my person. Do not say that because you are far away your sincerity cannot reach me—one word answered, and a thousand li are as one. Guide those far and near, reach my four ears; Chinese and barbarians look up to virtue—then is achievement timely. Past and future meet; cherishing the worthy I am anxious—sing to me and I shall harmonize, showing my deep purpose.
27
尋兼本管及夏綏節度都統，加太子少師。 希全以鹽州地當要害，自貞元三年西蕃劫盟之後，州城陷虜； 自是塞外無保障，靈武勢隔，西通鄜坊，甚為邊患，朝議是之。 九年，詔曰：
Shortly afterward he was made overall commander of his circuit and Xia-Sui as well, with the added title of Junior Tutor. Because Yanzhou lay at a strategic point, after the Tibetan raid on the Pingliang alliance in 787 the city fell to the enemy; thereafter the outer frontier lacked protection, Lingwu was isolated, and communication west to Bin and Fang was gravely threatened—the court agreed. In the ninth year an edict declared:
28
設險守國，《易象》垂文，有備無患，先王令典。 況修復舊制，安固疆裏，偃甲息人，必在於此。
To establish defenses and guard the state—the Book of Changes sets forth the teaching; to be prepared and without worry is the ancient kings' constant rule. To restore the old system, secure the borders, lay down arms and give the people rest—all lies in this.
29
鹽州地當沖要，遠介朔陲，東達銀夏，西援靈武，密邇延慶，保扞王畿。 乃者城池失守，制備無據，千里庭障，烽燧不接，三隅要害，役戍其勤。 若非興集師徒，繕修壁壘，設攻守之具，務耕戰之方，則封內多虞，諸華屢警，由中及外，皆靡寧居。 深惟永圖，豈忘終食！ 顧以薄德，至化未孚，既不能復前古之治，致四夷之守，與其臨事而重擾，豈若先備而即安！ 是用弘久遠之謀，修五原之壘，使邊城有守，中夏克寧，不有暫勞，安能永逸？
Yanzhou stands at a strategic crossing on the northern frontier; east it links Yin and Xia, west it supports Lingwu, close to Yanqing and guarding the royal domain. Recently the walls were lost and defenses had no footing; for a thousand li beacons did not connect; at three critical points garrison labor was exhausted. Without gathering troops, repairing walls, setting equipment for attack and defense, and attending to farming and fighting, the interior will be full of trouble, the frontier peoples repeatedly alarmed, and none from center to border will dwell secure. In deep consideration of the long-term plan—how could one forget even a single meal! My slight virtue has not yet won full transformation; I cannot restore the governance of antiquity nor keep the four barbarians in guard. Better to prepare beforehand than to be disturbed when trouble comes! Therefore I adopt a far-reaching plan and repair the Wuyuan fortresses, so border cities are defended and the heartland secured—without brief toil, how can there be lasting ease?
30
宜令左右神策及朔方河中絳邠寧慶兵馬副元帥渾瑊、朔方靈鹽豐夏綏銀節度都統杜希全、邠寧節度使張獻甫、神策行營節度使邢君牙、銀夏節度使韓潭、鄜坊節度使王棲曜、振武節度使範希朝，各於所部簡練將士，令三萬五千人同赴鹽州。 神策將軍張昌宜權知鹽州事，應板築雜役，取六千人充。 其鹽州防秋將士，率三年滿更代，仍委杜彥先具名奏聞，悉與改轉。
Let Hun Jian, Du Xiquan, Zhang Xianfu, Xing Junya, Han Tan, Wang Qiyao, Fan Xichao, and the Shence, Shuofang, Hezhong, and related commands each select troops, thirty-five thousand in all, to proceed to Yanzhou. Shence General Zhang Changyi was named acting prefect of Yanzhou; six thousand men were assigned to construction labor. Yanzhou autumn-defense troops were to rotate after three years; Du Yanxian was to submit all names for transfer and promotion.
31
朕情非己欲，誌在靖人。 咨爾將相之臣，忠良之士，輸誠奉命，陳力忘憂，勉茂功勛，永安疆場。 必集兵事，實惟眾心，各相率勵，以副朕誌。
This is not my personal desire; my aim is to pacify the people. To you generals and loyal ministers—offer sincerity, obey commands, exert your strength and forget your cares; build merit and secure the borders forever. Military success depends on the hearts of all; each encourage the other to fulfill my purpose.
32
凡役六千人，二旬而畢。 時將板築，仍詔涇原、劍南、山南諸軍深討吐蕃以牽制之，由是板築之時，虜不及犯塞。 城畢，中外稱賀。 由是靈武、銀夏、河西稍安，虜不敢深入。
Six thousand laborers completed the work in twenty days. Edicts also ordered Jingyuan, Jiannan, and Shannan armies to strike Tibet and pin them down, so during construction the enemy did not breach the frontier. When the city was finished, court and country offered congratulations. Thereafter Lingwu, Yin-Xia, and Hexi grew somewhat secure, and the Tibetans did not dare penetrate deeply.
33
希全久鎮河西，晚節倚邊多恣橫，帝嘗寬之。 豐州剌史李景略威名出其右，希全深忌之，疑畏代己，乃誣奏景略； 德宗不得已為貶之。 素病風眩，暴戾益甚。 判官監察御史李起頗忤之，希全又誣奏殺之。 將吏皆重足脅息。 貞元十年正月卒，廢朝三日，贈司空。
Xiquan long commanded Hexi; in his later years he grew arbitrary on the frontier, and the emperor often indulged him. Fengzhou Prefect Li Jinglue outshone him in reputation; Xiquan resented and feared replacement and falsely memorialized against him; Dezong had no choice but to demote Jinglue. He had long suffered vertigo; his violence grew worse. Investigating censor Li Qi often opposed him; Xiquan again memorialized falsely and had him executed. Officers and clerks all lived in cringing fear. In the first month of 794 he died; court was suspended for three days; he was posthumously honored as Minister of Works.
34
尉遲勝，本於闐王珪之長子，少嗣位。 天寶中來朝，獻名馬、美玉，玄宗嘉之，妻以宗室女，授右威衛將軍、毗沙府都督，還國。 與西安節度使高仙芝同擊破薩毗播仙，以功加銀青光祿大夫、鴻臚卿，改光祿卿，皆同正。
Wei Chisheng was the eldest son of the Khotan king Gui and succeeded to the throne in his youth. During Tianbao he came to court with famous horses and fine jade. Xuanzong commended him, gave him an imperial clanswoman in marriage, appointed him Right Might Guard General and commissioner of Kucha, and sent him home. With Gao Xianzhi of Xi'an he defeated Sabipo Xian and was promoted to Silver-Green Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and Grand Herald, then Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, both in acting capacity.
35
至德初，聞安祿山反，勝乃命弟曜行國事，自率兵五千赴難。 國人留勝，以少女為質而後行。 肅宗待之甚厚，授特進，兼殿中監。 廣德中，拜驃騎大將軍、毗沙府都督、於闐王，令還國。 勝固請留宿衛，加開府儀同三司，封武都王，實封百戶。 勝請以本國王授曜，詔從之。 勝乃於京師修行裏盛飾林亭，以待賓客，好事者多訪之。
Early in Zhide, hearing of An Lushan's rebellion, Sheng left state affairs to his brother Yao and led five thousand troops to the emperor's aid. His subjects detained him, taking a young noblewoman as hostage before he departed. Suzong treated him generously and appointed him Special Advancement and concurrent Palace Reviser. In the Guangde era he was made General of Agile Cavalry, commissioner of Kucha, and King of Khotan, and ordered to return home. He asked to remain on palace guard duty and was made Grand General of the Household with parity to the Three Excellencies, enfeoffed as Prince of Wudu with a permanent fief of one hundred households. He asked that the kingship be transferred to Yao; the court agreed. He lavishly adorned pavilions and gardens in the capital to entertain guests, and many visitors sought him out.
36
建中末，從幸奉天，為兼御史中丞。 駕在興元，勝為右領軍將軍，俄遷右威衛大將軍，歷睦王傅。
Late in Jianzhong he accompanied the emperor to Fengtian as concurrent Vice Censor-in-Chief. At Xingyuan he was Right Commandant of the Army, then Right Might Guard General-in-Chief, and later Tutor to the Prince of Mu.
37
貞元初，曜遣使上疏，稱：「有國以來，代嫡承嗣，兄勝既讓國，請傳勝子銳。」 上乃以銳為檢校光祿卿、兼毗沙府長史還。 固辭，且言曰：「曜久行國事，人皆悅服。 銳生於京華，不習國俗，不可遣往。」 因授韶王諮議。 兄弟讓國，人多稱之。 府除，以勝為原王傅。 卒。 時年六十四。 貞元十年，贈涼州都督。 子銳嗣。
Early in Zhenyuan, Yao memorialized that since the founding of Khotan succession had passed to the legitimate heir, and since his brother Sheng had yielded the throne, Sheng's son Rui should inherit. The emperor named Rui provisional Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and chief administrator of Kucha and ordered him home. Rui firmly declined, saying, "Yao has long governed the state and the people are content. Rui was born in the capital and does not know Khotan's customs—he must not be sent. He was therefore appointed Adviser to the Prince of Shao. The brothers' mutual yielding of the throne won wide praise. When his prefectural post ended, Sheng was made Tutor to the Prince of Yuan. He died. He was sixty-four. In 794 he was posthumously honored as Grand Governor of Liangzhou. His son Rui succeeded him.
38
邢君牙，瀛州樂壽人也。 少從軍於幽薊、平盧，以戰功歷果毅折沖郎將，充平盧兵馬使。 安祿山反，隨平盧節度使侯希逸過海，至青、徐間。 田神功之討劉展，君牙又從神功戰伐有功，歷將軍、試光祿卿。 神功既為兗鄆節度使，令君牙領防秋兵入鎮好畤。 屬吐蕃陵犯，代宗幸陜，君牙隸屬禁軍扈從。 後又以戰功加鴻臚卿，累封河間郡公。
Xing Junya was a native of Leshou in Yingzhou. He entered the army young in Youji and Pinglu, rose through battle merit to garrison commander and crossbow-cavalry commandant, and served as Pinglu military commissioner. When An Lushan rebelled he followed Hou Xiyi of Pinglu across the sea to Shandong. In Tian Shen'gong's campaign against Liu Zhan he distinguished himself and rose to general and provisional Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. When Shen'gong became commissioner of Yan and Yun, he posted Junya with autumn-defense troops at Haozhi. When Tibetans raided, Daizong withdrew to Shaan and Junya joined the imperial guard escort. Later he was made Grand Herald for battle merit and enfeoffed as Duke of Hejian.
39
建中初，河北諸節帥叛，李晟率禁軍助馬燧等征之。 晟以君牙為都虞候，累於武安、襄國、洹水、魏縣、清豐討賊有功，君牙擒生斬級居多。 屬德宗幸奉天，晟率君牙統所部兵，倍道兼程，來赴國難。 及駐軍咸陽，移營渭橋，軍中之事，晟惟與君牙商之，他人莫可得而聞也。 收復宮闕，驟加御史大夫、檢校常侍。 既而晟為鳳翔、涇原元帥，數出軍巡邊，常令君牙掌知留後，軍府安悅。 貞元三年，晟以太尉、中書令歸朝，君牙代為鳳翔尹、鳳翔隴州都防禦觀察使，尋遷右神策行營節度、鳳翔隴州觀察使，加檢校工部尚書。 吐蕃連歲犯邊，君牙且耕且戰，以為守備，西戎竟不能為大患。 尋加檢校右僕射。 貞元十四年卒，時年七十一，廢朝一日，贈司空，賻布帛米粟有差。
Early in Jianzhong, when Hebei commissioners rebelled, Li Sheng led the imperial guard to assist Ma Sui and others. Sheng made him chief commandant. At Wu'an, Xiangguo, Huanshui, Weixian, and Qingfeng he won repeated victories, with the most captures and beheadings. When Dezong fled to Fengtian, Sheng led Junya's troops by forced march to the national crisis. At Xianyang and the Wei Bridge, Sheng discussed military affairs only with Junya; no one else was privy. When the palace was recovered he was suddenly made Grand Censor and provisional Regular Attendant. When Sheng became commander of Fengxiang and Jingyuan he often patrolled the frontier and left Junya as acting commander; the headquarters remained secure. In 787 Sheng returned to court as Grand Preceptor and Director of the Secretariat. Junya replaced him as prefect and defense commissioner of Fengxiang and Longzhou, then became Right Shence campaign commissioner with provisional Minister of Works. Tibet raided year after year; Junya farmed and fought by turns, and the western enemy never became a major threat. He was shortly afterward made provisional Right Vice Director. He died in 798 at seventy-one. Court was suspended for a day; he was posthumously honored as Minister of Works with graded funeral gifts.
40
楊朝晟，字叔明，夏州朔方人。 初，在朔方為部軍前鋒，常有功，授甘泉果毅。 建中初，從李懷光討劉文喜於涇州，斬獲擒生居多，授驃騎大將軍，稍遷右先鋒兵馬使。 後李納寇徐州，從唐朝臣征討，常冠軍鋒，以功授開府儀同三司、檢校太子賓客。
Yang Chaocheng, courtesy name Shuming, was a native of Shuofang in Xiazhou. He first served as vanguard in the Shuofang army, won repeated merit, and was appointed commander at Ganquan. Early in Jianzhong he followed Li Huai'guang against Liu Wenxi at Jingzhou with the most captures and kills, was made General of Agile Cavalry, and rose to Right Vanguard military commissioner. When Li Na raided Xuzhou he followed Tang Chaochen, often in the van, and was made Grand General of the Household with parity to the Three Excellencies and provisional Tutor to the Heir Apparent.
41
上在奉天，李懷光自山東赴難，以朝晟為右廂兵馬使，將千余人下咸陽，以挫硃泚。 加御史中丞，實封一百五十戶。 及懷光反於河中，朝晟被脅在軍。 上幸梁、洋，韓遊瑰退於邠寧，懷光以嘗在邠寧，迫制如屬城，以賊黨張昕在邠州總後務。 昕懼難作，乃大索軍資，征卒乘，約明潛發，歸於懷光。 時朝晟父懷賓為遊瑰將，夜後以數十騎斬昕及同謀者。 遊瑰即日使懷賓奉表聞奏，上召勞問，授兼御史中丞，正授遊瑰邠寧節度使。 間諜至河中，朝晟聞其事，泣告懷光曰：「父立功於國，子合誅戮，不可主兵。」 懷光遂系之。 及諸軍進圍河中，韓遊瑰營於長春宮，懷賓身當戰伐。 及懷光平，上念其忠，俾副元帥渾瑊特原朝晟，用為遊瑰都虞候。 時父子同軍，皆為開府、賓客、御史中丞，異姓王，榮於軍中。
At Fengtian, Huai'guang came from the east and made Chaocheng Right Wing military commissioner with more than a thousand men to strike Zhu Ci at Xianyang. He was made Vice Censor-in-Chief with a permanent fief of one hundred fifty households. When Huai'guang rebelled in Hezhong, Chaocheng was forced to remain with him. When the emperor withdrew to Liang and Yang, Yougui held Binning. Huai'guang, who had once commanded there, treated it as his own and placed the rebel Zhang Xin in charge at Bin Prefecture. Xin feared an uprising, seized military stores, conscripted troops and horses, and planned to march secretly at dawn back to Huai'guang. Chaocheng's father Huaiyin, a general under Yougui, led several dozen horsemen by night and beheaded Xin and his conspirators. Yougui had Huaiyin report at once. The emperor summoned and rewarded him, made him concurrent Vice Censor-in-Chief, and confirmed Yougui as Binning commissioner. When word reached Hezhong, Chaocheng wept and told Huai'guang, "My father has served the state; his son deserves death and cannot command troops. Huai'guang imprisoned him. When the armies besieged Hezhong, Yougui encamped at Changchun Palace and Huaiyin fought in the front ranks. After Huai'guang's defeat, the emperor had Hun Jian specially pardon Chaocheng and appoint him Yougui's chief commandant. Father and son then served in one army, each a Grand General, Tutor, Vice Censor, and enfeoffed king—an unmatched honor in the ranks.
42
後詔征遊瑰宿衛，以張獻甫代之。 獻甫在道，軍中有裴滿者，扇亂劫朝晟，朝晟陽許之，密計斬三百余人。 獻甫入，改御史大夫。 九年，城鹽州，征兵以護外境，朝晟分統士馬鎮木波堡。 獻甫卒，詔以朝晟代之。 其年，丁母憂，起復左金吾大將軍同正、邠州刺史、兼御史大夫。 十三年春，朝晟奏：「方渠、合道、木波，皆賊路也，請城其地以備之。」 詔問：「須兵幾何？」 朝晟奏曰：「臣部下兵自可集事，不煩外助。」 復問：「前築鹽州，凡興師七萬，今何其易也？」 朝晟曰：「鹽州之役，鹹集諸軍，番戎盡知之。 今臣境迫虜，若大興兵，即番戎來寇； 來寇則戰，戰則無暇城矣！ 今請密發軍士，不十日至塞下，未旬而功畢，番人始知，已無奈何。」 上從之。 已事，軍還至馬嶺，吐蕃始來，數日而退。
Later Yougui was summoned to palace guard and Zhang Xianfu replaced him. On the march, Pei Man incited mutiny and seized Chaocheng, who feigned agreement and secretly executed more than three hundred ringleaders. When Xianfu arrived Chaocheng was promoted to Grand Censor. In the ninth year, during the Yanzhou fortification, Chaocheng commanded troops garrisoning Mubo Fort. When Xianfu died the court ordered Chaocheng to replace him. That year, after his mother's death, he was recalled from mourning as Senior General of the Left Golden Crow Guard, prefect of Bin, and Grand Censor. In the spring of the thirteenth year he memorialized, "Fangqu, Hedao, and Mubo are all enemy routes; I ask to fortify them. The emperor asked how many troops were needed. Chaocheng replied, "My own troops can finish the work without outside help." The emperor asked again, "The Yanzhou project took seventy thousand men—why is this so easy?" Chaocheng said, "At Yanzhou all armies were gathered and the Tibetans knew everything. Now my territory borders the enemy; if we raise a great army Tibet will raid; if they raid we must fight, and if we fight there is no time to build! Send troops secretly, he said; in less than ten days they will reach the frontier and finish the work before Tibet knows—then it will be too late for them. The emperor agreed. When the work was done the army returned to Maling; Tibetans arrived only then and withdrew after several days.
43
初，軍次方渠，無水，師旅囂然。 遽有青蛇乘高而下，視其跡，水隨而流，朝晟命築防環之，遂為渟泉。 軍人仰飲以足，圖其事上聞，詔置祠焉。 免喪，加檢校工部尚書。 是夏，以防秋移軍寧州，遘疾，旬余而卒。
When the army first reached Fangqu there was no water and the troops were in uproar. Suddenly a green serpent descended from above; water followed its track. Chaocheng built a dike around it and made a spring. The troops drank their fill; the matter was reported and an edict ordered a shrine built. When mourning ended he was made provisional Minister of Works. That summer, while shifting troops for autumn defense to Ning Prefecture, he fell ill and died after ten days.
44
張敬則者，不知何許人，本名昌，後賜名敬則。 初助劉玄佐，累有軍功，官至鳳翔節度使。 常有復河湟之誌，遣大將野詩良輔發銳卒至隴西，番戎大駭。 元和二年六月卒。
Zhang Jingze—of unknown origin; originally named Chang, he was later granted the name Jingze. He first assisted Liu Xuanzuo, won repeated military merit, and rose to military commissioner of Fengxiang. He long cherished the ambition to recover Hexi and sent senior general Ye Shi Liangfu with elite troops to Longxi, greatly alarming the Tibetans. He died in the sixth month of 807.
45
史臣曰：有唐中否，逆寇勃興，天王窘以蒙塵，諸侯忠而赴難。 可孤生居沙漠，挺然懷效命之風； 功冠貔貅，屹爾有不矜之色。 李觀文儒之胄，樂習兵戎，戴聖主著定難之勛，救渾瑊於會盟之變。 休顏斬使嬰城，懷光股栗； 惠元窮蹙自致，天子軫悼。 元諒退兵章敬，力戰讓功，雅有器度。 及不忍小忿，專殺庭光，請罪軍門，壯哉烈士！ 其下諸將，郁有勞能。 勝生異域，推位讓國，堅留宿衛，顧慕華風； 居中土者，豈不思廉讓耶！ 斯乃高祖之基，太宗之業，貽厥孫謀，不徒虛語。
The historiographer writes: In Tang's mid-decline rebellious bandits rose violently; the Son of Heaven fled in distress and loyal lords hurried to the rescue. Kegu was born in the desert yet stood forth with a spirit willing to give his life; his merit topped the bravest ranks, standing firm without boasting. Li Guan, scion of a literary house, took to military affairs; he earned merit in the crisis and saved Hun Jian at the Pingliang ambush. Xiuyan beheaded the envoy and held the walls; Huai'guang trembled; Huiyuan drove himself to extremity—the emperor grieved for him. Yuanliang withdrew to Zhangjing, fought fiercely yet yielded merit, elegant in capacity. Yet unable to bear a slight, he killed Tingguang on his own and begged punishment at the camp gate—a splendid warrior! The subordinate generals beneath them all had merit and ability. Sheng was born abroad, yielded throne and state, yet remained on guard in the capital, drawn to Chinese culture; those in the central lands—should they not think of modest yielding! This is the foundation of Gaozu and the enterprise of Taizong, bequeathed to posterity—not empty words.
46
贊曰：建中失國，嘯聚氛慝。 景命載延，群雄畢力。 歌鐘甲第，珪組繁錫。 凡百人臣，忠為令德。
The praise runs: Jianzhong lost hold of the state; bandits gathered in malignant air. Heaven's mandate endured; heroes exerted all their strength. Songs, bells, armor, and mansions; seals and sashes richly bestowed. For a hundred men as ministers, loyalty is the supreme virtue.