Volume 145 Biographies 95: Liu Xuanzuo, Dong Jin, Lu Zhengyuan, Liu Quanliang, Li Zhongchen, Li Xilie, Wu Shaocheng

劉玄佐，本名洽，滑州匡城人也。少倜儻，不理生業；為縣捕盜吏，違法，為令所笞，僅死，乃亡命從軍。大歷中，為永平軍衙將。李靈曜據汴州，洽將兵乘其無備，徑入宋州，遂詔以州隸永平軍，節度使李勉奏署宋州刺史。建中二年，加兼御史中丞、亳潁節度等使。

Liu Xuanzuo, whose original name was Qia, came from Kuangcheng in Hua Prefecture. As a young man he was bold and free-spirited and paid no heed to earning a livelihood; He became a county constable hunting thieves, broke the law, was beaten by the magistrate almost to death, and finally fled as a fugitive to enlist. During the Dali period he served as a staff commander in the Yongping army. When Li Lingyao seized Bian Prefecture, Qia led troops in while the enemy was off guard and marched straight into Song Prefecture. The court then placed the prefecture under the Yongping army, and Military Governor Li Mian memorialized to appoint him prefect of Song. In the second year of the Jianzhong reign he was further appointed concurrent Censor-in-chief and commissioner of the Bo-Ying circuit, among other duties.

李正己死，子納匿喪謀叛，而李洧以徐州歸順，納遣兵圍之。詔洽與諸軍援洧，與賊接戰，大破之，斬首萬余級。由是轉輸路通，加御史大夫。又收濮州，降其將楊令暉，分兵挾之，徇濮陽，降其將高彥昭，以通濮陽津。遷尚書，累封四百戶，兼曹濮觀察使，尋加淄青兗鄆招討使，又加汴滑都統副使。李希烈攻汴州，德宗在奉天，連戰，賊稍卻。興元初，進加檢校左僕射，加平章事。希烈圍寧陵，洽大將劉昌言堅守不下。希烈攻陳州，洽遣昌言與諸軍救之，大敗賊黨，獲其將翟崇暉。希烈棄汴州，洽率軍收汴，詔加汴宋節度。無幾，授本管及陳州諸軍行營都統，賜名玄佐。是歲來朝，又拜涇原四鎮北庭等道兵馬副元帥，檢校司空，益封八百戶。

When Li Zhengji died, his son Na concealed the death and plotted rebellion, while Li Wei surrendered Xuzhou to the throne. Na then sent troops to besiege him. The court ordered Qia and the allied armies to relieve Wei. In battle with the rebels they won a great victory and took more than ten thousand heads. With the supply routes restored, he was promoted to Grand Censor. He also recovered Pu Prefecture and won the submission of its general Yang Linghui. Sending detachments to support the advance, he pushed on to Puyang and won over its general Gao Yanzhao, opening the crossing at Puyang. He was promoted to Minister, his fief was increased by four hundred households, he was made concurrent Ca-Pu observation commissioner, soon afterward added as pacification commissioner for Zi, Qing, Yan, and Yan circuits, and later made deputy overall commander of Bian and Hua. When Li Xilie attacked Bian Prefecture, Emperor Dezong was at Fengtian. After a series of engagements the rebels gradually fell back. At the opening of the Xingyuan era he was promoted to acting Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and made Associate Grand Councilor. When Xilie besieged Ningling, Qia's chief general Liu Changyan held the city and refused to surrender. When Xilie attacked Chen Prefecture, Qia sent Changyan with the allied armies to relieve the city. They routed the rebels and captured the enemy general Zhai Chonghui. Xilie abandoned Bian Prefecture, and Qia led his army to recover it. The court then appointed him military governor of Bian and Song. Before long he was made overall commander of his own command and of the Chen Prefecture field armies, and was granted the name Xuanzuo. That year he came to court and was further appointed vice commander-in-chief of the armies of Jingyuan, the Four Garrisons, Beiting, and other circuits, acting Minister of Works, with his fief increased by eight hundred households.

玄佐性豪侈，輕財重義，厚賞軍士，故百姓益困。是以汴之卒，始於李忠臣，訖於玄佐，而日益驕恣，多逐殺將帥，以利剽劫。又寵任小吏張士南及養子樂士朝，財物鉅萬。士朝通玄佐嬖妾。玄佐在鎮，李納每使來，必重贈遺，飾美女名樂，從其遊娛，故多得其陰事，常先為備，故納憚其心計。貞元三年三月，薨於位，年五十八，廢朝三日，贈太傅。將佐初匿喪，稱疾俟代，帝亦為隱，數日乃發喪。子士寧、士幹。

Xuanzuo was lavish by nature, careless of wealth but mindful of loyalty, and he rewarded his troops generously—so the common people grew ever poorer. From Li Zhongchen down to Xuanzuo, the soldiers of Bian grew daily more arrogant and violent, often deposing and killing their commanders so they could loot at will. He also lavished favor on the minor clerk Zhang Shinan and on his adopted son Yue Shichao, who amassed wealth in the tens of thousands. Shichao carried on an affair with Xuanzuo's favorite concubine. While Xuanzuo held his post, whenever Li Na sent envoys he showered them with rich gifts, furnished them with beautiful women and skilled musicians for their diversion, and thus often learned their secrets in advance. Na came to fear his cunning. In the third month of the third year of Zhenyuan he died in office at the age of fifty-eight. Court audiences were suspended for three days, and he was posthumously ennobled as Grand Tutor. At first his staff concealed the death, claiming he was ill and awaiting a successor; the emperor colluded in the concealment, and the mourning was not announced until several days had passed. He had sons named Shining and Shigan.

初，將佐匿喪，既發，帝遣問所欲立：「吳湊可乎？」監軍孟介、行軍盧瑗皆曰「便」。及湊次汜水，柩將遷，請備儀；瑗不許，又令留什物俟新使，將士大怒。玄佐子婿及親兵乃以三月晦夜激怒三軍。明晨，衙兵皆甲胄，擁士寧登重榻，衣以墨缞，呼為留後。軍士執城將曹金岸、浚儀令李邁，曰：「爾等皆請吳湊者！」遂臠之，唯盧瑗獲免。士寧乃以財物分賜將士，請之為帥，孟介以聞。帝召宰臣問計，竇參曰：「今汴人挾李納以邀命，若不許，懼合於納。」遂從之，授士寧起復金吾衛將軍同正、汴州刺史、宣武軍節度等使。士寧位未定時，遣使通王武俊、劉濟、田緒，以士寧未受詔於國，皆留之。

Earlier, after the staff had concealed the death and the mourning was finally announced, the emperor sent to ask whom they wished to install: "Would Wu Cou be acceptable? Army Supervisor Meng Jie and Army Commander Lu Yuan both replied that he would do. When Cou reached Sishui and the coffin was about to be moved on, he requested a proper funeral escort; Yuan refused and also ordered that the deceased's belongings be held for the incoming commissioner. Officers and soldiers were furious. On the last night of the third month, Xuanzuo's sons-in-law and personal troops incited the entire army. At dawn the guard troops all donned armor, lifted Shining onto a high couch, dressed him in black mourning garb, and proclaimed him acting commissioner. The soldiers seized City General Cao Jin'an and Junyi Magistrate Li Mai, crying: "You were the ones who wanted Wu Cou! They then hacked them to pieces. Only Lu Yuan was spared. Shining distributed goods to reward the troops and asked to be made commander. Meng Jie reported this to the throne. The emperor summoned his chief ministers for counsel. Dou Can said: "The men of Bian are using Li Na as leverage to demand an appointment. If we refuse, I fear they will join Na. The emperor agreed and appointed Shining, restored from mourning, as General of the Golden Guards with concurrent status, prefect of Bian, and military governor of the Xuanwu army, among other titles. While Shining's appointment was still unsettled, he sent envoys to Wang Wujun, Liu Ji, and Tian Xu, but because he had not yet received an imperial commission, all three detained his messengers.

士寧初授節制，諸將多不悅服。性忍暴淫亂，或彎弓挺刃，手殺人於杯案間，悉烝父之妓妾，又強取人之婦女，好倮觀婦人。每出畋獵，數日方還，軍府苦之。其大將李萬榮與其父玄佐同里闬，少相善，寬厚得眾心；士寧疑之，去其兵權，令攝汴州事。萬榮深怨之，將伺其隙逐之。十年正月，士寧以眾二萬畋於城南，兵既出，萬榮晨入士寧廨舍，召其所留心腹兵千余人，矯謂之曰：「有詔征大夫入朝，俾吾掌留務，汝輩人賜錢三千貫，無他憂也。」兵士皆拜。萬榮既約親兵於內，又召各營兵於外，以是言令之，軍士皆聽命。萬榮乃分兵閉城門，馳使白士寧曰：「詔征大夫，宜速即路；若遷延不行，當傳首以獻。」士寧知眾不為用，計無所出，乃將五百騎走歸京師。比至中牟，亡走大半；至東都，所余僮隸婢妾數十人而已。既至京師，詔令歸第服喪，禁絕出入。萬榮乃斬士寧所親之將辛液、白英賢以令於軍，凡賞軍士錢二十萬貫，詔令籍沒士寧家財以分賞焉。遂授萬榮宣武軍兵馬留後。

When Shining first received his commission, many of his generals were discontent and refused to obey. He was cruel, violent, and debauched. Sometimes he would bend his bow or draw his blade and kill men at the banquet table. He took all his father's entertainers and concubines for himself, forcibly seized other men's wives and daughters, and liked to watch women unclothed. Whenever he went hunting he would be away for days on end, to the great distress of the headquarters. His chief general Li Wanrong came from the same village as his father Xuanzuo; they had been close since youth, and Wanrong was generous and won the troops' loyalty; Shining grew suspicious of him, stripped him of military command, and ordered him to administer Bian Prefecture in an acting capacity. Wanrong deeply resented this and bided his time to drive Shining out. In the first month of the tenth year Shining took twenty thousand men hunting south of the city. Once the army had marched out, Wanrong entered Shining's headquarters at dawn, summoned more than a thousand trusted troops he had cultivated, and falsely announced: "An edict summons the commissioner to court and appoints me to handle affairs in his stead. Each of you will receive three thousand strings of cash—have no other concern. The soldiers all bowed in assent. Having secured the personal guard within, Wanrong also summoned the troops of every camp outside and gave them the same order. The whole army obeyed. Wanrong then posted troops to close the city gates and sent a fast rider to tell Shining: "An edict summons you to court. You should set out at once; if you linger, your head will be sent to the capital instead. Shining saw that the army would not follow him and could think of no recourse. He fled to the capital with five hundred horsemen. By the time he reached Zhongmou, more than half his followers had deserted; and when he reached the eastern capital only a few dozen servants and concubines were left. Once in the capital he was ordered to return home to observe mourning and was forbidden to leave his residence. Wanrong then executed Shining's favored generals Xin Ye and Bai Yingxian to assert control over the army. He distributed two hundred thousand strings of cash to reward the troops, and the court ordered Shining's family property confiscated and divided among them. Wanrong was then appointed acting military commissioner of the Xuanwu army.

初，萬榮遣兵三千備秋於京西，有親兵三百，前為劉士寧所驕者，日益橫。萬榮惡之，悉置行籍中，由是深怨萬榮。大將韓惟清、張彥琳請將往，不許；萬榮令其子乃將之，未發。惟清、彥琳不得誌，因親兵銜怨，乃作亂，共攻萬榮。萬榮分兵擊之，叛卒兵械少，戰不勝，乃劫轉運財貨及居人而潰，殺傷千余人。叛兵四出，多投宋州，刺史劉逸準厚撫之。韓惟清走鄭州，張彥琳走東都，以束身歸罪，宥以不死，並流竄焉。萬榮悉捕逃叛將卒妻孥數千人，皆誅之。萬榮誅叛卒之後，人心恟々不安，軍卒數人呼於市曰：「今夜大兵四面至，城當破。」眾驚駭。萬榮悉捕得，或云士寧所教，萬榮斬之以聞；遂以士寧廢處郴州。十一年五月，授萬榮宣武軍節度使。其年八月，萬榮病，遂署其子乃為司馬。乃勒大將李湛、伊婁涚、張伾往外鎮，尋皆令殺之。涚、伾皆已死，惟李湛至尉氏，尉氏鎮將郝忠節不肯殺湛。是夜軍士逐出李乃，遂執送京師。萬榮以其日病卒。乃至京師，付京兆府杖殺。

Earlier Wanrong had sent three thousand troops to garrison the autumn defenses west of the capital. Among them were three hundred personal guards whom Liu Shining had long indulged, and they grew daily more insolent. Wanrong disliked them and placed them all on the active campaign rolls, for which they came to hate him bitterly. Generals Han Weiqing and Zhang Yanlin asked to lead the detachment, but Wanrong refused; he ordered his son Nai to command them instead, but the column had not yet set out. Weiqing and Yanlin, thwarted in their request, joined with the resentful personal guard to mutiny and attack Wanrong together. Wanrong sent troops against them. The mutineers were poorly armed, could not prevail, then looted transport stores and civilians and broke apart, killing and wounding more than a thousand people. The rebels scattered in all directions, many fleeing to Song Prefecture, where Prefect Liu Yizhun treated them generously. Han Weiqing fled to Zheng Prefecture and Zhang Yanlin to the eastern capital. Both surrendered to accept punishment, were spared execution, and were banished. Wanrong seized the wives and children of the fugitive mutineers—several thousand in all—and put them to death. After executing the mutineers, Wanrong left the city uneasy. Several soldiers shouted in the market: "Tonight great armies will come from every side and the city will fall. The populace panicked. Wanrong seized them all. Some said Shining had instigated the alarm; Wanrong executed them and reported to the court; and Shining was deposed and banished to Chen Prefecture. In the fifth month of the eleventh year Wanrong was appointed full military governor of the Xuanwu army. That same year, in the eighth month, Wanrong fell ill and appointed his son Nai deputy commander. Nai forced the senior generals Li Zhan, Yi Louce, and Zhang Pi to take posts in outlying garrisons, then soon ordered them all killed. Louce and Pi were already dead. Li Zhan alone reached Weishi, where Garrison Commander Hao Zhongjie refused to kill him. That night the troops drove out Li Nai and sent him under guard to the capital. Wanrong died of his illness that same day. When Nai reached the capital he was handed over to the metropolitan prefecture and beaten to death.

劉士幹，玄佐養子，前為太府少卿。有樂士朝者，亦為玄佐養子，因冒劉姓，與士幹有隙。及玄佐卒，或云為士朝所鴆。士幹知之，及至京師，遣奴持刀於喪位，語士朝曰：「有吊客至。」因誘殺之。賜士幹死。

Liu Shigan, an adopted son of Xuanzuo, had formerly served as Vice Director of the Court of the Imperial Treasury. Another adopted son, Yue Shichao, had falsely taken the surname Liu and was at odds with Shigan. When Xuanzuo died, some said Shichao had poisoned him. Shigan believed this. When he reached the capital he sent a slave with a blade to the mourning hall and told Shichao, "Mourners have arrived. He then lured Shichao out and killed him. Shigan was sentenced to death.

董晉，字混成，河中盧鄉人。明經及第。至德初，肅宗自靈武幸彭原，晉上書謁見，授校書郎、翰林待制，再轉衛尉丞，出為汾州司馬。未幾，刺史崔圓改淮南節度，奏晉以本官攝殿中侍御史，充判官，尋歸臺，授本官，遷侍御史、主客員外郎、祠部郎中。大歷中，兵部侍郎李涵送崇徽公主使回紇，奏晉為判官。使還，拜司勛郎中。歷秘書太府太常少卿監、左金吾將軍。旬日，德宗嗣位，改太常卿，遷右散騎常侍，兼御史中丞知臺事。以清勤謹慎，故驟遷右職。尋為華州刺史、兼御史中丞、潼關防禦使。久之，加兼御史大夫。硃泚僭逆於京師，使兇黨仇敬、何望之侵逼華州，晉奔遁赴行在，授國子祭酒，尋令往恆州宣慰。從車駕還京師，遷左金吾衛大將軍，改尚書左丞。時右丞元琇領度支使，為韓滉所擠貶黜，晉嫉之，見宰相極言非罪，舉朝稱之。復拜太常卿。

Dong Jin, courtesy name Huncheng, came from Luxiang in Hezhong. He passed the Metropolitan Examination in the Classics. At the beginning of Zhide, when Emperor Suzong traveled from Lingwu to Pengyuan, Jin submitted a memorial and was received in audience. He was appointed Proofreader and Hanlin attendant, later promoted twice to Vice Director of the Court of the Imperial Stud, and then sent out as vice prefect of Fenzhou. Before long Prefect Cui Yuan was transferred to military governor of Huainan and memorialized for Jin to serve as acting Palace Attendant censor at his former rank and as administrative aide. Soon Jin returned to the censorate, received his former title, and was promoted to Attending Censor, Supernumerary Director of the Bureau of Reception, and Director of the Bureau of Sacrifices. During the Dali era Vice Minister of War Li Han escorted Princess Chonghui on a mission to the Uyghurs and memorialized for Jin to serve as his administrative aide. When the embassy returned, Jin was appointed Director of the Bureau of Merit. He served in succession as Supervisor of the Secretariat, of the Court of the Imperial Treasury, and of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and as General of the Left Golden Guards. Within ten days Emperor Dezong succeeded to the throne. Jin was made Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, promoted to Right Regular Attendant, and appointed concurrent Censor-in-chief in charge of censorate affairs. Because he was pure, diligent, and careful, he rose rapidly to high office. Soon he became prefect of Hua, concurrent Censor-in-chief, and defense commissioner of Tong Pass. After some time he was further made concurrent Grand Censor. When Zhu Ci rebelled in the capital he sent his henchmen Qiu Jing and He Wangzhi to threaten Hua Prefecture. Jin fled to the imperial camp, was appointed Chancellor of the Directorate of Education, and soon after was sent to Hengzhou to offer consolation. He followed the imperial carriage back to the capital and was transferred to Grand General of the Left Golden Guards, then made Left Vice Director of the Ministry of Civil Office. At that time Right Vice Director Yuan Xiu headed the fiscal commission and was forced out and demoted by Han Huang. Jin took offense at this, went to the chancellor, and forcefully argued Yuan's innocence. The whole court praised him for it. He was again appointed Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

五年，遷門下侍郎、同平章事。時政事決在竇參，晉但奉詔書，領然諾而已。金吾衛將軍沈房有弟喪，公除，衣慘服入閣。上問宰相，對曰：「準式，朝官有周年已下喪者，諸騑縵，不合衣淺色。」帝曰：「南班安得有之？」對曰：「因循而然。」又問晉冠冕之制，對曰：「古人服冠冕者，動有佩玉之響，所以節步也。《禮》雲『堂上接武，堂下布武』，至恭也；步武有常，君前之禮，進趨而已。今或奔走以致顛仆，非恭慎也。在式，朝官皆是綾袍袱，五品已上金玉帶，取其文彩畫飭，以奉上也。是以禹惡衣食而致美乎黻冕，君親一致。昔尚書郎含香，老萊彩服，皆此義也。服絁縵，非制也。」上深然之，遂詔曰：「常參官入閣，不得趨走；周期已下喪者，禁慘服朝會。」又令服本品綾袍金玉帶。晉明於禮學如此。

In the fifth year he was transferred to Vice Director of the Chancellery and made Associate Grand Councilor. At that time policy rested with Dou Can; Jin merely received edicts and gave his assent. Golden Guards General Shen Fang had lost a brother. When the period of public mourning ended, he entered the Inner Court wearing pale mourning dress. The emperor asked the chancellor, who replied: "By regulation, when a court official is in mourning for less than a full year, all should wear dappled or gray mourning dress. Light-colored garments are not proper. The emperor said, "How could the southern ranks have such a practice?" He replied, "It is simply force of habit." The emperor also asked about court dress. Jin replied, "When the ancients wore caps and robes, the jade pendants at their belts chimed as they walked, regulating their pace. The Rites say, "On the hall floor the steps nearly overlap; below the hall they are spread wide"—the utmost in reverence; a measured gait is prescribed, and before the sovereign one need only quicken one's pace. Today men run and stumble—this is not reverent caution. By regulation court officials wear damask robes with overlapping collars; from the fifth rank upward they wear gold and jade belts, their patterned dress serving to honor the throne. Thus Yu scorned plain dress yet made his ceremonial caps and robes splendid—sovereign and subject alike in this principle. In antiquity Masters of Writing carried incense at court, and Laolai wore bright garments for his parents—both express the same idea. Wearing plain silk mourning dress is not proper." The emperor strongly agreed and issued an edict: "Regular attending officials entering the Inner Court must not run; those in mourning for less than a full year are forbidden to attend court in pale mourning dress." He also ordered them to wear their proper rank's damask robes and gold-jade belts. Jin was this well versed in ritual learning.

竇參驕滿既甚，帝漸惡之。八年，參諷晉奏其侄給事中竇申為吏部侍郎，帝正色曰：「豈不是竇參遣卿奏也？」晉不敢隱。因問參過失，晉具奏之。旬日，參貶官，晉憂懼，累上表辭位。九年夏，改禮部尚書、兵部尚書、東都留守、東都畿汝州都防禦使。

Dou Can had grown insufferably arrogant, and the emperor came to dislike him. In the eighth year Can had Jin memorialize appointing his nephew Attending Gentleman Dou Shen Vice Director of the Ministry of Personnel. The emperor said sternly, "Did Dou Can not send you to submit this? Jin did not dare hide the truth. The emperor asked about Can's misconduct, and Jin reported it in full. Within ten days Can was demoted. Jin was alarmed and repeatedly asked to resign. In the summer of the ninth year he was made Minister of Rites, Minister of War, regent of the eastern capital, and overall defense commissioner of the eastern capital circuit and Ru Prefecture.

會汴州節度李萬榮疾甚，其子乃為亂，以晉為檢校左僕射、同平章事，兼汴州刺史、宣武軍節度營田、汴宋觀察使。晉既受命，唯將幕官傔從等十數人，都不召集兵馬。既至鄭州，宣武軍迎候將吏無至者。晉左右及鄭州官吏皆懼，共勸晉云：「鄧惟恭承萬榮疾病之甚，遂總領軍州事。今相公到此，尚不使人迎候，其情狀豈可料；即恐須且遲回，以候事勢。」晉曰：「奉詔為汴州節度使，即合準敕赴官，何可妄為逗留！」人皆憂其不測，晉獨恬然。未至汴州十數里，鄧惟恭方來迎候，晉俾其不下馬；既入，乃委惟恭以軍政，眾服晉明於事體機變，而未測其深淺。

When Military Governor Li Wanrong of Bian Prefecture fell gravely ill and his son Nai mutinied, Jin was appointed acting Left Vice Director, Associate Grand Councilor, concurrent prefect of Bian, and military governor of the Xuanwu army with charge of garrison fields and Bian-Song observation commissioner. On receiving his commission Jin took only a dozen or so staff officers and attendants and did not raise troops at all. When he reached Zheng Prefecture, not one welcoming officer from the Xuanwu army appeared. Jin's attendants and the officials of Zheng Prefecture were terrified and urged him together: "Deng Weigong, exploiting Wanrong's grave illness, has already seized control of the army and the prefecture. You have arrived and still no one comes to welcome you—his intentions are impossible to read; perhaps you should hold back and watch how events unfold. Jin said, "I have been appointed military governor of Bian Prefecture. I must proceed to my post as the edict commands. How can I linger without cause!" All feared for him, but Jin alone remained untroubled. When he was still a dozen li from Bian Prefecture, Deng Weigong at last came to meet him. Jin would not let him dismount; Once inside the city he entrusted military affairs to Weigong. The troops admired Jin's grasp of the situation, yet could not gauge how deep his design ran.

初，萬榮逐劉士寧，代為節度使，委兵於惟恭，以其同鄉里。及疾甚，李乃將為亂，惟恭乃與監軍同謀縛乃，送歸朝廷。惟恭自以當便代居其位，故不遣候吏，以疑懼晉心，冀其不敢進。不意晉之速至。晉已近，方遽出迎之。然心常怏怏，竟以驕盈慢法，潛圖不軌，配流嶺南。

Earlier, when Wanrong drove out Liu Shining and took his place as military governor, he entrusted the troops to Weigong because they were fellow villagers. When Wanrong fell gravely ill and Li Nai was about to rebel, Weigong conspired with the army supervisor to bind Nai and send him to the capital. Weigong expected to succeed Wanrong himself, so he sent no welcoming officers, hoping to intimidate Jin and keep him from advancing. He did not expect Jin to arrive so swiftly. When Jin was already close at hand, he rushed out to meet him. Yet he remained resentful at heart. In the end, for arrogant defiance of law and secret plotting of rebellion, he was banished to Lingnan.

朝廷恐晉柔懦，尋以汝州刺史陸長源為晉行軍司馬。晉謙恭簡儉，每事因循多可，故亂兵粗安。長源好更張雲為，數請改易舊事，務從削刻。晉初皆然之，及案牘已成，晉乃命且罷。又委錢谷支計於判官孟叔度。叔度輕佻，好慢易軍人，皆惡之。晉十五年二月卒，年七十六，廢朝三日，贈太傅，賜布帛有差。卒後未十日，汴州大亂，殺長源、叔度等。

Fearing Jin was too mild, the court soon appointed Ru Prefect Lu Changyuan as his army commander. Jin was modest, respectful, and frugal; on most matters he followed precedent and assented, so the mutinous troops were roughly kept quiet. Changyuan liked to overturn established ways and repeatedly sought to change old arrangements, pressing for harsh economies. At first Jin agreed to everything, but once the documents were drafted he ordered them shelved. He also entrusted fiscal accounts and disbursements to Administrative Aide Meng Shudu. Shudu was frivolous and treated soldiers with contempt; all hated him. In the second month of the fifteenth year Jin died at seventy-six. Court audiences were suspended for three days. He was posthumously ennobled Grand Tutor and granted graded gifts of cloth and silk. Less than ten days after his death Bian Prefecture erupted in chaos, and Changyuan, Shudu, and others were killed.

陸長源，字泳之，開元、天寶中尚書左丞、太子詹事余慶之孫，西河太守璪之子。長源淑書史。乾元中，陷河北諸賊，因佐昭義軍節度薛嵩卒後。久之，歷建、信二州刺史。浙西節度韓滉兼領江、淮轉運，奏長源檢校郎中、兼中丞，充轉運副使。罷為都官郎中，改萬年縣令，出為汝州刺史。

Lu Changyuan, courtesy name Yongzhi, was grandson of Yuqing, who had served as Left Vice Director of the Ministry and Household Steward to the Heir Apparent under Emperors Kaiyuan and Tianbao, and son of Suo, prefect of Xihe. Changyuan was accomplished in literature and history. In the Qianyuan era he was caught in the rebel-held north and afterward served under the Zhaoyi army after Military Governor Xue Song died. After some time he served in succession as prefect of Jian and Xin. Zhexi Military Governor Han Huang also headed Jiang-Huai transport and memorialized for Changyuan as acting Director with concurrent Censor-in-chief, serving as transport deputy commissioner. He was relieved as Director of the Bureau of Punishments, made magistrate of Wannian County, and then sent out as prefect of Ru.

貞元十二年，授檢校禮部尚書、宣武軍行軍司馬，汴州政事，皆決斷之。性輕佻，言論容易，恃才傲物，所在人畏而惡之。及至汴州，欲以峻法繩驕兵；而董晉判官楊凝、孟叔度亦縱恣淫湎，眾情共怒。晉性寬緩，事務因循，以收士心。長源每事守法，晉或茍且，長源輒執而正之。

In the twelfth year of Zhenyuan he was appointed acting Minister of Rites and army commander of the Xuanwu army, and all affairs of Bian Prefecture were decided by him. He was frivolous by nature, careless in speech, arrogant in talent, and wherever he went people feared and despised him. When he reached Bian Prefecture he meant to discipline the arrogant troops with harsh law; but Dong Jin's administrative aides Yang Ning and Meng Shudu also indulged in dissipation and debauchery, and popular anger united against them. Jin was lenient by nature and let affairs drift along by precedent to win the troops' loyalty. Changyuan enforced the law in every matter; whenever Jin was lax, Changyuan would seize on it and set him right.

劉全諒，懷州武涉人也。父客奴，由征行家於幽州之昌平。少有武藝，從平盧軍。開元中，有室韋首領段普恪，恃驍勇，數苦邊。節度使薛楚玉以客奴有膽氣，令抗普恪。客奴單騎襲之，斬首以獻，自白身授左驍衛將軍，充遊奕使，自是數有戰功。性忠謹，為軍人所信。天寶末，安祿山反，詔以安西節度封常清為范陽節度，以平盧節度副使呂知誨為平盧節度，以太原尹王承業為河東節度。祿山既僭位於東都，遣腹心韓朝陽等招誘知誨；知誨遂受逆命，誘殺安東副都護、保定軍使馬靈詧，祿山遂署知誨為平盧節度使。客奴與平盧諸將同議，取知誨殺之；仍遣與安東將王玄誌遙相應援，馳以奏聞。十五載四月，授客奴柳城郡太守、攝御史大夫、平盧節度支度營田陸運、押兩蕃、渤海黑水四府經略及平盧軍使，仍賜名正臣。又以王玄誌為安東副大都護、攝御史中丞、保定軍及營田使。正臣仍領兵平盧來襲范陽，未至，為逆賊將史思明等大敗之。正臣奔歸，為王玄誌所鴆而卒。逆賊署徐歸道平盧節度，王玄誌與平盧將侯希逸等又襲殺歸道。大歷九年，追贈正臣工部尚書。

Liu Quanliang came from Wushe in Huai Prefecture. His father Kerenu, a campaigning soldier, had settled his household in Changping in You Prefecture. As a youth he had martial skill and joined the Pinglu army. In the Kaiyuan era the Shiwei chieftain Duan Puke, trusting in his ferocity, repeatedly harassed the frontier. Military Governor Xue Chuyu, seeing Kerenu's courage, ordered him to oppose Puke. Kerenu rode out alone, raided him, and presented his head. From commoner status he was appointed General of the Left Xiaowei Guard and made roving patrol commissioner, and thereafter won repeated battle honors. He was loyal and careful by nature, and the troops trusted him. At the end of Tianbao, when An Lushan rebelled, the court appointed Anxi Military Governor Feng Changqing military governor of Fanyang, Pinglu Deputy Military Governor Lü Zhihui military governor of Pinglu, and Taiyuan Intendant Wang Chengye military governor of Hedong. After Lushan had proclaimed himself emperor in the eastern capital, he sent his trusted follower Han Chaoyang and others to win over Zhihui; Zhihui accepted the rebel commission, lured and killed Andong Deputy Protector-General and Baoding army commissioner Ma Lingzhe, and Lushan then appointed Zhihui military governor of Pinglu. Kerenu consulted with the Pinglu generals, killed Zhihui, sent word to coordinate with Andong General Wang Xuanzhi, and hurriedly reported to the throne. In the fourth month of the fifteenth year Kerenu was appointed prefect of Liucheng Commandery, acting Grand Censor, Pinglu military governor with charge of garrison fields, land transport, and supervision of the two foreign offices and the four frontier commissions of Bohai and Heishui, and commissioner of the Pinglu army; he was also granted the name Zhengchen. Wang Xuanzhi was also made Andong Deputy Grand Protector-General, acting Censor-in-chief, and commissioner of the Baoding army and garrison fields. Zhengchen still led Pinglu troops to strike at Fanyang, but before he arrived he was utterly defeated by the rebel general Shi Siming and others. Zhengchen fled back and was poisoned to death by Wang Xuanzhi. The rebels appointed Xu Guidao military governor of Pinglu; Wang Xuanzhi and Pinglu generals Hou Xiyi and others again attacked and killed Guidao. In the ninth year of Dali, Zhengchen was posthumously made Minister of Works.

全諒本名逸準，以父勛授別駕、長史。建中初，劉玄佐為宋亳節度使，召署為牙將，以勇果騎射聞。玄佐以宗侄厚遇之，累署都知兵馬使，試太仆卿、兼御史中丞。玄佐卒，子士寧代為節度使，疑宋州刺史翟良佐不附己，陽言出巡，至宋州，遽以逸準代良佐為刺史。及董晉卒，兵亂，殺陸長源，監軍俱文珍與大將密召逸準赴汴州，令知留後。朝廷因授以檢校工部尚書、汴州刺史，兼宣武軍節度觀察等使，仍賜名全諒。貞元十五年二月卒，年四十九，廢朝一日，贈右僕射。

Quanliang's original name was Yizhun; by his father's merit he was appointed vice prefect and chief administrator. At the beginning of Jianzhong, when Liu Xuanzuo was military governor of Song and Bo, he summoned Yizhun as a staff officer for his courage, horsemanship, and archery. Xuanzuo treated him as a clansman nephew and favored him generously, repeatedly appointing him overall commander of military affairs, acting Director of the Imperial Studs, and concurrent Censor-in-chief. When Xuanzuo died, his son Shining succeeded him as military governor. Suspecting Song Prefect Zhai Liangzuo of disloyalty, he announced an inspection tour, reached Song Prefecture, and abruptly replaced Liangzuo with Yizhun as prefect. When Dong Jin died the army mutinied and killed Lu Changyuan. Army Supervisor Ju Wenzhen and the senior generals secretly summoned Yizhun to Bian Prefecture and put him in charge as acting commissioner. The court thereupon appointed him acting Minister of Works, prefect of Bian, and concurrent military governor and observation commissioner of the Xuanwu army; he was also granted the name Quanliang. In the second month of the fifteenth year of Zhenyuan he died at forty-nine. Court audiences were suspended for one day, and he was posthumously made Right Vice Director.

李忠臣，本姓董，名秦，平盧人也，世家於幽州薊縣。自雲曾祖文昱，棣州刺史；祖玄獎，安東都護府錄事參軍；父神嶠，河內府折沖。忠臣少從軍，在卒伍之中，材力冠異。事幽州節度薛楚玉、張守珪、安祿山等，頻委征討，積勞至折沖郎將、將軍同正、平盧軍先鋒使。

Li Zhongchen, original surname Dong and original name Qin, was a man of Pinglu whose family had long been established in Jixian in You Prefecture. He claimed that his great-great-grandfather Wenyü had been prefect of Di; that his great-grandfather Xuanjiang had been recording secretary of the Andong protectorate; and that his father Shenqiao had been commander of the Henan circuit defense force. Zhongchen entered the army young; among the ranks his strength and ability stood foremost. He served under You Prefecture military governors Xue Chuyu, Zhang Shougui, An Lushan, and others, was repeatedly sent on campaign, and through accumulated merit rose to commander of the defense force, general with concurrent status, and vanguard commissioner of the Pinglu army.

及祿山反，與其倫輩密議，殺偽節度呂知誨，立劉正臣為節度，以忠臣為兵馬使。攻長楊，戰獨山，襲榆關、北平，殺賊將申子貢、榮先欽，擒周釗送京師，忠臣功多。又從正臣破漁陽，逆將李歸仁、李鹹、白秀芝等來拒戰，約數十合，並摧破之；無何，潼關失守，郭子儀、李光弼退師，忠臣乃引軍北歸。奚王阿篤孤初以眾與正臣合，後詐言請以萬余騎同收范陽，至後城南，中夜反攻，忠臣與戰，遂至溫泉山，破之；擒大首領阿布離，斬以祭纛釁鼓。正臣卒，又與眾議以安東都護王玄誌為節度使。

When Lushan rebelled he secretly discussed with his comrades, killed the puppet military governor Lü Zhihui, installed Liu Zhengchen as military governor, and made Zhongchen army commissioner. He attacked Changyang, fought at Dushan, raided Yuguan and Beiping, killed the rebel generals Shen Zigong and Rong Xianqin, captured Zhou Zhao and sent him to the capital—Zhongchen's achievements were many. He also followed Zhengchen in taking Yuyang. The rebel generals Li Guiren, Li Xian, Bai Xiuzhi, and others came to resist; after some thirty engagements all were crushed; Before long Tong Pass fell. Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi withdrew, and Zhongchen led his army back north. The Xi chieftain Adugu at first joined Zhengchen with his forces, then falsely offered more than ten thousand horsemen to recover Fanyang together. At midnight south of the rear city he turned and attacked. Zhongchen fought him, pursued to Wenquan Mountain, and defeated him; he captured the great chieftain Abu Li and beheaded him to sacrifice before the banners and drums. When Zhengchen died he again consulted with the troops and made Andong Protector-General Wang Xuanzhi military governor.

至德二載正月，玄誌令忠臣以步卒三千自雍奴為葦筏過海。賊將石帝庭、烏承洽來拒；忠臣與董竭忠退之，轉戰累日，遂收魯城、河間、景城等，大獲資糧，以赴本軍。復與大將田神功率兵討平原、樂安郡，下之；擒偽刺史臧瑜等。防河招討使李銑承制以忠臣為德州刺史。屬史思明歸順，河南節度張鎬令忠臣以兵赴鄆州，與諸軍使收河南州縣。又與裨將陽惠元大破賊將王福德於舒舍口，肅宗累下詔慰諭，仍令鎮濮州，尋移韋城。

In the first month of the second year of Zhide, Xuanzhi ordered Zhongchen to take three thousand foot soldiers from Yongnu and cross the sea on reed rafts. The rebel generals Shi Diting and Wu Chenghe came to resist; Zhongchen and Dong Jiezhong drove them back. After days of fighting he recovered Lucheng, Hejian, Jingcheng, and others, greatly obtaining grain and supplies for the main army. He again joined the great general Tian Shenggong in leading troops to subdue the commanderies of Pingyuan and Le'an and took them; he captured the puppet prefect Zang Yu and others. River-defense pacification commissioner Li Xian, acting by imperial commission, appointed Zhongchen prefect of De. When Shi Siming submitted, Henan Military Governor Zhang Gao ordered Zhongchen to march to Yan Prefecture and join the other commissioners in recovering the prefectures and counties of Henan. With Vice General Yang Huiyuan he again routed the rebel general Wang Fude at Shushekou. Emperor Suzong repeatedly sent edicts of praise and ordered him to garrison Pu Prefecture, then soon moved him to Weicheng.

乾元元年九月，改光祿卿同正。其年，與郭子儀等九節度圍安慶緒於相州。明年二月，諸軍潰歸，忠臣亦退。至滎陽，賊將敬

In the ninth month of the first year of Qianyuan he was made Director of the Court of Imperial Entertainment with concurrent status. That year he joined Guo Ziyi and eight other military governors in besieging An Qingxu at Xiang Prefecture. In the second month of the following year the allied armies broke and retreated; Zhongchen withdrew as well. When he reached Xingyang, the rebel general Jing

釭來襲官船，忠臣大破之，獲米二百余艘，以資汴州軍士。尋拜濮州刺史、緣河守捉使，移鎮杏園渡。及史思明陷汴州，節度使許叔冀與忠臣並力屈降賊。思明撫忠臣背曰：「吾比只有左手，今得公，兼有右手矣！」與俱寇河陽。數日，忠臣夜以五百人斫其營，突圍歸。李光弼以聞，詔加開府儀同三司、殿中監同正，賜實封二百戶。召至京師，賜姓李氏，名忠臣，封隴西郡公，賜良馬、莊宅、銀器、彩物等。

Gang came to attack government transport boats. Zhongchen routed him and captured more than two hundred grain boats to supply the troops at Bian Prefecture. Soon he was appointed prefect of Pu and river-defense commissioner, and moved his garrison to Xingyuan Ford. When Shi Siming seized Bian Prefecture, Military Governor Xu Shuji and Zhongchen, their strength exhausted, submitted to the rebels. Siming clapped Zhongchen on the back and said, "Before I had only a left hand; now that I have you, I have a right hand as well! He joined him in raiding Heyang. Several days later Zhongchen took five hundred men by night, raided their camp, and broke out to return. Li Guangbi reported this. The court added Opening the Mansion with Equal Third Rank and Director of the Palace Armory with concurrent status, and granted an enfeoffment of two hundred households. He was summoned to the capital, granted the surname Li and the name Zhongchen, enfeoffed as Duke of Longxi, and given fine horses, estates, silver vessels, and colored goods.

忠臣性貪殘好色，將吏妻女多被誘脅以通之。又軍無紀綱，所至縱暴，人不堪命。而以妹婿張惠光為衙將，恃勢兇虐，軍中苦之；數有言於忠臣，不之信也。俄以惠光為節度副使，令惠光子為衙將，陵橫甚於其父。忠臣所信任大將李希烈，素善騎射，群情所伏，因眾心之怒，以十四年三月，與少將丁皓、賈子華、監軍判官蔣知璋等舉兵斬惠光父子，以脅逐忠臣。單騎赴京師，朝廷方寵武臣，不之責也，依前檢校司空、平章事，留京師奉朝請。

Zhongchen was greedy, cruel, and lustful; many officers' and officials' wives and daughters were enticed or coerced into sleeping with him. Moreover his army had no discipline; wherever he went he allowed violence, and the people could not endure it. He made his brother-in-law Zhang Huiguang a guard officer. Huiguang relied on his power and was brutal, and the army suffered under him; Many reported this to Zhongchen, but he would not believe them. Before long Huiguang was made deputy military governor and his son made a guard officer, even more overbearing than his father. Li Xilie, the great general Zhongchen trusted, was skilled in horsemanship and archery and admired by the troops. Relying on popular anger, in the third month of the fourteenth year he joined Junior Generals Ding Hao, Jia Zihua, Army Supervisor Administrative Aide Jiang Zhizhang, and others in raising troops to behead Huiguang and his son and drive Zhongchen out. Zhongchen rode alone to the capital. The court was then indulgent toward military men and did not blame him, keeping him as acting Minister of Works and Associate Grand Councilor to remain in the capital and attend court.

建中初，嘗因奏對，德宗謂之曰：「卿耳甚大，真貴人也。」忠臣對曰：「臣聞驢耳甚大，龍耳甚小；臣耳雖大，乃驢耳也。」上說之。時常侍張涉承恩用事，坐受財賄事露，帝將以法繩之——涉，即帝在春宮時侍講也。忠臣奏曰：「陛下貴為天子，而先生以乏財抵法，以愚臣觀之，非先生之過也。」帝意解，但令歸田裏。前湖南觀察辛京杲嘗以忿怒杖殺部曲，有司劾奏京杲殺人當死，從之。忠臣奏曰：「京杲合死久矣！儒生；上問之，對曰：「渠柏叔某於某處戰死，兄弟某於某處戰死，渠嘗從行，獨不死，是以知渠合死久矣。」上亦憫然，不令加罪，改授王傅而已。

At the beginning of Jianzhong, when memorializing in audience, Dezong said to him, "Your ears are very large—you are truly a noble man. Zhongchen replied, "I have heard that donkeys have very large ears and dragons very small ones; though my ears are large, they are only a donkey's. The emperor was pleased. At that time Regular Attendant Zhang She, enjoying favor and wielding power, was exposed for taking bribes. The emperor was about to punish him by law—She had been the emperor's lecturer when he was heir apparent. Zhongchen memorialized, "Your Majesty is exalted as Son of Heaven, yet the teacher is punished for lack of funds. In this foolish subject's view, it is not the teacher's fault. The emperor relented and only ordered She to return to his village. Former Hunan Observation Commissioner Xin Jinggao had once beaten a subordinate to death in anger. The authorities impeached him for a capital crime, and the court assented. Zhongchen memorialized, "Jinggao ought to have died long ago! A mere Confucian scholar— The emperor asked him to explain, and he replied, "His uncle Bo died in battle at such-and-such a place, his brothers at such-and-such places. He once followed on campaign and alone did not die—so I know he ought to have died long ago." The emperor was moved to pity and did not add punishment, only changing his appointment to Royal Tutor.

忠臣木強率直，不識書，不喜儒生；及罷兵權，官位崇重，常郁郁不得誌。及硃泚反，以為偽司空、兼侍中。泚率兵逼奉天，命忠臣京城留守。泚敗，忠臣走樊川別業，李晟下將士擒忠臣至，系之有司。興元元年，並其子並誅斬之，時年六十九，籍沒其家。

Zhongchen was dull, obstinate, and blunt. He could not read and disliked Confucian scholars; when he lost military power and his rank grew exalted, he was often depressed and frustrated. When Zhu Ci rebelled, he was made false Minister of Works and concurrent Palace Attendant. Ci led troops against Fengtian and ordered Zhongchen to remain as regent of the capital. When Ci was defeated, Zhongchen fled to his estate at Fanchuan. Li Sheng's officers seized him and handed him to the authorities. In the first year of Xingyuan he and his sons were all executed. He was sixty-nine, and his household property was confiscated.

李希烈，遼西人。父大定。希烈少從平盧軍，後隨李忠臣過海至河南。寶應初，忠臣為淮西節度，署希烈為偏裨，累授將軍、試光祿卿、殿中監。忠臣兼領汴州，希烈為左廂都虞候，加開府儀同三司。大歷末，忠臣軍政不修，事多委妹婿張惠光，為押衙，弄權縱恣，人怨。與少將丁皓等斬惠光父子，忠臣奔赴朝廷。詔以忻王為淮西節度副大使，授希烈蔡州刺史、兼御史中丞、淮西節度留後，令滑亳節度李勉兼領汴州。

Li Xilie came from Liaoxi. His father was Dading. Xilie joined the Pinglu army as a youth and later followed Li Zhongchen across the sea to Henan. At the beginning of Baoying, when Zhongchen was military governor of Huaixi, he appointed Xilie a junior officer. Xilie rose through repeated promotions to general, acting Director of the Court of Imperial Entertainment, and Director of the Palace Armory. When Zhongchen also held Bian Prefecture, Xilie was made chief commander of the left wing and granted Opening the Mansion with Equal Third Rank. At the end of Dali Zhongchen neglected military government and entrusted most affairs to his brother-in-law Zhang Huiguang as yaya. Huiguang manipulated power and acted willfully, arousing resentment. With Junior Generals Ding Hao and others he beheaded Huiguang and his son, and Zhongchen fled to the court. The court appointed the Prince of Xin deputy ambassador of the Huaixi military governorship and made Xilie prefect of Cai with concurrent Censor-in-chief and acting military governor of Huaixi, ordering Hua-Bo Military Governor Li Mian also to hold Bian Prefecture.

德宗即位後月余，加御史大夫，充淮西節度支度營田觀察使，又改淮西節度淮寧軍以寵之。建中元年，又加檢校禮部尚書。會山南東道節度梁崇義拒捍朝命，迫脅使臣，二年六月，詔諸軍節度率兵討之；加希烈南平郡王，兼漢北都知諸兵馬招撫處置使。希烈破崇義眾，遂討平之。錄希烈功，加檢校右僕射、同平章事，賜實封五百戶。淄青節度李正己又謀不軌，三年秋，加希烈檢校司空，兼淄青兗鄆登萊齊等州節度支度營田、新羅、渤海兩蕃使，令討襲正己。希烈遂率所部三萬人移居許州，聲言遣使往青州招諭李納，其實潛與交通，又移牒汴州令備供擬，將與納同為亂。李勉以其道路合自陳留，乃除道具饌以待之，希烈不從，乃大慢罵。自是誌意縱肆，言多悖慢，日遣使交通河北諸賊帥等。是歲長至日，硃滔、田悅、王武俊、李納各僭稱王，滔使至希烈，希烈亦僭稱建興王、天下都元帥。

A little more than a month after Dezong succeeded, Xilie was made Grand Censor, military governor of Huaixi with charge of garrison fields and observation commissioner, and the Huaixi army was renamed the Huaining army as a mark of favor. In the first year of Jianzhong he was further made acting Minister of Rites. When Shannan East Circuit Military Governor Liang Chongyi defied the court and coerced envoys, in the sixth month of the second year the court ordered the military governors to lead troops against him; Xilie was made Prince of Nanping and overall commander of Hanbei knowing all armies, pacification and disposition commissioner. Xilie broke Chongyi's army and then pacified him. Recording his merit, the court added him acting Right Vice Director and Associate Grand Councilor and granted an enfeoffment of five hundred households. Zi-Qing Military Governor Li Zhengji also plotted rebellion. In the autumn of the third year Xilie was made acting Minister of Works and military governor with charge of garrison fields for Zi, Qing, Yan, Yan, Deng, Lai, Qi, and other prefectures, commissioner to Silla and Bohai, and ordered to attack Zhengji. Xilie then led his thirty thousand men to Xu Prefecture, claiming he would send envoys to Qingzhou to win over Li Na while secretly communicating with him. He also sent a dispatch to Bian Prefecture demanding preparations, intending to rebel with Na. Li Mian, because Xilie's route ought to pass through Chenliu, prepared supplies to await him. Xilie refused and reviled him harshly. From this his ambition grew unrestrained. His words were mostly insolent, and daily he sent envoys to the rebel chiefs of Hebei and elsewhere. That year on the winter solstice Zhu Tao, Tian Yue, Wang Wujun, and Li Na each usurped royal titles. Tao sent envoys to Xilie, and Xilie also proclaimed himself King of Jianxing and Commander-in-Chief of All Under Heaven.

四年，希烈遣其將襲陷汝州，執李元平而去，東都大擾亂。朝廷猶為含容，遣太子太師顏真卿往宣慰。真卿發後數日，以龍武將軍哥舒曜為東都兼汝州行營兵馬節度。希烈既見真卿，但肆兇言，令左右慢罵，指斥朝廷。又遣逆黨董待名、韓霜露、劉敬宗、陳質、翟暉等四人伺外，侵抄州縣，官軍皆為其所敗，荊南節度張伯儀全軍覆沒。又令周曾、王玢、姚憺、呂從賁、康琳等來襲曜，曾、玢、憺等謀回軍據蔡州襲討希烈，事泄，並遇害。神策軍使白誌貞又獻策謀，令嘗為節度、都團練使者各出家僮部曲一人及馬，令劉德信總之討希烈。尋詔李勉為淮西招討使，哥舒曜為副。至四月，曜率眾屯襄城，頻與賊戰，皆不勝。八月，希烈率眾二萬圍襄城，李勉又令將唐漢臣率兵與劉德信同為曜之影援，皆望風敗衄。希烈兇逆既甚，帝乃命舒王為荊襄、江西、沔鄂等道節度諸軍行營兵馬都元帥，大開幕府，文武僚屬之盛，前後出師，未有其比。又令涇原諸道出兵，皆赴襄城。軍未發，會涇州兵亂，車駕幸奉天。其日，希烈大破曜軍於襄城，曜遁歸東都，賊因乘勝攻陷汴州，李勉奔歸宋州。

In the fourth year Xilie sent his general to raid Ru Prefecture, seized Li Yuanping, and carried him off. The eastern capital was thrown into turmoil. The court still showed forbearance and sent Grand Preceptor Yan Zhenqing to offer consolation. Several days after Zhenqing set out, Dragon Martial General Geshu Yao was made military governor of the eastern capital and Ru Prefecture field army. When Xilie saw Zhenqing he only uttered violent threats, ordered his attendants to revile him, and denounced the court. He also sent rebel followers Dong Daiming, Han Shuanglu, Liu Jingzong, Chen Zhi, Zhai Hui, and four others to raid prefectures and counties. Government troops were repeatedly defeated, and Jingnan Military Governor Zhang Boyi lost his entire army. He also ordered Zhou Zeng, Wang Bin, Yao Dan, Lü Congbin, Kang Lin, and others to attack Yao. Zeng, Bin, and Dan plotted to turn the army, seize Cai Prefecture, and strike at Xilie. The plot was exposed and they were all killed. Shence Army Commissioner Bai Zhizhen also offered a plan: each former military governor and defense commissioner was to contribute one household slave, retainer, and horse, with Liu Dexin in overall command against Xilie. Soon the court ordered Li Mian Huaixi pacification commissioner and Geshu Yao his deputy. By the fourth month Yao encamped at Xiangcheng and repeatedly fought the rebels without victory. In the eighth month Xilie besieged Xiangcheng with twenty thousand men. Li Mian ordered General Tang Hanchen and Liu Dexin to support Yao; all fled at sight of the enemy. Xilie's rebellion had grown extreme. The emperor ordered the Prince of Shu overall marshal of the Jing-Xiang, Jiangxi, Mian-E, and other field armies and opened a grand headquarters whose civil and military staff exceeded any prior campaign. He also ordered Jingyuan and other circuits to send troops to Xiangcheng. Before the army set out, the Jingzhou troops mutinied and the emperor fled to Fengtian. That day Xilie routed Yao at Xiangcheng. Yao fled to the eastern capital, the rebels pressed on to take Bian Prefecture, and Li Mian fled to Song Prefecture.

希烈性慘毒酷，每對戰陣殺人，流血盈前，而言笑飲饌自若，以此人畏而服從其教令，盡其死力。其攻汴州，驅百姓，令運木土築壘道，又怒其未就，乃驅以填之，謂之濕梢。既入汴州，於是僭號曰武成，以孫廣、鄭賁、李綬、李元平為宰相；以汴州為大梁府，李清虛為尹，署百官。遣兵東討，至寧陵，竟為劉洽所拒，不得前。又遣將翟暉率精卒襲陳州，為劉洽、李納大破之，生擒暉以獻。諸軍乘勝進攻汴州，希烈遁歸蔡州，擒其偽署將相鄭賁、劉敬宗等。李臯、樊澤、曲環、張建封又四面討襲之，累拔其郡縣，希烈敗衄。貞元二年三月，因食牛肉遇疾，其將陳仙奇令醫人陳仙甫置藥以毒之而死。妻男骨肉兄弟共一十七人，並誅之。

Xilie was cruel and vicious. In battle he killed until blood pooled before him, yet he spoke, laughed, ate, and drank as if at ease. Men feared him and obeyed his commands to the death. When he attacked Bian Prefecture he drove civilians to haul timber and earth for siege ramps. Angered that the work lagged, he drove them to fill the ramps with their bodies, calling it "wet timbers." Once inside Bian Prefecture he usurped the reign title Wucheng and made Sun Guang, Zheng Ben, Li Shou, and Li Yuanping his chancellors; he made Bian the capital Daliang, appointed Li Qingxu prefect, and installed the full bureaucracy. He sent troops eastward; at Ningling he was blocked by Liu Qia and could not advance. He again sent General Zhai Hui with elite troops to raid Chen Prefecture. Liu Qia and Li Na routed them and captured Hui alive. The allied armies pressed the attack on Bian Prefecture. Xilie fled to Cai Prefecture, and they captured his false chancellor Zheng Ben, Liu Jingzong, and others. Li Gao, Fan Ze, Qu Huan, and Zhang Jianfeng also attacked from four sides, repeatedly taking his prefectures and counties, and Xilie was beaten back. In the third month of the second year of Zhenyuan he fell ill after eating beef. His general Chen Xianqi had the physician Chen Xianfu poison him to death. His wife, sons, and brothers—seventeen persons in all—were all executed.

初，希烈於唐州得象一頭，以為瑞應，又上蔡、襄城獲其珍寶，乃是爛車釭及滑石偽印也。

Earlier Xilie had obtained an elephant at Tang Prefecture and took it for an omen. At Shangcai and Xiangcheng he obtained what he thought were treasures, which proved to be rotten cart hubs and talc false seals.

陳仙奇者，起於行間，性忠果。自希烈死，朝廷授淮西節度，頗竭誠節。未幾，為別將吳少誠所殺，贈太子太保，賻布帛、米粟有差，喪事官給。

Chen Xianqi rose from the ranks; he was loyal and resolute by nature. After Xilie's death the court appointed him military governor of Huaixi, and he showed considerable loyalty. Before long he was killed by Vice General Wu Shaocheng. He was posthumously made Grand Preceptor to the Heir Apparent, given graded gifts of cloth, silk, and grain, and his funeral was provided by the state.

吳少誠，幽州潞縣人。父為魏博節度都虞候。少誠以父勛授一子官，釋褐王府戶曹。後至荊南，節度使庾準奇之，留為衙門將。準入覲，從至襄漢，見梁崇義不遵憲度，知有異志，少誠密計有成擒之略，將自陳於闕下。屬李希烈初授節制，銳意立功，見少誠計慮，乃以少誠所見錄奏，有詔慰飭，不次封通義郡王。未幾，崇義違命，希烈受制專征，以少誠為前鋒。崇義平，賜實封五千戶。後希烈叛，少誠頗為其用。希烈死，少誠等初推陳仙奇統戎事，朝廷已命仙奇，尋為少誠所殺，眾推少誠知留務。朝廷遂授以申光蔡等州節度觀察兵馬留後，尋正授節度。

Wu Shaocheng came from Lu County in You Prefecture. His father had been chief commander of the Weibo military governorship. By his father's merit Shaocheng was granted an office for one son; he began service as Household Registrar of the Princely Establishment. Later he went to Jingnan. Military Governor Yu Zhun was impressed with him and kept him as a guard officer. When Zhun went to audience Shaocheng followed him to Xiang-Han, saw Liang Chongyi defying the laws, knew he harbored rebellion, and secretly devised a plan to capture him, intending to report it at court. When Li Xilie was first commissioned and eager for merit, he saw Shaocheng's plans, memorialized them, and the court issued an edict of praise and extraordinarily enfeoffed him as Prince of Tongyi. Before long Chongyi defied orders. Xilie received special command for the campaign and made Shaocheng his vanguard. When Chongyi was pacified he was granted an enfeoffment of five thousand households. Later when Xilie rebelled, Shaocheng served him considerably. When Xilie died, Shaocheng and others first pushed Chen Xianqi to command the army. The court had already appointed Xianqi, but soon Shaocheng killed him and the troops pushed Shaocheng to handle acting affairs. The court appointed him acting military governor and observation commissioner of Shen, Guang, Cai, and other prefectures, and soon gave him the full commission.

少誠善為治，勤儉無私，日事完聚，不奉朝廷。貞元三年，判官鄭常及大將楊冀謀逐少誠以聽命於朝，試校書郎劉涉假為手詔數十，潛致於大將，欲因少誠之出，閉城門以拒之。屬少誠將出餞中使，常、冀等遂謀舉事；臨發，為人所告，常、冀先遇害。其將李嘉節等各持假詔請罪，少誠悉宥之。其大將宋炅、曹齊奔歸京師。

Shaocheng governed well, was diligent and frugal without selfishness, daily strengthened his holdings, and did not defer to the court. In the third year of Zhenyuan Administrative Aide Zheng Chang and great general Yang Ji plotted to drive out Shaocheng and submit to the court. Trial Proofreader Liu She forged several dozen handwritten edicts and secretly sent them to the generals, intending when Shaocheng went out to close the gates and resist him. Just as Shaocheng was about to go out to feast the imperial envoy, Chang, Ji, and others set their plot in motion; Just as they were about to set out, someone informed on them; Chang and Ji were put to death first. Generals such as Li Jiajie each presented forged edicts begging forgiveness; Shaocheng pardoned them all. His chief generals Song Jiong and Cao Qi fled to the capital.

十五年，陳許節度曲環卒，少誠擅出兵攻掠臨潁縣，節度留後上官涚遣兵赴救，臨潁鎮使韋清與少誠通，救兵三千余人，悉擒縛而去。九月，遂圍許州。尋下詔削奪少誠官爵，分遣十六道兵馬進討。十二月，官軍敗衄於小溵河。明年正月，夏州節度使韓全義為淮蔡招討處置使，北路行營諸軍將士，並取全義指揮，陳許節度留後上官涚充副使。五月，全義與少誠將吳秀、吳少陽等戰於

In the fifteenth year Chenxu military governor Qu Huan died. Shaocheng unauthorizedly sent troops to raid Linying. Acting governor Shangguan Hui sent relief, but garrison commander Wei Qing colluded with Shaocheng; all three thousand-odd rescuers were seized and carried off. In the ninth month he laid siege to Xuzhou. Soon the throne stripped Shaocheng of office and enfeoffment and sent armies from sixteen circuits against him. In the twelfth month government forces were defeated at the Small Yin River. The next first month Xia military governor Han Quanyi became Huai-Cai pacification commissioner; northern-route forces answered to him, with Shangguan Hui as his deputy. In the fifth month Quanyi fought Shaocheng's generals Wu Xiu, Wu Shaoyang, and others at

吳少陽，本滄州清池人。初，吳少誠父翔在魏博軍中，與少陽相愛。及少誠知淮西留守，乃厚以金帛取少陽至，則名以堂弟，署為軍職，累奏官爵，出入少誠家，情旨甚暱。少陽度少誠猜忍，懼為所害，乃請出外以任防捍之任，少誠乃表為申州刺史、兼御史大夫，凡五年。少陽頗寬易，而少誠之眾悅附焉。及少誠病亟，家僮單於熊兒者，偽以少誠意取少陽至，時少誠已不知人，乃偽署少陽攝副使、知軍州事。少誠子元慶，年二十余，先為軍職，兼御史中丞，少陽密害之。及少誠死，少陽自為留後。時王承宗求繼士真，不受詔；憲宗怒，以討承宗，不欲兵連兩河，乃詔遂王宥遙領彰義軍節度大使，以少陽為留後。遂授彰義軍節度使、檢校工部尚書。少陽據蔡州凡五年，不朝覲。汝南多廣野大澤，得豢馬畜，時奪掠壽州茶山之利，內則數匿亡命，以富實其軍。又屢以牧馬來獻，詔因善之。元和九年九月卒，贈右僕射。

Wu Shaoyang was originally from Qingchi in Cang Prefecture. Early on, Wu Shaocheng's father Xiang served in the Weibo army and was close to Shaoyang. Once Shaocheng held Huaixi, he lavished gold and silks to summon Shaoyang, named him a hall cousin, gave him military office, repeatedly sought court titles for him, and kept him in and out of his house in the closest trust. Fearing Shaocheng's cruelty, Shaoyang asked for an outside post on frontier defense; Shaocheng had him made Shen prefect and Grand Censor for five years. Shaoyang was comparatively mild, and Shaocheng's soldiers gladly rallied to him. As Shaocheng lay dying, the slave Shan Yu Xiong'er forged his master's will to fetch Shaoyang; Shaocheng was already insensible, and the slave falsely named Shaoyang acting deputy and governor of the circuit. Shaocheng's son Yuanqing, in his twenties and already a military officer and Vice Censor-in-chief, was secretly killed by Shaoyang. After Shaocheng's death Shaoyang declared himself acting governor. Meanwhile Wang Chengzong sought to inherit Shi Zhen's post and defied the throne; Emperor Xianzong, angry and attacking Chengzong, did not want war on two Hebei fronts; he had Prince Su Wang You hold Zhangyi in name and confirmed Shaoyang as acting governor. Shaoyang was then made Zhangyi military governor and provisional Inspector of Works. For five years Shaoyang held Cai and never presented himself at court. The Ru region's open marshes fed his herds; he repeatedly raided Shou's tea revenues, harbored fugitives within his borders, and used both to fill his ranks. He also sent horses as tribute more than once, and the court grew kindly disposed toward him. He died in the ninth month of Yuanhe 9 and was posthumously made Right Vice Director.

吳元濟，少陽長子也。初為試協律郎、兼監察御史、攝蔡州刺史。及父死，不發喪，以病聞，因假為少陽表，請元濟主兵務。帝遣醫工候之，即稱少陽疾愈，不見而還。先是，少陽判官蘇兆、楊元卿及其將侯惟清嘗同為少陽畫朝覲計；及元濟自領軍，兇狠無義，唯暱軍中兇悍之徒。素不便兆，縊殺之，歸其屍於家，械侯惟清而囚之。時朝廷誤聞惟清已死，贈兵部尚書，贈蘇兆以右僕射。楊元卿先奏事在京師，得盡言經略淮西事於宰相李吉甫。始，少陽以病聞，元卿請凡淮西使在道路者，所在留止之。及少陽卒，凡四十日，不為輟朝，但易將加兵於外以待。其邸吏無何妄傳董重質已殺元濟，並屠其家；李吉甫遽請對拜賀，乃輟朝。數日，知元濟尚在。時賊陰計已成，群眾四出，狂悍而不可遏，屠舞陽，焚葉縣，攻掠魯山、襄城。汝州、許州及陽翟人多逃伏山谷荊棘間，為其殺傷驅剽者千里，關東大恐。

Wu Yuanji was Shaoyang's eldest son. He had first been Trial Coordinator of Music, concurrent Supervising Censor, and acting Cai prefect. On his father's death he concealed the mourning, reported illness, and forged a memorial in Shaoyang's name asking that he command the army. The emperor sent a physician; Yuanji declared Shaoyang recovered, refused to receive him, and sent him away. Earlier Shaoyang's aides Su Zhao and Yang Yuanqing and his general Hou Weiqing had together planned his audience at court; Once Yuanji seized the army he was savage and faithless and kept only the fiercest soldiers near him. He had long hated Zhao, strangled him and sent the body home, and chained Hou Weiqing in prison. The court wrongly heard Weiqing was dead and posthumously made him Minister of War; Zhao was posthumously made Right Vice Director. Yang Yuanqing had already gone to the capital and told Chief Councilor Li Jiyuan the full plan for Huaixi. When Shaoyang first reported illness, Yuanqing asked that every Huaixi envoy on the roads be held wherever found. After Shaoyang's death court went on for forty days without mourning; they only rotated generals and massed troops outside to wait. A clerk at the Huaixi lodge falsely reported that Dong Chongzhi had killed Yuanji and exterminated his household; Li Jiyuan rushed to congratulate the emperor, and only then was court suspended. Days later they learned Yuanji still lived. The rebels' plot was ripe; bands ranged abroad, savage and unstoppable—slaughtering Wuyang, burning Ye, raiding Lushan and Xiangcheng. People of Ru, Xu, and Yangdi fled into hills and thickets; killing and plunder reached a thousand li; the eastern provinces were terrified.

十月，以陳州刺史李光顏為忠武軍節度使，又以山南東道節度使嚴綬充申光蔡等州招撫使，仍令內常侍崔潭峻監綬軍。十年正月，綬軍臨賊西境。詔曰：

In the tenth month Chen prefect Li Guangyan became Zhongwu military governor; Shannan East governor Yan Shou became pacification commissioner for Shen, Guang, Cai, and related prefectures, with Palace Attendant Cui Tanjun to oversee his army. In the tenth year, first month, Shou's army reached the western edge of rebel territory. The edict read:

吳元濟逆絕人理，反易天常；不居父喪，擅領軍政。諭以詔旨，曾無謙恭，熒惑一方之人，迫脅三軍之眾。以少陽嘗經任使，為之軫悼，命申吊祭，臨遣使臣。陵虐封疆，遂致稽阻，絕朝廷之理，忘父子之恩。旋又掩寇舞陽，傷殘吏卒，焚燒葉縣，騷擾閭閻，恣行奪攘，無所畏忌。朕念賞延之義，重傷籓帥之門，尚欲納於忠順之途，處在顯榮之地。未能飭怒，猶為包荒，再降詔書，俾申招撫。而毒螫滋甚，奸心靡悛，壽春西南，又陷鎮柵，窮兇稔惡，縱暴延災。覆載之所不容，人神之所共棄，良非獲已，致此興戎。吳元濟在身官爵，並宜令削奪。令宣武、大寧、淮南、宣歙等道兵馬合勢，山南東道及魏博、荊南、江西、劍南東川兵馬與鄂嶽許會，東都防禦使與懷鄭汝節度及義成兵馬掎角相應，同期進討。

Wu Yuanji has defied all human order and overturned Heaven's law; he refuses his father's mourning and seizes military and civil authority. Told by edict, he showed no deference; he misleads a province and coerces three armies. Because Shaoyang once served Us, We mourned him, ordered rites of condolence, and sent envoys. He ravaged the frontier and blocked Our messengers, severing loyalty to the throne and trampling the bond between father and son. Then he raided Wuyang, maimed officers and soldiers, burned Ye, terrorized the countryside, and plundered without restraint. Mindful of reward for loyalty and grieving for a frontier clan, We still wished to set him on the path of obedience and honor. We could not yet unleash Our wrath and still indulged his crimes, lowering edicts again to offer reconciliation. Yet his venom deepened and his treachery would not turn; southwest of Shouchun he seized more forts—evil ripe, violence spreading. What Heaven and Earth cannot tolerate, what gods and men alike reject—not lightly did We raise arms. All offices and titles held by Wu Yuanji in his person are revoked. Let Xuanwu, Daning, Huainan, Xuan-She, and other circuits unite; Shannan East with Weibo, Jingnan, Jiangxi, and East Sichuan join E-Yue; the Luoyang defender with Huai, Zheng, and Ru governors and Yicheng troops pinch from another angle—all to attack on one timetable.

二月，綬兵為賊所襲，敗於磁丘，退保唐州。四月，光顏破賊黨，元濟遣人求援於鎮州王承宗、淄鄆李師道；二帥上表於朝廷，請赦元濟之罪，朝旨不從。自是兩河賊帥所在竊發，冀以沮撓王師。五月，承宗、師道遣盜燒河陰倉，詔御史中丞裴度於軍前宣喻，觀用兵形勢。度還奏曰：「臣觀諸將，唯光顏勇義盡心，必有成功。」上意甚悅。翌日，光顏奏大破賊於時曲，上曰：「度知光顏，可謂至矣！」乃以度兼刑部侍郎。自是中外相賀，決不赦賊，征天下兵環申、蔡之郊，大小十余鎮。六月，承宗、師道遣盜伏於京城，殺宰相武元衡、中丞裴度；衡先死，度重傷而免。憲宗特怒，即命度為宰相，淮右用兵之事，一以委之。七月，李師道遣嵩山僧圓凈結山賊與留邸兵，欲焚燒東都，先事敗而禍弭。嚴綬退罷，乃以汴州節度使韓弘為淮右行營兵馬都統；以高霞寓有名，用為唐鄧節度。

In the second month Shou was ambushed and beaten at Ciqu, withdrawing to Tang Prefecture. In the fourth month Guangyan routed the rebels; Yuanji sought help from Wang Chengzong of Zhen and Li Shidao of Zi-Yan; both lords memorialized for Yuanji's pardon; the throne refused. Thereafter Hebei warlords stirred trouble wherever they could to obstruct the imperial campaign. In the fifth month Chengzong and Shidao sent agents to burn the Heyin granaries; Censor-in-chief Pei Du was sent to the front to proclaim the throne's will and survey the war. On his return Du reported: "Of all the generals, only Guangyan serves with full courage and loyalty; he will prevail. The emperor was greatly pleased. Next day Guangyan reported a great victory at Shiqu; the emperor said, "Du knows Guangyan to the marrow! He then made Du concurrent Vice Minister of Justice. Court and country rejoiced and vowed no pardon; armies from across the realm encircled Shen and Cai in more than ten major camps. In the sixth month Chengzong and Shidao sent assassins to the capital, killing Chief Councilor Wu Yuanheng and wounding Censor-in-chief Pei Du; Yuanheng died; Du was gravely wounded but survived. Xianzong's wrath was fierce; he made Du chief councilor and entrusted the entire Huaiyou war to him. In the seventh month Shidao sent the monk Yuanjing of Song Mountain to join bandits and lodge troops in a plot to burn Luoyang; the plot failed before harm was done. Shou was dismissed; Bianzhou governor Han Hong became overall commander of the Huaiyou campaign; Gao Xiayu, famed for his record, was made Tang-Deng military governor.

十一年春，諸軍雲合，惟李光顏、懷汝節度烏重胤心無顧望，旦夕血戰，繼獻戎捷。六月，高霞寓為賊所擊，敗於鐵城，退保新興柵。時諸軍勝負皆不實聞，多虛稱克捷；及霞寓敗，中外恟々。宰相諫官屢以罷兵為請，唯裴度堅於破賊。尋以袁滋代霞寓為唐鄧帥，滋柔懦不能軍。十二年正月，袁滋復貶，閑廄使李醖表請軍前自效，乃用醖為唐鄧帥以代滋。醖軍壓境，拔賊文城柵，擒柵將吳秀琳，又獲賊將李祐。李光顏亦拔賊郾城。元濟始懼，盡發左右及守城卒，屬董重質以抗光顏、重胤。

In the eleventh year's spring the hosts massed; only Guangyan and Huai-Ru governor Wu Zhongyin fought without hesitation, day and night, and sent victory after victory. In the sixth month Xiayu was beaten at Iron City and fell back to the Xinxing stockade. Reports from the fronts were false; many commanders claimed victories they had not won. Xiayu's defeat threw court and country into alarm. Censors and remonstrators repeatedly begged to halt the war; only Pei Du held firm for victory. Yuan Ci replaced Xiayu at Tang-Deng; Ci was soft and could not lead troops. In the twelfth year's first month Ci was demoted again; Privy Purse envoy Li Su volunteered for the front and replaced him. Su advanced, stormed Wencheng stockade, seized Wu Xiulin, and captured Li You. Guangyan also took Yancheng. Yuanji grew afraid, stripped his garrison and household guard, and set Dong Chongzhi against Guangyan and Zhongyin.

六月，元濟乞降，為群賊所制，不能自拔。上以元兇已蹙，兵未臨於賊城，輓饋日殫，因延英問計於宰相。裴度曰：「賊力已困，但群帥不一，故未能決降。」上曰：「卿決能行乎？」曰：「臣誓不與賊偕全。」七月，詔以度為彰義軍節度使，兼申光蔡四面行營招撫使，以郾城為行在，蔡州為節度所。八月，度至郾城，激勵士眾，軍士喜度至，以賞罰必行，皆願輸罄；每出勞，軍士有流涕者。

In the sixth month Yuanji sought to surrender but the rebel chiefs held him fast. The emperor thought Yuanji cornered yet the armies had not reached Cai and supplies ran thin; he asked his councilors at the Yanching Hall for counsel. Pei Du said, "The rebels are spent; only disunity among our generals keeps them from surrender. The emperor asked, "Can you go yourself?" He answered, "I swear not to return if the rebels stand." In the seventh month Du was made Zhangyi military governor and pacification commissioner for Shen, Guang, and Cai on all sides, with headquarters at Yancheng and the governorship at Cai. In the eighth month Du reached Yancheng and stirred the ranks; the soldiers welcomed him, knowing discipline would be real, and offered their last strength; when he went among them some wept.

時李醖營文城柵，既得吳秀琳、李祐，知其可用，委信無疑，日夜與計事於帳中。祐曰：「元濟勁軍，多在洄曲西境防捍，而守蔡者皆市人疲耄之卒，可以乘虛掩襲，直抵懸匏，比賊將聞之，元濟成擒矣！」醖然之，咨於裴度。度曰：「兵非出奇不勝，常侍良圖也。」十一月，醖夜出軍，令李祐率勁騎三千為前鋒，田進誠三千為後軍，醖自率三千為中軍。其月十日夜，至蔡州城下，坎墻而畢登，賊不之覺。十一日，攻衙城，擒元濟並其家屬以聞。

Li Su held Wencheng; trusting Xiulin and You after capturing them, he plotted with them nightly in his tent. You said, "Yuanji's best troops guard Huaiqu's west; Cai is held by shopkeepers and old men. Strike the gap, rush the Hanging Gourd, and Yuanji is ours before his generals know. Su agreed and consulted Pei Du. Du said, "War demands surprise—your plan is sound. In the eleventh month Su marched by night: Li You with three thousand elite cavalry in front, Tian Jincheng three thousand in the rear, Su three thousand in the center. On the tenth night they reached Cai, tunneled the wall, and scaled it unseen. On the eleventh they stormed the administrative compound, seized Yuanji and his family, and sent word.

初，元濟之叛，恃其兇狠，然治軍無紀綱。其將趙昌洪、淩朝江、董重質等各權兵外寇。李師道鄆州之鹽，城往來寧陵、雍丘之間，韓弘知而不禁。淮右自少誠阻兵已來，三十余年，王師加討，未嘗及其城下，嘗走韓全義，敗於頔，故驕悍無所顧忌。且恃城池重固，有陂浸阻回，故以天下兵環攻三年，所克者一縣而已。及黜高霞寓、李遜、袁滋，諸軍始進。又得陰山府沙阤驍騎、邯鄲勇卒，光顏、重胤之奮命，及丞相臨統，破諸將首尾之計，力擒元惡。

When Yuanji rebelled he trusted his brutality, yet his army had no discipline. Generals Zhao Changhong, Ling Chaojiang, Dong Chongzhi, and others each led armies abroad. Shidao's Yanzhou salt caravans moved between Ningling and Yongqiu; Han Hong knew and did not stop them. Huaiyou had defied the throne since Shaocheng—over thirty years. Imperial armies had never reached their walls; they had routed Han Quanyi and survived defeat at Yong, and so feared nothing. They also relied on stout walls and flooded moats that blocked approach, so though imperial armies ringed them for three years, only one county was taken. Once Gao Xiayu, Li Xun, and Yuan Ci were dismissed, the allied armies at last advanced. They also had the fierce Shatuo cavalry of the Yinshan garrison, brave Handan troops, Guangyan and Zhongyin fighting desperately, and the chancellor commanding in person—breaking the generals' strategy of holding back at both ends and capturing the chief villain by force.

申、蔡之始，人劫於希烈、少誠之虐法，而忘其所歸。數十年之後，長者衰喪，而壯者安於毒暴而恬於搏噬。地既少馬，而廣畜騾，乘之教戰，謂之騾子軍。尤稱勇悍，而甲仗皆畫為雷公星文，以為厭勝；而少誠能以奸謀固眾心。

In the beginning at Shen and Cai, people were coerced by the cruel laws of Xilie and Shaocheng and forgot their allegiance. After several decades the elders had died off, and the young grew accustomed to cruelty and violence and took slaughter for granted. The region had few horses but raised many mules, trained them for war, and called them the Mule Army. They were especially famed for ferocity, and their arms were painted with Thunder Lord and star patterns as charms against evil; and Shaocheng could use cunning to bind the troops' loyalty.

初，韓全義敗於溵水，蔡兵於全義帳中得公卿間問訊書，少誠束而諭眾曰：「朝廷公卿以此書托全義，收蔡州日，乞一將士妻女以為婢妄。」以此激怒其眾，絕其歸向之心。是以蔡人有老死不聞天子恩宥者，故堅為賊用。地雖中州，人心過於夷貊，乃至搜閱天下豪銳，三年而後屈者，彼非將才而力備，蓋勢驅性習，不知教義之所致也。

Earlier, when Han Quanyi was defeated at Yinshui, Cai troops found in his baggage letters exchanged among chief ministers. Shaocheng bound them up and told the troops, "The court's ministers entrusted these to Quanyi—when Cai Prefecture falls, each is to receive a soldier's wife or daughter as a servant. With this he enraged them and cut off any wish to submit. Thus many in Cai lived to old age without ever hearing the emperor's mercy, and so they steadfastly served the rebels. Though the land lay in the central plain, hearts were more savage than barbarians'. When the empire mustered its finest fighters and only after three years prevailed, it was not superior generalship but force of custom—ignorance of righteousness—that made it so hard.

元濟至京，憲宗禦興安門受浮，百僚樓前稱賀，乃獻廟社，徇於兩京，斬之於獨柳，時年三十五。其夜失其首。妻沈氏，沒入掖庭；弟二人、子三人，流於江陵誅之；判官劉協庶七人皆斬。光、蔡等州平，始復為王土矣。

When Yuanji reached the capital, Emperor Xianzong received the captive at Xing'an Gate. Officials congratulated from the tower; he was presented to the ancestral temple, paraded through both capitals, and beheaded at Duli at the age of thirty-five. That night his head was stolen. His wife Lady Shen was consigned to the palace women's quarters; two younger brothers and three sons were banished to Jiangling and executed; Administrative Aide Liu Xieshu and seven others were all beheaded. Guang, Cai, and other prefectures were pacified and at last returned to the throne's domain.

史臣曰：治亂，勢也，勢亂不能卒治。長源以法繩驕軍，禍不旋踵；則董公之寬柔不無謂。古之名將，以陰謀怨望，鮮全其族者。董秦始奮忠義，多長者言，宜其顯赫，及失意挾邪，俄被淮陰之戮，惜哉！吳少誠為希烈之亂胎，雖謀奪其軍，及嗣而滅。而元濟效希烈之狂悖，謂無天地，人之兇險，一至於斯！是知王者禦治之道，其可忽諸！

The historian comments: Order and disorder follow momentum; when momentum is chaotic, order cannot come quickly. Changyuan tried to restrain the arrogant army with law, and disaster followed swiftly; thus Commissioner Dong's lenience was not without point. Famed generals of old who harbored secret resentment rarely saw their clans survive intact. Dong Qin at first showed loyalty and spoke as an elder should; he deserved his eminence, yet when frustrated he turned wicked and soon suffered execution like Han Xin—a pity! Wu Shaocheng was the seed of Xilie's rebellion; though he seized command, his line was destroyed in the next generation. Yuanji imitated Xilie's mad defiance, as if heaven and earth did not exist—human viciousness can go no further! This shows that a sovereign's art of rule cannot be neglected!

贊曰：聖哲之君，慎名與器。不軌之臣，得寵則戾。董怨而族，吳悖而菹。好亂樂禍，可監前車。

In praise: A sage ruler is careful with names and instruments of authority. A disloyal minister, once favored, turns violent. Dong resented and his clan was destroyed; Wu rebelled and was torn apart. Those who delight in chaos and rejoice in disaster should take warning from the overturned cart ahead.

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