1
穆寧穆寧，懷州河內人也。 父元休，以文學著。 撰《洪範外傳》十篇，開元中獻之。 玄宗賜帛，授偃師縣丞、安陽令。
Mu Ning was a native of Henei in Huai Prefecture. His father Yuanxiu had earned a reputation for literary learning. He wrote ten chapters of the Supplement to the Great Plan and submitted them to the throne during Kaiyuan. Emperor Xuanzong granted him silk and appointed him assistant magistrate of Yanshi and magistrate of Anyang.
2
寧清慎剛正，重交遊，以氣節自任。 少以明經調授鹽山尉。 是時，安祿山始叛，偽署劉道玄為景城守，寧唱義起兵，斬道玄首。 傳檄郡邑，多有應者。 賊將史思明來寇郡，寧以攝東光令將兵禦之。 思明遣使說誘，寧立斬之。 郡懼賊怨深，後大兵至，奪寧兵及攝縣。 初，寧佐采訪使巡按，常過平原，與太守顏真卿密揣祿山必叛。 至是，真卿亦唱義，舉郡兵以拒祿山。 會間使持書遺真卿曰：「夫子為衛君乎？」 更無他詞。 真卿得書大喜，因奏署大理評事、河北采訪支使。 寧以長子屬母弟曰：「惟爾所適，茍不乏嗣，吾無累矣。」 因往平原，謂真卿曰：「先人有嗣矣！ 古所謂死有輕於鴻毛者，寧是也。 願佐公以定危難。」 真卿深然之。 其後，寧計或不行，真卿迫蹙，棄郡，夜渡河而南，見肅宗於鳳翔。 帝問拒賊之狀，真卿曰：「臣不用穆寧之言，功業不成。」 帝奇之，發驛召寧，將以右職待之。 會真卿以抗直失旨，事遂止。
Ning was scrupulous, cautious, and upright; he prized friendship and measured himself by his integrity. As a young man he passed the Classics examination and was posted as district commander of Yanshan. An Lushan had just risen in rebellion and installed Liu Daoxuan as prefect of Jingcheng; Ning rallied loyal forces, took up arms, and cut off Daoxuan's head. When he issued his call to arms across the region, many districts answered. When the rebel general Shi Siming invaded the commandery, Ning, serving as acting magistrate of Dongguang, led the defense. Siming sent envoys to win him over; Ning had them executed on the spot. Fearing that the rebels' wrath would fall heavily on them, the commandery authorities later, when reinforcements arrived, stripped Ning of his troops and his acting post. Earlier, while serving an assistant to a regional inspector on tour, he often visited Pingyuan and confided in the prefect Yan Zhenqing that Lushan was certain to rebel. Now Zhenqing too took up the loyal cause and raised the commandery's troops against Lushan. A secret courier then brought Zhenqing a letter that read only, "Will the Master serve as ruler of Wei? There was nothing else in the message. Delighted by the letter, Zhenqing memorialized the court to appoint Ning evaluator at the Court of Judicial Review and staff officer for the Hebei inspection circuit. Ning placed his eldest son in his uterine younger brother's care, saying, "Raise him as you think best; if our line is not extinguished, I have nothing left to bind me. He went on to Pingyuan and told Zhenqing, "My ancestors have heirs again! This is what the ancients meant when they said that some deaths weigh less than a goose feather. I wish to stand by you and help end this crisis." Zhenqing was deeply moved and agreed wholeheartedly. Later, when Ning's counsel was not always heeded, Zhenqing found himself hard pressed, gave up the commandery, crossed the river by night to the south, and presented himself to Emperor Suzong at Fengxiang. When the emperor asked how he had resisted the rebels, Zhenqing said, "Had I not taken Mu Ning's advice, I would have accomplished nothing. The emperor was impressed and sent couriers by relay post to summon Ning, intending to reward him with a senior post. But Zhenqing had fallen from favor for his blunt honesty, and the appointment never went through.
3
上元二年，累官至殿中侍御史，佐鹽鐵轉運使。 副元帥李光弼以餉運不繼，或惡寧者，誣譖於光弼，光弼揚言欲殺寧。 寧直抵徐州見光弼，喻以大義，不為撓折。 光弼深重之，寧得行其職。 寶應初，轉侍御史，為河南轉運租庸鹽鐵等副使。 明年，遷戶部員外郎。 無幾，加兼御史中丞，為河南、江南轉運使。 廣德初，加庫部郎中。 是時河運不通，漕挽由漢、沔自商山達京師。 選鎮夏口者，詔以寧為鄂州刺史、鄂嶽沔都團練使，及淮西鄂嶽租庸鹽鐵沿江轉運使，賜金紫。 時淮西節度使李忠臣貪暴不奉法，設防戍以稅商賈，又縱兵士剽劫，行人殆絕。 與寧夾淮為理，憚寧威名，寇盜輒止。 沔州別駕薛彥偉坐事忤旨，寧仗之致死。 寧坐貶虔州司馬，重貶昭州平集尉。
By the second year of Shangyuan he had risen to palace attending censor and was assisting the salt and iron transport commissioner. Deputy commander Li Guangbi, frustrated that supplies were not getting through, was persuaded by Ning's enemies to believe false charges against him; Guangbi openly threatened to have Ning executed. Ning went directly to Xuzhou to confront Guangbi, argued the larger duty at stake, and would not be cowed. Guangbi came to respect him deeply, and Ning was allowed to do his work. Early in the Baoying era he became attending censor and deputy commissioner for Henan transport of taxes, corvée, and salt and iron. The next year he was promoted to vice director in the Ministry of Revenue. Soon afterward he was also made vice censor-in-chief and transport commissioner for Henan and Jiangnan. At the start of the Guangde era he was also made director in the Treasury Bureau. The canal route was blocked at the time, so grain had to be hauled along the Han and Mian rivers from Shangshan to the capital. When the court needed a commander at Xiakou, Ning was appointed prefect of Ezhou, regional training commissioner for E, Yue, and Mian, and riverine transport commissioner for Huai-Xi and E-Yue taxes and salt and iron, with the gold-and-purple insignia of high rank. The Huai-Xi governor Li Zhongchen was greedy, brutal, and lawless: he posted garrisons to levy taxes on merchants and allowed his troops to rob travelers until traffic on the roads all but stopped. Governing on opposite banks of the Huai from Ning, he feared Ning's reputation, and banditry quickly died down. Xue Yanwei, vice prefect of Mianzhou, ran afoul of the court in a legal matter; Ning had him beaten to death with staves. Ning was demoted to military adjutant of Qianzhou and then further reduced to a minor revenue post in Zhaozhou.
4
大歷四年，起授監察御史，領轉運留後事於淄青。 間一年，改檢校司封郎中、兼侍御史，領轉運留後事於江西。 明年，拜檢校秘書少監，兼和州刺史，理有善政。 居無何，官罷。 代寧者以天寶版籍校見戶，誣以逋亡多，坐貶泉州司戶。 寧子贊，守闕三年告冤。 詔遣御史按覆，而人戶增倍，詔書召寧，除右諭德。 寧強毅，不能事權貴。 執政者以為不附己，且憚其難制，故處之散位。 寧默默不得誌，且曰：「時不我容，我不時殉，則非吾之進也，在於退乎！」 辭病居家，請告幾十旬者數矣。 親友強之，復一朝請。 上居奉天，寧詣行在，拜秘書少監。 興元初，改右庶子。 德宗還京師，寧曰：「可以行吾誌矣。」 因移病，罷歸東都。 貞元六年，就拜秘書監致仕。
In the fourth year of Dali he was recalled as investigating censor to oversee transport affairs at Ziqing. A year later he became acting director of the Bureau of Enfeoffments and concurrent attending censor, managing transport affairs in Jiangxi. The following year he was made acting vice director of the Palace Library and concurrent prefect of Hezhou, where his administration won praise. Before long he was removed from his post. His successor compared the tax rolls with the Tianbao census, falsely claimed that many households had fled, and Ning was demoted to revenue clerk in Quanzhou. Ning's son Zan kept vigil at the palace gates for three years to plead his father's innocence. The throne sent censors to reinvestigate; the registered population had actually doubled. Ning was recalled by edict and appointed right mentor of the heir apparent. Ning was tough and unyielding and would not court the powerful. The chief ministers saw that he would not attach himself to them and feared his ungovernable temper, so they kept him in honorific posts without real power. Ning brooded in silence, unable to fulfill his ambitions, and said, "If the age will not have me and I will not bend to the age, then pressing forward is not my way—is it time to withdraw? He pleaded illness and retired to his home, repeatedly asking leave for months at a time. Friends and kin pressed him, and he returned to court for one more audience. When the emperor was at Fengtian, Ning went to the mobile court and was made vice director of the Palace Library. Early in the Xingyuan era he was made right vice guardian of the heir apparent. When Dezong returned to Chang'an, Ning said, "I can at last live as I intend. He cited illness, resigned his post, and retired to the Eastern Capital. In the sixth year of Zhenyuan he accepted appointment as director of the Palace Library and retired from active service.
5
寧好學，善教諸子，家道以嚴稱。 事寡姊以悌聞。 通達體命，未嘗服藥。 每誡諸子曰：「吾聞君子之事親，養誌為大，直道而已。 慎無為諂，吾之誌也。」 貞元十年十月卒，時年七十九。 四子：贊、質、員、賞。 寧子贊贊，字相明，釋褐為濟源主簿。 時父寧為和州刺史，以剛直不屈於廉使，遂被誣奏，貶泉州司戶參軍。 贊奔赴闕庭，號泣上訴。 詔御史覆問，寧方得雪。 詔曰：「令子申父之冤，憲臣奉君之命，楚劍不沖於牛斗，秦臺自洗於塵埃。」 由是知名。 累遷京兆兵曹參軍、殿中侍御史，轉侍御史，分司東都。
Ning was devoted to learning, taught his sons well, and his household was famed for its discipline. His care for his widowed elder sister won him a reputation for filial devotion. He understood the body's natural course and never took medicine. He often warned his sons, "A gentleman serves his parents best by honoring their aims, not by fawning—only the straight path will do. Never stoop to flattery—that is what I live by. He died in the tenth month of the tenth year of Zhenyuan, at the age of seventy-nine. He had four sons: Zan, Zhi, Yuan, and Shang. Ning's son Zan, styled Xiangming, took his first office as chief clerk of Jiyuan. His father Ning was then prefect of Hezhou; because he refused to bow to the fiscal inspector, he was falsely accused and demoted to revenue clerk in Quanzhou. Zan hurried to the capital, weeping at the palace gates as he pleaded his father's case. Censors were sent to reinvestigate, and Ning's name was cleared. An edict declared, "A worthy son has righted his father's wrong; the law officer has done the ruler's bidding—the sword of Chu need not strike the Ox and Dipper, for the mirror-stand of Qin cleanses itself of dust. From that time his name was known throughout the realm. He rose through posts as military staff officer in the capital district, palace attending censor, and attending censor with duty in the Eastern Capital branch.
6
時陜州觀察使盧嶽妾裴氏，以有子，嶽妻分財不及，訴於官，贊鞫其事。 御史中丞盧佋佐之，令深繩裴罪。 贊持平不許。 宰臣竇參與佋善，參、佋俱持權，怒贊以小事不受指使，遂下贊獄。 侍御史杜倫希其意，誣贊受裴之金，鞭其使以成其獄，甚急。 贊弟賞，馳詣闕，撾登聞鼓。 詔三司使覆理無驗，出為郴州刺史。 參敗，征拜刑部郎中。 因次對，德宗嘉其才，擢為御史中丞。 時裴延齡判度支，以奸巧承恩。 屬吏有贓犯，贊鞫理承伏。 延齡請曲法出之，贊三執不許，以款狀聞。 延齡誣贊不平，貶饒州別駕。 丁母憂，再轉虔、常二州刺史。
Pei, a concubine of Shaanzhou inspector Lu Yue, had borne a son but was denied her share of the estate by Yue's wife; she brought suit, and Zan heard the case. Vice censor-in-chief Lu Bian took Yue's side and pressed for the harshest penalty against Pei. Zan held to impartial justice and refused. Chief minister Dou Can was allied with Bian; both men held real power and, furious that Zan would not bend on so small a matter, had him thrown into prison. Attending censor Du Lun did their bidding, falsely accused Zan of taking bribes from Pei, and beat his servants to force a confession, pressing the case relentlessly. Zan's younger brother Shang raced to the capital and beat the Petition Drum at the palace gates. The Three Offices were ordered to reinvestigate; the charges could not be sustained, and Zan was sent out as prefect of Chenzhou. After Can's downfall, Zan was recalled and appointed director in the Ministry of Justice. At a later audience Dezong was impressed by his ability and promoted him to vice censor-in-chief. Pei Yanling then controlled the treasury and curried favor through cunning and deceit. When a subordinate was caught in embezzlement, Zan tried the case and obtained a confession. Yanling asked that the law be bent to release the man; three times Zan refused and reported the full confession to the throne. Yanling accused Zan of partiality and had him demoted to vice prefect of Raozhou. After his mother's death he served in turn as prefect of Qianzhou and Changzhou.
7
憲宗即位，拜宣州刺史、御史中丞，充宣歙觀察使，所蒞皆有政聲。 永貞元年十一月卒，時年五十八，贈工部尚書。
When Xianzong came to the throne, Zan was made prefect of Xuanzhou and vice censor-in-chief, with charge as regional inspector of Xuan and She; everywhere he served won a reputation for good government. He died in the eleventh month of the first year of Yongzhen, at fifty-eight; the court posthumously appointed him minister of public works.
8
贊與弟質、員、賞以家行人材為搢紳所仰。 贊官達，父母尚無恙，家法清嚴。 贊兄弟奉指使，笞責如僮仆，贊最孝謹。 寧子質質強直，應制策入第三等。 其所條對，至今傳之。 自補闕至給事中，時政得失，未嘗不先論諫。 元和初，掌賦使院多擅禁系戶人，而有笞掠至死者。 質乃論奏鹽鐵轉運司應決私鹽，系囚須與州府長吏監決。 自是刑名畫一。 憲宗以王承宗叛，用內官吐突承璀為招討使。 質率同列伏閣論奏，言自古無以中官為將帥者。 上雖改其名，心頗不悅，尋改質為太子左庶子。 五年，坐與楊憑善，出為開州刺史。 未幾卒。 寧子員員工文辭，尚節義。 杜亞為東都留守，辟為從事、檢校員外郎。 早卒，有文集十卷。
Zan and his brothers Zhi, Yuan, and Shang were admired throughout official society for their family discipline and personal gifts. Even after Zan had risen high in office, while his parents were still alive the household remained governed by strict and austere rules. The brothers obeyed every parental command and accepted beatings like household servants; Zan was the most dutiful and deferential of them all. Ning's son Zhi was forceful and upright and placed in the third rank on the imperial policy examination. His examination answers are still read today. From remonstrance officer to supervising secretary, he was always the first to speak out on the rights and wrongs of current policy. Early in the Yuanhe era the fiscal commission often imprisoned taxpayers on its own authority, and some died under the lash. Zhi memorialized that whenever the salt and iron transport office tried cases of illicit salt, local prefectural officials must be present to oversee any punishment of prisoners. From then on criminal procedure was standardized throughout the empire. When Wang Chengzong rebelled, Xianzong appointed the palace eunuch Tutu Chengcui pacification commissioner. Zhi led his colleagues in a gate protest, arguing that never in history had eunuchs been made field commanders. The emperor changed Chengcui's title but was deeply displeased and soon transferred Zhi to left vice guardian of the heir apparent. In the fifth year, because of his association with Yang Ping, he was sent out as prefect of Kaizhou. He died not long afterward. Ning's son Yuan was gifted in letters and held integrity and moral resolve above all else. When Du Ya served as protector-general of the Eastern Capital, he summoned Yuan as a staff officer and acting vice director. He died young, leaving collected writings in ten scrolls.
9
質兄弟俱有令譽而和粹，世以「滋味」目之：贊俗而有格，為酪； 質美而多入，為酥； 員為醍醐； 賞為乳腐。 近代士大夫言家法者，以穆氏為高。 崔邠崔邠，字處仁，清河武城人。 祖結，父倕，官卑。 邠少舉進士，又登賢良方正科。 貞元中授渭南尉。 遷拾遺、補闕。 常疏論裴延齡，為時所知。 以兵部員外郎知制誥至中書舍人，凡七年。 又權知吏部選事。 明年，為禮部侍郎，轉吏部侍郎，賜以金紫。
Zhi and his brothers all enjoyed fine reputations and a gentle, harmonious character; contemporaries dubbed them "flavors": Zan, worldly yet principled, was cheese; Zhi, fine in character and widely admired, was butter; Yuan was the finest clarified butter; Shang was cottage curd. Among recent scholar-officials who spoke of household discipline, the Mu clan was held in highest esteem. Cui Bin, styled Churen, was a native of Wucheng in Qinghe. His grandfather Jie and his father Chui both held only minor posts. As a young man Bin passed the jinshi examination and also the Xianliang Fangzheng examination. During the Zhenyuan era he was posted as district commander of Weinan. He rose to remonstrance officer and omission officer. He often submitted memorials denouncing Pei Yanling and won renown in his day. From vice director of the Ministry of War with charge of edicts to secretariat drafter, he served seven years in all. He also served temporarily as director of personnel selections. The following year he became vice minister of rites, then vice minister of personnel, and was granted the gold seal and purple robe.
10
邠溫裕沈密，尤敦清儉。 上亦器重之。 裴垍將引為相，病難於承答，事竟寢。 兄弟同時奉朝請者四人，頗以孝敬怡睦聞。 後改太常卿，知吏部尚書銓事。 故事，太常卿初上，大閱《四部樂》於署，觀者縱焉。 邠自私第去帽，親導母輿，公卿逢者回騎避之，衢路以為榮。 居母憂，歲余卒，元和十年三月也，時年六十二。 贈吏部尚書，謚曰文簡。 邠弟鄯弟鄯、郾、鄲等六人。 子璀、璜，璀子彥融，皆登進士第，歷位臺閣。
Bin was warm, generous, and reserved, and above all he practiced purity and frugality. The emperor held him in high regard as well. Pei Ji was about to recommend him for the chancellorship, but illness made it difficult for him to accept, and the appointment never came to pass. Four brothers served at court at the same time and were widely known for filial devotion, mutual respect, and harmony. He was later made minister of ceremonies and given charge of personnel selections. By custom, when a new minister of ceremonies first took office, the ministry held a grand review of the Four Sections of Music, and onlookers were allowed to roam freely. Leaving his private residence, Bin removed his hat and personally guided his mother's carriage; high officials who met them turned aside, and the whole street regarded it as an honor. While mourning his mother, he died a little over a year later, in the third month of Yuanhe 10, at the age of sixty-two. He was posthumously made minister of personnel and given the posthumous title Cultured and Simple. Bin's brothers included Shan, Yan, and Tan—six brothers in all. His sons Cui and Huang, and Cui's son Yanrong, all passed the jinshi examination and rose to posts in the central secretariat.
11
鄯少有文學，舉進士。 元和中，歷監察御史。 太和元年十月，自太子詹事拜左金吾衛大將軍。 鄯昆弟六人，仕官皆至三品。 邠、郾、鄲三人，知貢舉，掌銓衡。 冠族聞望，為時名德。
Shan showed literary promise from youth and passed the jinshi examination. During the Yuanhe era he served as investigating censor. In the tenth month of Tahe 1 he was promoted from grand mentor of the heir apparent to general of the Left Golden Crown Guard. All six of Shan's brothers rose to third rank. Bin, Yan, and Tan all directed the imperial examinations and oversaw personnel appointments. A leading clan in prestige and renown, they were celebrated as men of virtue in their time.
12
鄯太和九年冬，為左金吾大將軍，無病暴亡。 不旬日有訓、註之亂，其亂始自金吾。 君子乃知鄯之亡，崔氏積善之征也。 贈禮部尚書。 子瑄。 邠弟郾郾，字廣略，舉進士，平判入等，授集賢殿校書郎。 三命升朝，為監察御史、刑部員外郎。 資質秀偉，神情重雅，人望而愛之，終不可舍，不知者以為事高簡，拘靜默耳。 居內憂，釋服為吏部員外。 奸吏不敢欺，孤寒無援者未嘗留滯，銓敘之美，為時所稱。 再遷左司郎中。
In the winter of Tahe 9, while serving as general of the Left Golden Crown Guard, Shan died suddenly though he had shown no sign of illness. Within ten days the rebellion of Xun and Zhu broke out, and the uprising began in the Golden Crown Guard. Men of discernment then understood that Shan's death was Heaven's reward for the Cui clan's accumulated virtue. He was posthumously made minister of rites. His son was Xuan. Bin's brother Yan, styled Guanglue, passed the jinshi examination, distinguished himself on the pingpan examination, and was appointed collator in the Hall of Assembled Worthies. Summoned to court three times, he served as investigating censor and vice director of the Ministry of Justice. Handsome and imposing in bearing, grave and refined in manner, he drew people's affection at first sight and they hated to leave his company; those who did not know him took him for merely proud, austere, and taciturn. After completing mourning for a parent, he returned to office as vice director of the Ministry of Personnel. Corrupt clerks did not dare cheat him, and poor men without patrons were never left waiting; the fairness of his appointments won wide praise. He was promoted again to director of the left department.
13
元和十三年，鄭余慶為禮儀詳定使，選時有禮學者共事，以郾為詳定判官、吏部郎中。 十五年，遷諫議大夫。
In Yuanhe 13, when Zheng Yuqing served as commissioner for ceremonial review and chose ritual scholars to assist him, Yan was made review adjudicator and director of the Ministry of Personnel. In the fifteenth year he was promoted to remonstrance grandee.
14
穆宗即位，荒於禽酒，坐朝常晚。 郾與同列鄭覃等延英切諫。 穆宗甚嘉之，畋遊稍簡。 長慶中，轉給事中。
When Emperor Muzong came to the throne, he abandoned himself to hunting and wine and often held court late. Yan and his colleagues Zheng Tan and others remonstrated with him earnestly in the Yenying Hall. Muzong greatly commended them, and his hunting outings grew somewhat less frequent. During the Changqing era he was made supervising secretary.
15
昭湣即位，選侍講學士，轉中書舍人。 入思政殿謝恩，奏曰：「陛下用臣為侍講，半歲有余，未嘗問臣經義。 今蒙轉改，實慚屍素，有愧厚恩。」 帝曰：「朕機務稍閑，即當請益。」 高鉞曰：「陛下意雖樂善，既未延接儒生，天下之人，寧知重道？」 帝深引咎，賜之錦彩。 郾退，與同列高重抄撮《六經》嘉言要道，區分事類，凡十卷，名曰《諸經纂要》，冀人主易於省覽。 上嘉之，賜錦彩二百匹、銀器等。
When Emperor Zhaomin came to the throne, Yan was chosen as lecturing academician and promoted to secretariat drafter. Entering the Hall of Zheng'en to thank the throne, he said, "Your Majesty made me your lecturer more than half a year ago, yet you have never asked me about the classics. Now that I have been promoted again, I am ashamed to occupy my post without earning it, and I feel unworthy of your great kindness." The emperor replied, "When my daily duties grow a little less pressing, I shall ask you to instruct me." Gao Kui said, "Your Majesty's heart may delight in virtue, but if you do not yet receive Confucian scholars, how can the people know that the Way is honored?" The emperor took the rebuke deeply to heart and rewarded them with brocade and silk. Yan then withdrew and, with his colleague Gao Chong, compiled the finest passages and essential teachings of the Six Classics, arranged them by topic in ten scrolls under the title Collected Essentials of the Classics, and hoped the ruler might review them with ease. The emperor commended the work and granted two hundred bolts of brocade, silver vessels, and other gifts.
16
其年轉禮部侍郎，東都試舉人。 凡兩歲掌貢士，平心閱試，賞拔藝能，所擢者無非名士，至大中、咸通之代，為輔相名卿者十數人。 出為陜州觀察使。 舊弊有上供不足，奪吏俸以益之，歲八十萬，郾以廉使常用之直代之。 居二年，政績聞於朝。 遷鄂嶽安黃等州觀察使。 又五年，移浙西道都團練觀察使，至，用寬政安疲人。 及居鄂渚，則峻法嚴刑，未常貰一死罪。 江湖之間，萑蒲是叢，因造蒙沖小艦，上下千里，期月而盡獲群盜。 凡三按廉車，率由清簡少事，財用有余，遂寧泰。 開成元年卒，年六十九，贈吏部尚書，謚曰德。
That same year he became vice minister of rites and examined candidates in the Eastern Capital. For two years he oversaw the examinations, judged them impartially, and promoted men of real ability; every candidate he chose was a noted scholar, and by the Dazhong and Xiantong eras more than ten of them had become chancellors and leading ministers. He was sent out as regional inspector of Shaanzhou. An old abuse had been to make up shortfalls in tribute payments by seizing clerks' salaries—eighty thousand cash a year; Yan covered the deficit out of the fiscal inspector's regular operating funds instead. After two years his record of governance was known at court. He was transferred to regional inspector of E, Yue, An, Huang, and neighboring prefectures. Five years later he was moved to defense commissioner and regional inspector of Zhexi; on taking up his post he governed leniently and brought rest to a worn-out people. At Ezhou, by contrast, he enforced harsh laws and severe punishments and never once pardoned a capital crime. Bandits infested the rivers and lakes like weeds in a marsh; he built light assault boats, swept a thousand li of waterways, and within a month had captured every bandit band. In three tours as integrity commissioner he governed with clean, simple administration and little fuss; revenues exceeded expenses, and the region grew tranquil. He died in Kaicheng 1 at the age of sixty-nine, was posthumously made minister of personnel, and was given the posthumous title Virtue.
17
郾與兄邠、弟鄲等皆有令譽。 而郾疏財恢廓，昆仲所不及。 子瑤、瑰、瑾、珮、璆。 郾子瑤瑤，太和三年登進士第，出佐籓方，入升朝列，累至中書舍人。 大中六年，知貢舉，旋拜禮部侍郎。 出為浙西觀察使，又遷鄂州刺史、鄂嶽觀察使，終於位。 瑰、珮、璆官至郎署給諫。 郾子謹謹，大中十年登進士第，累居使府，歷尚書郎、知制誥。 咸通十三年，知貢舉，選拔頗為得人。 尋拜禮部侍郎，出為湖南觀察使。 邠弟鄲鄲，登進士第，累遷監察御史，三遷考功郎中。 太和三年，以本官充翰林學士，轉中書舍人。 六年，罷學士。 八年，為工部侍郎、集賢殿學士，權知禮部，真拜兵部侍郎，本官判吏部東銓事。
Yan, his elder brother Bin, his younger brother Tan, and the rest all enjoyed fine reputations. Yet Yan alone was open-handed and magnanimous with wealth, a quality his brothers could not equal. His sons were Yao, Gui, Jin, Pei, and Qiu. Yan's son Yao passed the jinshi examination in Tahe 3, served in regional staff posts, entered court service, and rose to secretariat drafter. In Dazhong 6 he directed the imperial examinations and was soon made vice minister of rites. He was sent out as regional inspector of Zhexi, later became prefect of Ezhou and regional inspector of E and Yue, and died in office. Gui, Pei, and Qiu rose to posts in the ministries and remonstrance offices. Yan's son Jin passed the jinshi examination in Dazhong 10, served repeatedly in commissioner offices, and rose through ministry director posts to charge of edicts. In Xiantong 13 he directed the imperial examinations and chose his candidates with notable success. He was soon made vice minister of rites and sent out as regional inspector of Hunan. Bin's brother Tan passed the jinshi examination, rose to investigating censor, and was promoted three times to director of merit evaluation. In Tahe 3 he was made Hanlin academician while retaining his existing post and was promoted to secretariat drafter. In the sixth year he was removed from the Hanlin academy. In the eighth year he became vice minister of works and academician of the Hall of Assembled Worthies, served temporarily as director of the Ministry of Rites, was formally appointed vice minister of war, and continued to oversee the eastern branch of personnel selections.
18
文宗勤於政道，每苦選曹訛弊，延英謂宰臣曰：「吏部殊不選才，安得摭實無濫，可厘革否？」 李石對曰：「令錄可以商量，他官且宜循舊。」 上曰：「循舊如配官耳，賢不肖安能甄別？」 帝召三銓謂之曰：「卿等比選令錄，如何註擬？」 鄲對曰：「資敘相當，問其為治之術，視可否而擬之。」 帝曰：「依資合得，而才劣者何授？」 對曰：「與邊遠慢官。」 帝曰：「如以不肖之才治邊民，則疾苦可知也。 凡朝廷求理，遠近皆須得人。 茍非其才，人受其弊矣。」 尋拜吏部侍郎。
Emperor Wenzong was diligent in government and often vexed by corruption in the selection bureau; in the Yenying Hall he asked his chief ministers, "The Ministry of Personnel scarcely chooses men of talent—how can appointments be grounded in fact and kept free of abuse? Can this be reformed?" Li Shi answered, "We might discuss county magistrates and recorders, but for other offices it would be best to follow precedent for now." The emperor said, "Following precedent is no better than assigning offices by lot—how can the worthy and unworthy be told apart?" The emperor summoned the three selection directors and asked, "In your recent selection of magistrates and recorders, how did you decide their appointments?" Tan answered, "When seniority and qualifications matched the post, we asked about their methods of governance and proposed appointments according to what they could do." The emperor asked, "When a man qualifies by seniority but lacks ability, what post do you give him?" He answered, "A remote frontier post of little consequence." The emperor said, "If incapable men govern frontier people, their suffering is easy to imagine. Whenever the court seeks good order, both near and far require the right men. If the wrong man is chosen, the people bear the cost." He was soon appointed vice minister of personnel.
19
開成二年，出為宣州刺史，兼御史中丞、宣歙觀察使。 四年，入為太常卿。 七月，以本官同中書門下平章事，尋加中書侍郎、銀青光祿大夫。 會昌初，李德裕用事，與鄲弟兄素善。 鄲在相位累年，歷方鎮、太子師保卒。 竇群竇群，字丹列，扶風平陵人。 祖亶，同昌郡司馬。 父叔向，以工詩稱，代宗朝，官至左拾遺。 群兄常、牟，弟鞏，皆登進士第，唯群獨為處士，隱居毗陵，以節操聞。 及母卒，嚙一指置棺中，因廬墓次終喪。 後學《春秋》於啖助之門人盧庇者，著書三十四卷，號《史記名臣疏》。 貞元中，蘇州刺史韋夏卿以丘園茂異薦，兼獻其書，不報。 及夏卿入為吏部侍郎，改京兆尹，中謝日，因對復薦群。 征拜左拾遺，遷侍御史，充入蕃使秘書監張薦判官。 群因入對，奏曰：「陛下即位二十年，始自草澤擢臣為拾遺，是難其進也。 今陛下以二十年難進之臣，用為和蕃判官，一何易也？」 德宗異其言，留之，復為侍御史。
In Kaicheng 2 he was sent out as prefect of Xuanzhou, concurrently vice censor-in-chief and regional inspector of Xuan and She. In the fourth year he returned to court as minister of ceremonies. In the seventh month he was made associate director of the chancellery and grand councilor while retaining his existing post, and soon afterward was also made vice director of the secretariat and grand master of splendid brightness with silver seal. Early in the Huichang era, when Li Deyu held power, he had long been on good terms with Tan and his brothers. Tan remained in the chancellorship for many years, later served in regional commands and as tutor to the heir apparent, and died in those posts. Dou Qun, styled Danlie, was a native of Pingling in Fufeng. His grandfather Dan had served as military assistant of Tongchang Commandery. His father Shuxiang was known for his poetic mastery; under Emperor Daizong he rose to the post of Left Reminder of the Imperial Archives. Qun's elder brothers Chang and Mou and his younger brother Gong all passed the jinshi examination, but Qun alone remained a private scholar in seclusion at Piling, where his integrity won wide renown. When his mother died, he bit off one of his fingers and placed it in her coffin, then built a mourning hut beside her tomb and lived there through the full mourning period. He later studied the Spring and Autumn Annals under Lu Pi, a disciple of Tan Zhu, and produced a thirty-four-chapter work entitled Exegesis on Eminent Ministers in the Records of the Grand Historian. During Zhenyuan, Wei Xiaqing, prefect of Suzhou, recommended him as an exceptional hermit of outstanding character and submitted his book as well, but the court did not respond. When Xiaqing was summoned to the capital as vice minister of personnel and transferred to metropolitan governor of Jingzhao, he used his audience of thanks to recommend Qun once more in a private memorial. Qun was summoned and appointed Left Reminder, then promoted to censor and named aide to Zhang Jian, director of the Secretariat, who was then serving as envoy to the barbarian courts. When Qun was received in audience, he said, "Your Majesty has been on the throne twenty years before raising me from obscurity to the post of Reminder—surely advancement is difficult indeed. Yet now Your Majesty appoints a man who waited twenty years for office to serve as aide for a marriage mission to the barbarians—how very easy advancement has become! Emperor Dezong was impressed by his boldness, kept him at court, and restored him to his post as censor.
20
王叔文之黨柳宗元、劉禹錫皆慢群，群不附之。 其黨議欲貶群官，韋執誼止之。 群嘗謁王叔文，叔文命撤榻而進。 群揖之曰：「夫事有不可知者。」 叔文曰：「如何？」 群曰：「去年李實伐恩恃貴，傾動一時，此時公逡巡路旁，乃江南一吏耳。 今公已處實形勢，又安得不慮路旁有公者乎？」 叔文雖異其言，竟不之用。
Liu Zongyuan and Liu Yuxi, allies of Wang Shuwen, looked down on Qun, and Qun refused to join their faction. His faction debated demoting Qun from office, but Wei Zhiyi dissuaded them. When Qun once paid a call on Wang Shuwen, Shuwen had the receiving couch taken away and bade him step forward. Qun bowed and said, "There are turns of fortune no man can foresee. Shuwen asked, "What do you mean?" Qun replied, "Last year Li Shi traded on imperial favor and shook the court for a season; at that time you were lingering on the margins—nothing but an obscure clerk from south of the Yangtze. Now you hold real power—should you not fear that someone like you today may be waiting in the wings tomorrow?" Shuwen was startled by the warning, but in the end he never made use of Qun.
21
憲宗即位，轉膳部員外，兼侍御史知雜，出為唐州刺史。 節度使于頔素聞其名，既謁見，群危言激切，頔甚悅。 奏留充山南東道節度副使、檢校兵部郎中，兼御史中丞，賜紫金魚袋。 宰相武元衡、李吉甫皆愛重之，召入為吏部郎中。 元衡輔政，舉群代己為中丞。 群奏刑部郎中呂溫、羊士諤為御史。 吉甫以羊、呂險躁，持之數日不下，群等怒怨吉甫。
When Emperor Xianzong acceded, Qun was promoted to vice director in the banquet office of the Ministry of Rites and concurrent chief censor, then appointed prefect of Tangzhou. Military Commissioner Yu Di had long known Qun's reputation; at their first meeting Qun spoke with urgent frankness, and Di was deeply pleased. Yu memorialized to retain him as deputy commissioner of the Shannan East Circuit, acting chief of the bureau of military affairs, and concurrent vice censor-in-chief, and granted him the purple robe and gold fish tally. Chief ministers Wu Yuanheng and Li Jifu both admired him and recalled him to the capital as chief of the appointments bureau in the Ministry of Personnel. While serving as chief minister, Wu Yuanheng recommended Qun to succeed him as censor-in-chief. Qun recommended Lu Wen and Yang Shiyan of the Ministry of Justice for appointment as censors. Li Jifu deemed Yang and Lu rash and unreliable, held their nominations for days without approval, and Qun and his allies came to resent him bitterly.
22
三年八月，吉甫罷相，出鎮淮南，群等欲因失恩傾之。 吉甫嘗召術士陳登宿於安邑里第。 翌日，群令吏捕登考劾，偽構吉甫陰事，密以上聞。 帝召登面訊之，立辯其偽。 憲宗怒，將誅群等，吉甫救之，出為湖南觀察使。 數日，改黔州刺史、黔州觀察使。 在黔中，屬大水壞其城郭，復築其城，征督溪洞諸蠻。 程作頗急，於是，辰、錦生蠻乘險作亂，群討之不能定。 六年九月，貶開州刺史。 在郡二年，改容州刺史、容管經略觀察使。 九年，詔還朝，至衡州病卒，時年五十。
In the eighth month of the third year Jifu was dismissed from the chancellorship and posted to Huainan; Qun and his allies hoped to exploit his fall from favor to destroy him. Jifu had once summoned the diviner Chen Deng to stay overnight at his mansion in Anyi Lane. The next day Qun had his men arrest Chen and interrogate him, fabricating secret crimes to implicate Jifu, and reported the matter confidentially to the throne. The emperor summoned Chen for a personal hearing, and he at once exposed the fabrication. Emperor Xianzong was furious and nearly had Qun and his allies executed; Jifu interceded for them, and Qun was sent out as inspector of Hunan. Within days he was reassigned as prefect and regional inspector of Qian. In Qian, a major flood destroyed the city walls; he rebuilt them and conscripted labor from the tribal peoples of the hills and streams. The construction was driven at punishing speed; the aboriginal tribes of Chen and Jin then seized the mountain passes and rose in revolt, and Qun failed to restore order. In the ninth month of the sixth year he was demoted to prefect of Kaizhou. After two years there he was appointed prefect of Rongzhou and military commissioner and regional inspector of Rongguan. In the ninth year he was recalled to court but fell ill and died at Hengzhou at the age of fifty.
23
群性狠戾，頗復恩讎，臨事不顧生死。 是時徵入，云欲大用，人皆懼駭，聞其卒方安。 二子：謙余、審余。 群兄常兄常，字中行，大曆十四年登進士第，居廣陵之柳楊。 結廬種樹，不求茍進，以講學著書為事，凡二十年不出。 貞元十四年，鎮州節度使王武俊聞其賢，遣人致聘，辟為掌書記，不就。 其年，杜佑鎮淮南，奏授校書郎，為節度參謀。 元和六年，自湖南判官入為侍御史，轉水部員外郎。 出為朗州刺史，歷固陵、潯陽、臨川三郡守。 入為國子祭酒，求致仕。 寶曆元年卒，時年七十。 子弘余，會昌中為黃州刺史。 群兄牟牟，字貽周，貞元二年登進士第，試秘書省校書郎、東都留守巡官。 歷河陽、昭義從事，檢校水部郎中，賜緋，再為留守判官。 入為都官郎中，出為澤州刺史，入為國子祭酒。 長慶二年卒，時年七十四。 子周余，大中年秘書監。 牟弟庠牟弟庠，字胄卿，釋褐國子主簿。 吏部侍郎韓臯出鎮武昌，辟為推官。 臯移鎮浙西，奏庠為節度副使、殿中侍御史，遷澤州刺史。 又為宣歙副使，除奉天令、登州刺史、東都留守判官，歷信、婺二州刺史。 卒年六十三。 子繇、載。 群弟鞏鞏，字友封，元和二年登進士第。 袁滋鎮滑州，辟為從事。 滋改荊、襄二鎮，皆從之，掌管記之任。 平盧薛平又辟為副使。 入朝，拜侍御史，歷司勛員外、刑部郎中。 元稹觀察浙東，奉為副使、檢校秘書少監，兼御史中丞，賜金紫。 稹移鎮武昌，鞏又從之。 鞏能五言詩，昆仲之間，與牟詩俱為時所賞重。 性溫雅，多不能持論，士友言議之際，吻動而不發，白居易等目為「囁嚅翁」。 終於鄂渚，時年六十。 子六人，景余、師裕最知名。 李遜李遜，字友道，後魏申公發之後，於趙郡謂之申公房。 曾祖進德，太子中允。 祖珍玉，昌明令。 父震，雅州別駕。 世寓於荊州之石首。
Qun was by nature fierce and unyielding, quick to repay both kindness and injury, and utterly heedless of life or death in pursuit of his aims. When he was recalled with talk of a major appointment, people were terrified; only when news of his death arrived did they breathe freely again. He had two sons, Qianyu and Shenyu. Qun's elder brother Chang, styled Zhonghang, passed the jinshi examination in the fourteenth year of Dali and made his home at Liuyang in Guangling. He built a cottage, planted trees, and refused unworthy advancement, devoting himself to teaching and writing for twenty years without leaving home. In the fourteenth year of Zhenyuan, Wang Wujun, military commissioner of Zhenzhou, heard of his reputation and sent envoys to recruit him as chief secretary, but Chang declined. That same year Du You, commanding Huainan, had him appointed collator and made him a strategic adviser on his staff. In the sixth year of Yuanhe he entered court from a Hunan staff post as censor, then was promoted to vice director in the waterways bureau of the Ministry of Works. He was posted as prefect of Langzhou and later governed the three prefectures of Guling, Xunyang, and Linchuan. He was recalled to serve as chancellor of the Directorate of Education, then asked to retire. He died in the first year of Baoli at the age of seventy. His son Hongyu served as prefect of Huangzhou during the Huichang era. Qun's elder brother Mou, styled Yizhou, passed the jinshi in the second year of Zhenyuan, entered service as a collator in the Secretariat, and served as circuit inspector to the eastern capital protector. He served on the staffs of Heyang and Zhaoyi, was acting chief of the waterways bureau, received the scarlet robe, and twice served as aide to a capital protector. He was recalled as chief of the bureau of justice, posted as prefect of Zezhou, then recalled again as chancellor of the Directorate of Education. He died in the second year of Changqing at the age of seventy-four. His son Zhouyu served as director of the Secretariat during the Dazhong era. Mou's younger brother Ku, styled Zhouqing, first entered office as registrar of the Directorate of Education. When Han Gao, vice minister of personnel, took command at Wuchang, he recruited Ku as legal examiner on his staff. When Han was transferred to Zhexi, he had Ku appointed deputy commissioner and palace censor, then promoted him to prefect of Zezhou. He later served as deputy commissioner of Xuanxi, was appointed magistrate of Fengtian and prefect of Dengzhou, served as aide to the eastern capital protector, and subsequently governed Xin and Wu. He died at sixty-three. He had two sons, You and Zai. Qun's younger brother Gong, styled Youfeng, passed the jinshi in the second year of Yuanhe. When Yuan Zi commanded Huazhou, he recruited Gong to his staff. When Yuan was transferred to the Jing and Xiang circuits in turn, Gong followed him and served as chief secretary. Xue Ping of Pinglu later recruited him as deputy commissioner. Recalled to court, he was appointed censor and later served as vice director in the bureau of meritorious achievements and chief in the Ministry of Justice. When Yuan Zhen served as inspector of eastern Zhejiang, he appointed Gong his deputy, acting vice director of the Secretariat and concurrent vice censor-in-chief, and granted him the gold seal and purple robe. When Yuan Zhen moved to Wuchang, Gong followed him once more. Gong was an accomplished writer of pentasyllabic verse; among the brothers, his poetry and Mou's were both highly prized in their day. Gentle and refined by nature, he rarely held his ground in debate; at gatherings of friends his lips would move but no argument would emerge, and Bai Juyi and others dubbed him "Old Mumbler." He died at Ezhou at the age of sixty. He had six sons; Jingyu and Shiyu were the best known. Li Xun, styled Youdao, was descended from Fa, Duke Shen of Northern Wei; in Zhao commandery his line was known as the house of Duke Shen. His great-grandfather Jinde had served as principal in the court of the heir apparent. His grandfather Zhenyu had been magistrate of Changming. His father Zhen had served as vice prefect of Yazhou. For generations the family had resided at Shishou in Jingzhou.
24
遜登進士第，辟襄陽掌書記。 復從事於湖南，主其留務，頗有聲績，累拜池、濠二州刺史。 先是，濠州之都將楊騰，削刻士卒，州兵三千人謀殺騰。 騰覺之，走揚州，家屬皆死。 濠兵不自戢，因行攘剽。 及遜至郡，余亂未殄。 徐驅其間，為陳逆順利害之勢，眾皆釋甲請罪，因以寧息。 觀察使旨限外征役，皆不從。 入拜虞部郎中。
Xun passed the jinshi examination and was recruited as chief secretary at Xiangyang. He later served on the Hunan staff, managing affairs in the commander's absence, won a solid reputation, and was promoted in turn to prefect of Chi and Hao. Earlier, Yang Teng, chief commander at Haozhou, had been harsh and exploitative toward his troops; three thousand men of the garrison plotted to kill him. Teng discovered the plot, fled to Yangzhou, and his entire household was slaughtered. The Haozhou soldiers lost all discipline and took to looting wherever they went. By the time Xun reached the prefecture, the unrest had not yet been suppressed. Moving among them at a measured pace, he explained the consequences of loyalty and rebellion, and the men laid down their arms and begged forgiveness; order was thus restored. He refused every request from the regional inspector for labor levies beyond statutory limits. He was recalled to court and appointed chief of the bureau of forestry and craft works.
25
元和初，出為衢州刺史。 以政績殊尤，遷越州刺史，兼御史大夫、浙東都團練觀察使。 先是，貞元初，皇甫政鎮浙東，嘗福建兵亂，逐觀察使吳詵。 政以所鎮實壓閩境，請權益兵三千，俟賊平而罷。 賊平向三十年，而所益兵仍舊。 遜視事數日，舉奏停之。 遜為政以均一貧富、扶弱抑強為己任，故所至稱理。
Early in Yuanhe he was posted as prefect of Quzhou. For outstanding administration he was promoted to prefect of Yuezhou and concurrent grand censor, training commissioner, and regional inspector of eastern Zhejiang. Earlier, in the early Zhenyuan era, Huangfu Zheng had commanded eastern Zhejiang; when Fujian erupted in military unrest, Inspector Wu Shen was driven out. Because his circuit bordered Fujian, Zheng requested a temporary increase of three thousand troops, to be withdrawn once order was restored. Nearly thirty years after the rebellion ended, the supplemental troops were still in place. Within days of taking office, Xun memorialized to have them disbanded. Xun made it his governing principle to level the gap between rich and poor and to protect the weak while restraining the powerful, and wherever he served he won praise for fair administration.
26
九年，入為給事中。 遜以舊制只日視事對群臣，遜奏論曰：「事君之義，有犯無隱。 陳誠啟沃，不必擇辰。 今群臣敷奏，乃候只日，是畢歲臣下睹天顏、獻可否能幾何？」 憲宗嘉之，乃許不擇時奏對。 俄遷戶部侍郎。
In the ninth year he was recalled as supervising secretary in the Secretariat. Because court audiences were restricted to fixed days, Xun memorialized: "In serving one's sovereign, the loyal subject speaks out even at risk of offense and hides nothing. Frank counsel that nourishes good governance need not wait for an appointed day. Yet now officials may present memorials only on that one day—how often in a year can his servants see their sovereign's face and speak their minds? Emperor Xianzong approved, and thereafter allowed officials to petition and be received without waiting for fixed audience days. He was soon promoted to vice minister of revenue.
27
元和十年，拜襄州刺史，充山南東道節度、觀察等使。 襄陽前領八郡，唐、鄧、隋在焉。 是時方討吳元濟，朝議以唐、蔡鄰接，遂以鄧隸唐州，三郡別為節制，命高霞寓領之，專俟攻討。 遜以五州賦餉之。
In the tenth year of Yuanhe he was appointed prefect of Xiangzhou and military commissioner and regional inspector of the Shannan East Circuit. Xiangyang had formerly governed eight commanderies, including Tang, Deng, and Sui. The court was then campaigning against Wu Yuanji. Because Tang and Cai prefectures lay adjacent, Deng was placed under Tang Prefecture; the three commanderies were given a separate military commission, and Gao Xiayu was appointed to command them exclusively for the assault. Xun supplied their provisions from the tax revenues of five prefectures.
28
時孫代嚴綬鎮襄陽。 綬以八州兵討賊在唐州。 既而綬以無功罷兵柄，命高霞寓代綬將兵於唐州，其襄陽軍隸於霞寓。 軍士家口在襄州者，遜厚撫之，士卒多舍霞寓亡歸。 既而霞寓為賊所敗，乃移過於遜，言供饋不時。 霞寓本出禁軍，內官皆佐之。 既貶官，中人皆言遜撓霞寓軍，所以致敗。 上令中使至襄州聽察曲直，奏言遜不直，乃左授太子賓客分司，又降為恩王傅。
At that time Xun replaced Yan Shou as military commissioner at Xiangyang. Shou was at Tang Prefecture leading troops from eight prefectures against the rebels. Shou was soon removed from command for lack of results. Gao Xiayu replaced him to lead troops at Tang Prefecture, and the Xiangyang army was placed under Xiayu's authority. Xun treated generously those soldiers whose families were in Xiang Prefecture, and many troops deserted Xiayu to return home. After Xiayu was defeated by the rebels, he blamed Xun, claiming that provisions had not arrived on schedule. Xiayu had risen from the palace guard, and eunuch officials all backed him. After Xiayu was demoted, the eunuchs all blamed Xun for weakening his army and causing the defeat. The emperor dispatched a palace envoy to Xiang Prefecture to adjudicate the dispute. The envoy reported that Xun was at fault, and Xun was demoted to senior adviser to the heir apparent with nominal duties, then further reduced to tutor to the Prince of En.
29
十三年，李師道效順，命遜為左散騎常侍，馳赴東平諭之。 師道得詔意動，即請效順，旋為其下所惑而止。 遜還，未幾，除京兆尹，改國子祭酒。
In the thirteenth year, when Li Shidao submitted, Xun was appointed left regular attendant and dispatched post-haste to Dongping to persuade him. Shidao was moved on receiving the edict and at once offered to submit, but was soon dissuaded by his subordinates and changed his mind. Xun returned and was soon made magistrate of the capital, then chancellor of the Directorate of Education.
30
十四年，拜許州刺史，充忠武節度、陳許溵蔡等州觀察處置等使。 是時，新罹兵戰，難遽完緝。 及遜至，集大軍與之約束，嚴具示賞罰必信，號令數百言，士皆感悅。
In the fourteenth year he was appointed prefect of Xuzhou and military commissioner of Zhongwu and regional inspector of Chen, Xu, Wen, Cai, and related prefectures. The region had just emerged from war and could not quickly be fully pacified. When Xun arrived, he assembled the army, imposed strict discipline, and delivered a proclamation several hundred words long declaring that rewards and punishments would be faithfully enforced. The troops were deeply impressed.
31
長慶元年，幽、鎮繼亂。 遜請身先討賊，不許。 但命以兵一萬，會於行營。 遜奉詔，即日發兵，故先諸軍而至，由是進位檢校吏部尚書。 尋改鳳翔節度使，行至京師，以疾陳乞，改刑部尚書。 長慶三年正月卒，年六十三，廢朝一日，贈右僕射。
In the first year of Changqing, the circuits of Youzhou and Zhenzhou rebelled in turn. Xun asked to lead the campaign personally, but the request was denied. He was ordered instead to dispatch ten thousand troops to join the field headquarters. Xun obeyed at once and marched his troops out the same day, arriving ahead of the other armies. For this he was promoted to acting minister of civil appointments. He was soon transferred to military commissioner of Fengxiang, but upon reaching the capital he pleaded illness and was reassigned as minister of justice. He died in the first month of the third year of Changqing, aged sixty-three. Court audiences were suspended for one day, and he was posthumously granted right vice grand councilor.
32
遜幼孤，寓居江陵。 與其弟建，皆安貧苦，易衣並食，講習不倦。 遜兄造，知二弟賢，日為營丐，成其誌業。 建先遜一年卒。 兄弟同致休顯，士君子多之。 謚曰恭肅。 造早卒。 遜弟建建，字杓直，家素清貧，無舊業。 與兄造、遜於荊南躬耕致養，嗜學力文。 舉進士，選授秘書省校書郎。 德宗聞其名，用為右拾遺、翰林學士。 元和六年，坐事罷職，降詹事府司直。 高郢為御史大夫，奏為殿中侍御史，遷兵部郎中、知制誥。 自以草詔思遲，不願司文翰，改京兆尹。 與宰相韋貫之友善。 貫之罷相，建亦出為澧州刺史。 征拜太常少卿，尋以本官知禮部貢舉。 建取舍非其人，又惑於請托，故其年選士不精，坐罰俸料。 明年，除禮部侍郎，竟以人情不洽，改為刑部。
Orphaned in youth, Xun lived in Jiangling. He and his younger brother Jian lived contentedly in poverty, sharing clothes and meals and studying tirelessly together. Their elder brother Zao, recognizing his two younger brothers' talent, worked daily to provide for them so they could pursue their ambitions. Jian died one year before Xun. The brothers alike achieved distinction, and men of worth widely praised them. He was posthumously titled Gongsu (Respectful and Solemn). Zao died young. Xun's younger brother Jian, courtesy name Shaozhi, came from a family of long-standing poverty and integrity, with no ancestral property. With his brothers Zao and Xun he farmed in southern Jing to support their parents, studying and writing with tireless devotion. He passed the jinshi examination and was appointed collator in the Secretariat. Emperor Dezong heard of him and appointed him right remonstrating censor and Hanlin academician. In the sixth year of Yuanhe he was dismissed for an offense and demoted to directing secretary in the heir apparent's household. When Gao Ying became censor-in-chief, he had Jian appointed attending censor within the palace. Jian was then promoted to director in the Ministry of War and put in charge of drafting edicts. Finding himself slow at drafting edicts, he preferred not to oversee literary composition and was transferred to magistrate of the capital. He was on friendly terms with Grand Councilor Wei Guanzhi. When Guanzhi was removed from the chancellorship, Jian was also sent out as prefect of Li Prefecture. He was recalled as vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and soon given charge of the civil service examinations in the Ministry of Rites. Jian's selections were unsuitable and were swayed by favor-seeking, so that year's examination produced inferior candidates, and he was fined a portion of his salary. The following year he was made vice minister of rites, but failing to get along with colleagues, he was transferred to the Ministry of Justice.
33
建名位雖顯，以廉儉自處，家不理垣屋，士友推之。 長慶二年二月卒，贈工部尚書。 三子：訥、恪、樸。 訥最知名，官至華州刺史、檢校尚書右僕射。 薛戎薛戎，字元夫，河中寶鼎人。 少有學術，不求聞達，居於毗陵之陽羨山。 年余四十，不易其操。 江西觀察使李衡辟為從事，使者三返方應。 故相齊映代衡，又留署職，府罷歸山。 福建觀察使柳冕表為從事，累月，轉殿中侍御史。 會泉州闕刺史，冕署戎權領州事。
Though Jian's rank was high, he lived modestly and frugally, never repairing his house, and earned praise from friends for it. He died in the second month of the second year of Changqing and was posthumously granted minister of public works. He had three sons: Ne, Ke, and Pu. Ne was the most famous, rising to prefect of Hua Prefecture and acting right vice minister of state affairs. Xue Rong, courtesy name Yuanfu, was a native of Baoding in Hezhong. From youth he was learned but sought no fame, living on Yangxian Mountain in Piling. Even past forty he held to his principles unchanged. Li Heng, regional inspector of Jiangxi, recruited him as a staff officer, but he refused until the envoy had come three times. When the former chancellor Qi Ying replaced Heng, Rong was retained on staff again; when the commission ended he returned to his mountain retreat. Liu Mian, regional inspector of Fujian, recommended him as a staff officer, and after several months he was promoted to attending censor within the palace. When Quanzhou had no prefect, Mian deputized Rong to administer the prefecture in an acting capacity.
34
是時，姚南仲節制鄭滑，從事馬總以其道直為監軍使誣奏，貶泉州別駕。 冕附會權勢，欲構成總罪，使戎按問曲成之。 戎以總無辜，不從冕意，別白其狀。 戎還自泉州，冕盛氣據衙而見賓客。 戎遂歷東廂從容而入。 冕度勢未可屈，徐起以見，一揖而退。 又構其罪以狀聞，置戎於佛寺，環以武夫，恣其侵辱，如是累月，誘令成總之罪。 操心如一，竟不動搖。 杜佑鎮淮南，知戎之冤，乃上其表，發書諭冕，戎難方解，遂辭職寓居於江湖間。
At that time Yao Nanzhong commanded Zheng and Hua circuits. His staff officer Ma Zong, for his upright character, was falsely accused by the army supervisory commissioner and demoted to vice prefect of Quanzhou. Mian curried favor with the powerful and sought to fabricate charges against Zong, ordering Rong to investigate and frame the case. Convinced of Zong's innocence, Rong refused to cooperate and filed a separate report stating the facts. When Rong returned from Quanzhou, Mian received guests in the yamen with deliberate arrogance. Rong entered calmly through the east wing. Seeing he could not intimidate Rong, Mian rose slowly to greet him, exchanged a single bow, and let him go. Mian then fabricated charges and reported them to the throne, confining Rong in a Buddhist temple ringed with armed thugs who abused him at will. For months he tried to coerce Rong into implicating Zong. Rong held firm throughout and never yielded. Du You, military commissioner of Huainan, learned of Rong's injustice, forwarded his petition to the throne, and wrote to reprimand Mian. Only then was Rong released. He resigned and lived in seclusion along the waterways.
35
後閻濟美為福建觀察使，備聞其事，奏充副使。 又隨濟美移鎮浙東，改侍御史，入拜刑部員外郎。 出為河南令，累改衢、湖、常三州刺史，遷浙東觀察使。 所蒞皆以政績聞。 居數歲，以疾辭官。 長慶元年十月卒，贈左散騎常侍。
Later, when Yan Jimei became regional inspector of Fujian, having heard the full story, he had Rong appointed his deputy. When Jimei moved to Zhedong, Rong followed him, was promoted to attending censor, and entered court as assistant minister of justice. He served as magistrate of Henan, then successively as prefect of Qu, Hu, and Chang, and was finally promoted to regional inspector of Zhedong. Wherever he served, he was noted for effective governance. After several years he resigned due to illness. He died in the tenth month of the first year of Changqing and was posthumously granted left regular attendant.
36
戎檢身處約，不務虛名。 俸入之余，散於宗族。 身歿之後，人無譏焉。 兄弟五人，季弟放最知名。
Rong lived modestly and shunned hollow reputation. He gave away his salary beyond his own needs to his extended family. After his death no one found fault with him. Of five brothers, the youngest, Fang, was the most famous.
37
放登進士第，性端厚寡言，於是非不甚系意。 累佐籓府，蒞事幹敏。 官至試大理評事，擢拜右拾遺，轉補闕，歷水部、兵部二員外，遷兵部郎中。
Fang passed the jinshi examination. Upright, steady, and reticent, he did not dwell much on partisan disputes. He served repeatedly on regional staffs and handled affairs with alert competence. He rose to probationary evaluator of the Court of Judicial Review, was appointed right remonstrating censor, then supplemental censor, served as assistant in the ministries of public works and war, and was promoted to director in the Ministry of War.
38
遇憲宗以儲皇好書，求端士輔導經義，選充皇太子侍讀。 及穆宗嗣位，未聽政間，放多在左右，密參機命。 穆宗常謂放曰：「小子初承大寶，懼不克荷，先生宜為相，以匡不逮。」 放叩頭曰：「臣實庸淺，獲侍冕旒，固不足猥塵大位。 輔弼之任，自有賢能。」 其言無矯飾，皆此類也。 穆宗深嘉其誠，因召對思政殿，賜以金紫之服。 轉工部侍郎、集賢學士。 雖任非峻切，而恩顧轉隆。 轉刑部侍郎，職如故。
When Emperor Xianzong found the crown prince fond of books and sought upright scholars to instruct him in the classics, Fang was chosen as reader-in-waiting to the crown prince. When Emperor Muzong succeeded to the throne, Fang was often at his side during the period before formal audiences resumed, secretly advising on affairs of state. Emperor Muzong often told Fang: "I have only just received the throne and fear I cannot bear its weight. You, sir, should serve as chancellor to remedy my shortcomings. Fang kowtowed and said: "I am truly unworthy. To serve at Your Majesty's side is honor enough; I am far too base to occupy so exalted a post. The work of governance belongs to those truly worthy and able. His words were never affected; all were like this. Emperor Muzong deeply appreciated his sincerity, summoned him to the Hall of Governance Through Reflecting on Government, and granted him gold-and-purple robes. He was promoted to vice minister of public works and academician of the Court of Assembled Worthies. Though his post was not the highest, imperial favor toward him steadily increased. He was transferred to vice minister of justice while retaining his previous duties.
39
穆宗常謂侍臣曰：「朕欲習學經史，何先？」 放對曰：「經者，先聖之至言，仲尼之所發明，皆天人之極致，誠萬代不刊之典也。 史記前代成敗得失之跡，亦足鑒其興亡。 然得失相參，是非無準的，固不可為經典比也。」 帝曰：「《六經》所尚不一，誌學之士，白首不能盡通，如何得其要？」 對曰：「《論語》者《六經》之菁華，《孝經》者人倫之本。 窮理執要，真可謂聖人至言。 是以漢朝《論語》首列學官，光武令虎賁之士皆習《孝經》，玄宗親為《孝經》註解，皆使當時大理，四海乂寧。 蓋人知孝慈，氣感和樂之所致也。」 上曰：「聖人以孝為至德要道，其信然乎！」 轉兵部侍郎、禮部尚書，判院事。
Emperor Muzong often asked his ministers: "I wish to study the classics and histories. Where should I begin? Fang replied: "The classics are the supreme teachings of the ancient sages, elucidated by Confucius. They represent the highest wisdom of Heaven and man—indeed, canons for all ages that cannot be superseded. Histories record the successes and failures of earlier ages and offer lessons in the rise and fall of dynasties. Yet they mingle success with failure and offer no fixed standard of right and wrong. They cannot be ranked with the classics. The emperor said: "The Six Classics each emphasize different things. Even scholars who study all their lives cannot master them fully. How may one grasp their essentials? He replied: "The Analects are the essence of the Six Classics, and the Classic of Filial Piety is the foundation of human relations. To exhaust principle and grasp essentials—these are truly the supreme words of the sages. That is why the Han placed the Analects first among official curricula, why Emperor Guangwu ordered his tiger guards to study the Classic of Filial Piety, and why Emperor Xuanzong personally annotated it—all ages that did so enjoyed great order and peace throughout the realm. When people understand filial piety and compassion, the harmony of spirit itself brings peace and joy. The emperor said: "The sages call filial piety the highest virtue and the essential path—is this not indeed so! He was promoted to vice minister of war and minister of rites, with charge of the Directorate of Education.
40
放閨門之內，尤推孝睦，孤孀百口，家貧每不給贍，常苦俸薄。 放因召對，懇求外任。 其時偶以節制無闕，乃授以廉問。 及鎮江西，惟用清潔為理，一方之人，至今思之。 寶歷元年，卒於江西觀察使，廢朝一日。 史臣曰史臣曰：穆秘監之剛正不奪，如寒松倚巖，千丈勁節。 而竇容州之敢決，如鷙鳥逐雀，英氣動人，巖穴之流，罕能及此。 然矯激過當，君子不為。 如塤如篪，不通不介，士行之美，崔氏諸子有焉。 建、遜之貞方，戎、放之道義，元和已來，稱為令族，宜哉！
Within his household Fang was especially devoted to filial piety and harmony. With a hundred widows and orphans under his roof, the family was often destitute, and his salary never sufficed. At an imperial audience Fang earnestly requested a provincial appointment. As no military commission happened to be open, he was given a regional inspectorship. When he governed Jiangxi he ruled with integrity and restraint alone, and the people there remember him to this day. In the first year of Baoli he died in office as regional inspector of Jiangxi, and the court suspended court for one day in mourning. The historiographer writes: Mu, vice director of the Palace Library, was so upright and unyielding that he seemed a winter pine clinging to a cliff, every branch stiff with integrity. Dou of Rongzhou acted with the bold decisiveness of a hawk stooping on sparrows, his heroic spirit moving all who met him—recluses and hermits could seldom equal him. Yet to goad and provoke beyond measure is not the way of a gentleman. Harmonious as paired flutes, neither crude nor distant in manner—the finest scholar-official conduct belonged to the sons of the Cui clan. Jian and Xun were models of rectitude, Rong and Fang of moral principle; since the Yuanhe era they have been hailed as an exemplary clan—and rightly so.
41
贊曰：穆之贊、質，竇之常、群，跡參時傑，氣爽人文。 二李英英，四崔濟濟。 薛氏三門，難兄難弟。
In praise: Mu's Zan and Zhi, Dou's Chang and Qun walked among the great men of their age and breathed fresh life into the culture of their time. The two Lis, each outstanding; the four Cuis, a host of talent. Three branches of the Xue clan—brothers every one the equal of the next.