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Yao Nanzhong came from Xiaji in Hua Prefecture. In the early Qianyuan period he passed the special examination, was made collator to the Crown Prince, and served in turn as county defender of Gaoling, Zhaoying, and Wannian. He rose to Right Reminder and then became Right Supplementation Censor. In Dali 13 the Virtuous and Gracious Empress, née Dugu, died. Emperor Daizong grieved deeply and ordered a mausoleum built close to the capital so he could look upon it at every hour of the day. Nanzhong submitted a memorial of remonstrance, which read:
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I have heard that a mausoleum and temple for the Virtuous and Gracious Empress are being built north of Zhangjing Temple, east of the city. I do not know whether this came from the responsible offices, from Your Majesty's own wish, or from geomancers currying favor. In my humble view this is not fitting. I respectfully lay out my argument below and beg Your Majesty to pause and consider it.
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I have heard it said that ministers make their home in the household, while the sovereign makes his home in the realm. Chang'an is Your Majesty's imperial residence. How can we bore into the earth and raise a mausoleum beside it? This is the first reason it is unfitting.
4
夫葬者藏也，欲人之不得見也。 是以古帝前王葬后妃，莫不憑丘原，遠郊郭。 今則西臨宮闕，南迫康莊，若使近而可見，死而復生，雖在西宮待之可也。 如骨肉歸土，魂無不之，章敬之北，竟何所益？ 視之兆庶，則彰溺愛； 垂之萬代，則累明德，此非所宜二也。
Burial means concealment: the dead are laid away so that the living shall not see them. That is why ancient emperors and former kings buried their consorts on hills and open ground, far from the city walls. As planned it would lie west against the palace and south against the main thoroughfare. If the point is to keep her close enough to see, and if the dead could rise again, you might as well receive her in the Western Palace. Once flesh and bone return to earth, the soul goes wherever it will—what good does a site north of Zhangjing do? Shown to the common people, it would display undue favor; handed down through ten thousand generations, it would stain your bright virtue. This is the second reason it is unfitting.
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夫帝王者，居高明，燭幽滯。 先皇所以因龍首建望春，蓋為此也。 今若起陵目前，動傷宸慮，天心一傷，數日不平。 且匹夫向隅，滿堂為之不樂； 萬乘不樂，人其可歡心乎？ 又暇日起歌，動鐘於內，此地皆聞，此非宜三也。
The Son of Heaven dwells on high in clarity and brings light to what lies hidden in shadow. The reason the late emperor built Wangchun Palace on Longshou was precisely for this. If a tomb is raised before your eyes, it will wound your inner peace; once the heart is wounded, peace will not return for days. When one man sits facing a corner, the whole hall loses its cheer; if the Son of Heaven is unhappy, how can his people be glad? On days of leisure music and bells sound within the palace, and this spot would hear them all. This is the third reason it is unfitting.
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The Virtuous and Gracious Empress united earth virtue with Heaven and extended motherly kindness to all below. Your Majesty, stricken at the throne, has long awaited the diviners' verdict on the burial site. You first gave her the posthumous name Virtuous and Gracious, yet would end by treating her with familiar closeness. I am perplexed: this is not how to proclaim an empress's virtue and let its light reach the underworld. The people already say, 'The Virtuous and Gracious Empress's tomb beside the city means the sovereign will visit every day and look upon it at every hour.' That harms your sagely virtue and does the empress no good. You would mean to honor her yet end by dishonoring her. This is the fourth reason it is unfitting.
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All these points truly stain your great design, and all under Heaven know it. I beg Your Majesty to weigh them carefully and choose what is best. Your Majesty is about to lay down arms and bring peace to the people. One misstep here would do great harm. I fear that gentlemen will judge right and wrong and historians will praise and blame: your great brightness may suddenly be eclipsed and your utmost virtue may fall behind Yao and Shun. Would that not be lamentable! The burial day is still far off. What harm in choosing a new site? Restrain private affection and fulfill the beautiful name Virtuous and Gracious.
8
疏奏，帝甚嘉之，賜緋魚袋，特加五品階，宣付史館。
When the memorial was submitted, the emperor greatly praised it, granted him a crimson fish pouch, specially raised him five ranks, and ordered the text deposited in the Historiography Office.
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He was friendly with Chief Minister Chang Gun. When Gun was demoted, Nanzhong was implicated and sent out as magistrate of Haiyan County. Han Huang, commissioner observing the eastern and western Zhejiang circuits, recruited him as investigating officer and memorialized to make him Palace Attendant Censor and inner attendant, with duty as supply commissioner. He was soon recalled, served as vice director in the Left Secretariat and Ministry of War, became director, and rose to Censor-in-Chief, Drafting Attendant, prefect of Tongzhou, and commissioner observing Shan and Guo.
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貞元十五年，代李復為鄭滑節度使。 監軍薛盈珍恃勢奪軍政，南仲數為盈珍讒毀，德宗頗疑之。 十六年，盈珍遣小使程務盈馳驛奉表，誣奏南仲陰事。 南仲裨將曹文洽亦入奏事京師，伺知盈珍表中語。 文洽私懷憤怒，遂晨夜兼道追務盈，至長樂驛及之，與同舍宿； 中夜殺務盈，沈盈珍表於廁中，乃自殺。 日旰，驛吏辟門，見血流塗地，旁得文洽二緘，一告於南仲，一表理南仲之冤，且陳首殺務盈。 上聞其事，頗駭異之。 南仲慮釁深，遂乞入朝。 德宗曰：「盈珍擾軍政耶？」 南仲對曰：「勇珍不擾軍政，臣自隳陛下法耳。 如盈珍輩所在有之，雖羊、杜復生，撫百姓，禦三軍，必不能成愷悌父母之政，師律善陣之制矣。」 上默然久之。 授尚書右僕射。 貞元十九年七月，終於位，年七十四，贈太子太保，謚曰貞。
In Zhenyuan 15 he replaced Li Fu as military commissioner of Zheng-Hua. Army supervisor Xue Yingzhen used his power to seize control of military affairs. Yingzhen slandered Nanzhong repeatedly, and Dezong grew quite suspicious of him. In the sixteenth year Yingzhen sent his aide Cheng Wuying by express relay with a memorial falsely accusing Nanzhong of secret wrongdoing. Nanzhong's lieutenant Cao Wenqia had also come to the capital on official business and learned what Yingzhen's memorial said. Wenqia burned with private rage and pursued Wuying day and night by forced marches. He overtook him at Changle Post and lodged in the same inn; at midnight he killed Wuying, sank Yingzhen's memorial in the privy, and then took his own life. At sundown the post attendant opened the door and found blood spread across the ground. Beside the bodies lay two letters from Wenqia: one to Nanzhong and one pleading Nanzhong's innocence and confessing that he had killed Wuying. When the emperor heard of the affair, he was deeply startled. Fearing the breach was grave, Nanzhong asked to come to court. Dezong asked, 'Did Yingzhen interfere with military administration?' Nanzhong replied, 'Yingzhen did not interfere with military affairs. I am the one who has broken Your Majesty's law. Men like Yingzhen are everywhere. Even if Yang Hu and Du Yu were reborn, they could not comfort the people and command the armies while achieving a parental rule of kindness or the discipline of proper formations and army law.' The emperor was silent for a long time. He was appointed Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. In the seventh month of Zhenyuan 19 he died in office at seventy-four. He was posthumously made Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent with the posthumous name Upright.
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Liu Nai, courtesy name Yongyi, came from Guangping in Mozhou. His great-grandfather Wu Gan was made Palace Attendant at the start of the Wude era; he was a cousin of Zhongshu Vice Director Linpu. His father Ru Fan had been assistant magistrate of Xushan; because of Nai's eminence he was posthumously made director in the Ministry of Revenue. As a youth Nai was clever and eager to learn. He memorized the Six Classics and could recite several thousand words a day. When he came of age his writing was refined and elegant, and his contemporaries held him in high regard. During the Tianbao era he passed the jinshi examination. He soon mourned his father and became known for filial conduct during bereavement. When mourning ended, he went to the selection bureau for assignment. Nai often felt that the Ministry of Personnel did not select talent as well as it might, and wrote to Selection Attendant Song Yu, saying:
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《虞書》稱：「知人則哲，能官人則惠。」 巍巍唐、虞，舉以為難。 今夫文部，既始之以掄材，終之以授位，是則知人官人，斯為重任。 昔在禹、稷、臯陶之眾聖，猶曰載采有九德，考績以九載。 近代主司，獨委一二小冢宰，察言於一幅之判，觀行於一揖之內，古今遲速，何不侔之甚哉！ 夫判者，以狹詞短韻，語有定規為體，亦猶以一小冶而鼓眾金，雖欲為鼎為鏞，不可得也。 故曰：判之在文，至局促者。 夫銓者，必以崇衣冠，自媒耀為賢，斯又士之醜行，君子所病。 若引文公、尼父登之於銓廷，則雖圖書《易象》之大訓，以判體挫之，曾不及徐、庾。 雖有至德，以喋喋取之，曾不若嗇夫。 嗚呼！ 彼幹霄蔽日，誠巨樹也，當求尺寸之材，必後於椓杙。 龍吟武嘯，誠希聲也，若尚頰舌之感，必下於蛙黽。 觀察之際，猶不悲夫！ 執事慮過龜策，文合雅誥，豈拘以瑣瑣故事，曲折因循哉？ 誠能先資以政事，次征以文學，退觀其理家，進察其臨節，則厖鴻深沈之事，亦可以窺其門戶矣！
The Documents of Yu says, 'To know men is wisdom; to place men in office is grace.' Even the august eras of Tang and Yu found this difficult. Today the Ministry of Personnel begins by weighing talent and ends by conferring office. Knowing men and placing them in office is therefore a weighty charge. Of old, even among sages such as Yu, Ji, and Gao Yao, it was said that one must gather and test the nine virtues and examine achievement over nine years. Today the chief examiners leave the task to one or two minor selection officers, judging words from a single examination essay and conduct from a single bow. How vast is the gap between antiquity and the present! The judgment essay uses narrow diction, short rhymes, and fixed rules. It is like smelting all metals in a small furnace: one may wish to cast cauldrons and bells, but cannot. That is why they say the judgment essay is the most cramped form of writing. Selection favors fine dress and self-display as marks of talent—ugly habits among scholars, and what gentlemen deplore. If Duke Wen of Jin and Confucius stood in the selection hall, their great teachings in the classics and Changes would be judged by the essay form and would rank below Xu and Yu. Though possessed of utmost virtue, if judged by glib talk they would rank below a petty bailiff. Alas! Trees that pierce the clouds and shade the sun are truly great timber, yet when boards are measured by the foot they rank behind stakes and pegs. The dragon's chant and tiger's roar are rare sounds indeed; if glib speech is prized, they must rank below frogs and toads. When one considers this—is it not lamentable! Your deliberations surpass divination by tortoise and yarrow, and your writing matches the elegant decrees. Surely you need not be bound by petty precedent and twist every way in compliance? If you first weigh administrative ability, then literary accomplishment, observe how candidates manage their households in private life, and test how they face crisis, even vast and profound matters may be glimpsed through the doorway of their character!
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He was then appointed supplemental magistrate of Shan County and transferred to magistrate of Kuaiji. Yin Riyong, commissioner observing Xuanzhou, memorialized to make him judge; pacification commissioner Li Jiqing also recommended him, and he was successively made evaluator in the Court of Judicial Review and concurrent investigating censor. Transport Commissioner Liu Yan had him tour and review Jiangxi, and many tax remissions were granted. He became Palace Attendant Censor, acting vice director of the Granaries Office, and director in the Ministry of Revenue, while serving as acting governor of western Zhejiang. Assisting Yan in tax collection, he proved of considerable benefit, and Yan relied on him greatly.
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In Dali 12, after Yuan Zai was executed, Nai was summoned to court because of his long service and appointed vice director of the Gate Office. In the fourteenth year Cui Youfu took power; he had long been friendly with Nai. Guo Ziyi was given the title Exalted Father. The enfeoffment rites had long fallen into disuse and were now revived. Youfu had officials of the two departments draft the enfeoffment text, but none pleased the throne; Nai was summoned to the pavilion to draft it and finished at once. The wording was classical and measured. Youfu sighed in admiration for a long time. Within days he was promoted to Drafting Attendant and soon made acting Vice Minister of War. When Yang Yan and Lu Qi became chancellors, they mostly detested upright men, and for five years he received no promotion. In the summer of Jianzhong 4 he received only a regular appointment to the post.
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That winter the Jing army mutinied and the emperor fled to Fengtian. Nai lay ill at home. The rebel Zhu Ci sent envoys with flattering words to entice him, and Nai claimed his illness was grave. Ci also sent his false chancellor Jiang Zhen in person to recruit him. Nai feigned aphasia and had moxibustion burns applied all over his body. When Zhen came again and saw coercion would not work, he sighed and said, 'I too once served among the bureau directors. Having failed to die then, I have come to this. How can I further shame myself with the rebels' stench and again try to defile a worthy man? He sobbed and withdrew. When he heard the emperor had again fled to Liangzhou, he threw himself on his bed, beat his breast, and cried to Heaven. He fell critically ill, fasted for several days, and died at sixty. When Dezong returned to the capital and heard of Nai's loyal martyrdom, he posthumously made him Minister of Rites. His son was Boqu.
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Boqu, courtesy name Suzhi, passed the jinshi examination. His conduct was cultivated and careful. Du You of Huainan recruited him as staff officer. When the office closed, he lived in seclusion in the Wu region. After some time he was summoned as Right Supplementation Censor and promoted to vice director of the Hosts Office. He drank and jested too freely with friends; Wei Zhiyi secretly memorialized against him and he was demoted to a clerical post in Qianzhou. Later, as vice director of merit evaluation, he impressed Pei Ji with his quick wit and rose to director of merit evaluation, academician of the Academy of Scholarly Worthies, and Drafting Attendant. When Pei Ji left office he became Mentor of the Heir Apparent and died soon after. When Li Jifu returned as chancellor, he bore an old grudge against Ji and granted no posthumous office; Boqu submitted a memorial on the matter, and Ji was posthumously made Junior Mentor of the Heir Apparent. Boqu's wife was Ji's maternal cousin. Some told Jifu the memorial was motivated by family ties. Boqu grew afraid, urgently asked for a less prominent post, and was sent out as prefect of Guo. After Jifu died, Pei Du promoted him to Vice Minister of Justice and soon put him in charge of personnel selection. In Yuanhe 10 he retired as Left Regular Attendant, died at sixty-one, and was posthumously made Minister of Works. Boqu had an ancient, elegant bearing, was learned, and spoke wittily, yet his actions often suited the moment, and critics held him somewhat lightly.
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His son Kuanfu passed the jinshi examination and served as staff officer in various provincial offices. During the Baoli era he entered service as investigating censor. He once submitted: 'Recently acting sacrifices have too often assigned officials from princely establishments. Their rank is too low, which violates solemn reverence. I beg that hereafter, for acting as Grand Marshal, officials of third rank and above in the Department of State Affairs be assigned, along with mentors, tutors, guests, and stewards; if too few are available, let vice directors and directors jointly stand in.' Soon he was transferred to Left Rectifier of Omissions. Junior Attendant Chen Hu presented a commentary on the Vimalakirti Sutra and was made prefect of Hao. Kuanfu and his colleagues argued in audience that Hu had presented the sutra through a court monk in order to win a prefecture. Jingzong angrily told the chancellors, 'Chen Hu did not win his prefecture through a monk. How can remonstrance officials say such a thing? Identify the ringleader and bring him forward.' Kuanfu submitted, 'When Chen Hu was discussed yesterday, I cannot recall who spoke when. I alone held the brush and drafted the memorial. That was I. If the discussion was improper, I alone should bear the guilt. If you pursue investigation and identification, I fear the affair itself will be harmed.' The emperor praised him for accepting blame and gladly let the matter drop.
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Yunzhang passed the jinshi examination and rose to Hanlin Academician-in-Chief and Vice Minister of Rites. In Xiantong 9 he oversaw the civil examinations, was sent out as commissioner observing Ezhou and acting Minister of Works, and later became defender of the eastern capital. When Huang Chao attacked Luoyang, Yunzhang could not resist. The rebels did not harm him, but he was dismissed and lived at home in disgrace. He died of illness.
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Yuan Gao, courtesy name Gongyi, was the grandson of Shuji. In youth he was generous and aspired to integrity and renown. He passed the jinshi examination and was repeatedly recruited to commissioner staffs, with a reputation for effective assistance. When Daizong ascended the throne, Gao was summoned to court and rose to Supervising Secretary and Vice Censor-in-Chief. In Jianzhong 2 he was promoted to commissioner observing the capital region. His remonstrance displeased the throne and he was demoted to senior administrator of Shaozhou, then reappointed Supervising Secretary.
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貞元元年，德宗復用吉州長史盧杞為饒州刺史，令高草詔書。 高執詞頭以謁宰相盧翰、劉從一曰：「盧杞作相三年，矯詐陰賊，退斥忠良。 朋附者咳唾立至青雲、睚眥者顧盼已擠溝壑。 傲很明德，反易天常，播越鑾輿，瘡痍天下，皆杞之為也。 爰免族戮，雖示貶黜，尋已稍遷近地，若更授大郡，恐失天下之望。 惟相公執奏之，事尚可救。」 翰、從一不悅，改命舍人草之。 詔出，執之不下，仍上奏曰：「盧杞為政，窮極兇惡。 三軍將校，願食其肉； 百辟卿士，嫉之若讎。」 遺補陳京、趙需、裴佶、宇文炫、盧景亮、張薦等上疏論奏。 次日，又上疏。 高又於正殿奏云：「陛下用盧杞獨秉鈞軸，前後三年，棄斥忠良，附下罔上，使陛下越在草莽，皆杞之過。 且漢時三光失序，雨旱不時，皆宰相請罪，小者免官，大者刑戮。 杞罪合至死，陛下好生惡殺，赦杞萬死，唯貶新州司馬，旋復遷移。 今除刺史，是失天下之望。 伏惟聖意裁擇。」 上謂曰：「盧杞有不逮，是朕之過。」 復奏曰； 「盧杞奸臣，常懷詭詐，非是不逮。」 上曰：「朕已有赦。」 高曰：「赦乃赦其罪，不宜授刺史。 且赦文至優黎民，今饒州大郡，若命奸臣作牧，是一州蒼生，獨受其弊。 望引常參官顧問，並擇謹厚中官，令采聽於眾。 若億兆之人異臣之言，臣當萬死。」 於是，諫官爭論於上前，上良久謂曰：「若與盧杞刺史太優，與上佐可乎？」 曰：「可矣！」 遂追饒州制。 翌日，遣使宣慰高云：「朕思卿言深理切，當依卿所奏。」 太子少保韋倫、太府卿張獻恭等奏：「袁高所奏至當，高是陛下一良臣，望加優異。」
In Zhenyuan 1 Dezong again appointed Lu Qi, former senior administrator of Jizhou, prefect of Raozhou and ordered Gao to draft the edict. Gao took the draft and called on chancellors Lu Han and Liu Congyi, saying, 'Lu Qi served as chancellor for three years, deceitful, treacherous, and secretive, driving away the loyal. His followers rose to the clouds with a cough; those who crossed him were pushed into the ditch with a glance. Arrogant toward virtue, he reversed Heaven's order, drove the emperor into exile, and scarred the realm—all was Qi's doing. He was spared clan extermination and though demoted, was soon moved nearer the capital. If a great prefecture is granted now, I fear you will lose the hope of the realm. Only if you chancellors firmly memorialize can the matter still be saved.' Han and Congyi were displeased and had an attendant draft the edict instead. When the edict was issued, he held it and refused to promulgate it, submitting further: 'Lu Qi's governance was utterly vicious and evil. Officers of the three armies wished to eat his flesh; the hundred ministers hated him as an enemy.' Supplementation censors Chen Jing, Zhao Xu, Pei Ji, Yuwen Xuan, Lu Jingliang, Zhang Jian, and others submitted memorials in support. The next day they submitted again. Gao again addressed the throne in the main hall: 'Your Majesty employed Lu Qi alone as chancellor for three years, casting out the loyal, currying favor below and deceiving above, and driving Your Majesty into exile—all Qi's fault. In Han times, when the heavens fell out of order and rain and drought came untimely, chancellors pleaded guilty—minor faults meant removal, major faults meant execution. Qi's crime deserved death. Your Majesty loves life and hates killing and pardoned him from death, demoting him only to militia commander of Xinzhou, yet soon moved him again. Appointing him prefect now would lose the hope of the realm. I beg Your Majesty to decide.' The emperor said, 'Where Lu Qi fell short, the fault was mine.' Gao submitted again: 'Lu Qi was a treacherous minister who constantly harbored deceit. It was not a matter of falling short.' The emperor said, 'I have already issued an amnesty.' Gao said, 'An amnesty pardons crime. He should not be made prefect. The amnesty was most generous to the people. Raozhou is a great prefecture. If a traitor is made its governor, the people of that province alone will suffer. I beg that regular-attendance officials be consulted and careful inner attendants chosen to gather opinion from the people. If the people disagree with me, I deserve ten thousand deaths.' Thereupon remonstrance officials argued before the throne. After a long silence the emperor said, 'If prefect is too generous, would senior administrator suffice?' They said, 'That will do!' The Raozhou appointment was then recalled. The next day an envoy was sent to comfort Gao, saying, 'I have reflected on your words. They are profound and urgent. I shall follow what you submitted.' Junior Mentor of the Heir Apparent Wei Lun, Minister of the Imperial Treasury Zhang Xiangong, and others submitted, 'Yuan Gao's memorial was entirely right. Gao is a good minister of Your Majesty. I hope he may receive special favor.'
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In Zhenyuan 2, because after the An Lushan rebellion the Guan region's people were poor and fields lay waste, the emperor ordered all circuits to present plow oxen. Each circuit's commissioner was to select oxen for tribute, and the Metropolitan Prefecture was to encourage farming, identify peasants with land but no oxen, measure their holdings, and distribute oxen evenly. Those with fifty mu of fields or less were excluded from distribution. Gao submitted a memorial: 'Your sagely compassion is concerned above all with the poor below. Those with less than fifty mu are especially poor. I beg that two or three households jointly receive one ox to aid farming.' The memorial was accepted. He soon died in office at sixty. Court and countryside mourned him. In the Xianzong reign Chancellor Li Jifu spoke of Gao's loyal forthrightness, and an edict posthumously made him Minister of Rites.
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段平仲，字秉庸，武威人。 隋人部尚書段達六代孫也。 登進士第。 杜佑、李復相繼鎮淮南，皆表平仲為掌書記。 復移鎮華州、滑州，仍為從事。 入朝為監察御史。 平仲磊落尚氣節，嗜酒傲言。 時德宗春秋高，多自聽斷。 由是庶務壅隔，事或不理，中外畏上嚴察，無敢言者。 平仲嘗謂人曰：「主上聰明神武，臣下畏懼不言，自循默耳。 如平仲一得召見，必當大有開悟。」 貞元十四年，京師旱，詔擇御史、郎官各一人，發廩賑恤。 平仲與考功員外陳歸當奉使，因辭得對，乃入近禦座，粗陳本事。 上察平仲意有所蓄，以歸在側不言。 及奏事畢退，平仲獨不退，欲有奏啟； 上因兼留歸問之，聲色甚厲，雜以他語。 平仲錯愕，都不得言因誤稱其名。 上怒，叱出之。 平仲蒼黃，又誤趨禦障後，歸下階連呼，乃得出。 由是坐廢七年，然亦因此名顯。
Duan Pingzhong, courtesy name Bingyong, came from Wuwei. He was the sixth-generation descendant of Duan Da, Sui Minister of the Personnel Office. He passed the jinshi examination. Du You and Li Fu governed Huainan in succession and both appointed Pingzhong chief secretary. When Fu moved to govern Hua Prefecture in Shaanxi and Hua Prefecture in Henan, Pingzhong continued as his staff officer. He entered court as investigating censor. Pingzhong was open and bold, esteemed integrity, loved wine, and spoke with proud directness. Dezong was advanced in years and often decided matters himself. Routine affairs piled up blocked and matters sometimes went unsettled. Court and countryside feared the emperor's stern scrutiny and none dared speak. Pingzhong once said, 'The sovereign is intelligent and martial. His subjects fear him and stay silent—that is all. If I were once summoned to audience, I would surely bring great enlightenment.' In Zhenyuan 14 the capital suffered drought. An edict chose one censor and one director each to open granaries for relief. Pingzhong and vice director of merit evaluation Chen Gui were chosen for the mission. Taking leave he gained audience, approached the throne, and roughly stated the business. The emperor saw that Pingzhong had more to say. Because Gui stood beside him and said nothing, when the report ended and they withdrew, Pingzhong alone did not leave, wishing to submit further; the emperor detained Gui as well and questioned him in a stern voice, mingling other topics. Pingzhong was startled speechless and in confusion called out his own name. The emperor was angry and shouted him out. Pingzhong turned pale, blundered behind the imperial screen, and only got out when Gui called repeatedly from the lower steps. For this he sat idle seven years, yet thereby became famous.
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Later he was made vice director of the Farms and Provisions offices and judge under the defender of the eastern capital, and rose to director in the Right Secretariat. At the start of Yuanhe he became Grand Remonstrator. Inner attendant Tutu Chengcui served as pacification commissioner against Zhen Prefecture and returned without success. Pingzhong and Lü Yuanying submitted strong memorials requesting further demotion and punishment. He was transferred to Drafting Attendant. Once in important posts, whenever the court erred he submitted memorials without fail. Contemporaries praised his uncompromising uprightness. He became Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs; because of illness he was reassigned as Left Mentor of the Heir Apparent and died.
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Xue Cuncheng, courtesy name Ziming, came from Hedong. His father Sheng was a skilled writer who once composed the Tug-of-War Rhapsody; its language was fluent and bright, and he was praised by contemporaries. Cuncheng passed the jinshi examination, served repeatedly on commissioner staffs, entered court as Investigating Censor, and supervised the post stations. At the start of Yuanhe, when the imperial army campaigned against Liu Pi, postal affairs multiplied. The emperor specially ordered inner attendants to serve as post-station commissioners. Cuncheng secretly submitted a memorial arguing that this injured public propriety. Remonstrating officials submitted memorials as well, and the emperor then abolished the practice. He became Palace Censor and was promoted to vice director of the Revenue Office. When Pei Ji became chancellor, he was appointed Diarist. He rose to vice director of Merits, director in the Ministry of Justice, concurrent Serving Censor supervising miscellaneous matters, then became director in the Ministry of War and Drafting Attendant. The Qionlin Treasury commissioner reported that registered artisans and laborers had grown too numerous. Cuncheng argued that scoundrels were slipping in names to avoid corvée and conscription, and the practice should not be allowed. Xianyang county defender Yuan Dan clashed with a military garrison. The soldiers acted without cause, slandered him freely, and Dan was punished instead. Two edicts arrived in succession, and Cuncheng resisted both. The emperor was greatly pleased when he heard, sent an inner envoy to praise and comfort him, and promoted him to Vice Censor-in-Chief.
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The monk Jianxu had since the Zhenyuan era cultivated ties with the powerful and favored, solicited bribes, relied on inner attendants as his protection, and officials did not dare touch him. When private scandals at the homes of Yu Di and Du Huangshang came to light, Jianxu was implicated and imprisoned. Cuncheng's investigation uncovered corrupt bribes worth several hundred thousand. When the case was complete, the sentence was death. Powerful figures inside and outside court repeatedly interceded before the emperor. The emperor ordered Jianxu released, but Cuncheng refused to obey. The next day the emperor again sent an inner envoy to the Censorate with this order: "I wish to question this monk in person. This is not a pardon." Cuncheng sent a report through the inner envoy: "Jianxu's crimes are fully established. If Your Majesty summons and pardons him, kill me first—then you may take him. Otherwise I will not obey the edict." The emperor praised his steadfastness and agreed. Jianxu was beaten to death in the end. Hongzhou army supervisor Gao Chongchang falsely reported that Xin Prefecture governor Li Wei was plotting treason. Li was summoned to the capital. The emperor ordered him handed over to the inner guard for interrogation. Cuncheng submitted three memorials in a single day, asking that Li Wei be turned over to the Censorate. When the case was investigated and found baseless, Li Wei was finally cleared.
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Before long he was again appointed Drafting Attendant. Several months later the vice censor-in-chief post fell vacant. Remembering Cuncheng's earlier service, the emperor told the chancellor that no one could replace him in upholding the law, and restored him as Vice Censor-in-Chief. Before he could take office he died suddenly. Emperor Xianzong deeply mourned the loss and posthumously made him Vice Minister of Justice. Cuncheng was easygoing and tolerant of all, yet once in office he was firmly unyielding. Scholars and friends esteemed him for it. His son was Tinglao.
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Tinglao was careful and upright in his father's manner, yet his nature was penetrating and sharp. During the Baoli era he served as Right Reminder. Emperor Jingzong was dissolute and unrestrained. A new hall was built in the palace at the Clear Mind Courtyard, using three thousand bronze mirrors and one hundred thousand sheets of gold and silver foil. Tinglao and his colleagues entered the council hall to memorialize and said: "We observe that recent appointments often bypass the Secretariat's recommendations and are issued directly by imperial announcement. We fear the statutes will erode and the wicked will act at will." Jingzong said harshly: "What else do you remonstrate about?" Shu Yuanbao replied: "Recently there has been too much construction in the palace." The emperor's expression changed. "Where is construction taking place?" Yuanbao could not answer. Tinglao stepped forward: "We are remonstrating officials. Whatever we hear, we ought to report it. We do not know exactly where the work is, but we see vast amounts of tile and timber being moved, so we know it is under way. We beg Your Majesty not to punish us for speaking." The emperor said: "Your report is noted." Soon afterward he was additionally appointed historiographer of the History Office.
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Li Fengji held power at the time and resented Tinglao's blunt remonstrance. Zheng Quan obtained the Guangzhou commission through Zheng Zhu. When Quan reached his post, he sent all the state's precious treasures to the capital to repay his patron. Tinglao submitted a memorial demanding an investigation of Quan's crimes. Inner attendants gnashed their teeth at him. He also argued that Li Fengji's allies Zhang Quanyu and Cheng Xifan were unfit for remonstrating posts. Fengji was furious. When Tinglao's leave reached one hundred days, Fengji exiled him to serve as magistrate of Linjin County.
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When Emperor Wenzong ascended the throne, he entered court as Palace Censor. In Taihe 4 he was appointed Hanlin Academician while retaining his existing rank and was on good terms with his colleague Li Rangyi. Rangyi recommended and sponsored Tinglao's entry into the inner secretariat. Tinglao was unrestrained and fond of wine. He kept no discipline and was drunk all day. Wenzong knew and was displeased. In year 5 he was removed from the Hanlin post but kept his nominal rank. Rangyi was removed as well because of Tinglao and kept only his post as vice director of the Bureau of Operations. Tinglao soon became vice director in the Ministry of Justice, then director, and was promoted to Drafting Attendant. He died in Kaicheng 3. In office Tinglao performed his duties without seeking empty fame. He spoke plainly among ministers and bore the reputation of an upright man. He was posthumously made Vice Minister of Justice.
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子保遜，登進士第，位亦至給事中。
His son Baoxun passed the jinshi examination and also rose to Drafting Attendant.
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Lu Tan, courtesy name Baoheng, came from Luoyang in Henan. His ancestors had moved there from Fanyang. His father Luan was posthumously made Governor of Zheng Prefecture. Tan once served as judge of the Yicheng Army. When military commissioner Li Fu fell gravely ill, army supervisor Xue Yingzhen, fearing trouble, suddenly sealed the treasury and brought five hundred of his own men into headquarters. The army was in uproar; Tan secretly urged Yingzhen to withdraw them at once. When Fu died, Tan escorted the coffin back to the eastern capital. Later he served as magistrate of Shou'an.
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時河南尹征賦限窮，而縣人訴以機織未就； 坦請延十日，府不許。 坦令戶人但織而輸，勿顧限也，違之不過罰令俸耳。 既成而輸，坦亦坐罰，由是知名。 累遷至庫部員外郎、兼侍御史、知雜事。 會李锜反，有司請毀锜祖父廟墓。 坦常為锜從事，乃上言曰：「淮安王神通有功於草昧。 且古之父子兄弟，罪不相及，況以锜故累五代祖乎？」 乃不毀。 因賜神通墓五戶，以備灑掃。 及武元衡為宰相，以坦為中丞，李元素為大夫，命坦分司東都，未幾歸臺。 裴均為僕射，在班逾位，坦請退之，均不受。 坦曰：「姚南仲為僕射，例如此。」 均曰：「南仲何人？」 坦曰：「南仲是守正而不交權幸者也。」 尋罷為右庶子，時人歸咎於均。 旬月，出為宣歙池觀察使。 三年，入為刑部侍郎、鹽鐵轉運使，改戶部侍郎、判度支。
The Henan intendant's tax deadline had passed, but the county people pleaded that their loom weaving was not yet finished; Tan requested a ten-day extension. The prefecture refused. Tan told the households to keep weaving and pay when ready, ignoring the deadline. If punished, he would forfeit only his own salary as magistrate. When the weaving was done and payment delivered, Tan accepted punishment himself and thereby became known. He rose to vice director of the Storehouse Office, concurrent Serving Censor supervising miscellaneous matters. When Li Qi rebelled, the responsible offices requested destruction of Qi's grandfather's temple and tomb. Tan had once served under Li Qi and submitted a statement: "Prince Huai'an Li Shentong earned merit in the founding struggle. In antiquity fathers and sons, brothers and brothers did not suffer for one another's crimes. How much less should a fifth-generation ancestor be punished because of Qi?" The request was denied. Five households were granted to maintain Shentong's tomb. When Wu Yuanheng became chancellor, Tan was made vice censor-in-chief under chief censor Li Yuansu. Tan was posted separately to the eastern capital and soon returned to the Censorate. Pei Jun was Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and stood out of rank in court assembly. Tan asked him to withdraw, but Jun refused. Tan said: "When Yao Nanzhong was Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, the precedent was the same." Jun said: "Who was Nanzhong?" Tan said: "Nanzhong was a man who upheld rectitude and kept clear of the powerful and favored." Soon afterward Tan was demoted to Right Mentor of the Heir Apparent. Contemporaries blamed Jun. Within a month he was sent out as observation commissioner of Xuan, She, and Chi. In year 3 he entered court as Vice Minister of Justice and Salt and Iron transport commissioner, then became Vice Minister of Revenue overseeing the Revenue Office.
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In Yuanhe 8 Western Shouxiang City was damaged when the river shifted. Chancellor Li Jifu proposed moving the garrison to old Tiede City. Tan and Li Jiang jointly argued: "The western city Zhang Renyuan built is the best strategy for holding the northern frontier. It sits at the desert pass on the enemy's vital route, with fine water and lush grass—an ideal border fortress. The river breach requires retreating only two or three li. Why abandon a plan secure for ten thousand generations for a moment's savings? Moreover old Tiede City lies remote on stony barren ground. Mountains press close to the north, it is far from the river, and its beacon posts do not connect with the rest of the border defense. Nomad raids would go undetected. This would shrink the border two hundred li for no good reason." Fort commissioner Zhou Huaiyi submitted his analysis, which agreed with Tan's view. The plan was not carried out. Before long he was sent out as military commissioner of eastern Sichuan. He held his command many years. Later he requested collection of intercalary-month grain rations for army clerks to support field camps, and many criticized him. He died in the ninth month of Zhenyuan 12 at sixty-nine and was posthumously made Minister of Rites.
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The historian writes: Among remonstrating ministers of old, some died for their words. Next came those who seized the emperor's robe and broke the balustrade without changing their principles—equally hard! Yuan Gao's stand against Lu Qi and Cuncheng's execution of Jianxu carry the spirit of the ancients! Did Pingzhong's bold remonstrance aim to correct their errors? Wenqia seized the memorial to vent the army's rage; Yongyi fasted to death rather than drink from Robber Spring. He was a man of integrity. Nanzhong's remonstrance against the improper burial and Tan's argument for the western fort show deep judgment. To say that an age with men like these had no gentlemen is gross slander.
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