1
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 from Henei in Huai Prefecture. His father Yu Xiu was known for his scholarship. He wrote ten chapters of an Outer Commentary on the Great Plan and presented the work to the throne during the Kaiyuan reign. Emperor Xuanzong rewarded him with 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 upright, principled, and fastidious in conduct; he prized friendship and measured himself by personal integrity. As a young man he qualified in the classics examination and was posted as district defender of Yanshan. At that time An Lushan had just risen in rebellion and installed Liu Daoxuan as pretender defender of Jingcheng. Ning rallied loyal forces and beheaded Daoxuan. His call to arms spread through the neighboring prefectures, and many answered it. When the rebel general Shi Siming invaded the commandery, Ning took command as acting magistrate of Dongguang and marched out to meet him. Siming sent envoys to win him over; Ning had them executed on the spot. The commandery authorities, afraid of provoking the rebels further, later stripped Ning of his forces and his acting post when imperial troops arrived. Earlier, while serving as aide to a regional inspection commissioner, Ning had often passed through Pingyuan and confided in the prefect Yan Zhenqing that Lushan was sure to rebel. By then Zhenqing too had taken up arms and mobilized the commandery to resist Lushan. An envoy arrived with a message for Zhenqing: "Will you not act like the gentleman of Wei? The letter said nothing else. Zhenqing was overjoyed and promptly had Ning appointed judicial reviewer and assistant Hebei touring commissioner. Ning placed his eldest son in his uterine younger brother's care, saying: "Do with him as you think best. If our line is not lost, I have nothing left to weigh me down. He went on to Pingyuan and told Zhenqing: "The ancestors already have their heir. The ancients spoke of deaths lighter than a goose feather — this is the kind of death I choose. I wish to serve under you and help bring an end to this crisis." Zhenqing heartily agreed. Later, when Ning's counsel was not always heeded, Zhenqing came under pressure, gave up the commandery, crossed the river by night to the south, and presented himself to Emperor Suzong at Fengxiang. The emperor asked how he had resisted the rebels. Zhenqing replied: "Had I not followed Mu Ning's advice, I would have accomplished nothing. The emperor was impressed and sent a fast courier to summon Ning, intending to reward him with a senior post. But Zhenqing soon fell from favor for his outspoken integrity, 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 attendant censor and was assisting the salt and iron transport commissioner. Because supplies were not reaching the army on time, those who bore Ning a grudge slandered him to the deputy commander Li Guangbi, who openly threatened to have Ning executed. Ning went straight to Xuzhou to confront Guangbi, set forth the larger cause, and would not be intimidated. Guangbi came to respect him deeply, and Ning was able to carry out his duties. At the start of the Baoying era he became regular attendant censor and vice commissioner of Henan transport for rent, corvée, salt, and iron. The following year he was promoted to vice director of the Ministry of Revenue. Before long he was also made vice censor-in-chief and commissioner of transport for Henan and Jiangnan. At the start of the Guangde era he was further appointed director of the treasury bureau. At that time the Grand Canal was blocked, and grain was hauled along the Han and Mian rivers from Shangshan to the capital. When the court chose to fortify Xiakou, an edict made Ning prefect of Ezhou, regional commander of E, Yue, and Mian, and commissioner for Huai-Xi and E-Yue rent, corvée, salt, iron, and river transport, with the gold-and-purple insignia. The Huai-Xi military governor Li Zhongchen was greedy, violent, and lawless; he set checkpoints to tax merchants and let his troops plunder until travelers all but disappeared. He and Ning governed on opposite banks of the Huai. Zhongchen feared Ning's reputation, and banditry promptly ceased. The Mianzhou vice prefect Xue Yanwei had offended the throne in a case; Ning had him beaten to death with staves. Ning was demoted to army adjutant of Qianzhou, then further demoted to registrar of Pingji in Shaozhou.
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 and placed in charge of transport rear-office affairs in Ziqing. A year later he became acting director of the bureau of honors and regular attendant censor, overseeing transport rear-office affairs in Jiangxi. The next year he was appointed acting vice director of the Secretariat and concurrently prefect of Hezhou, where his administration won praise. Before long he was removed from office. His successor compared the current registers with the Tianbao census and falsely claimed a large number of missing households; on this charge Ning was demoted to registrar of Quanzhou. Ning's son Zan waited at the palace gates for three years to plead his father's innocence. An edict sent a censor to reinvestigate the case; the registered households had in fact doubled. Ning was summoned and appointed right remonstrator of the Heir Apparent. Ning was forceful and would not court the powerful. Those in power regarded him as not on their side and feared he would be hard to control, so they kept him in honorific posts without real authority. Ning bore his frustration in silence and said: "If the times will not have me, and I do not throw myself away for the times, then advancement is not my way—is withdrawal perhaps the answer? He pleaded illness and stayed home, requesting leave for months on end several times. Friends and relatives pressed him, and he returned to court once more. When the emperor was at Fengtian, Ning went to the traveling court and was appointed vice director of the Secretariat. At the start of the Xingyuan era he was made right vice guardian of the Heir Apparent. When Dezong returned to the capital, Ning said: "I can now live by my principles. He then pleaded illness, resigned, and returned to the Eastern Capital. In the sixth year of Zhenyuan he accepted appointment as director of the Secretariat and retired from office.
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。
Ning loved learning and taught his sons well; his household was known for its strict discipline. His devotion to his widowed elder sister was renowned. He understood the workings of fate and never took medicine. He often warned his sons: "I have heard that in serving one's parents, the greatest thing is to honor their will—nothing but the straight path. Take care never to flatter—that is my resolve. In the tenth month of the tenth year of Zhenyuan he died at the age of seventy-nine. He had four sons: Zan, Zhi, Yuan, and Shang.
6
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，楚劍不沖於牛鬥，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。
Zan, whose courtesy name was Xiangming, began his career as recorder of Jiyuan upon leaving the russet. At that time his father Ning was prefect of Hezhou. Because he was upright and refused to yield to the fiscal commissioner, he was slandered in a memorial and demoted to army adjutant of Quanzhou. Zan rushed to the capital, weeping as he appealed to the throne. An edict sent a censor to reinvestigate, and Ning was cleared. An edict declared: "The worthy son vindicates his father's wrong; the disciplinary official carries out the sovereign's command. The Chu sword never strikes the Ox and Hare stars; the Qin terrace washes itself clean of dust. From this he became widely known. He rose through Jingzhao army adjutant, palace attendant censor, regular attendant censor, and commissioner at the Eastern Capital.
7
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。
At that time the Shaanzhou observer Lu Yue's concubine Lady Pei, who had borne a son, had been left out when Yue's wife divided the estate. She brought suit, and Zan heard the case. The vice censor-in-chief Lu Bian backed him and ordered that Pei be punished to the full extent of the law. Zan held to fairness and would not allow it. The chief minister Dou Can was on good terms with Bian. Can and Bian both held power and, angry that Zan would not follow their orders in a minor matter, had him thrown into prison. The attendant censor Du Lun guessed their intent, falsely charged that Zan had taken bribes from Pei, and flogged his messenger to force a confession—the case was pressed urgently. Zan's younger brother Shang galloped to the palace and struck the petition drum. An edict ordered the three judicial offices to reinvestigate; finding no evidence, they sent him out as prefect of Chenzhou. When Can fell from power, Zan was summoned and appointed director of the Ministry of Punishments. On a subsequent audience Dezong praised his talent and promoted him to vice censor-in-chief. At that time Pei Yanling oversaw the Treasury and curried favor through cunning. When a subordinate committed graft, Zan tried the case and obtained a confession. Yanling asked that the law be bent to release him. Three times Zan refused and reported the confession to the throne. Yanling slandered Zan as biased and had him demoted to vice prefect of Raozhou. After mourning for his mother he served in turn as prefect of Qian and Chang.
8
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 took the throne, Zan was appointed prefect of Xuanzhou and vice censor-in-chief and made Xuan-She observer; everywhere he served he won praise for good governance. In the eleventh month of the first year of Yongzhen he died at the age of fifty-eight. He was posthumously made minister of works.
9
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。
Zan and his brothers Zhi, Yuan, and Shang were admired among the gentry for their family conduct and personal ability. Though Zan had risen high in office, his parents were still alive, and the household rules remained strict. The Zan brothers obeyed their father's orders; he beat and reprimanded them like servants. Zan was the most filial and careful.
10
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。
Zhi was forceful and upright; in the palace examination policy essay he placed in the third grade. His answers are still read today. From remonstrator to petitioner he was always the first to speak on the rights and wrongs of current policy. At the start of the Yuanhe era the salt monopoly office often exceeded its authority in detaining registered households, and some were beaten to death. Zhi memorialized that when the Salt and Iron Transport Commission punished private salt offenders, the prefectural chief official must oversee the punishment. From then on penal procedure was standardized. When Wang Chengzong rebelled, Xianzong appointed the inner eunuch Tuoba Chenghui as pacification commissioner. Zhi led his colleagues in kneeling at the palace gate to remonstrate, declaring that since antiquity there had never been an inner eunuch as military commander. Though the emperor changed the title, he was displeased and soon transferred Zhi to left vice guardian of the Heir Apparent. In the fifth year he was punished for his association with Yang Ping and sent out as prefect of Kai. Before long he died.
11
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。
Yuan was skilled in letters and prized moral integrity. When Du Ya was protector of the Eastern Capital, he recruited Yuan as aide and acting vice director. He died young and left a collected works in ten chapters.
12
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。
The Zhi brothers all enjoyed fine reputations and were gentle and pure; contemporaries likened them to flavors: Zan was plain yet had character, like cheese; Zhi was refined and deeply appealing, like butter; Yuan was clarified butter; Shang was fermented bean curd. Among recent scholar-officials who spoke of household discipline, the Mu clan was held in highest esteem.
13
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。
Cui Bin, whose courtesy name was Churen, was from Wucheng in Qinghe. His grandfather was Jie and his father Zhi held low office. Bin passed the jinshi examination in his youth and also passed the Exemplary and Upright examination. During the Zhenyuan era he was appointed defender of Weinan. He was promoted to remonstrator and then remonstrator of the left. He often memorialized against Pei Yanling and won recognition in his day. From vice director of the Ministry of War drafting edicts to Secretariat drafter, he served seven years in all. He also served as acting overseer of Ministry of Personnel selections. The following year he became vice minister of rites, then vice minister of personnel, and was granted the gold-and-purple insignia.
14
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。
Bin was warm, reserved, and deeply principled, and especially devoted to purity and frugality. The emperor also held him in high regard. Pei Ji was about to bring him in as chief minister, but Bin fell ill and could not take on the role; the appointment was abandoned. Four brothers served at court at the same time and were widely known for filial devotion and harmonious kinship. Later he was made director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and oversaw the chief minister of personnel's selection duties. By precedent, when a new director of sacrifices first took office, the Four Departments of Music were reviewed in full at the office, and the crowd was allowed to run freely. Bin removed his cap at his private residence and personally guided his mother's carriage; when high officials met him they turned their mounts aside, and the streets took it as an honor to witness. While in mourning for his mother he died a little over a year later, in the third month of the tenth year of Yuanhe, at the age of sixty-two. He was posthumously made chief minister of personnel with the posthumous title Literary and Simple.
15
弟鄯、郾、鄲等六人。 子璀、璜，璀子彥融，皆登進士第，歷位臺閣。
He had six younger brothers, among them Shan, Yan, and Tan. His sons Cui and Huang, and Cui's son Yanrong, all passed the jinshi examination and rose through posts at court.
16
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。
In the winter of the ninth year of Taihe, Shan was serving as left metropolitan commandant of the Majestic Guard when he died suddenly without prior illness. Within ten days the Xun-Zhu Rebellion broke out, and it had its origin in the Majestic Guard. Men of principle then understood that Shan's death was an omen of the Cui family's accumulated virtue. He was posthumously made chief minister of rites. His son was Xuan.
17
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。
Yan, whose courtesy name was Guanglue. He passed the jinshi examination, qualified through the impartial evaluation, and was appointed collator at the Hall of Assembled Worthies. After three appointments he entered court service as investigating censor and vice director of the Ministry of Justice. Fine-featured and imposing, grave and refined in bearing, he drew people's love at first sight and they found it hard to leave his company. Those who did not know him well assumed he merely affected lofty reserve and rigid silence. While mourning for his father, upon ending the mourning period he became vice director of the Ministry of Personnel. Corrupt clerks did not dare deceive him, and candidates who were isolated and without patrons were never left in limbo. The fairness of his personnel selections won praise in his day. He was promoted again to director of the left bureau.
18
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 the thirteenth year of Yuanhe, Zheng Yuqing served as commissioner for the detailed determination of ritual and chose contemporary scholars of ritual to assist him; Yan was appointed determining judge and director of the Ministry of Personnel. In the fifteenth year he was promoted to grand remonstrator.
19
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 offered pointed remonstrance at the Yenying Audience Hall. Emperor Muzong greatly approved, and his hunting excursions became somewhat less frequent. During the Changqing era he was transferred to supervising secretary.
20
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 selected as lecturer-in-attendance and then promoted to Secretariat drafter. When he entered the Hall of Contemplating Governance to offer thanks, he said, "Your Majesty appointed me lecturer-in-attendance more than half a year ago, yet You have never asked me about the meaning of the classics. Now that I have been transferred and promoted, I am ashamed of drawing salary without earning it and feel unworthy of Your gracious favor." The emperor said, "When my state duties allow a little leisure, I shall ask you to instruct me." Gao Xian said, "Your Majesty's heart may delight in goodness, but since You have not yet received Confucian scholars in audience, how can the people under heaven know that You honor the Way?" The emperor took the criticism deeply to heart and rewarded them with brocades and silks. After withdrawing, Yan and his colleague Gao Chong excerpted fine passages and essential doctrines from the Six Classics, arranged them by topic into ten chapters entitled Essentials Drawn from the Classics, hoping the sovereign would find them easy to review at a glance. The emperor approved and granted two hundred bolts of brocades and silks, silver vessels, and the like.
21
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 year he was made vice minister of rites and conducted the examination of candidates at the Eastern Capital. For two years he oversaw the presentation of candidates, examining them impartially and promoting talent; every man he advanced became a noted scholar, and by the Dazhong and Xiantong periods more than ten of them had risen to chief ministerships and other eminent posts. He was sent out as governor of Shaanzhou. An old abuse held that when local tribute to the capital fell short, officials' salaries were seized to make up the deficit—eighty thousand strings per year. Yan substituted the standard market price used by the fiscal inspector. After two years his administrative accomplishments were known at court. He was transferred to regional inspector of E, Yue, An, Huang, and other prefectures. Five years later he was transferred to overall military governor and regional inspector of Zhexi Circuit, where he governed leniently to bring relief to the exhausted populace. During his tenure at Ezhou he applied stern law and severe punishments and never once commuted a capital sentence. Between the rivers and lakes bandits flourished in dense thickets; he built light covered assault vessels and, patrolling a thousand li within a month, captured every bandit band. Over three terms as regional inspector he governed with integrity and restraint, keeping administration lean; surplus funds accumulated and the regions grew secure and tranquil. He died in the first year of Kaicheng at the age of sixty-nine. He was posthumously made chief minister of personnel with the posthumous title Virtuous.
22
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。
Yan, his elder brother Bin, his younger brother Tan, and the others all enjoyed fine reputations. Yet Yan surpassed his brothers in generosity and magnanimity. His sons were Yao, Gui, Jin, Pei, and Qiu.
23
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。
Yao passed the jinshi examination in the third year of Taihe, served as aide in a frontier province, then entered central office and rose to Secretariat drafter. In the sixth year of Dazhong he oversaw the imperial examination and was soon appointed vice minister of rites. He was sent out as regional inspector of Zhexi, then transferred to prefect of Ezhou and regional inspector of E and Yue, where he died in office. Gui, Pei, and Qiu rose to posts in the Secretariat bureaus as supervising secretaries and remonstrators.
24
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。
Jin passed the jinshi examination in the tenth year of Dazhong, served repeatedly on commissioner staffs, and rose through posts as director in a ministry and drafter of edicts. In the thirteenth year of Xiantong he oversaw the examination and selected candidates with notable success. He was soon appointed vice minister of rites and sent out as regional inspector of Hunan.
25
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。
Tan passed the jinshi examination, rose through posts to investigating censor, and after three promotions became director of the Office of Merit Evaluation. In the third year of Taihe he was appointed Hanlin academician while retaining his current rank, then promoted to Secretariat drafter. In the sixth year he was dismissed from the Hanlin Academy. In the eighth year he became vice minister of works and academician of the Hall of Assembled Worthies, served as acting head of the Ministry of Rites, was formally appointed vice minister of war, and while retaining that rank oversaw the eastern selection board of the Ministry of Personnel.
26
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 governance and often troubled by abuses in the selection office. At the Yenying Audience he told his chief ministers, "The Ministry of Personnel hardly selects for talent at all. How can we appoint men on merit without padding the rolls? Can this be reformed?" Li Shi replied, "We might reconsider appointments for district magistrates and recorders, but other offices should continue under the old rules for now." The emperor said, "Following the old way is no better than filling quotas—how can we tell the worthy from the unworthy?" The emperor summoned the three directors of selection and asked, "When you appoint district magistrates and recorders, what criteria do you use?" Tan replied, "When their qualifications and seniority are appropriate, we ask about their methods of governance and propose appointments according to what seems feasible." The emperor asked, "If they qualify by seniority but lack ability, what posts do they receive?" He answered, "We assign them to remote border posts of little importance." The emperor said, "If unworthy men govern border peoples, their suffering is easy to imagine. Wherever the court seeks good governance, near and far alike require able men. If the wrong men are appointed, the people bear the harm. Soon after, Tan was appointed vice minister of personnel.
27
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。
In the second year of Kaicheng he was sent out as prefect of Xuanzhou, concurrently censor-in-chief and regional inspector of Xuan and She. In the fourth year he returned to court as director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. In the seventh month he was made chief minister while retaining his current rank, and was soon also appointed vice director of the Secretariat and grand master with silver-blue seal and purple robes. At the beginning of the Huichang era Li Deyu held power, and he had long been on good terms with Tan and his brothers. Tan served as chief minister for many years, later held regional commands and posts as tutor and protector of the heir apparent, and died in office.
28
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。
Dou Qun, whose courtesy name was Danlie, was from Pingling in Fufeng. His grandfather Dan served as military aide of Tongchang Prefecture. His father Shuxiang was renowned for his poetry and rose during Emperor Daizong's reign to left remonstrator. Qun's elder brothers Chang and Mou and his younger brother Gong all passed the jinshi examination; Qun alone remained a retired scholar, living in seclusion at Piling, where he was known for his integrity. When his mother died, he bit off one finger and placed it in her coffin, then lived in a hut beside her grave until the mourning period was complete. He later studied the Spring and Autumn Annals under Lu Pi, a disciple of Tan Zhu, and wrote a thirty-four-scroll work called Commentary on Famous Ministers in the Records of the Grand Historian. In the Zhenyuan era, Wei Xiaqing, prefect of Suzhou, recommended him as a distinguished recluse and submitted his book to the throne, but received no reply. When Xiaqing entered the capital as vice minister of personnel and was reassigned as metropolitan magistrate of Jingzhao, he used his mid-audience audience to recommend Qun once more. He was summoned and appointed left reminder, then promoted to assistant censor and made aide to Zhang Jian, director of the secretariat, on an embassy to the border peoples. When Qun had an audience, he memorialized: "Your Majesty has reigned twenty years before plucking me from obscurity to make me a reminder—that was making advancement hard for me. Now Your Majesty appoints a man it took twenty years to promote as an aide on a peace mission to the tribes—how easy that is! Emperor Dezong was impressed by his words, kept him at court, and restored him to assistant censor.
29
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, members of Wang Shuwen's faction, both looked down on Qun, and Qun would not align with them. The faction considered demoting Qun, but Wei Zhiyi prevented it. Qun once visited Wang Shuwen, who had his couch taken away before admitting him. Qun bowed and said: "Some things in life cannot be foreseen. Shuwen asked: "Such as what?" Qun said: "Last year Li Shi traded on imperial favor and high rank, swaggering through the court; then you waited in the wings—you were only a minor official from the south. Now that you hold real power, how can you not wonder whether someone like you is waiting in the wings? Shuwen was struck by the warning, but in the end he never made use of Qun.
30
憲宗即位，轉膳部員外，兼侍御史知雜，出為唐州刺史。 節度使於頔素聞其名，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 ascended the throne, Qun was made external affairs secretary in the ministry of rites and assistant censor in charge of miscellaneous cases, then sent out as prefect of Tangzhou. Military Commissioner Yu Di had long known Qun's reputation; when Qun presented himself, Qun spoke bluntly and forcefully, and Di was greatly pleased. Di memorialized to keep Qun as vice commissioner of the Shan'nan East circuit, checked-rank director in the ministry of war and 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 he was recalled to serve as director of the ministry of personnel. While Yuanheng was chief minister, he recommended Qun to succeed him as censor-in-chief. Qun recommended Lü Wen and Yang Shi'e, directors in the ministry of justice, for appointment as censors. Jifu considered Yang and Lü rash and impulsive, held the nominations for days without acting, and Qun and his allies grew angry at Jifu.
31
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裏第。 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 removed as chief minister and posted to Huainan; Qun and his allies hoped to use his fall from favor to bring him down. Jifu had once invited the diviner Chen Deng to stay at his house in Anyi Lane. The next day Qun had officials arrest Deng for interrogation, fabricating secret crimes against Jifu and reporting them privately to the throne. The emperor summoned Deng and questioned him in person; Deng at once refuted the accusations as false. Emperor Xianzong was furious and nearly had Qun and his allies executed; Jifu interceded for them, and Qun was sent out as military commissioner of Hunan. Within days he was reassigned as prefect of Qianzhou and military commissioner of Qian prefecture. While governing Qianzhong, a great flood destroyed the city walls; he rebuilt the city and pressed the stream-dwelling and cave-dwelling tribes for labor and tribute. The work was hurried, and the unassimilated tribes of Chen and Jin seized the mountain passes to rebel; Qun attacked them but could not restore order. In the ninth month of the sixth year he was demoted to prefect of Kaizhou. After two years in office he was transferred to prefect of Rongzhou and military commissioner of the Rong administration circuit. In the ninth year an edict recalled him to court, but he died of illness at Hengzhou at the age of fifty.
32
群性狠戾，頗復恩讎，臨事不顧生死。 是時征入，雲欲大用，人皆懼駭，聞其卒方安。 二子：謙余、審余。
Qun was fierce and unforgiving by nature, quick to repay both favors and grudges, and in a crisis he cared nothing for his own life. When he was summoned to the capital, rumor held that he would be given great power; people were terrified, and only when news of his death arrived did they breathe easier. He had two sons: Qianyu and Shenyu.
33
兄常，字中行，大歷十四年登進士第，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。 寶歷元年卒，時年七十。 子弘余，會昌中為黃州刺史。
His elder brother Chang, courtesy name Zhongxing, passed the jinshi examination in the fourteenth year of Dali and lived at Liuyang in Guangling. He built a cottage, planted trees, refused to chase office by unworthy means, and spent twenty years teaching and writing without leaving home. In the fourteenth year of Zhenyuan, Wang Wujun, military commissioner of Zhenzhou, heard of his learning and sent an envoy to invite him as chief secretary, but Chang declined. That year Du You took command of Huainan, memorialized to appoint him proofreader, and made him a staff strategist. In the sixth year of Yuanhe he came to court from his post as Hunan aide, became assistant censor, and was then promoted to external affairs secretary in the ministry of works. He was sent out as prefect of Langzhou and later governed the three prefectures of Guling, Xunyang, and Linchuan in succession. He returned to the capital as chancellor of the directorate of education and 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 reign.
34
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。
Mou, courtesy name Yizhou. In the second year of Zhenyuan he passed the jinshi examination, served as a proofreader in the secretariat, and became an inspector for the eastern capital garrison. He served on the staffs of the Hedong and Zhaoyi commands, became checked-rank director in the ministry of works, received the crimson robe, and twice served as aide to the garrison commander. He entered court as director of the ministry of punishments, went out as prefect of Zezhou, and returned 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 reign.
35
牟弟庠，字胃卿，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。
Mou's younger brother Ku, courtesy name Weiqing, entered office as principal clerk of the directorate of education. When Han Gao, vice minister of personnel, took command of Wuchang, he appointed Ku as investigating officer. When Gao moved to Zhexi, he memorialized to make Ku vice military commissioner and palace assistant censor; Ku was later promoted to prefect of Zezhou. He also served as deputy commissioner of Xuanshe, then as magistrate of Fengtian, prefect of Dengzhou, aide to the eastern capital garrison, and in succession prefect of Xin and Wu. He died at the age of sixty-three. His sons were You and Zai.
36
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。
Gong, courtesy name Youfeng, passed the jinshi examination in the second year of Yuanhe. When Yuan Zi took command of Huazhou, he recruited Gong to his staff. When Zi moved to the Jing and Xiang commands, Gong followed him each time and served as chief recorder. Xue Ping of Pinglu also appointed him deputy commissioner. He entered court as palace censor, then served in succession as external affairs secretary in the ministry of merit awards and director in the ministry of justice. When Yuan Zhen governed Zhedong, he made Gong his deputy, checked-rank vice director of the secretariat and vice censor-in-chief, and granted him gold and purple insignia. When Zhen moved to Wuchang, Gong followed him again. Gong wrote fine five-character verse; among the brothers, his poetry and Mou's were both highly regarded. Gentle and soft-spoken by nature, he rarely held his own in debate; at gatherings of friends his lips would move but no argument would emerge, and Bai Juyi and others nicknamed him the Muttering Old Man. He died at Ezhou at the age of sixty. He had six sons; Jingyu and Shiyu were the best known.
37
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。
Li Xun, courtesy name Youdao, traced his descent to Duke Shen Fa of Northern Wei; in Zhao commandery the family was known as the House of Duke Shen. His great-grandfather Jinde served as principal of the crown prince's court. His grandfather Zhenyu was magistrate of Changming. His father Zhen was vice prefect of Yazhou. For generations the family lived at Shishou in Jingzhou.
38
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 appointed chief secretary at Xiangyang. He later served on the Hunan staff, managing affairs in the commander's absence, and earned a strong reputation; he was promoted in succession to prefect of Chi and Hao. Earlier, Yang Teng, the garrison commander of Haozhou, had squeezed the troops so hard that three thousand local soldiers plotted to kill him. Teng discovered the plot, fled to Yangzhou, and his whole family was killed. The Haozhou soldiers could not be controlled and turned to plunder. By the time Xun arrived, the unrest had not yet been fully suppressed. He rode calmly among them, explaining what rebellion would cost and what submission would gain; the men laid down their arms and asked forgiveness, and order returned. He refused every requisition for labor or supplies that exceeded the limits set by the military commissioner. He entered court and was appointed director of the ministry of revenues.
39
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。
In the early Yuanhe period he was sent out as prefect of Quzhou. For exceptional performance he was promoted to prefect of Yuezhou, grand censor, and military training and observation commissioner of Zhedong. Earlier, in the early Zhenyuan era, Huangfu Zheng governed Zhedong; when Fujian troops mutinied they expelled military commissioner Wu Shen. Because his circuit bordered Fujian, Zheng asked to raise three thousand extra troops temporarily until the rebellion ended. Nearly thirty years after the rebellion was crushed, those extra troops were still on the rolls. Within days of taking office Xun memorialized to abolish them. Xun made it his mission to level the gap between rich and poor and protect the weak against the strong, and wherever he served he won praise for good government.
40
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 entered court as chief of the imperial secretariat. Because the old rule allowed the emperor to receive ministers only on fixed audience days, Xun memorialized: "Serving a ruler means speaking up even at the risk of giving offense. Honest counsel and timely remonstrance should not have to wait for a chosen day. Now officials must wait for audience day to speak—how many times in a year can the court actually see the emperor's face and debate what should be done? Emperor Xianzong approved the proposal and allowed memorials and audiences at any time. Soon afterward he was promoted to vice minister of the ministry of revenue.
41
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 of the Shan'nan East circuit. Xiangyang had formerly overseen eight prefectures, including Tang, Deng, and Sui. The court was then campaigning against Wu Yuanji; because Tang and Cai bordered each other, Deng was placed under Tangzhou, the three prefectures were given their own command, and Gao Xiayu was put in charge solely to conduct the offensive. Xun supplied their provisions from the tax revenues of five prefectures.
42
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 of Xiangyang. Shou commanded the armies of eight prefectures against the rebels from his base at Tang Prefecture. Soon Shou was removed from command for lack of results. Gao Xiayu was appointed to replace him at Tang Prefecture, and the Xiangyang force was subordinated to Xiayu. Xun treated soldiers whose families lived in Xiang Prefecture with generous care, and many troops deserted Xiayu to rejoin him. When Xiayu was defeated by the rebels, he blamed Xun, claiming that provisions had arrived late. Xiayu was a veteran of the imperial guard, and eunuch officials all served at his side. After Xun was demoted, the eunuchs all claimed he had sabotaged Xiayu's campaign and caused the defeat. The emperor dispatched palace envoys to Xiang Prefecture to determine who was at fault. They reported against Xun, and he was demoted to Honored Guest of the Heir Apparent in concurrent service, then reduced again to tutor of the Prince of En.
43
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 of the reign, Li Shidao offered his submission. Xun was appointed Left Regular Attendant of the Palace Secretariat and dispatched at speed to Dongping to win him over. Shidao was moved by the imperial message and at once offered to surrender, but his subordinates soon talked him out of it. Xun returned to court and was soon made Prefect of the Capital District, then Chancellor of the Directorate of Education.
44
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 commissioned as Military Commissioner of Zhongwu with oversight of Chen, Xu, Wen, and Cai prefectures. The region had just been ravaged by war and could not be put in order overnight. When Xun arrived, he assembled the main force, laid down strict rules, and made it plain that rewards and punishments would be enforced without fail. His proclamation ran to several hundred words, and the troops were deeply impressed.
45
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。
Xun lost his parents young and grew up in Jiangling. He and his younger brother Jian lived in poverty together, sharing clothes and meals and studying without rest. Their elder brother Zao, recognizing both younger brothers' talent, begged daily to support them and see them through their studies. Jian died one year before Xun did. The brothers rose together to distinction, and men of learning held them in high regard. He was posthumously titled Gongsu, Reverent and Solemn. Zao died young.
46
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。
Jian, courtesy name Shaozhi, was born into a family of longstanding poverty with no ancestral property. Together with his elder brothers Zao and Xun he farmed in southern Jing to support the household, devoted to study and literary work. He passed the jinshi examination and was appointed a proofreader in the Secretariat. Emperor Dezong heard of him and appointed him Right Reminder and Hanlin Academician. In the sixth year of Yuanhe he was dismissed for an offense and demoted to Direct Clerk in the Household of the Heir Apparent. When Gao Ying served as Censor-in-Chief, he recommended Jian as Palace Censor; Jian was later promoted to Director in the Ministry of War with responsibility for drafting edicts. Finding himself slow at drafting edicts, he asked to leave literary duties and was appointed Prefect of the Capital District. He was close friends with the chancellor Wei Guanzhi. When Guanzhi lost the chancellorship, Jian was sent out as Prefect of Li Prefecture. He was recalled as Vice Minister of Rites and soon given charge of the civil service examinations. Jian selected unworthy candidates and was swayed by patronage, so that year's examination picks were poor, and his salary was docked as punishment. The following year he was made Vice Minister of Rites, but poor relations with colleagues led to his transfer to the Ministry of Justice.
47
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。
Though Jian rose to high rank, he lived with integrity and thrift, never repairing his house, and his peers held him in esteem. He died in the second month of the second year of Changqing and was posthumously granted the title Minister of Works. He had three sons: Ne, Ke, and Pu. Ne was the most famous; he rose to Prefect of Hua Prefecture and Acting Minister of the Right.
48
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。
Xue Rong, courtesy name Yuanfu, was a native of Baoding in Hezhong. As a young man he was deeply learned but sought no fame, living on Yangxian Mountain in Piling. Even past forty he never changed his way of life. Li Heng, Military Commissioner of Jiangxi, invited him to serve as an aide; only after the envoy came back three times did he agree. When the former chancellor Qi Ying replaced Heng, he kept Rong on staff; when that appointment ended, Rong went back to his mountain retreat. Liu Mian, Military Commissioner of Fujian, recommended him as an aide; within months he was promoted to Palace Censor. When Quan Prefecture had no prefect, Mian put Rong in temporary charge of its affairs.
49
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. Ma Zong, an aide noted for his integrity, was falsely accused by the army supervisor and demoted to Vice-Prefect of Quan Prefecture. Mian courted the powerful and sought to frame Zong, ordering Rong to investigate and manufacture the case against him. Rong believed Zong was innocent, refused to go along with Mian, and filed a separate memorial stating the truth. When Rong returned from Quan Prefecture, Mian sat in his office in a towering rage to receive visitors. Rong walked in unhurried through the east corridor. Seeing he could not intimidate Rong, Mian rose slowly to greet him, exchanged a single bow, and let him go. Mian then fabricated new charges and reported them to the throne, confined Rong in a Buddhist temple ringed with armed men, and for months allowed them to abuse him at will, trying to force him to validate the case against Zong. Rong's resolve never changed; in the end he did not yield. Du You, commanding Huainan, learned of Rong's wrongful treatment, forwarded his memorial, and wrote to Mian to intervene. Only then was Rong released; he resigned and lived in seclusion on the waterways.
50
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 Military Commissioner of Fujian, he heard the full story and recommended Rong as deputy commissioner. He followed Jimei to Zhedong, was promoted to Attending Censor, and then entered the capital as Vice Director in the Ministry of Justice. He served as Magistrate of Henan, then as prefect of Qu, Hu, and Chang in succession, and was finally promoted to Military Commissioner of Zhedong. Wherever he served, his governance won renown. After several years he retired because of illness. He died in the tenth month of the first year of Changqing and was posthumously granted Left Regular Attendant of the Palace Secretariat.
51
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 with strict self-discipline and modest means, caring nothing for hollow fame. He gave whatever salary he did not need to his extended family. After his death no one had a word of reproach for him. He had five brothers; the youngest, Fang, was the most famous.
52
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. Steadfast and taciturn by nature, he did not fuss over every dispute of right and wrong. He served repeatedly in regional administrations and proved swift and competent in office. He rose to Acting Evaluator of the Court of Judicial Review, then Right Reminder, Supplementation Censor, Vice Director in the Ministries of Works and War in turn, and finally Director in the Ministry of War.
53
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, finding the crown prince fond of learning, sought upright scholars to instruct him in the classics, Fang was chosen as Reader to the Crown Prince. When Muzong succeeded to the throne, Fang was often at his side during the period before he formally assumed rule, quietly advising on weighty matters. Emperor Muzong often told Fang, "I have just taken up the throne and fear I am not equal to the burden. You, sir, should serve as chancellor and guide me where I fall short. Fang kowtowed and said, "Your servant is truly unworthy. That I may attend Your Majesty is honor enough; I am surely not fit to defile so exalted a post. The work of governing belongs to those who truly have talent. He never spoke with artifice; this was typical of him. Muzong deeply valued his sincerity, summoned him to the Hall of Contemplating Governance, and granted him gold-and-purple robes of rank. He was promoted to Vice Minister of Works and Academician of the Academy. Though his post was not the highest, the emperor's favor toward him steadily increased. He was transferred to Vice Minister of Justice while retaining his previous duties.
54
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 answered, "The classics are the supreme teachings of the sages, expounded by Confucius. They express the highest truths of Heaven and humanity and are standards for all ages. Histories record the successes and failures of past ages and can serve as mirrors of rise and fall. But they mingle success with failure and offer no fixed standard of judgment, so they cannot be put on a par with the classics. The emperor said, "The Six Classics each stress different things. A devoted student may study until his hair turns white without mastering them all. How can one grasp what matters most? Fang replied, "The Analects is the flower of the Six Classics, and the Classic of Filial Piety is the foundation of human relations. To penetrate their principles and hold fast to what is essential is to receive the sage's true teaching. That is why the Han placed the Analects first among the state academies, why Emperor Guangwu had the Tiger Guard study the Classic of Filial Piety, and why Emperor Xuanzong personally annotated it—each age found great order, and the realm was at peace. When people understand filial piety and compassion, harmony and contentment follow naturally. The emperor said, "The sage held filial piety to be the highest virtue and the essential path—is that not true! He was then promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of War and Minister of Rites, with concurrent direction of the Academy.
55
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。
At home Fang was especially devoted to filial piety and harmony. More than a hundred widows and orphans relied on him; the household was poor and often went short, and his salary was never enough. Fang therefore asked, during an imperial audience, to be sent to a post outside the capital. No military commissioner post was vacant at the time, so he was given a provincial inspection commission instead. As commissioner of Jiangxi he ruled through integrity alone, and the people there remember him to this day. In the first year of Baoli he died in office as Military Commissioner of Jiangxi, and the court suspended audience for one day in mourning.
56
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！
The historiographer writes: Supervisor of the Palace Library Mu's inflexible integrity stood like a pine on a cliff, unyielding for a thousand feet. Prefect of Rongzhou Dou's daring resolve was like a hawk striking at sparrows—bold spirit that stirred all who saw it. Recluses in mountain caves could seldom measure up. Yet to go too far in harsh rectitude is something a true gentleman would not do. Harmonious as paired flutes, firm yet not rigid—the Cui brothers embodied the finest qualities of a scholar-official. Jian and Xun's steadfast character, Rong and Fang's moral conduct—from the Yuanhe era onward their families were hailed as model clans, and with good reason.
57
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 Zan and Mu Zhi, Dou Chang and Dou Qun—their careers placed them among the age's leading figures, their spirit enlivening the culture of their time. The two Li brothers, shining in eminence; the four Cui brothers, flourishing in number and talent. Across the three branches of the Xue family, every brother was the equal of the next.