1
于頔，字允元，河南人也，周太師燕文公謹之後也。 始以廕補千牛，調授華陰尉，黜陟使劉灣辟為判官。 又以櫟陽主簿攝監察御史，充入蕃使判官。 再遷司門員外郎，兼侍御史，賜紫。 充入西蕃計會使，將命稱旨，時論以為有出疆專對之能。 歷長安縣令、駕部郎中。
Yu Di, whose courtesy name was Yun'yuan, came from Henan and was descended from Shen, the Zhou Grand Preceptor enfeoffed as Duke Wen of Yan. He first entered service through hereditary privilege as a guard in the Thousand-Ox regiment, was then assigned as magistrate of Hua Yin, and was recruited as aide by the inspection commissioner Liu Wan. He later served concurrently as surveillance censor while chief clerk at Liyang, and acted as aide to an envoy to the western borderlands. He was promoted again to Vice Director of the Gate Office, also serving as attendant censor, and was awarded the purple robe of high rank. As accountant on an embassy to the western regions, he carried out his commission to the court's satisfaction, and contemporaries judged him capable of representing the dynasty abroad on his own authority. He served in turn as magistrate of Chang'an County and as director in the Bureau of Imperial Transport.
2
出為湖州刺史。 因行縣至長城方山，其下有水曰西湖，南朝疏鑿，溉田三千頃，久堙廢。 頔命設堤塘以復之，歲獲粳稻蒲魚之利，人賴以濟。 州境陸地褊狹，其送終者往往不掩其棺槥，頔葬朽骨凡十餘所。 改蘇州刺史，浚溝瀆，整街衢，至今賴之。 吳俗事鬼，頔疾其淫祀廢生業，神宇皆撤去，唯吳太伯、伍員等三數廟存焉。 雖為政有績，然橫暴已甚，追憾湖州舊尉，封杖以計強決之。 觀察使王緯奏其事，德宗不省。 及後頔累遷，乃與緯書曰：「一蒙惡奏，三度改官。」 由大理卿遷陜虢觀察使。 自以為得志，益恣威虐。 官吏日加科罰，其惴恐重足一跡。 掾姚峴不勝其虐，與其弟泛舟於河，遂自投而死。
He was posted out as prefect of Hu Prefecture. On a tour of the counties he came to Fang Mountain at Changcheng, where a body of water called West Lake lay. The Southern Dynasties had once dredged it to irrigate three thousand qing of fields, but it had long been silted up and left unused. Di ordered dikes and ponds built to restore the lake, and each year the region gained rice, cattail, and fish; the people depended on it for their livelihood. Land in the prefecture was scarce, and many burials went without proper covering of the coffins; Di gave decent burial to exposed remains at more than a dozen sites. Transferred to Suzhou, he dredged canals and ditches and repaired the streets—a legacy the city still benefits from. The people of Wu were devoted to spirit cults; Di, distressed that lavish rites were ruining livelihoods, had most shrines demolished, retaining only a handful, including those of Taibo of Wu and Wu Yuan. Though his administration had real accomplishments, his brutality was already extreme; nursing a grudge against a former assistant in Huzhou, he used sealed beating staffs and forced a verdict by coercion. Surveillance commissioner Wang Wei reported the affair, but Emperor Dezong took no notice. After Di had risen through several promotions, he wrote to Wei: "One malicious memorial cost me three transfers. He was promoted from Grand Court Judge to surveillance commissioner of Shan and Guo. Believing he had finally arrived, he indulged his cruelty all the more. He piled fines and punishments on his staff daily until they lived in terror, scarcely daring to move. His aide Yao Xian, unable to bear the abuse, took his younger brother boating on the river and drowned them both.
3
貞元十四年，為襄州刺史，充山南東道節度觀察。 地與蔡州鄰。 吳少誠之叛，頔率兵赴唐州，收吳房、朗山縣，又破賊於濯神溝。 於是廣軍籍，募戰士，器甲犀利，僴然專有漢南之地。 小失意者，皆以軍法從事。 因請升襄州為大都督府，府比鄆、魏。 時德宗方姑息方鎮，聞頔事狀，亦無可奈何，但允順而已。 頔奏請無不從。 於是公然聚斂，恣意虐殺，專以淩上威下為務。 鄧州刺史元洪，頔誣以贓罪奏聞，朝旨不得已為流端州，命中使監焉。 至隋州棗陽縣，頔命部將領士卒數百人，劫洪至襄州，拘留之。 中使奔歸京師。 德宗怒，笞之數十。 頔又表洪其責太重，復降中使景忠信宣旨慰諭。 遂除洪吉州長史，然後洪獲赴謫所。 又怒判官薛正倫，奏貶峽州長史。 及敕下，頔怒已解，復奏請為判官，德宗皆從之。 正倫卒，未殯，頔以兵圍其宅，令孽男逼娶其嫡女。 頔累遷至左僕射、平章事、燕國公。 俄而不奉詔旨，擅總兵據南陽，朝廷幾為之旰食。
In 798 he became prefect of Xiangzhou and military governor and surveillance commissioner of Shannan East Circuit. His territory bordered Cai Prefecture. When Wu Shaocheng rebelled, Di led troops to Tangzhou, recovered Wu Fang and Langshan counties, and routed the rebels at Zhuoshen Ditch. He then expanded his rolls, recruited fighters, and sharpened his armory until he held the Han River southlands as his private domain. Anyone who crossed him even slightly was punished under military law. He petitioned to elevate Xiangzhou to a great metropolitan prefecture on a par with Yan and Wei. Dezong was then indulging the military governors; hearing of Di's conduct, he could only acquiesce. Every petition Di submitted was granted. He then openly extorted wealth, killed at will, and made bullying those above and terrorizing those below his specialty. Di falsely accused Dengzhou prefect Yuan Hong of embezzlement; the court reluctantly exiled him to Duanzhou under escort by a palace envoy. At Zaoyang in Suizhou, Di sent a subordinate with several hundred troops to abduct Hong to Xiangzhou and hold him there. The palace envoy fled back to the capital. Dezong was furious and had him flogged several dozen strokes. Di then memorialized that Hong's punishment was too harsh; the court sent palace envoy Jing Zhongxin with an edict of reassurance. Hong was reassigned as chief clerk of Jizhou, and only then could he proceed to his place of exile. Angry at his aide Xue Zhenglun, he memorialized to demote him to chief clerk of Xiazhou. When the edict arrived, Di's anger had passed; he petitioned to have Xue back as his aide, and Dezong agreed to everything. When Zhenglun died, before the funeral Di surrounded his house with troops and forced his illegitimate son to marry Zhenglun's legitimate daughter. Di rose through the ranks to Left Vice Director, Grand Councilor, and Duke of Yan. Soon he defied imperial orders, mustered troops on his own authority, and seized Nanyang, leaving the court unable to eat for worry.
4
及憲宗即位，威肅四方，頔稍戒懼。 以第四子季友求尚主。 憲宗以長女永昌公主降焉。 其第二子方，屢諷其父歸朝入覲，冊拜司空、平章事。
When Xianzong ascended the throne, his authority awed the realm, and Di grew cautious. He sought an imperial marriage for his fourth son, Jiyou. Xianzong gave him his eldest daughter, Princess Yongchang, in marriage. His second son Fang repeatedly urged him to return to court; Di was then appointed Minister of Works and Grand Councilor.
5
元和中，內官梁守謙掌樞密，頗招權利。 有梁正言者，勇於射利，自言與守謙宗盟情厚，頔子敏與之遊處。 正言取頔財賄，言賂守謙，以求出鎮。 久之無效，敏責其貨於正言。 乃誘正言之僮，支解棄於混中。 八年春，敏奴王再榮詣銀臺門告其事，即日捕頔孔目官沈璧、家僮十余人，於內侍獄鞫問。 尋出付臺獄，詔御史中丞薛存誠、刑部侍郎王播、大理卿武少儀為三司使按問，乃搜死奴於其第，獲之。 頔率其男贊善大夫正、駙馬都尉季友，素服單騎，將赴闕下，待罪於建福門。 門司不納，退於街南，負墻而立，遣人進表。 閣門使以無引不受，日沒方歸。 明日，復待罪於建福門。 宰相喻令還第，貶為恩王傅。 敏長流雷州，錮身發遣。 殿中少監、駙馬都尉季友，追奪兩任官階，令其家循省。 左贊善大夫正、秘書丞方並停見任。 孔目官沈璧決四十，配流封州。 奴犀牛與劉幹同手殺人，宜付京兆府決殺。 敏行至商山賜死。 梁正言、僧鑒虛並付京兆府決殺。 頔其年十月，改授太子賓客。
During the Yuanhe reign, eunuch Liang Shouqian controlled the Privy Council and amassed considerable power. A man named Liang Zhengyan, bold in pursuit of profit, claimed close ties with Shouqian; Di's son Min kept company with him. Zhengyan took Di's money, promising to bribe Shouqian to secure an outside command for him. When nothing came of it, Min demanded his money back from Zhengyan. He then lured Zhengyan's slave boy, dismembered him, and dumped the body in the Hun River. In the spring of 813, Min's slave Wang Zairong reported the crime at the Yintai Gate; that day more than ten of Di's clerks, including Shen Bi, and household slaves were arrested and interrogated in the eunuchs' prison. They were soon transferred to the Court Prison; Xue Cuncheng, Wang Bo, and Wu Shaoyi were appointed as the Three Offices commissioners to investigate, and the dismembered slave was found at Di's residence. Di led his sons Zheng and Jiyou, the imperial son-in-law, in plain dress on horseback to the palace to await punishment at the Jianfu Gate. The gate officers refused them entry; they withdrew to the south side of the street, stood against the wall, and sent in a memorial. The gate commissioner refused the memorial for lack of proper credentials; they did not return until sunset. The next day they again waited for punishment at the Jianfu Gate. The chief ministers told them to go home; Di was demoted to tutor of the Prince of En. Min was exiled to Leizhou in shackles. Jiyou, Vice Director of the Palace Service and imperial son-in-law, had two ranks stripped and was ordered to reflect on his household's conduct. Zheng and Fang were both suspended from their current posts. Clerk Shen Bi was flogged forty strokes and exiled to Fengzhou. The slaves Xiniu and Liu Gan, who had jointly committed murder, were handed to the Jingzhao authorities for execution. Min was granted death by edict when he reached Shang Mountain. Liang Zhengyan and the monk Jianxu were both handed to the Jingzhao authorities for execution. That October Di was reassigned as Mentor of the Heir Apparent.
6
十年，王師討淮、蔡，諸侯貢財助軍。 頔進銀七千兩、金五百兩、玉帶二，詔不納，復還之。 十三年，頔表求致仕。 宰臣擬授太子少保，御筆改為太子賓客。 其年八月卒，贈太保，謚曰「厲」。 其子季友從獵苑中，訴於穆宗，賜謚曰「思」。 右丞張正甫封敕，請還本謚。
In 815 the imperial army campaigned against Huai and Cai, and the regional lords sent funds to support the war effort. Di offered seven thousand taels of silver, five hundred of gold, and two jade belts; the court declined them and sent them back. In 818 Di petitioned to retire from office. The chief ministers proposed Junior Mentor of the Heir Apparent; the emperor's own hand changed it to Mentor of the Heir Apparent. He died that August and was posthumously made Grand Guardian with the posthumous name Li, "Harsh." His son Jiyou, while hunting in the imperial park, appealed to Emperor Muzong, who changed the posthumous name to Si, "Reflective." Right Vice Director Zhang Zhengfu sealed the edict and petitioned to restore the original posthumous name.
7
右補闕高鉞上疏論之曰：
Right Remonstrance Officer Gao Tie submitted a memorial arguing:
8
夫謚者，所以懲惡勸善，激濁揚清，使忠臣義士知勸，亂臣賊子知懼。 雖竊位於當時，死加惡謚者，所以懲暴戾，垂沮勸。 孔子修《春秋》，亂臣賊子懼，蓋為此也。 垂範如此而不能救，況又隳其典法乎？
Posthumous names exist to punish the wicked and encourage the good, to lift the worthy and cast down the base, so loyal servants take heart and traitors take warning. Even those who held power in life may receive harsh posthumous names at death, to punish cruelty and leave a lasting warning. When Confucius compiled the Spring and Autumn Annals, traitors feared judgment—that is precisely the point. If even such a precedent cannot restrain us, what will become of the law when we overturn it outright?
9
臣風聞此事是徐泗節度使李愬奏請。 李愬勛臣節將，陛下寵其勛勞，賜其爵祿、車服、第宅則可，若亂朝廷典法，將何以沮勸？ 仲尼曰：「唯名與器，不可以假人。」 名器，君之所司，若以假人，與之政也，政亡則國家從之。 頔頃鎮襄、漢，殺戮不辜，恣行兇暴。 移軍襄、鄧，迫脅朝廷，擅留逐臣，僥遮天使。 當先朝嗣位之始，貴安反側，以靖四方。 幸免鈇鉞之誅，得全腰領而斃，誠宜謚之「繆厲」，以沮兇邪，豈可曲加美名，以惠奸宄。 如此，則是於頔生為奸臣，死獲美謚，竊恐天下有識之士，謂聖朝無人，有此倒置。 伏請速追前詔，卻依太常謚為厲，使朝典無虧，國章不濫。
I have heard that this change was requested by Li Su, military governor of Xu and Si. Li Su is a meritorious commander; Your Majesty may reward his service with rank, salary, carriages, robes, and estates—but if he is allowed to overturn court precedent, how will reward and warning retain any force? Confucius said: "Titles and regalia must not be lent to others. Titles and regalia are the sovereign's to dispense; to lend them to others is to yield power—and when power is lost, the state follows. Di lately governed Xiang and Han, slaughtered the innocent, and indulged in open brutality. He moved troops between Xiang and Deng, intimidated the court, detained an exiled official on his own authority, and brazenly obstructed an imperial envoy. At the start of the previous reign, the court prized pacifying unrest to settle the realm. He narrowly escaped execution, died with his neck intact, and ought to receive the posthumous name Miu Li to deter the wicked—how can a flattering name be granted to reward a villain? If so, Di was a traitor in life yet receives a flattering name in death; I fear discerning men everywhere will conclude that the court has no one left to uphold standards. I humbly beg Your Majesty to revoke the recent edict and restore the Court of Rites' posthumous name Li, so court precedent remains intact and state honor is not debased.
10
太常博士王彥威又疏曰：
Court of Rites academician Wang Yanwei also submitted a memorial:
11
古之聖王立謚法者，所以彰善惡、垂勸誡。 使一字之褒，賞逾紱冕； 一言之貶，辱過朝市。 此有國之典禮，陛下勸懲之大柄也。 頔頃擁節旄，肆行暴虐，人神共憤，法令不容。 擅興全師，僭為正樂，侵辱中使，擅止制囚，殺戮不辜，誅求無度，臣故定謚為厲。 今陛下不忍，改賜為「思」，誠出聖慈，實害聖政。 伏以陛下自臨宸扆，懋建大中，聞善若驚，從諫不倦。 況當統天立極之始，所謂執法慎名之時，一垂恩光，大啟僥幸。 且如頔之不法，然而陛下不忍加懲，臣恐今後不逞之徒如頔者眾矣！ 死援頔例，陛下何以處之？ 是恩曲於前而弊生於後。 若以李吉甫有賜謚之例，則甫之為相也，有犯上殺人之罪乎？ 以頔況之，恐非倫類。 如以頔常入財助國，改過來覲，兩使絕域，可以贖論，夫傷物害人，剝下奉上，納賄求幸，尤不可長其漸焉。
The sage kings of antiquity established posthumous naming to distinguish good from evil and leave lasting lessons behind. So that a single word of praise outweighed robes and caps in reward; and a single word of censure brought disgrace worse than public shame in the marketplace. This is a state's canonical ritual and Your Majesty's chief instrument of reward and warning. Di lately held military command and indulged in open brutality until men and spirits alike were outraged and the law could no longer tolerate him. He mobilized whole armies on his own authority, presumptuously performed state music, insulted palace envoys, detained imperial prisoners, slaughtered the innocent, and extorted without limit—I therefore fixed his posthumous name as Li. Now Your Majesty, moved by compassion, has changed it to Si—a kindness in intent, but a harm to governance in fact. Since Your Majesty took the throne, you have vigorously pursued the Great Central ideal, welcomed good counsel eagerly, and never wearied of remonstrance. At the very start of your reign—the time when law and honor must be guarded most strictly—a single act of mercy opens wide the door to presumption. If one as lawless as Di goes unpunished because Your Majesty cannot bear it, I fear many more like him will follow! When the dead cite Di's precedent, how will Your Majesty answer them? This bends mercy in the present only to breed harm afterward. If one cites Li Jifu's precedent of a granted posthumous name, did Jifu as chief minister ever commit crimes of treason and murder? Compared with Di, I fear they are not in the same category at all. If Di's occasional gifts to the state, his belated court appearance, and his service as envoy to distant lands are held to redeem him, consider still that harming the people, stripping the poor to enrich the throne, and buying favor with bribes must never be encouraged to spread.
12
自兩河宿兵，垂七十年，王師憓征，瘡磐未息。 及張茂昭以易定入覲，程權以滄景歸朝，故恩禮殊尤，以勸來者。 而於頔以文吏之職，居腹心之地，而倔強犯命，不獲已而入朝，豈茂昭之比乎！ 縱有入財使遠之勤，何以掩其惡跡！ 伏望陛下恩由義斷，澤以禮成，褒貶道存，僥幸路絕，則天下幸甚。
For nearly seventy years troops had been stationed in the two He regions; imperial campaigns came one after another, yet the wounds of war had not healed. When Zhang Maozhao came to court from Yi and Ding and Cheng Quan returned from Cang and Jing, the court lavished exceptional honors to encourage others to follow. Yet Di, a civil official holding a post in the empire's heartland, had defied the throne and come to court only under compulsion—how can he be compared to Maozhao! Even if his gifts and embassies to distant lands counted as merit, how could they cover his crimes! I humbly beg Your Majesty to let mercy follow righteousness and favor be bounded by ritual, so praise and blame retain their force and presumption finds no path—the realm would be greatly fortunate indeed.
13
疏奏不報，竟謚為思。
The memorials went unanswered; in the end the posthumous name Si stood.
14
長慶中，以戚裏勛家諸貴引用於方，復至和王傅，家富於財。 方交結遊俠，務於速進。 元稹作相，欲以其策平河朔群盜，方以策畫幹稹。 而李逢吉之黨欲傾裴度，乃令人告稹欲結客刺度。 事下法司，按鞫無狀，而方竟坐誅。
During the Changqing reign, connections among the imperial in-laws brought Fang back as tutor of the Prince of He; his household was very wealthy. Fang cultivated ties with wandering swordsmen and pressed for rapid advancement. When Yuan Zhen became chief minister, he hoped to use Fang's plans to pacify the Hebei bandits; Fang pressed his schemes upon Zhen. But Li Fengji's faction, seeking to destroy Pei Du, had someone accuse Zhen of plotting to hire assassins against Du. The case went to the courts; investigation found no proof, yet Fang was executed nonetheless.
15
韓弘，潁川人。 其祖、父無聞，世居滑之匡城。 少孤，依母族。 劉玄佐即其舅也。 事玄佐為州掾，累奏試大理評事。 玄佐卒，子士寧被逐。 弘出汴州，為宋州南城將。 劉全諒時為都知兵馬使。 貞元十五年，全諒卒，汴軍懷玄佐之惠，又以弘長厚，共請為留後，環監軍使請表其事，朝廷亦以玄佐故許之。 自試大理評事檢校工部尚書、汴州刺史，兼御史大夫、宣武軍節度副大使知節度事、宋亳汴潁觀察等使。
Han Hong came from Yingchuan. Nothing is recorded of his grandfather and father; the family had long lived at Kuangcheng in Hua Prefecture. Orphaned in youth, he was raised by his mother's family. Liu Xuanzuo was his uncle on his mother's side. He served Xuanzuo as a prefectural aide and was repeatedly nominated for trial appointment as Grand Court Assessor. When Xuanzuo died, his son Shinning was driven from office. Hong left Bianzhou and became commander of the southern garrison at Songzhou. At that time Liu Quanliang was director of military affairs at Bian. In 799 Quanliang died; the Bian troops, remembering Xuanzuo's kindness and finding Hong steady and generous, asked that he be made acting military governor; supervisor Huan memorialized the court, which approved the request out of regard for Xuanzuo. From trial Grand Court Assessor he rose to Acting Minister of Works and prefect of Bian, also serving as censor-in-chief, vice military governor of the Xuanwu army with full command authority, and surveillance commissioner of Song, Bo, Bian, and Ying.
16
時吳少誠遣人至汴，密與劉全諒謀，因曲環卒襲陳許。 會全諒卒，其人在傳舍，弘喜獲節鉞，即斬其人以聞。 立出軍三千，助禁軍共討少誠。 汴州自劉士寧之後，軍益驕恣，及陸長源遇害，頗輕主帥。 其為亂魁黨數十百人。 弘視事數月，皆知其人。 有部將劉鍔者，兇卒之魁也。 弘欲大振威望。 一日，引短兵於衙門，召鍔與其黨三百，數其罪，盡斬之以徇，血流道中。 弘對賓僚言笑自若。 自是訖弘入朝，二十余年，軍眾十萬，無敢怙亂者。 累授檢校左右僕射、司空。 憲宗即位，加同平章事。 時王鍔檢校司空、平章事。 致書於宰臣武元衡，恥在王鍔之下。 憲宗方欲用形勢以臨淮西，乃授以司徒、平章事，班在鍔上。 及用嚴綬為招討，為賊所敗，弘方鎮汴州，當兩河賊之沖要，朝廷慮其異志，欲以兵柄授之，而令李光顏、烏重胤實當旗鼓。 乃授弘淮西諸軍行營都統，令兵部郎中、知制誥李程宣賜官告。 弘實不離理所，唯令其子公武率師三千隸李光顏軍。 弘雖居統帥，常不欲諸軍立功，陰為逗撓之計。 每聞獻捷，輒數日不怡，其危國邀功如是。 吳元濟誅，以統帥功，加檢校司徒、兼侍中，封許國公，罷行營都統。
Wu Shaocheng then sent agents to Bian to plot secretly with Quanliang for a raid on Chen and Xu when Qu Huan died. Quanliang died just then; the plotters were at the relay station; Hong, delighted to secure command, beheaded them at once and reported to the court. He immediately dispatched three thousand troops to join the imperial guard in campaigning against Shaocheng. Since Liu Shinning's time the Bian troops had grown ever more arrogant; after Lu Changyuan was murdered, they openly despised their commanders. Several dozen to a hundred men led the disorder. Within months of taking office, Hong knew them all by name. One subordinate, Liu E, was chief among the violent troops. Hong wished to restore his authority decisively. One day he posted guards at the yamen gate, summoned E and his three hundred followers, recited their crimes, and executed them all in public; blood ran in the street. Hong chatted and laughed with his staff as if nothing had happened. For more than twenty years thereafter, until Hong came to court, none among his hundred thousand troops dared stir disorder again. He was repeatedly promoted to acting vice director and Minister of Works. When Xianzong ascended the throne, Hong was made associate grand councilor. At that time Wang E held the posts of acting Minister of Works and grand councilor. He wrote to chief minister Wu Yuanheng, protesting that he should not rank below Wang E. Xianzong, preparing to bring pressure on Huai West, appointed him Minister of Education and grand councilor, ranking above Wang E. When Yan Shou was appointed campaign commander and defeated, Hong still held Bianzhou at the strategic junction of the Hebei rebels; the court feared disloyalty and wished to give him nominal command while Li Guangyan and Wu Chongyin led the actual fighting. Hong was appointed overall commander of the Huai West campaign armies, and Li Cheng of the Ministry of War was sent to deliver the commission. Hong in fact never left his headquarters, sending only his son Gongwu with three thousand men to serve under Li Guangyan. Though nominal commander, Hong often did not want the armies to win victories and secretly worked to delay and obstruct them. Whenever news of victory arrived, he was displeased for days—such was his willingness to endanger the state for his own advantage. When Wu Yuanji was executed, Hong was promoted to acting Minister of Education and palace attendant, enfeoffed as Duke of Xu, and relieved of campaign command.
17
十四年，誅李師道，收復河南二州，弘大懼。 其年七月，盡攜汴之牙校千餘人入覲。 對於便殿，拜舞之際，以其足疾，命中使掖之。 宴賜加等，預冊徽號大禮。 進絹三十五萬匹、騑三萬匹、銀器二百七十件。 三上章堅辭戎務，願留京師奉朝請。 詔曰：
In 819 Li Shidao was executed and two Henan prefectures recovered; Hong was deeply alarmed. That July he brought more than a thousand Bian staff officers to court. Received in the informal hall, he was supported by a palace envoy during his bow because of a foot ailment. He received banquets and gifts of the highest grade and took part in the ceremony proclaiming the emperor's honorific title. He presented 350,000 bolts of silk, 30,000 horses, and 270 pieces of silverware. Three times he memorialized to resign military duties and remain in the capital as a court attendant. An edict read:
18
納大忠，樹嘉績，為臣所以明極節； 錫殊寵，進高秩，有國所以待元臣。 況乎邦教誕敷，王言總會，百辟攸憲，四方式瞻。 永念於懷，久虛其位，載揚成命，僉曰休哉。
Receiving great loyalty and establishing fine achievements—this is how a minister shows utmost integrity; bestowing special favor and advancing to high rank—this is how a state honors its foremost ministers. When state teaching spreads abroad and royal words gather the court, the hundred officials take their model from it and the four quarters look on in hope. Long kept in mind, long vacant—now the completed appointment is proclaimed, and all say it is excellent.
19
宣武軍節度副大使知節度事、汴宋亳潁等州觀察處置等使、開府儀同三司、守司徒、兼侍中、使持節汴州諸軍事、汴州刺史、上柱國、許國公、食邑三千戶韓弘，降神挺材，積厚成器； 中蘊深閎之量，外標嚴重之姿。 有匡國濟時之心，推誠不耀； 有夷兇禁暴之略，仗義益彰。 自鎮浚郊，二十余載，師徒稟訓而鹹肅，吏士奉法而愈明。 俗臻和平，人用庶富，威聲之重，隱若山崇。
Han Hong, vice military governor of the Xuanwu army with full command authority, surveillance commissioner of Bian, Song, Bo, and Ying, Grand Master of the Court, acting Minister of Education and palace attendant, commissioner for Bian military affairs, prefect of Bian, Supreme Pillar of the State, Duke of Xu with a fief of three thousand households—heaven-sent talent, long cultivation made whole; Within he held deep and vast capacity; outwardly he bore stern and weighty dignity. He had a heart to save the state and aid the age, sincere without display; he had stratagems to pacify the vicious and restrain violence, and his righteousness shone all the brighter. Governing the Bian region for more than twenty years, his troops were trained into discipline and his officials grew ever more law-abiding. Peace prevailed, the people prospered, and his prestige loomed like a mountain.
20
屬者，淮濆濯征，命統群帥，克殄殘孽，惟乃有指蹤之功。 及齊境興妖，分師進討，遂梟元惡，惟乃有略地之效。 既聞旋旆，俄請執珪，深陳魏闕之誠，遠繼韓侯之誌。 朝天有慶，就日方伸。 又抗表章，固辭戎旅，三加敦諭，所守彌堅。 於蕃於宣，諒切於註意； 我弼我輔，難違其衷懇。 式遂良願，載兼上司。 論道之榮，因之以齊八政； 中樞之長，升之以贊萬務。 玄袞赤舄，備於寵光； 不有其人，孰膺斯任？ 可守司徒、兼中書令。
Recently, when the Huai region was swept by war, he was ordered to command the allied generals and helped exterminate the rebels—his merit lay in directing the campaign. When rebellion rose on the Qi border and armies advanced, the chief villain was beheaded—his merit lay in securing territory. When victory banners returned, he soon asked to present his jade tablet, declaring his loyalty to the throne and following the example of Marquis Han of old. He came to court in celebration; his purpose found its day. Again he memorialized to resign military duties; three times the court urged him on, yet he held all the firmer to his request. In Fan and in Xuan, truly earnest in his attention; my assistant and support—it is hard to refuse his heartfelt plea. Thus his wish is granted; he is also given charge of the chief ministry. The glory of discussing the Way, thereby to align the eight policies of state; head of the central pivot, elevated to assist in the myriad affairs of state. Dark robes and red shoes, complete in favor and glory; Without such a man, who could undertake this charge? He is appointed Minister of Education and Director of the Secretariat.
21
乃以吏部尚書張弘靖兼平章事，代弘鎮宣武。
Minister of Personnel Zhang Hongjing was made associate grand councilor to replace Hong as military governor of Xuanwu.
22
憲宗崩，以弘攝冢宰。 十五年六月，以本官兼河中尹、河中晉絳節度觀察等使。 時弘弟充為鄭滑節度使，子公武為鄜坊節度使。 父子兄弟，皆秉節鉞，人臣之寵，冠絕一時。 二年，請老乞罷戎鎮，三表從之。 依前守司徒、中書令。 其年十二月病卒，時年五十八。 贈太尉，賻絹二千匹、布七百端、米粟千碩。
When Xianzong died, Hong served as acting grand minister. In the sixth month of 820, while retaining his existing posts, he was also made prefect of Hezhong and military governor of Hezhong, Jin, and Jiang. At that time Hong's brother Chong was military governor of Zheng and Hua, and his son Gongwu was military governor of Fu and Fang. Father, sons, and brothers all held military commands—the favor shown a subject had no parallel in that age. In the second year he petitioned three times to retire from military command; the court granted his request. He retained his posts as Minister of Education and Director of the Secretariat. He died of illness that December, aged fifty-eight. He was posthumously made Grand Commandant; funeral gifts included two thousand bolts of silk, seven hundred bolts of cloth, and a thousand dan of grain.
23
初，弘鎮大梁二十餘載，四州征賦皆為己有，未嘗上供。 有私錢百萬貫、粟三百萬斛、馬七千匹，兵械稱是。 專務聚財積粟，峻法樹威。 而莊重寡言，沈謀勇斷，鄰封如吳少誠、李師道輩皆憚之。 詔使宣諭，弘多倨待。 及齊、蔡賊平，勢屈入覲，兩朝寵待加等，弘竟以名位始終，人臣之幸也。 時公武已卒，弘孫紹宗嗣。
For more than twenty years Hong governed Bian; the tax revenues of four prefectures were kept for himself and never sent to the court. He held private cash of a million strings, three million hu of grain, seven thousand horses, and military equipment to match. He devoted himself to amassing wealth and grain and used harsh law to establish his authority. Yet he was grave and sparing of words, deep in counsel and bold in decision; neighbors such as Wu Shaocheng and Li Shidao all feared him. When imperial envoys came with edicts, Hong often treated them arrogantly. When the Qi and Cai rebels were pacified, his power broken, he came to court; both reigns lavished favor on him, and Hong kept rank and title to the end—the rare fortune of a subject. Gongwu had already died; Hong's grandson Shaozong succeeded him.
24
公武自宣武馬步都虞候將兵誅蔡，賊平，檢校右散騎常侍、鄜州刺史、鄜坊等州節度使。 丁所生憂，起復金吾將軍，仍舊職。 十四年，父弘入朝，公武乞罷節度，入為右金吾將軍。 既而弘出鎮河中，季父充移鎮宣武，公武嘆曰：「二父聯居重鎮，吾以孺子當執金吾職，家門之盛，懼不克勝。」 堅辭宿衛，改右驍衛將軍。 性頗恭遜，不以富貴自處。 弘罷河中，居崇裏第； 公武居宣陽裏之北門，因省父，無疾暴卒，贈戶部尚書。
Gongwu, as Xuanwu cavalry and infantry director, led troops against Cai; when the rebels were pacified, he was made acting Right Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, prefect of Fu, and military governor of Fu and Fang. After mourning for his birth mother, he was recalled from mourning as Golden Guard General and retained his former post. In 819, when his father Hong came to court, Gongwu asked to resign his command and entered office as Right Golden Guard General. When Hong took command at Hezhong and his uncle Chong at Xuanwu, Gongwu sighed: "Two elders hold great commands while I, a mere youth, hold the Golden Guard post—the family's glory may be more than I can bear. He firmly declined palace guard duty and was reassigned as Right Valiant Cavalry General. By nature he was respectful and modest and did not comport himself as one of great wealth and rank. When Hong left Hezhong, he lived in a mansion on Chong Lane; Gongwu lived at the north gate of Xuanyang Lane; while visiting his father he died suddenly without prior illness and was posthumously made Minister of Revenue.
25
充依舅劉玄佐，歷河陽、昭義牙將。 及兄弘節制宣武，召歸主親兵，奏授御史大夫。 弘頗酷法，人人不自保。 充獨謙恭執禮，未嘗懈怠，由是遍得士心。 然以親逼權重，常不自安。 元和六年，因獵近郊，單騎歸於洛陽。 時朝廷方姑息弘，亦憐充之無異志，擢拜右金吾衛將軍。 十二月，轉大將軍，歷少府監。 十五年，代侄公武為鄜坊節度使、檢校工部尚書。
Chong relied on his uncle Liu Xuanzuo and served as a garrison officer at Heyang and Zhaoyi. When his brother Hong governed Xuanwu, he was recalled to command the personal guard and memorialized for appointment as censor-in-chief. Hong's rule was harsh, and no one felt safe. Chong alone remained humble and courteous, never slackening in duty, and thus won the loyalty of the troops throughout the command. Yet as a close kinsman wielding great authority, he often felt uneasy in his position. In the sixth year of Yuanhe (811), while hunting near the suburbs, he rode alone back to Luoyang. The court was still conciliating Hong and, believing Chong had no designs of his own, promoted him to general of the Right Gold Crow Guard. In the twelfth month he was made grand general and subsequently served as director of the palace stores. In the fifteenth year (820) he replaced his nephew Gongwu as military governor of Fufang, with the acting title Minister of Works.
26
長慶二年，幽、鎮、魏復亂。 朝廷以王承元有冀卒數千在滑州，恐封疆相接，復相勸誘。 命充與承元更換所守，檢校左僕射。 是歲，汴州節度使李願被三軍所逐，立都將李絺既為留後。 朝廷以充久在汴州，從心悅附，命充為宣武節度使，兼統義成之師往討絺。 會絺疽發腦，屬兵於紀綱李質。 質以計誅首亂，送絺歸京師。 充遂不戰而入大梁。 時陳許李光顏亦奉詔討絺，軍於尉氏，意欲必先收汴，因大肆俘掠。 汴州監軍使姚文壽亦欲招許下之師。 充在中牟聞其謀，率眾徑至城下。 汴人素懷充來，皆踴躍相賀，無復疑貳。 詔加檢校司空。 詔割潁州隸滑州。 充既安堵，密籍部伍間，得嘗構惡者千余人。 一日下令，並父母妻子立出之，敢逡巡境內者斬！ 自是軍政大理，汴人無不愛戴。
In the second year of Changqing (822), the You, Zhen, and Wei regions rebelled again. Wang Chengyuan still had several thousand Hebei troops at Hua Prefecture; fearing the adjacent commands might incite one another again, the court sought to rearrange them. Chong was ordered to exchange posts with Chengyuan and was named acting Left Vice Director. That year the Bianzhou troops ousted Military Governor Li Yuan and installed Commander Li Chi as acting governor. Because Chong had long served at Bian and the men were loyal to him, the court appointed him Xuanwu military governor and ordered him to lead the Yicheng troops against Chi. Chi developed a carbuncle on his head and entrusted the troops to his senior staff officer Li Zhi. Zhi devised a plan to execute the ringleaders and sent Chi back to the capital. Chong entered the capital of the circuit, Daliang, without a fight. Li Guangyan of Chenxu had also been ordered against Chi and encamped at Weishi, intending to seize Bian first and consequently plundering the countryside freely. Yao Wenshou, the Bianzhou army supervisor, also tried to draw in the Chenxu army. Hearing of this at Zhongmou, Chong marched straight to the city with his troops. The people of Bian had long awaited Chong's arrival; they welcomed him with jubilation, and all doubts vanished. He was promoted to acting Minister of Works by edict. Ying Prefecture was transferred by edict from Bian's jurisdiction to Hua Prefecture. Once order was restored, Chong quietly compiled a roll of the ranks and identified more than a thousand men who had previously stirred trouble. He issued an order one day expelling them together with their parents, wives, and children, on penalty of death for anyone who lingered within the circuit. Thereafter military and civil administration were brought to good order, and the people of Bian came to esteem him universally.
27
四年八月，例加司徒。 詔未至，暴疾卒，時年五十五。 贈司徒，謚曰肅。 充雖內外皆將家，素不事豪侈，常以簡約自持。 臨機決策，動無遺悔，善將者多之。
In the eighth month of the fourth year (824), he was promoted to Grand Minister by routine precedence. Before the edict arrived, he died of a sudden illness at the age of fifty-five. He was posthumously honored as Grand Minister with the posthumous name Su ("Solemn"). Though born into a military family on both sides, Chong never indulged in luxury and always held to a plain, restrained life. He decided boldly in the moment and never looked back with regret; capable commanders widely praised him.
28
李質者，汴之牙將。 李絺既為留後，倚質為心腹。 及朝廷以絺為郡守，誌邀節鉞，質勸喻不從。 會絺疽發首，乃與監軍姚文壽謀，斬絺傳首京師。 有詔以韓充鎮汴。 充未至，質權知軍州事。 使衙牙兵二千人，皆日給酒食，物力為之損屈。 充將至，質曰：「若韓公始至，頓去二千人日膳，人情必大去； 若不除之，後當無繼。 不可留此弊以遺吾帥。」 遂處分停日膳而後迎充。 召為金吾將軍，長慶三年四月卒。
Li Zhi was a staff guard officer at Bian. Once Li Chi became acting governor, he relied on Zhi as his closest confidant. When the court named Chi a civil prefect, Chi still aspired to retain the commander's seal and staff; Zhi counseled him repeatedly, but he refused to listen. When a carbuncle broke out on Chi's head, Zhi plotted with Army Supervisor Yao Wenshou to kill Chi and send his head to the capital. An edict appointed Han Chong military governor of Bian. Before Chong arrived, Zhi served as acting military and civil governor. Two thousand yamen guard troops received daily rations of food and wine, draining the command's resources. As Chong's arrival neared, Zhi said, "If Lord Han arrives and suddenly cuts off daily rations for two thousand men, morale will collapse; but if we do not end it, there will be no way to sustain it later. We cannot leave this abuse for our new commander to inherit. He abolished the daily rations and then welcomed Chong in. He was recalled to serve as a Gold Crow Guard general and died in the fourth month of the third year of Changqing (823).
29
王智興，字匡諫，懷州溫縣人也。 曾祖靖，左武衛將軍。 祖瑰，右金吾衛將軍。 父縉，太子詹事。
Wang Zhixing, styled Kuangjian, was a native of Wen County in Huai Prefecture. His great-grandfather Jing served as general of the Left Martial Guard. His grandfather Gui was general of the Right Gold Crow Guard. His father Jin served as grand guardian of the heir apparent.
30
智興少驍銳，為徐州衙卒，事刺史李洧。 及李納謀叛，欲害洧。 洧遂以徐州歸國。 納怒，以兵攻徐甚急。 智興健行，不四五日賫表京師求援。 德宗發朔方軍五千人隨智興赴之，淄青圍解。 自是，智興常以徐軍抗納，累歷滕、豐、沛、狄四鎮將。 自是二十余年為徐將。
In youth Zhixing was bold and keen; he served as a Xu Prefecture yamen soldier under Prefect Li Wei. When Li Na plotted rebellion, he sought Wei's life. Wei thereupon submitted Xu Prefecture to the Tang court. Enraged, Na pressed the siege of Xu with great force. Zhixing was a strong runner; within four or five days he carried memorials swiftly to the capital seeking relief. Dezong sent five thousand Shuo-fang troops with Zhixing to the rescue, and the Ziqing siege was broken. Thereafter Zhixing led Xu troops against Na and in turn commanded the garrisons at Teng, Feng, Pei, and Di. For more than twenty years thereafter he served as a Xu commander.
31
元和中，王師誅吳元濟，李師道與蔡賊謀撓沮王師，頻出軍侵徐，徐帥李願以所部步騎悉委智興以抗之。 鄆將王朝晏以兵攻沛，智興擊敗之。 賊又令姚海率勁兵二萬圍豐，攻城甚急。 智興復擊敗之。 於賊壁獲美妾，智興懼軍士爭之，乃曰：「軍中有女子，安得不敗？ 此雖無罪，違軍法也。」 即斬之以徇。 累官至侍御史、本軍都押衙。
During the Yuanhe reign, after imperial forces killed Wu Yuanji, Li Shidao joined the Cai rebels in harassing the court's armies and repeatedly raided Xu; Military Governor Li Yuan put all his infantry and cavalry under Zhixing to repel them. Yan commander Wang Chaoyan attacked Pei; Zhixing routed him. The rebels next sent Yao Hai with twenty thousand elite troops to besiege Feng in a fierce assault. Zhixing defeated them again. After capturing a beautiful woman in the enemy camp, Zhixing feared the troops would fight over her and said, "An army that keeps women cannot help but be defeated. Though she is innocent, this violates military law. He beheaded her on the spot as an example. He rose to palace censor and chief superintendent of the circuit army.
32
十三年，王師誅李師道，智興率徐軍八千會諸道之師進擊。 與陳許之軍大破賊於金鄉，拔魚臺，俘斬萬計，以功遷御史中丞。 賊平，授沂州刺史。
In the thirteenth year (818), after imperial forces killed Li Shidao, Zhixing led eight thousand Xu troops to join the allied armies in the advance. With the Chenxu army he routed the rebels at Jinxiang, took Yutai, and killed or captured tens of thousands; for this he was promoted to censor-in-chief. After the rebellion was suppressed, he was appointed prefect of Yi Prefecture.
33
長慶初，河朔復亂，征兵進討。 穆宗素知智興善將，遷檢校左散騎常侍、兼御史大夫，充武寧軍節度副使、河北行營都知兵馬使。
Early in the Changqing reign, Hebei erupted in rebellion again, and the court mobilized troops for a punitive campaign. Muzong, knowing Zhixing's skill as a commander, promoted him to acting left regular attendant and censor grandee, made him vice military governor of the Wuning Army, and named him chief controller of the Hebei field headquarters.
34
初，召智興以徐軍三千渡河，徐之勁卒皆在部下。 節度使崔群慮其旋軍難制，密表請追赴闕，授以他官。 事未行，會赦王廷湊，諸道班師。 智興先期入境，群頗憂疑，令府僚迎勞，且誡之曰：「兵士悉輸甲仗於外，副使以十騎入城。」 智興既首處，賓僚聞之心動，率歸師斬關而入，殺軍中異己者十余人。 然後詣衛謝群曰：「此軍情也。」 群治裝赴闕，智興遣兵士援送群家屬至埇橋。 遂掠鹽鐵院緡幣及汴路進奉物，商旅貲貨，率十取七八。 逐濠州刺史侯弘度。 弘度棄城走。 朝廷以罷兵，力不能加討，遂授智興檢校工部尚書、徐州刺史、御史大夫，充武寧軍節度、徐泗濠觀察使。 自是智興務積財賄，以賂權勢，賈其聲譽，用度不足，稅泗口以裒益之。 累加至檢校僕射、司空。
At first Zhixing was ordered to cross the river with three thousand Xu troops, bringing with him the circuit's best soldiers. Military Governor Cui Qun feared Zhixing would be hard to control once his troops returned, and secretly memorialized the court to recall him and give him another post. Before the plan could be enacted, Wang Tingcou was pardoned and the allied armies withdrew. Zhixing entered the circuit ahead of his troops. Anxious and suspicious, Qun sent staff to welcome him and instructed: "All soldiers must deposit their arms outside the city; the vice governor may enter with only ten mounted escorts. Zhixing had already taken the lead. When his officers heard Qun's instructions, they were incensed; they led the returning troops, forced the gates, and killed more than ten officers who opposed them. He then went to headquarters and apologized to Qun: "This was the will of the troops. Qun packed to leave for the capital; Zhixing sent troops to escort Qun's family as far as Yongqiao. He then plundered the salt and iron commission's funds, tribute goods bound for the capital along the Bian route, and merchants' cargo, taking seven or eight tenths of everything. He drove out Hou Hongdu, prefect of Hao Prefecture. Hou Hongdu abandoned the city and fled. With the armies stood down and unable to punish him by force, the court appointed Zhixing acting Minister of Works, prefect of Xu, and censor grandee, with full command as military governor of Wuning and commissioner over Xu, Si, and Hao. Thereafter Zhixing amassed wealth to bribe the powerful and buy reputation; when funds ran short, he levied taxes at the Si Estuary to make up the deficit. He was promoted in stages to acting vice director and Minister of Works.
35
太和初，李同捷據滄德叛，智興上章，請躬督士卒討賊。 從之。 乃出全軍三萬，自備五月糧餉，朝廷嘉之。 加檢校司徒、同平章事，兼滄德行營招撫使。 初，同捷狂桀犯命，濟之以王廷湊，王師經年無功。 及智興拔棣州，賊大懼，諸軍稍務進取。 以智興首功，加守太傅，封雁門郡王。 賊平入朝，上賜宴麟德殿，賞賜珍玩名馬，進位侍中，改許州刺史、忠武軍節度、陳許蔡等州觀察使。
Early in the Taihe reign, Li Tongjie rebelled and held Cang and De; Zhixing memorialized the throne asking to lead the troops in person against the rebels. The request was granted. He marched with his full force of thirty thousand men and provisions for five months at his own expense; the court applauded the effort. He was promoted to acting grand minister and associate grand councilor, and named pacification commissioner of the Cangde field headquarters. At first Tongjie's defiance was sustained by aid from Ji and Wang Tingcou, and imperial campaigns had failed for years. When Zhixing captured Di Prefecture, the rebels were terrified and the allied armies began pressing forward in earnest. For the leading share of the victory, he was made defender grand tutor and enfeoffed as Prince of Yanmen. After the rebellion was crushed he went to court; the emperor feasted him at the Hall of Qilin Virtue, rewarded him with rare treasures and fine horses, promoted him to palace attendant, and transferred him to Xu Prefecture as military governor of Zhongwu and commissioner over Chen, Xu, Cai, and neighboring prefectures.
36
太和七年，改授河中尹、河中節度、晉磁隰觀察等使。 智興因入朝。 九年五月，改汴州刺史、宣武軍節度、宋亳汴潁觀察等使。
In the seventh year of Taihe (833) he was reassigned as prefect of Hezhong, military governor of the Hezhong circuit, and commissioner over Jin, Ci, Xi, and neighboring prefectures. Zhixing went to court on the transfer. In the fifth month of the ninth year (835) he was transferred to Bian as military governor of Xuanwu and commissioner over Song, Bo, Bian, Ying, and neighboring prefectures.
37
開成元年七月卒，年七十九。 贈太尉，不視朝三日。 葬於洛陽榆林之北原，四鎮將校會葬者千人。
He died in the seventh month of the first year of Kaicheng (836) at the age of seventy-nine. He was posthumously honored as grand commandant, and the emperor suspended court for three days. He was buried on the northern plain of Yulin outside Luoyang; a thousand garrison officers from his former commands attended the funeral.
38
智興九子：晏平、晏宰、晏臯、晏實、晏恭、晏逸、晏深、晏斌、晏韜，而晏平、晏宰最知名。
Zhixing had nine sons—Yanping, Yanzai, Yangao, Yanshi, Yangong, Yanyi, Yanshen, Yanbin, and Yantao—of whom Yanping and Yanzai were the best known.
39
晏平幼從父征伐，以討李同捷功，授檢校右散騎常侍、靈州大都督府長史、朔方靈鹽節度。 丁父憂，奔歸洛陽。 晏平居官貪黷，去鎮日，擅將征馬四百余匹及兵仗七千事自衛，為憲司所糾。 減死，長流康州。 以父喪，未赴流所，告於河北三鎮。 三帥上表救解，請從昭雪，改授撫州司馬。 給事中韋溫、薛廷老、盧弘宣封還制書，改永州司戶。 韋溫又執不下，文宗令中使宣諭方行。
Yanping campaigned with his father from youth and, for his service against Li Tongjie, was appointed acting right regular attendant, chief administrator of the Lingzhou protectorate, and military governor of Shuofang Ling and Salt. When his father died, he rushed home to Luoyang for mourning. Yanping was corrupt in office; on leaving his post he took more than four hundred requisitioned horses and seven thousand weapons for his escort and was impeached by the censorate. His sentence was reduced from death to permanent exile in Kang Prefecture. Citing his father's mourning, he failed to report to exile and appealed instead to the three Hebei commanders. All three commanders memorialized the court to spare him and clear his name; he was reassigned instead as administrator of Fuzhou. Attendants-in-Ordinary Wei Wen, Xue Tinglao, and Lu Hongxuan sealed and returned the edict; Yanping was reassigned as registrar of Yongzhou. Wei Wen again refused to release it until Emperor Wenzong sent a palace envoy with instructions.
40
晏宰於昆仲間最稱偉器，大中後，歷上黨、太原節度使。 扞回鶻、党項，屢立邊功。
Among the brothers Yanzai was regarded as the most capable; after the Dazhong reign he served in turn as military governor of Shangdang and Taiyuan. He repelled the Uyghurs and Tangut and won repeated victories on the frontier.
41
晏臯仕至左威衛將軍。
Yangao rose to general of the Left Majestic Guard.
42
史臣曰：於燕公以儒家子，逢時擾攘，不持士範，非義非俠，健者不為，末塗淪躓，固其宜矣。 韓、王二帥，乘險蹈利，犯上無君，豺狼噬人，鵂鹠幸夜，爵祿過當，其可已乎？ 謂之功臣，恐多慚色。
The historian writes: Yu Di of Yan, a Confucian by training, lived in turbulent times yet abandoned the scholar's code, doing what was neither righteous nor brave; that he stumbled to ruin in the end was only fitting. The commanders Han and Wang seized every advantage, defied their sovereign, preyed on the people like wolves, and flourished like owls in the dark—can such excessive honors ever be justified? To call them meritorious servants of the state would be a blush upon the court itself.
43
贊曰：於子清狂，輕犯彜章。 韓虐王剽，專恣一方。 元和赫斯，揮劍披攘。 擇肉之倫，爪距摧藏。
In summary: Yu Di was proud and reckless, lightly trampling the laws of the realm. Han was cruel and Wang rapacious; each tyrannized his region alone. Under the august Yuanhe reign, the court brandished the sword and swept rebellion aside. Those beasts that fed on the realm had their claws and spurs broken at last.