1
孟簡
Meng Jian
2
孟簡，字幾道，平昌人。 天後時同州刺史詵之孫。 工詩有名。 擢進士第，登宏辭科，累官至倉部員外郎。 戶部侍郎王叔文竊政，簡為子司，多不附之； 叔文惡之雖甚，亦不至擯斥。 尋遷司封郎中。 元和四年，超拜諫議大夫，知匭事。 簡明於內典。 六年，詔與給事中劉伯芻、工部侍郎歸登、右補闕蕭俛等，同就醴泉佛寺翻譯《大乘本生心地觀經》，簡最擅其理。
Meng Jian, whose style name was Jidao, was from Pingchang. He was the grandson of Shen, prefect of Tongzhou during the reign of Empress Wu. He was skilled in poetry and enjoyed a fine reputation. He passed the jinshi examination and the Hongci examination, and rose through the ranks to vice director in the Ministry of Revenue. When Vice Minister of Revenue Wang Shuwen seized power, Jian served as his subordinate registrar but often refused to support him; though Shuwen deeply resented him, he never went so far as to drive him from office. He was soon promoted to director in the Ministry of Rites. In the fourth year of Yuanhe (809), he was promoted out of turn to remonstrance grandee and placed in charge of the petition boxes. Jian was well versed in Buddhist scriptures. In the sixth year (811), an edict ordered him, together with supervising secretary Liu Boxu, vice minister of works Gui Deng, and right remonstrance supplementer Xiao Mian, to translate the Mahayana Sutra of the Mind-Ground of the Original Cause at Liquan Buddhist Temple; Jian proved most adept at its doctrines.
3
王承宗叛，詔以吐突承璀為招討使。 簡抗疏論之，坐語訐，出為常州刺史。 八年，就加金紫光祿大夫。 簡始到郡，開古孟瀆，長四十一里，灌溉沃壤四千余頃，為廉使舉其課績，是有就加之命。 是歲，征拜為給事中。 九年，出為越州刺史、兼御史中丞、浙東觀察使。 承李遜抑遏士族、恣縱編戶之後，及簡為政，一皆反之，而農估多受其弊，當時以為兩未可也。 十二年，入為戶部侍郎。 十三年，代崔元略為御史中丞，仍兼戶部侍郎。 是歲，出為襄州刺史、山南東道節度使。 十四年，敕於谷城縣置群牧，命曰「臨漢監」，令簡充使。 簡奏請均州鄖鄉縣鎮遏使趙潔充本縣令，臺司奏有虧刑典，罰一月俸。 是歲，改授太子賓客，分司東都。 十五年，穆宗即位，貶吉州司馬員外置同正員。 初，簡在襄陽，以腹心吏陸翰知上都進奏，委以關通中貴。 翰持簡陰事，漸不可制。 簡怒，追至州，以土囊殺之，且欲滅口。 翰子弟詣闕，進狀訴冤，且告簡贓狀。 御史臺按驗，獲簡賂吐突承璀錢帛等共計七千余貫匹，事狀明白，故再貶之。 長慶元年大赦，量移睦州刺史。 二年，移常州刺史。 三年，入為太子賓客，分司東都。 其年十二月卒。
When Wang Chengzong rebelled, an edict appointed Tuhu Chenghui campaign commander. Jian submitted a memorial in protest; for his harsh language he was demoted to prefect of Changzhou. In the eighth year (813) he received the additional title of grand master of splendid happiness with golden seal and purple ribbon. When Jian first took up his post, he reopened the ancient Meng Canal, forty-one li long, irrigating more than four thousand qing of fertile land; the investigating commissioner commended his achievements, which led to the additional appointment. That year he was summoned to court as supervising secretary. In the ninth year (814) he was appointed prefect of Yuezhou, concurrently vice censor-in-chief and Zhedong observation commissioner. After Li Xun had restrained the gentry clans while indulging the registered households, Jian reversed every policy upon taking office; yet the farming levies suffered greatly under him, and contemporaries thought neither man had been right. In the twelfth year (817) he entered court as vice minister of revenue. In the thirteenth year (818) he replaced Cui Yuanlue as vice censor-in-chief, while retaining his post as vice minister of revenue. That year he was sent out as prefect of Xiangzhou and military governor of Shannan East Circuit. In the fourteenth year (819) an edict established a herd office in Gucheng County named the "Linhan Pasturage" and ordered Jian to serve as its commissioner. Jian memorialized requesting that Zhao Jie, pacification commissioner of Yunxiang County in Junzhou, be appointed magistrate of that county; the censorate ruled this violated the penal code and fined him one month's salary. That year he was reassigned as senior mentor to the heir apparent, with duties at the Eastern Capital. In the fifteenth year (820), when Emperor Muzong took the throne, Jian was demoted to vice director of Jizhou, supernumerary with concurrent regular status. Earlier, while Jian was in Xiangyang, he had entrusted his trusted clerk Lu Han with submitting memorials to the capital and relied on him to maintain contact with palace eunuchs. Han held Jian's secrets and gradually grew beyond control. Enraged, Jian had him pursued to the prefecture, killed him with a sandbag, and tried to silence all witnesses. Han's younger kinsmen went to the palace, submitted petitions pleading their grievance, and also reported Jian's acts of corruption. The censorate investigated and found that Jian had bribed Tuhu Chenghui with money and goods totaling more than seven thousand strings and bolts; the facts were clear, and he was demoted again. In the general amnesty of the first year of Changqing (821), he was transferred at discretion to prefect of Muzhou. In the second year (822) he was moved to prefect of Changzhou. In the third year (823) he entered court as senior mentor to the heir apparent, with duties at the Eastern Capital. He died in the twelfth month of that year.
4
簡性俊拔尚義。 早歲交友先歿者，視其孤，每厚於周恤，議者以為有前輩風。 然溺於浮圖之教，為儒曹所誚。
Jian was lofty in character and esteemed righteousness. For friends who had died while he was still young, he looked after their orphans and always treated them generously; commentators held that he had the bearing of an elder generation. Yet he was immersed in Buddhist teachings and was mocked by the Confucian officials.
5
胡證
Hu Zheng
6
胡證，字啟中，河東人。 父瑱，伯父玫，登進士第。 證，貞元中繼登科，咸寧王渾瑊辟為河中從事。 自殿中侍御史拜韶州刺史，以母年高不可適遠，改授太子舍人。 襄陽節度使於頔請為掌書記，檢校祠部員外郎。
Hu Zheng, whose style name was Qizhong, was from Hedong. His father Zhen and his father's elder brother Mei both passed the jinshi examination. Zheng also passed the examination during the Zhenyuan era; the Prince of Xianning, Hun Zhen, recruited him as a staff officer in Hedong. From attending censor he was appointed prefect of Shaozhou; because his mother was advanced in years and could not travel far, he was reassigned as secretary to the heir apparent. Military governor of Xiangyang Yu Di requested him as chief secretary; he was made acting supervising secretary in the Ministry of Rites.
7
元和四年，由侍御史歷左司員外郎、長安縣令、戶部郎中。 田弘正以魏博內屬，請除副貳，乃兼御史中丞，充魏博節度副使，仍兼左庶子。 入遷左諫議大夫。
In the fourth year of Yuanhe (809), from attending censor he served successively as vice director in the Left Secretariat, magistrate of Chang'an County, and director in the Ministry of Revenue. When Tian Hongzheng brought Weibo within the empire, he requested a deputy; Zheng was concurrently made vice censor-in-chief and deputy military governor of Weibo, while still serving as junior mentor on the left. He entered court and was promoted to left remonstrance grandee.
8
九年，以党項寇邊，以證有安邊才略，乃授單於都護、御史大夫、振武軍節度使。 前任將帥非統馭之才，邊事曠廢，朝廷故特用證以鎮。 十三年，征為金吾大將軍，依前兼御史大夫。 十四年，充京西、京北巡邊使，訪其利害以聞。
In the ninth year (814), because the Tangut tribes raided the border and Zheng possessed talent and strategy for securing the frontier, he was appointed chief guardian of the Shanyu, censor-in-chief, and military governor of Zhenwu Army. The previous generals lacked the talent to command; border affairs had been neglected, and so the court specially appointed Zheng to stabilize the region. In the thirteenth year (818) he was summoned as grand general of the imperial guards, still concurrently censor-in-chief. In the fourteenth year (819) he served as frontier inspection commissioner for Jingxi and Jingbei, investigating advantages and disadvantages to report to the throne.
9
長慶元年，太和公主出降回紇，詔以本官檢校工部尚書充和親使。 舊制，以使車出境，有行人私覿之禮，官不能給，召富家子納貲於使者而命之官。 及證將行，首請厘革，儉受省費，以絕鬻官之門。 行及漠南，虜騎繼至，狼心犬態，一日千狀，欲以戎服變革華服，又欲以王姬疾驅徑路。 證抗誌不拔，守漢儀，黜夷法，竟不辱君命。 使還，拜工部侍郎。
In the first year of Changqing (821), when Princess Taihe was sent in marriage to the Uyghurs, an edict appointed him, in his existing office, acting minister of works and commissioner for the marriage alliance. By old regulation, when an envoy's carriage crossed the border there was a private audience gift that the office could not supply, so wealthy men's sons paid the envoy and were then appointed to office. When Zheng was about to depart, he first requested reforms, accepting only modest gifts and saving expenses to shut the door on the sale of offices. On reaching the southern desert, barbarian horsemen came in succession; wolfish in heart and doglike in manner, their moods changed a thousand times a day. They wished to change splendid robes into barbarian dress and also wished to drive the princess at full speed along a direct route. Zheng stood firm in resolve, upheld Han ritual, and dismissed barbarian ways, and in the end did not disgrace his sovereign's commission. On returning from his mission he was appointed vice minister of works.
10
敬宗即位之初，檢校戶部尚書，守京兆尹。 數月，遷左散騎常侍。 寶歷初，拜戶部尚書、判度支，上表乞免，願效籓服。 二年，檢校兵部尚書、廣州刺史，充嶺南節度使。 太和二年，以疾上表求還京師。 是歲十月卒於嶺南，時年七十一，廢朝一日，贈左僕射。
At the beginning of Emperor Jingzong's reign he was made acting minister of revenue and metropolitan governor of Jingzhao. After several months he was transferred to left regular attendant. At the beginning of the Baoli era he was appointed minister of revenue and controller of the treasury, and submitted a memorial requesting to be relieved, wishing to serve in a frontier post. In the second year (826) he was made acting minister of war, prefect of Guangzhou, and military governor of Lingnan. In the second year of Taihe (828), because of illness he submitted a memorial requesting return to the capital. In the tenth month of that year he died in Lingnan at the age of seventy-one; the court suspended audiences for one day and posthumously appointed him left vice director of the Department of State Affairs.
11
廣州有海之利，貨貝狎至。 證善蓄積，務華侈，厚自奉養，童奴數百，於京城修行裏起第，連亙閭巷。 嶺表奇貨，道途不絕，京邑推為富家。 證素與賈餗善，及李訓事敗，禁軍利其財，稱證子溵匿餗，乃破其家。 一日之內，家財並盡。 軍人執溵入左軍，仇士良命斬之以徇。 時溵弟湘為太原從事，忽白晝見綠衣人無首，血流被地，入於室，湘惡之。 翌日，溵兇問至，而湘獲免。
Guangzhou enjoyed the profits of the sea; goods and treasures arrived in abundance. Zheng was skilled at accumulating wealth and pursued lavish display, providing richly for himself. He kept several hundred household slaves, and in the capital at Xingxing Lane he built a mansion stretching through the lanes. Exotic goods from beyond the ranges flowed along the roads without cease; the capital regarded him as one of its wealthiest families. Zheng had long been on good terms with Jia Su; when Li Xun's affair failed, the imperial guards coveted his wealth and claimed that Zheng's son Yin had hidden Su, and so his household was destroyed. Within a single day his family wealth was entirely gone. Soldiers seized Yin and took him into the Left Army; Qiu Shiliang ordered him beheaded as a warning. At the time Yin's younger brother Xiang was a staff officer in Taiyuan; suddenly in broad daylight he saw a green-robed man without a head, blood soaking the ground, enter the room, and Xiang was horrified. The next day news of Yin's violent death arrived, and Xiang was spared.
12
崔元略
Cui Yuanlue
13
崔元略，博陵人。 祖渾之。 父儆，貞元中官至尚書左丞。 元略舉進士，歷佐使府。 元和八年，拜殿中侍御史。 十二年，遷刑部郎中、知臺雜事，擢拜御史中丞。 元和十三年，以李夷簡自西川征拜御史大夫，乃命元略留司東臺。 尋除京兆少尹，知府事，仍加金紫。 數月，真拜京兆尹。 明年，改左散騎常侍。
Cui Yuanlue was from Boling. His grandfather was Hunzhi. His father Jing rose during the Zhenyuan era to left vice director in the Department of State Affairs. Yuanlue passed the jinshi examination and served successively in regional staff offices. In the eighth year of Yuanhe (813) he was appointed attending censor. In the twelfth year (817) he was transferred to director in the Ministry of Justice and put in charge of censorate miscellaneous affairs, and was promoted to vice censor-in-chief. In the thirteenth year of Yuanhe (818), when Li Yijian was summoned from Xichuan and appointed censor-in-chief, Yuanlue was ordered to remain and administer the Eastern Bureau. Soon afterward he was made junior metropolitan governor of Jingzhao, directing prefectural affairs, with the additional title of golden seal and purple ribbon. After several months he was formally appointed metropolitan governor of Jingzhao. The next year he was changed to left regular attendant.
14
穆宗即位，命元略使党項宣撫。 辭疾不行，出為黔南觀察使、兼御史中丞。 初，元略受命使党項，意宰臣以私憾排斥，頗出怨言。 宰相崔植奏曰：「比以聖意切在安撫党項，乃差元略往使。 受命之後，苦不樂行，言辭之間，頗乖去就。 豈有身忝重恩，不思報效？ 茍非便己，即不肯行。 須有薄懲，以肅在位，請出為黔中觀察使。」 初，崔植任吏部郎中，元略任刑部郎中知雜。 時中丞改京兆尹，物議以植有風憲之望。 元略因入閣，妄稱植失儀，命御史彈之。 時二人皆進擬為中丞，中旨果授元略，植深銜之。 及植為相，元略以左散騎常侍使於党項； 元略意植之見排，辭疾不行。 被譴出。 逾年，轉鄂州刺史、鄂嶽都團練觀察使。 長慶四年，入為大理卿。
When Emperor Muzong took the throne, Yuanlue was ordered to go as envoy to pacify the Tangut tribes. He pleaded illness and would not go, and was sent out as Qiannan observation commissioner, concurrently vice censor-in-chief. At first, when Yuanlue received the order to go to the Tangut tribes, he believed the chief ministers were excluding him out of private resentment and uttered many complaints. Chief minister Cui Zhi memorialized: "Recently, because the sacred intent urgently lay in pacifying the Tangut tribes, Yuanlue was dispatched as envoy. After receiving the commission he was deeply unwilling to go, and in his words he greatly departed from what was fitting in accepting or refusing office. How can one who bears heavy favor not think of repaying it? If it is not convenient for oneself, one simply refuses to go. There must be a light punishment to discipline those in office; I request that he be sent out as Qianzhong observation commissioner." Earlier, when Cui Zhi was director in the Ministry of Personnel, Yuanlue was director in the Ministry of Justice in charge of miscellaneous affairs. At the time the vice censor-in-chief was changed to metropolitan governor of Jingzhao; public opinion held that Zhi had the promise of censorial integrity. Yuanlue, upon entering the audience hall, falsely claimed that Zhi had lost decorum and ordered censors to impeach him. At the time both men were advanced as candidates for vice censor-in-chief; the imperial order indeed appointed Yuanlue, and Zhi deeply resented it. When Zhi became chief minister, Yuanlue, as left regular attendant, was sent to the Tangut tribes; Yuanlue believed Zhi was excluding him and pleaded illness and would not go. He was censured and sent out. After more than a year he was transferred to prefect of Ezhou and commander of the E-Yue defense and observation command. In the fourth year of Changqing (824) he entered court as chief minister of justice.
15
敬宗即位，復為京兆尹，尋兼御史大夫。 以誤征畿甸經赦免放緡錢萬七千貫，為侍御史蕭澈彈劾。 有詔刑部郎中趙元亮、大理正元從質、侍御史溫造充三司覆理。 元略有中助，止於削兼大夫。 初，元略有宰相望，及是事，望益減。
When Emperor Jingzong took the throne, he again became metropolitan governor of Jingzhao, and soon was concurrently censor-in-chief. For mistakenly collecting more than seventeen thousand strings of exempted tax money from the capital region after an amnesty, he was impeached by attending censor Xiao Che. An edict ordered Zhao Yuanliang, director in the Ministry of Justice, Yuan Congzhi, senior adjudicator in the Court of Judicial Review, and attending censor Wen Zao to conduct a three-office review. Yuanlue had support within the palace and was only stripped of his concurrent post as censor-in-chief. Earlier Yuanlue had the prospect of becoming chief minister; after this affair his prospects greatly diminished.
16
寶歷元年，遷戶部侍郎。 議者以元略版圖之拜，出於宣授。 時諫官有疏，指言內常侍崔潭峻方有權寵，元略以諸父事之，故雖被彈劾，而遽遷顯要。 元略亦上章自辨，且曰：「一昨府縣條疏，臺司舉劾，孤立無黨，謗言益彰，不謂詔出宸衷，恩延望外。 處南宮之重位，列左戶之清班，豈臣庸虛，敢自幹冒。 天心所擇，雖驚特進之恩； 眾口相非，乃致因緣之說。」 詔答之曰：「朕所命官，豈非公選？ 卿能稱職，奚恤人言！」 然元略終不能逃父事潭峻之名。
In the first year of Baoli (825) he was transferred to vice minister of revenue. Commentators held that Yuanlue's appointment to the Ministry of Revenue came from an edict of direct appointment. At the time remonstrance officials submitted memorials pointing out that palace attendant Cui Tanjun then held power and favor, and Yuanlue treated him as a paternal uncle; therefore, though impeached, he was swiftly moved to an eminent post. Yuanlue also submitted a memorial in his own defense, saying: "Recently the prefecture and county submitted reports and the censorate impeached me; isolated and without faction, slander grew all the more, and I did not expect an edict from the imperial heart extending favor beyond what I had hoped for. To hold the weighty post of the Southern Palace and stand in the pure ranks of the Left Household—how could I, a mediocre man, dare presume upon myself? What Heaven chooses, though it startles me with extraordinary advancement; the mouths of the multitude speak against me, and so the talk of connections arises." The edict answered: "The officials I appoint—are they not chosen by public selection? If you can fulfill your duties, why worry about what people say!" Yet Yuanlue in the end could not escape the name of treating Tanjun as a father.
17
寶歷二年四月，京兆府以元略前任尹日為橋道使，造東渭橋時，被本典鄭位、判官鄭復虛長物價，擡估給用，不還人工價直，率斂工匠破用，計贓二萬一千七百九貫。 敕云：「元略不能檢下，有涉慢官，罰一月俸料。」 時劉棲楚自為京兆尹，有覬覦相位之意。 元賂方在次對，又多遊裴度門，棲楚恐礙己，以計摧之，乃按舉山陵時錢物以汙之。
In the fourth month of the second year of Baoli (826), the metropolitan government reported that when Yuanlue had formerly been metropolitan governor he had served as bridge-road commissioner in building the East Wei Bridge; the chief clerk Zheng Wei and aide Zheng Fu had falsely inflated prices, overestimated supplies, failed to repay labor costs, and extorted craftsmen for losses, totaling more than twenty-one thousand seven hundred and ninety strings in illicit gains. The edict read: "Yuanlue could not keep his subordinates in check and was involved in slighting official duty; he is fined one month's salary." At the time Liu Qichu, who had become metropolitan governor of Jingzhao, harbored ambitions for the chief ministership. Yuanlue was then in the next audience and often visited Pei Du's house; Qichu, fearing he would obstruct him, used a stratagem to crush him and investigated the funds for the imperial tomb as corruption.
18
太和三年，轉戶部尚書。 四年，判度支。 五年，檢校吏部尚書。 出為東都留守、畿汝等防禦使。 是歲，又遷滑州刺史、義成軍節度使。 十二月卒，廢朝三日，贈尚書左僕射。 子鉉。
In the third year of Taihe (829) he was transferred to minister of revenue. In the fourth year (830) he controlled the treasury. In the fifth year (831) he was made acting minister of personnel. He was sent out as Eastern Capital guardian and defense commissioner for Ji and Ru. That year he was again transferred to prefect of Huazhou and military governor of Yicheng Army. He died in the twelfth month; audiences were suspended for three days, and he was posthumously appointed left vice director of the Department of State Affairs. His son Xuan.
19
鉉，字台碩，登進士第。 三辟諸侯府，荊南、西蜀掌書記。 會昌初，入為左拾遺，再遷員外郎，知制誥，召入翰林，充學士。 累遷戶部侍郎承旨。 會昌末，以本官同平章事。 為同列李德裕所嫉，罷相，為陜虢觀察使、檢校刑部尚書。
Xuan, whose style name was Taisuo, passed the jinshi examination. He was three times recruited to regional staff offices and served as chief secretary in Jingnan and Xishu. At the beginning of Huichang (841) he entered court as left remonstrance supplementer, was promoted twice to supervising secretary, drafted edicts, was summoned into the Hanlin Academy, and served as academician. He was promoted successively to vice minister of revenue with drafting authority. At the end of Huichang, in his existing office he became associate chief minister of state affairs. He was envied by his colleague Li Deyu, was removed as chief minister, and became Shaan-Guo observation commissioner and acting minister of justice.
20
宣宗即位，遷檢校兵部尚書、河中尹、博陵縣開國子，食邑五百戶。 大中三年，召拜禦中大夫，尋加正議大夫、中書侍郎、同平章事。 累遷金紫光祿大夫，守左僕射、門下侍郎、太清宮使、弘文館大學士、博陵縣開國公，食邑至二千戶。 七年，以館中學士崔彖、薛逢等撰《續會要》四十卷，獻之。 九年，檢校司徒、揚州大都督長史，進封魏國公、淮南節度使。 宣宗於太液亭賦詩宴餞，有「七載秉鈞調四序」之句，儒者榮之。
When Emperor Xuanzong took the throne, he was transferred to acting minister of war, governor of Hezhong, and baron of Boling County with an estate of five hundred households. In the third year of Dazhong (849) he was summoned and appointed supervisory censor, and soon was given the additional titles of regular grand master of the right and vice director of the Secretariat, associate chief minister of state affairs. He was promoted successively to grand master of splendid happiness with golden seal and purple ribbon, left vice director of the Department of State Affairs, vice director of the Secretariat, commissioner of the Great Pure Palace, grand academician of the Hongwen Hall, and duke of Boling County with an estate increased to two thousand households. In the seventh year (853), together with academicians Cui Luan and Xue Feng and others in the hall, he compiled forty juan of the Continued Institutional Compendium and presented it. In the ninth year (855) he was made acting minister of the imperial clan, chief regional governor of Yangzhou, was advanced to duke of Wei, and became military governor of Huainan. Emperor Xuanzong, at Taiye Pavilion, composed a poem for a farewell banquet with the line "Seven years holding the balance, harmonizing the four seasons," and Confucian scholars took it as an honor.
21
咸通初，移鎮襄州。 咸通八年，徐州戍將龐勛自桂管擅還，道途剽掠。 鉉時為荊南節度，聞徐州軍至湖南，盡率州兵，點募丁壯，分扼江、湘要害，欲盡擒之。 徐寇聞之，逾嶺自江西、淮右北渡，朝議壯之。 卒於江陵。
At the beginning of Xiantong (860) he was transferred to govern Xiangzhou. In the eighth year of Xiantong (867), Pang Xun, garrison commander of Xuzhou, returned without authorization from Guiguan and plundered along the road. Xuan was then military governor of Jingnan; hearing that the Xuzhou army had reached Hunan, he mustered all the prefectural troops, conscripted able-bodied men, and divided them to hold the key points of the Yangtze and Xiang rivers, intending to capture them all. When the Xuzhou raiders heard of it, they crossed the ranges by Jiangxi and Huaiyou and crossed north; court opinion praised him. He died at Jiangling.
22
子沆、汀、潭、沂。
His sons Hang, Ting, Tan, and Yi.
23
沆，登進士第，官至員外郎，知制誥，拜中書舍人。 坐事貶循州司戶。 乾符初，復拜舍人，尋遷禮部侍郎，典貢舉。 選名士十數人，多至卿相。 乾符末，本官同平章事。 遇京國盜據，從駕不及而卒。 沂後官亦隆顯。
Hang passed the jinshi examination, rose to supervising secretary, drafted edicts, and was appointed secretariat drafter. For an offense he was demoted to registrar of Xunzhou. At the beginning of Qianfu (874) he was again appointed drafter, and soon was transferred to vice minister of rites and put in charge of the examinations. He selected more than ten men of reputation, many of whom later reached chief ministerial rank. At the end of Qianfu, in his existing office he became associate chief minister of state affairs. When bandits seized the capital he could not follow the imperial procession and died. Yi later also rose to eminent office.
24
元略弟元受、元式、元儒。
Yuanlue's younger brothers Yuanshou, Yuanshi, and Yuanru.
25
元受登進士第，高陵尉，直史館。 元和初，於臯謨為河北行營糧料使。 元受與韋岵、薛巽、王湘等皆為臯謨判官，分督供饋。 既罷兵，或以臯謨隱沒贓罪，除名賜死。 元受從坐，皆逐嶺表，竟坎壈不達而卒。 子鈞、铏、銖相繼登進士第，辟諸侯府。
Yuanshou passed the jinshi examination, was captain of Gaoling, and served in the Historiography Office. At the beginning of Yuanhe, he was grain commissioner for Yu Gao's Hebei campaign headquarters. Yuanshou, together with Wei Gu, Xue Xun, and Wang Xiang, all served as aides to Gao and separately supervised supplies. After the troops were dismissed, some people charged that Gao had concealed corrupt gains; he was stripped of office and sentenced to death. Yuanshou was implicated, and all were banished beyond the ranges; he ended in hardship without advancement and died. His sons Jun, Xing, and Zhu passed the jinshi examination in succession and were recruited to regional staff offices.
26
元式，會昌三年檢校左散騎常侍、河中尹、河中晉絳觀察使。 四年，檢校禮部尚書、太原尹、北都留守、河東節度使。 六年，入為刑部尚書。 宣宗朝領度支，以本官同平章事。
Yuanshi, in the third year of Huichang (843), was made acting left regular attendant, governor of Hezhong, and Hezhong-Jin-Guo observation commissioner. In the fourth year (844) he was made acting minister of rites, governor of Taiyuan, northern capital guardian, and Hedong military governor. In the sixth year (846) he entered court as minister of justice. In the Xuanzong reign he controlled the treasury and, in his existing office, became associate chief minister of state affairs.
27
元儒，元和五年登進士第。
Yuanru passed the jinshi examination in the fifth year of Yuanhe (810).
28
元式子鍇，仕至京兆尹。
Yuanshi's son Kai rose to metropolitan governor of Jingzhao.
29
杜元穎
Du Yuanping
30
杜元穎，萊公如晦裔孫也。 父佐，官卑。 元穎，貞元末進士登第，再辟使府。 元和中為左拾遺、右補闕，召入翰林，充學士。 手筆敏速，憲宗稱之。 吳元濟平，以書詔之勤，賜緋魚袋。 轉司勛員外郎，知制誥。 穆宗即位，召對思政殿，賜金紫，超拜中書舍人。 其年冬，拜戶部侍郎承旨。 長慶元年三月，以本官同平章事，加上柱國、建安男。 元穎自穆宗登極，自補闕至侍郎，不周歲居輔相之地。 辭臣速達，未有如元穎之比也。
Du Yuanping was a descendant of Duke Ruhui of Lai. His father Zuo held a low office. Yuanping, at the end of the Zhenyuan era, passed the jinshi examination and was twice recruited to regional staff offices. In the Yuanhe era he was left remonstrance supplementer and right remonstrance supplementer, was summoned into the Hanlin Academy, and served as academician. His hand was quick at writing; Emperor Xianzong praised him. When Wu Yuanji was pacified, for his diligence in drafting edicts he was granted the crimson fish bag. He was transferred to supervising secretary in the Ministry of Personnel and drafted edicts. When Emperor Muzong took the throne, he was summoned to the Hall of Reflecting on Governance, granted golden seal and purple ribbon, and promoted out of turn to secretariat drafter. That winter he was appointed vice minister of revenue with drafting authority. In the third month of the first year of Changqing (821), in his existing office he became associate chief minister of state affairs, with the additional titles of pillar of state and baron of Jian'an. From the time Muzong ascended the throne, Yuanping rose from remonstrance supplementer to vice minister in less than a year and occupied the place of chief minister. Among remonstrance officials who rose swiftly, none compared with Yuanping.
31
三年冬，帶平章事出鎮蜀州，穆宗禦安福門臨餞。 昭湣即位，童心多僻，務為奢侈，而元穎求蜀中珍異玩好之具，貢奉相繼，以固恩寵。 以故箕斂刻削，工作無虛日，軍民嗟怨，流聞於朝。 太和三年，南詔蠻攻陷戎、巂等州，徑犯成都。 兵及城下，一無備擬，方率左右固牙城而已。 蠻兵大掠蜀城玉帛、子女、工巧之具而去。 是時，蠻三道而來，東道攻梓州，郭釗禦之而退。 時元穎幾陷，賴郭釗擊敗其眾，方還。 蠻驅蜀人至大渡河，謂之曰； 「此南吾境，放爾哭別鄉國。」 數萬士女，一時慟哭，風日為之慘淒。 哭已，赴水而死者千余。 怨毒之聲，累年不息。 蠻首領泬顛遣人上表曰：「蠻軍比修職貢，遽敢侵邊？ 但杜元穎不恤三軍，令入蠻疆作賊； 移文報彼，都不見信。 故蜀部軍人，繼為鄉導，蓋蜀人怨苦之深，祈我此行，誅虐帥也。 誅之不遂，無以慰蜀士之心，願陛下誅之。」 監軍小使張士謙至，備言元穎之咎。 坐貶循州司馬，判官崔璜連州司馬，紇幹臮郢州長史，盧並唐州司馬，皆以佐元穎無狀也。 六年，卒於貶所。 臨終，上表乞贈官，贈湖州刺史。
In the winter of the third year (823) he went out to govern Shuzhou with chief ministerial rank; Muzong, at Anfu Gate, came out to bid him farewell. When Emperor Zhaomin took the throne, childish and eccentric, he pursued extravagance, and Yuanping sought rare and curious treasures of Shu to present in succession, thereby securing favor. Therefore he levied and squeezed without cease, and construction work never ceased for a day; soldiers and people groaned in resentment, and the news spread to court. In the third year of Taihe (829), the Nanzhao barbarians attacked and captured Rong and Xi and other prefectures and advanced straight against Chengdu. When the troops reached beneath the walls there was not a single preparation; he merely led his attendants to hold the inner citadel. The barbarian troops greatly plundered the jade, silk, women, and skilled craftsmen of Shu city and departed. At that time the barbarians came by three routes; the eastern route attacked Zizhou and was repelled by Guo Zhao. At the time Yuanping was nearly lost; only because Guo Zhao defeated their forces did they return. The barbarians drove the people of Shu to the Great Crossing River and said to them: "This to the south is our territory; I release you to weep and bid farewell to your homeland." Tens of thousands of men and women wept at once, and wind and sun turned bleak and mournful. After weeping they threw themselves into the water, and more than a thousand died. The sound of bitter resentment did not cease for years. The barbarian leader Juedian sent someone to submit a memorial: "The barbarian army has lately maintained tribute duties—how dare they suddenly invade the border? But Du Yuanping did not care for the three armies and sent them into barbarian territory to act as bandits; when we sent documents informing them, they paid no heed at all. Therefore the soldiers of Shu in succession served as local guides, for the people of Shu were deeply resentful and prayed for this campaign to punish the cruel commander. If we cannot execute him, we cannot comfort the hearts of the men of Shu; I beg Your Majesty to execute him." Supervisory attendant Zhang Shiqian arrived and fully reported Yuanping's faults. For this Yuanping was demoted to vice director of Xunzhou; his aide Cui Huang to vice director of Lianzhou; his aide Heganzhi to chief of Yingzhou; and his aide Lu Bing to vice director of Tangzhou—all because they had assisted Yuanping in misconduct. In the sixth year (832) he died at his place of demotion. On his deathbed he submitted a memorial requesting posthumous appointment and was granted prefect of Huzhou.
32
元穎弟元絳，位終太子賓客。 絳子審權，位至宰相，自有傳。
Yuanping's younger brother Yuanjiang ended as senior mentor to the heir apparent. Jiang's son Shenquan rose to chief minister and has his own biography.
33
崔弘禮
Cui Hongli
34
崔弘禮，字從周，博陵人。 北齊懷遠之七伐孫。 祖育，常州江陰令。 父孚，湖州長城令。 弘禮風貌魁偉，磊落有大志。 舉進士，累佐蕃府，官至侍御史。
Cui Hongli, whose style name was Congzhou, was from Boling. He was the seventh-generation descendant of Qifa of the Northern Qi. His grandfather Yu was magistrate of Jiangyin in Changzhou. His father Fu was magistrate of Changcheng in Huzhou. Hongli's bearing was imposing and lofty; he was open and magnanimous and had great ambitions. He passed the jinshi examination, served successively in frontier staff offices, and rose to attending censor.
35
元和中，呂元膺為東都留守，以弘禮為從事。 時淮西吳少陽初死，吳元濟阻兵拒命，山東反側之徒，為之影援； 東結李師道，謀襲東洛，以脅朝廷。 弘禮為元膺籌畫，部分兵眾，以固東都，卒亦無患。 累除汾州、棣州刺史。 會田弘正請入覲，請副使，乃授弘禮衛州刺史，充魏博節度副使，歷鄭州刺史。 b####長慶元年，劉總入覲，張弘靖移鎮范陽，復加弘禮檢校左散騎常侍，充幽州盧龍軍節度副使。 未及境，幽、鎮兵亂，改為絳州刺史。 明年，汴州李絺反，急詔追弘禮為河南尹、兼御史大夫、東都畿汝都防禦副使。 絺平，遷河陽節度使。 整練戈矛，頗壯戎備。 又上言請於秦渠下辟荒田三百頃，歲收粟二萬斛，詔皆從之。 以疾連表請代。 數歲，拜檢校戶部尚書、華州刺史。 會天平軍節度使烏重胤卒，朝廷難其人，復以弘禮為天平軍節度使，仍詔即日乘遞赴鎮。
In the Yuanhe era, Lü Yuanying was Eastern Capital guardian and took Hongli as staff officer. At the time Wu Shaoyang of Huainan had just died, and Wu Yuanji held the army and defied orders; rebels in the east who wavered gave them covert support; in the east they allied with Li Shidao and plotted to strike the Eastern Capital to coerce the court. Hongli planned for Yuanying, deploying troops to secure the Eastern Capital, and in the end there was no trouble. He was successively appointed prefect of Fenzhou and Dizhou. When Tian Hongzheng requested to come to court, he asked for a deputy; Hongli was then appointed prefect of Weizhou and deputy military governor of Weibo, and later served as prefect of Zhengzhou. In the first year of Changqing (821), when Liu Zong came to court and Zhang Hongjing was transferred to govern Fanyang, Hongli was again made acting left regular attendant and deputy military governor of Youzhou and Lulong Army. Before he reached the border, the troops of You and Zhen mutinied, and he was changed to prefect of Jiangzhou. The next year, when Li Chi rebelled at Bianzhou, an urgent edict recalled Hongli as governor of Henan, concurrently censor-in-chief and deputy defense commissioner for the Eastern Capital and Ji and Ru. When Chi was pacified, Hongli was transferred to military governor of Heyang. He drilled spears and halberds and greatly strengthened frontier defenses. He also memorialized requesting that three hundred qing of wasteland be opened below the Qin Canal, yielding twenty thousand hu of grain each year; the edicts all approved. Because of illness he submitted successive memorials requesting replacement. After several years he was appointed acting minister of revenue and governor of Huazhou. When military governor of Tianping Wu Chongyin died, the court found no suitable man and again appointed Hongli military governor of Tianping Army, with an edict ordering him to set out that very day by express relay.
36
文宗即位，就加檢校左僕射。 理鄆三載，改授東都留守，仍遷刑部尚書。 詔赴闕，以疾未至。 太和四年十月，復除留守。 是歲十二月卒，年六十四，贈司空。
When Emperor Wenzong took the throne, he was given the additional title of acting left vice director of the Department of State Affairs. After governing Yan for three years he was reassigned as Eastern Capital guardian and transferred to minister of justice. An edict ordered him to come to court, but because of illness he did not arrive. In the tenth month of the fourth year of Taihe (830) he was again appointed guardian. In the twelfth month of that year he died at the age of sixty-four and was posthumously appointed minister of works.
37
弘禮少時，專以倜儻意氣自任； 通涉兵書，留心軍旋之要，用此累更選用，歷踐籓鎮。 所居無可尚之績，雖繕完有素，然善治生蓄積，物議少之。
In his youth Hongli relied entirely on unconventional spirit and bold resolve; he studied military books thoroughly and attended to the essentials of armies on campaign, and through this was repeatedly selected and promoted, serving successively in frontier commands. Where he served there was no outstanding achievement to praise; though he maintained defenses well by habit, he was skilled at managing livelihood and accumulating wealth, and public opinion thought little of him.
38
李虞仲
Li Yuzhong
39
李虞仲，字見之，趙郡人。 祖震，大理丞。 父端，登進士第，工詩。 大歷中，與韓翃、錢起、盧綸等文詠唱和，馳名都下，號「大歷十才子」。 時郭尚父少子曖尚代宗女升平公主，賢明有才思，尤喜詩人，而端等十人，多在曖之門下。 每宴集賦詩，公主坐視簾中，詩之美者，賞百縑。 曖因拜官，會十子曰：「詩先成者賞。」 時端先獻，警句云：「薰香荀令偏憐小，傅粉何郎不解愁。」 主即以百縑賞之。 錢起曰：「李校書誠有才，此篇宿構也。 願賦一韻正之，請以起姓為韻。」 端即襞箋而獻曰：「方塘似鏡草芊芊，初月如鉤未上弦。 新開金埒教調馬，舊賜銅山許鑄錢。」 曖曰：「此愈工也。」 起等始服。 端自校書郎移疾江南，授杭州司馬而卒。
Li Yuzhong, whose style name was Jianzhi, was from Zhao Commandery. His grandfather Zhen was aide in the Court of Judicial Review. His father Duan passed the jinshi examination and was skilled in poetry. In the Dali era, together with Han Hong, Qian Qi, Lu Lun, and others he exchanged literary verses in song; he became famous in the capital and was called the "Ten Talents of the Dali Era." At the time Guo Shangfu's youngest son Ai married Princess Shengping of Emperor Daizong; intelligent and talented, she especially loved poets, and Duan and the other ten men were mostly in Ai's household. Whenever they gathered for banquets and composed poems, the princess sat behind the curtain watching; for the finest poems she rewarded a hundred bolts of silk. When Ai received an appointment, he gathered the Ten Talents and said: "Whoever finishes a poem first shall be rewarded." At the time Duan submitted first; his striking lines read: "The fragrant Lord Xun who loves the small, the powdered Lord He who knows not sorrow." The princess immediately rewarded him with a hundred bolts of silk. Qian Qi said: "Secretary Li truly has talent, but this piece was composed beforehand. I wish to compose one rhyme in correction; please use my surname Qi as the rhyme." Duan immediately folded paper and submitted: "A square pond like a mirror, grass lush and green; the new moon like a hook, not yet on the bowstring. The new golden paddock teaches horse training; the old grant of copper mountain permits coining money." Ai said: "This is even more skillful." Qi and the others at last submitted. Duan, from secretary, took leave for illness in the Jiangnan region, was appointed vice director of Hangzhou, and died.
40
虞仲亦工詩。 元和初，登進士第，又以制策登科，授弘文校書。 從事荊南，入為太常博士，遷兵部員外、司勛郎中。 寶歷中，考制策甚精，轉兵部郎中，知制誥，拜中書舍人。 太和四年，出為華州刺史、兼御史大夫。 入拜左散騎常侍，兼秘書監。 八年，轉尚書右丞。 九年，為兵部侍郎，尋改吏部。 開成元年四月卒，時年六十五。
Yuzhong was also skilled in poetry. At the beginning of Yuanhe he passed the jinshi examination, and also passed the policy examination; he was appointed collator in the Hongwen Hall. He served in Jingnan, entered court as doctor in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, was transferred to supervising secretary in the Ministry of War and director in the Ministry of Personnel. In the Baoli era he examined policy examinations with great precision, was transferred to director in the Ministry of War, drafted edicts, and was appointed secretariat drafter. In the fourth year of Taihe (830) he was sent out as governor of Huazhou, concurrently censor-in-chief. He entered court as left regular attendant, concurrently director of the Secretariat. In the eighth year (834) he was transferred to right vice director of the Department of State Affairs. In the ninth year (835) he was vice minister of war and soon was changed to vice minister of personnel. In the fourth month of the first year of Kaicheng (836) he died at the age of sixty-five.
41
虞仲簡淡寡欲，立性方雅，奕代文學，達而不矜，士友重之。
Yuzhong was simple and sparing in desire, upright and refined by nature; his family had produced literature for generations; though eminent he was not arrogant, and scholars esteemed him.
42
王質
Wang Zhi
43
王質，字華卿，太原祁人。 五代祖通，字仲淹，隋末大儒，號文中子。 通生福祚，終上蔡主簿。 福祚生勉，登進士第，制策登科，位終寶鼎令。 勉生怡，終渝州司戶。 怡生潛，揚州天長丞。 質則潛之第五子。 少負誌操，以家世官卑，思立名於世，以大其門。 寓居壽春，躬耕以養母，專以講學為事，門人受業者大集其門。 年甫強仕，不求聞達，親友規之曰：「以華卿之才，取名位如俯拾地芥耳，安自苦於亹茸者乎？ 揚名顯親，非耕稼可致也。」 質乃白於母，請赴鄉舉。 元和六年，登進士甲科。 釋褐嶺南管記，歷佐淮蔡、許昌、梓潼、興元四府，累奏兼監察御史。 入朝為殿中，遷侍御史、戶部員外郎。 為舊府延薦、檢校司封郎中，賜金紫，充興元節度副使。 入為戶部郎中，遷諫議大夫。
Wang Zhi, whose style name was Huaqing, was from Qi in Taiyuan. His fifth-generation ancestor Tong, whose style name was Zhongyan, was a great Confucian of the late Sui and was called Master Wenzhong. Tong begot Fuzuo, who ended as secretary of Shangcai. Fuzuo begot Mian, who passed the jinshi examination and the policy examination and ended as magistrate of Baoding. Mian begot Yi, who ended as registrar of Yuzhou. Yi begot Qian, aide of Tianchang in Yangzhou. Zhi was Qian's fifth son. In youth he possessed moral resolve; because his family's offices were low, he wished to establish a name in the world and enlarge his house. He lived in Shouchun, personally farming to support his mother, and devoted himself entirely to lecturing; students receiving his instruction gathered greatly at his gate. When he had just reached the prime of life he did not seek fame; relatives and friends admonished him: "With Huaqing's talent, winning name and rank is like picking up mustard seeds from the ground—why do you afflict yourself among the lowly? To make a name and honor one's parents is not something farming can achieve." Zhi then informed his mother and requested to go to the local examination. In the sixth year of Yuanhe (811) he passed the jinshi examination in the first class. On leaving office he was recorder for Lingnan, served successively in Huai-Si, Xuchang, Zitong, and Xingyuan, and was repeatedly memorialized as acting censor. He entered court as attending censor, was transferred to attending censor and supervising secretary in the Ministry of Revenue. His former office recommended him, made him acting director in the Ministry of Rites, granted golden seal and purple ribbon, and appointed him deputy military governor of Xingyuan. He entered court as director in the Ministry of Revenue and was transferred to remonstrance grandee.
44
太和中，王守澄構陷宰相宋申錫。 文宗怒，欲加極法。 質與常侍崔玄亮雨泣切諫，請付外推，申錫方從輕典。 質為中人側目，執政出為虢州刺史。 質射策時，深為李吉甫所器； 及德裕為相，甚禮之，事必咨決。 尋召為給事中、河南尹。 八年，為宣州刺史、兼御史中丞、宣歙團練觀察使。 在政三年。 開成元年十二月，無疾暴卒，時年六十八，贈左散騎常侍，謚曰定。
In the Taihe era, Wang Shoucheng framed Chief Minister Song Shenxi. Emperor Wenzong was angry and wished to apply the extreme penalty. Zhi, together with regular attendant Cui Xuanliang, wept in the rain and remonstrated urgently, requesting that the case be handed to external investigation; only then was Shenxi given a lighter punishment. Zhi drew the hostile gaze of the eunuchs, and the chief ministers sent him out as prefect of Guozhou. At the time of the policy examination he had been deeply valued by Li Jifu; when Deyu became chief minister he treated him with great courtesy and consulted him on every matter. Soon he was summoned as supervising secretary and governor of Henan. In the eighth year (834) he was governor of Xuanzhou, concurrently vice censor-in-chief and Xuan-She defense and observation commissioner. He governed for three years. In the twelfth month of the first year of Kaicheng (836) he died suddenly without illness at the age of sixty-eight; he was posthumously appointed left regular attendant and given the posthumous title Ding.
45
質清廉方雅，為政有聲。 雖權臣待之厚，而行己有素，不涉朋比之議。 在宣城辟崔珦、劉濩、裴夷直、趙丱為從事，皆一代名流。 視其所與，人士重之。 子曰慶存。
Zhi was pure, incorrupt, upright, and refined, and his governance had a reputation. Though powerful ministers treated him generously, his conduct was consistent by nature and he did not become involved in factional talk. At Xuancheng he recruited Cui Guang, Liu Huo, Pei Yizhi, and Zhao Guan as staff officers; all were leading figures of the age. Judging by those he associated with, scholars esteemed him. His son was Qingcun.
46
盧簡辭
Lu Jianci
47
盧簡辭，字子策，范陽人，後徙家於蒲。 祖翰。 父綸，天寶末舉進士，遇亂不第，奉親避地於鄱陽，與郡人吉中孚為林泉之友。 大歷初，還京師，宰相王縉奏為集賢學士、秘書省校書郎。 王縉兄弟有詩名於世，縉既官重，凡所延辟，皆辭人名士，以綸能詩，禮待逾厚。 會縉得罪，坐累。 久之，調陜府戶曹、河南密縣令。 建中初，為昭應令。 硃泚之亂，咸寧王渾瑊充京城西面副元帥，乃拔綸為元帥判官、檢校金部郎中。 貞元中，吉中孚為翰林學士、戶部侍郎，典邦賦，薦綸於朝。 會丁家艱，而中孚卒。 太府卿韋渠牟得幸於德宗，綸即渠牟之甥也，數稱綸之才。 德宗召之內殿，令和禦制詩，超拜戶部郎中。 方欲委之掌誥，居無何，卒。
Lu Jianci, whose style name was Zice, was from Fanyang; his family later moved to Pu. His grandfather was Han. His father Lun, at the end of the Tianbao era, passed the jinshi examination; encountering disorder he did not attain office, took his parents to shelter in Poyang, and with the local man Ji Zhongfu became friends in forest and spring. At the beginning of the Dali era he returned to the capital; chief minister Wang Ji memorialized him as academician in the Hall of Assembled Talents and collator in the Secretariat. Wang Ji's brothers had a poetic reputation in the world; since Ji held heavy office, all those he recruited were literary men and famous scholars; because Lun could compose poetry, he was treated with courtesy exceeding the norm. When Ji was punished, Lun was implicated. After a long time he was transferred to staff officer in Shaanfu and magistrate of Mi County in Henan. At the beginning of the Jianzhong era he was magistrate of Zhaoying. In the rebellion of Zhu Ci, the Prince of Xianning Hun Zhen served as deputy supreme commander of the western capital; he then selected Lun as aide to the supreme commander and acting director in the Ministry of Revenue. In the Zhenyuan era, Ji Zhongfu was Hanlin academician and vice minister of revenue and controlled state revenue; he recommended Lun to court. When he encountered mourning for his family, Zhongfu died. Grand minister of the imperial treasury Wei Qumou gained favor with Dezong; Lun was Qumou's nephew by marriage and repeatedly praised Lun's talent. Dezong summoned him to the inner hall and ordered him to harmonize with imperial poems; he was promoted out of turn to director in the Ministry of Revenue. He was just about to be entrusted with drafting edicts when, before long, he died.
48
初，大歷中，詩人李端、錢起、韓翃輩能為五言詩； 而辭情捷麗，綸作尤工。 至貞元末，錢、李諸公雕落，綸嘗為《懷舊詩》五十韻，敘其事曰：「吾與吉侍郎中孚、司空郎中曙、苗員外發、崔補闕峒、耿拾遺湋、李校書端，風塵追遊，向三十載。 數公皆負當時盛稱榮耀，未幾，俱沈下泉。 傷悼之際，常暢博士追感前事，賦詩五十韻見寄。 輒有所酬，以申悲舊，兼寄夏侯審侍御。」 其歷言諸子云：「侍郎文章宗，傑出淮楚靈。 掌賦若吹籟，司言如建瓴。 郎中善慶余，雅韻與琴清。 郁郁松帶雪，蕭蕭鴻入冥。 員外貞貴儒，弱冠被華纓。 月香飄桂實，乳溜瀝瓊英。 補闕思沖融，巾拂藝亦精。 彩蝶戲方圃，瑞雲滋翠屏。 拾遺興難侔，逸調曠無程。 九醖貯彌潔，三花寒轉馨。 校書才智雄，舉世一娉婷。 賭墅鬼神變，屬辭鸞鳳驚。 差肩曳長裾，總轡奉和鈴。 共賦瑤臺雪，同觀金谷笙。 倚天方比劍，沈水忽如瓶。 君持玉盤珠，寫我懷袖盈。 讀罷涕交頤，願言躋百齡。」 綸之才思，皆此類也。 文宗好文，尤重綸詩，嘗問侍臣曰：「《盧綸集》幾卷？ 有子弟否？」 李德裕對曰：「綸有四男，皆登進士第，今員外郎簡能、侍御史簡辭是也。」 即遣中使詣其家，令進文集。 簡能盡以所集五百篇上獻，優詔嘉之。
Earlier, in the Dali era, the poets Li Duan, Qian Qi, and Han Hong could compose five-character verse; and in swiftness of expression and beauty of feeling, Lun's compositions were especially skillful. By the end of the Zhenyuan era, Qian, Li, and the others had passed away; Lun once composed a fifty-rhyme poem of remembrance and narrated the matter, saying: "I and Vice Director Ji Zhongfu, Director Sikong Shu, Supervising Secretary Miao Fa, Remonstrance Supplementer Cui Tong, Remonstrance Supplementer Geng Wei, and Secretary Li Duan pursued one another through wind and dust for nearly thirty years. These gentlemen all bore the glory of the age's highest praise; before long, all sank beneath the spring. In the moment of grief, Doctor Chang Chang, moved by past events, composed a fifty-rhyme poem and sent it to me. I composed a response to express sorrow for the old days, and also sent it to Attending Censor Xiahou Shen." In enumerating the gentlemen he wrote: "The Vice Director, master of letters, outstanding spirit of Huai and Chu. Composing rhapsodies like blowing a reed pipe, drafting words like raising a jar on a high roof. The Director, rich in fine blessings, elegant tone harmonizing with the clear qin. Lush pine bearing snow, lofty swan entering the dark sky. The Supervising Secretary, upright and noble Confucian, at a tender age adorned with splendid tassels. Moon fragrance drifting from cassia fruit, milky droplets dripping from jade blossoms. The Remonstrance Supplementer, thoughts harmonious and blended, kerchief and whisk arts also refined. Colored butterflies sporting in a square garden, auspicious clouds nourishing emerald screens. The Remonstrance Supplementer, spirit hard to match, free-ranging tone vast without measure. Nine brews stored ever purer, three flowers in cold turning fragrant. The Secretary, talent and wisdom heroic, peerless beauty in all the world. Gambling at the villa, spirits transform; composing phrases, phoenixes startle. Shoulder to shoulder trailing long robes, reins gathered in harmony with bells. Together composing on Jade Terrace snow, together viewing music at Golden Valley. Leaning on heaven like comparing swords, sinking in water suddenly like a bottle. You hold jade dish pearls and inscribe what fills my sleeves. When I finish reading, tears cross my cheeks; I wish to say, may you ascend a hundred years." Lun's literary talent was all of this kind. Emperor Wenzong loved literature and especially valued Lun's poetry; he once asked the attending ministers: "How many juan are in the Collected Works of Lu Lun? Does he have sons?" Li Deyu answered: "Lun had four sons, all of whom passed the jinshi examination; the present supervising secretary Jianneng and attending censor Jianci are they." He immediately sent a palace envoy to their home and ordered the collected works presented. Jianneng presented all five hundred pieces he had collected; an edict of praise commended him.
49
簡辭，元和六年登第，三辟諸侯府。 長慶末，入朝為監察，轉侍御史。 文雅之余，尤精法律，歷朝簿籍，靡不經懷。 寶歷中，故京兆尹黎幹男煟詣臺治父葉縣舊業，臺司莫知本末。 簡辭曰：「幹坐魚朝恩黨誅，田產籍沒。 大歷已來，多少赦令，豈有雪朝恩、黎幹節文？ 況其田產分給百姓，將及百年，而煟恃中助而冒論耶！」 乃移汝州刺史裴通，準大歷元年敕給百姓。 又福建鹽鐵院官盧昂坐贓三十萬，簡辭按之，於其家得金床、瑟瑟枕大如鬥。 昭湣見之曰：「此宮中所無，而盧昂為吏可知也！」 尋轉考功員外郎，轉郎中。 太和中，坐事自太仆卿出為衢州刺史。 會昌中，入為刑部侍郎，轉戶部。 大中初，轉兵部侍郎、檢校工部尚書、許州刺史、御史大夫、忠武軍節度使，遷檢校刑部尚書、襄州刺史、山南東道節度使，卒。 簡辭兄簡能。
Jianci passed the examination in the sixth year of Yuanhe (811) and was three times recruited to regional staff offices. At the end of Changqing he entered court as censor and was transferred to attending censor. Beyond literary refinement he was especially skilled in law; records of successive reigns—none escaped his mind. In the Baoli era, the former metropolitan governor Li Gan's son Wei came to the censorate to pursue his father's old estate in Ye County; the censorate did not know the background. Jianci said: "Gan was executed as a member of Yu Chao'en's faction, and his land was confiscated. Since the Dali era, how many amnesty edicts have there been—how could there be language restoring Yu Chao'en and Li Gan? Moreover, his land was distributed to the common people and has been nearly a hundred years—yet Wei relies on palace support to press a claim!" He then sent orders to Prefect Pei Tong of Ruzhou to distribute it to the common people according to the edict of the first year of Dali. Also, Lu Ang, official of the Fujian Salt and Iron Commission, was convicted of corruption totaling three hundred thousand; Jianci investigated him and at his home found a golden bed and a sese pillow as large as a peck-measure. When Zhaomin saw them he said: "These are not in the palace—yet from Lu Ang as an official one can tell!" Soon he was transferred to supervising secretary in the Ministry of Personnel and then to director. In the Taihe era, for an offense he was sent out from minister of the imperial stud to be prefect of Quzhou. In the Huichang era he entered court as vice minister of justice and was transferred to vice minister of revenue. At the beginning of Dazhong he was transferred to vice minister of war, acting minister of works, prefect of Xuzhou, censor-in-chief, and military governor of Zhongwu Army; he was transferred to acting minister of justice, prefect of Xiangzhou, and military governor of Shannan East Circuit, and died. Jianci's elder brother Jianneng.
50
簡能，字子拙，登第後再辟籓府，入為監察御史。 太和九年，由駕部員外檢校司封郎中，充鳳翔節度判官。 時鄭註得幸，李訓與之謀誅宦官，俾註鎮鳳翔，仍妙選當時才俊以為賓佐。 簡能與蕭俛弟傑、錢起子可復，皆為訓所選，從註。 及訓敗，註誅。 簡能、蕭傑等四人皆為監軍使所害。
Jianneng, whose style name was Zizhuo, after passing the examination was twice recruited to frontier staff offices and entered court as censor. In the ninth year of Taihe (835), from supervising secretary in the Ministry of War he was made acting director in the Ministry of Rites and served as aide to the Fengxiang military governor. At the time Zheng Zhu had gained favor; Li Xun plotted with him to execute the eunuchs, sent Zhu to govern Fengxiang, and still brilliantly selected the talents of the age as aides. Jianneng, together with Xiao Mian's younger brother Jie and Qian Qi's son Kefu, were all chosen by Xun and followed Zhu. When Xun failed, Zhu was executed. Jianneng, Xiao Jie, and four others were all killed by the supervisory commissioners.
51
簡辭弟弘正、簡求。
Jianci's younger brothers Hongzheng and Jianqiu.
52
弘正，字子強，元和末登進士第，累辟使府掌書記。 入朝為監察御史、侍御史。 太和中，華州刺史宇文鼎、戶部員外盧允中坐贓，弘正按之。 文宗怒，將殺鼎，弘正奏曰：「鼎歷持綱憲，繩糾之官，今為近輔刺史，以贓汙聞，死固常典。 但取受之首，罪在允中，監司之責，鼎當連坐。」 文宗釋之，鼎方減等。 三遷兵部郎中、給事中。
Hongzheng, whose style name was Ziqiang, at the end of the Yuanhe era passed the jinshi examination and was repeatedly recruited to regional staff offices as chief secretary. He entered court as censor and attending censor. In the Taihe era, governor of Huazhou Yuwen Ding and supervising secretary in the Ministry of Revenue Lu Yunzhong were convicted of corruption; Hongzheng investigated them. Emperor Wenzong was angry and was about to execute Ding; Hongzheng memorialized: "Ding long upheld the standards of law as an official who binds and corrects; now as a nearby assisting prefect he is known for corruption—death is indeed the regular penalty. But the chief taker of bribes, the crime lies with Yunzhong; the supervisory responsibility, Ding should share in punishment." Emperor Wenzong released him, and Ding's punishment was reduced by one degree. He was promoted three times to director in the Ministry of War and supervising secretary.
53
會昌末，王師討劉稹。 時詔河北三帥收山東州郡。 俄而何弘敬、王元逵得邢、洺、磁三郡。 宰臣奏議曰：「山東三郡，以賊稹未誅，宜且立留後。 如弘敬、元逵有所陳請，則朝廷難以依違。」 上曰：「然，誰可任者？」 李德裕曰：「給事中盧弘正嘗為昭義判官，性又通敏，推擇攸宜。」 即命為邢洺磁團練觀察留後。 未行而稹誅，乃令弘正銜命宣諭河北三鎮。 使還，拜工部侍郎。
At the end of Huichang the imperial army campaigned against Liu Zhen. At the time an edict ordered the three military governors of Hebei to recover the prefectures east of the mountains. Soon He Hongjing and Wang Yuankui obtained the three prefectures of Xing, Ming, and Ci. The chief ministers memorialized: "The three prefectures east of the mountains—because the rebel Zhen has not yet been executed, it is fitting for the moment to establish acting commanders. If Hongjing and Yuankui make requests, the court will find it hard to grant or refuse." The emperor said: "So—who can be entrusted?" Li Deyu said: "Supervising Secretary Lu Hongzheng once served as aide in Zhaoyi; his nature is also penetrating and quick—the choice is fitting." He was immediately appointed acting defense and observation commissioner of Xing, Ming, and Ci. Before he set out Zhen was executed; he was then ordered to carry the imperial command to proclaim reassurance to the three Hebei commands. On returning from his mission he was appointed vice minister of works.
54
大中初，轉戶部侍郎，充鹽鐵轉運使。 前是，安邑、解縣兩池鹽法積弊，課入不充。 弘正令判官司空輿至池務檢察，特立新法，仍奏輿為兩池使。 三年，課入加倍，其法至今賴之。 檢校戶部尚書，出為徐州刺史、武寧軍節度使、徐泗濠觀察等使。 徐方自智興之後，軍士驕怠，有銀刀都，尤勞姑息，前後屢逐主帥。 弘正在鎮期年，皆去其首惡，喻之忠義。 訖於受代，軍旋無譁。 鎮徐四年，遷檢校兵部尚書、汴州刺史、宣武軍節度、宋亳潁觀察等使，卒於鎮。
At the beginning of Dazhong he was transferred to vice minister of revenue and served as salt and iron transport commissioner. Before this, the salt laws of the Anyi and Jie County pools had long-standing abuses, and revenue did not meet quotas. Hongzheng ordered his aide Sikong Yu to go to the pools to inspect affairs, established a new law on the spot, and also memorialized Yu as commissioner of the two pools. In the third year revenue doubled; the law is relied upon to this day. He was made acting minister of revenue and sent out as prefect of Xuzhou, military governor of Wuning Army, and Xu-Si-Hao observation commissioner. Since Zhi Xing, the troops of Xu had been arrogant and lax; there was especially the Silver Blade Corps, most indulged and placated; before and after they repeatedly drove out commanders. During Hongzheng's year in command he removed all the chief evildoers and instructed them in loyalty and righteousness. By the time he was replaced, the army departed without uproar. After governing Xu for four years he was transferred to acting minister of war, prefect of Bianzhou, military governor of Xuanwu Army and Song-Bo-Ying observation commissioner, and died in his command.
55
簡求，字子臧，長慶元年登進士第，釋褐江西王仲舒從事。 又從元稹為浙東、江夏二府掌書記。 裴度鎮襄陽，保厘洛都，皆辟為賓佐，奏殿中侍御史。 入朝，拜監察。 裴度鎮太原，復奏為記室。 入為殿中，賜緋。 牛僧孺鎮襄漢，辟為觀察判官。 入為水部、戶部二員外郎。 會昌末，討劉稹，詔以許帥李彥佐為招討使。 朝廷以簡求累佐使府，達於機略，乃以簡求為忠武節度副使知節度事、本道供軍使。 入為吏部員外，轉本司郎中，求為蘇州刺史。
Jianqiu, whose style name was Zizang, in the first year of Changqing (821) passed the jinshi examination and on leaving office became staff officer to Wang Zhongshu of Jiangxi. He also followed Yuan Zhen as chief secretary in Zhedong and Jiangxia. When Pei Du governed Xiangyang and guarded Luoyang, he recruited Jianqiu as aide and memorialized him as attending censor. He entered court and was appointed censor. When Pei Du governed Taiyuan, he again memorialized him as recorder. He entered court as attending censor and was granted the crimson robe. When Niu Sengru governed Xiang and Han, he recruited him as observation aide. He entered court as supervising secretary in the ministries of waterways and revenue. At the end of Huichang, campaigning against Liu Zhen, an edict appointed military governor of Xu Li Yanzhuo campaign commander. The court, because Jianqiu had long served in regional staff offices and understood strategy, appointed Jianqiu deputy military governor of Zhongwu with control of military affairs and supply commissioner of the circuit. He entered court as supervising secretary in the Ministry of Personnel, was transferred to director in the same ministry, and requested to be prefect of Suzhou.
56
時簡辭鎮漢南，弘正為侍郎，領使務，昆仲皆居顯列，時人榮之。 既而宰執不協，弘正出鎮，罷簡求為左庶子分司。 數年，出為壽州刺史。 九年，党項叛，以簡求為四鎮北庭行軍、涇州刺史、涇原渭武節度押蕃落等使、檢校左散騎常侍、上柱國、范陽縣男、食邑三百戶。 十一年，遷檢校工部尚書、定州刺史、御史大夫、義武軍節度、北平軍等使。 十三年，檢校刑部尚書、鳳翔尹、鳳翔隴西節度觀察等使。 十四年八月，代裴休為太原尹、北都留守，充河東節度觀察等使。
At the time Jianci governed Hannan, Hongzheng was vice minister and controlled transport affairs; the brothers all held eminent posts, and people of the time took it as an honor. Soon the chief ministers were at odds; Hongzheng went out to govern a command, and Jianqiu was removed as junior mentor with duties at the branch office. After several years he was sent out as prefect of Shouzhou. In the ninth year (868), when the Tangut tribes rebelled, Jianqiu was appointed commander of the Four Commands Northern Campaign, prefect of Jingzhou, military governor of Jing-Yuan-Wei-Wu with control of barbarian tribes, acting left regular attendant, pillar of state, baron of Fanyang County with an estate of three hundred households. In the eleventh year (870) he was transferred to acting minister of works, prefect of Dingzhou, censor-in-chief, military governor of Yiwu Army and Beiping Army. In the thirteenth year (872) he was made acting minister of justice, governor of Fengxiang, and military governor of Fengxiang and Longxi. In the eighth month of the fourteenth year (873) he replaced Pei Xiu as governor of Taiyuan, northern capital guardian, and Hedong military governor.
57
簡求辭翰縱橫，長於應變，所歷四鎮，皆控邊陲。 屬雜虜寇邊，因之移授，所至撫禦，邊鄙晏然。 太原軍素管退渾、契苾、沙陁三部落，或撫納不至，多為邊患。 前政或要之詛盟，質之子弟，然為盜不息。 簡求開懷撫待，接以恩信，所質子弟，一切遣之。 故五部之人，欣然聽命。 咸通初，以疾辭，表章瀝懇。 制以太子太師致仕，還於東都。 都城有園林別墅，歲時行樂，子弟侍側，公卿在席，詩酒賞詠，竟日忘歸，如是者累年。 五年十月卒，時年七十六。 贈尚書左僕射。
Jianqiu's literary hand was bold and free; he excelled in adapting to change; in the four commands he served, all controlled the frontier. When mixed barbarians raided the border he was transferred accordingly; wherever he arrived he pacified and controlled, and the frontier remained tranquil. The Taiyuan army had long administered the Tuihun, Qibi, and Shatuo tribes; sometimes in pacifying and accepting them they did not arrive, and they often became border troubles. Previous administrators sometimes required oath alliances and held their sons as hostages, yet banditry did not cease. Jianqiu received them with open heart, treated them with favor and trust, and sent back all the hostaged sons. Therefore the people of the five tribes gladly obeyed orders. At the beginning of Xiantong (860), because of illness he resigned; his memorials were earnest and repeated. An edict allowed him to retire as grand mentor to the heir apparent and return to the Eastern Capital. In the capital he had gardens and villas; each year he went out for pleasure; sons and younger kinsmen attended at his side, dukes and ministers sat at the feast; poetry, wine, appreciation, and song lasted the whole day without return—thus for many years. In the tenth month of the fifth year (864) he died at the age of seventy-six. He was posthumously appointed left vice director of the Department of State Affairs.
58
簡能子知猷。 知猷登進士第，釋褐秘書省正字。 宰臣蕭鄴鎮江陵、成都，辟為兩府記室。 入拜左拾遺，改右補闕、史館修撰，轉員外郎。 出為饒州刺史。 入拜兵部郎中，賜緋魚，改吏部郎中、太常少卿。 出為商州刺史。 征拜給事中，轉中書舍人。 僖宗幸山南，襄王偽署，乃避地金州。 駕還，征拜工部侍郎，轉戶部，判史館，遷尚書右丞、兵部侍郎。 歷太常卿，工部、戶部尚書，復領太常卿。 昭宗在華下，加檢校右僕射，守太子少師。 進位太子太師，檢校司空，卒於華下。 知猷器度長厚，文辭美麗。 尤工書，落簡措翰，人爭模仿。 子文度，位亦至丞郎。
Jianneng's son Zhiyou. Zhiyou passed the jinshi examination and on leaving office was proofreader in the Secretariat. When chief minister Xiao Ye governed Jiangling and Chengdu, he recruited him as chief secretary of both offices. He entered court as left remonstrance supplementer, was changed to right remonstrance supplementer and compiler in the Historiography Office, and was transferred to supervising secretary. He was sent out as prefect of Raozhou. He entered court as director in the Ministry of War, was granted the crimson fish bag, and was changed to director in the Ministry of Personnel and junior vice minister of imperial sacrifices. He was sent out as prefect of Shangzhou. He was summoned and appointed supervising secretary and transferred to secretariat drafter. When Emperor Xizong went to Shannan, the Prince of Xiang held a false appointment; he then fled to Jinzhou. When the imperial carriage returned he was summoned as vice minister of works, transferred to vice minister of revenue, controlled the Historiography Office, was transferred to right vice director of the Department of State Affairs and vice minister of war. He served as minister of imperial sacrifices, minister of works, and minister of revenue, and again headed the Ministry of Imperial Sacrifices. When Emperor Zhaozong was at Hua, he was given the additional title of acting right vice director of the Department of State Affairs and junior mentor to the heir apparent. He was advanced to grand mentor to the heir apparent and acting minister of works, and died at Hua. Zhiyou's bearing was generous and steady, and his literary style was beautiful. He was especially skilled in calligraphy; when he set brush to paper people competed to imitate him. His son Wendu also rose to director-level office.
59
簡辭無子，以簡求子貽殷、玄禧入繼。 貽殷終光祿少卿。
Jianci had no sons; he took Jianqiu's sons Yiyin and Xuanxi to succeed him. Yiyin ended as junior vice minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud.
60
玄禧登進士第，終國子博士。
Xuanxi passed the jinshi examination and ended as doctor of the imperial university.
61
弘正子虔灌，有俊才，進士登第。 所著文筆，為時所稱。 位終秘書監。
Hongzheng's son Qian'guan had outstanding talent and passed the jinshi examination. The writings he composed were praised by the age. He ended as director of the Secretariat.
62
簡求十子，而嗣業、汝弼最知名。
Jianqiu had ten sons; Siye and Rubi were most renowned.
63
嗣業進士登第，累辟使府。 廣明初，以長安尉直昭文館、左拾遺、右補闕。 王鐸征兵收兩京，辟為都統判官、檢校禮部郎中，卒。
Siye passed the jinshi examination and was repeatedly recruited to regional staff offices. At the beginning of Guangming (880) he was captain of Chang'an, served directly in the Zhaowen Hall, and was left remonstrance supplementer and right remonstrance supplementer. When Wang Duo raised troops to recover the two capitals, he recruited him as aide to the supreme commander and acting director in the Ministry of Rites, and he died.
64
汝弼登進士第，累遷至祠部員外郎、知制誥，從昭宗遷洛。 屬柳璨黨附賊臣，誣陷士族，汝弼懼，移疾退居，客遊上黨。 遇潞府為太原所攻，節度使丁會歸降，從會至太原，李克用奏為節度副使，累奏戶部侍郎。 太原使府有龍泉亭，簡求節制時手書詩一章，在亭之西壁。 汝弼復為亞帥，每亭中宴集，未嘗居賓位，西向俯首而已，人士嘉之。
Rubi passed the jinshi examination, rose successively to supervising secretary in the Ministry of Rites and drafter of edicts, and followed Emperor Zhaozong in moving the capital to Luoyang. When Liu Can attached himself to the rebel ministers and falsely accused the gentry clans, Rubi was afraid, took leave for illness and retired, and traveled as a guest in Shangdang. When the Lu prefecture was attacked by Taiyuan, military governor Ding Hui surrendered; he followed Hui to Taiyuan, and Li Keyong memorialized him as deputy military governor and repeatedly memorialized him as vice minister of revenue. In the Taiyuan staff office there was Longquan Pavilion; when Jianqiu was in command he personally wrote a poem of one section on the west wall of the pavilion. When Rubi again became deputy commander, whenever he feasted in the pavilion he never took the guest seat but only faced west and bowed his head; scholars praised him.
65
盧氏兩世貴盛，六卿方鎮相繼，而未有居輔相者。 至中興，嗣業子文紀，仕至尚書中書侍郎、平章事。
The Lu clan was noble and prosperous for two generations; ministers and frontier governors followed one another, yet none had yet reached chief minister. In the restoration, Siye's son Wenji rose to vice director of the Secretariat and associate chief minister of state affairs.
66
史臣曰
The historian says
67
史臣曰：孟襄陽之清節，胡廣州之堅正，卒以結權幸而敗，積貨賄而亡。 人如面焉，固難知也。 二崔以綱憲相傾，元穎以獻奇取媚，雖遭時多僻，位至鼎司。 言之正人，亦孔之醜，而父事宦者，何所逃譏？ 以端、綸之才，任不逾元士，而盧簡辭之昆仲，雲摶水擊，郁為鼎門，非德積慶鐘，安能及此？ 辭人之後，不亦休哉！
The historian says: Meng of Xiangyang's pure integrity and Hu of Guangzhou's firm uprightness—in the end they failed through currying favor with the powerful and perished through amassed bribes. A man's face—how hard it is to know! The two Cuis overthrew one another through censorial law; Yuanping won favor by presenting curiosities; though they met eccentric times, they reached the rank of chief minister. To speak of them as upright men is also among the uglinesses of the Master—yet treating a eunuch as a father, how can they escape ridicule? With the talents of Duan and Lun, their offices did not exceed elementary scholars; yet the brothers of Lu Jianci rose like clouds striking water and flourished as a great house—is this not accumulated virtue and heaped blessing, that they could reach this? The descendants of men of letters—how splendid!
68
贊曰：君子喻義，小人近利。 孟譴胡亡，家財掃地。 聲勢相傾，崔、杜醜名。 端、綸諸子，奕葉光榮。
The encomium says: The gentleman understands righteousness; the petty man clings to profit. When Meng was censured and Hu died, family wealth was swept clean. Power and momentum overthrew one another; the Cuis and Du earned ugly names. The sons of Duan and Lun—generation after generation, glory.