Volume 166 Biographies 116: Yuan Zhen, Bai Juyi

=裴度=裴度，字中立，河東聞喜人。祖有鄰，濮州濮陽令。父漵，河南府澠池丞。度，貞元五年進士擢第，登宏辭科。應制舉賢良方正、能直言極諫科，對策高等，授河陰縣尉。遷監察御史，密疏論權幸，語切忤旨，出為河南府功曹。遷起居舍人。元和六年，以司封員外郎知制誥，尋轉本司郎中。

Pei Du, whose courtesy name was Zhongli, came from Wenxi in Hedong. His grandfather Youlin had served as magistrate of Puyang in Puzhou. His father Yin had been vice-prefect of Chi in the Henan prefectural administration. Du passed the jinshi examination in the fifth year of the Zhenyuan reign and also qualified in the Hongci literary examination. He entered the special imperial examination for worthy and upright men and for candid critics, placed high in the policy responses, and was appointed assistant magistrate of Heyin county. Promoted to investigating censor, he submitted a secret memorial attacking powerful favorites in language so sharp that it offended the throne, and he was transferred out to serve as recorder of Henan prefecture. He was then appointed attendant of the imperial diaries. In the sixth year of Yuanhe he drafted imperial edicts as assistant director of the Bureau of Enfeoffments and was soon promoted to director within that bureau.

七年，魏博節度使田季安卒。其子懷諫幼年不任軍政，牙軍立小將田興為留後。興布心腹於朝廷，請守國法，除吏輸常賦，憲宗遣度使魏州宣諭。興承僭侈之後，車服垣屋，有逾制度，視事齋閣，尤加宏敞。興惡之，不於其間視事，乃除舊采訪使廳居之，請度為壁記，述興謙降奉法，魏人深德之。興又請度遍至屬郡，宣述詔旨，魏人郊迎感悅。使還，拜中書舍人。

In the seventh year, Tian Ji'an, the military commissioner of Weibo, died. Huaijian, his son, was still a boy and unfit to handle military affairs, so the commander's guard installed the junior officer Tian Xing as acting commissioner. Xing placed trusted agents at court, asked to abide by imperial law, accept centrally appointed officials, and pay regular tribute, whereupon Emperor Xianzong sent Du to Weizhou as imperial envoy to announce the court's will. Having inherited the extravagant ways of his predecessors' semi-independent rule, Xing maintained carriages, dress, walls, and halls that exceeded proper regulations, and the office pavilion where he conducted business was especially grand. Xing disliked the display and refused to conduct business there, moving instead into the old visiting commissioner hall and asking Du to compose an inscription for the wall praising his humility and obedience to law; the people of Wei were deeply grateful. Xing also asked Du to tour the subordinate prefectures and proclaim the imperial edicts, and the people of Wei welcomed him in the suburbs with delight. On his return from the mission he was appointed a drafter in the Secretariat.

九年十月，改御史中丞。宣徽院五坊小使，每歲秋按鷹犬於畿甸，所至官吏必厚邀供餉，小不如意，即恣其須索，百姓畏之如寇盜。先是，貞元末，此輩暴橫尤甚，乃至張網羅於民家門及井，不令出入汲水，曰：「驚我供奉鳥雀。」又群聚於賣酒食家，肆情飲啖。將去，留蛇一篋，誡之曰：「吾以此蛇致供奉鳥雀，可善飼之，無使饑渴。」主人賂而謝之，方肯攜蛇篋而去。至元和初，雖數治其弊，故態未絕。小使嘗至下邽縣，縣令裴寰性嚴刻，嫉其兇暴，公館之外，一無曲奉。小使怒，構寰出慢言。及上聞，憲宗怒，促令攝寰下獄，欲以大不敬論。宰相武元衡等以理開悟，帝怒不解。度入延英奏事，因極言論列，言寰無罪。上愈怒曰：「如卿之言，寰無罪即決五坊小使；如小使無罪，即決裴寰。」度對曰：「按罪誠如聖旨，但以裴寰為令長，憂惜陛下百姓如此，豈可加罪？」上怒色遽霽。翌日，令釋寰。尋以度兼刑部侍郎，奉使蔡州行營，宣諭諸軍。既還，帝問諸將之才，度曰：「臣觀李光顏見義能勇，終有所成。」不數日，光顏奏大破賊軍於時曲，帝尤嘆度之知人。

In the tenth month of the ninth year he was appointed vice censor-in-chief. Each autumn the junior commissioners of the Five Wards of the Xuanhui Court ranged through the capital region with hawks and hunting dogs, and wherever they went local officials had to lavish entertainment and supplies upon them; the slightest dissatisfaction provoked extortionate demands, and common people feared them like robbers. Earlier, at the end of the Zhenyuan reign, they had been even more brutal, stretching nets across commoners' gates and wells and forbidding anyone to draw water, saying, 'You will frighten the birds I keep for imperial tribute. They also gathered in taverns and food shops and ate and drank as they pleased. When they were about to leave, they would leave behind a basket containing a snake with the warning, 'I use this snake to catch the birds for imperial tribute. Feed it well and do not let it go hungry or thirsty. Only after the proprietor paid them off and apologized would they agree to take the snake basket away. By the beginning of the Yuanhe reign, although the court had repeatedly tried to curb these abuses, the old conduct had not disappeared. Once a junior commissioner came to Xia Gui county, where Magistrate Pei Huan, a stern man who detested their brutality, refused to offer them any favors beyond what the official lodge required. The commissioner grew angry and fabricated a charge that Huan had spoken disrespectfully. When word reached the throne, Xianzong was furious and ordered Huan seized and thrown into prison, intending to prosecute him for grave disrespect. Chief Minister Wu Yuanheng and others tried to reason with him, but the emperor's anger did not subside. Du entered the Yanying Hall to report on affairs and argued at length that Huan was innocent. The emperor grew still angrier and said, 'If what you say is true and Huan is innocent, then execute the Five Wards commissioner; if the commissioner is innocent, then execute Pei Huan. Du replied, 'Your Majesty is right that guilt must be judged, but as magistrate Pei Huan showed such concern for Your Majesty's people—how can he be punished for that?' The emperor's angry expression cleared at once. The next day he ordered Huan released. Soon afterward Du was additionally appointed vice minister of justice and sent to the field headquarters at Cai prefecture to proclaim the court's will to the armies. On his return the emperor asked about the abilities of the generals. Du said, 'In my view Li Guangyan acts bravely when justice demands it and will ultimately achieve great things. Within a few days Guangyan reported a great victory over the rebel army at Shiqu, and the emperor especially marveled at Du's judgment of character.

十年六月，王承宗、李師道俱遣刺客刺宰相武元衡，亦令刺度。是日，度出通化裏，盜三以劍擊度，初斷靴帶，次中背，才絕單衣，後微傷其首，度墮馬。會度帶氈帽，故創不至深。賊又揮刃追度，度從人王義乃持賊連呼甚急，賊反刃斷義手，乃得去。度已墮溝中，賊謂度已死，乃舍去。居三日，詔以度為門下侍郎、同中書門下平章事。

In the sixth month of the tenth year, Wang Chengzong and Li Shidao each sent assassins to kill Chief Minister Wu Yuanheng and also ordered an attempt on Du's life. That day, as Du was leaving Tonghua Lane, three assassins attacked him with swords, first cutting his boot strap, then striking his back so that the blade barely pierced his inner garment, then slightly wounding his head, and Du fell from his horse. Because Du was wearing a felt hat, the wound was not deep. The assassins pursued Du with drawn blades, but his attendant Wang Yi seized one of them and shouted for help; the assassin turned and cut off Yi's hand before escaping. Du had fallen into a ditch, and the assassins, believing him dead, abandoned the attack. Three days later an edict appointed Du vice minister of the Secretariat and participant in the Chancellery.

度勁正而言辯，尤長於政體，凡所陳諭，感動物情。自魏博使還，宣達稱旨，帝深嘉屬。又自蔡州勞軍還，益聽其言。尚以元衡秉政，大用未果，自盜發都邑，便以大計屬之。

Du was upright, forceful, and eloquent, especially skilled in matters of statecraft, and whatever he presented moved those who heard him. From his return from the Weibo mission onward, his proclamations pleased the emperor, who came to rely on him deeply. After he returned from comforting the armies at Cai, the emperor listened to him even more closely. While Yuanheng still dominated the government, Du had not yet received full authority, but once assassins struck in the capital the emperor entrusted the great undertaking to him.

初，元衡遇害，獻計者或請罷度官以安二鎮之心，憲宗大怒曰：「若罷度官，是奸計得行，朝綱何以振舉？吾用度一人，足以破此二賊矣。」度亦以平賊為己任。度以所傷請告二十余日，詔以衛兵宿度私第，中使問訊不絕。未拜前一日，宣旨謂度曰：「不用宣政參假，即延英對來。」及度入對，撫諭周至。時群盜幹紀，變起都城，朝野恐駭。及度命相制下，人情始安，以為必能殄寇。自是誅賊之計，日聞獻替，用軍愈急。

When Yuanheng was killed, some advisers suggested removing Du from office to placate the two rebellious circuits, but Xianzong was furious and said, 'If I remove Du from office, the traitors' plot succeeds. How then can court authority be upheld? With Du alone I am enough to destroy these two rebels. Du likewise took the suppression of the rebels as his personal duty. Du requested more than twenty days' leave for his wounds, and the court ordered imperial guards to lodge at his residence while palace envoys inquired after him without pause. On the day before his formal appointment, the emperor sent word telling Du, 'Do not request leave to attend at Xuanzheng Hall; come straight to audience in the Yanying Hall. When Du entered for audience, the emperor comforted and encouraged him with great warmth. At that time rebels were violating law and disorder had erupted in the capital, filling court and countryside with fear. When the edict appointing Du chief minister was issued, public anxiety eased, for people believed he would surely destroy the rebels. From then on plans for suppressing the rebels were revised daily in council, and military operations grew steadily more intense.

十一年，莊憲皇后崩，度為禮儀使。上不聽政，欲準故事置冢宰，以總百司。度獻議曰：「冢宰是殷、周六官之首，既掌邦理，實統百司。故王者諒闇，百官有權聽之制。後代設官，既無此號，不可虛設。且國朝故事，或置或否，古今異制，不必因循。」敕旨曰：「諸司公事，宜權取中書門下處分。」識者是之。

In the eleventh year, after the death of Empress Zhuangxian, Du was appointed commissioner of funeral ritual. The emperor suspended government and wished, following precedent, to appoint a chief steward to oversee all offices. Du submitted a memorial arguing, 'The chief steward was head of the six ministries in the Yin and Zhou dynasties, governing the state and overseeing all offices. When a ruler observed mourning seclusion, the hundred officials were therefore empowered to conduct government in his stead. Later dynasties no longer had such an office, and it should not be created in name only. Moreover, our own dynasty had sometimes used the office and sometimes not; ancient and modern institutions differ, and precedent need not be followed blindly. The imperial response ordered that public business of all offices should provisionally be handled by the Secretariat and Chancellery. Knowledgeable officials approved of this decision.

六月，蔡州行營唐鄧節度使高霞寓兵敗於鐵城，中外恟駭。先是，詔群臣各獻誅吳元濟可否之狀。朝臣多言罷兵赦罪為便，翰林學士錢徽、蕭俛語尤切，唯度言賊不可赦。及霞寓敗，宰相以上必厭兵，欲以罷兵為對。延英方奏，憲宗曰：「夫一勝一負，兵家常勢。若帝王之兵不合敗，則自古何難於用兵，累聖不應留此兇賊。今但論此兵合用與否，及朝廷制置當否，卿等唯須要害處置。將帥有不可者，去之勿疑；兵力有不足者，速與應接。何可以一將不利，便沮成計？」於是宰臣不得措言，朝廷無敢言罷兵者，故度計得行。

In the sixth month, Gao Xiayu, military commissioner of Tang and Deng in the Cai field army, was defeated at Iron City, throwing court and countryside into alarm. Earlier the emperor had ordered all ministers to submit opinions on whether Wu Yuanji should be punished or pardoned. Most court officials argued that ceasing military operations and granting amnesty would be best; Hanlin academicians Qian Hui and Xiao Fu spoke especially forcefully, but only Du insisted that the rebel could not be pardoned. After Xiayu's defeat the chief ministers assumed the emperor must be weary of war and prepared to advise halting the campaign. As they were presenting their views in the Yanying Hall, Xianzong said, 'Victory and defeat are the ordinary pattern of war. If an imperial army were never allowed to suffer defeat, warfare would have been easy throughout history and no sage emperor would ever have tolerated such a vicious rebel. Discuss only whether this campaign should continue and whether the court's arrangements are sound. You need only advise me on the essential measures. If any commander proves unfit, remove him without hesitation; if forces are insufficient, reinforce them at once. How can a single general's setback be allowed to wreck a settled plan? The chief ministers were left speechless, and no one at court dared propose halting the campaign, so Du's policy prevailed.

王稷家二奴告稷換父遺表，隱沒進奉物。留其奴於仗內，遣中使往東都檢責稷之家財。度奏曰：「王鍔身歿之後，其家進奉已多。今因其奴告檢責其家事，臣恐天下將帥聞之，必有以家為計者。」憲宗即日遣中使還，二奴付京兆府決殺。

Two slaves in Wang Ji's household reported that Ji had altered his father's death memorial and concealed goods presented as imperial tribute. The slaves were detained in the palace guard quarters while palace envoys were sent to the eastern capital to inspect and seize Ji's family property. Du memorialized, 'Since Wang E's death his family has already presented a great deal of tribute to the throne. If we now investigate and seize his family's property because slaves have accused him, I fear that commanders throughout the realm will hear of it and begin calculating how to protect their households. Xianzong that same day recalled the envoys and ordered the two slaves executed by the Jingzhao prefectural administration.

十二年，李醖、李光顏屢奏破賊，然國家聚兵淮右四年，度支供餉，不勝其弊，諸將玩寇相視，未有成功，上亦病之。宰相李逢吉、王涯等三人，以勞師弊賦，意欲罷兵，見上互陳利害。度獨無言。帝問之，對曰：「臣請身自督戰。」明日延英重議，逢吉等出，獨留度，謂之曰：「卿必能為朕行乎？」度俯伏流涕曰：「臣誓不與此賊偕全。」上亦為之改容。度復奏曰：「臣昨見吳元濟乞降表，料此逆賊勢實窘蹙。但諸將不一，未能迫之，故未降耳。若臣自赴行營，則諸將各欲立功以固恩寵，破賊必矣！」上然之。翌日，詔曰：

In the twelfth year Li Yun and Li Guangyan repeatedly reported victories over the rebels, yet the court had kept armies on the Huai right for four years, the treasury could scarcely sustain the cost of supplies, the generals dallied with the enemy and watched one another without achieving decisive success, and the emperor himself was weary of the campaign. Chief Ministers Li Fengji, Wang Ya, and a third colleague, citing exhausted armies and depleted revenues, wished to halt the campaign and took turns explaining the pros and cons to the emperor. Du alone remained silent. When the emperor asked him, he replied, 'Your servant asks to go in person to supervise the fighting. The next day, after further deliberation in the Yanying Hall, Fengji and the others withdrew and the emperor kept Du alone, asking, 'Can you truly go for me?' Du prostrated himself in tears and said, 'I vow that either the rebel or I shall not survive this campaign whole.' The emperor's expression softened at this. Du added, 'Yesterday I saw Wu Yuanji's petition offering surrender. I judge that the rebel's position is truly desperate. But the generals are not acting in concert and cannot press him, which is why he has not yet surrendered. If I go to the field camp in person, each general will strive to win merit and secure imperial favor, and the rebels will surely be destroyed! The emperor agreed. The next day an edict declared:

詔出，度以韓弘為淮西行營都統，不欲更為招討，請只稱宣慰處置使。又以此行既兼招撫，請改「翦其類」為「革其誌」。又以弘已為都統，請改「更張琴瑟」為「近輟樞衡」，請改「煩我臺席」為「授以成算」，皆從之。仍奏刑部侍郎馬總為宣慰副使，太子右庶子韓愈為彰義行軍司馬，司勛員外郎李正封、都官員外郎馮宿、禮部員外郎李宗閔等為兩使判官書記，皆從之。

After the edict was issued, since Han Hong had been appointed overall commander of the Huai west field army, Du declined the title of pacification commissioner and asked to be styled only commissioner for proclamation and disposition. Because the mission combined military action with appeasement, he also asked to change the phrase 'cut off their kind' to 'reform their will.' Since Hong was already overall commander, he asked to change 'restring the lute' to 'recently set aside the pivot of state,' and 'trouble Our terrace seat' to 'entrust with the completed plan,' and the emperor approved all these revisions. He also recommended Vice Minister of Justice Ma Zong as deputy commissioner, Crown Prince's right assistant Han Yu as staff officer of the Zhangyi field army, and Assistant Directors Li Zhengfeng, Feng Su, and Li Zongmin as secretaries for both commissioners, and all were approved.

初，德宗朝政多僻，朝官或相過從，多令金吾伺察密奏，宰相不敢於私第見賓客。及度輔政，以群賊未誅，宜延接奇士，共為籌畫，乃請於私居接延賓客，憲宗許之。自是天下賢俊，得以效計議於丞相，接士於私第，由度之請也。

Earlier, under Emperor Dezong the court had been suspicious of officials, and when courtiers visited one another the golden guards were often ordered to spy and report secretly, so that chief ministers did not dare receive guests at their private residences. When Du entered government, he argued that while the rebels had not yet been destroyed it was right to receive talented men and plan with them, and he asked permission to entertain guests at his private residence, which Xianzong granted. From then on talented men throughout the realm could offer counsel to the chief minister, and the custom of receiving scholars at one's private residence began with Du's request.

自討淮西，王師屢敗。論者以殺傷滋甚，轉輸不逮，擬議密疏，紛紜交進。度以腹心之疾，不時去之，終為大患，不然，兩河之盜，亦將視此為高下。遂堅請討伐，上深委信，故聽之不疑。

Since the campaign against the Huai west began, the imperial armies had suffered repeated defeats. Critics, citing ever heavier casualties and inadequate supply lines, submitted secret memorials in a steady flood of conflicting advice. Du regarded the rebellion as a disease of the heart and viscera that would become a grave calamity if not removed in time; otherwise the rebels of the two He regions would take their measure from this campaign as well. He pressed his case for a punitive campaign with unwavering resolve, and the emperor, placing deep trust in him, assented without hesitation.

度既受命，召對於延英，奏曰：「主憂臣辱，義在必死。賊滅，則朝天有日；賊在，則歸闕無期。」上為之惻然流涕。

Once Du had received his commission, he was summoned to audience in the Yanying Hall and said, "When the sovereign grieves, the minister is disgraced; duty demands that I stake my life on this mission. If the rebels are destroyed, I shall again see the imperial court; but while they remain, I shall never return to the capital. The emperor was deeply moved and wept at his words.

十二年八月三日，度赴淮西，詔以神策軍三百騎衛從，上御通化門慰勉之。度樓下銜涕而辭，賜之犀帶。度名雖宣慰，其實行元帥事，仍以郾城為治所。上以李逢吉與度不協，乃罷知政事，出為劍南東川節度。

On the third day of the eighth month of the twelfth year, Du set out for Huai West. An edict assigned three hundred Shence cavalry as his escort, and the emperor himself came to the Tonghua Gate to send him off with words of encouragement. Below the gate tower Du took his leave with tears choking his voice, and the emperor bestowed on him a rhinoceros-horn belt. Although Du's title was pacification commissioner, in practice he exercised full command, and he established his headquarters at Yancheng. Because Li Fengji and Du were at odds, the emperor removed Fengji from the chancellorship and sent him out to serve as military commissioner of Jiannan East Chuan.

既離京，淮西行營大將李光顏、烏重胤謂監軍梁守謙曰：「若俟度至而有功，即非我利。可疾戰，先事立功。」是月六日，將出兵，與賊戰於賈店，為賊所敗。度二十七日至郾城，巡撫諸軍，宣達上旨，士皆賈勇。時諸道兵皆有中使監陣，進退不由主將，戰勝則先使獻捷，偶衄則淩挫百端。度至行營，並奏去之，兵柄專制之於將，眾皆喜悅。軍法嚴肅，號令畫一，以是出戰皆捷。度遣使入蔡州，元濟與度書曰：「比密有降款，而索日進隔河大呼，遂令三軍防元濟，故歸首無路。」

After Du had left the capital, the chief generals of the Huai West field camp, Li Guangyan and Wu Chongyin, told the army supervisor Liang Shouqian, "If we wait until Du arrives and then win the glory, it will do us no good. We should strike quickly and win credit before he gets here. On the sixth day of that month they took the field and fought the rebels at Jia Store, where they were routed. Du reached Yancheng on the twenty-seventh. He inspected the armies, conveyed the emperor's will, and the soldiers rallied their courage. At that time every allied army had palace envoys supervising the lines. Generals could not command advance or retreat on their own; when a battle was won the envoys rushed forward to claim the victory report, and when there was even a minor setback they heaped abuse on every side. When Du reached the field camp he memorialized to remove them all, so that military authority rested solely with the generals, to the great satisfaction of the troops. Discipline was strict and orders uniform, and from that point every engagement ended in victory. Du sent an envoy into Cai prefecture, and Wu Yuanji wrote to him, "I had lately been negotiating a secret surrender, but Suo Rijin shouted the news across the river, and the three armies were put on guard against me, so I had no way to give myself up."

十月十一日，唐鄧節度使李醖，襲破懸瓠城，擒吳元濟。度先遣宣慰副使馬總入城安撫。明日，度建彰義軍節，領洄曲降卒萬人繼進。李愬具櫜鞬以軍禮迎度，拜之路左。度既視事，蔡人大悅。舊令：途無偶語，夜不燃燭，人或以酒食相過從者，以軍法論。度乃約法，唯盜賊、鬥殺外，余盡除之，其往來者，不復以晝夜為限。於是蔡之遺黎，始知有生人之樂。

On the eleventh day of the tenth month, Li Yun, military commissioner of Tang-Deng, stormed Xuanhuo city and captured Wu Yuanji. Du first sent Ma Zong, his deputy pacification commissioner, into the city to restore order and reassure the people. The next day Du entered as military commissioner of the Zhangyi Army, followed by ten thousand surrendered troops from Huichu. Li Su came out with bow case and quiver in full military ceremony to welcome Du, bowing at the roadside. Once Du took up his duties, the people of Cai were overjoyed. Under the old regulations no one might speak in pairs on the streets, lamps were forbidden after dark, and anyone who visited a neighbor with food or wine was punished under military law. Du then issued simplified regulations, abolishing every prohibition except those against theft, robbery, and murder in brawls, and people were free to come and go without regard to day or night. At last the survivors of Cai knew what it meant to live as ordinary human beings again.

初，度以蔡卒為牙兵。或以為反側之子，其心未安，不可自去其備。度笑而答曰：「吾受命為彰義軍節度使，元惡就擒，蔡人即吾人也。」蔡之父老，無不感泣。申、光之民，即時平定。

At first Du made the former Cai garrison his personal guard. Some argued that these men, having once rebelled, could not yet be trusted, and that he ought not to disarm himself in their presence. Du smiled and replied, "I have been appointed military commissioner of the Zhangyi Army. The chief villain is captured, and the people of Cai are my own people. The elders of Cai wept at his words. The people of Shen and Guang were pacified at once.

十一月二十八日，度自蔡州入朝，留副使馬總為彰義軍留後。初，度入蔡州，或譖度沒入元濟婦女珍寶。聞，上頗疑之。上欲盡誅元濟舊將，封二劍以授梁守謙，使往蔡州。度回至郾城遇之，乃復與守謙入蔡州，量罪加刑，不盡如詔。守謙固以詔止，度先以疏陳，乃徑赴闕下。二月，詔加度金紫光祿大夫、弘文館大學士，賜勛上柱國，封晉國公，食邑三千戶，復知政事。

On the twenty-eighth day of the eleventh month Du returned to court from Cai prefecture, leaving Ma Zong behind as acting commissioner of the Zhangyi Army. Earlier, when Du entered Cai prefecture, some had accused him of seizing Wu Yuanji's women and treasures for himself. When the emperor heard of this, he grew deeply suspicious. The emperor intended to execute all of Wu Yuanji's former officers and sealed two swords, which he gave to Liang Shouqian and sent him to Cai prefecture. Du met him on the road back at Yancheng, returned with him to Cai prefecture, and punished the offenders according to the gravity of their crimes rather than carrying out the edict in full. Liang Shouqian tried to stop him with the edict, but Du first submitted a memorial explaining his actions and then went straight to the capital. In the second month an edict promoted Du to Grand Master of the Gold Seal and Purple Ribbon and Grand Academician of the Hongwen Hall, bestowed on him the merit rank of Upper Pillar of State, enfeoffed him as Duke of Jin with a fief of three thousand households, and restored him to the chancellorship.

憲宗以淮西賊平，因功臣李光顏等來朝，欲開內宴，詔六軍使修麟德殿之東廊。軍使張奉國以公費不足，出私財以助用，訴於執政。度從容啟曰：「陛下營造，有將作監等司局，豈可使功臣破產營繕？」上怒奉國泄漏，乃令致仕。其浚龍首渠，起凝暉殿，雕飾綺煥，徙佛寺花木以植於庭。有程異、皇甫镈者，奸纖用事，二人領度支鹽鐵，數貢羨余錢，助帝營造。帝又以異、镈平蔡時供饋不乏，二人並命拜同平章事。度延英面論曰：「程異、皇甫镈，錢穀吏耳，非代天理物之器也。陛下徇耳目之欲，拔置相位，天下人騰口掉舌，以為不可，於陛下無益。願徐思其宜。」帝不省納。度三上疏論之，請罷己相位，上都不省。事見《镈傳》。

With the Huai West rebellion crushed and meritorious generals such as Li Guangyan coming to court, Emperor Xianzong wished to hold a palace banquet and ordered the commissioners of the Six Armies to renovate the east corridor of the Linde Hall. The army commissioner Zhang Fengguo, finding the public funds insufficient, spent his own money to help cover the costs and appealed to the chief ministers. Du calmly said, "Your Majesty's building projects are the business of the Directorate of Palace Buildings and other offices. How can meritorious ministers be driven to ruin themselves paying for palace repairs? The emperor, furious that Zhang Fengguo had revealed the matter, ordered him to retire from office. He dredged the Longshou Canal, built the Ninghui Hall in lavish ornament, and transplanted flowers and trees from Buddhist temples into the palace grounds. Cheng Yi and Huangfu Bo, cunning and petty men who held real power, headed the Salt and Iron Commission and repeatedly sent surplus revenue to finance the emperor's building projects. The emperor also rewarded them with appointments as co-chancellors, citing their success in keeping supplies flowing during the campaign against Cai. Du argued before the emperor in the Yanying Hall, "Cheng Yi and Huangfu Bo are mere revenue clerks, not men fit to govern the realm on Heaven's behalf. Your Majesty has elevated them to the chancellorship to gratify private whim, and people everywhere are saying it cannot stand. It does Your Majesty no good. I beg Your Majesty to reconsider this carefully. The emperor would not listen. Du submitted three memorials on the matter and even asked to be removed from the chancellorship, but the emperor ignored him entirely. The affair is recorded in Huangfu Bo's biography.

又賈人張陟負五坊使楊朝汶息利錢潛匿，朝汶於陟家得私簿記，有負錢人盧載初，雲是故西川節度使盧坦大夫書跡，朝汶即捕坦家人拘之。坦男不敢申理，即以私錢償之。及征驗書跡，乃故鄭滑節度盧群手書也。坦男理其事，朝汶曰：「錢已進過，不可復得。」御史中丞蕭俛及諫官上疏陳其暴橫之狀，度與崔群因延英對，極言之。憲宗曰：「且欲與卿商量東軍，此小事我自處置。」度奏曰：「用兵，小事也；五坊追捕平人，大事也。兵事不理，只憂山東；五坊使暴橫，恐亂輦轂。」上不悅。帝久方省悟，召楊朝汶數之曰：「向者為爾使我羞見宰相。」遽命誅之。

Meanwhile the merchant Zhang Zhi, who owed interest to the Five Wards commissioner Yang Chaowen, went into hiding. Chaowen found a private ledger in Zhang's house listing a debtor named Lu Zaichu, who claimed the entry was in the handwriting of the former West Chuan military commissioner Lu Tan. Chaowen immediately seized and imprisoned Tan's family. Tan’s son dared not protest and paid the debt out of his own purse. When the handwriting was examined, it proved to be the autograph of the former Zheng-Sua military commissioner Lu Qun. When Tan's son pressed the case, Chaowen said, "The money has already been turned in to the palace treasury. It cannot be returned. The censor-in-chief Xiao Fu and the remonstrating officials memorialized describing his brutal conduct, and Du and Cui Qun spoke out forcefully when summoned to audience in the Yanying Hall. Emperor Xianzong said, "I wish to discuss the eastern campaign with you for now. This is a small matter that I shall handle myself. Du replied, "The use of troops is a small matter; but the Five Wards hunting down ordinary citizens is a great matter; If military affairs go badly, we need only worry about Shandong; but if the Five Wards commissioners run rampant, I fear chaos at the very gates of the capital. The emperor was displeased. Only after a long delay did the emperor come to his senses. He summoned Yang Chaowen and rebuked him, saying, "Because of you I was ashamed to face my chief ministers. He immediately ordered Chaowen executed.

初，淮、蔡既平，鎮、冀王承宗甚懼。度遣辯士遊說，客於趙、魏間。使說承宗，令割地入質以效順。故承宗求援於田弘正，由度使客諷動之，故兵不血刃，而承宗鼠伏。

After Huai and Cai were pacified, Wang Chengzong of Zhen and Ji was terrified. Du sent skilled persuaders to work among the Zhao and Wei territories. They urged Chengzong to surrender territory and send hostages as proof of loyalty. Chengzong therefore turned to Tian Hongzheng for help, and Du's agents worked on Hongzheng until, without a blow struck, Chengzong submitted like a cowering rat.

十三年，李師道翻覆違命，詔宣武、義成、武寧、橫海四節度之師與田弘正會軍討之。弘正奏請取黎陽渡河，會李光顏等軍齊進。帝召宰臣於延英議可否，皆曰：「閫外之事，大將制之，既有奏陳，宜遂其請。」度獨以為不可，奏曰：「魏博一軍，不同諸道。過河之後，卻退不得，便須進擊，方見成功。若取黎陽渡河，既才離本界，便至滑州，徒有供餉之勞，又生顧望之勢。況弘正、光顏並少威斷，更相疑惑，必恐遷延。然兵事不從中制一定處分。或慮不可。若欲於河南持重，則不如河北養威。不然，則且秣馬厲兵，候霜降水落，於楊劉渡河，直抵鄆州。但得至陽谷已來下營，則兵勢自盛，賊形自撓。」上曰：「卿言是矣。」乃詔弘正取楊劉渡河。及弘正軍既濟河而南，距鄆州四十里築壘，賊勢果蹙。頃之，誅師道。

In the thirteenth year Li Shidao rebelled in defiance of imperial orders. An edict mobilized the armies of the Xuancheng, Yicheng, Wuning, and Henghai commissioners to join Tian Hongzheng in a campaign against him. Hongzheng memorialized asking to cross the Yellow River at Liyang and advance in concert with Li Guangyan and the other armies. The emperor summoned the chief ministers to the Yanying Hall to discuss the proposal. All agreed: "Military affairs beyond the frontier are for the generals to decide. Since he has submitted a plan, his request should be granted. Du alone dissented and memorialized, "The Weibo army is not like the forces of the other circuits. Once they cross the river they cannot turn back; they must press the attack if they are to succeed. If they cross at Liyang they will barely have left their own territory before reaching Huazhou, gaining nothing but supply burdens and a temptation to hesitate. Moreover, Hongzheng and Guangyan both lack stern decisiveness, and mutual suspicion will surely lead to delay. Yet if the court does not issue a firm decision on military affairs from the center, I fear it will not succeed. If we wish to hold our ground south of the river, it would be better to build our strength north of it. Otherwise, let us feed the horses and sharpen the weapons, wait until the frost comes and the waters fall, cross at Yangliu, and strike straight for Yun prefecture. Once our camps are established from Yanggu southward, our military momentum will grow of itself and the rebels' morale will collapse." The emperor said, "You are right." An edict then ordered Hongzheng to cross the river at Yangliu. Once Hongzheng's army had crossed south and built fortifications forty li from Yun prefecture, the rebel position tightened as Du had predicted. Before long Li Shidao was executed.

度執性不回，忠於事上，時政或有所闕，靡不極言之，故為奸臣皇甫镈所構，憲宗不悅。十四年，檢校左僕射、同中書門下平章事、太原尹、北都留守、河東節度使。

Du was unyielding by nature and utterly loyal to the throne. Whenever he saw a flaw in current policy he spoke out without reserve, and the treacherous Huangfu Bo turned the emperor against him until Xianzong grew displeased. In the fourteenth year he was sent out as acting Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and co-chancellor, concurrently serving as governor of Taiyuan, garrison commander of the northern capital, and military commissioner of Hedong.

穆宗即位，長慶元年秋，張弘靖為幽州軍所囚，田弘正於鎮州遇害，硃克融、王廷湊復亂河朔，詔度以本官充鎮州四面行營招討使。時驕主荒僻，輔相庸才，制置非宜，致其復亂。雖李光顏、烏重胤等稱為名將，以十數萬兵擊賊，無尺寸之功。蓋以勢既橫流，無能復振。然度受命之日，搜兵補卒，不遑寢息。自董西師，臨於賊境，屠城斬將，屢以捷聞。穆宗深嘉其忠款，中使撫諭無虛月，進位檢校司空，兼充押北山諸蕃使。

When Muzong came to the throne, in the autumn of the first year of Changqing Zhang Hongjing was taken prisoner by the Youzhou army, Tian Hongzheng was murdered at Zhen prefecture, and Zhu Kerong and Wang Tingcou again plunged Hebei into rebellion. An edict appointed Du, retaining his existing titles, commander of the encircling pacification forces around Zhen prefecture. The realm had an arrogant and dissolute sovereign, mediocre chancellors, and ill-conceived policy, and so the north fell into rebellion again. Even famous generals such as Li Guangyan and Wu Chongyin, leading armies of several hundred thousand against the rebels, won not a single meaningful victory. The tide had already turned against the court, and nothing could restore it. Yet from the day he received his commission Du recruited and replenished troops without pause for rest. He took command of the western wing, pressed the rebel border, captured cities, and killed enemy generals, and reports of victory followed one after another. Muzong greatly admired his loyalty, and palace envoys came every month with imperial commendations. Du was promoted to acting Grand Master of the Department of Works and appointed commissioner over the northern frontier tribes.

時翰林學士元稹，交結內官，求為宰相，與知樞密魏弘簡為刎頸之交。稹雖與度無憾，然頗忌前達加於己上。度方用兵山東，每處置軍事，有所論奏，多為稹輩所持。天下皆言稹恃寵熒惑上聽，度在軍上疏論之曰：

At that time the Hanlin Academician Yuan Zhen cultivated ties with inner-court eunuchs in his bid for the chancellorship and was sworn brothers with Wei Hongjian, the Commissioner of Military Affairs. Yuan Zhen bore Pei Du no personal grudge, yet he resented senior statesmen who outranked him. While Du was campaigning in Shandong, Yuan Zhen and his allies repeatedly blocked the memorials in which Du proposed military dispositions. People everywhere said Yuan Zhen abused imperial favor to mislead the throne, and Du, still in the field, submitted a memorial of protest, saying:

繼上三章，辭情激切。穆宗雖不悅，雖懼大臣正議，乃以魏弘簡為弓箭庫使，罷元稹內職。然寵稹之意未衰。俄拜稹平章事，尋罷度兵權，守司徒、同平章事，充東都留守。諫官相率伏閣詣延英門者日二三。帝知其諫，不即被召，皆上疏言：時未偃兵，度有將相全才，不宜置之散地。帝以章疏旁午，無如之何，知人情在度，遂詔度自太原由京師赴洛。及元稹為相，請上罷兵，洗雪廷湊、克融，解深州之圍，蓋欲罷度兵柄故也。

He followed with three more memorials, each more impassioned than the last. Muzong was displeased, yet fearing the censure of his senior ministers he transferred Wei Hongjian to the bow and arrow storehouse and removed Yuan Zhen from his inner-court post. Yet his favor toward Yuan Zhen did not wane. Before long Yuan Zhen was made Grand Councilor. Pei Du was soon stripped of military command, kept the titles of Minister of Education and concurrent Grand Councilor, and was posted as commander of the Eastern Capital garrison at Luoyang. Every day two or three remonstrating officials would go together to kneel in protest at the Yanying Gate. The emperor understood the protest but did not summon the officials at once. They all submitted memorials arguing that with the war not yet ended, Pei Du possessed the full gifts of both general and statesman and ought not be consigned to a post with no real authority. Overwhelmed by the flood of memorials and unable to resist the tide of opinion favoring Du, the emperor ordered him to travel from Taiyuan by way of the capital to Luoyang. Once Yuan Zhen became chief minister, he urged the throne to halt the campaign, absolve Wang Tingcou and Zhu Kerong, and end the siege of Shenzhou — all chiefly as a means of stripping Pei Du of military command.

二年三月，度至京師。既見，先敘克融、廷湊暴亂河朔，受命討賊無功；次陳除職東都，許令入覲。辭和氣勁，感動左右。度伏奏龍墀，涕泗鳴咽，帝為之動容，口自諭之曰：「所謝知，朕於延英待卿。」

In the third month of the second year, Pei Du arrived at the capital. Once he was received in audience, he first recounted how Zhu Kerong and Wang Tingcou had ravaged the Hebei north in rebellion, and how, though charged to punish the rebels, he had achieved no success; He then explained his transfer to an Eastern Capital post and the permission granted him to enter court for an audience. His words were gentle in tone yet forceful in spirit, moving everyone present. Pei Du prostrated himself on the imperial steps, weeping and choking with sobs. The emperor was moved and spoke to reassure him in person: "Your thanks are understood. I shall receive you at the Yanying Hall."

初，人以度無左右之助，為奸邪排擯，雖度勛德，恐不能感動人主。及度奏河北事，慷慨激切，揚於殿廷，在位者無不聳動。雖武夫貴介，亦有咨嗟出涕者。翌日，以度守司徒、揚州大都督府長史，充淮南節度使，進階光祿大夫。

At first people believed Pei Du had no allies at court and had been pushed aside by treacherous factions. Though his merit and virtue were great, they feared he could not move the sovereign's heart. When Du presented the Hebei affair, he spoke with passionate urgency, his voice ringing through the hall. None of those in attendance failed to be stirred. Even military men of noble birth were moved to sigh and shed tears. The next day Du was ordered to retain the title of Minister of Education, serve as chief administrator of Yangzhou metropolitan prefecture, and take office as military commissioner of Huainan, with promotion to Grand Master of Splendid Happiness.

時朱克融、王廷湊雖受朝廷節鉞，未解深州之圍。度初發太原，與二鎮書，諭以大義。克融解圍而去，廷湊亦退舍。有中使自深州來言之，穆宗甚喜。即日又遣中使往深州取牛元翼，更命度致書與廷湊。度沿路奉詔，中使得度書云：「朝謝後，即歸留務。恐廷湊知度無兵權，即背前約，請度易之。」中使乃進度書草，具奏其事。及度至京師，進退明辯，帝方憂深州之圍，遂授度淮南節度使。

At the time, although Zhu Kerong and Wang Tingcou had received court commissions, they had not lifted the siege of Shenzhou. When Du first set out from Taiyuan, he wrote to the two garrisons, instructing them in the larger principles at stake. Zhu Kerong lifted the siege and withdrew; Wang Tingcou also pulled back. An inner-court envoy came from Shenzhou with the news; Emperor Muzong was greatly pleased. That same day he again dispatched an envoy to Shenzhou to fetch Niu Yuanyi, and further ordered Du to send another letter to Wang Tingcou. As Du traveled along the route carrying out his orders, the envoy obtained from him a letter saying: "After paying court thanks I shall at once return to my garrison duties. Fearing that if Wang Tingcou learned Du no longer held military authority he would break his earlier pledge, the envoy asked Du to revise the letter." The envoy then submitted the draft of Du's letter and fully reported the matter to the throne. When Du reached the capital, his reasoning on what to advance and what to withdraw was clear. The emperor, still worried about the siege of Shenzhou, thereupon appointed him military commissioner of Huainan.

先是，監軍使劉承偕恃寵淩節度使劉悟，三軍憤發大噪，擒承偕，欲殺之。已殺其二傔，悟救之獲免，而囚承偕。詔遣歸京，悟托以軍情，不時奉詔。至是，宰臣延英奏事，度亦在列。上顧謂度曰：「劉悟拘承偕而不遣，如何處置？」度辭以蕃臣不合議軍國事。上固問之，且曰：「劉悟負我，我以僕射寵之，近又賜絹五百萬疋，不思報功，翻縱軍眾淩辱監軍，我實難奈此事。」度對曰：「承偕在昭義不法，臣盡知之，昨劉悟在行營與臣書，數論其事。是時有中使趙弘亮在臣軍，仍持悟書將去，欲自奏，不知奏否？」上曰：「我都不知，悟何不密奏其事，我豈不能處置？」度曰：「劉悟武臣，不知大臣體例。雖然，臣竊以悟縱有密奏，陛下必不能處置。今日事狀如此，臣等面論，陛下猶未能決，悟單辭豈能動聖聽哉？」上曰：「前事勿論，直言此時如何處置？」度曰：「陛下必欲收忠義之心，使天下戎臣為陛下死節，唯有下半紙詔書，言任使不明，致承偕亂法如此，令悟集三軍斬之。如此，則萬方畢命，群盜破膽，天下無事矣。茍不能如此，雖與劉悟改官賜絹，臣亦恐於事無益。」上俛首良久，曰：「朕不惜承偕。緣是太后養子，今被囚縶，太后未知，如卿處置未得，可更議其宜。」度與王播等復奏曰：「但配流遠惡處，承偕必得出。」上以為然，承偕果得歸。

Previously, the army supervisor Liu Chengjie, relying on imperial favor, looked down on the military commissioner Liu Wu. The three armies, inflamed with anger, raised a great clamor, seized Chengjie, and meant to kill him. They had already killed two of his attendants. Liu Wu rescued him and he escaped death, but Chengjie was imprisoned. An edict ordered Chengjie sent back to the capital, but Liu Wu pleaded military circumstances and did not comply in good time. At this point the chief ministers were reporting affairs at the Yanying Hall, and Du was among them. The emperor turned to Du and said: "Liu Wu is holding Chengjie and will not release him. How should this be handled?" Du declined on the ground that as a frontier appointee he ought not debate state and military affairs. The emperor pressed him further and said: "Liu Wu has betrayed me. I showered him with the title of Vice Director of the Left and recently granted five million bolts of silk, yet instead of repaying me with loyal service he let his troops humiliate the army supervisor. I truly find this situation hard to bear." Du replied: "Chengjie's misconduct in Zhaoyi is fully known to me. Not long ago Liu Wu wrote to me from the field camp, repeatedly discussing the matter. At that time the envoy Zhao Hongliang was with my army, carrying Liu Wu's letter away and intending to report it himself. I do not know whether he reported it or not." The emperor said: "I knew nothing of this. Why did Liu Wu not report it secretly? Could I not have handled it?" Du said: "Liu Wu is a military officer and does not know the protocols expected of high ministers. Even so, I privately believe that even had Liu Wu made a secret report, Your Majesty would certainly not have been able to act on it. Today's situation is as you see. Even with us debating face to face Your Majesty still cannot decide — how could Liu Wu's word alone have moved the imperial ear?" The emperor said: "Do not discuss the past. Tell me plainly how it should be handled now." Du said: "If Your Majesty truly wishes to win the hearts of the loyal and righteous and make military men throughout the realm die for you in faithful service, there is only one course: issue half a sheet of edict saying that your appointment was ill-chosen, that this caused Chengjie to break the law so flagrantly, and order Liu Wu to assemble the three armies and execute him. If you do this, all the realm will pour out their lives for you, every rebel will lose heart, and the empire will be at peace. If you cannot do this, then even if you change Liu Wu's titles and grant him more silk, I fear it will do no good. The emperor bowed his head for a long while and said, "I would not begrudge Chengjie. But he is the Empress Dowager's adopted son. He is now imprisoned and the Empress Dowager does not know. If your proposed handling will not do, we may discuss a more suitable course." Du and Wang Bo and the others again reported: "If he is simply exiled to some remote and harsh place, Chengjie will surely be released." The emperor agreed, and Chengjie was indeed able to return.

度方受冊司徒，徐州奏節度副使王智興自河北行營率師還，逐節度使崔群，自稱留後。朝廷駭懼，即日宣制，以度守司徒、同平章事，復知政事。乃以宰相王播代度鎮淮南。度與李逢吉素不協。度自太原入朝，而惡度者以逢吉善於陰計，足能構度，乃自襄陽召逢吉入朝，為兵部尚書。度既復知政事，而魏弘簡、劉承偕之黨在禁中。逢吉用族子仲言之謀，因醫人鄭註與中尉王守澄交結，內官皆為之助。五月，左神策軍奏告事人李賞稱和王府司馬於方受元稹所使，結客欲刺裴度。詔左僕射韓臯、給事中鄭覃與李逢吉三人鞫於方之獄。未竟，罷元稹為同州刺史，罷度為左僕射，李逢吉代度為宰相。自是，逢吉之黨李仲言、張又新、李續等，內結中官，外扇朝士，立朋黨以沮度，時號「八關十六子」，皆交結相關之人數也。而度之醜譽日聞，俄出度為山南西道節度使，不帶平章事。

Just as Du was receiving investiture as Minister of Education, Xuzhou reported that the deputy military commissioner Wang Zhixing, returning from the Hebei field camp at the head of his troops, had driven out the military commissioner Cui Qun and declared himself interim commissioner. The court was shocked and alarmed. That same day an edict was promulgated appointing Du to retain the title of Minister of Education and concurrent Grand Councilor, restoring him to governing affairs. Chancellor Wang Bo was then appointed in Du's place to command Huainan. Pei Du and Li Fengji had never been on good terms. When Du entered court from Taiyuan, those who hated him, believing Li Fengji skilled in covert schemes and fully capable of framing Du, summoned Fengji from Xiangyang to court as Minister of War. Once Du had again taken up governing affairs, the factions of Wei Hongjian and Liu Chengjie remained within the inner palace. Li Fengji employed the scheme of his clansman Li Zhongyan: through the physician Zheng Zhu he cultivated ties with the chief eunuch Wang Shoucheng, and the inner officials all lent their support. In the fifth month the Left Divine Strategy Army reported that the informant Li Shang claimed the Prince of He's chief secretary Yu Fang, at Yuan Zhen's instigation, had recruited guests intending to assassinate Pei Du. An edict ordered the Vice Director of the Left Han Gao, the Supervising Secretary Zheng Tan, and Li Fengji — three men — to investigate Yu Fang's case. Before the case was finished, Yuan Zhen was demoted to prefect of Tongzhou, Pei Du was demoted to Vice Director of the Left, and Li Fengji replaced Du as chancellor. From this point Li Fengji's clique — Li Zhongyan, Zhang Youxin, Li Xu, and others — colluded with inner officials, inflamed court officials without, and formed a faction to obstruct Du. They were at the time called the "Eight Passes and Sixteen Sons" — all men bound together in mutual connivance. Reports of scandal concerning Du spread daily, and before long he was sent out as military commissioner of the Mountain South West Circuit, without the Grand Councilor title.

長慶四年，襄陽節度使牛元翼卒。其家先在鎮州，朝廷累遣中使取之，王廷湊遷延不遣。至是，聞元翼卒，乃盡屠其家。昭湣皇帝聞之，嗟惋累日，因嘆宰輔非才，致奸臣悖逆如此。翰林學士韋處厚上言曰：

In the fourth year of Changqing, the Xiangyang military commissioner Niu Yuanyi died. His family had remained in Zhenzhou. The court repeatedly sent envoys to fetch them, but Wang Tingcou delayed and would not release them. When he learned that Yuanyi had died, he slaughtered the entire family. When Emperor Muzong heard of it, he sighed in grief for days, lamenting that his chief ministers lacked talent and had allowed treacherous subjects to rebel so brazenly. The Hanlin Academician Wei Chuhou submitted a memorial, saying:

昭湣愕然省悟，見度奏狀不帶平章事，謂處厚曰：「度曾為宰相，何無平章事？」處厚因奏：「為逢吉所擠，度自僕射出鎮興元，遂於舊使銜中減落。」帝曰：「何至是也。」翌日下制，復兼同平章事。

Emperor Muzong started in sudden realization. Seeing that Du's memorial bore no Grand Councilor title, he said to Wei Chuhou: "Pei Du was once a chancellor — why does he lack the Grand Councilor title?" Wei Chuhou then reported: "Ousted by Li Fengji, when Du left the capital as Vice Director to take command at Xingyuan, the old commission title was simply struck off." The emperor said: "How could it go so far?" The next day an edict was issued restoring the concurrent Grand Councilor title.

然逢吉之黨，巧為毀沮，恐度復用。有陳留人武昭者，性果敢而辯舌。度之討淮西也，昭求進於軍門，乃令入蔡州說吳元濟。元濟臨之以兵，昭氣色自若，善待而還。度以為可用，署之軍職，隨度鎮太原，奏授石州刺史。罷郡，除袁王府長史。昭既在散位，心微悒郁，而有怨逢吉之言。而奸邪之黨，使衛尉卿劉遵古從人安再榮告事，言武昭欲謀害李逢吉。獄具，而武昭死，蓋欲訐度舊事以汙之也。然士君子公論，皆佑度而罪逢吉。天子漸明其端，每中使過興元，必傳密旨撫諭，且有征還之約。

Yet Li Fengji's clique craftily spread slander and obstructed him, fearing Du might be recalled to office. There was one Wu Zhao of Chenliu — bold and quick-tongued by nature. When Du campaigned against Huai-West, Zhao sought advancement at the army gate. Du had him enter Caizhou to persuade Wu Yuanji. Wu Yuanji confronted him with troops, but Zhao's composure never faltered. Yuanji treated him well and sent him back. Du deemed him usable and appointed him to an army post. When Du took command at Taiyuan, he recommended Zhao for appointment as prefect of Shizhou. When his prefectural term ended, he was made chief secretary of the Prince of Yuan's household. Now that Zhao held an idle post, he was somewhat morose, and he spoke words of resentment against Li Fengji. The treacherous faction had the Minister of the Court of Imperial Regalia Liu Zungu send his follower An Zairong as informant, claiming Wu Zhao intended to plot against Li Fengji. When the case was complete Wu Zhao died in custody — evidently an attempt to drag up old matters concerning Du and smear him. Yet among cultivated gentlemen the public consensus sided with Du and condemned Li Fengji. The emperor gradually perceived the truth. Whenever an envoy passed through Xingyuan he always carried secret instructions of consolation, and there was even a pledge to recall him.

寶歷元年十一月，度疏請入覲京師。明年正月，度至，帝禮遇隆厚，數日，宣制復知政事。而逢吉黨有左拾遺張權輿者，尤出死力。度自興元請入朝也，權輿上疏曰：「度名應圖讖，宅據岡原，不召自來，其心可見。」先是奸黨忌度，作謠辭云：「非衣小兒坦其腹，天上有口被驅逐。」「天口」言度嘗平吳元濟也。又帝城東西，橫亙六崗，合《易象乾》卦之數。度平樂裏第，偶當第五崗，故權輿取為語辭。昭湣雖少年，深明其誣謗，獎度之意不衰，奸邪無能措言。

In the eleventh month of the first year of Baoli, Du submitted a memorial requesting permission to enter the capital for an audience. In the first month of the following year Du arrived. The emperor received him with great honor, and within days an edict restored him to governing affairs. Among Li Fengji's faction one Left Reminder named Zhang Quanyu exerted himself to the utmost. When Du requested to enter court from Xingyuan, Zhang Quanyu submitted a memorial: "Pei Du's name matches prophetic texts, his residence occupies a hill ridge, and he came without being summoned — his intentions are plain to see." Earlier the treacherous faction, resentful of Du, had composed a rhyme: "The child in broadcloth bares his belly; the mouth in heaven is driven away." "Mouth in heaven" refers to Du's past pacification of Wu Yuanji. Moreover east and west of the imperial city six ridges ran crosswise, matching the number of lines in the Qian hexagram of the Book of Changes. Du's Pingyue Lane residence happened to occupy the fifth ridge, which Zhang Quanyu seized upon for his accusatory language. Though Emperor Muzong was still young, he understood the slander clearly. His intent to reward Du did not fade, and the treacherous faction could find no opening.

時昭湣欲行幸洛陽，宰相李逢吉及兩省諫官，累疏論列，帝正色曰：「朕去意已定。其從官宮人，悉令自備糗糧，不勞百姓供饋。」逢吉頓首言曰：「東都千里而近，宮闕具存，以時巡遊，固亦常典。但以法駕一動，事須備儀，千乘萬騎，不可減省。縱不費用絕廣，亦須豐儉得宜，豈可自備糗糧，頓失大體？今干戈未甚戢，邊鄙未甚寧，恐人心動搖，伏乞稍回宸慮。」帝不聽，令度支員外郎盧貞往東都已來，檢計行宮及洛陽大內。朝廷方懷憂恐，會度自興元來，因延英奏事，帝語及巡幸。度曰：「國家營創兩都，蓋備巡幸。然自艱難已來，此事遂絕。東都宮闕及六軍營壘、百司廨署，悉多荒廢。陛下必欲行幸，亦須稍稍修葺。一年半歲後，方可議行。」帝曰：「群臣意不及此，但雲不合去。若如卿奏，不行亦得止後期。」旋又硃克融、史憲誠各請以丁匠五千，助修東都，帝遂停東幸。

At this time Emperor Muzong wished to make a progress to Luoyang. Chancellor Li Fengji and remonstrating officials of the two departments repeatedly submitted memorials in protest, but the emperor said sternly: "My decision to go is already made. My attendant officials and palace women shall all provide their own provisions; the people need not supply us." Li Fengji said, bowing his head: "The Eastern Capital is only a thousand li away, the palaces stand intact, and a seasonal progress is indeed established custom. But once the imperial carriage moves, the full protocol must be observed. A host of a thousand chariots and ten thousand horsemen cannot be reduced. Even if the expense is not utterly vast, outlay must be balanced between lavishness and restraint. How could officials bring their own rations without gravely compromising imperial dignity? War has not fully ceased and the frontier is not fully secure. I fear hearts may waver — I humbly beg Your Majesty to reconsider." The emperor would not listen and ordered the Bureau of Revenue's vice-director Lu Zhen to go east and inspect the travel palaces and Luoyang's inner quarters. The court was still anxious and alarmed when Du arrived from Xingyuan. During business at the Yanying Hall the emperor spoke of the planned progress. Du said: "The empire established two capitals precisely to accommodate such progresses. But since the years of turmoil this practice has ceased entirely. The Eastern Capital's palaces, the Six Armies' camps, and the offices of the hundred bureaus are largely in ruin. If Your Majesty must make the journey, repairs must first be carried out gradually. Only after a year or a season should the trip be considered." The emperor said: "My ministers' thinking has not reached this far — they only say I ought not go. If we follow your memorial, even if I do not make the journey, I can still cancel the later progress." Shortly afterward Zhu Kerong and Shi Xiancheng each requested five thousand corvée laborers to help repair the Eastern Capital, and the emperor then halted the eastern progress.

幽州硃克融執留賜春衣使楊文端，奏稱衣段疏薄；又奏今歲三軍春衣不足，擬於度支請給一季春衣，約三十萬端匹；又請助丁匠五千修東都。上憂其不遜，問宰臣曰：「克融所奏，如何處分？我欲遣一重臣往宣慰，便索春衣使，可乎？」度對曰：「克融家本兇族，無故又行淩悖，必將滅亡，陛下不足為慮。譬如一豺虎，於山林間自吼自躍，但不以為事，則自無能為。此賊只敢於巢穴中無禮，動即不得。今亦不須遣使宣慰，亦不要索所留敕使，但更緩旬日已來，與一詔云：『聞中官到彼稍失去就，待到，我當有處分。所賜卿春衣，有司制造不謹，我甚要知之，已令科處。』所請丁匠五千人及兵馬赴東都，固是虛語。臣料賊中，必出不得，今欲直挫其奸意，即報云：『卿所請丁匠修宮闕，可速遣來，已敕魏博等道，令所在排比供擬。』料得此詔，必章惶失計。若未能如此，猶示含容，則報云：『東都宮闕，所要修葺，事在有司，不假卿遣丁匠遠來。又所言三軍春衣，自是本道常事。比來朝廷或有事賜與，皆緣征發，須是優恩，若尋常則無此例。我固不惜三二十萬端疋，只是事體不可獨與范陽。卿宜知悉。』只如此處分即得，陛下更不要介意。」上從之，遂進詔章，至皆如度所料。不旬日，幽州殺克融並其二子。

Zhu Kerong of Youzhou detained the Spring Clothing envoy Yang Wenduan and memorialized that the cloth sections granted were thin and shoddy; He also memorialized that this year's spring clothing for the three armies was insufficient and proposed requesting from the Bureau of Revenue one season's supply of spring clothing, roughly three hundred thousand rolls of cloth; He also requested five thousand corvée laborers to help repair the Eastern Capital. The emperor, alarmed by his insubordination, asked the chief ministers: "How should Kerong's memorial be handled? I wish to send a senior minister to proclaim consolation and at once demand back the Spring Clothing envoy — would that be acceptable?" Du replied: "Kerong's clan has always been a vicious one. Without cause he has again acted in insolent defiance — he is bound for destruction, and Your Majesty need not worry overmuch. It is like a jackal or tiger roaring and leaping in the mountain forests — so long as one does not make an affair of it, it cannot achieve anything on its own. This rebel only dares be insolent within his lair; the moment he stirs, he will fail. Now there is no need to send an envoy to proclaim consolation, nor to demand back the detained imperial messenger. Just wait another ten days or so and issue an edict saying: 'We have heard that when the palace envoy reached you matters were somewhat unsettled; when he arrives I shall take appropriate measures. As for the spring clothing granted to you, the officials who made them were careless; I very much wish to know of this and have already ordered penalties. As for the five thousand corvée laborers and troops requested to go to the Eastern Capital, these are plainly empty words. I expect they cannot produce them among the rebels. If we wish to blunt their scheming directly, respond thus: 'The corvée laborers you requested for repairing the palaces — dispatch them at once. I have already ordered the circuits of Weibo and the rest to arrange supplies along the route. Once this edict reaches them, they will surely panic and lose their plan. If we cannot do that and still wish to show forbearance, then respond: 'Repairs to the Eastern Capital palaces are the business of the proper offices — there is no need for you to dispatch corvée laborers from afar. And the spring clothing for the three armies you mention is itself a routine matter for your circuit. In recent times when the court has made special grants, it has always been because of mobilizations — a mark of exceptional favor. Under ordinary circumstances there is no such precedent. I would not begrudge two or three hundred thousand rolls of cloth, but the matter simply cannot be handled by granting them to Fanyang alone. You should understand this. Handling it in just this way will suffice — Your Majesty need give it no further thought." The emperor agreed, and when the edicts were forwarded, everything fell out as Du had predicted. Within ten days Youzhou killed Kerong along with his two sons.

時帝童年驕縱，倦接群臣。度從容奏曰：「比者，陛下每月約六七度坐朝。天下人心，無不知陛下躬親庶政，乃至河北賊臣遠聞，亦皆聳聽。自兩月已來，入閣開延英稍稀，或恐大段公事須稟睿謀者，有所擁滯。伏冀陛下乘涼數坐，以廣延問。伏以頤養聖躬，在於順適時候。若飲食有節，寢興有常，四體唯和，萬壽可保。道書云：『春夏早起，取雞鳴時；秋冬晏起，取日出時。』蓋在陽則欲及陰涼，在陰則欲及溫暖。今陛下憂勤庶政，親覽萬機，每禦延英，召臣等奏對，方屬盛夏，宜在清晨。如至巳午之間，即當炎赫之際，雖日昃忘食，不憚其勞，仰瞻扆旒，亦似煩熱。臣等已曾陳論，切望聽納。」自後，視事稍頻。

At this time the emperor, still young, was proud and self-indulgent and had grown weary of receiving his ministers. Du calmly memorialized: "Recently Your Majesty has held court roughly six or seven times each month. Everyone in the empire knows that Your Majesty personally attends to everyday governance — even rebellious ministers far off in Hebei, hearing of it from afar, all listen with startled attention. For the past two months, entering the inner hall and opening Yanying audiences has grown somewhat rare. I fear that major public business requiring Your Majesty's counsel may be piling up. I humbly hope Your Majesty will take advantage of the cool season to sit in audience more often and broaden the scope of deliberation. I humbly observe that nourishing the imperial person lies in harmonizing with the seasons. If food and drink are regulated, sleep and rising fixed, and the four limbs kept in harmony, long life may be assured. The Daoist texts say: 'In spring and summer rise early, at cockcrow; in autumn and winter rise late, at sunrise. This is because when yang prevails one seeks cool shade, and when yin prevails one seeks warmth. Now Your Majesty labors over everyday governance and personally reviews the myriad affairs of state. Whenever Your Majesty attends Yanying and summons us to respond, it is the height of summer — the hour should be early morning. If it reaches the hours between si and wu, that is the fiercest heat. Though Your Majesty toils until sunset forgetting meals and fears no fatigue, looking up at the imperial screen and tassels, one still seems oppressed by heat. We have already stated this argument before and earnestly hope Your Majesty will heed it." Thereafter the emperor attended to business somewhat more frequently.

未幾，兼領度支。屬盜起禁闈，宮車晏駕，度與中貴人密謀，誅劉克明等，迎江王立為天子。以功加門下侍郎、集賢殿大學士、太清宮使，余如故。以贊導之勛，進階特進。

Before long Du was additionally put in charge of the Bureau of Revenue. When robbers rose within the Forbidden Quarter and the imperial carriage met its sudden end, Du secretly plotted with palace eunuchs, executed Liu Keming and the rest, and welcomed Prince Jiang to the throne. For his merit he was additionally made vice-director of the Chancellery, Grand Academician of the Hall of Assembled Worthies, and commissioner of the Taiqing Palace; his other offices remained as before. For his merit in guiding and supporting the enthronement, he was promoted in rank to specially advanced.

時滄景節度使李全略死，其子同捷竊弄兵柄，以求繼襲。度請行誅伐，逾年而同捷誅。因拜疏上陳調兵食非宰相事，請歸諸有司。詔從之。賜實封三百戶。

At this time Li Quanlue, military commissioner of Cangjing, died; his son Tongjie seized control of the army in hopes of inheriting the post. Du requested a punitive campaign; more than a year later Tongjie was executed. He therefore submitted a memorial stating that managing troops and provisions was not a chief minister's business and asking that these duties be returned to the proper offices. An edict approved his request. He was granted three hundred households of substantive enfeoffment.

度年高多病，上疏懇辭機務，恩禮彌厚。文宗遣禦醫診視，日令中使撫問。四年六月，詔曰：

Du, advanced in years and often ill, submitted a memorial earnestly declining affairs of state; imperial favor and courtesy grew only the more generous. Emperor Wenzong sent imperial physicians to examine him and ordered palace envoys to inquire after him daily. In the sixth month of the fourth year of his reign, an edict stated:

度表辭曰：「伏以公臺崇禮，典冊盛儀，庸臣當之，實謂忝越。況累承寵命，亦為便蕃，前後三度，已行此禮。令臣猶參樞近，竊懼無以弼諧，重此勞煩，有靦面目。伏乞天恩且課臣效官，責臣實事，冊命之儀，特賜停罷。則素餐高位，空負恥於中心；弁冕輕車，免譏誚於眾口。」優詔從之。九月，加守司徒、兼侍中、襄州刺史，充山南東道節度觀察、臨漢監牧等使。

Du submitted a memorial declining: "I humbly observe that the elevated rites of the high offices and the grand ceremonies of investiture — for a mediocre servant to receive them is truly to exceed his desert. Moreover I have repeatedly received imperial favor, which has already grown frequent; three times already this ceremony has been performed for me. Now that I still serve near the pivot of power, I secretly fear I cannot harmonize and assist; to impose this labor again would leave me ashamed to show my face. I humbly beg heavenly grace to set me only the test of performing my office and hold me accountable for real work — the ceremony of investiture, I pray, be specially suspended. Then though I occupy a high place while eating without merit, I would at least not bear shame in my heart; and though I wear the cap and carriage of rank, I would escape reproach from the crowd." A gracious edict granted his request. In the ninth month he was additionally made acting Minister of Works, concurrently chief minister, prefect of Xiangzhou, and commissioner of the military governorship and inspection of Shannan East Circuit, commissioner of Linhan Pasturage, and related posts.

度素稱堅正，事上不回，故累為奸邪所排，幾至顛沛。及晚節，稍浮沈以避禍。初，度支鹽鐵使王播，廣事進奉以希寵，度亦掇拾羨余以效播，士君子少之。復引韋厚叔、南卓為補闕拾遺，俾彌縫結納，為目安之計。而後進宰相李宗閔、牛僧孺等不悅其所為，故因度謝病罷相位，復出為襄陽節度。

Du had long been known as upright and firm, unbending in service to his sovereign; therefore he was repeatedly ostracized by the wicked and nearly brought to ruin. In his later years he yielded somewhat in stance to avoid disaster. Earlier, Wang Bo, commissioner of salt and iron in the Bureau of Revenue, had widely engaged in presenting tribute to court favor; Du also gathered surpluses to emulate Bo — men of principle thought little of this. He also brought in Wei Houshu and Nan Zhuo as remonstrance and review officials to patch connections and cultivate ties — a plan to keep his eyes at ease. Later chief ministers such as Li Zongmin and Niu Sengru disliked his conduct; therefore when Du pleaded illness and left the chief ministership, he was again sent out as military commissioner of Xiangyang.

初，元和十四年，於襄陽置臨漢監牧。廢百姓田四百頃，其牧馬三千二百余匹。度以牧馬數少，虛廢民田，奏罷之，除其使名。八年三月，以本官判東都尚書省事，充東都留守。九年十月，進位中書令。十一月，誅李訓、王涯、賈餗、舒元輿等四宰相，其親屬門人從坐者數十百人；下獄訊劾，欲加流竄。度上疏理之，全活者數十家。

Earlier, in the fourteenth year of Yuanhe, Linhan Pasturage was established at Xiangyang. Four hundred qing of common people's fields were taken, and it pastured more than thirty-two hundred horses. Du, considering the number of horses too small to justify wasting people's fields, memorialized to abolish it and remove the commissioner's title. In the third month of the eighth year he assumed his existing rank to direct the Eastern Capital Secretariat and served as Eastern Capital regent. In the tenth month of the ninth year he was promoted to chief of the Secretariat. In the eleventh month the four chief ministers Li Xun, Wang Ya, Jia Su, and Shu Yuanyu were executed; relatives, disciples, and those implicated numbered in the dozens and hundreds; they were thrown into prison for interrogation and slated for banishment. Du submitted a memorial pleading for them, and several dozen families were entirely spared.

自是，中官用事，衣冠道喪。度以年及懸輿，王綱版蕩，不復以出處為意。東都立第於集賢裏，築山穿池，竹木叢萃，有風亭水榭，梯橋架閣，島嶼回環，極都城之勝概。又於午橋創別墅，花木萬株；中起涼臺暑館，名曰「綠野堂」。引甘水貫其中，釃引脈分，映帶左右。度視事之隙，與詩人白居易、劉禹錫酣宴終日，高歌放言，以詩酒琴書自樂，當時名士，皆從之遊。每有人士自都還京，文宗必先問之曰：「卿見裴度否？」

From this time eunuchs held power and the way of scholars and officials was lost. Du, his years reaching the age of hanging up the carriage, and with the royal norms in disarray, no longer cared whether he stayed in office or left it. In the Eastern Capital he built a mansion in Jixian Lane, constructing hills and digging pools, bamboo and trees thickly clustered; there were breezy pavilions and waterside halls, ladder-bridges and raised walkways, islands winding about — the finest scenery in the capital. He also created a villa at Wujiao Bridge with ten thousand plants and trees; within he raised cool terraces and summer halls called the Green Wild Hall. He drew Sweet Water through it, branching channels spreading left and right, gleaming on either side. In the intervals of his official duties Du feasted all day with the poets Bai Juyi and Liu Yuxi, singing loudly and speaking freely, finding joy in poetry, wine, the zither, and books; eminent men of the time all joined his company. Whenever someone returned from the Eastern Capital to the imperial capital, Emperor Wenzong would first ask him: "Have you seen Pei Du?"

上以其足疾，不便朝謁，而年未甚衰，開成二年五月，復以本官兼太原尹、北都留守、河東節度使。詔出，度累表固辭老疾，不願更典兵權。優詔不允。文宗遣吏部郎中盧弘往東都宣旨曰：「卿雖多病，年未甚老，為朕臥鎮北門可也。」促令上路，度不獲已，之任。三年冬，病甚，乞還東都養病。四年正月，詔許還京，拜中書令。以疾未任朝謝。詔曰：「司徒、中書令度，綽有大勛，累居臺鼎。今以疾恙，未任謝上，其本官俸料，宜自計日支給。」又遣國醫就第診視。

Because of his foot ailment, which made court audience inconvenient, yet his years were not greatly declined, in the fifth month of the second year of Kaicheng the emperor again added to his existing rank the posts of governor of Taiyuan, regent of the Northern Capital, and military commissioner of Hedong. When the edict was issued Du repeatedly memorialized firmly declining on grounds of age and illness, unwilling to take up military authority again. A gracious edict refused to allow it. Emperor Wenzong sent Lu Hong of the Ministry of Personnel to the Eastern Capital to proclaim the imperial will: "Though you have many ailments, your years are not yet greatly advanced — you may lie in command of the Northern Gate for me." He was urged to set out on the road; unable to refuse, Du took up the post. In the winter of the third year his illness grew severe and he begged to return to the Eastern Capital to convalesce. In the first month of the fourth year an edict permitted his return to the capital and appointed him chief of the Secretariat. Because of illness he was unable to attend court to give thanks. An edict stated: "Minister of Works and chief of the Secretariat Du has outstanding great merit and has repeatedly occupied the highest offices. Now, owing to illness, he cannot perform the court thanks; the salary of his existing office should be paid from the day it is calculated." Imperial physicians were also sent to his residence to examine him.

屬上巳曲江賜宴，群臣賦詩，度以疾不能赴。文宗遣中使賜度詩曰：「註想待元老，識君恨不早。我家柱石衰，憂來學丘禱。」仍賜禦劄曰：「朕詩集中欲得見卿唱和詩，故令示此。卿疾恙未痊，固無心力，但異日進來。春時俗說難於將攝，勉加調護，速就和平。千百胸懷，不具一二。藥物所須，無憚奏請之煩也。」禦劄及門，而度已薨，四年三月四日也。上聞之，震悼久之，重令繕寫，置之靈座。時年七十五，冊贈太傅，輟朝四日，赗賻加等。詔京兆尹鄭復監護喪事，所須皆官給。

At the time of the Shangsi Festival banquet granted at Qujiang, when ministers composed poems, Du could not attend because of illness. Emperor Wenzong sent a palace envoy to bestow a poem on Du: "I fix my thoughts on awaiting the elder statesman — I regret not knowing you sooner. The pillar of my house is failing; in grief I resort to prayers like those of Qiu." He also bestowed an imperial note: "In my poetry collection I wish to see poems exchanged with you — therefore I show you this. Your illness is not yet healed and you truly lack the strength of mind — but send them when you can on another day. In spring, common wisdom says recovery is difficult — strive to tend yourself and quickly regain health. A thousand thoughts in my breast — I cannot set them all down. Whatever medicines you need, do not shrink from the trouble of memorializing for them." When the imperial note reached his gate, Du had already died — on the fourth day of the third month of the fourth year. When the emperor heard of it he was shaken and grieved for a long while; he ordered the note copied again and placed it upon the bier. He was seventy-five years old. The court posthumously enfeoffed him as Grand Tutor, suspended audiences for four days, and granted funeral gifts of the highest grade. An edict appointed Jingzhao prefect Zheng Fu to supervise the funeral, with all expenses borne by the state.

上怪度無遺表。中使問之，家人進其稿草。其旨以未定儲貳為憂，言不及家事。

The emperor was surprised that Du had left no final memorial. When palace envoys inquired, the family presented his draft. Its substance expressed anxiety that the heir apparent had not yet been firmly established and said nothing of family matters.

度始自書生以辭策中科選，數年之間，翔泳清切。逢時艱否，而能奮命決策，橫身討賊，為中興宗臣。當元和、長慶間，亂臣賊子，蓄銳喪氣，憚度之威稜。度狀貌不逾中人，而風彩俊爽，占對雄辯，觀聽者為之聳然。時有奉使絕域者，四夷君長必問度之年齡幾何，狀貌孰似，天子用否？其威名播於憬俗，為華夷畏服也如此。時威望德業，侔於郭子儀，出入中外，以身系國之安危、時之輕重者二十年。凡命將相，無賢不肖，皆推度為首，其為士君子愛重也如此。雖江左王導、謝安坐鎮雅俗，而訏謨方略，度又過之。

Du had begun as a scholar, entering office through literary policy examinations, and within a few years had risen into the highest circles of court. When the times turned harsh he could stake his life on decisive action, throw himself into the suppression of rebels, and become a founding minister of the restoration. During the Yuanhe and Changqing reigns, rebellious ministers and traitorous sons, though they had gathered their strength, lost heart before Du's formidable authority. Du's appearance was no more than that of an ordinary man, yet his bearing was handsome and spirited, and in audience he spoke with bold eloquence that made all who heard him sit up straight. When envoys were sent to distant lands, the rulers of the frontier peoples invariably asked how old Du was, what he looked like, and whether the Son of Heaven still employed him? His renown spread even among distant peoples, and Chinese and foreigners alike feared and respected him to this degree. His prestige, virtue, and achievements rivaled those of Guo Ziyi, and for twenty years, moving between court and command, his person alone bore the weight of the empire's safety. Whenever generals and ministers were appointed, worthy or not, all ranked Du first; such was the esteem in which gentlemen and scholars held him. Though Wang Dao and Xie An of the Eastern Jin had stabilized court and countryside by their presence, in grand strategy and statecraft Du surpassed even them.

有子五人：識、譔、讓、諗、議。度子識識以廕授官，累遷至通議大夫、檢校右散騎常侍、壽州刺史、本州團練使、上柱國、襲晉國公、食邑三千戶、實封一百五十戶，賜紫金魚袋。大中初，改潭州刺史、御史中丞，充河南都團練觀察使。八年，加檢校戶部尚書、鳳翔尹、鳳翔隴右節度使。十一年，本官移許州刺史、忠武軍節度、陳許觀察等使。度子譔譔，長慶元年登進士第。度子讓讓初任京光府參軍，太和中度鎮襄陽，奏乞讓從行。度子諗諗，大中五年，自大中大夫檢校右散騎常侍、御史大夫、宣州刺史、宣歙觀察使、上柱國、河東男、食邑三百戶，賜紫金魚袋，入朝權知刑部侍郎。兄弟並列方鎮，時人榮之。

He had five sons: Shi, Zhuan, Rang, Shen, and Yi. Du's son Shi entered office by hereditary privilege and rose through repeated promotions to Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, acting right regular attendant of the cavalry, prefect of Shouzhou and regimental commissioner of that prefecture, pillar of state, inheritor of the dukedom of Jin with a fief of three thousand households and an actual enfeoffment of one hundred fifty households, and was granted the purple-gold fish bag of high rank. At the beginning of the Dazhong reign he was appointed prefect of Tanzhou and vice censor-in-chief, serving as regimental and observation commissioner of the Henan metropolitan region. In the eighth year he was additionally appointed acting minister of revenue, prefect of Fengxiang, and military commissioner of Fengxiang and Longyou. In the eleventh year he was transferred to prefect of Xuzhou, military commissioner of the Zhongwu army, and observation commissioner of Chen and Xu while retaining his other titles. Du's son Zhuan passed the jinshi examination in the first year of Changqing. Du's son Rang first served as an aide in the Jingzhao metropolitan administration; when Du was posted to Xiangyang in the Taihe period, he memorialized asking that Rang accompany him. Du's son Shen—in the fifth year of Dazhong, while serving as grand master of the court, acting right regular attendant of the cavalry, censor-in-chief, prefect of Xuanzhou, observation commissioner of Xuan and She, pillar of state, Baron of Hedong with a fief of three hundred households, and holder of the purple-gold fish bag—entered court and was provisionally appointed vice minister of justice. The brothers simultaneously held regional commands, to the admiration of their contemporaries.

=史臣曰=史臣曰：德宗懲建中之難，姑息籓臣，貞元季年，威令衰削。章武皇帝誌據宿憤，廷訪嘉猷。始得杜邠公，用高崇文誅劉辟。中得武丞相，運籌訓戎，贊成睿斷。終得裴晉公，耀武伸威，竟殄兩河宿盜。雄哉，章武之果斷也！晉公以書生素業，致位臺衡，逢進遘屯，扼腕兇醜，誓以身徇，不亦壯乎！夫人臣事君，唯忠與義。大則以訏謨排禍難，小則以讜正匡過失，內不慮身計，外不恤人言，古人所難也。晉公能之，誠社稷之良臣，股肱之賢相；元和中興之力，公胡讓焉！昔仲尼嘆周室陵遲，齊桓霸翼，而有微管之論。嘗承宗、師道之濟惡也，奸人遍四海，刺客滿京師。乃至關吏禁兵，附賊陰計，議臣言未出口，刃已揕胸。茍非死義之臣，孰肯橫身冒難，以輔天子者？茍裴令不用，元和之世則時運未可知也。臣所以明左衽之嘆，宣聖獎賢之深。

The historiographer writes: Emperor Dezong, chastened by the disasters of the Jianzhong era, indulged the frontier governors, and by the late Zhenyuan years imperial authority had waned. Emperor Zhangwu harbored long-standing grievances and sought excellent counsel in court. At first he obtained Duke Du of Bin and employed Gao Chongwen to execute Liu Pi. Midway he obtained Chief Minister Wu, who planned campaigns, trained armies, and helped shape the emperor's decisive policies. Finally he obtained Duke Pei of Jin, who displayed martial prowess, extended imperial authority, and ultimately destroyed the long-standing rebels of the two He regions. How formidable was Emperor Zhangwu's resolute decisiveness! The Duke of Jin rose from a scholar's humble calling to the highest office, and when fortune turned harsh he set his jaw against vicious rebels and vowed to stake his life on the cause—is this not magnificent! In serving his sovereign, a minister has only loyalty and righteousness. In great affairs to dispel disaster through grand counsel, in small affairs to correct errors through candid remonstrance, within not calculating personal safety and without heeding others' talk—this is what the ancients found difficult. The Duke of Jin could do all this—truly a fine servant of the state and a worthy chief minister; as to the power behind the Yuanhe restoration, how could he yield precedence to any other! Long ago Confucius lamented the decline of the Zhou house and praised Duke Huan of Qi's hegemony with his remark on the modest merit of Guan Zhong. When Chengzong and Shidao abetted rebellion, traitors filled the empire and assassins thronged the capital. Even frontier officials and imperial guards joined the rebels' secret plots, and remonstrating ministers were stabbed in the chest before their words left their lips. Had there not been ministers willing to die for righteousness, who would have thrown himself into such danger to support the Son of Heaven? Had Lord Pei not been employed, the outcome of the Yuanhe era would have been impossible to foresee. This is why your servant sets forth the sigh of the uncivilized peoples and proclaims how deeply the sage rewarded worthy men.

=贊=贊曰：晉公伐叛，以身犯難。用之則治，舍之則亂。公去巖廊，復失冀方。穎、植之謀，信為不臧。

Eulogy: The Duke of Jin campaigned against rebels and personally faced danger. When he was employed the realm was governed; when he was set aside disorder followed. When the duke left the halls of state, the Hebei region was lost again. The schemes of Li Xun and Zheng Zhu were truly wicked.

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