Volume 172 Biographies 122: Ling Huchu, Niu Sengru, Xiaomian, Li Shi

李宗閔李宗閔，字損之，宗室鄭王元懿之後。祖自仙，楚州別駕。父，宗正卿，出為華州刺史、鎮國軍潼關防禦等使。兄夷簡，元和中宰相。宗閔，進士擢第，，復登制舉賢良方正科。

Li Zongmin, whose courtesy name was Sunzhi, was a descendant of Prince Yuan of Zheng of the imperial clan. His grandfather Zixian had served as vice-prefect of Chuzhou. His father, who had been director of the imperial clan court, later went out to serve as governor of Huazhou and commissioner of the Zhenguo Army and Tong Pass defense, among other posts. His elder brother Yijian had been chief minister during the Yuanhe reign. Zongmin passed the jinshi civil examination and later also passed the Xianliang Fangzheng special decree examination.

初，宗閔與牛僧孺同年登進士第，又與僧孺同年登制科。應制之歲，李吉甫為宰相當國，宗閔、僧孺對策，指切時政之失，言甚鯁直，無所回避。考策官楊於陵、韋貫之、李益等又第其策為中等，又為不中第者註解牛、李策語，同為唱誹。又言翰林學士王涯甥皇甫湜中選，考核之際，不先上言。裴垍時為學士，居中覆視，無所異同。吉甫泣訴於上前，憲宗不獲已，罷王涯、裴垍學士。垍守戶部侍郎，涯守都官員外郎，吏部尚書楊於陵出為嶺南節度使，吏部員外郎韋貫之出為果州刺史。王涯再貶虢州司馬，貫之再貶巴州刺史；僧孺、宗閔亦久之不調，隨牒諸侯府。七年，吉甫卒，方入朝為監察御史，累遷禮部員外郎。

Earlier, Zongmin and Niu Sengru had passed the jinshi examination in the same year, and Zongmin had also passed the special decree examination in the same year as Sengru. In the year of that examination, Li Jifu was chief minister and held the reins of government. Zongmin and Sengru submitted their policy essays, criticizing the failings of current policy in language so blunt that they held nothing back. The examiners Yang Yuling, Wei Guanzhi, Li Yi, and others nevertheless ranked their essays in the middle tier, and they also annotated the policy language of Niu and Li for those who had failed the examination, joining together in mockery. They also charged that Wang Ya's nephew Huangfu Shi, a Hanlin academician's kin, had been chosen in the selection, and that the examiners had failed to report this to the throne beforehand during the evaluation. Pei Ji was then a Hanlin academician and reviewed the matter from within the palace; he found no discrepancy. Jifu wept and lodged his complaint before the emperor. Unable to refuse him, Emperor Xianzong dismissed Wang Ya and Pei Ji from their Hanlin posts. Pei Ji retained his post as vice minister of revenue, and Wang Ya as vice director in the bureau of justice. Minister of personnel Yang Yuling was sent out as military governor of Lingnan, and vice director of personnel Wei Guanzhi as prefect of Guozhou. Wang Ya was demoted again to defender of Guozhou, and Guanzhi again to prefect of Bazhou; Sengru and Zongmin likewise went for a long time without regular appointments and took up posts in the secretariats of various regional lords. In the seventh year Jifu died, and only then did Zongmin enter court service as supervising censor, rising in succession to vice director in the ministry of rites.

，宰相裴度出征吳元濟，奏宗閔為彰義軍觀察判官。賊平，遷駕部郎中，又以本官知制誥。穆宗即位，拜中書舍人。時自宗正卿出刺華州，父子同時承恩制，人士榮之。，子婿蘇巢於錢徽下進士及第，其年，巢覆落。宗閔涉請托，貶劍州刺史。時李吉甫子德裕為翰林學士，錢徽榜出，德裕與同職李紳、元稹連衡言於上前，雲徽受請托，所試不公，故致重覆。比相嫌惡，因是列為朋黨，皆挾邪取權，兩相傾軋。自是紛紜排陷，垂四十年。

When chief minister Pei Du marched against Wu Yuanji, he recommended Zongmin as administrative aide to the Zhangyi Army observation commissioner. After the rebels were suppressed he was promoted to director in the bureau of the imperial stud and also continued in that office as drafter of imperial edicts. When Emperor Muzong ascended the throne, Zongmin was appointed attendant drafting at the secretariat. At that time his father had left the directorate of the imperial clan to govern Huazhou, and father and son alike received edicts of imperial favor at the same time—a distinction that men of standing greatly admired. His son-in-law Su Chao had passed the jinshi examination under examiner Qian Hui, but that same year Chao's degree was revoked upon reexamination. Zongmin was implicated in improper solicitation and demoted to prefect of Jianzhou. At that time Jifu's son Deyu was a Hanlin academician. When Qian Hui's examination results were published, Deyu joined his colleagues Li Shen and Yuan Zhen in telling the emperor that Hui had accepted improper solicitations, that the examination had been unfair, and that this was why the results had to be reviewed again. The two sides came to detest each other and were accordingly branded as rival factions, each group using unscrupulous means to seize power and the two camps striving to crush one another. From that time on there was an unending stream of accusations and political entrapments that lasted for nearly forty years.

復入為中書舍人。三年冬，權知禮部侍郎。四年，貢舉事畢，權知兵部侍郎。，正拜兵部侍郎，父憂免。，起為吏部侍郎，賜金紫之服。三年八月，以本官同平章事。

He was recalled to court as attendant drafting at the secretariat. In the winter of the third year he was appointed acting vice minister of rites. In the fourth year, after the civil examinations were concluded, he was appointed acting vice minister of war. He was formally appointed vice minister of war but then left office to observe mourning for his father. He was recalled to serve as vice minister of personnel and was granted the gold-and-purple ceremonial robe. In the eighth month of the third year he was made associate chief minister while retaining his existing office.

時裴度薦李德裕，將大用。德裕自浙西入朝，為中人助宗閔者所沮，復出鎮。尋引牛僧孺同知政事，二人唱和，凡德裕之黨皆逐之。累轉中書侍郎、集賢大學士。七年，德裕作相。六月，罷宗閔知政事，檢校禮部尚書、同平章事、興元尹、山南西道節度使。

At that time Pei Du had recommended Li Deyu and intended to give him major responsibilities. Deyu came to court from Zhexi but was blocked by eunuchs who supported Zongmin, and was sent out again to command a military region. Soon afterward he brought Niu Sengru in to share governing authority. Acting in concert, the two drove out every partisan of Deyu. He rose in succession to vice director of the secretariat and grand academician of the Jixian Institute. In the seventh year Deyu became chief minister. In the sixth month Zongmin was removed from governing affairs and appointed honorary minister of rites, associate chief minister, administrator of Xingyuan, and military governor of the Shannan West circuit.

宗閔為吏部侍郎時，因駙馬都尉沈結托女學士宋若憲及知樞密楊承和，二人數稱之於上前，故獲徵用。及德裕秉政，群邪不悅，而鄭註、李訓深惡之。文宗乃復召宗閔於興元，為中書侍郎、平章事，命德裕代宗閔為興元尹。既再得權位，輔之以訓、註，尤恣所欲，進封襄武侯，食邑千戶。

While Zongmin was vice minister of personnel, he had relied on the princess's consort commandant Shen to entreat the female academician Song Ruoxian and the commissioner of military affairs Yang Chenghe; the two repeatedly praised him before the emperor, and on that account he had won appointment. When Deyu held power, the corrupt were displeased, and Zheng Zhu and Li Xun hated him intensely. Emperor Wenzong then recalled Zongmin from Xingyuan and appointed him vice director of the secretariat and chief minister, ordering Deyu to take Zongmin's place as administrator of Xingyuan. Once he had regained power, with Xun and Zhu at his side he indulged his desires as never before; he was advanced in rank to Marquis of Xiangwu with a fief of one thousand households.

九年六月，京兆尹楊虞卿得罪，宗閔極言救解，文宗怒叱之曰：「爾嘗謂鄭覃是妖氣，今作妖，覃耶、爾耶？」翌日，貶明州刺史，尋再貶處州長史。七月，鄭註發沈、宋若憲事，內官楊承和、韋元素、沈及若憲姻黨坐貶者十餘人，又貶宗閔潮州司戶。時訓、註竊弄威權，凡不附己者，目為宗閔、德裕之黨，貶逐無虛日，中外震駭，連月陰晦，人情不安。九月詔曰：

In the sixth month of the ninth year the metropolitan governor Yang Yuqing fell afoul of the law, and Zongmin spoke out forcefully in his defense. Emperor Wenzong angrily rebuked him: "You once said Zheng Tan was a baleful presence—well, the bale has now appeared. Is it Tan, or is it you? The next day he was demoted to prefect of Mingzhou, and soon afterward was demoted again to senior administrator of Chuzhou. In the seventh month Zheng Zhu exposed the affair involving Shen and Song Ruoxian. The inner officials Yang Chenghe, Wei Yuansu, and Shen, together with more than ten of Ruoxian's kin by marriage, were demoted in connection with it, and Zongmin was demoted again to registrar of Chaozhou. At that time Xun and Zhu wielded power in secret. Anyone who would not join them was branded a partisan of Zongmin or Deyu, and demotions and banishments followed day after day without respite. Court and country were shaken, the skies stayed overcast for months on end, and the mood of the people grew fearful. In the ninth month an edict declared:

朕承天纘歷，燭理不明，勞虛襟以求賢，勵寬德以容眾。頃者，或臺輔乖弼違之道，而具僚扇朋附之風；翕然相從，實篸彜憲。致使薰蕕共器，賢不肖並馳；退跡者成後時之夫，登門者有迎吠之客。繆戾之氣，堙郁和平，而望陰陽順時，疵癘不作；朝廷清肅，班列和安，自古及今，未嘗有也。今既再申朝典，一變澆風，掃清朋比之徒，匡飭貞廉之俗。凡百卿士，惟新令猷。如聞周行之中，尚蓄疑懼，或有妄相指目，令不自安，今斯曠然，明喻朕意。應與宗閔、德裕或親或故及門生舊吏等，除今日已前黜遠之外，一切不問。各安職業，勿復為嫌。

We have received Heaven's mandate to rule, yet Our governance still lacks clarity. We have opened Our heart in labor to seek the worthy and encouraged magnanimity to embrace the multitude. Recently some among the highest ministers have strayed from the path of loyal counsel, while the full body of officials has fanned the wind of factional attachment; They have rushed to follow one another, truly piercing the foundations of law and ritual. This has caused the fragrant and the foul to share the same vessel, the worthy and the unworthy to advance side by side; Those who withdrew from office were treated as men out of step with the times, while those who came to their doors were met with the fawning of sycophants. Perverse and rebellious forces have choked off harmony, yet We still hope that yin and yang will keep to their seasons and that pestilence will not arise; that the court will be pure and solemn and the official ranks harmonious and at peace—from antiquity to the present, nothing of the kind has ever been seen. Now We have again proclaimed the statutes of the court, transformed the corrupt custom at a stroke, swept away the factional cliques, and restored the custom of integrity and probity. Let all you ministers renew your excellent counsel. We have heard that among the full court suspicion and fear still linger, and that some recklessly point fingers at others and leave them ill at ease. Let this now be made broadly clear, and let Our intent be plainly understood. All who are related to Zongmin or Deyu by kinship or old ties, as well as their students and former subordinates, are not to be questioned in any matter, except for those already banished before today. Let each rest secure in his office and harbor suspicion no more.

文宗以二李朋黨，繩之不能去，嘗謂侍臣曰：「去河北賊非難，去此朋黨實難。」宗閔雖驟放黜，竟免李訓之禍。

Because of the factions led by the two Lis, Emperor Wenzong could not eliminate them even when he tried to restrain them by law. He once told his attending ministers, "Driving out the rebels of Hebei is not difficult; driving out these factions truly is. Although Zongmin had been suddenly dismissed and banished, in the end he escaped the catastrophe of Li Xun's plot.

，量移衢州司馬。三年，楊嗣復輔政，與宗閔厚善，欲拔用之，而畏鄭覃沮議，乃托中人密諷於上。上以嗣復故，因紫宸對，謂宰相曰：「宗閔在外四五年，宜別授一官。」鄭覃曰：「陛下憐其地遠，宜移近內地三五百里，不可再用奸邪。陛下若欲用宗閔，臣請先退。」陳夷行曰：「比者，宗閔得罪，以朋黨之故，恕死為幸。寶歷初，李續之、張又新、蘇景胤等，朋比奸險，幾傾朝廷，時號『八關十六子』。」李玨曰：「主此事者，罪在逢吉。李續之居喪服闋，不可不與一官，臣恐中外衣冠，交興議論，非為續之輩也。」夷行曰：「昔舜逐四兇天下治。朝廷求理，何惜此十數纖人？」嗣復曰：「事貴得中，不可但徇憎愛。」上曰：「與一郡可也。」鄭覃曰：「與郡太優，止可洪州司馬耳。」夷行曰：「宗閔養成鄭註之惡，幾覆邦家，國之巨蠹也。」嗣復曰：「比者，陛下欲加鄭註官，宗閔不肯，陛下亦當記憶。」覃曰：「嗣復黨庇宗閔。臣觀宗閔之惡，甚於李林甫。」嗣復曰：「覃語大過。昔玄宗季年，委用林甫，妒賢害能，破人家族。宗閔在位，固無此事。況太和末，宗閔、德裕同時得罪。二年之間，德裕再領重鎮，而宗閔未離貶所。陛下懲惡勸善，進退之理宜均，非臣獨敢黨庇。昨殷侑與韓益奏官及章服，臣以益前年犯贓，未可其奏；鄭覃托臣雲『幸且勿論。』孰為黨庇？」翌日，以宗閔為杭州刺史。四年冬，遷太子賓客，分司東都。時鄭覃、陳夷行罷相，嗣復方再拔用宗閔知政事，俄而文宗崩。

He was transferred under commuted sentence to defender of Quzhou. In the third year Yang Sifu was assisting in government. He was on close terms with Zongmin and wished to promote him, but feared obstruction from Zheng Tan and therefore had a eunuch drop a private hint to the emperor. For Sifu's sake, at an audience in the Zichen Hall the emperor told the chief ministers, "Zongmin has been away from court for four or five years. He ought to be given another office. Zheng Tan said, "Your Majesty pities him for being so far away; he may be moved three to five hundred li nearer the heartland, but such a wicked man must not be employed again. If Your Majesty wishes to employ Zongmin, I ask to withdraw first." Chen Yixing said, "Not long ago Zongmin offended the law because of factionalism. That he was spared death was already a great mercy. At the beginning of the Baoli reign Li Xuzhi, Zhang Youxin, Su Jingyin, and others banded together in a treacherous faction that nearly brought down the court; at the time they were known as the Eight Passes and Sixteen Sons." Li Jue said, "The man chiefly responsible for this affair is Fengji; the guilt is his. Li Xuzhi has completed his mourning period and cannot be denied some office altogether. I fear that officials throughout the court and country will raise a storm of discussion—and not on behalf of Xuzhi and his like alone." Yixing said, "In antiquity, when Shun drove out the Four Evils, the realm was well governed. The court seeks good order—why spare these dozen petty men?" Sifu said, "In affairs what matters is hitting the mean; one cannot simply follow personal hatred or favor." The emperor said, "Giving him a prefecture would be enough." Zheng Tan said, "A prefecture is too generous. Defender of Hongzhou is all he deserves." Yixing said, "Zongmin nurtured the evil of Zheng Zhu and nearly brought the state to ruin. He is a great pest upon the realm." Sifu said, "Not long ago, when Your Majesty wished to promote Zheng Zhu in office, Zongmin refused. Your Majesty ought to remember that as well." Tan said, "Sifu is shielding Zongmin out of factional loyalty. In my view Zongmin's wickedness surpasses even that of Li Linfu." Sifu said, "Tan has gone much too far. In the late years of Emperor Xuanzong he entrusted power to Linfu, who was jealous of the worthy and harmed the capable and destroyed whole families. When Zongmin held office, nothing of that kind occurred. Moreover, at the end of the Taihe era Zongmin and Deyu both fell afoul of the law at the same time. Within two years Deyu had again taken command of a major military region, while Zongmin had not yet left his place of banishment. Your Majesty punishes evil and encourages good. The principle governing advancement and dismissal ought to be evenhanded. It is not that I alone dare to shield a partisan. Only yesterday Yin You and Han Yi memorialized regarding office and ceremonial robes. I held that Yi had committed embezzlement the year before last and that their memorial could not be approved; Zheng Tan asked me, saying, 'For now let us not discuss it.' Who, then, is shielding a partisan?" The next day Zongmin was appointed prefect of Hangzhou. In the winter of the fourth year he was transferred to mentor of the heir apparent with duty at the eastern capital. At that time Zheng Tan and Chen Yixing had been removed as chief ministers, and Sifu was on the point of promoting Zongmin again to share in governing affairs when suddenly Emperor Wenzong died.

會昌初，李德裕秉政，嗣復、李玨皆竄嶺表。三年，劉稹據澤潞叛。德裕以宗閔素與劉從諫厚，上黨近東都，宗閔分司非便，出為封州刺史。又發其舊事，貶郴州司馬，卒於貶所。

At the beginning of the Huichang era Deyu held power, and both Sifu and Li Jue were banished to the far south. In the third year Liu Zhen rebelled and held Ze and Lu. Deyu, noting that Zongmin had long been on close terms with Liu Congjian and that Shangdang lay near the eastern capital, held that it was inappropriate for Zongmin to remain on duty there and had him sent out as prefect of Fengzhou. His old affairs were exposed again, and he was demoted to defender of Chenzhou, where he died in exile.

子琨、瓚，大中朝皆進士擢第。令狐綯作相，特加獎拔。瓚自員外郎知制誥，歷中書舍人、翰林學士。綯罷相，出為桂管觀察使。御軍無政，為卒所逐，貶死。

His sons Kun and Zan both passed the jinshi examination during the Dazhong reign. When Linghu Tao became chief minister, he singled them out for encouragement and promotion. Zan rose from vice director as drafter of edicts to attendant drafting at the secretariat and Hanlin academician. When Tao left office as chief minister, Zan was sent out as observation commissioner of Guiguan. He governed his troops without discipline and was driven out by his soldiers; he was demoted and died.

自天寶艱難之後，宗室子弟，賢而立功者，唯鄭王、曹王子孫耳。夷簡再從季父汧國公勉，德宗朝宰相。夷簡諸弟夷亮、夷則、夷範，皆登進士第。宗閔弟宗冉。宗冉子深、湯。湯累官至給事中，咸通中踐更臺閣，知名於時。楊嗣復楊嗣復，字繼之，僕射於陵子也。初，於陵十九登進十第，二十再登博學宏詞科，謂補潤州句容尉。浙西觀察使韓滉有知人之鑒，見之甚悅。滉有愛女，方擇佳婿，謂其妻柳氏曰：「吾閱人多矣，無如楊生貴而有壽，生子必為宰相。」於陵秩滿，寓居揚州而生嗣復。後滉見之，撫其首曰：「名位果逾於父，楊門之慶也。」因字曰慶門。

Since the hardships of the Tianbao era, among members of the imperial clan who were worthy and achieved distinction, only the descendants of the Princes of Zheng and Cao remained. Yijian's second cousin once removed was Li Mian, Prince of Qian, who had been chief minister under Emperor Dezong. Yijian's younger brothers Yiliang, Yize, and Yifan all passed the jinshi civil examination. Zongmin's younger brother was Zongran. Zongran had sons named Shen and Tang. Tang rose through the ranks to grand master of remonstrance, and during the Xiantong reign he served in successive posts at the central court, where he became well known. Yang Sifu, whose courtesy name was Jizhi, was the son of Vice Chancellor Yang Yuling. Early on, Yuling passed the jinshi examination at nineteen, and at twenty he again passed the erudite literature decree examination, after which he was appointed assistant magistrate of Jurong county in Run prefecture. Han Huang, the military commissioner of Zhexi, had a keen eye for talent, and he was greatly pleased when he met Yuling. Huang had a beloved daughter and was choosing a suitable son-in-law; he said to his wife, Lady Liu: "I have reviewed many men, but none like Young Master Yang—he is noble and will live long, and his son will surely become chief minister. When Yuling's term of office ended, he took up residence in Yangzhou, where Sifu was born. Later, when Huang saw him, he stroked his head and said: "Your rank and office truly surpass your father's—the good fortune of the Yang house. He then gave him the courtesy name Qingmen, "Gate of Good Fortune."

嗣復七八歲時已能秉筆為文。年二十，進士擢第。二十一，又登博學宏詞科，釋褐秘書省校書郎。遷右拾遺，直史館。以嗣復深於禮學，改太常博士。，累遷至刑部員外郎。鄭餘慶為詳定禮儀使，奏為判官，改禮部員外郎。時父於陵為戶部侍郎，嗣復上言與父同省非便，請換他官。詔曰：「應同司官有大功以下親者，但非連判及勾檢之官並官長，則不在回避之限。如官署同，職司異，雖父子兄弟無所避嫌。」再遷兵部郎中。十月，以庫部郎中知制誥，正拜中書舍人。

By the age of seven or eight, Sifu could already take up the brush and write. At twenty he passed the jinshi civil examination. At twenty-one he also passed the erudite literature decree examination and entered official service as a proofreader in the Secretariat. He was promoted to right reminder and appointed to serve at the Historiography Institute. Because Sifu was deeply versed in ritual studies, he was reassigned as an erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. He was then promoted in succession to vice director of the Ministry of Justice. When Zheng Yuqing served as commissioner for the detailed fixing of ritual usages, he recommended Sifu as his case officer, and Sifu was reassigned as vice director of the Ministry of Rites. At that time his father Yuling was vice director of the Ministry of Revenue, and Sifu submitted a memorial arguing that serving in the same ministry as his father was improper and asking to be transferred to another post. An edict stated: "Officials of the same bureau who have relatives within the degree of great-great-grandparent need not observe avoidance unless they serve jointly as case officers or auditing officers, or unless one holds the chief post in the bureau. If they belong to the same office but hold different duties, even fathers and sons or brothers need not observe avoidance. He was then promoted again to director of the Ministry of War. In the tenth month he served as director of the Ministry of State Treasury with charge of drafting edicts, and was formally appointed a secretariat drafter.

嗣復與牛僧孺、李宗閔皆權德輿貢舉門生，情義相得，進退取舍，多與之同。四年，僧孺作相，欲薦拔大用，又以於陵為東都留守。未歷相位，乃令嗣復權知禮部侍郎。二月，選貢士六十八人，後多至達官。文宗即位，拜戶部侍郎。以父於陵太子少傅致仕，年高多疾，懇辭侍養，不之許。，丁父憂免。七年三月，起為尚書左丞。其年宗閔罷相，德裕輔政。七月，以嗣復檢校禮部尚書、梓州刺史、劍南東川節度觀察等使。九年，宗閔復知政事。三月，以嗣復檢校戶部尚書、成都尹、劍南西川節度副大使知節度事、觀察處置等使。

Sifu, Niu Sengru, and Li Zongmin had all been examination graduates under Quan Deyu; they were bound by mutual affection, and in advancement, withdrawal, and political choices they mostly followed his lead. In the fourth year, when Sengru became chief minister, he wished to recommend Sifu for major appointment, but because Yuling was serving as regent of the eastern capital and had not yet held the chief ministership, Sifu was instead appointed acting vice minister of rites. Since Sifu had not yet served as chief minister, Sengru had him serve as acting vice director of the Ministry of Rites. In the second month he selected sixty-eight examination candidates, many of whom later rose to high office. When Emperor Wenzong ascended the throne, Sifu was appointed vice director of the Ministry of Revenue. Because his father Yuling had retired as junior tutor to the heir apparent and, being advanced in years and often ill, Sifu earnestly asked to be relieved of duty so he could care for him, but the request was denied. He then entered mourning upon his father's death and was relieved of office. In the third month of the seventh year he was recalled to serve as left vice director of the Department of State Affairs. That same year Zongmin was dismissed as chief minister, and Li Deyu took up a leading role in government. In the seventh month Sifu was appointed titular director of the Ministry of Rites, prefect of Zizhou, and military commissioner and observer of Jiannan East Circuit, among other posts. In the ninth year Zongmin again took charge of governmental affairs. In the third month Sifu was appointed titular director of the Ministry of Revenue, prefect of Chengdu, deputy military commissioner in charge of Jiannan West Circuit affairs, and commissioner for observation and disposition, among other posts.

十月，入為戶部侍郎，領諸道鹽鐵轉運使。三年正月，與同列李玨並以本官同平章事，領使如故，進階金紫，弘農伯，食邑七百戶。上以幣輕錢重，問鹽鐵使何以去其太甚？嗣復曰：「此事累朝制置未得，但且禁銅，未可變法。法變擾人，終亦未罷去弊。」李玨曰：「禁銅之令，朝廷常典，但行之不嚴，不如無令。今江淮已南，銅器成肆，市井逐利者，銷錢一緡，可為數器，售利三四倍。遠民不知法令，率以為常。縱國家加爐鑄錢，何以供銷鑄之弊？所以禁銅之令，不得不嚴。」

In the tenth month he was recalled to the capital as vice director of the Ministry of Revenue and appointed head of the salt and iron transport commission for all circuits. In the first month of the third year he and his colleague Li Jue were both appointed grand counselors while retaining their existing posts, and Sifu was promoted to golden-purple rank and created baron of Hongnong with an estate of seven hundred households. Because silk currency was undervalued relative to coin, the emperor asked the salt and iron commissioner how to correct the imbalance? Sifu said: "Successive courts have tried to address this without success; for now we should only enforce the ban on copper—it is not yet possible to change the law. Changing the law would disturb the people, and in the end the underlying abuse would still not be eliminated. Li Jue said: "The ban on copper is a standing statute of the court, but if it is not enforced strictly, it would be better to have no ban at all. South of the Yangtze and Huai, copperware shops now line the streets, and market profiteers melt a single string of cash into several vessels that they sell for three or four times the profit. People in outlying regions do not know the law and generally treat this as normal practice. Even if the state increased its minting, how could it keep pace with the abuse of illegal melting? That is why the ban on copper must be strictly enforced."

八月，紫宸奏事，曰：「聖人在上，野無遺賢。陸洿上疏論兵，雖不中時事，意亦可獎。閑居蘇州累年，宜與一官。」李玨曰：「士子趨競者多，若獎陸洿，貪夫知勸矣。昨竇洵直論事，陛下賞之以幣帛，況與陸洿官耶？」帝曰：「洵直獎其直心，不言事之當否。」鄭覃曰：「若苞藏則不可知。」嗣復曰：「臣深知洵直無邪惡，所奏陸洿官，尚未奉聖旨。」鄭覃曰：「陛下須防朋黨。」嗣復曰：「鄭覃疑臣朋黨，乞陛下放臣歸去。」因拜乞罷免。李玨曰：「比來朋黨，近亦稍弭。」覃曰：「近有小朋黨生。」帝曰：「此輩雕喪向盡。」覃曰：「楊漢公、張又新、李續之即今尚在。」玨曰：「今有邊事論奏。」覃曰：「論邊事安危，臣不如玨；嫉惡則玨不如臣。」嗣復曰：「臣聞左右佩劍，彼此相笑。臣今不知鄭覃指誰為朋黨。」因當香案前奏曰：「臣待罪宰相，不能申夔、龍之道，唯以朋黨見譏，必乞陛下罷臣鼎職。」上慰勉之。文宗方以政事委嗣復，惡覃言切。

In the eighth month, at Zichen Hall, Sifu reported on affairs and said: "With a sage on the throne, no worthy talent in the land should be overlooked. Lu Fu had submitted a memorial on military affairs; although it was not timely, his intent was still praiseworthy. He has lived in retirement in Suzhou for many years and should be granted an official appointment. Li Jue said: "Many scholars are eager to compete for favor; if Lu Fu is rewarded, the greedy will take it as encouragement. Yesterday, when Dou Xunzhi spoke out on policy, Your Majesty rewarded him with silk and cloth—how much more readily would an office be granted to Lu Fu? The emperor said: "Xunzhi was rewarded for his frankness, not for whether his views were right or wrong. Zheng Tan said: "If one harbors hidden motives, that cannot be known. Sifu said: "I know well that Xunzhi has no evil intent, and the memorial I submitted to grant Lu Fu an office has not yet received Your Majesty's approval. Zheng Tan said: "Your Majesty must guard against factions. Sifu said: "Zheng Tan suspects me of factionalism; I beg Your Majesty to let me return home. He then bowed and begged to be removed from office. Li Jue said: "Factions have also gradually subsided in recent times. Tan said: "Recently a small faction has arisen. The emperor said: "That crowd is nearly spent. Tan said: "Yang Hangong, Zhang Youxin, and Li Xuzhi are still alive today. Jue said: "There are now frontier matters to report on. Tan said: "When it comes to discussing frontier affairs and their dangers, I am not Jue's equal; but in hating evil, Jue is not my equal. Sifu said: "I have heard that when two men at court both wear swords, each laughs at the other. I do not yet know whom Zheng Tan is calling a faction. He then submitted before the incense table and said: "I serve as chief minister under a charge of guilt, yet I cannot uphold the way of Kui and Long; I am accused only of factionalism, and I must beg Your Majesty to dismiss me from the chief ministership. The emperor comforted and urged him to remain. Emperor Wenzong was at this time entrusting governmental affairs to Sifu and resented Tan's sharp remarks.

帝延英謂宰臣曰：「人傳符讖之語，自何而來？」嗣復對曰：「漢光武好以讖書決事，近代隋文帝亦信此言，自是，此說日滋，只如班彪《王命論》所引，蓋矯意以止賊亂，非所重也。」李玨曰：「喪亂之時，佐命者務神符命；理平之代，只合推諸人事。」上曰：「卿言是也。」帝又曰：「天後用人，有自布衣至宰相者，當時還得力否？」嗣復曰：「天後重行刑辟，輕用官爵，皆自圖之計耳。凡用人之道，歷試方見其能否。當艱難之時，或須拔擢，無事之日，不如且循資級。古人拔卒為將，非治平之時，蓋不獲已而用之也。」上又問新修《開元政要》，敘致何如。嗣復曰：「臣等未見。陛下若欲遺之子孫，則請宣付臣等，參詳可否。玄宗或好遊畋，或好聲色，與貞觀之政不同，故取舍須當，方堪流傳。」

At Yingying Hall the emperor said to the chief ministers: "People circulate prophecies and omens—where do such words come from? Sifu replied: "Emperor Guangwu of Han liked to decide affairs by prophecy texts, and in recent times Emperor Wen of Sui also believed such words. Since then the doctrine has spread daily. Even what Ban Biao's Discourse on the Mandate of Kingship cites was surely a feigned argument to stop rebellion, not something to be taken seriously. Li Jue said: "In times of calamity and disorder, those who assist a new mandate appeal to divine portents; in an age of peace and good order, one should rely only on human effort. The emperor said: "What you say is right. The emperor also said: "When the Empress Dowager appointed men, some rose from commoner status to chief minister—were they still effective at the time? Sifu replied: "The Empress Dowager emphasized punishments and used offices and enfeoffments lightly—all schemes for her own advantage. As a rule, one can tell whether a man is capable only after testing him over time. In difficult times exceptional promotion may be necessary, but in peaceful times it is better to advance men by seniority. When the ancients promoted soldiers to generals, they did so not in well-governed times but only when they had no other choice. The emperor then asked about the newly compiled "Essential Policies of the Kaiyuan Era" and how well it was written. Sifu said: "We have not yet seen it. If Your Majesty intends to leave it to posterity, please deliver it to us so that we may review whether it is suitable. Emperor Xuanzong sometimes indulged in hunting and sometimes in music and women, so his reign differed from the Zhenguan era; selections must therefore be made with care if the work is to endure."

四年五月，上問延英政事，逐日何人記錄監修？李玨曰：「是臣職司。」陳夷行曰：「宰相所錄，必當自伐，聖德即將掩之。臣所以頻言，不欲威權在下。」玨曰：「夷行此言，是疑宰相中有賣威權、貨刑賞者。不然，何自為宰相而出此言？臣累奏求退，若得王傅，臣之幸也。」鄭覃曰：「陛下、二年政事至好，三年、四年漸不如前。」嗣復曰：「元年、二年是鄭覃、夷行用事，三年、四年臣與李玨同之。臣蒙聖慈擢處相位，不能悉心奉職。鄭覃云『三年之後，一年不如一年』，臣之罪也。陛下縱不誅夷，臣合自求泯滅。」因叩頭曰：「臣今日便辭玉階，不敢更入中書。」即趨去。上令中使召還，勞之曰：「鄭覃失言，卿何及此？」覃起謝曰：「臣性愚拙，言無顧慮。近日事亦漸好，未免些些不公，亦無甚處。臣亦不獨斥嗣復，遽何至此。所為若是，乃嗣復不容臣耳。」嗣復曰：「陛下不以臣微才，用為中書侍郎。時政善否，其責在臣。陛下月費俸錢數十萬，時新珍異，必先賜與，蓋欲輔佐聖明，臻於至理。既一年不如一年，非惟臣合得罪，亦上累聖德。伏請別命賢能，許臣休退。」上曰：「鄭覃之言偶然耳，奚執咎耶？」嗣復數日不入，上表請罷。帝方委用，乃罷鄭覃、夷行知政事。自是，政歸嗣復，進加門下侍郎。明年正月，文宗崩。

In the fifth month of the fourth year the emperor asked who was responsible for recording and supervising the daily deliberations at Yingying Hall? Li Jue said: "That is my duty. Chen Yixing said: "What chief ministers record will surely glorify themselves, and Your Majesty's virtue will soon be obscured. That is why I have spoken repeatedly—I do not want authority to remain vested below. Jue said: "Yixing's words imply that among the chief ministers there are those who sell authority and trade punishments and rewards. Otherwise, why would he speak this way when he himself is a chief minister? I have repeatedly asked to retire; if I could become a royal tutor, I would count myself fortunate. Zheng Tan said: "Your Majesty, government in the first and second years was excellent, but in the third and fourth years it has gradually declined. Sifu said: "In the first and second years Zheng Tan and Yixing held power; in the third and fourth years Li Jue and I shared it. I was raised to the chief ministership by Your Majesty's grace, yet I have not been able to devote myself fully to my duties. When Zheng Tan says that 'after the third year, each year has been worse than the last,' the fault is mine. Even if Your Majesty does not punish me, I ought to remove myself from public life. He then kowtowed and said: "Today I shall leave the jade steps and dare not enter the Secretariat again. He then hurried off. The emperor ordered an inner attendant to summon him back and comforted him, saying: "Zheng Tan misspoke—how did you come to this? Tan rose and apologized, saying: "My nature is dull and clumsy, and my words lack consideration. In recent times affairs have also gradually improved. There are unavoidably a few minor injustices, but nothing very serious. I was not singling out Sifu alone for criticism—how did matters suddenly come to this? If that is how he acted, it was simply that Sifu could not tolerate me. Sifu said: "Your Majesty appointed me vice director of the secretariat despite my modest ability. Whether current policy succeeds or fails, the responsibility lies with me. Your Majesty spends hundreds of thousands each month on my salary and always sends me the season's finest rarities first. The aim was surely to help me assist Your Majesty's enlightened rule and bring governance to the highest standard. Since each year has been worse than the last, I deserve punishment not only on my own account but also because I have reflected poorly on Your Majesty's virtue. I humbly ask that Your Majesty appoint another worthy man and allow me to retire. The emperor said: "Zheng Tan's words were merely an offhand remark—why take offense? For several days Sifu stayed away from court and submitted a memorial asking to be removed from office. The emperor was still relying on him, and so removed Zheng Tan and Yixing from the management of government affairs. From that point government reverted to Sifu, and he was further promoted to vice director of the chancellery. In the first month of the following year, Emperor Wenzong died.

先是，以敬宗子陳王為皇太子。中尉仇士良違遺令立武宗。武宗之立，既非宰相本意，甚薄執政之臣。其年秋，李德裕自淮南入輔政。九月，出嗣復為湖南觀察使。明年，誅樞密薛季稜、劉弘逸。中人言：「二人頃附嗣復、李玨，不利於陛下。」武宗性急，立命中使往湖南、桂管，殺嗣復與玨。宰相崔鄲、崔珙等亟請開延英，因極言國朝故事，大臣非惡逆顯著，未有誅戮者，願陛下復思其宜。帝良久改容曰：「朕纘嗣之際，宰相何嘗比數。李玨、季稜志在扶冊陳王，嗣復、弘逸志在樹立安王。立陳王猶是文宗遺旨，嗣復欲立安王，全是希楊妃意旨。嗣復嘗與妃書云：『姑姑何不敩則天臨朝？』」珙等曰：「此事曖昧，真虛難辨。」帝曰：「楊妃曾臥疾，妃弟玄思，文宗令入內侍疾月餘，此時通導意旨。朕細問內人，情狀皎然，我不欲宣出於外。向使安王得志，我豈有今日？然為卿等恕之。」乃追潭、桂二中使，再貶嗣復潮州刺史。

Earlier, the Prince of Chen, a son of Emperor Jingzong, had been named crown prince. The commandant Qiu Shiliang defied the late emperor's last instructions and enthroned Emperor Wuzong. Emperor Wuzong's enthronement had not been the chief ministers' original intent, and it greatly slighted the men then in power. That autumn, Deyu came from Huainan to join the government. In the ninth month, Sifu was sent out to serve as observation commissioner of Hunan. The following year, the pivot secretaries Xue Jiling and Liu Hongyi were executed. The inner agents said: "These two men had recently sided with Sifu and Li Jue, to Your Majesty's detriment. Emperor Wuzong was impatient by nature and immediately ordered envoys to Hunan and Guiguan to kill Sifu and Jue. Chief ministers Cui Dan, Cui Gong, and others urgently asked that Yanying be opened and then cited dynastic precedent at length: no great minister who was not openly wicked and rebellious had ever been executed, and they begged the emperor to reconsider what was fitting. After a long silence the emperor changed expression and said: "At the time of my succession, when did chief ministers count for anything? Li Jue and Jiling aimed to support enthroning the Prince of Chen, while Sifu and Hongyi aimed to establish the Prince of An. Enthroning the Prince of Chen was still in accord with Emperor Wenzong's last wishes, whereas Sifu's wish to establish the Prince of An was entirely an attempt to please Consort Yang. Sifu once wrote to the consort, saying: "Aunt, why not follow Empress Wu's example and hold court? Gong and the others said: "This matter is obscure, and truth and falsehood are hard to distinguish. The emperor said: "Consort Yang was once bedridden. Her younger brother Xuanen was ordered by Emperor Wenzong to enter the palace and attend her illness for more than a month, and at that time he conveyed her wishes. I questioned the palace attendants in detail, and the circumstances are perfectly clear. I do not wish to make this known outside the palace. If the Prince of An had had his way, would I be where I am today? Yet for your sake I will pardon them. He then recalled the two envoys bound for Tan and Gui and again demoted Sifu to prefect of Chaozhou.

宣宗即位，徵拜吏部尚書。，自潮陽還，至岳州病，一日而卒，時年六十六。贈左僕射，謚曰孝穆。

When Emperor Xuanzong ascended the throne, Sifu was summoned and appointed minister of personnel. On his return from Chaoyang he fell ill at Yuezhou and died after one day, at the age of sixty-six. He was posthumously granted left vice director of the Department of State Affairs and given the posthumous title Xiaomu.

子損、授、技、拭、捴，而授最賢。

His sons were Sun, Shou, Ji, Shi, and Zou, of whom Shou was the most worthy.

授，字得符，進士擢第，釋褐從事諸侯府，入為鄠縣尉、集賢校理。歷監察御史、殿中，分務東臺。再遷司勛員外郎、洛陽令、兵部員外郎。李福為東都留守，奏充判官，改兵部郎中，由吏部拜左諫議大夫、給事中，出為河南尹。盧攜作相，召拜工部侍郎。黃巢犯京師，僖宗幸蜀，徵拜戶部侍郎。以母病，求散秩，改秘書監分司。車駕還，拜兵部侍郎。宰相有報怨者，改左散騎常侍、國子祭酒，又轉太子賓客。從昭宗在華下，改刑部尚書、太子少保。卒，贈左僕射。

Shou, whose courtesy name was Defu, passed the jinshi examination, began his career as an aide in a regional lord's secretariat, and entered court service as magistrate of Hu County and collator in the Hall of Assembled Worthies. He served in succession as supervising censor and palace censor, with duties divided at the Eastern Secretariat. He was promoted twice, becoming vice director in the Ministry of Personnel Records, magistrate of Luoyang, and vice director in the Ministry of War. When Li Fu served as defender of the Eastern Capital, he recommended Shou as administrative aide. Shou was then made director in the Ministry of War, appointed through the Ministry of Personnel as left remonstrance grandee and drafting attendant, and sent out as intendant of Henan. When Lu Xie became chief minister, Shou was summoned and appointed vice director of the Ministry of Works. When Huang Chao attacked the capital and Emperor Xizong fled to Shu, Shou was summoned and appointed vice director of the Ministry of Revenue. Because his mother was ill, he requested a nominal post and was made director of the Palace Library with a commission in the capital. When the imperial carriage returned, he was appointed vice director of the Ministry of War. A chief minister who bore a grudge against him had him reassigned as left regular attendant and director of the Directorate of Education, and then transferred him to mentor of the heir apparent. Following Emperor Zhaozong at Hua below, he was made minister of justice and junior mentor of the heir apparent. He died and was posthumously granted left vice director of the Department of State Affairs.

子煚，字公隱，進士及第，再遷左拾遺。昭宗初即位，喜遊宴，不恤時事，煚上疏極諫，帝面賜緋袍象笏。崔安潛出鎮青州，辟為支使。不至鎮，改太常博士。歷主客、戶部二員外郎。關中亂，崔胤引硃全忠入京師，乃挈家避地湖南，官終諫議大夫。

His son Jiong, whose courtesy name was Gongyin, passed the jinshi examination and was twice promoted to left reminder. When Emperor Zhaozong had just ascended the throne, he delighted in feasting and touring and paid no heed to affairs of state. Jiong submitted a forceful memorial of remonstrance, and the emperor personally granted him a crimson robe and ivory tablet. When Cui Anqian went out to command Qingzhou, he recruited Jiong as a staff officer. He never reached the commandery and was reassigned as erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. He served in succession as vice director in the Ministry of Receptions and vice director in the Ministry of Revenue. When chaos erupted in Guanzhong and Cui Yin brought Zhu Quanzhong into the capital, Jiong took his family to seek refuge in Hunan. His final office was remonstrance grandee.

損，字子默，以廕受官，為藍田尉。三遷京兆府司錄參軍，入為殿中侍御史。家在新昌里，與宰相路巖第相接。巖以地狹，欲易損馬廄廣之，遣人致意。時損伯叔昆仲在朝者十餘人，相與議曰：「家門損益恃時相，何可拒之？」損曰：「非也。凡尺寸地，非吾等所有。先人舊業，安可以奉權臣？窮達，命也。」巖不悅。會差制使鞫獄黔中，乃遣損使焉。逾年而還，改戶部員外郎、洛陽縣令。入為吏部員外，出為絳州刺史。路巖罷相，徵拜給事中，遷京兆尹。盧攜作相，有宿憾，復拜給事中，出為陜虢觀察使。時軍亂，逐前使崔蕘。損至，盡誅其亂首。逾年，改青州刺史、御史大夫、淄青節度使。又檢校刑部尚書、鄆州刺史、天平軍節度使。未赴鄆，復留青州，卒於鎮。

Sun, whose courtesy name was Zimo, received office by inheritance and served as magistrate of Lantian. After three promotions he became registrar of the metropolitan prefecture of Jingzhao, then entered court service as palace censor. His home was in Xinchang Ward, adjoining the residence of chief minister Lu Yan. Yan, finding his land too narrow, wished to swap Sun's stable to enlarge his own property and sent someone to convey the request. At that time more than ten of Sun's paternal uncles and brothers were at court. They discussed the matter together and said: "The rise and fall of our house depends on the chief minister of the day—how can we refuse? Sun said: "That is not so. Every inch of land is not truly ours to dispose of. Our forefathers' old property—how can we give it away to serve a powerful minister? Poverty and success are a matter of fate. Yan was displeased. When a special commissioner was dispatched to investigate cases in Qianzhong, Yan sent Sun on that mission. After more than a year he returned and was made vice director in the Ministry of Revenue and magistrate of Luoyang County. He entered court service as vice director in the Ministry of Personnel and was sent out as prefect of Jiangzhou. When Lu Yan was removed as chief minister, Sun was summoned and appointed drafting attendant and transferred to intendant of Jingzhao. When Lu Xie became chief minister, bearing an old grudge, he had Sun again appointed drafting attendant and sent out as observation commissioner of Shan-Guo. At that time the army mutinied and drove out the previous commissioner Cui Rao. When Sun arrived, he executed all the ringleaders of the mutiny. After more than a year he was made prefect of Qingzhou, censor-in-chief, and military governor of the Ziqing circuit. He was further made acting minister of justice, prefect of Yanzhou, and military governor of the Tianping Army. Before he could go to Yan, he was again kept at Qingzhou and died in his commandery.

技進士及第，位至中書舍人。

Ji passed the jinshi examination and rose to drafting secretary at the secretariat.

拭官終考功員外郎。捴終兵部郎中。拭、捴並進士擢第。楊虞卿楊虞卿，字師臯，虢州弘農人。祖燕客。父寧，貞元中為長安尉。少有棲遁之志，以處士徵入朝。有口辯，優遊公卿間。竇參尤重之，會參貶，仕進不達而卒。

Shi's final office was vice director in the Ministry of Personnel Evaluation. Zou ended his career as director in the Ministry of War. Shi and Zou both passed the jinshi examination. Yang Yuqing, whose courtesy name was Shigao, was a native of Hongnong in Guo Prefecture. His grandfather was Yanke. His father Ning served as magistrate of Chang'an during the Zhenyuan era. From youth he wished to live in reclusion and was summoned to court as a retired scholar. He had a gift for debate and moved at ease among dukes and ministers. Dou Can especially valued him, but when Can was demoted he did not advance in office and died.

虞卿，進士擢第，又應博學宏辭科。元和末，累官至監察御史。穆宗初即位，不修政道，盤遊無節，虞卿上疏諫曰：

Yuqing passed the jinshi examination and also passed the Broad Learning and Eloquent Discourse decree examination. At the end of the Yuanhe era, he rose in succession to supervising censor. When Emperor Muzong had just ascended the throne, he neglected the way of government and indulged in roaming and feasting without restraint. Yuqing submitted a memorial of remonstrance, saying:

臣聞鳶烏遭害則仁鳥逝，誹謗不誅則良言進。況詔旨勉諭，許陳愚誠，故臣不敢避誅，以獻狂瞽。

I have heard that when the kite and crow meet harm, the benevolent birds depart, and that when slander goes unpunished, good counsel advances. Moreover Your Majesty's edict encouraged frank counsel and permitted the stating of sincere but foolish views, so I dare not hold back for fear of punishment and offer this reckless blindness.

竊聞堯、舜受命，以天下為憂，不聞以位為樂。況北虜猶梗，西戎未賓，兩河之瘡磐未平，五嶺之妖氛未解。生人之疾苦盡在，朝廷之制度莫修，邊儲屢空，國用猶屈。固未可以高枕無虞也。

I have heard that when Yao and Shun received the mandate, they took the realm as their worry and did not treat the throne as a source of pleasure. Moreover the northern barbarians still obstruct the frontier, the western Rong have not submitted, the wounds of the Two He Rivers are not yet healed, and the demonic miasma of the Five Ridges is not yet dispelled. The suffering of the people is everywhere present, the court's institutions go unrepaired, frontier stores are repeatedly empty, and state revenue is still strained. Surely one cannot yet rest easy without worry.

陛下初臨萬宇，有憂天下之志。宜日延輔臣公卿百執事，凝旒而問，造膝以求，使四方內外，有所觀焉。自聽政已來，六十日矣，八開延英，獨三數大臣仰龍顏，承聖問。其餘侍從詔誥之臣，偕入而齊出，何足以聞政事哉！諫臣盈廷，忠言未聞於聖聽，臣實羞之。蓋由主恩尚疏，而眾正之路未啟也。

Your Majesty has just come to rule the realm and has shown the will to worry for the world. You ought daily to receive chief ministers, dukes and lords, and the hundred officials, sitting attentively to inquire and drawing them near to seek counsel, so that all within and without the realm have something to observe. Since you began to govern, sixty days have passed. Yanying has been opened eight times, yet only a few chief ministers have looked up at your countenance and received your questions. The rest of the attendant edict-drafting officials entered together and left together. How could that suffice to hear affairs of government! Remonstrance officials fill the court, yet loyal words are not heard by Your Majesty. I am truly ashamed. This is because Your Majesty's favor is still distant, and the path for upright officials has not yet been opened.

夫公卿大臣，宜朝夕接見論道，賜與從容，則君臣之情相接，而理道備聞矣。今自宰相已下四五人，時得頃刻侍坐，天威不遠，鞠躬隕越，隨旨上下，無能往來。此由君太尊、臣太卑故也。自公卿已下，雖歷踐清地，曾未祗奉天睠，以承下問，郁塞正路，偷安幸門。況陛下神聖如五帝，臣下莫能望清光。所宜周遍顧問，惠其氣色，使支體相輔，君臣喻明。陛下求理於公卿，公卿求理於臣輩，自然上下孜孜相問，使進忠若趨利，論政若訴冤。如此而不聞過失、不致升平者，未之有也。

Chief ministers and great officials ought to be received morning and evening to discuss the Way and granted leisurely audience. Then the bond between ruler and minister would be joined, and the principles of governance would be fully heard. Now from the chief minister down, only four or five men at times receive a moment's audience. Your Majesty's awe is close at hand—they bow in trembling submission, rising and falling with your will, unable to engage in real exchange. This is because Your Majesty stands too far above them and your ministers bow too low. From the chief ministers down, though they have risen through honorable offices, none has reverently received Your Majesty's favor to answer your questions. They clog the path of upright counsel and seek comfort through flattery and favor. Moreover, Your Majesty is as sacred as the Five Emperors, and your officials cannot even approach the radiance of your presence. You ought to inquire broadly of all, grant them the warmth of your attention, so that the whole body of government works in concert and ruler and ministers understand one another clearly. If Your Majesty seeks good governance from the chief ministers, and the chief ministers seek it from the ranks below, naturally all levels would earnestly question one another—offering loyal counsel as eagerly as pursuing profit, and debating policy as urgently as pleading a grievance. If this were done and you still failed to hear of your errors or bring the realm to great peace, there would be no precedent for it.

自古帝王，居危思安之心不相殊，而居安慮危之心不相及，故不得皆為聖帝明王。

Since antiquity, all emperors and kings alike think of safety when in peril, but few think of peril when at ease. That is why not all could become sage emperors and enlightened kings.

小臣疏賤，豈宜及此，獨不忍冒榮偷祿，以負聖朝。惟陛下圖之。

I am a lowly and insignificant official—what business have I speaking of such things? I alone cannot bear to enjoy rank and salary without speaking the truth, and thereby fail the sacred court. I beg Your Majesty to consider this.

帝深獎其言。尋令奉使西北邊，犒賞戍卒，遷侍御史，再轉禮部員外郎、史館修撰。八月，改吏部員外郎。

The emperor highly praised his memorial. Soon afterward he was sent on mission to the northwest frontier to reward the garrison troops. He was promoted to attendant censor, then again to vice director of the Ministry of Rites and compiler in the Historiography Institute. In the eighth month, he was transferred to vice director of the Ministry of Personnel.

，南曹令史李幹等六人，偽出告身簽符，賣鑿空偽官，令赴任者六十五人，取受錢一萬六千七百三十貫。虞卿按得偽狀，捕幹等移御史臺鞫劾。幹稱六人共率錢二千貫，與虞卿廳典溫亮，求不發舉偽濫事跡。乃詔給事中嚴休復、中書舍人高鉞、左丞韋景休充三司推案，而溫亮逃竄。幹等既伏誅，虞卿以檢下無術，停見任。

Six clerks of the Southern Bureau, including Li Gan, forged appointment commissions and signature seals, sold fabricated government posts to sixty-five men who took up their assignments, and accepted bribes totaling sixteen thousand seven hundred thirty strings of cash. Yuqing investigated the case, obtained proof of the forgery, arrested Gan and the others, and handed them over to the Censorate for trial. Gan testified that the six of them had pooled two thousand strings of cash and paid Yuqing's bureau administrator Wen Liang to keep the matter of forged appointments from being reported. The emperor then ordered Supervising Secretary Yan Xiufu, Secretariat Drafter Gao Yue, and Left Vice Director Wei Jingxiu to conduct a three-department investigation, while Wen Liang fled. After Gan and the others were executed, Yuqing was suspended from office for his failure to supervise his subordinates properly.

及李宗閔、牛僧孺輔政，起為左司郎中。五年六月，拜諫議大夫，充弘文館學士，判院事。六年，轉給事中。七年，宗閔罷相，李德裕知政事，出為常州刺史。

When Li Zongmin and Niu Sengru came to power, he was recalled and appointed director of the Left Department. In the sixth month of the fifth year, he was appointed remonstrance adviser, made a scholar of the Hongwen Pavilion, and put in charge of its administration. In the sixth year, he was transferred to supervising secretary. In the seventh year, Zongmin was dismissed as chief minister and Li Deyu took charge of government affairs. Yuqing was sent out as prefect of Changzhou.

虞卿性柔佞，能阿附權幸以為奸利。每歲銓曹貢部，為舉選人馳走取科第，占員闕，無不得其所欲；升沈取舍，出其脣吻。而李宗閔待之如骨肉，以能朋比唱和，故時號黨魁。八年，宗閔復入相，尋召為工部侍郎。九年四月，拜京兆尹。其年六月，京師訛言鄭註為上合金丹，須小兒心肝，密旨捕小兒無算。民間相告語，扃鎖小兒甚密，街肆洶洶。上聞之不悅，鄭註頗不自安。御史大夫李固言素嫉虞卿朋黨，乃奏曰：「臣昨窮問其由，此語出於京兆尹從人，因此扇於都下。」上怒，即令收虞卿下獄。虞卿弟漢公並男知進等八人自系，撾鼓訴冤，詔虞卿歸私第。翌日，貶虔州司馬，再貶虔州司戶，卒於貶所。

Yuqing was soft-spoken and sycophantic, skilled at currying favor with the powerful for illicit gain. Every year at examination season he pulled strings for candidates at the selection and examination bureaus—winning degrees, securing vacant posts—nothing they wanted was beyond his reach; Who rose, who fell, who was accepted and who was rejected—all depended on his word. Li Zongmin treated him like family, and because he excelled at building factional alliances, he was known at the time as the ringleader of the clique. In the eighth year, Zongmin returned as chief minister, and Yuqing was soon recalled as vice director of the Ministry of Works. In the fourth month of the ninth year, he was appointed metropolitan governor of the capital region. That same June, a rumor spread through the capital that Zheng Zhu was compounding an elixir of immortality for the emperor and needed children's hearts and livers—and on secret orders, countless children were seized. People warned one another, locked their children indoors, and the streets and markets erupted in panic. When the emperor heard of this he was displeased, and Zheng Zhu grew deeply uneasy. Censor-in-Chief Li Guyen, who had long resented Yuqing's faction, memorialized: "When I thoroughly investigated the matter yesterday, I found that this talk originated with the metropolitan governor's attendants and was spread throughout the capital from there. The emperor was enraged and immediately ordered Yuqing arrested and thrown into prison. Yuqing's younger brother Hangong and his son Zhijin together with six others bound themselves and beat the grievance drum. The emperor then ordered Yuqing released to his home. The next day he was demoted to military adjutant of Qian Prefecture, then demoted again to registrar of the same prefecture, and died in exile.

子知進、知退、堪，弟漢公，皆登進士第。知退歷都官、戶部二郎中；堪庫部、吏部二員外郎。虞卿弟漢公漢公，擢進士第，又書判拔萃，釋褐為李絳興元從事。絳遇害，漢公遁而獲免。累遷戶部郎中、史館修撰。，遷司封郎中。

His sons Zhijin, Zhuitui, and Kan, and his younger brother Hangong, all passed the jinshi examination. Zhuitui served as director in both the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Revenue; Kan served as vice director in both the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel. Yuqing's younger brother Hangong passed the jinshi examination, excelled in the written judgment examination, and upon entering office became a staff member under Li Jiang in Xingyuan. When Li Jiang was murdered, Hangong fled and escaped with his life. He rose through several promotions to director of the Ministry of Revenue and compiler in the Historiography Institute. He was then transferred to director of the Department of Enfeoffment.

漢公子範、籌，皆登進士第，累辟使府。虞卿從兄汝士虞卿從兄汝士。汝士，字慕巢，進士擢第，又登博學宏詞科，累辟使府。為右補闕。坐弟殷士貢舉覆落，貶開江令。入為戶部員外，再遷職方郎中。七月，以本官知制誥。時李宗閔、牛僧孺輔政，待汝士厚。尋正拜中書舍人，改工部侍郎。八年，出為同州刺史。九年九月，入為戶部侍郎。七月，轉兵部侍郎。其年十二月，檢校禮部尚書、梓州刺史、劍南東川節度使。時宗人嗣復鎮西川，兄弟對居節制，時人榮之。四年九月，入為吏部侍郎，位至尚書，卒。

Hangong's sons Fan and Chou both passed the jinshi examination and were repeatedly recruited to commissioner staffs. Yuqing's older cousin Rushi. Rushi, whose courtesy name was Muchao, passed the jinshi examination and the erudite and literary examination, and was repeatedly recruited to commissioner staffs. He served as right rectifier. Because his younger brother Yinshi was struck from the examination rolls upon rereading, Rushi was demoted to magistrate of Kaijiang. He was recalled to serve as vice director of the Ministry of Revenue, then promoted again to director of the Bureau of Posts and Carriages. In the seventh month, he was made drafter of edicts while retaining his existing rank. At the time Li Zongmin and Niu Sengru were chief ministers and treated Rushi with great favor. He was soon formally appointed secretariat drafter and transferred to vice director of the Ministry of Works. In the eighth year, he was sent out as prefect of Tong Prefecture. In the ninth month of the ninth year, he was recalled as vice director of the Ministry of Revenue. In the seventh month, he was transferred to vice director of the Ministry of War. That December he was made acting minister of rites, prefect of Zi, and military commissioner of Eastern Chuan. At the time his clansman Sifu governed Western Chuan, and the two brothers held neighboring military commissions—a distinction people greatly admired. In the ninth month of the fourth year he was recalled as vice director of the Ministry of Personnel, rose to minister, and died.

子知溫、知遠、知權，皆登進士第。汝士子知溫知溫累官至禮部郎中、知制誥，入為翰林學士、戶部侍郎，轉左丞。出為河南尹、陜虢觀察使。遷檢校兵部尚書、襄州刺史、山南東道節度使。知溫弟知至知溫弟知至，累官至比部郎中、知制誥。坐故府劉瞻罷相，貶官。知至亦貶瓊州司馬。入為諫議大夫，累遷京兆尹、工部侍郎。知溫、知至皆位至列曹尚書。汝士弟魯士汝士弟魯士。魯士，字宗尹，本名殷士。，進士擢第，其年詔翰林覆試。殷士與鄭朗等覆落，因改名魯士。復登制科，位不達而卒。

His sons Zhiwen, Zhiyuan, and Zhiquan all passed the jinshi examination. Rushi's son Zhiwen rose through the ranks to director of the Ministry of Rites and drafter of edicts, then became a Hanlin academician and vice director of the Ministry of Revenue, and was promoted to left vice director. He was sent out as governor of Henan and observation commissioner of Shan-Guo. He was promoted to acting minister of war, prefect of Xiang, and military commissioner of Eastern Shannan Circuit. Zhiwen's younger brother Zhizhi rose through the ranks to director of the Bureau of Review and drafter of edicts. When his former superior Liu Zhan was dismissed as chief minister, Zhizhi was demoted. Zhizhi was also demoted to military adjutant of Qiong Prefecture. He was later recalled as remonstrance adviser and rose through several promotions to metropolitan governor and vice director of the Ministry of Works. Both Zhiwen and Zhizhi rose to the rank of bureau minister. Rushi's younger brother Lushi. Lushi, whose courtesy name was Zongyin, was originally named Yinshi. He passed the jinshi examination, and that year the Hanlin Academy was ordered to reread the results. Yinshi, along with Zheng Lang and others, was struck from the rolls upon rereading, and he therefore changed his name to Lushi. He passed the decree examination as well, but never rose high before he died.

初汝士中第，有時名，遂歷清貫。其年諸子皆至正卿，郁為昌族。所居靜恭里，知溫兄弟，並列門戟。咸通中，昆仲子孫，在朝行方鎮者十餘人。馬植馬植，扶風人。父曛。植，進士擢第，又登制策科，釋褐壽州團練副使。得秘書省校書郎，三遷饒州刺史。開成初，遷安南都護、御史中丞、安南招討使。

When Rushi first passed the examination he was widely known and went on to serve in prestigious central offices. Within a few years all his sons reached the highest ministerial ranks, and the clan flourished in prominence. At their residence in Jinggong Lane, the Zhiwen brothers all displayed their gate halberds side by side—a mark of high official rank. During the Xiantong era, more than ten members of the clan and their descendants held office at court or as regional commissioners. Ma Zhi was a native of Fufeng. His father was Xun. Zhi passed the jinshi examination and the decree policy examination, and upon entering office became deputy regimental trainer of Shou Prefecture. He was appointed collator in the Secretariat and after three promotions became prefect of Rao. At the beginning of the Kaicheng era, he was appointed protector-general of Annam, vice censor-in-chief, and pacification commissioner of Annam.

植文雅之餘，長於吏術。三年，奏：「當管羈縻州首領，或居巢穴自固，或為南蠻所誘，不可招諭，事有可虞。臣自到鎮，約之以信誠，曉之以逆順。今諸首領，總發忠言，願納賦稅。其武陸縣請升為州，以首領為刺史。」從之。又奏陸州界廢珠池復生珠。以能政，就加檢校左散騎常侍，加中散大夫，轉黔中觀察使。會昌中，入為大理卿。

Beyond his literary refinement, Zhi excelled at practical administration. In the third year he memorialized: "The chieftains of the attached prefectures under my jurisdiction either hide in mountain strongholds or are lured by the southern tribes. They cannot be won by persuasion alone, and the situation is worrisome. Since I arrived at my post, I have treated them with sincerity and explained to them the difference between rebellion and loyalty. Now all the chieftains have pledged their loyalty and expressed willingness to pay tribute and taxes. I request that Wulu County be elevated to prefectural status, with the chieftain appointed as prefect. The request was granted. He also reported that an abandoned pearl pool within Lu Prefecture had begun producing pearls again. For his capable administration he was further granted acting left regular attendant-at-large and promoted to grand master of palace attendance, then transferred to observation commissioner of Qianzhong. During the Huichang era, he was recalled as chief judge of the Court of Judicial Review.

植以文學政事為時所知。久在邊遠，及還朝，不獲顯官，必微有望，李德裕素不重之。宣宗即位，宰相白敏中與德裕有隙，凡德裕所薄者，必不次拔擢之。乃加植金紫光祿大夫，行刑部侍郎，充諸道鹽鐵轉運使。轉戶部侍郎，領使如故。俄以本官同平章事，遷中書侍郎，兼禮部尚書。敏中罷相，植亦罷為太子賓客，分司東都。數年，出為許州刺史、檢校刑部尚書、忠武軍節度觀察等使。大中末，遷汴州刺史、宣武軍節度觀察等使。卒於鎮。李讓夷李讓夷，字達心，隴西人。祖悅，父應規。讓夷，擢進士第，釋褐諸侯府。太和初入朝，為右拾遺，召充翰林學士，轉左補闕。三年，遷職方員外郎、左司郎中，充職。九年，拜諫議大夫。

Zhi was known to his contemporaries for both literary talent and administrative skill. After long service on distant frontiers, he returned to court without receiving a prominent post, nursed private hopes of advancement, and Li Deyu had never held him in high regard. When Emperor Xuanzong came to the throne, Chief Minister Bai Minzhong, who was at odds with Deyu, invariably promoted out of turn everyone Deyu had looked down upon. Zhi was then granted the golden purple light grand master of the palace, appointed acting vice director of the Ministry of Justice, and made commissioner of salt and iron transport for all circuits. He was transferred to vice director of the Ministry of Revenue while retaining his commissionership. Soon he was made co-chief minister of the Secretariat with his existing rank, promoted to vice director of the Secretariat, and concurrently minister of rites. When Minzhong left office, Zhi was also dismissed and made guest of the heir apparent with duties at the eastern capital branch office. Several years later he was sent out as prefect of Xu, acting minister of justice, and military and observation commissioner of the Zhongwu Army. Near the end of the Dazhong era, he was transferred to prefect of Bian and military and observation commissioner of the Xuanwu Army. He died while serving in that post. Li Rangyi, whose courtesy name was Daxin, was a native of Longxi. His grandfather was Yue and his father was Yinggui. Rangyi passed the jinshi examination and began his career in a regional lord's staff. Early in the Taihe reign he entered court as Right Reminder, was appointed Hanlin Academician, and was then transferred to Left Supplementation Aide. In the third year he was promoted to Vice Director of the Bureau of Appointments and Left Department Director, serving in both capacities. In the ninth year he was appointed Remonstrance and Policy Grand Master.

，以本官兼知起居舍人事。時起居舍人李褒有痼疾，請罷官。宰臣李石奏闕官，上曰：「褚遂良為諫議大夫，嘗兼此官，卿可盡言今諫議大夫姓名。」石遂奏李讓夷、馮定、孫簡、蕭俶。帝曰：「讓夷可也。」李固言欲用崔球、張次宗。鄭覃曰：「崔球遊宗閔之門，赤墀下秉筆記註，為千古法，不可用朋黨。如裴中孺、李讓夷，臣不敢有纖芥異論。」其為人主大臣知重如此。二年，拜中書舍人。以鄭覃此言，深為李玨、楊嗣復所惡，終文宗世，官不達。

He also concurrently served as acting Diarist of Imperial Audience while retaining his existing post. At that time the Diarist Li Bao suffered from a chronic illness and asked to resign. Chief Minister Li Shi reported the vacancy. The emperor said, "Chu Suiliang served as Remonstrance and Policy Grand Master and once held this post concurrently. State the full names of the current Remonstrance and Policy Grand Masters. Li Shi then named Li Rangyi, Feng Ding, Sun Jian, and Xiao Chu. The emperor said, "Rangyi will do. Li Guyuan wanted to appoint Cui Qiu and Zhang Cizong. Zheng Tan said, "Cui Qiu moves in Li Zongmin's circle. Recording and annotating below the red steps is a precedent for all time. Factional favorites must not be used. As for Pei Zhongru and Li Rangyi, I have not the slightest objection. Such was the esteem in which the emperor and his chief ministers held him. In the second year he was appointed Palace Secretariat Drafting Officer. Because of Zheng Tan's remark, he was deeply resented by Li Jue and Yang Sifu, and throughout Emperor Wenzong's reign he never rose to high office.

及德裕秉政，驟加拔擢，歷工、戶二侍郎，轉左丞。累遷檢校尚書右僕射，俄拜中書侍郎，同平章事。宣宗即位罷相，以太子賓客分司卒。魏謩魏謩，字申之，鉅鹿人。五代祖文貞公徵，貞觀朝名相。曾祖殷，汝陽令。祖明，亦為縣令。父馮，獻陵臺令。謩，登進士第。楊汝士牧同州，辟為防禦判官，得秘書省校書郎。汝士入朝，薦為右拾遺。文宗以謩魏徵之裔，頗奇待之。

When Li Deyu came to power, he was suddenly promoted, serving in turn as Vice Minister of Works and Vice Minister of Revenue before becoming Left Vice Director. He rose in stages to Acting Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, and soon became Vice Director of the Secretariat and Associate Councilor. When Emperor Xuanzong came to the throne he was dismissed as councilor, served as Crown Prince Guest of Honor in a branch post, and died there. Wei Mo, styled Shenzhi, was a native of Julu. His fifth-generation ancestor, Duke Wen Zhen Wei Zheng, was a famous chancellor of the Zhenguan era. His great-grandfather Yin served as magistrate of Ruyang. His grandfather Ming also served as a county magistrate. His father Feng was director of the Xian Mausoleum Platform. Mo passed the jinshi examination. When Yang Rushi was prefect of Tongzhou, he recruited Mo as defense staff judge, and Mo received appointment as Collator in the Secretariat. When Yang Rushi entered court, he recommended Mo for the post of Right Reminder. Because Mo was a descendant of Wei Zheng, Emperor Wenzong treated him with marked favor.

前邕管經略使董昌齡枉殺錄事參軍衡方厚，坐貶漵州司戶。至是量移硤州刺史，謩上疏論之曰：「王者施渙汗之恩以赦有罪，唯故意殺人無赦。昌齡比者錄以微效，授之方隅，不能祗慎寵光，恣其狂暴，無辜專殺，事跡顯彰。妻孥銜冤，萬里披訴。及按鞫伏罪，貸以微生，中外議論，以為屈法。今若授之牧守，以理疲人，則殺人者拔擢，而冤苦者何伸？交紊憲章，有乘至理。」疏奏，乃改為洪州別駕。

The former Yongguan Military Commissioner Dong Changling had unjustly killed recording secretary Heng Fanghou and was demoted to registrar of Xu prefecture. At this point he was transferred by equivalency to prefect of Xiazhou. Mo submitted a memorial arguing, "A ruler extends sweeping mercy to pardon the guilty, but deliberate murder is never pardoned. Changling was recently noted for minor service and given a frontier post, yet he failed to honor the favor shown him, gave free rein to his violence, and murdered an innocent man — the facts are plain. His wife and children nursed their grievance and traveled a thousand miles to plead their case. When investigation proved his guilt, he was spared with a light sentence, and opinion inside and outside the court held that the law had been bent. If he is now made a prefect to govern the people, a killer is promoted while the wronged have no redress — how can that be justified? This would overturn the law and violate fundamental principle. When the memorial was submitted, the appointment was changed to Vice Prefect of Hongzhou.

御史中丞李孝本，皇族也，坐李訓誅，有女沒人掖廷。謩諫曰：

Censor-in-Chief Li Xiaoben, a member of the imperial clan, was implicated in Li Xun's purge, and his daughter was taken into the inner palace. Mo remonstrated as follows:

臣聞治國家者，先資於德義；德義不修，家邦必壞。故王者以德服人，以義使人。服使之術，要在修身；修身之道，在於孜孜。夫一失百虧之戒，存乎久要之源。前志曰：「勿以小惡而為之，勿以小善而不為。」斯則懼於漸也！臣又聞，君如日焉，顯晦之微，人皆瞻仰；照臨之大，何以掩藏？前代設敢諫之鼓，立誹謗之木，貴聞其過也。陛下即位以來，誕敷文德，不悅聲色，出後宮之怨婦，配在外之鰥夫。洎今十年，未嘗采擇。自數月已來，天睠稍回，留神妓樂，教坊百人、二百人，選試未已；莊宅司收市，亹癖有聞。昨又宣取李孝本之女入內。宗姓不異，寵幸何名？此事深累慎修，有虧一簣。陛下九重之內，不得聞知。凡此之流，大生物議，實傷理道之本，未免塵穢之嫌。夫欲人不知，莫若勿為。諺曰：「止寒莫若重裘，止謗莫若自修。」伏希陛下照鑒不惑；崇千載之盛德，去一旦之玩好。教坊停息，宗女遣還，則大正人倫之風，深弘王者之體。

I have heard that governing a state depends first on virtue and righteousness; if virtue and righteousness are not cultivated, family and state will surely be ruined. Therefore a ruler wins submission through virtue and moves people through righteousness. The means of winning obedience lies above all in self-cultivation; and the way of self-cultivation lies in unceasing effort. The warning that one lapse leads to a hundred failures rests on the enduring foundation of constancy. Earlier writings say, "Do not commit a small evil; do not leave a small good undone. That is to fear gradual decline! I have also heard that the ruler is like the sun: even the slightest change in light and shadow, all people observe; and the breadth of its illumination — how can it be hidden? Former ages set up the drum for bold remonstrance and the post for reporting faults because they valued hearing of their errors. Since Your Majesty's accession you have spread civil virtue abroad, taken no delight in music and women, released aggrieved women from the inner palace, and matched them with widowers outside. For ten years now you have never selected concubines. But in recent months Heaven's favor has shifted; you have turned your attention to performers and music, with one hundred or two hundred persons from the Music Bureau still under selection and trial; and the Estate Bureau's purchases in the markets show a persistent indulgence that has become widely known. Yesterday an order was issued to bring Li Xiaoben's daughter into the inner palace. She bears the imperial surname — by what title is such favor justified? This affair deeply undermines careful self-cultivation and leaves the work one basket short of completion. Within Your Majesty's inner palace, such matters should not have escaped your notice. All such conduct gives rise to widespread criticism, truly injures the foundations of good government, and cannot escape the stain of impropriety. If one wishes others not to know, the best course is not to do it at all. A proverb says, "To stop cold, nothing beats a heavy fur; to stop slander, nothing beats self-reform. I humbly hope Your Majesty will reflect clearly and not be misled; uphold virtue that will endure for a thousand years, and cast off passing indulgences. If the Music Bureau's activities cease and the clanswoman is sent home, human relations will be greatly set right and the dignity of kingship deeply upheld.

疏奏，帝即日出孝本女，遷謩右補闕。詔曰：「昔乃先祖貞觀中諫書十上，指事直言，無所避諱。每覽國史，未嘗不沈吟伸卷，嘉尚久之。爾為拾遺，其風不墜，屢獻章疏，必道其所以。至於備灑掃於諸王，非自廣其聲妓也；恤髫齔之宗女，固無嫌於徵取也。雖然，疑似之間，不可家至而戶曉。爾能詞旨深切，是博我之意多也。噫！人能匪躬謇諤，似其先祖；吾豈不能虛懷延納，仰希貞觀之理歟？而謩居官日淺，未當敘進，吾豈限以常典，以待直臣！可右補闕。」帝謂宰臣曰：「昔太宗皇帝得魏徵，裨補闕失，弼成聖政。我得魏謩，於疑似之間，必能極諫。不敢希貞觀之政，庶幾處無過之地矣。」

When the memorial was submitted, the emperor released Xiaoben's daughter that same day and promoted Mo to Right Supplementation Aide. An edict said, "In former times your ancestor in the Zhenguan era submitted ten remonstrances, speaking directly to the matter without evasion. Whenever I read the national history, I always pause over the scroll and admire him at length. You serve as Reminder, and that spirit has not declined. In your repeated memorials you always explain your reasons. As for preparing attendants for the princes, that was not to enlarge your own troupe of performers; and showing concern for a young clanswoman — there was indeed no impropriety in taking her in. Nevertheless, in matters of suspicion one cannot make every household understand. Your language is earnest and penetrating, and you have greatly broadened my understanding. Alas! When a man can devote himself to blunt remonstrance like his ancestor, how can I fail to open my mind and accept counsel, looking up to the governance of the Zhenguan era? Yet Mo has served only briefly and is not yet due for promotion by regular rule — how can I be bound by ordinary precedent in treating a forthright minister! He is appointed Right Supplementation Aide. The emperor said to the chief ministers, "Formerly Emperor Taizong obtained Wei Zheng, who remedied omissions and faults and helped complete sagely governance. I have obtained Wei Mo, who in doubtful matters will surely remonstrate to the utmost. I dare not hope for the governance of the Zhenguan era, but perhaps I may yet stand without fault."

教坊副使雲朝霞善吹笛，新聲變律，深愜上旨。自左驍衛將軍宣授兼揚府司馬。宰臣奏曰：「揚府司馬品高，郎官刺史叠處，不可授伶官。」上意欲授之，因宰臣對，亟稱朝霞之善。謩聞之，累疏陳論，乃改授潤州司馬。荊南監軍使呂令琮從人，擅入江陵縣，毀罵縣令韓忠，觀察使韋長申狀與樞密使訴之。謩上疏曰：「伏以州縣侵屈，只合上聞。中外關連，須存舊制。韋長任膺廉使，體合精詳，公事都不奏聞，私情擅為逾越。況事無巨細，不可將迎。縣令官業有乖，便宜理罪；監軍職司侵越，即合聞天。或以慮煩聖聽，何不但申門下？今則首紊常典，理合糾繩。伏望聖慈，速加懲戒！」疏奏不出，時論惜之。

Yun Zhaoxia, deputy director of the Music Bureau, was skilled at the flute; his new tunes changed the modes and deeply pleased the emperor. From his post as Left Brave Guards General he was ordered appointed concurrently as Vice Military Administrator of Yang prefecture. The chief ministers submitted, "The Vice Military Administrator of Yang prefecture is a high post held in succession by palace officials and prefects. It must not be granted to a performer. The emperor still wished to grant the post, and when the chief ministers replied he repeatedly praised Zhaoxia's talent. When Mo heard of this, he submitted repeated memorials arguing against it, and the appointment was changed to Vice Military Administrator of Runzhou. The followers of Jingnan military commissioner Lü Lingcong entered Jiangling county without authorization and reviled County Magistrate Han Zhong. Observation Commissioner Wei Chang submitted a report and appealed to the Military Affairs Commissioner. Mo submitted a memorial saying, "When prefectures and counties suffer wrong, the matter should be reported only to the throne. Relations between the court and the provinces must follow the established system. Wei Chang held the post of integrity commissioner and should have been precise and thorough in duty, yet he reported none of the official business and on private impulse overstepped protocol on his own authority. Moreover, matters great and small must not be handled through personal favor. If the county magistrate's official conduct was at fault, he should be punished according to law; if the military commissioner's authority was overstepped, that should be reported to the throne. If one feared troubling the emperor's attention, why not simply report through the Secretariat? As it is, he has first violated regular precedent and should by rights be censured and punished. I humbly hope Your Majesty will swiftly impose punishment! When the memorial was submitted it was not acted upon, and contemporaries regretted it.

三年，轉起居舍人。紫宸中謝，帝謂之曰：「以卿論事忠切，有文貞之風，故不循月限，授卿此官。」又謂之曰：「卿家有何舊書詔？」對曰：「比多失墜，惟簪笏見存。」上令進來。鄭覃曰：「在人不在笏。」上曰：「鄭覃不會我意，此即《甘棠》之義，非在笏而已。」謩將退，又召誡之曰：「事有不當，即須奏論。」謩曰：「臣頃為諫官，合伸規諷。今居史職，職在記言，臣不敢輒逾職分。」帝曰：「凡兩省官並合論事，勿拘此言。」尋以本官直弘文館。

In the third year he was transferred to Diarist of Imperial Audience. At an audience of thanks in Zichen Hall, the emperor said to him, "Because you discuss affairs with loyal earnestness and have the spirit of Duke Wen Zhen, I do not wait for the usual term and grant you this office. He also asked him, "What old books and edicts does your family possess?" He replied, "Many have been lost in recent years; only the court cap and tablet remain." The emperor ordered them brought in. Zheng Tan said, "It lies in the person, not in the tablet. The emperor said, "Zheng Tan does not understand my meaning. This is the meaning of "Sweet Pear Tree"; it is not merely about the tablet." As Mo was about to withdraw, the emperor summoned him back and admonished him: "When something is not appropriate, you must immediately submit a memorial and discuss it." Mo said, "Your subject was recently a remonstrance official; it was fitting to offer remonstrance and indirect criticism. Now I hold a historiographer's post; my duty is to record words. Your subject dares not rashly exceed the bounds of my office." The emperor said, "All officials of the two departments should discuss affairs; do not be bound by these words." Shortly afterward, in his existing office he served at the Hongwen Institute.

四年，拜諫議大夫，仍兼起居舍人，判弘文館事。紫宸入閣，遣中使取謩起居註，欲視之。謩執奏曰：「自古置史官，書事以明鑒誡。陛下但為善事，勿畏臣不書。如陛下所行錯忤，臣縱不書，天下之人書之。臣以陛下為文皇帝，陛下比臣如褚遂良。」帝又曰：「我嘗取觀之。」謩曰：「由史官不守職分，臣豈敢陷陛下為非法？陛下一覽之後，自此書事須有回避。如此，善惡不直，非史也。遺後代，何以取信？」乃止。

In the fourth year, he was appointed Remonstrance Grand Master, still concurrently serving as Diarist of Attendance, and given charge of Hongwen Institute affairs. During an entrance into the Privy Hall at Zichen Hall, the emperor sent a palace messenger to fetch Mo's diary of imperial attendance, wishing to view it. Mo firmly submitted, saying, "Since antiquity historiographers have been established to record events so as to provide clear mirrors and warnings. Your Majesty need only do good deeds; do not fear that your subject will fail to record them. If what Your Majesty does is wrong or contrary, even if your subject does not record it, the people of the realm will record it. Your subject takes Your Majesty to be Emperor Wen; Your Majesty compares your subject to Chu Suiliang. The emperor again said, "I once had it taken and viewed." Mo said, "Because the historiographer failed to keep to his office, how could your subject dare to entrap Your Majesty in illegality? After Your Majesty has once viewed it, from then on recording affairs will require evasion. In this way, good and evil will not be recorded directly; this is not historiography. Left to later generations, how will trust be gained?" The emperor thereupon desisted.

初立朝，為李固言、李玨、楊嗣復所引，數年之內，至諫議大夫。武宗即位，李德裕用事，謩坐楊、李之黨，出為汾州刺史。楊、李貶官，謩亦貶信州長史。宣宗即位，白敏中當國，量移郢州刺史，尋換商州。二年，內徵為給事中，遷御史中丞。謝日，面賜金紫之服。彈駙馬都尉杜中立贓罪，貴戚憚之。兼戶部侍郎，判本司事。謩奏曰：「御史臺紀綱之地，不宜與泉貨吏雜處，乞罷中司，專綜戶部公事。」從之。

When he first entered court, he was promoted by Li Guyan, Li Jue, and Yang Sifu; within several years he reached Remonstrance Grand Master. When Emperor Wuzong ascended the throne, Li Deyu held power; Mo was implicated as a member of the Yang and Li faction and was sent out as prefect of Fenzhou. When Yang and Li were demoted, Mo was also demoted to chief administrator of Xinzhou. When Emperor Xuanzong ascended the throne, Bai Minzhong directed the state; Mo was transferred to prefect of Yingzhou, and soon after exchanged to Shangzhou. In the second year, he was summoned internally to serve as Supervising Secretary and was promoted to Vice Censor-in-Chief. On the day of his thanksgiving audience, he was granted in person the gold and purple robes. He impeached the Commandant-in-Chief of Escort Cavalry Du Zhongli for corrupt offenses; the imperial relatives feared him. He concurrently served as Vice Minister of Revenue and presided over that ministry's affairs. Mo submitted, saying, "The Censorate is a place of discipline and order; it is not suitable to be mixed with currency officials. I request to be relieved of the censorate office and to devote myself exclusively to the public affairs of the Ministry of Revenue. His request was granted.

尋以本官同平章事，判使如故。謝日，奏曰：「臣無夔、契之才，驟叨夔、契之任，將何以仰報鴻私？今邊戍粗安，海內寧息，臣愚所切者，陛下未立東宮，俾正人傳導，以存副貳之重。」因泣下。上感而聽之。

Shortly afterward, with his existing office he became Co-director of the Secretariat-Chancellery; his commission as commissioner remained as before. On the day of his thanksgiving audience, he submitted, saying, "Your subject lacks the talents of Kui and Qi; yet I have suddenly received the duties of Kui and Qi. With what shall I repay Your Majesty's vast grace? At present the frontier garrisons are roughly secure and the realm within the seas is at peace. What your subject's foolish heart urgently cares about is that Your Majesty has not yet established the Eastern Palace; let upright men guide and instruct the heir, so as to preserve the weight of the office of deputy and successor. He wept as he spoke. The emperor was moved and heeded him.

先是，累朝人君不欲人言立儲貳，若非人主己欲，臣下不敢獻言。宣宗春秋高，嫡嗣未辨，謩作相之日，率先啟奏，人士重之。尋兼集賢大學士。詹毗國獻象，謩以其性不安中土，請還其使，從之。太原節度使李業殺降虜，北邊大擾。業有所恃，人不敢非。謩即奏其事，乃移業滑州。加中書侍郎。大理卿馬曙從人王慶告曙家藏兵甲。曙坐貶官，而慶無罪。謩引法律論之，竟杖殺慶。

Previously, across successive reigns sovereigns did not wish people to speak of establishing the heir apparent; unless the ruler himself wished it, subordinates did not dare to offer counsel. Emperor Xuanzong was advanced in years and the legitimate successor was not yet settled; on the day Mo became chancellor, he was the first to open memorial on the matter, and men of standing regarded him highly for it. Shortly afterward he concurrently served as Grand Academician of the Jixian Academy. Zhanbi presented an elephant; Mo, because elephants are by nature ill-suited to the Central Land, requested that the envoy be sent back, and his request was granted. The military governor of Taiyuan, Li Ye, killed surrendered captives, and the northern frontier was greatly disturbed. Li Ye had someone to rely on; people did not dare criticize him. Mo immediately memorialized on the matter, and Li Ye was transferred to Hua Prefecture. He was promoted to Vice President of the Secretariat. Wang Qing, a retainer of Minister of Justice Ma Shu, reported that Ma's household concealed weapons and armor. Ma Shu was demoted for it, yet Qing was found not guilty. Mo cited the law in argument and had Qing beaten to death in the end.

進階銀青光祿大夫，兼禮部尚書、監修國史。修成《文宗實錄》四十卷，上之。其修史官給事中盧耽、太常少卿蔣偕、司勛員外郎王諷、右補闕盧告、膳部員外郎牛叢，皆頒賜錦彩、銀器，序遷職秩。謩轉門下侍郎，兼戶部尚書。，以本官平章事、成都尹、劍南西川節度副大使知節度事。十一年，以疾求代，徵拜吏部尚書。以疾未痊，乞授散秩，改檢校右僕射，守太子少保。十二年十二月卒，時年六十六，贈司徒。

He was promoted in rank to Silver-Gleam Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, concurrently serving as Minister of Rites and Overseer of Compilation of the National History. He completed compilation of the Veritable Records of Emperor Wenzong in forty fascicles and presented them. The historiographers who compiled it—Supervising Secretary Lu Dan, Vice Minister of Rites Jiang Xie, Outer Assisting Director of Merit Wang Feng, Right Reminder Lu Gao, and Outer Assisting Director of Provisions Niu Cong—were all given gifts of brocade and silk and silver vessels, and were promoted in order of rank. Mo was transferred to Vice President of the Chancellery and concurrently served as Minister of Revenue. With his existing office as Co-director of the Secretariat-Chancellery, he was appointed Governor of Chengdu, Vice Commissioner of the Jiannan West Circuit military governorship with authority over military governorship affairs. In the eleventh year, on account of illness he requested replacement; he was summoned and appointed Minister of Civil Office. Because his illness had not yet healed, he requested a nominal rank; he was changed to Acting Right Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat and Acting Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent. In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, he died, aged sixty-six; he was posthumously granted the title Grand Preceptor.

謩儀容魁偉，言論切直，與同列上前言事，他宰相必委曲規諷，唯謩讜言無所畏避。宣宗每曰：「魏謩綽有祖風，名公子孫，我心重之。」然竟以語辭太剛，為令狐綯所忌，罷之。

Mo's bearing was imposing and grand, and his speech was blunt and direct. When he spoke on affairs before the throne together with his fellow chancellors, the other chancellors would invariably use roundabout indirect remonstrance, but Mo alone spoke forthright remonstrance without fear or evasion. Emperor Xuanzong often said, "Wei Mo abundantly possesses his ancestors' manner; he is the scion of a great noble house—my heart holds him in high regard. Yet in the end, because his language was too stern, he was resented by Linghu Tao and was dismissed.

謩嘗鈔撮子書要言，以類相從，二十卷，號曰《魏氏手略》。有文集十卷。

Mo once copied and selected essential passages from various books, arranging them by category into twenty fascicles, entitled Wei Family Hand Compendium. He had collected writings in ten fascicles.

子潛、滂。潛登進士第。潛子敖，韋琮甥。後琮為相，潛歷顯官。周墀周墀，字德升，汝南人。祖颋，父霈。墀，擢進士第，太和末，累遷至起居郎。墀能為古文，有史才。文宗重之，補集賢學士，轉考功員外郎，仍兼起居舍人事。冬，以本官知制誥，尋召充翰林學士。三年，遷職方郎中。四年十月，正拜中書舍人，內職如故。武宗即位，出為華州刺史、鎮國軍潼關防禦等使，改鄂州刺史、御史中丞、鄂嶽觀察使。十一月，遷洪州刺史、江南西道觀察使。大中初，檢校禮部尚書、滑州刺史、義成軍節度、鄭滑觀察等使、上柱國、汝南男，食邑三百戶。入朝為兵部侍郎、判度支。尋以本官同平章事，累遷銀青光祿大夫、中書侍郎、監修國史，兼刑部尚書。罷相，檢校刑部尚書、梓州刺史、御史大夫、劍南東川節度使。未行，追制改檢校右僕射，加食邑五百戶。歷方鎮卒。崔龜從崔龜從，字玄告，清河人。祖璜，父誠，官微。龜從，擢進士第，又登賢良方正制科，及書判拔萃二科，釋褐拜右拾遺。，改太常博士。

His sons were Qian and Pang. Qian passed the jinshi examination. Qian's son Ao was the nephew of Wei Cong on his mother's side. Later, when Cong became chancellor, Qian held successive prominent offices. Zhou Chi—Zhou Chi, courtesy name Desheng, was a native of Runan. His grandfather was Ting; his father was Pei. Chi passed the jinshi examination; at the end of the Taihe era he was promoted through successive posts to Diarist. Chi could write ancient-style prose and possessed talent for history. Emperor Wenzong valued him; he was appointed Academician of the Jixian Academy, transferred to Outer Assisting Director of Merit, and still concurrently held the post of Diarist of Attendance. In winter, with his existing office he was made Drafting Secretary; soon after he was summoned to serve as Hanlin Academician. In the third year, he was promoted to Director of the Bureau of Appointments. In the tenth month of the fourth year, he was formally appointed Secretary of the Secretariat; his inner-court duties remained as before. When Emperor Wuzong ascended the throne, he was sent out as prefect of Huazhou and Commissioner of Defense of Tong Pass for the Zhenguo Army; he was changed to prefect of Ezhou, Vice Censor-in-Chief, and Observation Commissioner of E and Yue. In the eleventh month, he was transferred to prefect of Hongzhou and Observation Commissioner of the Jiangnan West Circuit. At the beginning of the Dazhong era, he was Acting Minister of Rites, prefect of Hua Prefecture, military governor of the Yicheng Army, Commissioner of Observation for Zheng and Hua, Pillars of the State of the First Rank, Duke of Runan, with a fief of three hundred households. He entered court as Vice Minister of War and presided over the Department of Public Works and Revenue. Shortly afterward, with his existing office he became Co-director of the Secretariat-Chancellery; he was promoted in succession to Silver-Gleam Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, Vice President of the Secretariat, Overseer of Compilation of the National History, and concurrently Minister of Justice. Dismissed as chancellor, he was Acting Minister of Justice, prefect of Zizhou, Censor-in-Chief, and military governor of Jiannan East Circuit. Before he departed, a follow-up edict changed his appointment to Acting Right Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat and added five hundred households to his fief. He served in regional commands and died there. Cui Guicong—Cui Guicong, courtesy name Xuangao, was a native of Qinghe. His grandfather was Huang; his father was Cheng; both held minor offices. Guicong passed the jinshi examination, also passed the Decree Examination for Worthy and Upright Men, as well as the two examinations of Document Drafting and Outstanding Selection; upon first taking office he was appointed Right Reminder. He was changed to Erudite of the Grand Sacrifices Bureau.

龜從長於禮學，精歷代沿革，問無不通。時饗宗廟於敬宗室，祝板稱皇帝孝弟。龜從議曰：「臣審祥孝字，載考禮文，義本主於子孫，理難施於兄弟。按《禮記》卜虞之文，子孫曰哀，兄弟曰某。然則虞之稱哀，與祭之稱孝，其義一也。於祖禰則理宜稱孝，於伯仲則止可稱名。又東晉溫嶠議宗廟祝辭，於孝字非子者則不稱，傍親直言敢告。當時朝議，咸以為宜。今臣上考禮經，無兄弟稱孝之義；下徵晉史，有不稱傍親之文。臣謂饗敬宗廟，宜去孝弟兩字。」

Guicong excelled in the study of rites and was thoroughly versed in the changes through successive dynasties; on whatever was asked, nothing was beyond his knowledge. At that time, when offerings were made in the ancestral temple at the shrine of Emperor Jingzong, the prayer board addressed the emperor as filial and brotherly. Guicong submitted an opinion, saying, "Your subject has carefully examined the character xiao in detail and consulted the ritual texts: its meaning fundamentally belongs to descendants; it is logically difficult to apply to brothers. According to the passage on divination for the yu rite in the Record of Rites, descendants say "grieved"; brothers say "so-and-so." Thus the yu rite's use of "grieved" and the sacrificial rite's use of "filial" share the same meaning. Toward grandfathers and fathers it is proper to use "filial"; toward elder and younger brothers one may only use personal names. Furthermore, in the Eastern Jin, Wen Jiao debated ancestral temple prayer language: where the character xiao did not apply to a son, it was not used; for collateral relatives one spoke plainly with "I boldly announce." At that time the court discussion unanimously deemed it appropriate. Now your subject consults the ritual classics above and finds no rationale for brothers to be called "filial"; and below cites Jin history, which has passages not applying "filial" to collateral relatives. Your subject holds that for offerings at Emperor Jingzong's shrine, the two characters xiao and di should be removed."

又以祀九宮壇，舊是大祠。龜從議曰：「九宮貴神，經典不載。天寶中，術士奏請，遂立祠壇。事出一時，禮同郊祀。臣詳其圖法，皆主星名，縱司水旱兵荒，品秩不過列宿。今者，五星悉是從祀，日月猶在中祠，豈容九宮獨越常禮，備列王事，誡誓百官？尊卑乖儀，莫甚於此。若以嘗在祀典，不可廢除，臣請降為中祠。」制從之。

He also addressed the sacrifice at the Nine Palaces Altar, which had formerly been a major sacrifice. Guicong submitted an opinion, saying, "The noble spirits of the Nine Palaces are not recorded in the classics. In the Tianbao era, geomancers petitioned, and an altar was thereby established. It arose from a moment in time; its ritual was made equal to suburban sacrifice. Your subject has examined its diagrams and regulations in detail: all are named for chief stars; even if they oversee flood, drought, war, and famine, their ranks do not exceed those of the constellations. At present the Five Planets are all ancillary sacrifices; the sun and moon still rank among the middle sacrifices—how can the Nine Palaces alone exceed ordinary ritual, be fully arrayed with the king's affairs, and administer oaths and admonitions to the hundred officials? In the violation of proper order between superior and inferior, nothing goes further than this. If, because they were once included in the sacrificial canon, they cannot be abolished entirely, your subject requests that they be reduced to middle sacrifices." The emperor approved by edict.

龜從又以大臣薨謝，不於聞哀日輟朝，奏議曰：「伏以廢朝軫悼，義重君臣，所貴及哀，尤宜示信。自頃已來，輟朝非奏報之時，備禮於數日外。雖遵常制，似不本情。臣不敢遠徵古書，請引國朝故事：貞觀中任瑰卒，有司對仗奏闕聞，太宗責其乖禮；岑文本既歿，其夕為罷警嚴；張公謹之亡，哭之不避辰日。是知閔悼之意，不宜過時。臣謂大臣薨，禮合輟朝。縱有機務急速，便殿須召宰臣，不臨正朝，無爽事體。如此，則由衷之信，載感於幽明；稱情之文，無虧於典禮。」又奏：「文武三品官薨卒輟朝。有未經親重之官，今任又是散列者，為之變禮，誠恐非宜。自今後，文武三品以上官，非曾任將相，及曾在密近，宜加恩禮者，餘請不在輟朝之限。」從之。

Guicong also addressed the case of a great minister's death, when court was not suspended on the day the mourning was reported. He submitted a memorial: "Your subject considers that suspending court to express grief is a bond of profound weight between sovereign and minister. The essential point is to respond at the moment grief is felt, and above all to demonstrate sincerity. In recent times, court has been suspended not at the moment the death is reported, but only after full ceremonial preparations are completed days later. Though this follows established precedent, it seems not to reflect genuine feeling. Your subject dares not reach back to distant ancient texts and instead cites precedents from our own dynasty: in the Zhenguan era, when Ren Gui died, the relevant offices reported his death at imperial audience, and Emperor Taizong reproached them for violating ritual propriety; when Cen Wenben died, that very evening the strict palace guard was suspended; when Zhang Gongjin died, mourning for him was observed without avoiding the day's ritual taboos. From this it is clear that the sentiment of pity and mourning should not be delayed past its proper moment. Your subject holds that when a great minister dies, ritual propriety requires that court be suspended. Even if urgent state business demands attention, the sovereign can summon the chief ministers to the side hall; not holding the main court audience would not compromise the substance of government. In this way, sincere grief from the heart would move both the living and the dead; and expressions consonant with genuine feeling would not fall short of canonical ritual." He again memorialized: "When civil and military officials of the third rank or above die, court should be suspended. When the deceased has never held a position of personal trust, and his current post is merely one of ordinary rank, to alter ritual for him truly seems inappropriate. Henceforth, for civil and military officials of the third rank and above, unless they formerly served as general or chief minister, or were once in close attendance and deserving of added gracious ritual, the rest should not fall within the scope of court suspension." The proposal was approved.

累轉考功郎中、史館修撰。九年，轉司勛郎中、知制誥。十二月，正拜中書舍人。開成初，出為華州刺史。三年三月，人為戶部侍郎，判本司事。四年，權判吏部尚書銓事。，為中書侍郎、同平章事，兼吏部尚書。五年七月，撰成《續唐歷》三十卷，上之。六年，罷相，檢校吏部尚書，汴州刺史、宣武軍節度觀察等使，累歷方鎮卒。鄭肅鄭肅，滎陽人。祖烈，父閱，世儒家。肅苦心力學。，擢進士第，又以書判拔萃，歷佐使府。太和初，入朝為尚書郎。六年，轉太常少卿。肅能為古文，長於經學，左丘明、《三禮》、儀註疑議，博士以下必就肅決之。

He was promoted in succession to director of the Bureau of Merit Evaluation and compiler in the Historiography Institute. In the ninth year, he was transferred to director of the Bureau of Awards and Commendations and charged with drafting edicts. In the twelfth month, he was formally appointed secretary of the Secretariat. At the beginning of the Kaicheng era, he was sent out as prefect of Hua Prefecture. In the third month of the third year, he returned to court as vice minister of public works and revenue and presided over that department's affairs. In the fourth year, he acted as provisional judge of the Ministry of Personnel's selection affairs. He was appointed vice president of the Secretariat, co-director of the Secretariat-Chancellery, and concurrently minister of personnel. In the seventh month of the fifth year, he completed the 《Continuation of the Tang Annals》 in thirty volumes and presented them to the throne. In the sixth year, dismissed as chancellor, he served as acting minister of personnel, prefect of Bian Prefecture, and military governor and observation commissioner of the Xuanwu Army; he held successive regional commands and died in office. Zheng Su—Zheng Su was a native of Xingyang. His grandfather was Lie and his father Yue; the family had been Confucian scholars for generations. Su studied with exhausting diligence and wholehearted devotion. He passed the jinshi examination, also achieved outstanding selection in document drafting, and served in successive staff posts in prefectural offices. At the beginning of the Taihe era, he entered court as a director in one of the secretariat departments. In the sixth year, he was transferred to vice director of the Grand Sacrifices Bureau. Su could write classical prose and excelled in classical learning; on Zuò Qiūmíng, the 《Three Rites》, and doubtful points in ritual commentaries, scholars below the rank of erudite invariably went to Su for a final ruling.

時魯王永有寵，文宗擇名儒為其府屬，用戶部侍郎庾敬休兼王傅，戶部郎中李踐方兼司馬，以肅本官兼長史，由是知名。明年，魯王為太子，肅加給事中。九年，改刑部侍郎，尋改尚書右丞，權判吏部西銓事。開成初，出為陜虢都防禦觀察使、兼御史大夫。二年九月，召拜吏部侍郎。帝以肅嘗侍太子，言論典正，復令兼太子賓客，為東宮授經。既而太子失寵，上不悅，有廢斥意。肅因召見，深陳邦國大本、君臣父子之義。上改容嘉之。而太子竟以楊妃故得罪。乃以肅檢校禮部尚書，兼河中尹、河中節度、晉絳觀察等使。會昌初，武宗思太子永之無罪，盡誅陷永之黨。朝議稱肅忠正，有大臣之節。召拜太常卿，累遷戶部、兵部尚書。

At that time Prince Yong of Lu enjoyed the emperor's favor; Emperor Wenzong selected renowned Confucians as staff for his princely establishment, appointing Vice Minister Yu Jingxiu concurrently as the prince's mentor, Director Li Jianfang of the same ministry concurrently as chief administrator, and Su with his existing office concurrently as chief secretary—through which Su became widely known. The next year, when the Prince of Lu was made crown prince, Su was additionally appointed supervising censor. In the ninth year, he was transferred to vice minister of justice; shortly thereafter he became right vice director of the Imperial Secretariat and acted as judge of the western board of the Ministry of Personnel's selection. At the beginning of the Kaicheng era, he was sent out as commissioner of defense and observation for Shan and Guo, concurrently serving as censor-in-chief. In the ninth month of the second year, he was summoned and appointed vice minister of personnel. Because Su had once attended the crown prince and his discourse was canonical and upright, the emperor again ordered him to serve concurrently as mentor to the crown prince, teaching the classics in the Eastern Palace. Before long the crown prince lost favor; the emperor was displeased and contemplated deposing him. When Su was summoned for an audience, he spoke at length on the fundamental principles of the state and the duties binding sovereign and minister, father and son. The emperor's expression softened and he praised Su. Yet in the end the crown prince was punished on account of Consort Yang. Su was then appointed acting minister of rites, concurrently governor of Hezhong, military governor of Hezhong, and observation commissioner for Jin and Jiang. At the beginning of the Huichang era, Emperor Wuzong reflected that Crown Prince Yong had been innocent and executed all those who had framed him and his faction. Court opinion praised Su as loyal and upright, a man of great ministerial integrity. He was summoned and appointed director of the Grand Sacrifices Bureau and was promoted in succession to minister of public works and revenue and minister of war.

五年，以本官同平章事，加中書、門下二侍郎，監修國史，兼尚書右僕射。素與李德裕親厚。宣宗即位，德裕罷知政事，肅亦罷相，復為河中節度使。以疾辭，拜太子太保，卒。子洎子洎，咸通中累官尚書郎，出為刺史。洎子仁規、仁表，俱有俊才，文翰高逸。孫仁規仁規累遷拾遣、補闕、尚書郎、湖州刺史、尚書郎知制誥，正拜中書舍人，卒。孫仁表仁表擢第後，從杜審權、趙騭為華州、河中掌書記，入為起居郎。仁表文章尤稱俊拔，然恃才傲物，人士薄之。自謂門地、人物、文章具美，嘗曰：「天瑞有五色雲，人瑞有鄭仁表。」劉鄴少時，投文於洎，仁表兄弟嗤鄙之。咸通末，鄴為宰相，仁表竟貶死南荒。盧商盧商，字為臣，范陽人。祖昂，灃州刺史。父廣，河南縣尉。商，擢進士第，又書判拔萃登科。少孤貧力學，釋褐秘書省校書郎。範傅式廉察宣歙，辟為從事。王播、段文昌相繼鎮西蜀，商皆佐職為記室，累改禮部員外郎。入朝為工部員外郎、河南縣令，歷工部、度支、司封三郎中。，改京兆少尹，權大理卿事。

In the fifth year, with his existing office he became co-director of the Secretariat-Chancellery, was additionally appointed vice president of both the Secretariat and the Chancellery, overseer of compilation of the national history, and concurrently right vice director of the Imperial Secretariat. He had long been on close and friendly terms with Li Deyu. When Emperor Xuanzong ascended the throne, Deyu was removed from government; Su was also dismissed as chancellor and again became military governor of Hezhong. He resigned on account of illness, was appointed grand mentor to the crown prince, and died. His son Ji—in the Xiantong era he rose through successive posts as a director in the secretariat and was sent out as prefect. Ji's sons Rengui and Renbiao both possessed outstanding talent, and their literary writing was lofty and refined. His grandson Rengui rose in succession through the posts of reminder, reviser, and director in the secretariat, served as prefect of Huzhou, then as a director charged with drafting edicts, was formally appointed secretary of the Secretariat, and died. His grandson Renbiao, after passing the examination, served as chief secretary under Du Shenquan and Zhao Yi at Hua Prefecture and Hezhong, then entered court as attendant of imperial audience. Renbiao's writing was especially praised as brilliant and forceful, yet he relied on his talent and looked down on others, and men of standing held him in contempt. He considered his family standing, personal character, and literary talent all without peer, and once said, "Heaven's auspicious sign is the five-colored cloud; mankind's auspicious sign is Zheng Renbiao." When Liu Ye was young, he submitted writings to Ji; Renbiao and his brothers scorned and despised him. Near the end of the Xiantong era, Ye became chancellor, and Renbiao was ultimately banished and died in the southern wilds. Lu Shang—Lu Shang, whose courtesy name was Weichen, was a native of Fanyang. His grandfather Ang served as prefect of Feng Prefecture. His father Guang served as magistrate of Henan County. Shang passed the jinshi examination and also passed the outstanding selection in document drafting. Orphaned in youth and poor, he studied diligently; upon first taking office he was appointed proofreader in the Secretariat. When Fan Fushi served as inspector of Xuancheng and She prefectures, he recruited Shang as an aide. When Wang Bo and Duan Wenchang successively governed western Shu, Shang served on each of their staffs as secretary; he was promoted in succession to vice director of the Ministry of Rites. He entered court as vice director of the Ministry of Public Works and magistrate of Henan County, and served in succession as director of the departments of public works, revenue, and enfeoffment. He was transferred to vice mayor of Jingzhao and acted as chief judge of the Court of Judicial Review.

開成初，出為蘇州刺史。中謝日，賜金紫之服。

At the beginning of the Kaicheng era, he was sent out as prefect of Su Prefecture. On the day of his audience of thanksgiving, he was granted the gold-and-purple ceremonial robe.

初，郡人苦鹽法太煩，奸吏侵漁。商至，籍見戶，量所要自售，無定額。蘇人便之，歲課增倍。宰相領鹽鐵，以其績上，遷潤州刺史、浙西團練觀察使。入為刑部侍郎，轉京兆尹。三年，朝廷用兵上黨，飛挽越太行者，環地六七鎮，以商為戶部侍郎，判度支，兼供軍使，軍用無闕。逆稹蕩平，加檢校禮部尚書、梓州刺史、劍南東川節度使。

Initially the people of the prefecture suffered under an overly burdensome salt law, while corrupt officials exploited them. When Shang arrived, he registered households, assessed each family's needs, and allowed them to purchase salt as required, with no fixed quota. The people of Su found this convenient, and annual revenue doubled. The chief minister who oversaw salt and iron submitted report of his achievements, and Shang was transferred to prefect of Run Prefecture and commissioner of training and observation for Zhexi. He returned to court as vice minister of justice and was transferred to mayor of Jingzhao. In the third year, when the court waged war at Shangdang, rapid transport routes crossed the Taihang Mountains through six or seven surrounding garrison commands; Shang was appointed vice minister of public works and revenue, presided over the Department of Public Works and Revenue, and concurrently served as army supply commissioner, and military provisions were never wanting. When the rebel Liu Zhen was suppressed, Shang was additionally appointed acting minister of rites, prefect of Zizhou, and military governor of Jiannan East Circuit.

宣宗即位，入為兵部侍郎。尋以本官同平章事、范陽郡開國公，食邑二千戶，加兼工部尚書。數年，檢校工部尚書，出為鄂嶽觀察使，就加檢校兵部尚書。，以疾求代，徵拜戶部尚書。其年八月，卒於漢陰驛，時年七十一。

When Emperor Xuanzong ascended the throne, he returned to court as vice minister of war. Shortly afterward, with his existing office he became co-director of the Secretariat-Chancellery, was enfeoffed as Duke of Fanyang Commandery with a fief of two thousand households, and was additionally appointed minister of public works. After several years, he served as acting minister of public works, was sent out as observation commissioner of E and Yue, and was thereupon additionally appointed acting minister of war. Due to illness he requested a replacement in his post; he was summoned and appointed minister of public works and revenue. In the eighth month of that year, he died at Hanyin Post at the age of seventy-one.

子知遠、知微、知宗、僧朗、蕘。

His sons were Zhiyuan, Zhiwei, Zhizong, Senglang, and Rao.

史臣曰：宗閔、嗣復，承宗室世家之地胄，有文學政事之美名，徊翔清華，出入隆顯。茍能義以為上，群而不黨，議太平於稷、契之列，致人主於勛、華之盛，遭時得位，誰曰不然？而舍披鴻猷，狎茲鼠輩，養虞卿而射利，抗德裕以報仇。矛盾相攻，幾傾王室，沒身蠻瘴，其利伊何？古者，廉、藺解仇，冀全國體，而邀歡釋憾，實亂大倫。世道銷刓，一至於此！崔、魏二丞相，嘉言啟奏，無忝正人。墀、讓史才，肅之禮學，商之長者，或登三事，或踐六卿，以道始終，夫何不韙。

The historiographer writes: Zongmin and Sifu were heirs to an imperial-clan noble house renowned for literary and administrative excellence; they moved through the highest offices and rose to eminent prominence. Had they placed righteousness above all, joined with others without forming factions, deliberated on great peace in the company of Ji and Qi, and guided the sovereign to the glory of Yao and Shun, who encountering fortune and gaining office could say otherwise? Yet they abandoned the great design of state, consorted with contemptible men, cultivated Yu Qing for personal gain, and opposed Deyu to settle an old grudge. They attacked each other relentlessly, nearly bringing down the throne; they ended their lives in the malarial south—what profit did they gain? In antiquity Lian Po and Lin Xiangru set aside their enmity in hope of preserving the integrity of the state; yet to seek mutual favor and release old resentments in fact disrupts the fundamental order of human relations. The moral order of the age had decayed to this point! The two chief ministers Cui and Wei offered excellent counsel to the throne, in keeping with the conduct of upright men. Chi and Rang possessed historiographical talent, Su mastered ritual learning, and Shang was a man of elder virtue; some rose to the highest offices, some served among the six ministers, and all maintained the Way from beginning to end—what could be more fitting.

贊曰：漢誅鉤黨，魏破疽囊。何鄧之後，二李三楊。偷權報怨，任國存亡。書茲覆轍，敢告巖廊！

In praise: Han executed the Partisan Proscription; Wei lanced the abscess. After He and Deng came the two Lis and three Yangs. They stole power to settle grudges and held the survival of the state in their hands. We inscribe this overturned chariot track as a warning to those in the halls of power!

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