1
蕭遘，蘭陵人。 開元朝宰相太師徐國公嵩之四代孫。 嵩生衡。 衡生復，德宗朝宰相。 復生湛。 湛生寘，咸通中宰相。 寘生遘，以登進士第，釋褐秘書省校書郎、太原從事。 入朝爲右拾遺，再遷起居舍人。 與韋保衡同年登進士第，保衡以幸進無藝，同年門生皆薄之。
Xiao Gou came from Lanling. He was a fourth-generation descendant of Xiao Song, Grand Tutor and Duke of Xu, who had served as chancellor during the Kaiyuan era. Song's son was Heng. Heng's son Fu served as chancellor under Emperor Dezong. Fu's son was Zhan. Zhan's son Zhi served as chancellor during the Xiantong period. Zhi's son Gou passed the jinshi examination, entered service as a proofreader in the Secretariat, and later served as an aide in Taiyuan. He entered the capital as Right Reminder and was promoted twice to become Recorder of the Emperor's Actions. He and Wei Baoheng had passed the jinshi examination in the same year. Baoheng had risen through imperial favor without real ability, and their fellow graduates all held him in contempt.
2
遘形神秀偉，志操不群。 自比李德裕，同年皆戲呼「太尉」，保衡心銜之。 及保衡作相，掎遘之失，貶爲播州司馬。 途經三峽，維舟月夜賦詩自悼。 慮保衡見害，遽有神人謂之曰：「相公勿憂，予當禦侮奉衛。」 遘心異之。 過峽州，經白帝祠，即所睹之神人也。
Gou was handsome and imposing in appearance, with a will and character that set him apart. He likened himself to Li Deyu, and his classmates jokingly called him 'Grand Marshal.' Baoheng nursed a grudge against him. When Baoheng became chancellor, he seized on Gou's faults and had him demoted to assistant prefect of Bozhou. While passing through the Three Gorges, he moored his boat on a moonlit night and composed a poem lamenting his fate. Fearing that Baoheng would harm him, he suddenly heard a divine being say, "Sir, do not worry. I shall ward off insult and guard you." Gou was deeply struck by the strangeness of the encounter. When he passed through Xia Prefecture and visited the Temple of the White Emperor, he found it was the same divine being he had seen before.
3
保衡誅，以禮部員外郎征還，轉考功員外郎、知制誥。 乾符初，召充翰林學士，正拜中書舍人，累遷戸部侍郎、翰林承旨。
After Baoheng was executed, Gou was recalled as vice minister of rites, then transferred to vice director of the Bureau of Evaluations and appointed drafter of edicts. At the beginning of the Qianfu era he was summoned to serve as a Hanlin academician, formally appointed Vice Director of the Secretariat, and repeatedly promoted to vice minister of revenue and chief Hanlin academician.
4
黃巢犯闕，僖宗出幸，以供饋不給，須近臣掌計，改兵部侍郎、判度支。 三月，自褒中幸成都，次綿州。 以本官同平章事，加中書侍郎，累兼吏部尚書、監修國史。
When Huang Chao attacked the capital and Emperor Xizong fled, provisions ran short and a senior minister was needed to manage accounts. Gou was reassigned as vice minister of war and put in charge of the treasury. In the third month the emperor traveled from Baozhong to Chengdu, stopping at Mian Prefecture. With his existing office he became co-chancellor, was promoted to vice director of the Secretariat, and cumulatively held the posts of minister of civil affairs and supervisor of the national history.
5
遘少負大節，以經濟爲己任。 洎處臺司，風望尤峻，奏對朗拔，天子器之。 光啟初，王綱不振。 是時天下諸侯，半出群盜； 強弱相噬，怙眾邀寵，國法莫能制。
From youth Gou bore great integrity and took statecraft as his personal responsibility. Once he held office in the censorate, his reputation was especially stern. In memorials and responses he was clear and forceful, and the emperor valued him. At the beginning of the Guangqi era, the imperial order was no longer upheld. At that time half the feudal lords of the realm had risen from bandit ranks. The strong devoured the weak, relied on their numbers to demand favor, and national law could not restrain them.
6
有李凝古者，從支詳爲徐州從事。 詳爲衙將時溥所逐，而賓佐陷於徐。 及溥爲節度使，因食中毒。 而惡凝古者譖之，云爲支詳報讎行鴆。 溥收凝古殺之。 凝古父損，時爲右常侍，溥上章披訴，言損與凝古同謀。 內官田令孜受溥厚賂，曲奏請收損下獄。 中丞盧渥附令孜，鍛煉其獄。 侍御史王華嫉惡，堅執奏證損無罪。 令孜怒，奏移損付神策獄按問，王華拒不奉詔，奏曰：「李損位居近侍，當死即死，安可取辱於黃門之手？」 遘非時進狀，請開延英，奏曰：「李凝古行鴆之謀，其事暖昧，已遭屠害，今不復論。 李損父子相別三四年，音問斷絕，安得誣罔同謀？ 時溥恃勛壞法，淩蔑朝廷，而抗表請按侍臣，悖戾何甚？ 厚誣良善，人皆痛心。 若李損羅織而誅，行當便及臣等。」 帝爲之改容，損得免，止於停任。
There was a man named Li Ninggu who had served as an aide to Zhi Xiang in Xuzhou. When Xiang was driven out by guard officer Shi Pu, his staff were trapped in Xu. After Pu became military governor, he was poisoned while eating. Those who hated Ninggu slandered him, claiming he had poisoned Pu to avenge Zhi Xiang. Pu arrested Ninggu and killed him. Ninggu's father Sun was then Right Regular Attendant. Pu submitted a memorial accusing Sun and Ninggu of plotting together. The eunuch Tian Lingzi accepted a heavy bribe from Pu and bent the memorial, asking that Sun be arrested and imprisoned. Vice censor Lu Wo sided with Lingzi and forged the case. Investigating censor Wang Hua, who detested wrongdoing, firmly memorialized that Sun was innocent. Lingzi was angry and memorialized to transfer Sun to the Shence Army prison for interrogation. Wang Hua refused the edict and memorialized, "Li Sun holds a post near the throne. If he must die, let him die—how can he be subjected to insult at the hands of eunuchs?" Gou submitted an untimely memorial asking to open the Yanying Hall and said, "Li Ninggu's alleged plot to poison is ambiguous in the facts, and he has already been slaughtered—let that not be discussed again. Li Sun and his son had been apart three or four years with no word between them—how could they be falsely accused of plotting together? Shi Pu relies on his merit to break the law and tramples the court—yet he submits a memorial demanding investigation of a serving minister. How perverse is this? He has deeply wronged the good and honest, and all hearts are pained. If Li Sun is framed and executed, the blow will soon reach us as well." The emperor's expression changed. Sun was spared and only suspended from office.
7
時田令孜專總禁軍，公卿僚庶，無不候其顏色，唯遘以道自處，未嘗屈降。 是年冬，令孜奏安邑兩池鹽利，請直屬禁軍。 王重榮上章論列。 乃奏移重榮別鎮。 重榮不受，令孜請率禁軍討之。 重榮求援於太原，李克用引軍赴之，拒戰沙苑，禁軍大敗，逼京城。 僖宗懼，出幸鳳翔。 諸籓上章抗論令孜生事，離間方面。 遘素惡令孜，乃與裴澈致書召朱玫。 玫以邠州之軍五千迎駕，仍與河中、太原修睦，請同匡王室。 由是，諸鎮繼上章，請駕還京。 令孜聞玫軍至，迫脅天子幸陳倉。 時僖宗倉卒出城，夜中百官不及扈從。 玫怒令孜弄權，又以天子不諒其忠，語辭怨望，乃訴於遘曰：「主上六年奔播，百端艱險。 中原士庶，與賊血戰，肝腦塗地，十室九空。 比至收復京都，十亡七八。 殘民遺老，方喜車駕歸宮。 主上不念生靈轉輸之勞，甲士血戰之效，將勤王之功業，爲敕使之寵榮； 而更志在亂邦，與國生事，召戎結怨，不自他人。 昨奉指蹤，徑來奔問，不蒙見信，翻類脅君。 古者忠而獲罪，正如此也！ 吾等報國之心極矣！ 戰賊之力殫矣！ 安能垂頭疊翼，喘喘於閽寺之手哉！ 《春秋》之義，喪君有君。 相國徐思其宜，改圖可也。」 遘曰：「主上臨御十餘年，未聞過行。 比來喪亂播越，失於授任非才。 近年令孜掣肘，動不如意，上每言之，流涕不已。 昨去陳倉，上無行意，令孜陳兵帳下，列卒階前，造次迫行，不容俟旦。 靜言此賊，罪不容誅。 至尊之心，孰不深鑒？ 足下乃心王室，止有歸兵還鎮，拜表迎鑾，德業功名，益光圖史。 舍此已往； 理或未安。 改圖之言，未敢聞命。」 玫曰：「李家王子極多，有天下者，豈一王哉？」 遘曰：「廢立危事，雖有伊尹、霍光之賢，尚貽後悔。 古人云：『勿爲福始，勿爲禍先。』 如公矢謀，未見其利。」 玫退而宣言曰：「我冊個王子爲主，不從者斬。」 及立襄王，請遘爲冊文。 遘曰：「少嬰衰疾，文思減落。 比來禁署，未免倩人，請命能者。」 竟不措筆。 乃命鄭昌圖爲之，玫滋不悅。 及還長安，以昌圖代遘爲相，署遘太子太保。 乃移疾，滿百日，退居河中之永樂縣。
At that time Tian Lingzi monopolized command of the imperial armies. Nobles and officials all watched his mood—only Gou conducted himself by principle and never bowed. That winter Lingzi memorialized that the salt profits of the Anyi pools should be placed directly under the imperial armies. Wang Chongrong submitted a memorial arguing the point. Lingzi then memorialized to transfer Chongrong to another command. Chongrong refused. Lingzi asked to lead the imperial armies to attack him. Chongrong sought aid from Taiyuan. Li Keyong led troops to meet him. They fought at Shayuan; the imperial armies were greatly defeated and pressed the capital. Emperor Xizong was afraid and fled to Fengxiang. The feudal lords submitted memorials protesting that Lingzi was stirring trouble and driving the regions apart. Gou had long hated Lingzi and therefore joined Pei Che in writing to summon Zhu Mei. Mei came with five thousand troops from Bin Prefecture to welcome the imperial carriage, made peace with Hezhong and Taiyuan, and asked to restore the royal house together. Thereupon the commands in succession submitted memorials asking the imperial carriage to return to the capital. When Lingzi heard Mei's army had arrived, he forced the emperor to proceed to Chencang. The emperor had left the city in haste. In the night the officials could not accompany him. Mei was angry that Lingzi manipulated power and that the emperor did not trust his loyalty. His words were resentful, and he complained to Gou, "For six years the sovereign has wandered in exile amid every hardship. The gentry of the central plains fought the bandits to the death. Blood and brains smeared the ground, and nine of ten households were empty. By the time the capital was recovered, seven or eight in ten were gone. The surviving people and aged remnant were just rejoicing that the imperial carriage would return to the palace. The sovereign does not consider the toil of transporting the living, the blood shed by armored soldiers, or the merit of those who aided the throne—he turns the achievement of loyal service into favor for his commissioners. Rather he still aims to disorder the state, stir trouble for the realm, summon enemies and breed resentment—not from others, but from himself. Yesterday, obeying orders, I came directly to inquire after you, yet was not trusted and seemed instead to coerce the sovereign. In antiquity loyalty that earned punishment was just like this! Our hearts in serving the state are at their limit! Our strength in fighting the bandits is exhausted! How can we hang our heads and fold our wings, gasping in the hands of gatekeepers! The meaning of the Spring and Autumn Annals is: when the ruler is lost, there is still a ruler. Chancellor, consider what is fitting and change course." Gou said, "The sovereign has ruled more than ten years, and no misconduct has been heard. The recent scattering in chaos came from appointing the unfit. In recent years Lingzi has checked every move; nothing goes as wished. The sovereign speaks of it often, weeping without end. When he left Chencang the sovereign had no wish to go. Lingzi arrayed troops below his tent and lined soldiers before the steps, forcing him to depart at once without waiting for dawn. Reflect on this villain—his crimes admit no punishment. Who in the sovereign's heart does not see it clearly? You are loyal to the royal house. You need only return your troops to your command, submit a memorial welcoming the imperial carriage, and your merit and fame will shine brighter in history. Beyond that— the principle may not be secure. I dare not hear talk of changing course." Mei said, "The Li house has very many princes. Is there only one king who can hold the realm?" Gou said, "Deposing and enthroning is a perilous matter. Even with the worth of Yi Yin and Huo Guang, regret still follows. The ancients said, 'Do not be the first to seek fortune; do not be the first to invite disaster.' In the plan you propose, I see no benefit." Mei withdrew and proclaimed, "I will enthrone a prince as sovereign. Whoever does not obey will be beheaded." When the Xiang Prince was enthroned, Mei asked Gou to draft the enthronement text. Gou said, "From youth I have been weak and ill; my literary thought has declined. Lately in the forbidden secretariat I have had to borrow others' work. Please order someone capable." He never put brush to paper. Zheng Changtu was ordered to do it, and Mei grew more displeased. When they returned to Chang'an, Changtu replaced Gou as chancellor and Gou was appointed Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent. He then pleaded illness. After a hundred days he retired to Yongle County in Hezhong.
8
遘在相位五年，累兼尚書右僕射，進封楚國公。 僖宗再遷京，宰相孔緯與遘不協，以其受偽命，奏貶官。 尋賜死於永樂。 咸通中，王鐸掌貢籍，遘與韋保衡俱以進士中選，而保衡暴貴，與鐸同在中書。 及僖宗在蜀，遘又與鐸並居相位。 帝嘗召宰臣，鐸年高，升階足跌，踣勾陳中，遘旁掖起，帝目之，喜曰：「輔弼之臣和，予之幸也。」 謂遘曰：「適見卿扶王鐸，予喜卿善事長矣。」 遘對曰：「臣扶王鐸不獨司長。 臣應舉歲，鐸爲主司，以臣中選門生也。」 上笑曰：「王鐸選進士，朕選宰相，於卿無負矣。」 遘謝之而退。
Gou had been chancellor for five years, cumulatively held the post of Right Vice Director of the Department of State, and was advanced to Duke of Chu. When Emperor Xizong moved the capital again, Chancellor Kong Wei was at odds with Gou and memorialized to demote him for accepting a false appointment. Soon he was ordered to die at Yongle. In the Xiantong reign Wang Duo managed the examination rolls. Gou and Wei Baoheng both passed the jinshi, and Baoheng rose violently, serving with Duo in the Secretariat. When Emperor Xizong was in Shu, Gou again served as chancellor alongside Duo. The emperor once summoned the chief ministers. Duo was old; climbing the steps his foot slipped and he fell in the Gouchen hall. Gou helped him up from the side. The emperor looked and said with pleasure, "The assisting ministers are in harmony—this is my fortune." He said to Gou, "Just now I saw you support Wang Duo. I am pleased that you know how to honor elders." Gou replied, "In supporting Wang Duo I was not only honoring an elder. In the year I took the examination, Duo was chief examiner and I was his selected graduate." The emperor laughed and said, "Wang Duo selected a jinshi; I selected a chancellor. I have not failed you." Gou thanked him and withdrew.
9
遘爲大臣，士行無缺。 逢時不幸，爲偽襜所汙，不以令終，人士惜之。
As a great minister, Gou's conduct was without flaw. He met an unlucky time and was stained by a false appointment. He did not end well, and scholars regretted it.
10
弟蘧，時爲永樂令。
His younger brother Su was then magistrate of Yongle.
11
孔緯，字化文，魯曲阜人，宣尼之裔。 曾祖岑父，位終秘書省著作佐郎，諫議大夫巢父兄也。 祖戣，位終禮部尚書，自有傳。 父遵孺，終華陰縣丞。
Kong Wei, whose courtesy name was Huawen, came from Qufu in Lu and was a descendant of Confucius. His great-grandfather Cenfu served as Proofreader of Writings in the Secretariat; he was the elder brother of Remonstrating Official Chaofu. His grandfather Kui rose to Minister of Rites and has his own biography. His father Zunru served as assistant magistrate of Huayin County.
12
緯少孤，依諸父溫裕、溫業，皆居方鎮，與名公交，故緯聲籍早達， 進士擢第，釋褐秘書省校書郎。 崔慎由鎮梓州，辟爲從事。 又從崔鉉爲揚州支使，得協律郎。 崔慎由鎮華州、河中，緯皆從之，歷觀察判官。 宰相楊收奏授長安尉，直弘文館。 御史中丞王鐸奏爲監察御史，轉禮部員外郎。 宰相徐商奏兼集賢直學士，改考功員外郎。 丁內憂免。 服闋，以右司員外郎入朝。 宰臣趙隱嘉其能文，薦爲翰林學士，轉考功郎中、知制誥，賜緋。 正拜中書舍人，累遷戸部侍郎。 謝日，面賜金紫之服。 乾符中，罷學士，出爲御史中丞。
Wei was orphaned young and relied on his uncles Wenyu and Wenye, who both held regional commands and associated with famous men. Thus Wei's reputation spread early. He passed the jinshi examination and took his first office as proofreader in the Secretariat. When Cui Shenyou governed Zizhou, Wei was recruited as an aide. He again followed Cui Xuan as branch secretary in Yangzhou and received the post of Coordinator of Music. When Cui Shenyou governed Hua and Hezhong, Wei followed him and served as investigating adjutant. Chancellor Yang Shou memorialized him as magistrate of Chang'an and direct scholar of the Hongwen Hall. Vice censor Wang Duo memorialized him as investigating censor, then transferred him to vice minister of rites. Chancellor Xu Shang memorialized him as concurrent direct scholar of the Jixian Institute and changed him to vice director of the Bureau of Evaluations. He was dismissed on mourning for his mother. When mourning ended he entered court as vice director of the Bureau of the Right. Chief minister Zhao Yin admired his literary ability and recommended him as Hanlin academician. He was transferred to director of the Bureau of Evaluations and drafter of edicts, and given crimson robes. He was formally appointed Vice Director of the Secretariat and repeatedly promoted to vice minister of revenue. On the day of thanksgiving he was personally given gold and purple robes. In the Qianfu era he was removed from the academy and sent out as vice censor.
13
緯器志方雅，嫉惡如仇。 既總憲綱，中外不繩而自肅。 歷戸部、兵部、吏部三侍郎。 居選曹，動循格令。 權要有所托，私書盈幾，不之省。 執政怒之，改太常卿。
Wei's capacity and will were upright and elegant. He hated evil as if it were a personal enemy. Once he held the censorial reins, inside and outside the court were disciplined without needing the lash. He successively held the three vice ministries of revenue, war, and civil affairs. In the Bureau of Appointments he always followed the regulations. When powerful men had requests, private letters filled his desk and he did not read them. The chief ministers were angry and changed him to Minister of Ceremonies.
14
黃巢之亂，從僖宗幸蜀，改刑部尚書，判戸部事。 宰臣蕭遘在翰林時，與緯情旨不協。 至是，因戸部取給不充，移之散秩，改太子少保， 從駕還京。
In Huang Chao's rebellion he followed Emperor Xizong to Shu, was changed to Minister of Punishments, and put in charge of revenue affairs. When Chancellor Xiao Gou was in the Hanlin, he and Wei were not in accord in purpose. At this time, because revenue supplies were insufficient, Wei was moved to a nominal post as Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent, and followed the carriage back to the capital.
15
是時，田令孜軍敗，沙陁逼京師，帝移幸鳳翔，邠帥朱玫引兵來迎駕。 令孜挾帝幸山南。 時中夜出幸，百官不及扈從，而隨駕者黃門衛士數百人而已。 帝駐寶雞，侯百官，詔授緯御史大夫，遣中使傳詔，令緯率百僚赴行在。 時京師急變，從駕官屬至盩厔，並爲亂兵所剽，資裝殆盡。 緯承命見宰相論事，蕭遘、裴澈以田令孜在帝左右，意不欲行，辭疾不見緯。 緯遣臺吏促百官上路，皆以袍笏不具爲詞。 緯無如之何，乃召三院御史謂之曰：「吾輩世荷國恩，身居憲秩。 雖六飛奔迫而咫尺天顏，累詔追征，皆無承稟，非臣子之義也。 凡布衣交舊，緩急猶相救恤，況在君親？ 策名委質，安可背也！」 言竟泣下。 三院曰：「夫豈不懷，但盩厔剽剝之餘，乞食不給。 今若首途，聊營一日之費，俟信宿紀行可也。」 緯拂衣起曰：「吾妻危疾，旦不保夕，丈夫豈以妻子之故，怠君父之急乎？ 公輩善自爲謀，吾行決矣。」
At that time Tian Lingzi's army was defeated, the Shatuo pressed the capital, and the emperor moved to Fengxiang. Bin commander Zhu Mei led troops to welcome the carriage. Lingzi forced the emperor to proceed to Shannan. In the middle of the night the emperor departed. Officials could not accompany him, and only a few hundred eunuch guards followed. The emperor halted at Baoji and waited for officials. He decreed Wei Censor-in-Chief and sent an inner envoy with the edict ordering Wei to lead the hundred officials to the temporary court. The capital was in sudden crisis. Officials following the carriage reached Zhouzhi and were all plundered by mutinous soldiers until their goods were nearly gone. Wei received the order and went to see the chancellors to discuss affairs. Xiao Gou and Pei Che, because Tian Lingzi was at the emperor's side, did not wish to go and excused themselves on grounds of illness. Wei sent censorial clerks to urge the hundred officials onto the road. All pleaded that robes and tablets were not complete. Wei could do nothing and therefore summoned the three bureaus of censors and said, "Our generations have received national grace, and we hold censorial rank. Though the six regalia flee in haste, the imperial countenance is within a foot. Repeated edicts summon us, yet none respond—this is not the duty of subjects. Even among common friends, in urgency they still aid one another—how much more under ruler and parent? Having pledged one's name and entrusted one's person, how can one turn away!" When he finished speaking he wept. The three bureaus said, "Who would not wish it? But after the plunder at Zhouzhi we cannot even beg food. If we set out now, we can barely gather one day's expenses. Wait a night or two and then travel." Wei brushed his robes and rose. "My wife is gravely ill and may not survive the day. Would a man, for wife and children, neglect the urgency of ruler and father? You gentlemen plan for yourselves—I am resolved to go."
16
即日見李昌符告曰：「主上再有詔命，令促百僚前進。 觀群公立意，未有發期。 僕忝憲闈，不宜居後。 道途多梗，明公幸假五十騎，送至陳倉。」 昌符嘉之，謂緯曰：「路無頓遞，裹糧辦耶？」 乃送錢五十緡，令騎士援緯達散關。 緯知朱玫必蓄異志，奏曰：「關城小邑，不足以駐六師，請速幸梁州。」 翌日，車駕離陳倉，才入關而邠、岐之兵圍寶雞，攻散關。 微緯之言幾危矣！
That day he saw Li Changfu and said, "The sovereign has again decreed, urging the hundred officials forward. Seeing the group's intent, none has a date of departure. I am shamed to hold the censorial gate and should not lag behind. The roads are blocked. May Your Excellency lend fifty riders to escort me to Chencang." Changfu admired this and said to Wei, "There are no relay stations on the road—have you packed provisions?" He then sent fifty strings of cash and ordered horsemen to escort Wei to San Pass. Wei knew Zhu Mei must harbor rebellious intent and memorialized, "This pass town is too small to station the six armies. Please proceed quickly to Liang Prefecture." The next day the imperial carriage left Chencang. It had just entered the pass when Bin and Qi troops surrounded Baoji and attacked San Pass. But for Wei's words, danger was nearly upon them!
17
至褒中，改兵部侍郎、同中書門下平章事，尋改中書侍郎、集賢殿大學士。 王行瑜斬朱玫，平定京城，遷門下侍郎、監修國史。 從駕還京，駐蹕岐陽，進階特進，兼吏部尚書，領諸道鹽鐵轉運使。 車駕還宮，進位左僕射，賜「持危啟運保乂功臣」，食邑四千戸，食實封二百戸，賜鐵券，恕十死罪，賜天興縣莊、善和里宅各一區，兼領京畿營田使。
At Baozhong he was changed to vice minister of war and co-chancellor. Soon he was changed to vice director of the Secretariat and Grand Academician of the Jixian Hall. Wang Xingyu beheaded Zhu Mei and pacified the capital. Wei was moved to vice director of the Secretariat and supervisor of the national history. Following the carriage back to the capital, the court halted at Qiyang. Wei was advanced to Special Advancement and concurrently Minister of Civil Affairs, and made commissioner of salt and iron transport for all circuits. When the carriage returned to the palace, he was promoted to Left Vice Director, given the title 'Meritorious Minister Who Sustained Peril, Opened Fortune, and Preserved Order,' a fief of four thousand households with two hundred actual, an iron tally forgiving ten capital crimes, estates in Tianxing County and a mansion in Shanhe Lane, and concurrently made commissioner of capital-region military farms.
18
僖宗晏駕，充山陵使。 僖宗祔廟，緯準故事，不入朝。 昭宗遣中使召赴延英，令緯依舊視事，進加司空。 以國學盜火所焚，令緯完葺，仍兼領國子祭酒。 蔡賊秦宗權伏誅，進階開府儀同三司，進位司徒，封魯國公。
When Emperor Xizong died, Wei served as commissioner of the imperial tomb. When Xizong was enshrined, Wei by precedent did not enter court. Emperor Zhaozong sent an inner envoy to summon him to Yanying and ordered him to resume duties as before. He was further promoted to Minister of Works. Because the imperial academy was burned by thieves, Zhaozong ordered Wei to repair it and also made him Chancellor of the Imperial University. When the Cai bandit Qin Zongquan was executed, Wei was advanced to Grand General of the Palace Guard and promoted to Minister of Education, enfeoffed as Duke of Lu.
19
十一月，昭宗謁郊廟，兩中尉、內樞密請朝服。 所司申前例，中貴人無朝服助祭之禮，少府監亦無素制冠服。 中尉怒，立令制造，下太常禮院。 禮官舉故事，亦稱無中尉朝服助祭之文，諫官亦論之。 緯奏曰：「中貴不衣朝服助祭，國典也。 陛下欲以權道寵內臣，則請依所兼之官而爲之服。」 天子召諫官謂之曰：「大禮日近，無宜立異，爲朕容之。」 於是內官以朝服助祭。 郊禮畢，進位兼太保。
In the eleventh month Zhaozong visited the suburban altars. The two commanders of the palace armies and the Bureau of Inner Affairs requested court robes. The office cited precedent: inner favorites had no ritual of assisting sacrifice in court robes, and the Directorate of Imperial Manufactories had no plain-made caps and robes. The commanders were angry and immediately ordered them made, sending the matter to the Ritual Court of the Ministry of Ceremonies. Ritual officials cited precedent and also said there was no text on commanders in court robes assisting sacrifice. Remonstrating officials argued as well. Wei memorialized, "For inner favorites not to wear court robes in assisting sacrifice is national statute. If Your Majesty wishes by expedient to favor inner ministers, then please have them wear robes according to the offices they concurrently hold." The emperor summoned remonstrating officials and said, "The great rite is near. There should be no needless dispute. Indulge me." Thereupon the inner officials assisted sacrifice in court robes. When the suburban rite was complete, Wei was promoted to concurrent Grand Mentor.
20
延英中謝，奏曰：「臣前時待罪宰相，智術短淺，有負弼諧。 陛下特貸刑書，曲全腰領。 臣期於死報泉壤，不望生叩玉階。 復拜龍顏，實臣榮幸。 然臣比嬰衰疾，伏枕累年，形骸雖存，生意都盡。 平居勉強，禦事猶疏。 況比尪羸，寧勝重委？ 國祚方泰，英彥盈庭，豈以朽腐之人，再塵機務！ 臣力疾一拜殿庭，乞陛下許臣自便。」 因鳴咽流涕。 緯久疾，拜蹈艱難，上令中使止之，改容軫念。 令閣門使送緯中書視事。 不旬日，沙陁次河中，同州王行約入京師謀亂，天子出幸石門。 緯從駕至莎城，疾漸危篤，先還京城。 九月，卒於光德里第，贈太尉。
In Yanying he gave thanks and memorialized, "Before, when I served as chancellor at fault, my wisdom was short and shallow and I failed in harmonizing assistance. Your Majesty specially spared the penal code and wholly preserved my neck. I expected to repay in death beneath the springs and did not hope to live and kneel on the jade steps. To again behold the dragon countenance is truly my honor. Yet lately I have been weak and ill, lying on a pillow for years. Though the body remains, all vital intent is gone. In ordinary times I force myself, yet in handling affairs I am still remiss. How much less now, when I am frail and weak, can I bear heavy commission? The dynastic fortune is just flourishing and talented men fill the court—how can a rotting man again soil state affairs! Though ill I bow once in the hall court. I beg Your Majesty to allow me to retire." He sobbed and wept. Wei had long been ill; bowing and prostrating were difficult. The emperor ordered an inner envoy to stop him and changed his expression in pity. He ordered the Gate Commissioner to send Wei to the Secretariat to handle affairs. Within ten days the Shatuo halted at Hezhong. Wang Xingyue of Tong Prefecture entered the capital plotting rebellion, and the emperor fled to Shimen. Wei followed the carriage to Shacheng. His illness grew critical and he returned first to the capital. In the ninth month he died at his mansion in Guangde Lane and was posthumously made Grand Marshal.
21
緯家尚節義，挺然不屈。 雖權勢燻灼，未嘗假以恩禮。 大順初，天武都頭李順節恃恩頗橫，不期年領浙西節度使，俄加平章事。 謝日，臺吏申中書，稱天武相公衙謝，準例班見百僚。 緯判曰：「不用立班。」 順節麤暴小人，不閑朝法，盛飾趨中書，既見無班，心甚怏怏。 他日因會，順節微言之。 緯曰：「必知公慊也。 夫百辟卿士，天子庭臣也，比來班見宰相，以輔臣居班列之首，奉長之義也。 公握天武健兒，而於政事廳受百僚班見，意自安乎？ 必若須此儀，俟去『都頭』二字可也。」 順節不敢復言。 其秉禮不回，多此類也。
Wei's family valued integrity and stood upright without bending. Though power and influence blazed, they never sought favor through grace. At the beginning of the Datong era, Tianwu command head Li Shunjie relied on favor and was quite overbearing. Within a year he held the Zhexi command and soon was made co-chancellor. On the day of thanksgiving the censorial clerks reported to the Secretariat that the Tianwu chancellor's office gave thanks and, by precedent, would take rank before the hundred officials. Wei ruled, "No need to form ranks." Shunjie was a coarse and violent petty man ignorant of court law. He dressed splendidly and hurried to the Secretariat. Seeing no ranks, he was deeply displeased. Another day at a gathering Shunjie lightly mentioned it. Wei said, "You must know you are discontent. The hundred ministers and grandees are courtiers of the Son of Heaven. Lately in taking rank before the chancellor, the assisting minister stood first in the ranks—the meaning of honoring elders. You hold Tianwu stalwarts yet receive the hundred officials' ranks in the hall of government—are you at ease in your mind? If you truly need this ceremony, wait until the two characters 'command head' are removed." Shunjie dared speak no more. His holding to ritual without yielding was mostly of this kind.
22
孔氏自元和後，昆仲貴盛，至正卿、方鎮者六七人，未有爲宰輔者，至緯始在鼎司。
After the Yuanhe reign the Kong brothers were illustrious. Six or seven reached regular ministers and regional commands, but none had been chancellor until Wei stood in the tripod office.
23
子崇弼，亦登進士第，仕至散騎常侍。
His son Chongbi also passed the jinshi and served to Regular Attendant.
24
韋昭度，字正紀，京兆人。 祖縃，父逢。 昭度，咸通八年進士擢第。 乾符中，累遷尚書郎、知制誥，正拜中書舍人。 從僖宗幸蜀，拜戸部侍郎， 權知禮部貢舉。 明年，以本官同平章事，兼吏部尚書。
Wei Zhaodu, whose courtesy name was Zhengji, came from Jingzhao. His grandfather was Xu; his father Feng. Zhaodu passed the jinshi in the eighth year of Xiantong. In the Qianfu era he was repeatedly promoted to Director of a Bureau and drafter of edicts, and formally appointed Vice Director of the Secretariat. Following Emperor Xizong to Shu, he was made vice minister of revenue and acting director of the civil service examinations. The next year, with his existing office he became co-chancellor and concurrently Minister of Civil Affairs.
25
昭宗即位，閬州刺史王建攻陳敬瑄於成都，隔絕貢奉。 乃以昭度檢校司空、同平章事、成都尹、劍南西川節度招撫宣慰等使。 昭度赴鎮，敬瑄不受代。 詔東川顧彥朗與王建合勢討之。 昭度爲行營招討。 卒歲，止拔漢州。 王建謂昭度曰：「相公勞師弊眾，遠事蠻夷。 訪聞京洛以東，群侯相噬，禍難未已。 朝廷不治，腹心之疾也。 相公宜亟還京師，咨謀匡合，平定兩河，國家之利也。 敬瑄小醜，以日月制之，擒之必矣！ 此事責建可辦。」 昭度然之，奏請還都。 昭度未及京師，建以重兵守劍門，急攻成都下之。 殺敬瑄，自稱留後。 昭度還，以檢校司空充東都留守。 召還，爲右僕射。
When Emperor Zhaozong took the throne, Lang Prefecture's Wang Jian attacked Chen Jingxuan at Chengdu and cut off tribute. Zhaodu was made acting Minister of Works, co-chancellor, Governor of Chengdu, and military governor and pacification commissioner of Jiannan West Circuit. Zhaodu went to his command; Jingxuan would not yield. An edict ordered Dongchuan's Gu Yanlang to join forces with Wang Jian to attack him. Zhaodu served as campaign pacification commissioner. By year's end they had taken only Han Prefecture. Wang Jian said to Zhaodu, "Chancellor, you weary the army and exhaust the people in distant dealings with barbarians. I hear that east of the capital the feudal lords devour one another and calamity has not ended. The court does not govern—the disease is in the heart. Chancellor, you should hurry back to the capital, consult and unite, and pacify the two He regions—this is the state's gain. Jingxuan is a petty villain. Given time he can be taken and captured without fail! This matter can be entrusted to Jian." Zhaodu agreed and memorialized to return to the capital. Before Zhaodu reached the capital, Jian held Jianmen with a heavy army and urgently attacked and took Chengdu. He killed Jingxuan and styled himself acting governor. Zhaodu returned and was made acting Minister of Works and Defender of the Eastern Capital. He was recalled and made Right Vice Director.
26
先是，邠州王行瑜求爲尚書令，昭度奏議云：「國朝已來，功如郭子儀，未省曾兼此官。」 乃賜號「尚父」。 崔昭緯宗人鋌，曾爲行瑜從事，朝廷每降制敕，不便於昭緯者，即令鋌訴於行瑜，俾上章論列。 朝旨小有依違，即表章不遜。 至是李谿入拜。 昭緯謂鋌曰：「前時尚父之命已行，而昭度沮之，今又引谿同列。 此人姦纎，惑上視聽，宗社不寧。 恐復有杜太尉之事。」 行瑜與李茂貞上章言：「命相非其人，懼危宗社。」 天子優詔曉諭，言谿有才。 其年五月，行瑜、茂貞、華州韓建以兵入覲，面奏昭度、李谿之姦邪，請加譴逐。 制敕未行，三鎮兵害昭度於都亭驛。 及行瑜誅，降制復其官爵，令其家收葬。
Earlier, Bin Prefecture's Wang Xingyu had asked to be Director of the Department of State. Zhaodu memorialized, "Since our dynasty began, even one with merit like Guo Ziyi has never held this office." Thereupon he was given the title 'Sagely Father.' Cui Zhaowei's clansman Ting had once been Xingyu's aide. Whenever court edicts were inconvenient for Zhaowei, he had Ting complain to Xingyu and induce him to submit memorials. Whenever court intent wavered slightly, he submitted impertinent memorials. At this time Li Xi entered appointment. Zhaowei said to Ting, "Before, the Sagely Father's appointment had already been issued, yet Zhaodu obstructed it. Now he again brings Xi into the same rank. This man is treacherous and subtle, confusing what the sovereign sees and hears—the ancestral temple is not secure. I fear there will again be the affair of Grand Marshal Du." Xingyu and Li Maozhen submitted memorials saying, "The appointment of chancellors is not the right men—we fear danger to the ancestral temple." The emperor replied with a gracious edict explaining that Xi had talent. That year in the fifth month Xingyu, Maozhen, and Hua's Han Jian entered audience with troops and memorialized face to face that Zhaodu and Li Xi were wicked. They asked that punishment and exile be added. Before the edict was issued, the three commands' troops killed Zhaodu at Duting Station. When Xingyu was executed, an edict restored his offices and ordered his family to collect the body for burial.
27
崔昭緯，清河人也。 祖庇，滑州酸棗縣尉。 父巘，鄂州觀察使。 昭緯進士及第。 昭宗朝，歷中書舍人、翰林學士、戸部侍郎、同平章事。 性姦纎，忌前達。 內結中人，外連籓閫。 屬朝廷微弱，每托援以淩人主。 昭宗明察，心不能堪。 以誘召三鎮將兵詣闕，賊殺宰輔內臣，帝深切齒。 會太原之師誅行瑜，罷相，授右僕射。 後又以托附汴州，再貶梧州司馬。 尋降制曰：
Cui Zhaowei came from Qinghe. His grandfather Bi was magistrate of Suanzao County in Hua Prefecture. His father Yan was governor of E Prefecture. Zhaowei passed the jinshi examination. In Zhaozong's reign he successively served as Vice Director of the Secretariat, Hanlin academician, vice minister of revenue, and co-chancellor. By nature he was treacherous and subtle and jealous of his predecessors. Within he joined with inner officials; outside he connected with regional gates. As the court grew weak, he always relied on support to bully the sovereign. Zhaozong was perceptive and could not bear it in his heart. By inducing the three commands to bring troops to court, bandits killed chancellors and inner officials. The emperor deeply resented it. When Taiyuan's army executed Xingyu, Zhaowei was removed as chancellor and made Right Vice Director. Later, for relying on Bian Prefecture, he was again demoted to assistant prefect of Wuzhou. Soon an edict said:
28
又快其私忿，輒恣陰謀。 托崔鋌之險巇，連行瑜之計畫，遂致稱兵向闕，怙眾脅君。 故宰臣韋昭度、李谿並以無辜見害，幾危宗社，顯辱君親。 爾罪二也。
Again indulging private resentment, you freely plotted in secret. Relying on Cui Ting's treachery, you linked with Xingyu's plans, and thus troops were called to the capital, relying on numbers to coerce the sovereign. Former chancellors Wei Zhaodu and Li Xi were both killed without guilt, nearly endangering the ancestral temple and openly shaming ruler and parent. This is your second crime.
29
及行瑜敗滅，京國甫安，而乃自懼欺誣，別謀托附。 又於籓閫，潛請薦論，不唯茍免罪愆，兼亦再希任用。 貪榮冒寵，僭濫無厭，敗俗傷風，賢愚共鄙。 爾罪三也。
When Xingyu was defeated and destroyed and the capital was just pacified, you then feared exposure of your deceit and plotted other attachments. Again at regional gates you secretly asked for recommendation and discussion—not only to escape guilt, but also again to hope for appointment. Greedy for glory and courting favor, presumptuous and excessive without end—you corrupted custom and wounded integrity. Wise and foolish alike despised you. This is your third crime.
30
又將厚賂，欲結諸王，輕侮我憲章，玷瀆我骨肉。 貨財之數，文字具存。 賴諸王作朕腹心，嫉其蠹害，盡將昭緯情款，兼其親吏姓名，直具奏聞，拒其求托。 昭緯曾居宰輔，久歷清崇，但欲逞其回邪，都不顧其事體。 觀其識見，實駭聽聞。 爾罪四也。
Again with heavy bribes you wished to bind the princes, lightly insulting our statutes and defiling our flesh and blood. The amount of goods and the written records still exist. Fortunately the princes serve as our heart and belly, hating your corruption. They fully reported Zhaowei's circumstances and the names of his intimate clerks, submitted directly, and refused his requests. Zhaowei once stood as chancellor and long held lofty office, yet only wished to display his perversity and wholly disregarded what was fitting. Viewing his insight, it truly shocks the ear. This is your fourth crime.
31
自姦邪既露，情狀難容。 尚示寬刑，未行嚴憲，投於荒裔，冀其自新。 而不能退省過尤，恭承制命，速赴貶所，用守常規。 而猶自務宴安，尋聞所在留駐； 攪擾籓鎮，侮慢朝章。 曾無稟畏之心，可驗苞藏之計。 罔知愆咎，唯謗朝廷。 爾罪五也。
Since treachery was exposed and the facts could not be borne, lenient punishment was still shown and severe law was not applied. You were sent to the wild border in hope you would reform. Yet you could not withdraw and reflect on your faults, respectfully accept the edict, and hurry to the place of demotion to keep ordinary rules. Instead you still sought ease and pleasure, and soon were heard to linger where you were. disturbing regional commands and insulting court statutes. There was no heart of fear and respect—your hidden designs can be verified. You knew no guilt and only slandered the court. This is your fifth crime.
32
朕以恩澤者，帝王之雨露，弄法者，邦國之雷霆； 無雨露則庶物不榮，無雷霆則萬邦不肅。 朕體天道以化育，遵王度以澄清，罪既昭彰，理難含垢。 凡百多士，宜體予懷。 宜所在賜自盡。
We regard grace as the rain and dew of emperors. Those who toy with law are the thunder of the state. Without rain and dew the multitude does not flourish. Without thunder the myriad states are not awed. We embody Heaven's way in nurturing and follow royal measure in clarifying. Guilt is manifest and principle cannot harbor filth. All you many officers should embody our intent. Where you are, you should be ordered to take your own life.
33
時昭緯行次至荊南，中使至，斬之。
At that time Zhaowei was at Jingnan when the inner envoy arrived and beheaded him.
34
兄昭符，仕至禮部尚書。 昭願，太子少保。 昭矩，給事中。 昭遠，考功員外郎。
His elder brother Zhaofu served to Minister of Rites. Zhaoyuan was Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent. Zhaoju was Attendant. Zhaoyuan was vice director of the Bureau of Evaluations.
35
張濬，字禹川，河間人。 祖仲素，位至中書舍人。 父鐐，官卑，家寓州。 濬倜儻不羈，涉獵文史，好大言，爲士友之所擯棄。 初從鄉賦隨計，咸薄其爲人。 濬憤憤不得志，乃田衣野服，隱於金鳳山，學鬼谷縱橫之術，欲以捭闔取貴仕。 乾符中，樞密使楊復恭因使遇之，自處士薦爲太常博士，累轉度支員外郎。
Zhang Jun, whose courtesy name was Yuchuan, came from Hejian. His grandfather Zhongsu served to Vice Director of the Secretariat. His father Liao held a low office; the family dwelt in the prefecture. Jun was unconventional and unrestrained, widely read in literature and history, fond of grand talk, and was cast aside by scholar friends. At first when he followed the local examination to the capital, all in Xian looked down on his character. Jun, indignant and unfulfilled, then wore field clothes and rustic garb and hid on Golden Phoenix Mountain, studying Guiguzi's alliance-and-division arts, wishing to rise to high office through maneuver. In the Qianfu era Palace Commissioner Yang Fugong, meeting him on a mission, recommended the recluse as Doctor of the Grand Temple and repeatedly promoted him to vice director of the Bureau of Revenue.
36
黃巢將逼關輔，濬托疾請告，侍其母，挈族避亂商州。 賊犯京師，僖宗出幸，途無供頓，衛軍不得食。 漢陰令李康獻糗餌數百騾綱，軍士始得食。 僖宗召康問曰：「卿爲縣令，安操心及此？」 康對曰：「臣爲塵吏，敢有此進獻？ 張濬員外教臣也。」 帝異之，急召至行在，拜兵部郎中。 未幾，拜諫議大夫。
When Huang Chao was about to press the capital region, Jun pleaded illness and asked leave to attend his mother, taking his clan to flee the chaos in Shang Prefecture. When the bandits attacked the capital, Emperor Xizong fled. Along the road there were no supplies and the guard army had no food. Hanyin magistrate Li Kang presented several hundred strings of mules with grain cakes, and the soldiers finally had food. Emperor Xizong summoned Kang and asked, "As magistrate, how did you take this to heart?" Kang replied, "I am a lowly clerk—how dare I make such presentation? Vice Director Zhang Jun outside the regular ranks taught me." The emperor was struck and urgently summoned Jun to the temporary court, appointing him Director of the Bureau of War. Before long he was made Remonstrating Official.
37
其年冬，宰相王鐸至滑臺，兼充天下行營都統。 方征兵諸侯，奏用濬爲都統判官。 時王敬武初破弘霸郎，軍威大振，累詔征平盧兵，敬武獨不赴援。 鐸遣濬往說之，敬武已受偽命，復怙強不迎詔使。 濬至，謁見，責之曰：「公爲天子守籓，王臣賫詔宣諭，而侮慢詔使。 既未識君臣禮分，復何顏以御軍民哉？」 敬武愕然謝咎。 既宣詔，軍士按兵默然，濬並召將佐集於鞠場面諭之曰：「人生效忠仗義，所冀粗分順逆，懸知利害。 黃巢前日販鹽虜耳，公等舍累葉天子而臣販鹽白丁，何利害之可論耶？ 今諸侯勤王，天下響應，公等獨據一州，坐觀成敗。 賊平之後，去就何安？ 若能此際排難解紛，陳師鞠旅，共誅寇盜，迎奉鑾輿，則富貴功名，指掌可取。 吾惜公輩舍安而即危也！」 諸將改容引過，謂敬武曰：「諫議之言是也。」 即時出軍，從濬入援京師。 賊平，累遷戸部侍郎。 僖宗再幸山南，拜平章事、判度支。
That winter Chancellor Wang Duo reached Hua Terrace and concurrently served as overall commander of the campaign armies of the realm. As he was recruiting troops from the feudal lords, he memorialized Jun as adjutant to the overall commander. At that time Wang Jingwu had just defeated Hong Ba Lang. His army's prestige was greatly raised. Repeated edicts summoned Pinglu troops, but Jingwu alone did not come to aid. Duo sent Jun to persuade him. Jingwu had already accepted a false appointment and again relied on his strength and did not welcome the edict envoy. When Jun arrived and had audience, he reproached him, "You guard a circuit for the Son of Heaven. A royal minister bears the edict to proclaim—and you insult the edict envoy. Not knowing the ritual between ruler and subject, what face have you to command army and people?" Jingwu was startled and apologized. After proclaiming the edict, the soldiers held their arms in silence. Jun also summoned generals and staff to the drill ground and addressed them face to face, "In life one serves loyalty and righteousness, hoping only to distinguish obedience from rebellion and know gain from harm. Huang Chao was formerly a salt peddler—yet you abandon generations of the Son of Heaven to serve a salt-peddling commoner. What gain or harm can be discussed? Now the feudal lords aid the throne and the realm responds. You alone hold one prefecture and sit watching success or failure. After the bandits are pacified, where will you stand? If at this moment you resolve difficulty and untie strife, array troops and drill the army, together exterminate the robbers and welcome the imperial carriage, then wealth, glory, and merit are within your grasp. I pity you gentlemen for leaving safety and rushing into peril!" The generals changed expression and admitted fault, saying to Jingwu, "The Remonstrating Official's words are right." At once they marched out and followed Jun to aid the capital. When the bandits were pacified, Jun was repeatedly promoted to vice minister of revenue. When Emperor Xizong again proceeded to Shannan, Jun was made co-chancellor and put in charge of the treasury.
38
濬初發跡，依楊復恭。 及復恭失勢，乃依田令孜，以至重位，而反薄復恭。 及再幸山南，復恭代令孜爲中尉，罷濬知政事。 昭宗初在籓邸，深嫉宦官，復恭有援立大勛，恃恩任事，上心不平之。 當時趨向者，多言濬有方略，能畫大計，復用爲宰相、判度支。 上嘗問濬，致理何事最急？ 對曰：「莫若強兵。 兵強而天下服。」 上由是專務搜補兵甲，欲以武功勝天下。 後延英論前代爲治得失，濬曰：「不必遠征漢、晉之弊。 臣竊見陛下春秋鼎盛，英睿如此，內外逼於強臣。 臣每思之，實痛心而泣血也。」
When Jun first rose, he relied on Yang Fugong. When Fugong lost power he relied on Tian Lingzi, reaching the highest post, yet in turn looked down on Fugong. When the emperor again proceeded to Shannan, Fugong replaced Lingzi as commander and removed Jun from handling state affairs. When Zhaozong was first in the princely residence he deeply hated eunuchs. Fugong had great merit in supporting enthronement and relied on favor to handle affairs—the sovereign's heart was unequal. Those who sought favor then often said Jun had strategy and could plan great affairs. He was again used as chancellor and put in charge of the treasury. The emperor once asked Jun what matter in ordering the state was most urgent. He replied, "Nothing like strengthening the army. When the army is strong the realm submits." The emperor therefore devoted himself to gathering weapons and armor, wishing to overcome the realm by military achievement. Later in Yanying they discussed the gains and losses of rule in former ages. Jun said, "There is no need to go far and cite the flaws of Han and Jin. I privately see Your Majesty in the prime of youth, so bright and keen—yet inside and outside you are pressed by powerful ministers. Whenever I think of it, I truly ache in heart and weep blood."
39
會朱全忠誅秦宗權，安居受殺李克恭，以潞州降全忠。 幽州李匡威、雲州赫連鐸等奏請出軍討太原。 詔四品以上官議，皆言：「國祚未安，不宜生事。 假如得太原，亦非國家所有。」 濬議曰：「先帝頻至播越，王室不寧。 原其亂階，由克用、全忠之矛盾也。 請因其奏，乘全忠立功，可斷兩雄之勢。」 上曰：「收復之功，克用第一。 今乘其危困而加兵，諸侯其謂我何？」 濬懇論用兵之利害，蓋欲示外勢而擠復恭也。 上旨未決。 宰臣孔緯曰：「張濬所陳，萬代之利也。 陛下所惜，即日之利也。 以臣所料，師渡河而賊必自破。 昨計度軍中轉餉犒勞，一二年間，必無闕事，陛下斷意行之。」
When Zhu Quanzhong executed Qin Zongquan, he peacefully received the killing of Li Kegong and with Lu Prefecture surrendered to Quanzhong. Youzhou's Li Kuangwei, Yun Prefecture's Helian Tuo, and others memorialized asking to march out against Taiyuan. An edict ordered officials of the fourth rank and above to discuss. All said, "The dynastic fortune is not yet secure; one should not stir trouble. Even if Taiyuan were taken, it would not belong to the state." Jun argued, "The former emperor repeatedly wandered in exile and the royal house was not secure. Tracing the steps of disorder, it came from the conflict between Keyong and Quanzhong. Please take advantage of their memorial, while Quanzhong has merit, to cut the power of the two heroes." The emperor said, "In merit of recovery Keyong was first. Now to add troops while he is in peril and distress—what will the feudal lords say of us?" Jun earnestly argued the gain and harm of using troops, essentially wishing to show external force and squeeze Fugong. The emperor's intent was undecided. Chancellor Kong Wei said, "What Zhang Jun stated is benefit for ten thousand generations. What Your Majesty regrets is benefit of the day. By my reckoning, once the army crosses the river the bandit will surely break by itself. Yesterday in calculating transport, rewards, and provisions for the army, within one or two years there will certainly be no lack. Your Majesty should resolve and act."
40
既二相俱論，乃以濬爲河東行營兵馬都招討宣慰使，以京兆尹孫揆副之。 仍授揆昭義節度使，華州韓建爲供軍使，朱全忠爲太原西南面招討使，李匡威、赫連鐸爲太原東北面招討使。 全忠以汴軍三千爲濬牙隊。 六月，濬率軍五十二都，兼邠寧、鄜、夏雜虜共五萬人騎，發自京師。 昭宗御安喜樓臨送，濬酒酣泣奏曰：「陛下動爲賊臣掣肘，臣所以誓死憤惋，爲陛下除其僭逼。」 楊復恭聞之不悅。 中尉內使餞於長樂，復恭奉巵酒屬濬，濬辭曰：「聖人賜酒，已醉矣。」 復恭戲曰：「相公握禁兵，擁大蒐，獨當一面，不領復恭意作面子耶！」 濬笑曰：「賊平之後，方見面子。」 復恭銜之。
When both chancellors had argued, Jun was made overall pacification and comfort commissioner of the Hedong campaign armies, with Metropolitan Governor Sun Kui as deputy. Kui was also made military governor of Zhaoyi; Hua's Han Jian was supply commissioner; Zhu Quanzhong was southwest campaign commissioner against Taiyuan; Li Kuangwei and Helian Tuo were northeast campaign commissioners against Taiyuan. Quanzhong gave three thousand Bian troops as Jun's guard corps. In the sixth month Jun led fifty-two commands of troops, together with Binning, Yan, and Xia mixed barbarians—altogether fifty thousand cavalry—and set out from the capital. Emperor Zhaozong faced Anxi Tower to send them off. Jun, tipsy with wine, wept and memorialized, "Your Majesty's every move is checked by treacherous ministers. I therefore vow to die in indignation and remove their presumptuous coercion for Your Majesty." Yang Fugong heard it and was displeased. The commanders of the palace armies and inner attendants gave a farewell feast at Changle. Fugong raised a cup of wine and offered it to Jun. Jun declined, "The sage has given wine—I am already drunk." Fugong jested, "Chancellor, you hold the forbidden armies and lead a great hunt, alone facing one direction—will you not heed Fugong's intent and show face?" Jun laughed, "After the bandits are pacified, then you will see face." Fugong bore a grudge.
41
時汴、華、邠、岐之師渡河，會濬於晉州。 汴將朱崇節權知潞州事，太原將李存孝攻之。 濬慮賊平汴人據昭義，乃令孫揆分兵赴鎮，中使韓歸範送旌節至軍。 八月，揆與歸範赴潞州。 至潞，並爲存孝擒送太原。 九月，汴將葛從周棄潞州。 十月，濬軍至陰地，邠、岐、華三鎮之師營平陽。 李存孝擊之，一戰而敗，委兵仗潰散。 進攻晉州。 數日，中夜濬斂眾遁走。 比曙，喪師殆半。 存孝進收晉、絳、慈、隰等州。 濬狼狽由含山逾王屋，出河清，拆屋木縛筏濟河，部下離散將盡。 李克用上章論訴曰：
At that time the Bian, Hua, Bin, and Qi armies crossed the river and met Jun at Jin Prefecture. Bian general Zhu Chongjie was acting governor of Lu Prefecture. Taiyuan general Li Cunxiao attacked him. Jun feared that after the bandits were pacified Bian men would hold Zhaoyi. He therefore ordered Sun Kui to divide troops and go to the command, and inner envoy Han Guifan delivered the banner and tally to the army. In the eighth month Kui and Guifan went to Lu Prefecture. Upon reaching Lu, both were seized by Cunxiao and sent to Taiyuan. In the ninth month Bian general Ge Congzhou abandoned Lu Prefecture. In the tenth month Jun's army reached Yindi. The Bin, Qi, and Hua armies camped at Pingyang. Li Cunxiao attacked them. In one battle they were defeated and cast away weapons in rout. He advanced to attack Jin Prefecture. After several days, in the middle of the night Jun gathered his forces and fled. By dawn nearly half the army was lost. Cunxiao advanced and recovered Jin, Jiang, Ci, and Xi prefectures. Jun in disarray crossed Hanshan, passed Wangwu, emerged at Heqing, tore house timbers to bind rafts and cross the river. His subordinates scattered nearly to the last. Li Keyong submitted a memorial of protest:
42
況臣父子三代，受恩四朝，破徐方，救荊楚，收鳳闕，碎梟巢，致陛下今日冠通天之冠，佩白玉之璽。 臣之屬籍，懿皇所賜； 臣之師律，先帝所命。 臣無逆節，濬討何名？ 陛下若厭逐功臣，欲用文吏，自可遷臣封邑，以侯就第。 奈何加諸其罪，孰肯無詞？ 若以臣雲中之伐，獲罪於時，則拓拔思恭取鄜、延，朱全忠侵徐、鄆，陛下何不討之？ 假令李孝德不忠於主，伐之爲是，則朱瑄、時溥有何罪耶？ 此乃同坐而異名，賞彼而誅此，使天下籓服，強者扼腕，弱者自動，流言竊議，爲臣怨嗟，固非中興之術也。
Moreover my father and son for three generations received grace through four reigns, broke Xu region, rescued Jing-Chu, recovered the Phoenix Gate, shattered the owl nest—bringing Your Majesty today to wear the heaven-reaching cap and carry the white jade seal. My clan register was bestowed by Emperor Yizong. My military command was appointed by the former emperor. I have no rebellious conduct—under what name does Jun attack? If Your Majesty tires of expelling meritorious ministers and wishes to use civil officials, you may simply transfer my fief and let me retire as marquis. Why add crimes—who would be without words? If because of my Yunzhong campaign I was guilty at the time, then why not attack Tuoba Sichong for taking Yan and Yan, or Zhu Quanzhong for invading Xu and Yun? Suppose Li Xiaode were disloyal to his lord and attacking him were right—what crime have Zhu Xuan and Shi Pu? This is the same seat with different names, rewarding them while executing me—making the realm's commands submit while the strong clench their wrists and the weak tremble, with slander and secret talk and subjects groaning in resentment. This is truly not the method of restoration.
43
且陛下阽危之秋，則獎臣爲韓、彭、伊、霍； 既安之後，罵臣曰戎、羯、蕃、夷。 海內握兵立事如臣者眾矣，寧不懼陛下他時之罵哉？ 臣昨遇燕軍，以禮退舍。 匡威淺昧，厚自矜誇，乃言臣中矢石，覆士卒。 致內外吠聲一發，短謀競陳，誤陛下君臣之分。 況命官選將，自有典刑，不必幸臣之弱而後取之。 倘臣延期挺命，尚固一方，彼實何顏以見陛下。 此則姦邪朋黨，輕弄邦典，陛下凝旒端扆，何由知之？ 今張濬既以出軍，微臣固難束手。 臣便欲叫閽，輕騎面叩玉階，訴邪佞於陛下之彤墀，納詔命於先皇之宗廟，然後束身司敗，甘處憲章。
Moreover in the perilous autumn of Your Majesty's throne, you praised me as Han Xin, Peng Yue, Yi Yin, or Huo Guang. Once secure you revile me as Rong, Jie, barbarian, or foreigner. Within the seas those who hold troops and stand on affairs like me are many—will they not fear Your Majesty's curses in future days? Yesterday I met the Yan army and withdrew by ritual. Kuangwei was shallow and ignorant and greatly boasted himself, saying I was struck by arrow and stone and my soldiers were overrun. Thus inside and outside barking arose at once, short plots competed in presentation, and the distinction between ruler and minister was mistaken. Moreover appointing officials and selecting generals have their own canonical punishments—there is no need to take advantage of my weakness before seizing me. If I should delay and defy orders, still holding one region firm—what face would they have to see Your Majesty? This is wicked factions toying with state law—how would Your Majesty know, seated upright with curtain raised? Now that Zhang Jun has marched out, I truly cannot fold my hands. I wish to cry at the gate, ride lightly to kneel on the jade steps, appeal against the wicked on Your Majesty's red court, and receive the edict at the former emperor's ancestral temple—then bind myself to the law and gladly accept punishment.
44
時克用令所擒中使奉表，表至而濬敗，朝廷聳震，制曰：
At that time Keyong ordered the captured inner envoy to present the memorial. When the memorial arrived Jun was defeated, and the court was shaken. An edict said:
45
光祿大夫、門下侍郎、兼戸部尚書、同中書門下平章事、上柱國、清河郡開國伯、食邑一千二百戸、充河東行營諸道兵馬招討制置等使張濬，早以盛名，稱爲奇士，由是再加徵用，委以鈞衡，謂其必致小康，克勝大任。 而乃罔思守道，但欲邀功，用不詭之詢謀，起無名之兵革。 自雲一舉，止在旬時，堅請抗論，勢莫能奪。 輕葛亮渭濱之役，小裴度淮右之行。 經功寒暄，耗費百萬。 虛誕彰於朝野，詐詭布於華夷，橫草蔑聞，燎原愈急。 俾擁旄乘驛之使，囚在虜庭； 勤王奉國之軍，懷歸本土。 忘廊廟之威重，結籓屏之仇讎。 欲使海內生靈，竭其貢賦； 不獨河中郡邑，蕩爲丘墟。 潛生厲階，欲誰歸咎？
Zhang Jun, Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, Vice Director of the Secretariat, concurrent Minister of Revenue, co-chancellor, pillar of state, Baron of Qinghe with a fief of twelve hundred households, overall commander of Hedong campaign armies—early famed as a remarkable man, and therefore repeatedly summoned and entrusted with the balance—yet he did not think to keep the Way but only sought merit, using unorthodox counsel to raise a nameless war. From the cloud a single stroke was to take only ten days; he firmly argued and momentum could not be turned. He slighted Zhuge Liang's campaign at Weibin and made small of Pei Du's march to Huaiyou. Through cold and heat in the campaign, a million was spent. Falsehood was manifest at court and in the wilds. Deceit spread among Chinese and foreigners. No word of victory was heard while the prairie fire grew fiercer. Falsehood was manifest at court and in the wilds. Deceit spread among Chinese and foreigners. No word of victory was heard while the prairie fire grew fiercer. He caused commissioners bearing banners to be imprisoned in the enemy court. Armies that aided the throne and served the state longed to return home. He forgot the court's majesty and bound regional screens into enmity. He wished to make the living within the seas exhaust their tribute. not only Hezhong's counties and towns were swept into ruins. Secretly he bred the steps of disaster—upon whom shall blame be laid?
46
於戲！ 征晁錯之故事，思王恢之舊章，國有明文，爾當何逭？ 尚以愛人以禮，理體宜然。 廉鎮劇權，武昌善地，宜罷樞軸之務，仍停支度之司。 勉自思惟，以逃後命。 可檢校戸部尚書、鄂州刺史、武昌軍節度觀察等使。
Alas! Invoking the precedent of Chao Cuo, reflecting on Wang Hui's old statutes—national law is clear. How can you escape? Still, in loving others by ritual, principle should be so. A taxing command is a good place at Wuchang. He should cease pivot affairs and also stop the treasury office. Reflect earnestly to escape later judgment. He may be made acting Minister of Revenue, Prefect of E Prefecture, and military governor and observer of the Wuchang army.
47
尋貶連州刺史，馳驛發遣。 行至藍田關不行，留華州依韓建。 時朝廷微弱，竟不能詰。
Soon he was demoted to Prefect of Lian Prefecture and sent by express relay. Reaching Lantian Pass he would not go on and stayed in Hua Prefecture relying on Han Jian. The court was then weak and ultimately could not investigate.
48
永寧縣吏葉彥者，張氏待之素厚。 楊麟之來，彥知之，告濬第二子格曰：「相公之禍不可免，郎君宜自爲謀。」 格、濬父子號咷而已。 濬謂格曰：「留則並命，去或可免。 汝自圖之，勿以吾爲累，冀存後祀也。」 格拜辭而去。 葉彥率義士三十人，送渡漢江而旋。 格由荊江上峽入蜀。 王建僭號，用爲宰相。 中興平蜀，任圜攜格而還。 格感葉彥之惠，訪之，身已歿，而厚報其家。 濬第三子竄於楊行密。
Yongning County clerk Ye Yan had long been treated well by the Zhang family. When Yang Linzhi came, Yan knew it and told Jun's second son Ge, "The chancellor's calamity cannot be avoided. Young master, you should plan for yourself." Ge and Jun father and son only wailed. Jun said to Ge, "To stay is to die together; to go perhaps you may escape. Plan for yourself. Do not take me as a burden, in hope of preserving later descendants." Ge bowed in farewell and left. Ye Yan led thirty righteous men, escorted them across the Han River and returned. Ge went up the gorges from the Jing River into Shu. When Wang Jian usurped title, he used Ge as chancellor. When restoration pacified Shu, Ren Yuan brought Ge back. Ge, grateful for Ye Yan's kindness, sought him out. Yan had already died, yet he richly rewarded the family. Jun's third son fled to Yang Xingmi.
49
自乾寧之後，賊臣內侮，王室浸微。 昭宗不堪淩弱，欲簡拔奇材以爲相。 然采於群小之論，未嘗獲一名人。 登用之徒，無不爲時嗤誚。
After the Qianning reign, treacherous ministers insulted within and the royal house gradually weakened. Zhaozong could not bear being bullied and wished to select extraordinary talent as chancellor. Yet taking from the talk of petty men, he never obtained a famous person. Those elevated and used were all mocked by the age.
50
朱朴者，乾寧中爲國子博士。 腐儒木強，無他才伎。 道士許巖士出入禁中，嘗依朴爲姦利，從容上前薦僕有經濟才。 昭宗召見，對以經義，甚悅，即日拜諫議大夫、平章事。 在中書與名公齒，筆劄議論，動爲笑端。 數月，巖士事敗，俱爲韓建所殺。
Zhu Pu, in the Qianning reign was Doctor of the Imperial University. A pedantic scholar, wooden and obstinate, without other talent. Daoist priest Xu Yanshi entered the forbidden precincts, often relying on Pu for illicit profit, and casually before the throne recommended the servant's economic talent. Zhaozong summoned and questioned him on classical meaning and was greatly pleased. The same day he was made Remonstrating Official and co-chancellor. In the Secretariat he ranked with famous grandees. Letters and discussion were constantly laughed at. Within months Yanshi's affair failed and both were killed by Han Jian.
51
鄭綮者，以進士登第，歷監察、殿中，倉、戸二員外，金、刑、右司三郎中。 家貧求郡，出爲廬州刺史。 黃巢自嶺表還，經淮南剽掠。 綮移黃巢文牒，請不犯郡界。 巢笑而從之，一郡獨不被寇。 天子嘉之，賜緋魚袋。 罷郡，有錢千緡，寄州帑。 後郡數陷，盜不犯鄭使君寄庫錢。 至楊行密爲刺史，送所寄於京師還綮。
Zheng Qi passed the jinshi examination and successively served as investigating censor, palace censor, vice directors of the granary and revenue bureaus, and directors of the gold, punishment, and right bureaus. His family was poor and he sought a prefecture. He went out as Prefect of Luzhou. When Huang Chao returned from south of the ranges he plundered through Huainan. Qi forwarded Huang Chao's document asking that the prefectural border not be violated. Chao laughed and complied. That prefecture alone was not raided. The emperor praised this and gave crimson fish bags. When he left the prefecture he had a thousand strings of cash deposited in the prefectural treasury. Later the prefecture fell several times, yet thieves did not touch Commissioner Zheng's deposited money. When Yang Xingmi became prefect he sent what was deposited to the capital and returned it to Qi.
52
綮善爲詩，多侮劇刺時，故落格調，時號鄭五歇後體。 初去廬江，與郡人別云：「唯有兩行公廨淚，一時灑向渡頭風。」 滑稽皆此類也。
Qi was good at poetry and often mocked and satirized the times. Therefore he fell from standard tone, and the age called him Zheng the Fifth's postscript style. When he first left Lujiang he parted from the prefectural people saying, "Only two lines of official tears, at once scattered to the ferry wind." His humor was all of this kind.
53
王徽爲御史大夫，奏綮爲兵部郎中、知臺雜，遷給事中，賜金紫。 僖宗自山南還，以宰相杜讓能弟弘徽爲中書舍人。 綮以弘徽兄在中書，弟不宜同居禁近，封還制書。 天子不報，綮即移病休官。 無幾，以左散騎常侍征還。 朝政有闕，無不上章論列。 事雖不行，喧傳都下，執政惡之，改國子祭酒。 物議以綮匡諫而置之散地，不可，執政懼，復用爲常侍。
Wang Hui as Censor-in-Chief memorialized Qi as Director of the Bureau of War and handler of censorial miscellaneous affairs. He was promoted to Attendant and given gold and purple. When Emperor Xizong returned from Shannan, Chancellor Du Rangneng's younger brother Honghui was made Vice Director of the Secretariat. Qi, because Honghui's elder brother was in the Secretariat and the younger should not dwell together in the forbidden proximity, returned the edict sealed. The emperor did not reply. Qi immediately pleaded illness and retired from office. Before long he was summoned back as Left Regular Attendant. Whenever court affairs had faults he memorialized without fail. Though affairs did not proceed, they were loudly spread in the capital. The chief ministers hated this and changed him to Chancellor of the Imperial University. Public opinion held that Qi was remonstrating yet placed in an idle post—this would not do. The chief ministers feared this and again used him as Regular Attendant.
54
光化初，昭宗還宮，庶政未愜。 綮每形於詩什而嘲之，中人或誦其語於上前。 昭宗見其激訐，謂有蘊蓄，就常奏班簿側註云：「鄭綮可禮部侍郎、平章事。」 中書胥吏詣其家參謁，綮笑而問之曰：「諸君大誤，俾天下人並不識字，宰相不及鄭五也。」 胥吏曰：「出自聖旨特恩，來日制下。」 抗其手曰：「萬一如此，笑殺他人。」 明日果制下，親賓來賀，搔首言曰：「歇後鄭五作宰相，時事可知矣。」 累表遜讓，不獲。 既入視事，侃然守道，無復詼諧。 終以物望非宜，自求引退。 三月餘，移疾乞骸，以太子少保致仕。 卒。
At the beginning of Guanghua, Zhaozong returned to the palace. Many affairs were not yet satisfactory. Qi often showed it in poems mocking them. Inner attendants sometimes recited his words before the throne. Zhaozong saw his sharp criticism and thought he had stored capacity. Beside the regular attendance roster he annotated, "Zheng Qi may be Vice Minister of Rites and co-chancellor." Secretariat clerks came to his house to pay respects. Qi laughed and asked them, "You gentlemen are greatly mistaken, making the people of the realm all illiterate—even the chancellor cannot match Zheng the Fifth." The clerks said, "It comes from special grace in the imperial edict. Tomorrow the decree will issue." He resisted their hands. "If by any chance it is so, it will kill others with laughter." The next day the decree indeed issued. Relatives and guests came to congratulate. He scratched his head and said, "Postscript Zheng the Fifth as chancellor—the affairs of the age can be known." He repeatedly memorialized to decline and could not obtain permission. Once he entered to handle affairs he stood upright and kept the Way, with no more jest. Ultimately because public expectation was not fitting he asked to withdraw of himself. After more than three months he pleaded illness and asked to retire, retiring as Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent. He died.
55
時議以昭宗命臺臣濬、朴、綮三人尤謬，季末之妖也。
Opinion of the time held that Zhaozong's appointment of the censorial ministers Jun, Pu, and Qi was especially absurd—a portent of the dynasty's end.
56
劉崇望，字希徒。 其先代郡人，隨元魏孝文帝徙洛陽，遂爲河南人。 八代祖隋大理卿坦，生政會，輔太宗起義晉陽，官至戸部尚書，封渝國公，圖形淩煙閣。 政會生玄意，尚太宗女南平公主，歷洪、饒八州采訪使。 玄意生奇，位至吏部侍郎。 奇生慎知，仕至獲嘉令。 慎知生褧，仕至東阿令。 褧生藻，位終秘書郎。 藻生符，進士登第，咸通中位終蔡州刺史，生八子：崇龜、崇望、崇魯、崇謨最知名。
Liu Chongwang, whose courtesy name was Xitu. His ancestors were natives of Dai Prefecture. With Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei they moved to Luoyang and thus became Henan people. His eighth-generation ancestor Tan of Sui served as Director of the Court of Judicial Review. Tan begot Zhenghui, who aided Emperor Taizong in raising righteousness at Jinyang, served to Minister of Revenue, was enfeoffed as Duke of Yu, and had his image in Lingyan Pavilion. Zhenghui begot Xuanyi, who married Emperor Taizong's daughter the Princess of Nanping and served as investigating commissioner of eight prefectures including Hong and Rao. Xuanyi begot Qi, who served to vice minister of civil affairs. Qi begot Shenzhi, who served to magistrate of Huojia. Shenzhi begot Ying, who served to magistrate of Dong'e. Ying begot Zao, who served to Secretariat Proofreader. Zao begot Fu, who passed the jinshi and in the Xiantong reign served to Prefect of Cai. He had eight sons—Chonggui, Chongwang, Chonglu, and Chongmo were most renowned.
57
崇龜，進士擢第，累遷起居舍人，禮部、兵部二員外。 丁母憂免。 春，鄭從讜罷相，鎮太原，奏崇龜爲度支判官、檢校吏部郎中、御史中丞，賜金紫。 入朝，爲兵部郎中，拜給事中。 大順中，遷左散騎常侍、集賢殿學士、判院事，改戸部侍郎，檢校戸部尚書。 出爲廣州刺史、清海軍節度、嶺南東道觀察處置等使，卒。
Chonggui passed the jinshi, was repeatedly promoted to Recorder of the Emperor's Actions and vice minister of rites and war. He was dismissed on mourning for his mother. In spring, when Zheng Congdang was removed as chancellor and governed Taiyuan, he memorialized Chonggui as treasury adjutant, acting director of the Bureau of Civil Affairs, and vice censor, and gave gold and purple. Entering court he was Director of the Bureau of War and made Attendant. In the Datong reign he was promoted to Left Regular Attendant, academician of the Jixian Hall, and director of the institute. He was changed to vice minister of revenue and acting Minister of Revenue. He went out as Prefect of Guang Prefecture, military governor of the Qinghai army, and governor-general of Lingnan East Circuit. He died.
58
崇望，登進士科。 王凝廉問宣歙，辟爲轉運巡官。 戸部侍郎裴坦領鹽鐵，辟爲參佐。 崔安潛鎮許昌、成都，崇望昆仲四人，皆在安潛幕下。 入爲長安尉，直弘文館，遷監察御史、右補闕、起居郎、弘文館學士，轉司勛、吏部二員外郎。 崔安潛爲吏部尚書，崇望判南曹，滌除宿弊，復清選部。 田令孜幹政，籓鎮怨望，河中尤甚，不修職貢。 僖宗在山南，以蒲阪近關，欲其效用，選使諭旨，以崇望爲諫議大夫。 既至，諭以大義，重榮奉詔恭順，誓心匡復，請殺朱玫自贖。 使還，上悅，召入翰林充學士，累遷戸部侍郎、承旨，轉兵部，在禁署四年。
Chongwang passed the jinshi examination. Wang Ning investigated Xu and She and recruited him as transport patrol officer. Vice Minister of Revenue Pei Tan oversaw salt and iron and recruited him as aide. When Cui Anqian governed Xuchang and Chengdu, four Chong brothers were all in Anqian's staff. He entered as magistrate of Chang'an, direct scholar of the Hongwen Hall, and was promoted to investigating censor, Right Supplicator, Recorder of the Emperor's Actions, and academician of the Hongwen Hall. He was transferred to vice directors of the Bureau of Merit and the Bureau of Civil Affairs. When Cui Anqian was Minister of Civil Affairs, Chongwang judged the Southern Bureau, cleansing long-standing abuses and restoring the pure selection department. Tian Lingzi interfered in government. Regional commands resented it—Hezhong especially did not repair tribute duties. Emperor Xizong was in Shannan. Because Puzhou was near the pass he wished it effective and selected an envoy to explain the intent, making Chongwang Remonstrating Official. Upon arrival he explained the great principle. Chongrong respectfully obeyed the edict, vowed to restore the realm, and asked to kill Zhu Mei to atone. Returning from the mission the emperor was pleased and summoned him to the Hanlin, repeatedly promoting him to vice minister of revenue and chief academician, then to war. He was in the forbidden secretariat four years.
59
昭宗即位，拜中書侍郎、同平章事，累兼兵部、吏部尚書。 大順初，同列張濬畫策討太原，崇望以爲不可，濬果敗。 濬黜，崇望代爲門下侍郎、監修國史、判度支。
When Zhaozong took the throne he was made vice director of the Secretariat and co-chancellor, cumulatively holding the ministries of war and civil affairs. At the beginning of Datong, fellow minister Zhang Jun plotted to attack Taiyuan. Chongwang thought it could not be done and Jun indeed failed. When Jun was removed, Chongwang replaced him as vice director of the Secretariat, supervisor of the national history, and in charge of the treasury.
60
明年，玉山都頭楊守信協楊復恭稱兵闕下，陣於通化門。 上陳兵於延嘉門。 是夜，命崇望守度支庫。 明日曉，入含光門。 未開，門內禁軍列於左右，俟門開即劫掠兩市。 及聞傳呼宰相來，門方啟，崇望駐馬慰諭之曰：「聖上在街東親總戎事。 公等禁軍，何不樓前殺賊，立取功名。 切不可剽掠街市，圖小利以成惡名也。」 將士唯唯，從崇望至長樂門。 守信見兵來，即遁去，軍士呼萬歲。 是日庫市獲全，軍人不亂，繄崇望之方略也。 尋加左僕射。
The next year Yushan command head Yang Shouxin joined Yang Fugong in raising troops below the palace and arrayed at Tonghua Gate. The emperor arrayed troops at Yanjia Gate. That night he ordered Chongwang to guard the treasury storehouse. At dawn the next day he entered Hanguang Gate. Before it opened, forbidden troops within lined left and right, waiting for the gate to open to plunder both markets. When they heard the call that the chancellor was coming, the gate just opened. Chongwang halted his horse and comforted them, "The sage is east of the street personally directing military affairs. You forbidden troops—why not kill the bandits before the tower and win merit at once? You must not plunder the markets for small gain and make a bad name." The soldiers assented and followed Chongwang to Changle Gate. When Shouxin saw troops coming he fled at once. The soldiers shouted ten thousand years. That day the treasury and markets were preserved and the soldiers did not riot—it was Chongwang's strategy. Soon he was made Left Vice Director.
61
時溥與朱全忠爭衡，全忠謀兼徐、泗，上表請以重臣鎮徐，乃以崇望守本官，充武寧軍節度使。 溥不受代，行至華陰而還，拜太常卿。 王重盈死，王珂、王珙爭河中節鉞，朝廷以宰相崔胤爲河中節度使。 珂，李克用之子婿也。 河東進奏官薛志勤揚言曰：「崔相雖重德，如作鎮河中代王珂，不如光德劉公，於我公事素也。」 及三鎮以兵入朝，殺害大臣，以志勤之言，責授崇望昭州司馬。 及王行瑜誅，太原上表言崇望無辜放逐。 時已至荊南，有詔召還，拜吏部尚書。 未至，王溥再知政事，兼吏部尚書，乃改崇望兵部尚書。
Shi Pu and Zhu Quanzhong contended. Quanzhong plotted to annex Xu and Si and memorialized asking that a weighty minister govern Xu. Chongwang was ordered to keep his office and serve as military governor of the Wuning army. Pu would not accept replacement. Reaching Hua Pass he returned and was made Minister of Ceremonies. When Wang Chongying died, Wang Ke and Wang Gong contended for the Hezhong command. The court made Chancellor Cui Yin military governor of Hezhong. Ke was Li Keyong's son-in-law. Hedong memorial-presenting official Xue Zhiqin proclaimed, "Though Chancellor Cui is weighty in virtue, if he garrisons Hezhong in Wang Ke's place, he is not as good as Lord Liu of Guangde, who has long handled our official affairs." When Wang Xingyu was executed Taiyuan memorialized that Chongwang was innocently exiled. He had already reached Jingnan when an edict recalled him and made him Minister of Civil Affairs. Before he arrived Wang Pu again handled state affairs and concurrently was Minister of Civil Affairs. Chongwang was changed to Minister of War. At that time Xichuan invaded Gu Yanhui, wishing to annex Dongchuan. Chongwang was made acting Right Vice Director, co-chancellor, Prefect of Zi, and military governor of Jiannan East Circuit.
62
時西川侵寇顧彥暉，欲並東川，以崇望檢校右僕射、平章事、梓州刺史、劍南東川節度使。 未至鎮，召還，復爲兵部尚書。 卒，時年六十二，冊贈司空。
Before reaching his command he was recalled and again made Minister of War. He died at age sixty-two and was posthumously enfeoffed as Minister of Works. Chonglu passed the jinshi. Zheng Congdang memorialized him as Taiyuan investigating officer.
63
崇魯，登進士第，鄭從讜奏充太原推官。 時兄崇龜爲節度判官，昆仲同居幕府，尋轉掌書記。 中和二年入朝，拜右拾遺、左補闕。 景福初，以水部員外郎知制誥。 二年，杜讓能得罪，昭宗復命韋昭度爲相，翰林學士李谿同平章事。 崇魯與崔昭緯相善。 昭緯恃邠、岐之援。 讓能既誅之後，權歸於己，昭宗師李谿爲文，懼居位得寵則恩顧漸衰，乃私與崇魯謀沮之。 及谿宣制之日，出班而哭，謂昭緯曰：「朝廷雖乏賢，不可用纖人爲宰輔。 谿比依復恭、重遂居內職。 前日杜太尉狼籍，爲朝廷深恥。 今則削弱如此，安可更遵覆轍乎？」 由是谿命不行。 谿自十一月初至歲暮，聯上十表訴冤，其詞詆毀，所不忍聞。 明年春，復命谿爲平章事。 昭緯召李茂貞、王行瑜、韓建稱兵入朝，殺昭度與谿。 其年，太原誅王行瑜，昭緯貶官，崇魯坐貶崖州司戸。 初崇龜在外，聞崇魯哭麻，大恚，數日不食，謂所親曰：「吾家兄弟進身有素，未嘗以聲利敗名。 吾門不幸，生此等兒。」
At that time his elder brother Chonggui was circuit adjutant. The brothers dwelt together in the staff office and soon he was transferred to chief secretary. In the second year of Zhonghe he entered court as Right Reminder and Left Supplicator. At the beginning of Jingfu he was vice director of the Bureau of Works and drafter of edicts. In the second year, when Du Rangneng was guilty, Zhaozong again appointed Wei Zhaodu chancellor and Hanlin academician Li Xi co-chancellor. Chonglu was friendly with Cui Zhaowei. Zhaowei relied on Bin and Qi's support. After Rangneng was executed power returned to himself. Zhaozong favored Li Xi for literature and feared that if Xi held office and won favor imperial regard would gradually fade. He therefore privately plotted with Chonglu to obstruct it. After Rangneng was executed, power fell to him. Zhaozong took Li Xi as his literary tutor; fearing that once Xi held office and favor, grace toward him would gradually fade, he privately plotted with Chonglu to obstruct it. On the day Xi proclaimed the edict he left the ranks weeping and said to Zhaowei, "Though the court lacks talent, one cannot use a petty man as chancellor. The other day Grand Marshal Du was in disgrace—the court was deeply shamed. Now weakened thus, how can we again follow an overturned cart track? Now weakened thus, how can we again follow an overturned cart track?" Thereupon Xi's appointment did not proceed. The next spring Xi was again appointed co-chancellor. Zhaowei summoned Li Maozhen, Wang Xingyu, and Han Jian to raise troops and enter court, killing Zhaodu and Xi. That year Taiyuan executed Wang Xingyu. Zhaowei was demoted and Chonglu was implicated and demoted to registrar of Ya Prefecture. That year Taiyuan executed Wang Xingyu; Zhaowei was demoted, and Chonglu was implicated and demoted to clerk of Yaizhou. When Chonggui was abroad and heard Chonglu wept at the hemp edict, he was greatly angry, for several days ate nothing, and said to intimates, "Our family's brothers rose by standard paths and never ruined their names for sound and profit. Our gate is unfortunate to bear such a son."
64
崇謨，進士及第。 乾寧末，爲太常少卿、弘文館直學士。
Chongmo passed the jinshi examination. Xu Yanruo was a descendant of the Director of the Court of Judicial Review Yougong of Empress Wu's reign.
65
徐彥若，天后朝大理卿有功之裔。 曾祖宰，祖陶，父商，三世繼登進士科。 商，字義聲，及第，釋褐秘書省校書郎。 累遷侍御史，改禮部員外郎。 尋知制誥，轉郎中，召充翰林學士，拜中書舍人、戸部侍郎判本司事，檢校戸部尚書、襄州刺史、山南東道節度等使。 入爲御史大夫。 咸通初，加刑部尚書，充諸道鹽鐵轉運使，遷兵部尚書、東莞子、食邑五百戸。 四年，以本官同平章事。 六年罷相，檢校右僕射、江陵尹、荊南節度觀察等使。 入爲吏部尚書，累遷太子太保，卒。
His great-grandfather was Zai, grandfather Tao, father Shang—three generations in succession passed the jinshi. Shang, whose courtesy name was Yisheng, passed the examination and took his first office as proofreader in the Secretariat. He was repeatedly promoted to Attending Censor and changed to vice minister of rites. Soon he was drafter of edicts, transferred to director, summoned as Hanlin academician, made Vice Director of the Secretariat and vice minister of revenue in charge of that ministry, acting Minister of Revenue, Prefect of Xiang, and military governor of Shannan East Circuit. He entered as Censor-in-Chief. At the beginning of Xiantong he was made Minister of Punishments and commissioner of salt and iron transport for all circuits. He was promoted to Minister of War, Viscount of Dongguan with a fief of five hundred households. In the fourth year, with his existing office he became co-chancellor. In the sixth year he was removed as chancellor, made acting Right Vice Director, Governor of Jiangling, and military governor and observer of Jingnan. He entered as Minister of Civil Affairs, was repeatedly promoted to Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent, and died. Yanruo passed the jinshi.
66
彥若，進士擢第。 乾符末，以尚書郎知制誥，正拜中書舍人。 昭宗即位，遷御史中丞，轉吏部侍郎，檢校戸部尚書，代李茂貞爲鳳翔隴節度使。 茂貞不受代，復拜中丞，改兵部侍郎、同平章事，進加中書侍郎，累兼左僕射、監修國史。 扈昭宗石門還宮，加開府儀同三司、守司空，進封齊國公，太清宮、修奉太廟等使，加弘文館大學士，賜「扶危匡國致理功臣」名。 昭宗自華還宮，進位太保、門下侍郎。 時崔胤專權，以彥若在己上，欲事權萃於其門。 二年九月，以彥若檢校太尉、同平章事、廣州刺史、清海軍節度、嶺南東道節度等使。 卒於鎮。
Yanruo passed the jinshi. At the end of Qianfu he was Director of a Bureau and drafter of edicts, and formally appointed Vice Director of the Secretariat. When Zhaozong took the throne he was promoted to vice censor, transferred to vice minister of civil affairs, acting Minister of Revenue, and replaced Li Maozhen as military governor of Fengxiang and Long. Maozhen would not accept replacement. Yanruo was again made vice censor, changed to vice minister of war and co-chancellor, promoted to vice director of the Secretariat, and cumulatively held Left Vice Director and supervisor of the national history. Escorting Zhaozong from Shimen back to the palace he was made Grand General of the Palace Guard, acting Minister of Works, advanced to Duke of Qi, commissioner of the Grand Pure Temple and repair of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and Grand Academician of the Hongwen Hall, and given the title 'Meritorious Minister Who Supported Peril, Restored the State, and Brought Order.' When Zhaozong returned from Hua to the palace he was promoted to Grand Mentor and vice director of the Secretariat. At that time Cui Yin monopolized power. Because Yanruo was above him he wished to concentrate authority in his own faction. In the ninth month of the second year Yanruo was made acting Grand Marshal, co-chancellor, Prefect of Guang, military governor of the Qinghai army, and governor-general of Lingnan East Circuit. He died in his command.
67
弟彥樞，位至太常少卿。
His younger brother Yanshu served to Vice Minister of Ceremonies.
68
子綰，天祐初歷司勛、兵部二員外，戸部、兵部二郎中。
His son Wan, in the early Tiansheng reign successively served as vice directors of the Bureau of Merit and Bureau of War and directors of the revenue and war bureaus.
69
陸扆，字祥文，本名允迪，吳郡人。 徙家於陜，今爲陜州人。 曾祖澧，位終殿中侍御史。 祖師德，淮南觀察支使。 父鄯，陜州法曹參軍。 扆，登進士第，其年從僖宗幸興元。 九月，宰相韋昭度領鹽鐵，奏爲巡官。 明年，宰相孔緯奏直史館，得校書郎，尋丁母憂免。 冬，召授藍田尉，直弘文館，遷左拾遺，兼集賢學士。 中丞柳玭奏改監察御史。 大順二年三月，召充翰林學士，改屯田員外郎，賜緋。 景福元年，加祠部郎中、知制誥，二年元日朝賀，面賜金紫之服。 五月，拜中書舍人。
Lu Yu, whose courtesy name was Xiangwen and whose original name was Yundi, came from Wu commandery. The family moved to Shan and is now Shan Prefecture people. His great-grandfather Li served to Attending Palace Censor. His grandfather Shide was branch secretary of Huainan observation. His father Shan was legal officer of Shan Prefecture. Yu passed the jinshi. That year he followed Emperor Xizong to Xingyuan. In the ninth month Chancellor Wei Zhaodu oversaw salt and iron and memorialized him as patrol officer. The next year Chancellor Kong Wei memorialized him as direct historian of the History Office. He received proofreader and soon was dismissed on mourning for his mother. In winter he was summoned as magistrate of Lantian, direct scholar of the Hongwen Hall, promoted to Left Reminder, and concurrent academician of the Jixian Institute. Vice censor Liu Pin memorialized to change him to investigating censor. In the third month of the second year of Datong he was summoned as Hanlin academician, changed to vice director of the Bureau of Lands, and given crimson. In the first year of Jingfu he was made director of the Bureau of Sacrifices and drafter of edicts. On New Year's Day court congratulations he was personally given gold and purple robes. In the fifth month he was made Vice Director of the Secretariat.
70
扆文思敏速，初無思慮，揮翰如飛，文理俱愜，同舍服其能。 天子顧待特異。 嘗金鑾作賦，命學士和，扆先成。 帝覽而嗟挹之，曰：「朕聞貞元時有陸贄、吳通玄兄弟，能作內庭文書，後來絕不相繼。 今吾得卿，斯文不墜矣。」
Yu's literary thought was swift. At first without deliberation he wrote as if flying—both pattern and reason satisfied, and colleagues in the same office admired his ability. The emperor looked on him with special favor. Once at Golden Hall he composed a fu and ordered the academicians to harmonize. Yu finished first. The emperor read it and sighed in admiration. "I have heard that in the Zhenyuan reign there were Lu Zhi and the brothers Wu Tongxuan, able to compose inner-court documents—afterward none succeeded. Now I have obtained you—this literature has not fallen."
71
乾寧初，轉戸部侍郎。 二年，改兵部，進階銀青光祿大夫、嘉興男、三百戸。 三年正月，宣授學士承旨，尋改左丞。 其年七月，改戸部侍郎、同平章事。 故事，三署除拜，有光署錢以宴舊僚，內署即無斯例。 扆拜輔相之月，送學士光院錢五百貫，特舉新例，內署榮之。 八月，加中書侍郎、集賢殿大學士、判戸部事。
At the beginning of Qianning he was transferred to vice minister of revenue. In the second year he was changed to war, advanced to Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with Silver Blue Light, Baron of Jiaxing with three hundred households. In the third year, first month, he was proclaimed chief academician. Soon he was changed to Left Vice Director. In the seventh month of that year he was changed to vice minister of revenue and co-chancellor. By precedent, appointment in the three bureaus had 'bright bureau' money to feast old colleagues. The inner bureau had no such example. In the month Yu became assisting minister he sent five hundred strings of chief academician bright-court money, specially establishing a new precedent. The inner bureau was honored. In the eighth month he was made vice director of the Secretariat, Grand Academician of the Jixian Hall, and in charge of revenue affairs.
72
九月，覃王率師送徐彥若赴鳳翔。 師之起也，扆堅請曰：「播越之後，國步初集，不宜與近輔交惡，必爲他盜所窺。 加以親王統兵，物議騰口，無益於事，只貽後患。」 昭宗已發兵，怒扆沮議，是月十九日，責授硤州刺史。 師出果敗，車駕出幸。 四年二月，復授扆工部尚書。 八月，轉兵部尚書，從昭宗自華還宮。
In the ninth month the Prince of Tan led troops to escort Xu Yanruo to Fengxiang. When the army set out Yu firmly petitioned, "After scattering in exile the state's steps are just gathered—it is not fitting to make enemies of nearby assistants. Others will surely spy. Moreover with an imperial prince commanding troops public talk boils—no benefit to the affair, only leaving later trouble." Zhaozong had already sent troops and was angry that Yu obstructed discussion. On the nineteenth of that month he was demoted to Prefect of Xia. The army went out and indeed failed. The imperial carriage fled. In the second month of the fourth year Yu was again made Minister of Works. In the eighth month he was transferred to Minister of War and followed Zhaozong from Hua back to the palace.
73
明年正月，復拜中書侍郎、同平章事。 四月，兼戸部尚書，進封吳郡開國公，食邑一千戸。 九月，轉門下侍郎、監修國史。 五月，進階特進，兼兵部尚書，加食邑五百戸。 車駕自鳳翔還京，赦後諸道皆降詔書，獨鳳翔無詔。 扆奏曰：「鳳翔近在國門，責其心跡，罪實難容。 然比來職貢無虧，朝廷未與之絕。 一朝獨無詔命，示人不廣也。」 崔胤怒，奏貶扆沂王傅，分司東都，削階至正議大夫。 居無何，崔胤誅，復授吏部尚書，階封如故。 從昭宗還洛。 其年秋，昭宗遇弒。 明年正月，責授濮州司戸，與裴樞、崔遠、獨孤損等被害於滑州白馬驛，時年五十九。
In the first month of the next year he was again made vice director of the Secretariat and co-chancellor. In the fourth month he concurrently was Minister of Revenue, advanced to Duke of Wu commandery with a fief of one thousand households. In the ninth month he was transferred to vice director of the Secretariat and supervisor of the national history. In the fifth month he was advanced to Special Advancement and concurrently Minister of War, with five hundred additional households in his fief. When the carriage returned from Fengxiang to the capital, after the amnesty all circuits received edicts—only Fengxiang had none. Yu memorialized, "Fengxiang is near the capital gate. Judging its heart and conduct, guilt is hard to bear. Yet lately its tribute duties were not lacking and the court has not broken with it. For one morning alone to have no edict shows the people a narrow mind." Cui Yin was angry and memorialized to demote Yu to Tutor of the Prince of Yi, commissioner at the Eastern Capital, and reduce his rank to Regular Grand Master of Discussion. Before long Cui Yin was executed. Yu was again made Minister of Civil Affairs with rank and fief as before. He followed Zhaozong back to Luoyang. That autumn Zhaozong was assassinated. In the first month of the next year he was demoted to registrar of Pu Prefecture and, with Pei Shu, Cui Yuan, Dugu Sun and others, was killed at Baima Post in Hua Prefecture, at age fifty-nine.
74
子璪，後爲緱氏令。
His son Can later served as magistrate of Gou.
75
柳璨，河東人。 曾祖子華。 祖公器，僕射公綽之再從弟也。 父遵。 璨少孤貧好學，僻居林泉。 晝則采樵，夜則燃木葉以照書。 性謇直，無緣飾。 宗人壁、玭，貴仕於朝，鄙璨樸鈍，不以諸宗齒之。 光化中，登進士第。 尤精《漢史》，魯國顏蕘深重之。 蕘爲中書舍人，判史館，引爲直學士。 璨以劉子玄所撰《史通》譏駁經史過當，璨紀子玄之失，別爲十卷，號《柳氏釋史》，學者伏其優贍。 遷左拾遺。 公卿朝野，托爲箋奏，時譽日洽。 以其博奧，目爲「柳篋子」。
Liu Can came from Hedong. His great-grandfather was Zihua. His grandfather Gongqi was a second cousin of Vice Director Gongchuo. His father was Zun. Can was orphaned young and poor yet loved learning, dwelling secluded in forest springs. By day he gathered firewood. By night he burned tree leaves to light his books. By nature he was blunt and direct, without ornament. Clansmen Bi and Pin held noble office at court and despised Can as plain and dull, not ranking him among the clan by age. In the Guanghua reign he passed the jinshi. He was especially expert in Han history. Yan Qiao of Lu deeply valued him. Qiao was Vice Director of the Secretariat and judged the History Office. He recruited Can as direct academician. Can, because Liu Zixuan's Comprehensive Mirror criticized the classics and histories excessively, enumerated Zixuan's faults in another ten scrolls titled Mr. Liu's Explication of History. Scholars submitted to his erudition. He was promoted to Left Reminder. Nobles at court and in the wild entrusted him with letters and memorials. His reputation daily spread. Because of his vast learning he was called 'Liu the Document Case.'
76
昭宗好文，初寵待李谿頗學。 洎谿不得其死，心常惜之，求文士似谿者。 或薦璨高才，召見，試以詩什，甚喜。 無幾，召爲翰林學士。 崔胤得罪前一日，召璨入內殿草制敕。 胤死之日，既夕，璨自內出，前驅傳呼相公來。 人未見制敕，莫測所以。 翌日對學士，上謂之曰：「朕以柳璨奇特，似可獎任。 若令預政事，宜授何官？」 承旨張文蔚曰：「陛下拔用賢能，固不拘資級。 恩命高下，出自聖懷。 若循兩省遷轉，拾遺超等入起居郎，臨大位，非宜也。」 帝曰：「超至諫議大夫可乎？」 文蔚曰：「此命甚愜。」 即以諫議大夫平章事，改中書侍郎。 任人之速，古無茲例。
Zhaozong loved literature and at first favored Li Xi for learning. When Xi met his death the heart always regretted it and sought literary men resembling Xi. Someone recommended Can's high talent. Summoned to audience he was tested with poems and was greatly pleased. Before long he was summoned as Hanlin academician. The day before Cui Yin's guilt he summoned Can to the inner hall to draft edicts. On the day Yin died, at evening Can came out from within. Runners ahead cried that the chancellor was coming. People had not yet seen the edict and could not fathom why. The next day facing the academicians the emperor said to them, "I find Liu Can extraordinary and worthy of reward and employment. If he is to participate in government, what office should be granted?" Chief academician Zhang Wenwei said, "Your Majesty elevates talent and ability and is not bound by seniority. The height of grace comes from the sacred heart. If following the two departments' promotions—from Reminder surpassing rank to Recorder—nearing the great post, it is not fitting." The emperor said, "Promoted to Remonstrating Official—is that acceptable?" Wenwei said, "This appointment is very satisfying." Thereupon with Remonstrating Official he became co-chancellor and was changed to vice director of the Secretariat. The speed of appointing men—antiquity had no such example.
77
同列裴樞、獨孤損、崔遠皆宿素名德，遽與璨同列，意微輕之，璨深蓄怨。 昭宗遷洛，諸司內使、宿衛將佐，皆朱全忠腹心也，璨皆將迎，接之以恩，厚相交結，故當時權任皆歸之。
Fellow ministers Pei Shu, Dugu Sun, and Cui Yuan were all long-standing in fame and virtue. Suddenly to rank with Can—they inwardly slighted him and Can deeply nursed resentment. When Zhaozong moved to Luoyang, inner bureau attendants and guard officers were all Zhu Quanzhong's trusted men. Can all went to meet them, treating them with kindness and forming deep ties—therefore power at the time all returned to him.
78
二年五月，西北長星竟天，掃太微、文昌、帝座諸宿，全忠方謀篡代。 而妖星謫見，占者云：「君臣俱災，宜刑殺以應天變。」 蔣玄暉、張廷範謀殺衣冠宿望難制者，璨即首疏素所不快者三十餘人，相次誅殺。 班行爲之一空，冤聲載路。 傷害既甚，朱全忠心惡之。 會全忠授九錫，蔣玄暉等別陳意見。 王殷至大梁，誣玄暉等通導宮掖，欲興復李氏。 全忠怒，捕廷範，令河南聚眾，五軍分裂之，兼誅璨，臨刑呼曰：「負國賊柳璨，死其宜矣！」 初，璨遷洛後，累兼戸部尚書、守司空，進階光祿大夫、鹽鐵轉運使。
In the fifth month of the second year a long comet in the northwest crossed the heavens, sweeping the lodges of Supreme Palace, Administrative Star, and Imperial Seat. Quanzhong was just plotting usurpation. The demonic star appeared as reprimand. Diviners said, "Ruler and ministers both suffer disaster—punishment and killing should answer Heaven's change." Jiang Xuanhui and Zhang Tingfan plotted to kill eminent robes and longstanding repute hard to control. Can was first to memorialize those he had long disliked, more than thirty persons, who were executed in succession. The ranks were emptied at once. Cries of injustice filled the roads. The harm was already extreme and Zhu Quanzhong detested it in his heart. When Quanzhong was granted the nine bestowals, Jiang Xuanhui and others separately stated other views. Wang Yin reached Daliang and slandered Xuanhui and others for communicating with the inner palace, wishing to restore the Li house. Quanzhong was angry, arrested Tingfan, ordered Henan to gather the crowd, and the five armies dismembered him. Can was also executed. At execution he cried, "The traitor to the state Liu Can—death is fitting!" Earlier, after Can moved to Luoyang he cumulatively was Minister of Revenue and acting Minister of Works, advanced to Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and commissioner of salt and iron transport.
79
其弟瑀、瑊坐璨笞死。
His younger brothers Yu and Jian were implicated and beaten to death.
80
史臣曰：嗚呼！ 李氏之失馭也，孛沴之氣紛如，仁義之徒殆盡。 狐鳴鴟嘯，瓦解土崩。 帶河礪嶽之門，寂無琨、逖； 奮挺揭竿之類，唯效敦、玄。 手未舍於棘矜，心已萌於問鼎。 加以囂浮士子，阘茸鯫儒。 昧管、葛濟時之才，無王、謝扶顛之業，邀功射利，陷族喪邦。 濬、緯養虎於前，胤、璨剝廬於後。 逐徐、薛於瘴海，置綮、朴於巖廊。 殿廷有哭制之夫，輔弼走破輿之黨。 九疇既紊，百怪斯呈。 木將朽而蠹蠍生，厲既篤而夔魖見。 妖徒若此，亡國宜然。 何必長星，更臨衰運？
The historian says: Alas! When the Li house lost the reins, baleful vapors swarmed. Men of benevolence and righteousness were nearly exhausted. Foxes cried and owls shrieked. Dissolution was like crumbling earth. In gates bound by river and mountain oaths there were none like Kun or Ti. Among those who raised poles and banners only Dun and Xuan were imitated. Hands had not yet left the thornwood spear. Hearts already sprouted the intent to seize the tripod. Moreover arrogant floating scholars and incompetent petty pedants lacked the timely talent of Guan and Ge, lacked the sustaining work of Wang and Xie, sought merit and shot for profit, and ruined clans and lost the state. Jun and Wei reared tigers before. Yin and Can stripped the hut behind. They drove Xu and Xue to the malarial sea and placed Qi and Pu in the rock corridor. In the hall court were men who wept at edict proclamation. Assisting ministers fled with the faction that smashed the carriage. The nine fields were already disordered. A hundred portents then appeared. Wood about to rot breeds worms and scorpions. Sickness already deep summons demons and ogres. Wicked followers like this—state extinction was fitting. Why must a long comet again descend on a declining fortune?
81
贊曰：蕭召、朱玫，孔符、張濬，身世罹殃，邦家起釁。 如木斯蠹，自潰於中。 抵巇侮亂，安責伏戎。
Praise says: Xiao summoned and Zhu Mei, Kong talisman and Zhang Jun—bodies and lives met calamity, the state raised strife. Like wood with worms, it collapsed from within. Meeting peril and insulting disorder—how can one blame those who subdued the war?