1
裴懷古，壽州壽春人也。 儀鳳中，詣闕上書，授下邽主簿。 長壽中，累轉監察御史。 時姚、巂蠻首反叛，詔懷古往招輯之。 懷古申明賞罰，賊徒歸附者日以千數，乃俘其魁首，處其居人而還。 蠻夷荷恩，立碑頌德。 時恆州鹿泉寺僧凈滿為弟子所謀，密畫女人居高樓，仍作凈滿引弓而射之，藏於經笥。 已而詣闕上言僧咒詛，大逆不道。 則天命懷古按問誅之。 懷古究其辭狀，釋凈滿以聞。 則天大怒。 懷古奏曰：「陛下法無親疏，當與天下畫一。 豈使臣誅無辜之人，以希聖旨？ 向使凈滿有不臣之狀，臣復何顏能寬之乎？ 臣今慎守平典，雖死無恨也。」 則天意乃解。
Pei Huaigu was a native of Shouchun in Shou Prefecture. During the Yifeng reign (676–679), he went to the capital to present a memorial and was appointed registrar of Xia Gui. During the Changshou reign (692–700), he rose through successive postings to the post of investigating censor. When the chieftains of the Yao and Xi peoples rebelled, the court ordered Huaigu to go win them back by persuasion. Huaigu set out rewards and penalties in plain terms, and rebels came over by the thousand each day. He then took the ringleaders captive, settled the local population, and returned. The tribes, grateful for his kindness, raised a monument in praise of his virtue. About that time Jing Man, a monk at Luquan Temple in Heng Prefecture, was set up by his own disciples. They secretly painted a woman on a high tower and also showed Jing Man drawing a bow to shoot at her, then hid the painting in a sutra case. Before long his accusers went to the capital and charged the monk with casting curses—an offense of the gravest treason. Empress Wu ordered Huaigu to examine the case and put him to death. Huaigu traced the testimony to its source, freed Jing Man, and reported what he had found. Empress Wu flew into a rage. Huaigu submitted a memorial: "Your Majesty's law makes no distinction of kinship; it should be one standard for all the realm. Would you have me put innocent men to death merely to please the throne? If Jing Man had truly shown disloyalty, what face would I have had to spare him? I now hold fast to impartial law; even if I die for it, I shall have no regret. At that her anger subsided.
2
聖歷中，閻知微充使往突厥，懷古監其軍。 至虜庭，默啜立知微為南面可汗。 將授懷古偽職，懷古不從，將殺之。 懷古抗辭曰：「寧守忠以就死，不毀節以求生，請就斬，所不避也！」 乃禁錮隨軍，因挺身奔竄以歸，拜祠部員外郎。
During the Shenglai reign (698–700), Yan Zhiwei was sent as envoy to the Turks, with Huaigu overseeing his escort. At the Turk court, Mo-chuo proclaimed Zhiwei khan of the southern horde. They meant to give Huaigu a puppet title; he refused, and they prepared to kill him. Huaigu answered boldly: "I would rather keep faith and die than break my integrity to live—strike if you will; I do not shrink from it! They held him captive with the army, but he broke away and fled home. On his return he was appointed vice director in the Ministry of Rites.
3
時姚、巂蠻首相率詣闕頌懷古綏撫之狀，請為牧守以撫之。 遂授姚州都督。 以疾不行，轉司封郎中。 時始安賊歐陽倩擁徒數萬，剽陷州縣，授懷古桂州都督，仍充招慰討擊使。 才及嶺，飛書招誘，示以禍福，賊徒迎降，自陳為吏人侵逼，乃舉兵耳。 懷古知其誠懇，乃輕騎以赴之。 左右曰：「夷獠難親，未可信也。」 懷古曰：「吾仗忠信，可通於神明，況於人乎！」 因造其營以慰諭之。 群賊喜悅，歸其所掠財貨，納於公府。 諸洞酋長素持兩端者，盡來款附，嶺外悉定。
The Yao and Xi chieftains then came to court in a body to praise how Huaigu had pacified them and asked that he be made their governor. He was accordingly appointed military governor of Yao Prefecture. Illness kept him from taking up the post, and he was transferred to director in the Ministry of Personnel. At that time the rebel Ouyang Qian of Shi'an had tens of thousands of followers and was raiding prefectures and counties. Huaigu was made military governor of Gui Prefecture and also pacification and pursuit commissioner. Hardly had he crossed the ranges when he sent urgent letters offering terms, showing reward and ruin. The rebels came forward to surrender, saying they had taken up arms only because officials had oppressed them. Huaigu judged their plea sincere and rode out lightly armed to meet them. His attendants said, "Barbarians are hard to trust—we cannot rely on them yet. Huaigu replied, "If loyalty and good faith can reach the spirits, how much more men!" He went straight to their camp to reassure and instruct them. The rebels were delighted and returned what they had looted to the government treasury. Chieftains of the cave settlements who had long hedged their bets all came in submission, and the region beyond the ranges was fully pacified.
4
復歷相州刺史、并州大都督府長史，所在為人吏所慕。 神龍中，遷左羽林大將軍，行未達都，復授并州長史。 吏人聞懷古還，老幼相攜，郊野歡迎。 時崔宣道代懷古為并州，下車而罷，出郊以候懷古。 懷古恐傷宣道之意，命官吏驅逐出迎之人，而百姓奔赴愈眾，其為人所思如此。 俄轉幽州都督，征為左威衛大將軍。 尋卒。
He later served as prefect of Xiang and as chief administrator of the Bing protectorate; wherever he went, officials and people looked up to him. During the Shenlong reign (705–707) he was promoted to general of the Left Feathered Forest, but before he reached the capital he was again appointed chief administrator of Bing. When word spread that Huaigu was coming back, young and old went out together to welcome him in the countryside. Cui Xuandao had replaced Huaigu at Bing but was removed as soon as he took office; he went to the outskirts to wait for Huaigu's return. Huaigu, not wishing to wound Xuandao's pride, ordered his staff to turn the crowds away, but ever more people came out to greet him—such was the hold he had on people's hearts. Soon he was transferred to military governor of You and summoned to serve as general of the Left Majestic Guard. He died not long afterward.
5
張知謇，蒲州河東人也，徙家於岐。 少與兄知玄、知晦，弟知泰、知默五人，勵誌讀書，皆以明經擢第。 儀質瑰偉，眉目疏朗，曉於玄理，清介自守，故當時名公爭引薦之，遞歷畿赤。 知謇、知泰、知默，調露後又歷臺省。
Zhang Zhijian was from Hedong in Pu Prefecture; his family later settled in Qi. As a youth he and his brothers Zhixuan and Zhihui, together with Zhita and Zhimò—five brothers in all—devoted themselves to study and all passed the classics examination. He was tall and striking in appearance, with clear, open features; versed in metaphysical learning and strict in personal conduct, he was eagerly recommended by leading men of the day and served in turn in posts around the capital. Zhijian, Zhita, and Zhimò later held posts in the censorate and central secretariat after the Diaolu reign (679–680).
6
知謇，天授後歷房、和、舒、延、德、定、稷、晉、洺、宣、貝十一州刺史，所涖有威嚴，人不敢犯。 通天中，知泰為洛州司馬，知默為秋官郎中。 知謇自德州入計，則天重其才幹，又目其狀貌過人，命畫工寫之，以賜其本。 曰：「人或有才，未必有貌，卿家昆弟，可謂兩絕。」 時人稱之。 尋以知泰為夏官、地官侍郎，益州長史，中臺右丞。
After the Tianshou reign (690–692), Zhijian served as prefect of eleven prefectures—Fang, He, Shu, Yan, De, Ding, Ji, Jin, Mo, Xuan, and Bei. Wherever he governed he inspired awe, and none dared transgress. During the Tongtian reign (697), Zhita was vice prefect of Luo and Zhimò was a director in the Ministry of Justice. When Zhijian came from De Prefecture to report on his administration, Empress Wu admired his ability and noted that his looks were exceptional; she had painters take his likeness and gave the portrait to his family. She remarked, "Some men have talent but not looks; your brothers are outstanding in both. Contemporaries spoke of them with praise. Soon Zhita was appointed vice minister of the ministries of war and revenue, chief administrator of Yi, and right assistant in the central secretariat.
7
知泰以忤武三思，出并州刺史、天平軍使，仍帶本官。 尋又為魏州刺史。 景龍二年卒，優詔褒贈，謚曰定。 時知謇為洛州長史、東都副留守。 又歷左、右羽林大將軍，同、華州刺史，大理卿致仕。 開元中卒，年八十。
Zhita offended Wu Sansi and was sent out as prefect of Bing and commissioner of the Tianping army, while keeping his former title. He was soon made prefect of Wei as well. He died in 708 (Jinglong 2); the throne issued a laudatory edict of posthumous honors, with the posthumous name Ding ("Steadfast"). At that time Zhijian was chief administrator of Luo and deputy protector of the eastern capital. He later served as general of the Left and Right Feathered Forest, prefect of Tong and Hua, and retired as chief minister of justice. He died during the Kaiyuan reign (713–741), at the age of eighty.
8
知謇敏於從政，性亮直，不喜有請托求進、無才而冒位者。 故子侄經義不精，不許論舉。 知默嘗與來俊臣、周興等同掌詔獄，陷於酷吏，子孫禁錮。 知泰，開元中累贈刑部尚書、特進。
Zhijian was adept at government and upright by nature; he had no patience for favor-seekers or incompetents who clung to office. If his sons and nephews had not mastered the classics, he would not let their names go forward for appointment. Zhimò had once served with Lai Junchen and Zhou Xing in charge of political prisoners; tainted by association with the cruel commissioners, his descendants were barred from office. Zhita received successive posthumous honors during Kaiyuan, including minister of justice and special grand mentor.
9
知玄子景升，知泰子景佚，開元中皆至大官，門列棨戟。
Zhixuan's son Jingsheng and Zhita's son Jingyi both rose to high office in the Kaiyuan era; their households bore the insignia of great ministers.
10
楊元琰，虢州閿鄉人，隋禮部尚書希曾孫也。 初生時，數歲不能言，相者曰：「語遲者神定，此必成大器也。」 及長，偉姿儀，以器局見稱。 初為平棘令，號為善政。 載初中，累遷安南副都護，又歷蘄、蒲、晉、魏、宣、許六州刺史，涼、梁二都督，荊府長史。 前後九度清白升進，累降璽書褒美。
Yang Yuanyan was from Min township in Guo Prefecture, a great-grandson of Xizeng, minister of rites under the Sui. As an infant he did not speak until he was several years old. A fortune-teller said, "A child slow to speak has a steady spirit—this one will surely rise high. When he grew up he was imposing in bearing and was known for breadth of mind. His first post was magistrate of Pingji, where he was known for sound administration. In the early Zai-chu years (689–690) he rose to deputy protector-general of Annan and served in turn as prefect of Qi, Pu, Jin, Wei, Xuan, and Xu, as military governor of Liang and Liang prefectures, and as chief administrator of Jing. Nine times he was promoted on account of his clean record, and the throne repeatedly sent sealed edicts in praise.
11
長安中，張柬之代元琰為荊州長史，與元琰泛江中流，言及則天革命，議諸武擅權之狀，元琰發言慷慨，有匡復之意。 及柬之知政事，奏引元琰為右羽林將軍。 至都，柬之謂曰：「記昔江中之言乎？ 今日之授，意不細也。」 乃結元琰與李多祚等，定計誅張易之兄弟。 及事成，加雲麾將軍，封弘農郡公，食實封五百戶，仍賜鐵券，恕十死。
During the Chang'an reign (701–705), Zhang Jianzhi succeeded Yuanyan as chief administrator of Jing. Drifting on the river together, they spoke of Wu Zetian's usurpation and the Wu clan's grip on power. Yuanyan spoke with passionate resolve, showing a mind set on restoration. When Jianzhi came to power, he had Yuanyan appointed general of the Right Feathered Forest. When Yuanyan reached the capital, Jianzhi asked him, "Do you remember what we said on the river? This appointment today is no small matter. He then enlisted Yuanyan, Li Duozuo, and others in a plot to kill Zhang Yizhi and his brother. When the coup succeeded, he was promoted to general of the Cloud-Banner Guard, enfeoffed as duke of Hongnong with a substantive fief of five hundred households, and granted an iron certificate absolving him of ten capital crimes.
12
俄而張柬之、敬暉等為武三思所構，元琰覺變，奏請削發出家，仍辭官爵實封。 中宗不許。 敬暉聞而笑曰：「向不知奏請出家，合贊成其事，剃卻胡頭，豈不妙也。」 元琰多須類胡，暉以此言戲之。 元琰曰：「功成名遂，不退將危。 此由衷之請，不徒然也。」 暉知其意，瞿然不悅。
Before long Zhang Jianzhi, Jing Hui, and the others were trapped by Wu Sansi. Sensing danger, Yuanyan asked to take the tonsure and leave the world, and also resigned his titles and fief. Emperor Zhongzong refused. When Jing Hui heard this he laughed and said, "Had I known you meant to take orders, I would have backed it—shaving that barbarian pate would have been a fine sight. Yuanyan wore a thick beard like a foreigner's; Hui was joking at his expense. Yuanyan replied, "When merit is won and fame secured, not stepping back invites ruin. This request comes from the heart—it is no empty gesture. Hui understood what he meant and fell abruptly silent, displeased.
13
子仲嗣，密州刺史； 仲昌，吏部郎中。
His son Zhongsi served as prefect of Mi; Zhongchang was a director in the Ministry of Personnel.
14
倪若水，恆州稾城人也。 開元初，歷遷中書舍人、尚書右丞，出為汴州刺史。 政尚清靜，人吏安之。 又增修孔子廟堂及州縣學舍，勸勵生徒，儒教甚盛，河、汴間稱詠不已。
Ni Ruoshui was a native of Gaocheng in Heng Prefecture. Early in the Kaiyuan reign he rose to drafting attendant of the Secretariat and right vice minister of the Department of State Affairs, then was sent out as prefect of Bian. His rule favored quiet and simplicity; officials and people lived at ease. He restored the Confucian temple and local school buildings, encouraged students, and Confucian learning flourished; people along the Yellow River and Bian spoke of him with lasting praise.
15
四年，玄宗令宦官往江南采䴔䴖等諸鳥，路由汴州。 若水知之，上表諫曰：「方今九夏時忙，三農作苦，田夫擁耒，蠶婦持桑。 而以此時采捕奇禽異鳥，供園池之玩，遠自江、嶺，達於京師，水備舟船，陸倦擔負，飯之以魚肉，間之以稻粱。 道路觀者，豈不以陛下賤人貴鳥也！ 陛下方當以鳳皇為凡鳥，麒麟為凡獸，即䴔䴖、鸂鶒，曷足貴也？ 陛下昔潛龍籓邸，備歷艱虞。 今氛昆廓清，高居九五，玉帛子女，充於後庭，職貢珍奇，盈於內府，過此之外，復何求哉？ 臣承國厚恩，超居重任。 草芥賤命，常欲殺身以效忠； 葵藿微心，常願隳肝以報主。 瞻望庭闕，敢布腹心，直言忤旨，甘從鼎鑊。」 手詔答曰：「朕先使人取少雜鳥，其使不識朕意，采鳥稍多。 卿具奏其事，辭誠忠懇，深稱朕意。 卿達識周材，義方敬直，故輟綱轄之重，委以方面之權。 果能閑邪存誠，守節彌固，骨鯁忠烈，遇事無隱。 言念忠讜，深用嘉慰。 使人朕已量事決罰，禽鳥並令放訖。 今賜卿物四十段，用答至言。」
In the fourth year of his reign, Xuanzong sent eunuchs south to collect pelicans and other birds; their route passed through Bian. When Ruoshui learned of this he submitted a memorial of remonstrance: "At the height of summer the farming season is at its busiest. Men in the fields lean on their hoes; women tending silkworms carry mulberry branches. Yet at such a season you would hunt rare birds for the amusement of palace ponds—shipping them from the Yangtze and the southern ranges to the capital, with boats on the waterways and porters worn out on the roads, feeding them fish and meat and grain between journeys. Surely travelers along the road will think Your Majesty values birds above people! Your Majesty ought to treat the phoenix as a common bird and the qilin as a common beast—what then makes pelicans and mandarin ducks worth such trouble? When Your Majesty was still a prince in his residence, you endured every hardship. Now the realm is at peace and you sit upon the throne; silks and attendants fill the inner quarters, and tribute of rare goods overflows the palace stores. Beyond this, what more could you want? I have received the state's great favor and been raised to a weighty post. This humble life of mine I would gladly give in loyal service; with the small loyalty of the sunflower I would tear out my heart to repay my sovereign. Gazing toward the palace, I lay bare my heart: if frank speech offends the throne, I accept death by boiling. The emperor replied in his own hand: "I first sent men to collect a few birds; the envoys did not understand my intent and gathered somewhat more than I meant. You reported the matter in full; your words were sincere and loyal, and they accorded deeply with my mind. You are broad in judgment and capable in office, upright and respectful in conduct; that is why I relieved you of central duties and entrusted you with regional authority. You have indeed repelled wrongdoing, kept faith, held your integrity firm, and shown unbending loyalty—hiding nothing when matters arise. When I think of your loyal remonstrance, I am deeply pleased and comforted. I have already weighed the affair and decided punishments for the envoys, and ordered all the birds released. I now grant you forty bolts of goods in acknowledgment of your forthright words."
16
尋入拜戶部侍郎。 七年，復授尚書右丞，卒。
He soon returned to court and was appointed vice minister of the Ministry of Revenue. In the seventh year he was again made right vice director of the Department of State Affairs and died in office.
17
李浚，隴西人，祖世武。 睿宗即位，加銀青光祿大夫。 上在東宮，選為太子中允。 又出為麟州刺史，政有能名。 開元初，置諸道按察使，盛選能吏，授浚潤州刺史、江東按察使，累封真源縣子。 州人孫處玄以學行著名，浚特加禮異，累表薦之，仍令子麟與之結交。 處玄竟稱疾不起。 浚尋拜虢、潞二州刺史，又拜益州長史、劍南節度使，攝御史大夫。 所歷皆以誠信待物，稱為良吏。 及去職，鹹有遺愛。 八年卒官，贈戶部尚書，謚曰成。 子麟，自有傳。
Li Jun was a native of Longxi; his grandfather was Shi Wu. When Emperor Ruizong took the throne, Jun was promoted to silver-purple-light-bearer grand master. While the emperor was still crown prince, Jun was chosen as middle attendant of the heir apparent. He was later sent out as governor of Lin Prefecture, where his governance earned a reputation for ability. At the start of the Kaiyuan reign, the court established regional inspection commissioners and carefully chose capable officials. Jun was made governor of Run Prefecture and Jiangdong inspection commissioner, and was eventually enfeoffed as viscount of Zhenyuan County. Sun Chuxuan, a local scholar renowned for learning and conduct, received exceptional courtesy from Jun, who repeatedly recommended him in memorials and had his son Lin befriend him. Chuxuan ultimately pleaded illness and declined to take office. Jun was soon made governor of Guo and Lu prefectures, then appointed administrator of Yizhou, military governor of Jiannan, and acting censor-in-chief. Wherever he served he dealt with people in sincerity and good faith, and was acclaimed as an excellent official. When he left each post, the people everywhere cherished his memory. He died in office in the eighth year and was posthumously made minister of revenue, with the posthumous title Cheng. His son Lin has a separate biography.
18
陽嶠，河南洛陽人，其先自北平徙焉，北齊右僕射休之玄孫也。 儀鳳中應八科舉，授將陵尉，累遷詹事司直。 長安中，桓彥範為左御史中丞，袁恕己為右御史中丞，爭薦嶠，請引為御史。 內史楊再思素與嶠善，知嶠不樂搏擊之任，謂彥範等曰：「聞其不情願，如何？」 彥範曰：「為官擇人，豈待情願。 唯不情願者，尤須與之，所以長難進之風，抑躁求之路。」 再思然其言，擢為右臺侍御史。 景龍末，累轉國子司業。 嶠恭謹好學，有儒者之風。 又勤於政理，循循善誘。 及在學司，時人以為稱職。 奏修先聖廟及講堂，因建碑前庭，以紀崇儒之事。
Yang Qiao was a native of Luoyang in Henan. His family had moved there from Beiping, and he was the great-great-grandson of Xiuzhi, right vice director under Northern Qi. During the Yifeng reign he passed the eight-category examination, was appointed wei of Jiangling, and rose through successive posts to director in the heir apparent's household secretariat. During the Chang'an reign, Huan Yanfan served as left assistant censor-in-chief and Yuan Shuji as right assistant censor-in-chief; both vied to recommend Qiao and asked that he be brought in as a censor. Chief Minister Yang Zaosi had long been on good terms with Qiao and knew Qiao disliked the work of prosecuting wrongdoing. He said to Yanfan and the others, "I hear he is unwilling—what then? Yanfan replied, "When filling an office one chooses the right man for the post—why wait until he wants it? It is precisely those who are unwilling who most need to be given such posts, so as to nurture the virtue of finding advancement hard to come by and to check the rush for quick promotion. Zaosi agreed and promoted Qiao to attending censor of the right bureau. Near the end of the Jinglong reign he rose through successive posts to vice director of the Directorate of Education. Qiao was respectful, diligent, and fond of learning, with the bearing of a true Confucian scholar. He was also diligent in administration and excelled at patient, step-by-step guidance. While he held charge of the educational administration, contemporaries considered him well suited to the post. He memorialized for repairs to the temple of the Former Sage and the lecture hall, and had a stele erected in the front courtyard to commemorate the court's reverence for Confucian learning.
19
睿宗即位，拜尚書右丞。 時分建都督府以統外臺，精擇良吏，以嶠為涇州都督府，尋停不行。 又歷魏州刺史，充袞州都督、荊州長史，為本道按察使，所在以清白聞。 魏州人詣闕割耳，請嶠重臨其郡，又除魏州刺史。 入為國子祭酒，累封北平伯，薦尹知章、範行恭、趙玄默等為學官，皆稱名儒。 時學徒漸弛，嶠課率經業，稍行鞭箠，學生怨之，頗有喧謗，乃相率乘夜於街中毆之。 上聞而令所由杖殺無理者，由是始息。
When Emperor Ruizong took the throne, Qiao was appointed right vice director of the Department of State Affairs. At that time the court was establishing separate regional command headquarters to oversee the outer circuits and was carefully selecting able officials. Qiao was appointed commandant of the Jing Prefecture headquarters, but the plan was soon halted and he never took up the post. He later served as governor of Wei Prefecture, filled the post of Yanzhou commandant, became administrator of Jing Prefecture and inspection commissioner for his circuit, and everywhere he went was known for incorruptibility. People of Wei Prefecture went to the capital and cut off their ears in petition, begging that Qiao return to govern them, and he was again appointed governor of Wei Prefecture. He entered court as chancellor of the Directorate of Education, was eventually enfeoffed as earl of Beiping, and recommended Yin Zhizhang, Fan Xinggong, Zhao Xuanmo, and others as educational officers—all renowned Confucian scholars. Students had grown slack in their studies, so Qiao enforced the classics and occasionally used the rod. Resentful students spread loud complaints, and one night they banded together in the street and beat him. When the emperor heard of it, he ordered the local authorities to beat the ringleaders to death, and the uproar finally subsided.
20
嶠素友悌，撫孤侄如己子。 常謂人曰：「吾雖位登方伯，而心不異於曩時一尉耳。」 識者甚稱嘆之。 尋以年老致仕，卒於家，謚曰敬。
Qiao had always been warm and brotherly; he raised his orphaned nephew as if he were his own son. He often told people, "Though I have risen to the rank of regional governor, my heart is no different from when I was a lowly commandery wei. Those who understood him greatly admired this. He soon retired on account of age, died at home, and was given the posthumous title Jing.
21
宋慶禮，洺州永年人。 舉明經，授衛縣尉。 則天時，侍御史桓彥範受詔於河北斷塞居庸、嶽嶺、五回等路，以備突厥，特召慶禮以謀其事。 慶禮雅有方略，彥範甚禮之。 尋遷大理評事，仍充嶺南采訪使。 時崖、振等五州首領，更相侵掠，荒俗不安，承前使人，懼其炎瘴，莫有到者。 慶禮躬至其境，詢問風俗，示以禍福。 於是安堵，遂罷鎮兵五千人。 開元中，累遷貝州刺史，仍為河北支度營田使。
Song Qingli was a native of Yongnian in Ming Prefecture. He passed the classics examination and was appointed wei of Wei County. During Empress Wu's reign, attending censor Huan Yanfan received orders to block the roads at Juyong, Yueling, Wuhui, and other passes in Hebei against the Turks, and Qingli was specially summoned to help plan the work. Qingli had a natural gift for strategy, and Yanfan treated him with great respect. He was soon transferred to case reviewer in the Court of Judicial Review and also served as Lingnan investigation commissioner. At that time the chieftains of Ya, Zhen, and four other prefectures raided one another in turn; frontier society was unsettled, and previous envoys, fearing the malarial climate, had never reached the region. Qingli went there in person, inquired into local customs, and showed them the consequences of peace and of strife. The people thereupon settled in peace, and five thousand garrison troops were withdrawn. During the Kaiyuan reign he rose through successive posts to governor of Bei Prefecture and also served as Hebei supply and frontier-colonization commissioner.
22
初，營州都督府置在柳城，控帶奚、契丹。 則天時，都督趙文翙政理乖方，兩蕃反叛，攻陷州城，其後移於幽州東二百里漁陽城安置。 開元五年，奚、契丹各款塞歸附，玄宗欲復營州於舊城。 侍中宋璟固爭以為不可，獨慶禮甚陳其利。 乃詔慶禮及太子詹事姜師度、左驍衛將軍邵宏等充使，更於柳城築營州城，興役三旬而畢。 俄拜慶禮御史中丞，兼檢校營州都督。 開屯田八十余所，追拔幽州及漁陽、淄青等戶，並招輯商胡，為立店肆。 數年間，營州倉廩頗實，居人漸殷。
Originally the Ying Prefecture command headquarters was at Liucheng, where it kept watch over the Xi and Khitan. Under Empress Wu, commandant Zhao Wenhuai governed badly; both tribes rebelled and captured the prefectural city, after which the headquarters was moved to Yuyang City, two hundred li east of You Prefecture. In the fifth year of Kaiyuan the Xi and Khitan each came peacefully to the border passes and submitted, and Emperor Xuanzong wished to restore Ying Prefecture to its old site. Chief Minister Song Jing firmly argued against it, but Qingli alone strongly urged its advantages. An edict then appointed Qingli, grand mentor of the heir apparent Jiang Shidu, left xiaoqi guard general Shao Hong, and others as commissioners to rebuild Ying Prefecture at Liucheng; the work was finished in thirty days. Qingli was soon made assistant censor-in-chief and concurrently acting commandant of Ying Prefecture. He opened more than eighty military colonies, drew settlers from You Prefecture, Yuyang, Ziqing, and elsewhere, and also gathered foreign merchants, establishing shops for them. Within a few years Ying Prefecture's granaries were well stocked and the population gradually grew prosperous.
23
慶禮為政清嚴，而勤於聽理，所歷之處，人吏不敢犯。 然好興功役，多所改更。 嘗於邊險置阱立槍，以邀賊路，議者頗嗤其不切事也。 七年卒，贈工部尚書。 太常博士張星議曰：「宋慶禮大剛則折，至察無徒，有事東北，所亡萬計，所謂害於而家，兇於而國。 案謚法，好巧自是曰『專』，請謚曰『專』。」 禮部員外郎張九齡駁曰：
Qingli governed with clarity and strictness and worked diligently at hearing cases; wherever he served, officials and commoners alike dared not transgress. Yet he loved launching public works and changed many existing arrangements. He once set pits and planted spears at border strongpoints to ambush enemy routes, and critics widely dismissed this as impractical. He died in the seventh year and was posthumously made minister of works. Court of Imperial Sacrifices doctor Zhang Xing proposed: "Song Qingli was so rigid that he broke, so exacting that he stood alone. His northeastern projects cost tens of thousands of lives—the very sort of case the classics describe as harming one's own house and bringing ruin to the state. By the standards of posthumous titles, one who trusts his own cleverness and insists he is right is called Zhuan. I therefore request the posthumous title Zhuan. Ministry of Rites assistant director Zhang Jiuling rebutted, saying:
24
慶禮在人苦節，為國勞臣，一行邊陲，三十年所。 戶庭可樂，彼獨安於傳遞； 稼穡為艱，又能實於軍廩。 莫不服勞辱之事而匪懈其心，守貞堅之規而自盡其力，有一於此，人之所難。 況營州者，鎮彼戎夷，扼喉斷臂，逆則制其死命，順則為其主人，是稱樂都，其來尚矣。 往緣趙翙作牧，馭之非才，自經隳廢，便長寇孽。 故二十年間，有事東鄙，僵屍暴骨，敗將覆軍，蓋不可勝紀。
Qingli endured hardship to preserve his integrity and was a minister who toiled for the state; he spent some thirty years on frontier service. While others could enjoy home and family, he alone was content with endless relay assignments; though farming is hard labor, he still managed to fill the military granaries. He accepted exhausting, humiliating work without slackening in heart, kept to the rule of steadfast integrity, and gave all his strength—any one of these would be hard for most men. Moreover Ying Prefecture guards the barbarian tribes at the throat and arm of the northeast: resist them and you hold their lives in your hand; submit them and you become their master. It has long been honored as a prosperous frontier capital. Formerly Zhao Wenhuai governed it without the talent to keep control; once the city was ruined and abandoned, raiders flourished. For twenty years thereafter the eastern frontier saw endless campaigns—corpses left to stiffen in the open, defeated generals and ruined armies beyond count.
25
大明臨下，聖謀獨斷，恢祖宗之舊，復大禹之跡。 以數千之役徒，無甲兵之強衛，指期遂往，稟命而行。 於是量畚築，執沴鼓，親總其役，不愆所慮。 俾柳城為金湯之險，林胡生腹心之疾，蓋為此也。 尋而罷海運，收歲儲，邊亭晏然，河朔無擾。 與夫興師之費，轉輸之勞，較其優劣，孰為利害？ 而雲「所亡萬計」，一何謬哉！ 及契丹背誕之日，懼我掎角之勢，雖鼠穴自固，而駒牧無侵，蓋張皇彼都系賴之力也！ 安有踐其跡以制其實，貶其謚以徇其虛，采慮始之謗聲，忘經遠之權利，義非得所，孰謂其可？ 請以所議，更下太常，庶素行之跡可尋，易名之典不墜者也。
His Majesty's brilliant wisdom decided the matter alone, restoring the ancestral frontier and reviving the legacy of Great Yu. With only a few thousand laborers and no strong armed escort, Qingli set out on the appointed day under imperial orders. There he measured out baskets for the earthworks, took up the work drums, and personally directed the labor without deviating from his plan. He made Liucheng an impregnable fortress and planted a disease in the vitals of the forest tribes—precisely for that strategic purpose. Soon maritime transport was cut, yearly stores were gathered in, the border posts grew quiet, and Hebei was left undisturbed. Compare that with the cost of raising armies and the labor of long supply lines—which course brings benefit, and which brings harm? Yet to speak of "losses in the tens of thousands"—how absurd! When the Khitan later turned treacherous, they feared our pincer position: though they holed up like rats, the border pastures went unraided—surely because the restored capital's strength held them in check! How can one trample his real achievements, degrade his posthumous name to satisfy empty criticism, heed the early slander, and forget the long-term strategic gain? That cannot be right—who could approve it? I ask that this proposal be referred again to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, so that his lifelong conduct may be weighed and the standards for posthumous titles may not be debased.
26
星復執前議，慶禮兄子辭玉又詣闕稱冤，乃謚曰敬。
Zhang Xing again held to his original proposal, and Qingli's nephew Ciyu also went to court to plead injustice; the posthumous title was finally fixed as Jing.
27
姜師度，魏人也。 明經舉。 神龍初，累遷易州刺史、兼御史中丞，為河北道監察兼支度營田使。 師度勤於為政，又有巧思，頗知溝洫之利。 始於薊門之北，漲水為溝，以備奚、契丹之寇。 又約魏武舊渠，傍海穿漕，號為平虜渠，以避海艱，糧運者至今利焉。 尋加銀青光祿大夫，累遷大理卿。 景雲二年，轉司農卿。
Jiang Shidu was a native of Wei. He passed the classics examination. At the start of the Shenlong reign he rose through successive posts to governor of Yi Prefecture and concurrently assistant censor-in-chief, serving as Hebei circuit inspector and supply and frontier-colonization commissioner. Shidu was diligent in administration and full of practical ingenuity; he understood well the value of canals and irrigation. Beginning north of Jimen Pass, he dammed water into a canal to guard against Xi and Khitan raids. He also linked up the old canal of Emperor Wu of Wei, cutting a coastal transport channel called the Pinglu Canal to avoid the hardships of sea transport—a route grain shipments still use to this day. He was soon promoted to silver-purple-light-bearer grand master and rose through successive posts to director of the Court of Judicial Review. In the second year of Jingyun he was transferred to director of the Directorate of Agriculture.
28
開元初，遷陜州刺史。 州西太原倉控兩京水陸二運，常自倉車載米至河際，然後登舟。 師度遂鑿地道，自上註之，便至水次，所省萬計。 六年，以蒲州為河中府，拜師度為河中尹，令其繕緝府寺。
At the start of the Kaiyuan reign he was transferred to governor of Shan Prefecture. West of the prefecture, Taiyuan Granary controlled the water and land transport routes to both capitals; grain was usually carted from the granary to the riverbank before being loaded onto boats. Shidu then dug a tunnel and poured grain down from above straight to the water's edge, saving tens of thousands in transport costs. In the sixth year Pu Prefecture was made Hedong Prefecture; Shidu was appointed governor of Hedong and ordered to repair the prefectural offices and temples.
29
先是，安邑鹽池漸涸，師度發卒開拓，疏決水道，置為鹽屯，公私大收其利。 再遷同州刺史，又於朝邑、河西二縣界，就古通靈陂，擇地引雒水及堰黃河灌之，以種稻田，凡二千余頃，內置屯十余所，收獲萬計。 特加金紫光祿大夫，尋遷將作大匠。
Previously the salt ponds at Anyi had gradually dried up; Shidu sent troops to reopen and expand them, dredged the waterways, established salt colonies, and both public and private interests reaped great profit. He was again transferred to governor of Tong Prefecture. On the border of Chao and Hexi counties he revived the ancient Tongling Reservoir, drew in water from the Luo River, dammed the Yellow River for irrigation, and planted more than two thousand qing of rice paddies; he established more than ten colonies within the project, with harvests numbering in the tens of thousands. He was specially promoted to gold-purple-light-bearer grand master and soon transferred to director of the Directorate of Palace Buildings.
30
明年，左拾遺劉彤上言：「請置鹽鐵之官，收利以供國用，則免重賦貧人，使窮困者獲濟。」 疏奏，令宰相議其可否，鹹以為鹽鐵之利，甚裨國用。 遂令師度與戶部侍郎強循並攝御史中丞，與諸道按察使計會，以收海內鹽鐵。 其後頗多沮議者，事竟不行。
The next year left reminder Liu Tong submitted a memorial: "I request establishing salt and iron offices to collect profits for state use, thereby easing heavy levies on the poor and giving relief to the destitute. When the memorial was submitted, the emperor ordered the chief ministers to discuss its feasibility; all agreed that salt and iron profits would greatly benefit state revenue. The court then ordered Shidu and vice minister of revenue Qiang Xun to serve concurrently as assistant censor-in-chief and meet with the regional inspection commissioners to collect salt and iron throughout the realm. Afterward many officials opposed the plan, and in the end it was never implemented.
31
師度以十一年病卒，年七十余。 師度既好溝洫，所在必發眾穿鑿，雖時有不利，而成功亦多。 先是，太史令傅孝忠善占星緯，時人為之語曰：「傅孝忠兩眼看天，姜師度一心穿地。」 傳之以為口實。
In the eleventh year Shidu died of illness at over seventy years of age. Shidu loved irrigation works; wherever he served he mobilized labor to dig and channel water. Though projects sometimes failed, he also achieved many successes. Earlier, chief astronomer Fu Xiaozhong was skilled at reading the stars, and people of the time had a saying: "Fu Xiaozhong looks to the sky with both eyes; Jiang Shidu bores into the earth with all his heart. People passed it around as a standing joke.
32
強循者，鳳州人。 亦以吏幹知名，官至大理卿。
Qiang Xun was a native of Feng Prefecture. He was also known for administrative ability and rose to minister of justice.
33
又有和逢堯者，岐州岐山人。 性詭譎，有辭辯。 睿宗時，突厥默啜請尚公主，許之。 逢堯以御史中丞攝鴻臚卿充使報命。 既至虜庭，默啜遣其大臣謂逢堯曰：「敕書送金鏤鞍，檢乃銀胎金塗，豈是天子意，為是使人換卻。 如此虛假，公主必應非實。 請還信物，罷和親之事。」 遂策馬而去。 逢堯大呼，命左右引馬回，謂曰：「漢法重女婿，令送鞍者，只取平安長久之義，何必以金銀為升降耶？ 若爾，乃是可汗貪金而輕銀，豈是重人而貴信？」 默啜聞之，曰：「承前漢使，不敢如此，不可輕也。」 遂設宴備禮。 逢堯又說默啜令裹頭著紫衫，南面再拜，遣子隨逢堯入朝。
There was also He Fengyao, a native of Qishan in Qi Prefecture. He was crafty and resourceful, with a gift for argument. During Emperor Ruizong's reign, the Türk khagan Mo-ch'o asked to marry an imperial princess, and the court agreed. Fengyao served as envoy to deliver the reply, holding the posts of assistant censor-in-chief and acting director of the Court of Diplomatic Reception. When he reached the Türk court, Mo-ch'o sent a minister to tell Fengyao: "Your edict sent a gold-inlaid saddle, but inspection shows a silver frame with gold plating. Is that truly the emperor's intent, or did your envoy swap it? If the gift is false, the princess must be false as well. Return the betrothal gifts and cancel the marriage alliance. With that he whipped his horse and rode off. Fengyao shouted and ordered his attendants to turn the horse back. He said: "Han custom honors the son-in-law. A saddle is sent only to wish peace and lasting union. Why must value be measured in gold and silver? If that is so, then the khagan values gold and scorns silver. Is that how one honors people and keeps faith? When Mo-ch'o heard this, he said: "Past Han envoys never dared behave like this. This man must not be taken lightly. He then held a banquet with full ceremony. Fengyao also persuaded Mo-ch'o to wrap his head, put on a purple robe, bow twice facing south, and send his son to court with him.
34
逢堯以奉使功，驟遷戶部侍郎。 尋以附會太平公主，左遷朗州司馬。 開元中，累轉柘州刺史，卒於官。
For his success on this mission, Fengyao was abruptly promoted to vice minister of revenue. Soon afterward, for siding with Princess Taiping, he was demoted to secretary of Lang Prefecture. During the Kaiyuan era he was transferred in succession to governor of Zhe Prefecture and died in office.
35
潘好禮，貝州宗城人。 少與鄉人孟溫禮、楊茂謙為莫逆之友。 好禮舉明經，累授上蔡令，理有異績，擢為監察御史。 開元三年，累轉邠王府長史。 俄而邠王出為滑州刺史，以好禮兼邠王府司馬，知滑州事。 王欲有所遊觀，好禮輒諫止之。 後王將鷹犬與家人出獵，好禮聞而遮道請還。 王初不從，好禮遂臥於馬前，呼曰：「今正是農月，王何得非時將此惡少狗馬踐暴禾稼，縱樂以損於人！ 請先蹋殺司馬，然後聽王所為也！」 王慚懼，謝之而還。
Pan Haoli was a native of Zongcheng in Bei Prefecture. In youth he and his fellow townsmen Meng Wenli and Yang Maoqian were the closest of friends. Haoli passed the classics examination, served in succession as magistrate of Shangcai with outstanding results, and was promoted to investigating censor. In the third year of Kaiyuan he was transferred in succession to chief administrator of the Prince of Bin's household. Before long the Prince of Bin was posted as governor of Hua Prefecture, and Haoli was made concurrently secretary of the prince's household with charge of Hua affairs. Whenever the prince wanted to go sightseeing, Haoli remonstrated and stopped him. Later, when the prince was about to go hunting with hawks, hounds, and his household retainers, Haoli heard of it, blocked the road, and begged him to turn back. At first the prince refused. Haoli then lay down in front of the horse and cried: "This is the farming season. How can Your Highness untimely take these worthless dogs and horses to trample the crops and amuse yourself at the people's expense! Trample your secretary to death first, then do as you please! Ashamed and frightened, the prince apologized and turned back.
36
好禮尋遷豫州刺史，為政孜孜，而繁於細事，人吏雖憚其清嚴，亦厭其苛察。 其子請歸鄉預明經舉，好禮謂曰：「國法須平，汝若經業未精，則不可妄求也。」 乃自試其子。 經義未通，好禮大怒，集州僚笞而枷之，立於州門以徇於眾。 俄坐事左遷溫州別駕卒。 好禮常自以直道，不附於人。 又未嘗敘累階勛，服用粗陋，形骸土木，議者亦嫌其邀名。
Haoli was soon transferred to governor of Yu Prefecture. He governed diligently but was obsessed with small matters. Officials and clerks feared his integrity and severity, yet they also resented his excessive scrutiny. His son asked to return home to sit for the classics examination. Haoli told him: "The law must be even-handed. If your classical studies are not solid, you must not seek advancement rashly. He then tested his son himself. When his son failed the examination of classical meaning, Haoli flew into a rage, summoned the prefectural staff, had him flogged and placed in the cangue, and displayed him at the prefectural gate before the public. Before long he was demoted to vice-governor of Wen Prefecture for an offense and died there. Haoli always saw himself as an upright man and would not attach himself to others. He also never petitioned for accumulated rank and honors, dressed plainly, and lived as sparely as a wooden figure. Critics likewise faulted him for courting a reputation for virtue.
37
楊茂謙者，清河人。 竇懷貞初為清河令，甚重之。 起家應制舉，拜左拾遺，出為臨洺令。 時洺州稱茂謙與清漳令馮元淑、肥鄉令韋景駿，皆有政理之聲。 茂謙以清白聞，擢為秘書郎。 時竇懷貞為相，數稱薦之，由是歷遷大理正、御史中丞。 開元初，出為魏州刺史、河北道按察使，與司馬張懷玉本同鄉曲，初善而末隙，遂相糾訐，坐貶桂州都督。 尋轉廣州都督，以疾卒。
Yang Maoqian was a native of Qinghe. When Dou Huaizhen was first magistrate of Qinghe, he greatly valued him. Maoqian entered service through the special decree examination, was appointed left reminder, and went out as magistrate of Linming. At that time Ming Prefecture praised Maoqian, together with Feng Yuanshu, magistrate of Qingzhang, and Wei Jingjun, magistrate of Feixiang, as men with reputations for good governance. Maoqian was known for integrity and was promoted to secretary in the Secretariat. When Dou Huaizhen became chief minister, he repeatedly recommended Maoqian, who then rose in succession to chief judge of the court of justice and assistant censor-in-chief. Early in Kaiyuan he went out as governor of Wei Prefecture and Hebei circuit inspection commissioner. He and the prefectural secretary Zhang Huaiyu were originally fellow townsmen and were on good terms at first, but they later fell out, accused each other, and Maoqian was demoted to military commissioner of Gui Prefecture. He was soon transferred to military commissioner of Guang Prefecture and died of illness.
38
楊諲，華陰人。 高祖縉，陳中書舍人，以辭學知名。 陳亡，始自江左徙關中。 祖琮，絳州刺史。 諲初為麟遊令，時御史大夫竇懷貞檢校造金仙、玉真二觀，移牒近縣，征百姓所隱逆人資財，以充觀用。 諲拒而不受，懷貞怒曰：「焉有縣令卑微，敢拒大夫之命乎？」 諲曰：「所論為人冤抑，不知計位高卑。」 懷貞壯其對。 又中宗時，韋庶人上表請以年二十二為丁限。 及韋氏敗，省司舉征租調。 諲執曰：「韋庶人臨朝當國，制書非一，或進階卿士，或赦宥罪人，何獨於已役中男，重征丁課，恐非保人之術。」 省司遂依軿所執，一切免之。 諲由是知名，擢拜殿中侍御史。
Yang Yin was a native of Huayin. His great-grandfather Jin was a director at the Secretariat of Chen and was renowned for literary learning. When Chen fell, the family first moved from the lower Yangtze region to Guanzhong. His grandfather Cong was governor of Jiang Prefecture. Yin was first magistrate of Linyou. At that time censor-in-chief Dou Huaizhen, supervising construction of the Jinxian and Yuzhen monasteries, ordered nearby counties to seize hidden property belonging to rebels among the people to fund the monasteries. Yin refused to comply. Huaizhen angrily said: "How can a lowly magistrate dare refuse a chief censor's order? Yin replied: "What matters is that people are being wronged. I do not measure things by rank. Huaizhen admired his reply. Also during Emperor Zhongzong's reign, Consort Wei submitted a memorial asking that twenty-two be set as the age limit for adult male labor service. When the Wei faction fell, the provincial offices proposed collecting land tax and labor levies under the new rule. Yin held firm and said: "When Consort Wei held power, she issued many edicts, promoting officials and pardoning criminals. Why single out men already enrolled for service and levy corvée again? That is hardly a way to protect the people. The provincial offices then followed Yin's argument and exempted everyone. Yin thereby became famous and was promoted to palace censor.
39
開元初，遷侍御史。 時崔日知為京兆尹，貪暴犯法。 諲與御史大夫李傑將糾劾之。 傑反為日知所構，諲廷奏曰：「糾彈之司，若遭恐脅，以成奸人之謀，御史臺固可廢矣。」 上以其言切直，遽令傑依舊視事，貶日知為歙縣丞。 諲歷遷御史中丞、戶部侍郎。 上曾於延英殿召中書門下與諸司尚書及瑒議戶口之事，諲因奏人間損益，甚見嗟賞。 時御史中丞宇文融奏括戶口，議者或以為不便，敕百僚省中集議。 時融方在權要，公卿已下，多雷同融議，諲獨與盡理爭之。 尋出為華州刺史。
Early in Kaiyuan he was transferred to attendant censor. At that time Cui Rizhi was metropolitan governor of Jingzhao, and he was greedy, violent, and lawless. Yin and censor-in-chief Li Jie were about to impeach him. Li Jie was instead framed by Rizhi. Yin addressed the throne: "If the office charged with impeachment can be intimidated into serving a villain's plot, the Censorate might as well be abolished. The emperor, impressed by his blunt honesty, immediately ordered Li Jie to resume his duties and demoted Rizhi to assistant magistrate of She County. Yin rose in succession to assistant censor-in-chief and vice minister of revenue. The emperor once summoned the Secretariat-Chancellery, the chief ministers of the ministries, and Yang Yin to the Yanying Hall to discuss household registration. Yin then memorialized on what would help or harm the people and won great praise. At that time assistant censor-in-chief Yuwen Rong memorialized to register hidden households. Some officials thought the plan harmful, and the emperor ordered the whole bureaucracy to assemble at court for discussion. Rong was then in a position of power, and from chief ministers down most echoed his proposal. Yin alone argued against it with every reason he could muster. He was soon posted out as governor of Hua Prefecture.
40
十六年，遷國子祭酒，表薦：「滄州人王迥質、瀛州人尹子路、汴州人白履忠，皆經學優長，德行純茂，堪為後生師範，請追授學官，令其教授，以獎儒學之路。」 及追至，迥質起家拜諫議大夫，仍為皇太子侍讀； 履忠以年老，不任職事，拜朝散大夫，放歸家； 子路直弘文館教授。 諲又奏曰：「竊見今之舉明經者，主司不詳其述作之意，曲求其文句之難，每至帖試，必取年頭月日，孤經絕句。 且今之明經，習《左傳》者十無二三。 若此久行，臣恐左氏之學，廢無日矣。 臣望請自今已後，考試者盡帖平文，以存大典。 又《儀禮》及《公羊》、《穀梁》，殆將廢絕，若無甄異，恐後代便棄。 望請能通《周》、《儀禮》、《公羊》、《穀梁》者，亦量加優獎。」 於是下制：「明經習左氏及通《周禮》等四經者，出身免任散官。」 遂著於式。 由是生徒為諲立頌於學門之外。 再遷大理卿，以老疾辭職。 二十三年，拜左散騎常侍。 尋卒。 贈戶部尚書，謚曰貞。
In the sixteenth year he was transferred to chancellor of the Directorate of Education and recommended: "Wang Tongzhi of Cang Prefecture, Yin Zilu of Ying Prefecture, and Bai Lüzhong of Bian Prefecture all excel in the classics and possess pure, outstanding virtue. They can serve as models for younger scholars. I ask that they be appointed academy officers and allowed to teach, so as to encourage Confucian learning. When they were summoned, Tongzhi entered office directly as grand remonstrance official and also became attendant reader for the crown prince; Lüzhong, being old and unable to hold office, was appointed grand master for attendance at court and sent home; Zilu was directly appointed instructor at the Hongwen Academy. Yin further memorialized: "I observe that in today's classics examination the examiners do not test whether candidates understand what they have studied, but perversely hunt for difficult wording. In the passage-matching test they always choose dates from years and months, obscure passages, and isolated lines. Moreover, among today's classics candidates, fewer than two or three in ten study the Zuo Commentary. If this continues, I fear the learning of Master Zuo will soon die out. I ask that from now on examiners use only straightforward passages in the tests, so as to preserve the great canon. The Book of Ritual and the Gongyang and Guliang commentaries are also nearly extinct. Without special recognition, I fear later generations will simply abandon them. I ask that candidates who can master the Rites of Zhou, Book of Ritual, Gongyang, and Guliang also receive appropriate preferential rewards. An edict was then issued: "Classics candidates who study the Zuo Commentary and who master the four classics including the Rites of Zhou shall, upon passing, be exempted from assignment as unsalaried officials. The rule was then written into the code. Students then erected a eulogy stele for Yin outside the academy gate. He was again transferred to minister of justice but resigned because of age and illness. In the twenty-third year he was appointed left regular attendant. He died soon afterward. He was posthumously appointed minister of revenue with the posthumous name Zhen.
41
瑒常嘆《儀禮》廢絕，雖士大夫不能行之。 其家子女婚冠及有吉兇之會，皆按據舊文，更為儀註，使長幼遵行焉。
Yin often lamented that the Book of Ritual had fallen into disuse, so that even scholar-officials could not perform its rites. For the marriages and capping ceremonies of the men and women of his household, and for occasions of joy or mourning, all followed the old texts and were revised into ritual protocols so that elders and juniors alike could observe them.
42
崔隱甫，貝州武城人，散騎侍郎亻鹿之曾孫也。 祖濟，太子洗馬。 父元彥，太平令。 隱甫，開元初再遷洛陽令，理有威名。 九年，自華州刺史轉太原尹，人吏刊石頌其美政。 十二年，入為河南尹。 十四年，代程行諶為御史大夫。 時中書令張說當朝用事，隱甫與御史中丞宇文融、李林甫劾其犯狀，說遂罷知政事。
Cui Yinfu was a native of Wucheng in Bei Prefecture and a great-grandson of regular attendant Quan. His grandfather Ji was crown prince's attendant. His father Yuan Yan was magistrate of Taiping. Early in Kaiyuan, Yinfu was transferred twice and became magistrate of Luoyang, where he governed with a formidable reputation. In the ninth year he moved from governor of Hua Prefecture to mayor of Taiyuan, where officials and clerks carved stone in praise of his excellent governance. In the twelfth year he entered the capital as mayor of Henan. In the fourteenth year he replaced Cheng Xingchen as censor-in-chief. At that time chief secretary Zhang Yue held power at court. Yinfu, together with assistant censors-in-chief Yuwen Rong and Li Linfu, impeached him for offenses, and Yue was removed from active participation in governance.
43
隱甫在職強正，無所回避。 自貞觀年李乾祐為御史大夫，別置臺獄，有所鞫訊，便輒系之。 由是自中丞、侍御史已下，各自禁人，牢扉常滿。 隱甫引故事，奏以為不便，遂掘去之。 又憲司故事，大夫已下至監察御史，競為官政，略無承稟。 隱甫一切督責，事無大小，悉令諮決； 稍有忤意者，便列上其罪，前後貶黜者殆半，群僚側目。 是冬，敕隱甫校外官考。 舊例皆委細參問，經春未定。 隱甫召天下朝集使，一時集省中，一日校考便畢，時人伏其敏斷。 帝嘗謂曰：「卿為御史大夫，海內咸云稱職，甚副朕之所委也。」
In office Yinfu was forceful and upright and shrank from nothing. Since the Zhenguan era, when Li Qianyou was censor-in-chief, the Censorate had maintained a separate prison; whenever anyone was interrogated, he was immediately detained there. From then on, every officer from the assistant censor-in-chief down to the attendant censors detained people on his own authority, and the prison cells were constantly full. Citing precedent, Yinfu memorialized that the practice was improper and had the prison dug up and abolished. By custom, too, every censor from the chief down to the investigating censors ran his own affairs independently, with scarcely any reporting to superiors. Yinfu insisted on oversight throughout: matters great and small all had to be reported to him for decision. Anyone who slighted him was at once impeached; before long nearly half the staff had been demoted or dismissed, and his colleagues watched him with hostile eyes. That winter the emperor ordered Yinfu to conduct the annual evaluations of officials outside the capital. Under the old practice the reviews were entrusted to detailed inquiry and were often not completed until spring. Yinfu summoned the provincial assembly commissioners from across the empire to the capital all at once and finished the entire round of evaluations in a single day. Contemporaries admired his swift decisiveness. The emperor once told him, "As censor-in-chief you are everywhere said to be fully competent—exactly what I hoped when I appointed you."
44
隱甫既與張說有隙，俄又遞為朋黨，帝聞而惡之，特免官，令歸侍母。 歲餘，復授御史大夫。 遷刑部尚書，母憂去官。 二十一年，起復太原尹，仍為河東采訪處置使。 復為刑部尚書，兼河南尹。 二十四年，車駕還京，以隱甫為東都留守，為政嚴肅，甚為人吏之所嘆服。 尋卒。
Yinfu had already been at odds with Zhang Yue, and soon he and his rivals were trading factional alignments. When the emperor learned of this he was disgusted, stripped Yinfu of office, and ordered him home to care for his mother. After a little more than a year he was again appointed censor-in-chief. He was promoted to minister of justice, then left office on entering mourning for his mother. In the twenty-first year he was recalled from mourning to serve as mayor of Taiyuan and as Hedong surveillance and disposal commissioner. He again became minister of justice, now also serving as mayor of Henan. In the twenty-fourth year, when the emperor returned to the capital, Yinfu was made protector-general of the eastern capital. His stern governance won deep admiration from officials and clerks alike. He died not long afterward.
45
李尚隱，其先趙郡人，世居潞州之銅鞮，近又徙家京兆之萬年。 弱冠明經累舉，補下邽主簿。 時姚珽為同州刺史，甚禮之。 景龍中，為左臺監察御史。 時中書侍郎、知吏部選事崔湜及吏部侍郎鄭愔同時典選，傾附勢要，逆用三年員闕，士庶嗟怨。 尋而相次知政事，尚隱與同列御史李懷讓於殿廷劾之，湜等遂下獄推究，竟貶黜之。 時又有睦州刺史馮昭泰，誣奏桐廬令李師等二百余家，稱其妖逆，詔御史按覆之。 諸御史憚昭泰剛愎，皆稱病不敢往。 尚隱嘆曰：「豈可使良善陷枉刑而不為申明哉！」 遂越次請往，竟推雪李師等，奏免之。 俄而崔湜、鄭愔等復用，尚隱自殿中侍御史出為伊闕令，懷讓為魏縣令。 湜等既死，尚隱又自定州司馬擢拜吏部員外郎，懷讓自河陽令擢拜兵部員外郎。 尚隱累遷御史中丞。 時御史王旭頗用威權，為士庶所患。 會為仇者所訟，尚隱按之，無所容貸，獲其奸贓鉅萬，旭遂得罪。 尚隱尋轉兵部侍郎，再遷河南尹。
Li Shangyin's family originally came from Zhao Commandery and had long lived at Tongdi in Luzhou; more recently they had moved to Wannian in the capital district. At twenty he repeatedly passed the classics examination and was appointed chief clerk of Xiagi County. Yao Ting, then governor of Tong Prefecture, treated him with great respect. During the Jinglong era he served as investigating censor on the Left Platform. At that time Cui Shi, vice director of the Secretariat and overseer of Ministry of Personnel appointments, and Zheng Yin, vice minister of personnel, jointly controlled official selections. They curried favor with the powerful, preemptively filling three years' worth of vacant posts, and officials and commoners alike groaned in resentment. When they soon afterward entered active governance in turn, Shangyin and his fellow censor Li Huairang impeached them in court. Cui Shi and the others were imprisoned and investigated, and in the end were demoted and dismissed. About the same time Feng Zhaotai, governor of Mu Prefecture, falsely accused Magistrate Li Shi of Tonglu and more than two hundred families of sorcery and treason. The throne ordered censors to investigate. The censors all feared Zhaotai's obstinate temper and claimed illness rather than go. Shangyin sighed and said, "How can good and innocent people be left to suffer unjust punishment without someone speaking up for them? He volunteered out of turn to take the assignment, cleared Li Shi and the others of the false charges, and memorialized for their release. Before long Cui Shi, Zheng Yin, and the others were back in power. Shangyin was transferred from palace attendant censor to magistrate of Yique, and Huairang to magistrate of Wei County. After Cui Shi and the others died, Shangyin was promoted from aide of Ding Prefecture to assistant director in the Ministry of Personnel, and Huairang from magistrate of Heyang to assistant director in the Ministry of War. Shangyin rose through successive posts to assistant censor-in-chief. The censor Wang Xu at that time wielded his authority with great harshness and was widely feared. When an enemy brought charges against him, Shangyin investigated without leniency, uncovered evidence of corruption worth tens of thousands of strings of cash, and Xu was punished. Shangyin soon became vice minister of war and was later promoted again to mayor of Henan.
46
尚隱性率剛直，言無所隱，處事明斷。 其禦下，豁如也。 又詳練故事，近年制敕，皆暗記之，所在稱為良吏。
Shangyin was by nature frank, upright, and outspoken, and clear and decisive in his handling of affairs. With his subordinates he was open and generous. He also knew the regulations inside out and could recite recent edicts from memory; wherever he served he was praised as an excellent official.
47
十三年夏，妖賊劉定高夜犯通洛門，尚隱坐不能覺察所部，左遷桂州都督。 臨行，帝使謂之曰：「知卿公忠，然國法須爾。」 因賜雜彩百匹以慰之。 俄又遷廣州都督，仍充五府經略使。 及去任，有懷金以贈尚隱者，尚隱固辭之，曰：「吾自性分，不可改易，非為慎四知也。」 竟不受之。 累轉京兆尹，歷蒲、華二州刺史，加銀青光祿大夫，賜爵高邑伯，入為大理卿，代王鉷為御史大夫。
In the summer of the thirteenth year the rebel Liu Dinggao attacked Tongluo Gate by night. Shangyin was demoted to military governor of Gui Prefecture for failing to detect the threat in his jurisdiction. Before he left, the emperor sent word: "I know you are loyal and devoted to the public good, but the law requires this. He also bestowed a hundred bolts of colored silks by way of consolation. He was soon transferred again to military governor of Guangzhou and commissioner for the five southern prefectures. When he left office, someone tried to give him gold as a parting gift. Shangyin firmly refused, saying, "This is simply my nature and cannot be changed—it is not merely scruple about the four who would know. In the end he accepted nothing. After further promotions—to mayor of the capital district, governor of Pu and Hua prefectures, silver-blue-glint grand master of brilliant appearance, and Baron of Gaoyi—he entered court as chief justice and replaced Wang Hong as censor-in-chief.
48
時司農卿陳思問多引小人為其屬吏，隱盜錢谷，積至累萬。 尚隱又舉按之，思問遂流嶺南而死。 尚隱三為憲官，輒去朝廷之所惡者，時議甚以此稱之。 二十四年，拜戶部尚書、東都留守。 二十八年，轉太子賓客。 尋卒，年七十五，謚曰貞。
At that time Chen Siwen, minister of revenue, surrounded himself with unscrupulous subordinates who embezzled grain and money until the losses ran to tens of thousands. Shangyin impeached and investigated him again; Siwen was exiled to Lingnan, where he died. Three times Shangyin held censorial office, and each time he removed men the court wanted gone. Public opinion greatly praised him for it. In the twenty-fourth year he was appointed minister of revenue and protector-general of the eastern capital. In the twenty-eighth year he became advisor to the heir apparent. He died soon afterward at seventy-five; his posthumous title was Zhen, "Upright."
49
呂諲，蒲州河東人。 誌行修整，勤於學業。 少孤貧，不能自振。 裏人程楚賓家富於財，諲娶其女，楚賓及子震皆重其才，厚與資給，遂遊京師。 天寶初，進士及第，調授寧陵尉，本道采訪使韋陟嘉其才，辟為支使。 隴右、河西節度使哥舒翰奏充度支判官，累兼衛佐、太子通事舍人。 諲性謹守，勤於吏職，雖同僚追賞，而塊然視事，不離案簿，翰益親之，累兼虞部員外郎、侍御史。
Lü Yin was a native of Hedong in Pu Prefecture. His character was upright and his conduct well ordered, and he was diligent in his studies. Orphaned and poor in youth, he could not get on by himself. A neighbor named Cheng Chubin was wealthy. Yin married his daughter; Chubin and his son Zhen both admired his talent and gave him generous support, enabling him to go to the capital. Early in Tianbao he passed the jinshi examination and was appointed assistant magistrate of Ningling. Wei Zhi, the circuit surveillance commissioner, admired his talent and recruited him to his staff. Geshu Han, military governor of Longyou and Hexi, had him appointed revenue judge; he also cumulatively served as guard aide and palace attendant for the heir apparent. Yin was careful and conscientious in office. While his colleagues went out for pleasure he sat alone at his desk and never left his paperwork. Han grew all the more fond of him and gave him further concurrent posts as assistant director in the Bureau of Works and as attendant censor.
50
乾元二年三月，以本官同中書門下平章事，知門下省事。 七月，丁母憂免。 十月，起復授本官，兼充度支使，遷黃門侍郎。 上元元年正月，加同中書門下三品，賜門戟。 既立於第門，或謂諲曰：「吉慶之事，不宜兇服受之。」 諲遂權釋缞麻，當中而拜，人皆笑其失禮。 累加銀青光祿大夫，東平男。
In the third month of Qianyuan 2 he was made co-signatory under the Secretariat and Chancellery with his existing rank and put in charge of Secretariat affairs. In the seventh month he left office on entering mourning for his mother. In the tenth month he was recalled from mourning, restored to his former post, additionally made revenue commissioner, and promoted to vice director of the Imperial Secretariat. In the first month of Shangyuan 1 he was raised to third grade under the Secretariat and Chancellery and granted ceremonial gate halberds. Once they were set up at his gate, someone told Yin, "An auspicious honor should not be received while you are still in mourning dress. Yin temporarily set aside his mourning hemp, stood in the center of the gate, and bowed. Everyone laughed at the breach of decorum. He was further promoted to silver-blue-glint grand master of brilliant appearance and created Baron of Dongping.
51
諲既為相，用妻父程楚賓為衛尉少卿，子震為員外郎。 中官馬上言出納詔命，諲昵之。 有納賂於上言求官者，諲補之藍田尉。 五月，上言事泄笞死，以其肉令從官食之，諲坐貶太子賓客。
Once Yin became chancellor, he appointed his father-in-law Cheng Chubin vice director of the Court of Imperial Stud and his son Zhen an assistant director. The eunuch Ma Shangyan controlled the issuing of edicts, and Yin grew close to him. When someone bribed Shangyan for an office, Yin appointed him assistant magistrate of Lantian. In the fifth month Shangyan's dealings were exposed and he was flogged to death; the emperor ordered his attendants to eat his flesh. Yin was demoted to advisor to the heir apparent.
52
七月，授諲荊州大都督府長史、兼御史大夫，充澧、朗、忠、硤五州節度觀察處置等使。 諲至治所，上言請於江陵置南都。 九月，敕改荊州為江陵府，永平軍團練三千人，以遏吳、蜀之沖。 又析江陵置長寧縣。 又請割潭、衡、連、道、邵、柳、涪等七州隸江陵府。
In the seventh month Yin was appointed chief administrator of Jingzhou, concurrently censor-in-chief, and military commissioner over Li, Lang, Zhong, and Xia prefectures. On reaching his post Yin memorialized to establish a southern capital at Jiangling. In the ninth month an edict renamed Jingzhou as Jiangling Prefecture, established the Yongping Army with three thousand trained troops, and positioned it to guard the corridor between Wu and Shu. Changning County was carved out of Jiangling. He also asked that Tan, Heng, Lian, Dao, Shao, Liu, and Fu—seven prefectures—be placed under Jiangling Prefecture.
53
先是，張惟一為荊州長史，己為防禦使，陳希昂為司馬。 希昂，衡州酋帥，家兵千人在部下，自為籓衛。 有牟遂金仕至將軍，為惟一親將，與希昂積憾。 率兵入惟一衙，索遂金之首，惟一懼，即令斬首與之。 自是軍政歸於希昂。 及諲至，奏追希昂赴上都，除侍御史，出為常州刺史、本州防禦使。 希昂路由江陵，諲伏甲擊殺之，部下皆斬，積屍於府門。 府中懾服，始奏其罪。
Previously Zhang Weiyi had been chief administrator of Jingzhou and defense commissioner, with Chen Xi'ang as his military aide. Xi'ang was a native chieftain of Hengzhou with a thousand family troops under him, whom he kept as a personal guard. One of Weiyi's trusted commanders, General Mou Suijin, had long nursed a grudge against Xi'ang. Xi'ang led troops into Weiyi's headquarters and demanded Suijin's head. Weiyi, frightened, had Suijin beheaded at once and surrendered the head. From then on military and civil authority in the region belonged to Xi'ang. When Yin arrived he memorialized to summon Xi'ang to the capital, appointed him attendant censor, and posted him out as governor and defense commissioner of Changzhou. Xi'ang's route took him through Jiangling. Yin set an ambush and had him killed, beheaded all his followers, and piled the bodies before the prefectural gate. The prefectural staff submitted in terror; only then did he memorialize Xi'ang's crimes.
54
又妖人申奉芝以左道事李輔國，擢為諫議大夫。 輔國奏於道州界置軍，令奉芝為軍校，誘引群蠻，納其金帛，賞以緋紫，用囊中敕書賜衣以示之，人用聽信。 軍人例衣硃紫，作剽溪洞，吏不敢制，已積年矣。 潭州刺史龐承鼎忿之，因奉芝入奏，至長沙，縶之。 首贓巨萬，及左道文記，一時搜獲，遣使奏聞。 輔國黨奉芝，奏召奉芝赴闕。 既得召見，具言承鼎曲加誣陷。 詔鞫承鼎誣罔之罪，令荊南府按問。 諲令判官、監察御史嚴郢鞫之。 諲上疏論其事，肅宗怒，流郢於建州。 承鼎竟得雪，後奉芝竟以贓敗流死。 人重諲之守正，其剛斷不撓，皆此類也。
There was also the sorcerer Shen Fengzhi, who served Li Fuguo through occult arts and had been promoted to remonstrating advisor. Fuguo memorialized to establish a garrison on the Dao Prefecture frontier and made Fengzhi its commander. Fengzhi lured local tribes, took their gold and silk, rewarded them with crimson and purple robes, and displayed sealed edicts from his pouch granting robes and titles until people believed him utterly. His soldiers routinely wore official crimson and purple and raided streams and mountain settlements at will. Local officials dared not restrain them, and this had gone on for years. Pang Chengdiding, governor of Tan Prefecture, resented this. When Fengzhi passed through Changsha on his way to court, Chengdiding had him arrested. He seized bribes worth tens of thousands of strings of cash along with occult writings and records, and sent a messenger to report to the throne. Fuguo, Fengzhi's patron, memorialized to summon him to court. Once summoned to audience, Fengzhi claimed Chengdiding had framed him on false charges. An edict ordered an inquiry into Chengdiding's alleged false accusation and assigned the Jingnan circuit to investigate. Yin put his aide, investigating censor Yan Ying, in charge of the investigation. When Yin memorialized on the case, Emperor Suzong was furious and exiled Yan Ying to Jian Prefecture. Chengdiding was ultimately vindicated; Fengzhi was later exposed for corruption, exiled, and died in banishment. People respected Yin for his integrity; instances like this showed his firm, unyielding decisiveness.
55
初諲作相，與同列李揆不協。 及諲被斥二年，以善政聞，揆惡之，因言置軍湖南不便，又使人往荊、湖，密伺諲過。 諲知之，乃上疏論揆，揆坐貶袁州長史。
When Yin first became chancellor he was at odds with his colleague Li Kui. Two years after Yin's dismissal his good governance was widely reported. Kui resented this and argued that establishing armies in Hunan was imprudent; he also sent agents to Jing and the lake region to spy on Yin's conduct. When Yin learned of this he memorialized against Kui, who was demoted to chief administrator of Yuan Prefecture.
56
諲素羸疾，元年建卯月卒，贈吏部尚書，有司謚曰肅。 故吏度支員外郎嚴郢請以二字曰「忠肅」，博士獨孤及堅議以「肅」為當，從之。 諲在臺司無異稱，及理江陵三年，號為良守。 初郡人立祠，諲歿後歲餘，江陵將吏合錢十萬，於府西爽塏地大立祠宇，四時祠禱之。
Yin had long been in poor health. He died in the jiamao month of the first year of the era and was posthumously made minister of personnel; the authorities proposed the posthumous title Su, "Solemn." His former subordinate Yan Ying of the revenue bureau asked for the two-character title "Loyal and Solemn," but Academician Dugu Ji insisted that "Solemn" alone was correct, and the court agreed. Yin had won no particular renown in the censorate, but after three years governing Jiangling he was acclaimed as an excellent prefect. The local people had first erected a small shrine to him. More than a year after his death the officers and officials of Jiangling pooled a hundred thousand cash and built a large temple on open ground west of the prefectural seat, where sacrifices were offered in every season.
57
蕭定，字梅臣，江南蘭陵人，左僕射、宋國公瑀曾孫也。 父恕，虢州刺史，以定贈工部尚書。 定以廕授陜州參軍、金城丞，以吏事清幹聞。 給事中裴遵慶奏為選補黜陟使判官。 回改萬年主簿，累遷侍御史、考功員外郎、左右司二郎中。 為元載所擠，出為秘書少監，兼袁州刺史，歷信、湖、宋、睦、潤五州刺史，所涖有政聲。
Xiao Ding, courtesy name Meichen, was a native of Lanling in Jiangnan and a great-grandson of Yu, left deputy director and Duke of Song. His father Shu had been governor of Guo Prefecture and was posthumously made minister of the Bureau of Works because of Ding's achievements. Through hereditary privilege Ding was appointed military aide of Shaan Prefecture and assistant magistrate of Jincheng, and he won renown for the clarity and efficiency of his administrative work. Supervising Secretary Pei Zunqing memorialized the throne recommending him as an aide to the commissioner charged with selecting and promoting officials. He returned to service as chief clerk of Wannian and was promoted in turn to attendant censor, deputy director in the Ministry of Personnel, and deputy director in both the Left and Right Departments of the Secretariat. Forced out by Yuan Zai, he was sent to serve as deputy director of the Palace Library and concurrent prefect of Yuan Prefecture. He went on to govern Xin, Hu, Song, Mu, and Run prefectures in succession, and in every post he earned a reputation for sound governance.
58
大歷中，有司條天下牧守課績，唯定與常州刺史蕭復、豪州刺史張鎰為理行第一。 其勤農桑，均賦稅，逋亡歸復，戶口增加，定又冠焉。 尋遷戶部侍郎、太常卿。 硃泚之逆，變姓名藏匿里閭間。 京師平，首蒙旌擢，除太子少師。 興元元年卒，年七十七，加贈太子太師。
During the Dali era the responsible offices compiled performance reviews of prefects and governors across the empire. Only Ding, together with Xiao Fu of Chang Prefecture and Zhang Yi of Hao Prefecture, ranked first in conduct and governance. In promoting agriculture and sericulture, equalizing taxes and levies, bringing fugitives home, and increasing registered households, Ding again stood at the head of the list. He was soon promoted to vice minister of the Ministry of Revenue and minister of court ceremonials. When Zhu Ci rebelled, he changed his name and went into hiding among the common neighborhoods. After the capital was restored to order, he was among the first to be singled out for honor and was appointed junior preceptor to the heir apparent. He died in the first year of the Xingyuan era at the age of seventy-seven and was posthumously made grand preceptor to the heir apparent.
59
蔣沇，萊州膠水人，吏部侍郎欽緒之子也。 性介獨好學，早有名稱。 以孝廉累授洛陽尉、監察御史。 與兄演、溶，弟清，俱以幹局吏事擅能名於天寶中。 長史韓朝宗、裴迥鹹以推覆檢勾之任委之，處事平允，剖斷精當，動為群僚楷式。 乾元後，授陸渾、盩厔、咸陽、高陵四縣令。 當軍旅之後，瘡痍未平，沇竭心綏撫，所至安輯。 副元帥郭子儀每統兵由其縣，必誡軍吏曰：「蔣沇令清而嚴幹，供億故當有素，士眾得蔬飯見饋則足，無撓清政。」 其為名人所知如此。
Jiang Yan, a native of Jiaoshui in Laizhou, was the son of Qinxu, vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Upright and uncompromising by nature, he loved learning and had already won a name for himself while still young. Recommended as a filial and incorrupt official, he was appointed in succession as magistrate of Luoyang and investigating censor. He and his elder brothers Yan and Rong and his younger brother Qing were all famed during the Tianbao era for their competence in administrative affairs. Chief administrators Han Chaozong and Pei Jiong entrusted him with duties of review, verification, and audit. He handled affairs even-handedly, rendered judgments with precision, and constantly served as a model for the rest of the staff. After the Qianyuan era he served in succession as magistrate of Luhun, Zhouzhi, Xianyang, and Gaoling. In the wake of war, when the land was still scarred and unrest lingered, Yan poured himself into soothing and settling the people. Everywhere he went, the district returned to order. Whenever Deputy Marshal Guo Ziyi led troops through Yan's county, he would warn his officers: "Magistrate Jiang Yan is incorrupt and sternly capable. Provisions ought already to be in order—if the men receive nothing more than vegetables and rice as hospitality, that is enough. Do not disturb his clean administration. Such was the esteem in which eminent men held him.
60
稍遷長安令、刑部郎中、兼侍御史，領渭橋河運出納使。 時元載秉政，廉潔守道者多不更職，沇以故滯於郎位，久不徙官。
He was gradually promoted to magistrate of Chang'an, director in the Ministry of Justice, and concurrent attendant censor, and he also served as commissioner for the receipt and disbursement of the Weiqiao river transport. At that time Yuan Zai held power, and many men of integrity who held to principle were left in place without rotation. For this reason Yan remained stuck at directorate rank and went a long time without promotion.
61
大歷十二年，常袞以群議稱沇屈，擢拜御史中丞、東都副留守。 尋遷刑部侍郎、刪定副使。 改大理卿，持法明審，號為稱職。
In the twelfth year of Dali, Chang Gun, citing widespread opinion that Yan had been treated unjustly, promoted him to chief investigating censor and deputy urban defender of the Eastern Capital. He was soon transferred to vice minister of the Ministry of Justice and deputy commissioner for legal revision. He was reassigned as chief judge of the Court of Judicial Review. He applied the law with clarity and thoroughness and was widely regarded as fully equal to the post.
62
建中元年冬，鑾駕幸奉天，沇奔行在，為賊候騎所拘執，欲以偽職誘之，因絕食稱病，潛竄里閭間。 京師平，首蒙旌擢，拜右散騎常侍。 尋以疾終，年七十四，追贈工部尚書。
In the winter of the first year of Jianzhong, when the imperial carriage went to Fengtian, Yan hurried to the mobile court but was seized by rebel scouts who tried to entice him with a usurper's appointment. He refused food and feigned illness, then slipped away to hide among the common neighborhoods. After the capital was pacified, he was among the first singled out for honor and was appointed right regular attendant of the Secretariat. He soon died of illness at the age of seventy-four and was posthumously made minister of the Bureau of Works.
63
薛玨，字溫如，河中寶鼎人。 祖寶胤，邠州刺史。 父纮，蒲州刺史。 玨少以門廕授懿德太子廟令，累授乾陵臺令。 無幾，拜試太子中允，兼渭南尉，奏課第一。 間歲，復以清名尤異聞，遷昭德令。 縣人請立碑紀政，玨固讓不受。 遷楚州刺史、本州營田使。
Xue Jue, courtesy name Wenru, was a native of Baoding in Hezhong. His grandfather Baoyin had been prefect of Bin Prefecture. His father Hong had been prefect of Pu Prefecture. In youth Jue entered office through family privilege as director of the shrine to the Virtuous Heir Apparent and was later appointed in succession as director of the Qianling terrace. Before long he was appointed provisional junior tutor to the heir apparent and concurrent magistrate of Weinan, and his performance report ranked first. A year later he was again noted for an exceptionally pure reputation and was transferred to magistrate of Zhaode. The people of the county petitioned to erect a stele commemorating his administration, but Jue firmly declined and would not allow it. He was transferred to prefect of Chu Prefecture and commissioner of the prefecture's military-agriculture colonies.
64
先是，州營田宰相遙領使，刺史得專達，俸錢及他給百余萬，田官數百員，奉廝役者三千戶，歲以優授官者復十余人。 玨皆條去之，十留一二，而租入有贏。 為觀察使誣奏，左授硤州刺史，遷陳州刺史。
Previously the commissioner of the prefecture's military-agriculture colonies had been held at a distance by a chancellor while the prefect acted on his own authority. Salaries and other emoluments came to more than a million cash. There were several hundred colony officials, three thousand households supplying corvée labor, and each year more than ten men received preferential appointments to office. Jue listed and abolished nearly all of these, keeping only one or two in ten, yet rental income still showed a surplus. The observation commissioner falsely memorialized against him, and he was demoted to prefect of Xia Prefecture before being transferred to prefect of Chen Prefecture.
65
建中初，上分命使臣黜陟官吏，使淮南李承以玨楚州之去煩政簡，使山南趙贊以玨硤州之廉清，使河南盧翰以玨之肅物，皆以陟狀聞，加中散大夫，賜紫。 宣武軍節度使劉玄佐署奏兼御史大夫、汴宋都統行軍司馬。 無幾，李希烈自汴州走，除玨汴州刺史，遷河南尹，入為司農卿。
At the beginning of Jianzhong the emperor dispatched commissioners to promote and demote officials throughout the realm. Li Cheng in Huainan cited Jue's removal of burdens and simplification of administration in Chu Prefecture, Zhao Zan in Shannan cited his integrity in Xia Prefecture, and Lu Han in Henan cited his strict discipline over subordinates. All submitted recommendations for promotion. Jue was granted the rank of gentleman consultant for the scattered service and awarded purple robes. Military commissioner Liu Xuanzuo memorialized appointing him concurrent chief censor and acting marshal of the Bian-Song command. Before long, after Li Xilie fled from Bian Prefecture, Jue was appointed prefect of Bian, then transferred to governor of Henan, and later entered court as minister of state granaries.
66
當是時，詔天下舉可任刺史、縣令者，殆有百人。 有詔令與群官詢考，及延問人間疾苦，及胥吏得失，取其有惻隱、通達事理者條舉，什才一二。 宰相將以辭策校之。 玨曰：「求良吏不可兼責以文學，宜以聖君愛人之本為心。」 執政卒無難之，皆敘進官，頗多稱職。
At that time an edict called throughout the realm for men fit to serve as prefects and magistrates, and nearly a hundred were nominated. A further edict ordered review with all officials, with extended inquiry into the people's hardships and the strengths and failings of clerks. Those who showed compassion and understood affairs were listed for recommendation—but only one or two in ten qualified. The chancellors intended to test them further with written examinations. Jue said, "When seeking good magistrates one cannot also demand literary accomplishment. One should take as one's heart the sovereign's fundamental love for the people. The chief ministers ultimately raised no objection. All were appointed and promoted in order, and many proved competent in office.
67
貞元五年，拜京兆尹。 玨剛嚴明察，練達法理，以勤身率下，失於纖巧，無文學大體。 八年，坐竇參改太子賓客。 無幾，除嶺南節度觀察使。 以疾卒，年七十四，廢朝一日，贈工部尚書。 有子存慶，自有傳。
In the fifth year of Zhenyuan he was appointed governor of the capital prefecture. Jue was stern, sharp-eyed, and thoroughly versed in law. He led by personal diligence, but he was overly meticulous in small matters and lacked literary breadth. In the eighth year, implicated through Dou Can, he was reassigned as mentor to the heir apparent. Before long he was appointed military commissioner and observation commissioner of Lingnan. He died of illness at the age of seventy-four. The court suspended court for one day and posthumously made him minister of the Bureau of Works. He had a son named Cunqing, who has his own biography.
68
李惠登，平盧人也。 少為平盧裨將。 安祿山反，遂從兵馬使董秦海轉收滄、棣等州，輕師遠鬥，賊不能支。 史思明反，復陷於賊。 脫身投山南節度使來瑱，奏授試金吾衛將軍。
Li Huideng was a native of Pinglu. In youth he served as a junior officer in Pinglu. When An Lushan rebelled, he followed the military envoy Dong Qinhai in campaigns to recover Cang, Di, and other prefectures. Moving lightly and striking far afield, they fought in ways the rebels could not withstand. When Shi Siming rebelled, he again fell into rebel hands. He broke free and went over to Lai Tian, military commissioner of Shannan, who memorialized recommending him as provisional general of the golden guard.
69
李希烈反，授惠登兵二千，鎮隋州。 貞元初，舉州歸順，授隋州刺史、兼御史中丞。 遭李忠臣、希烈殲殘之後，野曠無人。 惠登樸素不知學，居官無拔萃，率心為政，皆與理順。 利人者因行之，病人者因去之，二十年間，田疇辟，戶口加。 諸州奏吏入其境，無不歌謠其能。 及於頔為山南東道節度，以其績上聞，加御史大夫，升其州為上。 尋加檢校國子祭酒。 及卒，加贈洪州都督。
When Li Xilie rebelled, Huideng was given two thousand troops to hold Sui Prefecture. At the beginning of Zhenyuan the whole prefecture submitted and returned to allegiance. He was appointed prefect of Sui and concurrent chief investigating censor. After the devastation wrought by Li Chenzhong and Xilie, the countryside lay empty of people. Huideng was plain and unlearned, with nothing striking about his manner in office. He governed straight from the heart, and everything fell naturally into order. What benefited the people he put into practice; what harmed them he abolished. Over twenty years the fields were opened up and the registered population grew. Whenever officials from other prefectures entered his jurisdiction, none failed to sing of his ability. When Yu Di became military commissioner of Shannan East Route, he reported Huideng's achievements to the throne. Huideng was promoted to chief censor, and his prefecture was elevated to upper rank. He was soon additionally appointed acting minister of the Directorate of Education. Upon his death he was posthumously made military prefect of Hong.
70
任迪簡，京兆萬年人。 舉進士。 初為天德軍使李景略判官。 性重厚，嘗有軍宴，行酒者誤以醯進。 迪簡知誤，以景略性嚴，慮坐主酒者，乃勉飲盡之，而偽容其過，以酒薄白景略，請換之，於是軍中皆感悅。 及景略卒，眾以迪簡長者，議請為帥。 監軍使聞之，拘迪簡於別室，軍眾連呼而至，發戶扃取之。 表聞，德宗使察焉，具以軍情奏，除豐州刺史、天德軍使，自殿中授兼御史大夫，再加常侍。 追入，拜太常少卿、汝州刺史、左庶子。
Ren Dijian was a native of Wannian in Jingzhao. He passed the jinshi examination. He first served as aide to Li Jinglue, military commissioner of Tiande. Grave and modest by nature, he once attended a military banquet when the wine-server mistakenly brought vinegar instead of wine. Dijian knew the mistake had been made. Because Jinglue was stern by nature, he feared the master of wine would be punished, so he forced himself to drink it all. Then he pretended to overlook the servant's error and quietly told Jinglue that the wine was weak, asking that it be exchanged. At this the whole army was moved and pleased. When Jinglue died, the men, considering Dijian a man of senior virtue, deliberated asking him to take command. When the army supervisor heard of this, he confined Dijian in a separate room. The troops shouted and came in a body, broke down the door, and took him out. Their memorial reached the throne, and Dezong sent investigators. Dijian fully reported the army's sentiment and was appointed prefect of Feng and military commissioner of Tiande, promoted from palace aide to concurrent chief censor, and further made regular palace attendant. Recalled to court, he was appointed vice minister of court ceremonials, prefect of Ru, and left aide to the heir apparent.
71
及張茂昭去易定，以迪簡為行軍司馬。 既至，屬虞候楊伯玉以府城叛，俄而眾殺之。 迪簡兵馬使張佐元又叛，迪簡政殺之，乃得入。 尋加檢校工部尚書，充節度使。
When Zhang Maozhao left Yiding, Dijian was appointed acting marshal of the expeditionary force. After he arrived, the military inspector Yang Boyu rebelled and seized the prefectural city, but soon the crowd killed him. Dijian's military envoy Zhang Zuoyuan also rebelled. Dijian executed him on the spot and only then was able to enter the city. He was soon additionally appointed acting minister of the Bureau of Works and confirmed as military commissioner.
72
初，茂昭奢蕩不節，公私殫罄。 迪簡至，欲饗士，無所取給，乃以糲食與士同之。 身居戟門下凡周月，軍吏感之，請歸堂寢，迪簡乃安其位。 三年，以疾代，除工部侍郎，至京，竟不能朝謝。 改太子賓客卒，贈刑部尚書。
Earlier Maozhao had been extravagant and unrestrained, depleting both public and private stores. When Dijian arrived and wished to feast his soldiers, he had nothing to draw on and so shared coarse food with the men. He lived below the halberd gate for nearly a full month. Moved by this, the military officers asked him to return to the main hall quarters, and only then did Dijian take up his proper station. In the third year he was replaced because of illness and appointed vice minister of the Bureau of Works. When he reached the capital he was ultimately unable to attend court for an audience of thanks. Reassigned as mentor to the heir apparent, he died and was posthumously made minister of the Ministry of Justice.
73
範傳正，字西老，南陽順陽人也。 父倫，戶部員外郎，與郡人李華敦交友之契。 傳正舉進士，又以博學宏辭及書判皆登甲科，授集賢殿校書郎、渭南尉，拜監察、殿中侍御史。 自比部員外郎出為歙州刺史，轉湖州刺史，歷三郡，以政事修理聞。 擢為宣歙觀察使，受代至京師，憲宗聞其裏第過侈，薄之，因拜光祿卿。 以風恙卒，贈左散騎常侍。
Fan Chuanzheng, courtesy name Xilao, was a native of Shunyang in Nanyang. His father Lun was a deputy director in the Ministry of Revenue and had a bond of deep friendship with the local man Li Hua. Chuanzheng passed the jinshi examination and also achieved top rank in the examinations for erudite learning and lofty rhetoric and for document judgment. He was appointed collator in the Hall of Assembled Worthies, magistrate of Weinan, and investigating and palace attendant censor. Leaving his post as deputy director in the Ministry of Revenue, he became prefect of She and then prefect of Hu. He served three prefectures in succession and won renown for putting administrative affairs in good order. Promoted to observation commissioner of Xuan-She, he reached the capital at the end of his term. Xianzong heard that his private residence was excessively lavish, thought less of him for it, and therefore appointed him minister of court entertainments. He died of a paralytic ailment and was posthumously made left regular attendant of the Secretariat.
74
傳正精悍有立，好古自飭。 及為廉察，頗事奢侈，厚以財貨問遺權貴，視公蓄如私藏，幸而不至甚敗。 褐衣時遊西邊，著《西陲要略》三卷。
Chuanzheng was sharp, resolute, and principled. In plain dress he cultivated antiquarian self-discipline. Once he became an inspector, he indulged considerably in luxury and used rich gifts to cultivate powerful nobles, treating public stores as private hoards. Fortunately he did not fall into utter ruin. While still in plain dress he traveled the western frontier and authored three fascicles of Essentials of the Western Marches.
75
袁滋，字德深，陳郡汝南人也。 弱歲強學，以外兄道州刺史元結有重名，往來依焉。 每讀書，玄解旨奧，結甚重之。 無何，黜陟使趙贊以處士薦，授試校書郎。 何士幹鎮武昌，辟為從事，累官詹事府司直。 部有邑長，下吏誣以盜金，滋察其冤，竟出之。 御史中丞韋縚聞之，薦為侍御史，轉工部員外郎。
Yuan Zi, courtesy name Deshen, was a native of Runan in Chen Commandery. From childhood he studied with great intensity. Because his maternal cousin Yuan Jie, prefect of Dao, had a weighty reputation, he went back and forth and relied on him. Whenever he read, he grasped the profound meaning of difficult texts, and Jie greatly valued him. Before long, promotion-and-demotion commissioner Zhao Zan recommended him as a reclusive scholar, and he was appointed provisional collator. When He Shigan governed Wuchang, he recruited him as a staff member, and he rose in succession to direct secretary in the heir apparent's household. In his department was a district chief whom a subordinate clerk falsely accused of stealing gold. Zi investigated and found the injustice, and in the end had him released. Chief investigating censor Wei Tao heard of this and recommended him as attendant censor. He was later transferred to deputy director in the Ministry of Works.
76
貞元十九年，韋臯始通西南蠻夷，酋長異牟尋貢琛請使，朝廷方命撫諭，選郎吏可行者，皆以西南遐遠憚之。 滋獨不辭，德宗甚嘉之，以本官兼御史中丞，持節充入南詔使。 未行，遷祠部郎中，使如故。 來年夏，使還，擢為諫議大夫。 俄拜尚書右丞，知吏部選事。 出為華州刺史、兼御史中丞、潼關防禦使、鎮國軍使。 以寬易清簡為政。 百姓有至自他境者，皆給地以居，名其居曰義合裏。 專以慈惠為本，人甚愛之。 然百姓有過犯者，皆縱而不理。 擒盜輒舍，或以物償之。 征拜金吾衛大將軍，耆耋鰥寡遮道不得進。 楊於陵代其任，宣言謂百姓曰：「於陵不敢易袁公之政。」 然後羅拜而訣。
In 803, Wei Gao first opened contact with the southwestern tribes. The chieftain Yi Mouxun sent tribute and asked for an envoy. When the court sought a suitable official for a pacification mission, every candidate shrank from the distant southwest. Zi alone did not refuse. Emperor Dezong greatly commended him, appointed him concurrently as assistant censor-in-chief at his current rank, and sent him with credentials as envoy to Nanzhao. Before he set out he was promoted to director in the Ministry of Rites, but his mission continued unchanged. The following summer he returned from his mission and was promoted to remonstrance grand master. Soon he was made right vice director of the Department of State Affairs and put in charge of appointments in the Ministry of Personnel. He was sent out as prefect of Hua, concurrently assistant censor-in-chief, defense commissioner of Tong Pass, and military commissioner of the Zhenguo army. His rule was lenient, easygoing, clear, and spare. People who came from elsewhere were all given land to live on; he named their settlement the Lane of Righteous Gathering. He made kindness and generosity his foundation, and the people loved him deeply. Yet when people committed offenses, he would let them go and take no further action. When bandits were caught he would release them, and sometimes even compensate them with goods. When he was summoned to serve as general of the Gold Crow Guard, the elderly, widows, and orphans blocked the road so that he could not leave. Yang Yuling succeeded him and announced to the people, "I dare not change Lord Yuan's policies. Only then did they bow in ranks and bid him farewell.
77
上始監國，與杜黃裳俱為相，拜中書侍郎、平章事。 會韋臯歿，劉辟擁兵擅命，滋持節安撫。 行及中路，拜檢校吏部尚書、平章事、劍南西川節度使，百姓立生祠禱之。 征拜戶部尚書，連為荊襄二帥，改彰義軍節度、隨唐鄧申光等州觀察使。 逆賊吳元濟與官軍對壘者數年，滋竟以淹留無功，貶撫州刺史。 未幾，遷湖南觀察使卒，年七十，贈太子少保。
When the emperor first served as regent, he and Du Huangshang both became chief ministers; he was appointed vice director of the Secretariat and grand councilor. When Wei Gao died, Liu Pi took up arms and defied the court. Zi went with credentials to pacify him. Midway on his journey he was appointed acting minister of personnel, grand councilor, and military commissioner of western Chuan in the Sword South. The people raised living shrines and prayed for him. He was summoned as minister of revenue, served in succession as commander of Jing and Xiang, and was transferred to military commissioner of the Zhangyi army and observation commissioner of Sui, Tang, Deng, Shen, Guang, and other prefectures. The rebel Wu Yuanji had faced the imperial army in stalemate for years. Zi, having lingered without success, was demoted to prefect of Fu. Before long he was transferred to observation commissioner of Hunan and died there at seventy. He was posthumously made junior mentor of the heir apparent.
78
滋工篆籀書，雅有古法。 因使行，著《雲南記》五卷。 嘗讀劉暉《悲甘陵賦》，嘆其褒善懲惡雖失《春秋》之旨，然其文不可廢，因著《甘陵賦後序》。
Zi was skilled in seal and archaic script and had an elegant command of classical forms. On his embassy he wrote Records of Yunnan in five juan. He once read Liu Hui's Lament for Ganling and remarked that although its praise of good and condemnation of evil missed the spirit of the Spring and Autumn Annals, the work itself should not be discarded. He therefore wrote an afterword to it.
79
子都，仕至翰林學士。
His son Du rose to the post of Hanlin academician.
80
薛蘋，河東寶鼎人也。 少以吏事進，累官至長安令，拜虢州刺史。 朝廷以尤課擢為湖南觀察使，又遷浙江東道觀察使，以理行遷浙江西道觀察使。 廉風俗，守法度，人甚安之。 理身儉薄，嘗衣一綠袍，十余年不易，因加賜硃紱，然後解去。
Xue Ping was a native of Baoding in Hedong. He rose early through clerical service and eventually became magistrate of Chang'an, then prefect of Guo. The court promoted him to observation commissioner of Hunan on the strength of his outstanding evaluations, then transferred him to Zhejiang East Circuit, and later to Zhejiang West Circuit for his orderly administration. He kept customs frugal, upheld the law, and the people lived at ease. He lived frugally in his personal habits, wearing the same green robe for more than ten years without replacing it. Only after the court granted him a crimson sash did he set it aside.
81
蘋歷三鎮，凡十余年，家無聲樂，俸祿悉以散諸親族故人子弟。 除左散騎常侍致仕。 時有年過懸車而不知止者，唯蘋年至而無疾請告，角巾東洛，時甚高之。 卒，年七十四，贈工部尚書。
Ping served three circuits for more than ten years in all. His household kept no musicians, and he gave away his entire salary to relatives, old friends, and their sons. He was appointed left regular attendant and retired from office. At that time many men passed the age for retirement yet clung to office. Ping alone, when his years were full and still in health, asked to retire, put on a scholar's kerchief, and went east to Luoyang. Men of the time greatly admired him for it. He died at seventy-four and was posthumously made minister of public works.
82
閻濟美，登進士第。 累歷臺省，有長者之譽。 自婺州刺史為福建觀察使，復為潤州刺史、浙西觀察使。 所至以簡淡為理，兩地之人，常賦之外，不知其他。 入拜右散騎常侍。 華州刺史、潼關防禦、鎮國軍使，入為秘書監。 以年及懸車，上表乞骸骨，以工部尚書致仕。 後以恩例，累有進改。 及歿於家，年九十余。
Yan Jimei passed the jinshi examination. He served in succession in the censorate and secretariat and enjoyed a reputation as a man of mature judgment. From prefect of Wu he became observation commissioner of Fujian, then served again as prefect of Run and observation commissioner of western Zhejiang. Wherever he served he governed with simplicity and restraint. In both circuits the people knew no levies beyond the regular tax. He entered court and was appointed right regular attendant. He served as prefect of Hua, defense commissioner of Tong Pass, and military commissioner of the Zhenguo army, then entered court as director of the Secretariat. When he reached retirement age he submitted a memorial asking to retire and left office as minister of public works. Later, by grace precedents, his rank was repeatedly advanced. He died at home at more than ninety years of age.
83
贊曰：聖人造世，才傑濟時。 在理致治，無為而為。 坑鹔非議，簡易從規。 樂只君子，邦家之基。
The encomium reads: The sage shapes the age; outstanding talents serve the times. Through principle they bring order; through non-action they accomplish. They resist vulgar ways and ignore idle criticism; in simplicity they follow right rule. Happy the gentleman—the foundation of the state.