1
姚紹之
Yao Shaozhi.
2
姚紹之，湖州武康人也。 解褐典儀，累拜監察御史。 中宗朝，武三思恃庶人勢，駙馬都尉王同皎謀誅之。 事泄，令紹之按問而誅同皎。 紹之初按問同皎，張仲之、祖延慶謀衣袖中發調弩射三思，伺其便，未果。 宋之遜以其外妹妻延慶，曰：「今日將行何事，而以妻為？」 之遜固抑與延慶，且洽其心矣。 之遜子曇密發之，乃敕右臺大夫李承嘉與紹之按於新開門內。
Yao Shaozhi was a native of Wukang in Hu Prefecture. Upon entering service he was a ceremonial officer and rose through repeated promotions to Investigating Censor. Under Emperor Zhongzong, Wu Sansi relied on the deposed empress's power, and Chief Commandant of Horse Wang Tongjiao plotted to kill him. When the plot leaked out, Shaozhi was ordered to investigate the case and execute Tongjiao. At the start of Shaozhi's investigation of Tongjiao, Zhang Zhongzhi and Zu Yanqing plotted to shoot Sansi with a crossbow concealed in their sleeves when the moment came, but they failed. Song Zhisun gave his wife's younger sister to Yanqing in marriage, saying, "What important business are we undertaking today, that you would take a wife?" Zhisun pressed the marriage on Yanqing and thereby won his confidence. Zhisun's son Tan secretly reported the plot, and an edict ordered Right Censor-in-Chief Li Chengjia and Shaozhi to investigate inside the Xinkai Gate.
3
初，紹之將直盡其事。 詔宰相李嶠等對問。 諸相懼三思威權，但僶俛佯不問。 仲之、延慶言曰：「宰相中有附會三思者。」 嶠與承嘉耳言，復說誘紹之，其事乃變。 遂密置人力十餘，命引仲之對問。 至，即為紹之所擒，塞口反接，送獄中。 紹之還，謂仲之曰：「張三，事不諧矣！」 仲之固言三思反狀，紹之命棒之而臂折，大呼天者六七。 謂紹之曰：「反賊，臂且折矣，命已輸汝，當訴爾於天帝！」 因裂衫以束之，乃自誣反而遇誅。 紹之自此神氣自若，朝廷側目。 累遷左臺侍御史。 奉使江左，經汴州，辱錄事參軍魏傳弓。 尋拜監察御史。 紹之後坐贓汙，詔傳弓按之，獲贓五千餘貫以聞，當坐死。 韋庶人妹保持之，遂黜放為嶺南瓊山尉。 傳弓初按紹之，紹之在揚州，色動，謂長吏盧萬石曰：「頃辱傳弓，今為所按，紹之死矣！」 逃入西京，為萬年尉擒之，擊折其足，因授南陵令員外置。 開元十三年，累轉括州長史同正員，不預知州事，死。
At first Shaozhi meant to get to the bottom of the affair. An edict ordered Chancellor Li Jiao and others to join the interrogation. The chief ministers feared Sansi's power and merely bowed their heads, feigning ignorance. Zhongzhi and Yanqing said, "Some of the chancellors are in Sansi's pocket." Jiao and Chengjia whispered together, then persuaded and coaxed Shaozhi, and the case took a different turn. Shaozhi then secretly posted more than ten brutes and had Zhongzhi brought out for questioning. When Zhongzhi arrived, Shaozhi seized him at once, gagged him, bound his arms behind his back, and sent him to prison. Shaozhi came back and said to Zhongzhi, "Zhang the Third, it's over!" Zhongzhi kept describing Sansi's treasonous conduct. Shaozhi ordered him beaten until his arm broke, and he cried to Heaven six or seven times. He said to Shaozhi, "Rebel traitor, my arm is broken and my life is already yours — I will accuse you before the Lord of Heaven!" He tore his robe to bind the broken arm, then falsely confessed to rebellion and was executed. From then on Shaozhi carried himself with unruffled arrogance, and the court looked on him with alarm. He was repeatedly promoted to Left Censor. On a mission to the lower Yangtze he passed through Bian Prefecture and publicly humiliated Army Records Officer Wei Chuanggong. He was soon appointed Investigating Censor. Later Shaozhi was implicated in bribery and corruption. An edict ordered Chuanggong to investigate him. More than five thousand strings in bribes were found and reported; by law he deserved death. The deposed Empress Wei's younger sister interceded for him, and he was dismissed and exiled as assistant magistrate of Qiongshan in Lingnan. When Chuanggong first began to investigate him, Shaozhi was in Yang Prefecture. His face changed color, and he told Chief Administrator Lu Wanshi, "I humiliated Chuanggong not long ago — now that he is investigating me, I am a dead man!" He fled to the Western Capital, was caught by the Wannian assistant magistrate, was beaten until his leg broke, and was then given the supernumerary post of magistrate of Nanling. In the thirteenth year of Kaiyuan he rose through repeated transfers to co-administrator of Kuozhou, was barred from governing the prefecture, and died there.
4
周利貞
Zhou Lizhen.
5
周利貞，神龍初為侍御史。 附托權要，為桓彥範、敬暉等五王嫉之，出為嘉州司馬。 時中書舍人崔湜與桓、敬善。 武三思用事禁中，彥範憂之，托心腹於湜。 湜反露其計於三思，為三思所中，盡流嶺南。 湜勸盡殺之。 以絕其歸望。 三思問：「誰可使者？」 利貞即湜之表兄，因舉為此行。 利貞至，皆鴆殺之，因擢為左臺御史中丞。 先天元年，為廣州都督。 時湜為中書令，與僕射劉幽求不葉，陷幽求徙於嶺表，諷利貞殺之，為桂州都督王晙護之，逗留獲免。 無何，玄宗正位，利貞與薛季昶、宋之問同賜死於桂州驛。
At the start of Shenlong, Zhou Lizhen served as censor. He curried favor with the powerful. Huan Yanfan, Jing Hui, and the other Five Princes despised him and had him posted out as military administrator of Jia Prefecture. At the time Secretariat Drafter Cui Shi was on good terms with Huan and Jing. Wu Sansi wielded power inside the palace. Yanfan was alarmed and confided his plan to Shi. Shi betrayed the plan to Sansi. Sansi turned the trap on them, and all were exiled to Lingnan. Shi urged that they all be killed. This was to cut off any hope of their return. Sansi asked, "Who can be sent for this?" Lizhen was Shi's maternal cousin and was recommended for the mission on that account. When Lizhen arrived he poisoned them all to death and was promoted to Left Vice Censor-in-Chief. In the first year of Xiantian he served as regional inspector of Guang Prefecture. Shi was then chief minister of the Secretariat and at odds with Vice Director Liu Youqiu. He framed Youqiu and had him exiled beyond the mountains, hinting that Lizhen should kill him. Youqiu was protected by Wang Jun, regional inspector of Gui Prefecture, and by being detained there escaped death. Before long, after Emperor Xuanzong took the throne, Lizhen was executed together with Xue Jichang and Song Zhiwen at the post station in Gui Prefecture.
6
王旭
Wang Xu.
7
王旭，太原祁人也。 曾祖珪，貞觀初為侍中，尚永寧公主。 旭解褐鴻州參軍，轉兗州兵曹。 神龍元年正月，張柬之、桓彥範等誅張易之、昌宗兄弟，尊立孝和皇帝。 其兄昌儀先貶乾封尉，旭斬之，賫其首，赴於東都。 遷并州錄事參軍。 唐隆元年，玄宗誅韋庶人等。 并州長史周仁軌，韋氏之黨，有詔誅之。 旭不覆敕，又斬其首，馳赴西京。
Wang Xu was a native of Qi in Taiyuan commandery. His great-grandfather Wang Gui, in the early Zhenguan era, served as chief minister and married Princess Yongning. Upon entering service Xu was army records officer of Hong Prefecture and was transferred to army records officer of Yan Prefecture. In the first month of the first year of Shenlong, Zhang Jianzhi, Huan Yanfan, and others executed Zhang Yizhi and the Chang brothers and installed Emperor Xiahe on the throne. His elder brother Changyi had already been demoted to assistant magistrate of Qianfeng. Xu beheaded him, carried off the head, and hastened to the Eastern Capital. He was transferred to army records officer of Bing Prefecture. In the first year of Tanglong, Emperor Xuanzong executed the deposed Empress Wei and her faction. Chief Administrator Zhou Rengui of Bing Prefecture was a partisan of the Wei clan, and an edict ordered his execution. Xu did not wait for confirmation of the edict, beheaded Zhou at once, and galloped to the Western Capital with the head.
8
開元二年，累遷左臺侍御史。 時光祿少卿盧崇道以崔湜妻父，貶於嶺外。 逃歸，匿於東都，為仇家所發，詔旭究其獄。 旭欲擅其威權，因捕崇道親黨數十人，皆極其楚毒，然後結成其罪。 崇道及三子並杖死於都亭驛，門生親友皆決杖流貶。 時得罪多是知名之士，四海冤之。 旭又與御史大夫李傑不葉，遞相糾訐，傑竟左遷衢州刺史。 旭既得誌，擅行威福，由是朝廷畏而鄙之。
In the second year of Kaiyuan he rose through repeated promotions to Left Censor. At the time Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices Lu Chongdao, as Cui Shi's father-in-law, had been demoted beyond the mountains. He fled back and hid in the Eastern Capital. An enemy family reported him, and an edict ordered Xu to investigate the case to completion. Xu wished to wield awe-inspiring authority alone. He captured dozens of Chongdao's relatives and associates, tortured them to the limit, and only then fixed their guilt. Chongdao and his three sons were all beaten to death at the Duting Post Station; students, close friends, and others were all sentenced to beating and exile or demotion. Many of those implicated were celebrated men, and the realm lamented the injustice. Xu also feuded with Censor-in-Chief Li Jie. They repeatedly impeached each other until Jie was demoted to prefect of Qu Prefecture. Once Xu had gotten his way he acted on his own authority and wielded awe and privilege, and the court both feared and despised him.
9
五年，遷左司郎中，常帶侍御史。 旭為吏嚴苛，左右無敢支梧，每銜命推劾，一見無不輸款者。 時宋王憲府掾紀希虬兄任劍南縣令，被告有贓私，旭使至蜀鞫之。 其妻美，旭威逼之，因奏決殺縣令，納贓數千萬。 至六年，希虬遣奴詐為祗承人，受顧在臺，事旭累月。 旭賞之，召入宅中，委以腹心。 其奴密記旭受饋遺囑托事，乃成數千貫，歸謁希虬。 希虬銜泣見憲，敘以家冤。 憲憫之，執其狀以奏，詔付臺司劾之。 贓私累巨萬，貶龍平尉，憤恚而死，甚為時人之所慶快。
In the fifth year he was made director of the Left Department, usually with concurrent service as censor. As an official Xu was severe and harsh; none around him dared resist. In every case he handled, prisoners confessed at first sight. Ji Xiqiao's elder brother, an official on Prince Xian of Song's staff and magistrate of Jiannan County, was reported for bribery. Xu was sent to Shu to interrogate him. The man's wife was beautiful. Xu coerced her, then memorialized for the magistrate's execution and accepted bribes of tens of millions. By the sixth year Xiqiao sent a slave disguised as an imperial messenger to serve in the censorate and attend on Xu for several months. Xu rewarded him, summoned him into his house, and entrusted him with his innermost affairs. The slave secretly recorded Xu's bribes and favors owed, amounting to several thousand strings, and returned to show Xiqiao. Xiqiao wept before the prince and recounted his family's wrong. The prince took pity on him, took the record and reported it to the throne, and an edict ordered the censorate to investigate. His private bribes totaled tens of millions. He was demoted to assistant magistrate of Longping, died of rage and resentment, and contemporaries rejoiced greatly.
10
吉溫
Ji Wen.
11
吉溫，天官侍郎頊弟琚之孽子也。 譎詭能諂事人，遊於中貴門，愛若親戚。 性禁害，果於推劾。 天寶初，為新豐丞。 時太子文學薛嶷承恩幸，引溫入對。 玄宗目之而謂嶷曰：「是一不良漢，朕不要也。」 時蕭炅為河南尹，河南府有事，京臺差溫推詰，事連炅，堅執不舍，賴炅與右相李林甫善，抑而免之。 及溫選，炅已為京兆尹，一唱萬年尉，即就其官，人為危之。 時驃騎高力士常止宿宮禁，或時出外第，炅必謁焉。 溫先馳與力士言謔甚洽，握手呼行第，炅覷之嘆伏。 及他日，溫謁炅於府庭，遽布心腹曰：「他日不敢隳國家法，今日已後，洗心事公。」 炅復與盡歡。
Ji Wen was the illegitimate son of Ji Jun, younger brother of Vice Director of the Heavenly Office Ji Xu. Cunning and deceitful, he was skilled at fawning on others and moved among the inner eunuchs, who treated him like kin. By nature he was malicious and forbidding, and ruthless in investigation. At the start of Tianbao he served as assistant magistrate of Xinfeng. Crown Prince Literary Scholar Xue Yi, then in favor, introduced Wen to the emperor. Emperor Xuanzong looked him over and said to Yi, "This is a bad character — I do not want him." At the time Xiao Jiong was Henan Intendant. When a matter at the Henan office arose, the capital censorate sent Wen to investigate. The case implicated Jiong, and Wen pressed it without yielding. Jiong was protected by Right Chancellor Li Linfu, who suppressed the matter and spared Wen. When Wen was transferred, Jiong had already become Jingzhao Intendant and promptly made him assistant magistrate of Wannian. Wen took the post at once, and people regarded it as perilous. Flying Cavalry General Gao Lishi often lodged in the palace and sometimes visited his outer residence, which Jiong always attended. Wen rode ahead, chatted familiarly with Lishi, and clasped his hand using intimate terms of address. Jiong saw this and sighed in submission. On another day Wen came to Jiong's office and suddenly told his trusted followers, "Before today I would not have dared violate the law of the state. From now on I will serve you with a clean heart, my lord." Jiong received him with full cordiality.
12
會林甫與左相李適之、駙馬張垍不葉，適之兼兵部尚書，垍兄均為兵部侍郎，林甫遣人訐出兵部銓曹主簿事令史六十餘人偽濫事，圖覆其官長，詔出付京兆府與憲司對問。 數日，竟不究其由。 炅使溫劾之。 溫於院中分囚於兩處，溫於後廳佯取兩重囚訊之，或杖或壓，痛苦之聲，所不忍聞。 即云：「若存性命，乞紙盡答。」
Linfu was at odds with Left Chancellor Li Shizhi and Chief Commandant of Horse Zhang Ji. Shizhi also headed the Ministry of War, and Zhang Ji's elder brother Jun was vice minister. Linfu had clerks expose more than sixty appointment clerks in the Ministry of War for false appointments, intending to bring down their superiors. An edict ordered Jingzhao and the censorate to investigate jointly. After several days they still could not get to the bottom of it. Jiong had Wen investigate. In the courtyard Wen divided the prisoners into two groups. In a back hall he pretended to interrogate two serious offenders; some were beaten, some crushed, and the sounds of agony were unbearable. He then said, "If you wish to keep your lives, ask for paper and confess fully."
13
令史輩素諳溫，各自誣伏罪，及溫引問，無敢違者。 晷刻間事輯，驗囚無栲訊決罰處。 常云：「若遇知己，南山白額獸不足縛也。」 會李林甫將起刑獄，除不附己者，乃引之於門，與羅希奭同鍛煉詔獄。
The clerks had long known Wen. Each falsely confessed, and when Wen brought them forward for questioning none dared disobey. Within a short span the case was closed, and on inspection the prisoners bore no marks of beating or punishment. He often said, "Give me a patron who knows my worth, and not even the white-browed tiger of the southern mountains would be beyond my grasp." When Li Linfu was about to launch criminal prosecutions and remove those not loyal to him, he took Wen under his patronage. Together with Luo Xiyi he forged cases in the edict-designated prisons.
14
五載，因中官納其外甥武敬一女為盛王琦妃，擢京兆府士曹。 時林甫專謀不利於東儲，以左驍衛兵曹柳湜杜良娣妹婿，令溫推之。 溫追著作郎王曾、前右司禦率府倉曹王修己、左武衛司戈盧寧、左威衛騎曹徐徵同就臺鞫，數日而獄成。 勣等杖死，積屍於大理寺。
In the fifth year, through an inner eunuch he presented a daughter he had by Wu Jing as consort to Prince Sheng Qi and was promoted to capital corps officer of Jingzhao. Linfu was then plotting against the crown prince. Left Martial Guard Officer Liu Ji was son-in-law to Consort Du Liangdi's younger sister, and Linfu ordered Wen to investigate him. Wen pursued Composition Officer Wang Zeng, former Right Gate Imperial Guard Storehouse Officer Wang Xiuji, Left Martial Guard Officer Lu Ning, and Left Guard Cavalry Officer Xu Zheng, bringing them together to the censorate for interrogation. Within days the case was closed. Ji and the others were beaten to death, and corpses piled up in the Court of Judicial Review.
15
六載，林甫又以戶部侍郎、兼御史中丞楊慎矜違忤其旨，御史中丞王鉷與慎矜親而嫉之，同構其事，云：「蓄圖讖，以己是隋煬帝子孫，規於興復」，林甫又奏付溫鞫焉，慎矜下獄繫之。 使溫於東京收捕其兄少府少監慎餘、弟洛陽令慎名，於汝州捕其門客史敬忠。 敬忠頗有學，嘗與朝貴遊。 蹉跎不進。 與溫父琚情契甚密，溫孩孺時，敬忠嘗抱撫之。 溫令河南丞姚開就擒之，鎖其頸，布袂蒙面以見溫。 溫驅之於前，不交一言。 欲及京，使典誘之云：「楊慎矜今款招己成，須子一辨。 若解人意，必活； 忤之，必死。」 敬忠回首曰：「七郎，乞一紙。」 溫佯不與，見詞懇，乃於桑下令答，三紙辯皆符溫旨。 喜曰：「丈人莫相怪！」 遂徐下拜。 及至溫湯，始鞫慎矜，以敬忠詞為證。 及再搜其家，不得圖讖。 林甫恐事泄，危之，乃使御史盧鉉入搜。 鉉乃袖讖書而入，於隱僻中詬而出曰：「逆賊牢藏秘記，今得之矣！」 指於慎矜小妻韓珠團婢，見舉家惶懼，且行捶擊，誰敢忤焉！ 獄乃成，慎矜兄弟賜死。 溫自是威振，衣冠不敢偶言。
In the sixth year Linfu also had Vice Minister of Revenue and concurrent Vice Censor-in-Chief Yang Shenjin defy his wishes. Vice Censor-in-Chief Wang Hong was related to Shenjin but jealous of him; together they fabricated a case, saying, "He hoards prognostic texts and, taking himself to be a descendant of Emperor Yang of Sui, plots restoration." Linfu again memorialized that Wen should interrogate the case, and Shenjin was imprisoned. Wen was sent to the Eastern Capital to capture Shenjin's elder brother, Vice Director of the Palace Workshop Yang Shenyu, and his younger brother, Magistrate of Luoyang Yang Shenming; in Ru Prefecture he captured retainer Shi Jingzhong. Jingzhong was learned and had once moved among court nobles. He had drifted without advancement. He had been deeply bound in friendship with Wen's father Jun and had once held and caressed Wen as a child. Wen ordered Henan Assistant Director Yao Kai to capture him, chained his neck, covered his face with cloth, and brought him before Wen. Wen drove him forward without exchanging a single word. Before reaching the capital he had an officer entice Jingzhong, saying, "Yang Shenjin has already fully confessed and the case is complete. I need one word of identification from you. If you understand what is wanted, you will live; if you resist, you will die."" Jingzhong turned his head and said, "Seventh Brother, give me one sheet of paper." Wen pretended not to give it; seeing how earnest he was, he finally gave him paper under a mulberry tree. Three sheets of defense all matched Wen's intent. Delighted, he said, "Elder sir, do not take offense!" Then he bowed low. When they reached Wen's hot springs he first interrogated Shenjin, using Jingzhong's words as evidence. On searching his house again, no prognostic text was found. Linfu feared the affair would leak and had Censor Lu Xuan search the house. Xuan concealed the prognostic book in his sleeve and entered. In a hidden place he cursed and brought it forth, saying, "The rebel traitor firmly hid this secret record — now it is obtained!" He pointed at Shenjin's younger wife, the maid Han Zhutuan. Seeing the whole household terrified, he beat them, and none dared resist. The case was then closed; Shenjin and his brothers were ordered to die. From then on Wen's authority was terrifying, and officials and gentry dared not speak even in passing.
16
溫早以嚴毒聞，頻知詔獄，忍行枉濫，推事未訊問，已作奏狀，計贓數。 及被引問，便懾懼，即隨意而書，無敢惜其生者。 因不加栲擊，獄成矣。 林甫深以溫為能，擢戶部郎中，常帶御史。 林甫雖倚以爪牙，溫又見安祿山受主恩，驃騎高力士居中用事，皆附會其間，結為兄弟。 常謂祿山曰：「李右相雖觀察人事，親於三兄，必不以兄為宰相。 溫雖被驅使，必不超擢。 若三兄奏溫為相，即奏兄堪大任，擠出林甫，是兩人必為相矣。」 祿山悅之。
Wen had long been known for severity and poison. He frequently handled edict-designated prison cases, willingly committing wrongful excess. Before interrogation he had already prepared the memorial and calculated the bribe totals. Once brought forward for questioning, prisoners were so terrified they wrote whatever was wanted, none daring to hold back. Thus without even resorting to beating, the case was closed. Linfu deeply regarded Wen as capable and promoted him to director of the Ministry of Revenue with concurrent service as censor. Although Linfu relied on him as a tool, Wen also saw that An Lushan enjoyed the emperor's favor and Gao Lishi held power at court. He attached himself to them all and formed brotherhood with them. He often said to Lushan, "Right Chancellor Li may read men and be close to you, Third Brother, yet he will surely not make you chancellor. Although I am driven and used, I will surely not be promoted beyond measure. If you, Third Brother, recommend me as chancellor, I will recommend you for a great appointment and squeeze out Linfu — then the two of us will surely both become chancellors." Lushan was delighted.
17
時祿山承恩無敵，驟言溫能，玄宗亦忘曩歲之語。 十載，祿山加河東節度，因奏溫為河東節度副使，並知節度營田及管內采訪監察留後事。 其載，又加兼雁門太守，仍知安邊郡鑄錢事，賜紫金魚袋。 及丁所生憂，祿山又奏起復為本官。 尋復奏為魏郡太守、兼侍御史。
Lushan then enjoyed unrivaled favor and quickly praised Wen's ability; Emperor Xuanzong also forgot his judgment of years before. In the tenth year Lushan was additionally made military commissioner of Hedong. He memorialized Wen as his deputy, with charge of garrison farms and internal investigation and oversight of affairs in his absence. That year Wen was additionally made prefect of Yanmen and put in charge of frontier coinage in Anbian Commandery, and was granted the purple robe and gold fish tally. When he completed mourning for his birth mother, Lushan again memorialized that he leave mourning and resume his former office. He soon memorialized Wen again as prefect of Wei Commandery with concurrent service as censor.
18
楊國忠入相，素與溫交通，追入為御史中丞，仍充京畿、關內采訪處置使。 溫於范陽辭，祿山令累路館驛作白䌷帳以候之，又令男慶緒出界送，攏馬出驛數十步。 及至西京，朝廷動靜，輒報祿山，信宿而達。
When Yang Guozhong became chancellor he had long been in contact with Wen and recalled him as vice censor-in-chief, still serving as commissioner for investigation and disposition in the capital region and Guannei. When Wen took leave at Fanyang, Lushan ordered relay stations along the route to erect white silk canopies to receive him and had his son Qingxu escort him beyond the border, holding the horses dozens of paces from the post station. Once he reached the Western Capital he reported every movement of the court to Lushan, and word arrived within a day or two.
19
十三載正月，祿山入朝，拜左僕射，充閑廄使。 因奏加溫武部侍郎、兼御史中丞，充閑廄、苑內、營田、五坊等副使。 時楊國忠與祿山嫌隙已成，溫轉厚於祿山，國忠又忌之。 其冬，河東太守韋陟入奏於華清宮，陟自謂失職，托於溫結歡於祿山，廣載河東土物饋於溫，又及權貴。 國忠諷評事吳豸之使鄉人告之，召付中書門下，對法官鞫之，陟伏其狀，貶桂嶺尉，溫澧陽長史。 溫判官員錫新興尉。
In the first month of the thirteenth year Lushan came to court, was appointed left vice director of the Department of State Affairs, and was made commissioner of the imperial stud. He memorialized that Wen be additionally made vice minister of war and concurrent vice censor-in-chief, and deputy commissioner of the imperial stud, inner parks, garrison farms, and five corrals. By then Yang Guozhong and Lushan were already at odds. Wen drew even closer to Lushan, and Guozhong resented him again. That winter Hedong Prefect Wei Zhi came to memorialize at Huaqing Palace. Believing he had lost his post, Zhi relied on Wen to seek favor with Lushan, loading Hedong local products as gifts for Wen and other powerful men. Guozhong hinted to Assessor Wu Zhizhi to have a fellow townsman report the matter. They were summoned to the Secretariat and Chancellery and interrogated before legal officers. Zhi confessed and was demoted to assistant magistrate of Guiling; Wen was demoted to chief administrator of Liyang. Wen's judicial officer Yuan Xi was demoted to assistant magistrate of Xinxing.
20
明年，溫又坐贓七千匹及奪人口馬奸穢事發，貶端州高要尉。 溫至嶺外，遷延不進，依於張博濟，止於始安郡。 八月，遣大理司直蔣沇鞫之。 溫死於獄中，博濟及始安太守羅希奭死於州門。
The next year Wen was again implicated for seven thousand bolts of illicit goods and for seizing people, horses, and debauched misconduct. He was demoted to assistant magistrate of Gaoyao in Duan Prefecture. When Wen reached the region beyond the mountains he delayed and did not proceed, relying on Zhang Boji, and stopped in Shian Commandery. In the eighth month Court of Judicial Review Direct Attendant Jiang Yan was sent to interrogate him. Wen died in prison; Boji and Shian Prefect Luo Xiyi died at the prefectural gate.
21
初，溫之貶斥，玄宗在華清宮，謂朝臣曰：「吉溫是酷吏子侄，朕被人誑惑，用之至此。 屢勸朕起刑獄以作威福，朕不受其言。 今去矣，卿等皆可安枕也！」 初，開元九年，有王鈞為洛陽尉。 十八年，有嚴安之為河南丞。 皆性毒虐，笞罰人畏其不死，皆杖訖不放起，須其腫憤，徐乃重杖之，懊血流地，苦楚欲死，鈞與安之始眉目喜暢，故人吏懾懼。 溫則售身權貴，噬螫衣冠，來頗異耳。 溫九月死始興。 十一月，祿山起兵作亂，人謂與溫報仇耳。 祿山入洛陽城，即偽位。 玄宗幸蜀後，祿山求得溫一子，才六七歲，授河南府參軍，給與財帛。
When Wen was first demoted, Emperor Xuanzong was at Huaqing Palace and said to the court ministers, "Ji Wen is the nephew of a cruel official. I was deceived into using him to this extent. He repeatedly urged me to launch criminal cases to wield awe and privilege, and I did not accept his words. Now he is gone; you all may finally sleep at ease!" At the beginning, in the ninth year of Kaiyuan, Wang Jun served as assistant magistrate of Luoyang. In the eighteenth year Yan Anzhi served as assistant director of Henan. Both were poisonous and cruel by nature. When beating prisoners they feared the victims might not die. After each beating they would not let them rise, waited until the swelling festered, then beat them again until blood ran on the ground and agony made death seem preferable — only then did Jun and Anzhi look pleased. Old officials and clerks were terrified. Wen, by contrast, sold himself to the powerful and preyed on officials and gentry — a rather different kind of cruelty. Wen died at Shixing in the ninth month. In the eleventh month Lushan raised troops in rebellion; people said it was to avenge Wen. When Lushan entered Luoyang he immediately usurped the throne. After Emperor Xuanzong went to Shu, Lushan found one of Wen's sons, only six or seven years old, appointed him army records officer of Henan Prefecture, and gave him goods and silk.
22
初，溫之按楊慎矜，侍御史盧鉉同其事。 鉉初為御史，作韋堅判官。 及堅為李林甫所嫉，鉉以堅款曲發於林甫，冀售其身。 及按慎矜，鉉先與張瑄同臺，情旨素厚，貴取媚於權臣，誣瑄與楊慎矜共解圖讖。 持之，為驢駒板橛以成其獄。 又為王鉷閑廄判官，鉷緣邢縡事朝堂被推，鉉證云：「大夫將白帖索廄馬五百匹以助逆，我不與之。」 鉷死在晷刻，鉉忍誣之，眾咸怒恨焉。 及被貶為廬江長史，在郡忽見瑄為祟，乃云：「端公何得來乞命？ 不自由。」 鉉須臾而卒。
When Wen investigated Yang Shenjin, Palace Censor Lu Xuan shared the affair. At first Xuan served as censor and was judicial officer for Wei Jian. When Jian was targeted by Li Linfu, Xuan exposed Jian's full confession to Linfu, hoping to save himself. When investigating Shenjin, Xuan had served on the same censorate platform as Zhang Xuan and they had long been close. Eager to curry favor with powerful ministers, he falsely charged Xuan with jointly interpreting prognostic texts with Yang Shenjin. He used this as a donkey-foal stake-board to complete the case. He also served as judicial officer for Wang Hong of the Imperial Stud. When Hong was implicated in the court hall over the Xing Ji affair, Xuan testified, saying, "The chief minister was about to send a white slip requesting five hundred stud horses to aid rebellion — I did not give them to him." Hong died within moments. Xuan cruelly bore false witness against him, and everyone raged at the injustice. When he was demoted to chief administrator of Lujiang, he suddenly saw Xuan as a haunting spirit and said, "My lord, how have you come to beg for life? I am not free." Within a moment Xuan died.
23
羅希奭
Luo Xiyi.
24
羅希奭，本杭州人也，近家洛陽，鴻臚少卿張博濟堂外甥。 為吏持法深刻。 天寶初，右相李林甫引與吉溫持獄，又與希奭姻婭，自御史臺主簿再遷殿中侍御史。 自韋堅、皇甫惟明、李適之、柳勣、裴敦復、李邕、鄔元昌、楊慎矜、趙奉璋下獄事，皆與溫鍛煉，故時稱「羅鉗吉網」，惡其深刻也。 八載，除刑部員外，轉郎中。 十一載，李林甫卒，出為中部、始安二太守，仍充當管經略使。
Luo Xiyi was originally from Hang Prefecture; his family had recently settled in Luoyang. He was a paternal cousin of Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices Zhang Boji. As an official he enforced the law with deep severity. At the start of Tianbao Right Chancellor Li Linfu brought him together with Ji Wen to handle prison cases. He was also related to Xiyi by marriage and rose from chief clerk of the censorate to palace censor. From the imprisonments of Wei Jian, Huangfu Weiming, Li Shizhi, Liu Ji, Pei Dunfu, Li Yong, Wu Yuanchang, Yang Shenjin, and Zhao Fengzhang, all were forged together with Wen. The age therefore called them "Luo's Pincers and Ji's Net," hating their depth and severity. In the eighth year he was appointed vice director of the Ministry of Justice and transferred to director. In the eleventh year Li Linfu died. He was sent out as prefect of Zhongbu and Shian, still serving as frontier commissioner for the circuit under his charge.
25
十四載，以張博濟、吉溫，韋陟、韋誡奢、李從一、員錫等流貶，皆於始安，希奭或令假攝。 右相楊國忠奏遣司直蔣沇往按之，復令張光奇替為始安太守。 仍降敕曰：
In the fourteenth year Zhang Boji, Ji Wen, Wei Zhi, Wei Jieshe, Li Congyi, Yuan Xi, and others were exiled and demoted to Shian; Xiyi sometimes had them serve as temporary appointees. Right Chancellor Yang Guozhong memorialized sending Direct Attendant Jiang Yan to investigate and ordered Zhang Guangqi to replace him as prefect of Shian. An edict was also issued, stating:
26
前始安郡太守、充當管經略使羅希奭，幸此資序，叨居牧守。 地列要荒，人多竄殛，尤加委任，冀絕奸訛。 翻乃嘯結逋逃，群聚不逞，應是流貶，公然安置。 或差攝郡縣，割剝黎氓； 或輟借館宇，侵擾人吏。 不唯輕侮典憲，實亦隳壞紀綱。 擢發數愆，豈多其罪，可貶海東郡海康尉、員外置。 張博濟往托回邪，跡惟憑恃，嘗自抵犯，又坐親姻，前後貶官，歲月頗久，逗留不赴，情狀難容。 及命按舉，仍更潛匿，亡命逭刑，莫斯為甚。 並當切害，合峻常刑，宜於所在各決重杖六十。 使夫為政之士，克守章程； 負罪之人，期於悛革。 凡厥在位，宜各悉心。
Former prefect of Shian Commandery and frontier commissioner for the circuit under his charge Luo Xiyi, by fortune of rank and seniority, presumptuously held the post of prefect and defender. The land lies in a strategic frontier region where many are fugitives and exiles. He was especially entrusted with responsibility, in the hope of cutting off wickedness and error. Instead he gathered fugitives and assembled the unruly in groups. All who should have been exiled and demoted he openly installed. Some he dispatched to act as prefects and magistrates, stripping and exploiting the common people; some he lent official residences, harassing officials and clerks. He not only lightly insulted the canonical statutes; in truth he also destroyed discipline and regulation. When every fault is counted, are his crimes not many enough? He is demoted to assistant magistrate of Haikang in Haidong Commandery as a supernumerary appointment. Zhang Boji has long relied on crooked and wicked ways and shows only dependence on patronage. He has repeatedly offended on his own and also been implicated through marriage. Demoted repeatedly over many years, he has delayed and not reported — conduct that is hard to tolerate. When ordered to investigate he still hid himself further — fleeing fate and evading punishment, nothing exceeds this. All are to receive severe punishment and should receive stern regular punishment. Each at his location is to be sentenced to sixty heavy blows with the staff. Let those who hold office each diligently guard the regulations; let those who bear guilt look to reform themselves. All who hold posts should each give their full heart.
27
時員錫、李從一、韋誡奢、吉承恩並決杖，遣司直宇文審往監之。
At the time Yuan Xi, Li Congyi, Wei Jieshe, and Ji Chengen were all sentenced to beating, and Direct Attendant Yu Wenshen was sent to supervise.
28
毛若虛
Mao Ruoxu.
29
毛若虛，絳州太平人也。 眉毛覆於眼，其性殘忍。 初為蜀川縣尉，使司以推勾見任。 天寶末，為武功丞，年已六十餘矣。 肅宗收兩京，除監察御史。 審國用不足，上策徵剝財貨。 有潤於公者，日有進奉，漸見任用稱旨。 每推一人，未鞫，即先收其家資，以定贓數。 不滿望，即攤徵鄉里近親。 峻其威權，人皆懼死，輸納不差晷刻。
Mao Ruoxu was a native of Taiping in Jiang Prefecture. His eyebrows covered his eyes, and his nature was cruel and harsh. At first he served as assistant magistrate of Shuchuan County; the administrative office used him for investigation and verification while still in office. At the end of Tianbao he served as assistant magistrate of Wugong; he was already more than sixty years old. When Emperor Suzong recovered the two capitals, Ruoxu was appointed Investigating Censor. Finding state revenue insufficient, he submitted a plan to levy and strip property. What enriched the public coffers was reported daily as tribute, and he was gradually employed to the emperor's satisfaction. Whenever he investigated a man, before interrogation he first seized his household assets to fix the bribe total. If the amount did not meet his expectation, he then spread the levy to near kin in the village and neighborhood. He made his authority terrifying; all feared death and paid without missing a deadline.
30
乾元二年，鳳翔府七坊押官先行剽劫，州縣不能制，因有劫殺事。 縣尉謝夷甫因眾怒，遂搒殺之。 其妻訴於李輔國，輔國奏請御史孫瑩鞫之。 瑩不能正其事。 又令中丞崔伯陽三司使雜訊之，又不證成其罪。 因令若虛推之，遂歸罪於夷甫。 伯陽與之言，若虛頗不遜。 伯陽數讓之，若虛馳謁告急。 肅宗曰：「卿且出。」 對曰：「臣出即死矣。」 肅宗潛留若虛簾內，召伯陽至，伯陽頗短若虛。 上怒，叱出之。 因流貶伯陽同推官十餘人，皆於嶺外遠惡處。 宰相李峴以左右於瑩等，亦被貶斥。 於是若虛威震朝列，公卿懾懼矣！ 尋擢為御史中丞。 上元元年，貶賓化尉而死。
In the second year of Qianyuan the supervisory officer of the seven corrals of Fengxiang Prefecture led the way in plundering. The prefectures and counties could not control them, and robbery and killing followed. Because of the crowd's rage, Assistant Magistrate Xie Yifu beat the offenders to death. His wife appealed to Li Fuguo, who memorialized requesting Censor Sun Ying to interrogate the case. Ying could not set the affair right. He again ordered Vice Censor-in-Chief Cui Boyang as commissioner of the Three Offices to conduct mixed interrogation, but again could not verify the crime. He therefore ordered Ruoxu to investigate, and guilt was then placed on Yifu. When Boyang spoke with him, Ruoxu was quite insubordinate. Boyang repeatedly reproved him; Ruoxu galloped off to report an emergency. Emperor Suzong said, "You may go out for now." He replied, "If I go out, I will die at once." Emperor Suzong secretly kept Ruoxu inside the curtain and summoned Boyang, who spoke at length against Ruoxu. The emperor was angry and shouted him out. Boyang and more than ten co-investigating officials were exiled to distant, harsh places beyond the mountains. Chancellor Li Xian, because he sided with Ying and the others, was also demoted and expelled. From this Ruoxu's authority terrified the court, and dukes and ministers were awed and fearful. He was soon promoted to vice censor-in-chief. In the first year of Shangyuan he was demoted to assistant magistrate of Binhua and died.
31
敬羽
Jing Yu.
32
敬羽，寶鼎人也。 父昭道，開元初為監察御史。 羽貌寢而性便僻，善候人意旨。 天寶九載，為康成縣尉。 安思順為朔方節度使，引在幕下。 及肅宗於靈武即大位，羽尋擢為監察御史。 以苛刻徵剝求進。 及收兩京後，轉見委任。 作大枷，有鹴尾榆，著即悶絕。 又臥囚於地，以門關輾其腹，號為「肉餺飥」。 掘地為坑，實以棘刺，以敗席覆上，領囚臨坑訊之，必墜其中，萬刺攢之。 又捕逐錢貨，不減毛若虛。
Jing Yu was a native of Baoding. His father Zhaodao, in the early Kaiyuan era, served as Investigating Censor. Yu was homely in appearance and crooked by nature, skilled at reading men's intent. In the ninth year of Tianbao he served as assistant magistrate of Kangcheng. An Sishun was military commissioner of Shuofang and brought him onto his staff. When Emperor Suzong assumed the throne at Lingwu, Yu was soon promoted to Investigating Censor. He sought advancement through harsh exaction and stripping. After the two capitals were recovered he came increasingly to be entrusted with power. He made great cangues of salt-tail elm; when put on, a prisoner immediately suffocated. He also laid prisoners on the ground and rolled their bellies with a door bar — this was called "meat dumplings." He dug a pit, filled it with thorn brambles, covered it with a broken mat, led a prisoner to the edge for questioning, and he was sure to fall in — pierced by ten thousand thorns. He also hunted and pursued money and goods, no less ruthlessly than Mao Ruoxu.
33
上元中，擢為御史中丞。 太子少傅、宗正卿、鄭國公李遵，為宗子通事舍人李若冰告其贓私，詔羽按之。 羽延遵，各危坐於小床。 羽小瘦，遵豐碩，頃間問即倒，請垂足。 羽曰：「尚書下獄是囚，羽禮延坐，何得慢耶！」 遵絕倒者數四。 請問，羽徐應之，授紙筆，書贓數千貫，奏之。 肅宗以勛舊舍之，但停宗正卿。
In the Shangyuan era he was promoted to vice censor-in-chief. Heir Apparent Junior Tutor, Director of the Imperial Clan, and Duke of Zheng Li Zun was reported by Heir Apparent Communications Officer Li Ruobing for bribery. An edict ordered Yu to investigate. Yu summoned Zun; each sat upright on a small bed. Yu was small and thin; Zun was large and stout. Within a short span, when questioned he collapsed and asked that his feet be let down. Yu said, "When a chief minister enters prison he is a prisoner. Yu, observing ritual, extended a seat — how dare you be disrespectful!" Zun collapsed several times. When questioned, Yu slowly responded, gave him paper and brush, and had him write bribes of several thousand strings, then memorialized it. Emperor Suzong, because of meritorious old service, pardoned him but only removed him as director of the Imperial Clan.
34
及嗣薛王珍潛謀不軌，詔羽鞫之。 羽召支黨羅於廷，索鹴尾榆枷之，布栲訊之具以繞之，信宿成獄。 珍坐死，右衛將軍竇如玢、試都水使者崔昌等九人並斬，太子洗馬趙非熊、陳王府長史陳閎、楚州司馬張昴、左武衛兵曹參軍焦自榮，前鳳翔府郿縣主簿李、廣文館進士張夐等六人決殺，駙馬都尉薛履謙賜自盡，左散騎常侍張鎬貶辰州司戶。
When Heir Apparent Prince of Si Zhen secretly plotted rebellion, an edict ordered Yu to interrogate him. Yu summoned Zhen's partisans, lined them up in the hall, bound them in salt-tail elm cangues, and spread torture instruments around them. Within a day or two the case was closed. Zhen was sentenced to death. Right Guard General Dou Rubin, Acting Commissioner of Waterways Cui Chang, and nine others were beheaded. Heir Apparent Reader Zhao Feixiong, chief administrator of the Prince of Chu's household Chen Hong, military administrator of Chu Prefecture Zhang Ang, Left Martial Guard Officer Jiao Zirong, former chief clerk of Fengxiang Prefecture's Mei County Li, and Advanced Scholar of the Broad Learning Hall Zhang Qiong — six men were beaten and executed. Chief Commandant of Horse Xue Lüqian was ordered to take his own life. Left Regular Attendant Zhang Hao was demoted to registrar of Chen Prefecture.
35
胡人康謙善賈，資產億萬計。 楊國忠為相，授安南都護。 至德中，為試鴻臚卿，專知山南東路。 驛人嫉之，告其陰通史朝義。 謙髭鬚長三尺過帶，按之兩宿，鬢髮皆禿，膝踝亦栲碎，視之者以為鬼物，非人類也。 乞舍其生，以後送狀奏殺之，沒其資產。
The foreigner Kang Qian was skilled in trade; his assets numbered in the hundreds of millions. When Yang Guozhong was chancellor, he was appointed protector-general of Annan. In the Zede era he served as acting vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, exclusively managing the eastern route south of the mountains. Relay workers resented him and reported that he secretly communicated with Shi Chaoyi. Qian's beard and mustache were more than three feet long, passing his belt. After a day or two of investigation his temples and hair were all gone and his knees and ankles were crushed to pieces. Those who saw him thought him a ghost, not human. He begged for his life; afterward he submitted a memorial requesting execution, and his assets were confiscated.
36
羽與毛若虛在臺五六年間，臺中囚繫不絕。 又有裴升、畢曜同為御史，皆酷毒。 人之陷刑，當時有毛、敬、裴、畢之稱。
Yu and Mao Ruoxu, while at the censorate for five or six years, kept prisoners continuously bound there. Pei Sheng and Bi Yao also served together as censors; all were cruel and poisonous. When men fell into punishment, the age spoke of Mao, Jing, Pei, and Bi.
37
裴、畢尋又流黔中。 羽，寶應元年貶為道州刺史。 尋有詔殺之，羽聞之，衣兇服南奔溪洞，為吏所擒。 臨刑，袖中執州縣官吏犯贓私狀數紙，曰：「有人通此狀，恨不得推究其事。 主州政者，無宜寢也。」
Pei and Bi were soon exiled again to central Qian. In the first year of Baoying Yu was demoted to prefect of Dao Prefecture. Soon an edict ordered his execution. When Yu heard it he put on mourning garments and fled south into ravines and caves but was captured by officials. Facing execution, he held several sheets from his sleeve recording prefectural and county officials' bribery and private gain, and said, "If anyone passes on this record, I regret that I could not investigate the affair. Those who hold prefectural government should not suppress it."
38
贊曰：王德將衰，政在奸臣。 鷹犬搏擊，縱之者人。 遭其毒螫，可為悲辛。 作法為害，延濫不仁。
Commentary: When royal virtue is about to decline, government lies with wicked ministers. Hawks and hounds strike and seize — it is men who set them loose. Those who suffer their poisonous sting have cause for bitter grief. Making law into harm spreads cruelty without benevolence.