1
先是，儀鳳中，吐蕃入寇，工部尚書劉審禮率兵十八萬，與蕃將倫欽陵戰於青海，王師大敗，審禮沒於陣。 高宗駭然，乃召侍臣問以禦戎之策，正一對曰：「吐蕃作梗，年歲已深，命將興師，相繼不絕，空勞士馬，虛費糧儲，近討則徒損兵威，深入則未窮巢穴。 臣望少發兵募，且遣備邊，明立烽候，勿令侵擾。 伺國用豐足，人心葉同，寬之數年，可一舉而滅。」 給事中劉齊賢、皇甫文亮等亦以為嚴守為便。 正一才略，率多此類。
Earlier, during the Yifeng period, Tibet launched an invasion. Liu Shenli, Minister of Works, took the field with 180,000 men and met the Tibetan commander Lun Qinling at Qinghai. The imperial forces were routed, and Shenli fell in battle. Gaozong was deeply shaken and called in his close advisers to ask how best to meet the frontier threat. Zheng Yi answered: "Tibet has been a thorn in our side for years. We have sent one general after another and raised army after army, wasting men and horses to no purpose and draining our granaries. A limited strike would only bruise our prestige, while a deep thrust would still not root them out of their strongholds. I would urge that we raise only a modest force, post it to guard the frontier, set up our beacon lines in good order, and keep the Tibetans from raiding at will. When the treasury is full again and the people stand united behind the throne, we may wait a few years more and then wipe them out in a single campaign." The Attendant Gentlemen Liu Qixian, Huangfu Wenliang, and others likewise argued that a policy of firm defense was the wiser course. In talent and counsel, Zheng Yi was generally of this sort.
2
元萬頃，洛陽人，後魏景穆皇帝之胤。 祖白澤，武德中總管。 萬頃善屬文，起家拜通事舍人。 乾封中，從英國公李勣征高麗，為遼東道總管記室。 別帥馮本以大軍援裨將郭待封，船破失期。 待封欲作書與勣，恐高麗知其救兵不至，乘危迫之，乃作離合詩贈勣。 勣不達其意，大怒曰：「軍機急切，何用詩為？ 必斬之！」 萬頃為解釋之，乃止。
Yuan Wanci was a native of Luoyang and a descendant of Emperor Jingmu of the Northern Wei. His grandfather Bai Ze had served as regional commander during the Wude reign. Wanci was gifted at literary composition and, upon first entering office, was appointed Attendant for Diplomatic Correspondence. During the Qianfeng period he accompanied the Duke of Ying, Li Ji, on the Goguryeo campaign as secretary to the commander of the Liaodong route. The deputy commander Feng Ben was bringing a large force to relieve the assistant general Guo Daifeng, but his ships were wrecked and he failed to arrive on time. Daifeng wanted to write to Li Ji, but he feared that if Goguryeo learned relief would not come, they would press their advantage. He therefore sent Ji a poem in which the message was hidden by splitting characters apart. Li Ji did not understand what he meant and burst out in anger: "The army is in desperate straits—what good is a poem? He must be put to death!" Wanci explained the matter, and Li Ji relented.
3
勣嘗令萬頃作文檄高麗，其語有譏高麗「不知守鴨綠之險」，莫離支報雲「謹聞命矣」，遂移兵固守鴨綠，官軍不得入，萬頃坐是流於嶺外。 後會赦得還，拜著作郎。
Li Ji once had Wanci draft a proclamation against Goguryeo in which he taunted them for "not knowing how to defend the Yalu crossings." Mo Licheng answered, "Your orders are received with respect," then shifted his army to hold the Yalu line. The imperial forces could not advance, and Wanci was exiled beyond the southern ranges for his indiscretion. He was later recalled under a general amnesty and appointed Chief Compiler.
4
時天後諷高宗廣召文詞之士入禁中修撰，萬頃與左史範履冰、苗神客，右史周思茂、胡楚賓鹹預其選，前後撰《列女傳》、《臣軌》、《百僚新誡》、《樂書》等凡千余卷。 朝廷疑議及百司表疏，皆密令萬頃等參決，以分宰相之權，時人謂之「北門學士」。
At that time Empress Wu urged Gaozong to summon literary men in large numbers into the inner palace to compile works. Wanci, the Left Historiographer Fan Lubing, Miao Shenke, and the Right Historiographers Zhou Simao and Hu Chubin were all chosen. Together they produced more than a thousand scrolls, including the Biographies of Eminent Women, the Mirror of Ministers, the New Admonitions for the Hundred Officials, and treatises on music. Deliberations at court and memorials from every office were secretly referred to Wanci and his colleagues for decision, so as to dilute the chancellors' authority. Contemporaries called them the "North Gate Academicians."
5
萬頃屬文敏速，然性疏曠，不拘細節，無儒者之風。 則天臨朝，遷鳳閣舍人。 無幾，擢拜鳳閣侍郎。
Wanci wrote with speed and fluency, but he was by nature careless and free-spirited, heedless of small proprieties and without the dignity of a true scholar. When Wu Zetian assumed power, he was made Attendant Gentleman of the Phoenix Pavilion. Before long he was promoted to Vice Minister of the Phoenix Pavilion.
6
苗神客者，滄州東光人。 官至著作郎。
Miao Shenke was a native of Dongguang in Cangzhou. He rose to the post of Chief Compiler.
7
周思茂者，貝州漳南人。 少與弟思鈞，俱早知名。 自右史轉太子舍人。 與範履冰在禁中最蒙親遇，至於政事損益，多參預焉。 累遷麟臺少監、崇文館學士。 垂拱四年，下獄死。
Zhou Simao was a native of Zhangnan in Beizhou. From youth he and his younger brother Sigun were both celebrated early for their talent. He moved from Right Historiographer to Attendant of the Heir Apparent. Together with Fan Lubing he enjoyed the greatest favor within the palace. On questions of policy that might help or harm the state, he was often consulted. He was repeatedly promoted, eventually becoming Vice Director of the Imperial Library and a scholar of the Chongwen Hall. In the fourth year of the Chuigong era he was thrown into prison and died there.
8
胡楚賓者，宣州秋浦人。 屬文敏速，每飲半酣而後操筆。 高宗每令作文，必以金銀杯盛酒令飲，便以杯賜之。 楚賓終日酣宴，家無所藏，費盡復入待詔，得賜又出。 然性慎密，未嘗言禁中事，醉後人或問之，答以他事而已。 自殷王文學拜右史、崇賢直學士而卒。
Hu Chubin was a native of Qiupu in Xuanzhou. He wrote with great speed and ease, but only after he had drunk himself halfway to intoxication would he take up his brush. Whenever Gaozong asked him to write, he would have wine poured into gold or silver cups for Chubin to drink and then present him with the cups themselves. Chubin feasted from morning to night. Nothing remained in his house; once he had spent all he had, he would return to court as an attendant-at-wait, and as soon as he received new gifts he would go out and spend them again. Yet he was by nature discreet and never spoke of affairs within the palace. Even when drunk, if someone questioned him, he would answer with something else entirely. He rose from literary attendant to the Prince of Yin to Right Historiographer and direct scholar of the Chongxian Hall, and died in office.
9
喬知之，同州馮翊人也。 父師望，尚高祖女廬陵公主，拜駙馬都尉，官至同州刺史。 知之與弟侃、備，並以文詞知名。 知之尤稱俊才，所作篇詠，時人多諷誦之。 則天時，累除右補闕，遷左司郎中。 知之有侍婢曰窈娘，美麗善歌舞，為武承嗣所奪。 知之怨惜，因作《綠珠篇》以寄情，密送與婢，婢感憤自殺。 承嗣大怒，因諷酷吏羅織誅之。
Qiao Zhiming was a native of Fengyi in Tongzhou. His father Shiwang married the Princess of Luling, a daughter of Gaozu, was made Commandant of the Imperial Sons-in-law, and rose to Prefect of Tongzhou. Zhiming and his younger brothers Kan and Bei were all known for their literary gifts. Zhiming was especially acclaimed as a brilliant writer, and his poems were widely recited in his time. Under Wu Zetian he was repeatedly appointed Right Remonstrator and then promoted to Director of the Left Bureau. Zhiming had a maid named Yaoniang, lovely and skilled in song and dance, whom Wu Chengsi took from him. Zhiming was stricken with grief and wrote 'On Green Pearl' to pour out his feelings, sending it secretly to the maid. Overcome with anguish, she took her own life. Chengsi was enraged and had his agents among the cruel officials weave false charges and put Zhiming to death.
10
侃，開元初為兗州都督。
Kan, in the early Kaiyuan period, served as Military Governor of Yanzhou.
11
備，預修《三教珠英》，長安中卒於襄陽令。
Bei took part in compiling the Annotated Pearl of the Three Teachings and died while serving as magistrate of Xiangyang during the Chang'an period.
12
時又有汝州人劉希夷，善為從軍閨情之詩，詞調哀苦，為時所重，誌行不修，為奸人所殺。
There was also Liu Xiyi of Ruzhou, who excelled at poems of campaign and of the inner quarters. His language was mournful and was much admired in his day, but his conduct was loose, and he was murdered by a jealous lover.
13
劉允濟，洛州鞏人，其先自沛國徙焉。 南齊彭城郡丞愬六代孫也。 少孤，事母甚謹。 博學善屬文，與絳州王勃早齊名，特相友善。 弱冠，本州舉進士，累除著作佐郎。 允濟嘗采摭魯哀公後十二代至於戰國遺事，撰《魯後春秋》二十卷。 表上之，遷左史，兼直弘文館。 垂拱四年，明堂初成，允濟奏上《明堂賦》以諷，則天甚嘉嘆之，手制褒美，拜著作郎。
Liu Yunji was a native of Gong in Luozhou; his family had migrated there from Peiguo. He was a sixth-generation descendant of the assistant magistrate of Pengcheng in Southern Qi. He lost his father early and served his mother with scrupulous devotion. Broadly learned and skilled as a writer, he won early fame on a par with Wang Bo of Jiangzhou, with whom he was especially close. In his early twenties he was nominated as a metropolitan graduate by his prefecture and was repeatedly appointed Assistant Compiler. Yunji once gathered materials on the twelve generations after Duke Ai of Lu down through the Warring States and compiled twenty scrolls of the Spring and Autumn after Lu. He presented it to the throne in a memorial and was promoted to Left Historiographer, with concurrent appointment as a direct scholar of the Hongwen Hall. In the fourth year of Chuigong, when the Bright Hall was newly completed, Yunji submitted a rhapsody on it as a subtle remonstrance. Wu Zetian was deeply impressed, wrote a personal commendation, and appointed him Chief Compiler.
14
天授中，為來俊臣所構，當坐死，以其母老，特許終其余年，仍留系獄。 久之，會赦免，貶授大庾尉。 長安中，累遷著作佐郎，兼修國史。 未幾，擢拜鳳閣舍人。 中興初，坐與張易之款狎，左授青州長史，為吏清白，河南道巡察使路敬潛甚稱薦之。 尋丁母憂，服闋而卒。
During the Tianshou era he was framed by Lai Junchen and sentenced to death. Because his mother was elderly, he was allowed to live out his remaining years, but he was kept in prison. After a long imprisonment he was released under a general amnesty and demoted to magistrate of Dayu. During the Chang'an period he was repeatedly promoted to Assistant Compiler and also took part in editing the dynastic history. Before long he was promoted to Attendant Gentleman of the Phoenix Pavilion. At the beginning of the Restoration he was punished for his close association with Zhang Yizhi and demoted to chief administrator of Qingzhou. As an official he was scrupulously honest, and Lu Jingqian, the Henan circuit inspector, spoke highly of him. He soon entered mourning for his mother and died when the mourning period was over.
15
富嘉謨，雍州武功人也。 舉進士。 長安中，累轉晉陽尉，與新安吳少微友善，同官。 先是，文士撰碑頌，皆以徐、庾為宗，氣調漸劣。 嘉謨與少微屬詞，皆以經典為本，時人欽慕之，文體一變，稱為富吳體。 嘉謨作《雙龍泉頌》、《千蠋谷頌》，少微撰《崇福寺鐘銘》，詞最高雅，作者推重。 并州長史張仁亶待以殊禮，坐必同榻。 嘉謨後為壽安尉，預修《三教珠英》。 中興初，為左臺監察御史，卒。 有文集五卷。
Fu Jiamu was a native of Wugong in Yongzhou. He passed the metropolitan examination. During the Chang'an period he was repeatedly transferred until he became magistrate of Jinyang, where he became close friends with Wu Shaowei of Xin'an; they served together. Until then, when literary men wrote commemorative inscriptions, they all took Xu Ling and Yu Xin as their models, and the quality of prose steadily declined. Jiamu and Shaowei wrote with the classics as their foundation. Their contemporaries admired them, literary style was transformed at a stroke, and their manner was called the Fu-Wu style. Jiamu wrote the odes on Twin Dragon Spring and Thousand Silkworm Valley; Shaowei drafted the bell inscription for Chongfu Temple. Their language was of the highest elegance, and writers everywhere held them in esteem. Zhang Renjing, chief administrator of Bingzhou, treated them with exceptional honor and always shared his couch when they sat together. Jiamu later became magistrate of Shou'an and took part in compiling the Annotated Pearl of the Three Teachings. At the beginning of the Restoration he became a censor of the Left Office and died in office. He left a collected works in five scrolls.
16
少微亦舉進士，累至晉陽尉。 中興初，調於吏部，侍郎韋嗣立稱薦，拜右臺監察御史。 臥病，聞嘉謨死，哭而賦詩，尋亦卒。 有文集五卷。
Shaowei also passed the metropolitan examination and eventually rose to magistrate of Jinyang. At the beginning of the Restoration he was assigned through the Ministry of Personnel; Vice Minister Wei Sitian recommended him, and he was appointed censor of the Right Office. While ill in bed he learned of Jiamu's death, wept, composed a poem in his memory, and soon died himself. He left a collected works in five scrolls.
17
嘉謨與少微在晉陽，魏郡谷倚為太原主簿，皆以文詞著名，時人謂之「北京三傑」。 倚後流寓客死，文章遺失。
While Jiamu and Shaowei were at Jinyang, Gu Yi of Weijun served as secretariat assistant of Taiyuan. All three were famed for their writing, and contemporaries called them the "Three Talents of the Northern Capital." Yi later wandered in exile and died far from home; his writings were lost.
18
微子鞏，開元中，為中書舍人。
Shaowei's son Gong served as Attendant Gentleman of the Secretariat during the Kaiyuan period.
19
員半千，本名余慶，晉州臨汾人。 少與齊州人何彥先同師事學士王義方，義方嘉重之，嘗謂之曰：「五百年一賢，足下當之矣！」 因改名半千。 及義方卒，半千與彥先皆制服，喪畢而去。
Yuan Banqian, whose original name was Yuqing, was a native of Linfen in Jinzhou. In youth he and He Yanxian of Qizhou studied under the academician Wang Yifang. Yifang held them in high regard and once said to them: "A sage appears only once in five hundred years—and you, sir, are that man! He therefore took the name Banqian, "Half a Sage." When Yifang died, Banqian and Yanxian both wore mourning for him and left only after the mourning period was complete.
20
上元初，應八科舉，授武陟尉。 屬頻歲旱饑，勸縣令殷子良開倉以賑貧餒，子良不從。 會子良赴州，半千便發倉粟以給饑人。 懷州刺史郭齊宗大驚，因而按之。 時黃門侍郎薛元超為河北道存撫使，謂齊宗曰：「公百姓不能救之，而使惠歸一尉，豈不愧也！」 遽令釋之。 尋又應嶽牧舉。
In the early Shangyuan period he passed the eight-fold examination and was appointed magistrate of Wuzhi. When drought and famine struck year after year, he urged the magistrate Yin Ziliang to open the granaries to feed the starving, but Ziliang refused. When Ziliang went to the prefectural seat, Banqian opened the granary on his own authority and distributed grain to the hungry. Guo Qizong, prefect of Huaizhou, was greatly alarmed and had him investigated. At that time Xue Yuanchao, Vice Minister of the Huangmen, was commissioner for relief on the Hebei circuit. He said to Qizong: "You could not save your people, yet you would let the credit fall to a single magistrate—are you not ashamed?" He immediately ordered Banqian released. Before long he passed another examination held by the circuit governors.
21
高宗禦武成殿，召諸州舉人，親問曰：「兵書所雲天陣、地陣、人陣，各何謂也？」 半千越次而進曰：「臣觀載籍，此事多矣。 或謂：天陣，星宿孤虛； 地陣，山川向背； 人陣，偏伍彌縫。 以臣愚見，謂不然矣。 夫師出以義，有若時雨，得天之時，此天陣也； 兵在足食，且耕且戰，得地之利，此地陣也； 善用兵者，使三軍之士，如父子兄弟，得人之和，此人陣也。 三者去矣，其何以戰！」 高宗甚嗟賞之。 及對策，擢為上第。
Gaozong held court in the Wucheng Hall, summoned the metropolitan graduates from the various prefectures, and asked them in person: "The military classics speak of the Heaven Formation, the Earth Formation, and the Man Formation—what does each mean?" Banqian stepped forward out of turn and said: "Your servant has read the historical records, and on this matter there are many opinions. Some say the Heaven Formation means the void and solid positions of the stars; the Earth Formation means the advantages and disadvantages of mountains and rivers; the Man Formation means the tight joining of flank companies. In your servant's humble opinion, that is not so. When an army takes the field in a just cause, it is like timely rain and gains Heaven's favor—that is the Heaven Formation; when the troops have ample provisions, plowing as they fight and gaining the land's advantage—that is the Earth Formation; when a commander skilled in war makes the men of the three armies feel like fathers, sons, and brothers united in harmony—that is the Man Formation. If these three are lacking, how can one fight at all!" Gaozong was deeply impressed and praised him warmly. In the policy examination he was placed in the highest rank.
22
長安中，五遷正諫大夫，兼右控鶴內供奉。 半千以控鶴之職，古無其事，又授斯任者率多輕薄，非朝廷進德之選，上疏請罷之。 由是忤旨，左遷水部郎中，預修《三教珠英》。
During the Chang'an period he was promoted five times to Grand Remonstrator and also served as internal attendant of the Right Crane-Riding Guard. Banqian argued that the Crane-Riding Guard had no precedent in antiquity and that those appointed to it were mostly frivolous men, not the sort the court should advance for their virtue. He submitted a memorial asking that the office be abolished. For this he fell from favor and was demoted to director of the Water Bureau, though he still took part in compiling the Annotated Pearl of the Three Teachings.
23
中宗時，為濠州刺史。 睿宗即位，征拜太子右諭德，兼崇文館學士，加銀青光祿大夫，累封平原郡公。 開元二年卒。 文集多遺失。 半千同時學士丘悅。
Under Zhongzong he served as prefect of Haozhou. When Ruizong came to the throne, he was summoned as Right Mentor of the Heir Apparent and concurrent scholar of the Chongwen Hall, given the silver-seal rank of Grand Master of Splendid Brightness, and repeatedly enfeoffed as Duke of Pingyuan. He died in the second year of Kaiyuan. Most of his collected works have been lost. A contemporary of Banqian was the academician Qiu Yue.
24
丘悅者，河南陸渾人也。 亦有學業。 景龍中，為相王府掾，與文學韋利器、典簽裴耀卿俱為王府直學士。 睿宗在籓甚重之，官至岐王傅。 開元初卒。 撰《三國典略》三十卷，行於時。
Qiu Yue was a native of Luhun in Henan. He too was a man of learning. During the Jinglong period he was an aide in the household of the Prince of Xiang, and together with the literary attendant Wei Liqi and the registry clerk Pei Yaoqing served as direct scholars of the princely establishment. Ruizong, while still a prince, held him in high regard, and he eventually rose to tutor of the Prince of Qi. He died early in the Kaiyuan period. He wrote thirty scrolls of Essentials of the Three Kingdoms, which circulated widely in his day.
25
劉憲，宋州寧陵人也。 父思立，高宗時為侍御史。 屬河南、河北旱儉，遣御史中丞崔謐等分道存問賑給，思立上疏諫曰：「今麥序方秋，蠶功未畢，三時之務，萬姓所先。 敕使撫巡，人皆竦抃，忘其家業，冀此天恩，踴躍參迎，必難抑止，集眾既廣，妨廢亦多。 加以途程往還，兼之晨夕停滯。 既緣賑給，須立簿書，本欲安存，卻成煩擾。 又無驛之處，其馬稍難。 簡擇公私，須預追集。 雨後農務，特切常情，暫廢須臾，即虧歲計。 每為一馬，遂勞數家，從此相乘，恐更滋甚。 望且委州縣賑給，待秋閑時出使褒貶。」 疏奏，謐等遂不行。 後遷考功員外郎，始奏請明經加帖、進士試雜文，自思立始也。 尋卒官。
Liu Xian was a native of Ningling in Songzhou. His father Silizhi served as attending censor under Gaozong. When Henan and Hebei suffered drought and famine, the court sent Vice Censor-in-Chief Cui Mi and others by separate routes to inquire after the people and distribute relief. Silizhi submitted a memorial of remonstrance: "The wheat harvest is only now approaching autumn, and the silkworm work is not yet finished. The labors of the three seasons are what the common people must put first. When imperial envoys came on their tour of inspection, the people stood in awe, abandoned their household tasks, and in hope of imperial favor rushed out to welcome them—crowds that could hardly be held back. The larger the gatherings, the greater the disruption. To this were added the journeys to and fro on the roads and delays that lasted from morning until night. Because relief was involved, registers had to be kept; what was meant to save lives became a source of harassment instead. Moreover, in places without relay stations, horses were hard to come by. Draft animals had to be requisitioned in advance from both public and private sources. After the rains, farm work was especially pressing; to set it aside even briefly would damage the year's harvest. For each horse required, several households were put to trouble, and if this continued to multiply, the burden would only grow worse. I would urge that relief be entrusted for now to the prefectures and counties, and that envoys for inspection and commendation be sent out only when the autumn slack season arrives." When the memorial was submitted, Cui Mi and his party did not go after all. He was later transferred to assistant director of the Ministry of Personnel and was the first to propose that Classics graduates face supplemental examinations and that metropolitan graduates be tested in literary compositions—reforms that began with Silizhi. He soon died in office.
26
憲弱冠舉進士，累除冬官員外郎。
Xian passed the metropolitan examination in his early twenties and was repeatedly appointed assistant director of the Ministry of Public Works.
27
天授中，受詔推按來俊臣。 憲嫉其酷暴，欲因事繩之，反為俊臣所構，貶濆水令。 再遷司仆丞。 及俊臣伏誅，擢憲為給事中，尋轉鳳閣舍人。
During the Tianshou era he received orders to investigate Lai Junchen. Xian detested his cruelty and hoped to bring him to justice on some charge, but was instead framed by Junchen and demoted to magistrate of Fen River. He was later transferred to vice director of the Court of the Imperial Stud. When Junchen was executed, Xian was promoted to Attendant Gentleman and soon made Attendant Gentleman of the Phoenix Pavilion.
28
神龍初，坐嘗為張易之所引，自吏部侍郎出為渝州刺史。 俄復入為太仆少卿，兼修國史，加修文館學士。 景雲初，三遷太子詹事
Early in the Shenlong era he was punished for having once been promoted by Zhang Yizhi and was transferred from vice minister of personnel to prefect of Yuzhou. He soon returned to court as vice minister of the Imperial Stud, took part in editing the national history, and was made a scholar of the Xiuxwen Hall. Early in the Jingyun era he was promoted three times to grand mentor of the heir apparent.
29
玄宗在東宮，留意經籍，憲因上啟曰：「自古及今，皆重於學。 至於光耀盛德，發揚令問，安靜身心，保寧家國，無以加焉。 殿下居副君之位，有絕人之才，豈假尋章摘句，蓋資略知大意，用功甚少，為利極多。 伏願克成美誌，無棄暇日，上以慰至尊之心，下以答庶僚之望。 侍讀褚無量，經明行修，耆年宿望，時賜召問，以察其言，幸甚！」 玄宗甚嘉納之。 明年，憲卒，贈兗州都督。 有集三十卷。
While Xuanzong was crown prince he devoted attention to the classics. Xian therefore submitted a memorial saying: "From antiquity to the present, learning has always been held in the highest regard. For illuminating great virtue, spreading a fine reputation, settling the mind, and securing family and state, nothing surpasses it. Your Highness stands as heir to the throne and possesses surpassing talent. Why should you pore over chapters and pick out phrases? It is enough to grasp the main ideas in outline—a little effort brings great benefit. I humbly hope that you will fulfill this worthy resolve and not waste your leisure days, thereby comforting the heart of the emperor above and answering the hopes of the officials below. Your reader Chu Wuliang is learned in the classics and refined in conduct, a man of long-standing reputation. If you would from time to time summon him and question him to test his words, it would be most fortunate!" Xuanzong was greatly pleased and accepted his advice. The following year Xian died and was posthumously made military governor of Yanzhou. He left a collected works in thirty scrolls.
30
初則天時，敕吏部糊名考選人判，以求才彥，憲與王適、司馬锽、梁載言相次判入第二等。
In Wu Zetian's time the Ministry of Personnel was ordered to grade candidates' policy essays under sealed names in search of talent. Xian, Wang Shi, Sima Huang, and Liang Zaiyan were in succession placed in the second rank.
31
王適，幽州人。 官至雍州司功。
Wang Shi was a native of Youzhou. He rose to records officer of Yongzhou.
32
司馬皪，洛州溫人也。 神龍中，卒於黃門侍郎。
Sima Huang was a native of Wen in Luozhou. During the Shenlong period he died while serving as vice minister of the Huangmen.
33
梁載言，博州聊城人。 歷鳳閣舍人，專知制誥。 撰《具員故事》十卷，《十道志》十六卷，並傳於時。 中宗時為懷州刺史。
Liang Zaiyan was a native of Liaocheng in Bozhou. He served as Attendant Gentleman of the Phoenix Pavilion and was solely responsible for drafting edicts. He wrote ten scrolls of Precedents on Full Staffing and sixteen scrolls of Gazetteer of the Ten Circuits, both widely circulated in his day. Under Zhongzong he served as prefect of Huaizhou.
34
沈佺期，相州內黃人也。 進士舉。 長安中，累遷通事舍人，預修《三教珠英》。
Shen Quanqi was a native of Neihuang in Xiangzhou. He passed the metropolitan examination. During the Chang'an period he was repeatedly promoted to Attendant for Diplomatic Correspondence and took part in compiling the Annotated Pearl of the Three Teachings.
35
佺期善屬文，尤長七言之作，與宋之問齊名，時人稱為沈宋。 再轉考功員外郎，坐贓配流嶺表。 神龍中，授起居郎，加修文館直學士。 後歷中書舍人、太子詹事。 開元初卒。 有文集十卷。
Quanqi was skilled at literary composition and especially excelled at regulated verse in seven characters. He was as famous as Song Zhiwen, and contemporaries called them Shen and Song. He was later made assistant director of the Ministry of Personnel, but on a charge of corruption was banished beyond the southern ranges. During the Shenlong period he was appointed diarist and made a direct scholar of the Xiuxwen Hall. He later served as attendant gentleman of the Secretariat and grand mentor of the heir apparent. He died early in the Kaiyuan period. He left a collected works in ten scrolls.
36
弟全交及子，亦以文詞知名。
His younger brother Quanjiao and his son were also known for their literary gifts.
37
陳子昂，梓州射洪人。 家世富豪。 子昂獨苦節讀書，尤善屬文。 初為《感遇詩》三十首，京兆司功王適見而驚曰：「此子必為天下文宗矣！」 由是知名。 舉進士。 會高宗崩，靈駕將還長安，子昂詣闕上書，盛陳東都形勝，可以安置山陵，關中旱儉，靈駕西行不便。 曰：
Chen Zi'ang was a native of Shehong in Zizhou. His family had been wealthy for generations. Zi'ang alone devoted himself to rigorous study and was especially gifted as a writer. When he first wrote thirty poems entitled Responding to Encounter, Wang Shi, records officer of the capital district, read them and exclaimed: "This young man will surely become the literary master of the age!" From that time he became famous. He passed the metropolitan examination. When Gaozong died and the imperial coffin was to be taken back to Chang'an, Zi'ang went to the palace and submitted a memorial arguing at length that the Eastern Capital's strategic advantages made it the proper site for the imperial tomb, and that drought and famine in Guanzhong made a westward journey impracticable. He wrote:
38
梓州射洪縣草莽愚臣子昂，謹頓首冒死獻書闕下。
Zi'ang, a humble subject of the wilds from Shehong County in Zizhou, respectfully bows his head and risks death to present this memorial at the palace gate.
39
臣聞明王不惡切直之言以納忠，烈士不憚死亡之誅以極諫。 故有非常之策者，必待非常之時； 得非常之時者，必待非常之主。 然後危言正色，抗義直辭，赴湯鑊而不回，至誅夷而無悔！ 豈徒欲詭世誇俗，厭生樂死者哉！ 實以為殺身之害小，存國之利大。 故審計定議而甘心焉。 況乎得非常之時，遇非常之主，言必獲用，死亦何驚！ 千載之跡，將不朽於今日矣！
I have heard that an enlightened ruler does not reject blunt counsel offered in loyalty, and that a man of firm resolve does not shrink from death when offering the fullest remonstrance. Those who have extraordinary plans must await extraordinary times; and those who obtain extraordinary times must await extraordinary rulers. Only then do they speak stern words with grave countenance, uphold righteousness in plain speech, face the boiling cauldron without flinching, and go to the execution of their whole clan without regret! Surely this is not merely to deceive the world and impress the crowd, or to despise life and court death! In truth they judge that the loss of one's own life is a small harm, while the preservation of the state is a great good. Therefore they weigh the matter, settle their resolve, and accept it willingly. Moreover, when one obtains an extraordinary time and meets an extraordinary ruler, one's words are sure to be heeded—what is there to fear in death! A reputation to last a thousand years will be secured on this very day!
40
伏惟大行皇帝遺天下，棄群臣，萬國震驚，百姓屠裂。 陛下以徇齊之聖，承宗廟之重，天下之望，喁喁如也。 莫不冀蒙聖化，以保余年； 太平之主，將復在於茲矣！ 況皇太后又以文母之賢，協軒宮之耀，軍國大事，遺詔決之； 唐、虞之際，於斯盛矣！
The late emperor has left the realm, abandoned his ministers, shaken every state, and left the people in anguish. Your Majesty, with the sagacity of the sage-kings Shun and Yu, bears the weight of the ancestral temple. The hopes of the realm all turn to you with eager murmuring. All hope to receive your sage rule and thereby preserve their remaining years; a ruler of great peace will again arise in this age! Moreover, the Empress Dowager, with the virtue of a civil mother, shares in the glory of the palace; on great matters of army and state, the testamentary edict decides them; the age of Tang and Yu was never more glorious than this!
41
臣伏見詔書，梓宮將遷西京，鸞輿亦欲陪幸。 計非上策，智者失圖； 廟堂未聞有骨鯁之謨，朝廷多見有順從之議； 臣竊惑以為過矣！ 伏自思之，生聖日，沐皇風，摩頂至踵，莫非亭育； 不能歷丹鳳，抵濯龍，北面玉階，東望金屋，抗音而正諫者，聖王之罪人也！ 所以不顧萬死，乞獻一言，願蒙聽覽，甘就鼎鑊，伏惟陛下察之。
I have seen in the edict that the imperial coffin is to be moved to the Western Capital and that Your Majesty also wishes to accompany it on the journey. This plan is not the best course; the wise have lost their way; in the council hall one hears no counsel bold as a bone in the throat, while at court one mostly sees proposals of mere compliance; I am privately perplexed and consider this a grave error! Reflecting on myself: born under a sage reign, bathed in imperial grace—from crown to heel, nothing is not the emperor's nurturing shade; yet unable to pass through the palace gates, ascend the jade steps, and look toward the inner palace to offer bold remonstrance—such a one would be guilty before a sage king! Therefore, heedless of death, I beg to offer one word, hoping that you will hear it and that I may willingly face the cauldron. I humbly ask Your Majesty to consider it.
42
臣聞秦都咸陽之時，漢都長安之日，山河為固，天下服矣。 然猶北取胡、宛之利，南資巴蜀之饒。 自渭入河，轉關東之粟； 逾沙絕漠，致山西之儲。 然後能削平天下，彈壓諸侯，長轡利策，橫制宇宙。 今則不然。 燕、代迫匈奴之侵，巴、隴嬰吐蕃之患； 西蜀疲老，千里贏糧； 北國丁男，十五乘塞； 歲月奔命，其弊不堪。 秦之首尾，今為闕矣！ 即所余者，獨三輔之間耳。 頃遭荒饉，人被薦饑。 自河已西，莫非赤地； 循隴已北，罕逢青草。 莫不父兄轉徙，妻子流離，委家喪業，膏原潤莽，此朝廷之所備知也。 賴以宗廟神靈，皇天悔禍，去歲薄稔，前秋稍登，使羸餓之余，得保性命，天下幸甚，可謂厚矣！ 然而流人未返，田野尚蕪，白骨縱橫，阡陌無主。 至於蓄積，尤可哀傷。 陛下不料其難，貴從先意，遂欲長驅大駕，按節秦京，千乘萬騎，何方取給？ 況山陵初制，穿復未央； 土木工匠，必資徒役。 今欲率疲弊之眾，興數萬之軍，征發近畿，鞭撲羸老，鑿山采石，驅以就功。 春作無時，秋成絕望，雕瘵遺噍，再罹艱苦。 倘不堪弊，必有逋逃，「子來」之頌，將何以述之？ 此亦宗廟之大機，不可不審圖也！ 況國無兼歲之儲，家鮮匝時之蓄。 一旬不雨，猶可深憂，忽加水旱，人何以濟？ 陛下不深察始終，獨違群議，臣恐三輔之弊，不止如前日矣！
I have heard that when Qin made its capital at Xianyang and when Han made its capital at Chang'an, mountains and rivers served as ramparts and the realm submitted. Yet they still drew profit from the north through the Hu and Wan regions and drew abundance from Ba and Shu in the south. From the Wei they entered the Yellow River and transported grain from east of the Pass; crossing sands and deserts, they brought in stores from west of the mountains. Only then could they pacify the realm, suppress the feudal lords, hold the reins firmly, and rule the world. Today, it is no longer so. In Yan and Dai the people face constant Xiongnu raids; in Ba and Long they suffer under Tibetan threats; Western Shu is worn down and aged, hauling grain a thousand li on their backs; In the northern regions, boys of fifteen are sent to guard the frontier passes; Month after month they race to answer military summons; the suffering is unbearable. The extremities that once made Qin strong are now hollowed out! All that remains intact is only the region among the Three Metropolises. Recently they suffered famine and drought, and the people were ravaged by hunger. West of the Yellow River, the land lies barren as far as the eye can see; North along the Longzhou road, one rarely sees green grass. Everywhere fathers and elder brothers have been displaced, wives and children scattered, homes abandoned and livelihoods lost, the fertile plains left to nourish the wild wastes—this the court knows full well. Thanks to the spirits of the ancestral temples and Heaven's reversal of misfortune, last year brought a modest harvest and the autumn before that a fair yield, so that those who had been emaciated and starving could keep their lives—a great blessing for the realm, and grace indeed! Yet the displaced have not returned, the fields remain untilled, white bones lie strewn about, and the country lanes have no masters. As for grain in reserve, the situation is especially lamentable. Your Majesty has not weighed these hardships but honors the late emperor's wish, and now intends to lead the great imperial procession on a long march, halting in due ceremony at the Qin capital—where will a thousand chariots and ten thousand horsemen find sustenance? Moreover, the imperial tomb is newly under construction and Weiyang Palace is being dug out and restored; Earthworks, timber, and craftsmen will all require conscripted labor. Now you wish to lead an exhausted people, raise an army of tens of thousands, levy men from the capital region, whip and beat the weak and aged, hew mountains and quarry stone, and drive them to their tasks. With no time for spring planting, no hope for the autumn harvest, the emaciated and sick left to pick scraps, they will suffer hardship once more. If they cannot endure the hardship, there will surely be flight and desertion—how then will anyone sing the ancient praise, "They came as sons"? This too is a critical matter for the ancestral temples and must be carefully thought through! Moreover, the state lacks grain enough for two years, and households scarcely have stores to last a full season. Ten days without rain is already reason for grave concern—if flood or drought should suddenly strike, how will the people survive? Your Majesty does not weigh matters from first to last but goes against the counsel of all—I fear the suffering in the Three Metropolises will exceed even what we have already seen!
43
且天子以四海為家，聖人包六合為宇。 歷觀邃古，以至於今，何嘗不以三王為仁，五帝為聖！ 雖周公制作，夫子著明，莫不祖述堯、舜，憲章文、武，為百王之鴻烈，作千載之雄圖！ 然而舜死陟方，葬蒼梧而不返； 禹會群後，歿稽山而永終。 豈其愛蠻夷之鄉而鄙中國哉？ 實將欲示聖人無外也。 故能使墳籍以為美談，帝王以為高範。 況我巍巍大聖，轢帝登皇，日月所照，莫不率俾。 何獨秦、豐之地，可置山陵； 河、洛之都，不堪園寢？ 陛下豈不察之，愚臣竊為陛下惜也！ 且景山崇麗，秀冠群峰，北對嵩、邙，西望汝海，居祝融之故地，連太昊之遺墟。 帝王圖跡，縱橫左右； 園陵之美，復何加焉！ 陛下曾未察之，謂其不可； 愚臣鄙見，良足尚矣！ 況瀍、澗之中，天地交會，北有太行之險，南有宛、葉之饒，東壓江、淮，食湖淮之利，西馳崤、澠，據關河之寶。 以聰明之主，養純粹之人，天下和平，恭己正南面而已。 陛下不思瀍、洛之壯觀，關、隴之荒蕪，乃欲棄太山之安，履焦原之險，忘神器之大寶，徇曾、閔之小節。 愚臣暗昧，以為甚也！ 陛下何不覽爭臣之策，采行路之謠，諮謨太后，平章宰輔，使蒼生之望，知有所安，天下豈不幸甚！
Moreover, the Son of Heaven takes the four seas as his home, and the sage embraces the six directions as his domain. Looking back through deep antiquity down to the present, have they not all taken the Three Kings as models of benevolence and the Five Emperors as models of sageliness! Even the Duke of Zhou's institutions and the Master's teachings all looked back to Yao and Shun and took King Wen and King Wu as their models—grand achievements for the kings of a hundred ages, heroic designs for a thousand years! Yet Shun died on his tour to the south and was buried at Cangwu, never returning home; Yu gathered the feudal lords and died at Mount Kuaiji, ending his days there. Did they love the lands of barbarians and disdain the Central Domain? In truth they wished to show that the sage knows no boundary between inside and outside. And so they became fine tales in the written records and lofty examples for emperors. Moreover, our majestic Great Sage, who ascended the imperial throne—wherever sun and moon shine, all submit in obedience. Why should only the lands of Qin and Feng be fit to hold the imperial tomb; while the capitals on the Yellow and Luo be unworthy as the imperial burial park? Has Your Majesty not considered this? Your humble servant grieves for Your Majesty! Moreover, Mount Jing is lofty and splendid, its beauty surpassing all other peaks—it faces Mount Song and Mang to the north, looks toward the Ru Sea to the west, stands on the ancient land of Zhurong, and adjoins the ruins of Taihao. Marks of emperors and kings lie scattered all around; For the beauty of an imperial burial park, what could surpass this! Your Majesty has never truly considered it and declare it impossible; In this humble servant's view, it is truly worthy of admiration! Moreover, between the Chan and Jian rivers heaven and earth converge—to the north lies the peril of the Taihang Mountains, to the south the abundance of Wan and Ye; eastward it dominates the Yangtze and Huai and draws on the riches of the Lake Huai region; westward it reaches Xiao and Mian and holds the treasure of the passes and rivers. With a wise sovereign nurturing an upright people and the realm at peace, he need only govern with reverent restraint, facing south upon his throne. Your Majesty does not consider the magnificent advantages of Chan and Luo or the desolation of Guan and Long, yet would abandon the security of Mount Tai for the peril of Jiaoyuan, forgetting the great treasure of the imperial throne and clinging to the petty filial scruples of Zengzi and Minzi. Your humble servant, though dull, finds this grievously mistaken! Why not review the remonstrating ministers' proposals, heed the rumors of travelers on the road, consult the Empress Dowager, and deliberate with the chief ministers, so that the people's hopes may find a place to rest—would not the realm be blessed indeed!
44
昔者平王遷都，光武都洛，山陵寢廟，不在東京； 宗社墳塋，並居西土。 然而《春秋》美為始王，《漢書》載為代祖，豈其不願孝哉？ 何聖賢褒貶於斯濫矣？ 實以時有不可，事有必然。 蓋欲遺小存大，去禍歸福，聖人所以貴也。 夫小不忍，亂大謀，仲尼之至誡，願陛下察之。 若以臣愚不用，朝議遂行，臣恐關、隴之憂，無時休也！
In former times, when King Ping moved the capital and Emperor Guangwu established his at Luoyang, the imperial tombs and ancestral temples were not in the Eastern Capital; The state altars and royal graves all remained in the west. Yet the Spring and Autumn Annals praised this as the act of a founding king, and the Book of Han recorded it as establishing the dynastic forebear—were they lacking in filial piety? Why would the sages praise or blame so loosely? In truth, there are times when something cannot be done, and affairs that carry their own necessity. They wished to set aside the lesser to preserve the greater, turn away from calamity and toward blessing—that is what sages value. Impatience in small things upsets great designs—Confucius's supreme warning. I beg Your Majesty to heed it. If my humble counsel is rejected and the court's plan goes forward, I fear the troubles of Guan and Long will never cease!
45
臣又聞太原蓄鉅萬之倉，洛口積天下之粟，國家之資，斯為大矣！ 今欲舍而不顧，背以長驅，使有識驚嗟，天下失望。 倘鼠竊狗盜，萬一不圖，西入陜州之郊，東犯武牢之鎮，盜敖倉一抔之粟，陛下何以遏之？ 此天下之至機，不可不深懼也。 雖則盜未旋踵，誅刑已及，滅其九族，焚其妻子，泣辜雖恨，將何及焉！ 故曰：「先謀後事者逸，先事後謀者失。」 「國之利器，不可以示人。」 斯言豈徒設也，固願陛下念之！
I further hear that Taiyuan holds granaries of myriad bushels and Luokou stores the grain of the realm—in national resources, nothing is greater! Now you would abandon them without a thought and turn your back on them on a long march, alarming the wise and disappointing all under Heaven. If petty thieves and bandits—matters one in ten thousand does not anticipate—penetrate the suburbs of Shaanzhou in the west or strike the fortress of Wulao in the east and steal even a handful of grain from Aocang, how will Your Majesty stop them? This is the realm's supreme crisis and must be deeply feared. Even if the thief is executed before he can turn around—his nine clans wiped out, wife and children burned—the grief of wrongful punishment will be bitter, but what use then? Therefore it is said: "He who plans before acting finds ease; he who acts before planning fails." "The sharp instruments of state must not be shown to others." These are not empty words. I earnestly beg Your Majesty to heed them!
46
則天召見，奇其對，拜麟臺正字。 則天將事雅州討生羌，子昂上書曰：
Wu Zetian summoned him, was impressed by his responses, and appointed him Correcting Collator of the Lin Tai. When Wu Zetian planned a campaign in Yazhou against the Raw Qiang, Zi'ang submitted a memorial, writing:
47
麟臺正字臣子昂昧死上言。
I, Chen Zi'ang, Correcting Collator of the Lin Tai, your humble servant, venture death to speak.
48
臣聞道路云：國家欲開蜀山，自雅州道入討生羌，因以襲擊吐蕃。 執事者不審圖其利害，遂發梁、鳳、巴蜒兵以徇之。 臣愚以為西蜀之禍，自此結矣！
I hear on the roads that the state intends to cut roads through the Shu mountains, enter by the Yazhou route to subdue the Raw Qiang, and from there launch a surprise attack on Tibet. The officials in charge did not carefully weigh the costs and benefits, and so dispatched troops from Liang, Feng, and Bayan to carry out the plan. I believe the disaster for Western Shu begins here!
49
臣聞亂生，必由於怨。 雅州邊羌，自國初已來，未嘗一日為盜。 今一旦無罪受戮，其怨必甚。 怨甚懼誅，必蜂駭西山。 西山盜起，則蜀之邊邑，不得不連兵備守。 兵久不解，則蜀之禍構矣！ 昔後漢末西京喪敗，蓋由此諸羌。 此一事也。
I have heard that rebellion always arises from resentment. The border Qiang of Yazhou have not turned to brigandage for a single day since the dynasty was founded. Now, executed though innocent in a single stroke, their resentment will surely run deep. With resentment running deep and fear of further punishment, they will surely rise in alarm throughout the western mountains. When brigands rise in the western mountains, the border towns of Shu will have no choice but to keep troops mobilized in defense. If the armies are not stood down for long, Shu will be plunged into disaster! At the end of Later Han, when the Western Capital was lost, it was largely because of these Qiang peoples. That is the first point.
50
且臣聞吐蕃桀黠之虜，君長相信，而多奸謀。 自敢抗天誅，邇來向二十余載，大戰則大勝，小戰則小勝，未嘗敗一隊，亡一夫。 國家往以薛仁貴、郭待封為虓武之將，屠十一萬眾於大非之川，一甲不返。 又以李敬玄、劉審禮為廊廟之器，辱十八萬眾於青海之澤，身囚虜庭。 是時精甲勇士，勢如雲雷，然竟不能擒一戎，馘一醜，至今而關、隴為空。 今乃欲以李處一為將，驅憔悴之兵，將襲吐蕃。 臣竊憂之，而為此虜所笑。 此二事也。
Moreover, I hear that the Tibetans are a fierce and cunning foe—their rulers trust one another and employ many treacherous schemes. Since they defied imperial punishment, for nearly twenty years they have won great victories in great battles and small victories in small ones—they have never lost a single unit or a single man. The state once sent Xue Rengui and Guo Daifeng, its fiercest generals—they lost 110,000 men at the Dafei River, and not a single suit of armor returned. Again the state sent Li Jingxuan and Liu Shenli, men fit for the highest council—they lost 180,000 men at Lake Qinghai, and the commanders themselves were taken prisoner. At that time elite armored warriors massed like clouds and thunder—yet in the end they could not capture a single enemy or take a single head, and to this day Guan and Long stand emptied of men. Now the state would make Li Chuyi a general, drive exhausted troops, and launch a surprise attack on Tibet. I worry privately that we will become a laughingstock to this enemy. That is the second point.
51
且夫事有求利而得害者。 則蜀昔時不通中國，秦惠王欲帝天下而並諸侯，以為不兼幹不取蜀，勢未可舉，乃用張儀計，飾美女，譎金牛，因間以啖蜀侯。 蜀侯果貪其利，使五丁力士鑿通谷，棧褒斜，置道於秦。 自是險阻不關，山谷不閉，張儀躡踵乘便，縱兵大破之，蜀侯誅，幹邑滅。 至今蜀為中州，是貪利而亡。 此三事也。
Moreover, there are affairs in which one seeks profit and finds harm instead. Long ago Shu had no connection with the Central Domain. King Hui of Qin sought to rule the world and subjugate the feudal lords. Believing he could not prevail without also taking Han, and that the moment was not yet ripe, he adopted Zhang Yi's plan—beauties in finery, golden oxen as bait—and through an opening offered temptation to the Lord of Shu. The Lord of Shu, greedy for the profit, sent five strongmen to bore through the pass, build plank roads at Baoxie, and open a route to Qin. From that point the perilous passes stood unguarded and the valleys lay open; Zhang Yi followed hard on their heels and seized the opportunity, unleashed his troops and routed them utterly—the Lord of Shu was executed and his domain destroyed. To this day Shu belongs to the Central Domain—it was lost through greed for profit. That is the third point.
52
且臣聞吐蕃羯虜，愛蜀之珍富，欲盜之，久有日矣。 然其勢不能舉者，徒以山川阻絕，障隘不通，此其所以頓餓狼之喙而不得侵食也。 今國家乃撤邊羌，開隘道，使其收奔亡之種，為向導以攻邊。 是乃借寇兵而為賊除道，舉全蜀以遺之。 此四事也。
Moreover, I hear that the Tibetans covet Shu's precious wealth and have long wished to seize it. Yet their armies could not accomplish it only because mountains and rivers blocked the way and passes and barriers lay closed—this is why the hungry wolf had to stay its maw and could not invade and feed. Now the state would remove the border Qiang, open the barrier passes, and let them gather fleeing remnants to serve as guides in attacking the frontier. This is to lend arms to bandits and clear the road for thieves, handing all of Shu over to them. That is the fourth point.
53
臣竊觀蜀為西南一都會，國家之寶庫，天下珍貨聚出其中。 又人富粟多，順江而下，可以兼濟中國。 今執事者乃圖僥幸之利，悉以委事西羌。 地不足以富國，徒殺無辜之眾，以傷陛下之仁； 糜費隨之，無益聖德。 又況僥幸之利，未可圖哉！ 此五事也。
I observe that Shu is the premier metropolis of the southwest, the state's treasure vault, from which the precious goods of all under Heaven are gathered. Moreover its people are rich and grain abundant; shipping downstream along the river, it can supply the Central Domain as well. Now those in charge seek speculative profit and would entrust the whole affair to the western Qiang. The territory is insufficient to enrich the state—it would only slaughter innocent multitudes and wound Your Majesty's benevolence; Wasteful expenditure would follow, to the detriment of Your Majesty's sage virtue. Moreover, how can one count on profits gained through reckless speculation! These are the five points.
54
夫蜀之所恃，有險也； 人之所安，無役也。 今國家乃開其險，役其人； 險開則便寇，人役則傷財。 臣恐未見羌戎，已有奸盜在其中矣！ 往年益州長史李崇真圖此奸利，傳檄稱吐蕃欲寇松州，遂使國家盛軍師、大轉餉以備之。 未二三年，巴蜀二十余州，騷然大弊，竟不見吐蕃之面，而崇真贓錢已計鉅萬矣。 蜀人殘破，幾不堪命。 此之近事，猶在人口，陛下所親知。 臣愚意者不有奸臣欲圖此利，復以生羌為計者哉！ 此六事也。
What Shu depends on is the natural strength of its terrain; What gives the people peace is freedom from forced labor. Now the state is opening its mountain passes and conscripting its people; Open the passes and raiders gain easy entry; conscript the people and the treasury is drained. I fear that before we ever see Qiang or foreign raiders, traitors and bandits will already be at work within our borders! In years past, Li Chongzhen, chief administrator of Yizhou, schemed for this illicit gain. He issued a proclamation claiming Tibet was about to attack Songzhou, prompting the court to mobilize large forces and move vast supplies in preparation. Within two or three years, more than twenty prefectures across Ba and Shu were thrown into chaos. No Tibetan was ever seen, yet Chongzhen's ill-gotten wealth already amounted to tens of thousands. The people of Shu were left shattered, scarcely able to survive. This recent episode is still on everyone's lips—Your Majesty knows it well from personal experience. Is it not possible, I wonder, that some corrupt minister is again pursuing this profit and using the unassimilated Qiang as his instrument! This is the sixth point.
55
且蜀人尪劣，不習兵戰，一虜持矛，百人莫敢當。 又山川阻曠，去中夏精兵處遠。 今國家若擊西羌，掩吐蕃，遂能破滅其國，奴虜其人，使其君長系首北闕，計亦可矣！ 若不到如此，臣方見蜀之邊陲不守，而為羌夷所橫暴。 昔辛有見被髮而祭伊川者，以為不出百年，此其為戎。 臣恐不及百年而蜀為戎。 此七事也。
Moreover, the people of Shu are frail and untrained in war—a single barbarian with a spear, and a hundred men dare not face him. Moreover, mountains and rivers stretch across vast distances, far from where the empire's best troops are stationed. If the state could now strike the western Qiang, overrun Tibet, destroy their kingdom entirely, enslave their people, and bring their chieftains in bonds to the northern gate—then the plan might be acceptable! But if matters fall short of that, I foresee Shu's frontiers left undefended and the region overrun and brutalized by Qiang and Yi peoples. Long ago, Xin You saw people with unbound hair performing rites on the Yichuan and declared that within a hundred years this land would belong to the Rong. I fear that before a century has passed, Shu itself will have become barbarian land. This is the seventh point.
56
且國家近者廢安北，拔單於，棄龜茲，放疏勒，天下翕然，謂之盛德。 所以者何？ 蓋以陛下務在仁，不在廣； 務在養，不在殺。 將以此息邊鄙，休甲兵，行三皇、五帝之事者也！ 今又徇貪夫之議，謀動兵戈，將誅無罪之戎，而遺全蜀之患，將何以令天下乎？ 此愚臣所以不甚悟者也。 況當今山東饑，關、隴弊，歷歲枯旱，人有流亡。 誠是聖人寧靜，思和天人之時，不可動甲兵，興大役，以自生亂。 臣又流聞西軍失守，北軍不利，邊人忙動，情有不安。 今者復驅此兵，投之不測。 臣聞自古亡國破家，未嘗不由黷兵。 今小人議夷狄之利，非帝王之至德也，又況弊中夏哉！
Moreover, the state recently abolished Anbei, withdrew from the Chanyu court, abandoned Kucha, and relinquished Kashgar—the empire responded with universal praise, calling these great acts of virtue. Why was that? Because Your Majesty strives for benevolence, not for territorial expansion; strives to nurture the people, not to slaughter them. intending thereby to pacify the frontier, lay down arms, and govern in the manner of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors! Now You would again heed the counsel of greedy men, plot to mobilize armies, punish innocent barbarians, and leave all of Shu exposed to disaster. How then will You govern the empire? This is what I, Your humble servant, cannot understand. Moreover, the lands east of the mountains now suffer famine; Guan and Long are exhausted; drought has persisted for years; and people are fleeing their homes. Truly this is a time when a sage ruler should remain at peace, seeking harmony between Heaven and humanity—not a time to mobilize armies, launch great undertakings, and bring chaos upon oneself. I have also heard reports circulating that western armies have lost ground, northern campaigns have gone badly, and frontier peoples are restless and uneasy. Now You would again drive these same troops and throw them into the unknown. I have heard that since antiquity, no state or house has fallen to ruin without first abusing military force. Now petty men argue over profits to be wrung from barbarian peoples—this is not the supreme virtue of an emperor, and it will only further exhaust the Central Plains!
57
臣聞古之善為天下者，計大而不計小，務德而不務刑； 圖其安則思其危，謀其利則慮其害； 然後能長享福祿。 伏願陛下熟計之！
I have heard that those who governed the realm well in antiquity thought in broad terms rather than petty ones, pursued virtue rather than punishment; when they sought security they also weighed danger, and when they sought profit they also weighed harm; only then could they long enjoy prosperity and blessing. I humbly beg Your Majesty to weigh these matters carefully!
58
再轉右拾遺。 數上疏陳事，詞皆典美。 時有同州下邽人徐元慶，父為縣尉趙師韞所殺。 後師韞為御史，元慶變姓名於驛家傭力，候師韞，手刃殺之。 議者以元慶孝烈，欲舍其罪。 子昂建議以為：「國法專殺者死，元慶宜正國法，然後旌其閭墓，以褒其孝義可也。」 當時議者，鹹以子昂為是。 俄授麟臺正字。 武攸宜統軍北討契丹，以子昂為管記，軍中文翰皆委之。
He was again transferred to the post of Right Reminder. He repeatedly submitted memorials on affairs of state; his prose was always elegant and polished. At that time there was Xu Yuanqing of Xiayi in Tongzhou, whose father had been killed by the county captain Zhao Shiyun. Later, when Shiyun became a censor, Yuanqing assumed a false name and hired himself out at an inn, lay in wait for Shiyun, and killed him with his own hand. Commentators, holding Yuanqing to be filial and heroic, wished to exempt him from punishment. Zi'ang argued: "State law holds that unauthorized killing is punishable by death. Yuanqing should be punished according to the law; only then should his village and tomb be honored to commend his filial devotion. At the time, all who debated the case agreed that Zi'ang was right. Soon afterward he was appointed Corrector of the Palace Library. When Wu Youyi commanded the northern campaign against the Khitan, Zi'ang served as staff secretary, and all military documents were entrusted to him.
59
子昂父在鄉，為縣令段簡所辱，子昂聞之，遽還鄉里。 簡乃因事收系獄中，憂憤而卒，時年四十余。
Zi'ang's father was at home in the countryside when he was humiliated by the county magistrate Duan Jian. Upon hearing of it, Zi'ang hurried back to his native place. Jian then seized him on a pretext and had him imprisoned. Zi'ang died of grief and indignation at the age of forty-something.
60
子昂褊躁無威儀，然文詞宏麗，甚為當時所重。 有集十卷，友人黃門侍郎盧藏用為之序，盛行於代。
Zi'ang was narrow and impetuous, lacking dignified bearing, yet his writing was grand and splendid, and he was greatly esteemed in his day. He left a collected works in ten scrolls; his friend Lu Cangyong, Vice Director of the Yellow Gate, wrote the preface, and the collection enjoyed wide circulation in its time.
61
子昂卒後，益州成都人閭丘均，亦以文章著稱。 景龍中，為安樂公主所薦，起家拜太常博士。 而公主被誅，均坐貶為循州司倉，卒。 有集十卷。
After Zi'ang's death, Yanqiu Jun of Chengdu in Yizhou also won renown for his literary compositions. During the Jinglong era, on the recommendation of Princess Anle, he received his first appointment as Erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. When the princess was executed, Jun was implicated, demoted to Granary Officer of Xunzhou, and died in that post. He left a collected works in ten scrolls.
62
宋之問，虢州弘農人。 父令文，有勇力，而工書，善屬文。 高宗時，為左驍衛郎將、東臺詳正學士。 之問弱冠知名，尤善五言詩，當時無能出其右者。 初征令與楊炯分直內教，俄授洛州參軍，累轉尚方監丞、左奉宸內供奉。 易之兄弟雅愛其才，之問亦傾附焉。 預修《三教珠英》，常扈從遊宴。 則天幸洛陽龍門，令從官賦詩，左史東方虬詩先成，則天以錦袍賜之。 及之問詩成，則天稱其詞愈高，奪虬錦袍以賞之。
Song Zhiwen was a native of Hongnong in Guozhou. His father Lingwen was brave and strong, skilled at calligraphy, and adept at literary composition. During Gaozong's reign he served as Commandant of the Left Brave Guards and Erudite Examiner of the Eastern Terrace. Zhiwen was famous from his youth; he excelled above all in five-character poetry, and none in his day could match him. Initially summoned with Yang Jiong to share duty in the Inner Instruction office, he was soon appointed Army Assistant of Luozhou and subsequently served as Assistant Director of the Palace Manufactories and Inner Attendant of the Left Department of Palace Attendants. The Zhang brothers greatly admired his talent, and Zhiwen in turn attached himself to them. He took part in compiling the Pearls of Literature from the Three Teachings and frequently accompanied the court on outings and banquets. When Empress Wu visited Longmen at Luoyang, she ordered her attendants to compose poems. Left Scribe Dongfang Qiu finished first, and Empress Wu rewarded him with a brocade robe. When Zhiwen's poem was finished, Empress Wu praised its language as superior and took Qiu's brocade robe away to give it to Zhiwen instead.
63
及易之等敗，左遷瀧州參軍。 未幾，逃還，匿於洛陽人張仲之家。 仲之與駙馬都尉王同皎等謀殺武三思，之問令兄子發其事以自贖。 及同皎等獲罪，起之問為鴻臚主薄，由是深為義士所譏。
When Zhang Yizhi and his faction fell, Zhiwen was demoted to Army Assistant of Longzhou. Before long he fled back and hid in the home of Zhang Zhongzhi of Luoyang. Zhongzhi, together with Wang Tongjiao, Commander of the Imperial Son-in-Law's Household, and others, plotted to kill Wu Sansi. Zhiwen had his nephew's son expose the plot to save himself. When Tongjiao and the others were punished, Zhiwen was recalled as Clerk of the Court of State Ceremonial, and from that time he was deeply scorned by men of honor.
64
景龍中，再轉考功員外郎。 時中宗增置修文館學士，擇朝中文學之士，之問與薛稷、杜審言等首膺其選，當時榮之。 及典舉，引拔後進，多知名者。 尋轉越州長史。
During the Jinglong era he was again transferred to Vice Director of the Ministry of Personnel's Examination Section. At that time Zhongzong expanded the Hall of Cultivation of Literature, selecting men of literary talent from the court. Zhiwen, together with Xue Ji, Du Shenyan, and others, were among the first chosen—a distinction greatly celebrated at the time. When he presided over the examinations, he promoted younger talents, many of whom later became famous. Soon afterward he was transferred to Chief Administrator of Yuezhou.
65
睿宗即位，以之問嘗附張易之、武三思，配徙欽州。 先天中，賜死於徙所。 之問再被竄謫，經途江、嶺，所有篇詠，傳布遠近。 友人武平一為之纂集，成十卷，傳於代。
When Emperor Ruizong ascended the throne, because Zhiwen had once attached himself to Zhang Yizhi and Wu Sansi, he was sentenced to exile in Qinzhou. During the Xiantian era he was ordered to take his own life at his place of exile. Twice banished and exiled, Zhiwen traveled through the river regions and the southern ranges; the poems he wrote along the way spread far and wide. His friend Wu Pingyi compiled them into ten scrolls, which circulated widely in their time.
66
世人以之問父為三絕，之問以文詞知名，弟之悌有勇力，之遜善書，議者雲各得父之一絕。
People called Zhiwen's father a master of three supreme arts. Zhiwen was renowned for literary composition, his younger brother Zhibiao for martial valor, and Zhisun for calligraphy. Commentators said each inherited one of their father's supreme gifts.
67
之悌，開元中自右羽林將軍出為益州長史、劍南節度兼采訪使。 尋遷太原尹。
Zhibiao, during the Kaiyuan era, left his post as General of the Right Forest Corps to become Chief Administrator of Yizhou and Military Commissioner of Jiannan, concurrently serving as Investigator. Soon afterward he was transferred to Prefect of Taiyuan.
68
閻朝隱，趙州欒城人也。 少與兄鏡幾、弟仙舟俱知名。 朝隱文章雖無《風》、《雅》之體，善構奇，甚為時人所賞。 累遷給事中，預修《三教珠英》。 張易之等所作篇什，多是朝隱及宋之問潛代為之。 聖歷二年，則天不豫，令朝隱往少室山祈禱。 朝隱乃曲申悅媚，以身為犧牲，請代上所苦。 及將康復，賜絹彩百匹、金銀器十事。 俄轉麟臺少監。 易之伏誅，坐徙嶺外。 尋召還。 先天中，復為秘書少監。 又坐事貶為通州別駕，卒官。
Yan Chaoyin was a native of Luancheng in Zhao prefecture. From youth he was famous together with his elder brother Jingji and younger brother Xianzhou. Chaoyin's writings lacked the classical form of the Airs and Odes, but he excelled at constructing the extraordinary and was greatly admired by his contemporaries. He rose repeatedly to the post of Palace Attendant and took part in compiling the Pearls of Literature from the Three Teachings. Most of the compositions credited to Zhang Yizhi and his faction were secretly ghostwritten by Chaoyin and Song Zhiwen. In the second year of the Shengli era, when Empress Wu fell ill, she sent Chaoyin to Mount Shaoshi to offer prayers. Chaoyin then spoke in elaborate flattery, offering his own body as a sacrifice and begging to suffer in the sovereign's place. When she was nearly recovered, she granted him a hundred bolts of silk and ten sets of gold and silver vessels. Soon afterward he was transferred to Vice Director of the Palace Library. When Zhang Yizhi was executed, Chaoyin was implicated and exiled beyond the southern ranges. He was soon recalled. During the Xiantian era he again served as Vice Director of the Secretariat. He was again implicated in an offense, demoted to Vice Prefect of Tongzhou, and died in that post.
69
朝隱修《三教珠英》時，成均祭酒李嶠與張昌宗為修書使，盡收天下文詞之士為學士，預其列者，有王無競、李適、尹元凱，並知名於時。 自余有事跡者，各見其本傳。
When Chaoyin was compiling the Pearls of Literature from the Three Teachings, Li Qiao, Chancellor of the Directorate of Education, and Zhang Changzong served as commissioners of the project. They gathered literary talents from across the realm as scholars; among those chosen were Wang Wujing, Li Shi, and Yin Yuankai—all famous in their day. As for the others who had notable careers, see their respective biographies.
70
王無競者，字仲烈。 其先瑯邪人，因官徙居東萊，宋太尉弘之十一代孫。 父侃，棣州司馬。
Wang Wujing, styled Zhonglie. His ancestors were from Langye; through official service they relocated to Donglai. He was the eleventh-generation descendant of Wang Hong, Grand Marshal of Song. His father Kan served as Military Administrator of Dizhou.
71
無競有文學，初應下筆成章舉及第，解褐授趙州欒城縣尉，歷秘書省正字，轉右武衛倉曹、洛陽縣尉，遷監察御史，轉殿中。 舊例，每日更直於殿前。 正班時，宰相宗楚客、楊再思常離班偶語，無競前曰：「朝禮至敬，公等大臣，不宜輕易以慢恆典。」 楚客等大怒，轉無競為太子舍人。 神龍初，坐訶詆權幸，出為蘇州司馬。 及張易之等敗，以嘗交往，再貶嶺外，卒於廣州，年五十四。
Wujing was accomplished in letters. He first passed the Instant Composition examination, took his first office as County Captain of Luancheng in Zhao prefecture, served as Corrector of the Secretariat, transferred to Storehouse Clerk of the Right Martial Guards and County Captain of Luoyang, was promoted to Investigating Censor, and then transferred to Palace Censor. According to established practice, censors took daily turns standing watch before the hall. During formal court assembly, the chief ministers Zong Chuke and Yang Zaisi often left their ranks to whisper together. Wujing stepped forward and said: "Court ritual demands the utmost respect. You, as great ministers, ought not treat the established rites with such casual neglect. Chuke and the others were greatly angered and transferred Wujing to the post of Secretary of the Heir Apparent. Early in the Shenlong era he was punished for denouncing the emperor's favorites and was sent out as Military Administrator of Suzhou. When Zhang Yizhi and his faction fell, he was demoted again to the far south for having once kept their company, and died at Guangzhou at the age of fifty-four.
72
李適者，雍州萬年人。 景龍中，為中書舍人，俄轉工部侍郎。 睿宗時，天臺道士司馬承禎被征至京師。 及還，適贈詩，序其高尚之致，其詞甚美，當時朝廷之士，無不屬和，凡三百余人。 徐彥伯編而敘之，謂之《白雲記》，頗傳於代。 尋卒。
Li Shi came from Wannian in Yong prefecture. During the Jinglong era he served as a Secretariat drafting officer and was soon transferred to vice minister of works. Under Emperor Ruizong, the Tiantai Daoist Sima Chengzhen was summoned to the capital. When Chengzhen returned, Shi presented him with a poem praising his lofty character in language of rare beauty. Every notable at court contributed matching verses—more than three hundred in all. Xu Yanbo compiled and prefaced the poems under the title Record of White Clouds, and the work circulated widely in its day. He died soon after.
73
尹元凱者，瀛州樂壽人。 初為磁州司倉，坐事免，乃棲遲山林，不求仕進，垂三十年。 與張說、盧藏用特相友善，征拜右補闕。 卒於并州司馬。
Yin Yuankai came from Leshou in Ying prefecture. He first served as storehouse officer of Cizhou, but after being dismissed for an offense he lived in seclusion among the mountains and sought no office for nearly thirty years. He was especially close to Zhang Yue and Lu Zangyong and was summoned to serve as remonstrance officer of the right. He died while serving as military administrator of Bing prefecture.
74
賈曾，河南洛陽人也。 父言忠，乾封中為侍御史。 時朝廷有事遼東，言忠奉使往支軍糧。 及還，高宗問以軍事，言忠畫其山川地勢，及陳遼東可平之狀，高宗大悅。 又問諸將優劣，言忠曰：「李勣先朝舊臣，聖鑒所悉。 龐同善雖非鬥將，而持軍嚴整。 薛仁貴勇冠三軍，名可振敵。 高侃儉素自處，忠果有謀。 契苾何力沈毅持重，有統禦之才，然頗有忌前之癖。 諸將夙夜小心，忘身憂國，莫過於李勣者。」 高宗深然之。 累轉吏部員外郎。 坐事左遷邵州司馬，卒。
Jia Zeng came from Luoyang in Henan. His father Yanzhong served as a palace censor during the Qianfeng era. When the court was campaigning in Liaodong, Yanzhong was dispatched to supply the army with provisions. On his return Emperor Gaozong questioned him about military affairs. Yanzhong sketched the mountains, rivers, and terrain and explained how Liaodong could be pacified, greatly delighting the emperor. He also asked which generals were superior. Yanzhong replied: "Li Ji is a veteran minister of the former reign, well known to Your Majesty's discerning eye. Pang Tongshan is not a front-line combat commander, but he keeps his troops in strict order. Xue Rengui's bravery is unmatched in the army, and his name alone can terrify the enemy. Gao Kan lives plainly and modestly, and is loyal, resolute, and shrewd in counsel. Qibi Heli is calm, resolute, and weighty in bearing, with genuine command ability—yet he tends somewhat toward jealousy of his predecessors. Among the generals, none night and day watches so carefully, forgetting himself in concern for the state, as Li Ji." Emperor Gaozong strongly agreed. He rose through successive appointments to assistant director in the Ministry of Personnel. After being punished for an offense he was demoted to military administrator of Shaozhou, where he died.
75
曾少知名。 景雲中，為吏部員外郎。 玄宗在東宮，盛擇宮僚，拜曾為太子舍人。 時太子頻遣使訪召女樂，命宮臣就率更署閱樂，多奏女妓。 曾啟諫曰：
Zeng had been known since youth. During the Jingyun era he served as assistant director in the Ministry of Personnel. While Xuanzong was crown prince, he carefully chose his palace staff and appointed Zeng secretary of the heir apparent. The crown prince frequently sent envoys to summon female musicians and ordered palace officials to inspect performers at the Directorate of Music, with many female entertainers being presented. Zeng submitted a memorial of remonstrance, saying:
76
臣聞作樂崇德，以感人神，《韶》、《夏》有容，《鹹》、《英》有節，婦人媟黷，無豫其間。 昔魯用孔子，幾至於霸，齊人懼之，饋以女樂，魯君既受，孔子所以行。 戎有由余，兵強國富，秦人反間，遺之女妓，戎王耽悅，由余乃奔。 斯則大聖名賢，嫉之已久。 良以婦人為樂，必務冶容，哇姣動心，蠱惑喪誌，上行下效，淫俗將成，敗國亂人，實由茲起。
I have heard that music is made to exalt virtue and move both human hearts and the spirits. The Shao and Xia had proper bearing; the Xian and Ying had proper restraint. There was no room in them for the licentiousness of women. In antiquity Lu employed Confucius and nearly achieved hegemony. Qi, fearing this, sent female musicians as a gift; once the ruler of Lu accepted them, Confucius left the state. Rong had Youyu, and its army was strong and its state rich. Qin used intrigue and sent female entertainers; the king of Rong became infatuated, and Youyu fled. The greatest sages and most celebrated worthies have long despised such things. When women are made into entertainment, they must cultivate seductive beauty; gaudy allure stirs the heart and bewitches the will. What superiors do, inferiors imitate, and debased custom takes hold. The ruin of states and the corruption of men truly begin here.
77
伏惟殿下神武命代，文思登庸，宇內颙颙，瞻仰德化。 而渴賢之美，未被於民心； 好妓之聲，或聞於人聽。 豈所以追啟、誦之徽烈，襲堯、舜之英風者哉！ 至若監撫余閑，宴私多豫，後庭妓樂，古或有之，非以風人，為弊猶隱。 至於所司教習，章示群僚，慢伎淫聲，實虧睿化。 伏願下教令，發德音，屏倡優，敦《雅》、《頌》，率更女樂，並令禁斷，諸使采召，一切皆停。 則朝野內外，皆知殿下放鄭遠佞，輝光日新，凡在含生，孰不欣戴。
I humbly reflect that Your Highness, divinely martial and Heaven-chosen, with literary brilliance ascendant, is looked to throughout the realm with eager hope for your transforming virtue. Yet the virtue of earnestly seeking worthy men has not reached the people's hearts; while word that Your Highness favors entertainers has already reached public ears. How can this be the way to follow the glorious example of Qi and Song, or to inherit the noble spirit of Yao and Shun! Private leisure while overseeing affairs, with feasts and entertainments in the inner quarters—such things existed in antiquity, but because they were not displayed to the people, the harm could still be kept hidden. But when the responsible office rehearses such performers and displays them before the assembled officials, vulgar acts and licentious music truly undermine Your Highness's enlightened governance. I humbly hope Your Highness will issue an edict and proclaim a message of virtue: banish actors and jesters, and uphold the Ya and Song odes; forbid all female musicians under the Directorate of Music and halt every envoy sent to gather them. Then throughout court and realm, all will know that Your Highness rejects licentious music and keeps sycophants at a distance, your brilliance renewed day by day. Who among all living beings would not rejoice and acclaim you?
78
太子手令答曰：「比嘗聞公正直，信亦不虛。 寡人近日頗尋典籍，至於政化，偏所留心，女樂之徒，亦擬禁斷。 公之所言，雅符本意。」 俄特授曾中書舍人。 曾以父名忠，固辭。 乃拜諫議大夫、知制誥。
The crown prince replied in his own hand: "I have lately heard that you are upright and honest, and this is clearly no empty reputation. I have recently been reading the classics with care, and I am especially attentive to governance and moral transformation. I too intend to forbid female musicians and the like. What you have said accords perfectly with my own intent." Soon afterward Zeng was specially appointed secretariat drafting officer. Zeng firmly declined because his father's name was Zhong. He was then appointed remonstrance grandee with responsibility for drafting edicts.
79
明年，有事於南郊，有司立議，唯祭昊天上帝，而不設皇地祇之位。 曾奏議：「請於南郊方丘，設皇地祇及從祀等坐，則禮惟稽古，義得緣情。」 睿宗令宰相及禮官詳議，竟依曾所奏。 開元初，復拜中書舍人，曾又固辭，議者以為中書是曹司名，又與曾父音同字別，於禮無嫌，曾乃就職。 與蘇晉同掌制誥，皆以詞學見知，時人稱為蘇賈。 曾後坐事，貶洋州刺史。 開元六年，玄宗念舊，特恩甄敘，繼歷慶、鄭等州刺吏，入拜光祿少卿，遷禮部侍郎。 十五年卒。
The following year, when the southern suburb rites were to be performed, the responsible offices proposed sacrificing only to August Heaven High God and not setting a seat for August Earth Spirit. Zeng submitted a memorial: "I request that seats be set for August Earth Spirit and the attendant sacrifices at the southern suburb and square mound, so that the rite may follow antiquity and accord with human feeling." Emperor Ruizong ordered the chief ministers and ritual officials to deliberate in detail, and they ultimately adopted Zeng's proposal. Early in the Kaiyuan era he was again appointed secretariat drafting officer, and Zeng once more declined. Deliberators held that Zhongshu was the name of a bureau and, though homophonous with his father's name, differed in written form and involved no taboo, so Zeng accepted the post. Together with Su Jin he shared responsibility for drafting edicts. Both were renowned for literary skill, and contemporaries called them Su and Jia. Later Zeng was punished for an offense and demoted to prefect of Yang prefecture. In Kaiyuan year 6, remembering his past service, Emperor Xuanzong restored him by special favor. He successively served as prefect of Qing, Zheng, and other prefectures, entered court as vice director of the Directorate of Imperial Entertainment, and was promoted to vice minister of rites. He died in Kaiyuan year 15.
80
子至。 至，天寶末為中書舍人。 祿山之亂，從上皇幸蜀。 時肅宗即位於靈武，上皇遣至為傳位冊文。 上皇覽之，嘆曰：「昔先帝遜位於朕，冊文則卿之先父所為。 今朕以神器大寶付儲君，卿又當演誥。 累朝盛典，出卿父子之手，可謂難矣！」 至伏於御前，嗚咽感涕。
His son was Zhi. Zhi served as secretariat drafting officer at the end of the Tianbao era. During the An Lushan rebellion he followed the retired emperor into exile in Shu. At that time Emperor Suzong had ascended the throne at Lingwu, and the retired emperor dispatched Zhi to draft the document of abdication and succession. The retired emperor read it and sighed: "When the former emperor abdicated the throne to me, the accession document was written by your late father. Now I entrust the sacred regalia to the heir apparent, and you again must draft the proclamation. Grand ceremonies of successive reigns entrusted to your father and you—what a rare honor!" Zhi prostrated himself before the throne, weeping with emotion.
81
寶慶二年，為尚書左丞。 時禮部侍郎楊綰上疏，請依古制。 縣令舉孝廉於刺史，試其所通之學，送名於省； 省試每經問義十條、對策三道，取其通否。 詔令左右丞、諸司侍郎、大夫、中丞、給、舍等參議，議者多與綰同。 至議曰：
In the second year of the Baoqing era he served as left assistant director of the Ministry of Revenue. At that time Vice Minister of Rites Yang Wan submitted a memorial requesting a return to the ancient system. County magistrates would recommend Filial and Incorrupt candidates to the prefect, who would test the learning each had mastered and send the names to the provincial office; at the provincial examination each classic would be tested with ten questions on meaning and three policy essays, and candidates would pass or fail accordingly. An edict ordered the left and right assistant directors, vice ministers, grandees, censors, drafting officers, and others to join in deliberation, and most of those deliberating agreed with Yang Wan. Zhi submitted his opinion, saying:
82
夏之政尚忠，殷之政尚敬，周之政尚文，然則文與忠、敬，皆統人之行也。 是故前代以文取士，本行也； 由詞以觀行，則及詞也。 宣父稱「顏子不遷怒，不貳過」，謂之「好學」。 至乎修《春秋》，則遊、夏不能措一辭，不亦明乎！ 間者，禮部取人，有乖斯義。 試學者以帖字為精通，而不窮旨義，豈能知「遷怒」、「貳過」之道乎？ 考文者以聲病為是非，唯擇浮艷，豈能知移風易俗化天下之事乎？ 是以上失其源，下襲其流，乘流波蕩，不知所止，先王之道，莫能行也。 夫先王之道消，則小人之道長； 小人之道長，則亂臣賊子由是出焉。 臣弒其君，子弒其父，非一朝一夕之故，其所由來者漸矣！ 漸者何？ 儒道不舉，取士之失也。 夫一國之事，系一人之本，謂之風。 贊揚其風，系卿大夫也，卿大夫何嘗不出於士乎？ 今取士，試之小道，不以遠者大者，使幹祿之徒，趨馳末術，是誘導之差也。 所以祿山一呼，四海震蕩； 思明再亂，十年不復。 向使禮讓之道弘，仁義之風著，則忠臣孝子，比屋可封，逆節不得而萌也，人心不得而搖也。
The government of Xia valued loyalty; that of Shang valued reverence; that of Zhou valued culture. Yet culture, loyalty, and reverence all govern human conduct alike. Therefore in former ages scholars were chosen through literary accomplishment because the root lay in conduct; and by observing conduct through words, one also came to judge the words themselves. Confucius said of Yan Hui, "He does not transfer anger, nor repeat a fault," and called this being fond of learning. Yet when it came to compiling the Spring and Autumn Annals, even Ziyou and Zixia could not set down a single phrase—is this not clear enough! Recently, however, the Ministry of Rites has selected men in violation of this principle. Students are tested on their mastery of copying characters without probing meaning—how can they understand the way of not transferring anger and not repeating a fault? Compositions are judged by tonal rules as right or wrong, and only flashy elegance is chosen—how can such men know the work of shifting customs and transforming the realm? Thus superiors lose the source and inferiors follow the current, carried along by the waves with no knowing where they will stop, and the way of the former kings cannot be carried out. When the way of the former kings fades, the way of petty men grows strong; and when the way of petty men grows strong, rebellious ministers and traitorous sons arise from it. Ministers who murder their lords and sons who murder their fathers do not arise in a single morning or evening; their origins lie in gradual decline! What is this gradual decline? It is the failure to exalt Confucian teaching—a fault in the selection of scholars. The affairs of a state depend on the fundamental character of a single man—this is what is called custom. To praise and spread this custom depends on ministers and grandees—and do ministers and grandees not all emerge from scholars? Now, in selecting scholars, petty skills are tested rather than what is remote and great, causing office-seekers to rush after minor arts. This is an error in guidance. That is why when An Lushan raised his cry, the four seas trembled; and when Shi Siming rebelled again, ten years passed before order was restored. Had the way of courtesy and yielding been broad and the spirit of benevolence and righteousness been manifest, loyal ministers and filial sons would have filled every household, rebellious intent could not have taken root, and hearts would not have been shaken.
83
且夏有天下四百載，禹之道喪，而殷始興焉。 殷有天下六百祀，湯之法棄，而周始興焉。 周有天下八百年，文、武之政弊，而秦始並焉。 觀三代之選士任賢，皆考實行，故能風俗淳一，運祚長遠。 秦坑儒士，二代而亡。 漢興，雜用三代之政，弘四科之舉，終彼四百，豈非學行道扇，化行於鄉里哉！ 自魏至隋，僅四百載，竊號僭位，德義不修，是以子孫速顛，享國鹹促。
Xia held the realm for four hundred years; when Yu's way was lost, Yin then rose. Yin held the realm for six hundred years; when Tang's laws were abandoned, Zhou then rose. Zhou held the realm for eight hundred years; when the governance of King Wen and King Wu decayed, Qin first unified the realm. Observing how the Three Dynasties selected scholars and employed the worthy—all by examining actual conduct—one sees how customs could be pure and unified and how fortune and mandate could endure far. Qin buried the Confucian scholars and perished within two generations. When Han rose, it combined the policies of the Three Dynasties and broadened the four categories of recommendation, enduring four hundred years—was this not because learning and the way were spread abroad and moral transformation took root in every village and hamlet! From Wei to Sui, barely four hundred years passed in usurped titles and seized thrones without cultivating virtue and righteousness, so that sons and grandsons quickly fell and their reigns were all brief.
84
國家革魏、晉、隋、梁之弊，承夏、殷、周、漢之業，四隩既宅，九州攸同，覆幬生育，德合天地。 安有舍皇王舉士之道，從亂代取人之術！ 此公卿大夫之辱也。
Our state has reformed the faults of Wei, Jin, Sui, and Liang and inherited the achievements of Xia, Yin, Zhou, and Han. The four corners are settled and the nine provinces unified; sheltering and nourishing all life, its virtue matches Heaven and Earth. How could we abandon the way of the sage-kings in selecting scholars and follow the methods of chaotic ages in choosing men! This is the disgrace of the state's ministers and grandees.
85
今西京有太學，州縣有小學，兵革一動，生徒流離，儒臣師氏，祿廩無由，貢士不稱行實，胄子何嘗講習。 禮部每歲擢甲乙之第，謂弘獎勸，不其謬歟！ 只足以長浮薄之風，啟僥幸之路矣！ 其國子博士等，望加員數，厚其祿秩，通儒碩生，間居其職。 十道大郡，量置太學館，令博士出外，兼領郡官，召置生徒，依乎故事，保桑梓者，鄉里舉焉，在流寓者，阇序推焉。 朝而行之，夕見其利。
Today the Western Capital has the Imperial Academy and prefectures and counties have local schools, yet at the first stir of war students scatter in exile, Confucian teachers receive no salaries or grain allotments, presented scholars are not evaluated on actual conduct, and how often do imperial scions truly engage in study and practice? Each year the Ministry of Rites ranks candidates in grades of jia and yi, calling this broad encouragement and reward—is this not absurd! It only serves to foster frivolity and shallow conduct and open a path for opportunists! As for the Masters of the Imperial Academy and the like, I ask that their number be increased, their salaries and ranks enriched, and thoroughly learned Confucians and eminent scholars appointed to these posts. In the great prefectures of the ten circuits, Imperial Academy halls should be established as appropriate. Let the Masters go out and concurrently hold prefectural office, summon and enroll students according to precedent—those who remain in their native districts should be recommended by village and district, and those who are sojourners should be promoted by the local school. If enacted in the morning, its benefit would be visible by evening.
86
議者然之。 宰臣等奏以舉人舊業已成，難於速改。 其今歲舉人，望且依舊。 賈至所議，來年允之。
Those who deliberated agreed with this. The chief ministers memorialized that the presented scholars' former course of study was already established and would be difficult to change quickly. As for this year's presented scholars, it is requested that they continue to follow the old practice for now. Jia Zhi's proposal was approved for the following year.
87
廣德二年，轉禮部侍郎。 是歲，至以時艱歲歉，舉人赴省者，奏請兩都試舉人，自至始也。 永泰元年，加集賢院待制。 大歷初，改兵部侍郎。 五年，轉京兆尹、兼御史大夫，卒。
In the second year of Guangde, he was transferred to Vice Minister of Rites. That year, because times were hard and harvests poor, Jia Zhi memorialized requesting that presented scholars be examined in both capitals—a practice that began with him. In the first year of Yongtai, he was added as Attendant Drafting Member of the Hall of Assembled Worthies. At the beginning of the Dali era, he was changed to Vice Minister of War. In the fifth year, he was transferred to Metropolitan Governor of Jingzhao and concurrently Grand Censor, and died.
88
許景先，常州義興人，後徙家洛陽。 少舉進士，授夏陽尉。 神龍初，東都起聖善寺報慈閣。 景先詣闕獻《大像閣賦》，詞甚美麗，擢拜左拾遺。 累遷給事中。 開元初，每年賜射，節級賜物，屬年儉，甚費府庫。 景先奏曰：
Xu Jingxian was a native of Yixing in Changzhou and later moved his household to Luoyang. In youth he passed the jinshi examination and was appointed Assistant Magistrate of Xiayang. At the beginning of the Shenlong era, the Baoci Pavilion was raised at Shenshan Temple in the Eastern Capital. Jingxian went to the palace gate and presented "Rhapsody on the Great Image Pavilion." The language was very beautiful, and he was promoted and appointed Left Reminder. He was repeatedly promoted to Supervising Secretary. At the beginning of the Kaiyuan era, archery contests were bestowed each year with graded gifts of goods, but as it happened to be a year of scarcity, this greatly depleted the treasury. Jingxian memorialized, saying:
89
近臣三九之辰，頻賜宴射，已著格令，猶降綸言。 但古制不存，禮章多闕，官員累倍，帑藏未充，水旱相仍，繼之師旅。 既不足以觀德，又未足以威邊； 耗國損人，且為不急。 夫古之天子，以射選諸侯，以射飾禮樂，以射觀容誌，故有《騶虞》、《貍首》之奏，《采蘩》、《采蘋》之樂。 天子則以備官為節，諸侯則以時會為節，卿大夫以循法為節，士以不失職為節，皆審誌固行，德美事成，陰陽克和，暴亂不作。 故諸侯貢士，亦試於射宮； 容體有虧，則絀其地。 是諸侯君臣皆盡誌於射，射之禮也大矣哉！ 今則不然。 眾官既多，鳴鏑亂下，以茍獲為利，以偶中為能，素無五善之容，頗失三侯之禮。 冗官厚秩，禁衛崇班，動盈累千，其算無數。 近河南、河北，水澇處多，林胡小蕃，見寇郊壘，軍書日至，河朔騷然。 命將除兇，未圖克捷； 興師十萬，日費千金。 去歲豫、亳兩州，微遭旱損，庸賦不辦，以致流亡。 聖人憂勤，降使招恤，流離歲月，猶未能安，人之困窮，以至於此。 今一箭偶中，是一丁庸調，用之既無惻隱，獲之固無恥慚。 考古循今，則為未可。 且禁衛武官，隨番許射，能中的者，必有賞焉。 此則訓武習戎，時習不闕，待寇寧歲稔，率由舊章，則愛禮養人，幸甚！ 幸甚！
On the three-nine days of close ministers, banquets and archery are frequently bestowed; this is already set forth in regulations, yet edicts are still issued. But the ancient system no longer exists, ritual regulations are largely lacking, official posts have doubled repeatedly, the treasury is not full, floods and droughts follow one after another, and armies march in succession. It is neither sufficient to observe virtue nor yet sufficient to awe the frontier; it wastes the state and harms the people, and moreover is not urgent. In antiquity the Son of Heaven used archery to select the feudal lords, to adorn ritual and music, and to observe deportment and intent—hence there were the performances of "Zou Yu" and "Li Shou," and the music of "Cai Fan" and "Cai Ping." The Son of Heaven took complete officials as his measure, feudal lords took timely assemblies as theirs, ministers and grandees took following the law as theirs, and gentlemen took not losing their office as theirs—all examined intent and acted firmly, virtue and beauty achieved their ends, yin and yang were harmoniously subdued, and violence and disorder did not arise. Therefore when feudal lords presented scholars, they were also tested in the archery hall; if deportment and bearing were deficient, their fiefs were reduced. Thus feudal lords, ministers, and rulers all fully devoted their intent to archery—the ritual of archery is indeed great! Now it is not so. With so many officials present, whistling arrows fall in disorder; taking careless gain as profit and chance hits as skill, they ordinarily show none of the five good deportments and greatly violate the ritual of the three targets. Superfluous officials with rich salaries and palace guards in exalted ranks—together they number thousands upon thousands beyond reckoning. Recently in Henan and Hebei flooded areas are many; Linhu and minor tribes appear raiding the suburban fortifications; military dispatches arrive daily, and the north of the Yellow River is in turmoil. Generals have been appointed to suppress the violent, yet victory has not been achieved; raising an army of a hundred thousand costs a thousand gold per day. Last year in the two prefectures of Yu and Bo there was slight drought damage; corvée levies could not be met, leading to exile. The Sage is anxious and diligent, sending envoys to summon and comfort the displaced; for months they have not yet been settled, and the people's distress has reached this point. Now one chance hit with an arrow equals one man's corvée levy; in spending it there is no compassion, and in receiving it there is truly no shame. Examining antiquity and following the present, this cannot be done. Moreover, palace-guard military officers, according to their rotation, are permitted to shoot, and those who can hit the target will surely receive rewards. This would train martial skill and maintain regular practice in arms; when bandits are pacified and harvests are abundant, all should follow the old regulations—then to cherish ritual and nourish the people would be most fortunate! Most fortunate!
90
自是乃停賜射之禮。
From this time the bestowed archery ritual was stopped.
91
俄轉中書舍人。 自開元初，景先與中書舍人齊浣、王丘、韓休、張九齡掌知制誥，以文翰見稱。 中書令張說嘗稱曰：「許舍人之文，雖無峻峰激流嶄絕之勢，然屬詞豐美，得中和之氣，亦一時之秀也。」 十年夏，伊、汝泛溢，漂損居人廬舍，溺死者甚眾。 景先言於侍中源乾曜曰：「災眚所降，必資修德以禳之。 《左傳》所載『降服出次』，即其事也。 誠宜發德音，遣大臣存問，憂人罪己，以答天譴。 明公位存輔弼，當發明大體，以啟沃明主，不可緘默也。」 乾曜然其言，遽以聞奏，乃下詔遣戶部尚書陸象先往賑給窮乏。
Soon he was transferred to Drafting Secretary of the Secretariat. From the beginning of the Kaiyuan era, Jingxian together with Drafting Secretaries of the Secretariat Qi Huan, Wang Qiu, Han Xiu, and Zhang Jiuling managed the drafting of edicts and was praised for literary composition. Chief Minister of the Secretariat Zhang Yue once praised him, saying: "Secretary Xu's writing, though without the force of towering peaks and rushing torrents utterly surpassing all, yet in composing phrases is rich and beautiful, attaining the spirit of centrality and harmony—it is also the excellence of the age." In the tenth year, summer, the Yi and Ru rivers overflowed broadly, washing away and damaging residents' dwellings; those drowned were very numerous. Jingxian spoke to Attendant-in-Chief Yuan Qianyao, saying: "When calamities and portents descend, one must rely on cultivating virtue to expel them. What the Zuo Commentary records as 'lowering one's robes and leaving the palace' is exactly this matter. It is truly fitting to issue a virtuous proclamation, send great ministers to inquire after the people, grieve for the people and blame oneself, to answer Heaven's reproof. Your Excellency's position is that of assistant and support; you should clarify the great principle to enrich and nourish the enlightened ruler—you must not remain silent." Qianyao approved his words and immediately reported them; an edict was then issued sending Minister of Revenue Lu Xiangxian to go and relieve the destitute.
92
十三年，玄宗令宰臣擇刺史之任，必在得人，景先首中其選，自吏部侍郎出為虢州刺史。 後轉岐州，入拜吏部侍郎，卒。
In the thirteenth year, Emperor Xuanzong ordered the chief ministers to select prefectural appointments, insisting that the right person be obtained; Jingxian was first among those selected and left the post of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel to become Prefect of Guo. Later he was transferred to Qi Prefecture, entered the court as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and died.
93
賀知章，會稽永興人，太子洗馬德仁之族孫也。 少以文詞知名，舉進士。 初授國子四門博士，又遷太常博士，皆陸象先在中書引薦也。 開元十年，兵部尚書張說為麗正殿修書使，奏請知章及秘書員外監徐堅、監察御史趙冬曦，皆入書院，同撰《六典》及《文纂》等，累年，書竟不就。 後轉太常少卿。
He Zhizhang was a native of Yongxing in Kuaiji, a clansman of the grandson of Crown Prince Xima Deren. In youth he was renowned for literary composition and passed the jinshi examination. At first he was appointed Master of the Four Gates of the Directorate of Education, then transferred to Master of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices—all through Lu Xiangxian's recommendation while in the Secretariat. In the tenth year of Kaiyuan, Minister of War Zhang Yue served as Commissioner for Editing Books at the Lizheng Hall and memorialized requesting that Zhizhang, Deputy Director of the Secretariat Xu Jian, and Investigating Censor Zhao Dongxi all enter the Academy to compile together the Six Canons, Literary Compendium, and the like; after many years, the books were still not completed. Later he was transferred to Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
94
十三年，遷禮部侍郎，加集賢院學士，又充皇太子侍讀。 是歲，玄宗封東嶽，有詔應行從群臣，並留於谷口，上獨與宰臣及外壇行事官登於嶽上齋宮之所。
In the thirteenth year, he was transferred to Vice Minister of Rites, added as Academician of the Hall of Assembled Worthies, and also served as Reader to the Crown Prince. That year, Emperor Xuanzong performed the feng sacrifice on Mount Tai; there was an edict that the ministers who should accompany the procession were all to remain at the valley entrance, while the Emperor alone with the chief ministers and the officials performing the outer-altar rites ascended to the fasting palace on the mountain.
95
初，上以靈山清潔，不欲喧繁，召知章講定儀註，因奏曰：「昊天上帝君位，五方諸帝臣位，帝號雖同，而君臣異位。 陛下享君位於山上，群臣祀臣位於山下，誠足垂範來葉，為變禮之大者也。 然禮成於三獻，亞終合於一處。」 上曰：「朕正欲如是，故問卿耳。」 於是敕：「三獻於山上行事，五方帝及諸神座於下壇行事。」
At first, because the numinous mountain was pure and clean and the Emperor did not wish for clamor and bustle, he summoned Zhizhang to discuss and fix the ritual regulations, whereupon he memorialized, saying: "August Heaven, Supreme Emperor, holds the position of ruler; the Five Direction Emperors hold the position of ministers. Though their imperial titles are the same, ruler and minister occupy different positions. Your Majesty receives the ruler's position on the mountain, while ministers perform the minister's sacrifice below the mountain—this truly suffices to set an example for future generations and is a great change in ritual. Yet ritual is completed in three offerings, and the secondary and final offerings should be combined in one place." The Emperor said: "I precisely wish it to be so, therefore I asked you." Thereupon an edict: "The three offerings shall be performed on the mountain; the Five Direction Emperors and the seats of the various spirits shall be performed at the lower altar."
96
俄屬惠文太子薨，有詔禮部選挽郎，知章取舍非允，為門廕子弟喧訴盈庭。 知章於是以梯登墻，首出決事，時人鹹嗤之，由是改授工部侍郎，兼秘書監同正員，依舊充集賢院學士。 俄遷太子賓客、銀青光祿大夫兼正授秘書監。
Soon afterward Crown Prince Huiwen died; there was an edict that the Ministry of Rites select pallbearers, and Zhizhang's selections were not fair, so sons of officials by hereditary privilege clamored and appealed until the court was full. Zhizhang thereupon climbed a ladder onto the wall, sticking his head out to decide matters; people of the time all ridiculed him, and for this he was changed to Vice Minister of Works, concurrently Regular Director of the Secretariat with full appointment, and still served as Academician of the Hall of Assembled Worthies. Soon he was transferred to Guest of the Crown Prince and Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with Silver Seal, concurrently receiving regular appointment as Director of the Secretariat.
97
知章性放曠，善談笑，當時賢達皆傾慕之。 工部尚書陸象先，即知章之族姑子也，與知章甚相親善。 象先常謂人曰：「賀兄言論倜儻，真可謂風流之士。 吾與子弟離闊，都不思之，一日不見賀兄，則鄙吝生矣。」
Zhizhang's nature was free and unrestrained; he was skilled at jest and conversation, and the worthies and eminent men of the time all admired him. Minister of Works Lu Xiangxian was Zhizhang's clansman on his aunt's side and was very close and friendly with Zhizhang. Xiangxian often said to people: "Brother He's discourse is bold and free—it can truly be called a man of grace and talent. When I am apart from my sons and younger brothers, I do not think of them at all; one day without seeing Brother He, and vulgar stinginess arises."
98
知章晚年尤加縱誕，無復規檢，自號四明狂客，又稱「秘書外監」，遨遊裏巷。 醉後屬詞，動成卷軸，文不加點，咸有可觀。 又善草隸書，好事者供其箋翰，每紙不過數十字，共傳寶之。
In his later years Zhizhang became even more unrestrained and wild, no longer observing propriety; he styled himself the Mad Guest of Siming, and also called himself "Outer Director of the Secretariat," roaming through lanes and alleys. After becoming drunk he composed phrases that at a stroke formed scrolls; the writing needed no punctuation, and all were worth viewing. He was also skilled at cursive and clerical script; enthusiasts supplied his paper and brush, each sheet having no more than several dozen characters, and all treasured and transmitted them.
99
時有吳郡張旭，亦與知章相善。 旭善草書，而好酒，每醉後號呼狂走，索筆揮灑，變化無窮，若有神助，時人號為張顛。
At the time there was Zhang Xu of Wu Commandery, who was also friendly with Zhizhang. Xu was skilled at cursive script and fond of wine; each time after becoming drunk he would shout and run wildly, demand a brush and wield it freely—transformations without end, as if aided by spirits; people of the time called him Zhang the Mad.
100
天寶三載，知章因病恍惚，乃上疏請度為道士，求還鄉里，仍舍本鄉宅為觀。 上許之，仍拜其子典設郎曾為會稽郡司馬，仍令侍養。 禦制詩以贈行，皇太子已下鹹就執別。 至鄉無幾壽終，年八十六。
In the third year of Tianbao, Zhizhang because of illness became confused and dazed; he then submitted a memorial requesting ordination as a Daoist priest, seeking to return to his native district, and also donated his native residence as a monastery. The Emperor approved it, and also appointed his son Zeng, Gentleman for Palace Equipment, as Assistant Administrator of Kuaiji Commandery, still ordering him to attend and support his father. An imperial poem was composed to see him off; from the Crown Prince downward all came to take leave. After reaching his district, not long afterward he died at the end of his lifespan, aged eighty-six.
101
肅宗以侍讀之舊，乾元元年十一月詔曰：「故越州千秋觀道士賀知章，器識夷淡，襟懷和雅，神清誌逸，學富才雄，挺會稽之美箭，蘊昆崗之良玉。 故飛名仙省，侍講龍樓，常靜默以養閑，因談諧而諷諫。 以暮齒辭祿，再見款誠，願追二老之蹤，克遂四明之客。 允葉初誌，脫落朝衣，駕青牛而不還，狎白衣而長往。 丹壑非昔，人琴兩亡，惟舊之懷，有深追悼，宜加縟禮，式展哀榮。 可贈禮部尚書。」
Because of his former service as Reader, in the eleventh month of the first year of Qianyuan Emperor Suzong issued an edict, saying: "The late Daoist priest He Zhizhang of the Qianqiu Monastery in Yue Prefecture—his capacity and insight were calm and plain, his breast and mind harmonious and refined, his spirit clear and intent at ease, his learning rich and talent heroic, standing like the fine arrow of Kuaiji, containing the fine jade of Kunlun. Therefore his fame soared in the immortal bureau; he served lecturing in the Dragon Tower, constantly keeping silent to nourish leisure, and through jest and banter offering remonstrance. In old age he resigned his salary, again showing sincere regard, wishing to follow the tracks of the two elders and fully become a guest of Siming. His initial wish was fulfilled; casting off court robes, he mounted the blue ox and did not return, fondling the white-robed ones and going far away. The red ravine is not as of old; man and lute are both gone; in remembrance of old ties, there is deep mourning—fitting rites should be added to display sorrow and honor. He may be posthumously appointed Minister of Rites."
102
先是，神龍中，知章與越州賀朝、萬齊融，揚州張若虛、邢巨，湖州包融，俱以吳、越之士，文詞俊秀，名揚於上京。 朝萬止山陰尉，齊融昆山令，若虛兗州兵曹，巨監察御史。 融遇張九齡，引為懷州司戶、集賢直學士。 數子人間往往傳其文，獨知章最貴。
Earlier, in the Shenlong era, Zhizhang together with He Chao of Yue Prefecture and Wan Qirong, Zhang Ruoxu and Xing Ju of Yang Prefecture, and Bao Rong of Hu Prefecture—all being scholars of Wu and Yue, their literary compositions outstanding, their names resounding in the upper capital. Chao ended as Assistant Magistrate of Shanyin, Qirong as Magistrate of Kunshan, Ruoxu as Military Administrator of Yan Prefecture, and Ju as Investigating Censor. Rong met Zhang Jiuling and was recommended as Revenue Assistant of Huai Prefecture and Direct Academician of the Hall of Assembled Worthies. Among these several men their writings were often transmitted among the people, but Zhizhang alone was most honored.
103
神龍中，有尉氏李登之，善五言詩，蹉跌不偶，六十余，為宋州參軍卒。
In the Shenlong era, there was Li Dengzhi of Weishi, skilled in five-character poetry; he stumbled and did not succeed, and after more than sixty years died as Army Administrator of Song Prefecture.
104
席豫，襄陽人，湖州刺史固七世孫，徙家河南。 豫進士及第。 開元中，累官至考功員外郎，典舉得士，為時所稱。 三遷中書舍人，與韓休、許景先、徐安貞、孫逖相次掌制誥，皆有能名。 轉戶部侍郎，充江南東道巡撫使，兼鄭州刺史。 入為吏部侍郎，玄宗謂之曰：「卿以前為考功，職事修舉，故有此授。」 豫典選六年，復有令譽。 天寶初，改尚書左丞。 尋檢校禮部尚書，封襄陽縣子。 玄宗幸溫泉宮，登朝元閣賦詩，群臣屬和。 帝以豫詩為工，手制褒美曰：「覽卿所進，實詩人之首出，作者之冠冕也。」
Xi Yu was a native of Xiangyang, seventh-generation descendant of Prefect of Huzhou Gu, and moved his household to Henan. Yu passed the jinshi examination. In the Kaiyuan era, he was repeatedly promoted to Assistant Director in the Ministry of Personnel, conducted examinations and obtained scholars, and was praised by the age. Three times promoted to Drafting Secretary of the Secretariat, he together with Han Xiu, Xu Jingxian, Xu Anzhen, and Sun Ti in succession managed the drafting of edicts—all had reputations for ability. He was transferred to Vice Minister of Revenue, made Commissioner for Touring and Pacifying Jiangnan East Circuit, and concurrently served as Prefect of Zheng Prefecture. He was summoned to the capital as Vice Minister of Personnel. Emperor Xuanzong told him, "Because you previously served in the Directorate of Examination and discharged your duties admirably, you have received this appointment." Yu supervised the selection of officials for six years and once again earned an excellent reputation. At the start of the Tianbao era, he was made Left Assistant Director of the Department of State Affairs. Shortly thereafter he was appointed acting Minister of Rites and enfeoffed as Viscount of Xiangyang County. When Emperor Xuanzong visited the Hot Spring Palace and ascended Chaoyuan Pavilion to compose a poem, the assembled ministers were invited to respond in kind. The Emperor judged Yu's poem exceptionally fine and personally wrote words of praise: "In reading what you submitted, I find you truly foremost among poets—the crown of all authors."
105
豫與弟晉，俱以詞藻見稱。 而豫性尤謹，雖與子弟書疏及吏曹簿領，未嘗草書。 謂人曰：「不敬他人，是自不敬也。」 或曰：「此事甚細，卿何介意？」 豫曰：「細猶不謹，而況巨耶！」 七載，卒於位，時年六十九。
Both Yu and his younger brother Jin were renowned for their literary gifts. Yet Yu was especially meticulous by nature; even in letters to family and juniors and in the ledgers of the personnel office, he never wrote in cursive. He would say to others, "If you do not show others respect, you show yourself no respect." Someone asked, "This is a trifling matter—why do you care?" Yu replied, "If one is careless in small matters, how much more so in great ones!" In the seventh year of Tianbao, he died in office at the age of sixty-nine.
106
疾篤，謂其子曰：「吾亡三日斂，斂日即葬，勿更久留，貽公私之煩。 家無余財，可賣所居，聊備葬禮。」 人嘉其達。 贈江陵大都督，謚曰文。
When his illness grew grave, he told his sons, "After I die, lay me out for three days; on the day of encoffinment, bury me at once. Do not keep me longer and burden both public and private affairs. The household has no surplus wealth; you may sell our home to cover the funeral expenses." People admired his clear-sightedness. He was posthumously appointed Grand Protector-General of Jiangling and given the posthumous title Wen.
107
徐安貞者，信安龍丘人。 尤善五言詩。 嘗應制舉，一歲三擢甲科，人士稱之。 開元中，為中書舍人、集賢院學士。 上每屬文及作手詔，多命安貞視草，甚承恩顧。 累遷中書侍郎。 天寶初卒。
Xu Anzhen was a native of Longqiu in Xin'an. He was especially accomplished in five-character verse. He once entered the imperial examination and within a single year was thrice promoted to the top grade, winning acclaim among scholars. During the Kaiyuan era, he served as Secretariat Drafter and Academician of the Hall of Assembled Worthies. Whenever the Emperor drafted compositions or wrote personal edicts, he often had Anzhen review the drafts, and Anzhen enjoyed considerable imperial favor. He was promoted in succession to Vice Director of the Secretariat. He died at the start of the Tianbao era.
108
齊浣，定州義豐人。 少以詞學稱。 弱冠以制科登第，釋褐蒲州司法參軍。 景雲二年，中書令姚崇用為監察御史。 彈劾違犯，先於風教，當時以為稱職。 開元中，崇復用為給事中，遷中書舍人。 論駁書詔，潤色王言，皆以古義謨誥為準的。 侍中宋璟、中書侍郎蘇颋並重之。 秘書監馬懷素、右常侍元行沖受詔編次四庫群書，乃奏浣為編修使，改秘書少監。 尋丁憂免。
Qi Huan was a native of Yifeng in Ding Prefecture. In his youth he was renowned for literary learning. Upon reaching adulthood he passed the decree examination and, upon entering official service, was appointed Judicial Military Advisor of Pu Prefecture. In the second year of Jingyun, Chief Minister Yao Chong appointed him Investigating Censor. In impeaching violations, he put moral instruction first, and at the time he was regarded as thoroughly competent in his post. During the Kaiyuan era, Yao Chong again appointed him Supervising Secretary, after which he was promoted to Secretariat Drafter. Whether debating and refuting documents and edicts or polishing the sovereign's words, he always took the ancient models of counsels and proclamations as his standard. Chief Minister Song Jing and Vice Director of the Secretariat Su Ting both held him in high esteem. Director of the Imperial Library Ma Huaisu and Right Regular Attendant Yuan Xingchong received orders to compile the books of the Four Repositories and memorialized to appoint Huan as Compilation Commissioner, promoting him to Vice Director of the Imperial Library. Soon afterward he entered mourning for a parent and left office.
109
十二年，出為汴州刺史。 河南，汴為雄郡，自江、淮達於河、洛，舟車輻輳，人庶浩繁。 前後牧守，多不稱職，唯倪若水與浣皆以清嚴為治，民吏歌之。 中書令張說擇左右丞之才，舉懷州刺史王丘為左丞，以浣為右丞。 李元纮、杜暹為相，以開府、廣平公宋璟為吏部尚書，又用戶部侍郎蘇晉與浣為吏部侍郎，當時以為高選。
In the twelfth year, he was appointed Prefect of Bian Prefecture. Within Henan Circuit, Bian was a major commandery; from the Yangzi and Huai to the Yellow and Luo rivers, boats and carts converged and the population was immense. Most prefects before and after failed to perform their duties well; only Ni Ruoshui and Huan governed with integrity and strictness, and the people and officials sang their praises. Chief Minister Zhang Yue selected men of talent for the left and right assistant directors, recommending Prefect of Huai Prefecture Wang Qiu as Left Assistant Director and appointing Huan as Right Assistant Director. When Li Yuanhong and Du Xian became chancellors, they appointed Honorary Grand General, Duke of Guangping Song Jing as Minister of Personnel and also appointed Vice Minister of Revenue Su Jin and Huan as Vice Ministers of Personnel—selections regarded at the time as outstanding.
110
時開府王毛仲寵幸用事，與龍武將軍葛福順為姻親，故北門官見毛仲奏請，無不之允，皆受毛仲之惠，進退隨其指使。 浣惡之，乘間論之曰：「福順典兵馬，與毛仲婚姻，小人寵極則奸生，若不預圖，恐後為患，惟陛下思之。 況腹心之委，何必毛仲，而高力士小心謹慎，又是閹官，便於禁中驅使。 臣雖過言，庶裨萬一。 臣聞君不密則失臣，臣不密則失身，惟聖慮密之。」 玄宗嘉其誠，諭之曰：「卿且出。 朕知卿忠義，徐俟其宜。」 會大理丞麻察坐事出為興州別駕，浣與察善，出城餞之，因語禁中諫語。 察性譐誻，遽以浣語奏之。 玄宗怒，令中書門下鞫問。 又召浣於內殿，謂之曰：「卿向朕道『君不密則失臣，臣不密則失身』，而疑朕不密，而翻告麻察，是何密耶？ 麻察輕險無行，常遊太平之門，此日之事，卿豈不知耶？」 浣免冠頓首謝罪，乃貶高州良德丞。 又貶察為潯州皇化尉。 浣數年量移常州刺史。
At the time Honorary Grand General Wang Maoqi enjoyed imperial favor and wielded power. Related by marriage to Longwu General Ge Fushun, he controlled the Northern Gate officials: none of their requests submitted through Maoqi was denied, all received his patronage, and their advancement or dismissal followed his orders. Huan detested this and, seizing an opportunity, argued, "Fushun commands troops and horses and is allied by marriage to Maoqi. When petty men reach the height of favor, treachery follows. If this is not foreseen, I fear it will become a future menace. I pray Your Majesty consider it. Moreover, for a trusted intimate appointment, why must it be Maoqi? Gao Lishi is careful and cautious, and as a eunuch he is well suited for service within the palace. Though I may speak beyond my place, may it yet benefit the realm in some small measure. I have heard that if the ruler is not discreet he loses his ministers, and if a minister is not discreet he loses his life. I pray Your Majesty keep this counsel in confidence." Emperor Xuanzong praised his sincerity and told him, "You may withdraw for now. I know your loyalty and righteousness; wait quietly for the proper time." It happened that Assistant Director of the Court of Judicial Review Ma Cha was punished and sent out as Vice Prefect of Xing Prefecture. Huan was on good terms with Cha and went outside the city to see him off, where he recounted his remonstrance within the palace. Cha was reckless and indiscreet by nature and immediately memorialized what Huan had said. Emperor Xuanzong was enraged and ordered the Secretariat and Chancellery to investigate and interrogate him. He also summoned Huan to the inner hall and said, "You told me, 'If the ruler is not discreet he loses his ministers; if a minister is not discreet he loses his life'—yet you doubted my discretion and instead told Ma Cha. What sort of discretion is that? Ma Cha is frivolous, reckless, and without proper conduct; he often frequents the Princess of Taiping's circle. Did you not know what sort of man he was?" Huan removed his cap and kowtowed in apology, whereupon he was demoted to Assistant Magistrate of Liangde in Gao Prefecture. Cha was also demoted to Commandant of Huanghua in Xun Prefecture. After several years Huan was transferred by quota to Prefect of Chang Prefecture.
111
二十五年，遷潤州刺史，充江南東道采訪處置使。 潤州北界隔吳江，至瓜步沙尾，紆匯六十里，船繞瓜步，多為風濤之所漂損。 浣乃移其漕路，於京口塘下直渡江二十里，又開伊婁河二十五里，即達揚子縣。 自是免漂損之災，歲減腳錢數十萬。 又立伊婁埭，官收其課，迄今利濟焉。 數年，復為汴州刺史。 淮、汴水運路，自虹縣至臨淮一百五十里，水流迅急，舊用牛曳竹索上下，流急難制。 浣乃奏自虹縣下開河三十餘里，入於清河，百餘里出清水，又開河至淮陰縣北岸入淮，免淮流湍險之害。 久之，新河水復迅急，又多僵石，漕運難澀，行旅弊之。
In the twenty-fifth year, he was transferred to Prefect of Run Prefecture and appointed Commissioner for Investigation and Disposition of Jiangnan East Circuit. Run Prefecture's northern border was separated from the Wu River to the sandbar at Guabu—a winding course of sixty li. Boats rounding Guabu were often damaged by wind and waves. Huan then rerouted the grain-transport channel: from below the embankment at Jingkou he made a direct river crossing of twenty li and also opened the Yilou Canal for twenty-five li, reaching directly to Yangzi County. Thereafter the disaster of drifting damage was avoided, and each year portage fees were reduced by several hundred thousand. He also established the Yilou Dam, with the government collecting its toll—a benefit to transport that endures to this day. After several years, he was again appointed Prefect of Bian Prefecture. On the Huai and Bian water transport route, from Hong County to Linhuai was one hundred fifty li. The current was swift, and formerly oxen were used to haul bamboo ropes up and down, but the swift current was hard to control. Huan then memorialized to open a canal below Hong County for more than thirty li, entering the Clear River; after more than one hundred li it issued into clear water. He also opened a canal to the north bank of Huaiyin County where it entered the Huai, avoiding the harm of the Huai's turbulent rapids. After a long time, the new river water again became swift, and there were many submerged rocks. Grain transport grew difficult and sluggish, and travelers suffered from it.
112
浣因高力士中助，連為兩道采訪使。 遂興開漕之利，以中人主意，復勾剝貨財，賂遣中貴，物議薄之。 又納劉戒之女為妾，淩其正室，專制家政。 李林甫惡之，遣人掎摭其失。 會浣判官犯贓，浣連坐，遂廢歸田裏。
With Gao Lishi's assistance within the palace, Huan served in succession as Investigation Commissioner of two circuits. He then promoted the benefits of opening canals for transport; to win the eunuchs' favor, he again extorted goods and wealth and bribed palace favorites, and public opinion looked down on him. He also took Liu Jie's daughter as a concubine, humiliated his principal wife, and monopolized control of the household. Li Linfu detested him and sent men to gather evidence of his misconduct. It happened that Huan's administrative aide committed embezzlement. Huan was implicated by association and was dismissed to return to his fields.
113
天寶初，起為員外少詹事，留司東都。 時絳州刺史嚴挺之為林甫所構，除員外少詹事，留司東都。 與浣皆朝廷舊德，既廢居家巷，每園林行樂，則杖屢相過，談宴終日。 林甫聞而患之，欲離其勢。 五年，用浣為平陽太守。 卒於郡。 肅守即位，為林甫所陷者皆得雪，浣受褒贈。
At the start of the Tianbao era, he was recalled as Supernumerary Junior Household Master, remaining on duty in the Eastern Capital. At the time Prefect of Jiang Prefecture Yan Tingzhi had been framed by Linfu and was appointed Supernumerary Junior Household Master, remaining on duty in the Eastern Capital. Both he and Huan were old worthies of the court. Having been dismissed and living in retirement, whenever they enjoyed themselves in their gardens they would visit each other with staffs and slippers, talking and feasting all day long. Linfu heard of this and was troubled, wishing to break up their alliance. In the fifth year, Huan was appointed Administrator of Pingyang. He died in office in the commandery. When Emperor Suzong ascended the throne, those framed by Linfu were all cleared, and Huan received posthumous honors.
114
王浣，并州晉陽人。 少豪蕩不羈。 登進士第，日以蒱酒為事。 并州長史張嘉貞奇其才，禮接甚厚。 浣感之，撰樂詞以敘情，於席上自唱自舞，神氣豪邁。 張說鎮并州，禮浣益至。 會說復知政事，以浣為秘書正字，擢拜通事舍人，遷駕部員外。 櫪多名馬，家有妓樂。 浣發言立意，自比王侯； 頤指儕類，人多嫉之。
Wang Huan was a native of Jinyang in Bing Prefecture. In his youth he was bold, unrestrained, and unbridled. He passed the jinshi examination and passed his days gambling and drinking. Chief Administrator of Bing Prefecture Zhang Jiazhen admired his talent and treated him with great courtesy. Deeply moved, Huan composed song lyrics to express his feelings. At the banquet he sang and danced himself, his spirit bold and expansive. When Zhang Yue governed Bing Prefecture, his courtesy toward Huan became even greater. When Zhang Yue again entered the administration, he appointed Huan as Proofreader of the Imperial Library, promoted him to Master of Ceremonies, and transferred him to Supernumerary of the Transport Office. His stable held many fine horses, and his household had singing girls and musicians. In speech and bearing Huan compared himself to kings and marquises; he ordered his peers about with a gesture of the chin, and many envied him.
115
說既罷相，出浣為汝州長史，改仙州別駕。 至郡，日聚英豪，從禽擊鼓，恣為歡賞，文士祖詠、杜華常在座，於是貶道州司馬，卒。 有文集十卷。
After Zhang Yue was removed as chancellor, Huan was sent out as Chief Administrator of Ru Prefecture and then reassigned as Vice Prefect of Xian Prefecture. Upon reaching the commandery, he daily gathered heroes, hunted to the beat of drums, and indulged in merrymaking without restraint. The literati Zu Yong and Du Hua were often in attendance. Thereupon he was demoted to Military Assistant of Dao Prefecture and died. He left a collected works in ten scrolls.
116
李邕，廣陵江都人。 父善，嘗受《文選》於同郡人曹憲。 後為左侍極賀蘭敏之所薦引，為崇賢館學士，轉蘭臺郎。 敏之敗，善坐配流嶺外。 會赦還，因寓居汴、鄭之間，以講《文選》為業。 年老疾卒。 所註《文選》六十卷，大行於時。
Li Yong was a native of Jiangdu in Guangling. His father Shan had once studied the Wen Xuan under Cao Xian of the same commandery. Later he was recommended by Left Attendant-in-Ordinary Helan Minzhi, became Academician of the Hall of Exalted Worthies, and was transferred to Secretary of the Orchid Terrace. When Minzhi fell, Shan was punished with exile beyond the Ling Mountains. When an amnesty allowed him to return, he took up residence between Bian and Zheng and made lecturing on the Wen Xuan his livelihood. He died of illness in old age. His annotated Wen Xuan in sixty scrolls was widely circulated in his time.
117
邕少知名。 長安初，內史李嶠及監察御史張廷珪，並薦邕詞高行直，堪為諫諍之官，由是召拜左拾遺。 俄而御史中丞宋璟奏侍臣張昌宗兄弟有不順之言，請付法推斷。 則天初不應，邕在階下進曰：「臣觀宋璟之言，事關社稷，望陛下可其奏。」 則天色稍解，始允宋璟所請。
Yong was renowned from youth. At the beginning of the Chang'an era, Palace Secretary Li Jiao and Investigating Censor Zhang Tinggui both recommended Yong for his lofty words and upright conduct, deeming him fit for the office of remonstrance. He was thereupon summoned and appointed Left Reminder. Soon Vice Censor-in-Chief Song Jing memorialized that the attendant ministers Zhang Changzong and his brothers had spoken rebellious words and requested they be handed over to the law for investigation and judgment. Empress Wu at first did not assent. Yong stepped forward from below the steps and said, "Your subject observes that Song Jing's words concern the fate of the realm—I pray Your Majesty approve his memorial." Thereupon the Empress's expression softened somewhat, and she granted Song Jing's request.
118
既出，或謂邕曰：「吾子名位尚卑，若不稱旨，禍將不測，何為造次如是？」 邕曰：「不願不狂，其名不彰。 若不如此，後代何以稱也？」
After they had left, someone said to Yong, "Your rank and position are still low; if you fail to please her, disaster may be unforeseeable—why act so rashly?" Yong said, "Without daring recklessness, one's name will not shine forth. If I did not act thus, what would later ages have to praise?"
119
及中宗即位，以妖人鄭普思為秘書監，邕上書諫曰：
When Emperor Zhongzong took the throne, he appointed the sorcerer Zheng Pusi as Director of the Secretariat. Yong submitted a memorial of remonstrance, saying:
120
蓋人有感一餐之惠，殞七尺之身； 況臣為陛下官，受陛下祿，而目有所見，口不言之，是負恩矣！ 自陛下親政日近，復在九重，所以未聞在外群下竊議。 道路籍籍，皆云普思多行詭惑，妄說妖祥。 唯陛下不知，尚見驅使。 此道若行，必撓亂朝政。 臣至愚至賤，不敢以胸臆對揚天威，請以古事為明證。 孔丘云：「《詩》三百，一言以蔽之，曰：思無邪。」 陛下今若以普思有奇術，可致長生久視之道，則爽鳩氏久應得之，永有天下，非陛下今日可得而求。 若以普思可致仙方，則秦皇、漢武久應得之，永有天下，亦非陛下今日可得而求。 若以普思可致佛法，則漢明、梁武久應得之，永有天下，亦非陛下今日可得而求。 若以普思可致鬼道，則墨翟、幹寶，各獻於至尊矣，而二主得之，永有天下，亦非陛下今日可得而求！ 此皆事涉虛妄，歷代無效，臣愚不願陛下復行之於明時。 唯堯、舜二帝，自古稱聖，臣觀所得，故在人事，敦睦九族，平章百姓，不聞以鬼神之道理天下。 伏願陛下察之，則天下幸甚！
People may be moved by the favor of a single meal and give their seven-chi body in return; How much more so when I am Your Majesty's official, receiving Your Majesty's salary—if I see something and do not speak, I fail in gratitude! Since Your Majesty's personal governance has drawn near recently and You again dwell within the ninefold palace, I have not heard the private talk among those outside. Rumors spread everywhere, all saying Pusi frequently practices deceit and delusion, recklessly speaking of omens and portents. Only Your Majesty does not know this, and still employs him. If this Way is followed, it will surely disrupt and confuse court governance. I am most foolish and most base; I dare not match my inner thoughts against Heaven's majesty—I ask to take ancient affairs as clear proof. Kong Qiu said, "The three hundred poems—summed in a single phrase: 'Think without evil." If Your Majesty now believes Pusi has wondrous arts and the Way to attain long life and lasting sight, then Lord Shuangjiu long ago should have obtained it and held the realm forever—not something Your Majesty can seek today. If Pusi can obtain immortal prescriptions, then the First Emperor of Qin and Emperor Wu of Han long ago should have obtained them and held the realm forever—not something Your Majesty can seek today. If Pusi can obtain the Buddhist Dharma, then Emperor Ming of Han and Emperor Wu of Liang long ago should have obtained it and held the realm forever—not something Your Majesty can seek today. If Pusi can obtain the Way of ghosts and spirits, then Mozi and Gan Bao would each have presented it to their sovereigns; those two rulers obtained it and held the realm forever—not something Your Majesty can seek today! All these matters involve emptiness and falsehood; generation after generation they have proved ineffective. I, in my folly, do not wish Your Majesty to practice them again in this enlightened age. Only the Two Emperors Yao and Shun, called sage since antiquity—what they attained, I observe, lay in human affairs: cherishing and harmonizing the nine clans, governing and clarifying the hundred surnames. One does not hear of governing the realm by the principles of ghosts and spirits. I humbly pray Your Majesty will examine this—then the realm will be greatly fortunate!
121
疏奏不納。 以與張柬之善，出為南和令，又貶富州司戶。
The memorial was submitted and not accepted. Because of his friendship with Zhang Jianzhi, he was sent out as Magistrate of Nanhe; he was again demoted to Registrar of Fuzhou.
122
唐隆元年，玄宗清內難，召拜左臺殿中侍御史，改戶部員外郎，又貶崖州舍城丞。 開元三年，擢為戶部郎中。
In the first year of Tanglong, when Emperor Xuanzong settled the inner crisis, Yong was summoned and appointed Palace Attendant Investigating Censor of the Left Office of the Censorate, then changed to Vice Director of the Ministry of Revenue; he was again demoted to Assistant Magistrate of Shecheng in Yazhou. In the third year of Kaiyuan, he was promoted to Director of the Ministry of Revenue.
123
邕素與黃門侍郎張廷珪友善。 時姜皎用事，與廷珪謀引邕為憲官。 事泄，中書令姚崇嫉邕險躁，因而構成其罪，左遷括州司馬。 後征為陳州刺史。
Yong had long been on friendly terms with Vice Director of the Yellow Gate Zhang Tinggui. At the time Jiang Jiao held power; together with Tinggui he plotted to bring Yong in as censor-in-chief. When the plot leaked, Chief Minister Yao Chong, who resented Yong's rashness and danger, constructed charges against him; Yong was demoted and transferred to Military Adjutant of Kuozhou. Later he was recalled as Prefect of Chen.
124
十三年，玄宗車駕東封回，邕於汴州謁見，累獻詞賦，甚稱上旨。 由是頗自矜炫，自雲當居相位。 張說為中書令，甚惡之。 俄而陳州贓汙事發，下獄鞫訊，罪當死，許州人孔璋上書救邕曰：
In the thirteenth year, when Emperor Xuanzong's carriage returned from the eastern feng and shan rites, Yong paid his respects at Bian Prefecture, repeatedly presenting fu and verse that greatly pleased the Emperor. Thereupon he became quite self-congratulatory and boastful, declaring that he would surely hold the chancellorship. Zhang Yue was Chief Minister and deeply detested him. Soon the Chen Prefecture bribery case broke; Yong was imprisoned for interrogation, the crime warranting death. Kong Zhang of Xuzhou submitted a memorial to save Yong, saying:
125
臣聞明主禦宇，舍過舉能，取材棄行； 烈士抗節，勇不避死，見危授命。 晉用林父，豈念過乎？ 漢用陳平，豈念行乎？ 禽息殞身，北郭碎首，豈愛死乎？ 向若林父誅，陳平死，百里不用，晏嬰見逐，是晉無赤狄之士，漢無皇極之尊，秦不並西戎，齊不霸東海矣！
I have heard that an enlightened sovereign governs the realm, pardoning faults and promoting ability, selecting talent and setting aside conduct; A man of blazing integrity upholds his principles, brave in not shunning death, offering his life when peril appears. When Jin employed Lin Fu, did they mind his fault? When Han employed Chen Ping, did they mind his conduct? Qin Xi lost his life; Beiguo shattered his head—did they love death? If Lin Fu had been executed, Chen Ping had died, Baili Xi had not been employed, and Yan Ying had been driven out—Jin would have had no warrior against the Red Di, Han would have lacked the august pole of sovereignty, Qin would not have annexed the Western Rong, and Qi would not have hegemonized the eastern sea!
126
臣伏見陳州刺史李邕，學成師範，文堪經國； 剛毅忠烈，難不茍免。 往者張易之用權，人畏其口，而邕折其角； 韋氏恃勢，言出禍應，而邕挫其鋒。 雖身受謫屈，而奸謀中損，即邕有大造於我邦家也。 且斯人所能者，拯孤恤窮，救乏賑惠，積而便散，家無私聚。 今聞坐贓下吏，鞫訊待報，將至極刑，死在朝夕。
Your humble servant has observed Chen Prefect Li Yong—his learning completes the teacher's model; his writing suffices to govern the state; steadfast, loyal, and resolute, he finds it hard to compromise when difficulty arises. Formerly when Zhang Yizhi wielded power, men feared his mouth—and Yong broke his horn; when the Wei clan relied on its power, words brought matching calamity—and Yong blunted their edge. Though he personally suffered demotion and humiliation, their wicked plots were thwarted midway—in short Yong rendered great service to our state and clan. Moreover, what this man can do: rescue the orphaned, pity the destitute, aid the needy and relieve the suffering—he accumulates wealth only to disperse it at once; his household keeps no private hoard. Now I hear he is charged with bribery and given to judicial officers; under interrogation awaiting sentence, he will soon face extreme punishment—death within days.
127
臣聞生無益於國，不若殺身以明賢。 臣朽賤庸夫，輪轅無取，獸息禽視，雖生何為！ 況賢為國寶，社稷之衛，是臣痛惜深矣！ 臣願六尺之軀，甘受膏斧，以代邕死。 臣之死，所謂落一毛； 邕之生，有足照千里。 然臣與邕，生平不款，臣知有邕，邕不知有臣。 臣不逮邕，明矣！ 夫知賢而舉，仁也； 代人任患，義也。 臣獲二善而死。 且不朽，則又何求！ 陛下若以臣之賤不足以贖邕，雁門縫掖有效矣。 伏惟陛下寬邕之生，速臣之死。 令邕率德改行，想林父之功； 使臣得瞑目黃泉，附北郭之跡，臣之大願畢矣！ 陛下即以陽和之始，難於用鉞，俟天成命，敢忘伏劍，豈煩大刑，然後歸死。 皇天後土，實照臣之心。
I have heard that living without benefit to the state is not equal to giving one's body to make a worthy man clear. I am a rotten, base, common man—nothing to choose between wheel and axle; I look on like a beast or bird—what is living for! How much more when a worthy man is the state's treasure, the state's bulwark—this your servant deeply grieves! Your humble servant wishes his six-chi body gladly to receive the executioner's axe in place of Yong's death. My death, as they say, is like dropping a single hair; Yong's life can illuminate a thousand li. Yet your servant and Yong have never been intimate in life; I know of Yong, but Yong does not know of me. That I do not measure up to Yong is clear! To know a worthy and recommend him—that is benevolence; to take another's place and bear calamity—that is righteousness. Your servant obtains two goods and dies. And if one's name is imperishable, what more is there to seek! If Your Majesty deems your servant's baseness insufficient to redeem Yong, the scholar in humble dress at Yanmen Gate has already proved effective. I humbly pray Your Majesty will spare Yong's life and hasten your servant's death. Let Yong lead with virtue and reform his conduct, reflecting on Lin Fu's achievements; let your servant close his eyes in the yellow springs, following Beiguo's footsteps—your servant's greatest wish would be fulfilled! If Your Majesty at the start of the yang-he harmony finds it hard to employ the axe, then when Heaven completes the mandate your servant dare not forget to fall upon his sword—why trouble great punishment before returning to death? High Heaven and the Queen of Earth truly shine upon your servant's heart.
128
昔吳、楚七國叛，因亞夫得劇孟，則寇不足憂。 夫以一賢之能，敵七國之眾。 伏惟敷含垢之道，存棄瑕之義； 遠思劇孟，近取李邕，豈惟成愷悌之澤，實亦歸天下之望！ 況大禮之後，天地更新，赦而復論，人誰無罪？ 惟明主圖之。 臣聞士為知己者死。 且臣不為死者所知，甘於死者，豈獨為惜邕之賢，亦成陛下矜能之德。 惟明主圖之！
Formerly when the seven states of Wu and Chu rebelled, through Zhou Yafu Ju Meng was obtained—then the bandits were not to be feared. With the ability of a single worthy to match the host of seven states. I humbly reflect on the Way of bearing grime and tolerating disgrace, the righteousness of preserving flaws and casting them aside; looking far to Ju Meng, taking nearby Li Yong—not only would you spread the grace of easy, brotherly virtue, you would truly return the hopes of all under Heaven! Moreover after the great ritual Heaven and Earth are renewed; to pardon and then prosecute again—who among men is without guilt? May the enlightened sovereign consider it. I have heard the scholar dies for one who knows him. And though your servant is not known to the one who dies, gladly dying—is it only to cherish Yong's worth? It also completes Your Majesty's virtue of honoring ability. May the enlightened sovereign consider it!
129
疏奏，邕已會減死，貶為欽州遵化縣尉，璋亦配流嶺南而死。 邕後於嶺南從中官楊思勖討賊有功，又累轉括、淄、滑三州刺史，上計京師。
When the memorial was submitted, Yong had already had his death sentence commuted; he was demoted to Captain of Zunhua County in Qin Prefecture. Zhang was also sent into exile in Lingnan, where he died. Later in Lingnan Yong followed the palace eunuch Yang Sixu in suppressing bandits with merit; he was repeatedly transferred among the three prefectures of Kuo, Zi, and Hua, and presented his annual report in the capital.
130
邕素負美名，頻被貶斥，皆以邕能文養士，賈生、信陵之流，執事忌勝，剝落在外。 人間素有聲稱，後進不識，京、洛阡陌聚觀，以為古人。 或將眉目有異，衣冠望風，尋訪門巷。 又中使臨問，索其新文，復為人陰中，竟不得進。
Yong had long borne a fine reputation and was frequently demoted and expelled—all because Yong could write and nurture scholars, men in the mold of Jia Yi and Lord Xinling; those in power envied and suppressed him, stripping him and leaving him outside. He had long had renown among the people; younger men did not know him. In the streets of the capital crowds gathered to look, taking him for a man of antiquity. Some would find his features unusual; seeing his bearing and dress, they would follow the wind along lanes and alleys seeking his doorway. Palace envoys also came to inquire and demand his newest writings; again men secretly struck against him, and in the end he could not advance.
131
天寶初，為汲郡、北海二太守。 邕性豪侈，不拘細行，所在縱求財貨，馳獵自恣。 五載，奸贓事發。 又嘗與左驍衛兵曹柳勣馬一匹，及勣下獄，吉溫令勣引邕議及休咎，厚相賂遺，詞狀連引，敕刑部員外郎祁順之、監察御史羅希奭馳往就郡決殺之，時年七十余。
At the beginning of Tianbao he served as Administrator of Ji and Beihai commanderies. Yong's nature was lavish and extravagant; he did not constrain himself in small matters—wherever he went he extorted goods at will, hunting freely as he pleased. In the fifth year, bribery and corruption broke into the open. He had also once given one horse to Liu Ji, Military Staff Officer of the Left Valiant Cavalry Guard; when Ji was imprisoned, Ji Wen had Ji implicate Yong in talk of fortune and calamity. After lavish bribes exchanged hands, the written testimony linked them in succession. An edict ordered Vice Director of Punishments Qi Shunzhi and Investigating Censor Luo Xi'ao to ride post-haste to the commandery and execute him on the spot. He was then over seventy.
132
初，邕早擅才名，尤長碑頌。 雖貶職在外，中朝衣冠及天下寺觀，多賫持金帛，往求其文。 前後所制，凡數百首，受納饋遺，亦至鉅萬。 時議以為自古鬻文獲財，未有如邕者。 有文集七十卷。 其《張韓公行狀》、《洪州放生池碑》、《批韋巨源謚議》，文士推重之。 後因恩例，得贈秘書監。
From early on Yong had excelled in literary fame, especially in stele inscriptions and eulogies. Though demoted and serving outside, court officials in cap and gown and temples and monasteries throughout the realm mostly sent gold and silk to request his writings. In all he composed several hundred pieces; gifts and offerings he received also reached tens of thousands. Opinion at the time held that from antiquity none who sold writing for profit had gained wealth like Yong. He had a collected works in seventy scrolls. His "Account of Duke Zhang Han's Conduct," the "Hongzhou Release Pond Stele," and the "Commentary on the Posthumous Title of Wei Juyuan" were highly esteemed by literati. Later, through a grace precedent, he was posthumously enfeoffed as Director of the Secretariat.
133
孫逖，潞州涉縣人。 曾祖仲將，壽張丞。 祖希莊，韓王府典簽。 父嘉之，天冊年進士擢第，又以書判拔萃，授蜀州新津主簿。 歷曲周、襄邑二縣令，以宋州司馬致仕，卒，年八十三。
Sun Ti was a native of She County in Lu Prefecture. His great-grandfather Zhongjiang was Assistant Magistrate of Shouzhang. His grandfather Xizhuang was Registrar of the Prince of Han's household. His father Jiazhi passed the jinshi examination in the Tiance era and was again selected through the document-judgment examination, appointed Principal Clerk of Xinjin in Shu Prefecture. He served successively as Magistrate of Quzhou and Xiangyi; he retired as Military Adjutant of Song Prefecture and died, aged eighty-three.
134
逖幼而英俊，文思敏速。 始年十五，謁雍州長史崔日用。 日用小之，令為《土火爐賦》。 逖握翰即成，詞理典贍。 日用覽之駭然，遂為忘年之交，以是價譽益重。 開元初，應哲人奇士舉，授山陰尉。 遷秘書正字。 十年，應制登文藻宏麗科，拜左拾遺。 張說尤重其才，逖日遊其門，轉左補闕。 黃門侍郎李暠出鎮太原，辟為從事。
From youth Ti was handsome and brilliant; his literary thought was quick. At age fifteen he called on Cui Riyong, Chief Administrator of Yong Prefecture. Riyong looked down on his youth and had him compose the "Earth-Fire Brazier" rhapsody. Ti took brush and finished at once; the wording and reasoning were classical and ample. When Riyong read it he was astonished; they became friends across the gap of years, and from this his price and reputation grew heavier still. At the beginning of Kaiyuan he responded to the Special Examination for Sages and Extraordinary Scholars and was appointed Captain of Shanyin. He was transferred to Collator of the Secretariat. In Kaiyuan year 10, he passed the imperial examination for literary splendor and grand eloquence and was appointed Left Reminder. Zhang Yue held his talent in especially high regard, and Ti visited him daily; he was then transferred to Left Rectifier. When Vice Director of the Chancellery Li Hao was dispatched to govern Taiyuan, he recruited Ti as a staff member.
135
暠在鎮，與蒲州刺史李尚隱遊於伯樂川，逖為之記，文士盛稱之。 二十一年，入為考功員外郎、集賢修撰。 逖選貢士二年，多得俊才。 初年則杜鴻漸至宰輔，顏真卿為尚書。 後年拔李華、蕭穎士、趙驊登上第，逖謂人曰：「此三人便堪掌綸誥。」
While Hao was stationed there, he toured the Bole River with Li Shangyin, prefect of Pu Prefecture. Ti wrote an account of the outing, which literati widely praised. In year 21, he entered court as auxiliary director in the Ministry of Personnel and compiler at the Hall of Assembled Worthies. For two years Ti oversaw the selection of tribute scholars and brought forward many outstanding talents. In the first year, Du Hongjian rose to the chancellorship, and Yan Zhenqing became a minister. In a later year he advanced Li Hua, Xiao Yingshi, and Zhao Hua to the highest examination rank. Ti said to others, "These three men are already fit to draft imperial edicts."
136
二十四年，拜逖中書舍人。 逖自以通籍禁闈，其父官才邑宰，乃上表陳情曰：「臣父嘉之，雖當暮齒，幸遇明時，綿歷驅馳，才及令長。 臣夙荷嚴訓，累登清秩，頻遷省闥，又拜掖垣。 地近班榮，臣則過量； 途遙日暮，父乃後時。 在公府有偷榮之責，於私庭無報德之效，反慚烏鳥，徒廁鴛鴻。 伏望降臣一外官，特乞微恩，稍沾臣父。」 玄宗優詔獎之，授嘉之宋州司馬致仕，尋卒。
In year 24, Ti was appointed secretariat drafter. Ti felt that he had already entered the registry of the inner court while his father's highest office had been only district magistrate, so he submitted a memorial pleading his case: "My father Jiazhi, though in the twilight of his years, has had the good fortune to live in an enlightened age. After long service he has risen no higher than county magistrate. I have from youth received my father's stern instruction, repeatedly attained honorable rank, been transferred again and again within the central ministries, and now hold appointment in the Secretariat. My post is close to the throne and my rank is glorious, yet I exceed what I deserve; the road for my father has been long, and the sun is setting while he still lags behind. In public service I bear the guilt of enjoying honor I have not earned; in private life I have no way to repay my father's kindness. I am ashamed before the filial crow and merely stand among my fellow court officials. I humbly beg that Your Majesty reduce me to an outside appointment and grant a small favor that might extend even slightly to my father." Emperor Xuanzong issued a gracious edict commending him, granted Jiazhi retirement as military adjutant of Song Prefecture, and soon afterward Jiazhi died.
137
丁父喪免。 二十九年服闋，復為中書舍人。 其年充河東黜陟使。 天寶三載，權判刑部侍郎。 五載，以風病求散秩，改太子左庶子。 逖掌誥八年，制敕所出，為時流嘆服。 議者以為自開元已來，蘇颋、齊浣、蘇晉、賈曾、韓休、許景先及逖，為王言之最。 逖尤善思，文理精練，加之謙退不伐，人多稱之。 以疾沈廢累年，轉太子詹事。 上元中卒。 廣德二年，詔贈尚書右僕射，謚曰文。 有集三十卷。
He resigned to observe mourning for his father. When his mourning ended in year 29, he again became secretariat drafter. That same year he served as commissioner for promotion and demotion in Hedong. In Tianbao year 3, he served as acting vice minister of justice. In year 5, afflicted with wind illness, he requested a nominal post without active duty and was reassigned as left mentor of the heir apparent. Ti drafted imperial edicts for eight years, and the proclamations that issued from his hand won the admiration of his contemporaries. Commentators held that since the Kaiyuan era, Su Ting, Qi Huan, Su Jin, Jia Zeng, Han Xiu, Xu Jingxian, and Ti had been the finest drafters of imperial pronouncements. Ti was especially thoughtful; his prose was refined and polished, and he was moreover modest and unassuming, so many praised him. Afflicted by illness, he was inactive for many years, then was transferred to tutor of the heir apparent. He died during the Shangyuan period. In Guangde year 2, an edict posthumously enfeoffed him as right vice director of the Department of State Affairs, with the posthumous title Wen. He left a collected works in thirty juan.
138
子宿、絳、成。 逖弟遹、遘、造。
His sons were Su, Jiang, and Cheng. Ti's younger brothers were Yu, Gou, and Zao.
139
遹終左武衛兵曹。 宿歷河東掌記。 代宗朝歷刑部郎中、中書舍人，出為華州刺史，卒。
Yu ended his career as army staff officer of the Left Martial Guard. Su served as recorder in Hedong. Under Emperor Daizong he successively served as director in the Ministry of Justice and secretariat drafter, then was dispatched as prefect of Hua Prefecture, where he died.
140
成，字退思，以父廕累授雲陽、長安尉，歷監察御史，轉殿中。 隴右副元帥李抱玉奏充掌書記，入為屯田、司勛二員外郎。 丁母喪免，終制，出為洛陽令，轉長安令。 時兄宿為華州刺史，因失火驚懼成喑病。 成素孝悌，蒼黃請急，不俟報而趨華。 代宗嘉之，嘆曰：「急難之切，觀過知仁。」 歷倉部郎中、京兆少尹。 出為信州刺史，有惠政，郡人請立碑頌德，優詔褒美。 轉蘇州刺史。 貞元四年，改桂州刺史、桂管觀察使。 五年卒。
Cheng, whose style was Tuisi, through his father's yin privilege was repeatedly appointed captain of Yunyang and Chang'an, served as supervising censor, and was transferred to palace attendant censor. Deputy commander of Longyou Li Baoyu recommended him as chief secretary; he then entered court as auxiliary director in the ministries of public works and of personnel honors. He resigned to mourn his mother, and when the mourning period ended he was appointed magistrate of Luoyang, then transferred to magistrate of Chang'an. At the time his elder brother Su was prefect of Hua Prefecture; startled and terrified by a fire, he developed aphasia. Cheng had always been filial and devoted to his brothers; in panic he requested emergency leave and, without waiting for approval, hurried to Hua Prefecture. Emperor Daizong commended him and sighed: "In moments of urgent hardship, one may observe a man's faults and know his benevolence." He successively served as director in the Ministry of Revenue and vice administrator of Jingzhao. He was dispatched as prefect of Xin Prefecture, where his benevolent administration led the people to request a stele in his honor; the emperor issued a gracious edict commending him. He was transferred to prefect of Su Prefecture. In Zhenyuan year 4, he was reassigned as prefect of Gui Prefecture and Guiguan observation commissioner. He died in year 5.
141
宿子公器，官至信州刺史、邕管經略使。
Su's son Gongqi rose to prefect of Xin Prefecture and Yongguan military commissioner.
142
公器子簡、範，並舉進士。 會昌後，兄弟繼居顯秩，歷諸道觀察使。 簡，兵部尚書。 子紓、徽，並登進士第。
Gongqi's sons Jian and Fan both passed the jinshi examination. After the Huichang era, the brothers in succession held prominent office, serving as observation commissioners of various circuits. Jian became minister of war. His sons Shu and Hui both passed the jinshi examination.