Volume 196 Biographies 146: Tubo (Tibet) 1

其國人號其王為贊普，相為大論、小論，以統理國事。無文字，刻木結繩為約。雖有官，不常厥職，臨時統領。征兵用金箭，寇至舉烽燧，百里一亭。用刑嚴峻，小罪剜眼鼻，或皮鞭鞭之，但隨喜怒而無常科。囚人於地牢，深數丈，二三年方出之。宴異國賓客，必驅牦牛，令客自射牲以供饌。與其臣下一年一小盟，刑羊狗獼猴，先折其足而殺之，繼裂其腸而屠之。令巫者告於天地山川日月星辰之神云：「若心遷變，懷奸反覆，神明鑒之，同於羊狗。」三年一大盟，夜於壇墠之上與眾陳設肴饌，殺犬馬牛驢以為牲，咒曰：「爾等鹹須同心戮力，共保我家，惟天神地祇，共知爾誌。有負此盟，使爾身體屠裂，同於此牲。」

The people addressed their sovereign as zanpu and set up great and minor councillors to administer the affairs of state. They possessed no written script and relied on carved marks and knotted cords to record their agreements. Though offices existed, incumbents did not hold them permanently; leadership was assigned ad hoc as need arose. Conscription was signaled with golden arrows; at the approach of raiders beacon fires were lit, and relay stations stood every hundred li along the routes. Their penal code was harsh: even petty crimes might cost an eye or a nose, or bring a flogging with leather whips—yet punishment followed the ruler's mood rather than any fixed law. Captives were thrown into pits dug several zhang deep in the earth and might not see daylight again for two or three years. When they feasted guests from abroad, they would drive out a yak and require the visitors to shoot the animal themselves for the meal. Once a year they swore a lesser oath with their ministers, sacrificing sheep, dogs, and monkeys by first breaking their legs, then gutting and dismembering them. Shamans proclaimed to the spirits of heaven and earth, of mountains and rivers, sun, moon, and stars: "Should any heart turn traitorous or faithless, the gods will see it, and your fate shall be that of these sheep and dogs." Every three years came the great oath. At night upon the sacred terrace they laid out a feast for the assembly and sacrificed dogs, horses, cattle, and donkeys, intoning: "You must all join in single purpose to defend our house; heaven and earth alone shall witness your pledge. Whoever betrays this oath—may your bodies be hacked apart like these sacrificial beasts."

其地氣候大寒，不生秔稻，有青稞麥、褭豆、小麥、喬麥。畜多牦牛豬犬羊馬。又有天鼠，狀如雀鼠，其大如貓，皮可為裘。又多金銀銅錫。其人或隨畜牧而不常厥居，然頗有城郭。其國都城號為邏些城。屋皆平頭，高者至數十尺。貴人處於大氈帳，名為拂廬。寢處汙穢，絕不櫛沐。接手飲酒，以氈為盤，撚鋋為碗，實以羹酪，並而食之。多事羱羝之神，人信巫覡。不知節候，麥熟為歲首。圍棋陸博，吹蠡鳴鼓為戲，弓劍不離身。重壯賤老，母拜於子，子倨於父，出入皆少者在前，老者居其後。軍令嚴肅，每戰，前隊皆死，後隊方進。重兵死，惡病終。累代戰沒，以為甲門。臨陣敗北者，懸狐尾於其首，表其似狐之怯，稠人廣眾，必以徇焉，其俗恥之，以為次死。拜必兩手據地，作狗吠之聲，以身再揖而止。居父母喪，截發，青黛塗面，衣服皆黑，既葬即吉。其贊普死，以人殉葬，衣服珍玩及嘗所乘馬弓劍之類，皆悉埋之。仍於墓上起大室，立土堆，插雜木為祠祭之所。

Their country was fiercely cold and could not grow rice; instead they cultivated highland barley, broad beans, wheat, and buckwheat. They raised chiefly yaks, pigs, dogs, sheep, and horses. They also had marmots—creatures like large rats, cat-sized—which furnished pelts for fur garments. Gold, silver, copper, and tin were likewise plentiful. By custom many followed their herds and had no permanent home, yet they also maintained a fair number of walled towns. Their national capital was known as Luoxie City. Their houses were flat-roofed, some rising dozens of feet high. Men of rank lived in large felt pavilions known as fulu. They slept amid filth and never combed their hair or washed their bodies. They drank by cupping wine in their palms, served food on felt mats, shaped iron into bowls, heaped them with broth and curds, and ate all from the same dish. They worshipped chiefly the wild-goat deity, and the people placed their faith in shamans. Unacquainted with the calendrical seasons, they reckoned the ripening of wheat as the start of the year. They passed the time with weiqi and liubo, with horn-blowing and drumming; bow and sword were never far from their side. Youth and vigor were honored, age despised: mothers bowed to their sons, sons showed insolence toward their fathers; in procession the young led and the old followed behind. Their military discipline was severe: in battle the front rank had to be cut down before the rear rank might advance. They honored death on the battlefield and scorned a death from sickness. Clans that had lost men in war for generations were counted among the foremost families. Soldiers who broke in battle had fox tails tied to their heads to mark their cravenness; they were then displayed before the multitude in ritual humiliation—a disgrace their people considered scarcely less than death itself. To salute they pressed both palms to the earth, barked like dogs, and rose only after bowing their bodies twice. When mourning parents they shaved their heads, stained their faces with indigo, dressed entirely in black, and resumed ordinary life the moment the burial was over. At a zanpu's death living retainers were sacrificed for burial, and his robes, treasures, and the horses, bows, and swords he had ridden and wielded were all laid in the tomb. Over the grave they built a great chamber and heaped an earthen mound, planting trees about it as the site for offerings.

貞觀八年，其贊普棄宗弄贊始遣使朝貢。弄贊弱冠嗣位，性驍武，多英略，其鄰國羊同及諸羌並賓伏之。太宗遣行人馮德遐往撫慰之。見德遐，大悅。聞突厥及吐谷渾皆尚公主，乃遣使隨德遐入朝，多賫金寶，奉表求婚，太宗未之許。使者既返，言於弄贊曰：「初至大國，待我甚厚，許嫁公主。會吐谷渾王入朝，有相離間，由是禮薄，遂不許嫁。」弄贊遂與羊同連，發兵以擊吐谷渾。吐谷渾不能支，遁於青海之上，以避其鋒。其國人畜並為吐蕃所掠。於是進兵攻破党項及白蘭諸羌，率其眾二十余萬，頓於松州西境。遣使貢金帛，雲來迎公主。又謂其屬曰：「若大國不嫁公主與我，即當入寇。」遂進攻松州，都督韓威輕騎覘賊，反為所敗，邊人大擾。太宗遣吏部尚書侯君集為當彌道行營大總管，右領軍大將軍執失思力為白蘭道行軍總管，左武衛將軍牛進達為闊水道行軍總管，右領軍將軍劉蘭為洮河道行軍總管，率步騎五萬以擊之。進達先鋒自松州夜襲其營，斬千余級。弄贊大懼，引兵而退，遣使謝罪。因復請婚，太宗許之。弄贊乃遣其相祿東贊致禮，獻金五千兩，自余寶玩數百事。

In the eighth year of the Zhenguan reign, the zanpu Qizong Nongzan—Songtsen Gampo—first dispatched envoys to present tribute at the Tang court. Nongzan had come to the throne barely out of boyhood. Bold and warlike, rich in stratagem, he brought the neighboring realm of Yangtong and the Qiang tribes under his sway. Emperor Taizong dispatched the itinerant envoy Feng Dexia to offer reassurance. On meeting Dexia he was delighted. Learning that the Turks and the Tuyuhun had each received Tang princesses, he sent envoys to accompany Dexia to court laden with gold and jewels, petitioning for a royal bride. Taizong refused. When the envoys returned they told Nongzan: "At first the Great State received us with great honor and promised us a princess. But then the Tuyuhun king arrived at court and slandered us; our reception grew cold, and the marriage was denied. Nongzan thereupon allied with Yangtong and marched against Tuyuhun. Tuyuhun could not hold its ground and withdrew to the Qinghai lakes to escape the Tibetan advance. The people and herds of Tuyuhun were carried off by the Tibetans. He then pushed forward, crushing the Tangut and the Bailan Qiang, and camped with more than two hundred thousand men on the western marches of Song Prefecture. He dispatched envoys with gold and silks, declaring that they had come to escort the princess home. He told his chiefs as well: "If the Great State refuses me a princess, I shall raid its borders. He thereupon attacked Song Prefecture. Protector-general Han Wei rode out with a light force to scout the enemy and was routed; the frontier populace was thrown into turmoil. Taizong appointed Hou Junji, Minister of Personnel, grand commander of the Dangmi campaign; Zhishi Sili, Right Leader of the Palace Guards, commander on the Bailan route; Niu Jinda of the Left Martial Guard on the Kuoshui route; and Liu Lan of the Right Leader of the Palace Guards on the Taohe route—with fifty thousand foot and horse to drive the Tibetans back. Niu Jinda's vanguard stole out of Song Prefecture by night, fell on the Tibetan camp, and took more than a thousand heads. Nongzan was terrified, pulled his army back, and sent envoys to beg forgiveness. He renewed his suit for a princess, and Taizong consented. Nongzan dispatched his minister Gar Tongtsen with betrothal gifts—five thousand liang of gold and several hundred other treasures besides.

貞觀十五年，太宗以文成公主妻之，令禮部尚書、江夏郡王道宗主婚，持節送公主於吐蕃。弄贊率其部兵次柏海，親迎於河源。見道宗，執子婿之禮甚恭。既而嘆大國服飾禮儀之美，俯仰有愧沮之色。及與公主歸國，謂所親曰：「我父祖未有通婚上國者，今我得尚大唐公主，為幸實多。當為公主築一城，以誇示後代。」遂築城邑，立棟宇以居處焉。公主惡其人赭面，弄贊令國中權且罷之，自亦釋氈裘，襲紈綺，漸慕華風。仍遣酋豪子弟，請入國學以習《詩》、《書》。又請中國識文之人典其表疏。

In the fifteenth year of Zhenguan, Taizong wed Princess Wencheng to him, appointing Li Daozong, Minister of Rites and Prince of Jiangxia, to oversee the marriage and escort the princess to Tubo with full diplomatic credentials. Nongzan marched his forces to Bohai and went in person to receive her at the headwaters of the Yellow River. On meeting Daozong he received him with the deference due a father-in-law. He soon marveled at the splendor of Tang dress and ceremony, and in his manner betrayed shame at his own people's rustic ways. Returning home with the princess, he told his intimates: "None of my forebears ever married into the Great State; that I have wed a princess of Tang is fortune beyond measure. I shall build her a city, that posterity may see what honor she brought us. He thereupon raised walled settlements and timber halls in which to live. The princess detested the Tibetan custom of painting the face red; Nongzan ordered the practice suspended throughout the realm. He himself laid aside felt garments for silks and slowly grew enamored of Tang civilization. He sent sons of the chieftains to petition for places in the National University to study the Odes and Documents. He also asked for Chinese literati to draft his state papers and memorials.

太宗伐遼東還，遣祿東贊來賀。奉表曰：「聖天子平定四方，日月所照之國，並為臣妾，而高麗恃遠，闕於臣禮。天子自領百萬，度遼致討，隳城陷陣，指日凱旋。夷狄才聞陛下發駕，少進之間，已聞歸國。雁飛迅越，不及陛下速疾。奴忝預子婿，喜百常夷。夫鵝，猶雁也，故作金鵝奉獻。」其鵝黃金鑄成，其高七尺，中可實酒三斛。

On Taizong's return from the Liaodong campaign, Gar Tongtsen was dispatched to offer congratulations. In his memorial he wrote: "The sage Son of Heaven has pacified the four quarters; every realm beneath sun and moon bows as his subject—yet Goryeo, trusting in its remoteness, neglects the duties of vassalage. The Son of Heaven led a million men in person across the Liao to chastise them, razed their walls and broke their ranks, and was to return in triumph within days. We barbarians had scarcely heard that Your Majesty had marched forth when, after barely setting out, we learned you were already home again. Even wild geese in swift flight cannot keep pace with Your Majesty's haste. Your humble son-in-law rejoices beyond all measure. The goose is kin to the wild goose; I have therefore cast a golden goose as my offering. The goose was cast in gold, stood seven feet tall, and could hold three hu of wine within its body.

二十二年，右衛率府長史王玄策使往西域，為中天竺所掠。吐蕃發精兵與玄策擊天竺，大破之，遣使來獻捷。

In the twenty-second year Wang Xuance, chief clerk of the Right Guard Command, was sent to the Western Regions and was robbed by the king of Central India. Tubo sent crack troops to fight beside Xuance against India, routed the enemy, and dispatched envoys to report the victory at court.

高宗嗣位，授弄贊為駙馬都尉，封西海郡王，賜物二千段。弄贊因致書於司徒長孫無忌等云：「天子初即位，若臣下有不忠之心者，當勒兵以赴國除討。」並獻金銀珠寶十五種，請置太宗靈座之前。高宗嘉之，進封為賓王，賜雜彩三千段。因請蠶種及造酒、碾、硙、紙、墨之匠，並許焉。乃刊石像其形，列昭陵玄闕之下。

On Gaozong's accession he named Nongzan Commandant-escort of the Princess, enfeoffed him as Prince of the Western Sea, and granted two thousand lengths of silks and goods. Nongzan wrote to Minister of State Changsun Wuji and others: "Now that the Son of Heaven has newly ascended, should any subject prove disloyal, I shall lead my armies to aid the throne in rooting them out. He also sent fifteen kinds of gold, silver, and jewels, asking that they be set before Taizong's spirit tablet. Gaozong was pleased and raised his title to Prince Bin, bestowing three thousand lengths of colored silks. He also petitioned for silkworm eggs and artisans who knew how to brew wine, run mills and querns, and make paper and ink; all were granted. A stone statue bearing his likeness was carved and placed below the spirit gate of Zhaoling.

永徽元年，弄贊卒。高宗為之舉哀，遣右武候將軍鮮于臣濟持節賫璽書吊祭。弄贊子早死，其孫繼立，復號贊普，時年幼，國事皆委祿東贊。祿東姓MS氏，雖不識文記，而性明毅嚴重，講兵訓師，雅有節制，吐蕃之並諸羌，雄霸本土，多其謀也。

In the first year of Yonghui, Nongzan died. Gaozong observed mourning on his behalf and sent Xianyu Chenji of the Right Martial Guard with sealed credentials to offer condolences. Nongzan's son had died young; his grandson succeeded as zanpu while still a boy, and Gar Tongtsen was entrusted with all affairs of state. Gar Tongtsen belonged to the Gar clan. Though illiterate, he was shrewd, resolute, and grave in bearing; he drilled the army with disciplined method. Much of Tubo's subjugation of the Qiang and dominance of the plateau was his doing.

初，太宗既許降文成公主，贊普使祿東贊來迎，召見顧問，進對合旨，太宗禮之，有異諸蕃，乃拜祿東贊為右衛大將軍，又以瑯邪長公主外孫女段氏妻之。祿東贊辭曰：「臣本國有婦，父母所聘，情不忍乖。且贊普未謁公主，陪臣安敢輒娶。」太宗嘉之，欲撫以厚恩，雖奇其答而不遂其請。祿東贊有子五人：長曰贊悉若，早死；次欽陵，次贊婆，次悉多幹，次勃論。及東贊死，欽陵兄弟復專其國。

When Taizong had agreed to wed Princess Wencheng to the zanpu, Gar Tongtsen came to escort her. Called before the throne, his answers pleased the emperor; Taizong treated him with distinction above all other barbarian envoys, made him Right Guard general, and gave him Lady Duan, a granddaughter of the Princess of Langye, as wife. Gar Tongtsen declined: "I already have a wife at home, betrothed by my parents; I cannot in conscience abandon her. Moreover, the zanpu has not yet received the princess; how dare a mere attendant minister marry before him? Taizong admired his reply and meant to reward him generously, but though struck by his answer he did not press the marriage. Gar Tongtsen had five sons. The eldest, Zanxinuo, died young; then Qinling, then Zanpo, then Xiduogan, and lastly Bolun. After Gar Tongtsen's death, Qinling and his brothers once more seized control of the realm.

後與吐谷渾不和，龍朔、麟德中遞相表奏，各論曲直，國家依違，未為與奪。吐蕃怨怒，遂率兵以擊吐谷渾。吐谷渾大敗，河源王慕容諾曷缽及弘化公主脫身走投涼州，遣使告急。

They later quarreled with Tuyuhun; through the Longshuo and Linde years each side petitioned the court with its case, but the throne hesitated and rendered no judgment. Enraged, Tubo marched against Tuyuhun. Tuyuhun was routed; Murong Nuohubo, Prince of Heyuan, and Princess Honghua fled to Liang Prefecture and sent envoys begging for aid.

上元三年，進寇鄯、廓等州，殺掠人吏，高宗命尚書左僕射劉仁軌往洮河軍鎮守以禦之。儀鳳三年，又命中書令李敬玄兼鄯州都督，往代仁軌於洮河鎮守。仍召募關內、河東及諸州驍勇，以為猛士，不簡色役。亦有嘗任文武官者召入殿庭賜宴，遣往擊之。又令益州長史李孝逸、巂州都督拓王奉等發劍南、山南兵募以防禦之。其年秋，敬玄與工部尚書劉審禮，率兵與吐蕃戰於青海。官軍敗積，審禮沒於陣，敬玄按軍不敢救。俄而收軍卻出，頓於承風嶺，阻泥溝不能動，賊屯於高岡以壓之。偏將左領軍員外將軍黑齒常之率敢死之士五百人，夜斫賊營，賊遂潰亂，自相蹂踐，死者三百余人。敬玄遂擁眾鄯州，坐改為衡州刺史。往劍南兵募，於茂州之西南築安戎城以壓其境。俄有生羌為吐蕃鄉導，攻陷其城，遂引兵守之。時吐蕃盡收羊同、党項及諸羌之地，東與涼、松、茂、巂等州相接，南至婆羅門，西又攻陷龜茲、疏勒等四鎮，北抵突厥，地方萬餘里，自漢、魏已來，西戎之盛，未之有也。

In the third year of Shangyuan they raided Shan, Kuo, and neighboring prefectures, slaughtering officials and civilians alike. Gaozong sent Liu Rengui, Left Vice Minister of State, to hold the Taohe garrison against them. In the third year of Yifeng he appointed Chief Councilor Li Jingxuan concurrent protector of Shan Prefecture to relieve Rengui on the Taohe line. Crack fighters were recruited from Guannei, Hedong, and the provinces without regard to corvée obligations. Former civil and military officials were summoned to court, feasted, and dispatched to the front. Li Xiaoyi, chief clerk of Yizhou, Tuowang Feng, protector of Qizhou, and others were ordered to raise troops from Jiannan and Shannan for the defense. That autumn Li Jingxuan and Liu Shenli, Minister of Works, led the army against the Tibetans at Qinghai. The Tang army was routed; Shenli fell on the field while Jingxuan held his men back and dared not go to his aid. He soon gathered the remnants and withdrew to Chengfeng Ridge, where muddy gullies pinned them in place while the enemy held the heights above. The deputy commander Heichi Changzhi, Left Army Inspector Outside General, led five hundred volunteers in a night attack on the enemy camp. The foe broke and fled in chaos, trampling one another; over three hundred perished. Li Jingxuan withdrew with his army to Shanzhou and, as punishment, was reassigned as prefect of Hengzhou. Levies were raised in Jiannan, and Ancheng Fort was built southwest of Maozhou to bear down on the Tubo frontier. Soon afterward local Qiang served Tubo as guides, stormed the fort, and garrisoned it with their troops. Tubo had absorbed Yangtong, the Tangut, and the Qiang peoples. Its eastern marches bordered Liang, Song, Mao, Xi, and neighboring prefectures; to the south it reached Brahman lands; to the west it seized Kucha, Kashgar, and the other four garrisons; to the north it pressed the Turks—a realm of more than ten thousand li. Since Han and Wei, no power of the western barbarians had matched it.

高宗聞審禮等敗沒，召侍臣問綏禦之策，中書舍人郭正一曰：「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，望少發兵募，且遣備邊，明烽堠，勿令侵抄。使國用豐足，人心葉同，寬之數年，可一舉而滅。」給事中劉齊賢、皇甫文亮等皆言嚴守之便。尋而黑齒常之破吐蕃大將贊婆及素和貴於良非川，殺獲二千余級，吐蕃遂引退。詔以常之為河源軍使以鎮禦之。

When Gaozong learned of Liu Shenli's defeat and death, he called his close advisers to discuss border policy. Guo Zhengyi, drafting courtier of the Secretariat, said: "Tubo has been our scourge for many years, and campaign after campaign has been launched without pause. Soldiers and horses are worn out in vain, and stores are squandered. A shallow strike only wastes our prestige; a deep thrust still fails to destroy their lair. I beg that levies be kept small, that the frontier be fortified, beacons kept bright, and raids forbidden. Let the treasury grow full and the people stand united; after a few years of forbearance, we may annihilate them at a single blow." Liu Qixian, Huangfu Wenliang, and other remonstrance officials all urged that a firm defensive posture was best. Before long Heichi Changzhi routed the Tubo commanders Zanpo and Suhe Gui at Liangfei River, killing and capturing more than two thousand men, and Tubo withdrew. Changzhi was appointed commissioner of the Heyuan Army to guard the frontier against Tubo.

則天臨朝，命文昌右相韋待價為安息道大總管，安西大都護閻溫古為副。永昌元年，率兵往征吐蕃，遲留不進，待價坐流浦州，溫古處斬。待價素無統禦之才，遂狼狽失據，士卒饑饉，皆轉死溝壑。明年，又命文昌右相岑長倩為武威道行軍大總管以討吐蕃，中路退還，軍竟不行。如意元年，吐蕃大首領曷蘇率其所屬並貴川部落請降，則天令右玉鈐衛大將軍張玄遇率精卒二萬充安撫使以納之。師次大渡水，曷蘇事泄，為本國所擒，又有大首領昝捶率羌蠻部落八千余人詣玄遇內附。玄遇以其部落置葉川州，以昝捶為刺史。仍於大度西山勒石紀功而還。長壽元年，武威軍總管王孝傑大破吐蕃之眾，克復龜茲、於闐、疏勒、碎葉等四鎮，乃於龜茲置安西都護府，發兵以鎮守之。萬歲登封元年，孝傑復為肅邊道大總管，率副總管婁師德與吐蕃將論欽陵、贊婆戰於素羅汗山。官軍敗績，李傑坐免官。萬歲通天元年，吐蕃四萬眾奄至涼州城下，都督許欽明初不之覺，輕出按部，遂遇賊，拒戰久之，力屈為賊所殺。時吐蕃又遣使請和，則天將許之；論欽陵乃請去安西四鎮兵，仍索分十姓之地，則天竟不許之。

After Wuzetian took power, she named Wei Daijia, Right Vice Minister of the Secretariat, Grand Marshal of the Anxi Circuit, with Yan Wengu, Grand Protector of the Western Regions, as his deputy. In the first year of Yongchang the army marched against Tubo but stalled on the road. Wei Daijia was banished to Puzhou; Yan Wengu was put to death. Wei Daijia had no gift for command. His army fell apart in disorder; the men starved and perished by the thousands in gullies and ravines. The following year Cen Changqian, Right Vice Minister of the Secretariat, was made Mobile Grand Marshal of the Wuwei Circuit against Tubo, but he turned back en route and the expedition never took the field. In the first year of Ruyi the Tubo chieftain Hasu led his followers and the Bingguichuan clans in offering submission. Wuzetian sent Zhang Xuan'yu of the Right Jade Bell Guard with twenty thousand picked troops as pacification commissioner to accept them. When the column reached the Dadu River, Hasu's plot was discovered and his countrymen seized him. Another chieftain, Zanchui, then led more than eight thousand Qiang and tribal followers to Zhang Xuan'yu to surrender. Zhang Xuan'yu established Yechuan Prefecture for the tribe and appointed Zanchui its prefect. On the western hills of the Dadu he set up a stone inscription commemorating the victory, then marched home. In the first year of Changshou, Wang Xiaojie, inspector of the Wuwei Army, routed the Tubo forces and retook Kucha, Khotan, Kashgar, and Suyab. He re-established the Anxi Protectorate at Kucha and posted troops to hold the region. In the first year of Wansui Dengfeng, Wang Xiaojie was again made Grand Marshal of the Subi Border Circuit. With Deputy Grand Marshal Lou Shide he met the Tubo generals Gar Tongtsen and Zanpo at Mount Suluohan. The Tang army was routed, and Wang Xiaojie was removed from his post. In the first year of Wansui Tongtian forty thousand Tubo soldiers appeared before Liangzhou. Protector Xu Qinming, unaware at first, rode out on a routine inspection, ran into the raiders, fought long but was overcome, and fell in battle. Tubo then sent envoys suing for peace, and Wuzetian was inclined to grant it; but Gar Tongtsen demanded the withdrawal of Tang garrisons from the Four Protectorates of Anxi and a partition of the Ten Surnames' territory. Wuzetian refused.

吐蕃自論欽陵兄弟專統兵馬，欽陵每居中用事，諸弟分據方面，贊婆則專在東境，與中國為鄰，三十余年，常為邊患。其兄弟皆有才略，諸蕃憚之。

After Gar Tongtsen and his brothers seized control of Tubo's armies, Qinling usually directed affairs from the center while his brothers held the provinces; Zanpo guarded the eastern frontier against Tang for more than thirty years, a perennial scourge on the border. All the brothers were gifted strategists, and the surrounding peoples stood in awe of them.

聖歷二年，其贊普器弩悉弄年漸長，乃與其大臣論巖等密圖之。時欽陵在外，贊普乃佯言將獵，召兵執欽陵親黨二千余人，殺之。發使召欽陵、贊婆等，欽陵舉兵不受召，贊普自帥眾討之，欽陵未戰而潰，遂自殺，其親信左右同日自殺者百余人。贊婆率所部千余人及其兄子莽布支等來降，則天遣羽林飛騎郊外迎之，授贊婆輔國大將軍、行右衛大將軍，封歸德郡王，優賜甚厚，仍令領其部兵於洪源谷討擊。尋卒，贈特進、安西大都護。

In the second year of Shengl their zanpu Tridu Songtsen came of age and, with the minister Lun Yan and others, laid secret plans against the Gar clan. Gar Tongtsen was away at the time. The zanpu pretended to go hunting, called up troops, and arrested and executed more than two thousand of Gar Tongtsen's partisans. Envoys were sent to summon Gar Tongtsen and Zanpo, but Gar Tongtsen refused and took up arms. The zanpu marched against him in person. Gar Tongtsen's host melted away without a battle; he took his own life, and more than a hundred of his closest followers died with him that same day. Zanpo came over with more than a thousand followers and his nephew Mangbuzhi. Wuzetian sent the Feathered Forest Rapid Cavalry to meet them beyond the walls, made Zanpo Assistant State Grand General and acting Right Guard Grand General, created him Prince of Guide Commandery with rich rewards, and set him to lead his men against Tubo from Hongyuangu. He died not long after. Posthumously he was honored as Special Advance and Grand Protector of the Western Regions.

時吐蕃南境屬國泥婆羅門等皆叛，贊普自往討之，卒於軍中。諸子爭立，久之，國人立器弩悉弄之子棄隸蹜贊為贊普，時年七歲。中宗神龍元年，吐蕃使來告喪，中宗為之舉哀，廢朝一日。俄而贊普之祖母遣其大臣悉薰然來獻方物，為其孫請婚，中宗以所養雍王守禮女為金城公主許嫁之。自是頻歲貢獻。景龍三年十一月，又遣其大臣尚贊吐等來迎女，中宗宴之於苑內球場，命駙馬都尉楊慎交與吐蕃使打球，中宗率侍臣觀之。四年正月，制曰：

Tubo's southern vassals, including Nepal, rose in revolt. The zanpu led the campaign in person and died on campaign. His sons fought over the succession. Eventually the realm enthroned Tridu Songtsen's son Mangsong Mangtsen as zanpu at the age of seven. In the first year of Shenlong, Tubo envoys announced the zanpu's death. Zhongzong observed mourning and closed court for a day. Soon the zanpu's grandmother dispatched the minister Xixiran with gifts and a request to wed her grandson. Zhongzong gave him the girl he had raised—the daughter of Prince Yong, Defender of the Realm—as Princess Jincheng. Thereafter Tubo sent tribute annually. In the eleventh month of the third year of Jinglong Tubo again sent Shangzan Tu and other ministers to escort the bride. Zhongzong entertained them at the palace polo grounds, had Commandant Yang Shenjiao play ball against the Tubo envoys, and watched with his court. In the first month of the fourth year an edict proclaimed:

聖人布化，用百姓為心；王者垂仁，以八荒無外。故能光宅遐邇，裁成品物。由是隆周理歷，恢柔遠之圖；強漢乘時，建和親之議。斯蓋宇長策，經邦茂範。朕受命上靈，克纂洪業，庶幾前烈，永致和平。睠彼吐蕃，僻在西服，皇運之始，早申朝貢。太宗文武聖皇帝德侔覆載，情深億兆，思偃兵甲，遂通姻好，數十年間，一方清凈。自文成公主化往，其國因多變革。我之邊隅，亟興師旅，彼之蕃落，頗聞雕弊。頃者贊普及祖母可敦、酋長等，屢披誠款，積有歲時，思托舊親，請崇新好。金城公主，朕之少女，豈不鐘念，但為人父母，誌息黎元，若允乃誠祈，更敦和好，則邊土寧晏，兵役服息。遂割深慈，為國大計，築茲外館，聿膺嘉禮，降彼吐蕃贊普，即以今月進發，朕想自送於郊外。

The sage-king transforms the realm with the welfare of the people as his heart; the king extends his grace until nothing beyond the eight directions lies outside his care. Thus his light reaches near and far, and the myriad things are brought to their proper form. The Zhou in its glory ordered the seasons and widened its policy of cherishing distant peoples; the mighty Han seized its hour and founded the policy of marriage alliances. Such measures are a lasting strategy and a splendid model for ruling the realm. We have received Heaven's mandate, inherited a great patrimony, and aspire to equal the achievements of old and secure lasting peace. Tubo lies remote in the western marches; from the dawn of our fortune they have long paid court tribute. Emperor Taizong, civil and martial sage, whose virtue covered heaven and earth and whose care embraced the myriad people, sought to sheathe the sword and joined his house to theirs in marriage; for decades the frontier knew quiet. After Princess Wencheng's death their realm fell into repeated turmoil. Our borders have seen campaign after campaign; among their tribesmen hardship is widely reported. Lately the zanpu, the Grand Lady, and their chiefs have for years pressed their sincere wish to renew the old kinship and bind a fresh peace. Princess Jincheng is Our own young daughter, and Our heart is not unmoved; yet as father and mother of the people We seek repose for the common folk. If We honor their earnest plea and renew amity, the frontier will be calm and the armies may stand down. We have therefore sacrificed private affection to the needs of the realm, raised this outer lodge, and accepted the wedding rites. The princess goes forth this month to wed the Tubo zanpu, and We mean to see her off beyond the city ourselves.

中宗召侍中紀處訥謂曰：「昔文成公主出降，則江夏王送之。卿雅識蕃情，有安邊之略，可為朕充吐蕃使也。」處訥拜謝，既而以不練邊事固辭。上又令中書侍郎趙彥昭充使。彥昭以既充外使，恐失其權寵，殊不悅。司農卿趙履溫私謂之曰：「公國之宰輔，而為一介之使，不亦鄙乎？」彥昭曰：「然計將安出？」履溫因陰托安樂公主密奏留之。於是以左衛大將軍楊矩使焉。其月，帝幸始平縣以送公主，設帳殿於百頃泊側，引王公宰相及吐蕃使入宴，中坐酒闌，命吐蕃使進前，諭以公主孩幼，割慈遠嫁之旨，上悲泣歔欷久之。因命從臣賦詩餞別，曲赦始平縣大辟罪已下，百姓給復一年，改始平縣為金城縣，又改其地為鳳池鄉愴別裏。公主既至吐蕃，別築一城以居之。

Zhongzong called in Ji Chune, Attendant within the Secretariat, and said: "When Princess Wencheng was sent to marry, the Prince of Jiangxia escorted her. You know Tubo well and have a plan for securing the frontier. Go as Our envoy to Tubo. Chune thanked him but declined on the ground that he was unversed in frontier matters. The emperor then named Zhao Yanzhao, Vice Director of the Secretariat, envoy in his stead. Yanzhao was displeased, fearing that service abroad would cost him influence at court. Zhao Lüwen, Minister of Imperial Granaries, took him aside and said: "You stand among the chief ministers of the realm—will you go as a simple courier? Is that not beneath your station? Yanzhao asked: "Then what is to be done?" Lüwen secretly persuaded Princess Anle to memorialize the throne and have him retained. Left Guard Grand General Yang Ju was sent instead. That month the emperor traveled to Shiping County to see the princess off. A tent-pavilion was set beside Baiqing Marsh, and princes, ministers, and Tubo envoys were brought to feast. Midway through the wine he called the Tubo envoy forward and spoke of the princess's youth and the pain of parting; the emperor wept long and bitterly. He bade his courtiers compose parting poems, pardoned all crimes short of capital offense in Shiping, exempted the people from taxes for a year, renamed the county Jincheng, and called the place Fengchi Township, "Lane of Mourning Farewell." When the princess arrived in Tubo, a separate city was built for her residence.

睿宗即位，攝監察御史李知古上言：「姚州諸蠻，先屬吐蕃，請發兵擊之。」遂令知古征劍南兵募往經略之。蠻酋傍名乃引吐蕃攻知古，殺之，仍斷其屍以祭天。時張玄表為安西都護，又與吐蕃比境，互相攻掠，吐蕃內雖怨怒，外敦和好。時楊矩為鄯州都督，吐蕃遣使厚遺之，因請河西九曲之地以為金城公主湯沐之所，矩遂奏與之。吐蕃既得九曲，其地肥良，堪頓兵畜牧，又與唐境接近，自是復叛，始率兵入寇。

At Ruizong's accession the acting investigating censor Li Zhigu submitted: "The tribal peoples of Yaozhou once owed allegiance to Tubo; send troops to strike them. Li Zhigu was ordered to raise Jiannan levies and march to subdue them. The chieftain Pangming brought in Tubo forces, killed Zhigu, and dismembered his body for a sacrifice to Heaven. Zhang Xuanbiao was then Protector of Anxi; though Tubo and Tang raided each other along the frontier, Tubo outwardly maintained the language of peace even as anger smoldered within. Yang Ju was then Protector of Shanzhou. Tubo envoys brought him lavish gifts and asked for the Nine Bends of the Hexi as Princess Jincheng's fief; Ju memorialized the throne and the land was granted. Once Tubo held the Nine Bends, it gained rich pasture for armies and herds and stood hard against Tang territory. They broke faith and again sent raiders across the border.

開元二年秋，吐蕃大將闉達焉、乞力徐等率眾十余萬寇臨洮軍，又進寇蘭、渭等州，掠監牧羊馬而去。楊矩悔懼，飲藥而死。玄宗令攝左羽林將軍薛訥及太仆少卿王晙率兵邀擊之。仍下詔將大舉親征，召募將士，克期進發。俄而晙等與賊相遇於渭源之武階驛，前軍王海賓力戰死之，晙等率兵而進，大破吐蕃之眾，殺數萬人，盡收復所掠羊馬。賊余黨奔北，相枕藉而死，洮水為之不流。上遂罷親征，命紫微舍人倪若水往按軍實，仍吊祭王海賓而還。吐蕃遣其大臣宗俄因子至洮河祭其死亡之士，仍款塞請和，不上許之。自是連年犯邊，郭知運、王君相次為河西節度使以捍之。

In the autumn of the second year of Kaiyuan the Tubo generals Mindaya and Qilixu led more than a hundred thousand men against Lintao Army and pressed on into Lan and Wei, carrying off the frontier herds before withdrawing. Yang Ju, stricken with remorse and fear, took poison and died. Xuanzong sent the acting Left Feathered Forest General Xue Ne and Wang Jun, Vice Director of the Imperial Stud, to intercept the raiders. An edict announced that the emperor would take the field in person, recruiting troops for a set day of march. Soon Wang Jun and his colleagues met the enemy at Wujie Post on the Wei headwaters. The vanguard Wang Haibin fought to the death; Jun pressed on and shattered the Tubo army, slaying tens of thousands and recovering all the stolen herds. The survivors fled north, dying in heaps so thick that the Tao River was choked and could not run. The emperor called off his own expedition, sent Ni Ruoshui of the Secretariat to review the army's condition, and performed rites of mourning for Wang Haibin on his behalf. Tubo sent the minister Zong'e Ziyin to the Tao River to bury its dead and then sued for peace at the border, but the emperor would not agree. Thereafter Tubo raided the frontier year after year. Guo Zhiyun and Wang Junyi served in turn as military commissioner of Hexi to hold them back.

吐蕃既自恃兵強，每通表疏，求敵國之禮，言詞悖慢，上甚怒之。及封禪禮畢，中書令張說奏言：「吐蕃醜逆，誠負萬誅，然又事征討，實為勞弊。且十數年甘、涼、河、鄯征發不息，縱令屬勝，亦不能補。聞其悔過請和，惟陛下遣使。許其稽顙內屬，以息邊境，則蒼生幸甚。」上曰：「待吾與王君籌之。」說出，謂源乾曜曰：「君勇而無謀，常思僥幸，兩國和好，何以為勞？若入陳謀，則吾計不遂矣。」尋而君入朝奏事，遂請率兵深入以討之。

Confident in its armies, Tubo demanded in its letters the etiquette due an equal power; its language was insolent, and the emperor was deeply angered. After the Fengshan ceremonies, Chief Minister Zhang Yue submitted: "Tubo is wicked and rebellious and deserves death ten thousand times over, yet further campaigns would only exhaust us. For more than a decade Gan, Liang, He, and Shan have been mobilized without rest; even victory cannot repay what has been spent. They now repent and sue for peace. I beg that Your Majesty send envoys. Let them knock their foreheads and enter our allegiance, that the frontier may rest—so the people would be greatly blessed. The emperor said: "Let me consult Wang Junyi first." When Yue left the hall he told Yuan Qianyao: "Junyi is bold but not shrewd and always gambles on luck. What trouble is peace between two realms? If he speaks before the throne, our design will fail. Before long Wang Junyi came to court and asked leave to lead a deep strike into Tubo.

十五年正月，君率兵破吐蕃於青海之西，虜其輜重及羊馬而還。先是，吐蕃大將悉諾邏率眾入攻大鬥谷，又移攻甘州，焚燒市裏。君畏其鋒，不敢出戰。會大雪，賊凍死者甚眾，遂取積石軍西路而還。君先令人潛入賊境，於其歸路燒草。悉諾邏軍還至大非山，將士息甲牧馬，而野草皆盡，馬死過半。君與秦州都督張景順等率眾襲其後，入至青海之西，時海水冰合，將士並乘冰而渡。會悉諾邏已渡大非川，輜重及疲兵尚在青海之側，君縱兵俘之而還。其年九月，吐蕃大將悉諾邏恭祿及燭龍莽布支攻陷瓜州城，執刺史田元獻及王君之父壽，盡取城中軍資及倉糧，仍毀其城而去。又進攻玉門軍及常樂縣，縣令賈師順嬰城固守，凡八十日，賊遂引退。俄而王君為回紇余黨所殺，乃命兵部尚書蕭嵩為河西節度使，以建康軍使、左金吾將軍張守珪為瓜州刺史，修築州城，招輯百姓，令其復業。時悉諾邏恭祿威名甚振，蕭嵩乃縱反間於吐蕃，雲其與中國潛通，贊普遂召而誅之。

In the first month of the fifteenth year Wang Junyi routed Tubo west of Qinghai, seized their baggage and herds, and returned. Earlier the Tubo commander Sinuoluo had invaded Dadou Valley and turned to storm Ganzhou, burning the markets. Wang Junyi, daunted by their strength, would not give battle. A great blizzard followed; countless Tubo soldiers froze on the march. Sinuoluo withdrew by the Jishi Army western route. Wang Junyi had already sent agents into Tubo to burn the pasture along the enemy's line of retreat. At Mount Dafei the Tubo troops unsaddled to graze, but the grass was gone and more than half their horses perished. Wang Junyi and Qinzhou Protector Zhang Jingshun fell on their rear and marched west of Qinghai. The lake had frozen over, and the whole army crossed on the ice. Sinuoluo had already crossed the Dafei River, but his baggage and stragglers were still beside Qinghai. Wang Junyi swept down, took them captive, and withdrew. In the ninth month of that year the Tubo generals Sinuoluo Gonglu and Zhulong Mangbuzhi stormed Guazhou, seized Prefect Tian Yuanxian and Wang Junyi's father Shou, stripped the garrison stores and granaries, and razed the city as they left. They pressed on against Yumen Army and Changle County. Magistrate Jia Shishun held the walls for eighty days until the raiders withdrew. Soon afterward Wang Junyi was slain by remnant Uyghur factions. The emperor appointed Xiao Song, Minister of War, military commissioner of Hexi, and Zhang Shougui of the Jiankang Army, Left Golden Guard General, prefect of Guazhou, to rebuild the walls, gather the people, and restore their livelihoods. By then Xi Nuoluo Gonglu's fame had grown formidable. Xiao Song sowed discord in Tubo, alleging secret dealings with the Tang; the zanpu recalled him and put him to death.

明年秋，吐蕃大將悉末朗復率眾攻瓜州，守珪出兵擊走之。隴右節度使、鄯州都督張忠亮引兵至青海西南渴波谷，與吐蕃接戰，大破之。俄而積石、莫門兩軍兵馬總至，與忠亮合勢追討，破其大莫門城，生擒千余人，獲馬一千匹、牦牛五百頭，器仗衣資甚眾，又焚其駱駝橋而還。八月，蕭嵩又遣副將杜賓客率弩手四千人與吐蕃戰於祁連城下，自辰至暮，散而復合，賊徒大潰，臨陣斬其副將一人。賊敗，散走投山，哭聲四合。初，上聞吐蕃重來入寇，謂侍臣曰：「吐蕃驕暴。恃力而來，朕今按地圖。審利害，親指授將帥，破之必矣！」數日而露布至。

The following autumn the Tubo commander Ximo Lang marched again on Guazhou. Zhang Shougui took the field and repulsed him. Zhang Zhongliang, military commissioner of Longyou and protector of Zongzhou, advanced to Kebo Valley southwest of Qinghai, met the Tubo army, and shattered it. Before long the full strength of the Jishi and Momen armies came up. United with Zhongliang they pressed the pursuit, stormed Great Momen City, took more than a thousand prisoners, seized a thousand horses and five hundred yaks, and booty of arms and supplies in vast quantity, then burned the Camel Bridge and withdrew. In the eighth month Xiao Song sent his deputy Du Binke with four thousand crossbowmen to meet Tubo below Qilian Fortress. From dawn to dusk the lines broke and re-formed; the enemy collapsed in rout, and one of their deputy generals was slain before the ranks. Broken, the enemy fled into the hills in disarray, and wailing rose on every hand. When word first came that Tubo was invading again in strength, the emperor told his ministers, "Tubo grows arrogant and savage. They trust only in force. I shall spread the map and weigh gain and loss, then direct the commanders myself. Their defeat is assured! Within days the victory dispatch arrived.

十七年，朔方大總管信安王祎又率兵赴隴右，拔其石堡城，斬首四百余級，生擒二百余口，遂於石堡城置振武軍，仍獻其俘囚於太廟。於是吐蕃頻遣使請和，忠王友皇甫惟明因奏事面陳通和之便。上曰：「吐蕃贊普往年嘗與朕書，悖慢無禮，朕意欲討之，何得和也！」惟明曰：「開元之初，贊普幼稚，豈能如此。必是在邊軍將務邀一時之功，偽作此書，激怒陛下。兩國既鬥，興師動眾，因利乘便，公行隱盜，偽作功狀，以希勛爵，所損鉅萬，何益國家！今河西、隴右，百姓疲竭，事皆由此。若陛下遣使往視金城公主，因與贊普面約通和，令其稽顙稱臣，永息邊境，此永代安人之道也。」上然其言，因令惟明及內侍張元方充使往問吐蕃。惟明、元方等至吐蕃，既見贊普及公主，具宣上意。贊普等欣然請和，盡出貞觀以來前後敕書以示惟明等，令其重臣名悉獵隨惟明等入朝，上表曰：

In the seventeenth year Prince Xin'an Wang Yi, grand commander of Shuofang, marched again into Longyou, seized Stone Fortress, took more than four hundred heads and two hundred prisoners, garrisoned Zhenwu Army there, and presented the captives at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Tubo then sent envoys again and again to sue for peace. Huangfu Weiming, a companion of the Prince of Zhong, came before the throne on other business and argued face to face for reconciliation. The emperor said, "The Tubo zanpu once wrote to me in terms insolent and rude. I mean to chastise them—how can we speak of peace! Weiming replied, "At the opening of the Kaiyuan era the zanpu was still a child. He could not have written so. Surely frontier officers, hungry for a quick triumph, forged the letter to stir Your Majesty's wrath. Once the two realms are at war, armies march and men steal under cover of campaign, inventing battle reports to win honors. The cost runs to tens of thousands—what good does the state gain? Today the people of Hexi and Longyou are spent to the bone, and all of it comes from this. If Your Majesty sends envoys to visit Princess Jincheng and there, face to face with the zanpu, binds a lasting peace—making him bow and acknowledge subjection and stilling the frontier forever—that is the way to settle the realm for ages. The emperor assented and appointed Weiming and the palace eunuch Zhang Yuanfang envoys to Tubo. Weiming and Yuanfang reached Tubo, were received by the zanpu and the princess, and laid out the emperor's will in full. The zanpu and his court gladly sought peace, produced every imperial edict since Zhenguan for Weiming to read, and sent his chief minister Ming Xilie back to Chang'an with the embassy. Their memorial read:

外甥是先皇帝舅宿親，又蒙降金城公主，遂和同為一家，天下百姓，普皆安樂。中間為張玄表、李知古等東西兩處先動兵馬，侵抄吐蕃，邊將所以互相征討，迄至今日，遂成釁隙。外甥以先代文成公主、今金城公主之故，深識尊卑，豈敢失禮！又緣年小，枉被邊將讒抅鬥亂，令舅致怪。伏乞垂察追留，死將萬足。前數度使人入朝，皆被邊將不許，所以不敢自奏。去冬公主遣使人婁眾失若將狀專往，蒙降使看公主來，外甥不勝喜荷。謹遣諭名悉獵及副使押衙將軍浪些紇夜悉獵入朝，奏取進止。兩國事意，悉獵所知。外甥蕃中已處分邊將，不許抄掠，若有漢人來投，便令卻送。伏望皇帝舅遠察赤心，許依舊好，長令百姓快樂。如蒙聖恩，千年萬歲，外甥終不敢先違盟誓。謹奉金胡瓶一、金盤一、金碗一、馬腦杯一、零羊衫段一，謹充微國之禮。

Your nephew-by-marriage is the Late Emperor's kin by marriage. Having also been granted Princess Jincheng, we became one household in amity, and all the people under Heaven lived in peace. Between those days Zhang Xuanbiao, Li Zhigu, and others on east and west were first to move troops and raid Tubo. Frontier commanders have struck back and forth ever since, until today the rift has widened. For the sake of Princess Wencheng of old and Princess Jincheng today your nephew knows well the order of superior and inferior. How would I dare breach propriety! Moreover, being young, I was wrongly slandered by frontier generals into quarrel, and so caused my uncle's displeasure. I humbly beg you to look into this and keep me in your grace; even death would not repay my debt. Several times before I sent envoys to court, but frontier generals would not let them pass, and so I did not dare petition on my own. Last winter the princess sent her attendant Lou Zhongshiluo with a petition devoted to this end. We received your gracious order to visit the princess on our behalf. Your nephew is overcome with grateful joy. I respectfully send Ming Xilie as spokesman, with deputy commissioner and guard-general Langxiexie Yexi Lie, to court to report and await your command. Ming Xilie knows the mind of both realms in full. Your nephew has already ordered Tubo's frontier commanders to cease raiding. Any Han who flee to us are to be returned. I hope the August Emperor-uncle will discern my loyal heart from afar, restore our old friendship, and let the people live in ease forever. If we receive your sage grace, for a thousand myriad years your nephew will never be first to break the covenant. I respectfully present one gold Hu flask, one gold tray, one gold bowl, one agate cup, and one length of lingyang felt and silk—as the humble gifts of our state.

金城公主又別進金鴨盤盞雜器物等。十八年十月，名悉獵等至京師，上御宣政殿，列羽林仗以見之。悉獵頗曉書記，先曾迎金城公主至長安，當時朝廷皆稱其才辯。及是上引入內宴，與語，甚禮之。賜紫袍金帶及魚袋，並時服、繒彩、銀盤、胡瓶，仍於別館供擬甚厚。悉獵受袍帶器物而卻進魚袋，辭曰：「本國無此章服，不敢當殊異之賞。」上嘉而許之。詔御史大夫崔琳充使報聘。仍於赤嶺各豎分界之碑，約以更不相侵。

Princess Jincheng also sent separately gold duck platters, cups, and other objects. In the tenth month of the eighteenth year Ming Xilie and his party reached the capital. The emperor received them at Xuanzheng Hall with the Feathered Forest guard drawn up in array. Xi Lie was skilled in writing and record. He had earlier escorted Princess Jincheng to Chang'an, and the court had then praised his eloquence. On this occasion the emperor brought him to an inner banquet, spoke with him at length, and honored him greatly. He was given a purple robe, gold belt, and fish tally, together with court dress, silks, silver trays, and Hu flasks, and lodged in a separate hostel with lavish provision. Xi Lie accepted the robe, belt, and vessels but returned the fish tally, saying, "Our realm has no such insignia of rank. I dare not accept so extraordinary a gift. The emperor praised his modesty and agreed. An edict appointed Censor-in-chief Cui Lin return envoy. At Chiling each side also raised boundary steles, covenanting that neither would invade the other again.

時吐蕃使奏云：「公主請《毛詩》、《禮記》、《左傳》《文選》各一部。」制令秘書省寫與之。正字於休烈上疏請曰：

A Tubo envoy then reported, "The princess requests one copy each of the Mao Odes, the Book of Rites, the Zuo Tradition, and the Literary Anthology. An imperial order directed the Secretariat to copy and furnish them. Principal Archivist Yu Xiulie submitted a memorial, saying:

臣聞戎狄，國之寇也；經籍，國之典也。戎之生心，不可以無備；典有恆制，不可以假人。《傳》曰：「裔不謀夏，夷不亂華。」所以格其非心，在乎有備無患。昔東平王入朝求《史記》、諸子，漢帝不與。蓋以《史記》多兵謀，諸子雜詭術。夫以東平，漢之懿戚，尚不欲示征戰之書，今西戎，國之寇讎，豈可貽經典之事！

I have heard that the Rong and Di are the state's enemies; the classics are the state's canon. When the Rong harbor designs, we may not be without defense; canonical norms have fixed rule—they may not be lent to others. The Tradition says, "Descendants do not plot against Xia; barbarians do not disorder the Chinese. Thus to curb their disloyal hearts lies in preparedness without lapse. Formerly the Prince of Dongping came to court requesting the Records of the Grand Historian and the Masters; the Han emperor refused. For the Records are full of military stratagems, and the Masters full of heterodox arts. Though Dongping was Han's honored kin, the throne would not show him books of war. How now may we bestow the canon upon Western Rong, the state's sworn foe!

且臣聞吐蕃之性，剽悍果決，敏情持銳，善學不回。若達於書，必能知戰。深於《詩》，則知武夫有師幹之試；深於《禮》，則知月令有興廢之兵；深於《傳》，則知用師多詭詐之計；深於《文》，則知往來有書檄之制。何異借寇兵而資盜糧也！

Moreover I hear that Tubo's nature is fierce and resolute, keen of mind and sharp in grasp, apt at learning and unyielding. If they master books, they will certainly master war. Deep in the Odes, they will learn how warriors are tried in command; deep in the Rites, they will learn the monthly ordinances for raising and standing down arms; deep in the Tradition, they will learn the stratagems of deceit in employing troops; deep in the Letters, they will learn the forms of written proclamation between states. What is this but lending arms to the foe and grain to the bandit!

臣聞魯秉周禮，齊不加兵；吳獲乘車，楚疲奔命。一以守典存國，一以喪法危邦，可取鑒也。且公主下嫁從人，遠適異國，合慕夷禮，返求良書，愚臣料之，恐非公主本意也。慮有奔北之類，勸教於中。若陛下慮失蕃情，以備國信，必不得已，請去《春秋》。當周德既衰，諸侯強盛，禮樂自出，戰伐交興，情偽於是乎生，變詐於是乎起，則有以臣召君之事，取威定霸之名。若與此書，國之患也。《傳》曰：「於奚請曲縣鞶纓，仲尼曰：『惜也，不如多與之邑。惟名與器，不可假人。』」狄固貪婪，貴貨易土，正可錫之錦綺，厚以玉帛，何必率從其求，以資其智！臣忝叨列位，職刊秘籍，實痛經典，棄在戎夷。昧死上聞，惟陛下深察。

I have heard that Lu upheld Zhou ritual and Qi did not raise arms against it; Wu obtained carriage and Chu was worn out racing to answer. One preserved the canon and saved the state; one abandoned law and endangered the realm. Here is a lesson. Moreover the princess went down in marriage with her retinue to a distant alien land. She ought to admire barbarian custom, not turn back to seek fine books. This humble official reckons this is not the princess's true intent. I fear there are men of the north who have fled and now counsel such teaching within. If Your Majesty fears losing Tubo's goodwill to preserve state trust and absolutely must grant the books, I beg that at least the Spring and Autumn Annals be withheld. When Zhou virtue had waned, the feudal lords grew strong, ritual and music issued from themselves, and war rose in turn. Sincerity and falsehood were born; shift and fraud sprouted. Then came subjects summoning their lords and names of seizing power and fixing hegemony. To give them this book would be calamity for the state. The Tradition says, "Xi of the Rong requested the music of the Bend in the Huang and the tassels of investiture. Confucius said, 'A pity—it were better to give him more towns. Titles and regalia may not be lent to others. The Di are greedy by nature, prizing goods and trading land. Bestow silks and brocades, heap jade and silks upon them—why follow every request and feed their wits!' Your servant stands unworthily in the ranks, charged with editing the secret archives. I grieve in truth to see the classics cast among the Rong and Di. Braving death I report this upward. May Your Majesty consider it deeply.

疏奏不省。二十一年，又制工部尚書李皓往聘吐蕃。每唐使入境，所在盛陳甲兵及騎馬，以矜其精銳。二十二年，遣將軍李佺於赤嶺與吐蕃分界立碑。二十四年正月，吐蕃遣使貢方物金銀器玩數百事，皆形制奇異。上令列於提象門外，以示百僚。

The memorial was submitted and ignored. In the twenty-first year an order again appointed Li Hao, Minister of Works, envoy to Tubo. Whenever Tang envoys crossed the border, armor and cavalry were massed everywhere to display their strength. In the twenty-second year General Li Quan was sent to Chiling to erect boundary steles with Tubo. In the first month of the twenty-fourth year Tubo sent envoys with tribute of more than a hundred gold and silver vessels and curios, all strange in form. The emperor ordered them set out before the Gate of the Raised Elephant for the hundred officials to view.

其年，吐蕃西擊勃律，遣使來告急。上使報吐蕃，令其罷兵。吐蕃不受詔，遂攻破勃律國，上甚怒之。時散騎常侍崔希逸為河西節度使，於涼州鎮守。時吐蕃與漢樹柵為界，置守捉使。希逸謂吐蕃將乞力徐曰：「兩國和好，何須守捉，妨人耕種。請皆罷之，以成一家豈不善也？」乞力徐報曰：「常侍忠厚，必是誠言。但恐朝廷未必皆相信任。萬一有人交抅，掩吾不備，後悔無益也。」希逸固請之，遂發使與乞力徐殺白狗為盟，各去守備。於是吐蕃畜牧被野。俄而希逸傔人孫誨入朝奏事，誨欲自邀其功，因奏言「吐蕃無備，若發兵掩之，必克捷。」上使內給事趙惠琮與孫誨馳往觀察事宜。惠琮等至涼州，遂矯詔令希逸掩襲之，希逸不得已而從之，大破吐蕃於青海之上，殺獲甚眾，乞力徐輕身遁逸。惠琮、孫誨皆加厚賞，吐蕃自是復絕朝貢。希逸以失信怏怏，在軍不得誌。俄遷為河南尹，行至京師，與趙惠琮俱見白狗為祟，相次而死。孫誨亦以罪被戮。詔以岐州刺史蕭炅為戶部侍郎判涼州事，代希逸為河西節度使；鄯州都督杜希望為隴右節度使；太仆卿王昊為益州長史、劍南節度使，分道經略，以討吐蕃。仍令毀其分界之碑。

That year Tubo struck Bolor in the west and sent envoys begging urgent aid. The emperor sent word to Tubo ordering them to stand down. Tubo refused the edict, overran the state of Bolor, and the emperor was deeply angered. At that time Cui Xiyi, Palace Attendant, was military commissioner of Hexi, holding Liangzhou. Tubo and the Han each had palisades for a boundary and posted frontier guard commissioners. Xiyi said to the Tubo general Qili Xu, "The two realms are at peace. Why keep frontier guards and hinder the farmers? Let us abolish them all and complete one household. Would that not be well? Qili Xu replied, "The regular attendant is honest and generous. These must be sincere words. But I fear the court may not all believe and trust. If someone should sow discord and strike when we are unprepared, regret would come too late. Xiyi pressed him hard. They then sent envoys, and he and Qili Xu slew a white dog in covenant and each withdrew their guards. Tubo's herds then grazed across the open country. Before long Xiyi's retainer Sun Hui came to court on business. Wishing to claim merit for himself, he reported, "Tubo is undefended. If we raise troops and strike by surprise, victory is certain. The emperor sent Inner Attendant-in-Ordinary Zhao Huizong with Sun Hui post-haste to observe the situation. Huizong and his party reached Liangzhou and forged an edict ordering Xiyi to strike by surprise. Xiyi had no choice but to obey. They routed Tubo greatly on the Qinghai shore, killing and capturing in vast numbers, while Qili Xu fled for his life. Huizong and Sun Hui both received lavish rewards. Tubo from that day again cut off court tribute. Xiyi, having broken faith, brooded in resentment and could not find peace in command. Soon he was transferred to Henan Intendant. On the road to the capital he and Zhao Huizong both saw a white dog haunting them and died in succession. Sun Hui was also executed for his crime. The throne ordered Xiao Jiong, prefect of Qi, to serve as Vice Minister of Revenue and act for Liangzhou, succeeding Xi Yi as commissioner of the Hexi frontier; Du Xiwang, protector-general of Shan, was made military commissioner of Longyou; Wang Hao, Grand Master of the Studs, became chief administrator of Yi and commissioner of Jiannan; they were to advance by separate routes and carry the war against Tubo. The court also ordered the destruction of the border treaty stele.

二十六年四月，杜希望率眾攻吐蕃新城，拔之。以其城為威武軍，發兵一千以鎮之。其年七月，希望又從鄯州發兵奪吐蕃河橋，於河左築鹽泉城。吐蕃將兵三萬人以拒官軍，希望引眾擊破之，因於鹽泉城置鎮西軍。時王昊又率劍南兵募攻其安戎城。先於安戎城左右築兩城，以為攻拒之所，頓兵於蓬婆嶺下，運劍南道資糧以守之。其年九月，吐蕃悉銳以救安戎城，官軍大敗，兩城並為賊所陷，昊脫身走免，將士已下數萬人及軍糧資仗等並沒於賊。昊坐左遷括州刺史。初，昊之在軍，謬賞其子錢帛萬計，並擅與紫袍等，所費鉅萬，坐是尋又重貶為端州高要尉而死。

In the fourth month of year twenty-six of the Kaiyuan era, Du Xiwang stormed Tubo's New City and captured it. The place was organized as the Weiwu garrison, with a thousand men stationed there. That seventh month Xiwang marched again from Shan, seized the Tubo bridge on the river, and built Salt Spring City on the left bank. Tubo sent thirty thousand men against the imperial army; Xiwang routed them and established the Zhenxi garrison at Salt Spring City. Meanwhile Wang Hao led Jiannan recruits against Anrong City. He first threw up twin fortresses flanking Anrong as bases for the siege, camped under Mount Pengpo, and hauled supplies up the Jiannan road to sustain the force. That ninth month Tubo hurled its best troops to save Anrong. The imperial army was shattered; both satellite forts fell; Hao alone fled free. Tens of thousands of officers and men, with provisions, stores, and weapons, were swallowed by the enemy. Hao was demoted to prefect of Kuo for his failure. While still in command he had lavished on his son rewards in cash and silk beyond count and had presumptuously given him purple robes and such luxuries at a cost of myriads; for this he was soon demoted again to registrar of Gaoyao in Duan, where he died.

二十七年七月，吐蕃又寇白草、安人等軍，敕臨洮、朔方等軍分兵救援。時吐蕃於中路屯兵，斷臨洮軍之路。白水軍守捉使高柬於拒守連旬，俄而賊退，蕭炅遣偏將掩其後，擊破之。王昊既敗之後，詔以華州刺史張宥為益州長史、劍南防禦使，主客員外郎章仇兼瓊為益州司馬、防禦副使。宥既文吏，素無攻戰之策，兼瓊遂專其戎事。俄而兼瓊入奏，盛陳攻取安戎之策。上甚悅，徙張宥為光祿卿，拔兼瓊令知益州長史事，代張宥節度，仍為之親畫取城之計。

In the seventh month of year twenty-seven Tubo struck again at Baicao and Anren garrisons; the throne ordered Lin-tao, Shuofang, and other circuits to send relief in separate columns. Tubo had planted troops on the main route and severed the Lin-tao garrison's supply line. Gao Jian, commander of the Baishui outpost, held them at bay for weeks until the enemy withdrew; then Xiao Jiong sent a flank force to fall on their rear and rout them. After Wang Hao's disaster, Zhang You of Hua was made chief administrator of Yi and Jiannan defense commissioner, with Zhangqiu Jianqiong, outer-office secretary in the host ministry, as his marshal and second-in-command. Zhang You was a civilian with no taste for war; Jianqiong took the field command into his own hands. Soon Jianqiong went to court and laid out a detailed plan to seize Anrong. The emperor was delighted. Zhang You was shifted to Chamberlain of the Imperial Clan; Jianqiong was promoted to govern Yi and replaced Zhang as commissioner, while the emperor himself sketched out the scheme for taking the city.

二十八年春，兼瓊密與安戎城中吐蕃翟都局及維州別駕董承宴等通謀。都局等遂翻城歸款，因引官軍入城，盡殺吐蕃將士，使監察御史許遠率兵鎮守。上聞之，甚悅。中書令李林甫等上表曰：「伏以吐蕃此城，正當沖要，憑險自固，恃以窺邊。積年以來，蟻聚為患，縱有百萬之眾，難以施功。陛下親紆秘策，不興師旅，頃令中使李思敬曉喻羌族，莫不懷恩，翻然改圖，自相謀陷。神算運於不測，睿略通於未然，累載逋誅，一朝蕩滅。又臣等今日奏事，陛下從容問臣等曰：『卿等但看四夷不久當漸摧喪。』德音才降，遽聞戎捷，則知聖與天合，應如響至，前古以來，所未有也。請宣示百僚，編諸史策。」手制答曰：「此城儀鳳年中羌引吐蕃，遂被固守，歲月既久，攻伐亦多。其地險阻，非力所制。朝廷群議，不合取之。朕以小蕃無知，事須處置，授以奇計，所以行之，獲彼戎心，歸我城守，有足為慰也。」其年十月，吐蕃又引眾寇安戎城及維州，章仇兼瓊遣裨將率眾禦之，仍發關中彍騎以救援焉。時屬凝寒，賊久之自引退。詔改安戎城為平戎城。

In the spring of year twenty-eight Jianqiong opened secret contact with the Tubo officer Zhai Duju inside Anrong and Dong Chengyan, vice-prefect of Wei, among others. Duju and his party defected, admitted the imperial troops, and slaughtered every Tubo soldier in the place; Investigative Censor Xu Yuan was left to hold the city. When word reached the throne, the emperor was overjoyed. Chief Minister Li Linfu and his colleagues memorialized: "This Tubo stronghold sits on a vital pass; trusting its cliffs, it has fortified itself and eyed our frontier. Years of raids have swarmed like ants upon us; even a million men could not easily take it. Your Majesty devised the secret plan yourself—no great host was needed. The palace agent Li Sijing won over the Qiang, who turned in gratitude and plotted among themselves to betray the garrison. Your foresight worked where none could guess it; your design reached into a future none yet saw—and a foe that had defied us for years was swept away in a single morning. Earlier today, as we reported to you, Your Majesty said with easy calm: "Mark my words—the four quarters of barbarians will soon crack and fail. Your prophecy had barely been uttered when tidings of victory arrived—proof that your sage will moves with Heaven's, that the world answers you like an echo. Never in antiquity was such a thing heard of. We beg that this be proclaimed to the court and recorded in the histories. The emperor answered in his own hand: "In the Yifeng era the Qiang brought Tubo into this place, which they have held ever since. Long years of assault have failed to move it. The ground is too rugged for force alone to master. The court had agreed not to pursue it. These small barbarians act without counsel; the matter required handling. I gave them a subtle plan, and it succeeded: their hearts came over to us and the city returned to our hold. That is comfort enough. That tenth month Tubo struck again at Anrong and Wei. Jianqiong sent subordinate generals to meet them and mobilized Guanzhong mounted archers as reinforcements. The bitter cold finally drove them off. The court renamed Anrong "Pacify-the-Barbarians City."

二十九年春，金城公主薨，吐蕃遣使來告哀，仍請和，上不許之。使到數月後，始為公主舉哀於光順門外，輟朝三日。六月，吐蕃四十萬攻承風堡，至河源軍，西入長寧橋，至安仁軍，渾崖峰騎將盛希液以眾五千攻而破之。十二月，吐蕃又襲石堡城，節度使蓋嘉運不能守，玄宗憤之。天寶初，令皇甫惟明、王忠嗣為隴右節度，皆不能克。七載，以哥舒翰為隴右節度使，攻而拔之，改石堡城為神武軍。

In the spring of year twenty-nine Princess Jincheng died. Tubo sent envoys to announce the loss and sue for peace; the emperor refused. Only months after the envoys arrived did the court hold mourning for the princess outside Guangshun Gate and suspend audience for three days. In the sixth month four hundred thousand Tubo struck Chengfeng Fortress, advanced to Heyuan Army, crossed west by Changning Bridge toward Anren Army—and Sheng Xiye of the Hunyafeng cavalry, with five thousand men, attacked and broke them. In the twelfth month Tubo raided Stone Fortress again. Commissioner Gai Jiayun could not hold it, and Xuanzong fumed. Early in the Tianbao era Huangfu Weiming and Wang Zhongsi were sent as Longyou commissioners; neither could take the place. In the seventh year of Tianbao Ge Shuhan became Longyou commissioner, stormed and took the fortress, and renamed it the Shenwu garrison.

天寶十四載，贊普乞黎蘇籠獵贊死，大臣立其子婆悉籠獵贊為主，復為贊普。玄宗遣京兆少尹崔光遠兼御史中丞，持節賫國信冊命吊祭之。及還，而安祿山已竊據洛陽，以河、隴兵募令哥舒翰為將，屯潼關。

In Tianbao fourteen the zanpu Qili Sulungliezan died. His ministers raised his son Bosuolongliezan to the throne as zanpu once more. Xuanzong dispatched Cui Guangyuan, assistant intendant of the capital and censor-in-chief, with imperial credentials to invest the new ruler and perform the mourning rites. On his return he found that An Lushan had seized Luoyang; Ge Shuhan was appointed to command the He-Long levies and hold Tong Pass.

昔秦以隴山已西為隴西郡。漢懷匈奴於河右，置姑臧、張掖、酒泉、伊吾等郡；又於磧外置西域都護，控引胡國；又分隴西為金城、西平等郡，雜以氐、羌居之。歷代喪亂，不為賢豪所據，則為遠夷侵廢；迨千年矣。武德初。薛仁杲奄有隴上之地，至於河虜。李敷盡有涼州之域，通於磧外。貞觀中，李靖破吐谷渾，侯君集平高昌，阿史那社爾開西域，置四鎮。前王之所未伏，盡為臣妾，秦、漢之封域，得議其土境耶！於是歲調山東丁男為戍卒，繒帛為軍資，有屯田以資糗糧，牧使以娩羊馬。大軍萬人，小軍千人，烽戍邏卒，萬里相繼，以卻於強敵。隴右鄯州為節度。河西涼州為節度。安西、北庭亦置節度，關內則於靈州置朔方節度，又有受降城、單於都護庭為之籓衛。及潼關失守，河洛阻兵，於是盡征河隴、朔方之將鎮兵入靖國難，謂之行營。曩時軍營邊州無備預矣。乾元之後，吐蕃乘我間隙，日蹙邊城，或為虜掠傷殺，或轉死溝壑。數年之後，鳳翔之西，邠州之北，盡蕃戎之境，淹沒者數十州。

In Qin times the land west of the Long Mountains formed Longxi Commandery. Han wooed the Xiongnu west of the river and founded the commanderies of Guzang, Zhangye, Jiuquan, Yiwu, and the rest; beyond the sands they set the Western Regions protectorate to oversee the barbarian kingdoms; Longxi was split into Jincheng, Xiping, and other prefectures where Di and Qiang peoples were settled among the Han. Dynasty after dynasty, whenever no strong lord held it, distant peoples invaded and laid it waste; A thousand years have passed in that cycle. At the opening of the Wude era. Xue Rengao seized the Long plateau and pressed to the river frontier. Li Fu held all Liangzhou and his sway ran past the desert's edge. Under Zhenguan, Li Jing shattered Tuyuhun, Hou Junji subdued Gaochang, and Ashina She'er opened the west and planted the Four Garrisons. Kingdoms no earlier throne had broken all bowed as subjects—could one still haggle over the old domains of Qin and Han! Each year levies drew men from east of the mountains to man the walls, silk to fill the war chests; colony fields fed the garrisons and herd offices bred sheep and horses. Hosts of ten thousand and detachments of a thousand, beacon towers and frontier patrols linked for ten thousand li, held the line against powerful foes. Longyou was centered on Shan as a frontier command. Hexi was centered on Liang as a military command. Anxi and Beiting received commissioners as well; within the passes Shuofang was established at Lingzhou, with Shouxiang City and the Chanyu Protectorate as its shield. When Tong Pass fell and the heartland drowned in war, every frontier general and garrison of He-Long and Shuofang was summoned east to save the dynasty—these were called the campaigning hosts. The border strongholds were stripped bare of defense. After the Qianyuan era Tubo exploited our weakness, tightening day by day on the frontier forts—some fell to slaughter and plunder, others to starvation in the gullies. Within a few years everything west of Fengxiang and north of Bin became barbarian ground; dozens of prefectures were swallowed.

肅宗元年建寅月甲辰，吐蕃遣使來朝請和，敕宰相郭子儀、蕭華、裴遵慶等於中書設宴。將詣光宇寺為盟誓，使者云：蕃法盟誓，取三牲血歃之，無向佛寺之事，請明日須於鴻臚寺歃血，以申蕃戎之禮。從之。寶應元年六月，吐蕃使燭番、莽耳等二人貢方物入朝，乃於延英殿引見，勞賜各有差。而劍南西山又與吐蕃、氐、羌鄰接，武德以來，開置州縣，立軍防，即漢之笮路，乾元之後，亦陷於吐蕃。寶慶二年三月，遣左散騎常侍兼御史大夫李之芳、左庶子兼御史中丞崔倫使於吐蕃，至其境而留之。

On the first jiayin month's jiachen day of Suzong's first year Tubo envoys came suing for peace; Guo Ziyi, Xiao Hua, Pei Zunqing, and other chancellors were ordered to host them at the Secretariat. When the court prepared to swear the pact at Guangyu Temple, the envoys said: "By Tubo custom we mix the blood of three beasts and drink the oath—we do not swear in temples. Let us meet tomorrow at the Court of State Ceremonial and perform the blood rite as Tubo law requires." The court agreed. In the sixth month of Baoying 1, Tubo envoys Zhu Fan and Mang Er brought tribute to court and were received in Yanying Hall, each rewarded according to his station. The western ranges of Jiannan likewise marched with Tubo, Di, and Qiang. Since Wude the court had opened prefectures and garrison posts along the old Han Zuo Road; after Qianyuan that country too was lost to Tubo. In the third month of Baoying 2 the court sent Li Zhifang and Cui Lun as envoys to Tubo; once they reached the frontier the Tibetans held them.

廣德元年九月，吐蕃寇陷涇州。十月，寇邠州，又陷奉天縣。遣中書令郭子儀西禦。吐蕃以吐谷渾、党項羌之眾二十余萬，自龍光度而東。郭子儀退軍，車駕幸陜州，京師失守。降將高暉引吐蕃入上都城，與吐蕃大將馬重英等立故邠王男廣武王承宏為帝，立年號，大赦，署置官員，尋以司封崔瑰等為相。郭子儀退軍南保商州，吐蕃居城十五日退，官軍收上都，以郭子儀為留守。

In the ninth month of Guangde 1 Tubo stormed and took Jingzhou. In the tenth month they struck Binzhou and seized Fengtian County. Chief Minister Guo Ziyi was dispatched west to meet them. Tubo led more than two hundred thousand Tuyuhun and Tangut Qiang warriors east from Longguang Ford. Guo Ziyi fell back; the emperor fled to Shanzhou; the capital fell. The defector Gao Hui guided Tubo into the Upper Capital; with the Tubo commander Ma Chongying and others they enthroned Li Chenghong, Prince of Guangwu, proclaimed a reign title and general amnesty, and soon named Cui Gui of the Directorate of Enfeoffments and others as chancellors. Guo Ziyi fell back south to Shangzhou; the Tibetans held the capital fifteen days and withdrew; the imperial army retook the Upper Capital and made Guo Ziyi its garrison commander.

初，車駕東幸，衣冠戚裏盡南投荊襄及隱竄山谷，於是六軍將士持兵剽劫，所在阻絕。郭子儀領部曲數百人及其妻子仆從南入牛心谷，駝馬車牛數百兩，子儀遲留，未知所適。行軍判官、中書舍人王延昌、監察御史李萼謂子儀曰：「令公身為元帥，主上蒙塵於外，家國之事，一至於此。今吐蕃之勢日逼，豈可懷安於谷中，何不南趨商州，漸赴行在。」子儀遽從之。延昌曰：「吐蕃知令公南行，必分兵來逼，若當大路，事即危矣。不如取玉山路而去，出其不意。」子儀又從之。延昌與李萼皆從子儀，子儀之隊千余人，山路狹隘，連延百餘里，人不得馳。延昌與萼恐狹徑被追，前後不相救，至倒回口，遂與子儀別行，逾絕澗，登七盤，趨於商州。先是，六軍將張知節與麾下數百人自京城奔於商州，大掠避難朝官、士庶及居人資財鞍馬，已有日矣。延昌與萼既至，說知節曰：「將軍身掌禁兵，軍敗而不赴行在，又恣其下虜掠，何所歸乎？今郭令公元帥也，已欲至洛南，將軍若整頓士卒，喻以禍福，請令公來撫之，以圖收長安，此則將軍非常之功也。」知節大悅。其時諸軍將臧希讓、高升、彭體盈、李惟詵等數人，各有部曲，率其數十騎，相次而至，又從其計，皆相率為軍，約不侵暴。延昌留於軍中主約，萼以數騎往迎子儀，去洛南十餘里，及之，遂與子儀回至商州。諸將大喜，皆遵其約束。

When the emperor fled east, courtiers and kin scattered south to Jingxiang or hid in the hills; the Six Armies then turned to armed robbery, and travel was cut off everywhere. Guo Ziyi led several hundred retainers with their families south into Niuxin Valley, driving hundreds of pack animals and carts, and lingered there uncertain which way to turn. The army judge Wang Yanchang, a Secretariat drafter, and the censor Li E said to him: "You are the supreme commander, yet the emperor wanders in exile—never has the realm come to such a pass. Tubo presses closer every day—how can you rest easy in this gorge? March south to Shangzhou and rejoin the emperor's court. Guo Ziyi at once agreed. Yanchang said: "Once Tubo learns you are heading south they will send detachments after you—take the highway and you are lost. Better strike out on the Yushan trail and take them unawares. Guo Ziyi agreed again. Yanchang and Li E rode with him—over a thousand in Guo Ziyi's column on a narrow track more than a hundred li long where no one could ride at speed. Fearing pursuit on the defile where front and rear could not aid each other, they parted from Guo Ziyi at Daohuikou, crossed the cliffs by Seven Bends, and made for Shangzhou. Earlier Zhang Zhijie of the Six Armies had fled the capital to Shangzhou with several hundred men and for days had been plundering refugees, townspeople, and their goods and mounts. When they arrived they urged Zhang Zhijie: "You command the imperial guard, yet after defeat you neither rejoined the court nor restrained your men from looting—where can that end? Marshal Guo is near Luonan. Rally your troops, show them what honor or ruin awaits, and ask him to lead you—all to win back Chang'an. That would be a feat beyond measure. Zhang Zhijie was delighted. Then other generals—Zang Xirang, Gao Sheng, Peng Tiying, Li Weishen, and others—arrived in turn with their bands, accepted the plan, and formed a united force pledged not to plunder. Yanchang stayed with the troops to hold them to the pact while Li E rode out with a few men to meet Guo Ziyi, found him a dozen li south of Luonan, and brought him back to Shangzhou. The generals rejoiced and kept the discipline he had imposed.

吐蕃將入京師也，前光祿卿殷仲卿逃難而出，鞍馬衣服盡為土賊所掠。仲卿至藍田，糾合散兵及諸驍勇願從者百余人，南保藍田，以拒吐蕃，其眾漸振，至於千人。子儀既至商州，未知仲卿之舉，募人往探賊勢。羽林將軍長孫全緒請行，以二百騎隸之。又令太子賓客第五琦攝京兆尹，同收長安。全緒至韓公堆，晝則擊鼓，廣張旗幟，夜則多燃火，以疑吐蕃。仲卿探知官軍，其勢益壯。遂相為表裏，以狀聞於子儀。仲卿帥二百余騎遊奕，直渡浐水。吐蕃懼，問百姓，百姓皆紿之曰：「郭令公自商州領眾卻收長安，大軍不知其數。」賊以為然，遂抽軍而還，余眾尚在城。軍將王撫及御史大夫王仲升頓兵自苑中入，椎鼓大呼，仲卿之師又入城，吐蕃皆奔走，乃收上都。郭子儀乘之，鼓行入長安，人心乃安。

As Tubo prepared to enter the capital, the former Chamberlain Yin Zhongqing fled; bandits stripped him of horse, saddle, and robes. At Lantian he gathered a hundred-odd stragglers and volunteers, held the district against Tubo, and his force grew to a thousand. Once Guo Ziyi reached Shangzhou he did not yet know of Yin Zhongqing's stand and sent men to scout the enemy. Palace Guard General Zhangsun Quanxu volunteered and was given two hundred horsemen. He also appointed the Crown Prince's adviser Diwu Qi acting metropolitan governor of Jingzhao to join in retaking Chang'an. At Hanggongdui, Zhangsun Quanxu beat drums by day, flew banners in profusion, and lit many fires by night to deceive the Tubo army. Yin Zhongqing learned that imperial troops were near, and his force grew bolder. The two columns then coordinated as inner and outer wings and sent word of their position to Guo Ziyi. Yin Zhongqing led more than two hundred horsemen on patrol and crossed the Chan River at a ford. The Tubo troops grew fearful and questioned local people, who all lied to them: "Marshal Guo is marching from Shangzhou with a host to retake Chang'an—no one knows how great that army is. The enemy believed them, drew off the main body, and left only a remnant in the city. The commanders Wang Fu and Censor-in-Chief Wang Zhongsheng led troops in from the imperial park, beating drums and shouting; Yin Zhongqing's men entered the walls as well. The Tubo soldiers broke and ran, and the upper capital was retaken. Guo Ziyi pressed the advantage, entered Chang'an to the beat of drums, and the people's hearts were steadied.

吐蕃退至鳳翔，節度孫誌直閉門拒之，吐蕃圍守數日。會鎮西節度、兼御史中丞馬璘領精騎千余自河西救楊誌烈回，引兵入城。遲明，單騎持滿，直沖賊眾，左右願從者百余騎。璘奮擊大呼，賊徒披靡，無敢當者，賊疲而歸。賊眾恃其驍勇，翌日又逼城請戰。璘披甲開懸門，賊乃抽退。皆曰：「此將不惜死不可當，且避之。」又復居原、會、成、渭之地。

Tubo fell back on Fengxiang, but the military commissioner Sun Zhizhi shut the gates against them; the Tubo army besieged the city for days. Ma Lin, military commissioner of the western frontier and concurrent vice censor-in-chief, came from Hexi with more than a thousand picked horsemen, rescued Yang Zhilie on his return, and led his men into Fengxiang. At dawn he rode out alone, bow drawn full, and charged the enemy ranks; a little over a hundred horsemen who wished to follow went with him. Ma Lin charged shouting; the enemy lines split and none dared stand before him. The raiders, exhausted, withdrew. Trusting in their fierceness, the enemy came back the next day and pressed the walls, demanding battle. Ma Lin armored himself and opened the drawbridge; the enemy at once pulled back. They said among themselves, "This commander cares nothing for his life—we cannot face him. Better withdraw for now. They then reoccupied the prefectures of Yuan, Hui, Cheng, and Wei.

十二月，乘輿還上都。二年五月，放李之芳還。九月，叛將僕射、大寧郡王仆固懷恩自靈武遣其黨範誌誠、任敷等引吐蕃、吐谷渾之眾來犯王畿。十月，懷恩之眾至邠州挑戰，節度白孝德及副元帥先鋒郭鋒嬰城拒之，以挫其鋒。賊眾遂逼奉天縣西二十里為營，郭子儀屯於奉天，又按軍不戰。郭鋒於邠州西三十里，令精騎二百五十人、步卒五十人斫懷恩營，破五千眾，斬首千余級，生擒八十五人，降其大將四人，為五百匹。十一月，仆固懷恩引吐蕃之眾退。

In the twelfth month the emperor returned to the upper capital. In the fifth month of the second year Li Zhifang was sent home from captivity. In the ninth month the rebel Pugu Huai'en, Prince of Daning and former Pushe, sent his followers Fan Zhicheng and Ren Fu from Lingwu to bring Tubo and Tuyuhun forces against the capital region. In the tenth month Huai'en's army reached Binzhou and offered battle. The military commissioner Bai Xiaode and the vanguard of the deputy grand marshal, Guo Feng, shut the walls and held firm to blunt the enemy's momentum. The rebels then pitched camp twenty li west of Fengtian county while Guo Ziyi held Fengtian and again kept his army in check without giving battle. Thirty li west of Binzhou, Guo Feng sent two hundred fifty picked horsemen and fifty foot soldiers to raid Huai'en's camp. They routed five thousand men, took more than a thousand heads, captured eighty-five alive, received the surrender of four enemy generals, and seized five hundred horses. In the eleventh month Pugu Huai'en withdrew with the Tubo forces.

廣德二年，河西節度楊誌烈被圍，守數年，以孤城無援，乃跳身西投甘州，涼州又陷於寇。

In the second year of Guangde the Hexi commissioner Yang Zhilie, besieged for years in an isolated city without relief, slipped away west to Ganzhou; Liangzhou then fell to the enemy.

永泰元年三月，吐蕃請和，遣宰相元載、杜鴻漸等於興唐寺與之盟而罷。秋九月，仆固懷恩誘吐蕃、回紇之眾，南犯王畿。吐蕃大將尚結息贊磨、尚息東贊、尚野息及馬重英率二十萬眾至奉天界，邠州節度使白孝德不能禦，京城戒嚴。先是，朔方先鋒兵馬使渾日進、孫守亮屯軍於奉天以拒之，於是詔追副元帥郭子儀於河中府領眾赴援，屯於涇陽，諸將各屯守要害。初，吐蕃列營奉天，渾日進單騎沖之，驍騎二百人繼進，沖突其營，左右擊刺，賊徒驚駭，無不應弦而斃。日進挾一蕃將，躍馬而歸，蕃將奮身，失其撒飯一。日進之眾，無中鋒鏑者，軍中望而益振。明日，吐蕃悉眾圍之，日進命拋車夾石投之，雜以弓弩，賊死傷眾。數日，斂軍回營。尋又日進夜斫賊營於梁母神下，殺千余人，生擒五百人，獲駝馬器械。

In the third month of Yongtai 1 Tubo sued for peace, and chancellors Yuan Zai and Du Hongjian met their envoys at Xingtang Temple to swear an alliance. That autumn, in the ninth month, Pugu Huai'en incited Tubo and Uyghur forces to march south against the capital region. The Tubo generals Shang Jiexi Zanmo, Shang Xidongzan, Shang Yexi, and Ma Chongying advanced with two hundred thousand men to Fengtian. The Binzhou commissioner Bai Xiaode could not hold them, and the capital went on full alert. Hun Rijin and Sun Shouliang of the Shuofang vanguard were already holding Fengtian. The court then recalled Deputy Grand Marshal Guo Ziyi from Hezhong with his army, posted him at Jingyang, and stationed other generals at key points. When Tubo first encamped at Fengtian, Hun Rijin charged their lines alone, two hundred crack horsemen close behind. They tore through the camp striking left and right until every arrow found its mark and the enemy broke in panic. Hun Rijin seized a Tubo officer and galloped back with him; the man wrenched free but lost a belt plaque in the struggle. Not one of Hun Rijin's men took an arrow wound, and the army took fresh heart at the sight. The next day Tubo surrounded them in full force. Hun Rijin ordered catapults to shower stones, mixed with bow and crossbow fire, and the enemy fell in great numbers. After several days he drew his troops back into camp. Soon afterward Hun Rijin raided the enemy camp by night below Liangmu Shrine, killed more than a thousand, took five hundred alive, and seized camels, horses, and arms.

上又下詔親征，括朝官馬，京城置團練。鎮西節度馬璘遇吐蕃遊奕四百余人於武功東原，使五十人擊而盡殺之，無噍類。自十七日至二十五日晚際始止，議者以為天助。吐蕃移營於醴泉縣九飗山北，因攻掠醴泉。京城大駭，人皆空室，大戶鑿竇以出。逆黨任敷以兵五千余人犯白水縣。渾日進露布而至，屯於奉天馬嵬店。今月十九日已後至二十五日已前，交戰二百余陣，破吐蕃一萬余眾，斬首五千級，生擒一百六十人，馬一千二百四十二匹，駝一百一十五頭，器械、幡旗共三萬余事。朝官震懼，家口回避者十室八九，禁之不止。自前年吐蕃犯王畿後，於中渭橋鄠豐城以營兵，至是功畢。

The emperor again decreed that he would take the field in person, requisitioned the horses of court officials, and organized capital militia training. Ma Lin met more than four hundred Tubo scouts on the eastern plain of Wugong and sent fifty men against them; they killed every man, leaving none alive. From the seventeenth through the twenty-fifth fierce gales blew without pause until dusk each day; court opinion called it heaven's aid. Tubo shifted camp north of Jiufeng Mountain in Liquan county and plundered Liquan. Panic seized the capital. Families abandoned their houses, and wealthy households even broke through their walls to flee. The rebel Ren Fu led more than five thousand men against Baishui county. Hun Rijin arrived with a victory bulletin and encamped at the Mawei post in Fengtian. From the nineteenth through the twenty-fifth of that month they fought more than two hundred engagements, routed over ten thousand Tubo troops, took five thousand heads and one hundred sixty prisoners, and captured one thousand two hundred forty-two horses, one hundred fifteen camels, and more than thirty thousand weapons, banners, and flags. Officials were terrified; eight or nine households in ten sent their families away despite orders forbidding flight. Since Tubo's invasion of the capital region two years earlier, garrisons had been built at the Central Wei Bridge and Efengcheng; that work was now finished.

吐蕃退至永壽北，遇回紇之眾，雖聞懷恩死，皆悖其眾，相誘而奔，復來寇。至奉天，兩蕃猜貳爭長，別為營壘。吐蕃遊奕至窯底，吐蕃又至馬嵬店，因縱火焚居人廬舍而退。回紇三千騎詣涇陽降款，請擊吐蕃為效，子儀許之。於是朔方先鋒兵馬使開府南陽郡王白元光與回紇合於涇陽靈臺縣東五十里，攻破吐蕃。斬首及生擒獲駝馬牛羊甚眾。上停親征，京師解嚴，宰相上表稱賀。

Tubo withdrew north of Yongshou and met Uyghur forces. Though they had heard Huai'en was dead, the allies distrusted one another, drew one another on in flight, and turned back to raid again. At Fengtian the two allies grew suspicious and quarreled over precedence, each pitching a separate camp. Tubo scouts reached Yaodi, others reached the Mawei post, set fire to civilian dwellings, and withdrew. Three thousand Uyghur horsemen came to Jingyang to submit and offered to fight Tubo on Tang's behalf; Guo Ziyi agreed. Then the Shuofang vanguard commissioner Bai Yuanguang, Prince of Nanyang, joined the Uyghurs fifty li east of Lingtai in Jingyang and routed the Tubo army. They took a great toll in heads and prisoners and seized vast numbers of camels, horses, cattle, and sheep. The emperor canceled his planned campaign in person, the capital stood down from alert, and the chancellors submitted congratulatory memorials.

Cite this Chapter