Overview
Emperor Dezong was a ruler.
IdentityHistorical · Male
Life and dates
Attested activity
Places and affiliations
- Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Events and relationships
Clothed in crimson and summoned
Enraged none dared speak
Political · Ruler
Exiled for harboring guilty man
Grew weary of petty remonstrance
Court · Ruler
Ordered chief ministers to admonish and dismiss
Summoned chief ministers to reproach
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References in the histories
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New Book of Tang, Chapter 194Volume 194 Biographies 119: Outstanding Conduct · 10 passages
及為宰相，又言之德宗，於是召拜右諫議大夫，遣長安尉楊寧賫束帛詣其家。
When Mi became chief minister he again spoke of Cheng to Emperor Dezong; Cheng was then summoned as right remonstrator, and Chang'an magistrate Yang Ning was sent with silks to his home.
城褐衣到闕下辭讓，帝遣中人持緋衣衣之，召見，賜帛五十匹。
Cheng came to court in brown clothes to decline; the emperor sent a eunuch to clothe him in crimson and summoned him, bestowing fifty bolts of silk.
及受命，它諫官論事苛細紛紛，帝厭苦，而城浸聞得失且熟，猶未肯言。
After he took office, other remonstrators debated petty details until the emperor grew weary; Cheng gradually heard all gains and losses and knew them well, yet still would not speak.
及裴延齡誣逐陸贄、張滂、李充等，帝怒甚，無敢言。
When Pei Yanling falsely drove out Lu Zan, Zhang Pang, Li Chong, and others, the emperor was furious beyond measure and none dared speak.
城聞，曰：「吾諫官，不可令天子殺無罪大臣。」
When Cheng heard this he said: "I am a remonstrator—I cannot let the Son of Heaven kill guiltless chief ministers."
帝大怒，召宰相抵城罪。
The emperor was greatly enraged and summoned the chief ministers to reproach Cheng.
順宗方為皇太子，為開救，良久得免，敕宰相諭遣。
Shunzong was then heir apparent and interceded; after a long while Cheng was spared; the emperor ordered the chief ministers to admonish and dismiss him.
然帝意不已，欲遂相延齡。
Yet the emperor's intent was not finished; he still wished to make Yanling chief minister.
帝不相延齡，城力也。
The emperor did not make Yanling chief minister—Cheng's force accomplished it.
帝惡城黨有罪，出為道州刺史，太學諸生何蕃、季償、王魯卿、李讜等二百人頓首闕下，請留城。
The emperor hated that Cheng harbored a guilty man and sent him out as prefect of Daozhou; more than two hundred Imperial University students—He Fan, Ji Chang, Wang Luqing, Li Dan, and others—knelt at the palace gate begging that Cheng be kept.