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卷二 本紀第二 太宗

Volume 2 Annals 2: Taizong

Chapter 2 of 新唐書 · New Book of Tang
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1
姿 使
Emperor Taizong, posthumously honored as Wen Wu the Great Sage and Great Broadly Filial, bore the taboo name Shimin and was the second son of Gaozu. His mother was Empress Taimu of the Dou clan. At birth he did not cry out. When he was four years old, a scholar called on Gaozu and said, "Your Excellency's features mark you as a man of rank, yet you must have a son who will surpass you in eminence. When he saw Taizong, he said, "He has the bearing of dragon and phoenix and a countenance like heaven and sun. His years are nearly at capping age; he will surely save the realm and bring peace to the people." The scholar had already departed. Gaozu feared his words would leak out and sent men to pursue and kill him, but they could not discover where he had gone, and Gaozu therefore took him for a supernatural being. Gaozu then took words from the prophecy and named him Shimin.
2
使
During the Daye reign, the Turks besieged Emperor Yang at Yanmen. From within the encirclement, Emperor Yang tied an edict to a piece of wood and cast it into the Fen River downstream to summon troops for relief. Taizong was then sixteen years old. He answered the call to arms and was placed under General Yun Dingxing. He told Dingxing, "The barbarians dare besiege our emperor only because they believe no relief is coming. We should now advance and follow our army at intervals of several tens of li, so that by day they see banners and by night hear bells and drums and believe a great army has arrived. Then we can drive them off without giving battle. Otherwise, once they learn our true strength, the outcome cannot be predicted. Dingxing followed his advice. When the army reached Guo County, Turk scout cavalry saw its columns arriving without cease and galloped to report to Khan Shibi, "Relief troops have arrived in great numbers! The Turks thereupon withdrew. Gaozu attacked Li Shanfei and was trapped in his encirclement. Taizong galloped in with light cavalry, rescued him, and brought him out, then pressed the attack and routed the enemy completely.
3
Taizong was intelligent, heroic, and martial, with great ambition, yet he could humble himself and honor men of talent. At that time the realm was already in turmoil and bandits had risen everywhere. Knowing the Sui dynasty would surely fall, he distributed his wealth to nurture men of talent and won over bold heroes. Changsun Shunde, Liu Hongji, and others had all fled for their lives after running afoul of the law, and he sheltered them. He was also especially close with Liu Wenjing, magistrate of Jinyang. Wenjing was imprisoned on account of the Li Mi affair, and Taizong visited him in prison by night to plot their great undertaking. At that time common people fleeing bandits had poured into the city until it held nearly ten thousand men. Wenjing had long served as magistrate and knew the city's bold spirits, and together they deployed them. Once the plan was settled, he informed Gaozu through Pei Ji. Gaozu at first refused, but later agreed.
4
西 西 西 西 祿
Gaozu had already raised troops and established the Great General's Headquarters. Taizong led troops against Xihe and beheaded its assistant administrator, Gao Deru. He was appointed Right Commander-in-Chief of the Army and enfeoffed as Duke of Dunhuang Commandery. Tang troops marched west and were about to reach Huoyi when prolonged rains set in and provisions ran low. Gaozu planned to withdraw the army to Taiyuan. Taizong remonstrated, saying, "This righteous army rose on behalf of the realm. We should march straight into Xianyang and command the empire. If we turn back now to hold a single city, we will become nothing but bandits ourselves. Gaozu would not listen. Taizong wept at the army gate. Startled, Gaozu summoned him and asked why. He replied, "If we withdraw, our men will scatter ahead of us while the enemy presses from behind. Death will come in an instant—that is why I weep. Gaozu came to his senses and said, "You are the one who set this in motion. Success or failure rests with you alone." By then the left wing had already begun to withdraw, and he immediately joined Jiancheng, Duke of Longxi, in pursuing them. At midnight Taizong lost the road and entered a mountain valley. He abandoned his horse, went on foot to overtake his troops, and returned with them. Gaozu then led the army forward and reached Huoyi just before dawn. Song Laosheng would not come out. Taizong rode up to the city wall with a few horsemen, raised his whip, and directed his men as though preparing to invest the city. Laosheng, enraged, came out and drew up his forces with the city at his back. Gaozu led Jiancheng to hold the east, while Taizong and Chai Shao held the south. Laosheng's troops pressed the eastern formation. Jiancheng fell from his horse, Laosheng seized the moment, and Gaozu's army fell back. Taizong galloped down the slope from the southern heights, divided his troops to cut Laosheng's army in two, and emerged behind the enemy formation. Laosheng's troops were defeated and fled, and he was beheaded. Advancing, he halted at Jingyang, attacked the barbarian bandit Liu Yaozi, and defeated him. Tang troops attacked Chang'an. Taizong encamped at Jincheng Ward, assaulted the northwestern sector, and took it. In the first year of Yining, he was appointed Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and Interior Secretary of the State of Tang, transferred in rank to Duke of the State of Qin, with a fief of ten thousand households. Xue Ju attacked Fufeng. Taizong defeated him, took more than ten thousand heads, and then carried the campaign through to Longyou. In the second year he was appointed Right Grand Marshal and transferred in rank to Duke of the State of Zhao. He led one hundred thousand troops to attack the Eastern Capital, failed to take it, and withdrew. At the Three Kings' Tombs he set three ambushes and defeated ten thousand troops under the Sui general Duan Da.
5
In the first month of the second year he garrisoned Changchun Palace and was promoted to General of the Left Martial Guard and Area Commander of Liangzhou. At this time Liu Wuzhou held Bingzhou, Song Jingang had taken Fenzhou, Wang Xingben held Puzhou, and Lü Chongmao of Xia County killed the magistrate to join Wuzhou. Gaozu was alarmed and decreed that the generals abandon Hedong to defend Guanzhong. Taizong argued that Hedong must not be abandoned and asked for thirty thousand troops with which he could break the rebels. Gaozu thereupon sent out all the troops of Guanzhong to reinforce him. In the eleventh month he marched out through Longmen Pass and encamped at Baiyu.
6
宿西
In the fourth month of the third year he defeated Song Jingang at Baiyu. Jingang fled to Jiezhou, and Taizong pursued him, riding two hundred li in a day and a night before encamping on the western heights of Sparrow-Rat Valley. The soldiers were starving. Taizong went without food for two days. When they reached Haozhou they finally obtained provisions, and Jingang's generals Yuchi Jingde, Xun Xiang, and others all came to surrender. Liu Wuzhou, in fear, fled to the Turks, and his general Yang Funian surrendered Bingzhou. Gaozu dispatched Xiao Yu to the army to appoint Taizong Acting Director of the Yizhou Circuit Headquarters. In the seventh month he campaigned against Wang Shichong and defeated him at Beimang.
7
In the second month of the fourth year, Dou Jiande led one hundred thousand troops to aid Shichong. Taizong defeated Jiande at Hulao, captured him, and Shichong then surrendered. In the sixth month, returning in triumph, Taizong wore golden armor and displayed ten thousand iron cavalry and thirty thousand armored soldiers, with drums and pipes before and behind, as he presented captives at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Gaozu judged Taizong's merit so great that no ancient title could do it justice. He therefore added the title Heavenly Strategist General, made him oversee the Minister of Education and Acting Director of the Shaanxi-East Circuit Headquarters, rank him above kings and dukes, increase his fief to thirty thousand households, and bestow upon him imperial robes and cap, a golden chariot, paired jade disks, six thousand jin of gold, nine sets of drums and pipes before and behind, and forty ceremonial sword-bearers.
8
In the first month of the fifth year he campaigned against Liu Heita at Mingzhou and defeated him. Heita had already surrendered, but afterward rebelled again. Gaozu was enraged and ordered Crown Prince Jiancheng to execute by burial all men of Shandong aged fifteen and above, and to drive the weak, women, and children into Guanzhong to repopulate it. Taizong urgently remonstrated against the plan, and the order was thereupon halted. He was further appointed Grand General of the Twelve Guards of the Left and Right.
9
In the seventh year the Turks raided the frontier. Taizong encountered them at Binzhou, went forward with one hundred horsemen to speak with their khan, made alliance, and departed.
10
In the eighth year he was promoted to Director of the Secretariat. At the beginning, when Gaozu raised troops at Taiyuan, it had not been his original intent; the affair had been set in motion by Taizong. After the realm was won and Song Jingang, Wang Shichong, Dou Jiande, and others were defeated, Taizong's merit grew ever greater, and Gaozu repeatedly promised to make him crown prince. Crown Prince Jiancheng, fearing deposition, plotted with Prince of Qi Yuanji to kill Taizong, but had not yet acted.
11
殿 便 便
In the sixth month of the ninth year, Taizong entered Xuanwu Gate with troops and killed Crown Prince Jiancheng and Prince of Qi Yuanji. Gaozu was greatly startled and thereupon made Taizong crown prince. On the day jiazi in the eighth month he ascended the throne at Xiande Hall in the Eastern Palace. He dispatched Pei Ji to announce his accession at the Southern Altar. He proclaimed a general amnesty and allowed exiles of the Wude era to return. He bestowed merit ranks and noble titles on civil and military officials. He remitted two years' land tax in Guannei and in the six prefectures of Pu, Rui, Yu, Tai, Shan, and Ding, and granted one year's remission of corvée and rent throughout the realm. Commoners aged eighty and above were granted grain and silk; those aged one hundred received an additional official tablet of honor. He abolished the riverine passes east of Tong Pass. On the day guiyou he released more than three thousand palace women. On the day bingzi he established Consort Changsun as empress. On the day guiwei the Turks raided Bian Bridge. On the day yiyou he made alliance with the Turk Khan Jieli at Bian Bridge. On the day renzi in the ninth month he forbade private worship of demonic spirits and licentious sacrifices, as well as divination by methods other than tortoise shell, the Changes, or the Five Omens. On the first day bingchen in the tenth month there was a solar eclipse. On the day guihai he established Chengqian, Prince of Zhongshan, as crown prince. On the day gengchen Xiao Yu and Chen Shuda were dismissed from office. On the day gengyin in the eleventh month he reduced to county marquis the titles of imperial clansmen enfeoffed as commandery princes without meritorious service. On the day guiyou in the twelfth month he reviewed prisoners. That year he advanced his sons in rank: Ke, Prince of Changsha, became Prince of Han, and You, Prince of Yiyang, became Prince of Chu.
12
使
On the day yiyou in the first month of the first year of Zhenguan, the reign era was changed. On the day xinchou Li Yi, Prince of Yan Commandery, rebelled at Jingzhou and was executed. On the day dingsi in the second month an edict declared that common men aged twenty and above and women aged fifteen and above who lacked spouses were to be betrothed and married by their prefectures and counties according to proper ritual. Those too poor to manage the arrangements themselves were to be assisted with funds by the wealthy of their villages and by their kin. Widowers aged sixty and above, widows aged fifty and above, and women who had sons or who observed chastity were not to be compelled. On the day guisi in the third month the empress personally tended silkworms. On the day bingwu an edict declared that Cui Jishu, Left Vice Director of Qi; Guo Zun, Yellow Gate Vice Director; and Feng Xiaoyan, Right Assistant Director of the Ministry of Works, had suffered for speaking boldly. Their sons Gang, Yun, and Jundun had all been subjected to cruel castration as punishment; they were to be exempted from palace eunuch service and honored with official appointments. On the first day guichou in the intercalary month there was a solar eclipse. On the day guisi in the fourth month Youliang, Area Commander of Liangzhou and Prince of Changle Commandery, was found guilty and executed. On the day guichou in the fifth month he ordered the Director of the Secretariat and the Palace Attendant to receive litigation petitions in the court hall, and directed that all who had matters to present submit sealed memorials. On the day xinchou in the sixth month Feng Deyi died. On the day jiachen Xiao Yu, Junior Preceptor of the Crown Prince, was appointed Left Vice Director of the Ministry of Works. That summer drought struck Shandong, and this year's land tax was remitted. On the day renzi in the seventh month Zhangsun Wuji, Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, was appointed Right Vice Director of the Ministry of Works. In the eighth month frost struck the border prefectures of Henan and Longyou. Yuwen Shiji was appointed acting Area Commander of Liangzhou. On the day wuxu Gao Shilian was demoted to Grand Area Commander of Anzhou. On the first day gengxu in the ninth month there was a solar eclipse. On the day xinyou he dispatched envoys to the prefectures to assess damaged fields and provide relief to lower-grade households. Du Yan, Censor-in-Chief, was appointed acting Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and joined deliberations on court affairs. Yuwen Shiji was dismissed from office. On the day xinwei Wang Junkuo, Area Commander of Youzhou, fled to the Turks. On the day dingyou in the tenth month he reduced imperial meals because of famine that year. On the day jiwei in the eleventh month he permitted children and younger siblings aged nineteen and below to accompany fathers and elder brothers to their official posts. On the day renwu in the twelfth month Xiao Yu was dismissed from office. On the day wushen Li Xiaochang, Area Commander of Lizhou, and Liu Deyu, General of the Right Martial Guards, plotted rebellion and were executed.
13
祿 使 使
On the day xinhai in the first month of the second year Zhangsun Wuji was dismissed from office. Du Ruhui, Minister of the Ministry of War, was appointed acting Palace Attendant and placed in overall charge of Eastern Palace military affairs. On the day guichou Tuyuhun raided Minzhou; Li Daoyan, Area Commander, defeated them. On the day dingsi he transferred Ke's fief and enfeoffed him as Prince of Shu, Tai as Prince of Yue, and You as Prince of Yan. On the day gengwu Li Jing, Minister of the Ministry of Punishments, was appointed acting Director of the Secretariat. On the day wuxu in the second month outer officials who received top evaluations were granted salary. On the first day wushen in the third month there was a solar eclipse. On the day renzi he ordered officials of fifth rank and above in the Secretariat and Chancellery, together with the Ministers, to deliberate and decide capital cases. On the day renxu Li Jing was made Grand Campaign Commander of the Guannei Circuit to guard against Xueyantuo. On the day jisi he dispatched envoys to tour Guannei, offering gold and treasure to redeem starving commoners who had sold their children and restore them to their families. On the day gengwu, because of drought and locusts, he blamed himself and proclaimed a general amnesty. On the day guiyou it rained. On the day jimao in the fourth month unburied corpses of Sui subjects were given proper burial. On the day renyin Liang Luoren of Shuofang killed Liang Shidu and surrendered. On the day jiashen in the sixth month an edict declared that envoys on missions were to receive rations for their households. On the day gengyin, because Prince Zhi had been born, he granted grain to all women who gave birth on that day. On the day xinmao Pei Qiantong, Prefect of Chenzhou, was stripped of his title for killing Sui Emperor Yang and was exiled to Huanzhou. On the day wushen in the seventh month Niu Fangyu, Prefect of Laizhou; Xue Shiliang, Prefect of Jiangzhou; Tang Fengyi, Chief Administrator of Guangzhou; and Gao Yuanli, Tiger-Fang General—all followers of Yuwen Huaji—were struck from the register and exiled to the frontier. On the day jiaxu in the eighth month he reviewed wrongful imprisonments in the court hall. On the day xinchou he established temples for the Two Kings and appointed state officials to them. On the day renzi in the ninth month, because of a good harvest, he granted a three-day communal feast. On the day gengchen in the tenth month Du Yan died. On the day wuzi Lu Zushang, Prefect of Yingzhou, was executed. On the day xinyou in the eleventh month he performed the suburban sacrifice at the southern suburbs. On the day renchen in the twelfth month Wang Gui, Yellow Gate Vice Director, served as acting Palace Attendant. On the day guisi he forbade officials of fifth rank and above to pass through markets.
14
殿 祿 殿
On the day bingwu in the first month of the third year, because of drought, he avoided holding court in the main hall. On the day guichou officials who received top-grade evaluations were granted one year's salary. On the day wuwu he offered sacrifice at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. On the day guihai he plowed the sacred field. On the day xinwei Pei Ji was dismissed from office. On the day wuyin in the second month Fang Xuanling was appointed Left Vice Director of the Ministry of Works, Du Ruhui Right Vice Director, and Wei Zheng, Right Assistant Director of the Ministry of Works, Secretary Director—all participating in court deliberations. On the day jiyou in the third month he reviewed prisoners. On the day yihai in the fourth month the Retired Emperor moved his residence to Dafan Palace. On the day jiawu he first held court in the Hall of Supreme Ultimate. On the day wuxu he granted five hu of grain to households noted for filial piety and righteousness, two hu to those aged eighty and above and three hu to those aged ninety and above, an additional two bolts of silk to centenarians, and one hu of grain to women who had given birth since the first month. On the day yichou in the fifth month Yuanfang, Prince of Zhou, died. On the day wuyin in the sixth month, because of drought, he reviewed prisoners. On the day jimao a great wind uprooted trees. On the day renwu an edict invited civil and military officials to speak on affairs of state. On the first day jisi in the eighth month there was a solar eclipse. On the day dinghai Li Jing was made Grand Campaign Commander of the Dingxiang Circuit to attack the Turks. On the day dingsi in the ninth month Chai Shao, Prefect of Huazhou, was made Campaign Commander of the Shengzhou Circuit to attack the Turks. On the day gengshen in the eleventh month Li Shiji, Area Commander of Bingzhou, was made Campaign Commander of the Tongmo Circuit; Chai Shao, Prefect of Huazhou, Campaign Commander of the Jinhe Circuit; Daozong, Prince of Rencheng Commandery, Campaign Commander of the Datong Circuit; Wei Xiaojie, Area Commander of Youzhou, Campaign Commander of the Heng'an Circuit; and Xue Wanshu, Area Commander of Yingzhou, Campaign Commander of the Changwu Circuit—all to attack the Turks. On the day guiwei in the twelfth month Du Ruhui was dismissed from office. On the day guichou in the intercalary month he erected Buddhist shrines for soldiers who had died in battle. On the day xinyou he reviewed prisoners. That year more than 1,200,000 Chinese returned from beyond the frontier, and peoples of the four quarters were incorporated as prefectures and counties.
15
殿 西 鹿 鹿
On the first day dingmao in the first month of the fourth year there was a solar eclipse. On the day guisi fire broke out in the north compound of Wude Hall. On the day jihai in the second month he visited the hot springs. On the day jiachen Li Jing fought the Turks at Yinshan and defeated them. On the day bingwu he returned from the hot springs. On the day jiayin he proclaimed a general amnesty and granted a five-day communal feast. Wen Yanbo, Censor-in-Chief, was made Director of the Secretariat, and Wang Gui Palace Attendant; Dai Zhou, Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, was appointed acting Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and joined forecourt deliberations on court affairs; Xiao Yu, Minister of Ceremonies, was made Censor-in-Chief and, with the chief ministers, joined deliberations on court affairs. On the day dingsi, because of drought, an edict invited the dukes and ministers to speak on affairs of state. On the day jiawu in the third month Li Jing captured the Turk Khan Jieli and presented him at court. On the day wuxu in the fourth month chieftains of the northwest requested that he accept the title "Heaven Qaghan." On the day yimao in the sixth month he dispatched conscript labor to repair Luoyang Palace. On the first day jiazi in the seventh month there was a solar eclipse. On the day guiyou Xiao Yu was dismissed from office. On the day jiaxu the Retired Emperor fell ill and court sessions were suspended. On the day xinmao, upon the Retired Emperor's recovery from illness, differentiated gifts were granted to area commanders, prefects, civil and military officials, commoners aged eighty and above, and filial sons whose virtue had been honored at their gates and lanes. On the day jiayin in the eighth month Li Jing was appointed Right Vice Director of the Ministry of Works. On the day gengwu in the ninth month exposed bones of Sui subjects south of the Great Wall were given proper burial. On the day jimao he went to Longzhou. On the day renwu he forbade grazing and herding at the tombs of ancient enlightened rulers, worthy ministers, and martyrs. On the day renchen in the tenth month he granted amnesty to Qi and Long circuits, remitted this year's taxes, and reduced all sentences below capital punishment in Xianyang, Shiping, and Wugong. On the day xinchou he hunted at Guiquan Valley. On the day jiachen he hunted at Yulong Stream and presented the catch at Dafan Palace. On the day yimao this year's taxes in Wugong were remitted. On the day renxu in the eleventh month Hou Junji, Great General of the Right Guards, was made Minister of the Ministry of War and joined deliberations on court affairs. On the day jiazi he returned from Longzhou. On the day wuyin he abolished the punishment of back-whipping. On the day jiachen in the twelfth month he hunted at the Deer Park. On the day yisi he returned from the Deer Park. That year only twenty-nine persons throughout the realm were sentenced to death.
16
使 西 西 西
On the day xinchou in the first month of the eighth year Zhang Shigui fought the Liao and defeated them. On the day renyin he dispatched envoys to inspect the realm. On the day yisi in the second month the crown prince received the capping ceremony. On the day bingwu he reduced all sentences below capital punishment, granted one rank of nobility to sons of fifth-rank officials and above who were designated heirs, and granted the common people a three-day communal feast. On the day gengchen in the third month he went to Jiucheng Palace. On the first day xinwei in the fifth month there was a solar eclipse. That summer Tuyuhun raided Liangzhou. Duan Zhixuan, Grand General of the Left Xiaowei Guard, was appointed marching commander of the Xihai route, and Fan Xing, General of the Left Xiaowei Guard, was appointed marching commander of the Chishui route, to attack them. In the seventh month mountains in Longyou collapsed. On the day jiazi in the eighth month a broom star appeared in Xu and Wei. In the tenth month Yong'an Palace was constructed. On the day jiazi he returned from Jiucheng Palace. On the day xinwei in the eleventh month Li Jing was dismissed from office. On the day jichou Tuyuhun raided Liangzhou and seized Zhao Dekai, deputy director of the Chamberlain for Dependencies who was traveling as an envoy. On the day xinchou in the twelfth month Senior Counselor Li Jing was appointed grand marching commander of the Xihai route; Hou Junji was appointed marching commander of the Jishi route; Prince Daozong of Rencheng commandery was appointed marching commander of the Shanshan route; Prince Daoyan of Jiaodong commandery was appointed marching commander of the Chishui route; Li Daliang, military governor of Liangzhou, was appointed marching commander of the Qiemo route; and Gao Zengsheng, prefect of Lizhou, was appointed marching commander of the Yanze route, to attack Tuyuhun. On the day dingmao he accompanied the Retired Emperor to review troops west of the city.
17
In the first month of the ninth year the Tangut Qiang rebelled. In the second month Zhangsun Wuji was dismissed from office. On the day gengchen in the third month the Qiang of Taozhou killed Prefect Kong Changxiu and submitted to Tuyuhun. On the day renwu he proclaimed a general amnesty. On the day yiyou Gao Zengsheng fought the Qiang and defeated them. On the first day bingyin in the intercalary fourth month there was a solar eclipse. In the fifth month Zhangsun Wuji resumed office after mourning. On the day gengzi the Retired Emperor died, and the crown prince assumed governance. On the day renzi Li Jing fought Tuyuhun and defeated them. On the day gengzi in the seventh month Liu Demin, deputy marching commander of the Yanze route, fought the Qiang and defeated them. On the day gengyin in the tenth month Emperor Tai Wu was buried at Xianling. On the day renxu in the eleventh month Senior Counselor Xiao Yu resumed participation in court governance.
18
On the day jiawu in the first month of the tenth year he resumed personal governance. On the day guichou Yuan Jing was transferred to Prince of Jing; Yuan Chang to Prince of Han; Yuan Li to Prince of Xu; Yuan Jia to Prince of Han; Yuan Ze to Prince of Peng; Yuan Yi to Prince of Zheng; Yuan Gui to Prince of Huo; Yuan Feng to Prince of Guo; Yuan Qing to Prince of Dao; Ling Kui to Prince of Yan; Ke to Prince of Wu; Tai to Prince of Wei; You to Prince of Qi; Yin to Prince of Shu; Yun to Prince of Jiang; Zhen to Prince of Yue; and Shen to Prince of Ji. On the day guichou in the third month the princes were dispatched as military governors. On the day renshen in the sixth month Wen Yanbo was appointed Right Vice Director of the Ministry of Works, and Yang Shidao, Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, was appointed Palace Attendant. Wei Zheng was dismissed and made Senior Counselor, charged with affairs of the Chancellery, and participated in deliberating court regulations and state institutions. On the day jimao the empress died. On the day gengyin in the eleventh month Empress Wendé was buried at Zhaoling. In the twelfth month Xiao Yu was dismissed from office. On the day gengchen he reviewed prisoners.
19
鹿 調
On the day dinghai in the first month of the eleventh year Yuan Yu was transferred to Prince of Deng, and Yuan Ming to Prince of Shu. On the day gengzi Feixian Palace was constructed. On the day yimao he remitted rent and tribute for Yongzhou for the year. On the day dingsi in the second month Jiushan was prepared as a tomb mound, and burial plots and funerary objects were granted to meritorious officials and close imperial kin. On the day jiazi he went to Luoyang Palace. On the day yichou households with persons aged one hundred or more were granted five attendants each. On the day renwu he hunted at Lütaoling. On the first day bingxu in the third month there was a solar eclipse. On the day guimao he released convicts in Luozhou and remitted one year's rent and corvée. On the day xinhai he hunted at Guangcheng Marsh. On the day guichou he went to Luoyang Palace. On the day jiayin in the sixth month Wen Yanbo died. On the day dingsi he visited Mingde Palace. On the day jiwei the princes were appointed as hereditary prefectural governors. On the day wuchen meritorious officials were appointed as hereditary prefectural governors. On the day jisi Yuan Xiang was transferred to Prince of Jiang. On the day guiwei in the seventh month heavy rain caused flooding, and the Gu and Luo rivers overflowed. On the day yiwei he issued an edict summoning officials to submit memorials on state affairs. On the day renyin he abolished the Xuanpu Garden of Mingde Palace and granted it to flood-affected households. On the day bingwu he assigned twenty households each to the temples to Laozi in Bozhou and Confucius in Yanzhou for maintenance of offerings, and restored twenty households to guard the tomb of Prince Zhaowu of Liang. On the day dinghai in the ninth month the Yellow River overflowed, destroying Hebei county in Shaanzhou and breaching the central sandbar at Heyang; he went to Baisima Slope to view the damage and granted grain and cloth to flood-affected households along the river. On the day guichou in the tenth month he granted burial plots at Xianling to deceased military strategists and generals of the previous reign and deceased imperial kin. On the day xinmao in the eleventh month he went to Huaizhou. On the day yiwei he hunted at Mai Mountain in Jiyuan. On the day bingwu he went to Luoyang Palace.
20
On the day yiwei in the first month of the twelfth year Congzhou was struck by an earthquake. On the day guimao Songzhou was struck by an earthquake. On the day guihai in the second month he went to Hebei county to inspect the river-control pillars. On the day jiazi the Liao of Wuzhou rebelled, and Qi Shanxing, military governor of Kuizhou, defeated them. On the day yichou he went to Shaanzhou. On the day dingmao he inspected the salt ponds. On the day gengwu he went to Puzhou. On the day jiaxu he went to Changchun Palace. He remitted rent and tribute for Chaoyi for the year and reduced sentences of prisoners. On the day yihai he hunted along the Yellow River. On the first day gengchen in the intercalary month there was a solar eclipse. On the day bingxu he returned from Changchun Palace. On the day guiyou in the seventh month Gao Shilian, Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, was appointed Right Vice Director of the Ministry of Works. On the day renyin in the eighth month Tufan raided Songzhou; Hou Junji was appointed grand marching commander of the Dangmi route and led the forces of three commanders to attack them. On the day xinhai in the ninth month Niu Jinda, marching commander of the Kuanshui route, fought Tufan at Songzhou and defeated them. On the day jimao in the tenth month he hunted at Shiping and granted grain and cloth to the elderly. On the day yiwei he returned from Shiping. The mountain Liao of Junzhou rebelled, and Zhang Baode, military governor of Guizhou, defeated them. On the day jisi in the eleventh month the mountain Liao of Mingzhou rebelled, and Li Daoyan, military governor of Jiaozhou, defeated them. On the day xinsi in the twelfth month the mountain Liao of Bizhou rebelled, and Shangguan Huairen, General of the Right Martial Guard, was dispatched to suppress them. That year wild silkworms in Chuzhou and Haozhou formed cocoons.
21
宿 殿
On the day yisi in the first month of the thirteenth year he paid respects at Xianling, granted amnesty to Sanyuan and those who accompanied him, remitted rent and tribute for the county's people for the year, and granted one rank of nobility each to the commandant of the guard for the tomb district and the magistrate of Sanyuan. On the day dingwei he returned from Xianling. On the day gengzi in the second month he abolished hereditary prefectural governorships. On the day yichou in the third month a broom star appeared in Bi and Mao. On the day wuyin in the fourth month he went to Jiucheng Palace. On the day jiashen Ashina Jieshelü, Lieutenant General, rebelled and was executed. On the day renyin stones burned in Yunyang. On the day jiayin in the fifth month, because of drought he moved from the main hall, issued an edict summoning officials of fifth rank and above to submit memorials, reduced his meals, suspended corvée labor, reviewed prisoners, and provided relief to the needy; then rain fell. On the day bingshen in the sixth month he enfeoffed his younger brother Yuan Ying as Prince of Teng. On the first day xinwei in the eighth month there was a solar eclipse. On the day jiashen in the tenth month he returned from Jiucheng Palace. On the day xinhai in the eleventh month Yang Shidao was appointed Director of the Secretariat. On the day wuchen Liu Ji, Left Assistant Director of the Ministry of Works, was appointed Yellow Gate Vice Director and participated in governance. On the day renshen in the twelfth month Hou Junji was appointed grand marching commander of the Jiaohe route to attack Gaochang. On the day yihai he enfeoffed his son Fu as Prince of Zhao. On the day renchen he hunted at Xianyang. On the day guisi he returned from Xianyang. That year wild silkworms in Chuzhou formed cocoons.
22
On the day gengzi in the first month of the fourteenth year the relevant offices read the seasonal ordinances. On the day jiayin he visited the residence of Prince of Wei Tai, granted amnesty to Chang'an county in Yongzhou, and remitted rent and tribute for Yankang ward for the year. On the day dingchou in the second month he observed the Confucian sacrifice at the National Academy, granted amnesty to Dali and Wannian counties, and granted silk to top-ranking students and academy officials. On the day renwu he visited the hot springs. On the day xinmao he returned from the hot springs. On the day yiwei he sought descendants of Huang Kan and Chu Zhongdu of Liang; Xiong Ansheng and Shen Chong of Zhou; Shen Wena, Zhou Hongzheng, and Zhang Ji of Chen; and He Tuo, Liu Chuo, and Liu Xuan of Sui. In the third month the Liao of Luo and Dou prefectures rebelled, and Dang Renhong, area commander of Guangzhou, defeated them. On the day renyin in the fifth month Ling Kui was transferred to Prince of Lu. In the sixth month wild silkworms in Chuzhou formed cocoons. On the day yiyou a great wind uprooted trees. On the day gengwu in the eighth month Xiangcheng Palace was constructed. On the day guiyou Hou Junji captured Gaochang. On the day guimao in the ninth month he pardoned the people of Gaochang and soldiers for capital, exile, penal servitude, and flogging offenses committed within the degrees of mourning prescribed for father-son relations, one-year mourning, greater mourning, and lesser and sackcloth mourning. On the day yiwei in the intercalary tenth month he went to Tongzhou. On the day jiachen he hunted at Yaoshan. On the day gengxu he returned from Tongzhou. On the day jiazi in the eleventh month he performed the suburban sacrifice at the southern altar. On the day dingyou in the twelfth month Hou Junji captured the King of Gaochang and presented him, and a three-day drinking feast was granted. On the day guimao he hunted at Fanchuan. On the day yisi he returned from Fanchuan.
23
殿
On the day xinsi in the first month of the fifteenth year he went to Luoyang Palace, stopping at the hot springs. The guard officers Cui Qing and Diao Wenyi plotted rebellion and were executed. On the day wuchen in the third month he went to Xiangcheng Palace. On the day xinmao in the fourth month he issued an edict ordering the feng sacrifice at Mount Tai in the second month of the coming year. On the day yiwei he remitted rent for Luozhou for the year, granted an additional year of tax exemption to relocated households previously exempted, granted gifts to people aged eighty or more, and granted two hu of grain to the orphaned, widowed, and sick who could not support themselves. He reviewed prisoners. On the day jiyou in the sixth month a broom star appeared in Taowei. On the day bingchen he suspended the Mount Tai feng, moved from the main hall, and reduced his meals. On the day bingyin in the seventh month he pardoned distinguished ministers of Zhou and Sui and descendants of the faithful and martyrs who had been exiled since the Zhenguan era. On the day xinmao in the tenth month he hunted at Yique. On the day renchen he went to Luoyang Palace. On the day guiyou in the eleventh month Xue Yantuo raided the frontier; Li Shiji, Minister of the Ministry of War, was appointed marching commander of the Shuozhou route; Li Daliang, Grand General of the Right Guard, was appointed marching commander of the Lingzhou route; and Li Xiyu, military governor of Liangzhou, was appointed marching commander of the Liangzhou route, to attack them. On the day wuzi in the twelfth month he returned from Luoyang Palace. On the day gengzi he ordered eldest sons of officials of third rank and above to serve the Eastern Palace. On the day xinchou he reviewed prisoners. On the day jiachen Li Shiji fought Xue Yantuo at Nuozhen Water and defeated them. On the day yisi he posthumously promoted deceased officers and soldiers killed in battle three ranks.
24
使西 西 西
On the day yichou in the first month of the sixteenth year he dispatched envoys to pacify Xizhou. On the day wuchen he recruited men to garrison Xizhou; those previously guilty of exile who had fled and concealed themselves were permitted to surrender and enlist. On the day xinwei he transferred condemned prisoners under death sentence throughout the realm to populate Xizhou. Cen Wenben, Drafting Secretary of the Secretariat, was appointed Vice Director of the Secretariat, charged exclusively with confidential affairs. On the day wuxu in the sixth month Venus was visible in daytime. On the day wuwu in the seventh month Zhangsun Wuji was appointed Minister of Education, and Fang Xuanling was appointed Minister of Works. On the day bingchen in the eleventh month he hunted at Wugong. On the day renxu he hunted on the southern slopes of Mount Qi. On the day jiazi he granted felt, quilts, grain, and cloth to the elderly, orphans, and sick in the six counties he passed through, then visited Qingshan Palace. On the day gengwu he returned from Qingshan Palace. On the day guimao in the twelfth month he visited the hot springs. On the day jiachen he hunted at Mount Li. On the day yisi he returned from the hot springs.
25
使 殿
On the day wuchen in the first month of the seventeenth year Wei Zheng died. Liu Lan, military governor of Daizhou, plotted rebellion and was executed. On the day jihai in the second month he reviewed prisoners. On the day wushen he had portraits of meritorious officials painted at the Lingyan Pavilion. On the day renzi in the third month he prohibited burials in violation of regulations. On the day bingchen Prince of Qi You rebelled, and Li Shiji was dispatched to suppress him. On the day jiazi, because of drought he dispatched envoys to review prisoners and decide cases. On the day yichou Prince of Qi You was executed, and tax exemption was granted to Qizhou for one year. On the day yiyou in the fourth month the crown prince was deposed as a commoner; Prince of Han Yuan Chang, Hou Junji, and others were executed. On the day bingxu he installed Prince of Jin Zhi as crown prince, proclaimed a general amnesty, granted one rank of nobility to civil and military officials and to sons of fifth rank and above who succeeded their fathers, granted grain and cloth to people aged eighty or more, and granted a three-day drinking feast. On the day dinghai Yang Shidao was dismissed from office. On the day jichou Senior Counselor Xiao Yu was appointed Grand Mentor to the Crown Prince, and Li Shiji was appointed Supervisor of the Crown Prince's Household — both as Associates of the Secretariat and Chancellery of Third Rank. On the day gengyin he apologized for Chengqian's fault at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. On the day guisi Prince of Wei Tai was demoted to Prince of Donglai commandery. On the first day jimao in the sixth month there was a solar eclipse. On the day renchen Emperor Gong of Sui was buried. On the day jiawu, because of drought he moved from the main hall, reduced his meals, and issued an edict summoning capital officials of fifth rank and above to submit memorials. On the day dingyou Gao Shilian was appointed Associate of the Secretariat and Chancellery of Third Rank and Vice Director of the Secretariat. On the day dingsi in the intercalary month he issued an edict ordering the crown prince to command the left and right garrison troops. On the day bingzi Tai was transferred to Prince of Shunyang commandery. On the day dingyou in the seventh month Fang Xuanling was dismissed from office. On the day gengxu in the eighth month Zhang Liang, Minister of the Ministry of Works, was appointed Minister of the Ministry of Justice and participated in court governance. On the day dingwei in the tenth month he established lodges for various prefectures in the capital. On the day dingsi Fang Xuanling resumed office after mourning. On the day jimao in the eleventh month he performed the suburban sacrifice at the southern altar. On the day renwu he granted a three-day drinking feast and, because an auspicious stone was obtained in Liangzhou, granted amnesty to Liangzhou. On the day gengshen in the twelfth month he visited the hot springs. On the day gengwu he returned from the hot springs.
26
西西 使
On the day yiwei in the first month of the eighteenth year he went to Zhongguan Fortress. On the day gengzi he went to E. On the day renyin he visited the hot springs. On the day jiyou in the second month he went to Lingkou. On the day yimao he returned from Lingkou. On the day dingsi he granted two years of tax exemption to Turks and Gaochang people assigned to various prefectures. On the day xinhai in the fourth month he went to Jiucheng Palace. On the day jiawu in the seventh month Zhang Jian, military governor of Yingzhou, led troops of You and Ying prefectures along with the Khitan and Xi to attack Goguryeo. On the day renzi in the eighth month Guo Xiaoke, Protector-General of Anxi, was appointed marching commander of the Xizhou route to attack Yanqi. On the day jiazi he returned from Jiucheng Palace. On the day dingmao Liu Ji was appointed Palace Attendant; Cen Wenben was appointed Director of the Secretariat; and Ma Zhou, Vice Director of the Secretariat, served as acting Director of the Secretariat. In the ninth month Chu Suiliang, Yellow Gate Vice Director, participated in court governance. On the day xinmao Guo Xiaoke fought Yanqi and defeated them. On the first day xinchou in the tenth month there was a solar eclipse. On the day guimao he feasted the elders of Yongzhou at the Shanglin Park and granted grain and cloth. On the day jiayin he went to Luoyang Palace. On the day jisi he hunted at Tianchi. On the day wuyin in the eleventh month he reviewed prisoners. On the day gengchen he dispatched envoys to visit and inquire after the elderly in the four prefectures of Zheng, Ru, Huai, and Ze, feasting and granting them gifts. On the day jiawu Zhang Liang was appointed grand marching commander of the Pyongyang route; Li Shiji and Ma Zhou were appointed grand marching commanders of the Liaodong route; they led the forces of sixteen commanders to attack Goguryeo. On the day renyin in the twelfth month the commoner Chengqian died. On the day wuwu the tribes of Li Simo rebelled.
27
On the day gengxu in the second month of the nineteenth year he went to Luoyang Palace to campaign against Goguryeo. On the day guichou he shot a tiger at the north mountain of Wude. On the day yimao the crown prince served as regent at Dingzhou. On the day dingsi he granted grain and cloth to the elderly, widowed, and orphaned along the route, and posthumously granted Bi Gan the title Grand Preceptor with the posthumous name Zhonglie. On the day renchen in the third month Zhangsun Wuji served as acting Palace Attendant, and Yang Shidao, Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, served as acting Director of the Secretariat. On the day guimao in the fourth month he took the army oath at Youzhou and held a great feast for the troops. On the day dingwei Cen Wenben died. On the day guihai Li Shiji captured Gaimou City. On the day jisi in the fifth month Cheng Mingzhen, marching commander of the Pyongyang route, captured Shabei City. On the day gengwu he halted at Liaomarsh and buried the Sui dead from battle. On the day yihai Zhang Junyi, marching commander of the Liaodong route, was found guilty and executed. On the day dingchou the army encamped at Mount Mashou. On the day jiashen Liaodong City was captured. On the day dingyou in the sixth month Baiyan City was captured. On the day jiwei he inflicted a great defeat on Goguryeo at the southeastern hills of Anshi City; General of the Left Martial Guards Wang Jun'e died in the battle. On the day xinyou he granted a three-day communal feast. On the day renshen in the seventh month he buried officials who died in service, adding four ranks of nobility with one son permitted to inherit. On the day guiwei in the ninth month he withdrew the army. On the day bingwu in the tenth month he halted at Yingzhou and made a grand sacrifice to those who died in service. On the day bingchen the crown prince met and received him at Linyu Pass. On the day wuwu he halted at Hanwu Terrace and had stelae carved to commemorate the victory. On the day guiyou in the eleventh month he held a great feast for the army at Youzhou. On the day gengchen he halted at Yizhou. On the day guiwei Zhang Wengan, marching commander of the Pyongyang route, was found guilty and executed. On the day bingxu he halted at Dingzhou. On the day dinghai Yang Shidao was demoted to Minister of the Ministry of Works. On the day wushen in the twelfth month he halted at Bingzhou. On the day jiwei Xue Yantuo raided Xiazhou, and Grand General of the Left Army Zhi Shi Sili defeated them. On the day gengshen Liu Ji was executed.
28
使 使 宿
On the day xinwei in the first month of the twentieth year Qiao Shiwang, military governor of Xiazhou, fought Xue Yantuo and defeated them. On the day dingchou he dispatched twenty-two envoys to conduct promotions and demotions throughout the realm by the Six Canons. On the day gengchen he granted amnesty to Bingzhou; registered households present at the uprising received three years' tax exemption, later arrivals one year. On the day jiawu in the second month he granted one degree of merit to all who had joined the Goguryeo campaign without achieving distinction. On the day gengshen he granted grain to the elderly, widowed, and orphaned along the route. On the day jisi in the third month he returned from Goguryeo. On the day gengwu he fell ill and the crown prince assumed governance. On the day jichou Zhang Liang plotted rebellion and was executed. On the first day guisi of the intercalary month there was a solar eclipse. On the day yihai in the sixth month Prince of Jiangxia Commandery Daozong and Li Shiji attacked Xue Yantuo. On the day xinhai in the seventh month he recovered from his illness. Li Shiji engaged Xue Yantuo in battle and routed them. On the day jiazi in the eighth month Sun Zhong was enfeoffed as Prince of Chen. On the day jisi he went to Lingzhou. On the day gengchen he halted at Jingzhou and granted grain and cloth to the elderly, widowed, and orphaned. On the day bingxu he crossed Longshan Pass, halted at Wating, and inspected the horse pastures. On the day dinghai he permitted descendants of those who attended at the imperial tomb to be buried alongside. On the day xinmao in the ninth month he dispatched envoys to inspect Lingnan. On the day jiachen the Tiele tribes requested that he accept the title "Khan." On the day xinhai an earthquake struck Lingzhou. In the tenth month Xiao Yu was demoted to prefect of Shangzhou. On the day bingxu he returned from Lingzhou. On the day jichou in the eleventh month he issued an edict: "Sacrifices, memorials, foreign envoys, troop and horse movements, palace guards traveling with fish tally for relay horses, appointments and dismissals of officials of fifth rank and above, and capital sentences—all must be reported to me; everything else is entrusted to the crown prince."
29
使
On the day renchen in the first month of the twenty-first year Gao Shilian died. On the day dingyou he ordered the feng sacrifice at Mount Tai for the second month of the coming year. On the day jiayin he organized the Tiele tribes as prefectures and counties and granted the capital a three-day communal feast. He reviewed prisoners and commuted all sentences below capital punishment. On the day dingchou in the second month the crown prince performed the vegetable offering at the Imperial Academy. On the day wuzi in the third month Niu Jinda, Grand General of the Left Martial Guards, was appointed grand marching commander of the Qingqiu route and Li Shiji grand marching commander of the Liaodong route; they led the forces of three grand commanders to attack Goguryeo. On the day yichou in the fourth month Cuiwei Palace was constructed. On the day wuzi in the fifth month he visited Cuiwei Palace. On the day renchen he ordered all offices to decide affairs through the crown prince. On the day gengxu Li Shiji captured Nansu and Mudi cities. On the day dingchou in the sixth month he dispatched envoys to the Tiele tribes to ransom captured Chinese subjects. On the day yiwei in the seventh month Niu Jinda captured Shicheng. On the day bingshen Yuhua Palace was constructed. On the day gengxu he returned from Cuiwei Palace. In the eighth month the sea overflowed at Quanzhou. On the day renxu he suspended the Mount Tai feng. On the day dingyou in the ninth month Ziming was enfeoffed as Prince of Cao. On the day guichou in the tenth month Chu Suiliang was dismissed. On the day guimao in the eleventh month Tai was advanced to Prince of Pu. On the day wuyin in the twelfth month Qibi Heli, Grand General of the Left Valiant Guards, was appointed grand marching commander of the Kunqiu route and led the forces of three grand commanders to attack Kucha.
30
On the day gengyin in the first month of the twenty-second year Ma Zhou died. On the day wuxu he visited the hot springs. On the day jihai Cui Renshi, Secretariat Drafting Officer, was appointed Vice Director of the Secretariat to participate in deliberation on state affairs. On the day bingwu Xue Wanche, Grand General of the Left Martial Guards, was appointed grand marching commander of the Qingqiu route to attack Goguryeo. Zhangsun Wuji was appointed acting Director of the Secretariat and took charge of the Department of State Affairs and the Chancellery. On the day wushen he returned from the hot springs. In the second month Chu Suiliang resumed office after mourning. On the day yimao he received the elders of the capital, comforted them, remitted half the year's land tax, and one-third in the metropolitan counties. On the day dingmao he decreed that officials with uncredited merit for crossing the Liao River who committed crimes should receive the same leniency as those whose merits had already been fully rewarded. On the day yihai he visited Yuhua Palace. On the day jimao he hunted at Huayuan. Cui Renshi was banished to Lianzhou. On the day dinghai in the third month he granted amnesty to Yijun and granted three years' tax exemption to county people relocated from the Yuhua Palace grounds. On the day dingsi in the fourth month the barbarians of Songzhou rebelled, and General of the Right Martial Guards Liang Jianfang defeated them. On the day bingyin in the sixth month Zhang Xingcheng visited and inquired after the families of Hebei soldiers in service, ordering prefectures and counties to arrange farming for them. On the day bingzi Xue Wanche fought Goguryeo at Bozhuo City and defeated them. On the day jiashen in the seventh month Venus was visible in daytime. On the day renchen Li Junxian, prefect of Huazhou, was executed. On the day guimao Fang Xuanling died. On the first day jiyou of the eighth month there was a solar eclipse. On the day xinwei Zhi Shi Sili attacked the remnant forces of Xue Yantuo at Jinshan. On the day gengchen in the ninth month Ashina She'er, marching commander of the Kunqiu route, fought the Chuyue and Chumi, remnant forces of Xue Yantuo, and defeated them. On the day jihai Chu Suiliang was appointed Director of the Secretariat. On the day renyin the Liao of the three prefectures of Mei, Qiong, and Ya rebelled, and Zhang Shigui, military governor of Maozhou, attacked them. On the day guichou in the tenth month he returned from Yuhua Palace. On the day jisi Ashina She'er fought Kucha and defeated them. On the day xinwei in the twelfth month he commuted all sentences below penal servitude in Chang'an and Wannian. On the day guisi of the intercalary month he reviewed prisoners.
31
殿 輿
On the day xinhai in the first month of the twenty-third year Ashina She'er captured the King of Kucha and presented him. On the day jiwei in the third month rain fell, ending the drought that had lasted since winter. On the day xinyou he granted a general amnesty. On the day dingmao he fell ill and ordered the crown prince to assume governance at Jinye Gate. On the day jihai in the fourth month he visited Cuiwei Palace. On the day wuwu in the fifth month Li Shiji was demoted to military governor of Diezhou. On jisi the emperor died in the Hall of Gathering Winds, at the age of fifty-three. On gengwu the imperial carriage bearing the late emperor was brought back to the capital. Yu Zhining, minister of rites, was appointed palace attendant; Zhang Xingcheng, senior tutor to the crown prince, was made concurrent palace attendant; and Gao Jifu was made concurrent director of the central secretariat. On renshen the court proclaimed mourning and gave him the posthumous title Literary. In the first year of Shangyuan his posthumous title was revised to Martial and Literary Sage Emperor; In the eighth year of Tianbao he was titled Martial and Literary Great Sage Emperor; In the thirteenth year his title was further augmented to Martial and Literary Great Sage Greatly Filial Emperor.
32
The encomium says: How seldom does a ruler of supreme governance appear in any age! Yu held the realm through sixteen successive kings, yet only Shaokang achieved a true restoration. Tang held the realm through twenty-eight kings, and of their greatest age only three are honored as the Three Ancestors. King Wu held the realm through thirty-six kings; apart from the reigns of Cheng and Kang and the achievements of King Xuan, little else is worth naming. Though the Odes and Documents are sometimes incomplete, across the Three Dynasties' seventeen hundred years and more than seventy rulers, only six or seven stand out clearly to posterity. Alas—how rare they are! Tang held the realm for twenty generations, and only three rulers truly merit praise. Xuanzong and Xianzong both failed to end well—how magnificent was Taizong's achievement! In sweeping away Sui disorder he stands comparison with Tang and Wu; The excellence of his governance nearly matched the age of Cheng and Kang. Never since antiquity had merit and virtue been joined on such a scale; nothing like it had been seen since the Han. Yet his entanglement in many attachments, his restoration of Buddhist establishments, his love of grand achievements, and his campaigns in distant lands are the sort of thing mediocre rulers commonly do. Yet the Spring and Autumn Annals habitually hold the worthy to a stricter standard; and so later gentlemen who sought to complete another's excellence have all sighed over these very faults.
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