1
江夏王道宗廣寧縣公道興永安王孝基涵淮陽王道玄漢長平王叔良郇國公孝協彭國公思訓新興郡王晉長樂王幼良襄武王琛河間王孝恭晦漢陽王廬江王瑗淮安王神通膠東王道彥梁郡公孝逸國貞暠說齊物復襄邑王神符從晦隴西公博義渤海王奉慈戡
Biographies of Prince Jiangxia Li Daozong, Duke of Guangning County Li Daoxing, Prince Yong'an Li Xiaoji, Han, Prince Huaiyang Li Daoxuan, Prince of Changping in Han Li Shuliang, Duke of Xun State Li Xiaoxie, Duke of Peng State Si Xun, Prince of Xinxing Commandery Li Jin, Prince Changle Li Youliang, Prince Xiangwu Li Chen, Prince Hejian Li Xiaogong Hui, the Prince of Hanyang, Prince Lujiang Li Yuan, Prince Huai'an Li Shentong, Prince of Jiaodong Li Daoyan, Duke of Liang Commandery Li Xiaoyi, Guo Zhen, Hao, Shuo, Qiwu, Fu, Prince Xiangyi Li Shenfu Cong Hui, Duke of Longxi Li Boyi, and Prince Bohai Li Fengci Kan.
2
太祖八子：長延伯，次真，次世祖皇帝，次璋，次繪，次祎，次蔚，次亮。
The Great Ancestor had eight sons: the eldest was Yanbo, followed by Zhen, then the Founding Emperor, then Zhang, Hui, Yi, Wei, and the youngest, Liang.
3
南陽公延伯，蚤薨，無嗣。 高祖武德中，與六王同追封。
Yanbo, Duke of Nanyang, died in youth without issue. During Emperor Gaozu's Wude reign, he received a posthumous enfeoffment along with the six other princes.
4
譙王真，從太祖戰歿，無嗣。
Prince of Qiao, Zhen, fell in battle while serving the Great Ancestor and left no descendants.
5
畢王璋，仕周為梁州刺史，與趙王祐謀殺隋文帝，不克，死。 生二子：曰韶，曰孝基。 韶死隋世，武德時追封東平王，生子道宗。
Zhang, Prince of Bi, had served the Northern Zhou as governor of Liang Province. He joined Prince of Zhao You in a plot to kill Emperor Wen of Sui; when it failed, he was executed. He fathered two sons, Shao and Xiaoji. Shao died during the Sui; in the Wude reign he was posthumously created Prince of Dongping, and his son was Daozong.
6
出為靈州總管。 時梁師都弟洛仁連突厥兵數萬傅於壘，道宗閉城守，伺隙出戰，破之。 高祖謂裴寂曰：「昔魏任城王彰有卻敵功，道宗似之。」 因封任城王。
He was appointed overall commander of Ling Prefecture. At the time, Liang Shizu's brother Luoren led tens of thousands of Türk soldiers to assault the walls. Daozong held the city shut until he saw his chance, then sallied out and routed them. Emperor Gaozu told Pei Ji, "Long ago Cao Zhang, Prince of Rencheng in Wei, won fame for driving back the enemy. Daozong reminds me of him." Accordingly he enfeoffed Daozong as Prince of Rencheng.
7
始，突厥郁射設入居五原，道宗逐出之，震耀威武，斥地贏千里。 貞觀元年，召拜鴻臚卿，遷大理。 太宗方經略突厥，復授靈州都督。 三年，為大同道行軍總管，助李靖破虜，親執頡利可汗，賜封六百戶，還為刑部尚書。 吐谷渾寇邊，靖出昆丘道，詔與侯君集為靖副。 賊聞兵且至，走嶂山數千里。 諸將欲止，獨道宗請窮追，靖曰：「善。」 君集未從。 道宗以單師進，去大軍十日，及之。 吐谷渾拒險殊死鬥，道宗陰引千騎超山乘其後，賊驚，遂大潰。 徙封江夏，授鄂州刺史。 久之，坐貪贓，帝聞，怒曰：「朕提四海之富，士馬若林，如使轍跡環天下，遊觀不度，采絕域之玩、海表之珍，顧不得邪？ 特以勞民自樂，不為也。 人心無藝，當以誼制之。 今道宗已王，稟賜多而貪不止，顧不鄙哉！」 乃免官，削封戶，以王就第。 明年，召為茂州都督，未行，拜晉州刺史。 遷禮部尚書。
Earlier the Türk leader Yushishe had seized Wuyuan; Daozong expelled him, made his military prestige felt far and wide, and pushed the frontier outward by more than a thousand li. In Zhenguan 1 he was recalled to court as Minister of Ceremonial Reception and soon moved to Minister of Justice. While Emperor Taizong was laying plans against the Türks, he again made Daozong military governor of Ling Prefecture. In year three he was made overall commander on the Datong route. He aided Li Jing in crushing the enemy, personally captured Khan Jieli, received a fief of six hundred households, and returned to court as Minister of Justice. When Tuyuhun raided the frontier, Li Jing advanced by the Kunqiu route, and the court ordered Daozong and Hou Junji to serve as his lieutenants. When the enemy learned that the army was coming, they fled deep into the Zhang Mountains, a retreat of several thousand li. The other generals wanted to stop, but only Daozong urged a pursuit to the finish. Jing said, "Well said." Hou Junji would not go along. Daozong pressed ahead with a separate column, ten days ahead of the main force, and overtook the enemy. Tuyuhun held the passes and fought desperately. Daozong secretly led a thousand horsemen over the mountains to take them from behind; the enemy panicked and fled in utter rout. He was transferred to the title Prince of Jiangxia and made prefect of E Prefecture. In time he was found guilty of graft. When the Emperor heard, he said angrily, "I command the wealth of the empire and armies like a forest of spears. If I wanted my carriage tracks to circle the world, to travel and sightsee without restraint, and to collect rarities from the ends of the earth and treasures from overseas, could I not have them? I simply refuse to burden the people for my own pleasure. Desire knows no bounds; it must be checked by duty. Yet Daozong is already a prince, has received lavish gifts, and still cannot stop grasping—is that not contemptible!" He stripped him of office, reduced his fief households, and confined him to his princely mansion. The following year he was recalled as military governor of Mao Prefecture, but before he could leave he was named prefect of Jin Prefecture. He was promoted to Minister of Rites.
8
侯君集破高昌還，頗怨望。 道宗嘗從容奏言：「君集智小言大，且為戎首。」 帝問所以知必反者，對曰：「見其忌而矜功，恥為房、李下，官尚書，常郁郁不平。」 帝曰：「君集誠有功，材無不堪，朕寧惜爵位邪？ 弟未及耳。 不宜輕億度，使自猜危。」 既而君集反，帝笑曰：「如公素揣。」
After Hou Junji returned from conquering Gaochang, he nursed considerable resentment. Daozong once said calmly to the throne, "Junji's talent is modest but his boasts are large, and he will lead a mutiny." The Emperor asked how he could be sure of treason. Daozong answered, "I see him envious yet vain about his achievements, humiliated to stand below Fang and Li though he is a minister, and always brooding in discontent." The Emperor said, "Junji has real merit and his abilities suit any post. Would I stint him rank or title? The moment has simply not arrived. You must not judge him rashly and drive him to fear for his life." When Junji did rebel, the Emperor smiled and said, "Just as you always said."
9
帝將討高麗，先遣營州都督張儉輕騎度遼規形勢，儉畏，不敢深入。 道宗請以百騎往，帝許之，約其還，曰：「臣請二十日行，留十日覽觀山川，得還見天子。」 因秣馬束兵，旁南山入賊地，相易險，度營陣便處。 將還，會高麗兵斷其路，更走間道，謁帝如期。 帝曰：「賁、育之勇何以過！」 賜金五十斤，絹千匹。
As the Emperor prepared to strike Goryeo, he first sent Zhang Jian, military governor of Ying Prefecture, with light cavalry across the Liao to scout the terrain. Jian lost his nerve and would not press far inland. Daozong volunteered to go with a hundred horsemen. The Emperor agreed and set a deadline. Daozong said, "Give me twenty days to ride, ten days to survey the country, and I shall return to audience with Your Majesty." He fed his horses, tightened his ranks, skirted the southern mountains into enemy country, noted every advantage of ground, and marked the best places to camp and fight. On his way back, Goryeo forces cut him off, so he took a hidden route and reported to the Emperor exactly on time. The Emperor said, "What could exceed the valor of warriors like Ben and Yu!" He rewarded him with fifty jin of gold and a thousand bolts of silk.
10
乃詔與李勣為前鋒，濟遼，拔蓋牟城。 會賊救至，道宗與總管張君乂領騎裁四千，虜十倍，皆欲浚溝保險須帝至，道宗曰：「賊遽來，其兵必疲，我一鼓摧之，固矣。 昔耿弇不以賊遺君父，吾為前軍，當清道迎乘輿，尚何待？」 勣善之。 選壯騎數十，突進賊營，左右出入，勣合擊，大破之。 帝至，咨美，賜奴婢四十口。 乃築拒闉，攻安市城，闉毀傅城，道宗失部分，反為賊據。 帝斬其果毅傅伏愛，道宗跣行請罪，帝曰：「漢武帝殺王恢，不如秦穆公赦孟明。」 遂置不問。 在陣傷足，帝親加砭治，賜禦膳。 還，以疾辭劇就閑，改太常卿。
An edict then paired him with Li Jie as vanguard. They crossed the Liao and took Gaicheng. Enemy reinforcements arrived. Daozong and overall commander Zhang Junyi had barely four thousand horsemen against ten times as many foes. Everyone wanted to dig trenches, hold the passes, and wait for the Emperor. Daozong said, "They rushed here—their men must be exhausted. One charge will break them for certain. Geng Yan once refused to leave the enemy for his sovereign. As vanguard I should clear the road for the imperial carriage. Why wait?" Li Jie agreed. He picked several dozen picked horsemen, stormed the enemy camp, wheeled through it from both sides, and with Jie's combined strike broke them completely. When the Emperor arrived he praised him and gave him forty slaves and attendants. They built a siege ramp against Anshi. When the ramp collapsed against the wall, Daozong lost command of his sector and the enemy took it. The Emperor executed his resolute officer Fu Fu'ai. Daozong went barefoot to plead guilty. The Emperor said, "When Emperor Wu of Han executed Wang Hui, he did less well than Duke Mu of Qin, who spared Meng Ming." He let the matter rest. He was wounded in the foot on the field. The Emperor personally treated him with cupping and sent him food from the imperial kitchen. After returning, he pleaded illness to leave heavy duties for lighter ones and was made Minister of Imperial Ancestral Rites.
11
高宗永徽初，房遺愛以反誅，長孫無忌、褚遂良與道宗有宿怨，誣與遺愛善，流象州，道病薨，年五十四。 無忌等得罪，詔復爵邑。 道宗晚好學，接士大夫，不倨於貴。 國初宗室，唯道宗、孝恭為最賢。 子景恒，封盧國公，相州刺史。
Early in Yonghui under Emperor Gaozong, Fang Yiai was executed for treason. Zhangsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang, who bore old enmity toward Daozong, falsely claimed he had been close to Yiai. He was banished to Xiang Prefecture, fell ill on the journey, and died at fifty-four. After Wuji and his faction were punished, an edict restored Daozong's title and fief. In later life Daozong took to study, welcomed scholar-officials, and did not stand on his rank. Of the founding imperial clan, only Daozong and Xiaogong ranked among the finest men. His son Jingheng was created Duke of Lu State and became prefect of Xiang Prefecture.
12
道宗弟道興，武德初，爵廣寧郡王，以屬疏降封縣公。 貞觀九年，為交州都督，以南方瘴厲，恐不得年，頗忽忽憂悵，卒於官，贈交州都督。
Daozong's younger brother Daoxing was early in Wude made Prince of Guangning Commandery, then demoted to county duke when his branch of the clan was judged remote. In Zhenguan 9 he became military governor of Jiao Prefecture. Fearing the southern miasma would shorten his life, he grew restless and despondent, died in office, and was posthumously confirmed as military governor of Jiao.
13
永安壯王孝基，武德初得王，歷陜州總管、鴻臚卿，以罪奪官。
Xiaoji, Prince Yong'an the Stalwart, was enfeoffed early in Wude, served as overall commander of Shan Prefecture and Minister of Ceremonial Reception, and later lost his post for an offense.
14
二年，劉武周寇太原，夏人呂崇茂以縣應賊。 詔孝基為行軍總管攻之，工部尚書獨孤懷恩、內史侍郎唐儉、陜州總管於筠隸焉。 筠請急攻城，絕外援，且當有變。 時懷恩挾異計，紿說孝基曰：「夏城堅，攻之引日，宋金剛在近，內拒外強，一敗塗地。 不如頓兵待秦王破賊，則夏自孤，此謂不戰而屈人也。」 孝基謂然。 會尉遲敬德至，與崇茂夾〓官師，遂大敗。 孝基及筠等皆執於賊，謀亡歸，為賊所害。 高祖為發哀，優賜其家。 晉陽平，購屍不獲，招魂以葬，贈左衛大將軍及謚。
In year two Liu Wuzhou attacked Taiyuan, and Lü Chongmao of Xia County rose in the county to join the rebels. Xiaoji was ordered to lead the campaign. Minister of Works Dugu Huai'en, Vice Director of the Secretariat Tang Jian, and overall commander of Shan Yu Yun served under him. Yu Yun urged a rapid assault to cut off outside help and said the situation would soon shift in their favor. Huai'en had his own scheme and misled Xiaoji. "Xia is a hard city," he said. "A long siege will drag on while Song Jingang is close. If we are pinned inside and pressed from without, one defeat will ruin us all. Better to hold our troops until the Prince of Qin defeats the enemy. Xia will collapse on its own. That is how you win without fighting." Xiaoji agreed. Yuchi Jingde then arrived and, with Chongmao, struck the government army from both flanks, routing it completely. Xiaoji, Yu Yun, and the rest were captured. They plotted escape but were killed by the rebels. Emperor Gaozu ordered mourning and gave his family generous compensation. After Jinyang was recovered they could not find his body, so they buried him by summoning his soul and posthumously made him General of the Left Guard with an honorific epithet.
15
無子，以兄子道立嗣，封高平王，後降封縣公，終陳州刺史。 曾孫涵。
Without a son, his elder brother's son Daoli succeeded him, was created Prince of Gaoping, later demoted to county duke, and ended his career as prefect of Chen Prefecture. His great-grandson was Han.
16
涵，簡素忠謹，為宗室俊。 累授贊善大夫。 郭子儀表為關內鹽池判官。 肅宗至平涼，未知所從。 朔方留後杜鴻漸等條士馬倉廥，使涵奉箋馳謁肅宗。 涵既見，敷奏明辯，肅宗悅，除左司員外郎，再遷宗正少卿。
Han was plain, loyal, and careful, counted among the best of the imperial clan. He rose through appointments as Attendant of the Heir Apparent. Guo Ziyi recommended him for the post of salt-pond administrator in Guannei. When Emperor Suzong reached Pingliang he did not know which course to take. Du Hongjian, acting commander of Shuofang, and others drew up lists of troops, horses, and stores and sent Han with a memorial to ride posthaste to Suzong. When Han appeared he laid out his report with clarity and force. Suzong was pleased, made him Vice Director of the Left Secretariat, and soon promoted him to Vice Director of the Imperial Clan Court.
17
寶應初，河朔平，涵方母喪，奪哀持節宣慰，所至州縣，非公事未嘗言，蔬飯水飲，席地以瞑。 使還，固請終制，代宗見其臒毀，許之。 服除，擢給事中，遷兵部侍郎。
Early in Baoying, when Hebei was pacified, Han was mourning his mother but set mourning aside to tour the region with imperial authority. In every prefecture and county he spoke only of official business, ate plain vegetables and drank water, and slept on the bare ground. On his return he begged to finish his mourning period. Emperor Daizong saw how gaunt grief had left him and agreed. After mourning he was promoted to Attendant Censor and then Vice Minister of War.
18
硃希彩殺李懷仙，復宣慰河北，還為浙西觀察使。 居五歲，入朝，拜御史大夫、京畿觀察使。 德宗嗣位，以涵和易無所繩舉，除太子少傅、山陵副使。 以父諱徙光祿卿。 未幾，遷左散騎常侍，以尚書右僕射致仕，累封襄武縣公，卒，贈太子太保。
After Zhu Xicai killed Li Huaixian, Han toured Hebei again on a pacification mission, then returned to serve as military commissioner of Zhexi. After five years he came to court and was made Censor-in-Chief and military commissioner of the Capital Region. When Emperor Dezong came to the throne, he found Han gentle and disinclined to discipline others, so he made him Junior Tutor of the Heir Apparent and deputy commissioner for the imperial tomb. To avoid his father's taboo name he was transferred to Minister of Imperial Entertainments. Soon he became Left Regular Attendant, then retired as Vice Director of the Right Secretariat. He was repeatedly enfeoffed as Duke of Xiangwu County, died, and was posthumously made Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent.
19
子鰅，貞元初為饒州別駕。 妾高以善歌入宮，鰅因禦醫許泳通書，坐誅。
His son Yu served early in Zhenyuan as vice prefect of Rao Prefecture. A concubine named Gao entered the palace for her singing. Yu used the imperial physician Xu Yong to pass secret letters and was executed for it.
20
雍王繪為隋夏州總管。 子贄，追爵河南王，生道玄。
Prince of Yong, Hui, served the Sui as overall commander of Xia Prefecture. His son Zan was posthumously created Prince of Henan and was the father of Daoxuan.
21
淮陽壯王道玄，性謹厚，習技擊，然進止都雅。 武德初，例王。 年十五，從秦王擊宋金剛於介州，先登，王壯之，賞予良厚。 討王世充，戰多。 竇建德屯虎牢，王輕騎致賊，遣道玄伏以待，賊至，走之。 戰範汜水，登南坡，貫賊陣出其背，復引還，賊皆靡，所發命中。 王喜，以副騎給之。 每赴敵，飛矢著身如猖，氣益厲。 東都平，為洛州總管。 府廢，更授刺史。 俄為山東道行軍總管討劉黑闥，以多見褒。
Daoxuan, Prince Huaiyang the Stalwart, was careful and honest by nature, skilled in arms, yet carried himself with refined grace. Early in Wude he was enfeoffed as prince under the usual rule. At fifteen he followed the Prince of Qin against Song Jingang at Jie Prefecture, was first over the wall, and the Prince admired his courage and rewarded him handsomely. In the campaign against Wang Shichong he saw heavy fighting. When Dou Jiande held Hulao, the Prince rode out with light cavalry to draw the enemy while Daoxuan lay in ambush and drove them off when they came. At Fan and Sishui he took the southern slope, drove through the enemy line and out behind it, then wheeled back. The foe broke before him, and every arrow he shot found its mark. The Prince was delighted and gave him a reserve string of horses. Whenever he charged the enemy, arrows lodged in him like quills on a hedgehog, yet his fighting spirit only burned hotter. After the Eastern Capital was secured he was made overall commander of Luo Prefecture. When the prefectural headquarters was abolished he was appointed prefect instead. He was soon made overall commander on the Shandong route against Liu Heita and won wide praise for his exploits.
22
黑闥再亂，道玄率史萬寶戰下博，越濘馳，約萬寶繼進，萬寶素少之，不肯前，曰：「吾被詔，以王兒子名大將，而軍進退實在我。 今其輕鬥，若大軍竭馳，必陷濘，莫如以王啖賊，我結陣待之，雖不利王，而利國也。」 道玄遂戰歿，年十九。 萬寶為賊所乘，舉軍潰，身獨免。 太宗追悼曰：「自兵興，兒常從我，每見我深入輒克，故慕之。 惜其少，遠圖不究，哀哉！」 因流涕。 贈左驍衛大將軍及謚。
When Heita rose again, Daoxuan led Shi Wanbao to fight at Xiabo, galloped across the Ning, and asked Wanbao to follow up. Wanbao had always despised him and refused to advance. "The edict may name a prince's son as commander," he said, "but in truth I decide whether this army moves or halts. He is fighting recklessly. If the main force races itself out, we will bog down in the Ning. Better to let the prince feed the enemy while we hold formation and wait. It may cost the prince, but it will serve the realm." Daoxuan fought on and fell in battle at nineteen. The enemy overran Wanbao, the army broke completely, and he alone escaped. Emperor Taizong mourned him, saying, "Since the wars began the boy often rode with me. He saw that whenever I pressed deep into the enemy we won, and he wanted to do the same. Pity that he was so young and never finished what he set out to do. How tragic!" He wept as he spoke. He was posthumously made General of the Left Martial Guard and granted an honorific epithet.
23
無子，以弟道明嗣王，遷左驍衛大將軍。 貞觀十四年，與武衛將軍慕容寶節送弘化公主於吐谷渾，坐漏言主非帝女，奪王，終鄆州刺史。 六世孫漢。
Without a son, his younger brother Daoming inherited the title and was promoted to General of the Left Martial Guard. In Zhenguan 14 he and General Murong Baojie escorted Princess Honghua to Tuyuhun. He let slip that she was not the Emperor's daughter, lost his princely title, and ended his career as prefect of Yan. His sixth-generation descendant was Han.
24
漢字南紀，少事韓愈，通古學，屬辭雄蔚，為人剛，略類愈。 愈愛重，以子妻之。 擢進士第，遷累左拾遺。
Han, styled Nanji, studied under Han Yu in his youth, mastered classical learning, and wrote in a bold, expansive style. He was stiff by nature and somewhat resembled his teacher. Yu admired him and gave him his daughter in marriage. He passed the jinshi examination and rose to Left Reminder.
25
敬宗侈宮室，舶買獻沈香亭材，帝受之，漢諫曰：「以沈香為亭，何異瑤臺瓊室乎？」 是時，王政謬僻，漢言切，多所救補。 坐婞訐出佐興元幕府。
Emperor Jingzong expanded the palaces. Overseas merchants presented timber for an agarwood pavilion, and the Emperor accepted it. Han remonstrated, "An agarwood pavilion—how is that different from the jade towers of a tyrant?" The court had gone badly astray, and Han spoke bluntly, correcting many abuses. For his obstinate manner he was sent to serve on the staff at Xingyuan.
26
文宗立，召為屯田員外郎、史館修撰。 論次《憲宗實錄》，書宰相李吉甫事不假借，子德裕惡之。 會李宗閔當國，擢知制誥，稍進御史中丞，吏部侍郎。 初，德裕貶袁州，漢助為排擠，後德裕復輔政，漢坐宗閔黨出為汾州刺史，宗閔再逐，改州司馬。 詔有司不二十年不得用。 然不數歲，徙絳州長史，遂不復振。 大中時，召拜宗正少卿，卒。
When Emperor Wenzong took the throne he was recalled as Vice Director of Agriculture and compiler in the Historiography Institute. While compiling the Veritable Record of Emperor Xianzong he treated Chancellor Li Jifu without flattery, and Jifu's son Deyu resented him. When Li Zongmin dominated the court he was made Drafting Edicts, then Censor-in-Chief, then Vice Minister of Personnel. Earlier, when Deyu was banished to Yuan Prefecture, Han had helped push him down. When Deyu returned to power, Han was exiled to Fen Prefecture as a member of Zongmin's faction. After Zongmin fell again, Han was demoted to prefectural aide. An edict barred him from office for twenty years. Within a few years he was transferred to chief administrator of Jiang Prefecture and never recovered his standing. In the Dazhong era he was recalled as Vice Director of the Imperial Clan Court and soon died.
27
始，漢為中丞，表孔溫業為御史，及漢晚見召，溫業已為中丞，每燕集，人以為榮。
When Han was Censor-in-Chief he had recommended Kong Wenye as censor. When Han was recalled late in life, Wenye was already Censor-in-Chief, and their banquets together were seen as a mark of distinction.
28
郇王祎，為隋上儀同三司。 生子叔良、德良、幼良。
Prince of Xun, Yi, served the Sui as Senior Colonel of Honor with Triple Honors. His sons were Shuliang, Deliang, and Youliang.
29
長平肅王叔良，武德初，例王，鎮涇州，捍薛仁杲。 仁杲內史令翟長孫以眾降。 於是大饑，米鬥千錢，叔良不恤士，損糧以漁利，下皆怨。 仁杲知之，陽言食盡，去，遣高〓人詭降。 叔良遣驃騎劉感受之，未至城，三烽發，仁杲兵自南原噪而還，大戰百里細川，感為賊執。 叔良懼，悉出金勞軍，委事於長孫，乃克安。
Shuliang, Prince of Changping the Solemn, was enfeoffed early in Wude, held Jing Prefecture, and resisted Xue Rengao. Rengao's Director of the Secretariat, Zhai Zhangsun, surrendered with his force. A great famine followed, and grain sold for a thousand cash per dou. Shuliang neglected his men and skimmed rations for profit, and his troops hated him. Rengao learned of this, pretended his supplies were gone and withdrew, and sent Gao Zhi to offer a false surrender. Shuliang sent Swift Cavalry Liu Gan to accept the surrender. Before they reached the city three beacon fires flared, Rengao's men roared back from the southern plain, and a great battle was fought at Baili Xichuan. Gan was captured. Terrified, Shuliang paid out all his gold to reward the army, put Zhangsun in charge, and only then restored order.
30
子孝協嗣。
His son Xiaoxie succeeded him.
31
孝協，始王范陽，俄降為郇國公、魏州刺史。 麟德中，坐贓抵死，司宗卿隴西王博義等為言於高宗求貸，帝不許，遂自殺。
Xiaoxie was first Prince of Fanyang, then demoted to Duke of Xun State and prefect of Wei Prefecture. In the Linde era he faced execution for corruption. Prince of Longxi Boyi and others begged Emperor Gaozong for mercy, but the Emperor refused, and Xiaoxie took his own life.
32
弟孝斌為原州都督府長史。 生子思訓，為江都令。 武後多殺宗室，思訓棄官去。 中宗復位，以耆舊擢宗正卿，封隴西郡公，歷益州都督府長史。 開元初，進彭國公，加戶滿四百，進右武衛大將軍。 卒，贈秦州都督，陪葬橋陵。 思訓善畫，世所謂「李將軍山水」者。 弟思誨，為揚州參軍事。 子林甫，自有傳。
His younger brother Xiaobin served as chief administrator of the Yuan Prefecture headquarters. His son Sixun was magistrate of Jiangdu. When Empress Wu slaughtered many of the imperial clan, Sixun quit his post and fled. When Emperor Zhongzong was restored, Sixun was promoted to Director of the Imperial Clan Court as an elder of the clan, created Duke of Longxi Commandery, and served as chief administrator of Yi Prefecture. Early in Kaiyuan he was advanced to Duke of Peng State, his fief was raised to four hundred households, and he became General of the Right Martial Guard. He died, was posthumously made military governor of Qin Prefecture, and was buried beside Qiaoling. Sixun was a gifted painter—the "General Li landscapes" famed in his day. His younger brother Sihui served as an aide in Yang Prefecture. His son Linpu has a separate biography.
33
新興郡王德良，少以疾不任職。 薨，贈涼州都督。
Deliang, Prince of Xinxing Commandery, was ill from youth and never held office. He died and was posthumously made military governor of Liang Prefecture.
34
孫晉，先天中，為雍州長史，治有名，襲王。 坐豫太平公主謀被誅，改氏「厲」。 晉就刑，僚吏奔解，唯司功參軍李捴從王如它日，晉死，哭其屍盡哀。 姚元崇嘆曰：「欒、向儔邪！」 擢為尚書郎。
His grandson Jin served in the Xiantian era as chief administrator of Yong Prefecture, won renown for his administration, and inherited the title. For joining Princess Taiping's plot he was executed and his clan was given the disgraced surname Li. When Jin went to execution his staff fled. Only Merit Evaluator Li Zong stayed with him as on any other day and wept over his body with complete grief. Yao Chong sighed, "He ranks with Luan and Xiang!" He promoted Zong to a post in the Secretariat.
35
長樂郡王幼良，資暴急，高祖數曉勒，不悛。 有盜其馬者，輒殺之。 帝怒曰：「盜信有罪，王而專殺可乎？」 詔禮部尚書李綱召宗室即朝堂杖之百，乃釋。 出為涼州都督，嘯不逞為左右，市裏苦之。
Youliang, Prince of Changle Commandery, was violent and hot-tempered by nature. Emperor Gaozu warned him again and again, but he would not change. Whenever anyone stole his horses he had them killed. The Emperor said angrily, "Thieves are guilty, but may a prince kill them on his own authority?" He ordered Minister of Rites Li Gang to summon the prince to the court hall, give him a hundred strokes of the rod, and release him. He was sent out as military governor of Liang Prefecture, where ruffians gathered as his retainers and the townspeople groaned under them.
36
太宗立，或告王陰養士，交境外。 詔中書令宇文士及往代，並按狀。 士及繩之急，左右恐，欲劫王由間道趨長安自明，不即北奔突厥。 士及露劾，帝復遣侍御史孫伏伽鞫視，無異辭，遂賜死。 六世孫回，別傳。
When Emperor Taizong took the throne, someone reported that the prince was secretly raising troops and dealing with foreigners beyond the border. An edict sent Chief Minister Yuwen Shiji to replace him and investigate. Shiji pressed hard. The prince's men panicked and wanted either to seize him and rush to Chang'an by a hidden route to plead his case, or flee north to the Türks. Shiji filed formal charges. The Emperor sent Attending Censor Sun Fuga to retry the case. The facts held, and the prince was ordered to take his own life. His sixth-generation descendant Hui has a separate biography.
37
蔡烈王蔚為周朔州總管，生子安、哲。
Wei, Prince of Cai the Upright, served the Zhou as overall commander of Shuo Prefecture and fathered An and Zhe.
38
西平懷王安，仕隋為右領軍大將軍，封趙公。 武德時，例王。 生子琛、孝恭、瑊、〓。
An, Prince of Xiping the Kind, served the Sui as General of the Right Palace Guard and was created Duke of Zhao. In the Wude era he was enfeoffed as prince under the usual rule. His sons were Chen, Xiaogong, Jian, and Gui.
39
河間元王孝恭，少沈敏，有識量。
Xiaogong, Prince of Hejian the Primary, was thoughtful and sharp from youth and showed real judgment.
40
高祖已定京師，詔拜山南招尉大使，徇巴蜀，下三十餘州。 進擊硃粲，破之，俘其眾，諸將曰：「粲徒食人，摯賊也，請坑之。」 孝恭曰：「不然，今列城皆吾寇，若獲之則殺，後渠有降者乎？」 悉縱之。 繇是騰檄所至輒下。
After Emperor Gaozu secured the capital, Xiaogong was made Pacification Commissioner of Shannan. He marched through Ba and Shu and brought more than thirty prefectures to submit. He attacked Zhu Can, defeated him, and took his followers prisoner. The generals said, "Can's men are cannibals and vicious bandits. Bury them alive." Xiaogong said, "No. Every city ahead is still hostile. If we kill every prisoner, who will surrender later?" He released them all. From then on, wherever his proclamations reached, cities submitted.
41
明年，拜信州總管，承制得拜假。 當是時，蕭銑據江陵，孝恭數進策圖銑，帝嘉納。 進王趙郡，以信州為夔州。 乃大治舟艦，肄水戰。 會李靖使江南，孝恭倚其謀，遂圖江陵，盡召巴蜀首領子弟收用之，外示引擢而內實質也。 俄進荊湘道總管，統水陸十二軍發夷陵，破銑二鎮，縱戰艦放江中。 諸將曰：「得舟當濟吾用，棄之反資賊，奈何？」 孝恭曰：「銑之境，南際嶺，左薄洞庭，地險士眾，若城未拔而援至，我且有內外憂，舟雖多，何所用之？ 今銑瀕江鎮戍，見艫舠蔽江下，必謂銑已敗，不即進兵，覘候往返，以引救期，則吾既拔江陵矣。」 已而救兵到巴陵，見船，疑不進。 銑內外阻絕，遂降。 帝悅，遷荊州大總管，詔圖破銑狀以進。
The following year he was made overall commander of Xin Prefecture with authority to grant provisional appointments. At that time Xiao Xian held Jiangling. Xiaogong repeatedly submitted plans against him, and the Emperor approved them. He was advanced to Prince of Zhao Commandery, and Xin Prefecture was renamed Kui Prefecture. He then built a large fleet and trained his men in naval warfare. When Li Jing was sent south, Xiaogong relied on his counsel and turned toward Jiangling. He summoned the sons of Ba and Shu chieftains into service, outwardly honoring them while inwardly holding them as hostages. He was soon made overall commander of the Jing-Xiang route, led twelve armies by land and water from Yiling, took two of Xian's garrisons, and set the captured warships adrift down the Yangzi. The generals protested, "Those boats should serve us. Throwing them away only arms the enemy. How can we do that?" Xiaogong said, "Xian's realm borders the southern ranges and Dongting Lake—hard country, many men. If relief arrives before we take the cities, we will be caught between enemies inside and out. What good are boats then? His riverside garrisons will see a river full of drifting warships and assume he is beaten. They will hesitate, send scouts back and forth, and lose precious days—by then we will already have taken Jiangling." Relief troops reached Baling, saw the boats, suspected a trap, and held back. Cut off inside and out, Xian surrendered. The Emperor was pleased, made him Grand Commander of Jing Prefecture, and ordered a map of Xian's defeat submitted to court.
42
孝恭治荊，為置屯田，立銅冶，百姓利之。 遷襄州道行臺左僕射。 時嶺表未平，乃分遣使者，綏輯安慰，其款附者四十有九州，朝廷號令暢南海矣。
Xiaogong governed Jing, established military colonies and copper works, and the people prospered. He was made Left Vice Director of the Xiang Prefecture Route Headquarters. With the far south still unsettled, he sent envoys to soothe and reassure the region. Forty-nine prefectures submitted, and imperial authority reached the southern sea.
43
未幾，輔公祏反，寇壽陽，詔孝恭為行軍元帥討之。 引兵趨九江，李靖、李勣〗、黃君漢、張鎮州、盧祖尚皆稟節度。 將發，大饗士，杯水變為血，坐皆失色，孝恭自如，徐曰：「禍福無基，唯所召爾！ 顧我不負於物，無重諸君憂。 公祏禍惡貫盈，今仗威靈以問罪，杯中血，乃賊臣授首之祥乎！」 盡飲罷，眾心為安。 公祏將馮惠亮等拒嶮邀戰，孝恭堅壁不出，遣奇兵絕餉道，賊饑，夜薄營，孝恭臥不動。 明日，使羸兵扣賊壘挑之，祖尚選精騎陣以待。 俄而兵卻，賊追北且囂，遇祖尚軍，薄戰，遂大敗。 惠亮退保梁山，孝恭乘勝破其別鎮，賊赴水死者數千計。 公祏窮，棄丹楊走，騎窮追，生禽之，江南平。 璽書褒美，賜甲第一區、女樂二部、奴婢七百口、寶玩不貲。 進授東南道行臺左僕射。 行臺廢，更為揚州大都督。
Soon Fu Gongshi rebelled and attacked Shouyang. Xiaogong was ordered to lead the campaign against him. He marched on Jiujiang. Li Jing, Li Jie, Huang Junhan, Zhang Zhenzhou, and Lu Zushang all served under his command. Before marching he feasted his troops. A cup of water turned to blood, and everyone paled. Xiaogong stayed calm and said slowly, "Fortune and disaster have no fixed root. We summon them ourselves. I have done nothing to deserve this sign. Do not let it trouble you. Gongshi's crimes are full to overflowing. We march under imperial authority to punish him. Perhaps this blood means the rebel will lose his head!" He finished his cup, and the army's spirits steadied. Gongshi's generals Feng Huiliang and others held the passes and offered battle. Xiaogong kept his walls shut, sent raiders to cut their supplies, and when the enemy grew hungry and attacked the camp at night he did not stir from his bed. The next day he sent weak troops to provoke the enemy stockade while Zushang formed ranks of picked horsemen to wait. His men soon feigned retreat. The enemy chased them north, shouting in triumph, ran into Zushang's line, fought at close range, and were routed. Huiliang fell back to Liang Mountain. Xiaogong pressed the victory, broke his outlying posts, and thousands of rebels drowned trying to escape into the water. Cornered, Gongshi abandoned Danyang and fled. Cavalry ran him down and captured him alive, and the south of the Yangzi was pacified. An imperial letter praised him and rewarded him with a suit of first-grade armor, two troupes of female musicians, seven hundred slaves, and countless treasures. He was promoted to Left Vice Director of the Southeast Route Headquarters. When the route headquarters was abolished he became Grand Commander of Yang Prefecture.
44
孝恭再破巨賊，北自淮，東包江，度嶺而南，盡統之。 欲以威重誇遠俗，乃築第石頭城，陳廬僥自衛。 或誣其反，召還，頗為憲司鐫詰，既無狀，赦為宗正卿。 賜實封千二百戶。 歷涼州都督、晉州刺史。 貞觀初，為禮部尚書，改王河間。
Xiaogong broke great rebel armies again, holding everything from the Huai northward, the Yangzi eastward, and the lands south of the ranges. To display his power to distant peoples he built a mansion at Stone City and posted guards in encampments around it. Someone accused him of treason. Recalled and grilled by the censorate, he was cleared and made Director of the Imperial Clan Court. He received a fief of twelve hundred actual households. He served as military governor of Liang Prefecture and prefect of Jin Prefecture. Early in Zhenguan he became Minister of Rites and was retitled Prince of Hejian.
45
性奢豪，後房歌舞伎百餘，然寬恕退讓，無矜伐色，太宗用是親重之，宗室莫比也。 嘗謂人曰：「吾所居頗壯麗，非吾心也。 當別營一區，令粗足充事而已。 吾歿後，子也才，易以守； 不才，不為他人所利。」 十四年，中飲暴薨，年五十。 帝哭之慟，贈司空、揚州都督及謚，陪葬獻陵。
He lived lavishly, with more than a hundred performers in his household, yet he was forgiving and unassuming. Emperor Taizong cherished him above all the imperial clan. He once said, "My house is too grand for my taste. I should build a simpler place, just enough to live in. If my sons have talent, they can keep it; if not, no one will want it." In year fourteen he died suddenly after drinking, at fifty. The Emperor wept bitterly, posthumously made him Minister of Works and military governor of Yang Prefecture, and buried him beside Xianling.
46
始，隋亡，盜賊遍天下，皆太宗身自討定，謀臣驍帥並隸麾下，無特將專勛者，惟孝恭獨有方面功以自見雲。 子崇義、晦。
When the Sui fell, rebels filled the empire. Emperor Taizong personally crushed them while his strategists and generals served under him. Only Xiaogong won independent regional fame. His sons were Chongyi and Hui.
47
崇義嗣王，降封譙國公，歷蒲、同二州刺史、益州都督府長史，有威名。 終宗正卿。
Chongyi inherited the title, was reduced to Duke of Qiao State, served as prefect of Pu and Tong and chief administrator of Yi Prefecture, and won a name for stern authority. He ended his career as Director of the Imperial Clan Court.
48
晦，乾封中為營州都督，以治狀聞，璽書勞賜。 遷右金吾將軍，檢校雍州長史，摧擿奸伏無留隱，吏下畏之。 高宗將幸洛，詔晦居守，謂曰：「關中事一以屬公，然法令牽制，不可以成政，法令外茍可以利人者行之，毋須以聞。」 故晦治有異績。 武後時，遷秋官尚書。 卒，贈幽州都督。 初，晦第起觀閣，下臨肆區，其人候晦曰：「庶人不及以禮，然室家之私，不願外窺，今將辭公。」 晦驚，遽毀徹之。 子榮，奉吳王恪祀。
In the Qianfeng era Hui governed Ying Prefecture with distinction and received an imperial letter of praise and reward. He became General of the Right Golden Guards and acting chief administrator of Yong Prefecture, exposing hidden crimes so thoroughly that officials and subordinates feared him. When Emperor Gaozong went to Luoyang, he left Hui in charge of the capital and said, "Guanzhong is yours—but statutes alone cannot govern. Whatever helps the people beyond the letter of the law, do it without asking me." Under that mandate Hui achieved remarkable results. Under Empress Wu he became Minister of Justice. He died and was posthumously made military governor of You Prefecture. Hui once built a tower overlooking the market. A neighbor said, "I cannot match your rank in ceremony, but no family wants outsiders peering in. I must leave your service." Hui was startled and had it torn down at once. His son Rong maintained the sacrifices for Prince of Wu, Li Ke.
49
濟北郡王瑊，武德中，為尚書左丞，例王。 終始州刺史。
Jian, Prince of Jibei Commandery, served in Wude as Left Vice Director of the Secretariat and was enfeoffed as prince under the usual rule. He ended his career as prefect of Shi Prefecture.
50
漢陽郡王瑰，始為郡公，進王。 高祖使持幣遺突厥頡利可汗言和親事。 頡利始見瑰，倨甚。 瑰開說，示以厚幣，乃大喜，改容加禮，因遣使隨入獻名馬。 後復聘，頡利謂其下曰：「前瑰來，悔不少屈之，當使拜我。」 瑰同知之，既見頡利，即長揖。 頡利怒，留不遣。 瑰意象自若，不為屈。 虜知不可劫，卒以禮遣。
Gui, Prince of Hanyang Commandery, was first a commandery duke and later promoted to prince. Emperor Gaozu sent him with gifts to Khan Jieli of the Türks to negotiate a marriage alliance. When Jieli first met Gui he was openly arrogant. Gui persuaded him and displayed lavish gifts. Jieli was delighted, changed his manner, treated him with respect, and sent envoys to accompany him to court with famous horses. On a later mission Jieli told his men, "When Gui came before I regret I did not humble him. I should have made him bow to me." Gui learned of this. When he met Jieli he gave only a formal bow between equals. Jieli was furious and detained him. Gui remained calm and would not yield. The Türks saw he could not be broken and finally sent him home with proper ceremony.
51
遷左武候將軍，代孝恭為荊州都督，政務清靜。 嶺外酋豪數相攻，瑰遣使諭威德，皆如約，不敢亂。 後例為公。 長史馮長命者，嘗為御史大夫，素貴，事多專決，瑰怒，杖之，坐免。 起為宜州刺史、散騎常侍，薨。
He became General of the Left Martial Guard, replaced Xiaogong as military governor of Jing Prefecture, and governed with quiet efficiency. Beyond the ranges chieftains often fought one another. Gui sent envoys to proclaim imperial authority, and all kept the peace. Later, under the usual reduction, he was made a duke. Chief administrator Feng Changming had once been Censor-in-Chief and often decided matters on his own. Gui had him beaten with the rod and removed from office. He was later made prefect of Yi Prefecture and Regular Attendant, then died.
52
濟南郡王哲，為隋柱國、備身將軍，追王。
Zhe, Prince of Jinan Commandery, served the Sui as Pillar of State and Palace Guard General and was posthumously created prince.
53
子瑗。
His son was Yuan.
54
廬江郡王瑗字德圭。 武德時，例王，累遷山南東道行臺右僕射。 與河間王孝恭合討蕭銑，無功。 更為幽州都督。 瑗素懦，朝廷恐不任職，乃以右領軍將軍王君廓輔行。 君廓，故盜也，其勇絕人，瑗倚之，許結婚，寄心腹。
Yuan, Prince of Lujiang Commandery, styled Degui. In Wude he was enfeoffed as prince and rose to Right Vice Director of the Shannan East Route Headquarters. He joined Prince of Hejian Xiaogong against Xiao Xian but won no distinction. He was reassigned as military governor of You Prefecture. Yuan was timid by nature, and the court feared he could not govern alone, so General Wang Junluo was sent to assist him. Junluo had been a bandit and was surpassingly brave. Yuan relied on him, promised him a marriage alliance, and treated him as a confidant.
55
時隱太子有陰謀，厚結瑗。 太子死，太宗令通事舍人崔敦禮召瑗，瑗懼有變。 君廓內險賊，欲以計陷瑗而取己功，即謂瑗曰：「事變未可知，大王國懿親，受命守邊，擁兵十萬，而從一使者召乎？ 且趙郡王前已屬吏，今太子、齊王又復爾，大王勢能自保邪？」 因泣。 瑗信之，曰：「以命累公。」 乃囚敦禮，勒兵，召北燕州刺史王詵與計事。 兵曹參軍王利涉說瑗曰：「王今無詔擅發兵，則反矣。 當須權結眾心。 若諸刺史召之不至，將何以全？」 瑗曰：「奈何？」 對曰：「山東豪傑嘗為竇建德所用，今失職與編戶夷，此其思亂，若旱之望雨。 王能發使，使悉復舊職，隨在所募兵，有不從，得輒誅之，則河北之地可呼吸而有。 然後遣王詵外連突厥，繇太原南趨蒲、絳，大王整駕西入關，兩軍合勢，不旬月天下定矣。」 瑗從之，以內外兵悉付君廓。 利涉以君廓多翻覆，請以兵屬詵，瑗猶豫，君廓密知之，馳斬詵首，徇於軍曰：「李瑗與王詵反，錮敕使，擅追兵，今詵已斬，獨瑗在，無能為也。 諸君從之且族滅，助我者富貴可得！」 眾曰：「願討賊。」 乃出敦禮於獄。 瑗聞之，率左右數百被甲出。 君廓呼曰：「瑗誖亂，諸君皆詿誤，若何從之以取夷戮？」 眾反走。 瑗駕君廓曰：「小人賣我，行自及！」 即禽瑗縊之，傳首京師，廢為庶人，絕屬籍。
The Hidden Heir Apparent was plotting in secret and cultivated a close bond with Yuan. When the Heir Apparent died, Taizong sent Master of Ceremonies Cui Dunli to summon Yuan. Yuan feared the worst. Junluo was treacherous at heart and plotted to trap Yuan and claim the credit. He said, "No one knows what will happen next. You are the emperor's close kin, holding the frontier with a hundred thousand men—will you obey one envoy's summons? Prince of Zhao was already arrested. The Heir Apparent and Prince of Qi have fallen the same way. Can you really protect yourself?" He wept as he spoke. Yuan believed him and said, "My life is in your hands." He imprisoned Dunli, called out the troops, and summoned Wang Shen, prefect of Northern Yan, to plan with him. Army aide Wang Lishe urged Yuan, "If you mobilize without an edict, you are in rebellion. You must win the people's hearts first. If the prefects do not answer your summons, how will you survive?" Yuan asked, "What should I do?" He answered, "The heroes of Shandong once served Dou Jiande. Now they have lost rank and are treated like commoners. They hunger for rebellion like drought for rain. Send envoys to restore their old posts and recruit troops everywhere. Kill anyone who refuses. Hebei will be yours in a breath. Then send Wang Shen to ally with the Türks and march south from Taiyuan toward Pu and Jiang while you enter the Passes from the west. United, you will settle the realm within ten days." Yuan agreed and placed all his troops in Junluo's hands. Lishe distrusted Junluo's treachery and asked Yuan to give the troops to Wang Shen. Yuan hesitated. Junluo learned of it, rode out, and cut off Shen's head. He told the army, "Li Yuan and Wang Shen rebelled and imprisoned the imperial envoy. Shen is dead. Yuan alone remains and can do nothing. Follow him and your families will be wiped out. Help me and you may win wealth and rank!" The men cried, "We will punish the traitor!" He then freed Dunli from prison. Yuan heard and marched out with several hundred armored attendants. Junluo shouted, "Yuan is a rebel! You have all been deceived. Why follow him to destruction?" The men turned and fled. Yuan cursed Junluo, "That villain betrayed me. He will get me in a moment!" He seized Yuan, strangled him, and sent his head to the capital. Yuan was reduced to a commoner and struck from the clan register.
56
鄭孝王亮，仕隋為海州刺史，追王。 生子神通、神符。
Liang, Prince of Zheng the Filial, served the Sui as prefect of Hai Prefecture and was posthumously created prince. His sons were Shentong and Shenfu.
57
淮安靖王神通，少輕俠。 隋大業末在長安。 會高祖兵興，吏逮捕，亡命入南山，與豪英史萬寶、裴勣、柳崇禮等舉兵應太原，約司竹賊帥何潘仁連和，進與平陽公主兵合，徇鄠下之。 自署關中道行軍總管，以萬寶為副，勣為長史，崇禮為司馬，令狐德棻為記室。 從平京師，為宗正卿，典兵宿衛。 王永康郡，俄徙淮安。
Shentong, Prince of Huai'an the Tranquil, was a free-spirited youth. At the end of the Sui Daye era he was in Chang'an. When Emperor Gaozu rose in arms, officials came to arrest him. He fled into the Southern Mountains and with Shi Wanbao, Pei Ji, Liu Chongli, and other leaders raised troops for Taiyuan, allied with the bandit chief He Panren, joined the Princess of Pingyang's force, and marched through the lands below E. He styled himself overall commander of the Guanzhong route, with Wanbao as deputy, Ji as chief administrator, Chongli as marshal, and Linghu Defen as recorder. He helped pacify the capital, became Director of the Imperial Clan Court, and commanded the palace guard. He was created Prince of Yongkang Commandery and soon transferred to Prince of Huai'an.
58
武德初，拜山東安撫大使，黃門侍郎崔幹副之，進擊宇文化及於魏。 化及敗走聊城，神通追北，賊糧盡願降，神通不肯受，幹請納之，神通曰：「師久暴露，今賊食盡，克不旦暮，正當破之，以玉帛酬戰力。 若降，吾何所藉手？」 幹曰：「竇建德危至，而化及未平，我轉側兩賊間，勢必危，王又貪其玉帛，敗不日。」 神通怒，囚幹軍中。
Early in Wude he was made Pacification Commissioner of Shandong with Vice Director Cui Gan as deputy and marched against Yu Wenhuaji in Wei. Huaji fled to Liaocheng and Shentong pursued. The rebels ran out of food and offered to surrender. Shentong refused. Gan urged acceptance. Shentong said, "Our men have camped in the open too long. The enemy is starving and will fall within days. We should crush them and reward our soldiers with loot. If they surrender, what will be left for my men to win?" Gan said, "Dou Jiande is closing in while Huaji is not yet crushed. Caught between two enemies we are in peril. If you covet their treasure, defeat will come within days." Shentong was furious and imprisoned Gan in camp.
59
神通十一子，得王者七人，道彥、孝詧、孝同、孝慈、孝友、孝節、孝義，後皆降王。 孝逸爵公。 孝銳不得封，有子齊物顯。
Shentong had eleven sons; seven became princes: Daoyan, Xiaocha, Xiaotong, Xiaoci, Xiaoyou, Xiaojie, and Xiaoyi—all later reduced from princely rank. Xiaoyi held the rank of duke. Xiaorui received no title; his son Qiwu became prominent.
60
膠東郡王道彥，幼孝謹。 初，神通避吏於鄠，被疾山谷間，累旬食盡，道彥羸服丐人間，或采野實以進； 神通未食，不敢先，即有所分，辭以飽，乃藏棄以待。 高祖初，封義興郡公，例得王。 貞觀初，為相州都督，徙岷州，以父喪解。 荷土就墳，躬蒔松柏，偃廬柴毀，雖親友不復識。 太宗嗟嘆，敕侍中王珪臨諭。
Daoyan, Prince of Jiaodong Commandery, was filial and careful from childhood. When Shentong fled officials in E and fell ill in the mountains until food ran out for weeks, Daoyan went begging in rags among the people or gathered wild fruit to bring him; Shentong would not eat until his father had eaten. When food was offered he said he was full and hid it away for later. Early under Emperor Gaozu he was created Duke of Yixing Commandery and later enfeoffed as prince under the usual rule. Early in Zhenguan he governed Xiang Prefecture, was transferred to Min Prefecture, and resigned to mourn his father. He carried earth to the tomb, planted pines and cypresses with his own hands, and lived in a thatched hut until grief had wasted him beyond recognition even by kin and friends. Emperor Taizong sighed in admiration and sent Attendant-in-Ordinary Wang Gui to comfort and counsel him in person.
61
服除，復拜岷州都督。 間遣入党項諭國威靈，區落降。 從李靖擊吐谷渾，詔道彥為赤水道總管。 帝厚以利啖党項，使為鄉導，其酋拓拔赤辭詣靖自言：「隋擊吐谷渾，我資其軍，而隋無信，反見仇剽。 今將軍若無它，我願資糧，將復如隋乎？」 諸將與歃血遣之。 道彥至闊水，見無備，因掠其牛羊，諸羌怨，即引兵障野狐峽，道彥不得進，為赤辭所乘，軍大敗，死者數萬，退保松州。 詔減死，謫戍邊。 久之，召為媯州都督。 卒，贈禮部尚書。
When his mourning ended, he was again appointed regional commander of Min Prefecture. He periodically sent envoys among the Tangut tribes to proclaim imperial authority, and many tribal districts submitted. When Li Jing marched against Tuyuhun, an edict named Daoyan overall commander of the Chishui Circuit. The court lavished gifts on the Tangut to make them serve as guides. Their chieftain Tuoba Chici came to Jing and said: "When the Sui marched against Tuyuhun we supplied their armies, yet the Sui broke faith and turned to plunder us instead. If you mean us no harm, I will furnish grain and transport. Will you treat us as the Sui did? The generals drank blood with him in alliance and let him depart. When Daoyan reached the Kuoshui River and found them unprepared, he seized their cattle and sheep. The Qiang tribes were enraged and massed at Yehu Gorge to block his path. Daoyan could not advance; Chici seized the moment and shattered his army, leaving tens of thousands dead. He fell back to Song Prefecture. An edict commuted his death sentence and sent him into frontier exile. After some time he was recalled as regional commander of Gui Prefecture. He died and was posthumously appointed Minister of Rites.
62
初，武德五年同封者，孝詧為高密王，孝同淄川王，孝慈廣平王，孝友河間王，孝節清河王，孝義膠西王。 於是唐始興，務廣支蕃鎮天下，故從昆弟子自勝衣以上，皆爵郡王。 太宗即位，舉屬籍問大臣曰：「蓋王宗子於天下，可乎？」 封德彜曰：「漢所封，惟帝子若親昆弟； 其屬遠，非大功不王。 如周郇滕、漢賈澤尚不得茆土，所以別親疏也。 先朝一切封之，爵命崇而力役多，以天下為私奉，非所以示至公。」 帝曰：「朕君天下以安百姓，不容勞百姓以養己之親。」 於是疏屬王者皆降為公，唯嘗有功者不降。 故道彥等並降封公。
Those enfeoffed together in Wude year 5 had been Xiaocha as Prince of Gaomi, Xiaotong as Prince of Zichuan, Xiaoci as Prince of Guangping, Xiaoyou as Prince of Hejian, Xiaojie as Prince of Qinghe, and Xiaoyi as Prince of Jiaoxi. Tang was then newly established and sought to spread collateral branches across the realm to hold it, so cousins and nephews old enough to dress themselves were all created commandery princes. When Emperor Taizong came to the throne he had the clan genealogical register brought before his ministers and asked: "Would it serve the realm to enfeoff every clansman across the empire? Feng Deyi answered: "Under the Han, only the emperor's own sons and full brothers were enfeoffed as kings; more distant kin received fiefs only for great merit. Even the Zhou states of Xun and Teng and the Han marquisates of Jia and Ze did not receive fief soil—that was how near and distant kin were kept apart. The previous reign enfeoffed them all without distinction; titles were raised ever higher while corvée burdens multiplied, treating the empire as a family endowment. That is not how to govern with perfect fairness. The Emperor said: "I rule the realm to give the people peace. I cannot burden the people to sustain my own relatives. Thereupon distant clansmen who held princely titles were all reduced to dukes; only those who had earned merit kept their rank. Daoyan and his brothers were all reduced to ducal rank.
63
孝逸，少好學，頗屬文。 始封梁郡公。 高宗時，四遷益州大都督府長史。 武後擅國，入為左衛將軍，親遇之。
Xiaoyi was studious from youth and skilled at literary composition. He was first created Duke of Liang. Under Emperor Gaozong he rose through four promotions to chief administrator of the Yizhou Grand Protectorate. When Empress Wu seized power he entered court as General of the Left Guard and won her personal favor.
64
徐敬業稱兵，以孝逸為左玉鈐衛大將軍、揚州行軍大總管，帥師南討。 至淮，而敬業已攻潤州，遣弟敬猷壁淮陰，偽將韋超據都梁山以拒孝逸，超眾憑險完屯。 孝逸會諸將議曰：「賊今負山，攻則士無所用力，騎不得騁，寇救死，傷夷必眾。 不如偏旅綴之，全軍趨揚州，勢不數日可破。」 支度使薛克構曰：「超雖據險，然兵少，若置小敵不擊，無以示威； 披眾以守，則戰有闕。 舍之則後憂，不如擊之。 若克超，淮陰自震，淮陰破，楚諸縣開門候官軍矣。 由是以趨江都，逆首可取。」 孝逸從之，登山急擊超，殺數百人，薄暝解，超夜走。 進擊敬猷淮陰，破之。 敬業回軍下阿溪，孝逸引兵直度，敬業大敗，遂拔揚州。 以功進鎮軍大將軍，徙封吳國公，威名稜然。
When Xu Jingye took up arms, Xiaoyi was appointed General-in-Chief of the Left Jade Bell Guard and Grand Commander of the Yangzhou expedition to lead the southern campaign against him. He marched to the Huai while Jingye was already pressing Run Prefecture and had posted his brother Jingyou at Huaiyin. The rebel general Wei Chao held Duliang Mountain against Xiaoyi, his men dug in on the heights. Xiaoyi gathered his generals and said: "The rebels hold the heights. If we assault, the foot soldiers cannot use their strength and the cavalry cannot deploy. A cornered enemy will fight to the death and our losses will be heavy. Better to leave a detachment to pin them while the main force strikes straight for Yang Prefecture—their cause will collapse within days. Supply commissioner Xue Kegou said: "Chao may hold the heights, but his force is small. If we shrink from a minor foe, how will we show our mettle? If we tie up troops to watch him, our battle line will be weakened. If we pass him by he will plague us later. We ought to attack. Defeat Chao and Huaiyin will quake; take Huaiyin and the Chu counties will open their gates to us. Then march on Jiangdu and the rebel leader's head will be ours. Xiaoyi took his advice, stormed the height, and killed several hundred. At dusk the encirclement broke, and Chao slipped away in the night. He advanced against Jingyou at Huaiyin and routed him. Jingye drew back and encamped below A Creek. Xiaoyi crossed straight at him, Jingye was shattered, and Yang Prefecture fell. For his service he was promoted to General Who Pacifies the Army, enfeoffed as Duke of Wu, and his martial renown stood sharp.
65
武承嗣等忌之，以讒下遷施州刺史。 又使人騰惡語聞上，武後信之，以嘗有功，貸死，流儋州，薨。 景雲初，贈金州大都督。
Wu Chengsi and his faction envied him and, through slander, had him demoted to prefect of Shi. They also sent men to spread malicious rumors to the throne. Empress Wu believed them, but because Xiaoyi had earned merit she spared his life and exiled him to Dan Prefecture, where he died. At the beginning of the Jingyun era he was posthumously made Grand Protector of Jin Prefecture.
66
孝同曾孫國貞。
This was Guozhen, great-grandson of Xiaotong.
67
國貞父廣業，為劍州長史。 國貞剛鯁，有吏才。 乾元中，由長安令遷河南尹。 史思明寇東都，李光弼壁河陽，國貞率官吏西走陜，數月，召為京兆尹。
Guozhen's father Guangye served as chief administrator of Jian Prefecture. Guozhen was stern, upright, and talented in administration. In the Qianyuan era he rose from magistrate of Chang'an to Intendant of Henan. When Shi Siming threatened the Eastern Capital, Li Guangbi held Heyang while Guozhen led the officials west to refuge in Shaan. Months later he was summoned back as Intendant of the Capital Prefecture.
68
上元初，拜劍南節度使，召為殿中監，以戶部尚書持節朔方、鎮西、北庭、興平、陳鄭節度行營兵馬及河中節度都統處置使，治於絳。 尋加晉、絳、慈、隰、沁等州觀察處置使。 既至，糧乏，而所儲陳腐，民貧不忍遽斂，上書以聞。 而軍中訁雚謗，突將王振乘眾怨紿曰：「具畚鍤以待役事。」 眾皆怒，夜燒牙門。 左右奔告，請避之，國貞曰：「吾被命為將，其可棄城乎？」 固請，乃逃獄中。 振引眾劫取之，置食其前曰：「食是而役其力，可乎？」 國貞曰：「與爾等方討賊，何事役為？ 正緣儲食腐儉，已請諸朝，吾何所負？」 眾服其言，且引去。 振曰：「都統不死，吾曹殆矣！」 遂害之，並殺其二子及三大將。
At the beginning of Shangyuan he was appointed military commissioner of Jiannan, then recalled as Director of the Palace Administration. As Minister of Revenue with envoy credentials he was made overall commander of the Shuofang, Zhenxi, Beiting, Xingping, and Chenzheng expeditionary forces and overall commander of the Hezhong circuit, with headquarters at Jiang. He was soon additionally made observation and disposition commissioner for Jin, Jiang, Ci, Xi, and Qin Prefectures. When he arrived, provisions were scarce, the stores held only rotten grain, the people were too poor for harsh levies, and he memorialized the throne. Meanwhile the army erupted in clamor and recrimination. Assault officer Wang Zhen, exploiting the soldiers' resentment, deceived them: "Get your hoes and shovels ready for forced labor. The men were enraged and that night burned the headquarters gate. His attendants rushed to warn him and urged flight. Guozhen said: "I was appointed to command—how can I abandon the city? They pressed him again and again until at last he fled into the prison. Zhen led the mob, seized him, set food before him, and said: "You feed us this and then demand our labor—is that acceptable? Guozhen said: "We are about to march against the enemy together—what call is there for forced labor? It is precisely because our stores are rotten and meager that I have already petitioned the court. What have I done wrong? The men were persuaded by his words and for the moment withdrew. Zhen cried: "If the overall commander lives, we are all doomed! He then killed Guozhen, along with his two sons and three senior generals.
69
有詔以郭子儀代之。 國貞清白善用法，世稱辦吏，然峻於操下，故其眾思得子儀，而振因肆其惡。 及子儀至，振自謂且見德，子儀怒曰：「汝臨賊境而害主將，賊若乘虛，是無絳矣，又欲為功乎？」 即斬以徇。 詔贈國貞揚州大都督。
The court ordered Guo Ziyi to take his place. Guozhen was upright, skilled in law, and praised as an able administrator, yet harsh with subordinates—so the troops longed for Guo Ziyi, and Zhen took advantage to commit his crime. When Guo Ziyi arrived, Zhen expected reward. Guo Ziyi raged: "You killed your commander on an enemy frontier—if the rebels had exploited the chaos, Jiang would have fallen. And you still expect credit? He had him beheaded at once as a warning to the army. He was posthumously made Grand Protector of Yang Prefecture by imperial edict.
70
子锜，自有傳。
Qi, his son, has a separate biography.
71
孝節曾孫暠，少孤，事母孝。 始為枝江丞，荊州長史張柬之曰：「帝宗千里駒，吾得其人！」 累擢衛尉少卿。 居母喪，柴瘠，訖除，家人未嘗見言笑。 與兄昇、弟暈相友。
Gao, great-grandson of Xiaojie, was orphaned young and served his mother with filial devotion. He began as assistant magistrate of Zhijiang. Zhang Jianzhi, chief administrator of Jing Prefecture, said: "A thousand-li colt of the imperial house—I have found my man! He rose through repeated promotions to Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. In mourning for his mother he wasted away; even after mourning ended, his family never saw him speak or smile. He was deeply close to his elder brother Sheng and younger brother Yun.
72
開元初，為汝州刺史，政嚴簡，有治稱。 昆弟繇東都候之，輒羸服往，州人無知者，其清慎舉如此。 四遷至黃門侍郎，檢校太原以北諸軍節度使。 太原俗為浮屠法者，死不葬，以屍棄郊飼鳥獸，號其地曰「黃坑」。 有狗數百頭，習食胔，頗為人患，吏不敢禁。 暠至，遣捕群狗殺之，申厲禁條，約不再犯，遂革其風。 二十一年，以工部尚書持節使吐蕃，既還，金城公主請明疆場，表石赤嶺上，盟遂堅定。 還，以奉使有指，再遷吏部。
Early in Kaiyuan he governed Ru Prefecture with stern, concise rule and won a reputation for good administration. When his brothers came from the Eastern Capital to visit, he always met them in threadbare clothes, and the people of the prefecture never knew—such was his scrupulous integrity. After four promotions he became Vice Minister of the Secretariat and acting military commissioner of all armies north of Taiyuan. In Taiyuan those who followed Buddhist rites did not bury the dead but cast corpses in the suburbs for birds and beasts; the place was called the "Yellow Pit." Several hundred dogs had grown accustomed to feeding on corpses and became a menace; officials did not dare stop them. When Gao arrived he had the dogs hunted down and killed, proclaimed stern prohibitions, and reformed the custom. In year 21 he went to Tibet as Minister of Works with envoy credentials. On his return Princess Jincheng sought to fix the border, a stele was raised on Red Ridge, and the alliance held firm. On his return, for the success of his mission, he was promoted again within the Ministry of Personnel.
73
暠，美風儀，以莊重稱，當時有宰相望。 累為太子少傅、武都縣伯。 卒，贈益州大都督。
Gao had fine bearing and was known for solemn dignity; many expected him to reach the chancellorship. He served repeatedly as Junior Tutor to the Heir Apparent and was Baron of Wudu County. He died and received a posthumous appointment as Grand Protector of Yi Prefecture.
74
暈至太仆少卿。 暈子進亦知名，好從當世賢士遊，赒人之急，累擢給事中。 至德初，從廣平王東征，以工部侍郎署雍王元帥府行軍司馬，為回紇鞭之幾死。 遷兵部。 卒，贈禮部尚書。
Yun rose to Vice Minister of the Imperial Stud. Yun's son Jin was also well known. He sought out worthy men of the day, helped those in distress, and rose to Supervising Censor. At the beginning of Zhide he followed the Prince of Guangping on the eastern campaign. As Vice Minister of Works and acting chief of staff in the Heir Apparent's field headquarters, he was whipped by the Uyghurs nearly to death. He was moved to the Ministry of War. He died and was posthumously appointed Minister of Rites.
75
孝節四世孫說，字巖甫。 父遇及，天寶時為御史中丞、東畿采訪使。 說以廕補率府兵曹參軍。 馬燧節度太原，辟署少尹，遷汾州刺史。 李自良代燧，復奏為少尹。 大將張瑤得士心，嘗請告未許，而自良卒，說與監軍王定遠秘其喪，前給瑤告，以毛朝陽代之，然後告喪。 詔以通王為節度大使，授說行軍司馬、節度留後。
Shuo—a fourth-generation descendant of Xiaojie—was styled Yanfu. His father Yuji, in the Tianbao era, served as Vice Censor-in-Chief and Regional Inspector of the Eastern Capital Circuit. Shuo entered office through hereditary privilege as Army Commandant in the Heir Apparent's Rate Office. When Ma Sui governed Taiyuan he recruited Shuo as Vice Intendant, and Shuo was later transferred to prefect of Fen Prefecture. When Li Ziliang replaced Ma Sui, he again had Shuo appointed Vice Intendant. Great general Zhang Yao had won the troops' loyalty and had requested leave without success. When Ziliang died, Shuo and army supervisor Wang Dingyuan concealed the death, granted Zhang Yao leave in advance, installed Mao Chaoyang in his place, and only then announced the mourning. An edict made Prince Tong full military commissioner and appointed Shuo acting chief of staff and acting military commissioner.
76
定遠自以有勞於說，頗橫恣，請別賜印，監軍有印自定遠始。 於是擅補吏，易置諸將。 彭令茵者，以久勞不服，定遠怒，殺之，埋馬矢中，其家請屍，不許，舉軍怨。 說上其事，德宗以奉天扈從功，恕死免官。 詔未至，定遠謀刺說，說走而免。 定遠召諸將，出笥中詔書紿曰：「詔以李景略知留後，召說還。 公等皆有除。」 諸將欲拜，大將馬良輔呼曰：「妄言也，不可受！」 定遠懼，走乾陽樓，召麾下皆不至，自投下死。 說盡斬同謀者，乃安。 擢說檢校禮部尚書、節度使。 累封隴西縣男。
Dingyuan considered himself Shuo's benefactor and grew overbearing. He requested a separate seal for the army supervisor—from Dingyuan onward, army supervisors had seals. He then appointed officials on his own authority and replaced the senior generals. Peng Lingyin, resenting long service without reward, refused to submit. Dingyuan in rage killed him and buried him in horse dung. When the family asked for the body they were refused, and the whole army seethed. Shuo reported the affair. Because Dingyuan had escorted Emperor Dezong to Fengtian, Dezong spared his life and stripped him of office. Before the edict arrived, Dingyuan plotted to assassinate Shuo, but Shuo fled and escaped. Dingyuan summoned the generals, produced an edict from a case, and deceived them: "An edict appoints Li Jinglue acting military commissioner and recalls Shuo. You will all receive new appointments. The generals were about to bow when great general Ma Liangfu shouted: "Lies! We must not accept this!" Terrified, Dingyuan fled to Qianyang Tower. He called his men, but none answered, and he leaped to his death. Shuo executed every conspirator, and at last the army settled. Shuo was promoted to acting Minister of Rites and appointed military commissioner. He rose through repeated enfeoffments to Baron of Longxi County.
77
說精於職，築天成軍，邊備積完。 晚被疾，不能事，軍幾亂。 卒，贈尚書右僕射。
Shuo mastered his post, built Tiancheng Army, and brought the frontier defenses to full readiness. In his later years illness kept him from duty, and the army nearly broke into mutiny. He died and was posthumously appointed Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs.
78
齊物字道用。 天寶初，擢累陜州刺史。 開砥柱，通漕路，發重石，下得古鐵戟若鏵然，銘曰「平陸」。 上之，詔因以名縣。 遷河南尹，坐與李適之善，貶竟陵太守，還，還京兆尹，太子太傅，兼宗正卿。 卒，贈太子太師。 性苛察少恩，喜發人私，然潔廉自喜，吏無敢欺者。 忿陜尉裴冕，械而折愧之，及冕當國，除齊物太子賓客，世善冕能損怨雲。
His name was Qiwu, styled Daoyong. Early in Tianbao he rose through repeated promotions to prefect of Shaan Prefecture. He cleared the Dizhu rapids and opened the grain route. Removing heavy stones, he uncovered an ancient iron halberd shaped like a plowshare, inscribed "Pinglu." He sent it to the throne, and an edict gave the county that name. He became Intendant of Henan, was demoted to prefect of Jingling for his ties to Li Shizhi, then recalled as Intendant of the Capital Prefecture, Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent, and concurrent Director of the Imperial Clan Court. He died and was posthumously appointed Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent. He was harsh and unforgiving, fond of exposing private faults, yet scrupulously honest and proud of it—so officials never dared cheat him. He had resented Pei Mian, magistrate of Shaan, shackled and humiliated him; when Mian rose to power he made Qiwu Tutor to the Heir Apparent, and contemporaries praised Mian for setting aside old grudges.
79
子復。
He had a son, Fu.
80
復字初陽，以廕仕，累為江陵司錄參軍。 衛伯玉才之，表江陵令。 遷少尹，厲饒、蘇二州刺史。 李希烈叛，荊南節度使張伯儀數為賊窘，朝廷以復在江陵得士心，即母喪奪為少尹，充行軍司馬，佐伯儀。 會伯儀罷，改容州刺史，兼本管招討使。 先是，西原亂，吏獲反者沒為奴婢，長役之。 復至，使訪親戚，一皆原縱。 在容三年，人以賴安。 轉嶺南節度使，時安南經略使高正平、張應繼卒，其佐李元度、胡懷義等因阻兵脅州縣，肆為奸贓。 復至，誘懷義杖死，流元度，南裔肅然。 教民作陶瓦，鐫諭蠻獠，收瓊州，置都督府，以綏定其人。 召拜宗正卿。 歷華州刺史。 貞元十年鄭滑節度使李融卒，軍亂，以復檢校兵部尚書代融節度。 復下令墾營田以稟其軍，而賦不及民，眾悅。 加檢校尚書右僕射。 卒，年五十九，贈司空，謚曰昭。 復更方鎮，所在稱治，然頗嗜財，為世所譏。
Fu, styled Chuyang, entered service by hereditary privilege and rose through posts as Army Commandant of Jiangling. Wei Boyu recognized his ability and had him appointed magistrate of Jiangling. He became Vice Intendant and governed as prefect of Rao and Su. When Li Xilie rebelled, Zhang Boyi of Jingnan was repeatedly cornered by the enemy. Because Fu had won loyalty at Jiangling, the court recalled him from mourning as Vice Intendant and acting chief of staff to assist Boyi. When Boyi left office, Fu was appointed prefect of Rong and concurrent commander of the local pacification force. Earlier, after the Xiyuan rebellion, captured rebels had been enslaved and kept in perpetual forced labor. When Fu arrived he traced their kin and freed them all. For three years at Rong the people lived securely under his rule. He was made military commissioner of Lingnan. Protectors-General of Annan Gao Zhengping and Zhang Ying had died in succession, and aides Li Yuandu and Hu Huaiyi used troops to coerce local officials and plunder freely. When Fu arrived he lured Hu Huaiyi and had him beaten to death, exiled Li Yuandu, and the southern frontier grew orderly. He taught the people to make roof tiles, issued engraved proclamations to the tribal peoples, recovered Qiong Prefecture, established a protectorate, and pacified the region. He was recalled and appointed Director of the Imperial Clan Court. He governed as prefect of Hua Prefecture. In Zhenyuan year 10 Li Rong, military commissioner of Zheng-Sua, died and the army mutinied. Fu was made acting Minister of War to replace him. Fu ordered garrison fields cultivated to feed his troops without taxing the people, and the army was pleased. He was additionally appointed acting Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. He died at fifty-nine, was posthumously made Minister of Works, and given the posthumous epithet Zhao. Wherever Fu served as military commissioner he won praise for good governance, yet his appetite for wealth brought public scorn.
81
從父若水，為左金吾大將軍，兼通事舍人，容貌瑰偉，在朝三十年，多識舊儀，每宣勞揖贊，進止閑華，有可觀者。
His cousin Ruoshui was General-in-Chief of the Left Gold Crow Guard and Master of Ceremonies for Foreign Envoys, with a magnificent bearing. For thirty years at court he knew the old rites by heart; when announcing imperial favors and leading ceremonial praise, his bearing was graceful and worth watching.
82
襄邑恭王神符字神符，少孤，事兄謹。 高祖兵興，神符留長安，為衛文昇所囚。 京師平，封安吉郡公。 帝受禪，例王。 遷并州總管。
Shenfu, Respectful Prince of Xiangyi, styled Shenfu, was orphaned young and served his elder brother devotedly. When Gaozu raised his army, Shenfu stayed in Chang'an and was imprisoned by Wei Wensheng. After the capital was pacified he was created Duke of Anji. When the Emperor took the throne, Shenfu was created a prince under the usual rule. He was appointed overall commander of Bing Prefecture.
83
子七人，並爵郡王，例降公。 惟德懋、文暕知名。 德懋，官少府監、臨川郡公。 五世孫從晦。 文暕，幽州都督、魏國公。 垂拱中，坐累貶藤州別駕，誅。 子挺、捷，捷襲封。 挺曾孫程，捷曾孫石，別傳。
He had seven sons, all created commandery princes and later reduced to dukes under the general rule. Only Demao and Wenliang were widely known. Demao served as Director of the Palace Ateliers and was Duke of Linchuan. Conghui was his fifth-generation descendant. Wenliang served as regional commander of You Prefecture and was Duke of Wei. In the Chuigong era he was demoted to Vice Prefect of Teng for accumulated offenses and executed. His sons were Ting and Jie; Jie inherited the title. Cheng was Ting's great-grandson and Shi was Jie's great-grandson; each has a separate biography.
84
從晦祖模，仕至德中為猗氏令。 史思明陷洛陽，賊帥掠諸縣，模率眾拒平之。 稍遷黔中觀察使。 終太子賓客，贈太子太保，謚曰敬。
Conghui's grandfather Mo served under Emperor Suzong as magistrate of Yishi County. When Shi Siming took Luoyang, rebel bands raided the counties; Mo led the people in resistance and restored order. He rose to observation commissioner of Qianzhong. He ended his career as Tutor to the Heir Apparent, was posthumously made Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent, and given the epithet Jing.
85
從晦寶歷初及進士第，擢累太常博士。 甘露之禍，御史中丞李孝本被誅，從晦以族昆弟貶郎州司戶參軍。 改澶王府諮議，分司東都。 忌者重發前坐，下遷亳州司馬。 久乃轉吏部朗中，兼侍御史，知雜事。 出為常州刺史，鎮海軍節度使。 李琢表其政，賜金紫。 歷京兆尹、工部侍郎、山南西道節度使。 又以最就進銀青光祿大夫。 卒，年六十三，贈吏部尚書。
Conghui passed the jinshi at the start of Baoli and rose to Erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. During the Sweet Dew purge, Vice Censor-in-Chief Li Xiaoben was executed; Conghui, as a kinsman, was demoted to Army Commandant of Lang Prefecture. He was made Adviser of the Prince of Chan's mansion and posted to the Eastern Capital on detached duty. His enemies revived his old offense and had him demoted to Vice Prefect of Bo. After some time he became Director in the Ministry of Personnel, concurrently Serving Censor in charge of miscellaneous censorial business. He left the capital as prefect of Chang and military commissioner of Zhenhai Army. Li Zhuo praised his administration and he received the gold-and-purple insignia. He served as Intendant of the Capital Prefecture, Vice Minister of Works, and military commissioner of Shannan West. For outstanding performance he was promoted to Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon. He died at sixty-three and was posthumously appointed Minister of Personnel.
86
從晦姿質偉岸，所至以風力聞。 少與崔龜從、李景讓、裴休善。 獎目後進，名知人，楊收方布衣，進謁，從晦一見如雅識，即待以公輔，後果宰相。
Conghui had a commanding presence and was known everywhere for force of character. In youth he was close to Cui Guicong, Li Jingrang, and Pei Xiu. He championed rising talent and was famed for recognizing ability. Yang Shou came to visit while still a commoner; Conghui received him at once as a future chief minister, and Yang later became chancellor.
87
世祖四子：長曰澄，次湛，次洪，次高祖神堯皇帝。
The Founding Emperor had four sons: Cheng, then Zhan, then Hong, and then the Great Ancestor, the Divine and Sagely Emperor.
88
梁王澄，蚤薨，無嗣。 武德初，與二王同追封。
Prince of Liang Cheng died young without heirs. Early in Wude he was posthumously enfeoffed along with the other two princes.
89
蜀王湛，生子博義、奉慈。
Prince of Shu Zhan had sons Boyi and Fengci.
90
隴西恭王博義，武德初，與奉慈例王。 高宗時，擢累禮部尚書，特進。 驕侈不循法度，伎妾數百，曳羅紈，甘粱肉，放於聲樂以自娛。 其弟奉慈亦荒縱，皆為帝所鄙。 嘗曰：「吾仇人有善且用之，況親戚乎？ 王等昵小人，專為不軌，先王墳典不聞學，何以為善哉？」 各賜市書絹二百疋，以愧切之，然不自克也。 薨，贈開府儀同三司、荊州都督。
Boyi, Respectful Prince of Longxi, was created a prince early in Wude together with Fengci under the usual rule. Under Emperor Gaozong he rose through repeated promotions to Minister of Rites and Special Advancement. He was arrogant and extravagant, heedless of law; he kept hundreds of concubines, draped himself in silk, feasted on fine food, and drowned himself in music. His brother Fengci was equally dissolute, and the Emperor despised them both. The Emperor once said: "I employ even my enemies when they have merit—how much more should I employ kin? Yet you consort with petty men, break the law, and never study the classics of the former kings—how can you become worthy? He gave each two hundred bolts of silk for books, hoping to shame them into reform, but they could not restrain themselves. When Boyi died he was posthumously made Grand Master of the Palace with Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon and Grand Protector of Jing Prefecture.
91
渤海敬王奉慈，顯慶時，為原州都督，薨。
Fengci, Respectful Prince of Bohai, served as regional commander of Yuan Prefecture in the Xianqing era and died.
92
七世孫戡。
Kan was his seventh-generation descendant.
93
戡字定臣，幼孤。 年十歲所即好學，大寒，掇薪自炙。 夜無然膏，默念所記。 年三十，明《六經》，舉進士，就禮部試，吏唱名乃入，戡恥之。 明日，徑返江東，隱陽羨裏。 陽羨民有鬥爭不決，不之官而詣戡以辨。 凡論著數百篇。 常惡元和有元、白詩，多纖艷不逞，而世競重之。 乃集詩人之類夫古者，斷為唐詩，以譏正其失雲。 平盧節度使王彥威表為巡官，府遷，還洛陽，卒。
Kan, styled Dingchen, was orphaned young. From age ten he loved learning; in bitter cold he gathered firewood to warm himself while he studied. At night, without lamp oil, he recited his lessons from memory. At thirty he mastered the Six Classics and passed the jinshi, but when he went to the Ministry of Rites exam and the clerk called his name aloud, he was shamed by the procedure. The next day he turned back to the Jiangdong region and hid in Yangxian village. When villagers of Yangxian had disputes they could not resolve, they bypassed the magistrate and brought them to Kan. He wrote several hundred treatises in all. He despised the Yuan and Bai poems of the Yuanhe era as too delicate and unrestrained, though the age prized them. So he gathered poets who followed the ancient style, compiled them as Tang Poetry, and thereby, he said, corrected the age's errors. Wang Yanwei, military commissioner of Pinglu, recommended him as touring officer; when the command moved he returned to Luoyang and died there.
94
贊曰：景、元子孫，當草昧之初，乘運而奮，方高祖攘除四方，所以宣力，皆顯顯為世豪英。 至河間之功，江夏之略，可謂宗室標的者也。
The eulogist writes: The descendants of Jing and Yuan, in the chaos when the dynasty was being forged, seized the moment and strove; as Gaozu swept the realm, every man who lent his strength stood forth as a champion of the age. Down to Prince Hejian's achievements and Prince Jiangxia's campaigns, they were the standard-bearers of the imperial house.
95
始，唐興，疏屬畢王，至太宗，稍稍降封。 時天下已定，帝與名臣蕭瑀等喟然講封建事，欲與三代比隆，而魏征、李百藥皆謂不然。 征意以唐承大亂，民人雕喪，始復生業，遽起而瓜分之，故有五不可之說。 百藥稱帝王自有命，歷祚之短長不緣封建。 又舉春秋二百四十二年之禍，亟於哀、平、桓、靈，而詆曹元首、陸士衡之言以為繆悠。 而顏師古獨議建諸侯，當少其力，與州縣雜治，以相維持。 然天子由是罷不復議。
When Tang first rose, every distant clansman was enfeoffed as king; by Taizong's reign those titles were gradually reduced. Once the realm was settled, the Emperor discussed enfeoffment with eminent ministers such as Xiao Yu, wishing to rival the Three Dynasties—but Wei Zheng and Li Baiyao opposed it. Zheng argued that Tang had inherited devastation, the people were only just recovering their livelihoods, and to divide the realm anew would be impossible on five grounds. Baiyao held that emperors receive their own mandate and a dynasty's span does not depend on enfeoffment. He also cited the calamities of the Spring and Autumn's 242 years, especially under Ai, Ping, Huan, and Ling, and dismissed the arguments of Cao Tongshu and Lu Ji as absurd. Yan Shigu alone argued for establishing feudal lords, but with reduced power, governing alongside prefectures and counties to keep one another in check. Thereupon the Son of Heaven dropped the matter and never raised it again.
96
至名儒劉秩目武氏之禍，則建論以為設爵無土，署官不職，非古之道，故權移外家，宗廟絕而更存。 存之之理，在取順而難逆； 絕之之原，在單弱而無所憚。 至謂郡縣可以小寧，不可以久安。 大抵與曹、陸相上下。 而杜佑、柳宗元深探其本，據古驗今，而反復焉。
Later the scholar Liu Zhi, surveying the Wu clan's seizure of power, argued that granting titles without fiefs and appointing officials without duties was not the ancient way—so power passed to the maternal kin, and though the ancestral line was severed, the dynasty endured. Survival, Liu Zhi held, depends on winning compliance and making resistance hard; extinction comes from standing alone, weak, and without anything to restrain challengers. He even argued that the prefectural system might secure brief peace but never lasting stability. Broadly speaking, his argument stood on the same level as Cao Tongshu and Lu Ji. Du You and Liu Zongyuan, however, dug deeper, tested present practice against antiquity, and argued the question through.
97
佑之言曰：「夫為人置君，欲其蕃息則在郡縣，然而主胙常促； 為君置人，不病其寡則在建國，然而主胙常永。 故曰，建國利一宗，列郡利百姓。 且立法未有不敝者，聖人在度其患之長短而為之。 建國之制，初若磐石，然敝則鼎峙力爭，陵遲而後已，故為患也長。 列郡之制，始天下一軌，敝則世崩俱潰，然而戡定者易為功，故其為患也短。」 又謂：「三王以來，未見郡縣之利，非不為也，後世諸儒因泥古強為之說，非也。」
Du You wrote: "When the people choose a ruler, if they want population and prosperity the answer is commanderies and counties—yet the ruling house's tenure is often brief; when a ruler appoints men to serve him, if he does not mind their being few the answer is feudal states—yet the ruling house's tenure is often long. Hence the saying: feudal states benefit one clan; commanderies benefit the common people. No institution endures forever; the sage weighs how long the harm will last and chooses accordingly. Feudal states begin solid as bedrock, but when they decay rival powers stand like tripods in contention and decline only after long strife—so the harm is prolonged. Commanderies first unify the realm on one track, but when they decay everything collapses at once—yet restoration is easier, so the harm is brief. He also held that since the Three Sage Kings no age had shown the benefits of commanderies and counties—not because none tried, but because later Confucians, clinging to antiquity, forced the opposite case, and that was wrong."
98
宗元曰：「封建非聖人意，然而歷堯、舜、三王莫能去之，非不欲去之，勢不可也。 秦破六國，列都會，置守宰，據天下之圖，攝制四海，此其得也。 二世而亡，有由矣。 暴威刑，竭人力，天下相合，劫令殺守，圜視而並起，時則有叛民，無叛吏。 漢矯秦枉，剖海內，立宗子功臣，數十年間奔命扶傷不給，時則有叛國，無叛郡。 唐興，制州縣，而桀黠時起，失不在州而在於兵，時則有叛將，無叛州。」 以為「矯而革之，垂二百年，不在諸侯明矣」。 又言「湯之興，諸侯歸者三千，資以勝夏； 武王之興，會者八百，資以滅商。 徇之為安，故仍以為俗，是湯、武之不得已也。 不得已，非公之大也，私其力於己也。 秦革之者，其為制，公之大者也； 其情，私也。 然而公天下之端自秦始」雲。
Liu Zongyuan wrote: "Feudal enfeoffment was not the sages' intent, yet from Yao and Shun through the Three Kings none could abolish it—not from lack of will, but because the times made abolition impossible. Qin shattered the six states, organized metropolises and commanderies, appointed governors and magistrates, held the map of the realm, and controlled the four seas—that was its success. That the Second Emperor fell so quickly had clear causes. With brutal punishments and exhausted manpower, the realm united, seized orders and killed governors, and rose together—then there were rebellious people but no rebellious officials. Han corrected Qin's excess, divided the realm, and enfeoffed clansmen and meritorious ministers; for decades it rushed from crisis to crisis—then there were rebellious states but no rebellious commanderies. When Tang rose it instituted prefectures and counties, yet fierce men rose from time to time—the fault lay not in the prefectures but in the armies—then there were rebellious generals but no rebellious prefectures. He concluded that "having reformed the system, nearly two hundred years have passed—the fault clearly does not lie with the feudal lords." He also noted: "When Tang rose, three thousand lords submitted and lent their strength to overcome Xia; when King Wu rose, eight hundred lords gathered and lent their strength to overthrow Shang. Because following the custom brought security, Tang and Wu kept it—necessity, not choice. Necessity is not public-mindedness; it means keeping power for oneself. Qin, in abolishing feudalism, created a system great in public spirit; yet in motive it served private ends. Yet the turn toward a public realm began with Qin," he wrote.
99
觀諸儒之言，誠然。 然建侯置守，如質文遞救，亦不可一概責也。 救土崩之難，莫如建諸侯； 削尾大之勢，莫如置守宰。 唐有鎮帥，古諸侯比也。 故王者視所救為之，勿及於敝則善矣。 若乃百藥推天命、佑言郡縣利百姓而主胙促，乃臆論也。
Measured against the Confucians' arguments, this holds true. Yet enfeoffing lords and appointing governors are like substance and form alternating to remedy each other—neither can be condemned outright. To rescue a realm in collapse, nothing surpasses enfeoffing lords; to cut down overgrown power, nothing surpasses appointing governors and magistrates. Tang's military commissioners were the feudal lords of their day. A wise ruler chooses the remedy the times require and stops before decay sets in—that is enough. Baiyao's appeal to Heaven's mandate, and You's claim that commanderies benefit the people while shortening dynastic tenure—these are speculative opinions.