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高祖諸子
The Sons of Gaozu
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隱太子建成衛王玄霸巢王元吉楚王智雲荊王元景漢王元昌酆王元亨周王元方徐王元禮韓王元嘉黃公訁喿彭王元則鄭王元懿霍王元軌虢王鳳道王元慶鄧王元裕舒王元名魯王靈夔江王元祥密王元曉滕王元嬰
Crown Prince Jian (posthumously styled the Hidden Crown Prince), Princes Wei Xuanba, Chao Yuanji, Chu Zhiyun, Jing Yuanjing, Han Yuanchang, Feng Yuanheng, Zhou Yuanfang, Xu Yuanli, Han Yuanjia, Huang Yuan Shao, Peng Yuanze, Zheng Yuanyi, Huo Yuangui, Guo Feng, Dao Yuanqing, Deng Yuanyu, Shu Yuanming, Lu Lingkui, Jiang Yuanxiang, Mi Yuanxiao, and Teng Yuanying
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高祖二十二子：竇皇后生建成、太宗皇帝、玄霸、元吉，萬貴妃生智雲，莫嬪生元景，孫嬪生元昌，尹德妃生元亨，張氏生元方，郭婕妤生元禮，宇文昭儀生元嘉及第十九子靈夔，王才人生元則，張寶林生元懿，張美人生元軌，楊美人生鳳，劉婕妤生元慶，崔嬪生元裕，小楊嬪生元名，楊嬪生元祥，魯才人生元曉，柳寶林生元嬰。
Gaozu had twenty-two sons. Empress Dou gave birth to Jian, the future Emperor Taizong, Xuanba, and Yuanji. Consort Wan bore Zhiyun; Lady Mo, Yuanjing; Lady Sun, Yuanchang; Lady Yin, Yuanheng; Lady Zhang, Yuanfang; Lady Guo, Yuanli; Lady Yuwen, Yuanjia and the nineteenth son, Lingkui; Lady Wang, Yuanze; Lady Zhang Baolin, Yuanyi; Lady Zhang Mei, Yuangui; Lady Yang, Feng; Lady Liu, Yuanqing; Lady Cui, Yuanyu; the lesser Lady Yang, Yuanming; another Lady Yang, Yuanxiang; Lady Lu, Yuanxiao; and Lady Liu Baolin, Yuanying.
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隱太子建成小字毘沙門。 資簡弛，不治常檢，荒色嗜酒，畋獵無度，所從皆博徒大俠。
Crown Prince Jian, later styled the Hidden Crown Prince, was called by the childhood name Vaisravana. By nature he was easygoing and careless of propriety, heedless of routine discipline, given to dissipation and drink, and to hunting without restraint; his companions were gamblers and swaggering swordsmen.
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隋末，高祖被詔捕賊汾、晉間，留建成護家，居河東。 高祖已起兵，密召與元吉赴太原，隋人購之急，從間道至，授左領軍大都督，封隴西郡公。 引兵略定西河，從平京師。 唐國建，為世子，開府置官屬。 又遷撫軍大將軍，為東討元帥，將萬人徇洛陽，授尚書令。
Late in the Sui, when Gaozu was ordered to hunt down bandits in the Fen and Jin region, he left Jian at home to look after the family in Hedong. Once Gaozu had risen in arms, he secretly called Jian and Yuanji to Taiyuan. The Sui court put a price on their heads, but they reached him by back roads; he made Jian Left Commander-in-Chief of the Army and enfeoffed him as Duke of Longxi. He led forces to subdue Xihe and took part in the capture of the capital. When the Tang state was founded, he was named heir apparent, established his own princely staff, and appointed a full household of officials. He was then made General Who Pacifies the Army and marshal of the eastern expedition, led ten thousand troops toward Luoyang, and was appointed Director of the Department of State Affairs.
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高祖受禪，立為皇太子。 詔率將軍桑顯和擊司竹群盜，平之。 涼州人安興貴殺李軌，以眾降，詔趣原州應接。 建成素驕，不恤士，雖甚署，晝夜馳獵，眾不堪其勞，亡者過半。 帝欲其習事，乃敕非軍國大務聽裁決之。 又以李綱、鄭善果為宮官，參謀議。 稽胡劉屳成寇邊，詔建成進討，破之鄠州，斬虜千計，引渠長悉官之，使還招群胡。 屳成與它大帥降，建成畏其眾，紿欲城州縣者，使降胡操築，陰勒兵殺六千人，屳成奔梁師都。 嘗循行北邊，遇賊四百出降，悉馘其耳縱之。
After Gaozu took the throne, Jian was installed as crown prince. An edict ordered him to lead General Sang Xianhe against the bandit gangs of Sizhu, and they were put down. An Xinggui of Liangzhou killed Li Gui and came over with his troops; Jian was ordered to hurry from Yuanzhou to meet and accept the surrender. Jian had long been arrogant and indifferent to his soldiers. Though he drove them hard, he hunted day and night; the men could not endure the strain, and more than half deserted. The emperor wanted him to learn how to govern, and decreed that he might decide any matter that was not a major military or state affair. He also appointed Li Gang and Zheng Shanguo as palace advisers to counsel the crown prince. When the Ji Hu chieftain Liu Xincheng raided the frontier, Jian was ordered to campaign against him. He routed him at Ezhou, killed thousands of the enemy, appointed all the local chiefs to office, and sent them back to win over the other Hu groups. Xincheng and other major chiefs submitted, but Jian feared their numbers. He tricked those who wanted to garrison the prefectures and counties into having the surrendered Hu labor on fortifications, then secretly ordered his troops to slaughter six thousand of them; Xincheng fled to Liang Shidu. Once while patrolling the northern frontier he met four hundred bandits who came out to surrender; he had all their ears cut off and then let them go.
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中允王珪、洗馬魏征以帝初興，建成不知謀，而秦王數平劇寇，功冠天下，英豪歸之，陰許立為皇太子，勢危甚。 會劉黑闥亂河北，珪等進說曰：「殿下特以嫡長居東宮，非有功德為人所稱道。 今黑闥痍叛殘孽，眾不盈萬，利兵鏖之，唾手可決，請往討，因結山東英俊心，自封殖。」 建成遂請行。 黑闥敗洺水，建成問征曰：「山東其定乎？」 對曰：「黑闥雖敗，殺傷太甚，其魁黨皆縣名處死，妻子系虜，欲降無繇，雖有赦令，獲者必戮，不大蕩宥，恐殘賊嘯結，民未可安。」 既而黑闥復振，廬江王瑗棄洺州，山東亂。 命齊王元吉討之，有詔降者赦罪，眾不信。 建成至，獲俘皆撫遣之，百姓欣悅。 賊懼，夜奔，兵追戰。 黑闥眾猶盛，乃縱囚使相告曰：「褫而甲還鄉里，若妻子獲者，既已釋矣。」 眾乃散，或縛其渠長降，遂禽黑闥。
The Palace Companion Wang Gui and the Stud Groom Wei Zheng saw that with the dynasty newly founded, Jian lacked strategic talent while the Prince of Qin had repeatedly crushed formidable rebels, his achievements unmatched and men of talent flocking to him. They secretly promised to secure the crown princehood for him, and Jian's position grew precarious. When Liu Heita rose in Hebei, Wang Gui and his colleagues urged him: 'Your Highness holds the Eastern Palace only as eldest legitimate son—you have no achievements that win men's praise. Heita is only a crippled remnant of rebellion, with fewer than ten thousand men. Send a strong force against him and the affair is settled in a trice. Go yourself to suppress him, win over the outstanding men of the east, and build your own power base.' Jian then asked to lead the campaign himself. After Heita was defeated at the Ming River, Jian asked Wei Zheng, 'Will the east now be pacified?' Wei Zheng answered: 'Heita may be beaten, but the slaughter was too great. His leaders were all marked for execution by name, their families taken captive—those who wanted to submit had no way to do so. Even when an amnesty was proclaimed, anyone captured was still put to death. Unless you grant a sweeping pardon, the surviving rebels will rally again and the people will never be secure.' Soon Heita rallied again; Prince Lujiang Yuan abandoned Mingzhou, and the east erupted once more. The Prince of Qi, Yuanji, was sent to suppress him. An edict promised pardon to anyone who surrendered, but no one believed it. When Jian arrived, he treated every captive with kindness and released them, to the great joy of the people. The rebels panicked and fled by night; Jian's troops pursued and gave battle. Heita's army was still formidable, so Jian released prisoners to spread the word: 'Lay down your arms and go home—if your families were captured, they have already been freed.' The rebels scattered; some tied up their leaders and submitted, and Heita was captured at last.
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帝晚多內寵，張婕妤、尹德妃最幸，親戚分事宮府。 建成與元吉通謀，內結妃禦以自固。 當是時，海內未定，秦王數將兵在外，諸妃希所見。 及洛陽平，帝遣諸妃馳閱後宮，見府庫服玩，皆私有求索，為兄弟請官。 秦王已封帑簿，及官爵非有功不得，妃媛曹怨之。 會為陜東道行臺，有詔屬內得專處決。 王以美田給淮安王神通，而張婕妤為父丐之，帝手詔賜田，詔至，神通已得前，不肯與。 婕妤妄曰：「詔賜妾父田，而王奪與人。」 帝怒，召秦王讓曰：「我詔令不如爾教邪？」 他日，謂裴寂曰：「兒久典兵，為儒生所誤，非復我昔日子。」 秦府屬杜如晦騎過尹妃父門，恚其傲，率家童捽毆，折一指。 父懼，即使妃前訴秦王左右暴其父，帝不察，大怒，詰王曰：「兒左右乃淩我妃家，況百姓乎？」 王自辨曉，訖不置，繇是見疏。 帝召諸王燕，秦王感母之不及有天下也，偶獨泣，帝顧不樂，妃媛因得中傷之，為建成遊說曰：「海內無事，陛下春秋高，當自娛，秦王輒悲泣，正為嗔忌妾屬耳。 使陛下萬歲後，王得誌，妾屬無遺類。 東宮慈愛，必能全養。」 乃皆悲不自勝。 帝惻然，遂無易太子意。
In his later years the emperor favored many consorts; Lady Zhang and Lady Yin enjoyed his special affection, and their relatives took up posts throughout the palace and the princely households. Jian and Yuanji plotted together and cultivated alliances with the emperor's favored consorts to shore up their position. At that time the empire was still unsettled; the Prince of Qin was often away on campaign, and the consorts seldom saw him. After Luoyang fell, the emperor sent his consorts to tour the palaces there. Seeing the treasuries of robes and luxuries, they claimed what they wanted for themselves and pressed for offices for their brothers. The Prince of Qin had sealed the treasury ledgers and insisted that offices and titles go only to men of merit; the consorts and their factions bore him a grudge. When he became commissioner of the Eastern Shaanxi circuit, an edict empowered him to decide all matters within his jurisdiction on his own authority. The Prince of Qin had assigned fine fields to Prince Huai'an Li Shentong, but Lady Zhang pleaded for them on her father's behalf. The emperor wrote a personal edict granting the land, yet by the time it arrived Shentong had already taken possession and refused to give them up. Lady Zhang falsely claimed, 'The edict gave the fields to my father, yet the prince stole them and handed them to someone else.' The emperor flew into a rage, summoned the Prince of Qin, and rebuked him: 'Do my edicts count for less than your orders?' On another occasion he told Pei Ji, 'That boy has commanded armies too long and lets the pedants lead him astray—he is not the son I used to know.' Du Ruhui of the Prince of Qin's staff rode past the home of Lady Yin's father, took offense at his insolence, and with household servants seized and beat him, breaking a finger. ' Terrified, the father sent his daughter to accuse the prince's men of assaulting him. The emperor did not look into the matter, flew into a rage, and demanded of the prince, 'If your followers bully my consort's kin, what must they do to ordinary people?' The prince pleaded his case until dawn, yet the matter was never resolved; from then on the emperor grew distant toward him. At a banquet for the princes, the Prince of Qin, thinking of how his mother never lived to see the empire won, wept quietly by himself. The emperor's face darkened. The consorts seized the chance to slander him to Jian's advantage: 'The realm is at peace and Your Majesty should enjoy your years, yet the Prince of Qin keeps weeping—clearly he resents us. When Your Majesty is gone and he has his way, not one of us will be left alive. The Eastern Palace is gentle and kind—he will surely protect us.' They all broke down in tears. Moved to pity, the emperor abandoned any thought of replacing the crown prince.
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突厥入寇，帝議遷都，秦王苦諫止。 建成見帝曰：「秦王欲外禦寇，沮遷都議，以久其兵，而謀篡奪。」 帝浸不悅。
When the Turks raided the frontier, the emperor considered moving the capital; the Prince of Qin argued strenuously against it and prevailed. Jian told the emperor, 'The Prince of Qin only wants to keep his army in the field by blocking the move of the capital so he can defend against the Turks abroad—he is plotting a coup.' The emperor's displeasure with the prince deepened.
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初，帝令秦王居西宮承乾殿，元吉居武德殿，與上臺、東宮晝夜往來，皆攜弓刀，相遇如家人禮。 由是皇太子令、秦齊二王教與詔敕雜行，內外懼，莫知所從。 建成等私募四方驍勇及長安惡少年二千人為宮甲，屯左右長林門，號「長林兵」。 又令左虞候率可達誌募幽州突厥兵三百內宮中，將攻西宮。 或告於帝，帝召建成責謂，乃流誌巂州。
Earlier the emperor had the Prince of Qin live in the Chengqian Hall of the Western Palace and Yuanji in the Wude Hall. They passed back and forth day and night between the imperial quarters, the Eastern Palace, and one another, always armed with bow and sword, greeting each other like members of one household. As a result, orders from the crown prince, directives from the Princes of Qin and Qi, and imperial edicts all circulated at once; court and capital alike were alarmed, unsure whose word to obey. Jian and his party secretly enlisted two thousand bold fighters from across the realm and rowdy youths of Chang'an as palace guards, billeted them at the Changlin Gates, and called them the 'Changlin Corps.' He further ordered the Left Palace Guard commander Kedazhi to bring three hundred Youzhou Turk soldiers into the inner palace, planning an assault on the Western Palace. When word reached the emperor, he summoned Jian and rebuked him, then banished Kedazhi to Xizhou.
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華陰楊文幹素兇诐，建成昵之，使為慶州總管，遣募兵送京師，欲為變。 時帝幸仁智宮，秦王、元吉從，建成謂元吉曰：「秦王且遍見諸妃，彼金寶多，有以賂遺之也。 吾安得箕踞受禍？ 安危之計決今日。」 元吉曰：「善。」 乃命郎將尒硃煥、校尉橋公山賫甲遺文幹，趣興兵。 煥等懼，至豳鄉白反狀，寧州人杜鳳亦上變。 帝遣司農卿宇文穎驛召文幹，元吉陰結穎，使告文幹，文幹遽率兵反。 帝以建成首謀，未忍治，即詔捕王珪、魏征及左衛率韋挺、舍人徐師〓、左衛車騎馮世立，欲殺之以薄太子罪。 乃手詔召建成，建成懼，不敢往。 師〓勸遂舉兵，詹事主簿趙弘智諫建成捐車服，輕往謝罪。 乃詣行在所，未至，屏官屬，徑入謁，叩頭請死，投身於地，不能起。 帝怒，夜囚幕中，使兵衛守。 會文幹陷寧州，帝驚，以宮近賊，夜率衛士南趣，山行十餘里，明乃還宮。 召秦王問計，對曰：「文幹豎子耳，官司當即禽之，就使假刻漏之久，正須遣一將可辦。」 帝曰：「事連建成，恐應者眾。 爾自行，還，吾以爾為太子，使建成王蜀，蜀地狹，不足為變，若不能事汝，取之易也。」 秦王率眾趣寧州，文幹為其下所殺，以其首降，執宇文穎送京師。 秦王之行，元吉及內嬖更為建成請，封德彜亦陰說帝，由是意解，復詔建成居守，但責兄弟不相容，而謫王珪、韋挺、天策兵曹參軍杜淹於遠方。 然怨猜日結。
Yang Wengan of Huayin was notoriously brutal and deceitful. Jian favored him, appointed him military governor of Qingzhou, and had him raise troops for dispatch to the capital, planning a coup. While the emperor was at Renzhi Palace with the Prince of Qin and Yuanji in attendance, Jian told Yuanji, 'The prince of Qin is going to pay court to every consort in turn. They have rich stores of gold and jewels—he will buy them off with gifts. How can I sit idle and let disaster fall on us? Our fate must be decided today.' Yuanji said, 'Agreed.' He sent the commandant Erzhu Huan and Captain Qiao Gongshan with armor to Yang Wengan, urging him to rise in arms. Terrified, Huan and his party reported the plot when they reached Binxian, and Du Feng of Ningzhou also sent an emergency memorial. The emperor dispatched Minister of Agriculture Yuwen Ying by fast courier to recall Wengan. Yuanji secretly won Ying over and tipped Wengan off; Wengan at once rose in revolt. Knowing Jian was the mastermind, the emperor could not bring himself to punish his son. Instead he ordered Wang Gui, Wei Zheng, Left Guard commander Wei Ting, attendant Xu Shiyuan, and Left Guard cavalry officer Feng Shili arrested, planning to execute them to mitigate the crown prince's guilt. The emperor wrote a personal summons for Jian, but Jian was too afraid to go. Xu Shiyuan urged him to take up arms immediately, but Zhao Hongzhi, chief clerk of the crown prince's household, advised Jian to go without pomp, on foot, and throw himself on the emperor's mercy. He went to the emperor's camp. Before he arrived he dismissed his attendants, entered alone, kowtowed and begged for death, then collapsed on the floor and could not rise. The emperor was furious. That night he had Jian confined in a tent under armed guard. When Yang Wengan seized Ningzhou, the emperor panicked. Thinking the palace too close to the rebels, he fled south by night with his guards, marching more than ten li through the hills before returning at dawn. He called in the Prince of Qin for counsel. The prince answered, 'Wengan is a nobody—the authorities will seize him at once. Even if he gained every hour the water clock allows, one general is all you need.' The emperor said, 'This involves Jian—I fear many will rally to him. Go yourself. When you return I will make you crown prince and send Jian to rule Shu. Shu is cramped ground—it cannot sustain a rebellion. If he will not bow to you, displacing him will be easy.' The Prince of Qin marched on Ningzhou. Wengan's own men killed him and surrendered his head. Yuwen Ying was captured and sent to the capital. ' While the prince was away, Yuanji and the palace women again interceded for Jian, and Feng Deyi quietly swayed the emperor. His anger cooled; he restored Jian to his duties, rebuked the brothers only for their mutual hatred, and exiled Wang Gui, Wei Ting, and Heavenly Strategies registrar Du Yan. Yet mutual resentment and suspicion only grew day by day.
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建成等召秦王夜宴，毒酒而進之，王暴疾，〓血數升，淮安王扶掖還宮。 帝問疾，因敕建成：「秦王不能酒，毋夜聚。」 又謂秦王曰：「吾起晉陽，平天下，皆爾力，將定東宮，爾亟讓，故成而美誌。 又太子立多歷年，吾重奪之。 觀而兄弟終不相下，同在京師，忿鬩且深。 爾還洛陽行臺，自陜以東悉主之，建天子旌旗，如梁孝王故事。」 王泣曰：「非所願也，不可遠膝下。」 帝曰：「陸賈，漢臣也，猶遞過諸子，況我天下主，東西兩宮，思汝即往，何所悲邪？」 王將行，建成等謀曰：「秦王得土地甲兵，必為患； 留之京師，一匹夫耳。」 因密使人說帝，言「秦王左右皆山東人，聞還洛，皆灑然喜，觀其意，不復來矣」。 事果寢。
Jian and his party invited the Prince of Qin to a night feast and served him poisoned wine. He fell violently ill and vomited several pints of blood; Prince Huai'an helped him back to his quarters. The emperor visited him and admonished Jian: 'The prince of Qin cannot hold his wine—no more night revels.' He also told the prince, 'I raised arms at Jinyang and won the empire through your efforts. I meant to name you heir, but you insisted on yielding—that is how matters stand, and the record honors you for it. Besides, the crown prince has held his place for many years—I cannot bear to displace him again. I see you brothers will never yield to each other. Living together in the capital, your feud only deepens. Go back to your commission at Luoyang and rule everything east of Shan—raise the imperial banners, as the Filial King of Liang once did.' The prince wept, 'That is not what I want—I cannot bear to leave your side.' The emperor said, 'Lu Jia was only a Han minister, yet he traveled between the princes. I am emperor—east and west palaces are not so far. When I miss you I can visit at once. Why grieve?' As the prince prepared to leave, Jian and his allies plotted: 'If he holds territory and an army, he will become a menace; keep him in the capital and he is only a private citizen.' They secretly told the emperor, 'His staff are all easterners. When they heard he was going back to Luoyang they rejoiced openly—clearly he does not mean to return.' The plan was abandoned.
13
俄而突厥寇邊，太子薦元吉北討，欲因其兵作亂。 長孫無忌、房玄齡、杜如晦、尉遲敬德、侯君集等勸秦王先圖之。 王乃密奏建成等與後宮亂，因曰：「臣無負兄弟，今乃欲殺臣，是為世充、建德復仇。 使臣死，雖地下，愧見諸賊。」 帝大驚，報曰：「旦日當窮治，而必早參。」 張婕妤馳語建成，乃召元吉謀，曰：「請勒宮甲，托疾不朝。」 建成曰：「善，然不共入朝，事何繇知？」 遲明，乘馬至玄武門，秦王先至，以勇士九人自衛。 時帝已召裴寂、蕭瑀、陳叔達、封德彜、宇文士及、竇誕、顏師古等入。 建成、元吉至臨湖殿，覺變，遽反走，秦王隨呼之，元吉引弓欲射，不能彀者三。 秦王射建成即死，元吉中矢走，敬德追殺之。 俄而東宮、齊府兵三千攻玄武門，閉不得入。 接戰久之，矢及殿屋。 王左右數百騎至，合擊之，眾遂潰。 帝謂裴寂等曰：「事今奈何？」 蕭瑀、陳叔達曰：「臣聞內外無限，父子不親，失而弗斷，反蒙其亂。 建成、元吉自草昧以來，未始與謀，既立，又無功德，疑貳相濟，為蕭墻憂。 秦王功蓋天下，內外歸心，立為太子，付軍國大務，陛下釋重負矣。」 帝曰：「此吾誌也！」 乃召秦王至，尉撫之曰：「朕幾有投杼之惑。」 秦王號泣不能止。
Soon the Turks raided the frontier. The crown prince urged sending Yuanji north, planning to use his army to stage a revolt. Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Yuchi Jingde, Hou Junji, and others urged the prince to move against them first. The prince secretly reported that Jian and his party were carrying on with women of the inner palace, and added, 'I have done my brothers no wrong, yet they now seek my life—this would be vengeance for Wang Shichong and Dou Jiande. If I must die, I will be ashamed to face those dead rebels even in the underworld.' The emperor was stunned and answered, 'Tomorrow I will investigate to the end—you must come to court early.' Lady Zhang sent word in haste to Jian. He called Yuanji to counsel and said, 'Mobilize the palace guards and stay away from court on a plea of illness.' Jian said, 'Good—but if we do not go to court together, how will we learn what is happening?' At first light they rode to the Xuanwu Gate. The prince of Qin was already there, with nine stalwart warriors as his guard. The emperor had already summoned Pei Ji, Xiao Yu, Chen Shuda, Feng Deyi, Yuwen Shiji, Dou Dan, Yan Shigu, and the rest. Jian and Yuanji reached the Linhu Hall, sensed trouble, and wheeled to flee. The prince called after them. Yuanji drew his bow to shoot but three times could not fully draw it. The prince shot Jian dead on the spot. Yuanji was hit by an arrow and fled; Yuchi Jingde pursued and killed him. Shortly afterward, three thousand soldiers of the crown prince's Eastern Palace and Yuanji's Qi establishment assaulted the Xuanwu Gate but failed to force it open. The fighting lasted a long while, and arrows struck the palace halls. Several hundred horsemen from the prince's guard arrived, attacked together, and the force broke and fled. The emperor said to Pei Ji and the others, "What is to be done now?" Xiao Yu and Chen Shuda said, "We have heard that there must be no indulgence within or without the palace, and that even between father and son there is no room for favoritism. Fail to act decisively when the moment is lost, and you will suffer disorder in return. Jian and Yuanji never took part in planning from the days of the founding struggle onward. Once established, they performed no meritorious service. Suspicion and division fed each other, threatening calamity within the palace walls. The Prince of Qin's achievements overshadow the realm, and hearts within and without turn to him. Install him as crown prince and entrust him with military and state affairs, and Your Majesty will be rid of a heavy burden." The emperor said, "That has long been my wish!" He then summoned the Prince of Qin, comforted him, and said, "I nearly succumbed to groundless suspicion." The prince wailed and could not stop.
14
建成死年三十八。 長子承宗為太原王，早卒； 承道安陸王，承德河東王，承訓武安王，承明汝南王，承義巨鹿王，皆坐誅。 詔除建成、元吉屬籍。 其黨疑懼，更相告，廬江王瑗遂反。 乃下詔建成、元吉、瑗支黨不得相告訐，由是遂安。 太宗立，追封建成為息王，謚曰隱，以禮改葬，詔東宮舊臣皆會，帝於宜秋門哭之，以子福為後。 十六年，追今贈。
Jian was thirty-eight when he died. His eldest son Chengzong, Prince of Taiyuan, died young. Chengdao was Prince of Anlu, Chengde Prince of Hedong, Chengxun Prince of Wu'an, Chengming Prince of Runan, and Chengyi Prince of Julu—all were put to death for their connection to the plot. An edict struck Jian and Yuanji from the imperial clan register. Their followers, fearful and suspicious, denounced one another, and the Prince of Lujiang, Yuan, rose in rebellion. An edict was then issued forbidding the factions of Jian, Yuanji, and Yuan to inform or impeach one another, and the realm was calmed. When Taizong came to the throne, he posthumously enfeoffed Jian as Prince of Xi with the posthumous title Hidden, had him reburied with full rites, summoned former Eastern Palace officials to attend, wept for him at the Yichun Gate, and appointed his son Fu as heir. In the sixteenth year of his reign, further posthumous honors were granted.
15
宇文穎者，代人。 自李密所來降，為農圃監，封化政郡公。 性貪昏，與元吉厚善，故豫文幹謀。 事敗，帝責曰：「朕以文幹叛，故遣卿，乃同逆邪？」 穎無以對，斬之。
Yuwen Ying was a native of Dai. He surrendered from Li Mi's camp, was appointed Supervisor of Agriculture and Gardens, and enfeoffed as Duke of Huazheng. Greedy and dull-witted by nature, he was on intimate terms with Yuanji and therefore joined Wen'gan's conspiracy. When the plot failed, the emperor reproached him, saying, "I sent you because Wen'gan had rebelled—yet you joined the rebels?" Ying had no answer and was beheaded.
16
巢刺王元吉小字三胡。 高祖兵已西，留守太原，封姑臧郡公，進齊國，總十五郡諸軍事，加鎮北將軍、太原道行軍元帥。 帝受禪，進王齊，為并州總管。
Nest-Stab Prince Yuanji had the childhood name Sanhu. When Gaozu's army marched west, Yuanji remained to hold Taiyuan. He was enfeoffed as Duke of Guzang, advanced to Prince of Qi, placed in overall charge of military affairs across fifteen commanderies, and made General Who Pacifies the North and campaign marshal on the Taiyuan circuit. When the emperor took the throne, Yuanji was advanced to Prince of Qi and made regional commander of Bingzhou.
17
初，元吉生，太穆皇后惡其貌，不舉，侍媼陳善意私乳之。 及長，猜鷙好兵，居邊久，益驕侈。 常令奴客、諸妾數百人被甲習戰，相擊刺，死傷甚眾。 後元吉中創，善意止之，元吉恚，命壯士拉死，私謚慈訓夫人。
At first, when Yuanji was born, Empress Dowager Taimu disliked his looks and refused to rear him. The attendant wet nurse Chen Shan'i nursed him in secret. As he grew up, he became suspicious, fierce, and fond of war. Long years on the frontier made him ever more arrogant and extravagant. He often had hundreds of slaves, retainers, and concubines put on armor and drill in combat, striking at one another, with many killed and wounded. Later Yuanji was wounded in the drills. Shan'i tried to stop them, and Yuanji in a rage had strong men tear her apart. He privately gave her the posthumous title Lady Compassionate Instruction.
18
劉武周略汾、晉，詔遣右衛將軍宇文歆助守。 元吉喜鷹狗，出常載罝罔三十車，曰：「我寧三日不食，不可一日不獵。」 夜潛出淫民家，府門不閉。 歆驟諫，不納，乃顯表於帝曰：「王數出與竇誕縱獵，蹂民田，縱左右攘奪，畜產為盡。 每射於道，觀人避矢以為樂。 百姓怨毒。 不可與共守。」 有詔召還。 元吉密諷民詣闕請，乃得歸。 武周以五千騎屯黃蛇嶺，元吉使將軍張達以步卒百人嘗寇，達辭兵少，強之，至則盡沒。 達怒，導武周陷榆次。 元吉保祁，賊急攻之，遁還并州，賊張甚。 元吉紿司馬劉德威曰：「公以老弱守，吾率銳士拒賊。」 因賫寶物、攜妻妾夜出，委軍奔京師，并州陷。 帝怒，自是嘗令從秦王征討，不復顓軍矣。
When Liu Wuzhou overran Fen and Jin, an edict dispatched Right Guards General Yuwen Xin to help hold the defense. Yuanji loved hawks and hunting dogs. When he went out he routinely took thirty cartloads of nets and snares, saying, "I would rather go three days without eating than one day without hunting." At night he slipped out to assault commoners' households, and the prefectural gates were left unguarded. Xin remonstrated urgently but was not heeded. He then submitted an open memorial to the emperor, saying, "The prince repeatedly goes out with Dou Dan to hunt without restraint, tramples the people's fields, lets his followers seize and plunder, and leaves their livestock utterly depleted. Whenever he shot along the road, he took pleasure in watching people dodge his arrows. The common people were seething with resentment. He cannot be entrusted with the defense." An edict was issued recalling him. Yuanji secretly urged the people to go to court and petition on his behalf, and only then was he allowed to return. Wuzhou encamped five thousand cavalry at Huangshe Ridge. Yuanji sent General Zhang Da with a hundred foot soldiers to probe the enemy. Da protested that the force was too small but was overruled; on arrival they were annihilated. Da in anger guided Wuzhou to capture Yuci. Yuanji held Qi, but the rebels pressed the attack hard. He fled back to Bingzhou while the enemy grew ever stronger. Yuanji deceived Chief Administrator Liu Dewei, saying, "You hold the defense with the old and weak troops; I shall lead crack soldiers to repel the rebels." He then loaded up valuables, took his wives and concubines out by night, abandoned the army, and fled to the capital. Bingzhou fell. The emperor was furious. From then on Yuanji was usually ordered to follow the Prince of Qin on campaigns and was no longer given independent command of an army.
19
尋授侍中、襄州道行臺尚書令、稷州刺史。 秦王圍東都，竇建德來援，王以精騎逆戰，留元吉、屈突通守，而世充易之，輒出兵，元吉設伏劫之，斬首八百級，禽其將。 東都平，拜司空，賜袞冕服、鼓吹二部、班劍二十人、黃金二千斤，與太子、秦王得三爐鑄錢。 累進司徒，兼侍中、并州大都督。
Soon afterward he was appointed Palace Attendant, chief minister of the Xiangzhou circuit staff, and governor of Jizhou. When the Prince of Qin besieged the Eastern Capital, Dou Jiande came to relieve it. The prince engaged him with elite cavalry while Yuanji and Yuchi Tong were left to hold the line. Wang Shichong took them lightly and sallied forth again and again. Yuanji set an ambush, raided them, took eight hundred heads, and captured enemy generals. When the Eastern Capital was pacified, he was appointed Minister of Works and granted robes of the highest rank, two ensembles of ceremonial musicians, twenty protocol swords, and two thousand jin of gold. Together with the crown prince and the Prince of Qin, he was granted the right to operate three mints. He was repeatedly promoted to Minister of Works and concurrently served as Palace Attendant and great regional commander of Bingzhou.
20
時秦王有功，而太子不為中外所屬，元吉喜亂，欲並圖之。 乃構於太子曰：「秦王功業日隆，為上所愛，殿下雖為太子，位不安，不早計，還踵受禍矣，請為殿下殺之。」 太子不忍，元吉數諷不已，許之。 於是邀結宮掖，厚賂中書令封德彜，使為遊說，帝遂疏秦王，愛太子。 元吉乃多匿亡命壯士，厚賜之，使為用。 元吉記室參軍榮九思為詩刺之曰：「丹青飾成慶，玉帛禮專諸。」 元吉見之，弗悟也。 其典簽裴宣儼免官，往事秦府，元吉疑事泄，鴆殺之。 自是人莫敢言。 秦王嘗從帝幸元吉第，伏護軍宇文寶寢內，將以刺王，太子固止之，元吉慍曰：「為兄計，於我何害？」
At that time the Prince of Qin had won great merit, while the crown prince lacked support within and without the court. Yuanji delighted in turmoil and wished to destroy them both. He therefore turned the crown prince against his rival, saying, "The Prince of Qin's achievements grow daily, and the emperor favors him. Though you are crown prince, your position is not secure. If you do not act soon, calamity will follow hard upon you. Let me kill him for you, Your Highness." The crown prince could not bring himself to agree, but Yuanji pressed him again and again until he consented. They then cultivated ties in the inner palace and lavishly bribed Secretariat Director Feng Deyi to lobby on their behalf. The emperor grew distant from the Prince of Qin and favored the crown prince. Yuanji then harbored many fugitive bravos, rewarded them lavishly, and put them to use. Yuanji's registrar-attendant Rong Jiusi wrote a satirical poem: "With paint one adorns Cheng Qing; with silk and jade one honors Zhuan Zhu." When Yuanji read it, he did not understand the allusion. His chief clerk Pei Xuanyi was dismissed from office and went to serve at the Qin prince's establishment. Yuanji suspected the plot had leaked and poisoned him to death. From then on no one dared speak out. The Prince of Qin once accompanied the emperor on a visit to Yuanji's residence. Yuanji had hidden the guard officer Yuwen Bao in his bedchamber intending to stab the prince. The crown prince firmly stopped him. Yuanji said angrily, "I am scheming for my elder brother—what harm is it to me?"
21
突厥郁射設入圍烏城，建成薦元吉北討，乃多引秦王府驍將秦叔寶、尉遲敬德、程知節、段誌玄與行，又籍秦府精兵益麾下。 帝知之，不能禁。 元吉承間密請害秦王，帝曰：「是有定四海功，殺之無名。」 元吉曰：「王昔平東都，顧望不即西，散金帛樹私惠，豈非反邪？」 帝不應。 太子與元吉謀：「兵行，吾與秦王至昆明池，伏壯士拉之，以暴卒聞，上無不信。 然後說帝付吾國，吾以爾為皇太弟，而盡擊殺叔寶等。」 率更令王晊密以謀告秦王，王召僚屬謀，皆曰：「元吉戾很，使得誌，且不能事其兄。 往者護軍薛寶以元吉字合之，其文成『唐』，元吉喜曰：『但除秦王，取東宮如反掌耳！』 為亂未克，已復傾奪，大王不蚤正之，社稷非復唐有。」 秦王由是定計。
When the Turk leader Yushishe invested Wucheng, Jian recommended Yuanji for a northern campaign. Yuanji brought many crack generals from the Qin prince's household—Qin Shubao, Yuchi Jingde, Cheng Zhijie, and Duan Zhixuan—and on campaign requisitioned the Qin establishment's elite troops for his own command. The emperor knew of it but could not stop him. Yuanji seized an opportune moment to ask the emperor in secret to kill the Prince of Qin. The emperor said, "He has the merit of settling the realm. To kill him would have no justification." Yuanji said, "When the prince pacified the Eastern Capital, he lingered and did not march west at once, scattering gold and silk to win private favor—is that not rebellion?" The emperor did not reply. The crown prince and Yuanji plotted together: "When the army marches, I and the Prince of Qin will go together to the Kunming Pool. Brawny men will seize and strangle him. It will be announced as sudden death—the emperor will not disbelieve it. Then I will persuade the emperor to give me the realm, make you heir apparent to the younger brother, and kill Shubao and the rest to the last man." Court of the Yuchi Wang Zhi secretly reported the plot to the Prince of Qin. The prince summoned his staff to counsel. All said, "Yuanji is brutal and obstinate. If he gains his wish, he will not even serve his elder brother. Formerly Guard Officer Xue Bao combined the characters of Yuanji's name, and the writing formed the character for Tang. Yuanji rejoiced and said, "Only remove the Prince of Qin—taking the Eastern Palace is like turning one's palm!" Having failed to make trouble once, he would already try to seize power again. If you, great prince, do not correct this early, the altars of state will no longer belong to Tang." The prince thereby fixed his plan.
22
死年二十四。 子承業為梁郡王，承鸞漁陽王，承獎普安王，承裕江夏王，承度義陽王，並伏誅。 貞觀初，改葬，追爵海陵郡王及謚。 後改封巢，以曹王明嗣。
He was twenty-four when he died. His sons Chengye was Prince of Liang, Chengluan Prince of Yuyang, Chengjang Prince of Pu'an, Chengyu Prince of Jiangxia, and Chengdu Prince of Yiyang—all were executed. Early in the Zhenguan reign he was reburied and posthumously enfeoffed as Prince of Hailing with a posthumous title. Later the fief was changed to Nest, and Prince of Cao Ming was appointed his heir.
23
母萬貴妃，性恭順，為帝所禮，宮中事一一咨決。
His mother was Consort Wan, gentle and obedient by nature and honored by the emperor. Every matter of the inner palace was referred to her for decision.
24
三年，以太宗子寬為嗣，又贈涼州總管、司徒。 寬早薨，國除。 貞觀二年，復以濟南公世都子靈龜嗣，歷魏州刺史，為政威嚴，盜賊不發； 鑿永濟渠，通新市，百姓利之。 薨，子福嗣，降為公。 卒，子承況嗣，神龍中為右羽林將軍，同節湣太子死於難。
In the third year, Taizong's son Kuan was made heir, and Yuanji was posthumously given the posts of regional commander of Liangzhou and Minister of Works. Kuan died young and the fief was abolished. In the second year of Zhenguan, Linggui, son of Duke of Jinan Shidu, was again made heir. He served as governor of Wei, governing with stern authority so that bandits did not stir. He cut the Yongji Canal to reach the new market, to the people's benefit. On his death his son Fusi succeeded, and the title was reduced to duke. On his death his son Chengguang succeeded. In the Shenlong era he served as Right General of the Feathered Forest and died in the upheaval together with Crown Prince Minjie of the Same Festival.
25
荊王元景，武德三年始王趙，與魯、酆二王同封。 貞觀初，累遷雍州牧。 十年，徙封荊。
Prince Jing Yuanjing was first enfeoffed as Prince of Zhao in the third year of Wude, together with the Princes of Lu and Feng. Early in the Zhenguan reign he was repeatedly promoted to governor of Yongzhou. In the tenth year his fief was changed to Jing.
26
明年，詔荊州都督荊王元景、梁州都督漢王元昌、徐州都督徐王元禮、潞州都督韓王元嘉、遂州都督彭王元則、鄭州刺史鄭王元懿、絳州刺史霍王元軌、虢州刺史虢王鳳、豫州刺史道王元慶、鄧州刺史鄧王元裕、壽州刺史舒王元名、幽州都督燕王靈夔、蘇州刺史許王元祥、安州都督吳王恪、相州都督魏王泰、齊州都督齊王祐、益州都督蜀王愔、襄州刺史蔣王惲、揚州都督越王貞、并州都督晉王治、秦州都督紀王慎所任刺史並功臣令世世襲。 會長孫無忌等固讓，遂廢不行。 徙鄠州。 永徽初，進位司徒，賜實封至千五百戶。
The next year an edict named the regional commanders and governors then in office—Jing Prince Yuanjing at Jingzhou, Han Prince Yuanchang at Liangzhou, Xu Prince Yuanli at Xuzhou, Han Prince Yuanjia at Luzhou, Peng Prince Yuanze at Suizhou, Zheng Prince Yuanyi at Zhengzhou, Huo Prince Yuangui at Jiangzhou, Guo Prince Feng at Guozhou, Dao Prince Yuanqing at Yuzhou, Deng Prince Yuanyu at Dengzhou, Shu Prince Yuanming at Shouzhou, Yan Prince Lingkui at Youzhou, Xu Prince Yuanxiang at Suzhou, Wu Prince Ke at Anzhou, Wei Prince Tai at Xiangzhou, Qi Prince You at Qizhou, Shu Prince Yin at Yizhou, Jiang Prince Yun at Xiangyang, Yue Prince Zhen at Yangzhou, Jin Prince Zhi at Bingzhou, and Ji Prince Shen at Qinzhou—and declared that their governorships, together with those of meritorious officials, should pass hereditarily from generation to generation. Zhangsun Wuji and others firmly declined, and the plan was abandoned. He was transferred to E prefecture. Early in the Yonghui reign he was advanced to Minister of Works and granted a substantive fief of fifteen hundred households.
27
房遺愛謀反，坐子則與往還系獄。 時吳王亦抵罪，高宗謂大臣曰：「朕欲從公丐叔及兄死。」 兵部侍郎崔敦禮曰：「陛下雖申恩，不可詘天下法。」 遂賜死。 久之，追封沈黎王，以渤海王奉慈子長沙嗣，降為侯。 神龍初，復王爵，以孫逖嗣。 薨，無子，國除。
When Fang Yi'ai plotted rebellion, Yuanjing's son Ze was imprisoned for his dealings with him. At that time the Prince of Wu was also charged. Gaozong said to the ministers, "I wish to beg from you the lives of my uncles and elder brother." Vice Minister of War Cui Dunli said, "Though Your Majesty would show mercy, you cannot bend the law of the realm." They were therefore granted death. After a long while he was posthumously enfeoffed as Prince of Shenli. Changsha, son of Prince of Bohai Fengci, was made heir, and the rank was reduced to marquis. Early in the Shenlong era the princely title was restored, and Sun Tuo was made heir. On his death he left no son, and the fief was abolished.
28
漢王元昌，初王魯，累遷梁州都督，後徙封漢。 有勇力，善騎射。 數觸軌憲，太宗手詔誨督，乃怨望，附太子承乾，通饋謝。 來朝京師，宿東宮，嘗有醜語； 又見帝側有宮人善琵琶，乃曰：「事成幸賜我。」 承乾許之，割臂血盟。 事敗，帝弗忍誅，欲免死，高士廉、李勣等固爭不奉詔，乃賜死，國除。
Han Prince Yuanchang was first enfeoffed as Prince of Lu, was repeatedly promoted to regional commander of Liang, and later transferred to the fief of Han. He was strong and brave, and skilled at riding and archery. He repeatedly violated regulations. Taizong sent personal edicts to instruct and admonish him, but he harbored resentment instead, attached himself to Crown Prince Chenghan, and exchanged gifts with him. When he came to court in the capital he lodged in the Eastern Palace and once spoke vile words. He also saw a palace woman beside the emperor who was skilled at the pipa and said, "When the affair succeeds, grant her to me. Chengqian agreed, and they cut their arms to seal a blood oath. When the plot failed, the emperor could not bring himself to execute him and wished to spare his life, but Gao Shilian, Li Ji, and others strenuously objected and would not carry out the order; he was then granted death, and the fief was abolished.
29
酆悼王元亨，貞觀二年，授金州刺史，之籓，太宗憐其幼，思之，數遣使為勞問，賜金盞以娛樂之。 六年薨，無子，國除。
Prince Yuanheng of Feng, posthumously styled Mourning, was in the second year of Zhenguan appointed prefect of Jin and sent to his fief. Taizong pitied his youth and missed him, repeatedly dispatching envoys to inquire after him and bestowing golden cups for his diversion. In the sixth year he died without a son, and the fief was abolished.
30
徐康王元禮性恭畏，善騎射。 始王鄭，即授鄭州刺史。 後徙王徐，遷徐州都督。 為絳州刺史，有治名，璽書勞勉，實封至千戶。 永徽中，加司徒，兼潞州刺史。 薨，贈太尉、冀州大都督，陪葬獻陵。
Prince Yuanli of Xu, posthumously styled Kang, was by nature respectful and cautious, and skilled at riding and archery. He was first enfeoffed as Prince of Zheng and at once appointed prefect of Zheng. He was later transferred to Prince of Xu and made regional commander of Xu. As prefect of Jiang he earned a name for good governance; the emperor sent sealed letters of praise and encouragement, and his actual enfeoffment rose to one thousand households. During the Yonghui era he was promoted to Minister of State and concurrently served as prefect of Lu. On his death he was posthumously made Minister of State and regional commander-in-chief of Ji, and was buried at Xianling.
31
三子，茂為淮南王，餘爵公。
He had three sons: Mao was made Prince of Huainan, and the rest were enfeoffed as dukes.
32
神龍初，以茂子璀嗣，開元中，為宗正員外卿。 薨，子延年嗣。 拔汗那王入朝，延年將以女嫁之，為右相李林甫劾奏，貶文安郡別駕，終餘杭司馬，國除。 永泰初，延年婿黔中觀察使趙國珍言諸朝，詔以其子諷嗣王。
Early in the Shenlong era Mao's son Cui succeeded to the title; in the Kaiyuan era he served as acting vice director of the Directorate of the Imperial Clan. On his death his son Yannian succeeded. When the king of Bakhara came to court, Yannian was about to give his daughter in marriage to him; the Grand Counsellor Li Linfu impeached him; he was demoted to vice-prefect of Wen'an and ended his career as secretary of Yuhang, and the fief was abolished. Early in the Yongtai era Yannian's son-in-law Zhao Guozhen, observation commissioner of Qianzhong, petitioned the court; an edict made his son Feng heir to the princely title.
33
貞觀九年，更封韓，遷滑州都督。 高宗末，為澤州刺史。 武後得政，進授太尉，徙定州刺史，以霍王元軌為司徒，舒王元名為司空，滕王元嬰開府儀同三司，魯王靈夔太子太師，越王貞太子太傅，紀王慎太子太保，外示尊寵，而內將圖之。
In the ninth year of Zhenguan he was further enfeoffed as Prince of Han and made regional commander of Hua. Late in Gaozong's reign he served as prefect of Ze. When Empress Wu seized power she promoted him to Grand Minister of State and transferred him to prefect of Ding; she made Prince of Huo Yuan Gui Minister of State, Prince of Shu Yuan Ming Minister of Works, Prince of Teng Yuan Ying Palace Captain of Honor Guards with rank equal to the Three Excellencies, Prince of Lu Ling Kui Crown Prince Grand Tutor, Prince of Yue Zhen Crown Prince Grand Mentor, and Prince of Ji Shen Crown Prince Grand Guardian—an outward show of honor while she plotted against them within.
34
垂拱中，元嘉徙絳州刺史，與子譔及越王子沖糾合宗室同舉兵，未發。 會武後詔宗室朝明堂，元嘉遣使告諸王曰：「大享後，太后必盡誅諸王，不如先事起。 不然，李氏無種矣。」 乃為中宗詔，督諸王發兵。 沖即以兵五千攻濟州，而諸王倉卒兵不至，遂敗。 元嘉至京師，謀泄，後逼令自殺，年七十。 詔改氏元嘉、魯王、越王為「虺」。
During the Chuigong era Yuanjia was transferred to prefect of Jiang; with his son Zuan and the Prince of Yue's son Chong he rallied the imperial clansmen to raise troops together, but had not yet moved. When Empress Wu summoned the imperial clan to the Bright Hall, Yuanjia sent messengers to tell the princes, "After the great sacrifice the Empress Dowager will surely execute all the princes; we had better rise first. Otherwise the house of Li will be extinguished. He then forged an edict in Zhongzong's name ordering the princes to raise troops. Chong at once led five thousand men to attack Jizhou, but the other princes' troops, mustered in haste, did not arrive in time, and they were defeated. Yuanjia reached the capital; the plot was exposed; the Empress forced him to take his own life at the age of seventy. An edict changed the clan names of Yuanjia, the Prince of Lu, and the Prince of Yue to "Hui"—the name of a venomous serpent, meant as insult.
35
元嘉六子。 訓，潁川王，蚤卒。 誼，武陵王。 諶，上黨公。 譔，黃公，工為辭章，孟利貞嘗稱其文曰：「劉鄰之、周思茂不過也。」 出為通州刺史，辭疾歸，且謀慮越王也。 諶通音律，歷杭州別駕，與譔俱死。 時籍沒者眾，惟沖、譔家書為多，皆文句詳正，秘府所不及。 神龍初，追復元嘉爵士，以第五子訥嗣。 薨，子叔璩嗣，歷國子司業。 薨，子煒嗣。 建中中，改王鄆。 後懿宗以鄆王即位，復改嗣韓王雲。
Yuanjia had six sons. Xun, Prince of Yingchuan, died young. Yi was Prince of Wuling. Chen was Duke of Shangdang. Zuan, Duke of Huang, was skilled at literary composition; Meng Liyan once praised his writing, saying, "He surpasses even Liu Linzhi and Zhou Simao. He went out as prefect of Tong, pleaded illness and returned home, and plotted on behalf of the Prince of Yue. Chen understood musical pitch, served as vice-prefect of Hangzhou, and died together with Zuan. At that time many had their property confiscated; only Chong's and Zuan's family libraries were extensive, every text meticulous and correct—surpassing even what the imperial archive held. Early in the Shenlong era Yuanjia's princely rank was posthumously restored, and his fifth son Ne succeeded. On his death his son Shu Guan succeeded and served as vice director of the Directorate of Sons of the State. On his death his son Wei succeeded. During the Jianzhong era he was enfeoffed as Prince of Yun. Later Emperor Yizong, having ascended the throne as Prince of Yun, restored the succession to Han Prince Yun.
36
彭思王元則字彜。 初王荊，出為婺州刺史。 貞觀十年徙王，為遂州都督，以冠服奢僭免。 久之，為澧州刺史，更折節厲行。 薨，贈司徒、荊州大都督，陪葬獻陵。 高宗登望春宮，過其喪，哭之慟。
Prince Yuanze of Peng, posthumously styled Si, bore the courtesy name Yi. He was first enfeoffed as Prince of Jing and went out as prefect of Wu. In the tenth year of Zhenguan he was enfeoffed as Prince of Peng and made regional commander of Sui, but was dismissed for extravagant headgear and robes. After a long interval he was made prefect of Li and thereafter restrained himself and corrected his conduct. On his death he was posthumously made Minister of State and regional commander-in-chief of Jing, and was buried at Xianling. When Gaozong ascended Wangchun Palace and passed his mourning hall, he wept bitterly.
37
無子，以霍王子絢嗣，龍朔中，封南昌王。 薨，子誌暕嗣，開元中，為宗正卿。
He had no son; the Prince of Huo's son Xuan succeeded; in the Longshuo era he was enfeoffed as Prince of Nanchang. On his death his son Zhi Lian succeeded; in the Kaiyuan era he served as director of the imperial clan.
38
鄭惠王元懿，始王滕，貞觀中，出為兗州刺史，徙王，厲鄭、潞、絳三州刺史，實封千戶。 喜經術，數斷大獄，務寬平，高宗嘉之，璽詔褒錫。 薨，贈司徒、荊州大都督，陪葬獻陵。
Prince Yuanyi of Zheng, posthumously styled Hui, was first Prince of Teng; in the Zhenguan era he went out as prefect of Yan, then his title was changed; he was strict as prefect of Zheng, Lu, and Jiang, with an actual enfeoffment of one thousand households. He delighted in the classics, repeatedly adjudicated major cases with leniency in mind; Gaozong applauded this and issued sealed edicts praising and rewarding him. On his death he was posthumously made Minister of State and regional commander-in-chief of Jing, and was buried at Xianling.
39
霍王元軌，武德六年始王蜀，與豳、漢二王同封，後徙吳。 多材藝，高祖愛之。
Prince Yuan Gui of Huo was in the sixth year of Wude first enfeoffed as Prince of Shu, together with the Princes of Bin and Han, and was later transferred to Prince of Wu. He was multitalented, and Gaozu cherished him.
40
太宗嘗問群臣曰：「朕子弟孰賢？」 魏征曰：「臣愚不盡知其能，唯吳王數與臣言，未嘗不自失。」 帝曰：「朕亦器之，然卿以為前代孰比？」 對曰：「經學文雅，漢河間、東平也。 至孝行，曾、閔不能過。」 帝由是遇益厚。 詔納征女為妃。 嘗從獵，遇群豕，帝使射之，筈不虛彀，豕為盡。 帝撫其背曰：「爾藝過人，顧今無所施。 方天下未定，得若豈不用乎？」
Taizong once asked his assembled ministers, "Among my sons and younger brothers, who is most worthy? Wei Zheng said, "Your servant is too dull to know all their abilities; only the Prince of Wu has spoken with me many times, and I have never failed to lose my composure in his presence." The emperor said, "I too esteem him—but to whom among former ages would you compare him?" He answered, "In classical learning and refinement, like the Han Princes of Hejian and Dongping. In filial conduct, even Zengzi and Min Sun could not surpass him." From this the emperor treated him still more generously. An edict took Wei's daughter as his consort. Once on a hunt they met a herd of boars; the emperor had him shoot; every arrow found its mark, and the boars were all killed. The emperor stroked his back and said, "Your skill surpasses others, yet now there is nowhere to apply it. When the realm was not yet settled, had you been there, would you not have been put to use?"
41
貞觀七年，為壽州刺史。 高祖崩，去官，毀瘠甚，服除，遂菜食布衣終身，至忌日，輒累晝不食。 十年，徙王，歷絳、徐、定三州刺史，實封至千戶。 所至閉閣讀書，以吏事委長史、司馬。 謙慎未嘗與物忤。 數引見處士劉玄平，為布衣交。 或問王所長於玄平，答曰：「無長。」 問者不解，玄平曰：「人有短，所以見長。 若王無所不備，吾何以稱之。」
In the seventh year of Zhenguan he was made prefect of Shou. When Gaozu died he left office and wasted away severely; after mourning ended he ate only vegetables and wore plain cloth for the rest of his life, and on anniversaries he would fast for many days without eating. In the tenth year he was enfeoffed as Prince of Huo; he served in turn as prefect of Jiang, Xu, and Ding, with actual enfeoffment reaching one thousand households. Wherever he went he shut himself in to read, entrusting administrative matters to his chief administrator and marshal. Humble and cautious, he never clashed with others. He repeatedly summoned the recluse Liu Xuanping and befriended him as a fellow commoner. Someone asked Xuanping what the prince excelled at; he answered, "Nothing in particular. The questioner did not understand; Xuanping said, "Men have shortcomings, and thus one sees their strengths. If the prince were complete in every way, how could I praise him?"
42
突厥寇定州，元軌令開城門，偃旗幟，虜疑，不敢入，夜遁。 州人李嘉運潛結賊，詔窮誅支黨，元軌以寇近且強，人心危，但殺嘉運，餘無所詰，因自劾。 帝喜曰：「朕固悔之。 非王之明，幾失定州矣。」
When the Turks raided Dingzhou, Yuan Gui ordered the gates opened and banners lowered; the barbarians were suspicious, dared not enter, and fled by night. A man of the prefecture, Li Jiayun, secretly joined the bandits; an edict demanded exhaustive punishment of all associates; Yuan Gui said that with the enemy near and strong and hearts uneasy, he executed only Jiayun and questioned no others, then impeached himself. The emperor said with delight, "I had indeed regretted it. Were it not for the prince's wisdom, Dingzhou would almost have been lost."
43
王文操者，與賊戰，敗，二子鳳、賢更以身蔽父，得全，二子死。 縣抑不為言，元軌廉知之，遣使員祭，上其事。 詔贈鳳、賢朝散大夫，旌禮其閭。
Wang Wencao fought the bandits and was defeated; his two sons Feng and Xian in turn used their bodies to shield their father; he was spared, but the two sons died. The county suppressed the report and would not speak of it; Yuan Gui learned of it through investigation, sent an envoy to offer condolences, and memorialized the matter. An edict posthumously awarded Feng and Xian the title Gentleman for Fraternal Presentation and honored their neighborhood with ritual display.
44
六子，緒為江都王，純安定王，餘皆爵為公。 緒有名譽，為金州刺史，誅。 神龍初，並復官爵，以緒孫暉嗣王，開元中，為左千牛員外將軍。
He had six sons: Xu was Prince of Jiangdu, Chun Prince of Anding, and the rest were all enfeoffed as dukes. Xu had a fine reputation, served as prefect of Jin, and was executed. Early in the Shenlong era their offices and ranks were all restored; Xu's grandson Hui succeeded to the princely title; in the Kaiyuan era he served as captain of the Left Wing Guard.
45
虢莊王鳳字季成。 始王豳，為鄧州刺史。 俄徙王，歷虢、豫、青三州刺史，實封千戶。 喜畋遊，遇官屬尤嫚。 使奴蒙虎皮，怖其參軍陸英俊幾死，因大笑為樂。 薨，贈司徒、揚州大都督，陪葬獻陵。
Prince Feng of Guo, posthumously styled Zhuang, bore the courtesy name Jicheng. He was first Prince of Bin and served as prefect of Deng. He was soon transferred to Prince of Guo; he served in turn as prefect of Guo, Yu, and Qing, with actual enfeoffment of one thousand households. He delighted in hunting and was especially insolent toward his subordinates. He had a slave wear a tiger skin and terrify his staff officer Lu Yingjun nearly to death, then laughed for amusement. On his death he was posthumously made Minister of State and regional commander-in-chief of Yang, and was buried at Xianling.
46
七子，長子翼嗣，為平陽王。 薨，子寓嗣。 寓無子，爵不傳。 次子茂融，以勇聞，垂拱中為申州刺史。 黃公譔與越王謀舉兵，倚以為助。 時詔諸王公赴東都，茂融私問所親高子貢，子貢報曰：「來必死。」 乃稱疾不朝，以俟兵期。 及得越王書，倉卒不能應，僚屬勸白其書，擢太子右贊善大夫，俄為黨屬所引，誅。
He had seven sons; the eldest, Yi, succeeded and was enfeoffed as Prince of Pingyang. On his death his son Yu succeeded. Yu had no son, and the title was not passed on. The second son Maorong was known for valor; in the Chuigong era he served as prefect of Shen. Huang Duke Zuan and the Prince of Yue plotted to raise troops and relied on him for support. When an edict summoned all imperial princes and dukes to the eastern capital, Maorong privately asked his close associate Gao Zigong; Zigong replied, "If you go you will surely die. He then claimed illness and did not attend court, waiting for the appointed day of the uprising. When he received the Prince of Yue's letter he was too hurried to respond; his staff urged him to report the letter; he was promoted to Right Assistant to the Heir Apparent; soon he was implicated as a partisan and executed.
47
巨剛銳果決，略通書史，好屬辭。 天寶五載，出為西河太守。 坐資給柳勣支黨，貶義陽司馬。 明年，御史中丞楊慎矜得罪，其附離史敬忠與巨善，又坐免官，錮置南賓郡。 召拜夷陵太守。
Ju was bold, sharp, and resolute; he had some knowledge of books and histories and was fond of literary composition. In the fifth year of Tianbao he went out as prefect of Xihe. He was punished for funding Liu Ji's faction and demoted to secretary of Yiyang. The next year Vice Censor-in-Chief Yang Shenjin was punished; his adherent Shi Jingzhong was friendly with Ju, and Ju was again dismissed and confined in Nanbin prefecture. He was summoned and appointed prefect of Yiling.
48
安祿山陷東京，玄宗方擇將帥，張〓言巨有謀，可屬大事。 召至京師，楊國忠忌之，謂人曰：「小兒詎可使對天子？」 逾月不得見。 帝知之，召入禁中，對合旨，帝大悅，敕宰相與語，久不得罷，國忠怠，謂巨曰：「比來人多口打賊，君不爾乎？」 巨曰：「誰為相公手打賊者乎？」 乃授陳留、譙郡太守，攝御史大夫、河南節度使。 明日謝，帝驚曰：「何攝為？」 即詔兼御史大夫。 巨奏：「方艱難時，賊多詐，有如陛下召臣，何以取信？」 乃析契授之。
When An Lushan took the Eastern Capital, Xuanzong was choosing generals; Zhang Hao said Ju had strategic talent and could be entrusted with grave affairs. He was summoned to the capital. Yang Guozhong resented him and said to others, "How can a mere boy be allowed to face the Son of Heaven? More than a month passed without his being granted an audience. The emperor learned of this and summoned him into the inner palace. His replies suited the emperor's intent, and the emperor was greatly pleased and ordered the chief ministers to converse with him; they could not dismiss him for a long time. Guozhong grew weary and said to Ju, "Lately many men boast of fighting the rebels with nothing but talk—are you not one of them? Ju said, "Which general has fought the rebels at the chief minister's own hand?" He was then appointed prefect of Chenliu and Qiao, acting Censor-in-Chief and Henan military commissioner. The next day, at his audience of thanks, the emperor said in surprise, "Why 'acting'? An edict at once made him Censor-in-Chief in full. Ju memorialized, "In these difficult times the rebels employ many ruses. If Your Majesty were to summon your servant as you have, how would one know whom to trust? The emperor then split tally tokens and gave him a portion.
49
俄兼統嶺南何履光、黔中趙國珍、南陽魯炅三節度使事。 時炅戰數屈，詔貶為果毅，以來瑱代之。 巨奏：「炅若能存孤城，功足補過，則何以處之？」 帝曰：「卿隨所處置。」 巨至內鄉，賊將畢思琛解圍走，遂趣南陽，貶炅白衣從軍，其暮，稱詔復職。
Soon he was also put in overall charge of the three military commissioners He Lüguang of Lingnan, Zhao Guozhen of Qianzhong, and Lu Jiong of Nanyang. At the time Jiong had repeatedly been defeated in battle; an edict demoted him to guoyi officer and replaced him with Lai Tian. Ju memorialized, "If Jiong can hold the isolated city, his merit will suffice to offset his faults—then how is he to be treated? The emperor said, "You may dispose of the matter as you see fit." Ju reached Neixiang; the rebel general Bi Sichen lifted the siege and fled. He then hurried to Nanyang, demoted Jiong to commoner status in the army, and that evening proclaimed an edict restoring him to office.
50
京師平，拜留守，兼御史大夫。 明年，拜太子少師，兼河南尹、東畿采訪使。 征乘牛之出入市者，斥所得佐用度，然稍自盜沒。 其妃即張皇后從女弟，內不睦。 巨選府縣官備使令，妃亦引蒲博少年分黨招貨賄，橈政事。 宗正卿李遵素私張，發巨贓事，貶遂州刺史。 會段子璋反，道遂州，巨倉卒不知所出，即迎謁，為子璋所殺。
When the capital was pacified, he was appointed capital intendant, also serving as Censor-in-Chief. The next year he was made Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent, also Henan intendant and Eastern Capital investigation commissioner. He levied those who drove ox-carts into the markets, applying the proceeds to supplement expenses, yet he also embezzled a portion for himself. His consort was a younger cousin of Empress Zhang; they were not on good terms within the household. Ju selected prefectural and county officials to serve as his personal agents; the consort also brought in gambling youths, formed factions, solicited bribes, and distorted government affairs. Director of the Imperial Clan Li Zunsu, who favored Zhang, exposed Ju's corruption; he was demoted to prefect of Suizhou. When Duan Zizhang rebelled and passed through Suizhou, Ju in his haste did not know what to do and went out to meet him; Zizhang killed him.
51
子則之，嗜學，年五十餘，尚執經太學，嗣曹王臯薦之。 貞元二年，繇睦王府長史遷左金吾衛大將軍。 坐與從甥竇申善，貶昭州司馬。
His son Zezhi loved learning; past fifty he still studied the classics at the Imperial Academy; Prince of Cao Li Gao recommended him. In the second year of Zhenyuan he moved from chief administrator of the Prince of Mu's establishment to general of the Left Golden Crow Guard. He was punished for friendship with his cousin Dou Shen and demoted to secretary of Zhaozhou.
52
九子，誘為嗣，王臨淮，為澧州刺史，坐贓削爵。 更以次子詢之子微嗣，終宗正卿。 子煉嗣，廣德中，亦至宗正卿。
He had nine sons: You was heir, enfeoffed as Prince of Linhuai, served as prefect of Li, and lost his title for corruption. The heir was then changed to Wei, son of the second son Xun, who ended as director of the imperial clan. His son Lian succeeded; in the Guangde era he too reached the post of director of the imperial clan.
53
鄧康王元裕，貞觀五年始王鄶，十一年徙王。 始王及徙，皆與譙、魏、許、密四王同封。 累實封至千二百戶。
Prince Yuan Yu of Deng, posthumously styled Kang, was first enfeoffed as Prince of Zheng in the fifth year of Zhenguan; in the eleventh year his title was changed. Both at the initial enfeoffment and at the change of title he was enfeoffed together with the four princes of Qiao, Wei, Xu, and Mi. His actual enfeoffment in aggregate reached one thousand two hundred households.
54
好學，善談名理，與典簽盧照鄰為布衣交。 五為州刺史，遷兗州都督。 薨，贈司徒、益州大都督，陪葬獻陵。 無子，以江王子廣平公炅嗣。 薨，子孝先嗣，開元中，為冠軍大將軍。
He loved learning and was skilled at discussing abstract principles; with recorder Lu Zhaolin he was friends as commoners. Five times he served as prefect; he was promoted to regional commander of Yan. On his death he was posthumously made Minister of State and regional commander-in-chief of Yi, and was buried at Xianling. Having no son, Guangping Duke Jiong, son of the Prince of Jiang, succeeded. On his death his son Xiaoxian succeeded; in the Kaiyuan era he served as champion general.
55
舒王元名，始王譙，後徙王。 高祖之在大安宮，太宗晨夕使尚宮問起居，元名才十歲，保媼言：「尚宮有品當拜。」 元名曰：「此帝侍婢耳，何拜為？」 太宗壯之，曰：「真吾弟也！」 及長，矜嚴疏財，未嘗問家人生業。 歷五州刺史，實封至千戶。
Prince Yuan Ming of Shu was first Prince of Qiao, then his title was changed. When Gaozu was in the Great Peace Palace, Taizong morning and evening sent palace ladies to inquire after his health. Yuan Ming was only ten; his nurse said, "Palace ladies have rank and ought to be bowed to. Yuan Ming said, "These are the emperor's serving women—why bow to them?" Taizong was impressed and said, "Truly my brother!" When he grew up he was stern and dignified and free with wealth, and never inquired into his household's livelihood. He served in turn as prefect of five prefectures; his actual enfeoffment reached one thousand households.
56
子豫章王亶，洛江州，有美政。 高宗以元名善訓子，手詔褒美。 又欲授元名大州，辭曰：「臣忝屬籍，豈以州郡為仕進資邪？」 治石州二十年，數遊山林，有高蹈意。 垂拱中，徙鄭州，境接東畿，諸王貴戚為刺史者縱家人暴百姓，元名至，一革之，為治廉威。 進加司空。
His son Prince of Yuzhang Dan presided over Jiangzhou and had excellent administration. Gaozong, because Yuan Ming was skilled at instructing his son, wrote a personal edict praising him. He also wished to appoint Yuan Ming to a large prefecture; Yuan Ming declined, saying, "Your servant is listed in the imperial genealogy—how could I take prefectures and commanderies as capital for advancement? He governed Shizhou for twenty years, often roamed mountains and forests, and had the intent to withdraw from the world. During the Chuigong era he was moved to Zhengzhou. The territory bordered the eastern capital; princes and noble kin serving as prefects let their households tyrannize the people—when Yuan Ming arrived he reformed it all at once and governed with integrity and authority. He was further promoted to Minister of Works.
57
子詵，為清河王，早夭。 藹為范陽王，知越王必敗，白髮其謀，得不誅。 歷右散騎常侍，為酷吏所害。 神龍初，悉追復王爵，以藹子道堅嗣。
His son Shen was Prince of Qinghe and died young. Ai was Prince of Fanyang; knowing the Prince of Yue would surely fail, he reported the plot in advance and was spared execution. He served as right attendant at the gate; he was killed by a cruel official. Early in the Shenlong era all princely titles were restored; Ai's son Dao Jian succeeded.
58
江安王元祥，始王許，後徙王，四為州刺史，實封至千戶。 性庸遴，所至營財產無厭。 時滕、蔣、虢三王皆貪暴，得其府官者惡之不願行，故時語曰：「寧向儋、崖、振、白，不事江、滕、蔣、虢。」 元祥魁大，帶十圍，食兼數人。 韓、虢、魏亦鴻偉，然不逮也。 薨，贈司徒、并州大都督，陪葬獻陵。
Prince Yuan Xiang of Jiang'an was first Prince of Xu, then his title was changed; four times he served as prefect; his actual enfeoffment reached one thousand households. By nature he was dull and sluggish; wherever he went he amassed property without satiety. At the time the princes of Teng, Jiang, and Guo were all greedy and violent, as was Prince Jiang'an; anyone assigned to their households dreaded the posting and tried to avoid it. Hence the saying of the age: "Better to go to Dan, Ya, Zhen, or Bai than serve Jiang'an, Teng, Jiang, or Guo. Yuan Xiang was huge in stature, his girdle ten spans around, and ate enough for several men. The princes of Han, Guo, and Wei were also imposing, yet they did not match him. On his death he was posthumously made Minister of State and regional commander-in-chief of Bing, and was buried at Xianling.
59
七子，〓為永嘉王，有禽獸行，誅死； 皎為武陽王，餘皆爵公，武後時，多及誅。 皎子叢，以幼流死嶺表，葬南安，人號其冢為「天孫墓」。 中宗立，以從子欽嗣王，又以皎封絕，更取弟子繼宗嗣，既而以郡王不襲，降澧國公。
He had seven sons; Zhao was Prince of Yongjia, had beastly conduct, and was executed; Jiao was Prince of Wuyang; the rest were all enfeoffed as dukes; in Empress Wu's time many were executed. Jiao's son Cong, exiled young to the Lingnan frontier, died and was buried at Nan'an; people called his tomb the "Heaven's Grandson Tomb." When Zhongzong took the throne, his cousin's son Qin succeeded to the princely title; because Jiao's line had ended, a younger brother's son Jizong was next taken as heir; then because commandery princes were not to inherit, he was reduced to Duke of Li.
60
密貞王元曉，貞觀中為虢州刺史，實封至千戶。 徙澤州。 薨，贈司徒、揚州都督，陪葬獻陵。
Prince Yuan Xiao of Mi, posthumously styled Zhen, in the Zhenguan era served as prefect of Guo; his actual enfeoffment reached one thousand households. He was moved to Ze prefecture. On his death he was posthumously made Minister of State and regional commander-in-chief of Yang, and was buried at Xianling.
61
子穎嗣，為南安王。 薨，子勖嗣，早薨。 神龍初，以穎弟亮養子曇嗣。 開元五年，更詔元曉再從孫東莞郡公徹嗣，徙封濮陽郡王，歷宗正卿、金紫光祿大夫。
His son Ying succeeded as Prince of Nan'an. On his death his son Xu succeeded and died young. Early in the Shenlong era Ying's younger brother Liang's adopted son Tan succeeded. In the fifth year of Kaiyuan an edict further made Yuan Xiao's great-grandson Dongguan Duke Che heir, moved his enfeoffment to Prince of Puyang, and he served in turn as director of the imperial clan and Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon.
62
滕王元嬰，貞觀十三年始王，實封千戶。 為金州刺史，驕縱失度。 在太宗喪，集官屬燕飲歌舞，狎昵廝養； 巡省部內，從民借狗求罝，所過為害； 以丸彈人，觀其走避則樂； 城門夜開，不復有節。 高宗以書切責曰：「朕以王至親，不忍致於法，今署下上考，冀愧王心。」
Prince Yuan Ying of Teng was first enfeoffed in the thirteenth year of Zhenguan; his actual enfeoffment was one thousand households. As prefect of Jin he was arrogant and unrestrained beyond measure. During Taizong's mourning he gathered his staff for feasting, singing, and dancing, and was intimate with menials; touring within his jurisdiction he borrowed dogs from the people for hunting with nets, and wherever he passed he caused harm; he shot pellets at people and took pleasure in watching them flee; the city gates were opened at night and there was no longer any discipline. Gaozong rebuked him in a letter, saying, "Because the prince is very close kin, I cannot bear to bring him under the law; now I record a top-grade evaluation in your register, hoping to shame the prince's heart."
63
久之，遷洪州都督。 官屬妻美者，紿為妃召，逼私之。 嘗為典簽崔簡妻鄭嫚罵，以履抵元嬰面血流，乃免。 元嬰慚，歷旬不視事。 後坐法削戶及親事帳內之半，謫置滁州。 起授壽州刺史，徙隆州，復不循法。 隸事參軍事裴聿諫正其失，元嬰捽辱之。 聿入計具奏，帝遷聿六品上階。 帝嘗賜諸王彩五百，以元嬰及蔣王貪黷，但下書曰：「滕叔、蔣弟不須賜，給麻二車，助為錢緡。」 二王大慚。 武後時，進拜開府儀同三司、梁州都督。 薨，贈司徒、冀州都督，陪葬獻陵。
After a long time he was moved to regional commander of Hong. When a staff member's wife was beautiful, he would deceive her on the pretext that the consort summoned her and force her. Once he was reviled by Zheng Man, wife of recorder Cui Jian, who struck Yuan Ying's face with a shoe until blood flowed, and he then released her. Yuan Ying was ashamed and for ten days did not attend to business. Later, punished by law, half his enfeoffment households and half his personal attendants in the household register were cut; he was demoted and placed at Chuzhou. He was recalled and appointed prefect of Shou, then moved to Long, and again did not follow the law. Adjutant Pei Yu remonstrated and corrected his faults; Yuan Ying seized and insulted him. Yu entered the capital to report and memorialized in full; the emperor promoted Yu one grade in the sixth rank. The emperor once bestowed five hundred lengths of colored silk on the princes; because Yuan Ying and the Prince of Jiang were greedy, he only sent a letter saying, "Uncle Teng and Younger Brother Jiang need not be given any—give them two cartloads of hemp to help make into cash strings. The two princes were deeply ashamed. In Empress Wu's time he was advanced to Palace Captain of Honor Guards with rank equal to the Three Excellencies and regional commander of Liang. On his death he was posthumously made Minister of State and regional commander-in-chief of Ji, and was buried at Xianling.