← Back to 新唐書

卷八十 列傳第五 太宗諸子

Volume 80 Biographies 5: Sons of Taizu

Chapter 80 of 新唐書 · New Book of Tang
← Previous Chapter
Chapter 80
Next Chapter →
1
The Sons of Emperor Taizong
2
Emperor Taizong had fourteen sons: Empress Wende gave birth to Chengqian, and also to his fourth son Li Tai and to the future Emperor Gaozong; a palace consort bore Kuan; Consort Yang bore Ke and also his sixth son Yin; Consort Yin bore You; Lady Wang bore Yun; Consort Yan bore Zhen and also his eleventh son Xiao; Consort Wei bore Shen; a palace consort bore Jian; Consort Yang bore Fu; and Lady Yang bore Ming.
3
殿 使 退 姿 使 使 使 使 西 西
The Lamented Prince of Changshan, Chengqian, whose courtesy name was Gaoming, was born in Chengqian Hall, and received his name from that place. In 620, he was first enfeoffed as Prince of Changshan, receiving his title on the same occasion as the Princes of Changsha and Yidu. He was soon transferred to Zhongshan. When Taizong ascended the throne, Chengqian was installed as crown prince. At only eight years old he proved exceptionally quick-witted, and the emperor doted on him. During the mourning period for Empress Wende, he was entrusted to decide routine state affairs and showed sound judgment; thereafter, whenever the emperor traveled, he was left to supervise the realm. As he grew older, he took to music, women, and dissolute wandering, but fearing his father, he kept these pursuits hidden. In audience he spoke earnestly of loyalty and filial duty, but once he withdrew he caroused familiarly with a band of dissolute companions. When his attendants ventured to remonstrate, he would sit bolt upright, compose his features, and blame himself bitterly, masking his faults with glib argument and bowing to his critics without pause—so that everyone took him for virtuous and none saw through him. As his misconduct gradually came to light, the palace tutors Kong Yingda, Linghu Defen, Yu Zhining, Zhang Xuansu, Zhao Hongzhi, Wang Renbiao, and Cui Zhiji—men chosen from the finest in the realm—repeatedly admonished him. The emperor always rewarded them lavishly with gold and silk, hoping to spur the crown prince's conscience. Chengqian remained arrogant and unrepentant, and often sent men to plot secretly against them. At that time Prince of Wei Li Tai enjoyed a fine reputation, and the emperor favored him deeply. Chengqian, however, suffered from a crippled foot and walked with difficulty; fearing deposition, he grew hostile toward Li Tai. Li Tai likewise plotted to supplant his elder brother, and each cultivated his own faction. A boy actor in the Eastern Palace, gifted in looks and carriage, became Chengqian's favorite. When the emperor learned of it he flew into a rage, seized the boy and executed him, and several others were put to death in connection with the affair. Chengqian believed Li Tai had denounced him and regarded him with bitter resentment. He could not stop thinking of the boy. He built a chamber bearing his portrait, posthumously granted him an office and erected a stele, raised a tomb for him in the palace park, and made offerings morning and evening. Chengqian would linger at the tomb, tears streaming down his face, his resentment deepening. He pleaded illness and absented himself from court for months on end. He also set several dozen household slaves to learning music, imitating the topknots of the Turks, cutting colored silk for dance costumes, practicing pole-climbing and sword dances—the drumming and beating resounding without cease day and night. He had a great bronze cauldron and the Six Tripods made, recruited runaway slaves to steal cattle and horses, personally supervised the cooking, and summoned his favorite attendants to feast with him. He also took to Turkic language and dress, selecting men who looked Turkic, clothing them in sheepskins with braided hair, five to a camp. He pitched felt tents, fashioned a banner with five wolf heads, arrayed spears in formations with pennants flying, set up a yurt for himself, and had his followers gather sheep for cooking, drawing their belt knives to cut meat and eat together. Chengqian himself played the part of a dying khan. He had his followers wail and gash their faces while horsemen galloped in circles around him. Then he would suddenly rise and say, "If I possessed the realm, I would lead tens of thousands of horsemen to Jincheng, then let down my hair and submit myself to Simo for a great feast—would that not be splendid!" His attendants whispered among themselves that he had gone mad. He also folded felt into armor, set out crimson banners, drilled his followers in formation, and with Prince of Han Li Yuan-chang divided command between them, shouting and thrusting at one another for sport. Those who disobeyed he would strip and beat against trees, sometimes to death; lesser offenders he would flog until their flesh was raw. He once said, "When I become emperor, I shall indulge every desire; if anyone remonstrates, I shall kill him—kill five hundred men, and will the realm not be secure?" He also summoned stalwarts—the Left Guard vice-commander Feng Shijin, the assassin Zhang Shizheng, and Qagan Chenji among others—to plot the murder of Prince of Wei Li Tai, but the attempt failed. He then cut arms and mingled blood with Li Yuan-chang, Hou Junji, Li Anyan, Zhao Jie, and Du He, plotting to lead troops into the Western Palace. In 643, when Prince of Qi Li You rebelled at Qizhou, Chengqian told Chenji and the others, "The western wall of my palace is only twenty paces of thorn hedge from the Inner Palace—how can that compare with Qizhou?" As it happened, Chenji, implicated in Prince of Qi's rebellion, was imprisoned and faced execution; he immediately submitted a secret denunciation. The emperor ordered Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Xiao Yu, Li Jing, Sun Fuga, Cen Wende, Ma Zhou, and Chu Suiliang jointly to investigate. Chengqian was deposed to commoner status and exiled to Qianzhou. He died in 645. The emperor suspended court in mourning and buried him with the rites due a state duke. His sons Xiang served as vice-prefect of Huaizhou and Jue as vice-prefect of Ezhou. During the Kaiyuan reign, Xiang's son Li Shizhi became chancellor; Chengqian's original princely title was posthumously restored, and Xiang was appointed Governor of Yuezhou and enfeoffed as Duke of Xun.
4
使 使 使
Prince of Yulin Li Ke was first enfeoffed as Prince of Changsha, then soon advanced to Prince of Han. In 628 he was transferred to Prince of Shu, receiving his title together with the Princes of Yue and Yan. He did not proceed to his fief; only after a long interval was he appointed Governor of Qizhou. The emperor said to his attendants, "As for Ke, would I not wish to see him constantly? But if they are assigned their stations early and sent out to serve as frontier shields, after my death my brothers should have no fear of ruin." In 636 he was transferred to Prince of Wu, together with the Princes of Wei, Qi, Shu, Jiang, Yue, and Ji receiving new titles on the same occasion. He was appointed Governor of Anzhou. The emperor wrote him: "As a close kinsman of the highest rank, strive to shield the royal house—govern your conduct by righteousness and your heart by ritual. Outwardly we are sovereign and subject; inwardly we are father and son. Now you must leave my side. I bequeath you not treasures but words—ponder them well!" For gambling with his wet nurse's son, he was dismissed as governor and three hundred fief households were struck from his enfeoffment. When Emperor Gaozong ascended the throne, Ke was appointed Minister of Works and Governor of Liangzhou. Ke excelled at horsemanship and archery and possessed both civil and military talent. His mother was a daughter of Emperor Yang of Sui; by birth and reputation he stood high, and court and country alike looked to him. The emperor had first installed Prince of Jin as crown prince, yet also wished to make Ke heir. Zhangsun Wuji firmly opposed it. The emperor said, "Are you displeased that he is not your own nephew? Moreover, the boy is spirited and resolute like me; if he were to protect your clan, who can say what might happen?" Wuji replied, "Prince of Jin is benevolent and magnanimous—a fine ruler to preserve the patrimony. Moreover, hesitation at chess loses the game—how much more the heir's position?" The emperor thereupon abandoned the idea. From that time Wuji bore him constant enmity. During the Yonghui reign, when Fang Yiai plotted rebellion, Ke was executed on that pretext to extinguish the hopes the realm had placed in him. Facing execution he cried out, "If the altars of state have spirits, Wuji will soon be exterminated to the last of his clan!" His four sons Ren, Wei, Kun, and Jue were all exiled to the far south. In 660 he was posthumously enfeoffed as Prince of Yulin, a temple was established for him, and Rong, grandson of Prince of Hejian Li Xiaogong, was made Marquis of Yulin to continue his line. At the beginning of the Shenlong reign he was posthumously appointed Minister of Works and reburied with full honors. During the Guangzhai reign, Ren returned under an amnesty; as Rong had been dismissed for a crime, Ren was able to inherit as Baron of Yulin, served as vice-prefect of Yuezhou, and rose to the rank of commandery duke. Once when sent on mission to the lower Yangzi region, the local people offered him gold; he refused to accept it. Empress Wu sent an envoy to commend him, saying, "My son, you are our family's thousand-li steed." His name was changed to Qianli (Thousand Li). From the Tian-shou reign onward, many worthy members of the imperial clan were destroyed; only Qianli, crafty and unscrupulous, survived by repeatedly presenting omens, talismans, and curiosities. When Emperor Zhongzong was restored, Qianli was made Prince of Chengji. Before long he was advanced to Prince of Cheng. When Crown Prince Jiemin killed Wu Sansi, Qianli and his son Prince of Tianshui Xi led several dozen men to cut through the Right Yanming Gate and enter. When the crown prince was defeated, Qianli was executed, his property confiscated, and his clan name changed to "Viper." When Emperor Ruizong took the throne, an edict restored the clan name and his offices and titles. Wei died young; Emperor Zhongzong posthumously enfeoffed him as Prince of Langling. His son Xuan was adopted to continue the line of Prince of Shu Li Yin. During Kaiyuan, as an heir from a collateral line he was made Prince of Guanghan, appointed Minister of the Stud with regular status, and died in office.
5
使
Kun served successively as governor of six prefectures under Empress Wu, earning a reputation in each. During the Shenli reign he served as Commissioner to Pacify Lingnan, pacifying rebellious tribal peoples with notable success. He died and was posthumously appointed Minister of the Guards. At the beginning of the Shenlong reign he was posthumously enfeoffed as Prince of Zhangye. During Kaiyuan, because his son Li Yi rose to prominence, Kun was posthumously enfeoffed as Prince of Wu.
6
使
From youth Yi showed ambition and principle; he served his stepmother dutifully and cared for his younger half-brother Zhi, earning renown for brotherly devotion. When his turn came to inherit, he firmly yielded to Zhi; Emperor Zhongzong commended his generosity and specially enfeoffed him as Prince of Sijiang to continue Prince Xiao's line. During Kaiyuan, as heir from a collateral line, he was transferred to Prince of Xin'an. He served repeatedly as prefectural governor, governing with severity and efficiency. He was promoted to Minister of Rites and Military Commissioner of Shuofang.
7
西 耀 使 使
Earlier the Tibetans had occupied Shibao Fortress and repeatedly raided the frontier; the court ordered Yi, together with the Hexi and Longyou commands, to plan its capture. Once his forces were encamped, he chose a day to advance. Some advised him, "The fortress is perilous and the enemy prizes it—they will surely defend it stubbornly. Our army has penetrated deep; if we fail, our troops will surely flee. Better to hold steady and watch the enemy's movements." Yi replied, "A subject's duty—how can one shrink from peril and refuse to advance? If we are outnumbered, I shall die in the attempt." He then divided his forces to block the enemy's escape routes, urged his generals to advance at forced march, and captured the fortress. Thereafter the armies of the Yellow River and Longyou regions patrolled freely, extending Tang territory by a thousand li. Emperor Xuanzong was delighted and renamed the fortress Zhenwu Army. When the Khitan chieftain Ketuyu rebelled, the court appointed Prince of Zhong grand marshal of the Hebei campaign to suppress him, with Yi as his deputy. The prince did not take the field, so Yi led Pei Yaoji and other generals in separate columns north of Fanyang, defeated the Khitan and Xi forces, captured their chieftain, and returned while the remnants scattered into hiding. He was promoted to Grandee of the State with privilege equal to the Three Excellencies, appointed Commissioner for Support, Military Farms, Investigation, and Disposition within Guannei, and his two sons were granted offices. Yi's achievements were many, but those in power envied him; his rewards never matched his merits, to the resentment of his contemporaries. After a long interval he was promoted to Minister of War and appointed Grand Military Commissioner of Shuofang. For an offense he was demoted to Prefect of Quzhou. He later served as prefect of Hua and Huai. At the beginning of the Tianbao reign he retired as Junior Tutor to the Heir Apparent. The following year he was promoted to Grand Preceptor but died before he could assume the office. Yi ran his household with strict discipline and raised his sons with proper standards; consequently Han, Yi, and Xian all rose to prominence.
8
輿 祿 退 殿使 殿西 使 使 使
The Respectful Prince of Pu, Li Tai, whose courtesy name was Huibao. He was first enfeoffed as Prince of Yidu, then transferred to Prince of Wei to continue the line of Prince of Huai. He was again transferred to Prince of Yue and appointed Grand Governor of Yangzhou. He was further appointed Governor of Yongzhou and Grand General of the Left Martial Guard. He was made Prince of Wei. Because the emperor saw that Tai loved scholars and excelled at writing, he ordered a Literary Academy established at Tai's residence, allowing him to recruit scholars on his own authority. Because Tai was corpulent, he was also permitted to ride in a small palanquin to audience. His chief administrator Su Xu urged Tai to gather guests and compile books, emulating the sage kings of antiquity. Tai thereupon memorialized to compile the Comprehensive Gazetteer of the Realm, recruiting Compiler Xiao Deyan, Secretary Gu Yin, Recorder Jiang Yaqing, Registrar Xie Yan, and others to organize the work. The Commandant of the Guard supplied lodging and the Minister of Imperial Entertainments provided food; many literary men joined him, and sons of noble families flocked to his gate until it resembled a marketplace. Tai perceived his extravagance and wished to finish quickly; he divided the work by route to survey each prefecture, compiling summaries and records—five hundred fifty sections in all, completed in four seasons. An edict ordered the work stored in the Secret Archive and granted him ten thousand bolts of silk. Later the emperor visited Tai's residence in Yankang Ward, granted a special amnesty for capital crimes in Chang'an, exempted the ward's residents from one year's rent, and bestowed silk on his staff according to rank. Moreover, Tai's monthly allowance far exceeded the crown prince's. Remonstrance Counselor Chu Suiliang remonstrated: "The sage honors the primary heir and subordinates secondary sons. The crown prince's provisions must not match those of princes, nor may secondary sons be compared with him—this blocks suspicion and stops calamity at its source. The institutions of former kings rest on human nature: every state has primary and secondary heirs; however beloved a secondary son may be, he must not surpass the primary heir. If those who should be close are kept distant and those who should be honored are lowered, private affection harms the public good, confuses resolve, and disorders the state. Now Prince of Wei's allowance surpasses the Eastern Palace's, and commentators consider this improper. Formerly in Han, Empress Dowager Dou loved the Prince of Liang and enfeoffed him with more than forty cities. The prince built a park three hundred li across, constructed palaces and covered passages, spent vast sums, and went abroad with guards clearing the road—yet because he was once displeased, he fell ill and died of rage. Emperor Xuan likewise indulged the Prince of Huaiyang, nearly to ruin; only with ministers who urged restraint was disaster avoided. Prince of Wei has only recently left the inner palace; he should first be taught thrift, with increases added month by month and year by year thereafter. Tutors should be chosen to teach him humility and thrift, encourage his literary studies, and complete his moral character—this is the sage's teaching, accomplished without severity." The emperor also ordered Tai to move into Wude Hall. Palace Attendant Wei Zheng also said, "The prince is Your Majesty's beloved son; if you wish to keep him safe, you should not let him dwell in a place of suspicion. Wude Hall lies west of the Eastern Palace; Prince of Hailing once dwelt there, and commentators held it improper. Though times and circumstances differ, the many words of men may still be feared. Moreover, the prince's own heart cannot rest easy; I urge that this be revoked, completing the prince's virtue of fearing excessive favor." The emperor understood and desisted. At that time Crown Prince Chengqian was lame; Tai plotted to overturn him, drawing in Commandant of the Horse Guards Chai Lingwu, Fang Yiai, and others as confidants, while Wei Ting and Du Chuke successively managed his princely affairs. These two men bound court ministers to Tai's cause, serving as go-betweens for bribes and gifts until the ministers formed factions around him. Chengqian, in fear, secretly sent a man posing as Tai's registrar to submit a sealed memorial at Xuanwu Gate. The emperor read it—a list of Tai's crimes—and in anger sent men to seize the submitter, but they failed to capture him. Before long the crown prince fell; the emperor secretly promised to make Tai heir, and Cen Wende and Liu Ji urged that Tai be immediately installed as crown prince. Zhangsun Wuji firmly wished to install Prince of Jin; the emperor, because stone inscriptions at Taiyuan bore the words "rule ten thousand, auspicious," again wished to follow Wuji. Tai learned of this and said to Prince of Jin, "You are on good terms with Yuan-chang—will you not go that far?" The prince was deeply troubled. When the emperor wondered at his distress and he explained the reason, the emperor was startled into understanding. When Chengqian was summoned for reprimand, he said, "I was honored as crown prince—what more could I seek? Only because Tai plotted against me did I conspire with court ministers to secure my own safety. Worthless men thereupon led me into improper deeds. If Tai becomes crown prince, that would be exactly letting him succeed in his scheme." The emperor said, "It is so. If Tai were established, the secondary heir could be obtained through intrigue. If Tai were established, Chengqian and Zhi would both die; if Zhi were established, Tai and Chengqian could live without further harm." He immediately confined Tai at the Directorate of Palace Construction, stripped him of his posts as Governor of Yongzhou, Governor-General of Xiangzhou, and Grand General of the Left Martial Guard, and demoted him to Prince of Donglai. Thereupon an edict declared: "From now on, if the crown prince is unprincipled or a feudal prince covets the throne, both shall be abandoned—let this be established as law." Yet the emperor still said to Wuji, "You urged me to establish Zhinvu. Zhinvu is benevolent but timid—will the altars of state not suffer? What is to be done?" Zhinvu was Emperor Gaozong's childhood name. Tai was soon made Prince of Shunyang and sent to dwell at Yunyang in Junzhou. The emperor once held Tai's memorial and said to his attendants, "Tai's literary style is pleasing—is he not a man of talent? My heart never ceases to think of Tai, but for the sake of the realm I send him abroad so that both may be preserved." In 647 he was advanced to Prince of Pu. When Emperor Gaozong ascended the throne, an edict allowed Tai to open a princely residence with full staff; his carriage, robes, food, and provisions were of a special grade. He died at Yunyang at age thirty-five and was posthumously appointed Grand Commandant and Governor of Yongzhou. He had two sons: Xin and Hui. Xin inherited the princely title; during Empress Wu's reign he was framed by a cruel official, demoted to vice-prefect of Zhaozhou, and died. His son Qiao, at the beginning of the Shenlong reign, was able to inherit the princely title. During Kaiyuan he served as Minister of the Directorate of Education; for an offense he was demoted to vice-prefect of Dengzhou and died. Hui was enfeoffed as Prince of Xin'an.
9
使 忿 祿西 便
The Deposed Prince Li You, whose courtesy name was Zan. In 625 he was made Prince of Yiyang, advanced to Prince of Chu, then Prince of Yan, and finally enfeoffed as Prince of Qi, serving as Governor of Qizhou. In 637 he first proceeded to his fief. The following year he came to court; owing to illness he remained in the capital. His maternal uncle Yin Hongzhi, chief of the Imperial Carriage Office, was a crafty man who said to You, "Your Highness has many brothers; when the emperor passes away, how will you preserve yourself? You must secure men to assist you." He then introduced the adventurer Yan Hongliang to You, who was pleased, granted him gold and silk, and had him recruit swordsmen. In 641 he returned to his prefecture. At first, when appointing princely chief administrators and vice administrators, the emperor always chose men of firm principle who dared speak out; any fault was immediately reported. But You surrounded himself with petty men and loved archery and hunting; Chief Administrator Xue Dading repeatedly remonstrated without being heeded. The emperor dismissed him for failing to guide the prince properly and replaced him with Quan Wanji. Wanji was stern and strict, restraining You with regulations. Zan Junmo and Liang Menghu, skilled in horsemanship and archery, had gained favor; Wanji dismissed them, but You privately drew them into intimate association. The emperor repeatedly sent letters reproaching You; Wanji, fearing he would share the blame, said to You, "Your Highness is the emperor's beloved son; the emperor wishes you to reform, and therefore repeatedly instructs and reproaches you. If you can truly discipline yourself and acknowledge fault, I will go to court and speak on your behalf; the emperor's mind should be relieved." You thereupon submitted a letter of apology. Wanji saw the emperor and reported that You was about to reform; the emperor was pleased, richly rewarded Wanji, and still admonished You. You heard that Wanji was rewarded while he himself was reproached; believing Wanji had betrayed him, he grew ever more resentful. When Wanji again imprisoned Junmo and others on suspicion of disloyalty, confined You within the city gates, and fully exposed his crimes at court, You could bear his anger no longer. An edict ordered Minister of Justice Liu Dewei to conduct an on-site inquiry; the facts were largely confirmed, and the emperor summoned You and Wanji back to the capital. You conspired with Yan Hongliang and others, shot Wanji dead, and dismembered his body. His followers urged him to raise troops; he recruited every man in the city aged fifteen or above, privately appointing them Pillar of the State, Minister of Imperial Entertainments, and Grandee of the State, naming some Princes Tuo-dong and Tuo-xi; he expended treasury goods for rewards, drove men to build ramparts and dredge moats, and repaired armor and weapons. The people hated this; by night they let themselves down on ropes and fled. An edict ordered Minister of War Li Jing and Liu Dewei to dispatch troops by rapid routes to suppress him. You day and night feasted and made music with Hongliang and five others in the presence of his consort. When they spoke of the government army, Hongliang spoke wildly: "Your Highness need not worry—hold wine in the right hand and drink, brush them aside with the sword in the left hand." You trusted and loved Hongliang; hearing this he was pleased. The emperor wrote a personal edict to You: "I have often warned you not to approach petty men—precisely for this reason. Once my son, now the state's enemy—I am ashamed before Heaven above and the earth below." When he had finished writing, he wept and sent it. You sent proclamations to the surrounding counties; each county immediately reported them to the court. Cornered, You submitted a memorial: "I, an emperor's son, was slandered and framed by Wanji; Heaven sent down its spirit, and the guilty man has been obtained. I, mad and having lost my mind, was distraught and terrified; with no troops at hand I wished to flee, and therefore somewhat armed myself for self-protection." Li Jing had not yet arrived, but troops from Qing, Zi, and other prefectures had already assembled. Some urged You to seize women and children and flee to Mount Douzi to become bandits; he had not decided when Military Affairs Officer Du Xingmin by night led troops through a breach in the wall. You and Hongliang shut the gates to resist. By midday Xingmin called out, "I am suppressing rebels for the state—surrender quickly or I shall burn you out." The soldiers piled firewood; You then came out and was seized and sent to the capital. He was granted death at the Palace Domestic Service, demoted to commoner status, and buried with the rites due a state duke. An edict granted Qizhou one year's tax exemption; Xingmin was promoted to Prefect of Bazhou and enfeoffed as Duke of Nanyang. You loved raising fighting ducks; just before the rebellion, a raccoon dog killed more than forty of them, biting off their heads. When he was defeated, more than forty persons implicated in the affair were executed. During You's rebellion, a man of the prefecture named Luo Shitou enumerated You's crimes and rushed forward to stab him; he failed and was killed. An edict posthumously appointed him Prefect of Bozhou. You once led horsemen on patrol through the district settlements, when a commoner named Gao Junzhuang stepped forward and said: "The late emperor personally quelled rebellion and invasion; the empire's lands, armor, and troops are beyond counting. Now Your Highness would rebel with a few thousand men—it is like trying to shake Mount Tai with one hand. What will become of your sovereign and father? You seized him by force, but ashamed at his words, you could not bring yourself to kill him. An edict promoted him to magistrate of Yushe.
10
Li Yin, posthumously titled Prince Daowang of Shu, was first enfeoffed as Prince of Liang in the fifth year of Zhenguan, receiving his title together with the five princes of Tan, Han, Shen, Jiang, and Dai. He was transferred to the title Prince of Shu, with a fief of eight hundred households. He was appointed prefect of Qizhou. He repeatedly went hunting and broke the law; the emperor often rebuked and admonished him, but he would not reform. The emperor said in anger, "Wild beasts can be tamed, iron and stone can be forged into vessels—Yin is not even their equal!" Thereupon half his fief households and princely staff were stripped away, and he was transferred to Guozhou. After some time his fief households were restored, and eventually increased to one thousand. He again went out hunting at full gallop, trampling the people's crops. Army Inspector Yang Daozheng seized the bridle and remonstrated with him, but Yin grabbed and beat him. Censor-in-Chief Li Qianyou impeached Yin for his offenses; Emperor Gaozong was enraged and demoted him to prefect of Huangzhou. Daozheng was promoted to Defensive Commander of Kuangdao Prefecture. When Prince of Wu Ke fell from grace, Yin—as his younger maternal half-brother—was demoted to commoner status and exiled to Bazhou. Shortly afterward he was enfeoffed as Prince of Fuling, then died. At the beginning of the Xianheng era, his princely rank was restored; he was posthumously made Grand Governor-General of Yizhou and granted burial at Zhaoling; his son Fan succeeded to the title. Fan, under Empress Wu, was banished and died at Guicheng Prefecture. At the beginning of the Shenlong era, Yi, son of Prince Langling Wei, succeeded to the title.
11
調 婿
Li Zhen, Prince of Yue, was first enfeoffed as Prince of Han, later transferred to Yuan, and finally given the title Prince of Yue. Zhen was skilled at horsemanship and archery, versed in literature and history, and possessed real administrative talent; among the imperial clan he was regarded as a prince of ability. At the beginning of Empress Wu's reign, he rose in succession to Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent and prefect of Yuzhou. When Emperor Zhongzong was deposed and confined at Fangling, Zhen joined Prince of Han Yuanjia and his son Huang Gong Zhuan, Prince of Lu Lingqi and his son Prince of Fanyang Ai, Prince of Huo Yuan Gui and his son Prince of Jiangdu Xu, and his own son Prince of Langye Chong in plotting to restore the rightful order. In the fourth year of Chuigong, when the Bright Hall was completed, all members of the imperial clan were summoned to perform the sacrificial rites. Together they feared that afterward Empress Wu would slaughter them to the last man. As matters grew urgent, Zhuan forged an imperial seal edict and sent it to Chong, saying, "I am held in close confinement; the princes should raise troops at once." Thereupon he ordered Chief Administrator Xiao Decong to recruit troops and notify the princes of the date for mobilization. In the eighth month Chong rose first, but none of the other princes answered his call. Only Zhen led troops against Shangcai and took it—but by then Chong had already been defeated. Zhen gradually brought the subordinate counties under his control and gathered seven thousand men, organizing them into five camps: Zhen himself commanded the central camp, with Pei Shoude as Grand General in charge of it; Zhao Chengmei as Left Central Commandant, leading the left camp; Lu Hongdao as Right Central Commandant, leading the right camp; An Mohe as Commandant, leading the rear army; Wang Xiaozhi as Right General, leading the vanguard. Wei Qingli was appointed Chief Administrator, and five hundred officials were installed in office. Yet those who had been coerced into service had no will to fight, and even household servants wore talismans to ward off weapons. In the ninth month the empress dispatched Left Leopard-Taming Guard Grand General Qu Chongyu and Minister of Summer Affairs Cen Changqian with one hundred thousand troops to suppress them, appointing Phoenix Pavilion Vice-Minister Zhang Guangfu overall commander of the armies. An edict was then issued striking Zhen and his sons from the imperial register and changing their surname to Hui. Chongyu and the others halted at Yuzhou. Zhen's youngest son Gui and Pei Shoude offered battle, but the army collapsed, and Zhen shut the gates and held the city. Shoude was a fierce and brave warrior. When Zhen first rose in rebellion, he gave Shoude his daughter in marriage and entrusted him with his innermost confidence. At this point he wished to kill Zhen to redeem himself. Just as the army closed on the city, his family told Zhen, "Matters have come to this—would Your Highness submit to humiliation and execution?" He immediately drank poison and died. Gui killed himself; Shoude and the princess both hanged themselves. From the rising to defeat, twenty days had passed. Earlier, when Zhen looked at his reflection in the water, he could not see his head; he took this as an ill omen, and before long calamity befell him. Chong was Zhen's eldest son. He loved learning, was brave and talented, and rose in succession to prefect of Bozhou. When he first rose, he had five thousand men. Crossing the river he pressed toward Wushui. The magistrate of Wushui sent urgent word to Weizhou, and the prefecture dispatched Magistrate of Shen Ma Xuansu to lead troops and seize the city first. Chong attacked it; relying on the wind, he piled firewood to burn the gate, but when the fire rose the wind reversed, morale collapsed, and the force dissolved. His follower Dong Yuanji cried aloud, "The prince fights the state, yet the fire turns against him." Chong executed him as a warning; the men were terrified and fled. Only several dozen household servants followed him as he fled toward Bozhou, where he was stabbed to death at a checkpoint. Later Qiu Shenji was ordered to suppress him, but before the troops arrived Chong was already dead; from rising to defeat, seven days had passed. He had two younger brothers: Xi and Wen. Xi, Duke of Changshan, was executed for his involvement. Wen, for having reported the plot in advance, was exiled to Lingnan. At the outset Zhen sent a proclamation to Zhao Gui, prefect of Shouzhou, explaining his intent to raise troops and requesting passage through his territory. When Gui received the proclamation he promised to respond; his wife, Princess Changle of Chang, also urged the princes to act quickly and win merit—therefore both Gui and the princess were put to death. Xue Yan, prefect of Jizhou, and his younger brother Shao plotted to answer Chong's call; they mobilized corvée labor and tax levies from their jurisdiction, drilled troops, and recruited men. When Chong was defeated, Yan was imprisoned and died. Yan was the son of Commandant-Consort Guan; his mother was Princess Chengyang the Greater; he had been enfeoffed as Marquis of Hedong County. Shao was married to Princess Taiping and had risen in succession to Outside General of the Right Jade-Tally Guard. As the princess's son-in-law he was spared execution, but starved to death in prison in Henan. At the beginning of the Shenlong era, Jing Hui and others memorialized that Chong and his father had died for the altars of state and requested restoration of their titles and fiefs, but Wu Sansi and others blocked the proposal. In the fourth year of Kaiyuan their titles and fiefs were at last restored; the relevant offices gave the posthumous title Jing—"dying without forgetting one's sovereign." In the fifth year, another edict stated, "The princely line has been extinguished and the fief abolished; We are deeply grieved. Let Zhen's collateral grandson Lin, State Duke of Kui, son of the late Prince of Xu's son, succeed to the princedom and maintain the prince's sacrifices." When Lin died, the title was not transmitted. Zhen's youngest son Zhen—his son was banished to the far south, and for several generations the family could not return. During the Kaicheng era, a granddaughter brought the coffins of four generations back north and requested burial alongside the prince's tomb. An edict praised her devotion and commiserated with her plight, ordering the Court of the Imperial Clan and the Capital Prefecture to search out a burial site; those not entitled to burial at the imperial tombs were permitted burial elsewhere. The woman's name was Yuanzhen; she was a Daoist priestess.
12
使 使西 紿
Li Shen, Prince of Ji, was first enfeoffed as Prince of Shen, later transferred to Ji, with a fief of eight hundred households. During the Zhenguan era he was appointed prefect of Xiangzhou; because his governance ranked highest, the emperor sent an imperial seal letter of commendation, and the people erected a stone monument praising his virtue. In the twenty-third year his fief households were increased to one thousand. At the beginning of the Wenming era he rose in succession to Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent and prefect of Beizhou. From youth Shen loved learning and was skilled at astrology; he was equally famed with the Prince of Yue, and contemporaries called them "Ji and Yue." When Zhen linked the princes in raising troops, Shen knew the time was not yet right and alone refused to join them. He was about to be executed but was spared; his surname was changed to Hui; he was loaded into a caged cart, banished to Bazhou, and died on the road. He had seven sons: Xu, Cong, Rui, Xiu, Xian, Qin, and Zheng. Xu and Xiu were the most renowned. Xu was Prince of Dongping, served as prefect of Hezhou, and died. Cong was Prince of Yiyang, Rui Duke of Chu, Xiu Duke of Xiangyang, Xian Duke of Guanghua, and Qin Duke of Jianping—all five were killed by Empress Wu. At the beginning of the Shenlong era, Zheng succeeded to the princedom, was promoted to General of the Left Martial Majestic Guard, and died. His son Xingtong succeeded to the title. Cong had three sons: Xingyuan, Xingfang, and Xingxiu. Cong and his two younger brothers had died together at Guilin. In the fourth year of Kaiyuan, Xingxiu requested permission to go in person to receive the coffins; when he arrived, there were no marked trees at the site, and onlookers said the remains could not be recovered. Xingxiu returned home, spread a mat on the ground, and prayed. That night he dreamed the prince riding in a boat that split in two. Then going out into the countryside, he saw the eastern islet cut in two—and understood. Moreover, at the spirit hall lock overnight a stalk bent by itself; on the divining tube were fingermarks—one odd, two even. He had a diviner perform yarrow divination, who said, "Bent—in writing this signifies a corpse emerging; fingermarks signify showing the way; one odd and two even—three coffins. The former prince has already told us." He then hastened to that place and excavated as foretold, but one joint of bone alone was missing. Xingxiu wailed and slept; he dreamed Cong telling him, "It is at Luonan Islet." The next day, going straight south from the coffin, he found it. Thereupon he brought the three coffins home; they were buried with honor at Zhaoling, and Cong was posthumously made prefect of Chenzhou. During the Yongchang era, Xingyuan and Xingfang were banished to Xizhou. When the Six-Circuit envoy arrived, Xingyuan was executed first; Xingfang, though young enough to be pardoned, clung to his brother and begged to die in his place—so both died together. The people of the southwest called this "dying in fraternal devotion." Shen's daughter, Lady of Dongguang County, was only eight years old. When she heard Shen was ill, she refused to eat. Her father pitied her and lied that he had recovered, but the girl saw that his complexion was not yet restored and would not take food. Inside and outside the household all praised her. When she came of age she was married to Palace Secretary of the Heir Apparent Pei Zhongjiang. At the time consorts and princesses mostly relied on their exalted rank and vied in luxury and pleasure; the lady alone was frugal and plain. Her sisters and brothers mocked her, saying, "In life wealth and honor mean fulfilling one's ambitions—you alone toil in hardship; what do you seek?" She answered, "From childhood I have loved ritual; now in practicing it I do not violate it—if this is not fulfilling one's ambitions, what is? Moreover, from antiquity worthy consorts and virtuous ladies have been famed for modesty and deference, while arrogance and indulgence ruin virtue. Glory, favor, and exalted rank are things that come by chance—how can one rely on them to look down upon others?" When her father the prince died, she wailed in grief and vomited several pints of blood. After the mourning period ended, she went twenty years without oils or cosmetics. From the beginning, princes, consorts, and princesses killed since the Chuigong era had all been buried in dry, unmarked graves. At the beginning of the Shenlong era, an edict ordered prefectures and counties to search for them everywhere, sacrifice to them with oxen and sheep, restore their ranks and titles, and all the princes were buried with honor at the Zhaoling and Xianling tombs. When the lady heard this, she was moved to grief and died. She instructed her son, saying, "Bid farewell to my relatives for me—the cruel injustice has been avenged, and when I go below to meet my father the prince I shall have no regrets!" Emperor Zhongzong held mourning for her at Zhangshan Gate and issued an edict praising her virtue.
13
The Lamented Prince of Jiang, Xiao, died the year after he was enfeoffed, leaving no heirs.
14
The Prince of Dai, Jian, died shortly after receiving his title, leaving no heirs.
15
The Prince of Zhao, Fu, was first enfeoffed in 639 and was made the heir of the Hidden Crown Prince. He rose in succession to area commander of Liangzhou, with a substantive fief of eight hundred households. He died and was posthumously made Grand Minister of Works and area commander of Bingzhou, and was buried with honor at Zhaoling. Having no son, at the beginning of the Shenlong era the grandson of the Prince of Jiang, Yun—Sishun—succeeded to the title.
16
祿使 祿 殿 使 使 使 使使
Gao, whose courtesy name was Zilan, was in youth appointed army staff officer of the Left Bureau of the Imperial Guard. In 752 he succeeded to the princedom. He was famed for filial devotion in serving his mother, Princess Dowager Zheng. When An Lushan rebelled, he escorted his mother and fled among the common people, making his way by hidden routes to Shu, where he had an audience with Emperor Xuanzong; from commissioner of the Directorate of Waterways he was transferred to general of the Left Army Guard. At the beginning of the Shangyuan era, drought and famine struck, and Gao's salary was insufficient to support his household. He requested an outside appointment but was refused, so he deliberately violated a minor law, was demoted to chief administrator of Wenzhou, and shortly assumed charge of the prefecture. The prefecture suffered great famine. He released several hundred thousand shi from the official granaries to relieve the starving. Staff officials came to the court and begged that he report first to the throne. Gao said, "If people go a day without a second meal they will die—can grain be issued only after awaiting orders? If killing me can save the multitude, the benefit would be great!" After the grain was lent out, he impeached himself. A gracious edict absolved him, and he was promoted on the spot to director of the Palace Workshops. At the time the palace censor Li Jun and his younger brother, legal administrator of the capital district E, having achieved office through eunuch patronage, refused to return home; their mother was destitute and could not support herself. While touring the counties Gao saw this and sighed, saying, "At home be filial, abroad be fraternal; when there is surplus strength, then study. Can men like these two be entrusted with serving a ruler?" He impeached them both, and they were imprisoned and put to death. He was recalled but had not yet been granted an audience when he submitted a memorial on the way of governance. An edict appointed him prefect of Hengzhou, but the observation commissioner falsely impeached him and he was demoted to Chaozhou. It happened that Yang Yan rose from Daozhou to become chancellor; knowing Gao's integrity, he restored him as prefect of Hengzhou. At first, when censors re-examined the case, Gao feared distressing his mother; going out he wore convict's garb, but entering he put on cap and robes, his appearance and speech unchanged. When he was sent to Chaozhou, he told her only that he was being transferred to a better post. Now that he had regained his position, he told her the truth. In 780 he was promoted to observation commissioner of Hunan. The former commander Xin Jinggao was greedy and cruel; he had his subordinate general Wang Guoliang garrison Wugang and, coveting his wealth, impeached him on a capital charge. Guoliang feared for his life, seized the county and rebelled. Troops were gathered from Jing, Qian, Hong, and Gui to suppress him, but for two years they could not take him. When Gao arrived, he sent a letter saying, "Observing the general, he is not one who dares great treason—he merely fled slander and resisted death! If the general meets with me, you may surrender. I myself was falsely accused by Jinggao and was fortunately cleared—how could I bear to bring troops against you? If you think otherwise, I shall break your battle line with formation tactics and storm your city with siege methods—not what you expect." When Guoliang received the letter he was both pleased and afraid, and therefore requested to surrender, yet inwardly he still wavered. That same day Gao rode alone, claiming to be an envoy, and went to Guoliang's camp. The rebels invited the envoy in. Gao shouted to their army, "Is there anyone here who knows the Prince of Cao? It is I. I have come to accept Liang's surrender—where is Liang now?" The whole army stared in astonishment and dared not move. Guoliang came forward to bow, kowtowed, and begged forgiveness. Gao took his hand and pledged brotherhood with him, then burned all siege and defense equipment and dispersed the troops. An edict pardoned him and granted him the name Weixin.
17
西使 宿 使 使
The next year, bearing his mother's coffin, he reached Jiangling. It happened that Liang Chongyi rebelled; Gao was stripped of mourning duty and appointed grand general of the Left Guard, again serving as observation commissioner of Hunan. When Li Xilie rebelled, Gao was transferred to military commissioner of Jiangxi. On the day he received his commission he did not stay at home; reaching Yuzhang, he issued a great order to officers and clerks, saying, "Those with unreported merit and those who harbored weapons but did not launch their plots—speak for yourselves." He found staff officers Yi Shen, Li Boqian, and Liu Min, and all were appointed major generals. He promoted Wang E to command the center army and made Ma Yi and Xu Mengrong members of his staff. He built war vessels and gathered twenty thousand troops, assigning two thousand five hundred soldiers to Shen and the others to train them. He personally led five hundred men and taught them the Qin army's group-strength method, linking their rewards and punishments so that advance and withdrawal moved as one; then he arranged for the five hundred to attack Shen's two thousand five hundred, and none could withstand their charge—so he had the whole force taught the method. Shen had once followed Xilie in pacifying Xiangzhou; now Xilie feared Gao would employ him and spread disinformation. Dezong believed it and was about to execute Shen. Gao requested a pardon and had him prove himself. It happened that they faced the rebels in battle lines on opposite banks of the river. Gao urged Shen to earn merit, bestowed on him the horse he himself rode and his armor, and had him lead the vanguard; he beheaded several hundred of the enemy, and only then was Shen spared.
18
西 西
The rebels' fort at Cai Mountain could not be taken by assault. Gao declared he would take Qi to the west and led his warships along the cliffs upstream on the river. When the rebels heard this, they left a weak force to hold the fort and moved their whole army along the north bank of the river, parallel with Gao. Three hundred li west of Cai Mountain, Gao had his infantry all board the ships, drift downstream, attack Cai Mountain, and capture it. One day later the rebel relief arrived and suffered a great defeat. He then took Qizhou, accepted the surrender of their general Li Liang, pacified Huangzhou, and his army's morale grew ever stronger.
19
使 使使 西 使 西 西 便 使
It happened that the Prince of Shu was made commander-in-chief; Gao was appointed army and horse commissioner of the vanguard. Shortly the emperor went on campaign to Fengtian. The salt and iron commissioner Bao Ji, pressed by Chen Shaoyou, was transporting grain barges upstream and halted at Qikou. Xilie sent Du Shaocheng with thirty thousand infantry and cavalry to cut the river route. Gao dispatched Yi Shen with seven thousand troops to resist at Yong'an and drove them off. For his merit he was promoted to minister of the Works. The emperor stayed at Liangzhou; Gao's tribute and aid arrived in unbroken succession. Because the emperor was abroad, he dared not dwell in the walled city and prefectural seat, but went out to encamp on the great islet of Xisai Mountain and moved the prefecture and counties into a military market. He was changed to minister of Revenue. He again sent Yi Shen and Wang E to attack Anzhou, but it was not taken. Xilie dispatched Liu Jie Xu with eight thousand infantry and cavalry to relieve it. Gao ordered Li Boqian to meet and strike them at Yingshan, captured them, then took Anzhou and beheaded the false prefect Wang Jiaxiang. Xilie separately sent troops to relieve Suizhou; Gao defeated them at Lixiang, then took Pingjing and Baiyan Pass, and the rebels thereafter dared not march south in aggression. He was transferred to military commissioner of Jingnan and granted a substantive fief of three hundred households. In all he fought thirty-two engagements, great and small; took five prefectures and twenty counties; beheaded thirty-three thousand; captured sixteen thousand alive—and never suffered defeat. Where his army passed, they did not dare cut mulberry or jujube trees or trample the grain in the fields. The court relied on the Jianghuai region for food, yet the western route from Jiujiang to Dabie all bordered rebel territory. Gao fought over several thousand li, the supply routes were opened, and the Jianghan region relied on Gao as its bulwark. When Huai West was pacified, he requested leave to escort his mother's coffin home to the Eastern Capital; the emperor sent palace envoys with funeral gifts and condolences. When the burial was finished he came to court, then returned to his command. At first, northeast of Jiangling along the Han River there was an ancient dike that was not maintained, and every year it overflowed. Gao repaired and blocked it, gaining five thousand qing of fine fields below. He planned abandoned islets south of the river as dwelling sites, built two bridges spanning the river, and more than two thousand refugee households settled there on their own. From Jing to Lexiang was two hundred li; between them were several dozen hamlets that had no well water. Gao first ordered wells dug to benefit the people. At the beginning of the Zhenyuan era, Wu Shaochéng held Cai by force, so Gao was transferred to command Shannan East Circuit; Sui and Ru were carved off to augment his army. He trained troops and stockpiled grain, purchased Uyghur horses to increase his cavalry, and held great hunts each year to drill his men—Shaochéng feared him. Gao was by nature diligent and frugal, and understood people's hardships. He attended to subtle and hidden matters, fully grasping the strengths and failings of those below him; his rewards and punishments were always trustworthy. Wherever he went he stabilized market prices, and powerful speculators could not monopolize profit. He had war vessels built with two wheels that men trod, beating the water to advance swiftly—faster than cavalry in battle formation. Whatever he made or built used less material yet yielded greater benefit. When he gave goods to others he always measured them himself; all cloth in the storehouse was stamped and signed to prevent clerks' deceit. Ma Yi of Fufeng was not yet known by name; Gao recognized his talent, and in the end he was famed for integrity. Zhang Jianzhi had a garden estate at Xiangyang; Gao once held a banquet there and was about to purchase it. Ma Yi said, "Hanyang has merit in restoring the dynasty; this legacy ought to be preserved by all for a hundred generations—how can we let his descendants sell it?" Gao apologized, saying, "My chief clerk misspoke and shamed you before your guest—without you, how would I have heard these words?" He died at sixty years of age, was posthumously made right vice director of the Imperial Secretariat, and was given the posthumous title Cheng. Gao once devised of his own invention a tipping vessel: using floating wood, the upper part had five angular sides, the lower part was sharp and round, shaped like a bowl, holding two dou; with too little water it leaned weakly, with too much it leaned strongly, but at the middle the water and vessel balanced in force—even when shaken, it would not overturn, it is said.
20
His sons were Xianggu and Daogu.
21
Xianggu, during the Yuanhe era, was promoted from prefect of Hengzhou to protector-general of Annan; he was greedy, indulgent, and lawless. The prefect of Huanzhou, Yang Qing, was a tribal chieftain. Xianggu envied his power and summoned him to serve as garrison gate general; he was often depressed and brooded on rebellion. It happened that they were campaigning against the Yellow Bandits; Xianggu dispatched armor and troops to assist, and thereby entrusted Qing with three thousand men. Qing, with his son Zhilie, turned back and raided Annan, killing Xianggu and his whole household. An edict pardoned Qing and appointed him prefect of Qiongzhou; Gui Zhongwu was made protector-general. Qing refused the order. Zhongwu sent envoys separately to persuade the tribal chiefs; their troops all attached to him. He stormed the city, beheaded Qing, and exterminated his clan.
22
使 西 便
Daogu passed the jinshi examination, presented a book at the palace gates, and was promoted to collator and academician of the Hall of Assembled Worthies. He rose in succession to vice director of the Ministry of Justice Gate, and served as prefect of Li, Sui, Tang, and Mu—four prefectures. When Liu Gongchuo commanded E and Yue, slander reached the throne by secret report; Emperor Xianzong wished to replace him. Pei Du said, "The heir Prince of Cao, Gao, was once able to restrain Li Xilie with Jianghan troops; his authority and kindness live in men's hearts. Now, sending his son to command, there will surely be merit." It happened that Daogu came to court from observation commissioner of Qianzhong; he then replaced Gongchuo, entered his army by forced marches, and Gongchuo fled in panic—all his goods were seized. In 817 he attacked Shenzhou, broke its outer wall, and advanced to besiege the inner city. The garrison troops by night drove women up on the walls to shout and make noise, then opened the drawbridge gate and sallied forth; Daogu's forces fell into disorder, and many died at the hands of the rebels. Li Ting defended Anzhou without ever suffering defeat; Daogu slandered him and had him removed. He personally led troops out through Muleng Pass, but his soldiers were arrogant and beyond his control. Moreover, he diverted all funds from the Revenue Commission to bribe the powerful at court, so his troops received no rewards; his men grew resentful and fought half-heartedly, and the rebels held him in contempt. When he attacked Shen again he could not capture it, and in the end achieved nothing. After the pacification of Huai-xi, he was made acting Censor-in-Chief and recalled as Minister of the Imperial Clan and general of the Left Golden Crow Guard. The emperor loved taking elixirs; Daogu wished to ingratiate himself, and his favorite Liu Bi claimed he could transform gold into an elixir of immortality. Through Chancellor Huangfu Bo he reported this to the throne; shortly thereafter the emperor died. When Emperor Muzong was crown prince he hated them; once enthroned he executed Liu Bi, demoted Huangfu Bo, and banished Daogu to vice-prefect of Xunzhou. In the end he died vomiting blood from the elixirs he had taken. At the beginning of the Changqing reign an edict restored his offices. Daogu was skilled in courtcraft, facile and fawning toward subordinates. He moved among grandees and ministers, often playing chess and gambling while pretending to lose, then lavishly repaying his partners. Many who craved profit won his favor, and therefore he earned little good reputation. When he died, his residence had to be sold to pay for his burial.
← Previous Chapter
Back to Chapters
Next Chapter →