1
25%屈突通屈突通,其先蓋昌黎徒何人,後家長安。 仕隋爲虎賁郎將。 文帝命覆隴西牧簿,得隱馬二萬匹,帝怒州龍門(今山西河津)人。 曾於河、汾之間授徒千人,時稱,收太僕卿慕容悉達、監牧官史千五百人,將悉殊死。 通曰:「人命至重,死不復生。 陛下以至仁育四海,豈容以畜產一日而戮千五百士?」 帝叱之,通進頓首曰:「臣願身就戮,以延眾死。」 帝寤,曰:「朕不明,乃至是。 今當免悉達等,旌爾善言。」 遂皆以減論。 擢左武衛將軍。 蒞官勁正,有犯法者,雖親無所回縱。 其弟蓋爲長安令,亦以方嚴顯。 時爲語曰:「寧食三斗艾,不見屈突蓋; 寧食三斗蔥,不逢屈突通。」
Qu Tutong came of a clan said to be Tuohe people from Changli, and later made their home in Chang'an. Under the Sui he held the post of Tiger Guard commandant. When Emperor Wen ordered an audit of the Longxi pasture books and uncovered twenty thousand concealed horses, his wrath fell on the officials—many tied to Longmen (in present-day Hejin, Shanxi). Renowned as a teacher of a thousand students along the Yellow and Fen, he now saw the court seize Murong Xida, Grand Master of the Stud, and fifteen hundred pasture officials, all marked for death. Tutong said, "A human life outweighs everything—death cannot be undone. Your Majesty rules the realm with supreme humanity—how can livestock justify slaughtering fifteen hundred men in a day?" The Emperor rebuked him. Tutong stepped forward, prostrated himself, and said, "Let me die in their place—spare these men." The Emperor woke to himself and said, "My judgment failed me to bring matters so far. Xida and the rest shall be spared—your counsel deserves reward." In the end all received reduced sentences instead of death. He rose to general of the Left Martial Guard. He governed with iron rectitude: kin or stranger, the lawbreaker found no favor. His brother Gai, magistrate of Chang'an, was equally famed for uncompromising rule. A saying ran: "Better swallow three pecks of wormwood than face Qu Tutu Gai; better choke down three pecks of scallions than cross Qu Tutong."
2
煬帝即位,遣持詔召漢王諒。 先是,文帝與諒約,若璽書召,驗視敕字加點,又與玉麟符合,則就道。 及是,書無驗,諒覺變,詰通,通占對無屈,竟得歸長安。 大業中,與宇文述共破楊玄感,以功遷左驍衛大將軍。 秦、隴盜起,授關內討捕大使。 安定人劉迦論反,眾十餘萬據雕陰。 通發關中兵擊之,次安定,初不與戰,軍中意其怯。 通陽言旋師,而潛入上郡。 賊未之覺,引而南,去通七十里舍,分兵徇地。 通候其無備,夜簡精甲襲破之,斬迦論並首級萬餘,築京觀於上郡南山,虜老弱數萬口。 後隋政益亂,盜賊多,士無鬥志,諸將多覆。 通每向必持重,雖不大克,亦不敗負。 帝南幸,使鎮長安。
On Yang's accession he sent Tutong with an imperial summons for Prince Liang of Han. Wen and Liang had agreed on a secret sign: a dot beside the edict character and a matching jade tally would prove a genuine summons. The letter lacked the signs; Liang smelled a trap and pressed Tutong, who answered without faltering and eventually made his way back to Chang'an. During Daye he and Yuwen Shu defeated Yang Xuangan; for that service he became grand general of the Left Valiant Cavalry Guard. As Qin and Long erupted in rebellion he was named grand commissioner to hunt bandits inside the passes. Liu Jialun of Anding rose with an army of a hundred thousand and seized Diaoyin. Tutong marched Guanzhong troops against him and camped at Anding without fighting; his men took this for cowardice. He proclaimed a withdrawal while slipping secretly into Shang commandery. The rebels never noticed; they marched south, pitched camp seventy li from Tutong, and sent detachments to plunder the land. When their guard dropped, Tutong picked elite troops and struck by night, killing Jialun and ten thousand more, raising a victory mound on Shang's southern hill, and carrying off tens of thousands of noncombatants. As the Sui order crumbled, bandits swarmed, troops lost heart, and commanders fell one after another. Tutong campaigned with caution: few sweeping triumphs, but never a rout. When the emperor traveled south on tour, Tutong was left to hold Chang'an.
3
高祖起,代王遣通守河東,戰久不下,高祖留兵圍之,遂濟河,破其將桑顯和於飲馬泉。 通大懼,乃留鷹揚郎將堯君素守蒲,將自武關趨藍田以援長安。 至潼關,阻劉文靜兵不得進,相持月餘。 通令顯和夜襲文靜,詰朝大戰,顯和縱兵破二壁,唯文靜一壁獨完,然數入壁,短兵接,文靜中流矢,軍垂敗,顯和以士疲,乃傳餐食,文靜因得分兵實二壁。 會遊軍數百騎自南山還,擊其背,三壁兵大呼,奮而出,顯和遂潰,盡得其眾。 通勢蹙,或說之降,曰:「吾蒙國厚恩,事二主,安可逃難? 獨有死報爾!」 每自摩其頸曰:「要當爲國家受人一刀!」 其訓勉士卒必流涕,故力雖窮,而人尚爲之感奮。 帝遣其家僮往召,通趨斬之。 俄聞京師平,家盡沒,乃留顯和保潼關,率兵將如洛。 既行,而顯和來降。 文靜遣竇琮、段志玄精騎追及於稠桑,通結陣拒之。 琮縱其子壽往諭使降,通大呼曰:「昔與汝父子,今則仇也!」 命左右射之,顯和呼其眾曰:「京師陷,諸君皆家關西,何爲復東?」 眾皆舍兵。 通知不免,遂下馬東南向,再拜號哭曰:「臣力屈兵敗,不負陛下。」 遂被禽,送長安。 帝勞曰:「何相見晚邪?」 泣曰:「通不能盡人臣之節,故至此,爲本朝羞。」 帝曰:「忠臣也!」 釋之,授兵部尚書、蔣國公,爲秦王行軍元帥長史。
After Gaozu's uprising the Prince of Dai posted Tutong in Hedong; the siege stalled until Gaozu crossed the Yellow River and shattered Sang Xianhe at Drinking-Horse Spring. In panic Tutong left Yao Junsu to hold Pu and marched for Wu Pass and Lantian to save Chang'an. At Tong Pass Liu Wenjing barred his way; the two armies glared at each other for over a month. Tutong sent Xianhe to strike Wenjing by night; at dawn the fight raged. Xianhe smashed two walls, but Wenjing's third held as men grappled hand to hand. Wenjing was wounded, his line buckling—until Xianhe paused to feed his weary troops, giving Wenjing time to reinforce the broken walls. Then hundreds of Tang scouts swept down from the southern hills onto the Sui rear; all three walls erupted in a shout and charge. Xianhe's army broke and was taken whole. Cornered, Tutong was urged to yield. He said, "The state heaped favor on me; I served two emperors—how could I run from this ordeal? I owe nothing but a death in its service!" He would rub his neck and say, "Soon enough the state will have my neck for the blade." His exhortations always ended in tears, and though their strength was spent the men still rallied to him. The Sui emperor sent a household slave to recall him; Tutong had the messenger cut down. Word came that the capital had fallen and his family was gone; he left Xianhe at Tong Pass and marched east toward Luoyang. Hardly had he left when Xianhe surrendered to the Tang. Wenjing sent Dou Cong and Duan Zhixuan in pursuit; at Chousang Tutong turned to fight. Cong let his son Shou approach to parley. Tutong roared, "We were kin once—now we are enemies!" He ordered arrows loosed. Xianhe shouted to the ranks, "The capital is lost and your homes lie west—why follow this road east?" The soldiers dropped their arms. Seeing capture inevitable, Tutong dismounted toward the southeast, kowtowed, and wept, "My force is broken, but I have not betrayed Your Majesty." They seized him and brought him to Chang'an. Gaozu greeted him warmly: "Why did we wait so long to meet?" Tutong wept, "I could not keep faith as a subject of the Sui—this end shames the house I served." "A true loyalist," said the Emperor." He freed him, named him Minister of War and Duke of Jiang, and attached him to the Prince of Qin as marshal's chief clerk.
4
從平薛仁杲,時賊珍用山積,諸將爭得之,通獨無所取。 帝聞,曰:「清以奉國,名定不虛。」 特賚金銀六百兩、彩千段。 判陜東道行臺左僕射,從討王世充。 時通二子在洛,帝曰:「今以東略屬公,如二子何?」 通曰:「臣老矣,不足當重任。 然疇昔陛下釋俘累,加恩禮,以蒙更生,是時口與心誓,以死許國。 今日之行,正當先驅,二兒死自其分,終不以私害義。」 帝太息曰:「烈士徇節,吾今見之。」 及竇建德來援賊,秦王分麾下半以屬通,俾與齊王圍洛。 世充平,論功第一,拜陜東道大行臺右僕射,鎮東都。 數歲,召爲刑部尚書。 自以不習文,固辭,改工部。 建成之變,復檢校行臺僕射,馳鎮洛。 貞觀初,行臺廢,爲洛州都督,進左光祿大夫。 卒,年七十二,贈尚書左僕射,謚曰忠。 後詔配饗太宗廟廷。 永徽中,贈司空。
In the campaign against Xue Rengao, loot heaped mountain-high while every general grabbed his share—Tutong took nothing. The Emperor said on hearing it, "He serves the state with clean hands—his name is earned." He rewarded him with six hundred taels of gold and silver and a thousand bolts of silk. As acting left vice-president of the eastern-Shanxi headquarters he joined the war on Wang Shichong. Tutong's two sons were still in Luoyang. The Emperor asked, "I give you the eastern front—what of your boys?" Tutong replied, "I am too old for so great a trust. Yet when Your Majesty spared my life and honored me, I swore in heart and voice to repay the state with my death. Today I should ride in the van; if my sons die, so be it—I will not let kinship stain duty." The Emperor sighed, "A man who would die for principle—I have seen one at last." When Dou Jiande marched to relieve Wang Shichong, the Prince of Qin gave Tutong half the army to hold the siege with Prince Qi. After Shichong fell Tutong's merit ranked first; he became right vice-president of the eastern headquarters and governor of the eastern capital. Some years later he was recalled as Minister of Punishments. Claiming no skill in law, he refused firmly and was moved to the Ministry of Works. After the Xuanwu Gate crisis he was again named acting headquarters vice-president and rushed to secure Luoyang. Early in Zhenguan the regional headquarters was dissolved; he became governor of Luozhou and grand master of splendid happiness. He died at seventy-two, posthumously made left vice-president of the Secretariat with the title Loyal. Later he was granted co-sacrifice in Taizong's ancestral temple. Under Yonghui he was posthumously elevated to minister of works.
5
二子壽、詮,壽襲爵。 太宗幸洛,思通忠節,故詮以少子拜果毅都尉,賜粟帛恤其家,終瀛州刺史。 詮子仲翔,神龍中,復守瀛州。
He had two sons, Shou and Quan; Shou succeeded to the dukedom. On a visit to Luoyang Taizong remembered Tutong's fidelity and made the younger son Quan a colonel of resolute cavalry, sending grain and cloth to the family; Quan later died as prefect of Yingzhou. Quan's son Zhongxiang served again as prefect of Yingzhou in the Shenlong period.
6
初,桂州都督李弘節亦以清慎顯。 既歿,其家賣珠。 太宗疑弘節實貪,欲追坐舉者。 魏徵曰:「陛下過矣! 且今號清白死不變者,屈突通、張道源。 通二子來調,共一馬; 道源子不能自存。 審其清者不加恤,疑其濁者罪所舉,亦好善不篤矣。」 帝曰:「朕未之思。」 置不問。 故通之清益顯云。 尉遲恭尉遲敬德,名恭,以字行,朔州善陽人。 隋大業末,從軍高陽,積閲爲朝散大夫。 劉武周亂,以爲偏將。 與宋金剛南侵,得晉、澮等州,襲破永安王孝基,執獨孤懷恩等。 武德二年,秦王戰柏壁,金剛敗奔突厥,敬德合余眾守介休,王遣任城王道宗、宇文士及諭之,乃與尋相舉地降,引爲右一府統軍,從擊王世充。
Li Hongjie of Guizhou had likewise been known for scrupulous integrity. After he died his family sold pearls to live. Taizong suspected Hongjie had been corrupt after all and meant to punish his sponsors. Wei Zheng said, "Your Majesty mistakes the matter! Men famed for spotless lives who never bent even in death are Qu Tutong and Zhang Daoyuan. Tutong's sons arrived on court business sharing a single mount; Daoyuan's son could barely keep himself alive. yet you comfort no proven upright man while punishing the patrons of the suspect—how is that steadfast love of virtue?" The Emperor said, "I had not thought it through." He dropped the case. And so Tutong's integrity stood out the brighter. Yuchi Jingde (courtesy name Gong, by which he was commonly known) came from Shanyang in Shuozhou. At the end of Daye he soldiered at Gaoyang and rose by seniority to grand master of palace leisure. When Liu Wuzhou rose in rebellion he served as a flank general. He marched south with Song Jingang, seized Jin and Fen, routed Prince Xiaoji of Yong'an, and captured Dugu Huai'en. In Wude 2 the Prince of Qin fought at Baiyu; Jingang fled to the Turks while Jingde held Jiexiu with the remnants. After envoys from Daozong and Yuwen Shiji, he and Xun Xiang surrendered; the Prince made him commander of the right first guard and took him against Wang Shichong.
7
會尋相叛,諸將疑敬德且亂,囚之。 行臺左僕射屈突通、尚書殷開山曰:「敬德慓敢,今執之,猜貳已結,不即殺,後悔無及也。」 王曰:「不然。 敬德必叛,寧肯後尋相者邪?」 釋之,引見臥內,曰:「丈夫以氣相許,小嫌不足置胸中,我終不以讒害良士。」 因賜之金,曰:「必欲去,以爲汝資。」 是日獵榆窠,會世充自將兵數萬來戰,單雄信者,賊驍將也,騎直趨王,敬德躍馬大呼橫刺,雄信墜,乃翼王出,率兵還戰,大敗之,禽其將陳智略,獲排槊兵六千。 王顧曰:「比眾人意公必叛,我獨保無它,何相報速邪?」 賜金銀一篋。
Xun Xiang's defection made the generals fear Jingde would follow; they threw him in chains. Qu Tutong and Yin Kaishan urged, "Jingde is dangerous—suspicion is already sown. Kill him now or regret it forever." The Prince said, "No. If he meant to rebel, would he have waited for Xun Xiang?" He freed him and received him privately: "Men swear by honor; petty slights do not stay in my heart, and I will not let gossip ruin a worthy man." He gave him gold: "If you must go, let this fund your way." That day at Elm Hollow hunt, Shichong attacked with tens of thousands. Rebel champion Shan Xiongxin charged the Prince; Jingde spurred forward, shouted, and unhorsed him, shielded the Prince clear, wheeled back, smashed the enemy, took Chen Zhilüe, and six thousand pike troops. The Prince said, "All expected you to turn traitor; I alone trusted you—how swift your answer!" He gave him a chest of gold and silver.
8
竇建德營板渚,王命李勣等爲伏,親挾弓,令敬德執槊,略其壘,大呼致師。 建德兵出,乃稍引卻,殺數十人,眾益進。 伏發,大破之。 時世充兄子琬使於建德,乘隋帝廄馬,鎧甲華整,出入軍中以誇眾。 王望見,問「誰可取者?」 敬德請與高甑生、梁建方三騎馳往,禽琬,引其馬以歸,賊不敢動。 從討劉黑闥,賊以奇兵襲李勣,王勒兵掩其後,俄而賊眾四面合,敬德率壯士馳入賊,王乘陣亂乃得出。 又破徐圓朗。 以功授王府左二副護軍。
At Banzhu the Prince hid Li Jing in ambush, strung his own bow, put a pike in Jingde's hands, probed Jiande's lines, and shouted the enemy forward. Jiande's men poured out; the Prince feigned retreat, cut down dozens, and drew them deeper in. The ambush rose and shattered them. Shichong's nephew Wan rode the Sui emperor's stallion in gleaming armor through Jiande's camp to impress the troops. The Prince spotted him and asked, "Who can seize him?" Jingde, Gao Zaosheng, and Liang Jianfang galloped out, captured Wan and his horse, and returned while the enemy froze. Against Liu Heita, rebel raiders hit Li Jing; the Prince swung to their rear, but the ring closed. Jingde plunged in with picked men while the Prince broke free in the confusion. He helped crush Xu Yuanlang as well. For these deeds he became deputy protector of the prince's left second guard.
9
隱太子嘗以書招之,贈金皿一車。 辭曰:「敬德起幽賤,會天下喪亂,久陷逆地,秦王實生之,方以身徇恩。 今於殿下無功,其敢當賜? 若私許,則懷二心,徇利棄忠,殿下亦焉用之哉?」 太子怒而止。 敬德以聞。 王曰:「公之心如山嶽然,雖積金至斗,豈能移之? 然恐非自安計。」 巢王果遣壯士刺之。 敬德開門安臥,賊至,不敢入。 因譖於高祖,將殺之,王固爭,得免。
Crown Prince Li Jiancheng once wooed him by letter with a cartload of gold plate. He refused: "I was nobody until chaos swallowed me; the Prince of Qin gave me life, and I owe him my body. I have done nothing for Your Highness—how dare I take your gifts? If I secretly agreed, I would be a man of two hearts trading loyalty for gold—what use would Your Highness have for me?" The crown prince fumed and let it drop. Jingde reported the offer to the Prince of Qin. The Prince said, "Your heart stands like a mountain—even gold heaped to the peck could not shift it. But I fear that will not keep you safe." Prince Li Yuanji duly sent assassins. Jingde left his door open and slept; the killers dared not step inside. They denounced him to Gaozu, who nearly had him killed until the Prince argued him free.
10
其後隱、巢計日急,敬德與長孫無忌入白曰:「大王不先決,社稷危矣!」 王曰:「我惟同氣,所未忍。 伺其發,而後以義討之,如何?」 敬德曰:「人情畏死,眾以死奉王,此天授也。 天與不取,反得其咎。 大王即不聽,請從此亡,不能交手蒙戮。」 無忌曰:「王不從敬德言,敬德亦非王有,今敗矣。」 王曰:「寡人之謀,未可全棄,公更圖之。」 敬德曰:「處事有疑非智,臨難不決非勇。 王今自計如何? 勇士八百人悉入宮控弦被甲矣,尚何辭?」 後又與侯君集等懇熟勸進,計乃定。 時房玄齡、杜如晦被斥在外,召不至。 王怒曰:「是背我邪?」 因解所佩刀反授之。 謂曰:「即不從,可斬其首以來。」 敬德遂往諭玄齡等,與入計議。
As Jiancheng and Yuanji tightened their plots, Jingde and Zhangsun Wuji warned, "Unless you act first, the realm is lost!" The Prince said, "They are my brothers; I cannot bear it. Wait until they strike, then answer with justice—would that not do?" Jingde said, "Men fear death, yet yours will die for you—that is Heaven's gift. Refuse Heaven's offer and Heaven will blame you. If you will not listen, I beg leave to flee rather than die disarmed." Wuji added, "Without Jingde you are already beaten." The Prince said, "Do not abandon every plan—think again." Jingde said, "Doubt in action is not wisdom; hesitation in crisis is not courage. What is your own reckoning now? Eight hundred picked men already wait in the palace, armed and strung—what more is there to debate?" Hou Junji and others pressed him again until the decision held. Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui had been banished and would not answer the summons. The Prince raged, "Have they betrayed me?" He drew his sword and handed it over. He said, "If they refuse, bring me their heads." Jingde went, persuaded Fang and Du, and brought them in to plan.
11
隱太子死,敬德領騎七十趨玄武門,王馬逸,墜林下,元吉將奪弓窘王,敬德馳叱之,元吉走,遂射殺之。 宮、府兵屯玄武門,戰不解,敬德持二首示之,乃去。 時帝泛舟海池,王命敬德往侍,不解甲趨行在。 帝驚曰:「今日之亂爲誰? 爾來何邪?」 對曰:「秦王以太子、齊王作亂,舉兵誅之,恐陛下不安,遣臣宿衛。」 帝意悅。 於是南衙、北門兵與府兵尚雜鬥,敬德請帝手詔諸軍聽秦王節度,內外始定。
When the crown prince fell, Jingde raced to Xuanwu Gate with seventy riders. The Prince's horse threw him; Yuanji seized his bow—until Jingde charged, Yuanji fled, and Jingde shot him down. Palace and princely troops still fought at the gate until Jingde raised both brothers' heads; then they broke. Gaozu was boating on the imperial pool; the Prince sent Jingde, still in armor, to stand guard. The Emperor started: "Who raised today's tumult? Why are you here?" He answered, "The Prince of Qin put down rebellion by the crown and Qi princes and sent me lest Your Majesty be troubled." The Emperor was soothed. Fighting still raged between palace guards and princely troops until Jingde had Gaozu write that all armies obey the Prince of Qin; then order returned.
12
王爲皇太子,授左衛率。 時坐隱、巢者百餘家,將盡沒入之。 敬德曰:「爲惡者二人,今已誅,若又窮支黨,非取安之道。」 由是普原。 論功爲第一,賜絹萬匹,舉齊府金幣、什器賜焉。 除右武候大將軍,封吳國公,實封千三百戸。
Made crown prince, he named Jingde commander of the left guard. More than a hundred families tied to Jiancheng and Yuanji faced confiscation. Jingde urged, "Only two men did evil and they are dead—hounding their clans is no path to peace." A general amnesty followed. His merit ranked first: ten thousand bolts of silk and the Qi prince's treasury of gold and furnishings. He became grand general of the right martial guard, Duke of Wu, with a fief of thirteen hundred households.
13
突厥入寇,授涇州道行軍總管。 虜至涇陽,輕騎與戰,敗之。 敬德所得財,必散之士卒。 然婞直,頗以功自負,又廷質大臣得失,與宰相不平。 出爲襄州都督。 累遷同州刺史。 嘗侍宴慶善宮,有班其上者,敬德曰:「爾何功,坐我上?」 任城王道宗解喻之,敬德勃然,擊道宗目幾眇。 太宗不懌,罷,召讓曰:「朕觀漢史,嘗怪高祖時功臣少全者。 今視卿所爲,乃知韓、彭夷戮,非高祖過。 國之大事,惟賞與罰,橫恩不可數得,勉自脩飭,悔可及乎!」 敬德頓首謝。 後改封鄂國,歷鄜、夏二州都督。 老就第,授開府儀同三司,朝朔望。
When the Turks raided, he was made campaigning commander on the Jingzhou front. He met them at Jingyang with light horse and drove them off. Every prize he won went straight to the ranks. Yet he was blunt, proud of his record, and prone to challenge ministers in open court until he fell out with the chancellors. He was posted as governor of Xiangzhou. He later became prefect of Tongzhou. At a feast in Qingshan Palace a guest sat above him; Jingde demanded, "What deed of yours outranks mine?" Prince Daozong tried to calm him; Jingde struck him and nearly blinded his eye. Taizong ended the banquet and rebuked him: "Reading Han histories I used to wonder why so few of Gaozu's champions died in bed. Now I see your conduct and know Gaozu was right to destroy Han Xin and Peng Yue. The state rests on reward and punishment; indulgence cannot be endless—discipline yourself while you still can." Jingde kowtowed in apology. He was later made Duke of E and governed Fu and Xia prefectures. In old age he retired home as honorary three-excellency equal and came to court on the first and fifteenth of each month.
14
帝將討高麗,敬德上言:「乘輿至遼,太子次定州,兩京空虛,恐有玄感之變。 夷貊小國,不足枉萬乘,願委之將臣,以時摧滅。」 帝不納。 詔以本官行太常卿,爲左一馬軍總管。 師還,復致仕。 顯慶三年卒,年七十四。 高宗詔京官五品以上及朝集使赴第臨吊,冊贈司徒、并州都督,謚曰忠武。 給班劍、羽葆、鼓吹,陪葬昭陵。
Before the Goguryeo campaign Jingde warned, "If Your Majesty goes to Liao while the crown prince holds Dingzhou and both capitals lie empty, we risk another Yang Xuangan. A barbarian fringe state is not worth the Son of Heaven's march—leave it to your generals to crush in season." The Emperor would not hear it. He was ordered to serve as acting minister of rites and commander of the left first horse army. When the army returned he retired again. He died in Xianqing 3 at seventy-four. Gaozong ordered officials of fifth rank and above to mourn at his house, posthumously made him minister of education and Bingzhou governor, with the title Loyal Martial. He was granted imperial funeral arms and music and buried at Zhaoling.
15
敬德晚節,謝賓客不與通。 飭觀、沼,奏清商樂,自奉養甚厚。 又餌雲母粉,爲方士術延年。 其戰,善避槊,每單騎入賊,雖群刺之不能傷,又能奪取賊槊還刺之。 齊王元吉使去刃與之校,敬德請王加刃,而獨去之,卒不能中。 帝嘗問:「奪槊與避槊孰難?」 對曰:「奪槊難。」 試使與齊王戲,少選,王三失槊,遂大愧服。 張公謹張公謹,字弘慎,魏州繁水人。 爲王世充洧州長史,與刺史崔樞挈城歸天子,授檢校鄒州別駕,遷累右武候長史,未知名。 李勣、尉遲敬德數啟秦王,乃引入府。 王將討隱、巢亂,使卜人占之,公謹自外至,投龜於地曰:「凡卜以定猶豫,決嫌疑。 今事無疑,何卜之爲? 卜而不吉,其可已乎?」 王曰:「善。」 隱太子死,其徒攻玄武門,銳甚,公謹獨閉關拒之。 以功授左武候將軍,封定遠郡公,實封一千戸。
In his last years he shut his door to visitors. He tended pavilions and ponds, played court music, and lived in lavish ease. He swallowed mica powder in the hope of longevity. In battle he could dodge pikes at will, ride alone into enemy ranks untouched by a crowd of thrusts, and snatch a foe's pike to strike back. Prince Qi ordered blunt pikes for a trial; Jingde asked that the prince keep edged blades while he fought bare—none could touch him. Taizong once asked, "Which is harder—taking a pike or dodging one?" Seizing it," he said." In a bout with Prince Qi the prince lost his pike three times and admitted defeat. Zhang Gongjin (style Hongshen) came from Fanshui in Weizhou. As Wang Shichong's chief clerk at Weizhou he and Prefect Cui Shu surrendered the city to the Tang, became acting vice-prefect of Zou, then chief clerk of the right martial guard, still little known. Li Jing and Yuchi Jingde repeatedly recommended him until the Prince of Qin took him into his staff. As the Prince prepared against Jiancheng and Yuanji he called a diviner; Gongjin entered, cast the oracle aside, and said, "One divines to end doubt. There is no doubt here—why cast at all? If the signs were ill, would you then abandon the deed?" The Prince said, "Well spoken." When the crown prince fell his men stormed Xuanwu Gate; Gongjin alone barred the gate and held them. For this he became general of the left martial guard, Duke of Dingyuan, with a fief of one thousand households.
16
貞觀初,爲代州都督,置屯田以省饋運。 數言時政得失,太宗多所采納。 後副李靖經略突厥,條可取狀於帝曰:「頡利縱欲肆凶,誅害善良,昵近小人,此主昏於上,可取一也。 別部同羅、仆骨、回紇、延陀之屬,皆自立君長,圖爲反噬,此眾叛於下,可取二也。 突利被疑,以輕騎免,拓設出討,眾敗無余,欲谷喪師,無托足之地,此兵挫將敗,可取三也。 北方霜旱,稟糧乏絕,可取四也。 頡利疏突厥,親諸胡,胡性翻覆,大軍臨之,內必生變,可取五也。 華人在北者甚眾,比聞屯聚,保據山險,王師之出,當有應者,可取六也。」 帝然所謀。 及破定襄,敗頡利,璽詔慰勞,進封鄒國公,改襄州都督,以惠政聞。 卒官下,年四十九。 帝將出次哭之,有司奏:「日在辰,不可。」 帝曰:「君臣猶父子也,情感於內,安有所避。」 遂哭之。 詔贈左驍衛大將軍,謚曰襄。 十三年,追改郯國公。 永徽中,加贈荊州都督。 公謹子大素子大素,龍朔中,歷東臺舍人,兼修國史,著書百餘篇,終懷州長史。 次子大安,上元中,同中書門下三品。 章懷太子令與劉訥言等共註范曄《漢書》。 太子廢,故貶爲普州刺史,終橫州司馬。 子悱,仕玄宗時爲集賢院判官,詔以其家所著《魏書》、《說林》入院,綴修所闕,累擢知圖書、括訪異書使,進國子司業,以累免官。 秦瓊秦瓊,字叔寶,以字顯,齊州歷城人。 始爲隋將來護兒帳內,母喪,護兒遣使襚弔之。 吏怪曰:「士卒死喪,將軍未有所問,今獨弔叔寶何也?」 護兒曰:「是子才而武,志節完整,豈久處卑賤邪?」
Early in Zhenguan he governed Daizhou and opened garrison farms to cut supply costs. He spoke frankly on policy and Taizong often took his advice. Later, under Li Jing against the Turks, he listed six reasons to strike: "Jieli indulges cruelty, kills the worthy, and trusts flatterers—the ruler above is blind; that is the first reason. The Tongluo, Pugu, Uyghurs, Yenisei Kirghiz, and others each crown their own chiefs and plot revolt—the tribes below are divided; second reason. Tuli fled under suspicion; Tuoshe's expedition was wiped out; Yugu's army is broken with nowhere to stand—the armies are shattered; third reason. Frost and drought have emptied their granaries in the north; fourth reason. Jieli alienates the Turks and favors the frontier peoples, whose loyalties shift—when our army comes, they will turn on him; fifth reason. Many Chinese in the north have lately gathered in mountain strongholds—they will rise when our columns march; sixth reason." The Emperor agreed. After Dingxiang fell and Jieli was beaten, an imperial letter praised him; he was made Duke of Zou, governor of Xiangzhou, and famed for humane rule. He died in office at forty-nine. Taizong meant to mourn him in person; the calendar office objected that the hour was inauspicious." Taizong said, "A minister and his lord are as father and son—when grief moves the heart, what omen can I heed?" He went ahead and wept for him. An edict awarded him posthumously the rank of Left Brave Guard General-in-Chief, with the posthumous name Xiang. In the thirteenth year of Zhenguan, his title was posthumously raised to Duke of Tan. During the Yonghui reign, he received the additional posthumous appointment as Regional Inspector of Jingzhou. Gongjin's son Dasu served during Longshuo as an Eastern Terrace attendant and as a compiler of the national history; he authored more than a hundred works and died as chief administrator of Huaizhou. His second son Da'an rose during Shangyuan to the rank of associate grand councilor. Crown Prince Zhanghuai had him work with Liu Neyan and others on a commentary to Fan Ye's Book of Han. After the crown prince's deposition he was demoted to prefect of Puzhou and ended his career as military adjutant of Hengzhou. His son Fei served under Emperor Xuanzong as an assessor of the Hall of Worthies; the court ordered the family's Book of Wei and Forest of Sayings into the imperial library, where Fei filled lacunae. He rose to commissioner of books and searcher of rare texts, then vice-director of the Directorate of Education, but lost his post after becoming implicated in a scandal. Qin Qiong, known by his style Shubao, was a native of Licheng in Qizhou. He began his career in the personal guard of the Sui general Lai Hu'er. When his mother died, Hu'er sent an envoy with funeral gifts to mourn with him. A staff officer asked in surprise, "When ordinary soldiers lose kin, you never take notice—why send condolences only to Shubao? Hu'er replied, "This man has talent and courage, and his integrity is intact—how could he stay in a humble post for long?"
17
俄從通守張須陀擊賊盧明月下邳,賊眾十餘萬,須陀所統才十之一,堅壁水敢進,糧盡,欲引去。 須陀曰:「賊見兵卻,必悉眾追我,得銳士襲其營,且有利,誰爲吾行者?」 眾莫對。 惟叔寶與羅士信奮行。 乃分勁兵千人伏莽間,須陀委營遁,明月悉兵追躡。 叔寶等馳叩賊營,門閉不得入,乃升樓拔賊旗幟,殺數十人,營中亂,即斬關納外兵,縱火焚三十餘屯。 明月奔還,須陀回擊,大破之。 又與孫宣雅戰海曲,先登。 以前後功擢建節尉。
He soon followed Zhang Xutuo, defender of Tong circuit, against the rebel Lu Mingyue at Xiapi. The rebels numbered over a hundred thousand; Xutuo had barely a tenth as many. The government troops held their camp and would not cross the water; when grain ran out, they prepared to retreat. Xutuo said, "Once the rebels see us pull back, they will throw their whole army in pursuit. If bold men can raid their camp, we still have a chance—who will go for me? No one answered. Only Shubao and Luo Shixin volunteered and set out. They hid a thousand picked troops in the brush. Xutuo abandoned camp and withdrew; Mingyue threw his whole force in pursuit. Shubao and his party galloped into the rebel camp. The gates were shut, so they scaled a tower, tore down rebel banners, and killed dozens of men until the camp fell into chaos. They then broke the gate, let in the outside force, and burned more than thirty encampments. Mingyue raced back in disarray; Xutuo wheeled and attacked, winning a crushing victory. He also fought Sun Xuanya at Haiqu and was the first man over the wall. For these and other feats he was promoted to Establishment-Banner commandant.
18
從須陀擊李密滎陽。 須陀死,率殘兵附裴仁基。 仁基降密,密得叔寶大喜,以爲帳內驃騎,待之甚厚。 密與宇文化及戰黎陽,中矢墮馬,濱死,追兵至,獨叔寶捍衛得免。
He followed Xutuo against Li Mi at Xingyang. After Xutuo's death he led the survivors to Pei Renji. When Renji surrendered to Li Mi, Mi was overjoyed to gain Shubao and made him a swift-cavalry commander in his personal guard, treating him with exceptional favor. When Mi fought Yuwen Huaji at Liyang he was shot from his horse and nearly killed. Pursuers closed in; only Shubao's defense saved him.
19
後歸王世充,署龍驤大將軍。 與程咬金計曰:「世充多詐,數與下咒誓,乃巫嫗,非撥亂主也。」 因約俱西走,策其馬謝世充曰:「自顧不能奉事,請從此辭。」 賊不敢逼,於是來降。 高祖俾事秦王府,王尤獎禮。 從鎮長春宮,拜馬軍總管。 戰美良川,破尉遲敬德,功多,帝賜以黃金瓶,勞曰:「卿不恤妻子而來歸我,且又立功,使朕肉可食,當割以啖爾,況子女玉帛乎!」 尋授秦王右三統軍,走宋金剛於介休,拜上柱國。 從討世充、建德、黑闥三盜,未嘗不身先鋒鏖陣,前無堅對。 積賜金帛以千萬計,進封翼國公。 每敵有驍將銳士震耀出入以誇眾者,秦王輒命叔寶往取之,躍馬挺槍刺於萬眾中,莫不如志,以是頗自負。 及平隱、巢,功拜左武衛大將軍,實封七百戸。
He later entered the service of Wang Shichong, who appointed him Dragon-Flight grand general. He and Cheng Yaojin agreed: "Shichong is treacherous, forever binding his men with oaths and sorcery—he is a charlatan, not a ruler who can restore order. They agreed to flee west together. Spurring their horses, they told Shichong, "We find we can no longer serve you and take our leave." No pursuer dared close on them, and they reached Tang territory to surrender. Gaozu assigned him to the Prince of Qin's household, where the prince treated him with special esteem. He helped garrison Changchun Palace and was made commander of the horse army. At Meiliang River he defeated Yuchi Jingde and won great credit. The emperor gave him a golden flask and said, "You left your family to join me and have already earned merit. If my own flesh could nourish you, I would cut it for you—how much more readily sons, daughters, jade, and silk! He was soon made the prince's third commander of the right wing, routed Song Jingang at Jiexiu, and was enfeoffed as Pillar of State. In the campaigns against Shichong, Jiande, and Heita he always led the van in the hottest fighting; no enemy line held before him. Rewards in gold and silk mounted into the millions, and he was advanced to Duke of Yi. Whenever enemy champions rode out to dazzle the ranks, the Prince of Qin sent Shubao to bring them down. He would charge into ten thousand men and strike with his spear as he pleased; he rarely missed, and he knew his own worth. After the succession struggle was settled, his merit earned him the post of Left Martial Guard general-in-chief and a substantive fief of seven hundred households.
20
後稍移疾,嘗曰:「吾少長戎馬間,歷二百餘戰,數重創,出血且數斛,安得不病乎?」 卒,贈徐州都督,陪葬昭陵。 太宗詔有司琢石爲人馬立墓前,以旌戰功。 貞觀十三年,改封胡國公。
He later fell ill and once said, "I have lived my life in the saddle—more than two hundred battles, wound after wound, blood enough to fill several hu. How could my body not fail? He died. The court posthumously made him regional inspector of Xuzhou and buried him beside Zhaoling. Taizong ordered officials to carve stone figures of man and horse for his tomb, commemorating his battlefield deeds. In the thirteenth year of Zhenguan his title was changed to Duke of Hu.
21
後四年,詔司徒、趙國公無忌,司空、河間王孝恭,司空、萊國公如晦,司空、太子太師、鄭國公徵,司空、梁國公玄齡,開府儀同三司、鄂國公敬德,特進、衛國公靖,特進、宋國公瑀,輔國大將軍、褒國公志玄,輔國大將軍、夔國公弘基,尚書左僕射、蔣國公通,陜東道行臺右僕射、鄖國公開山,荊州都督、譙國公紹,荊州都督、邳國公順德,洛州都督、鄖國公亮,吏部尚書、陳國公君集,左驍衛大將玖惲郯國公公謹,左領軍大將軍、盧國公知節,禮部尚書、永興郡公世南,戸部尚書、渝國公政會,戸部尚書、莒國公檢,兵部尚書、英國公勣,并叔寶,並圖形凌煙閣。 高宗永徽六年,遣使致祭名臣圖形凌煙閣者凡七人,徵、士廉、瑀、志玄、弘基、世南、叔寶,皆始終著名者也。 唐儉唐儉,字茂約,并州晉陽人。 祖邕,北齊尚書左僕射。 父鑒,隋戎州刺史; 與高祖善,嘗偕典軍衛,故儉雅與秦王遊,同在太原。 儉爽邁少繩檢,然事親以孝聞。 見隋政浸亂,陰說秦王建大計。 高祖嘗召訪之,儉曰:「公日角龍庭,姓協圖讖,系天下望久矣。 若外嘯豪傑,北招戎狄,右收燕、趙,濟河而南,以據秦、雍,湯、武之業也。」 高祖曰:「湯、武之事豈可幾? 然喪亂方剡,私當圖存,公欲拯溺者,吾方爲公思之。」 及大將軍府開,授記室參軍、渭北道元帥司馬。 從定京師,爲相國府記室,晉昌郡公。
Four years later an edict ordered portraits in the Lingyan Pavilion for the founding meritocrats, including Wuji, Xiaogong, Ruhui, Wei, Xuanling, Jingde, Li Jing, Yu, Zhixuan, Hongji, Qu Tuntong, Kaishan, Shao, Shunde, Liang, Hou Junji, Zhang Gongjin, Cheng Zhijie, Yu Shinan, Zhenghui, Tang Jian, Li Ji, and Shubao. In the sixth year of Yonghui, Emperor Gaozong sent envoys to sacrifice before seven Lingyan portraits—Wei, Shiliang, Yu, Zhixuan, Hongji, Shinan, and Shubao—men whose fame had endured from first to last. Tang Jian, style Maoyue, was a native of Jinyang in Bingzhou. His grandfather Yong served the Northern Qi as left vice director of the Department of State Affairs. his father Jian was prefect of Rongzhou under the Sui; and was close to Gaozu, having once shared command of the guard. Jian therefore grew up alongside the Prince of Qin in Taiyuan. Jian was free-spirited and little given to restraint, yet he was known for filial devotion to his parents. As Sui rule crumbled, he quietly urged the Prince of Qin to seize the larger design of empire. Gaozu once asked his counsel. Jian said, "My lord, your brow bears heaven's mark and your name fits the prophecies—the realm has looked to you for years. Rally the heroes abroad, call the northern tribes, secure Yan and Zhao to the east, cross the Yellow River south, and hold Qin and Yong—you would repeat the work of Tang and Wu. Gaozu replied, "How could one aspire to Tang and Wu? Yet the realm is collapsing and each man must first save himself. If you mean to rescue the drowning, I will think through it with you." When the grand general's office opened, he became recorder staff officer and marshal's major on the Wei-North circuit. He helped pacify the capital, served as recorder in the chancellor's office, and was enfeoffed as Duke of Jinchang.
22
武德初,進內史舍人,遷中書侍郎、散騎常侍。 呂崇茂以夏縣反,與劉武周連和,詔永安王孝基、獨孤懷恩,於筠率兵致討,儉以使適至軍。 會孝基等爲武周所虜,儉亦見禽。 始,懷恩屯蒲州,陰與部將元君實謀反,會俱在賊中,君實私語儉曰:「獨孤尚書將舉兵圖大事,猶豫不發,故及此。 所謂當斷不斷而受亂者。」 俄而懷恩脫歸,詔復守蒲。 君實曰:「獨孤拔難歸,再戍河上,寧其王者不死乎?」 儉恐必亂,密遣劉世讓歸白髮其謀。 會高祖幸蒲津,舟及中流而世讓至,帝驚,曰:「豈非天也!」 命趨還舟,捕反者,懷恩自殺,余黨皆誅。 俄而武周敗,亡入突厥。 儉封府庫、籍兵甲以待秦王。 帝嘉儉身幽辱而不忘朝廷,詔復舊官,仍爲并州道安撫大使,許以便宜。 盡簿懷恩財產賜儉。 還爲禮部尚書、天策府長史、檢校黃門侍郎、莒國公。 仍爲遂州都督,食綿州六百戸。
Early in Wude he rose to inner secretariat attendant, then to secretariat vice director and regular attendant. When Lü Chongmao rebelled at Xia County and joined Liu Wuzhou, the court sent Prince Xiaoji, Dugu Huai'en, and Yu Yun against them. Jian arrived on embassy just as the army marched. Xiaoji's force was captured by Wuzhou, and Jian with it. Huai'en had once garrisoned Puzhou and secretly plotted rebellion with his officer Yuan Junshi. Now, prisoners together, Junshi whispered to Jian, "Minister Dugu meant to raise troops but wavered—and here we are. It is the old fault: failing to strike when one must, and inviting ruin. Soon Huai'en escaped home and was ordered back to defend Pu. Junshi said, "Dugu clawed his way back and again holds the north bank—do you think his royal ambition is dead? Fearing revolt, Jian secretly sent Liu Shirang home to expose the plot. Gaozu happened to be at Pujin. Mid-river, Shirang arrived with the warning. The emperor started and cried, "Heaven itself sent this! He ordered the boat about, seized the rebels, and Huai'en killed himself while his followers were put to death. Wuzhou was soon defeated and fled to the Turks. Jian sealed the treasuries and inventoried arms for the Prince of Qin. The emperor praised Jian for loyalty through captivity, restored his rank, and again made him pacification commissioner of Bingzhou with discretionary powers. Huai'en's entire estate was inventoried and given to Jian. Back at court he became minister of rites, chief administrator of the Heavenly Policy Office, acting yellow gate vice director, and Duke of Ju. He also served as regional inspector of Suizhou, drawing income from six hundred households in Mianzhou.
23
貞觀初,使突厥還,太宗謂儉曰:「卿觀頡利可取乎?」 對曰:「銜國威靈,庶有成功。」 四年,馳傳往誘使歸款,頡利許之,兵懈弛,李靖因襲破之,儉脫身還。
Early in Zhenguan, on his return from the Turks, Taizong asked Jian, "Do you think Jieli can be taken? He answered, "With the empire's authority behind us, we may succeed." In the fourth year he rode posthaste to entice Jieli's surrender. Jieli agreed and his guard relaxed; Li Jing struck and shattered him. Jian escaped and returned.
24
歲餘,爲民部尚書。 從獵洛陽苑,群豕突出於林,帝射四發,輒殪四豕。 一豕躍及鐙,儉投馬搏之。 帝拔劍斷豕,顧笑曰:「天策長史不見上將擊賊邪,何懼之甚?」 對曰:「漢祖以馬上得之,不以馬上治之。 陛下神武定四方,豈復快心於一獸?」 帝爲罷獵。 詔其子善識尚豫章公主。
A year later he became minister of the civil ministry. On a hunt in the Luoyang park a drove of boars charged from the woods. The emperor fired four arrows and dropped four boars. One boar leaped at his stirrup; Jian threw himself from the saddle to fight it off. The emperor drew his sword and cut the boar down, then laughed and said, "Heavenly Policy chief administrator—have you never watched a commander strike down the enemy? Why so frightened? Jian answered, "The founder of Han won the realm from horseback but did not govern it from horseback. Your Majesty's divine prowess has settled the four quarters—why take pleasure in a single beast?" The emperor ended the hunt. An edict married his son Shanshi to the Princess of Yuzhang.
25
悸事,與賓客縱酒爲樂。 坐小法,貶光祿大夫。 永徽初,致仕,加特進。 顯慶初卒,年七十八。 贈開府儀同三司、并州都督,陪葬昭陵,謚曰襄。 少子觀,爲河西令,知名。 孫從心,神龍中,以其子脧娶太平公主女,擢累殿中監。 脧太常少卿,坐太平黨誅。
He shunned official business and drank with his guests for pleasure. A minor offense demoted him to grand master for splendid happiness. Early in Yonghui he retired and received the rank of special advancement. He died early in Xianqing at seventy-eight. The court posthumously made him honored attendant with equal protocol and regional inspector of Bingzhou, buried him beside Zhaoling, and gave him the posthumous name Xiang. His youngest son Guan, magistrate of Hexi, was well known. His grandson Congxin rose during Shenlong, when his son Sou married a daughter of Princess Taiping, to repeated promotion as palace supervisor. Sou, vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, was executed as a partisan of Princess Taiping.
26
儉弟憲。 憲字茂彜,仕隋爲東宮左勛衛。 太子廢,罷歸。 不治細行,好馳獵,藏亡命,所交皆博徒輕俠。 高祖領太原,頗親遇之,參與大議。 義師起,授正議大夫,置左右,尤所信倚。 封安富縣公。 武德中,進累雲麾將軍,加郡公。 貞觀中,終金紫光祿大夫。 儉裔孫次裔孫次,字文編。 建中初,及進士第,歷侍御史。 竇參數薦之,改禮部員外郎。 參貶,出爲開州刺史,積十年不遷。 韋臯鎮蜀,表爲副使,德宗諭臯罷之。 次身在遠,久抑不得申,以爲古忠臣賢士罹讒毀被放,至殺身,君且不悟者,因采獲其事,爲《辯謗略》三篇上之。 帝益怒,曰:「是乃以古昏主方我!」 改夔州刺史。 憲宗立,召還,授禮部郎中,知制誥,終中書舍人。 憲宗雅惡朋比傾陷者,嘗覽《辯謗略》,善之。 謂學士沈傳師曰:「凡君人者,宜所觀省。 然次編錄未盡,卿可廣其書。」 傳師乃與令狐楚、杜元穎論次,起周訖隋,增爲十篇,更號《元和辨謗略》。 次子扶子扶,字雲翔,仕歷屯田郎中。 大和五年,爲山南宣撫使。 內鄉倉督鄧琬負度支漕米七千斛,吏責償之,系其父子至孫凡二十八年,九人死於獄,扶奏申釋之。 詔切責鹽鐵、度支二使,天下監院償逋系三年以上者,皆原。 進中書舍人,出爲福州觀察使。 濫殺人,風績不立。 會卒,奴婢爭財,有司按其貲至十餘萬,時議蚩薄之。 次子持扶弟持,字德守,中進士第。 大和中,爲渭南尉,試京兆府進士。 時尹杜悰欲以親故託之,持輒趨降階伏,悰語塞,乃止。 累遷工部郎中,出爲容州刺史。 遷給事中,歷朔方、昭義節度使,卒。 持子彥謙子彥謙字茂業,多通技藝,尤工爲詩,負才無所屈。 乾符末,避亂漢南。 王重榮鎮河中,辟幕府,累表爲副,歷晉、絳二州刺史。 重榮軍亂、彥謙貶興元參軍事。 節度使楊守亮表爲判官,遷副使,終閬、壁二州刺史。 段志玄段志玄,齊州臨淄人。 父偃師,仕隋爲太原司法書佐。 從義師,官至郢州刺史。 志玄姿質偉岸,少無賴,數犯法。 大業末,從父客太原,以票果,諸惡少年畏之,爲秦王所識。 高祖興,以千人從,授右領大都督府軍頭。 下霍邑、絳郡,攻永豐倉,椎鋒最。 歷左光祿大夫。 從劉文靜拒屈突通於潼關。 文靜爲桑顯和所襲,軍且潰,志玄率壯騎馳賊,殺十餘人,中流矢,忍不言,突擊自如,賊眾亂,軍乘之,唐兵復振。 通敗走,與諸將躡獲於稠桑,以多,授樂遊府車騎將軍。 從討王世充,深入,馬跌,爲賊禽。 兩騎夾持其髻,將度洛,志玄忽騰而上,二人者俱墮,於是奪其馬馳歸,尾騎數百不敢近。 破竇建德,平東都,遷秦王府右二護軍。 隱太子嘗以金帛誘之,拒不納。 秦王即位,累遷左驍衛大將軍,封樊國公,實封九百戸。 詔率兵至青海奪吐谷渾牧馬,逗留,免。 未幾復職。 文德皇后之葬,與宇文士及勒兵衛章武門,太宗夜遣使至二將軍所,士及披戸內使,志玄拒曰:「軍門不夜開。」 使者示手詔,志玄曰:「夜不能辨。」 不納。 比曙,帝嘆曰:「真將軍,周亞夫何以加!」 改封褒國公,歷鎮軍大將軍。 貞觀十六年疾,帝臨視,泣顧曰:「當與卿子五品官。」 頓首謝,請與母弟,乃拜志感左衛郎將。 及卒,帝哭之慟。 贈輔國大將軍、揚州都督,陪葬昭陵,謚曰壯肅。 三世孫文昌。 志玄三世孫文昌文昌,字墨卿,一字景初,世客荊州。 疏爽任義節,不爲齷齪小行。 節度使裴胄禮之。 胄采古今禮要爲書,數從文昌質判所疑。 後依劍南節度韋臯,臯表爲校書郎。 宰相李吉甫才之,擢登封尉、集賢校理,再遷左補闕。 憲宗數欲親用,頗爲韋貫之奇詆,偃蹇不得進。 貫之罷,引爲翰林學士,遷中書舍人,遂爲承旨。 穆宗即位,屢召入思政殿顧問,率至夕乃出。 俄拜中書侍郎、同中書門下平章事。 未逾年,自表還政。 授劍南西川節度使、同平章事。 文昌素諳蜀利病,大抵治寬靜,間以威斷,不常任也,群蠻震服。 長慶二年黔中蠻叛,觀察使崔元略以聞,文昌使一介開曉,蠻即引還,彭濮蠻大酋蹉祿來請立石刊誓,脩貢獻。 入遷兵部尚書。 文宗立,拜御史大夫,進封鄒平郡公。 俄檢校尚書右僕射、平章事,節度淮南。 太和四年,檢校左僕射,徙帥荊南。 州或旱,禬解必雨; 或久雨,遇出遊必霽。 民爲語曰:「旱不苦,禱而雨; 雨不愁,公出遊。」 南詔襲南安,帝以文昌得蠻夷心,詔使下檄尉讓,即日解而去。 復節度西川。 九年卒,贈太尉。 文昌先墓在荊州,歲時享祠,必薦以音樂歌舞,習禮者譏其非,少羈窶,所向少諧。 及居將相,享用奢侈,士議尤替。 文昌子成式子成式,字柯古,推廕爲校書郎。 博學強記,多奇篇秘籍。 侍父於蜀,以畋獵自放,文昌遣吏自其意諫止。 明日以雉兔遍遺幕府,人爲書,因所獲儷前世事,無復用者,眾大驚。 擢累尚書郎,爲吉州刺史,終太常少卿。 著《酉陽書》數十篇。 子安節,乾寧中,爲國子司業。 善樂律,能自度曲云。 贊贊曰:屈突通盡節於隋,而爲唐忠臣,何哉? 惟其一心,故事兩君而無嫌也。 敬德之來,太宗以赤心付之,桑廕不徙而大功立。 君臣相遇,古人謂之千載,顧不諒哉! 投幾之會,間不容穟,公謹所以抵龜而決也。
Jian's younger brother was Xian. Xian, style Maoyi, served the Sui as a left merit guard in the eastern palace. When the crown prince was deposed, he was dismissed and went home. He cared little for propriety, loved the chase, sheltered fugitives, and kept company with gamblers and swaggering swordsmen. When Gaozu held Taiyuan he favored Xian personally and drew him into the great councils. When the righteous army rose he was made rectifier grand master, kept at the ruler's side, and especially trusted. He was enfeoffed as Duke of Anfu. During Wude he rose to cloud-banner general and received the additional title of commandery duke. Under Zhenguan he ended his career as grand master of splendid gold and purple. A descendant of Jian's line, Ci, style Wenbian. Early in Jianzhong he passed the presented scholar examination and served as attending censor. Dou Can repeatedly recommended him, and he became vice director in the Ministry of Rites. When Can fell, Ci was sent out as prefect of Kaizhou and went ten years without promotion. Wei Gao, governing Shu, recommended him as deputy commissioner, but Dezong ordered Gao to withdraw the nomination. Far from court and long unable to speak, Ci believed that loyal ministers of old had been slandered, exiled, and even killed while their rulers never understood. He collected such cases in three fascicles called Outline for Refuting Slander and submitted them. The emperor grew angrier still and said, "You compare me to benighted rulers of old! He was transferred to prefect of Qizhou. When Xianzong came to the throne Ci was recalled, made director in the Ministry of Rites and drafter of edicts, and ended as secretariat drafter. Xianzong detested cliques and framed accusations; when he read the Outline for Refuting Slander he approved it. He told academician Shen Chuanshi, "Every ruler ought to read this. But Ci's compilation is incomplete—you should expand the work. Chuanshi, with Linghu Chu and Du Yuanying, arranged cases from Zhou through Sui, expanded the work to ten fascicles, and retitled it the Yuanhe Outline for Refuting Slander. Ci's second son Fu, style Yunxiang, rose to director of state farms. In the fifth year of Dahe he served as pacification commissioner of Shannan. Deng Wan, granary overseer at Neixiang, owed seven thousand hu of transport grain to the Revenue Ministry. Officials demanded repayment and imprisoned his family for twenty-eight years; nine died in prison. Fu memorialized for their release. An edict sharply rebuked the salt-iron and revenue commissioners and pardoned everyone in the empire imprisoned three years or more for depot debts. He was promoted to secretariat drafter and sent out as observation commissioner of Fuzhou. He killed indiscriminately and won no reputation for good governance. He soon died; his servants fought over his estate, and officials found more than a hundred thousand in assets. Public opinion despised him. Fu's younger brother Chi, style Deshou, passed the presented scholar examination. During Dahe he was magistrate of Weinan and examiner of presented scholars for Jingzhao. The intendant Du Cong tried to secure favor for a kinsman through him; Chi hurried down the steps and prostrated himself. Cong fell silent and desisted. He rose to director in the Ministry of Works and was sent out as prefect of Rongzhou. He became drafting attendant within, served as military governor of Shuofang and Zhaoyi, and died. Chi's son Yanqian, style Maoye, mastered many arts and especially poetry; proud of his talent, he bowed to no one. At the end of Qianfu he fled the turmoil to Hannan. Wang Chongrong, governing Hezhong, took him onto his staff, repeatedly recommended him as deputy, and had him serve as prefect of Jin and Jiang. After Chongrong's mutiny, Yanqian was demoted to staff officer at Xingyuan. Yang Shouliang, military governor, recommended him as aide, then deputy commissioner; he ended as prefect of Lang and Bi. Duan Zhixuan was a native of Linzi in Qizhou. His father Yanshi served the Sui as judicial clerk at Taiyuan. He followed the righteous army and rose to prefect of Yingzhou. Zhixuan was tall and imposing; in youth he was a scoundrel who repeatedly ran afoul of the law. Late in Daye he followed his father to Taiyuan. His daring made the local rowdies fear him, and the Prince of Qin took notice. When Gaozu rose, Zhixuan followed with a thousand men and was made army head in the right leading grand commander's office. He helped take Huoyi and Jiang commandery, stormed the Yongfeng granary, and led the assault wedge. He rose to left grand master for splendid happiness. He followed Liu Wenjing in holding Tong Pass against Qu Tuntong. When Sang Xianhe routed Wenjing and the army nearly broke, Zhixuan led picked horsemen into the enemy, killed more than ten men, took an arrow and said nothing, and kept charging. The rebels fell into disorder; the Tang line rallied. Tuntong fled and was captured at Chousang. For his merit Zhixuan was made cavalry general of the Leyou office. In the campaign against Wang Shichong he pushed deep, his horse fell, and the enemy seized him. Two riders gripped his topknot to drag him across the Luo. Zhixuan surged upward and threw them both down, seized a horse, and galloped back while hundreds of pursuers dared not close. He helped defeat Dou Jiande and pacify the eastern capital, then became second protector of the Prince of Qin's right wing. The Hidden Crown Prince once tried to buy him with gold and silk; he refused. When the prince became emperor, Zhixuan rose to left brave guard general-in-chief, was enfeoffed as Duke of Fan, and received a substantive fief of nine hundred households. Ordered to lead troops to Qinghai to seize Tuyuhun horses, he lingered and was dismissed. He was soon restored to office. At Empress Wende's burial he and Yuwen Shiji guarded Zhangwu Gate. Taizong sent a night envoy; Shiji opened the gate, but Zhixuan refused, saying, "Army gates do not open at night. The envoy showed the emperor's handwritten order. Zhixuan said, "One cannot verify orders in the dark." He would not admit them. At dawn the emperor sighed, "A true general—how could even Zhou Yafu do better! His title was changed to Duke of Bao and he became suppressing-army grand general. In the sixteenth year of Zhenguan he fell ill. The emperor visited him, wept, and said, "I will give your son a fifth-rank post. He kowtowed in thanks and asked that the favor go to his younger brother instead; Zhigan was appointed left guard commandant. When he died the emperor wept bitterly. The court posthumously made him assisting-state grand general and regional inspector of Yangzhou, buried him beside Zhaoling, and gave him the posthumous name Zhuangsu. His third-generation descendant was Wenchang. Zhixuan's third-generation descendant Wenchang, also styled Jingchu, came from a family long settled in Jingzhou. Open and bold, he lived by righteousness and scorned petty conduct. The military governor Pei Zhou treated him with honor. Zhou compiled a book of ritual essentials and often asked Wenchang to resolve his doubts. He later entered the service of Wei Gao, military governor of Jiannan, who recommended him as collator. Chief minister Li Jifu recognized his talent, made him magistrate of Dengfeng and collation corrector in the Hall of Worthies, then left remonstrator. Xianzong several times wished to promote him personally, but Wei Guanzhi's odd attacks blocked his advance. After Guanzhi's dismissal he entered the Hanlin Academy, became secretariat drafter, and then drafting commissioner. When Muzong came to the throne he was repeatedly summoned to the Hall of Governance and Thought and usually stayed until evening. He was soon made secretariat vice director and associate chief councilor. Within a year he memorialized to resign from the council. He was appointed military governor of Jiannan West circuit with the title of associate chief councilor. Wenchang knew Shu well. He governed mostly with lenience and calm, punctuated by stern decisiveness rather than routine harshness, and the tribes submitted in awe. In the second year of Changqing the Qianzhong tribes rebelled. Wenchang sent one envoy to reason with them and they withdrew. Cuolu, chieftain of the Peng-Pu tribes, asked to carve an oath in stone and restore tribute. Recalled to court, he became minister of war. When Wenzong came to the throne he was made censor-in-chief and advanced to Duke of Zouping. He soon became acting right vice director and chief councilor while governing Huainan as military governor. In the fourth year of Taihe he became acting left vice director and was transferred to command Jingnan. When drought struck the prefecture, his prayers always brought rain; when rain lingered, his outings always brought clear skies. The people said, "Drought is no hardship—pray and rain comes; rain brings no worry—the lord goes touring. When Nanzhao attacked Nan'an, the emperor sent Wenchang—who had won the tribes' hearts—to issue a rebuking placard, and the raiders withdrew the same day. He again governed West Sichuan. He died in the ninth year and was posthumously made grand preceptor. His ancestral tomb lay in Jingzhou, where he offered music and dance at the seasonal rites—conduct ritualists mocked. Poor in youth, he rarely found favor wherever he went. Once he reached the highest offices his life turned extravagant, and gentlemen despised him all the more. Wenchang's son Chengshi, style Kegu, entered office by yin privilege as collator. Learned and with a formidable memory, he collected rare and secret texts. While attending his father in Shu he gave himself to the hunt. Wenchang sent an official to dissuade him in his own way. The next day he sent pheasants and hares to every office in the staff. His companions wrote pieces pairing each animal with historical precedents until no precedent remained unused. All were astonished. He rose through posts in the Department of State Affairs, served as prefect of Jizhou, and ended as vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. He wrote several tens of fascicles of the Book of Youyang. His son Anjie served during Qianning as vice-director of the Directorate of Education. He was skilled in music theory and, it is said, could compose tunes himself. Commentary: Qu Tuntong kept faith with the Sui yet became a loyal minister of Tang—how can that be? Because his heart was single, he could serve two rulers without reproach. When Jingde came, Taizong entrusted him with his whole heart; like a tree whose shade never moves, great deeds were accomplished. Such a meeting of ruler and minister the ancients called once in a thousand years—can it not be understood? At the turning point of fate not a grain of slack is allowed—hence Gongjin struck the tortoise and chose.