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卷八十九 列傳第十四 屈實尉遲張秦唐段

Volume 89 Biographies 14: Qu, Shi, Wei, Chi, Zhang, Qin, Tang, Duan

Chapter 89 of 新唐書 · New Book of Tang
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Chapter 89
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1
25% 西簿西
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
使 使
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
使 西
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
祿
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
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
歿 調
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
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
使
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
殿 殿
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
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
宿
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
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
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
輿 使
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
使 使 使
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
使 使
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
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
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
西 使 耀
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
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
使
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
使 使便 簿 綿
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
使 使
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
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
祿 西 殿
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
祿 使 使 使 使 使 使使 姿 祿 使使 使 使 殿 西使 使使祿 使 西
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.
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