1
溫皇甫二李姜崔
Biographies of the Wen, Huangfu, two Li, Jiang, and Cui families.
2
溫大雅，字彥弘，并州祁人。 父君攸，北齊文林館學士，入隋為泗州司馬 ，見朝政不綱，謝病歸。 大雅性至孝，與弟彥博、大有皆知名，薛道衡見之，嘆曰：「三人者，皆卿相才也。」 初為東宮學士、長安尉，以父喪解，會天下亂，不復仕。
Wen Daya, whose courtesy name was Yanhong, came from Qi in Bingzhou. His father Junyou had been a scholar in the Northern Qi's Wenlin Academy and later served the Sui as marshal of Sizhou. When he saw that the court had lost its discipline, he pleaded illness and withdrew to his home. Daya was deeply filial by nature. He and his younger brothers Yanbo and Dayou were all celebrated, and when Xue Daoheng met them he exclaimed, "All three of these men possess the makings of chief ministers. He had first served as a scholar in the crown prince's palace and as magistrate of Chang'an, but left office to mourn his father; with the realm in turmoil, he never returned to public service.
3
彥博字大臨，通書記，警悟而辯。 開皇末，對策高策，授文林郎，直內史省。 隋亂，幽州總管羅藝引為司馬。 藝以州降，彥博與有謀，授總管府長史，封西河郡公。 召入為中書舍人，遷侍郎。 高麗貢方物，高祖欲讓而不臣，彥博執不可，曰：「遼東本周箕子國，漢玄菟郡，不使北面，則四夷何所瞻仰？」 帝納而止。
Yanbo, whose courtesy name was Dalin, mastered documentary writing and was quick-witted and sharp in debate. Near the end of Kaihuang he took the policy examination at the highest tier and was made a Lang of the Forest of Literature on duty in the Secretariat. As the Sui order collapsed, Luo Yi, military governor of Youzhou, brought him in as his marshal. When Yi surrendered his prefecture, Yanbo had taken part in the plan; he was made chief administrator of the governorate headquarters and enfeoffed as Duke of Xihe. He was recalled to serve as an attendant of the Secretariat and later promoted to vice minister. When Koguryŏ sent tribute, Gaozu wanted to refuse it without accepting Koguryŏ as a subject, but Yanbo insisted this would not do, saying, "Liaodong was Jizi's state under Zhou and the Xuantu commandery under Han—if we do not require them to face north as subjects, what will the four quarters have to revere? The emperor took his advice and dropped the idea.
4
突厥入寇，彥博以并州道行軍長史戰太谷，王師敗績，被執。 突厥知近臣，數問唐兵多少及國虛實，彥博不肯對，囚陰山苦寒地。 太宗立，突厥歸款，得還。 授雍州治中，尋檢校吏部侍郎。 彥博欲汰擇士類，寡術不能厭眾，訟牒滿廷，時譏其煩碎。 復為中書侍郎，遷御史大夫，檢校中書侍郎事。 貞觀四年，遷中書令，封虞國公。 突厥降，詔議所以安邊者，彥博請如漢置降匈奴五原塞，以為捍蔽，與魏徵廷爭，徵不勝其辯，天子卒從之。 其後突利可汗弟結社謀反，帝始悔雲。
When the Turks invaded, Yanbo served as chief administrator on the Bingzhou campaign staff and fought at Taigu; the imperial forces were defeated and he was captured. Knowing he was an intimate of the court, the Turks repeatedly pressed him on Tang troop strength and the empire's true condition; Yanbo would not reply and was held in the freezing wastes of the Yin Mountains. After Taizong's accession the Turks offered submission, and he was able to come home. He was made administrator of Yongzhou and soon afterward acting vice minister of personnel. Yanbo wanted to screen and refine the scholar-official class, but his methods could not satisfy everyone; lawsuits piled up in court, and contemporaries mocked his fussiness. He returned to vice minister of the Secretariat, rose to censor-in-chief, and concurrently handled secretariat vice-minister duties. In 630 he was promoted to grand councillor of the Secretariat and enfeoffed as Duke of Yuguo. After the Turks surrendered, the court was ordered to debate border security; Yanbo proposed settling them within the passes as the Han had done with surrendered Xiongnu at Wuyuan, to serve as a buffer. He argued the point against Wei Zheng in open court; Zheng could not best him in debate, and the emperor finally sided with Yanbo. Later, when Jieshe, brother of the Tuli khaghan, rose in rebellion, the emperor came to regret the policy.
5
彥博善辭令，每問四方風俗，臚布誥命，若成誦然； 進止詳華，人皆拭目觀。 高祖嘗宴近臣，遣秦王諭旨，既而顧左右曰：「何如溫彥博？」 十年，遷尚書右僕射，明年卒，年六十三。
Yanbo excelled at court rhetoric; whenever the customs of distant regions were discussed or edicts were drafted and promulgated, his words seemed already perfected. His bearing was meticulous and splendid, and everyone watched him with rapt attention. Gaozu once entertained his intimate ministers and had the Prince of Qin deliver his message; then he looked to those around him and asked, "How does that compare with Wen Yanbo? In the tenth year of the reign he was made right vice director of the Department of State Affairs; he died the following year at sixty-three.
6
彥博性周慎，既掌機務，謝賓客不通，進見必陳政事利害。 卒後，帝嘆曰：「彥博以憂國故，耗思殫神，我見其不逮再期矣，恨不許少閑以究其壽。」 家貧無正寢，殯別室，帝命有司為構寢。 贈特進，謚曰恭，陪葬昭陵。
Yanbo was thorough and cautious by nature. Once he held the levers of policy he shut his door to guests; whenever he came before the throne he laid out the gains and risks of each matter of state. After his death the emperor lamented, "Yanbo wore himself out worrying for the realm—I could see he would not live two more seasons, and I regret that I never gave him a little rest to see out his years. His household was so poor there was no proper hall for the bier; the coffin lay in a side room until the emperor ordered the authorities to build one. He was posthumously honored as Special Advancement, given the posthumous name Gong, and interred beside Zhaoling.
7
子振、挺。 振歷太子舍人，居喪以毀卒。 挺尚千金公主，官延州刺史。 彥博曾孫曦，尚涼國長公主。
His sons were Zhen and Ting. Zhen served as an attendant in the heir apparent's household and died from grief and self-mortification during mourning. Ting married Princess Qianjin and served as prefect of Yanzhou. Yanbo's great-grandson Xi married the Princess of Liang.
8
大有，字彥將。 隋仁壽中，李綱薦之，授羽林騎尉。 高祖舉兵，引為太原令。 從秦王徇西河，將行，高祖曰：「士馬單少，要須經略，以君參軍事，事之濟否，卜是行也。」 西河下，攝大將軍府記室，與兄大雅同掌機近，不自安，請徙它職。 帝曰：「我虛心待卿，何所自疑？」 武德初，累遷中書侍郎，封清河郡公。 卒，贈鴻臚卿，謚曰敬。 初，顏氏、溫氏在隋最盛，思魯與大雅俱事東宮，湣楚、彥博同直內史省，遊秦、大有典校秘閣，顏以學業優，而溫以職位顯於唐雲。
Dayou, whose courtesy name was Yanjiang. During Sui Renshou, Li Gang recommended him and he was made a cavalry captain of the imperial guard. When Gaozu took up arms, he appointed Dayou magistrate of Taiyuan. When he followed the Prince of Qin against Xihe, Gaozu said before they marched, "Our forces are few—we need careful planning. I make you my military adviser; whether we succeed will be decided on this campaign. After Xihe surrendered he served as acting recorder on the prince's staff, sharing confidential duties with his brother Daya; uneasy at holding so much power beside his kin, he asked for another assignment. The emperor said, "I receive you with an open heart—why doubt yourself? Early in Wude he rose through several posts to vice minister of the Secretariat and was enfeoffed as Duke of Qinghe. He died and was posthumously made minister of ceremonies with the posthumous name Jing. At first the Yan and Wen families were the most prominent under the Sui: Silu and Daya both served the crown prince's household; Minchu and Yanbo shared duty in the Secretariat; Youqin and Dayou curated the imperial library—people said the Yans excelled in learning while the Wens won distinction in Tang office.
9
大雅四世孫佶，字輔國，以字行。 安祿山亂，往見平原太守顏真卿，助為守計。 李光弼厚遇之。 後居鄴，薛嵩薦之朝，授太常丞，一謝嵩即去，屏處郊野，世推其高節。
Daya's four-times grandson Ji, courtesy name Fuguo, went by his courtesy name in daily use. During the An Lushan rebellion he sought out Yan Zhenqing, prefect of Pingyuan, and helped him plan the city's defense. Li Guangbi treated him with marked esteem. He later lived at Ye; Xue Song recommended him to court and he was made vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, but after a single leave-taking of Song he withdrew to the wilds, and the world admired his integrity.
10
子造。 造，字簡輿，姿表瑰傑，性嗜書，然盛氣，少所降屈。 不喜為吏，隱王屋山，人號其居曰「處士墅」。 壽州刺史張建封聞其名，書幣招禮，造欣然曰：「可人也！」 往從之。 建封雖咨謀，而不敢縻以職事。 及節度徐州，造謝歸下邳，慨然有高世心。 建封恐失造，因妻以兄子。
His son was Zao. Zao, courtesy name Jianyu, was striking in appearance, devoted to books, but proud in temper and rarely willing to yield to anyone. Disliking office, he withdrew to Mount Wangwu, and people called his home the Recluse's Villa. Zhang Jianfeng, prefect of Shouzhou, heard of him and sent letters and gifts to summon him; Zao said gladly, "Here is a man worth following! He went to join him. Jianfeng sought his counsel but never dared tie him down with formal office. When Jianfeng took command of Xuzhou, Zao resigned and went back to Xiapi, moved by a desire to leave the world behind. Afraid of losing him, Jianfeng married him to his nephew.
11
時李希烈反，攻陷城邑，天下兵鎮陰相撼，逐主帥自立，德宗患之。 以劉濟方納忠於朝，密詔建封擇縱橫士往說濟，佐其必。 建封強署造節度參謀，使幽州。 造與濟語未訖，濟俯伏流涕曰：「僻陋不知天子神聖，大臣盡忠，願率先諸侯效死節。」 造還，建封以聞，詔馳驲入奏。 天子愛其才，問造家世及年，對曰：「臣五世祖大雅，外五世祖李勣，臣犬馬之齒三十有二。」 帝奇之。 將用為諫官，以語泄乃止。 復去，隱東都。 烏重胤奏致幕府。
Li Xilie had risen in rebellion and was seizing cities; across the empire military governors were quietly undermining one another, ousting their superiors and declaring themselves rulers, and Dezong was deeply worried. Liu Ji was then showing loyalty to the court, and the emperor secretly ordered Jianfeng to choose a skilled persuader to win Ji over and strengthen his commitment. Jianfeng pressed Zao into service as a commission staff adviser and sent him to Youzhou. Before Zao had finished speaking with him, Ji prostrated himself in tears and said, "Living in obscurity I failed to see the emperor's sacred virtue and his ministers' loyalty—I wish to lead the regional lords in dying for the throne. When Zao returned, Jianfeng reported the success and the emperor ordered him brought to court by express courier. The emperor admired his ability and asked his lineage and age; he answered, "My fifth-generation ancestor was Daya; on my mother's side the fifth-generation ancestor was Li Jing; I am thirty-two years old. The emperor was struck with wonder. He was about to be made a remonstrance official, but the plan leaked and was dropped. He withdrew again and lived in seclusion in the Eastern Capital. Wu Chongyin petitioned to have him join his staff.
12
長慶初，以京兆司錄為太原幽鎮宣諭使，召見，辭曰：「臣，府縣吏也，不宜行，恐四方易朝廷。」 穆宗曰：「朕東宮時聞劉總，比年上書請覲，使問行期，乃不報。 卿為我行喻意，毋多讓。」 因賜緋衣。 至范陽，總橐鞬郊迎。 造為開示禍福，總懼，矍然若兵在頸，繇是籍所部九州入朝。 還，遷殿中侍御史。 田弘正遇害，以起居舍人復宣慰鎮州行營。
Early in Changqing, while serving as registrar of the metropolitan prefecture, he was appointed commissioner to instruct the Taiyuan and Youzhou commands. When summoned he declined, saying, "I am only a local official—unfit for such a mission; the regions may take the court lightly if I am sent. Muzong said, "I heard of Liu Zong when I was crown prince. These past years he has asked to come to court, yet when we inquired when he would travel he never answered. Go speak my mind for me—and do not refuse again." The emperor then bestowed scarlet court robes on him. At Fanyang, Zong met him at the outskirts in full armor. Zao laid out the rewards and risks; Zong was terrified, as if a blade were at his throat, and thereupon surrendered the nine prefectures under his command to the court. After his return he was promoted to attending censor in the palace. After Tian Hongzheng was murdered, he was sent again as recorder of the emperor's movements to comfort the Zhenzhou field command.
13
頃之，李景儉以酒得過宰相，造坐與飲，出為朗州刺史。 開後鄉渠百里，溉田二千頃，民獲其利，號「右史渠」。 召授侍御史，知彈奏。 請復硃衣豸冠示外廡，不聽。 夏州節度使李祐拜大金吾，違詔進馬，造正衙抨劾。 祐曰：』吾夜入蔡州擒吳元濟，未嘗心動，今日膽落於溫御史。」 遷左司郎中，知御史雜事，進中丞。
Soon afterward Li Jingjian insulted the chief minister while drunk; Zao had shared the drinking and was demoted to prefect of Langzhou. He opened a hundred-li canal at Houxiang that irrigated two thousand qing of farmland; the people prospered from it and called it the Right Historian Canal. He was recalled as attending censor in charge of impeachments. He asked that censors again wear scarlet robes and the xieguan hat in the outer halls as a mark of authority; the court refused. When Li You of Xiazhou was appointed grand commandant of the golden chariots he presented horses contrary to edict; Zao denounced him in open court. You said, "When I stormed Caizhou at night and took Wu Yuanji, I never flinched—but today my courage fails before Censor Wen." He was promoted to director of the left department, took charge of censorate business, and rose to vice censor-in-chief.
14
大和二年，內昭德寺火，延禁中「野狐落」，野狐落者，宮人所居也，死者數百人。 是日，宰相、兩省官、京兆尹、中尉、樞密皆集日華門，督神策兵救火所及，獨御史府不至。 造自劾曰：「臺系賊，恐人緣以構奸，申警備，乃得入。 臣請入三十直，崔蠡、姚合二十直，自贖。」 宰相劾造不待罪於朝，而自許輕比，不可聽。 有詔皆奪一月俸。
In 828 fire broke out at the inner Zhaode Temple and spread to the Wild Fox Hollow in the inner palace, the women's quarters; several hundred people died. That day the chief ministers, secretariat and chancellery officials, the metropolitan prefect, the palace commandant, and privy councilors all gathered at Rihua Gate to direct the Shence army against the blaze—only the Censorate was absent. Zao submitted a self-impeachment, saying, "The Censorate is entangled with wrongdoers; I feared someone would exploit the chaos, so I posted extra guards before I could enter. I ask to forfeit thirty days' salary; let Cui Li and Yao He forfeit twenty days each as my share of the penalty. The chief ministers objected that Zao had not waited for court judgment but fixed his own lenient penalty, which could not be allowed. An edict stripped them all of one month's pay.
15
造性剛急，人或忤己，雖貴勢，亦以氣出其上。 道遇左補闕李虞，恚不避，捕從者笞辱。 左拾遺舒元褒等建言：「故事，供奉官惟宰相外無屈避。 造棄蔑典禮，無所畏，辱天子侍臣。 凡事小而關分理者，不可失； 失之，則亂所由生。 遺、補雖卑，侍臣也，中丞雖高，法吏也； 侍臣見陵則恭不廣，法吏自恣則法壞。 聞元和、長慶時，中丞呵止不半坊，今乃至兩坊，謂之籠街。 造擅自尊大，忽僭擬之嫌，請得論罪。」 帝乃詔臺官、供奉官共道路，聽先後行，相值則揖。 中丞傳呼不得過三百步。 造彈擊無所回畏，威望隱然，發南曹偽官九十人，主史皆論死。 遷尚書右丞，封祁縣子。
Zao was harsh and quick-tempered; anyone who crossed him, however powerful, felt his wrath. On the road he met the left supplementation censor Li Yu, who in anger refused to step aside; Zao seized Yu's attendants and had them beaten. The left reminder Shu Yuangao and others memorialized, "By precedent only the chief minister is exempt from yielding to palace attendants. Zao has scorned court ritual, fears nothing, and humiliates the emperor's personal attendants. Even small matters that bear on each office's proper role must not be neglected; neglect them and disorder follows. Reminders and supplementation censors are low in rank but still the emperor's attendants; the vice censor-in-chief is lofty but still a legal officer; bully the attendants and respect withers; let legal officers run wild and the law collapses. Under Yuanhe and Changqing, a vice censor's runners cleared barely half a ward; now Zao clears two wards—people call it caging the street. Zao has grown arrogant beyond his station, inviting the suspicion of usurpation—we ask that he be punished. The emperor then decreed that censors and palace attendants share the road, passing in order of arrival and bowing when they met. A vice censor's runners were limited to three hundred paces ahead. In his impeachments Zao never flinched; his authority was felt throughout the capital. He exposed ninety bogus officials in the southern bureau and secured death sentences for the chief clerks. He was promoted to right vice director of the Department of State Affairs and enfeoffed as Viscount of Qixian.
16
興元軍亂，殺李絳，眾謂造可夷其亂，文宗亦以為能，乃授檢校右散騎常侍、山南西道節度使，許以便宜從事。 帝慮其勞費，造曰：「臣計諸道戍蠻之兵方還，願得密詔受約束，用此足矣。」 許之。 命神策將董仲質、河中將溫德彜、郃陽將劉士和從造。 而興元將衛誌忠、張丕、李少直自蜀還，造喻以意，皆曰：「不敢二。」 乃用八百人自從，五百人為前軍。 既入，前軍呵護諸門。 造至，欲大宴，視聽事，曰：「此隘狹，不足饗士。」 更徙牙門。 坐定，將卒羅拜，徐曰：「吾欲聞新軍去主意，可悉前，舊軍無得進。」 勞問畢，就坐，酒行，從兵合，卒有覺者，欲引去，造傳言叱之，乃不敢動。 即問軍中殺絳狀，誌忠、丕夾階立，拔劍傳呼曰：「悉殺之！」 圍兵爭奮，皆斬首，凡八百余人。 親殺絳者，醢之； 號令者，殊死。 取百級祭絳，三十級祭死事官王景延等，余悉投之漢江。 監軍楊叔元擁造靴祈哀，造以兵衛出之。 詔流康州。 叔元，始激兵亂者也，人以造不戮為恨。 以功加檢校禮部尚書，賜萬縑賞其兵。
When mutiny broke out in the Xingyuan army and Li Jiang was killed, many said Zao could put down the revolt; Wenzong agreed and made him acting right attendant of scattered cavalry and military commissioner of Shannan West, with authority to act at discretion. The emperor worried about cost; Zao said, "The frontier garrisons are just returning—I need only a secret edict to command them, and that will be enough. The emperor agreed. He ordered Shence general Dong Zhongzhi, Hezhong general Wen Deyi, and Heyang general Liu Shihe to accompany Zao. The Xingyuan generals Wei Zhizhong, Zhang Pi, and Li Shaozhi were returning from Shu; when Zao explained his plan they all pledged, "We will not waver. He took eight hundred men with him, five hundred as vanguard. On entering, the vanguard secured every gate. Zao arrived intending a great feast, inspected the audience hall, and said, "This hall is too cramped to entertain the troops properly. They moved the gathering to the headquarters compound. When all were seated the troops bowed in ranks. Zao said deliberately, "I want to hear why the new troops mutinied—let them all come forward; the old troops must stay back. After the formal greetings they sat down and wine was served; Zao's escort closed in. Some mutineers sensed the trap and tried to leave, but Zao's runners shouted them down and they froze. He then demanded an account of Jiang's murder. Zhizhong and Pi stood on either side of the steps, drew their swords, and cried, "Kill them all! The surrounding troops fell upon them; more than eight hundred were beheaded. Those who had killed Jiang with their own hands were minced; those who had given the orders were executed without mercy. A hundred heads were offered to Jiang's spirit, thirty to officials who had died in the crisis such as Wang Jingyan, and the rest were thrown into the Han River. Army supervisor Yang Shuyuan clutched Zao's boots and pleaded for his life; Zao had guards escort him away. An edict exiled him to Kangzhou. Shuyuan had been the one who incited the mutiny, and many resented that Zao spared his life. For this service he was made acting minister of rites and given ten thousand bolts of silk to reward his men.
17
入為兵部侍郎，以病自言，出東都留守。 俄節度河陽。 奏復懷州古秦渠枋口堰，以溉濟源、河內、溫、武陟四縣田五千頃。 召為御史大夫。 方倚以相，會疾，不能朝，改禮部尚書。 卒，年七十，贈尚書右僕射。
He returned to court as vice minister of war, then citing illness became defender of the Eastern Capital. Soon afterward he was made military commissioner of Heyang. He petitioned to restore Huaizhou's ancient Qin canal and Fangkou weir, irrigating five thousand qing of farmland in Jiyuan, Henei, Wen, and Wuzhi. He was recalled as censor-in-chief. The emperor was about to make him chief minister when illness kept him from court; he was transferred to minister of rites instead. He died at seventy and was posthumously made right vice director of the Department of State Affairs.
18
兄邈，弟遜。 邈，長慶、大和中，累以拾遺、補闕召，不應。 遜嘗為邑宰，解印綬去。
His elder brother was Miao and his younger brother Xun. Miao was repeatedly summoned as reminder and supplementation censor during Changqing and Dahe but never accepted. Xun had once been a district magistrate but surrendered his seal and left office.
19
彥博裔孫廷筠，少敏悟，工為辭章，與李商隱皆有名，號「溫李」。 然薄於行，無檢幅。 又多作側辭艷曲，與貴胄裴諴、令狐滈等蒲飲狎昵。 數舉進士不中第。 思神速，多為人作文。 大中末，試有司，廉視尤謹，廷筠不樂，上書千余言，然私占授者已八人，執政鄙其為，授方山尉。 徐商鎮襄陽，署巡官，不得志，去歸江東。 令狐綯方鎮淮南，廷筠怨居中時不為助力，過府不肯謁。 丐錢揚子院，夜醉，為邏卒擊折其齒，訴於綯。 綯為劾吏，吏具道其汙行，綯兩置之。 事聞京師，廷筠遍見公卿，言為吏誣染。 俄而徐商執政，頗右之，欲白用。 會商罷，楊收疾之，遂廢卒。 本名岐，字飛卿。
Yanbo's descendant Wen Tingyun was clever as a youth and skilled at verse; he and Li Shangyin were famed together as "Wen and Li." But his conduct was loose and unrestrained. He wrote many sensual songs and caroused intimately with young nobles such as Pei Xian and Linghu Hao. He took the jinshi examination many times without success. His mind was extraordinarily quick, and he often ghost-wrote for others. Near the end of Dazhong the examination bureau screened candidates with unusual strictness; Tingyun was offended and submitted a thousand-word memorial, but eight candidates had already been privately promised posts, and the chief ministers, disgusted with him, made him marshal of Fangshan. Xu Shang, governing Xiangyang, made him a touring officer, but frustrated, he left for the lower Yangtze. Linghu Tao was then governing Huainan; Tingyun resented that Tao had not helped him when at court, and when passing his headquarters refused to call on him. While begging money at the Yangzi depot he got drunk one night and patrol guards broke his teeth; he appealed to Tao. Tao had the guards prosecuted; they detailed Tingyun's misconduct, but Tao let the matter drop both times. When word reached the capital, Tingyun visited every senior official claiming the guards had framed him. Soon Xu Shang came to power, favored him, and meant to recommend him for office. But Shang fell from power, Yang Shou loathed him, and he died in obscurity. His original name was Qi; his courtesy name was Feiqing.
20
弟廷皓，咸通中，署徐州觀察使崔彥曾幕府。 龐勛反，以刃脅廷皓，使為表求節度使，廷皓紿曰：「表聞天子，當為公信宿思之。」 勛喜。 歸與妻子決，明日復見，勛索表，倨答曰：「我豈以筆硯事汝邪？ 其速殺我。」 勛熟視笑曰：「儒生有膽邪，吾動眾百萬，無一人操檄乎！」 囚之，更使周重草表。 彥曾遇害，廷皓亦死，詔贈兵部郎中。
His younger brother Tinghao, during Xiantong, joined the staff of Cui Yanzeng, observation commissioner of Xuzhou. When Pang Xun rebelled he forced Tinghao at swordpoint to draft a petition for a military commission; Tinghao stalled him, saying, "Once the petition reaches the emperor I will think it over for a night or two on your behalf. Xun was pleased. He went home to bid his family farewell; the next day, when Xun demanded the petition, he answered coldly, "Do you think I would serve you with pen and ink? Kill me at once. Xun stared at him and laughed, "A scholar with guts! I command a million men—has no one among them taken up a brush?" He imprisoned Tinghao and had Zhou Chong write the petition instead. When Yanzeng was killed, Tinghao died as well; the court posthumously made him a director in the Ministry of War.
21
皇甫無逸，字仁儉，京兆萬年人。 父誕，隋并州總管府司馬，漢王諒反，逼之不從，見殺。 無逸在長安，聞變即號慟，人問故，對曰：「吾父生平重節義，必無茍免者。 頃訃至，果然。 時五等廢，煬帝嘉誕忠，特封無逸平輿侯，而贈誕柱國、弘義郡公。
Huangfu Wuyi, courtesy name Renjian, came from Wannian in the capital district. His father Dan was marshal of the Bingzhou governorate under the Sui; when Prince Han Liang rebelled he was pressed to join but refused and was executed. Wuyi was in Chang'an; when he heard the news he broke into mourning wails. Asked why, he said, "My father prized integrity all his life—he would never save himself at the cost of honor. Soon the death notice arrived, and it was exactly as he had said. The five noble ranks had been abolished, but Emperor Yang honored Dan's loyalty by specially enfeoffing Wuyi as Marquis of Pingyu and posthumously making Dan a pillar of state and Duke of Hongyi.
22
無逸歷淯陽太守，治為天下最，再遷右武衛將軍。 帝幸江都，詔居守洛陽。 帝被殺，乃與段達、元文都立越王侗。 及王世充篡，棄母妻，斬關自歸。 追騎及，無逸顧曰：「吾有死，終不能同爾為逆。」 解金帶投之地，曰：「以與爾，無相困。」 騎爭下取，由是獲免。
Wuyi served as prefect of Yuyang, where his administration was ranked the best in the empire; he was twice promoted to general of the right martial guard. When the emperor went to Jiangdu, Wuyi was ordered to remain and guard Luoyang. After the emperor was murdered, he joined Duan Da and Yuan Wendu in enthroning Prince Yue Tong. When Wang Shichong seized power, he abandoned his mother and wife, broke through the passes, and fled back to Tang. Pursuers caught up; Wuyi turned and said, "I am ready to die—I will never join you in treason. He unbuckled his gold belt and threw it down, saying, "Take this and leave me be." The riders dismounted to grab the belt, and he escaped.
23
高祖以無逸本隋勛舊，尊遇之，拜刑部尚書，封滑國公。 歷陜東道行臺民部尚書，遷御史大夫。 時蜀新定，吏多橫恣，人不聊，詔無逸持節巡撫，得承制除吏。 既至，黜貪暴，用廉善，法令嚴明，蜀人以安。
Gaozu, knowing Wuyi as an old Sui loyalist, treated him with honor, made him minister of justice, and enfeoffed him as Duke of Huaguo. He served as minister of the civil branch on the Shandong East headquarters, then became censor-in-chief. Shu had just been pacified, but officials were brutal and the people suffered; Wuyi was sent with imperial credentials to tour the region and given authority to appoint and dismiss officials. On arrival he removed the corrupt and violent, promoted the honest, enforced the law strictly, and brought peace to Shu.
24
皇甫希仁，憸人也，誣告無逸為母故陰交世充，帝判其詐，斬希仁，遣給事中李公昌馳諭。 又有告無逸交通蕭銑者，時無逸與行臺僕射竇璡不協，因表自陳，並上璡罪。 有詔劉世龍、溫彥博按之，無狀，遂斬告者而黜璡。 及還，帝勞曰：「比多譖毀，但以正直為佞人憎爾。」 無逸頓首謝，帝曰：「卿無負，何所謝？」
Huangfu Xiren, a schemer, falsely accused Wuyi of secret dealings with Shichong because of his mother; the emperor saw through the fraud, executed Xiren, and sent Li Gongchang posthaste to reassure Wuyi. Another accused him of colluding with Xiao Xian; Wuyi was then at odds with headquarters vice director Dou Jin and memorialized in his own defense while also reporting Jin's offenses. Liu Shilong and Wen Yanbo were ordered to investigate; finding no evidence, the court executed the accuser and demoted Jin. On his return the emperor consoled him, saying, "You have been slandered often—straightforward men are always hated by schemers. Wuyi kowtowed in thanks; the emperor said, "You have done nothing wrong—why thank me?"
25
拜民部尚書，出為同州刺史，徙益州大都督府長史。 所至輒閉閤不通賓客，左右無敢出入者； 所須皆市易它境。 嘗按部，宿民家，鐙炷盡，主人將續進，無逸抽佩刀斷帶為炷，其廉介類如此。 然過自畏慎，每上表疏，讀數十猶懼未審，使者上道，追省再三乃得遣。 母在長安疾篤，太宗命馳驛召還承問，憂悸不能食，道病卒。 贈禮部尚書，謚曰孝。 王珪駁曰：「無逸入蜀，不能與母俱，留卒京師，子道未足稱，不可謂孝。」 乃更謚良。
He was made minister of the civil branch, then prefect of Tongzhou, and later chief administrator of the Yizhou governorate. Wherever he served he shut his doors to visitors, and his attendants dared not come and go freely; everything he needed he bought from other districts. Once while on tour he stayed in a commoner's home; when the lamp went out and the host was about to relight it, Wuyi cut his belt with his dagger for a wick—his integrity ran to such lengths. Yet he was excessively cautious: he would read each memorial dozens of times before sending it, and even after the courier had left would recall and review it again and again. When his mother fell gravely ill in Chang'an, Taizong ordered him home by express courier; stricken with grief he could not eat and died on the road. He was posthumously made minister of rites with the posthumous name Xiao (Filial). Wang Gui objected, "Wuyi went to Shu without his mother and left her to die in the capital—his conduct as a son does not merit praise; he cannot be called filial. His posthumous name was changed to Liang (Good).
26
李襲誌，字重光。 其先本隴西狄道人，五世祖避地，更為金州安康人。 仕隋始安郡丞。 大業末，盜賊起，襲誌傾私產募士，得三千人，乘城拒盜，蕭銑、林士弘屢攻之不下。 聞煬帝喪，乃與士民縞素三日臨，或說曰：「公臨郡久，士大夫悅向，蠻夷畏威，雖曰隋臣，實君長也。 今四海分裂，自王者非一姓，宜遂據嶺表，取百粵，豈遽不若尉佗乎？」 襲誌曰：「吾世隋臣，今江都雖淪，宗社尚有奉，諸君當相與戮力刷仇恥，豈怙亂圖不義哉？ 吾寧蹈忠死，不逆節以生，尉佗不足為吾法也。」 欲斬說者，眾諫，乃止。 遂固守凡二年，力窮援絕，為銑所陷，偽署工部尚書、桂州總管。
Li Xizhi, whose courtesy name was Chongguang. His family originally came from Didao in Longxi; five generations back an ancestor fled turmoil and settled in Ankang, Jinzhou. Under the Sui he served as assistant prefect of Shian. Near the end of Daye, when bandits rose, Xizhi spent his private fortune to raise three thousand men, held the walls against them, and repelled repeated attacks by Xiao Xian and Lin Shihong. When news came of Emperor Yang's death, he and the local elite mourned in white for three days. Someone urged him, "You have ruled here long; the gentry follow you and the tribes fear you—you are a true lord in all but name. The realm is divided; many claim kingship. You should hold Lingnan and take the Hundred Yue—why should you rank below Zhao Tuo? Xizhi replied, "My family has served the Sui for generations. Though Jiangdu has fallen, the dynasty still has a claimant—you should join me in avenging this shame, not profit from chaos. I would rather die loyal than live in rebellion—Zhao Tuo is no model for me." He meant to execute the adviser, but the crowd dissuaded him and he desisted. He held out for two years until strength and supplies failed; Xiao Xian captured him and gave him the false titles of minister of works and military governor of Guizhou.
27
武德初，高祖賜書，命其子玄嗣召之。 襲誌約嶺南酋永平郡守李光度潛圖歸國。 帝復以書諭曰：「公朕之宗，不可與異姓比，宜及子弟並豫宗正屬籍。」 乃銑平，嶺南六十余州皆送款，襲誌誘而致雲。 趙郡王孝恭承制授桂州總管。 五年來朝，進柱國，封始安郡公、江州都督。 後討輔公祏，為水軍總管，轉桂州都督。 襲誌守桂二十八年，政尚清省，南荒便之。 表請入朝，以光祿大夫、汾州刺史致仕，卒。
Early in Wude, Gaozu wrote ordering his son Xuansi to summon him. Xizhi conspired with Li Guangdu, prefect of Yongping and a Lingnan leader, to return to Tang allegiance. The emperor wrote again, "You are of my clan, not to be ranked with outsiders; you and your sons should be entered in the imperial clan registers. When Xiao Xian fell, more than sixty Lingnan prefectures submitted, largely through Xizhi's persuasion. Prince Xiaogong of Zhao commissioned him military governor of Guizhou. In the fifth year he came to court, was made pillar of state, enfeoffed as Duke of Shian, and appointed military governor of Jiangzhou. Later, campaigning against Fu Gongshi, he commanded the naval forces, then returned as military governor of Guizhou. Xizhi governed Guizhou for twenty-eight years with a spare, honest administration that benefited the southern frontier. He petitioned to come to court, retired as grand master for splendid happiness and prefect of Fenzhou, and died.
28
弟襲譽，字茂實，通敏有識度。 仕隋為冠軍府司兵。 陰世師輔代王守京師也，三輔盜螘聚，襲譽請以兵據永豐倉，發粟賑窮乏，出庫物賞戰士，馳檄郡縣，共逐捕賊。 世師不從。 乃求出募山南兵，至漢中，高祖已定長安，召授太府少卿、安康郡公。
His younger brother Xiyu, courtesy name Maoshi, was clever and far-sighted. Under the Sui he served as quartermaster of the Champion General's staff. While Yin Shishi was helping the Prince of Dai defend Chang'an, rebels swarmed through the capital region like ants. Xiyu proposed seizing Yongfeng Granary with troops, issuing grain to the destitute, distributing storehouse goods to reward the soldiers, and sending urgent dispatches to the commanderies and counties to join in hunting down the bandits. Shishi refused to act on it. He then obtained permission to raise troops in the southern mountains, but by the time he reached Hanzhong the emperor had already taken Chang'an. Xiyu was summoned and made Vice Minister of the Imperial Granary and Duke of Ankang.
29
伐王世充也，拜潞州總管。 時突厥已和親，又通使世充，襲譽捕斬之。 詔委典運，以饟東軍。 擢累揚州大都督府長史、江南巡察大使，多所黜陟。 揚州，江、吳大都會，俗喜商賈，不事農； 襲譽為引雷陂水，築句城塘，溉田八百頃，以盡地利，民多歸本。 召為太府卿。
During the campaign against Wang Shichong, he was appointed military governor of Lu Prefecture. The Turks had already made peace with the Tang through marriage, yet they also sent envoys to Wang Shichong. Xiyu seized the envoys and beheaded them. He was ordered to oversee logistics and provision the eastern armies. He rose to become chief administrator of Yangzhou and commissioner for inspecting the Jiangnan circuit, promoting and dismissing numerous officials. Yangzhou was the great commercial hub of the lower Yangtze, where the people favored trade over farming. He channeled water from Lei Marsh, built the Jucheng reservoir, and irrigated eight hundred qing of fields, bringing the land fully into use. Many people returned to farming. He was recalled to the capital as Minister of the Imperial Granary.
30
為人嚴愨，以威肅聞。 居家儉，厚於宗親，祿稟隨多少散之。 以余資寫書，罷揚州，書遂數事載。 嘗謂子孫曰：「吾性不喜財，遂至窶乏。 然負京有賜田十頃，能耕之，足以食； 河內千樹桑，事之可以衣； 江都書，力讀可進求宦。 吾歿後，能勤此，無資於人矣。」 遷涼州都督，改同州刺史。 坐在涼州以私憾杖殺番禾丞劉武，當死，廢為民，流泉州，卒。
He was stern and disciplined, renowned for his formidable bearing. He lived frugally at home but was generous to his kin, sharing his salary and grain allowances with them as soon as he received them. He used his spare income to copy books; by the time he left Yangzhou, his library filled several cartloads. He once told his descendants, "I have never cared for money, and so I have ended up poor. Yet near the capital I own ten qing of granted land. If you farm it diligently, you will have enough to eat. In Henei there are a thousand mulberry trees; work them and you will have clothes. The books I left at Jiangdu—study them hard and you can make your way in official life. After I am gone, if you work at these three things, you will never need to depend on anyone. He was made protector-general of Liangzhou and later governor of Tong Prefecture. He was found guilty of beating to death Fanhe Assistant Magistrate Liu Wu over a private grievance while serving in Liangzhou. Sentenced to death, he was instead stripped of rank, exiled to Quanzhou, and died there.
31
姜謨，秦州上邽人。 隋大業末，為晉陽長。 高祖在太原，謨前識之，謂所親曰：「隋政亂將亡，必有聖人受之。 唐公負王霸資度，其必撥亂得天下。」 乃深自結。 及大將軍府建，引為司功參軍，從平霍邑、絳郡，兵遂度河，謨部勒一夕濟，高祖嘆其略。 進平長安，除相國胄曹參軍、長道縣公。
Jiang Mo was a native of Shanggui in Qinzhou. At the end of the Sui, he served as magistrate of Jinyang. When the future emperor was stationed at Taiyuan, Mo, who had known him before, told his intimates, "The Sui regime is collapsing. A sage will surely receive the Mandate. The Duke of Tang has the makings of a true ruler. He will surely restore order and win the empire. He then attached himself to the duke with all his heart. When the Grand General's headquarters was set up, he was made registrar of works. He followed the campaigns that pacified Huoyi and Jiang Commandery, and when the army had to cross the Yellow River, Mo organized the crossing and got the entire force over in a single night. The emperor praised his resourcefulness. After Chang'an was taken, he was made aide in the chancellor's bureau of military staff and enfeoffed as Duke of Changdao.
32
子確。 確，字行本，以字顯。 貞觀中，為將作少匠，護作九成、洛陽宮及諸苑禦，以幹力稱，多所賚嘗，遊幸無不從，遷宣威將軍。 太宗選趫才，衣五色袍，乘六閑馬，直屯營，宿衛仗內，號曰「飛騎」，每出幸，即以從，拜行本左屯衛將軍，分典之。 高昌之役，為行軍副總管，出伊州，距柳谷百里，依山造攻械，增損舊法，械益精。 其處有漢班超紀功碑，行本磨去古刻，更刊頌陳國威靈。 遂與侯君集進平高昌，戰有功，璽書尉勞。 還，為金城郡公，賜奴婢七十人，帛百五十段。 帝將征高麗，行本諫未宜輕用師，不從。 至蓋牟城，中流矢，卒。 帝賦詩悼之，贈左衛大將軍、郕國公，謚曰襄，陪葬昭陵。 子簡嗣。 行本性恪敏。 所居官，雖祈寒烈暑無懈容，加有巧思，凡朝之營繕，所司必諮而後行。 魏徵見其倚昵，恐浸啟侈端，勸帝斥之，帝賴其強濟，不斥也。
His son was Que. Que, courtesy name Xingben, was known by that name. During the Zhenguan reign he served as vice director of palace construction, supervising work on the Jiucheng Palace, Luoyang Palace, and the imperial park residences. Renowned for his practical skill, he received many rewards and never missed an imperial tour. He was promoted to general who displays might. Taizong selected exceptional men, dressed them in robes of five colors, mounted them on fine horses, and billeted them in the camps as an inner guard called the Flying Cavalry, who accompanied him on every outing. Xingben was made general of the left garrison guard and placed in command of them. During the campaign against Gaochang he served as deputy commander, advancing from Yi Prefecture. A hundred li from Liugu Valley he built siege engines along the mountain slopes, improving on the old designs until the machines were exceptionally refined. There stood a Han stele commemorating Ban Chao's achievements. Xingben effaced the ancient inscription and had a new text carved praising the Tang state's power and glory. He then advanced with Hou Junji and pacified Gaochang, distinguishing himself in battle. The emperor sent a sealed letter of commendation. On his return he was enfeoffed as Duke of Jincheng and given seventy slaves and a hundred fifty bolts of silk. When the emperor prepared to campaign against Goguryeo, Xingben urged that the army not be committed lightly. The emperor did not heed him. At Gaimou City he was struck by an arrow and died. The emperor composed a poem in his memory and posthumously made him grand general of the left guard and Duke of Xing, with the posthumous name Xiang, and had him buried near Zhaoling. His son Jian succeeded him. Xingben was by nature diligent and alert. In every post he held he never slackened, whether in bitter cold or fierce heat. He was also ingenious in design, and for all palace construction and repairs the responsible offices had to consult him before proceeding. Wei Zheng saw how close he had grown to the emperor and feared this would encourage extravagance. He urged the emperor to dismiss Xingben, but the emperor valued his practical ability and kept him on.
33
子柔遠，美姿容，敷奏詳辯。 武後時，至左鷹揚衛將軍，攝地官尚書通事舍人、內供奉。 子皎、晦。
His son Rouyuan was handsome and delivered memorials with polished eloquence. Under Empress Wu he rose to general of the left hawk-and-banner guard, serving concurrently as master of communications to the minister of the earth bureau and as inner attendant. His sons were Jiao and Hui.
34
後將誅竇懷貞等，皎與密議，以功進殿中監、楚國公，食封四百戶。 議者譏短皎任遇太過，帝以其籓邸舊，思有以宣布之，乃下詔曰：「殿中監、楚國公皎，往事朕於籓國，雖彭祖同書，子陵共學，不過也。 朕嘗遊長楊、鄠、杜間，皎於時奉侍，數謂朕曰：『相王必登天位，王且儲副。』 朕叱而後止，復言於朕兄弟近戚。 語聞太上皇，太上皇奏之中宗，遣嗣虢王邕等鞫問，皎一意保護，罔或貳言。 宗楚客、紀處訥等請投皎炎荒，中宗特詔貶潤州長史。 專以忠力戴朕，謂天且有命，故履危蹈艱而無變焉。 朕既即位，又參誅奸臣，將厚以光寵，每所捴遜。 造膝匪躬，舉多規益。 而悠悠之談，醜正惡直，天下之人，其未及識皎之功，何見之異也？ 昔漢昭之任霍光，魏祖之明程昱，朕之不德，庶幾於此。 且否當其悔，則必滅乃宗； 泰至於亨，則所酬未補。 豈流言之聽，而厚德之忘哉？ 茍謀始有之，圖終可也。」 尋遷太常卿，監修國史。 弟晦又為吏部侍郎，有權寵，宋璟以為非久安策，請抑損之。
When the emperor later moved to execute Dou Huaizhen and his faction, Jiao took part in the secret planning. For his service he was made director of the palace directorate and Duke of Chu, with a fief of four hundred households. Critics complained that Jiao had been favored too lavishly. Because he was an old companion from the prince's household, the emperor wished to make his merits plain and issued an edict: "Director of the palace directorate and Duke of Chu Jiao served me in my princely days. Our bond was no greater than that of Pengzu studying the same texts or of Ziling as a fellow student. When I once traveled between Changyang, E, and Du, Jiao attended me and repeatedly said, 'The Prince of Xiang will surely take the throne, and you will be crown prince.' I rebuked him and he stopped, but he went on saying the same to my brothers and close kin. Word reached the retired emperor, who reported the matter to Zhongzong. Zhongzong sent the heir to the Prince of Guo, Yong, and others to interrogate Jiao, but Jiao steadfastly shielded me and never wavered in his testimony. Zong Chuke, Ji Chuna, and others urged that Jiao be banished to the southern wilds, but Zhongzong issued a special edict demoting him only to chief administrator of Run Prefecture. He devoted himself wholly to supporting me, believing Heaven had ordained my rise, and so faced danger and hardship without faltering. After I took the throne he again helped destroy treacherous ministers. I meant to reward him lavishly, but he declined every honor I offered. He came to my side without thought for himself, and most of what he offered were useful remonstrances. Yet idle gossip slanders the upright and hates the honest. The people of the realm have not yet grasped Jiao's merits—why should their judgment differ from mine? Han Zhao entrusted Huo Guang; Cao Cao recognized Cheng Yu's worth. In my lesser way, I hope I may do the same. When obstruction meets its hour of regret, an entire clan is destroyed. When great peace gives way to flourishing, the reward can never fully repay the debt. Shall I heed idle rumor and forget deep obligation? If the beginning is planned well, the end may be secured. Soon afterward he was made minister of ceremonies and put in charge of compiling the national history. His younger brother Hui also served as vice minister of personnel and wielded great influence. Song Jing regarded this as unsound for the long term and urged that their power be curbed.
35
開元五年，下詔放歸田裏，使自娛。 久之，復為秘書監。 十年，坐泄禁中語，為嗣濮王嶠所劾，敕中書門下究狀。 嶠亦王守一姻家，中書令張嘉貞陰希其意，傅致皎獄。 詔免殊死，杖之，流欽州。 道病死，年五十。 親厚坐謫死者數人，世以為冤。 時源乾曜方侍中，不能正，為人所譏詆。 帝後思皎舊勛，令遞柩還，以禮葬之，存問其家，追贈澤州刺史。 後以子尚主，更贈吏部尚書，仍賜封二百戶為祠享費。
In the fifth year of Kaiyuan an edict sent them back to their home estates to live at leisure. After some time Jiao was again made director of the palace library. In the tenth year he was charged with leaking palace secrets after being impeached by the heir to the Prince of Pu, Qiao. The emperor ordered the secretariat and chancellery to investigate. Qiao was also related by marriage to Wang Shouyi. Chief minister Zhang Jiazhen secretly wished to please him and manufactured charges to imprison Jiao. An edict spared him from death, had him beaten, and exiled him to Qin Prefecture. He died of illness on the road to exile, aged fifty. Several of his close associates died as a result of the purge, and the world regarded it as a grave injustice. Yuan Qianyao was then serving as palace attendant but could not set matters right, and was widely criticized. The emperor later remembered Jiao's old service, had his coffin brought back, buried him with full honors, sent condolences to his family, and posthumously made him governor of Ze Prefecture. Later, when his son married an imperial princess, Jiao was further posthumously made minister of personnel, and a fief of two hundred households was granted to support his family's ancestral rites.
36
故事，太常職奉陵廟。 開元末，濮陽王徹為宗正卿，有寵，始請宗正奉陵。 天寶中，張垍以主婿任太常，故復舊。 及慶初敗，又以陵廟歸宗正雲。
By precedent the minister of ceremonies was responsible for tending the imperial tombs and ancestral temples. At the end of the Kaiyuan era the Prince of Puyang, Che, served as director of the imperial clan and was in favor. He first petitioned that the clan directorate take charge of the tombs. During the Tianbao era Zhang Yan, as an imperial son-in-law, served as minister of ceremonies, and the old arrangement was restored. When Qingchu fell from power, responsibility for the tombs and temples was again returned to the imperial clan directorate.
37
晦，起家蒲州參軍，累為高陵令，治有聲，遷長安令，人畏愛之。 開元初，擢御史中丞。 先是，永徽、顯慶時，御史不拜宰相，銜命使四方者，廷中揖見，後稍屈下。 至晦，獨徇舊體，謂御史曰：「不如故事，且奏譴公等。」 由是臺儀復振。 轉太常少卿。
Hui began as an aide in Pu Prefecture and rose to magistrate of Gaoling, where his administration won renown. He was then made magistrate of Chang'an, and the people both feared and loved him. At the beginning of the Kaiyuan era he was promoted to vice censor-in-chief. Earlier, during the Yonghui and Xianqing reigns, censors did not bow to chancellors, and envoys commissioned to the provinces met them with a bow in court. Later this ceremony was gradually diminished. Hui alone upheld the old protocol. He told the censors, "If you do not follow precedent, I shall memorialize the throne to reprimand you. The censorate's dignity was thereby restored. He was transferred to vice minister of ceremonies.
38
時國馬乏，晦請以詔書市馬六胡州，率得馬三千，署遊擊將軍，詔可。 閑廄乃稍備。 除黃門侍郎，辭不拜，改兵部。 滿歲，為吏部侍郎，主選。 曹史嘗請托為奸，前領選者周棘扈籓，檢窒內外，猶不禁。 至晦，悉除之，示無防限，然處事精明，私相屬諉，罪輒得，皆以為神。 始，晦革舊示簡，廷議恐必敗，既而贓賕路塞，而流品有敘，眾乃伏。 皎被放，晦亦左除宗正卿。 貶春州司馬，徙海州刺史，卒。
At that time the imperial stables were depleted. Hui petitioned to purchase horses in the Six Hu prefectures by imperial edict and ultimately obtained three thousand head. He was appointed general of mobile striking forces, and the edict was approved. The imperial stables were gradually brought back to strength. He was appointed vice minister of the yellow gate but declined the post and was transferred to the ministry of war. When his term expired he was made vice minister of personnel and placed in charge of official appointments. The bureau clerks habitually traded favors for illicit gain. Previous directors of selection, such as Zhou Ji, had sealed the office inside and out, yet still could not stop it. Hui dismissed them all and appeared to impose no restrictions at all. Yet he handled matters with such precision that whenever anyone tried to solicit a favor in private, the offense was immediately uncovered. Everyone regarded him as uncanny. At first, when Hui reformed the old system and appeared lenient, court opinion feared he would fail. Yet bribery was soon cut off, appointments were made in proper order, and everyone submitted to his judgment. When Jiao was dismissed, Hui was also demoted to director of the imperial clan. He was demoted to military adjutant of Chun Prefecture, then transferred to governor of Hai Prefecture, where he died.
39
崔善為，貝州武城人。 祖颙，為魏散騎侍郎。 善為巧於歷數，仕隋，調文林郎。 督工徒五百營仁壽宮，總監楊素索簿閱實，善為執板暗唱，無一差謬，素大驚。 自是四方有疑獄，悉令按訊，皆究其情。 仁壽中，遷樓煩司戶書佐，高祖為太守，尤禮接。
Cui Shanwei was a native of Wucheng in Beizhou. His grandfather Yong served the Northern Wei as attendant cavalier. Shanwei was skilled in calendrical science. He served the Sui and was appointed gentleman of the forest of literature. He supervised five hundred laborers building Renshou Palace. When the chief supervisor Yang Su demanded the account books for inspection, Shanwei held the tally board and recited every entry from memory without a single error. Yang Su was astonished. From then on, whenever a doubtful case arose anywhere in the realm, he was ordered to investigate it, and he always traced the matter to its root. During the Renshou era he was made clerk of the household registry in Loufan. The future emperor was then prefect there and treated him with exceptional courtesy.
40
善為見隋政日紊，密勸高祖圖天下。 及兵起，署大將軍府司戶參軍，封清河縣公。 擢累尚書左丞，用清察稱。 諸曹史惡之，以其短而傴，嘲曰：「曲如鉤，例封侯。」 欲沮罷所任。 帝聞，勉之曰：「昔齊末奸吏歌斛律明月，而高緯暗不察，至滅其家。 朕雖不德，幸免是。」 因下令購謗者，謗乃止。 傅仁均撰《戊寅歷》，李淳風詆其疏，帝令善為考二家得失，多所裁正。
Seeing the Sui regime grow daily more corrupt, Shanwei secretly urged the future emperor to seize the empire. When the rebellion began he was made staff administrator of the household on the grand general's staff and enfeoffed as Duke of Qinghe. He rose through several posts to left vice director of the Department of State Affairs, famed for his rigorous, clear-eyed administration. The bureau clerks disliked him and mocked his short, hunched frame with the jingle, "Bent like a hook—still gets a marquis's look. They hoped to drive him from office. The emperor heard and consoled him, saying, "At the end of Northern Qi, corrupt officials slandered the general Hulu Guang while Emperor Gao Wei failed to see through it—and the loyal man's house was destroyed. I may lack their virtue, but at least I am not blind to such slander. He then offered a reward for informers against the mockers, and the ridicule stopped. When Fu Renjun compiled the Wuyin Calendar and Li Chunfeng attacked its flaws, the emperor had Shanwei compare both systems and corrected many errors.
41
貞觀初，為陜州刺史。 時議，戶猥地狹者徙寬鄉，善為奏：「畿內戶眾，而丁壯悉籍府兵，若聽徙，皆在關東，虛近實遠，非經通計。」 詔可。 歷大理、司農二卿，坐與少卿不平，出為秦州刺史。 卒，贈刑部尚書，謚曰忠。
Early in Zhenguan he served as prefect of Shaanzhou. The court was debating relocating families from overcrowded districts; Shanwei argued, "The capital region is densely settled and its men are all registered as militia—moving them east of the passes would hollow out our defenses. That is unsound policy. The emperor approved his memorial. He served as minister of justice and minister of agriculture; after a dispute with a vice minister he was sent out as prefect of Qinzhou. He died and was posthumously made minister of justice with the posthumous name Zhong (Loyal).
42
初，天下既定，群臣居喪者皆奪服，善為建言其敝。 武德二年，始許終喪，然猶時以權迫不能免，如房玄齡、褚遂良者眾矣。
When the empire was first pacified, ministers in mourning were forced back to office; Shanwei memorialized against the practice. In 619 full mourning was finally allowed, yet many were still pressed back to duty by political necessity, among them Fang Xuanling and Chu Suiliang.
43
李嗣真，字承胄，趙州柏人人。 多藝數，舉明經，中之，累調許州司功參軍。 賀蘭敏之修撰東臺，表嗣真直弘文館，與學士劉獻臣、徐昭皆少有名，號「三少」。 高宗東封還，詔贈孔子太師，命有司為祝，司文郎中雷少潁文不稱旨，更命嗣真，成不淹頃，帝覽稱善，詔加兩階。 敏之等倚恩自如，嗣真不喜，求補義烏令。 敏之敗，學士多連坐，嗣真獨免。
Li Sizhen, courtesy name Chenghou, came from Bo in Zhao Prefecture. Skilled in many arts and in calculation, he passed the Mingjing examination and served repeatedly as staff administrator of merit in Xuzhou. When Helan Minzhi directed compilation at the Eastern Terrace he recommended Sizhen for the Hongwen Academy; Sizhen, Liu Xianchen, and Xu Zhao were famed young scholars known as the Three Young Men. After Gaozong's return from the eastern feng rites, the court posthumously honored Confucius as grand preceptor and ordered a prayer composed; Lei Shaoying's draft failed to please, so Sizhen was assigned the task and finished almost instantly; the emperor praised it and promoted him two ranks. Minzhi and his circle abused imperial favor; disliking them, Sizhen asked to be made magistrate of Yiwu. When Minzhi fell, many academicians were punished with him; Sizhen alone was spared.
44
調露中，為始平令，風化大行。 時章懷太子作《寶慶曲》，閱於太清觀，嗣真謂道人劉概、輔儼曰：「宮不召商，君臣乖也； 角與徵戾，父子疑也。 死聲多且哀，若國家無事，太子任其咎。」 俄而太子廢，概等奏其言，擢太常丞，知五禮儀，封常山縣子。 嗣真常曰：「隋樂府有《堂堂曲》，明唐再受命，比日有『側堂堂，橈堂堂』之謠，側，不正也，橈，危也。 皇帝病日侵，事皆決中宮，持權與人，收之不易。 宗室雖眾，居中制外，勢且不敵。 諸王殆為後所蹂踐，吾見難作不久矣。」 太常缺黃鐘，鑄不能成，嗣真居崇業裏，疑土中有之，弗得其所。 道上逢一車，有鐸聲甚厲，嗣真曰：「宮聲也。」 市以歸，振於空地，若有應者，掘之得鐘，眾樂遂和。 嘗引工展器於廷，後奇其風度應對，召相王府參軍閻玄靜圖之，吏部郎中楊誌誠為贊，秘書郎殷仲容書，時以為寵。
During Tiaolu he was magistrate of Shiping, where he won renown for transforming local customs. When Crown Prince Zhanghuai composed the Baojing Melody and it was performed at Taiqing Abbey, Sizhen told the Daoist priests Liu Kai and Fu Yan, "The palace mode never calls on shang—that means ruler and minister are estranged; jue and zhi clash—that means father and son are at odds. There are too many dying tones and they are mournful—if the realm stays quiet, the crown prince will pay for this. Soon the crown prince was deposed; Kai reported Sizhen's prophecy; he was promoted to vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, put in charge of the five rites, and enfeoffed as Viscount of Changshan. Sizhen often said, "The Sui court had a Tangtang melody heralding Tang's mandate; lately people sing 'sideways tangtang, tilting tangtang'—sideways means crooked rule, tilting means danger. The emperor grows sicker daily; the inner palace decides everything; once power is handed out, it is hard to reclaim. The imperial clan is numerous, but those who hold the center control the periphery—they cannot prevail. The princes will be crushed in what comes—I see calamity approaching soon. The Court of Imperial Sacrifices lacked a huangzhong bell and could not cast one; living in Chongye Lane, Sizhen suspected the bell lay buried nearby but could not locate it. On the road he heard a cart bell ring sharply and said, "That is the palace tone. He bought the bell, struck it in an open field, dug where it resonated, and unearthed the huangzhong; thereafter the court music was in tune. Once he displayed instruments for the court; the empress admired his bearing and had Yan Xuanjing paint his portrait, with an encomium by Yang Zhicheng and calligraphy by Yin Zhongrong—a mark of special favor.
45
永昌初，以右御史中丞知大夫事，請周、漢為二王後，詔可。 命巡撫河東，薦宋溫瑾、袁嘉祚、李日知，拔州縣職，皆至顯官。 來俊臣獄方熾，嗣真上書諫，以為「昔陳平事漢祖，謀疏楚君臣，行反間，項羽遂亡。 今殆有如平者謀陛下君臣，恐為社稷禍」。 不納。 出為潞州刺史。 俊臣誣以反，流藤州，久得還。 自筮死日，豫具棺斂，如言卒桂陽。 有詔州縣護喪還鄉里，贈濟州刺史，謚曰昭。
Early in Yongchang he served as right vice censor-in-chief in charge of censorate affairs, petitioned to restore the Zhou and Han as ritual successors to the Two Kings, and the edict was approved. Ordered to tour Hedong, he recommended Song Wenjin, Yuan Jiazuo, and Li Rizhi, elevating local officials who all rose to high office. As Lai Junchen's purges raged, Sizhen memorialized, "Chen Ping once served Han Gaozu by sowing discord among Xiang Yu's followers until Chu collapsed. Someone like Chen Ping may now be driving a wedge between Your Majesty and your ministers—I fear disaster for the realm." The memorial was ignored. He was sent out as prefect of Luzhou. Junchen framed him for treason and exiled him to Tengzhou; years later he was allowed to return. He divined the day of his death, prepared his coffin in advance, and died at Guiyang exactly as predicted. The court ordered his remains escorted home, posthumously made him governor of Jizhou, and gave him the posthumous name Zhao.
46
武後嘗問嗣真儲貳事，對曰：「程嬰、杵臼存趙氏孤，古人嘉之。」 後悟，中宗乃安。 神龍初，贈御史大夫。 所撰述尤多。
Empress Wu once asked him about the heir apparent; he answered, "Cheng Ying and Gongsun Chujiu saved the Zhao orphan—the ancients praised them for it. She later understood his meaning, and Zhongzong's position was secured. Early in Shenlong he was posthumously made censor-in-chief. He left a large body of writings.
47
時雍州人裴知古亦善樂律，長安中，為太樂令。 神龍元年正月，享太廟，樂作，知古密語萬年令元行沖曰：「金石諧婉，將有大慶，在唐室子孫乎！」 是月，中宗復位。 人有乘馬者，知古聞其嘶，乃曰：「馬鳴哀，主必墜死。」 見新婚者，聞佩聲，曰：「終必離。」 訪之，皆然。
At the time Pei Zhigu of Yong Prefecture was also skilled in music theory and served in Chang'an as director of the Grand Music Office. In the first month of Shenlong 1, during the ancestral rites at the Grand Temple, Zhigu whispered to Wannian magistrate Yuan Xingchong, "The bells and chimes sound harmonious—a great joy is coming; will it fall to Tang's own descendants? That same month Zhongzong was restored to the throne. Hearing a rider's horse neigh mournfully, he said, "That cry is a death omen—the rider will fall and die. Passing newlyweds, he heard their pendants chime and said, "They will not stay together." In every case inquiry proved him right.