Volume 99 Biographies 24: Li Gang, Li Daliang Family Descendent: Jiongxiu, Dai Zhouzhi: Zhide, Liu Ji, Cui Renshi and Grandson: Shi

李綱孫:安仁安靜李大亮兄子:道裕族孫:迥秀戴冑侄:至德劉洎附:樂彥瑋崔仁師孫:湜液澄

Li Gang (grandsons Anren and Anjing); Li Daliang (elder brother's son Daoyu, clansman grandson Jiongxiu); Dai Zhou (nephew Zhide); Liu Ji (with Yue Yanwei appended); Cui Renshi (grandsons Shi, Ye, and Cheng).

李綱，字文紀，觀州蓚人。少慷慨，尚風節。始名瑗，慕張綱為人，改焉。仕周為齊王憲參軍事。宣帝將殺憲，召僚屬誣左其罪，綱矢死無橈辭。及憲誅，露車載屍，故吏奔匿，綱撫棺號慟，為瘞訖，乃去。

Li Gang, courtesy name Wénjì, came from Liao in Guanzhou. From youth he was generous and high-minded, and he prized moral integrity. He had originally been named Yuán; admiring Zhang Gang's conduct, he took Gang as his name. Under the Northern Zhou he served on the staff of Prince Xian of Qi. When Emperor Xuan prepared to execute Xian, he called in the staff to fabricate charges against him; Gang vowed he would die before he would speak a crooked word. After Xian was put to death, his body was hauled on an open cart; former officials scattered in hiding, but Gang clung to the coffin and cried out in grief, saw to his burial, and only then left.

事隋為太子洗馬。太子勇宴宮臣，左庶子唐令則奏琵琶，又歌《武媚娘曲》。綱曰：「令則官調護，乃自比倡優，進淫聲，惑視聽，誠使上聞之，豈不為殿下累乎？臣請正其罪。」勇曰：「置之，我欲為樂耳！」後勇廢，文帝切讓，官屬無敢對，綱獨曰：「陛下不素教，故太子至此。太子資中人，得賢者輔而善，得不肖導而惡，奈何歌舞鷹犬纖兒使日侍側？何特太子罪邪？」帝曰：「以汝為洗馬，何不擇人？」綱曰：「臣非東宮得言者。」帝曰：「朕過矣！」擢尚書右丞。時楊素、蘇威用事，綱據正不詭迎隨，素等多憾。會大將軍劉方討林邑，素言林邑多珍貲，非綱不可任，遂署行軍司馬。方揣素指，數危辱之，幾殆。軍還，不得調。稍除齊王府司馬。復詔出南海，應接林邑。久不召，乃身入奏。威劾綱擅去所部，以屬吏。會赦免，屏居鄠。大業末，賊帥何潘仁劫為長史。

Under the Sui he held the post of Mentor of the Heir Apparent. When Crown Prince Yong feasted his palace officials, the Left Vice Director Tang Lingze played the pipa and sang "The Song of Lady Wu Mei." Gang said, "Lingze's duty is to guide and protect you, yet he acts like a performer, offers lewd music, and corrupts what people see and hear—if the emperor learns of this, will it not reflect badly on you, Your Highness? I ask that he be punished for this offense." Yong replied, "Leave it—I only want my amusement!" After Yong was deposed, Emperor Wen sternly rebuked the staff, and no one dared answer except Gang, who said, "Your Majesty never taught him consistently, and that is why the crown prince has come to this pass. The crown prince is an ordinary man by nature: with worthy advisers he improves, with unworthy ones he goes astray—so why let singers, dancers, hunting birds and dogs, and frivolous companions wait on him day after day? Why blame the crown prince alone?" The emperor said, "I appointed you his mentor—why did you not choose better companions for him?" Gang replied, "I was not someone the Eastern Palace would heed." The emperor said, "The fault is mine!" He was promoted to Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. Yang Su and Su Wei were then in control of affairs; Gang stood on principle and would neither bend nor court them, and they came to resent him deeply. When the great general Liu Fang marched against Linyi, Su claimed the region was rich in treasure and that only Gang was fit for the assignment, and Gang was made campaign marshal on the expedition. Fang understood what Su wanted and repeatedly threatened and humiliated him, nearly bringing about his death. After the army returned, he was given no new appointment. He was eventually made vice commander on the staff of the Prince of Qi's household. He was again ordered south to the coast to handle relations with Linyi. When he was not recalled for a long time, he went to the capital in person to report. Su charged Gang with abandoning his jurisdiction without leave and turned him over to local authorities. He was spared by a general amnesty and lived in retirement at E. Near the end of the Daye era, the rebel leader He Panren took him captive and compelled him to serve as chief clerk.

高祖平京師，綱上謁，授丞相府司錄參軍，封新昌縣公，領選舉。受禪，拜禮部尚書兼太子詹事。齊王元吉為并州總管，縱左右攘奪，民愁苦，宇文歆諫，不聽，騰狀顯言，王坐免。俄而復留，下危惴。劉武周入太原，元吉懼，棄軍奔京師，并州陷。帝怒，謂綱曰：「王年少，不習事，故以歆及竇誕佐之。太原，興王地，兵十萬，粟支十年，奈何一旦棄去？歆建此計，我當斬於軍。」綱曰：「王過惡，誕養成之。歆事王淺，有闕必諍。今賴歆計，使陛下不失愛子，且有功，又可加罪乎？」翼日，帝悟，引綱升禦榻，勞曰：「卿不言，我幾濫罰。」於是釋歆，然猶貸誕也。帝以舞工安叱奴為散騎常侍，綱諫曰：「周家均工樂胥不得預士伍，雖復妙如師襄，才如子野，皆繼世不易業。故魏武使禰衡擊鼓，衡先解朝衣，曰：'不敢以先王法服為伶人衣。 '齊高緯封曹妙達為王，以安馬駒開府，有國家者，可為鑒戒。今新造天下，開太平之基，功臣賞未及遍，高才猶伏草茅，而先令舞胡鳴玉曳組，位五品，趨丹地，殆非創業垂統、貽子孫之道也。」帝不納。

After Gaozu took Chang'an, Gang presented himself and was made registrar in the chancellor's office, enfeoffed as Duke of Xinchang, and placed in charge of personnel selection. When Gaozu accepted the abdication, Gang was appointed Minister of Rites and concurrently steward of the crown prince. Prince Yuánjí of Qi was regional commander at Bingzhou and allowed his followers to loot freely, bringing the people to misery; Yuwen Xin remonstrated in vain and then submitted an open memorial; the prince was dismissed. Soon he was kept in the post again, and his subordinates were left in dread. When Liu Wuzhou took Taiyuan, Yuánjí panicked, abandoned his troops, and fled to the capital, and Bingzhou was lost. The emperor was furious and told Gang, "The prince is young and inexperienced, which is why I assigned Xin and Dou Yan to assist him. Taiyuan is where dynasties are founded—there were a hundred thousand troops and grain for ten years—how could it be thrown away overnight? Xin devised this plan; I should have him beheaded before the troops." Gang said, "The prince's misconduct was fostered by Yan. Xin had served the prince only a short time, yet whenever he saw a fault he spoke up. Thanks to Xin's counsel you have not lost a beloved son, and he even deserves credit—how can you punish him for that?" The next day the emperor saw his error, drew Gang onto the imperial couch, and said, "Had you not spoken, I would almost have punished the wrong man." Xin was released, though Yan was still let off. The emperor appointed the dancer An Chinu Regular Attendant; Gang objected: "In Zhou times, artisans and music officials were barred from the warrior and scholar ranks—even men as gifted as Master Xiang or Ziye inherited their craft and did not change their calling. That is why Cao Cao had Mi Heng beat the drum—Heng first stripped off his court robes and said he would not wear the ritual dress of former kings as a performer's costume. Gao Wei of Northern Qi made Cao Miaoda a prince and gave An Maju an honorary commandery—anyone who holds a state should take that as a warning. You have only just won the empire and begun the foundations of peace; meritorious men are not yet fully rewarded and able talent still waits in obscurity—yet a dancing foreigner is given jade pendants and official ribbons, fifth rank, and access to the scarlet hall. That is hardly how to build a dynasty and leave a worthy example to your heirs." The emperor would not listen.

綱在東宮，太子建成尤加禮，嘗游溫湯，綱疾不從。有進魚者，太子使膾之，唐儉、趙元楷自言其能。太子曰：「操刀膾鯉和鼎味，公等善之。若弼諧審諭，固屬綱矣。」遣使賜絹二百匹。後太子浸狎亡賴，猜間朝廷，綱頻諫不見聽，遂乞骸骨。帝罵曰：「卿為潘仁長史，而羞朕尚書邪？」綱頓首曰：「潘仁，賊也，志殘殺，然每諫輒止，為其長史，故無愧。陛下功成，厚自伐，臣言如持水內石，敢久為尚書乎？且臣事東宮，東宮又與臣忤，是以上印綬。」帝謝曰：「知公直士，幸卒輔吾兒。」乃拜太子少保，尚書、詹事如故。綱上書太子曰：「綱老矣，幸未就木，備位保傅，冀得效愚鄙。日殿下飲酒過量，非養生之道。凡為人子，務孝謹，以慰上心，不宜聽受邪說，與朝廷生槊間。」太子覽書不懌，所為益縱。綱悒悒不自賴，固請老，優詔解尚書。帝以綱隋名臣，手敕未嘗名。

While Gang served in the Eastern Palace, Crown Prince Jiancheng treated him with particular respect; on one visit to the hot springs the prince went without him because Gang was ill. When fish was brought in, the prince had it prepared as sashimi, and Tang Jian and Zhao Yuankai each boasted of his skill at the task. The prince said, "You are adept at wielding the knife, slicing carp, and seasoning the cauldron. When it comes to assisting and guiding policy, that is Gang's province." He sent a messenger with two hundred bolts of silk as a gift. Later the prince grew closer to ruffians and more suspicious of the court; Gang remonstrated again and again without being heard and asked to retire. The emperor berated him: "You were chief clerk to Panren—are you too proud to remain my minister?" Gang kowtowed and said, "Panren was a rebel bent on killing, yet he stopped whenever I remonstrated; as his chief clerk I have nothing to be ashamed of. Your Majesty's success is won, yet you congratulate yourself lavishly; my words are like pouring water on stone—how can I remain minister for long? Besides, I serve the Eastern Palace, and the crown prince is at odds with me—that is why I am returning my seal and ribbon." The emperor apologized: "I know you are an honest man; please stay and help my son to the end." He was appointed Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent while keeping his posts as minister and steward. Gang wrote to the prince: "I am old, and fortunate not yet to be in my coffin. In my post as your guardian I hope to offer what little wisdom I have. You drink too much each day, which is no way to preserve your health. As a son you should be filial and careful to comfort your father; you must not listen to wicked counsel and breed estrangement with the court." The prince read the letter with displeasure and behaved even more recklessly. Gang grew despondent and could no longer bear the post; he pressed to retire, and an edict graciously relieved him of the ministry. Because Gang was a renowned minister of the Sui, the emperor never used his personal name in handwritten edicts.

貞觀四年，復為少師。以足疾賜步輿，聽乘至閤，問以政事。詣東宮，太子承乾為拜，每聽政，必詔綱與房玄齡、王珪侍坐。嘗言曰：「托六尺之孤，寄百里之命，古人為難，綱以為易！」故發言陳事，毅然不可奪。及疾，帝遣玄齡至家存問。明年卒，年八十五，贈開府儀同三司，諡曰貞，太子為立碑。

In the fourth year of Zhenguan he was again appointed Junior Guardian. Because of a foot ailment he was given a sedan chair and allowed to ride to the palace gate, where the emperor consulted him on state affairs. When he visited the Eastern Palace, Crown Prince Chengan bowed to him; whenever the prince held court, Gang was always summoned to sit with Fang Xuanling and Wang Gui. He once said, "Entrusting an orphan not yet full grown and the fate of the realm—the ancients found that hard, but I find it easy!" So when he spoke on public matters, he was firm and could not be swayed. When he fell ill, the emperor sent Fang Xuanling to his home to inquire after his health. He died the following year at eighty-five; he was posthumously made Grand Marshal of the Palace with Three Excellencies honors, given the posthumous name Zhen, and the crown prince erected a stele in his memory.

初，齊王憲女嫠居，綱厚恤之。及卒，女被髮號哭，如喪其親然。綱在隋，宦不進，筮之得《鼎》。筮人曰：「君當為卿輔，然待易姓乃如志。仕不知退，折足為敗。」故綱雖顯于唐，數稱疾辭位云。孫安仁、安靜。

Earlier, a widowed daughter of Prince Xian of Qi had lived in hardship; Gang had supported her generously. When he died, she let down her hair and wailed as if she had lost a parent. Under the Sui, Gang's official career stalled; when he divined, he received the hexagram Ding (The Cauldron). The diviner said, "You are destined to serve as a chief minister, but you must wait until the dynasty changes before your wish is fulfilled. If you do not know when to retire from office, a broken foot will be your downfall." That is why, though eminent under Tang, Gang repeatedly pleaded illness to resign. His grandsons were Anren and Anjing.

孫安仁

Grandson Anren

安仁，永徽中為太子左庶子，太子忠廢還邸，寮屬奔散，獨安仁泣拜而去。終恒州刺史。

During Yonghui, Anren served as left vice director of the crown prince; when Prince Zhong was deposed and sent back to his residence, the staff fled—only Anren wept, bowed, and left. He ended his career as prefect of Hengzhou.

孫安靜

Grandson Anjing

安靜，天授中為右衛將軍。武氏革命，群臣皆勸進，安靜獨無所請。及收系獄，來俊臣問狀，安靜曰：「正以我唐舊臣，殺之可也。若詰其狀，吾誰欺？」俊臣誣殺之。會昌中，錄忠臣後，訪子孫已絕，乃贈安靜太子少師。自綱五世同居，安仁、安靜復以義烈聞，世稱李氏不衰。

During Tianshou, Anjing served as general of the Right Guards. When the Wu clan seized the throne, the courtiers all urged her to ascend; Anjing alone made no petition. When he was arrested and imprisoned, Lai Junchen interrogated him; Anjing said, "Kill me precisely because I am an old minister of Tang. If you press charges against me, whom would I deceive?" Junchen framed him and had him executed. During Huichang, when the court recorded descendants of loyal ministers, it found Anjing had no heirs left and posthumously granted him the title Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent. From Gang's time five generations of the family had lived together; Anren and Anjing won further renown for righteousness and loyalty, and people said the Li line would never fade.

李大亮

Li Daliang

李大亮，京兆涇陽人。祖琰，為魏度支尚書。大亮有文武才略，隋末，署龐玉行軍兵曹。李密寇東都，玉戰敗，大亮被禽。賊將張弼異之，就執百餘人皆死，獨釋大亮，引與語，遂定交。

Li Daliang came from Jingyang in Jingzhao. His grandfather Yan had been Minister of Revenue under Wei. Daliang had both literary and military gifts; at the end of the Sui he served on Pang Yu's campaign staff as army clerk. When Li Mi attacked the Eastern Capital, Pang Yu was defeated and Daliang was taken prisoner. The rebel general Zhang Bi was struck by him; of more than a hundred captives taken together, all were killed except Daliang, whom Bi released; they talked and became friends.

高祖入關，大亮自歸，授土門令。方歲饑，境多盜賊。大亮招亡散，撫貧瘠，賣所乘馬，稍稍資業之，勸墾田，歲大熟。間出擊盜，所至輒平。秦王行北境，下書獎勞，賜馬五乘，帛五十段。頃之，胡賊大至，大亮度不能拒，乃單馬詣營說豪帥，為分別禍福，賊眾感服，遂相率降。大亮殺所乘馬與之食，至步而返。帝聞之悅，擢金州總管府司馬。王弘烈據襄陽，詔大亮安撫樊、鄧，因圖之，進擊，下十餘城。遷安州刺史。復使徇廣州，至九江，會輔公祏反，以計禽其將張善安。公祏方圍猷州，刺史左難當固守，大亮率兵擊走之。遷越州都督。

When Gaozu entered the passes, Daliang submitted and was appointed magistrate of Tumen. Famine had struck the region, and bandits were numerous in the district. Daliang gathered refugees, comforted the destitute, sold his own horse to help them gradually establish livelihoods, urged them to reclaim farmland, and that year brought a great harvest. He also led raids against bandits and pacified every place he reached. When the Prince of Qin toured the northern frontier, he sent a letter of commendation and rewarded Daliang with five teams of horses and fifty bolts of silk. Soon barbarian raiders came in force; seeing he could not hold them off, Daliang rode alone to their camp, explained the consequences to the chiefs, and won them over so that they surrendered en masse. He slaughtered his own horse to feed them and walked home. The emperor was pleased and promoted him to campaign marshal at Jinzhou headquarters. Wang Honglie held Xiangyang; Daliang was ordered to pacify Fan and Deng and take him on, advancing to capture more than ten cities. He was transferred to prefect of Anzhou. He was sent again toward Guangzhou; at Jiujiang he met Fu Gongshi's rebellion and by strategy captured his general Zhang Shan'an. Gongshi was besieging Youzhou while Prefect Zuo Nandang held out; Daliang led troops and drove him off. He was made regional commander of Yuezhou.

貞觀初，徙交州，封武陽縣男。召授太府卿，復出涼州都督。嘗有台使見名鷹，諷大亮獻之。大亮密表曰：「陛下絕畋獵久矣，而使者求鷹。信陛下意邪，乃乖昔旨；如其擅求，是使非其才。」太宗報書曰：「有臣如此，朕何憂！古人以一言之重訂千金，今賜胡瓶一，雖亡千鎰，乃朕所自禦。」又賜荀悅《漢紀》，曰：「悅論議深博，極為政之體，公宜繹味之。」時突厥亡，帝遂欲懷四夷，諸部降者，人賜袍一領、帛五匹，首領拜將軍、中郎將，列五品者贏百員。又置降胡河南。詔大亮為西北道安撫大使，使以綏大度設、拓設、泥熟特勒及七姓種落之未附者，峙糧磧口賑其饑。大亮上言：「臣聞欲綏遠者必自近。中國，天下本根，四夷猶枝葉也。殘本根，厚枝葉，而曰求安，未之有也。屬者突厥傾國入朝，陛下不即俘江淮變其俗，而加賜物帛，悉官之，引處內地，豈久安計哉？今伊吾雖臣，遠在荒鹵。臣以為諸稱籓請附者，宜羈縻受之，使居塞外，畏威懷德，永為籓臣。謂之荒服者，故臣而不內，所謂行虛惠，收實福。河西積困夷狄，州縣蕭條，加因隋亂，殘耗已甚。臣愚願停招慰，省勞役，使邊人得就農畮，此中國利也。」帝納其計。

Early in Zhenguan he was posted to Jiaozhou and enfeoffed as Baron of Wuyang. He was recalled as Grand Steward of the Palace Treasury, then sent out again as regional commander of Liangzhou. Once a capital envoy saw a prized hawk and hinted that Daliang should present it to the throne. Daliang wrote a secret memorial: "Your Majesty has long renounced the hunt, yet this envoy asks for a hawk. If we trust your intent, this contradicts your former policy; if he sought it on his own, that would show he is unfit for his post." Taizong wrote back: "With a minister like you, what have I to fear! The ancients held a single word worth a thousand in gold; I send you one foreign flask—not worth a thousand yi, but something I have used myself." He also gave him Xun Yue's Hanji, saying, "Yue's arguments are deep and broad and get to the heart of governance—you should study them carefully." The Turks had fallen, and the emperor sought to win over the frontier peoples; each tribesman who submitted received a robe and five bolts of silk, chiefs were made generals or gentleman-cadets, and fifth-rank appointments exceeded a hundred. Surrendered barbarians were also settled south of the Yellow River. Daliang was made Pacification Commissioner of the Northwest Circuit to win over Dadu She, Tuo She, the Nishu Tegin, and unaffiliated tribes of the seven surnames, and to stock grain at Qikou to feed the hungry. Daliang memorialized: "I have heard that to pacify distant peoples one must begin at home. China is the root of the empire; the four barbarians are but branches and leaves. To wound the root while fattening the branches and then expect security has never worked. When the Turks came to court with their whole people, Your Majesty did not detain them on the Jiang-Huai to change their ways, but lavished gifts, made them all officials, and settled them inland—is that a plan for lasting peace? Yiwu may submit, but it lies far off in the wilderness. I believe those who declare themselves vassals should be received under loose control, kept beyond the frontier, awed by your might and drawn by your virtue, and kept forever as tributaries. The distant service means they submit as vassals but are not brought inside—offering nominal favor while gaining real benefit. Hexi had long suffered from barbarian raids; districts were desolate, and Sui's disorders had left the region badly depleted. I urge that we stop recruiting and reassuring them, lighten labor service, and let frontier people farm again—that would benefit China." The emperor adopted his plan.

八年，為劍南道巡省大使。會討吐谷渾，為河東道行軍總管，與李靖俱出北道，涉青海，觀河源，與虜遇蜀渾山，大戰，破之，俘其名王，獲雜畜數萬，進爵為公。拜右衛大將軍。晉王為皇太子，詔大亮兼右衛率，又兼工部尚書，身三職，宿衛兩宮。每番直，常假寐。帝勞曰：「公在，我得酣臥。」

In the eighth year he served as touring inspector of the Jiannan Circuit. During the campaign against Tuyuhun he was campaign commander on the Hedong route; with Li Jing he marched north, crossed Qinghai, saw the Yellow River's source, met the enemy at Shuhun Mountain, routed them, captured their princes and tens of thousands of livestock, and was raised to duke. He was appointed great general of the Right Guards. When the Prince of Jin became crown prince, Daliang was made concurrently commander of the Right Guards and Minister of Works—three posts at once—guarding both palaces. On each watch he would often doze. The emperor said, "With you on duty, I can sleep in peace."

十八年，幸洛陽，詔副房玄齡居守。玄齡稱「有王陵、周勃節，可倚大事」。俄寢疾，帝親和藥，驛賜之。臨終，表請罷遼東役；又言京師宗廟所在，願以關中為意。就稿，歎曰：「吾聞男子不死婦人手！」命屏左右，言終卒，年五十九。將斂，家無珠玉為含，惟貯米五斛、布三十端。帝哭為慟。贈兵部尚書、秦州都督，諡曰懿，陪葬昭陵。

In the eighteenth year the emperor went to Luoyang and left Daliang with Fang Xuanling to guard the capital. Fang Xuanling said he had the steadfastness of Wang Ling and Zhou Bo and could be trusted with grave matters. Soon he fell ill; the emperor mixed medicine himself and sent it by courier. On his deathbed he memorialized to halt the Liaodong campaign; and urged that since the capital held the ancestral temples, the court should keep its focus on Guanzhong. Finishing the draft, he sighed, "They say a man should not die by a woman's hand!" He sent attendants away, spoke his last words, and died at fifty-nine. At his laying out the family had no pearls or jade for his mouth—only five hu of rice and thirty bolts of cloth. The emperor wept in deep grief. He was posthumously made Minister of War and regional commander of Qinzhou, given the posthumous name Yi, and buried at Zhaoling.

大亮性忠謹，外若不能言，而內剛烈，不可干非其義。對天子爭是非，無回撓。至妻子未始見惰容，事兄嫂以禮聞。位通顯，居陋狹甚。在越州寫書數百卷，及去，留都督署。初，破公祏，以功賜奴婢百口，謂曰：「而曹皆衣冠子女，不幸破亡，吾何忍錄而為隸乎？」縱遣之。高祖聞，咨美，更賜俚婢二十。後破吐谷渾，復賜奴婢百五十口，悉以遺親戚。葬宗族無後者三十餘柩，貲襚加焉。嘗以張弼脫其死，及貴，念有以報之。時弼為將作丞，匿不見，大亮求之不能得。一日，識諸塗，持弼泣，悉推家財與之，弼拒不受。乃言於帝曰：「臣及事陛下，張弼力也，願悉臣官爵授之。」帝為遷弼中郎將、代州都督。世皆賢大亮能報，而多弼不自伐也。歿後，所育孤姓為大亮行服如所親者十餘人。

Daliang was loyal and cautious; outwardly he seemed inarticulate, but inwardly he was fierce and would not be swayed from what was right. Before the emperor he argued right and wrong without yielding. Even his wife and children never saw him slack; his courtesy toward his elder brother and sister-in-law was famed. Though he rose to high rank, his home remained very humble. In Yuezhou he copied several hundred scrolls of books and left them at the commandery when he departed. After defeating Gongshi he was rewarded with a hundred servants; he told them, "You are all children of good families ruined by misfortune—how could I make you slaves?" He set them free. Gaozu heard and praised him, then gave him twenty rustic maidservants. After the defeat of Tuyuhun he received another hundred fifty servants and gave them all to relatives. He buried more than thirty kinsmen who left no heirs and provided their funeral goods. Zhang Bi had once saved his life; when he rose high he sought to repay him. Bi was then assistant director of palace construction and hid from him; Daliang searched but could not find him. One day he recognized him on the road, embraced him weeping, and offered all his wealth; Bi refused. He told the emperor, "I owe my service to Your Majesty to Zhang Bi; I ask to give him all my offices and titles." The emperor promoted Bi to gentleman-cadet and regional commander of Daizhou. People praised Daliang for repaying a debt and admired Bi for not boasting. After his death, more than ten orphans of other surnames he had raised mourned him as kin.

兄子道裕

Nephew Daoyu

兄子道裕，貞觀末為將作匠。有告張亮反者，詔百官議。皆言亮當誅，獨道裕謂反形未具。帝怒不暇省，斬之。歲餘，刑部侍郎缺，宰相屢進名，不可。帝曰：「朕得之矣。是嘗議張亮者，朕時雖不從，今尚悔之。」遂命道裕。終大理卿。

Daoyu, a nephew, served late in Zhenguan as director of palace construction. When Zhang Liang was accused of rebellion, the emperor ordered the officials to deliberate. All said Liang should die; only Daoyu said the evidence of rebellion was insufficient. The emperor, furious, would not listen and had him executed. More than a year later the vice minister of justice post fell vacant; the chief ministers nominated several candidates, but none satisfied the emperor. The emperor said, "I have found the man. It is the man who argued over Zhang Liang; I did not heed him then, and I still regret it." He appointed Daoyu. He ended his career as chief minister of justice.

族孫迥秀

Clansman grandson Jiongxiu

大亮族孫迥秀。迥秀，字茂之。及進士第，又中英才傑出科。調相州參軍事。累轉考功員外郎。武后愛其材，遷鳳閣舍人。大足初，檢校夏官侍郎，仍領選，銓汰文武，號稱職，進同鳳閣鸞台平章事。張易之兄弟貴驕，因橈意諧媚，士論頓減。俄坐贓貶廬州刺史。易之誅，貶衡州長史。中宗即位，召授將作少監。累遷鴻臚卿、脩文館學士。出朔方道行軍大總管，還拜兵部尚書。卒，年五十，贈侍中。迥秀少聰悟，多通賓客。喜飲酒，雖多不亂，當時稱其風流。母少賤，妻嘗詈媵婢，母聞不樂，迥秀即出其妻。或問之，答曰：「娶婦要欲事姑，苟違顏色，何可留？」武后嘗遣內人候其母，或迎置宮中。後所居堂產芝草，犬乳鄰貓，中宗以為孝感，旌大門閭。子齊損，開元中以謀逆誅。

Jiongxiu, a clansman grandson of Daliang. Jiongxiu, courtesy name Maozhi. He passed the jinshi examination and also the Outstanding Talent special examination. He was posted as aide in Xiang Prefecture. He rose to vice director in the Ministry of Personnel's merit office. Empress Wu admired his talent and made him attendant of the Phoenix Pavilion. Early in Dazu he acted as vice minister of personnel while heading selection; his appointments of civil and military officials were praised as competent, and he was made Grand Councilor. The Zhang Yizhi brothers were powerful and arrogant; he bent to flatter them, and his reputation among scholars collapsed. Soon he was demoted to prefect of Luzhou on a corruption charge. After Yizhi was executed, he was demoted to chief administrator of Hengzhou. When Zhongzong ascended the throne, he was recalled as junior director of palace construction. He rose to chief minister of rites and academician of the Xiuxian Hall. He served as great campaign commander on the Shuofang route and on return was made Minister of War. He died at fifty and was posthumously made Palace Attendant. Jiongxiu was clever from youth and kept a wide circle of guests. He loved wine but never lost control however much he drank, and contemporaries praised his easy grace. His mother had been of humble birth; when his wife abused a maid and his mother was upset, Jiongxiu immediately divorced her. Asked why, he said, "A wife is taken to serve her mother-in-law; if she displeases her, how can she stay?" Empress Wu once sent palace women to attend his mother and sometimes had her brought to the palace. Later spirit fungus grew in his hall, and his dog nursed a neighbor's cat; Zhongzong took this as filial piety moving heaven and honored his household gate. His son Qisun was executed in the Kaiyuan era on a charge of treason.

戴胄，字玄胤，相州安陽人。性堅正，幹局明強，善簿最。隋末，為門下錄事，納言蘇威、黃門侍郎裴矩厚禮之。為越王侗給事郎。王世充謀篡，胄說曰：「君臣大分均父子，休戚同之。公當社稷之任，與存與亡，正在今日。願尊輔王室，擬伊、周以幸天下。」世充詭曰：「善。」俄肋九錫，胄又切諫，不納。出為鄭州長史，使與王行本守武牢。秦王攻拔之，引為府士曹參軍，封武昌縣男。大理少卿缺，太宗曰：「大理，人命所系，胄清直，其人哉。」即日命胄。長孫無忌被召，不解佩刀入東上閤。尚書右僕射封德彝論監門校尉不覺，罪當死，無忌贖。胄曰：「校尉與無忌罪均，臣子于尊極不稱誤。法著：禦湯劑、飲食、舟船，雖誤皆死。陛下錄無忌功，原之可也。若罰無忌，殺校尉，不可謂刑。」帝曰：「法為天下公，朕安得阿親戚！」詔復議，德彝固執，帝將可。胄曰：「不然。校尉緣無忌以致罪，法當輕；若皆誤，不得獨死。」繇是與校尉皆免。

Dai Zhou, courtesy name Xuanyin, came from Anyang in Xiangzhou. He was upright and resolute, clear and capable in administration, and expert at accounts. Late in the Sui he was a recorder in the Secretariat; Su Wei and Pei Ju treated him with great respect. He served as attendant gentleman to Prince Tong of Yue. When Wang Shichong plotted to seize the throne, Dai Zhou urged him: "The bond between ruler and minister is as weighty as that between father and son; they share the same weal and woe. You hold the fate of the state in your hands; whether the dynasty lives or dies may be decided today. Honor the imperial house, serve as its pillar, and take Yi Yin and the Duke of Zhou as your models, so that the realm may prosper. Shichong answered with feigned agreement: "Well said." Before long Shichong accepted the Nine Bestowments; Zhou remonstrated again in the strongest terms, but Shichong would not listen. Zhou was posted out as chief administrator of Zheng Prefecture and assigned, with Wang Xingben, to defend Hulao. When the Prince of Qin took Hulao, he brought Zhou into his staff as a military bureau officer and enfeoffed him as Baron of Wuchang County. When the vice minister of the Court of Judicial Review fell vacant, Taizong said: "That court holds men's lives in its hands. Zhou is upright and incorruptible—he is the man for the post. That very day Zhou received the appointment. When Zhangsun Wuji was summoned, he entered the eastern upper gate office without taking off the sword at his belt. Vice Director Feng Deyi argued that the gate guard commandant, having failed to notice the breach, deserved death, but that Wuji could redeem his offense. Zhou said: "The commandant and Wuji are equally guilty. In the presence of the sovereign, a subject may not excuse himself by calling it an oversight. The law is explicit: for imperial medicines, food, or boats, even an inadvertent offense carries the death penalty. Your Majesty may weigh Wuji's past service and pardon him. But if Wuji is punished while the commandant alone is executed, that cannot be called impartial justice. The Emperor said: "The law belongs to all under heaven. How could I show partiality to my own kin?" The Emperor ordered the case reheard. Deyi stood his ground, and the Emperor was on the point of agreeing. Zhou said: "That will not do. The commandant was drawn into guilt only because of Wuji, and the law should treat him more leniently; if both men erred, the commandant alone must not be put to death. On that basis both Wuji and the commandant were pardoned.

時選者盛集，有詭資廕冒牒取調者，詔許自首；不首，罪當死。俄有詐得者，獄具，胄以法當流。帝曰：「朕詔不首者死，而今當流，是示天下不以信，卿賣獄邪？」胄曰：「陛下登殺之，非臣所及。既屬臣，敢虧法乎？」帝曰：「卿自守法，而使我失信，奈何？」胄曰：「法者，布大信於人；言乃一時喜怒所發。陛下以一朝忿，將殺之，既知不可而寘於法，此忍小忿、存大信也。若阿忿違信，臣為陛下惜之。」帝大感寤，從其言。胄犯顏據正，數查，參處法意，至析秋毫，隨類指擿，言若泉湧，帝益重之。遷尚書左丞。矜其貧，特詔賜錢十萬。會僕射蕭瑀免，封德彝卒，帝謂胄曰：「尚書總國綱維，失一事，天下有受其弊者。今以令、僕委卿，宜副朕舉。」胄明敏，長於操決，無宿疑。議者美其振職，謂武德以來殆無其輩。復拜諫議大夫，與魏徵更日供奉。進民部尚書。杜如晦遺言，請以選舉委胄，由是檢校吏部尚書。然好抑文雅，獎法吏，時以寡學為訾。

At a time when office seekers were gathered in great numbers, some falsely claimed inherited privilege or forged documents to obtain posts. An edict allowed offenders to confess voluntarily; those who did not confess were to be punished with death. Before long a man who had obtained office by fraud was convicted, and Zhou ruled that under the law he should be banished. The Emperor said: "My edict declared that those who failed to confess would die, yet now you sentence this man to banishment. That tells the realm I cannot be trusted. Are you corrupting justice? Zhou replied: "If Your Majesty had personally ordered the man's execution, that would lie beyond my authority. But now that the case rests with me, how dare I bend the law?" The Emperor said: "You uphold the law, yet you make me break my word. What am I to do?" Zhou said: "The law is what spreads great trust among the people; a spoken command is only the product of a moment's anger or pleasure. Your Majesty, in a moment of anger, would have had him killed; now, seeing that this cannot stand, you submit the matter to the law. That is to set aside a small resentment and preserve a great trust. If Your Majesty indulges anger at the cost of trust, I fear for what that will cost you. The Emperor was deeply moved and took his advice. Zhou spoke bluntly to the Emperor's face and held to what was right. He examined case after case, judging each in the true spirit of the law down to the finest detail, exposing faults wherever they fell. His words poured forth like a spring, and the Emperor came to rely on him all the more. He was promoted to Left Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat. Moved by his poverty, the Emperor issued a special edict granting him one hundred thousand cash. When Director Xiao Yu was dismissed and Feng Deyi died, the Emperor told Zhou: "The Imperial Secretariat holds the cables of the state. One misstep there, and people across the realm feel the harm. I now entrust the directorship and vice directorship to you. You must prove worthy of my choice. Zhou was sharp and quick-minded, decisive in action, and never left matters unresolved. Observers praised the vigor with which he revived the office, saying that since the Wude era there had scarcely been anyone to match him. He was again made Remonstrance Adviser and, with Wei Zheng, attended the emperor on alternate days. He was promoted to Minister of Revenue. In his dying words Du Ruhui asked that appointments be entrusted to Zhou, and on that basis Zhou was made acting Minister of Personnel. Yet he tended to hold back men of letters and favor legal officials, and at the time he was criticized for lack of broad learning.

貞觀四年，以本官參豫朝政，進爵郡公。帝將脩復洛陽宮，胄上疏諫曰：「比關中、河外置軍圍，強夫富室悉為兵，九成之役又興，司農、將作見丁無幾。大亂之後，戶口單破，一人就役，舉室捐業。籍軍者督戎仗，課役者責糧齎，竭貲經紀，猶不能濟。七月以來，霖潦未止，濱河南北，田正洿下，年之有亡未可知。壯者盡行，賦調不給，則帑藏虛矣。今宮殿足庇風雨、容羽衛，數年後成，猶不謂晚，何憚而遽自生勞擾邪？」帝覽奏，罷役。胄所敷內，緣政得失，咸有可觀。奏已，即削稿，秘外莫知。帝嘗謂左右曰：「胄於我非肺腑親，然事之機切無不聞，惟其忠概所激耳。」

In the fourth year of Zhenguan he took part in court deliberations in his existing capacity and was raised to Duke of a commandery. When the Emperor planned to restore the Luoyang palace, Zhou submitted a memorial of remonstrance: "Recently military camps have been established in Guanzhong and beyond the Yellow River. Able men and wealthy households have all been turned into soldiers, and work on Jiucheng has begun again. The Ministries of Revenue and Public Works scarcely have laborers left. After the great upheaval households are depleted and broken. When one man is called to labor, the whole family loses its livelihood. Those enrolled in the army are pressed for weapons; those levied for labor are charged with grain. They exhaust their resources just to get by, yet still cannot meet their obligations. Since the seventh month rains and floods have not stopped. Along both banks of the Yellow River the fields stand waterlogged, and no one can tell whether there will be a harvest this year. If every able-bodied man is sent away and taxes and levies cannot be collected, the treasury will be emptied. The present palace is enough to keep out wind and rain and to house the imperial guard. If it were finished only after several years, that would still not be late. Why shrink from delay and hastily bring labor and hardship on the people? The Emperor read the memorial and canceled the project. In the counsel Zhou offered within the court, his accounts of what government had done well or ill were always worth reading. Once a memorial was submitted, he destroyed the draft at once, so those outside the court never knew its contents. The Emperor once told those around him: "Zhou is no kinsman of mine, yet on every urgent matter he speaks without holding back. That comes only from the force of his loyal integrity."

七年，卒，帝為舉哀，贈尚書右僕射，追封道國公，諡曰忠；以第舍陋不容祭，詔有司為立廟。聘其女為道王妃。房玄齡、魏徵與胄善，每至生平故處，輒流涕。

In the seventh year he died. The Emperor mourned him, posthumously appointing him Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat, raising him to Duke of Daoguo, and giving him the posthumous name Loyal. Because his house was too small to serve for sacrifices, the Emperor ordered the proper offices to build him a temple. His daughter was taken in marriage as consort to the Prince of Dao. Fang Xuanling and Wei Zheng were close to Zhou, and whenever they passed places associated with his life they would weep.

胄無子，以兄子至德為後。

Zhou had no son and adopted his elder brother's son Zhide as his heir.

侄至德

Nephew: Zhide

至德，乾封中累遷西台侍郎、同東西台三品。閱十數年，父子繼為宰相，世詫其榮。高宗嘗為飛白書賜侍臣，賜至德曰：「泛洪源，俟舟楫」，郝處俊曰：「飛九霄，假六翮」，李敬玄曰「資啟沃，罄丹誠」，崔知悌曰「竭忠節，贊皇猷」，皆見意於辭云。遷尚書右僕射。時劉仁軌為左，人有所訴，率優容之；至德乃詰究本末，理直者密為奏，終不顯私恩。由是，當時多稱仁軌者，號仁軌為「解事僕射」。嘗更日聽訟，有嫗詣省，至德已收牒，嫗乃復取，曰：「初以為解事僕射，今乃非是。」至德笑還之。人伏其長者。或以問，至德答曰：「慶賞刑罰，人主之柄，為臣豈得與人主爭也！」帝知，歎美之。儀鳳四年卒，詔百官哭其第。贈開府儀同三司、并州大都督，諡曰恭。

During the Qianfeng era Zhide rose through repeated promotions to Vice Director of the Western Terrace and third-rank participant on both the Eastern and Western Terraces. Within little more than a decade, father and son served as chancellor in succession, and the age marveled at their honor. Gaozong once wrote in flying-white script for his attending ministers. To Zhide he wrote: "Spread upon the great source, await oars and rudders." Hao Chujun wrote: "Soar nine heavens, borrow six pinions." Li Jingxuan wrote: "Supply counsel and nurture, exhaust crimson loyalty." Cui Zhitì wrote: "Exhaust loyal integrity, aid the imperial plan." Each man's words revealed his intent. He was promoted to Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat. At the time Liu Rengui held the left vice directorship. When people brought complaints, he generally treated them with indulgence; Zhide would then investigate the matter from beginning to end. When someone was in the right, he submitted a private memorial on his behalf, but never openly showed personal favor. For this reason many at the time praised Rengui and called him the "Vice Director Who Gets Things Done." Once, on the day they alternated in hearing lawsuits, an old woman came to the Secretariat. Zhide had already taken her petition, but she took it back and said: "At first I thought you were the Vice Director Who Gets Things Done. Now I see you are not. Zhide smiled and gave it back to her. People admired his forbearance. When someone asked him about it, Zhide replied: "Rewards and punishments are the sovereign's prerogative. How can a minister contend with the sovereign over them? When the Emperor learned of this, he sighed in admiration. He died in the fourth year of Yifeng, and an edict ordered the officials to mourn at his house. He was posthumously granted the title Grand Master with Splendid Opening Honours and Military Commissioner of Bingzhou, with the posthumous name Respectful.

劉洎，字思道，荊州江陵人。初為蕭銑黃門侍郎，南略地嶺表，下五十城，未還而銑敗，遂以城自歸，授南康州都督府長史。

Liu Ji, styled Sidao, was a native of Jiangling in Jingzhou. At first he served Xiao Xian as Vice Director of the Yellow Gate. He marched south into Lingnan and took fifty cities. Before he could return, Xian was defeated, so he surrendered the cities and was appointed chief administrator of the Nankang military commission.

貞觀七年，擢給事中，封清苑縣男，轉治書侍御史。于時，尚書省詔敕稽壅，按成復下，彌年不能決。洎言：「尚書，萬機本，貞觀初未有令、僕，職並務繁，左丞戴胄、右丞魏征，應事彈舉，無所回橈，百司震肅不敢懈。比者勳親在位，品非其任，功勢相傾，雖欲自強，先懼囂謗。故郎中嘿奪，惟事咨稟；尚書依違，不得專裁。管轄玩弛，綱紀不振。今宜精選左右丞、兩司郎中，使皆得人，非惟救曠滯之弊，固當矯拂趨競也。」未幾，拜尚書右丞。洎健于職，於是尚書復治如征時。累加銀青光祿大夫、散騎常侍，攝黃門侍郎。

In the seventh year of Zhenguan he was promoted to Supervising Censor-in-Attendance, enfeoffed as Baron of Qingyuan County, and transferred to Investigating Censor. At that time edicts and orders in the Imperial Secretariat piled up in delay. Cases completed and sent down again might remain undecided for a full year. Ji said: "The Imperial Secretariat is the root of the myriad affairs of state. At the beginning of Zhenguan there were no directors or vice directors, and every duty was heavy. Left Vice Director Dai Zhou and Right Vice Director Wei Zheng met each matter with impeachment and prosecution, yielding to no one. The hundred offices were awed into discipline and dared not slacken. Lately meritorious kinsmen have held office whose rank does not match their duties. Merit and power press against one another, and though men wish to exert themselves, they first fear clamorous slander. For this reason bureau directors silently surrender their authority and do nothing but consult and report upward; while the directors of the Secretariat hesitate and cannot decide on their own. Jurisdiction grows slack and discipline is no longer enforced. Now the left and right vice directors and the bureau directors of both departments should be carefully chosen so that each post is filled by the right man. That would not only remedy the backlog, but also check the scramble for advancement. Before long he was appointed Right Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat. Ji was vigorous in office, and the Secretariat was again well governed as it had been in Wei Zheng's day. He was successively granted the titles Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of Glorious Culture and Regular Attendant, and served as acting Vice Director of the Yellow Gate.

太宗好持論，與公卿言古今事，必往復難詰、究臧否。洎諫曰：「帝王之與臣庶，聖哲之與庸愚，等級遼絕，勢不倫擬。故課愚對聖，持卑抗尊，雖思自強，不可得已。陛下降慈旨，假柔顏，虛心聽納，猶恐群臣惴縮不敢進。況以神機天辯，飾辭援古而迮其議哉！夫天以無言為尊，聖以不言為德，皆弗欲煩也。且多記損心，多語耗氣，心氣內損，形神外勞，初雖無覺，久且為弊。且今之雍平，陛下力行所至耳。欲其長久，匪由辯博，但當忘愛憎，慎取捨，若貞觀初可矣！」手詔答曰：「非慮無以臨下，非言無以述慮。雖然，驕人輕物，恐由榷論致之。若形神心氣，不為勞也。」

Taizong loved to argue. When he discussed past and present affairs with his ministers, he always pressed them back and forth with hard questions, probing right and wrong. Ji remonstrated: "Between emperor and subject, between sage and fool, the distance in rank is vast and their positions cannot be compared. To set the foolish in debate against the sage, or the humble in contention against the exalted—even if one wishes to hold one's own, it cannot be done. Even when Your Majesty lowers a gracious intent, shows a gentle face, and listens with an open mind, one still fears the ministers will shrink back and not dare speak. How much less when Your Majesty, with divine wit and heaven-sent eloquence, polishes your words, cites antiquity, and presses their arguments! Heaven is honored through silence; the sage is virtuous through restraint in speech—both seek to avoid needless trouble. Moreover, much remembering wears on the heart, and much speaking drains the breath. Heart and breath are depleted within, body and spirit are worn without. At first one may not notice, but in time it becomes a real harm. Moreover, the peace and prosperity of today are simply the fruit of Your Majesty's own strenuous effort. If you wish it to endure, that will not come from eloquence and erudition. You need only put aside likes and dislikes, choose and reject with care, as at the beginning of Zhenguan—and that will be enough! A hand edict replied: "Without concern one cannot oversee subordinates; without words one cannot express that concern. Even so, I fear that arrogance toward others and contempt for things may come from pressing debate too far. If body, spirit, heart, and breath are not worn by it, then so be it."

皇太子初立，洎謂宜尊賢重道，上書曰：「太子宗祧是系，善惡之習，興亡在焉。弗勤於始，將悔於末。故晁錯上書，令通政術；賈誼奏計，務知禮教。今太子孝友仁愛，挺自天姿，然春秋鼎盛，學當有漸。以陛下多才多藝，尚垂精厲志，以博異聞，而太子優遊，坐棄白日。陛下每退朝，引見群臣，訪以今古，咨以得失；而太子處內，不接正人，不聞正論，臣所未諭。古者，問安而退，以廣敬也；異宮而處，以遠嫌也。間者，太子一入侍，逾句不出，師傅寮采，具員而已，非所謂愛之也。臣愚以為授以良書，娛以佳賓，使耳所未聞，睹所未見，儲德愈光，群生之福也。」帝於是敕洎與岑文本、馬周遞日直東宮。帝嘗怒苑西監穆裕，有詔斬朝堂，皇太子驟諫。帝喜曰：「朕始得魏征，朝夕進諫。征亡，劉洎、岑文本、馬周、褚遂良繼之。兒在吾膝前，見朕悅諫熟矣，故有今日言也。誠習以性成哉！」稍遷侍中。帝忽謂群臣曰：「朕今欲聞己過，卿等為朕言之。」長孫無忌、李勣、楊師道同辭對曰：「陛下以盛德致太平，臣等愚不見其過。」洎曰：「然頃上書有不稱旨，或面窮詰，無不羞汗，恐非所以進言者路。」帝曰：「卿言善，朕能改之。」

When the Crown Prince was first installed, Ji argued that the court should honor the worthy and respect the Way, and submitted a memorial saying: "Upon the Heir Apparent the ancestral line depends; habits of good and evil, and the rise or fall of the dynasty, all rest therein. If one is not diligent at the start, one will regret it at the end. Hence Chao Cuo submitted a memorial to make the heir master the arts of government; and Jia Yi presented plans, urging that he learn ritual and moral instruction. Now the Crown Prince is filial, fraternal, benevolent, and loving by inborn nature. Yet in the prime of youth, his education should proceed step by step. Your Majesty, with many talents and skills, still bends your spirit and sharpens your will to broaden your learning, yet the Crown Prince drifts at ease and lets the bright days go to waste. Each time Your Majesty leaves court, you summon your ministers, inquire about past and present affairs, and consult them on what succeeds and what fails; yet the Crown Prince remains within the palace, meets no upright men, and hears no upright discourse. That is what your servant cannot understand. In antiquity one inquired after the sovereign's health and then withdrew, so as to extend reverence; and dwelt in a separate palace, so as to keep suspicion at a distance. Recently the Crown Prince entered attendance once and did not come out for more than ten days. His teachers, tutors, and staff merely filled their posts. This is not what is called truly loving him. Your servant humbly believes that if he were given good books and entertained with worthy guests, so that he heard what his ears had never heard and saw what his eyes had never seen, his stored virtue would grow brighter—and that would be a blessing for all the people." The Emperor then ordered Ji, together with Cen Wenben and Ma Zhou, to attend the Eastern Palace on alternating days. The Emperor once grew angry at Mu Yu, superintendent of the western park, and issued an edict to execute him in the court hall. The Crown Prince urgently remonstrated. The Emperor said with pleasure: "When I first obtained Wei Zheng, morning and evening he offered remonstrance. After Zheng died, Liu Ji, Cen Wenben, Ma Zhou, and Chu Suiliang succeeded him. My son at my knee has seen me pleased with remonstrance until he knows it well. That is why he spoke as he did today. Truly, habit becomes second nature!" Ji was gradually promoted to Attendant-in-Ordinary. The Emperor suddenly said to the ministers: "I now wish to hear my faults. Speak of them for me." Zhangsun Wuji, Li Ji, and Yang Shidao replied together: "Your Majesty, with flourishing virtue, brought about Great Peace. We are too dull to see any fault." Ji said: "Yet recently, when memorials did not accord with Your Majesty's intent, or when one was pressed in person with exhaustive questioning, no one failed to flush with shame and sweat. I fear this is not the path by which men dare speak up." The Emperor said: "Your words are good. I can change."

及征遼東，詔兼太子左庶子、檢校民部尚書，輔皇太子監國。帝曰：「以卿輔太子，社稷安危在焉，宜識朕意。」洎曰：「願無憂！即大臣有罪，臣謹按法誅之。」帝怪其語謬，戒曰：「君不密則失臣，臣不密則失身。卿性疏而果，恐以此敗。」洎與褚遂良不相中。帝還，不豫，洎與馬周入候，出見遂良，泣曰：「上體患癰，殊可懼！」遂良即誣奏「洎曰：國家不足慮，正當輔少主行伊、霍事，大臣有異者，誅之。」帝愈，召洎問狀，洎引馬周為左。遂良執不已，帝惑之，乃賜死。方死時，索筆牘，欲自言，有司不敢與。帝后知之，有司皆得罪。顯慶中，其子弘業詣闕訴遂良譖死狀，李義府右之。高宗問近臣，給事中樂彥瑋曰：「辨之，是暴先帝過刑。」事寢。文明初，詔復官爵。

When the campaign against Liaodong was launched, he was ordered to serve concurrently as Left Vice Mentor of the Heir Apparent and acting Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, assisting the Crown Prince in overseeing the state. The Emperor said: "With you assisting the Crown Prince, the safety or peril of the altars of soil and grain rests upon you. You should understand my intent." Ji said: "Have no worry! Even if great ministers are guilty, your servant will strictly punish them according to law." The Emperor thought his words absurd and warned him: "If the ruler is not discreet, he loses his ministers; if the minister is not discreet, he loses his life. Your nature is loose and rash. I fear you will come to ruin because of this." Ji and Chu Suiliang did not get along. When the Emperor returned, he fell ill. Ji and Ma Zhou went in to attend him, and on coming out met Suiliang and wept: "The sovereign's body suffers from a carbuncle. It is truly alarming!" Suiliang immediately submitted a slanderous memorial: "Ji said: The state is not worth worrying about. One should only assist the young lord and act the part of Yi Yin and Huo Guang. Any great minister who disagrees should be executed." When the Emperor recovered, he summoned Ji to question him about the charge. Ji cited Ma Zhou as his witness. Suiliang persisted without letup. The Emperor was swayed by it and ordered Ji to take his own life. As he was dying, he asked for brush and paper, wishing to speak in his own defense, but the officials dared not give them to him. When the Emperor later learned of this, all the officials involved were punished. In the Xianqing era, his son Hongye came to the court to appeal the circumstances of Suiliang's slanderous death. Li Yifu sided with him. Gaozong asked his nearby ministers. Supervising Secretary Yue Yanwei said: "To investigate would be to expose the late emperor's excessive punishment." The matter was dropped. At the beginning of the Wenming era, an edict restored his office and titles.

附樂彥瑋

Appended: [Biography of] Yue Yanwei

贊曰：「劉洎之才之烈，《易》所謂「王臣蹇蹇」者。然性剛疏，輔太子，欲身任安危，以言掩其眾，為媢忌所乘，卒陷罪誅。嗚呼！以太宗之明，蔽於所忿，洎之忠不能自申於上，況其下哉？古人以言為戒，可不慎歟！

The encomium says: "In talent and fiery loyalty Liu Ji was what the Book of Changes calls 'the king's minister, steadfast and firm.'" Yet his nature was stiff and undisciplined. While assisting the Crown Prince, he wished to bear the state's safety and peril himself and used bold words to overshadow others. Seized upon by jealous enemies, he finally fell into crime and was put to death. Alas! Even with Taizong's brilliance, blinded by what enraged him, Ji's loyalty could not make itself heard above—how much less can it be heard below! The ancients took words as a warning. Can one not be careful!

崔仁師

Cui Renshi

崔仁師，定州安喜人。武德初擢制舉，調管州錄事參軍。陳叔達薦仁師才任史官，遷右武衛錄事參軍，與脩梁、魏史。貞觀初，改殿中侍御史。時青州有男子謀逆，有司捕支黨，累系填獄，詔仁師按覆。始至，悉去囚械，為具食，飲湯瀋，以情訊之，坐止魁惡十餘人，它悉原縱。大理少卿孫伏伽謂曰：「原雪者眾，誰肯讓死？就決而事變，奈何？」仁師曰：「治獄主仁恕，故諺稱'殺人刖足，亦皆有禮'。豈有知枉不申，為身謀哉？使吾以一介易十囚命，固吾願也！」及敕使覆訊，諸囚咸叩頭曰：「崔公仁恕，必無枉者。」舉無異辭。由是知名。遷度支郎中。嘗口陳移用費數千名，太宗怪之，詔黃門侍郎杜正倫持簿，使仁師對唱，無一謬。帝奇之。時校書郎王玄度注《尚書》、《毛詩》，抵孔、鄭舊學，請遂廢。詔諸儒大議，博士以下不能詰。河間王孝恭請與孔、鄭並行，仁師以玄度不經，條不合大義者奏之。玄度報罷。

Cui Renshi was a native of Anxi in Ding Prefecture. At the beginning of the Wude era he passed the decree examination and was appointed recording officer of Guan Prefecture. Chen Shuda recommended Renshi as talented enough to serve as a historiographer. He was transferred to recording officer of the Right Martial Guard and helped compile the histories of Liang and Wei. At the beginning of the Zhenguan era he was made a palace censor. At the time a man in Qing Prefecture plotted rebellion. The officials arrested his associates until the prisons were packed full. An edict ordered Renshi to review the case. When he first arrived, he removed all the prisoners' shackles, provided them with food and hot water for bathing, and questioned them according to the facts. Only about a dozen ringleaders and evildoers were convicted; all the rest were pardoned and released. Vice Director of the Court of Judicial Review Sun Fugai said to him: "You have pardoned and cleared so many. Who would willingly accept death? If you decide the case now and affairs later change, what then?" Renshi said: "Governing prisons rests on benevolence and forbearance. Hence the proverb says, 'Even in killing a man or cutting off a foot, there is always propriety. How could one, knowing the innocent are not cleared, scheme only for one's own safety? If I could exchange my one poor body for the lives of ten prisoners, that would indeed be my wish!" When imperial emissaries came to re-examine the case, all the prisoners kowtowed and said: "Lord Cui is benevolent and forbearing. There will surely be no wrongful convictions." All testified without discrepancy. From this he became renowned. He was transferred to bureau director of the Revenue Section. Once he orally recited several thousand items of transferred expenditures from memory. Taizong was astonished and ordered Vice Director of the Yellow Gate Du Zhenglun to hold the ledger while Renshi matched and recited each item aloud. Not one was wrong. The Emperor marveled at it. At the time Proofreader Wang Xuandu annotated the Documents and Mao's Odes, attacking the old learning of Kong Yingda and Zheng Xuan, and requested that their commentaries be abolished. An edict summoned the Confucian scholars to debate the matter at length. Even those below the rank of erudite could not refute him. Prince Xiao of Hejian requested that Kong and Zheng be allowed to proceed in parallel. Renshi, holding that Xuandu's work was unsound, memorialized point by point where it failed to accord with great principle. Xuandu's proposal was rejected.

遷給事中。時有司以律「反逆者緣坐兄弟沒官」為輕，詔八坐議。咸言漢、魏、晉謀反夷三族，請改從死。仁師曰：「父子天屬，足累其心，此而不恤，何愛兄弟？」房玄齡曰：「祖有廕孫義，則孫祖親重，而兄弟屬輕。今應重者流而輕者死，非用刑意。」遂不改。

He was transferred to supervising secretary. At the time the officials considered the statute "For treason and rebellion, extending guilt to brothers by confiscating office" too lenient. An edict ordered the Eight Dignitaries to deliberate. All said that in Han, Wei, and Jin, treason was punished by exterminating three clans, and they requested that the penalty be changed to death. Renshi said: "Father and son are bound by heaven itself—enough to weigh on the heart. If the law does not care for that bond, how can it care for brothers?" Fang Xuanling said: "When the grandfather has the principle of shading the grandson, the bond between grandson and grandfather is heavy and the bond between brothers is light. Now what should be punished more heavily is merely banished, while what should be punished more lightly is put to death. That is not the intent of punishment." The law was not changed.

後密請魏王為太子，失帝旨，左遷鴻臚少卿。稍進民部侍郎。及征遼東，副韋挺知海運，又別知河南漕事。仁師以漕路回遠，恐所輸不時至，以便宜發近海租賦餉軍。坐運卒亡命不以聞，除名。帝還至中山，起為中書舍人、檢校刑部侍郎。幸翠微宮，上《清暑賦》以諷。帝稱善，賜帛五十段。二十二年，遷中書侍郎，參知機務，被遇尤渥。中書令褚遂良忌之，會有伏閤訴者，仁師不時上，帝大怒，流連州。永徽初，授簡州刺史，卒。

Later he secretly petitioned that the Prince of Wei be made Crown Prince. He missed the emperor's intent and was demoted to vice director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments. He was gradually promoted to vice minister of the Ministry of Revenue. When the campaign against Liaodong was launched, he served as deputy to Wei Ting in overseeing sea transport and separately supervised canal affairs in Henan. Because the canal route was long and circuitous, Renshi feared that supplies would not arrive in time. On his own authority he released nearby coastal rents and levies to provision the army. He was punished because transport conscripts fled without his reporting it, and his name was struck from the rolls. When the emperor returned to Zhongshan, he was reappointed drafting secretary and acting vice minister of the Ministry of Justice. When the emperor visited Cuiwei Palace, he submitted "Rhapsody on Dispelling Summer Heat" as a remonstrance. The emperor praised it and bestowed fifty bolts of silk. In the twenty-second year of the reign he was transferred to vice director of the Secretariat and participated in state affairs. The favor shown him was especially generous. Secretariat Director Chu Suiliang envied him. When a petitioner at the palace gate complained, Renshi did not report it promptly. The emperor grew greatly angry and banished him to Lian Prefecture. At the beginning of the Yonghui era he was appointed prefect of Jian Prefecture, where he died.

孫湜

Grandson: Shi

子挹，挹子湜。湜字澄瀾。少以文詞稱。第進士，擢累左補闕，稍遷考功員外郎。時桓彥范等當國，畏武三思槊構，引湜使陰汋其奸。中宗稍疏功臣，三思日益寵，湜反以彥范等計告三思，驟遷中書舍人。彥範等被徙，又說三思速殺之以絕人望。三思問誰可使者，乃進其外兄周利貞。利貞往，彥範等皆死。擢利貞御史中丞。湜附托昭容上官氏，數與宣淫於外。景龍二年，遷兵部侍郎，而挹為禮部侍郎。武德以來，父子同為侍郎，惟挹、湜云。俄拜中書侍郎、檢校吏部侍郎、同中書門下平章事，與鄭愔同典選。納賂遺，銓品無序，為御史李尚隱劾奏，貶江州司馬。上官與安樂公主從中申護之，改襄州刺史。未幾，入為尚書左丞。韋氏稱制，復以吏部侍郎同中書門下三品。睿宗立，出為華州刺史。俄除太子詹事。

His son was Yi; Yi's son was Shi. Shi, styled Chenglan. In youth he was famed for his literary compositions. He passed the jinshi examination, rose successively to left supplementation officer, and was gradually transferred to vice director in the Ministry of Personnel. At the time Huan Yanfan and others held power. Fearing Wu Sansi's fabricated accusations, they brought in Shi to secretly expose his treachery. Zhongzong gradually distanced the meritorious ministers, and Sansi daily grew in favor. Shi instead reported Yanfan's plans to Sansi and was abruptly promoted to drafting secretary. When Yanfan and the others were transferred, he also urged Sansi to kill them quickly so as to cut off popular hope. When Sansi asked who could be sent, Shi recommended his maternal cousin Zhou Lizhen. Lizhen went, and Yanfan and the others all died. Lizhen was promoted to imperial censor. Shi attached himself to Consort Shangguan of the Zhaorong rank and often openly committed lewd acts outside the palace. In the second year of Jinglong he was transferred to vice minister of the Ministry of War, while Yi was vice minister of the Ministry of Rites. Since the Wude era, the only father and son to serve together as vice ministers were Yi and Shi. Soon he was appointed vice director of the Secretariat, acting vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and associate grand councilor, and together with Zheng Yin jointly oversaw official appointments. He accepted bribes, and the ordering of candidates in selection fell into chaos. Censor Li Shangyin impeached him, and he was demoted to vice military administrator of Jiang Prefecture. Consort Shangguan and Princess Anle interceded on his behalf from within the palace, and his sentence was reduced to appointment as governor of Xiang Prefecture. Before long he returned to the capital as Left Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat. When Empress Wei held regency, he was again made vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel and associate grand councilor of the third rank. When Emperor Ruizong ascended the throne, Shi was sent out to serve as governor of Hua Prefecture. Soon he was appointed steward of the heir apparent.

初，湜建言山南可引丹水通漕至商州，自商鑱山出石門，抵北藍田，可通挽道。中宗以湜充使，開大昌關，役徒數萬，死者十五。禁舊道不得行，而新道為夏潦奔豗，數摧壓不通。至是論功，加銀青光祿大夫。景雲中，太平公主引為同中書門下三品。進拜中書公。時挹以戶部尚書得謝，而性貪，數為人請托以干湜。湜多不從，由是父子相失。

At first Shi proposed that water from the Dan River in the south could be diverted for grain transport as far as Shang Prefecture; from there a route could be cut through the mountains at the Stone Gate to northern Lantian, opening a tow-path. Emperor Zhongzong appointed Shi commissioner and opened Dachang Pass, conscripting tens of thousands of laborers; fifteen men died. Travel on the old route was forbidden, while the new route was repeatedly destroyed by summer floods and remained impassable. At this time, in accounting for his service, he was granted the title Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of Glorious Culture. During the Jingyun era, Princess Taiping had him appointed associate grand councilor of the third rank. He was further promoted to Grand Secretary of the Secretariat. At the time Yi had retired after serving as minister of the Ministry of Revenue; greedy by nature, he often solicited favors from Shi on others' behalf. Shi mostly refused, and from this the father and son fell out.

玄宗在東宮，數至其第申款密。湜陰附主，時人危之，為寒毛。門下客獻《海鷗賦》以諷，湜稱善而不自悛。帝將誅蕭至忠等，召湜示腹心。弟澄諫曰：「上有所問，慎無隱。」湜不從。及見，對問失旨。至忠等誅，湜徙嶺外。時雍州長史李晉亦坐誅，歎曰：「此本湜謀，今我死而湜生，何也？」又宮人元稱嘗與湜謀進於帝。追及荊州賜死，年四十三。

While still crown prince, Xuanzong often visited Shi's home to confide in him in private. Shi secretly cast his lot with Princess Taiping, and contemporaries feared for him; the very thought made one's hair stand on end. A client presented "Rhapsody on the Seagull" as a satirical warning, but though Shi praised it, he did not mend his ways. When the emperor was about to execute Xiao Zhizhong and the others, he summoned Shi and confided his plans to him. His younger brother Cheng remonstrated: "When His Majesty questions you, be careful not to conceal anything. Shi did not listen. When he was summoned, his answers failed to satisfy the emperor. After Zhizhong and the others were executed, Shi was banished beyond the Ling mountain passes. At the time Li Jin, chief administrator of Yong Prefecture, was also executed; he sighed and said, "This plot was Shi's in the first place—why am I to die while he lives? It also came out that the palace woman Yuan Cheng had once conspired with Shi to bring charges before the emperor. He was pursued and caught at Jing Prefecture, where he was ordered to take his own life; he was forty-three years old.

初，在襄州，與譙王數相問遺。王敗，湜當死，賴劉幽求、張說護免。及為宰相，陷幽求嶺表，密諷廣州都督周利貞殺之，不克。又與太平公主逐張說。其猜毒詭險殆天性，雖蠆虺不若也。

Earlier, while serving at Xiang Prefecture, he and the Prince of Qiao often exchanged gifts and visits. When the prince fell, Shi was liable to execution, but Liu Youqiu and Zhang Yue interceded and saved him. Once he became chief minister, he contrived to send Youqiu to the far south and secretly urged Guang Prefecture military commissioner Zhou Lizhen to kill him—but the plot failed. He also joined Princess Taiping in driving Zhang Yue from office. His suspicious cruelty and treacherous cunning were almost innate—even scorpions and vipers could not match him.

與弟液、澄、從兄涖並以文翰居要官。每宴私，自比東晉王、謝。嘗曰：「吾一門入仕，歷官未嘗不為第一。丈夫當先據要路以制人，豈能默默受制於人哉！」故進趣不已，至於敗。湜執政時，年三十八，嘗暮出端門，緩轡諷詩。張說見之，歎曰：「文與位固可致，其年不可及也。」

He and his younger brothers Ye and Cheng and his cousin Li all won important posts through their literary gifts. At private gatherings they likened themselves to the Wang and Xie clans of Eastern Jin. He once said, "Every man of our house who entered office held the foremost rank at each step of his career. A man ought to seize the commanding position first and control others—how can he quietly submit to being controlled by others! And so he pressed ever forward until he was ruined. While Shi was in power, at the age of thirty-eight, he once rode out at dusk through the Duan Gate, reins loose, reciting poetry. Zhang Yue saw him and sighed: "Literary talent and high office can indeed be attained—but not at that age."

孫液

Grandson: Ye

液字潤甫，尤工五言詩，湜歎，因字呼曰：「海子，我家龜龍也！」官至殿中侍御史。坐湜當流，亡命郢州，作《幽征賦》以見意，詞甚典麗。遇赦還，卒。子論，有吏幹，乾元中為州刺史，以治行稱。大曆末，遷同州刺史，為黜陟使庾何所按，議者不直何，故復用為衢州刺史。德宗以舊族耆年，擢大理卿，卒。

Ye, styled Runfu, was especially accomplished in pentasyllabic verse. Shi marveled and, calling him by his style, cried, "Hai-zi—you are our family's treasure! He rose to the post of palace censor. Implicated in Shi's case, he was sentenced to banishment; he fled to Ying Prefecture and wrote "Rhapsody on a Somber Journey" to express his feelings in language of great classical beauty. He was pardoned and returned home, and later died. His son Lun had real administrative talent; during the Qianyuan era he served as a prefect and was praised for the quality of his governance. At the end of the Dali era he was transferred to Tong Prefecture, where he was investigated by the promotion-and-demotion commissioner Yu He; opinion held that He was in the wrong, and Lun was reappointed governor of Qu Prefecture. Emperor Dezong, honoring his old lineage and advanced age, promoted him to director of the Court of Judicial Review; he later died.

孫澄

Grandson: Cheng

澄本名滌，玄宗改焉。帝在籓，與同里居。出潞州，賓友餞者止國門，而澄獨從至華。及即位，寵昵甚。湜既誅，帝仍念之，用為秘書監。開元二年，欲贈其父挹吏部尚書，宰相持不可，遂用四品禮葬，贈和州刺史。澄侍左右，與諸王不讓席坐，性滑稽善辯，帝恐漏禁中語，以「慎密」字親署笏端。累遷金紫光祿大夫，封安喜縣子。卒，贈兗州刺史。

Cheng's original name was Di; Emperor Xuanzong changed it for him. When Xuanzong was still a prince, they lived in the same neighborhood. When the prince left Lu Prefecture, the friends who came to see him off stopped at the capital gate—but Cheng alone accompanied him all the way to Hua. After Xuanzong took the throne, Cheng was greatly favored and indulged. Even after Shi was executed, the emperor still remembered Cheng fondly and appointed him director of the Imperial Library. In the second year of Kaiyuan, Cheng wished to have his father Yi posthumously granted the title minister of the Ministry of Personnel; the chief ministers objected, so a fourth-rank funeral was performed instead and Yi was posthumously granted governor of He Prefecture. Cheng attended the emperor's side and would not give way in seating even to the imperial princes; witty and quick with words, he so alarmed the emperor that Xuanzong personally inscribed the words "Be Discreet" on the end of his court tablet, fearing leaks of palace talk. He was successively promoted to Grand Master of Golden Purple and Glorious Culture and enfeoffed as Baron of Anxi County. He died and was posthumously granted governor of Yan Prefecture.

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