Volume 104 Biographies 29: Yu Zhining great-grandson: Xiu Lie, fourth generation descendent Ao, fifth generation descendent Cong, Gao Jifu, Zhang Xingcheng: descendent: Zhang Yizi, Zhang Changzong

于志寧曾孫:休烈四世孫:敖附:龐嚴五世孫:琮高季輔張行成族子:易之昌宗

Yu Zhining; his great-grandson Xiu Lie; fourth-generation descendant Ao (with appended biography of Pang Yan); fifth-generation descendant Cong; Gao Jifu; and Zhang Xingcheng's clansmen Yizhi and Changzong.

于志寧

Yu Zhining

于志寧，字仲謐，京兆高陵人。曾祖謹，有功於周，為太師、燕國公。父宣道，仕隋至內史舍人。大業末，志寧調冠氏縣長，山東盜起，棄官歸。

Yu Zhining, whose style name was Zhongmi, came from Gaoling in Jingzhao. His great-grandfather Jin had rendered distinguished service to the Northern Zhou and held the posts of Grand Preceptor and Duke of Yan. His father Xuandao served the Sui dynasty and rose as far as drafter in the Palace Secretariat. Near the end of the Daye reign, Zhining was posted as magistrate of Guanshi County, but when banditry broke out across Shandong he resigned his post and went home.

高祖入關，率群從迎謁長春宮，詔授渭北道行軍元帥府記室，與殷開山參謀議。薛仁杲平，識褚亮於囚虜中，遷天策府中郎、文學館學士，引亮與同列。貞觀三年，為中書侍郎。太宗嘗宴近臣，問：「志寧安在？」有司奏：「敕召三品，志寧品第四。」帝悟，特詔預宴，因加散騎常侍、太子左庶子、黎陽縣公。是時議立七廟，君臣請以涼武昭王為始祖，志寧以涼非王業所因，獨建議違之。帝詔功臣世襲刺史，志寧奏：「古今異時，慕虛名，遺實患，非久安計。」帝皆從之。嘗謂志寧曰：「古者太子既生，士負之，即置輔弼。昔成王以周、召為師傅，日聞正道，習以成性。今太子幼，卿當輔以正道，無使邪僻啟其心。勉之，官賞可不次得也。」太子承乾數有過惡，志寧欲救止之，上《諫苑》以諷。帝見大悅，賜黃金十斤、絹三百匹。俄兼詹事，以母喪免，有詔起復本官，固請終喪，帝遣中書侍郎岑文本敦譬曰：「忠孝不兩立，今太子須人教約，卿強起，為我卒輔道之。」志寧乃就職。

After Gaozu entered the Pass, Zhining led his clansmen to greet him at Changchun Palace and was appointed recorder on the staff of the Weibei campaigning marshal, where he worked with Yin Kaishan on strategy. After the defeat of Xue Rengao he discovered Chu Liang among the prisoners, was promoted to middle gentleman in the Heavenly Stratagem Office and academician of the Literature Hall, and brought Liang onto the staff as his peer. In the third year of the Zhenguan era he was made vice director of the Secretariat. Taizong once gave a banquet for his close ministers and asked, "Where is Zhining?" The attendants replied, "Your majesty's summons was for officials of the third rank and above; Zhining holds only the fourth rank." The emperor understood at once, issued a special summons for him to join the feast, and promoted him to irregular attendant, left aide to the crown prince, and Duke of Liyang. At that time the court debated establishing seven ancestral temples, and ministers urged taking King Wuzhao of Former Liang as the founding ancestor; Zhining alone objected, arguing that Liang was not the true source of Tang's imperial enterprise. When the emperor decreed that meritorious officials might hold prefectures in perpetuity, Zhining submitted a memorial: "Past and present are not the same; to chase empty honors while inviting real harm is no policy for lasting stability." The emperor accepted his advice on both matters. He once told Zhining, "In antiquity, as soon as the crown prince was born, scholars would carry him and tutors would be appointed at once. King Cheng of Zhou took the Duke of Zhou and the Duke of Shao as his tutors, hearing the right path every day until it became second nature. The crown prince is still young; you must guide him along the right path and keep devious influences from taking root in his mind. Apply yourself to this task, and rank and rewards may come to you without waiting your turn." Crown Prince Chengqian kept falling into misconduct, and Zhining tried to check him by submitting the Admonitory Garden as a pointed lesson. The emperor was greatly pleased and rewarded him with ten catties of gold and three hundred bolts of silk. Soon afterward he also served as steward of the crown prince's household, but resigned when his mother died. An edict ordered him back to office, yet he insisted on completing mourning. The emperor sent Vice Director Cen Wuben to press him: "Loyalty and filial duty cannot both be fully honored at once; the crown prince needs a teacher now — rise and finish guiding him for me." Zhining then returned to duty.

時太子以農時造曲室，累月不止，又好音樂過度。志寧諫，以為「今東宮乃隋所營，當時號為侈麗，豈容復事磨礱彩飾於其間？丁匠官奴皆犯法亡命，鉗鑿槌杵，往來出入，監門、宿衛、直長、千牛不得苛問。爪牙在外，廝役在內，其可無憂乎？又宮中數聞鼓聲，太樂伎兒輒留不出，往年口敕丁寧，殿下可不思之？」太子不納。而左右多任宦官，志寧復諫曰：「奄官者，體非全氣，專柔便佞，托親近為威權，假出納為禍福。故伊戾敗宋，易牙亂齊，趙高亡秦，張讓傾漢。近高齊任鄧長顒為侍中，陳德信為開府，內預宴私，外幹朝政，齊卒顛覆。今殿下左右前後皆用寺人，輕忽高班，陵轢貴仕，品命失序，經紀不立，行路之人鹹以為怪。」太子益不悅。東宮僕禦舊得番休，而太子不聽，又私引突厥，與相狎比。志寧懷不能言，上疏極言曰：「竊見僕寺司馭，爰及獸醫，自春迄夏，不得番息。或家有慈親，以闕溫清，或室有幼弱，以虧撫養，殆非恕愛之意。又突厥達哥支等，人狀野心，不可以禮教期，不可以仁信待。狎而近之，無益令望，有損盛德。況引內閤中，使常親近，人皆震駭，而殿下獨安此乎？」太子大怒，遣張師政、紇幹承基往刺之。二人者入其第，見志寧憔然在苫塊中，不忍殺，乃去。太子敗，帝知狀，謂曰：「聞公數諫，承乾不聽公，故至此。」是時宮臣皆罪廢，獨志寧蒙勞勉。

At that time the crown prince spent the farming season building a private chamber and kept at it for months on end, while also indulging in music to excess. Zhining remonstrated, arguing that "the Eastern Palace was built by the Sui and was already considered lavish in its day — how can you further grind, polish, and ornament it? The laborers and palace slaves are fugitive criminals; armed with tools, they come and go freely while gate guards, night watchmen, duty officers, and palace guards dare not question them. With ruffians outside and servants within, should this not alarm you? Drums are heard again and again inside the palace, and musicians of the Imperial Music Office are kept there and not released. Your Highness was admonished on this point by oral edict years ago — have you forgotten?" The crown prince paid no heed. Meanwhile his attendants relied heavily on eunuchs, and Zhining remonstrated again: "Eunuchs are men whose bodies are incomplete; they specialize in supple flattery, use intimacy to seize power, and turn access in and out of the palace into instruments of fortune and ruin. Yi Li brought down Song, Yi Ya threw Qi into chaos, Zhao Gao destroyed Qin, and Zhang Rang toppled Han. Not long ago Northern Qi made Deng Changyan a palace attendant and Chen Dexin a commissioner with separate establishment; they joined private feasts within the palace and meddled in state affairs without, and Qi fell in the end. Now eunuchs surround Your Highness on every side; they slight senior officials, bully honored ministers, ranks and appointments fall into disorder, and discipline collapses — passersby all find it shocking." The crown prince grew still angrier. The crown prince's grooms and carriage handlers were entitled to rotating leave, but he refused it; he also privately brought Turks into the palace and grew familiar with them. Unable to remain silent, Zhining submitted a forceful memorial: "I observe that grooms, drivers, and even veterinarians in the palace service have had no rotating rest from spring through summer. Some have aged parents at home whom they cannot attend; others have young children they cannot nurture — this can hardly be called humane care. Moreover, Turks such as Dagezhi look human but harbor savage hearts; they cannot be taught by ritual nor won by benevolence and trust. To draw them close in intimacy does nothing for your reputation and only damages your moral standing. To bring them into the inner quarters and keep them constantly near you shocks everyone else — can Your Highness alone feel secure in this?" The crown prince flew into a rage and sent Zhang Shizheng and Qigan Chengji to assassinate him. When the two men entered his house they found Zhining worn and grieving beside his mother's mourning bier; they could not bring themselves to kill him and withdrew. After the crown prince's downfall the emperor learned what had happened and told him, "I hear you remonstrated again and again, but Chengqian would not heed you — that is how things came to this pass." At that time every palace official was punished and dismissed; Zhining alone was commended and encouraged.

晉王為皇太子，復拜左庶子，遷侍中，加光祿大夫，進封燕國公，監脩國史。永徽二年，洛陽人李弘泰誣告太尉長孫無忌反，有詔不待時斬之。志寧以為：「方春少陽用事，不宜行刑，且誣謀非本惡逆，請依律待秋分乃決。」從之。衡山公主既公除，將下嫁長孫氏。志寧以為：「《禮》，女十五而笄，二十而嫁，有故，二十三而嫁，固知遇喪須終三年。《春秋》，魯莊公如齊納幣，母喪未再期而圖婚，二家不譏，以其失禮明也。今議者雲'公除從吉'，此漢文創制，為天下百姓耳。公主身服斬衰，服可以例除，情不可以例改。心喪成婚，非人情所忍。」於是詔公主待服除乃婚。拜尚書左僕射、同中書門下三品。頃之，兼太子少師。四年，隕石十八於馮翊，高宗問曰：「此何祥也？朕欲悔往脩來以自戒，若何？」志寧對：「《春秋》：'隕石於宋五。 '內史過曰：'是陰陽之事，非吉凶所生。 '物固有自然，非一系人事。雖然，陛下無災而戒，不害為福也。」俄遷太傅。嘗與右僕射張行成、中書令高季輔俱賜田，志寧奏：「臣家自周、魏來，世居關中，貲業不墜。今行成、季輔始營產土，願以臣有餘賜不足者。」帝嘉之，分其田以與二人。

When the Prince of Jin became crown prince, Zhining was again made left aide, then promoted to palace attendant, granted the title Grand Master for Splendid Happiness, enfeoffed as Duke of Yan, and put in charge of compiling the national history. In the second year of Yonghui, a Luoyang man named Li Hongtai falsely accused Grand Preceptor Zhangsun Wuji of treason, and an edict ordered his immediate execution. Zhining argued, "It is spring, when lesser yang governs, and executions are inappropriate; moreover, a false charge of conspiracy is not the gravest crime of treason. I ask that the law be followed and the sentence carried out only after the autumn equinox." The emperor agreed. After the Princess of Hengshan had completed the abbreviated mourning period, she was to marry into the Zhangsun family. Zhining argued, "The Book of Rites says a girl receives the hairpin at fifteen, marries at twenty, or at twenty-three if circumstances require — which makes clear that when mourning intervenes, the full three years must be observed. The Spring and Autumn Annals records Duke Zhuang of Lu going to Qi with betrothal gifts while still in mourning for his mother, less than two years after her death — yet neither state reproached him, because his breach of ritual was plain for all to see. Those who now argue for 'abbreviated mourning, then proceed with auspicious rites' cite a precedent Emperor Wen of Han created for the common people of the realm. The princess herself wears the severest mourning garment; the garment may be set aside by precedent, but grief cannot be dismissed by precedent. To marry while still grieving in one's heart is more than human feeling can endure." An edict then required the princess to wait until full mourning was complete before marrying. He was appointed left vice director of the Department of State Affairs with the status of associate grand councilor of the third rank. Soon afterward he also served as junior tutor to the crown prince. In the fourth year, eighteen meteorites fell in Fenyi, and Gaozong asked, "What kind of omen is this? I wish to repent past faults and reform for the future as a warning to myself — would that be right?" Zhining replied, "The Spring and Autumn Annals records, 'Five meteorites fell in Song. ' Inner Scribe Guo said, 'This is a matter of yin and yang, not the source of good or ill fortune. Things have their natural course and are not wholly bound to human affairs. Even so, Your Majesty, to take warning though no disaster has struck can only be to your benefit." He was soon promoted to Grand Tutor. Once he was granted farmland together with Right Vice Director Zhang Xingcheng and Secretariat Director Gao Jifu; Zhining memorialized, "My family has lived in Guanzhong since the Zhou and Wei dynasties, and our estates have never declined. Xingcheng and Jifu are only now beginning to build up their estates; I ask that what I have in surplus be given to those who lack." The emperor commended him and divided his grant between the two men.

顯慶四年，以老乞骸骨，詔解僕射，更拜太子太師，仍同中書門下三品。王皇后之廢，長孫無忌、褚遂良固爭不見從，志寧不敢言。武后以其不右己，銜之，後因殺無忌，坐免官，出為滎州刺史，改華州，聽致仕。卒，年七十八，贈幽州都督，諡曰定。後追復左光祿大夫、太子太師。

In the fourth year of Xianqing he asked to retire on account of age; an edict relieved him of the vice directorship and made him Grand Tutor to the crown prince while retaining third-rank councilor status. When Empress Wang was deposed, Zhangsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang remonstrated fiercely but were ignored; Zhining did not dare speak up. Empress Wu resented him because he had not taken her side; later, when Zhangsun Wuji was killed, Zhining was implicated, stripped of office, sent out as prefect of Xingyang, then transferred to Huazhou, and finally allowed to retire. He died at seventy-eight and was posthumously made regional inspector of Youzhou with the posthumous title Ding. Later his titles of Left Grand Master for Splendid Happiness and Grand Tutor to the crown prince were posthumously restored.

志寧愛賓客，樂引後進，然多嫌畏，不能有所薦達也，為士議所少。凡格式、律令、禮典，皆與論譔，賞賜以巨萬。

Zhining loved entertaining guests and delighted in promoting younger talent, yet he was too timid and fearful to recommend anyone effectively, and scholars held this against him. He took part in drafting every statute, regulation, code, and ritual canon, and received rewards amounting to tens of thousands.

初，志寧與司空李勣修定《本草》並圖，合五十四篇。帝曰：「《本草》尚矣，今復修之，何所異邪？」對曰：「昔陶弘景以《神農經》合雜家《別錄》注銘之，江南偏方，不周曉藥石，往往紕繆，四百餘物，今考正之，又增後世所用百餘物，此以為異。」帝曰：「《本草》、《別錄》何為而二？」對曰：「班固唯記《黃帝內外經》，不載《本草》，至齊《七錄》乃稱之。世謂神農氏嘗藥以拯含氣，而黃帝以前文字不傳，以識相付，至桐、雷乃載篇冊，然所載郡縣，多在漢時，疑張仲景、華佗竄記其語。《別錄》者，魏、晉以來吳普、李當之所記，其言華葉形色，佐使相須，附經為說，故弘景合而錄之。」帝曰：「善。」其書遂大行。

Earlier, Zhining worked with Minister of Works Li Ji to revise the Materia Medica Classic and its illustrations, producing fifty-four chapters in all. The emperor asked, "The Materia Medica Classic is already ancient — what difference does this new revision make?" He replied, "Tao Hongjing once combined the Divine Farmer's Classic with the Separate Records of various schools and annotated them, but Jiangnan regional prescriptions often misunderstood drugs and minerals, and more than four hundred entries were wrong. We have corrected them and added more than a hundred substances used in later times — that is the difference." The emperor asked, "Why are there two works, the Materia Medica Classic and the Separate Records?" He replied, "Ban Gu recorded only the Yellow Emperor's Inner and Outer Canon and did not mention the Materia Medica Classic; it appears only in the Qi dynasty's Seven Records. Tradition holds that Shennong tasted medicines to save living beings, but before the Yellow Emperor writing was not transmitted and knowledge passed by oral teaching; only under the masters Tong and Lei was it set down in writing — yet the place names recorded mostly belong to Han times, so it is suspected that Zhang Zhongjing and Hua Tuo inserted their own words. The Separate Records were compiled from Wei and Jin onward by Wu Pu and Li Dang, describing flowers, leaves, appearance, and the pairing of principal and auxiliary drugs as commentary on the classic — which is why Hongjing combined them into one work." The emperor said, "Well said." The work then came into wide circulation.

曾孫休烈

Great-grandson Xiu Lie

曾孫休烈。休烈機鑒融敏，善文章，與會稽賀朝萬齊融、延陵包融齊名。開元初，第進士，又擢制科，曆秘書省正字。吐蕃金城公主請文籍四種，玄宗詔秘書寫賜。休烈上疏曰：「戎狄，國之寇；經籍，國之典也。戎之生心，不可以無備。昔東平王求《史記》、諸子，漢不與之，以《史記》多兵謀，諸子雜詭術也。東平，漢之懿戚，尚不示征戰之書，今西戎，國之寇仇，安可貽以經典？且吐蕃之性慓悍果決，善學不回。若達於《書》，則知戰；深於《詩》，則知武夫有師幹之試；深於《禮》，則知《月令》有廢興之兵；深於《春秋》，則知用師詭之計；深於文，則知往來書檄之制：此何異假寇兵資盜糧也！臣聞魯秉周禮，齊不加兵；吳獲乘車，楚屢奔命。喪法危邦，可取鑒也。公主下嫁異國，當用夷禮，而反求良書，恐非本意，殆有奸人勸導其中。若陛下慮失其情，示不得已，請去《春秋》。夫《春秋》，當周德既衰，諸侯盛強，征伐競興，情偽於是乎生，變詐於是乎起，有以臣召君、取威定霸之事。誠與之，國之患也。狄固貪婪，貴貨易土，正可錫以錦彩，厚以金玉，無足所求以資其智。」疏入，詔中書門下議。侍中裴光庭曰：「吐蕃不識禮經，孤背國恩，今求哀啟顙，許其降附，漸以《詩》、《書》，陶一聲教，斯可致也。休烈但見情偽變詐於是乎生，不知忠信節義亦於是乎在。」帝曰：「善。」遂與之。累遷起居郎、直集賢殿學士、比部郎中。楊國忠為宰相，斥不附己者，出為中部郡太守。

His great-grandson was Xiu Lie. Xiu Lie was sharp-witted and quick, excelled at literary composition, and was famed alongside He Chao, Wan Qirong of Kuaiji, and Bao Rong of Yanling. Early in the Kaiyuan era he passed the jinshi examination, was also selected in the special decree examination, and served as a corrector in the Palace Library. The Tibetan Princess Jincheng requested four categories of literary works, and Xuanzong ordered the Palace Library to copy and present them. Xiu Lie submitted a memorial: "The Rong and Di barbarians are enemies of the state; the classics are the state's canon. When barbarians harbor designs, the state cannot go unguarded. When the Prince of Dongping once requested the Records of the Historian and the Masters, Han refused, because the Records are full of military stratagems and the Masters teach deceptive arts. Dongping was an honored kinsman of Han, yet even he was denied books of warfare — how can we now bestow the classics on the western barbarians, who are the state's sworn enemies? Moreover, the Tibetans are fierce, bold, and resolute by nature, quick to learn and relentless once they begin. If they master the Documents, they will learn warfare; if they study the Odes deeply, they will learn how warriors are tested in command and arms; if they study the Rites deeply, they will learn from the Monthly Ordinances when armies may be raised or disbanded; if they study the Spring and Autumn Annals deeply, they will learn the stratagems of warfare; if they master literary composition, they will learn the forms of diplomatic correspondence and military proclamations — what is this but lending weapons to bandits and supplying grain to thieves! I have heard that because Lu upheld the rites of Zhou, Qi did not attack it; Wu gained chariots, and Chu was repeatedly driven to arms. The rites of mourning can endanger a state — this is a lesson worth heeding. The princess is marrying into a foreign land and should follow barbarian custom, yet she asks for fine books instead — I doubt this is her own wish; some schemer may be guiding her. If Your Majesty fears offending her and wishes to show that you act only under constraint, at least withhold the Spring and Autumn Annals. The Spring and Autumn Annals belongs to an age when Zhou virtue had waned, the feudal lords had grown mighty, and warfare ran rampant — an age when deceit flourished and subjects could summon their rulers and seize power to establish hegemony. To give them this book would truly be a calamity for the state. The barbarians are greedy by nature and prize goods over territory — bestow brocades and silks, heap gold and jade upon them, but give them nothing that would sharpen their wits." When the memorial arrived, the emperor ordered the Secretariat to deliberate. Palace Attendant Pei Guangting said, "Tibet does not know the ritual classics and has turned its back on the empire's grace; now it begs for mercy with bowed head. If we accept its submission and gradually offer the Odes and Documents to mold it with our civilizing teaching, this can succeed. Xiu Lie sees only that deceit arises from these books and does not see that loyalty, trust, integrity, and righteousness are taught in them as well." The emperor said, "Well said." The books were granted. He rose through the posts of diarist, direct academician of the Hall of Assembled Worthies, and bureau director in the Ministry of Revenue. When Yang Guozhong became chief minister, he drove out those who would not follow him and sent Xiu Lie out as prefect of Zhongbu.

肅宗立，休烈奔行在，擢給事中，遷太常少卿，知禮儀事，兼修國史。帝嘗謂曰：「良史者，君舉必書。朕有過失，顧卿何如？」對曰：「禹、湯罪己，其興也勃焉。有德之君不忘規過。」於時經大盜後，史籍燔缺，休烈奏：「《國史》、《開元實錄》、《起居注》及餘書三千八百余篇藏興慶宮，兵興焚煬皆盡，請下御史核史館所由，購府縣有得者，許上送官。一書進官一資，一篇絹十匹。」凡數月，止獲一二篇，唯韋述以其家藏《國史》百三十篇上獻。中興文物未完，休烈獻《五代論》，討著舊章，天子嘉之。轉工部侍郎，仍脩史。宰相李揆矜己護前，羞與同史任為等列，奏徙休烈為國子祭酒，權留史館脩撰，以卑下之，休烈安然無屑意。乾元初，始詔百官元日、冬至於光順門賀皇后。休烈奏：「周禮有命夫朝人君，命婦朝女君。自顯慶以來，則天皇后甫行此禮，而命婦與百官雜處，在禮不經。」帝罷之。

When Suzong took the throne, Xiu Lie hurried to the mobile court, was made supervising secretary, then vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices in charge of ritual affairs, and also put in charge of compiling the national history. The emperor once told him, "A good historian records every act of the ruler. If I commit faults, what would you do?" He replied, "Yu and Tang blamed themselves, and their states rose swiftly. A virtuous ruler never forgets to correct his faults." At that time, after the great rebellion, historical records had been burned and lost. Xiu Lie memorialized, "The National History, Veritable Records of the Kaiyuan Era, Diaries of Activity and Repose, and more than three thousand eight hundred other works stored in Xingqing Palace were all destroyed in the flames of war. I ask that censors investigate the History Office's holdings, that prefectures and counties be authorized to purchase any copies found, and that owners be permitted to surrender them to the government. One book surrendered would earn one step in rank; one chapter would earn ten bolts of silk." After several months only one or two chapters were recovered; only Wei Shu presented one hundred thirty chapters of the National History from his family collection. The cultural institutions of the restoration were still incomplete; Xiu Lie presented his Discourse on the Five Dynasties, investigating and setting forth ancient regulations, and the emperor commended it. He was transferred to vice director of the Ministry of Works while continuing to compile history. Chief Minister Li Kui was vain and defensive, ashamed to share historiographical rank with Xiu Lie as an equal; he had Xiu Lie transferred to director of the Directorate of Education while keeping him only provisionally in the History Office as compiler to demean him — Xiu Lie accepted this calmly and without resentment. Early in the Qianyuan era, an edict first ordered all officials to congratulate the empress at Guangshun Gate on New Year's Day and the winter solstice. Xiu Lie memorialized, "The Rites of Zhou provide that commissioned husbands attend the ruler and commissioned wives attend the ruler's consort. Since the Xianqing era Empress Wu had only just introduced this rite, yet commissioned wives and all officials were mixed together — this is uncanonical in ritual terms." The emperor abolished the practice.

代宗嗣位，甄別名品，元載稱其清諒。拜右散騎常侍，兼修國史，加禮儀使，遷太常卿。累進工部尚書，封東海郡公。雖曆清要，不治產。性恭儉仁愛，無喜慍之容。樂賢下善，推轂士甚眾。年老，篤意經籍，嗜學不厭。妻韋卒，天子嘉休烈父子著儒行，詔贈韋國夫人，葬給鹵簿、鼓吹。歲中，休烈亦卒，年八十一。帝為歎息，贈尚書左僕射，諡曰元，遣謁者就第宣慰，為儒者榮。

When Daizong succeeded to the throne and distinguished ranks and reputations, Yuan Zai praised his clarity and candor. He was appointed right irregular attendant, continued compiling national history, was made commissioner of ritual, and promoted to director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. He rose to minister of works and was enfeoffed as Duke of Donghai. Though he held the highest offices, he did not accumulate estates. By nature he was respectful, frugal, and benevolent, and never showed joy or anger on his face. He delighted in the worthy and humble before talent, recommending scholars in great number. In old age he devoted himself to the classics and loved learning without tiring. When his wife of the Wei clan died, the emperor commended father and son for their distinguished Confucian conduct, posthumously made her Lady of the State of Wei, and granted funeral insignia and martial music for her burial. Within the year Xiu Lie also died, at the age of eighty-one. The emperor sighed in grief, posthumously made him left vice director of the Department of State Affairs with the posthumous title Yuan, and sent an usher to his home to announce consolation — an honor for scholars.

二子：益、肅，及休烈時，相繼為翰林學士。益，天寶初及進士第。肅，終給事中，贈吏部侍郎。

He had two sons, Yi and Su, who successively served as Hanlin academicians during his lifetime. Yi passed the jinshi examination early in the Tianbao era. Su ended his career as supervising secretary and was posthumously made vice director of the Ministry of Personnel.

四世孫敖

Fourth-generation descendant Ao

肅子敖，字蹈中，擢進士，為秘書省校書郎。楊憑、李鄘、呂元膺相繼辟幕府。元和初，拜監察御史，五遷至右司郎中。進給事中、左拾遺。龐嚴為元稹、李紳所厚，與蔣防俱薦為翰林學士。李逢吉誣紳罪逐之，而出嚴為信州刺史，防汀州刺史。敖封還詔書，縉紳意申嚴枉，及駁奏下，乃論貶嚴太輕，眾皆嗤噪。逢吉乃厚敖，三遷至戶部侍郎，出為宣歙觀察使。敖修謹，家世用文學進，初為時所稱，及居官，無所建明，不迕物以自容，名益減。卒，贈禮部尚書。四子；球、珪、瑰、琮，皆清顯。琮知名。

Su's son Ao, whose style name was Daozhong, passed the jinshi examination and served as collator in the Palace Library. Yang Ping, Li Yong, and Lü Yuanying successively recruited him to their staffs. Early in the Yuanhe era he was made investigating censor and was promoted five times to right bureau director. He was promoted to supervising secretary and left remonstrance official. Pang Yan was favored by Yuan Zhen and Li Shen; he and Jiang Fang together recommended Ao as Hanlin academician. Li Fengji falsely accused Shen of a crime and had him expelled, while sending Yan out as prefect of Xin and Fang as prefect of Ting. Ao sealed and returned the edict; the gentry expected Yan's injustice to be redressed, but when the rebuttal came down it argued that Yan's demotion was too light, and everyone mocked the outcome. Fengji then treated Ao generously; he was promoted three times to vice director of the Ministry of Revenue and sent out as surveillance commissioner of Xuan-She. Ao was cultivated and cautious; his family had risen through literary learning and he was at first well regarded, but once in office he accomplished nothing, avoided giving offense to secure his position, and his reputation gradually faded. He died and was posthumously made minister of rites. He had four sons: Qiu, Gui, Gui, and Cong — all attained pure and eminent posts. Cong was the most renowned.

附龐嚴

Appended biography: Pang Yan

龐嚴者，字子肅，壽州壽春人。第進士，舉賢良方正，策第一，拜拾遺。辭章峭麗，累遷駕部郎中，知制誥。坐累出。復入，稍遷太常少卿。太和五年，權京兆尹，強幹不阿貴勢，然貪利，溺聲色。卒於官。

Pang Yan, whose style name was Zisu, came from Shouchun in Shouzhou. He passed the jinshi examination, was nominated in the worthy-and-upright category, ranked first in the policy examination, and was appointed remonstrance official. His literary compositions were sharp and elegant; he rose to bureau director in the Ministry of Rites and drafted edicts. He was dismissed on account of implicated offense. He returned to office and was gradually promoted to vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. In the fifth year of Taihe he served as acting metropolitan governor of Jingzhao; he was forceful and did not defer to the powerful, yet he was greedy and drowned in sensual pleasures. He died in office.

五世孫琮

Fifth-generation descendant Cong

琮字禮用，落魄不事事，以門資為吏，久不調，駙馬都尉鄭顥獨器之。宣宗詔選士人尚公主者，顥語琮曰：「子有美才，不飾細行，為眾毀所抑，能為之乎？」琮許諾。中書舍人李潘知貢舉，顥以琮托之，擢第，授左拾遺。初尚永福公主，主未降，食帝前，以事折匕箸，帝知其不可妻士大夫，更詔尚廣德公主。咸通中，以水部郎中為翰林學士，遷中書舍人。閱五月，轉兵部侍郎、判戶部。八年，同中書門下平章事，進中書侍郎，兼戶部尚書。為韋保衡所構，檢校司空、山南東道節度使，三貶韶州刺史。保衡敗，僖宗以太子少傅召，未幾，復為山南節度使，入拜尚書右僕射。黃巢陷京師，以病臥家，巢欲起為相，琮辭疾，賊迫脅不止，乃曰：「吾死在旦夕，位宰相，義不受汙。」賊遂害之。

Cong, whose style name was Liyong, was downcast and indifferent to affairs; relying on family standing he entered office but long went without appointment; only Commandant-escort of the Princess Zheng Hao valued him. Xuanzong issued an edict to select scholarly men to marry princesses; Hao said to Cong, "You have fine talent but do not polish your minor conduct and are held back by slander — can you do this?" Cong agreed. Secretariat drafter Li Pan supervised the examination; Hao entrusted Cong to him; Cong passed and was appointed left remonstrance official. At first he was betrothed to the Princess of Yongfu; before the marriage, she ate before the emperor and broke her spoon and chopsticks over some matter; the emperor knew she could not be given to a scholar-official and issued a new edict that Cong marry the Princess of Guangde instead. During the Xiantong era he served as Hanlin academician while bureau director in the Ministry of Works, then was promoted to secretariat drafter. After five months he was transferred to vice director of the Ministry of War with concurrent charge of the Ministry of Revenue. In the eighth year he became grand councilor, was promoted to vice director of the Secretariat, and also served as minister of revenue. He was framed by Wei Baoheng, made acting minister of works and military governor of Shannan East Circuit, then demoted three times to prefect of Shao. When Baoheng fell, Xizong summoned him as junior tutor to the crown prince; before long he was again military governor of Shannan and entered court as right vice director of the Department of State Affairs. When Huang Chao seized the capital, Cong lay ill at home; Chao wished to make him chief minister; Cong declined on grounds of illness; the rebels pressed him without cease; he then said, "I shall die within days; to hold the post of chief minister — in righteousness I cannot accept such defilement." The rebels then killed him.

高馮，字季輔，以字行，德州蓚人。居母喪，以孝聞。兄元道，仕隋為汲令，縣人反城應賊，殺元道。季輔率其黨與縣人戰，擒之，斬首以祭，賊眾畏伏，更歸附之，至數千人。俄與武陟李厚德將其眾降，授陟州總管府戶曹參軍。

Gao Feng, known as Jifu by his style name, came from Xiu in Dezhou. While mourning his mother he was famed for filial piety. His elder brother Yuandao served the Sui as magistrate of Ji; the county people rebelled, turned the city over to the bandits, and killed Yuandao. Jifu led his followers to fight the county people, captured them, and beheaded them as sacrifice to his brother; the bandit masses feared him and submitted, swelling his following to several thousand men. Soon he and Li Houde of Wuzhi led their followers to surrender and were appointed clerks in the household section of the Zongguanfu of Shezhou.

貞觀初，拜監察御史，彈治不避權要。累轉中書舍人，列上五事，以為：

Early in the Zhenguan era he was made investigating censor and in impeachment did not spare the powerful. He rose to secretariat drafter and listed five matters, arguing:

今天下大定，而刑未措，何哉？蓋謀猷之臣、台閣之吏不崇簡易，而昧經遠，故執憲者以深刻為奉公，當官者以侵下為益國。如尚書八坐，人主所責成者也，宜擇溫厚脩絜者任之。敦樸素，革浮偽，使家識慈孝，人知廉恥，過行者被嗤于鄉，不昵者蒙擯于親，自然禮節興矣。

The realm is now settled, yet punishments are not set aside — why? Because planning ministers and terrace officials do not esteem simplicity but are blind to enduring principles, those who uphold the law take severity as public service, and those who hold office take encroaching on inferiors as benefiting the state. The eight seats of the Department of State Affairs are offices the ruler relies upon; warm, cultivated, and pure men should be chosen to fill them. Encourage plainness and simplicity, reform empty show, make families know kindness and filial piety and people know integrity and shame; let those who overstep be mocked in the village and those who are unseemly be rejected by kin — then ritual and propriety will naturally flourish.

陛下身帥節儉，而營繕未息，丁匠不能給驅使，又和雇以重勞費。人主所欲，何求而不得。願愛其財，毋使殫；惜其力，毋使弊。畿內數州，京師之本，土狹人庶，儲畜少而科役多，宜蒙優貸，令得休息，強本弱支之義也。至江南、河北，人頗舒閑，宜為差等，均量勞逸。

Your Majesty personally leads in frugality, yet construction and repair have not ceased; corvée craftsmen cannot meet the demand, and hired labor is used as well, multiplying the burden. What the ruler desires, what can he not obtain? Cherish your wealth and do not exhaust it; cherish your people's strength and do not wear it out. Several prefectures within the capital region are the foundation of the capital; the land is narrow, the people numerous, stores few, and tax corvée heavy — they should receive favorable treatment and be allowed to rest; this is the principle of strengthening the root and weakening the branches. In Jiangnan and Hebei the people are rather at ease; differentiated treatment should be applied and labor and rest evenly measured.

公侯勳戚之家邑，入俸稍足以奉養，而貸息出舉，爭求什一，下民化之，競為錐刀，宜加懲革。

The fief estates of dukes, marquises, meritorious officials, and imperial kin receive salaries slightly sufficient for support, yet they lend at interest and compete for one-tenth profit; the common people follow their example and vie for petty gain — this should be punished and reformed.

今外官卑品，皆未得祿，故饑寒之切，夷、惠不能全其行。為政之道，期於易從，不恤其匱，而須其廉正，恐巡察歲出，輶軒繼軌，而侵漁不息也。宜及戶口之繁，倉庾且實，稍加稟賜，使得事父母、養妻子，然後督責其效，則官人畢力矣。

Outer officials of low rank now receive no salaries; faced with hunger and cold, even men like Bo Yi and Liu Xiahui could not maintain their integrity. Government should be easy to follow; if you do not relieve their want yet require integrity and uprightness, I fear that when inspection tours go out yearly and light carriages follow in succession, encroachment and exploitation will never cease. While household registers are numerous and granaries full, officials should receive slight grants so they can serve parents and nurture wives and children; afterward demand their effectiveness — then officials will exert all their strength.

密王元曉等俱陛下懿親，當正其禮。比見帝子拜諸叔，諸叔答拜。爵封既同，當明昭穆，願垂訓正，以為彝法。

Prince Mi Yuanxiao and others are all Your Majesty's honored kin and should have their ritual corrected. Recently I have seen imperial sons bow to their uncles, and the uncles return the bow. Since their ranks and enfeoffments are already equal, the senior and junior lines of descent should be made clear; I ask that Your Majesty set this right as a lasting precedent.

書奏，太宗稱善，進授太子右庶子。數上書言得失，辭誠切至。帝賜鐘乳一劑，曰：「而進藥石之言，朕以藥石相報。」後為吏部侍郎，善銓敘人物，帝賜金背鏡一，況其清鑒焉。

When the memorial was submitted, Taizong praised it and promoted him to right aide to the crown prince. He repeatedly submitted memorials on policy, his words sincere and earnest throughout. The emperor gave him a dose of stalactite and said, "You offer me words as sharp as medicine and stone; I repay you with medicine and stone." Later, as vice director of the Ministry of Personnel, he excelled at evaluating candidates; the emperor gave him a gold-backed mirror in recognition of his clear judgment.

久之，遷中書令、兼檢校吏部尚書，監脩國史，進爵蓚縣公。永徽初，加光祿大夫、侍中、兼太子少保。感疾歸第，有詔以其兄虢州刺史季通為宗正少卿，視疾，遣中使日候增損。卒，年五十八，贈開府儀同三司、荊州都督，諡曰憲。官給轜車，歸葬於鄉。

After a long time he was made director of the Secretariat, acting minister of personnel, put in charge of compiling the national history, and enfeoffed as Duke of Xiu. Early in the Yonghui era he was made grand master for splendid happiness, palace attendant, and junior guardian to the crown prince. When illness struck he went home; an edict appointed his elder brother Jitong, regional inspector of Guo, as vice director of the Court of the Imperial Clan to attend him, and sent palace envoys daily to inquire after his condition. He died at fifty-eight and was posthumously made grand preceptor with the protocol of the three excellencies and regional inspector of Jing, with the posthumous title Xian. The government provided a funeral carriage and he was buried in his home district.

子正業，仕至中書舍人。坐善上官儀，貶嶺表。

His son Zhengye rose as far as secretariat drafter. He was implicated for associating with Shangguan Yi and was demoted to Lingnan.

張行成

Zhang Xingcheng

張行成，字德立，定州義豐人。少師事劉炫，炫謂門人曰：「行成體局方正，廊廟才也。」隋大業末，察孝廉，為謁者台散從員外郎。後為王世充度支尚書。世充平，以隋資補谷熟尉。家貧，代計吏集京師，擢制舉乙科，改陳倉尉。高祖謂吏部侍郎張銳曰：「今選吏豈無才用特達者？朕將用之。」銳言行成，調富平主簿，有能名。召補殿中侍御史，糾劾嚴正。太宗以為能，謂房玄齡曰：「古今用人未嘗不因介紹，若行成者，朕自舉之，無先容也。」

Zhang Xingcheng, whose style name was Deli, came from Yifeng in Dingzhou. In youth he studied under Liu Xuan, who told his disciples, "Xingcheng is upright in bearing and frame — he has the talent for high office." Near the end of the Sui Daye reign he was nominated as filial and incorrupt and served as irregular outside attendant in the Usher's Office. Later he served Wang Shichong as minister of revenue. When Shichong was defeated, he was appointed assistant magistrate of Gushu on the basis of his Sui credentials. His family was poor; serving as a substitute clerk-accountant he went to the capital, passed the special decree examination in the second class, and was made assistant magistrate of Chencang. Gaozu said to Vice Director Zhang Rui of the Ministry of Personnel, "Among today's candidates, is there no one of outstanding talent? I intend to employ such a man." Rui spoke of Xingcheng, who was transferred to chief clerk of Fuping and gained a reputation for ability. He was summoned to serve as palace censor and impeached with strict impartiality. Taizong considered him capable and told Fang Xuanling, "Throughout history men have been appointed through recommendation; as for Xingcheng, I raised him myself without any prior introduction.

嘗侍宴，帝語山東及關中人，意有同異。行成曰：「天子四海為家，不容以東西為限，是示人以隘矣。」帝稱善，賜名馬一、錢十萬、衣一稱。自是有大政事，令與議焉。累遷給事中。帝嘗謂群臣：「朕為人主，兼行將相事，豈不是奪公等名？舜、禹、湯、武得稷、蒐、伊、呂而四海安，漢高祖有蕭、曹、韓、彭而天下寧，茲事朕皆兼之。」行成退，上疏曰：「有隋失道，天下沸騰，陛下撥亂反正，拯人塗炭，何周、漢君臣所能比數。雖然，盛德含光，規模巨集遠。左右文武誠無將相材，奚用大庭廣眾與之量校，損萬乘之尊，與臣下爭功哉？」帝嘉納之。轉刑部侍郎、太子少詹事。

Once while attending a banquet the emperor spoke of men from Shandong and from within the Pass as if they differed. Xingcheng said, "The Son of Heaven makes the four seas his home and cannot draw boundaries between east and west — that would show narrowness." The emperor praised him and gave him a fine horse, one hundred thousand cash, and a suit of clothing. From then on he was consulted on major state affairs. He rose to supervising secretary. The emperor once told the ministers, "As ruler I also perform the work of generals and ministers — am I not stealing your credit? Shun, Yu, Tang, and Wu had Ji, Sou, Yi, and Lü and the four seas were at peace; Han Gaozu had Xiao, Cao, Han, and Peng and the realm was tranquil — in all these matters I do the work myself." Xingcheng withdrew and submitted a memorial: "The Sui lost the Way and the realm seethed; Your Majesty set order amid chaos and saved the people from ruin — no Zhou or Han ruler and minister can be compared to you. Even so, great virtue holds its light within and its scope is vast. Your civil and military officials truly lack the talent of generals and ministers — why measure yourself against them in open court, diminishing the dignity of the throne and contending for merit with your subordinates?" The emperor praised and accepted his advice. He was transferred to vice director of the Ministry of Justice and junior steward of the crown prince's household.

太子駐定州監國，謂曰：「吾乃送公衣錦過鄉邪！」令有司祠其先墓。行成薦裏人魏唐卿、崔寶權、馬龍駒、張君劼皆以學行聞，太子召見，以其老不可任以事，厚賜遣之。太子使行成詣行在，帝見悅甚，賜勞尤渥。還為河南巡察大使，稱旨，檢校尚書左丞。是歲，帝幸靈州，詔皇太子從。行成諫曰：「皇太子宜留監國，對百寮日決庶務，既為京師重，且示四方盛德。」帝以為忠。遷侍中、兼刑部尚書。

The crown prince was stationed at Dingzhou to oversee the state and told him, "Am I not sending you home in brocade robes!" He ordered the relevant offices to sacrifice at his ancestral tombs. Xingcheng recommended fellow townsmen Wei Tangqing, Cui Baoquan, Ma Longju, and Zhang Junjie, all famed for learning and conduct; the crown prince summoned them, but because they were old and unfit for office, richly rewarded them and sent them away. The crown prince sent Xingcheng to the mobile court; the emperor was greatly pleased and rewarded him with exceptional generosity. He returned as inspection commissioner of Henan, met the emperor's approval, and was made acting left vice director of the Department of State Affairs. That year the emperor visited Lingzhou and ordered the crown prince to accompany him. Xingcheng remonstrated, "The crown prince should remain to oversee the state, face the hundred officials, and decide daily affairs — this would give weight to the capital and display flourishing virtue to the four quarters." The emperor considered this loyal advice. He was promoted to palace attendant and minister of justice.

高宗即位，封北平縣公，監脩國史。時晉州地震不息，帝問之，對曰：「天，陽也，君象；地，陰也，臣象。君宜動，臣宜靜。今靜者顧動，恐女謁用事，人臣陰謀。又諸王、公主參承起居，或伺間隙，宜明設防閑。且晉，陛下本封，應不虛發，伏願深思以杜未萌。」帝然之，詔五品以上極言得失。俄拜尚書左僕射、太子少傅。永徽四年，自三月不雨至五月，行成懼，以老乞身，制答曰：「古者策免，乖罪己之義。此在朕寡德，非宰相咎。」乃賜宮女、黃金器，敕勿復辭。行成固請，帝曰：「公，朕之舊，奈何舍朕去邪？」泫然流涕。行成惶恐，不得已復視事。未幾，卒於尚書省舍，年六十七。詔九品以上就第哭。比斂，三遣使賜內衣服，尚宮宿其家護視。贈開府儀同三司、并州都督，祭以少牢，諡曰定。弘道元年，詔配享高宗廟廷。

When Gaozong took the throne he was enfeoffed as Duke of Beiping and put in charge of compiling the national history. At that time earthquakes in Jin did not cease; when the emperor asked about it, he replied, "Heaven is yang and represents the ruler; earth is yin and represents ministers. The ruler should be active; ministers should be still. Now the still element stirs — I fear women attendants hold power and ministers plot in secret. Moreover, princes and princesses attend upon Your Majesty daily and may watch for openings — clear barriers should be set. Moreover Jin was Your Majesty's original enfeoffment — this omen should not be empty; I humbly ask deep reflection to cut off trouble before it sprouts." The emperor agreed and ordered officials of the fifth rank and above to speak freely of policy. Soon he was made left vice director of the Department of State Affairs and junior tutor to the crown prince. In the fourth year of Yonghui, from the third month without rain until the fifth month, Xingcheng was afraid and asked to retire on account of age; an edict replied, "In antiquity dismissal by written interrogation violated the principle of blaming oneself. This lies in my scant virtue, not the chief minister's fault." He then gave him palace women and gold vessels and ordered him not to resign again. Xingcheng insisted; the emperor said, "You are my old companion — how can you leave me?" Tears streamed down his face. Xingcheng was fearful and, having no alternative, returned to duty. Before long he died in his quarters at the Department of State Affairs, at the age of sixty-seven. An edict ordered officials of the ninth rank and above to mourn at his residence. As the encoffining approached, envoys were sent three times with inner garments; palace women lodged at his home to attend the rites. He was posthumously made grand preceptor with the protocol of the three excellencies and regional inspector of Bing, sacrificed to with the lesser tai la, and given the posthumous title Ding. In the first year of Hongdao an edict ordered him to share sacrifice in Gaozong's temple.

族子易之昌宗

Clansmen Yizhi and Changzong

族子易之、昌宗。

His clansmen were Yizhi and Changzong.

易之幼以門廕仕，累遷尚乘奉禦。既冠，頎皙美姿制，音技多所曉通。武后時，太平公主薦其弟昌宗，得侍。昌宗白進易之材用過臣，善治煉藥石。即召見，悅之。兄弟皆幸，出入禁中，傅硃粉，衣紈錦，盛飾自喜。即日拜昌宗雲麾將軍、行左千牛中郎將，易之司衛少卿，賜甲第，帛五百段，給奴婢、橐它、馬牛充入之。不數日，進拜昌宗銀青光祿大夫，賜防閤，同京官朝朔望；追贈父希臧為襄州刺史，母韋、母臧並封太夫人，尚宮問省起居。詔尚書李迥秀私侍臧。昌宗興不旬日，貴震天下。諸武兄弟及宗楚客等爭造門，伺望顏色，親執轡棰，號易之為「五郎」，昌宗「六郎」。又加昌宗右散騎常侍。聖曆二年，始置控鶴府，拜易之為監。久之，更號奉宸府，以易之為令。乃引知名士閻朝隱、薛稷、員半千為供奉。

Yizhi entered office in youth through hereditary privilege and rose to attendant for imperial carriages. After coming of age he was tall, fair, and handsome, and understood many musical arts. During Empress Wu's reign, Princess Taiping recommended his younger brother Changzong, who gained access to the palace. Changzong reported that Yizhi's talents surpassed his own and that he was skilled at refining medicines. Yizhi was immediately summoned and pleased her. Both brothers were favored; they went in and out of the forbidden precincts, applied cosmetics, wore silk brocade, and delighted in lavish adornment. That same day Changzong was made general of the cloud pennon and acting middle gentleman of the Left Thousand-Ox Guard; Yizhi was made vice director of the palace guard; they were granted a first-class residence, five hundred bolts of silk, and slaves, maids, camels, horses, and cattle to fill it. Within a few days Changzong was promoted to grand master of splendid happiness with silver seal and given a guard detachment, attending court on new and full moons like capital officials; their father Xizang was posthumously made regional inspector of Xiang; mothers Wei and Zang were both enfeoffed as grand ladies; palace women inquired daily after their health. An edict ordered Minister Li Huijiu to attend privately upon Zang. Within ten days of Changzong's rise, his prestige shook the realm. The Wu brothers and Zong Chuke and others vied to visit their gates, watching their expressions, personally holding reins and whip; they called Yizhi "Fifth Lord" and Changzong "Sixth Lord." Changzong was further made right irregular attendant. In the second year of Shenglì the Crane-Control Office was established and Yizhi was made superintendent. After a long time it was renamed the Palace Attendance Office and Yizhi was made director. He then brought in famed scholars Yan Chaoyin, Xue Ji, and Yuan Banqian as attendants.

後每燕集，則二張諸武雜侍，摴博爭道為笑樂，或嘲詆公卿，淫蠱顯行，無復羞畏。時無檢輕薄者又諂言昌宗乃王子晉後身，後使被羽裳、吹簫、乘寓鶴，裴回庭中，如仙去狀，詞臣爭為賦詩以媚後。後知醜聲甚，思有以掩覆之，乃詔昌宗即禁中論著，引李嶠、張說、宋之問、富嘉謨、徐彥伯等二十有六人譔《三教珠英》。加昌宗司僕卿、易之麟台監，權勢震赫。皇太子、相王請封昌宗為王，後不聽，遷春官侍郎，封鄴國公，易之恒國公，實封各三百戶。

Afterward at every banquet the two Zhangs and various Wus mixed in attendance; they gambled and vied for amusement, mocked chief ministers, and practiced debauchery openly without shame or fear. The unbridled and frivolous also flattered Changzong as the reincarnation of Prince Zijin; the empress had him don feathered robes, blow the flute, and ride a crane in effigy, pacing the courtyard as if ascending as an immortal; literary officials vied to compose poems flattering her. The empress knew her reputation was foul and wished to cover it; she ordered Changzong to lecture and compose within the palace and brought in Li Jiao, Zhang Yue, Song Zhiwen, Fu Jiamo, Xu Yanbo, and twenty-six others to compile the Pearls of the Three Teachings. Changzong was made director of the palace stud and Yizhi superintendent of the Lin Terrace; their power was dazzling. The crown prince and the Prince of Xiang asked that Changzong be enfeoffed as king; the empress refused; he was made vice director of the Ministry of Rites and enfeoffed as Duke of Ye; Yizhi was enfeoffed as Duke of Heng, with actual fiefs of three hundred households each.

後既春秋高，易之兄弟專政，邵王重潤與永泰郡主竊議，皆得罪縊死。御史大夫魏元忠嘗劾奏易之等罪，易之訴於後，反誣元忠與司禮丞高戩約曰：「天子老，當挾太子為耐久朋。」後問：「孰為證左？」易之曰：「鳳閣舍人張說。」翌日庭辯，皆不讎，然元忠、說猶皆被逐。其後易之等益自肆，奸贓狼藉，御史台劾奏之，乃詔宗晉卿、李承嘉、桓彥范、袁恕己參鞫，而司刑正賈敬言窺望後旨，奏昌宗強市，罪當贖，詔曰可。承嘉、彥範進曰：「昌宗贓四百萬，尚當免官。」昌宗大言曰：「臣有功于國，不應免官。」後問宰相，內史令楊再思曰：「昌宗主煉丹劑，陛下餌之而驗，功最大者也。」即詔釋之，歸罪其兄昌儀、同休，皆貶官。已而後久疾，居長生院，宰相不得進見，惟昌宗等侍側。昌宗恐後不諱，禍且及，乃引支黨日夜與謀為不軌事。然小人疏險，道路皆知之，至有榜其事于衢左者。左台御史中丞宋璟亟請按攝，後陽許璟，俄詔璟外按幽州都督屈突仲翔，更敕司刑卿崔神慶問狀。神慶妄奏云：「昌宗應原。」璟執奏「昌宗法當斬」。後不答，左拾遺李邕進曰：「璟之言，社稷計也，願可之。」後終不許。

As the empress grew old, the Yizhi brothers monopolized government; Prince Shao Chongrun and the Princess of Yongtai privately discussed matters and were all condemned and strangled to death. Censor-in-Chief Wei Yuanzhong once impeached Yizhi and others; Yizhi complained to the empress and in turn falsely accused Yuanzhong and Vice Director of Rites Gao Jian of agreeing, "The emperor is old; we should rely on the crown prince as a lasting ally." The empress asked, "Who is the witness?" Yizhi said, "Phoenix Pavilion drafter Zhang Yue." The next day at court debate the accounts did not match, yet Yuanzhong and Yue were still both expelled. Afterward Yizhi and others grew still more unrestrained; corruption lay everywhere; the Censorate impeached them; an edict ordered Zong Jinqing, Li Chengjia, Huan Yanfan, and Yuan Shuji to join in interrogation; but the director of punishments Jia Jingyan watched for the empress's intent and memorialized that Changzong had forced sales and the crime should be redeemed; an edict approved it. Chengjia and Yanfan advanced, saying, "Changzong's bribes amount to four million — he should still be dismissed from office." Changzong spoke loudly, "I have rendered merit to the state and should not be dismissed." The empress asked the chief ministers; Secretariat Director Yang Zaisi said, "Changzong presides over refining elixir pills; Your Majesty takes them and they prove effective — his merit is greatest." An edict immediately released him and placed blame on his elder brother Changyi and Tongxiu — all were demoted. Before long the empress was long ill and dwelt in the Hall of Long Life; chief ministers could not gain audience — only Changzong and others attended at her side. Changzong feared that after her death he would not escape blame and calamity would reach him; he therefore drew in his faction to plot day and night for treason. Yet these petty men were treacherous and remote from virtue; everyone on the road knew it, and placards even posted their crimes at street corners. Left Terrace Censor-in-Chief Song Jing urgently requested investigation and arrest; the empress outwardly agreed; soon an edict sent Jing out to investigate regional inspector Qu Tuchongxiang of Youzhou, and ordered Minister of Punishments Cui Shenqing to examine the case instead. Shenqing falsely memorialized, "Changzong should be pardoned." Jing firmly memorialized, "By law Changzong should be beheaded." The empress did not reply; Left Remonstrance Official Li Yong advanced, "Jing's words concern the fate of the state; I ask that they be approved." The empress ultimately refused.

神龍元年，張柬之、崔玄暐等率羽林兵迎皇太子入，誅易之、昌宗於迎仙院，及其兄昌期、同休、從弟景雄皆梟首天津橋，士庶歡踴，臠取之，一夕盡。坐流貶者數十人。天寶九載，昌期女上表自言，楊國忠助之，詔復易之兄弟官爵，賜同休一子官。

In the first year of Shenlong, Zhang Jianzhi, Cui Xuanwei, and others led Feathered Forest troops to welcome the crown prince in; they executed Yizhi and Changzong at the Court of Welcoming Immortals; his elder brother Changqi, Tongxiu, and younger cousin Jingxiong were all displayed at Tianjin Bridge; scholars and commoners leaped for joy, cut flesh from the corpses, and by evening it was all gone. Several tens of persons were implicated and exiled or demoted. In the ninth year of Tianbao, Changqi's daughter submitted a memorial on her own behalf; Yang Guozhong assisted her; an edict restored the offices and ranks of the Yizhi brothers and bestowed an office on one son of Tongxiu.

贊曰：于志寧諫太子承乾，幾遭賊殺，然未嘗懼，知太宗之明，雖匕首揕胸不愧也。及武后立，不敢出一言，知高宗之昧，雖死無益也。季輔，行成數進諫，然雍容有禮，皆長厚君子哉！

The encomium says: Yu Zhining remonstrated with Crown Prince Chengqian and nearly suffered assassination, yet he was never afraid, knowing Taizong's clarity — even if a dagger were thrust into his chest he would feel no shame. When Empress Wu was established he did not dare speak a word, knowing Gaozong's obscurity — even death would have been of no benefit. Jifu and Xingcheng repeatedly remonstrated, yet were dignified and courteous — all were truly long-enduring, generous gentlemen!

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