Volume 118 Biographies 43: Zhang, Wei, Han, Song, Xi, two Li's, Pei

張廷珪，河南濟源人。慷慨有志尚。第進士，補白水尉。舉制科異等。累遷監察御史，按劾平直。武后稅天下浮屠錢，營佛祠於白司馬阪，作大象，廷珪諫，以爲：「傾四海之財，殫萬民之力，窮山之木爲塔，極冶之金爲象，然猶有爲之法，不足高也。填塞澗穴，覆壓蟲蟻，且巨億計。工員窮窶，驅役爲勞，饑渴所致，疾疹方作。又僧尼乞丐自贍，而州縣督輸，星火迫切，鬻賣以充，非浮屠所謂隨喜者。今天下虛竭，蒼生雕弊，謂宜先邊境，實府庫，養人力。」后善之，召見長生殿，賞慰良厚，因是罷役。

Zhang Tinggui was from Jiyuan in Henan. He was open-handed and ambitious. After taking his jinshi degree, he was made assistant magistrate of Baishui. He was nominated for a special examination and ranked in the top class. He rose through the ranks to investigating censor, where his investigations were even-handed. When Empress Wu taxed Buddhist clergy empire-wide to build a temple at White Sima Slope and cast a colossal elephant, Tinggui protested: "You are pouring the wealth of the empire and the labor of the people into pagodas of mountain timber and images of refined metal—yet even these are merely contrived works and not truly sublime. Gullies are choked, countless small creatures are buried, and the expense runs into the hundreds of millions. Workers are impoverished, worn down by forced labor; hunger and thirst spread disease among them. Monks and nuns already live by alms, yet local officials demand payments with frantic urgency, forcing them to sell what little they have—hardly the voluntary devotion Buddhism teaches. The empire is exhausted and the people are in distress; priority should go to securing the frontiers, replenishing the treasury, and preserving human resources." The Empress was pleased, received him in the Hall of Long Life, lavished praise and gifts upon him, and halted the work.

會詔市河南河北牛羊、荊益奴婢，置監登、萊，以廣軍資。廷珪上書曰：「今河南牛疫，十不一在，詔雖和市，甚於抑奪。並市則價難準，簡擇則吏求賄，是牛再疫，農重傷也。高原耕地奪爲牧所，兩州無復丁田，牛羊踐暴，舉境何賴？荊、益奴婢多國家戸口，奸豪掠買，一入於官，永無免期。南北異宜，至必生疾，此有損無益也。抑聞之，君所恃在民，民所恃在食，食所資在耕，耕所資在牛；牛廢則耕廢，耕廢則食去，食去則民亡，民亡則何恃爲君？羊非軍國切要，假令蕃滋，不可射利。」后乃止。

An edict then called for buying cattle and sheep from Henan and Hebei and bondsmen from Jing and Yi, with supervisory offices at Deng and Lai to swell military stores. Tinggui wrote: "Henan is ravaged by cattle plague—fewer than one beast in ten survives. Though the edict speaks of fair purchase, it amounts to confiscation. Bulk purchases make fair pricing impossible; selective buying invites official extortion—cattle die twice over and farmers are ruined. Highland cropland is seized for pasture; the two provinces lose their household fields; cattle trample everything—what will the region live on? Most bondsmen in Jing and Yi are registered subjects; local bullies snatch them up, and once they enter government hands they are never freed. North and south have different climates; transported south or north they fall ill—pure loss, no gain. I have also heard it said: a ruler depends on his people, the people on food, food on farming, and farming on oxen; ruin the oxen and you ruin the plow, ruin the plow and food fails, food fails and the people die—what then is left for a ruler to stand on? Sheep are not vital to army or state; even if herds multiply, they should not be treated as a source of profit." The Empress relented.

張易之誅，議窮治黨與。廷珪建言：「自古革命，務歸人心，則以刑勝治。今唐歷不移，天地復主，宜以仁化蕩宥。且易之盛時，趨附奔走半天下，盡誅則已暴，罰一二則法不平，宜一切洗貸。」中宗納之。

After Zhang Yizhi was put to death, the court debated rooting out his entire faction. Tinggui urged: "Throughout history, founding a new dynasty has meant winning hearts; rule by harsh punishment defeats true governance. The Tang line continues unbroken and the throne is restored; mercy and a broad amnesty are what is called for. At the height of Yizhi's power half the empire fawned on him; mass execution would be tyranny, punishing only a few would be unfair—the whole affair should be wiped clean." Zhongzong agreed.

神龍初，詔白司馬阪復營佛祠，廷珪方奉詔抵河北，道出其所，見營築勞亟，懷不能已，上書切爭，且言：「自中興之初，下詔書，弛不急，斥少監楊務廉，以示中外。今土木復興，不稱前詔；掘壤伐木，浸害生氣。願罷之，以紓窮乏。」帝不省。尋爲中書舍人。再遷禮部侍郎。

Early in the Shenlong era an edict revived the temple at White Sima Slope. Tinggui was traveling to Hebei on imperial business, passed the site, saw the crushing labor, and could not stay silent. He wrote urgently: "Since the restoration began, edicts have cut nonessential spending and dismissed Vice Director Yang Wulian as a signal to all. Now construction resumes—this contradicts those edicts; digging and logging steadily damage the living world. I ask that the work be halted to ease the people's want." The Emperor paid no attention. He was soon made a drafting secretary in the Secretariat. He was promoted again to vice minister of Rites.

玄宗開元初，大旱，關中饑，詔求直言。廷珪上疏曰：「古有多難興國，殷憂啟聖，蓋事危則志銳，情苦則慮深，故能轉禍爲福也。景龍、先天間，兇黨構亂，陛下神武，汛掃氛垢，日月所燭，無不濡澤，明明上帝，宜錫介福。而頃陰陽愆候，九穀失稔，關輔尤劇。臣思天意，殆以陛下春秋鼎盛，不崇朝有大功，輕堯、舜而不法，思秦、漢以自高，故昭見咎異，欲日慎一日，永保大和，是皇天於陛下眷顧深矣，陛下得不奉若休旨而寅畏哉！誠願約心削志，考前王之書，敦素樸之道，登端士，放佞人，屏後宮，減外廄，場無蹴鞠之玩，野絶從禽之樂，促遠境，罷縣戍，矜惠惸獨，蠲薄徭賦，去淫巧，捐珠璧，不見可欲，使心不亂。或謂天戒不足畏，而上帝馮怒，風雨迷錯，荒饉日甚，則無以濟下矣；或謂人窮不足恤，而億兆攜離，愁苦昏墊，則無以奉上矣。斯安危所系，禍福之原，奈何不察？今受命伊始，華夷百姓清耳以聽，刮目以視，冀有聞見，何遽孤其望哉？」

Early in Kaiyuan, Xuanzong faced severe drought and famine in Guanzhong and called for frank advice. Tinggui wrote: "History shows that nations often rise from adversity and sage rulers are forged in crisis—danger sharpens resolve, suffering deepens thought, and calamity can become blessing. Through the troubles of Jinglong and Xiantian Your Majesty's valor swept away rebellion; under your radiance all are nourished—surely Heaven should grant abundant blessing. Yet lately the seasons have gone awry, crops have failed everywhere, and Guanzhong has suffered worst of all. I suspect Heaven means this: in your vigorous prime you achieved greatness quickly, yet you slight Yao and Shun as models while emulating the pride of Qin and Han—so Heaven shows signs of warning, urging daily caution to preserve peace. Heaven cares for you deeply; will you not heed its gracious warning with reverence? I urge you to simplify your desires, study the classics of former kings, embrace plain living, promote upright men and dismiss sycophants, reduce the inner palace and imperial stables, ban ball games and hunting, shorten the frontier and end petty garrisons, aid the orphaned, lighten taxes, reject luxury and jewels, and keep temptation from your sight so your mind stays clear. Some say heavenly warnings need not be feared—but if Heaven's wrath brings chaotic storms and deepening famine, how will you save your people? Some say the people's misery need not concern you—but if the masses are scattered in despair, how will they support their ruler? These are the roots of safety and ruin, blessing and disaster—how can you ignore them? You have just taken the throne; all the world listens and watches, hoping for a new beginning—why disappoint them so soon?"

再遷黃門侍郎，監察御史蔣挺坐法，詔決杖朝堂，廷珪執奏：「御史有譴，當殺殺之，不可辱也。」士大夫服其知體。

Promoted again to vice minister of the Palace Gate. When censor Jiang Ting broke the law and was ordered beaten in court, Tinggui protested: "If a censor deserves death, execute him—but do not humiliate him." Scholars admired his sense of dignity.

王琚持節巡天兵諸軍，方還，復詔行塞下，議者皆謂將襲回紇，廷珪陳五不可，且言：「中國步多騎少，人齎一石糧，負甲百斤，盛夏長驅，晝夜不休，勞逸相絶，其勢不敵，一也。出軍掩敵，兵不數萬，不可以行，廢農廣饋，饑歳不支，二也。千里遠襲，其誰不知？賊有斥候，必能預防，三也。狄人獸居磧漠，譬之石田，克而無補，四也。天下無年，當養人息兵，五也。」又請復十道按察使，巡視州縣，帝然納之，因詔陸象先等分使十道。時遣使齎繒錦至石國市犬馬，廷珪曰：「犬馬非土性弗畜，珍禽異獸不育於國，不宜勞遠人致異物，願省無益之故，救必然之急，天下之幸。」

Wang Ju had inspected the Tianbing armies and barely returned when he was sent to the frontier again; many believed he would attack the Uyghurs. Tinggui listed five objections: "China has more foot soldiers than horsemen; each man carries a stone of grain and a hundred jin of armor; to drive through midsummer day and night without rest pits exhaustion against fresh mounts—we cannot win. First. A surprise campaign needs tens of thousands of men; we lack them. Abandoning farming to feed a huge army is impossible in a famine year. Second. A raid a thousand li away—who will not hear of it? The enemy has scouts and will be ready. Third. The nomads live like beasts in the desert—barren ground that yields nothing even if taken. Fourth. The empire has had no good harvest; we should nourish the people and keep the peace. Fifth." He also urged restoring the ten-circuit inspection commissioners. The Emperor agreed and dispatched Lu Xiangxian and others to the ten circuits. Envoys were then sent with silk to buy horses in the Stone Kingdom. Tinggui said: "Dogs and horses are not native here, nor are exotic beasts bred at court. Do not trouble distant peoples for curiosities; cut useless spending and meet urgent needs—that would be the empire's blessing."

坐漏禁內語，出爲沔州刺史。頻徙蘇、宋、魏三州。初，景龍中，宗楚客、紀處訥、武廷秀、韋溫等封戸多在河南、河北，諷朝廷詔兩道蠶產所宜，雖水旱得以蠶折租。廷珪謂：「兩道倚大河，地雄奧，股肱走集，宜得其歡心，安可不恤其患而殫其力？若以桑蠶所宜而加別稅，則隴右羊馬、山南椒漆、山之銅錫鉛鍇、海之蜃蛤魚鹽，水旱皆免，寧獨河南、北外於王度哉？願依貞觀、永徽故事，準令折免。」詔可。在官有威化。入爲少府監，封範陽縣男。以太子詹事致仕。卒，贈工部尚書，謚貞穆。

He was exiled to prefect of Mian for leaking palace secrets. He served in succession as prefect of Su, Song, and Wei. Earlier in Jinglong, Zong Chuke and others held fiefs mostly in Henan and Hebei and persuaded the court to let those circuits pay rent in silk even during drought or flood. Tinggui argued: "These circuits lie along the Yellow River, the heartland where the empire's strength gathers—we should win their loyalty. How can we ignore their hardship and drain them dry? If silk regions get special treatment, why not exempt Longyou's livestock, Shannan's pepper and lacquer, mountain metals, and sea salt in every disaster? Are Henan and Hebei alone outside imperial law? Follow the Zhenguan and Yonghui precedents and grant statutory relief." The edict approved. As an official he commanded respect and improved the regions he governed. He was recalled as director of the Palace Stores and created Baron of Fanyang. He retired as household steward of the crown prince. He died and was posthumously made minister of Works with the posthumous name Zhenmu (Upright and Solemn).

廷珪偉姿儀，善八分書，與李邕友善，及邕躓於仕，屢表薦之，人尚其方介云。韋湊，字彥宗，京兆萬年人。祖叔諧，貞觀中爲庫部郎中，與弟吏部郎中叔謙、兄主爵郎中季武同省，時號「三列宿」。

Tinggui was imposing in appearance and skilled in clerical script. He was close to Li Yong and repeatedly recommended him when Yong fell from favor; people admired his principled loyalty. Wei Cou, courtesy name Yanzong, was from Wannian in the capital district. His grandfather Shuxie served as a treasury director under Zhenguan, together with his brothers in the Ministries of Personnel and Enfeoffment in the same department—they were called "the three stars in a row."

湊，永淳初，解褐婺州參軍事。徙資州司兵，觀察使房昶才之，表於朝，遷揚州法曹。州人盂神爽罷仁壽令，豪縱，數犯法，交通貴戚，吏莫敢繩，湊按治，杖殺之，遠近稱伏。入爲相王府屬，時姚崇兼府長史，嘗曰：「韋子識遠文詳，吾恨晚得之。」六遷司農少卿。忤宗楚客，出爲貝州刺史。

Cou began his career in Yongchun as military adjutant of Wuzhou. Transferred to Zizhou as judicial officer, he impressed observation commissioner Fang Chang, who recommended him to court; he was promoted to law officer of Yangzhou. Meng Shensuang, a dismissed magistrate and local bully who flouted the law through noble connections, was investigated by Cou, beaten to death, and the region applauded. He entered service in the household of the Prince of Xiang, where Yao Chong was chief administrator and said: "Master Wei has far-reaching judgment and careful prose—I regret not finding him sooner." After six promotions he became vice minister of Agriculture. He offended Zong Chuke and was exiled to prefect of Beizhou.

睿宗立，授鴻臚少卿。徙太府，兼通事舍人。時改葬故太子重俊，有詔加謚，又詔雪李多祚等罪，議贈官。湊上言：

When Ruizong ascended the throne, Cou was made vice minister of State Ceremonial. He was transferred to the Grand Treasury and also served as memorial receptionist. When the late crown prince Chongjun was reburied, edicts added a posthumous title, cleared Li Duozuo and others, and debated posthumous honors. Cou submitted a memorial:

王者發號出令，必法大道，善善著，惡惡明也。賞罰所不加，則考行立謚以褒貶之。臣議其君，子議其父，曰「靈」曰「厲」者，不敢以私亂公也。臣伏見故太子與多祚等擁北軍，犯宸居，破扉斬關，兵指黃屋，騎騰紫微，和帝御玄武門親諭逆順，太子據鞍自若，督眾不止；逆黨悔非，回兵執賊，多祚伏誅，太子乃遁去。明日帝見群臣，涕數行下，曰：「幾不與公等相見」，其爲危甚矣！

A ruler's commands must follow the great Way—praising the good and exposing the wicked. When reward and punishment no longer apply, conduct is judged and a posthumous name records praise or blame. Ministers judge their rulers and sons their fathers—names like Ling or Li show that private feeling must not corrupt public judgment. I have seen that the late crown prince and Duozuo seized the Northern Army, stormed the palace, broke the gates, and aimed weapons at the throne. Emperor He went to Xuanwu Gate to explain right and wrong, yet the crown prince sat calmly in his saddle and drove his troops on; only when the rebels repented and turned on the traitors was Duozuo executed and the crown prince fled. The next day the Emperor told his ministers through tears, "I nearly never saw you again"—the danger was extreme.

臣子之禮，過位必趨，蹙路馬芻有誅。昔漢成帝爲太子，行不敢絶馳道。秦師免胄過周北門，王孫滿策其必敗。推此，則太子稱兵宮中，爲悖已甚。以斬三思父子而嘉之乎，則弄兵討逆以安君父可也；因欲自立，則是爲逆，又奚可褒？此時韋氏逆未明，義未絶，於太子母也，子無廢母之理；非中宗命廢之，則又劫父廢母。且君或不君，臣安可不臣？父或不父，子安可不子？晉太子申生謚曰恭，漢太子據謚曰戾，今太子乃謚節閔，臣所未諭。願與議謚者質於御前，使臣言非耶，甘鼎鑊之誅，申大義示天下。臣言是耶，咸蒙冰釋，不復異議。如曰未然，奈何使後世亂臣賊子資以爲辭？宜易謚以合經禮，多祚等罪云「免」而不云「雪」。

The rites of subjecthood require hurrying past the ruler's seat; even trampling the fodder of the imperial horses is a capital crime. When Emperor Cheng of Han was crown prince, he would not walk across the imperial carriage road. When Qin troops passed Zhou's north gate bareheaded, Wangsun Man predicted their defeat. By that measure, for a crown prince to take up arms in the palace is utterly perverse. If we honor him for killing the Sansi, then raising troops to protect the emperor would be enough; but if he sought the throne himself, that was rebellion—how can it be praised? At that time Empress Wei's treason was not yet clear and familial duty was not yet broken; a son cannot depose his mother; unless Zhongzong himself ordered it, the crown prince would merely be seizing his father and deposing his mother. Even if a ruler fails in his role, must not a subject still be a subject? Even if a father fails in his role, must not a son still be a son? Crown Prince Shensheng of Jin was posthumously Gong; Liu Ju of Han was Li; yet this crown prince is called Jiemin—I cannot understand it. Let me debate the namers before the throne; if I am wrong, I accept death in the cauldron; if I am right, let the great principle be shown to all. If I am right, let all doubts melt away and no one dispute further. If we deny this, how will we stop future traitors from using it as precedent? Change the posthumous name to fit the classics, and say Duozuo's crimes were "remitted," not "cleared."

帝瞿然，引內閣中，勞曰：「誠如卿言。業已爾，奈何？」對曰：「太子實逆，不可以褒，請質行以示。」時大臣亦重改，唯罷多祚等贈官。

The Emperor started, drew him into the inner pavilion, and said, "You are right. The deed is done—what now?" He answered: "The crown prince was truly a rebel and must not be honored; let the facts be examined." The senior ministers agreed to revise the decision; only Duozuo's posthumous honors were withdrawn.

景雲初，作金仙等觀，湊諫，以爲：「方農月興功，雖貲出公主，然高直售庸，則農人舍耕取雇，趨末棄本，恐天下有受其饑者。」不聽，湊執爭，以「萬物生育，草木昆蚑傷伐甚多，非仁聖本意」。帝詔外詳議。中書令崔湜、侍中岑羲曰：「公敢是耶？」湊曰：「食厚祿，死不敢顧，況聖世必無死乎？」朝廷爲減費萬計。出爲陜、汝、岐三州刺史。

Early in Jingyun the court built the Golden Immortal monastery and others. Cou protested: "Construction in the planting season—even if the princesses pay—high wages will lure farmers from the fields; the realm may face famine." The Emperor ignored him. Cou insisted that "countless living things are destroyed—this is not what a sage ruler intends." The Emperor ordered the matter debated openly. Chief minister Cui Shi and attendant Cen Xi said, "Do you really mean this? Cou replied: "On a generous salary I cannot flinch from death—and in a sage reign I trust I will not die for speaking truth." The court cut the budget by tens of thousands. He served as prefect of Shan, Ru, and Qi in succession.

開元初，欲建碑靖陵，湊以古園陵不立碑，又云旱不可興工，諫而止。遷將作大匠。詔復孝敬皇帝廟號義宗，湊諫曰：「傳云：『必也正名。』禮：祖有功，宗有德，其廟百世不毀。商有三宗，周宗武王，漢文帝爲太宗，武帝爲世宗。歷代稱宗者，皆方制海內，德澤可尊，列於昭穆，是謂不毀。孝敬皇帝未嘗南面，且別立寢廟，無稱宗之義。」遂罷。

Early in Kaiyuan the court planned a stele at Jing Mausoleum. Cou argued that ancient imperial tombs had no steles and that drought forbade work; the plan was halted. He was appointed grand director of palace construction. An edict restored the temple name Yizong for the Filial and Respectful Emperor. Cou objected: "The Analects say, 'Rectify the names. The rites teach that zu honor merit and zong honor virtue—such temples endure for a hundred generations. The Shang had three zong; Zhou made King Wu a zong; Han Wendi was taizong and Wudi shizong. Throughout history only rulers who pacified the realm and whose virtue merited honor were called zong and entered the ancestral temple forever. The Filial and Respectful Emperor never reigned, and he already had a separate temple—he does not qualify as zong." The edict was withdrawn.

遷右衛大將軍，玄宗謂曰：「故事，諸衛大將軍與尚書更爲之，近時職輕，故用卿以重此官，其毋辭！」尋徙河南尹，封彭城郡公。會洛陽主薄王鈞以賕抵死，詔曰：「兩臺御史、河南尹縱吏侵漁，《春秋》重責帥，其出湊曹州刺史，侍御史張洽通州司馬。」久之，遷太原尹，兼北都軍器監，邊備修舉，詔賜時服勞勉之。及病，遣上醫臨治。卒，年六十五，贈幽州都督，謚曰文。子見素。湊子見素，字會微，質性仁厚。及進士第，授相王府參軍，襲父爵，擢累諫議大夫。天寶五載，爲江西、山南、黔中、嶺南道黜陟使，繩糾吏治，所至震畏。遷文部侍郎，平判皆誦於口，銓敘平允，官有頠求，輒下意聽納，人多德之。

Promoted to general of the Right Guards, Xuanzong said: "By custom this post alternated with ministerial rank; lately it has been slighted, so I appoint you to restore its weight—do not refuse! He soon became mayor of Henan and was created Duke of Pengcheng. When registrar Wang Jun was executed for bribery, an edict blamed the censors and mayor for lax oversight: Cou was demoted to prefect of Caozhou and Zhang Qia to adjutant of Tongzhou. Later he became mayor of Taiyuan and director of northern armories; the frontier was well ordered and the court rewarded him with robes of honor. When he fell ill, the chief physician was sent to attend him. He died at sixty-five, was posthumously made military commissioner of Youzhou, and given the posthumous name Wen. His son was Jiansu. Cou's son Jiansu, courtesy name Huiwei, was gentle by nature. After his jinshi degree he served in the Prince of Xiang's household, inherited his father's title, and rose to remonstrating censor. In Tianbao 5 he inspected Jiangxi, Shannan, Qianzhong, and Lingnan, disciplining officials so severely that all feared him. As vice minister of Rites he memorized every personnel judgment, conducted fair appointments, and graciously heard officials' requests—winning wide gratitude.

十三載，玄宗苦雨潦，閱六旬，謂宰相非其人，罷左相陳希烈，詔楊國忠審擇大臣。時吉溫得幸，帝欲用之。溫爲安祿山所厚，國忠懼其進，沮止之。謀於中書舍人竇華、宋昱，皆以見素安雅易制，國忠入白帝，帝亦以相王府屬，有舊恩，遂拜武部尚書、同中書門下平章事、集賢院學士，知門下省事。

In year 13 Xuanzong, troubled by sixty days of rain, blamed the chancellor, dismissed Chen Xilie, and told Yang Guozhong to find a replacement. Ji Wen then held imperial favor and the Emperor wished to appoint him. Ji Wen was close to An Lushan, and Guozhong blocked his appointment for fear of his influence. Guozhong consulted Dou Hua and Song Yu, who recommended the tractable Jiansu; citing old ties from the princely household, the Emperor made him minister of War and chancellor.

明年，祿山表請蕃將三十二人代漢將，帝許之，見素不悅，謂國忠曰：「祿山反狀暴天下，今又以蕃代漢，難將作矣。」國忠不應，見素曰：「知禍之牙不能防，見禍之形不能制，焉用彼相？明日當懇論之。」既入，帝迎諭曰：「卿等有疑祿山意耶？」國忠、見素趨下，流涕具陳祿山反明甚，詔復位，因以祿山表置帝前乃出。帝令中官袁思藝傳詔曰：「此姑忍，朕徐圖之。」由是奉詔。然每進見，未嘗不爲帝言之，帝不入其語。未幾，祿山反，從帝入蜀。陳玄禮之殺國忠也，兵傷其首，眾傳聲曰：「毋害韋公父子！」獲免。帝令壽王賜藥傅創。次巴西，詔兼左相，封豳國公。

Next year Lushan asked to replace Han generals with thirty-two non-Han commanders. The Emperor agreed. Jiansu told Guozhong, "Lushan's rebellion is obvious; this swap will bring disaster. Guozhong was silent. Jiansu said, "You see the danger but cannot prevent it—what use is a chancellor like you? Tomorrow I will argue this before the throne." In audience the Emperor asked, "Do you suspect Lushan?" Guozhong and Jiansu wept and laid out Lushan's treason, had their posts restored, left his memorial before the Emperor, and withdrew. The Emperor sent eunuch Yuan Siyi to say, "Bear with this for now; I will act in due course." They obeyed. Yet Jiansu repeated the warning at every audience, and the Emperor would not listen. Soon Lushan rebelled and Jiansu followed the Emperor into Shu. When Chen Xuanli killed Guozhong, troops wounded Jiansu; the crowd cried, "Spare Master Wei and his son! He escaped harm. The Emperor had Prince Shou send medicine and dress his wound. At Brazil he was made left minister and Duke of Bin.

肅宗立，與房琯、崔渙持節奉傳國璽及冊，宣揚制命，帝曰：「太子仁孝，去十三載已有傳位意，屬方水旱，左右勸我且須豐年。今帝受命，朕如釋負矣。煩卿等遠去，善輔導之。」見素涕泣拜辭，又命見素子諤及中書舍人賈至爲冊使判官，謁見肅宗於順化郡。肅宗聞琯名且舊，虛懷待之；以見素嘗附國忠，禮遇獨減。

When Suzong ascended, Jiansu with Fang Guan and Cui Huan bore the seal and edicts of investiture. Xuanzong said, "The crown prince is filial; I meant to abdicate as early as year 13, but floods and courtiers urged me to wait for better times. Now that the Son of Heaven has the mandate, I am relieved of my burden. Go far and guide him well. Jiansu wept and took leave; his son E and Jia Zhi went as aides and met Suzong at Shunhua. Suzong, knowing Fang Guan's reputation, welcomed him warmly; but because Jiansu had sided with Guozhong, he was treated with less honor.

是歳十月丙申，有星犯昴，見素言於帝曰：「昴者，胡也。天道謫見，所應在人，祿山將死矣。」帝曰：「日月可知乎？」見素曰：「福應在德，禍應在刑。昴金忌火，行當火位，昴之昏中，乃其時也。既死其月，亦死其日。明年正月申寅，祿山其殪乎！」帝曰：「賊何等死？」答曰：「五行之説，子者視妻所生。昴犯以丙申。金，木之妃也；木，火之母也。丙火爲金，子申亦金也。二金本同末異，還以相克，賊殆爲子與首亂者更相屠戮乎！」及祿山死，日月皆驗。

That tenth month on bingshen a star struck the Pleiades. Jiansu told the Emperor, "The Pleiades represent the barbarians. Heaven warns; the omen falls on men—Lushan will die." Can the day be known?" Jiansu said, "Blessing follows virtue, calamity follows harsh rule. The Pleiades are metal and fear fire; fire is rising; his death will come when the Pleiades are in mid-dusk. He will die in that month and on that day. Next year on jiayin of the first month—will that be Lushan's end?" How will the rebel die?" By the five phases, the son is what the wife bears. The omen came on bingshen. Metal is wood's consort; wood is fire's mother. Bing fire is metal; zi and shen are metal too. Two metals share an origin yet clash—the rebel may die by his son and fellow rebels turning on one another!" When Lushan died, month and day matched the prophecy.

明年三月至鳳翔，拜尚書右僕射，罷知政事。初，行在所承喪亂後，兵吏三銓簿領煬散，選部文符僞濫，帝欲廣懷士心，至者一切補官，不加檢復。見素奏宜明條綱以爲持久，帝未及從。既還都，選者猥集，補署無所，日訴於朝，乃追行其言。會郭子儀亦爲僕射，徙見素太子太師，詔至蜀郡奉迎太上皇。以功食實封三百戸。上元初，以疾求致仕，許之，詔朝朔望。寶應元年卒，年七十六，贈司徒，謚忠貞。子諤。

The next year he reached Fengxiang, became right vice director of the Department of State Affairs, and left active government. After the flight, personnel records were chaotic and appointments forged; the Emperor gave office to all comers without review. Jiansu urged clear rules for lasting order; the Emperor had not yet agreed. After the return, petitioners overwhelmed the court until his rules were enforced. When Guo Ziyi became vice director too, Jiansu was made grand preceptor and sent to Shu to welcome the retired emperor. He received a fief of three hundred households for his service. Early in Shangyuan he retired for illness but was ordered to attend on the first and fifteenth of each month. He died in Baoying 1 at seventy-six, was posthumously director of State Affairs, and named Zhongzhen (Loyal and Steadfast). His son was E.

贊曰：楊國忠本與安祿山爭寵，故捕吉溫以激其亂，陰儲蜀貲，待天子之出，則己與韋見素流涕爭祿山反狀，將信所言，以久其權。見素能言祿山反，不能言所以反，是佐國忠敗王室也，玄宗不悟，仍相之。卒爲後帝所薄，然猶完其要領，幸矣。謂見素爲前知，果非也。見素子諤歷京兆府司錄參軍。國忠之死，軍聚不解，陳玄禮請殺貴妃以安眾，帝意猶豫，諤諫曰：「臣聞以計勝色者昌，以色勝計者亡。今宗廟震驚，陛下棄神器，奔草莽，惟割恩以安社稷。」因叩頭流血。帝寤，賜妃死，軍乃大悅。擢諤御史中丞，爲置頓使。乘輿將行，或曰：「國忠死，不可往蜀，請之河、隴」，或請幸太原、朔方、涼州，或曰如京師，雜然不一。帝心向蜀，未能言。諤曰：「今兵少，不能捍賊，還京非萬全計，不如至扶風，徐圖去就。」帝問於眾，眾然之，遂至扶風，乃決西幸。後終給事中。諤從子顗，字周仁，諤弟益之子。蚤孤，事姊恭順。及長，身不衣帛。通陰陽象緯，博知山川風俗，論議曲據。以門調補千牛備身。自鄠尉判入等，授萬年尉。歷御史、補闕，與李約、李正辭更進諷諫，數移大事。裴垍、韋貫之、李絳、崔群、蕭俯皆布衣舊，繼爲宰相，朝廷典章多所咨逮，嘗曰：「吾儕五人，智不及一韋公。」長慶初爲大理少卿。累遷給事中。敬宗立，授御史中丞，爲戸部侍郎，徙吏部。卒，贈禮部尚書。

The commentators say Guozhong rivaled Lushan for favor, seized Ji Wen to stir rebellion, hoarded wealth in Shu, and waited for the emperor's flight—then he and Jiansu would weep and argue Lushan's treason so the throne would trust them and prolong Guozhong's power. Jiansu could name Lushan's rebellion but not its cause—thus he aided Guozhong in ruining the dynasty; Xuanzong never saw it and kept him as chancellor. Suzong later slighted him, yet he kept his life and honor—fortunate indeed. Calling Jiansu prescient was mistaken. Jiansu's son E served as registrar of the capital prefecture. After Guozhong's death the troops would not disband. Chen Xuanli urged killing Yang Guifei to calm them. The emperor hesitated. E said, "He who lets policy master desire survives; he who lets desire master policy perishes. The temples are shaken, Your Majesty has fled the capital—only by sacrificing private love can the state be saved. He knocked his head until it bled. The emperor consented, the consort was killed, and the army was satisfied. E was made assistant censor and provisioning commissioner. As the court prepared to flee, some said Shu was unsafe and urged He-Long, Taiyuan, Shuofang, Liangzhou, or even the capital—opinions clashed. The emperor favored Shu but could not say so. E said, "We are too few to fight; the capital is unsafe—better pause at Fufeng and decide later." The court agreed; they reached Fufeng, then set out for Shu. He later became supervising censor. E's nephew Yan, courtesy name Zhouren, was the son of E's brother Yi. Orphaned young, he served his elder sister with filial care. As an adult he wore no silk. He mastered astrology, geography, and customs and argued with precise evidence. By family rank he became an armed attendant of the Thousand Oxen. From assistant magistrate of E he entered the upper grade and became assistant magistrate of Wannian. He served as censor and remonstrator with Li Yue and Li Zhengzhi, repeatedly shaping major policy. Pei Ji, Wei Guanzhi, Li Jiang, Cui Qun, and Xiao Fu—commoner friends who became chancellors—often sought his counsel and said, "Our five minds together do not equal one Master Wei." Early in Changqing he became vice director of the Court of Judicial Review. He rose to supervising secretary. Under Jingzong he became assistant censor, vice minister of Revenue, then Personnel. He died and was posthumously minister of Rites.

所著《易縕解》，推演終始，有深誼。既喜接士，後出莫不造門。而李逢吉方結黨與，擅國政，頗傅會之，素議遂衰。然節儉自居，天下推其尚云。見素從子知人，字行哲，叔謙子。弱而好古。以國子舉授校書郎。高宗時，擢州參軍八人爲中臺郎，知人自荊府兵曹遷司庫員外郎，兼判司戎大夫事。未幾卒。子維、繩。知人子維，字文紀。進士對策高第，擢武功主簿。督役乾陵，會歳饑，均力勸功，人不知勞。坐徐敬業親，貶五泉主簿。徙內江令，教民耕桑，縣爲刻頌。遷戸部郎中，善裁剖，時員外宋之問善詩，故時稱「戸部二妙」。終太子右庶子。知人子繩，長文辭。撫養宗屬孤幼無異情。舉孝廉，以母老不肯仕。逾二十年，乃歷長安尉，威行京師。擢監察御史，更泗、涇、鄜三州刺史。天寶初，入爲秘書少監，玄宗尚文，視其職如尚書丞、郎。繩刊是圖簡，以善職稱。終陳王傅。知人孫虛心，字無逸，維子。舉孝廉。遷大理丞、侍御史。神龍中，按大獄，僕射竇懷貞、侍中劉幽求有所輕重，虛心據正不橈。景龍中，屬羌叛，既禽捕，有詔悉誅，虛心惟論酋長死，原活其餘。遷御史中丞。歷荊、潞、揚三大都督府長史。荊州有鄕豪，負勢干法，虛心籍其訾入之官。以廬江多盜，遂縣舒城，盜賊爲衰。入爲工部尚書、東京留守。累封南皮郡子卒，贈揚州大都督，謚曰正。弟虛舟，歷洪、魏二州刺史，有治名。入爲刑部侍郎。

His Explication of the Changes traces cosmic cycles with deep insight. He welcomed scholars; future luminaries all called at his door. Yet Li Fengji was building a faction and courting him, and his moral standing faded. He still lived frugally, and the world admired his integrity. Jiansu's nephew Zhiren, courtesy name Xingzhe, was Shuqian's son. Frail in youth, he loved antiquity. Through the Directorate of Education he became a collator. Gaozong promoted eight prefectural adjutants to central posts; Zhiren went from Jing military adjutant to treasury outer director and judged military horse affairs. He soon died. His sons were Wei and Sheng. Zhiren's son Wei, courtesy name Wenji. He topped the jinshi policy exam and became chief clerk of Wugong. Overseeing work at Qian Mausoleum during famine, he balanced labor so people scarcely felt the burden. As kin to Xu Jingye he was demoted to chief clerk of Wuquan. As magistrate of Neijiang he taught farming and sericulture; the county erected a praise stele. As Revenue director he judged well; with poet Song Zhiwen as outer director they were called "Revenue's two marvels." He ended as right assistant to the crown prince. Zhiren's son Sheng excelled at prose. He raised clan orphans as tenderly as his own children. Recommended as filial and incorrupt, he refused office while his mother lived. After twenty years he became wannian assistant magistrate and commanded respect in the capital. He became investigating censor and prefect of Si, Jing, and Zou in turn. Early in Tianbao he became vice director of the Secretariat; Xuanzong valued letters and treated the post like a high ministerial rank. Sheng collated the archives and won praise for competent service. He ended as tutor to the Prince of Chen. Zhiren's grandson Xuxin, courtesy name Wuyi, was Wei's son. He was recommended as filial and incorrupt. He rose to assistant director of Judicial Review and attendant censor. In Shenlong he investigated a major case; Dou Huai Zhen and Liu Youqiu showed bias, but Xuxin held firm. In Jinglong, when captured Qiang rebels were ordered executed, Xuxin argued only chiefs should die and the rest live. He became assistant censor. He was chief administrator at Jing, Lu, and Yang. In Jingzhou he seized a magnate's assets who had defied the law. He moved the Lujiang seat to Shucheng and banditry fell. He became minister of Works and eastern capital regent. Enfeoffed Baron of Nanpi, he died, was posthumously military commissioner of Yangzhou, and named Zheng (Upright). His brother Xuzhou governed Hong and Wei with distinction. He became vice minister of Punishments.

初，維爲郎，蒔柳於廷，及虛心兄弟居郎省，對之輒斂容。自叔謙後，至郎中者數人，世號「郎官家」。韓思復，字紹出，京兆長安人。祖倫，貞觀中歷左衛率，封長山縣男。思復少孤，年十歳，母爲語父亡狀，感咽幾絶，故倫特愛之，嘗曰：「此兒必大吾宗。」然家富有，金玉、車馬、玩好未嘗省。篤學，舉秀才高第，襲祖封。永淳中，家益窶，歳饑，京兆杜瑾者，以百綾餉思復，思復方並日食，而綾完封不發。

When Wei was an officer he planted willows in the courtyard; the Xuxin brothers always composed themselves before them in office. From Shuqian on several became bureau chiefs—the "Bureau Officer family." Han Sifu, courtesy name Shaochu, was from Chang'an in the capital district. His grandfather Lun served as left guard commander under Zhenguan and was Baron of Changshan. Orphaned young, at ten he wept hearing how his father died; Lun loved him and said, "This boy will glorify our house." Though wealthy, he never counted luxuries. A devoted student, he topped the xiucai exam and inherited his grandfather's title. In Yongchun the family grew poor; Du Jin sent a hundred bolts of silk while Sifu ate every other day yet never opened the gift.

調梁府倉曹參軍，會大旱，輒開倉賑民，州劾責，對曰：「人窮則濫，不如因而活之，無趣爲盜賊。」州不能詘。轉汴州司戸，仁恕，不行鞭罰。以親喪去官，鬻薪自給。姚崇爲夏官侍郎，識之，擢司禮博士。五遷禮部郎中。建昌王武攸寧母亡，請鼓吹，思復持不可而止。坐爲王同皎所薦，貶始州長史。遷滁州刺史，州有銅官，人鏟鑿尤苦，思復爲賈他鄙，費省獲多。有黃芝五生州署，民爲刻頌其祥。徙襄州。

As Liang granary adjutant he opened stores in drought; impeached, he said, "Desperate people turn to crime—feed them rather than make bandits." The prefecture could not answer. As Bianzhou revenue officer he was merciful and never used the whip. He left office to mourn and sold firewood to live. Yao Chong recognized him and made him a rites doctor. He rose five times to director in the Ministry of Rites. When Wu Youning's mother died he demanded imperial music; Sifu refused and stopped it. Recommended by Wang Tongjiao, he was demoted to chief administrator of Shizhou. As prefect of Chuzhou he eased copper mining labor by buying elsewhere, saving cost and increasing yield. Five yellow fungi grew at his yamen; the people praised the omen. He was transferred to Xiangzhou.

入拜給事中。帝作景龍觀，思復諫曰：「禍難初弭，土木遽興，非憂物恤人所急。」不見省。嚴善思坐譙王重福事，捕送詔獄，有司劾善思「任汝州刺史，與王游；至京師，不暴王謀，但奏東都有兵氣。匿反罔上，宜伏誅」。思復曰：「往韋氏擅內，謀危社稷，善思詣相府，白陛下必即位。今詔追善思，書發即至，使有逆節者，肯遽奔命哉？請集百官議。」議多同，善思得免死，流靜州。遷中書舍人，數指言得失，頗見納用。

He became supervising secretary. When the emperor built Jinglong Abbey, Sifu protested: "Disaster has barely ended—construction is not what the people need." He was ignored. Yan Shansi was implicated with Prince Chongfu of Qiao and jailed; officials charged that as prefect of Ruzhou he associated with the prince; in the capital he hid the plot and only reported military omens in the eastern capital. Concealing rebellion—he should die." Sifu said, "When the Wei clan threatened the throne, Shansi told the chief minister you would surely reign. Now he comes at once when summoned—would a rebel obey so quickly? Let the officials debate." Most agreed; Shansi was exiled to Jingzhou instead of executed. As drafting secretary he often criticized policy and was largely heeded.

開元初，爲諫議大夫。山東大蝗，宰相姚崇遣使分道捕瘞。思復上言：「夾河州縣，飛蝗所至，苗輒盡，今游食至洛。使者往來，不敢顯言。且天災流行，庸可盡瘞？望陛下悔過責躬，損不急之務，任至公之人，持此誠實以答譴咎，其驅蝗使一切宜罷。」玄宗然之，出其疏付崇，崇建遣思復使山東按所損，還，以實言。崇又遣監察御史劉沼覆視，沼希宰相意，悉易故牒以聞，故河南數州賦不得蠲。崇惡之，出爲德州刺史。拜黃門侍郎。帝北巡，爲行在巡問賑給大使。遷御史大夫，性恬淡，不喜爲繩察，徙太子賓客，進爵伯。累遷吏部侍郎。復爲襄州刺史，治行名天下，代還，仍拜太子賓客。卒，年七十四，謚曰文。天子親題其碑曰「有唐忠孝韓長山之墓」。故吏盧僎、邑人孟浩然立石峴山。

Early in Kaiyuan he was remonstrating censor. Locusts ravaged Shandong; Yao Chong sent envoys to capture and bury them. Sifu wrote, "Along the Yellow River crops vanish where locusts pass; they now reach Luoyang. Envoys dare not speak plainly. When disaster spreads, how can burial solve it? Repent, cut nonessential spending, appoint fair men, answer Heaven sincerely, and abolish the locust commissioners." Xuanzong agreed, gave the memorial to Chong, who sent Sifu to inspect Shandong; he reported truthfully. Chong sent Liu Zhao to verify; Zhao flattered the chancellor and falsified records, denying tax relief to Henan. Chong disliked him and exiled him to Dezhou. He became vice minister of the Palace Gate. On the northern tour he directed relief for the mobile court. Made censor-in-chief, he was calm and disliked harsh scrutiny; he became crown prince's guest and baron. He rose to vice minister of Personnel. Again prefect of Xiangzhou, famed for governance, he returned as crown prince's guest. He died at seventy-four with posthumous name Wen. The emperor inscribed his stele: "Tomb of Han Changshan, loyal and filial of Tang." Lu Qian and Meng Haoran erected a stone on Mount Xian.

初，鄭仁傑、李無爲者，隱居太白山，思復少從二人游，嘗曰：「子識清貌古，恨仕不及宰相也。」子朝宗。思復子朝宗，初歷左拾遺。睿宗詔作乞寒胡戲，諫曰：「昔辛有過伊川，見被發而祭，知其必戎。今乞寒胡，非古不法，無乃爲狄？又道路藉藉，咸言皇太子微服觀之。且匈奴在邸，刺客卒發，大憂不測，白龍魚服，深可畏也。況天象變見，疫癘相仍，厭兵助陰，是謂無益。」帝稱善，特賜中上考。帝傳位太子，朝宗與將軍龐承宗諫曰：「太子雖睿聖，宜且養成盛德。」帝不聽。累遷荊州長史。

Youthfully he studied with hermits Zheng Renjie and Li Wuwei and said, "You are wise and grave—I regret you never reached the chancellorship." His son was Chaozong. Sifu's son Chaozong first served as left remonstrator. Ruizong ordered the Cold Food Barbarian play; Chaozong objected: "Xin You saw disheveled sacrifice at Yichuan and knew barbarians would come. This play is neither ancient nor lawful—will it not breed barbarian ways? Rumors say the crown prince watches in disguise. The Xiongnu embassy is here—assassins may strike; a ruler in disguise is perilous. Omens multiply and plague spreads; war-weariness feeds yin—this does no good." The emperor praised him and gave a top evaluation. When the emperor abdicated to the crown prince, Chaozong and Pang Chengzong urged, "The crown prince is wise but still needs time to mature." The emperor would not listen. He rose to chief administrator of Jingzhou.

開元二十二年，初置十道採訪使，朝宗以襄州刺史兼山南東道。襄州南楚故城有昭王井，傳言汲者死，行人雖暍困，不敢視，朝宗移書諭神，自是飲者亡恙，人更號韓公井。坐所任吏擅賦役，貶洪州刺史。天寶初，召爲京兆尹，分渭水入金光門，匯爲潭，以通西市材木。出爲高平太守。始，開元末，海內無事，訛言兵當興，衣冠潛爲避世計，朝宗廬終南山，爲長安尉霍仙奇所發，玄宗怒，使侍御史王訊之。貶吳興別駕，卒。朝宗喜識拔後進，嘗薦崔宗之、嚴武於朝，當時士咸歸重之。朝宗孫佽，字相之，性清簡。元和初第進士。自山南東道使府入爲殿中侍御史。累遷桂管觀察使，部二十餘州，自參軍至縣令無慮三百員，吏部所補才十一，餘皆觀察使商才補職。佽下車，悉來謁，一吏持籍請補缺員，佽下教曰：「居官治，吾不奪；其不奉法，無望縱舍。缺者，須按籍取可任任之。」會春服使至，鄕有豪猾厚進賄使者，求爲縣令，使者請佽，佽許之。既去，召鄕豪責以橈法，笞其背，以令部中，自是豪右畏戢。時詔置五管監兵，盡境賦不足充其費，佽處以儉約，遂爲定制，眾以爲難。卒，贈工部侍郎。宋務光，字子昂，一名烈，汾州西河人。舉進士及第，調洛陽尉。遷右衛騎曹參軍。神龍元年，大水，詔文武九品以上官直言極諫，務光上書曰：

In Kaiyuan 22 the ten-circuit commissioners were created; Chaozong held Xiangzhou and Shannan East. At Prince Zhao's Well in Xiangzhou, rumored deadly, Chaozong wrote to the spirit; drinkers were safe thereafter, and it was renamed Master Han's Well. His subordinates levied taxes illegally; he was demoted to prefect of Hongzhou. Early in Tianbao he became capital mayor, diverted the Wei through Jinguang Gate into a pond to float timber for the western market. He became grand administrator of Gaoping. Late in Kaiyuan, rumors of war drove officials to hide; Chaozong retired to Zhongnan Mountain; reported by Huo Xianqi, he was investigated by Wang Xun. Demoted to Wuxing vice-prefect, he died. Chaozong promoted younger talent, recommending Cui Zongzhi and Yan Wu; scholars esteemed him. Chaozong's grandson Ci, courtesy name Xiangzhi, was plain and upright. He took his jinshi degree early in Yuanhe. He entered court as palace attendant censor from Shannan East. As Guiguan commissioner over twenty prefectures, he found only eleven of three hundred posts filled by the Ministry; the rest were patronage appointments. On taking office, Ci told petitioners: "Serve well and keep your post; break the law and expect no mercy. Fill vacancies only from qualified men on the register. A bully bribed the spring-robes envoy for a magistracy; Ci agreed. Ci then summoned and flogged the bully for corruption, and the powerful feared him thereafter. When border levies could not fund five-circuit troops, Ci's frugality became standard—admired as difficult. He died and was posthumously vice minister of Works. Song Wuguang, courtesy name Zi'ang, also called Lie, was from Xihe in Fenzhou. He passed the jinshi and became Luoyang assistant magistrate. He became Right Guard cavalry adjutant. In Shenlong 1, after flood, Wuguang submitted a blunt memorial:

後王樂聞過，罔不興；拒諫，罔不亂。樂聞過則下情通，下情通則政無缺，此所以興也。拒諫則群議壅，群議壅則上孤立，此所以亂也。

Kings who welcome criticism prosper; those who reject it fall. Reject remonstrance—none fail to fall. Welcome criticism and the people's voice reaches you—government has no gaps—thus comes prosperity. Block remonstrance and the ruler stands alone—thus comes disorder.

臣嘗觀天人相與之際，有感必應，其間甚密，是以教失於此，變生於彼。《易》曰：「天垂象，見吉兇，聖人象之。」竊見自夏以來，水氣勃戾，天下多罹其災，洛水暴漲，漂損百姓。《傳》曰：「簡宗廟，廢祠祀，則水不潤下。」夫王者即位，必郊祀天地，嚴配祖宗。自陛下御極，郊、廟、山川不時薦見。又水者陰類，臣妾之道，氣盛則水泉溢，頃虹蜺紛錯，暑雨滯霪，陰勝之沴也。後廷近習或有離中饋之職以幹外政，願深思天變，杜絶其萌。

Heaven and man respond to each other; moral failure here brings calamity there. The Changes says Heaven displays omens and sages interpret them. Since summer water has turned violent; the Luo flooded and harmed the people. Tradition says: neglect temples and sacrifices, and waters will not subside. A new ruler must sacrifice to Heaven, Earth, and ancestors. Since your accession, sacrifices have not been offered in season. Water is yin, the way of consorts; excessive yin brings floods and lingering rains. Court favorites meddle in government—cut this off at the root.

又自春及夏，牛多病死，疫氣浸淫。《傳》曰：「思之不睿，時則有牛禍。」意者萬機之事，陛下未躬親乎？晁錯曰：「五帝其臣不及，則自親之。」今朝廷賢佐雖多，然莫能仰陛下清光。願勤思法宮，凝就大化。以萬方爲念，不以聲色爲娛；以百姓爲憂，不以犬馬爲樂。臣聞三五之君不能免淫亢，顧備御存乎人耳。災興細微，安之不怪，及禍變已成，駭而圖之，猶水決治防、病困求藥，雖復人黽俯，尚何救哉！夫塞變應天，實系人事。今霖雨即閉坊門，豈一坊一市能感發天道哉？必不然矣。故里人呼坊門爲宰相，謂能節宣風雨。天工人代，乃爲虛設。

From spring to summer cattle died and pestilence spread. Tradition says unclear governance brings cattle plague. Do you not personally govern? Chao Cuo said even the Five Emperors ruled in person when ministers fell short. The court has talent, yet none can reach you. Rule from the law palace and complete great transformation. Think of the realm, not pleasure; worry for the people, not hounds and horses. Even sage rulers faced disaster—preparation in men matters. Ignore small signs and react too late—like mending dikes after flood. Answering Heaven lies in human conduct. Closing ward gates in rain cannot move Heaven. Surely not. People mock the ward gate as "chancellor" that regulates weather. Heaven's work is not man's to fake.

又數年以來，公私覂竭，戸口減耗，家無接新之儲，國乏俟荒之蓄。陛下近觀朝市，則以爲既庶且富；試踐閭陌，則百姓衣馬牛之衣，食犬彘之食，十室而九，丁壯盡於邊塞，孀孤轉於溝壑，猛吏奮毒，急政破資。馬困斯佚，人窮斯詐。起爲奸盜，從而刑之，良可嘆也。今人貧而奢不息，法設而僞不止；長吏貪冒，選舉以私；稼穡之人少，商旅之人眾。願坦然更化，以身先之。凋殘之後，緩其力役；久弊之極，訓以敦龐。十年之外，生聚方足。

Years of drain have emptied homes and state reserves. You see markets and think the realm rich; walk the lanes and see rags, empty homes, men at the frontier, widows in ditches, and harsh officials. Desperation breeds crime. They become bandits and are punished—lamentable. Poverty persists amid extravagance and fraud; officials are greedy and appointments are private; farmers are few, merchants many. Reform openly and lead by example. After devastation, ease labor; after long abuse, teach thrift. In ten years population will recover.

臣聞太子者，君之貳，國之本，所以守器承祧，養民贊業。願擇賢能，早建儲副，安社稷，慰黎元。姻戚之間，謗議所集，積疑成患，憑寵生災，愛之適以害之也。如武三思等，誠不宜任以機要，國家利器，庸可久假於人？秘書監鄭普思、國子祭酒葉靜能挾小道淺術，列硃紫，取銀黃，虧國經，悖天道。《書》曰：「制治於未亂，保邦於未危。」此誠治亂安危之秋也。願陛下遠佞人，親有德，乳保之母、妃主之家，以時接見，無令媟黷。

The crown prince is the state's root—guard the succession and nurture the people. Choose a worthy heir early to secure the state. Imperial kin breed suspicion and disaster—favor can harm. Do not entrust Wu Sansi with state power. Pusi and Jingneng use petty arts, take high rank, and harm the state. The Documents says: order rule before disorder. This is the hour of safety or ruin. Keep flatterers far, the virtuous near; regulate access to the inner court.

疏奏不省。俄以監察御史巡察河南道。時滑州輸丁少而封戸多，每配封人，皆亡命失業。務光建言：「通邑大都不以封。今命侯之家專擇雄奧，滑州七縣，而分封者五，王賦少於侯租，入家倍於輸國。請以封戸均餘州。」又請「食賦附租庸歳送，停封使，息傳驛之勞」。不見納。以考最，進殿中侍御史。遷右臺。嘗薦汝州參軍事李欽憲，後爲名臣。卒，年四十二。

The memorial went unheeded. He soon inspected Henan as censor. Huazhou had few corvée men but many fief households who fled service. Great cities should not be fiefs. Fiefs seized Huazhou's richest counties; nobles took more than the state. Spread fief households across other prefectures. Attach fief levies to regular tax and end fief envoys." It was rejected. He rose to palace attendant censor on merit. He moved to the right censor bureau. He recommended Li Qinxian, later a famed minister. He died at forty-two.

時又有清源尉呂元泰，亦上書言時政曰：「國家者，至公之神器，一正則難傾，一傾則難正。今中興政化之始，幾微之際，可不慎哉？自頃營寺塔，度僧尼，施與不絶，非所謂急務也。林胡數叛，獯虜內侵，帑藏虛竭，戸口亡散。天下人失業，不謂太平；邊兵未解，不謂無事；水旱爲災，不謂年登；倉廩未實，不謂國富。而乃驅役饑凍，雕鐫木石，營構不急，勞費日深，恐非陛下中興之要也。比見坊邑相率爲渾脫隊，駿馬胡服，名曰『蘇莫遮』。旗鼓相當，軍陣勢也；騰逐喧噪，戰爭象也；錦繡誇競，害女工也；督斂貧弱，傷政體也，胡服相歡，非雅樂也；渾脫爲號，非美名也。安可以禮義之朝，法胡虜之俗？《詩》云：『京邑翼翼，四方是則。』非先王之禮樂而示則於四方，臣所未諭。《書》曰：『謀，時寒若。』何必臝形體，灌衢路，鼓舞跳躍而索寒焉？」書聞不報。辛替否，字協時，京兆萬年人。景龍中爲左拾遺。時置公主府官屬，而安樂府補授尤濫；武崇訓死，主棄故宅，別築第，侈費過度；又盛興佛寺，公私廢匱。替否上疏曰：

Lü Yuantai also wrote: the state is the vessel of fairness—one error topples it. At restoration's start, be cautious. Temples and ordinations are not urgent. Rebels and invaders drain the treasury; people scatter. People lack livelihood—this is not peace; troops are not demobilized—this is not peace; flood and drought persist—this is not abundance; granaries are empty—this is not wealth. Yet you drive the hungry to build temples—this is not restoration. Wards form "Sogdian fleece" teams in barbarian dress called Sumozhe. Banners and drums mimic battle; noisy galloping mimics war; brocade wastes women's labor; levies on the poor injure government; barbarian dress is not court music; the name itself is ugly. How can a ritual court imitate barbarians? As the Book of Songs says: 'The capital stands grand, and the four quarters take their cue from it.' To hold up non-classical ritual as a model for the empire—I cannot fathom it. The Book of Documents says: 'Plan as you would against bitter cold.' Must one go naked, drench the streets, and dance to ward off the cold? The memorial went unanswered. Xin Tifou, styled Xieshi, was from Wannian in the capital district. In the Jinglong period he was appointed Left Reminder. Princess households were being staffed with officials, and Princess Anle's appointments were the most reckless; After Wu Chongxun's death the princess abandoned her old house and built a new mansion at ruinous expense; Buddhist construction flourished as well, draining both public and private coffers. Tifou memorialized the throne:

古語曰：「福生有基，禍生有胎。」且公主，陛下愛子也，選賢嫁之，設官輔之，傾府庫以賜之，壯第觀以居之，廣池御以嬉之，可謂至重至憐也。然用不合古義，行不根人心，將變愛成憎，轉福爲禍。何者？竭人之力，費人之財，奪人之家，怨也。愛一女，取三怨於天下，使邊疆士不盡力，朝廷士不盡忠。人心散矣，獨持所愛，何所恃乎？向使魯王賞同諸婿，則有今日之福，無曩日之禍。人徒見其禍，不知禍所來，所以禍者，寵過也。今棄一宅，造一宅，忘前悔，忽後禍，臣竊謂陛下乃憎之，非愛之也。臣聞君以人爲本，本固則邦寧，邦寧則陛下夫婦母子長相保也。願外謀宰臣，爲久安計，不使奸臣賊子有以伺之。

An old saying has it: 'Blessing grows from a root; disaster from a seed. Your daughter has been given a worthy husband, a staff of officials, gifts from the treasury, a splendid residence, and gardens for her delight—nothing could show more honor and love. Yet these measures violate ancient norms and alienate the people; affection will become hatred and blessing become curse. Why? Draining labor, spending wealth, and seizing homes breeds resentment. Favoring one daughter wins three hatreds across the realm: frontier troops withhold their strength and court officials withhold their loyalty. When hearts are divided, on what can Your Majesty rely by clinging to one favorite? Had the Prince of Lu been treated like other imperial sons-in-law, today's blessings would never have become yesterday's disaster. Men see the ruin but not its source: calamity comes from excessive indulgence. Abandoning one mansion to build another, forgetting past regret and ignoring future ruin—I fear Your Majesty hates her rather than loves her. The ruler's foundation is the people; when that foundation is firm the realm is secure, and then Your Majesty's family may endure. Consult your chief ministers on a plan for lasting peace, lest traitors and schemers find their chance.

今疆場危駭，倉廩空虛，卒輸不充，士賞不及，而大建寺宇，廣造第宅。伐木空山，不給棟梁；運土塞路，不充墻壁。所謂佛者，清凈慈悲，體道以濟物，不欲利以損人，不榮身以害教。今三時之月，掘山穿地，損命也；殫府虛帑，損人也；廣殿長廊，榮身也。損命則不慈悲，損人則不愛物，榮身則不清凈，寧佛者之心乎？昔夏爲天子，二十餘世而商受之，商二十餘世而周受之，周三十餘世而漢受之，由漢而後，歷代可知已。咸有道之長，無道之短，豈窮金玉修塔廟享久長之祚乎？臣以爲減雕琢之費以周不足，是有佛之德；息穿掘之苦以全昆蟲，是有佛之仁；罷營構之直以給邊垂，是有湯、武之功；回不急之祿以購廉清，是有唐、虞之治。陛下緩其所急，急其所緩，親未來，疏見在，失真實，冀虛無，重俗人之所爲，而輕天子之業，臣竊痛之。

The frontiers are in peril, granaries empty, supplies unpaid, and soldiers unrewarded—yet temples and mansions rise everywhere. Mountains are stripped of timber yet cannot supply a single beam; Earth is hauled to choke the roads yet cannot fill one wall. Buddha means purity and compassion, embodying the Way to help others—not profiting at men's expense or glorifying oneself at the teaching's cost. In the growing season mountains are dug and earth torn up—this destroys life; treasuries are drained—this harms the people; vast halls and corridors glorify the self. Destroying life is not compassion, harming people is not love, self-glorification is not purity—is this the Buddha's way? Xia held the throne for twenty-odd generations before Shang took it; Shang for twenty-odd before Zhou; Zhou for thirty-odd before Han—and the dynasties since Han are known. Virtuous rule endured; vicious rule did not—can piling gold and jade into temples secure a lasting throne? Cutting ornament to relieve want would be Buddha's virtue; ending excavation to spare even insects would be Buddha's benevolence; halting construction to fund the frontiers would be the achievement of Tang and Wu; redirecting needless salaries to reward honest officials would be the governance of Yao and Shun. Your Majesty neglects what is urgent and rushes what can wait, cherishing the unseen and slighting the present, chasing emptiness and undervaluing the imperial charge—I am deeply pained.

今出財依勢，避役亡命，類度爲沙門，其未度者，窮民善人耳。拔親樹知，豈離朋黨，畜妻養孥，非無私愛，是致人毀道，非廣道求人也。陛下常欲填池塹，捐苑囿，以賑貧人。今天下之寺無數，一寺當陛下一宮，壯麗用度尚或過之。十分天下之財而佛有七八，陛下何有之矣？雖役不食之人、不衣之士，猶尚不給，況必待天生地養、風動雨潤而後得之乎？臣聞國無九年之儲，曰非其國。今計倉廩，度府庫，百僚共給，萬事用度，臣恐不能卒歳。假如兵旱相乘，則沙門不能擐甲胄，寺塔不足穰饑饉矣。

Wealth buys tonsure, power evades labor, and only the poor and honest remain laymen. Favoring kin and cronies is faction; keeping wives and children shows private attachment—this defiles the teaching rather than spreading it. Your Majesty has often spoken of filling ponds and giving up parks to aid the poor. Temples now number beyond count; each rivals a palace in splendor and expense. Seven or eight parts in ten of the realm's wealth belong to Buddhism—what remains for the throne? Even conscripting men who need no food or clothing would not suffice—how much less when wealth must wait on rain and harvest? A state without nine years' grain reserves is no true state. Reckoning granaries and treasuries against every official's salary and every expense, I fear the year cannot be finished. If war and drought strike together, monks cannot bear arms and temples cannot feed the hungry.

帝不省。睿宗立，罷斜封官千餘人，俄詔復之。方營金仙、玉真觀。替否以左補闕上疏曰：

The emperor took no heed. When Ruizong took the throne he dismissed over a thousand irregular appointees, but soon restored them by edict. He was then building the Golden Immortal and Jade True abbeys. Tifou, now Left Supplementation Censor, memorialized:

臣謂古之用度不時、爵賞不當、國破家亡者，口説不若身逢，耳聞不若目見，臣請以有唐治道得失，陛下所及見者言之。

Ancient states fell when spending was ill-timed and rewards unjust—hearing is not seeing. Let me speak of Tang's successes and failures from what Your Majesty has witnessed.

太宗，陛下之祖，撥亂立極，得至治之體。省官清吏，舉天下職司無虛授，用天下財帛無枉費；賞必待功，官必得才，爲無不成，征無不服。不多寺觀而福祿至，不度僧尼而咎殃滅。陰陽不愆，五穀遂成，粟腐帛爛。萬里貢賦，百蠻歸款。享國久長，多歷年所。陛下何憚而不法之？

Taizong, your ancestor, quelled chaos and established perfect governance. He trimmed offices, purified the bureaucracy, wasted no appointment and misspent no coin; rewards followed merit, offices went to talent; every task succeeded and every campaign prevailed. Without lavish temples, fortune came; without mass tonsures, calamity faded. Heaven and earth were in harmony, harvests abundant, grain and silk piled in surplus. Tribute flowed from afar and barbarian peoples submitted. His reign endured for many years. Why hesitate to follow his example?

中宗，陛下之兄，居先帝之業，忽先帝之化，不聽賢臣之言，而悅子女之意。虛食祿者數千人，妄食士者百餘戸；造寺蠹財數百億，度人免租、庸數十萬。是故國家所出日加，所入日減，倉乏半歳之儲，庫無一時之帛。所惡者逐，逐必忠良；所愛者賞，賞皆讒慝。朋佞喋喋，交相傾動。奪百姓之食以養殘兇，剝萬人之衣以塗土木。人怨神怒，親忿眾離，水旱疾疫，六年之間，三禍爲變。享國不永，受終於兇婦，取譏萬代，詒笑四夷，陛下所見也。若法太宗治國，太山之安可致也；法中宗治國，累卵之危亦可致也。

Zhongzong, your brother, inherited the throne but abandoned his father's reforms, heeding flatterers rather than worthy ministers and indulging his children. Thousands drew salaries without work; hundreds of households received stipends without cause; temples consumed hundreds of millions; tonsures exempted hundreds of thousands from tax and labor. Expenditure rose daily while revenue fell; granaries held less than half a year and treasuries not a day's silk. Those he hated were expelled—and the expelled were the loyal; those he favored were rewarded—and the rewarded were slanderers. Factions of flatterers schemed and undermined one another. He took the people's food to feed villains and stripped their clothes to gild temples. Men resented, spirits raged, kin turned away; in six years flood, drought, and pestilence struck. His reign was brief and ended at a wicked woman's hands—a scandal for all time and mockery among barbarians, as Your Majesty knows. Follow Taizong and the realm will stand firm as Mount Tai; follow Zhongzong and the realm will totter like a pile of eggs.

頃淫雨不解，穀荒於壟，麥爛於場，入秋亢旱，霜損蟲暴，草木枯黃，下人咨嗟，未知所濟。而營寺造觀，日繼於時，道路流言，計用緡錢百餘萬。陛下知倉有幾歳儲？庫有幾歳帛？百姓何所活？三邊何所輸？民散兵亂，職此由也。而以百萬構無用之觀，受天下之怨。陛下忍棄太宗之治本，不忍棄中宗之亂階；忍棄太宗久長之謀，不忍棄中宗短促之計。何以繼祖宗、觀萬國耶？陛下在韋氏時，切齒群兇；今貴爲天子，不改其事，恐復有切齒於陛下者。

Heavy rains ruined the fields, wheat rotted in the stacks; then drought, frost, and pests withered the crops, and the people despaired with no relief in sight. Yet temple construction goes on daily, rumor putting the cost at over a million strings of cash. How many years' grain do the granaries hold? How many years' silk do the treasuries hold? How are the people to survive? What will supply the frontiers? Popular unrest and military disorder stem from this. Yet a million is spent on useless abbeys, earning the realm's hatred. Your Majesty can abandon Taizong's foundation but not Zhongzong's path to ruin; can abandon Taizong's plan for lasting rule but not Zhongzong's short-sighted schemes. How then can you honor your ancestors or face the world? Under the Wei clan Your Majesty gnashed teeth at the villains; now enthroned, if you continue the same ways, others will gnash teeth at you in turn.

往見明敕，一用貞觀故事。且貞觀有營寺觀，加浮屠、黃老，益無用之官，行不急之務者乎？往者和帝之憐悖逆也，宗晉卿勸爲第宅，趙履溫勸爲園亭，工徒未息，義兵交馳，亭不得游，宅不得息，信邪僻之説，成骨肉之刑，陛下所見也。今茲二觀，得無晉卿之徒陰勸爲之，冀娛骨肉？不可不察也。惟陛下停二觀以須豐年，以所費之財給貧窮、填府庫，則公主福無窮矣。

Edicts have declared that all should follow the Zhenguan model. Did the Zhenguan era build temples, add Buddhist and Daoist offices, and pursue non-urgent tasks? When Emperor He indulged rebels, Zong Jinqing urged mansions and Zhao Lüwen urged gardens; before construction ended, loyal troops clashed; believing evil counsel brought kin to the executioner's block—as Your Majesty witnessed. Are these two abbeys not urged in secret by men like Jinqing, hoping to distract the imperial family? This must be investigated. Stop the two abbeys until harvest is rich, give the funds to the poor and fill the treasuries, and the princess's blessing will be endless.

疏奏，帝不能用，然嘉切直。

The emperor could not adopt the memorial but praised its blunt honesty.

稍遷右臺殿中侍御史。雍令劉少微恃權貪贓，替否按之，岑羲屢以爲請，替否曰：「我爲憲司，懼勢以縱罪，謂王法何？」少微坐死。遷累潁王府長史。卒，年八十。李渤，字浚之，魏橫野將軍、申國公發之裔。父鈞，殿中侍御史，以不能養母廢於世。渤恥之，不肯仕，刻志於學，與仲兄涉偕隱廬山。嘗以列禦寇拒粟，其妻怒，是無婦也；樂羊子舍金，妻讓之，是無夫也。乃摭古聯德高蹈者，以楚接輿、老萊子、黔婁先生、於陵子、王孺仲、梁鴻六人，圖象贊其行，因以自儆。久之，更徙少室。

He was soon promoted to Palace Censor on the Right. Magistrate Liu Shaowei of Yong abused power and took bribes; Tifou investigated him. Cen Yi repeatedly interceded. Tifou said: "As censor, if I fear power and release the guilty, what becomes of the law? Shaowei was executed. He was eventually made chief administrator of the Prince of Ying's household. He died at eighty. Li Bo, styled Junzhi, was descended from Li Fa, General of Hengye and Duke of Shen. His father Jun, a Palace Censor, was disgraced for failing to support his mother. Bo was shamed by this, refused office, devoted himself to study, and retired to Mount Lu with his elder brother She. When Lie Yukou once refused grain, his wife rebuked him—such a man was no husband; when Leyangzi abandoned gold, his wife scolded him—such a man was no husband. He collected six ancient recluses of noble character—Jieyu of Chu, Old Master Lai, Master Qianlou, the Lord of Yuling, Wang Ruzhong, and Liang Hong—portrayed and praised them as a warning to himself. After some time he moved to Lesser Chamber Mountain.

元和初，戸部侍郎李巽、諫議大夫韋況交章薦之，詔以右拾遺召。於是河南少尹杜兼遣吏持詔、幣即山敦促，渤上書謝：「昔屠羊説有言：『位三旌，祿萬鐘，知貴於屠羊，然不可使吾君妄施。』彼賤賈也，猶能忘己愛君。臣雖欲盜榮以濟所欲，得無愧屠羊乎？」不拜。洛陽令韓愈遺書曰：

Early in Yuanhe, Li Xun and Wei Kuang jointly recommended him, and he was summoned as Right Reminder. Henan Vice Prefect Du Jian sent an envoy with edict and gifts to urge him from the mountain. Bo wrote declining: "Tuyang Shuo once said: 'Three banners and ten thousand piculs—I know that outranks butchering sheep, yet one must not let the ruler bestow rewards rashly. That humble peddler could still forget himself for his lord's sake. If I seized honor to satisfy my desires, would I not be ashamed before Tuyang Shuo? He declined the appointment. Luoyang Magistrate Han Yu wrote to him:

有詔河南敦喻拾遺公，朝廷士引頸東望，若景星、鳳鳥始見，爭先睹之爲快。方今天子仁聖，大小之事皆出宰相，樂善言如不得聞，自即大位，凡所出而施者無不得宜。勤儉之聲，寬大之政，幽閨婦女、草野小子飽聞而厭道之。愈不通於古，請問先生，茲非太平世歟？加又有非人力而至者，年穀屢熟，符貺委至。干紀之奸不戰而拘累，強梁之兇銷鑠縮慄，迎風而委伏。其有一事未就正，視若不成人。四海所環，無一夫甲而兵者。若此時也，遺公不疾起與天下士樂而享之，斯無時矣。昔孔子知不可爲而爲之不已，跡接於諸侯之國。今可爲之時，自藏深山，牢關而固拒，即與仁義者異守矣。想遺公冠帶就車，惠然肯來，舒所畜積，以補綴盛德之闕，利加於時，名垂將來。踴躍懷企，頃刻以冀。又切聞朝廷議，必起遺公，使者往若不許，即河南必繼以行。拾遺徵若不至，更加高秩。如是辭少就多，傷於廉而害於義，遺公必不爲也。善人進其類，皆有望於公。公不爲起，是使天子不盡得良臣，君子不盡得顯位，人庶不盡被惠利，其害不爲細。必審察而諦思之，務使合於孔子之道乃善。

An edict has ordered Henan to persuade you to serve; court gentlemen crane their necks eastward as at the first sight of an auspicious star or phoenix, eager to see you. The emperor is benevolent and sage; affairs great and small rest with the chief ministers; he thirsts for good counsel; since his accession nothing he has done has been amiss. Frugality and magnanimity are on every tongue—even women at home and boys in the fields speak of them until weary. I am no scholar of antiquity, but tell me, sir—is this not an age of great peace? Moreover harvests abound year after year and auspicious omens arrive in succession without human effort. Traitors are seized without a fight; bullies melt and tremble, bowing before the wind. If one thing remains unsettled, the whole achievement seems incomplete. Within the four seas, not a man bears arms. At such a moment, if you do not rise swiftly to share this joy with the empire's worthies, the moment will never return. Confucius knew the times were against him yet never ceased his work, traveling among the feudal states. Now when service is possible, to hide in the mountains and firmly refuse is to depart from the way of the humane and righteous. Imagine you don cap and belt, take carriage, and come graciously, unfolding your store of wisdom to mend what is lacking in this glorious age—benefiting the present and winning fame for the future. I leap with hope and await you every moment. I hear the court has resolved to summon you; if the first envoy fails, Henan will send another. If you do not come when summoned as Reminder, a higher rank will be offered. To decline the lesser post and accept the greater would injure integrity and righteousness—you surely would not do that. Good men advance their fellows; all look to you with hope. If you refuse to serve, the emperor loses good ministers, gentlemen lose their posts, and the people lose their benefits—the harm is no small matter. Consider carefully and strive to accord with Confucius's way—that would be best.

渤心善其言，始出家東都，每朝廷有闕政，輒附章列上。

Bo was moved by these words and left the mountains for the eastern capital; whenever he saw a policy lapse he memorialized the throne.

元和九年討淮西，上平賊三術：一曰感，二曰守，三曰戰。感不成，不失爲守；守不成，不失爲戰。又上《御戎新錄》，乃以著作郎召，渤遂起。歳餘，遷右補闕，以直忤旨，下遷丹王府諮議參軍，分司東都。十三年，上言：

In Yuanhe 9, during the campaign against Huai West, he proposed three methods to pacify rebels: persuasion, defense, and battle. If persuasion fails, defense remains; if defense fails, battle remains. He also submitted New Records on Governing the Frontier and was summoned as Compiler; Bo finally accepted office. After a year he was made Right Supplementation Censor; his bluntness offended the throne and he was demoted to advisory staff of the Prince of Dan's household in the eastern capital. In the thirteenth year he memorialized:

至德以來，天下思致治平，訖今不稱者，人倦而不知變。天以變通之運遺陛下，陛下順而革之，則悠久。宜乘平蔡之勢，以德羈服恆、兗無不濟，則恩威暢矣。昔舜、禹以匹夫宅四海，其烈如彼；今以五聖營太平，其難如此。臣恐宰相群臣蘊晦術略，啟沃有所未盡，使陛下翹然思文、武、禹、湯而不獲也。宜正六官，敘九疇，修王制、月令，崇孝悌，敦九族，廣諫路，黜選舉，復俊造，定四民，省抑佛、老，明刑行令，治兵御戎。願下宰相公卿大夫議，博引海內名儒，大開學館，與群臣參講，據經稽古、應時便俗者，使切磋周復，作制度，合宣父繼周之言。謹上五事：一禮樂，二食貨，三刑政，四議都，五辨讎。

Since the Zhide era the realm has sought peace and good governance; that it is still not achieved is because men are weary and do not know how to change. Heaven has given Your Majesty the fortune of change; follow it and reform, and the reign will endure. Ride the momentum of pacifying Cai and with virtue win over Heng and Yan—then grace and authority will both prevail. Shun and Yu began as common men yet ruled the world—such was their achievement; yet with five sage emperors building peace, the difficulty is still so great. I fear ministers conceal their counsel and do not fully advise, leaving Your Majesty longing for the example of Wen, Wu, Yu, and Tang in vain. Rectify the six ministries, restore royal institutions, honor filial piety, broaden remonstrance, reform appointments, restore talent recruitment, fix the four classes of people, restrain Buddhism and Daoism, clarify law, and govern the military. Send the matter to ministers and grandees for debate, invite renowned scholars, open academies, and with officials jointly study the classics to establish institutions worthy of Confucius's vision of continuing the Zhou. I respectfully submit five topics: ritual and music, food and wealth, punishments and government, the capital, and distinguishing enmity.

渤雖處外，然志存朝廷，表疏凡四十五獻。擢爲庫部員外郎。會皇甫鎛輔政，務剝下佐用度，而渤奉詔吊郗士美喪，在道上言：「渭南長源鄕戸四百，今才四十；閿鄕戸三千，而今千。它州縣大抵類此。推其敝，始於攤逃人之賦。假令十室五逃，則均責未逃者，若抵石於井，非極泉不止，誠繇聚斂之臣割下媚上。願下詔一賜禁止，計不三年，人必歸於農。夫農，國之本，本立而太平可議矣。」又言：「道路茀不治，驛馬多死。」憲宗得奏咨駭，即詔出飛龍馬數百給畿驛。渤既以峭直觸要臣意，乃謝病歸。

Though posted outside the capital, Bo's heart remained with the court; he submitted forty-five memorials in all. He was promoted to Vice Director of the Storehouse Bureau. When Huangfu Bo governed and squeezed the people to fill the treasury, Bo was traveling on imperial business to mourn Xi Shimei and wrote: "Changyuan township in Weinan had four hundred households; now there are forty; Min township had three thousand; now one thousand. Other prefectures and counties are much the same. The root of the evil is spreading fugitives' tax burdens onto those who remain. If five in ten flee, the burden falls on those who remain—like a stone dropped in a well, it sinks until it hits bottom—truly the work of revenue-grabbing ministers who squeeze the people to please their superiors. Issue an edict forbidding this at once; within three years the people will return to farming. Agriculture is the foundation of the state; when that is firm, peace becomes possible. He also wrote: "Roads are overgrown and untended; relay horses die in great numbers. Xianzong was alarmed by the memorial and immediately issued several hundred imperial horses to capital relay stations. Bo's bluntness offended powerful ministers, and he pleaded illness and retired.

穆宗立，召拜考功員外郎。歳終，當校考。渤自宰相而下升黜之，上奏曰：「宰相俯、文昌、值，陛下即位，倚以責功，安危治亂系也。方陛下敬大臣，未有暱比左右自驕之心，而天下事一以付之，俯等不推至公，陳先王道德，又不振拔舊典，復百司之本。政之興廢在賞罰。俯等未聞慰一首公，使天下吏有所勸；黜一不職，使尸祿有所懼。士之邪正混然無章。陛下比幸驪山，宰相、學士皆股肱心腹，宜皆知之，不先事以諫，陷君於過。俯與學士杜元穎等請考中下。御史大夫李絳、左散騎常侍張惟素、右散騎常侍李益諫幸驪山，鄭覃等諫畋游，得事君之禮，請考上下。崔元略當考上下，前考於翬不實，翬以賄死，請降中中。大理卿許季同，任翬者，應考中下；然頃陷劉闢，棄家以歸，宜補厥過，考中中。少府監裴通職修舉，考應中上；以封母，舍嫡而追所生，請考中下。」奏入，不報。會渤請急，馮宿領考功，以「考課令取歳中善惡爲上下，郎中校京官四品以下黜陟之，由三品上爲清望官，歳進名聽內考，非有司所得專。渤舉舊事爲褒貶，違朝廷制，請如故事」。渤議遂廢。

When Muzong acceded, Bo was summoned as Vice Director of the Merit Examination Bureau. At year's end came the annual performance review. Bo graded officials from chief ministers down and submitted: "Chief ministers Fu, Wenchang, and Zhi—on Your Majesty's accession you relied on them for achievement; the realm's security depends on them. Your Majesty respects great ministers and has not yet favored flatterers, yet entrusts all affairs to them—Fu and his colleagues do not pursue fairness, expound the sages' virtue, or restore old institutions. Governance rises or falls on rewards and punishments. They have not rewarded a single worthy official to encourage others; nor demoted one incompetent to frighten salary-eaters. The worthy and the corrupt are indistinguishable. Your Majesty recently visited Mount Li; ministers and academicians are your closest advisers—they should have remonstrated beforehand but did not, leading you into error. Fu and Academician Du Yuanying should be rated middle-lower. Censor-in-Chief Li Jiang, Zhang Weisu, and Li Yi remonstrated against the Mount Li visit; Zheng Tan and others against hunting—they observed proper service and should be rated upper-middle. Cui Yuanlue deserves upper-middle, but his previous rating of Yu was false—Yu died from bribery—so lower him to middle-middle. Grand Court Judge Xu Jitong, who appointed Yu, should be rated middle-lower; yet when trapped by Liu Pi he abandoned his household to return—this compensates his fault; rate middle-middle. Director of the Palace Storehouse Pei Tong performed well and deserves middle-upper; for ennobling his birth mother he abandoned his principal wife—rate middle-lower. The memorial went unanswered. When Bo took urgent leave, Feng Su headed the Merit Examination Bureau and argued: "Regulations require grading officials by their year's performance; directors review officials below fourth rank; third rank and above are prestigious posts reviewed internally—not something outside offices may decide alone. Bo cited old precedents in violation of regulations—follow established practice." Bo's proposal was rejected.

會魏博節度使田弘正表渤爲副，元穎劾奏：「渤賣直售名，資狂躁，干進不已，外交方鎮求尉薦，不宜在朝。」出爲虔州刺史。渤奏還信州移稅錢二百萬，免賦米二萬石，廢冗役千六百人。觀察使上狀。不閱歳，遷江州刺史。

When Weibo Commissioner Tian Hongzheng recommended Bo as deputy, Yuanying impeached him: "Bo sells bluntness for fame, is rash and restless, ceaselessly seeks advancement, and cultivates frontier commanders for patronage—he should not remain at court. He was sent out as prefect of Qian. Bo returned two million in transferred tax money to Xin prefecture, exempted twenty thousand piculs of grain tax, and abolished sixteen hundred superfluous corvée workers. The observation commissioner reported his achievements to the throne. Within a year he was transferred to prefect of Jiang.

度支使張平叔斂天下逋租，渤上言：「度支所收貞元二年流戸賦錢四百四十萬，臣州治田二千頃，今旱死者千九百頃。若徇度支所斂，臣懼天下謂陛下當大旱責民三十年逋賦。臣刺史，上不能奉詔，下不忍民窮，無所逃死，請放歸田里。」有詔蠲責。渤又治湖水，築堤七百步，使人不病涉。

Revenue Commissioner Zhang Pingshu collected delinquent rents empire-wide. Bo wrote: "The Revenue Bureau collects 4.4 million in fugitive-household taxes from Zhenyuan 2; my prefecture has two thousand qing of fields, of which nineteen hundred qing have died from drought. If I enforce this collection, I fear the realm will say Your Majesty is extracting thirty years of back taxes during a great drought. As prefect I cannot obey the edict above yet cannot bear the people's destitution below; with nowhere to turn, I ask to be released to my fields. An edict remitted the collection. Bo also managed the lake, built a seven-hundred-pace dike, and spared people the hardship of crossing.

入爲職方郎中，進諫議大夫。時敬宗晏朝紫宸，入閣，帝久不出，群臣立屏外，至頓僕。渤見宰相曰：「昨論晏朝事，今益晚，是諫官不能移人主意，渤請出閣待罪。」會喚仗，乃止。退上疏曰：「今日入閣，陛下不時見群臣，群臣皆布路跛倚。夫跛倚形諸外，則憂思結諸內。憂倦既積，災釁必生，小則爲旱爲孽，大則爲兵爲亂。《禮》：『三諫不聽，則逃之。』陛下新即位，臣至三諫，恐危及社稷。」又言：「左右常侍職規諷，循默不事，若設官不責實，不如罷之。」俄充理匭使，建言：「事大者以聞，次白宰相，下以移有司。有司不當，許再納匭。妄訴者加所坐一等，以絶冒越。」詔可。

He entered the capital as Director of the Bureau of Appointments and was promoted to Remonstrance Grandee. Emperor Jingzong delayed court at Purple Audience Hall; entering the side hall, the emperor long failed to appear, and officials standing outside the screen collapsed from exhaustion. Bo told the chief ministers: "Yesterday we discussed delayed court; today it is even later—remonstrance officials cannot move the emperor's mind; I ask to leave the hall and await punishment. Just then the guard was summoned and he desisted. He later memorialized: "Today entering the side hall, Your Majesty did not promptly receive officials; all stood scattered along the road, limping and leaning. When exhaustion shows outwardly, worry binds inwardly. When worry and weariness accumulate, calamity follows—small ones drought and pestilence, great ones war and rebellion. The Book of Rites says: 'If thrice remonstrated and not heeded, then flee.' Your Majesty has newly acceded; I have remonstrated thrice—I fear for the altars of state. He also wrote: "Left and Right Regular Attendants have the duty of remonstrance yet remain silent—if offices are established without demanding performance, better abolish them. Soon he served as commissioner for the complaint box and proposed: "Great matters should reach the throne; next inform chief ministers; lesser ones go to the relevant offices. If offices handle a case wrongly, allow resubmission to the box. For false complaints increase the penalty one degree to deter abuse. The edict approved it.

時政移近幸，紀律蕩然，渤勁正不顧患，通章封無闋日。天子雖幼昏，亦感寤，擢給事中，賜金紫服。

Government had shifted to favorites and discipline collapsed; Bo remonstrated bluntly without fear, submitting memorials day after day. Though young and unsteady, the emperor was moved and promoted Bo to Supervising Censor, granting gold and purple robes.

五坊卒夜鬪，傷縣人，鄠令崔發怒，敕吏捕捽，其一，中人也，釋之。帝大怒，收發送御史獄。會大赦、改元，發以囚坐雞竽下，俄而中人數十持梃亂擊，發敗面折齒，幾死，吏哀請乃去。既而囚皆釋，而發不得原。渤上疏曰：「縣令曳辱中人，中人毆御囚，其罪一也。然令罪在赦前，而中人在赦後，不寘於法，臣恐四夷聞之，慢倍之心生矣。」渤又誦言：「前神策軍在幔城，篡京兆進食牙盤，不時治，致宦人益橫。」帝以問左右，皆曰「無之」。帝謂渤有黨，出爲桂管觀察使。它日，宰相李逢吉等見帝曰：「發暴中人，誠不敬，然其母故宰相韋貫之姊，年八十，憂發成疾。陛下方孝治，宜少延之。」帝惻然曰：「比諫官但言發枉，未嘗道此。」即遣使送發於家，且撫尉其母。韋拜詔，泣對使者杖發四十。猶奪其官。至文宗，乃用發爲懷州長史。

Soldiers of the Five Wards fought at night and injured a county man; Magistrate Cui Fa of E ordered their arrest, but one was a eunuch and was released. The emperor was furious, arrested Fa, and sent him to the censor's prison. During a general amnesty and era change, Fa sat shackled below the court musicians; soon dozens of eunuchs beat him with clubs, breaking his face and teeth; he nearly died before officials pleaded them away. Soon all prisoners were released, but Fa was not pardoned. Bo memorialized: "The magistrate dragged and shamed a eunuch; the eunuch beat an imperial prisoner—their crimes are equal. Yet the magistrate's crime preceded the amnesty while the eunuch's came after; if the law is not applied equally, I fear barbarians will learn contempt. Bo also cited: "When the Divine Strategy Army was in the curtained city, they seized the Capital Prefect's food service and went unpunished, making eunuchs ever bolder. The emperor asked his attendants; all denied it. The emperor said Bo had a faction and sent him out as Guiguan Observation Commissioner. Another day Chief Minister Li Fengji told the emperor: "Fa assaulted a eunuch—truly disrespectful; yet his mother, elder sister of former chief minister Wei Guanzhi, is eighty and sick with worry. Your Majesty is establishing filial governance and should show mercy. The emperor said compassionately: "Remonstrance officials spoke only of Fa's injustice and never mentioned this. He at once sent Fa home and comforted his mother. Wei received the edict, wept before the envoy, and had Fa beaten forty strokes. His office was still taken away. Under Wenzong, Fa was finally appointed chief administrator of Huai prefecture.

桂有漓水，出海陽山，世言秦命史祿伐粵，鑿爲漕，馬援討徵側，復治以通饋；後爲江水潰毀，渠遂廢淺，每轉餉，役數十戸濟一艘。渤釃浚舊道，鄣洩有宜，舟楫利焉。逾年，以病歸洛。大和中，召拜太子賓客。卒，年五十九，贈禮部尚書。

Gui had the Li River, flowing from Haiyang Mountain; tradition says Qin ordered Shi Lu to cut a canal when attacking Yue; Ma Yuan restored it when campaigning against Zheng Ce; later Yangzi floods destroyed it; the channel silted up, and dozens of households were conscripted to move each supply boat. Bo dredged the old channel, repaired the dikes, and restored boat traffic. After a year he returned to Luoyang due to illness. In the Dahe era he was summoned as Mentor of the Heir Apparent. He died at fifty-nine and was posthumously made Minister of Rites.

渤，孤操自將，不茍合於世，人咸謂之沽激。屢以言斥，而悻直不少衰，守節者尚之。裴潾，本河東聞喜人。篤學，善隸書。以廕仕。元和初，累遷左補闕。於是兩河用兵，憲宗任宦人爲館驛使，檢稽出納。有曹進玉者，尤恃恩倨甚，使者過，至加捽辱，宰相李吉甫奏罷之。會伐蔡，復以中人領使。潾諫曰：「凡驛，有官專尸之，畿內以京兆尹，道有觀察使、刺史相監臨，臺又御史爲之使，以察過闕。猶有不職，則宜明科條督責之，誰不惕懼？若復以宮闈臣領之，則內人而及外事，職分亂矣。夫事不善，誡於初；體有非，不必大。方開太平，澄本正末，宜塞侵官之原、出位之漸。」帝雖不用，而嘉其忠，擢起居舍人。

Bo held himself aloof and would not compromise; many called him ostentatious. Repeatedly expelled for his words, his blunt integrity never faded; men of principle admired him. Pei Lin was from Wenxi in Hedong. He was a devoted scholar and skilled in clerical script. He entered office by yin privilege. Early in Yuanhe he rose to Left Supplementation Censor. During the Two He campaign, Xianzong appointed eunuchs as relay station commissioners to inspect finances. Cao Jinyu was especially arrogant; he even beat and insulted passing envoys; Chief Minister Li Jifu had the post abolished. When Cai was attacked, eunuchs again headed the commission. Lin remonstrated: "Relay stations have dedicated officials—the Capital Prefect within the capital, observation commissioners and prefects on the circuits, and censors from the Censorate to inspect faults. If dereliction remains, clarify regulations and hold officials accountable—who would not fear? If palace eunuchs head it again, inner attendants will reach into outer affairs and duties will be confused. When affairs go wrong, warn at the start; when the system errs, the error need not be great. As great peace opens, clarify roots and correct branches; block encroaching offices and overstepping duties. The emperor did not adopt this but praised his loyalty and promoted him to Diarist.

帝喜方士，而柳泌爲帝治丹劑，求長年。帝御劑，中躁病渴。潾諫曰：

The emperor delighted in alchemists; Liu Bi prepared elixirs seeking long life. The emperor took the elixir and suffered agitation, illness, and thirst. Lin remonstrated:

夫除天下之害者，常受天下之利；共天下之樂者，常饗天下之福。故上自黃帝、顓頊、堯、舜、禹、湯、文、武，咸以功濟生人，天皆報以耆壽，垂榮無疆。陛下以孝安宗廟，以仁牧黎庶，攘剗襖兇，復張太平，賓禮賢俊，待以終始。神功聖德，前古所不及。陛下躬行之，天地宗廟必相陛下以億萬之永。今乃方士韋山甫、柳泌等以丹術自神，更相稱引，詭爲陛下延年。臣謂士有道者皆匿名滅景，無求於世，豈肯干謁貴近，自鬻其伎哉？今所至者，非曰知道，咸求利而來。自言飛煉爲神，以訹權賄，僞窮情得，不恥遁亡。豈可信厥術、御其藥哉？

Those who remove the realm's harm receive the realm's benefit; those who share the realm's joy enjoy the realm's fortune. From the Yellow Emperor through Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, Wen, and Wu—all aided the people by merit, and Heaven rewarded them with long life and lasting glory. Your Majesty settles the ancestral temples with filial piety, governs the people with benevolence, sweeps away rebels, restores peace, and honors worthy men from start to finish. Divine achievement and sage virtue surpass antiquity. Practice this personally and Heaven, Earth, and the ancestral temples will grant endless years. Now alchemists Wei Shanfu, Liu Bi, and others pose as divine through elixirs, recommending one another and falsely promising long life. Men of the Way hide their names and seek nothing from the world—would they importune the powerful and sell their arts? Those who come now do not know the Way; all come seeking profit. They claim transmutation makes them divine, use threats and bribes, feign wisdom, and flee without shame when exposed. How can one trust their arts or take their medicines?

臣聞人食味、別聲、被色而生者也。味以行氣，氣以實志。水火鹽梅以烹魚肉，宰夫和之，齊之以味，君子食之，以平其心。夫三牲五穀，稟五行以生也，發爲五味。天地生之，所以奉人，聖人節調，以致康強。若乃藥劑者，所以御疾，豈常進之餌哉？況又金石性托酷烈，而燒治積年，包炎產毒，未易可制。夫秦、漢之君亦信方士矣，如盧生、徐福、欒大、李少君，後皆詐譎無成功。事暴前策，皆可驗視。

Humans live by tasting flavors, distinguishing sounds, and receiving colors. Flavor moves qi; qi fills the will. Water, fire, salt, and plum sauce cook fish and meat; the cook balances flavors; the gentleman eats to settle his heart. The three sacrificial animals and five grains are born of the five phases and manifest as the five flavors. Heaven and Earth produce them to serve humans; sages regulate them for health and strength. Medicines control illness—how can they be daily food? Minerals and metals are fiercely harsh; refined over years they produce poison not easily controlled. Qin and Han emperors also trusted alchemists—Lu Sheng, Xu Fu, Luan Da, Li Shaojun—all proved deceitful failures. These matters are recorded in history and can all be verified.

《禮》：「君之藥，臣先嘗之；父之藥，子先嘗之。」臣、子一也，願以所治劑，俾其人服之，竟一歳以考真僞，則無不驗矣。

The Book of Rites: "The lord's medicine—the minister tastes it first; the father's medicine—the son tastes it first. Minister and son are alike; let them take their own elixir for a full year to test its truth—then nothing will fail verification.

帝怒，貶江陵令。

The emperor was angered and demoted him to magistrate of Jiangling.

穆宗立，泌等誅，召潾，再遷刑部郎中。前率府倉曹參軍曲元衡杖民柏公成母死，有司以死在辜外，推元衡父廕贖金，公成受賕不訴，以赦免。潾議曰：「杖捶者，官得施所部，非所部，雖有罪，必請有司，明不可擅也。元衡非在官，公成母非所部，不可以廕免。公成取賄仇家，利母之死，逆天性，當伏誅。」有詔元衡流，公成論死。久之，繇給事中爲汝州刺史，越法杖人輒死，以太子左庶子分司東都。遷左散騎常侍、集賢殿學士。改刑部侍郎，爲華州刺史。召拜兵部侍郎，出爲河南尹，復還舊官。卒，贈戸部尚書，謚曰敬。

When Muzong acceded, Bi and others were executed; Lin was summoned and promoted to Director of the Penalties Bureau. Formerly Lead Palace Granary Assistant Qu Yuanheng beat commoner Bai Gongcheng's mother to death; officials applied Yuanheng's father's yin privilege for redemption; Gongcheng took bribes and did not prosecute and was pardoned. Lin argued: "Officials may beat only within their jurisdiction; outside it they must refer to the relevant offices—they may not act on their own. Yuanheng was not in office and Gongcheng's mother was not within his jurisdiction—yin privilege cannot exempt him. Gongcheng took bribes from his enemy and profited from his mother's death—against nature; he should be executed. An edict exiled Yuanheng and sentenced Gongcheng to death. Later, as Supervising Censor he became prefect of Ru; exceeding the law he beat a man to death and was made Left Assistant to the Heir Apparent in the eastern capital. He was transferred to Left Regular Attendant and Academician of the Hall of Assembled Worthies. He was made Vice Minister of Penalties and prefect of Hua. He was summoned as Vice Minister of War, served as Henan Intendant, and returned to his former office. He died and was posthumously made Minister of Revenue with posthumous title Jing.

潾以道自任，悉心事上，疾黨附，不爲權近所持。嘗裒古今辭章，續梁昭明太子《文選》，自號《大和通選》，上之。當時文士非與游者皆不取，世恨其隘。憲宗竟以藥棄天下，世益謂潾知言。

Lin took the Way as his charge, served the sovereign wholeheartedly, hated faction, and was not controlled by powerful favorites. He collected ancient and modern literary compositions, continuing Crown Prince Zhaoming's Literary Selections in his Comprehensive Selections of Dahe, and submitted it to the throne. He excluded all literati not in his circle; the world resented his narrowness. Xianzong ultimately died from elixirs; the world increasingly said Lin had spoken truly.

穆宗雖誅泌，而後稍稍復惑方士。有布衣張皋者，上疏曰：「神慮澹則血氣和，嗜欲勝則疾疹作。古之聖賢務自頤養，不以外物橈耳目、聲色敗情性，繇是和平自臻，福慶用昌。在《易》，『無妄之疾，勿藥有喜』，在《詩》『自天降康，降福穰穰』，此天人符也。然則藥以攻疾，無疾不用藥也。高宗時，處士孫思邈達於養生，其言曰：『人無故不應餌藥。藥有所偏助，則藏氣爲不平。』推此論之，可謂達見至理。夫寒暑爲賊，節宣乖度，有資於醫，尚當重慎。故《禮》稱：『醫不三世，不服其藥。』庶士猶爾，況天子乎？先帝晚節喜方士，累致危疾，陛下所自知，不可蹈前覆、迎後梅也。今人人竊議，直畏忤旨，莫敢言。臣蓬菣之生，非以邀寵，顧忠義可爲者，聞而默，則不安，願陛下無忽。」帝善其言，詔訪皋，不獲。李中敏，字藏之，系出隴西。元和中，擢進士第。性剛峭，與杜牧、李甘善，其文辭氣節大抵相上下。沈傳師觀察江西，闢爲判官。入拜侍御史。

Though Muzong executed Bi, he gradually again fell under alchemists' sway. Commoner Zhang Gao memorialized: "When the spirit is calm, blood and qi are harmonious; when desires prevail, illness arises. Ancient sages nourished themselves, not letting outer things disturb the senses or ruin nature—thereby harmony came and fortune flourished. The Book of Changes says: 'Illness without cause—do not medicate and there will be joy'; the Book of Songs says: 'From Heaven comes peace, blessings abundant'—Heaven and human are in accord. Medicine attacks illness; without illness do not use medicine. In Gaozong's time recluse Sun Simiao mastered nourishing life; he said: 'People without cause should not take medicine. When medicine partially assists, visceral qi becomes unbalanced. This is penetrating insight into supreme principle. Cold and heat are assailants; when the body's rhythms fail, medicine may help—yet caution is still required. The Book of Rites says: 'If the physician is not of three generations, do not take his medicine. Common scholars are still thus—how much more the Son of Heaven? The former emperor in his late years delighted in alchemists and repeatedly fell dangerously ill—as Your Majesty knows; do not repeat past disaster and invite future regret. Now everyone privately discusses this but fears offending the throne and dares not speak. I am a humble weed—not seeking favor; yet where loyalty demands speech, silence brings unease; I beg Your Majesty not to neglect this. The emperor praised his words and ordered Gao sought, but he was not found. Li Zhongmin, styled Cangzhi, was descended from Longxi. In the Yuanhe era he passed the jinshi examination. He was stern and uncompromising, friendly with Du Mu and Li Gan; their literary talent and integrity were roughly equal. When Shen Chuanshi was Jiangxi observation commissioner, he recruited Zhongmin as administrative aide. He entered the capital and was appointed Attending Censor.

鄭注誣逐宰相宋申錫，天下以目。大和六年，大旱，文宗內憂，詔詢所以致雨者。中敏時以司門員外郎上言：「雨不時降，夏陽驕愆，苗欲槁枯，陛下憂勤，降德音，俾下得盡言。臣聞昔東海誤殺一孝婦，大旱三年。臣頃爲御史臺推囚，華封儒殺良家子三人，陛下赦封儒死。然三人者，亦陛下赤子也。神策士李秀殺平民，法當死，以禁衛，刑止流。宋申錫位宰相，生平饋致一不受，其道勁正，奸人忌之，陷不測之辜，獄不參驗，銜恨而沒，天下士皆指目鄭注。臣知數冤必列訴上帝，天之降災，殆有由然。漢武帝國用空竭，桑弘羊興筦榷之利，然卜式請亨以致雨。況申錫之枉，天下知之，何惜斬一注以快忠臣之魂，則天且雨矣。」帝不省。中敏以病告滿，歸潁陽。注誅，以司勛員外郎召。

Zheng Zhu falsely drove out Chief Minister Song Shenxi; the whole realm watched in silence. In Dahe 6, a great drought struck; Wenzong was deeply troubled and issued an edict asking how to bring rain. Zhongmin, then Vice Director of the Gate Bureau, submitted: "Rain fails to fall; the summer sun is excessive; crops wither; Your Majesty is troubled and has issued gracious words enabling full remonstrance. I have heard that in Donghai a filial woman was wrongly killed and drought lasted three years. I recently investigated prisoners for the censorate; Hua Fengru killed three sons of good families; Your Majesty pardoned him from death. Yet those three were also Your Majesty's own children. Divine Strategy soldier Li Xiu killed a commoner—by law he should die; as imperial guard his punishment was reduced to exile. Song Shenxi as chief minister accepted no gift in life; his integrity was fierce; villains envied him; he was trapped on unverified charges and died in resentment; gentlemen throughout the realm all pointed at Zheng Zhu. I know accumulated wrongs must be laid before Heaven; Heaven's calamity surely has its cause. Emperor Wu's treasury was exhausted and Sang Hongyang established monopolies; yet Bu Shi offered sacrifice to bring rain. Shenxi's injustice is known to all—why hesitate to execute Zhu to satisfy a loyal minister's spirit? Then Heaven will rain. The emperor took no heed. Zhongmin's sick leave expired and he returned to Yingyang. After Zhu's execution he was summoned as Vice Director of the Merit Bureau.

累遷諫議大夫，爲理匭使，建言：「上書者將納於匭，有司先審其副，有不可，輒卻之。臣謂匭出禁中，暮而入，爲下開必達之路，廣聰明，直枉結。若有司先裁可否，恐事不重密，非窮塞得自申意。請一裁諸上。」詔可。遷給事中。仇士良以開府階廕其子，中敏曰：「內謁者監安得有子？」士良慚恚。繇是復棄官去。開成末，爲婺、杭二州刺史，卒於官。中敏所善李款，字言源。長慶初第進士，爲侍御史。注自邠寧入朝，款伏閣劾奏：「注內通敕使，外結朝臣，往來兩地，卜射賕謝。」帝不省。後浸用事，款被斥去。注死，由倉部員外郎累遷江西觀察使。終澶王傅。李甘李甘，字和鼎。長慶末，第進士，舉賢良方正異等。累擢侍御史。鄭注侍講禁中，求宰相，朝廷嘩言將用之，甘顯倡曰：「宰相代天治物者，當先德望，後文藝。注何人，欲得宰相？白麻出，我必壞之。」既而麻出，乃以趙儋爲鄜坊節度使，甘坐輕肆，貶封州司馬。而李訓內亦惡注，由是注卒不相。甘終於貶。

He rose to Remonstrance Grandee and served as complaint box commissioner, proposing: "When memorials are submitted to the box, officials first review copies and reject unacceptable ones. The box leaves the inner palace and returns at dusk, opening certain access for subjects, broadening intelligence and righting wrongs. If officials judge acceptability first, matters will not stay confidential and the desperate cannot speak freely. Let judgment rest solely with the sovereign. The edict approved it. He was transferred to Supervising Censor. Qiu Shiliang used his grand opening rank to grant yin privilege to his son; Zhongmin said: "How can the Director of Inner Attendants have a son? Shiliang was ashamed and enraged. Thereupon he again abandoned office and left. At the end of Kaicheng he was prefect of Wu and Hang and died in office. Li Kuan, whom Zhongmin befriended, was styled Yanyuan. Early in Changqing he passed the jinshi examination and became Attending Censor. When Zhu entered court from Binning, Kuan prostrated himself at the gate and impeached him: "Zhu communicates with edict envoys within and binds court officials without, traveling between both and offering bribes. The emperor took no heed. Later Zhu gradually wielded power and Kuan was driven out. After Zhu's death he rose from Vice Director of the Granary Bureau to Jiangxi Observation Commissioner. He ended as Tutor of the Prince of Chan. Li Gan, styled Heding. Late in Changqing he passed the jinshi examination and ranked top in the Worthy and Upright special examination. He rose to Attending Censor. Zheng Zhu lectured in the inner palace and sought the chief ministership; the court buzzed that he would be appointed; Gan openly declared: "The chief minister who governs for Heaven should put virtue first and literary talent second. What sort of man is Zhu to seek the chief ministership? When the appointment edict comes out, I will tear it up. When the edict came out it appointed Zhao Dan as Bian-Fang Military Commissioner; Gan was punished for levity and demoted to military administrator of Feng prefecture. Li Xun also hated Zhu inwardly; thus Zhu never became chief minister. Gan died in exile.

始，河南人楊牢，字松年，有至行。甘方未顯，以書薦於尹曰：「執事之部孝童楊牢，父茂卿，從田氏府，趙軍反，殺田氏，茂卿死。牢之兄蜀，三往索父喪，慮死不果至。牢自洛陽走常山二千里，號伏叛壘，委發羸骸，有可憐狀，讎意感解，以尸還之。單縗冬月，往來太行間，凍膚皸瘃，銜哀雨血。行路稠人爲牢泣，歸責其子，以牢勉之。牢爲兒踐操如此，未聞執事門唁而書顯之，豈樹風扶教意耶？且鄕人能嚙疽刳昚，急親之病，皆一時決耳，猶蒙表其閭，脫之徭，上有大禮則差問以粟帛。今河北驕叛，萬師不能攘，而牢徙步請尸仇手，與夫含腐忍瘡者孰多？牢絶乳即能詩，洛陽兒曹壯於牢者皆出其下。聞牢之贖喪，潞帥償其費，其葬也，滑帥賻之財，斯執事之事，他人既篡之矣。即有稱牢於上者，執事能無恨其後乎？」其激卬自任類此。牢後亦擢進士第。贊贊曰：夫以下摩上，士所甚患，然取名最多，故上失德則與下爭名，而後有誅夷斥竄事。然或依古肆言，高而難從，以邀主賈直者，逆之似傷道，行之不切時，此言事常弊也。若廷珪數子，優游彌縫，皆中時病，非所謂賈直自榮者也。至渤爭晏朝，潾諫方士，甘斥鄭注不可作宰相，排寵救危，不得不爾，賢哉！

Yang Lao of Henan, styled Songnian, was a man of supreme filial conduct. Before Gan was prominent he wrote the intendant recommending: "The filial youth Yang Lao in your jurisdiction—his father Maoqing served the Tian household; when Zhao's army rebelled they killed the Tian clan and Maoqing died. Lao's elder brother Shu went three times to claim their father's body but feared death and failed. Lao ran two thousand li from Luoyang to Changshan, wailing and prostrate before the rebel camp, disheveled and emaciated in pitiable state; the enemy was moved and returned the corpse. In unlined hemp mourning garb in winter he traveled the Taihang ranges, skin frost-cracked, grief like blood rain. Crowds on the road wept for Lao; returning home they reproached their sons and held Lao up as example. Lao showed such conduct as a youth; I have not heard that Your Excellency sent condolences or honored him in writing—is this how custom and instruction are supported? Villagers who bite abscesses or cut flesh for parents' illness—all momentary acts—still receive hamlet commendation, corvée exemption, and imperial gifts at great rites. Hebei rebels defy ten thousand troops—yet Lao walked on foot to claim his father's corpse from the enemy; compared with those who merely endure sores for parents, which is greater? Lao could compose poetry as soon as he was weaned; boys in Luoyang stronger than he were all his inferiors. I hear the Lu commander repaid Lao's funeral costs and the Hua commander gave burial gifts—these were Your Excellency's affairs, yet others have usurped them. If someone praises Lao to the throne, will Your Excellency not resent being left behind? His passionate self-assurance was like this. Lao later also passed the jinshi examination. The eulogist says: Remonstrance from below is what gentlemen dread, yet it wins the most fame; when superiors lose virtue they contend with inferiors for reputation, and execution and exile follow. Yet some cite antiquity and speak loftily, hard to follow, inviting the sovereign to reward bluntness—opposing this seems to harm the Way, enacting it suits not the times; this is remonstrance's common fault. Men like Tinggui and his fellows, measured and mending, all hit the ailments of the age—they did not sell bluntness for self-glory. Bo contending over delayed court, Lin remonstrating against alchemists, Gan denouncing Zheng Zhu as unfit for chief minister—rejecting favor and saving peril, they could not do otherwise—how worthy!

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