1
◎五王
◎ The Five Kings
2
桓彥範，字士則，潤州丹陽人。 以門蔭調右翊衛，遷司衛主簿。 狄仁傑曰：「君之才，當自光大，毋恤於初。」 厚為禮。 尋擢監察御史，遷累中丞。
Huan Yanfan, courtesy name Shize, was from Danyang in Run Prefecture. By hereditary privilege he entered the Right Yiwu Guard and rose to chief clerk in the Directorate of Palace Guards. Di Renjie told him, "Your ability should grow great on its own; do not fret over modest beginnings." He received him with exceptional courtesy. Before long he was made investigating censor and, after several promotions, became vice censor-in-chief.
3
長安中，為司刑少卿。 張昌宗引妖人迎占，言計不軌。 宋璟請窮治其奸，武後以昌宗嘗自歸，不許。 彥範諫曰：「昌宗謬橫恩，苞禍心，億測天命，皇神降怒，自擿其咎。 推原厥情，蓋防事暴之日得引首以免，未敗則候時為逆。 此兇詭之臣，營惑聖心。 既自歸露，而尚與妖人祈福禳解，則果於必成，初無悔意。 今而宥之，誠恐昌宗自謂應運，天下浩然從之。 父在，子稱尊為逆子； 君在，臣圖位為逆臣。 逆而不誅，社稷懼亡。 請付三司考治。」 不納。 時內史李嶠等屢奏：「往為酷吏破家者，請皆宥雪。」 依違未從。 彥範復上言：「自文明後得罪，惟揚、豫、博三州不免，它可悉赦。」 疏十上，卒見聽。 嘗曰：「大理，人命所縣，不可便辭詭合以自免。」
In the Chang'an period he held the post of vice minister of justice. Zhang Changzong brought in sorcerers for divination, and word spread that he was plotting treason. Song Jing asked that his treachery be fully investigated, but because Changzong had once turned himself in, Empress Wu refused. Yanfan admonished: "Changzong has been showered with favor he does not deserve, nurses a treacherous heart, and dares to probe Heaven's mandate. The sacred powers are angry, and he has exposed his own guilt. Looking to the root of his conduct, he surely meant to offer his head when matters exploded so as to escape punishment; if he had not yet failed, he would bide his time to rebel. He is a vicious, deceitful minister who bewilders Your Majesty's mind. Though he has already confessed, he still seeks blessings and exorcism through sorcerers—proof that he is bent on success and never repented. If he is pardoned now, I fear Changzong will think himself Heaven's chosen, and the realm will rally to him in a rush. While a father lives, for a son to claim superiority is to be a rebellious son; while a ruler lives, for a minister to scheme for power is to be a rebellious minister. Treason left unpunished— the altars of state may be lost. I beg that he be handed to the Three Offices for trial and punishment." The court did not accept it. At that time Palace Secretary Li Qiao and others repeatedly petitioned: "All whose families were destroyed by cruel officials in the past should be pardoned and cleared." The throne wavered and did not agree. Yanfan submitted again: "All convicted since the Wensheng era may be pardoned, save those from Yang, Yu, and Bo prefectures; all others should receive a general amnesty." He sent up ten memorials and was finally heeded. He once said: "The Court of Judicial Review holds human lives in the balance; one must not twist words and trim one's views merely to save oneself."
4
上書戒帝曰：
He wrote a memorial warning the emperor, saying:
5
《詩》以《關雎》為始，言後妃者人倫之本，治亂之端也。 故舜之興以皇、英，而周之興以任、姒。 桀奔南巢，禍階末嬉； 魯桓滅國，惑始齊姜。 伏見陛下臨朝視政，皇后必施帷殿上，預聞政事。 臣愚謂古王者謀及婦人，皆破國亡身，傾辀繼路。 且以陰乘陽，違天也； 以婦淩夫，違人也。 違天不祥，違人不義。 故《書》曰：「牝雞之晨，惟家之索。」 《易》曰：「無攸遂，在中饋。」 言婦人不得預外政也。 伏願上以社稷為重，令皇后無居正殿，幹外朝，深居宮掖，修陰教以輔佐天子。
The Book of Odes opens with "Guan Ju"—on empresses and consorts rests the root of human relations and the turning point between order and chaos. Shun rose through E Huang and Nü Ying; Zhou rose through Jiang of Ren and Si of Si. Jie fled to Southern Nest—the calamity began with Mo Xi; Duke Huan of Lu lost his state—his ruin began with Lady Jiang of Qi. I humbly observe that whenever Your Majesty holds court, the empress sets up a screen in the hall and takes part in state affairs. Your servant is dull, but in antiquity every king who let women into his counsels ruined his state, lost his life, and left overturned chariots strewn along the road. For yin to ride over yang is to violate Heaven; for a wife to tower over her husband is to violate human norms. To violate Heaven brings ill fortune; to violate humanity is unjust. Thus the Book of Documents says: "When the hen crows at dawn, the household is near ruin." The Book of Changes says: "Nothing is to be pursued; remain within and provide food." —meaning that women must not meddle in public government. I humbly pray that Your Majesty put the altars of state first: let the empress leave the main hall, keep out of the outer court, dwell deep in the inner palace, and cultivate woman's teaching to support the Son of Heaven.
6
又道路籍籍，皆云胡僧慧範托浮屠法，詭惑後妃，出入禁奧，瀆撓朝政。 陛下嘗輕騎微服，數幸其居，上下汙慢，君臣虧替。 臣謂興化致治以康乂國家者，繇進善而棄惡。 孔子曰：「執左道以亂政者殺，假鬼神以危人者殺。」 今慧範亂政危人者也，不急誅，且有變。 除惡務本，願早裁之。
Moreover, the roads are loud with rumor that the foreign monk Hui Fan, under cover of Buddhism, deceives the empress and consorts, enters the forbidden inner quarters, and profanes and disrupts the government. Your Majesty has ridden out lightly in plain dress and visited his home again and again; high and low are stained with neglect, and the bond between ruler and minister is broken. Your servant holds that to lift the age, bring order, and give the state peace is to advance the good and cast out evil. Confucius said: "Those who hold heterodox ways to disturb government should be killed; those who borrow ghosts and spirits to endanger others should be killed." Hui Fan now disturbs government and endangers the people. If he is not swiftly executed, trouble will follow. In rooting out evil one must strike at the source; I pray that he be cut down at once.
7
帝孱昏，狃左右，不能有所省納。
The emperor was weak and muddled, clinging to those around him, and could not be brought to listen.
8
俄墨敕以方士鄭普思為秘書監，葉靜能為國子祭酒。 彥範執不可，帝曰：「要已用之，不可止。」 彥範曰：「陛下始復位，制詔：『軍國皆用貞觀故事。』 貞觀時，以魏徵、虞世南、彥師古為監，以孔穎達為祭酒，如普思等方伎猥下，安足繼蹤前烈。 臣恐物議謂陛下官不擇才，以天秩加私愛。」 不從。
Soon a secret edict named the Daoist Zheng Pusi director of the Imperial Secretariat and Ye Jingneng director of the National University. Yanfan held firm that this could not stand. The emperor said, "They are already in post; it cannot be undone." Yanfan said, "When Your Majesty first regained the throne, you decreed: 'All military and civil affairs shall follow Zhenguan precedent. In Zhenguan, Wei Zheng, Yu Shinan, and Yanshigu were directors and Kong Yingda was director of studies. How can petty technicians like Pusi follow in the footsteps of such men? I fear the world will say Your Majesty appoints office without regard to talent, heaping private favor on Heaven's ranks." The emperor would not listen.
9
時武三思以遷太后銜恚，慮不利諸武，而韋後雅為帝寵畏，且三思與蒸亂，由是朋讒奇中。 未幾，罷彥範等政事。 五月，加特進，封扶陽郡王，賜姓韋，同後屬籍，錫金銀、錦繡，皆以鐵券恕十死，令朝朔望。 尋出為洺州刺史，改濠州。 王同皎謀誅三思，事泄，三思誣彥範等同逆，陰令許州司功參軍鄭愔上變。 乃貶彥範瀧州司馬，敬暉崖州司馬，袁恕己竇州司馬，崔玄暐白州司馬，張柬之新州司馬，悉奪勛封。 三思又疏韋後隱穢，榜於道，請廢之。 帝震怒，三思猥曰：「此殆彥範輩為。」 命御史大夫李承嘉鞫狀，物色其人。 承嘉即奏：「彥範、暉、柬之、恕己、玄暐暴訕搖變，內托廢後，而實危君。 人臣無將，當伏誅。」 詔有司議罪。 大理丞李朝隱執奏：「彥範等未訊即誅，恐為讎家誣蔑，請遣御史按實。」 卿裴談請即誅斬，家籍沒。 帝業嘗許以不死，遂流州，禁錮終身，子弟年十六以上謫徙嶺外。 擢承嘉金紫光祿大夫、襄武郡公，後又賜彩五百段、錦被一。 進談刑部尚書，而貶朝隱。 三思又諷節湣太子請夷彥範等三族，帝不從。 三思慮五人者且復用，乃納崔湜計，遣周利貞矯制殺之。 利貞至貴州，逢彥範，即縛曳竹槎上，肉盡，杖殺之，年五十四。
At that time Wu Sansi, bitter over the empress dowager's removal, feared for the Wu clan; Empress Wei was by nature both favored and feared by the emperor, and Sansi was also her illicit lover. They thus joined as a faction and their slanders struck home. Before long Yanfan and the others were dismissed from office. In the fifth month he was granted special advance in rank, enfeoffed as Prince of Fuyang, given the surname Wei and enrolled in the empress's clan register, showered with gold, silver, and brocade, each with an iron certificate forgiving ten capital offenses, and ordered to attend court on the first and fifteenth of the month. Soon he was sent out as prefect of Luo, then transferred to Hao. Wang Tongjiao plotted to kill Sansi. When the plot leaked, Sansi accused Yanfan and the others of treason and secretly had Zheng Yin, judicial secretary of Xu Prefecture, report the crime. Yanfan was demoted to military commissioner of Long, Jing Hui to Yai, Yuan Shuji to Dou, Cui Xuanwei to Bai, and Zhang Jianzhi to Xin; all honors and fiefs were stripped away. Sansi again exposed the empress's secret misconduct and posted the account along the roads, asking that she be deposed. The emperor was furious. Sansi said absurdly, "This is almost certainly Yanfan and his fellows." He ordered Censor-in-Chief Li Chengjia to investigate and find the culprits. Chengjia at once reported: "Yanfan, Hui, Jianzhi, Shuji, and Xuanwei openly insult and stir unrest, using the plea to depose the empress while in truth endangering the sovereign. As subjects who harbor rebellion, they deserve death." An edict ordered the responsible offices to deliberate their punishment. Assistant Director Li Chaoyin of the Court of Judicial Review held firm: "Yanfan and the others are to be executed without trial—I fear this is the work of enemies slandering them. I beg that censors be sent to verify the facts." Vice Minister Pei Tan asked that they be executed at once and their families' property confiscated. The emperor had once promised they would not die; they were therefore exiled to distant prefectures, imprisoned for life, and sons and younger brothers sixteen and older were banished beyond the mountains. Chengjia was promoted to Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon and made Duke of Xiangwu; later he was also given five hundred lengths of colored silk and one brocade quilt. Tan was promoted to Minister of Justice, while Chaoyin was demoted. Sansi again prompted Crown Prince Jiemin to ask that Yanfan's three clans be exterminated; the emperor refused. Sansi feared the five would be recalled to office and adopted Cui Surong's plan, sending Zhou Lizhen with a forged edict to kill them. Lizhen reached Gui Prefecture and met Yanfan. He bound him at once, dragged him on a bamboo raft until the flesh was worn away, and beat him to death. Yanfan was fifty-four.
10
睿宗即位，彥範等並追復官爵，賜實封二百戶，還其子孫，謚曰忠烈。 開元六年，詔與暉、玄暐、柬之、恕己勤勞王家，皆配享中宗廟庭。 建中三年，復贈彥範為司徒，暉太尉，玄暐太子太師，柬之司徒，恕己太子太傅。
When Emperor Ruizong took the throne, Yanfan and the others had their offices and titles posthumously restored, were granted two hundred households of permanent fief, their sons and grandsons were returned, and Yanfan was given the posthumous name Loyal and Fierce. In Kaiyuan 6 (718) an edict declared that because Hui, Xuanwei, Jianzhi, and Shuji had labored for the royal house, they all received spirit tablets in Emperor Zhongzong's temple court. In Jianzhong 3 (782) Yanfan was posthumously made Minister of Education again, Hui Grand Commandant, Xuanwei Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent, Jianzhi Minister of Education, and Shuji Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent.
11
彥範工屬文，然不甚喜觀書，所誌惟忠孝大略。 居若不能言，及議論帝前，雖被詰讓，而安辭定色，辨色愈切。
Yanfan was skilled at writing, yet he did not much enjoy reading; what he set down were only the broad outlines of loyalty and filial piety. In private he seemed barely able to speak, yet when he argued before the emperor, though reproved and pressed, he kept a calm face and steady tone, and his pleading grew all the more urgent.
12
誅二張也，柬之勒兵景運門，將遂夷諸武。 洛州長史薛季昶勸曰：「二兇雖誅，產、祿猶在，請除之。」 會日暮事遽，彥範不欲廣殺，因曰：「三思機上肉爾，留為天子藉手。」 委昶嘆曰：「吾無死所矣！」 俄而三思竊入宮，因韋後反盜朝權。 同功者嘆曰：「死我者，桓君也。」 彥範亦曰：「主上昔為英王，故吾留武氏使自誅定。 今大事已去，得非天乎！」 初，將起事，告其母。 母曰：「忠孝不並立，義先國家可也。」
When the two Zhangs were killed, Jianzhi led troops at the Jingyun Gate and was about to wipe out the entire Wu clan. Xue Jichang, chief administrator of Luo Prefecture, urged: "Though the two villains are dead, Chansheng and Lu remain. I beg that they be removed as well." But dusk came and events rushed on. Yanfan did not wish to widen the killing and said, "Sansi is meat on the block—leave him for the Son of Heaven to use." Jichang turned away and sighed, "I have nowhere left to die!" Before long Sansi stole into the palace and, through Empress Wei, seized court power in turn. Those who had shared in the deed sighed, "The one who will kill me is Lord Huan." Yanfan also said, "The sovereign was once Prince Ying; that is why I left the Wu clan to destroy themselves. Now the great affair is lost—is this not Heaven's will?" When they were about to act, he told his mother. His mother said, "Loyalty and filial piety cannot both be fulfilled; put the state's righteousness first—that is enough."
13
御史李福業者，嘗與彥範謀，及被殺，福業亦流番禺。 後亡匿吉州參軍敬元禮家，吏捕得，元禮俱坐死。 福業將刑，謝元禮曰：「子有親，吾甚愧恨。」 元禮曰：「公窮而歸我，我得已乎？」 見者傷之。
The censor Li Fuye had once plotted with Yanfan. When Yanfan was killed, Fuye was exiled to Panyu as well. Later he hid in the home of Jing Yuanli, a subordinate officer in Ji Prefecture. When officials captured him, Yuanli was sentenced to death as well. As Fuye was about to be executed, he said to Yuanli in apology, "You have parents. I am deeply ashamed." Yuanli said, "You were desperate and came to me. How could I turn you away?" Those who witnessed it were deeply moved.
14
時監察御史盧襲秀亦坐與桓、敬善，為冉祖雍所按，不屈。 或報曰：「南使至，桓、敬已死。」 襲秀泫然。 祖雍怒曰：「彥範等負國，君乃流涕。 且君下獄，諸弟皆縱酒無憂色，何邪？」 對曰：「我何負哉？ 正坐與彥範善耳。 今盡殺諸弟則已，如獨殺襲秀，恐公不得高枕而瞑！」 祖雍色動，握其手曰：「當活公。」 遂得不坐。
At that time investigating censor Lu Xixiu was also implicated for his friendship with Huan and Jing. Investigated by Ran Zuyong, he would not yield. Someone reported, "The southern envoy has arrived. Huan and Jing are already dead." Xixiu wept. Zuyong said angrily, "Yanfan and the others betrayed the state, yet you weep. Moreover, you are in prison, yet your younger brothers all drink freely without a care—why?" He replied, "How have I failed? It is only that I was friendly with Yanfan. If you kill all my brothers, so be it. But if you kill only me, I fear you will not sleep easily!" Zuyong's expression changed. He took his hand and said, "I shall let you live." Thus he escaped punishment.
15
襲秀者，其祖方慶，武德中，為察非掾，秦王器之。 嘗引與議建成事，方慶辭曰：「母老矣，丐身歸養。」 王不逼也。 貞觀中，為稿城令。」 彥範弟玄範，官至常州刺史； 臣範，工部侍郎。
Xixiu's grandfather Fang Qing, in the Wude era, served as an investigator of irregularities and won the esteem of the Prince of Qin. The prince once summoned him to discuss the affair of Li Jiancheng. Fang Qing declined: "My mother is old; I beg leave to go home and care for her." The prince did not press him. In the Zhenguan era he served as magistrate of Gaocheng. Yanfan's younger brother Xuanfan rose to prefect of Chang; Chenfan became vice minister of works.
16
薛季昶者，絳州龍門人。 武後時上書，自布衣擢監察御史，以累左遷平遙尉，復拜御史。 屢按獄如旨，擢給事中。 夏官郎中侯味虛將兵討契丹，不利，妄言「賊行有蛇虎導軍」。 後惡其詭，拜季昶為河北道按察使。 季昶馳至軍，斬味虛以聞，威震北方。 稿城尉吳澤射殺驛使，髡民女發為髢，州不能劾，季昶杖殺之。 然後布恩信，甄表善良。 或傳季昶曩為味虛笞辱，故深文報怨。 自給事中數月為御史中丞，坐事左遷。 久乃入為雍州長史，遷文昌左衛，為洛州長史。 預誅易之等功，進戶部侍郎。 五王失柄，出季昶荊州長史，貶儋州司馬。 初，季昶與昭州首領周慶立、廣州事馬光楚客不葉，懼二怨，不敢往。 嘆曰：「吾至是邪！」 即具棺沐浴，仰藥死。 葬昭州。 睿宗立，詔贈左御史大夫，同彥稾等賜一子官。
Xue Jichang was from Longmen in Jiang Prefecture. Under Empress Wu he submitted a memorial and was raised from commoner to investigating censor. After involvement in a case he was demoted to assistant magistrate of Pingyao, then appointed censor again. He repeatedly handled cases to the throne's liking and was promoted to attendant within the Yellow Gate. Hou Weixu of the Ministry of War led troops against the Khitan without success and falsely claimed, "Serpents and tigers guide the enemy army as it marches." Later, detesting his deceit, the court appointed Jichang investigating commissioner of the Hebei circuit. Jichang galloped to the army, beheaded Weixu, and reported it. His authority shook the north. Wu Ze, assistant magistrate of Gaocheng, shot and killed a courier, shaved a commoner's daughter, and made a wig from her hair. The prefecture could not prosecute him, so Jichang beat him to death. Only then did he spread kindness and trust and commend the worthy. Some said Jichang had once been flogged and humiliated by Weixu and therefore piled on charges to settle the score. Within a few months he rose from attendant to vice censor-in-chief, then was demoted after involvement in a case. After a long interval he entered the capital as chief administrator of Yong Prefecture, was transferred to the Left Guard of Wenchang, and became chief administrator of Luo Prefecture. For his part in killing the Zhang brothers he was promoted to vice minister of revenue. When the Five Kings lost power, Jichang was sent out as chief administrator of Jing and demoted to military commissioner of Dan. Earlier Jichang had been on bad terms with Zhou Qingli of Zha Prefecture and Ma Guangchu of Guang Prefecture. Fearing their enmity, he dared not go. He sighed, "Have I come to this!" He at once prepared his coffin, bathed, took poison, and died. He was buried in Zha Prefecture. When Emperor Ruizong took the throne, an edict posthumously made him Left Censor-in-Chief and, like Yanfan and the others, granted one son an office.
17
季昶剛烈，然喜入先語以為實，後雖有辨理，不能得也。 而敦愛故舊，禮有名士，其長可蓋所缺雲。
Jichang was fierce and stern, yet he tended to accept the first account as true; even when later argument showed otherwise, he could not be moved. Yet he was warm toward old friends and courteous to famous scholars; his strengths could cover his shortcomings.
18
楊元琰者，字溫，虢州閺鄉人，漢太尉震十八代孫。 生數歲未言，相者視曰：「語遲者神定，必為重器。」 及長，秀眉美須髯，崇肩博頤。 居父喪，七日不食。 服除，補梓州參軍，平棘令，課第一，御史府表其政，璽書褒厲。 再擢永寧軍副使，忤用事者免。 載初中，為安南副都護，三徙為荊府長史，五遷州刺史，鹹有風績。
Yang Yuanyan, courtesy name Wen, was from Min Township in Guo Prefecture, eighteenth-generation descendant of Han Grand Commandant Yang Zhen. For several years after birth he did not speak. A physiognomist looked at him and said, "One who speaks late has a settled spirit and will surely become a great man." When grown, he had elegant brows, a fine beard, high shoulders, and a broad jaw. During his father's mourning he fasted for seven days. When mourning ended he served as military adjutant in Zi Prefecture and magistrate of Pingji. His assessment ranked first, the censorate commended his administration, and an imperial edict praised him. He was twice promoted to deputy commissioner of the Yongning Army, but offended those in power and was dismissed. In the early Zaichu era he was vice protector-general of Annan, was transferred three times to chief administrator of Jing, and was promoted five times to prefect—each post marked by distinguished conduct.
19
初，張柬之代為荊州，共乘艫江中，私語外家革命，元琰悲涕慷慨，誌在王室。 柬之執政，故引為右羽林將軍，謂曰：「江上之言，君叵忘之，今可以勉！」 乃與李多祚等定計斬二張。 進雲麾將軍，封弘農郡公，實封戶五百，賜鐵券恕十死。 敬暉等為武三思所構，元琰知禍未已，乃詭計請祝髮事浮屠，悉還官封。 中宗不許。 暉聞，尚戲曰：「胡頭應祝。」 以多鬛似胡雲。 元琰曰：「功成不退，懼亡。 我不空言。」 暉感之，然已不及計。 暉等死，獨元琰全。
Earlier, when Zhang Jianzhi replaced him in Jing, they shared a boat on the river and spoke privately of overthrowing the Wu clan. Yuanyan wept with grief and passion, his heart set on the royal house. When Jianzhi took power he brought him in as general of the Right Yulin Guard and said, "What was said on the river—you must not forget it. Now you can act!" He then joined Li Duozuo and others in planning to kill the two Zhang brothers. He was promoted to general of the Cloud-Banner Guard, enfeoffed as Duke of Hongnong with five hundred households of permanent fief, and granted an iron certificate forgiving ten capital offenses. Jing Hui and the others were framed by Wu Sansi. Yuanyan knew the danger was not over and therefore devised a stratagem, asking to shave his head and become a monk, returning all offices and enfeoffments. Emperor Zhongzong refused. When Hui heard, he still jested, "That Hu head ought to be tonsured." —because his thick beard made him look like a foreigner. Yuanyan said, "Merit achieved without withdrawal—I fear ruin. I do not speak in vain." Hui was moved, but it was already too late. When Hui and the others died, Yuanyan alone survived unscathed.
20
再遷衛尉卿，又上官封，願追寵其親，帝哀憐，贈越州都督長史。 李多祚死太子難，元琰坐厚善，系獄，蕭至忠救之，免。 睿宗立，數上書乞骸骨，不聽。 四遷刑部尚書，封魏國公。 徙太子賓客，詔設位東宮，太子為拜。 俄致仕。 開元六年卒，年七十九，謚曰忠。 生平無留蓄，中外食其家常數十人。 臨終，敕諸子薄葬。
He was twice transferred to minister of the court of imperial regalia. On another occasion he memorialized to honor his parents posthumously; the emperor took pity and posthumously made his father chief administrator under the protector-general of Yue. When Li Duozuo died in the crown prince's rebellion, Yuanyan was implicated for their close friendship and imprisoned. Xiao Zhizhong rescued him and he was spared. When Emperor Ruizong took the throne, he repeatedly asked to retire; the throne would not listen. Through four promotions he became Minister of Justice and was enfeoffed as Duke of Wei. He was made mentor of the heir apparent; an edict ordered a seat set in the Eastern Palace, and the crown prince bowed to him. Soon he retired from office. He died in Kaiyuan 6 (718) at seventy-nine; his posthumous name was Loyal. Throughout his life he kept no savings; several dozen people inside and outside his household ate at his table. On his deathbed he ordered his sons to give him a simple burial.
21
子仲昌，字蔓。 以通經為修文生。 累調，不甚顯。 以河陽尉對策，玄宗擢第一，授蒲州法曹參軍，判入異等，遷監察御史。 坐累為孝義令。 鸞降庭樹，太守蕭恕表其政，徙下邽。 終吏部郎中。 仲昌資長於吏。 常分父邑租振宗黨。 禦身以約，善與人交，士樂從之遊雲。
His son Zhongchang, courtesy name Man. Through mastery of the classics he became a Xiucheng student. Through successive appointments he did not rise very high. As assistant magistrate of Heyang he answered policy questions. Emperor Xuanzong ranked him first, appointed him legal adjutant in Pu Prefecture, judged his work exceptional, and promoted him to investigating censor. After involvement in a case he became magistrate of Xiaoyi. A phoenix alighted on a tree in his courtyard. Prefect Xiao Shu memorialized his administration, and he was transferred to Xiaji. He ended his career as director in the Ministry of Civil Office. Zhongchang's talent lay in administration. He often divided his father's fief rent to support the clan. He lived frugally, made friends easily, and gentlemen gladly kept his company.
22
敬暉，字仲曄，絳州平陽人。 弱冠舉明經。 聖歷初，為衛州刺史。 是時，河北經突厥所騷，方秋而城，暉曰：「金湯非粟不守，豈有棄農畝，事池隍哉？」 縱民歸斂，闔部賴安。 遷夏官侍郎，出為太州刺史，改洛陽長史。 武後幸長安，為副留守，以治幹聞，璽書勞之，多賜物段。
Jing Hui, courtesy name Zhongye, was from Pingyang in Jiang Prefecture. At twenty he passed the Mingjing examination. At the beginning of the Shengli era he was prefect of Wei. At that time Hebei had been harassed by the Turks. It was autumn and the people were building walls. Hui said, "Walls and moats cannot be held without grain—how can we abandon the fields to tend ramparts?" He let the people return to harvest, and the whole prefecture found peace through him. He was transferred to vice minister of the summer office, sent out as prefect of Tai, then made chief administrator of Luoyang. When Empress Wu visited Chang'an he served as deputy defender. Known for administrative ability, he received an imperial edict of commendation and many gifts of silk.
23
長安二年，授中臺右丞。 以誅二張功，加金紫光祿大夫，為侍中、平陽郡公，實封五百戶，進封齊國。 暉表請諸武王者宜悉降爵，繇是皆為公。 三思憤。 俄封平陽郡王，加特進罷政事。
In Chang'an 2 (702) he was appointed right vice director of the central secretariat. For killing the two Zhang brothers he was made Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon, attendant-in-chief, and Duke of Pingyang with five hundred households of permanent fief, then advanced to Prince of Qi. Hui memorialized that all Wu princes should have their titles reduced; thereby they all became dukes. Sansi was furious. Soon he was enfeoffed as Prince of Pingyang, given special advance in rank, and dismissed from office.
24
初，易之已誅，薛季昶請收諸武，暉亦苦諫，不從。 三思濁亂，暉每椎坐悵恨，彈指流血。 尋及貶，又放瓊州，為周利貞所害。 睿宗時，追復官爵，又贈秦州都督，謚曰肅湣。
When Yizhi had been killed, Xue Jichang asked that the entire Wu clan be seized. Hui also remonstrated bitterly, but was not heeded. Sansi was corrupt and disorderly. Hui would pound the seat in grief, snapping his fingers until blood flowed. Before long he was demoted and exiled to Qiong, where Zhou Lizhen killed him. Under Emperor Ruizong his offices and titles were posthumously restored, and he was made protector-general of Qin; his posthumous name was Solemn and Lamented.
25
崔玄暐，博陵安平人，本名畢，武後時，有所避，改焉。 少以學行稱，叔父秘書少監行功器之。 舉明經，為高陵主簿。 居父喪盡禮。 廬有燕，更巢共乳。 母盧，有賢操，常戒玄暐曰：「吾聞姨兄辛玄馭云：『子姓仕宦，有言其貧窶不自存，此善也； 若貲貨盈衍，惡也。』 吾嘗以為確論。 比見親表仕者務多財以奉親，而親不究所從來。 必出於祿稟則善，如其不然，何異盜乎？ 若今為吏，不能忠清，無以戴天履地。 宜識吾意。」 故玄暐所守以清白名。 母亡，哀毀，甘露降庭樹。
Cui Xuanwei was from Anping in Boling. His original name was Bi; under Empress Wu he changed it to avoid a taboo. In youth he was famed for learning and conduct. His uncle, Vice Director of the Secretariat Xing Gong, valued him. He passed the Mingjing examination and became chief clerk of Gaoling. During his father's mourning he fulfilled every rite. At his mourning hut swallows nested; they changed nests and nursed their young together. His mother Lady Lu was virtuous and often warned Xuanwei: "I heard my cousin's husband Xin Xuanyu say, 'When sons and clansmen enter office, if people say they are poor and cannot support themselves, that is good; if goods and wealth overflow, that is evil. I have always held this a sound doctrine. Lately I see kinsmen in office striving for wealth to support their parents, while the parents do not ask where it comes from. If it comes from salary and stipends, that is good. If not, how is it different from theft? If you now become an official and cannot be loyal and pure, you have no way to face Heaven and Earth. You should understand what I mean." Therefore Xuanwei upheld himself and won a name for integrity. When his mother died he was devastated with grief; sweet dew fell on the trees in the courtyard.
26
後久疾，宰相不召見者累月。 及少閑，玄暐奏言：「皇太子、相王皆仁明孝友，宜侍醫藥，不宜引異姓出入禁闥。」 後慰納。 以誅二張功為中書令、博陵郡公。 後遷上陽宮，顧玄暐曰：「諸臣進皆因人，而雲暐我所擢，何至是？」 對曰：「此正所以報陛下也。」 俄拜博陵郡王，罷政事，冊其妻為妃，賜實封五百戶，檢校益州大都督府長史，知都督事。 會貶，又流古州。 道病卒，年六十九，謚曰文獻。
Later Empress Wu was long ill and did not summon the chief ministers for many months. When she had a little respite, Xuanwei memorialized: "The crown prince and the Prince of Xiang are benevolent, bright, filial, and friendly. They should attend her with medicine. Unrelated persons should not be brought in and out of the forbidden gates." The empress was comforted and accepted it. For killing the two Zhang brothers he was made Director of the Secretariat and Duke of Boling. Later she moved to the Shangyang Palace and turned to Xuanwei, saying, "All the ministers who advanced did so through others, yet they say you were raised by me—how could it come to this?" He replied, "This is precisely how I repay Your Majesty." Soon he was made Prince of Boling, dismissed from office, his wife was enfeoffed as consort, granted five hundred households of permanent fief, and made acting chief administrator of Yi with charge of protector affairs. When demoted, he was exiled again to Gu Prefecture. He died of illness on the road at sixty-nine; his posthumous name was Cultured and Meritorious.
27
玄暐三世不異居，家人怡怡如也。 貧寓郊墅，群從皆自遠會食，無它爨，與昇尤友愛。 族人貧孤者，撫養教勵。 後雖秉權，而子弟仕進不使逾常資，當時稱重。 少頗屬辭，晚以非己長，不復構思，專意經術。
For three generations the Xuanwei family lived together; the household was harmonious and content. Poor, they lodged in a suburban villa. The whole clan came from afar to eat together with no other cooking, and he was especially close to Sheng. He nurtured, taught, and encouraged clansmen who were poor and orphaned. Later, though he held power, he did not let his sons and younger brothers advance beyond ordinary qualifications; the age respected him for it. In youth he wrote well, but in later years, finding it not his strength, he stopped composing and devoted himself to classical learning.
28
子璩，亦有文。 開元二年詔：「玄暐、柬之，神龍之初，保乂王室，奸臣忌焉，謫歿荒海，流落變遷，感激忠義。 宜以玄暐子璩、柬之孫毖，並為朝散大夫。」 璩終禮部侍郎。 璩子渙。
His son Qu was also a capable writer. An edict of Kaiyuan 2 (714) stated: "Xuanwei and Jianzhi, at the beginning of Shenlong, preserved the royal house. Treacherous ministers envied them; they were demoted and died in exile, drifting through change, moved by loyalty and righteousness. Xuanwei's son Qu and Jianzhi's grandson Bi should both be made Grand Masters of Palace Leisure." Qu ended his career as vice minister of rites. Qu's son was Huan.
29
渙博綜經術，長論議。 十歲居父喪，毀辟加人，陸元方異之。 起家亳州司功參軍，還調。 於是入判者千餘，吏部侍郎嚴挺之施特榻試《彜尊銘》，謂曰：「子清廟器，故以題相命。」 累遷司門員外郎。 楊國忠惡不附己，出為巴西太守。 玄宗西狩，迎謁於道。 帝見占奏，以為明治體，恨得之晚，房琯亦薦之，即日拜門下侍郎、同中書門下平章事。
Huan was broadly versed in the classics and excelled at discourse. At ten he observed his father's mourning with grief beyond others; Lu Yuanfang regarded him as extraordinary. He began as legal adjutant in Bo Prefecture and returned for reassignment. More than a thousand entered for judgment. Vice Minister Yan Tingzhi set a special couch and tested him on the "Yi Zun Inscription," saying, "You are a vessel fit for the temple; therefore I set this topic for you." Through successive promotions he became vice director of the gate office. Yang Guozhong hated those who would not attach to him and sent him out as prefect of Baxi. When Emperor Xuanzong fled west, Huan met and paid homage on the road. The emperor saw his prognostications and memorials, judged him clear on governing principles, and regretted finding him so late. Fang Guan also recommended him, and the same day he was made vice director of the Secretariat and joint manager of affairs.
30
肅宗立，與韋見素等同赴行在。 時京師未復，舉選不至，詔渙為江淮宣諭選補使。 收采遺逸，不以親故自嫌。 常曰：「仰才虞謗，吾不忍為。」 然聽受不甚精，以不職罷為左散騎常侍，兼餘杭太守、江東采訪防禦使。 入遷吏部侍郎、集賢院待制。 簡淡自處，時望尤重。 遷御史大夫。
When Emperor Suzong took the throne, he went with Wei Jiansu and others to the mobile court. At that time the capital had not been recovered and selections did not arrive. An edict made Huan commissioner for proclaiming and selecting replacements in Jiang and Huai. He gathered overlooked talent and did not shrink from appointing kin and friends. He often said, "To rely on talent and fear slander—I cannot bear to do that." Yet his judgment was not very precise. For dereliction of duty he was dismissed as left regular attendant and concurrently made prefect of Yuhang and Jiangdong investigating and defense commissioner. He entered the capital and was transferred to vice minister of civil office and attendant at the Hall of Assembled Worthies. Simple and restrained in his conduct, he was especially esteemed. He was transferred to censor-in-chief.
31
元載輔政，與中官董秀槃結固寵，渙疾之，因進見，慨然論載奸。 代宗曰：「載雖非重慎，然協和中外無間然，能臣也。」 對曰：「和之為貴者，由禮節也，不節之以禮，焉得和？ 今幹戈甫定，品物思乂。 載為宰相，宜明制度，易海內耳目。 而怙權樹黨，毀法為通，鬻恩為恕，附下茍容，乃幽國卑主術，臣所未喻。」 帝默然。 會渙兼稅地青苗錢物使，以錢給百官，而吏用下直為使料，上直為百司料。 載諷皇城副留守張清擿其非，詔尚書左丞蔣渙按實，且載所惡，由是貶道州刺史。 卒，贈太子太傅，謚曰元。 子縱。
Yuan Zai assisted in government and, with the eunuch Dong Xiu, wove bonds to secure favor. Huan detested this and, on entering audience, spoke passionately of Zai's treachery. Emperor Daizong said, "Though Zai is not deeply cautious, he harmonizes court and realm without friction. He is a capable minister." He replied, "What makes harmony precious is ritual propriety. Without restraining by ritual, how can there be harmony? Now arms have just been laid down and all things long for order. As chief minister, Zai should clarify institutions and renew the ears and eyes of the realm. Yet he relies on power and builds factions, destroys law to make passage, sells favor for indulgence, and attaches to inferiors with careless tolerance—the art of darkening the state and debasing the ruler. I do not understand it." The emperor was silent. When Huan concurrently served as commissioner for green-sprout tax monies, he used money to supply the hundred offices, while clerks used the lower rate for commissioner expenses and the higher rate for the hundred offices' supplies. Zai prompted Deputy Defender Zhang Qing to expose the fault. An edict ordered Left Vice Director Jiang Huan to verify the facts—and since Jiang was whom Zai hated, Huan was demoted to prefect of Dao. He died and was posthumously made Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent; his posthumous name was Primary. His son was Zong.
32
縱繇協律郎三遷監察御史。 會詔擇令長，授藍田令，德化大行，縣人立碑頌德，渙之貶，縱棄金部員外郎就養。 後為汴西水陸運、兩稅、鹽鐵等使。 王師圍田悅，乏食，詔縱餉四節度糧，軍無乏。 德宗出奉天，方鎮兵未至。 縱勸李懷光奔命，悉軍財稱所須。 懷光兵疲久戰，次河中，遷延不進。 縱以金帛先度，曰：「濟者即賜。」 眾趨利爭西，遂及奉天。 遷京兆尹。 上言：「懷光反覆不情，宜備之。」 及帝徙梁州，追扈不及，左右短縱素善懷光，殆不來。 帝曰：「知縱者，朕也，非爾輩所及。」 後數日至，授御史大夫。 處大體，不急細事，獄訴付成僚屬而已。
Zong rose from harmonics officer through three promotions to investigating censor. When an edict chose magistrates, he was made magistrate of Lantian. Moral transformation flourished and the county people erected a stele praising his virtue. When Huan was demoted, Zong resigned as vice director of the gold office to support his father. Later he was made commissioner for Bianxi water-and-land transport, two-tax, and salt-and-iron affairs. Imperial troops besieged Tian Yue but lacked food. An edict ordered Zong to supply grain to the four military commissioners, and the army wanted for nothing. Emperor Dezong fled to Fengtian; the frontier armies had not yet arrived. Zong urged Li Huai'guang to hurry to the emperor's call and supplied all army wealth as needed. Huai'guang's troops were weary from long fighting. He halted at Hezhong and delayed without advancing. Zong sent gold and silk ahead, saying, "Whoever crosses shall receive reward at once." The troops rushed for profit and competed west, and thus reached Fengtian. He was transferred to metropolitan governor of Jing. He memorialized, "Huai'guang is fickle and faithless. He should be guarded against." When the emperor moved to Liang Prefecture, Zong could not catch up in escort. Those at the emperor's side slandered Zong as always friendly with Huai'guang and said he would likely not come. The emperor said, "The one who knows Zong is I—not something you can match." Several days later he arrived and was appointed censor-in-chief. He handled great principles and did not press small matters; lawsuits he left to subordinate officials.
33
自兵興，內外官冗溢，時議並省。 縱奏：「兵未息，仕進者之緒，在官則累遷，有功而褒賞，不可廢也。 比選集，乃據闕留人，怨望滋結。 朝廷頻詔錄勞，而諸道敘優日廣。 若停減吏員，非但承優者無官可敘，亦恐序進者無路勝置矣。」 詔可貞元元年，天子郊見，為大禮使。 歲旱用屈，縱撙裁文物，儉而不陋。 除吏部侍郎，尋為河南尹。 時兵雖定，民雕耗，縱治簡易，蠲略細苛。 先是戍邊者道由洛，儲餼取於民。 縱始令官辦，使五家相保，自占發斂，以絕胥史之私。 又引伊、洛溉高仰，通利裏闬，人甚宜之。 入為太常卿，封常山縣公。 卒年六十二，贈吏部尚書，謚曰忠。
Since the rise of arms, offices inside and outside were redundant; the age discussed merging and reducing them. Zong memorialized, "Arms have not ceased. The thread of advancement for officials—while in office they are promoted in succession, and merit is rewarded—cannot be abandoned. Lately at selection gatherings they hold people according to vacancies; resentment grows ever more tangled. The court frequently records merit, while the circuits daily widen preferential rankings. If clerk numbers are reduced, not only will those receiving preferential treatment have no office to be ranked in, but those advancing in order will have no place to be set." The edict approved. In Zhenyuan 1 (785) the Son of Heaven performed suburban audience; Zong was made commissioner of great rites. The year was drought-stricken and resources strained. Zong economized and trimmed ritual objects—frugal yet not shabby. He was made vice minister of civil office and soon became metropolitan governor of Henan. Though arms were settled, the people were worn and depleted. Zong governed with simplicity and ease, remitting petty harshness. Earlier, frontier garrison troops passed through Luo; stored provisions were taken from the people. Zong first ordered official provision, had five households mutually guarantee one another, and let them assess and collect themselves, to cut off clerks' private gain. He also drew the Yi and Luo to irrigate the high uplands, benefiting lanes and wards; the people found it very suitable. He entered the capital as minister of imperial sacrifices and was enfeoffed as Duke of Changshan County. He died at sixty-two, was posthumously made Minister of Civil Office, and his posthumous name was Loyal.
34
初，渙為元載所抑，縱訖載世，不求聞達。 渙有嬖妾，縱以母事之。 妾剛酷，雖縱顯官而數笞詬，然率妻子候顏色，承養不懈，時以為難。 孫碣。
Earlier Huan had been suppressed by Yuan Zai. Through Zai's age Zong did not seek fame or advancement. Huan had a favored concubine; Zong treated her as a mother. The concubine was harsh and cruel. Though Zong was a prominent official she often flogged and reviled him, yet he led wife and children to watch her expression and support her without slackening—the age considered it difficult. His grandson was Jie.
35
碣，字東標，及進士第，遷右拾遺。 武宗方討澤潞，碣建請納劉稹降，忤旨，貶鄧城令。 稍轉商州刺史。 擢河南尹、右散騎常侍，再為河南尹。 邑有大賈王可久，轉貨江、湖間。 值龐勛亂，盡亡其貲，不得歸。 妻詣卜者楊乾夫咨在亡。 乾夫名善數，而內悅妻色，且利其富。 既占，陽驚曰：「乃夫殆不還矣！」 即陰以百金謝媒者，誘聘之，妻乃嫁乾夫，遂為富人。 它年徐州平，可久困甚，丐衣食歸閭裏，往見妻。 乾夫大怒，詬逐之。 妻詣吏自言，乾夫厚納賄，可久反得罪。 再訴，復坐誣。 可久恨嘆，遂失明。 碣之來，可久陳冤，碣得其情，即敕吏掩乾夫並前獄史下獄，悉發賕奸，一日殺之，以妻還可久。 時淫潦，獄決而霽，都民相語，歌舞於道。 徙陜虢觀察使。 軍亂，貶懷州司馬，卒。
Jie, courtesy name Dongbiao, passed the jinshi examination and was transferred to right remonstrance official. When Emperor Wuzong was attacking Ze and Lu, Jie memorialized asking to accept Liu Zhen's surrender. Offending the throne, he was demoted to magistrate of Dengcheng. He was gradually transferred to prefect of Shang. He was promoted to metropolitan governor of Henan and right regular attendant, then again made metropolitan governor of Henan. In the district was a great merchant Wang Kejiu, who traded goods between the Yangtze and the lakes. When Pang Xun's rebellion occurred, he lost all his wealth and could not return. His wife went to the diviner Yang Qianfu to ask whether he was alive or dead. Qianfu was famed for skill in divination, yet inwardly he delighted in the wife's beauty and coveted her wealth. After divining, he feigned alarm: "Your husband will likely not return!" He secretly gave a hundred in gold to the matchmaker, enticed her into marriage, and the wife married Qianfu, who thus became a rich man. Another year, when Xuzhou was pacified, Kejiu was extremely destitute, begged food and clothing, returned to his village, and went to see his wife. Qianfu was furious, reviled him, and drove him away. The wife went to officials and spoke for herself. Qianfu heavily bribed them, and Kejiu was found guilty instead. Appealing again, he was again convicted of false accusation. Kejiu grieved and sighed, and thereafter went blind. When Jie came, Kejiu stated his grievance. Jie got the facts, immediately ordered officials to seize Qianfu and the previous prison clerks, fully exposed their bribery and treachery, killed them in one day, and returned the wife to Kejiu. At the time there was heavy flooding. When the case was decided the sky cleared, and the people of the capital sang and danced in the roads. He was transferred to investigating commissioner of Shan and Guo. When the army mutinied, he was demoted to military commissioner of Huai and died.
36
張柬之，字孟將，襄州襄陽人。 少涉經史，補太學生。 祭酒令狐德棻異其才，便以王佐期之。 中進士第，始調清源丞。 永昌元年，以賢良召，時年七十餘矣。 對策者千餘，柬之為第一。 授監察御史，遷鳳閣舍人。 時突厥默啜有女請和親，武後欲令武延秀娶之。 柬之奏：「古無天子取夷狄女者。」 忤旨，出為合、蜀二州刺史。 故事，歲以兵五百戍姚州，地險瘴，到屯輒死。 柬之論其弊曰：
Zhang Jianzhi, courtesy name Mengjiang, was from Xiangyang in Xiang Prefecture. In youth he studied the classics and histories and was appointed a student of the Imperial University. Director Linghu Defen regarded his talent as extraordinary and expected him to become a royal assistant. He passed the jinshi examination and was first assigned as assistant magistrate of Qingyuan. In Yongchang 1 (689) he was summoned as worthy and good; he was then over seventy. More than a thousand answered policy questions. Jianzhi ranked first. He was appointed investigating censor and transferred to attendant of the Phoenix Pavilion. At that time the Turkic khan Mo-chuo had a daughter who sought a marriage alliance, and Empress Wu wanted Wu Yanxiu to marry her. Jianzhi submitted a memorial: "Since antiquity no Son of Heaven has ever taken a barbarian woman in marriage." Having offended her, he was demoted to prefect of He and Shu prefectures. By long-standing custom, five hundred soldiers were posted to Yao Prefecture every year. The land was rugged and pestilential, and men died as soon as they arrived. Jianzhi analyzed the abuses and said:
37
臣按姚州，古哀牢國，域土荒外，山岨水深。 漢世未與中國通，唐蒙開夜郎、滇笮，而哀牢不附。 東漢光武末，始請內屬，置永昌郡統之。 賦其鹽布氈罽以利中土。 其國西大秦，南交趾，奇珍之貢不闕。 劉備據蜀，甲兵不充，諸葛亮五月度瀘，收其產入以益軍，使張伯岐選取勁兵，以增武備。 故《蜀志》稱亮南征後，國以富饒。 此前世置郡，以其利之也。 今鹽布之稅不供，珍奇之貢不入，戈戟之用不實於戎行，賨貨之資不輸於大國。 而空竭府庫，驅率平人，受役蠻夷，肝腦塗地。 臣竊為陛下惜之。
I have reviewed the case of Yao Prefecture. It was the ancient kingdom of Ailao, a land beyond the frontier wilds where mountains rise steeply and rivers run deep. In Han times it had no ties with the central realm. Tang Meng opened Yelang and Dian and Zuo, but Ailao still refused to submit. Not until the end of Eastern Han under Emperor Guangwu did it ask to come under direct rule, and Yongchang Commandery was created to govern it. Salt, cloth, felt, and rugs were taxed from it for the profit of the heartland. The region lay west of Daqin and south of Jiaozhi, and tribute of rare goods never ceased. When Liu Bei held Shu and his forces were understrength, Zhuge Liang crossed the Lu River in the fifth month, drew on local produce to supply the army, and had Zhang Boqi recruit strong troops to strengthen the military. The Chronicle of Shu therefore says that after Liang's southern expedition the state became prosperous. Earlier dynasties established commanderies there precisely because of such profit. Today the salt-and-cloth levies are not paid, rare tribute does not come in, weapons do not reach the armies, and wealth does not reach the empire. Yet the treasury is drained for nothing, common people are driven away, and they are forced to serve the barbarians until their flesh and blood cover the earth. I cannot but grieve over this for Your Majesty's sake.
38
昔漢歷博南山，涉蘭倉水，更置博南、哀牢二縣。 蜀人愁苦，行者作歌曰：「歷博南，越蘭津，度蘭倉，為他人。」 蓋譏其貪珍奇之利，而為蠻夷所驅役也。 漢獲其利，人且怨歌。 今減耗國儲，費調日引，使陛下赤子身膏野草，骸骨不歸，老母幼子哀號望祭於千里之外。 朝廷無絲發利，而百姓蒙終身之酷，臣竊為國家痛之。
In the past Han crossed Mount Bonan and the Lancang River and then set up Bonan and Ailao counties. The people of Shu were wretched, and travelers sang: "Crossing Bonan, fording Lanjin, passing Lancang—all for someone else." The song mocked those who coveted rare goods yet ended up driven like servants by the barbarians. Han took the profit, and still the people sang in resentment. Now the state's reserves are drained and levies grow daily, so that Your Majesty's own people feed the wild grass—their bones never return home, and old mothers and young children wail and make offerings a thousand li away. The court receives not the slightest gain, while the people endure lifelong misery. I cannot but mourn this for the state.
39
往諸葛亮破南中，即用渠率統之，不置漢官，不留戍兵。 言置官留兵有三不易：置官必夷漢雜居，猜嫌將起； 留兵轉糧，為患滋重； 後忽反叛，勞費必甚。 故粗設綱紀，自然久定。 臣謂亮之策，誠盡羈縻蠻夷之要。 今姚州官屬，即無固邊厭寇之心，又無亮且縱且擒之伎。 唯詭謀狡算，恣情割剝； 扇動酋渠，遣成朋常：折支諂笑，取媚蠻夷，拜跪趨伏，無復為恥； 提挈子弟，嘯引兇愚，聚會蒲博，一擲累萬。 凡逋逃亡命在彼州者，戶贏二千，專事剽奪。 且姚州本龍朔中武陵主簿石子仁奏置，其後長史李孝讓、辛文協死於群蠻，詔遣郎將趙武貴討擊，兵無噍類，又以將軍李義總繼往，而郎將劉惠基戰死，其州遂廢。 臣竊以亮有三不易，其言卒驗。
When Zhuge Liang conquered the southern middle in the past, he at once put local chieftains in charge, appointed no Han officials, and left no garrison troops. He said that appointing officials and leaving troops had three drawbacks: officials would force Yi and Han to live together and breed suspicion and strife; keeping troops would mean hauling grain and would only deepen the harm; and if rebellion came later, the cost in labor and treasure would be enormous. So he laid down only broad rules, and order lasted of itself. I believe Liang's policy truly grasped the heart of keeping the barbarians restrained and loyal. Today's officials at Yao Prefecture have neither the will to hold the frontier and repel invaders nor Liang's art of loosening and tightening control in turn. They know only secret plots and cunning schemes, and plunder as they please; they stir up tribal leaders and form factions: cringing and flattering to please the barbarians, kneeling and groveling without a trace of shame; they drag in sons and younger brothers, rally the violent and foolish, gather to gamble, and stake tens of thousands on a single throw. Every fugitive who had taken refuge there numbered more than two thousand households, all devoted to robbery. Yao Prefecture itself had been established on a memorial from Wuling chief clerk Shi Ziren in the Longshuo era. Later chief ministers Li Xiaorang and Xin Wenxie were killed by the barbarians. An edict sent General Zhao Wugui to punish them, and not one soldier returned. General Li Yizong was sent next, but General Liu Huiji died in battle, and the prefecture was abandoned. I believe Liang's three warnings were proved in the end.
40
垂拱中，蠻郎將王善寶、昆州刺史爨乾福復請置州，言課稅自支，不旁取於蜀。 及置，州掾李棱為蠻所殺。 延載中，司馬成琛更置瀘南七鎮，戍以蜀兵，蜀始擾矣。 且姚府總管五十七州間，皆巨猾遊客。 國家設官，所以正俗防奸，而無恥之吏，敗謬至此。 今劫害未止，恐驚擾之禍日滋。 宜罷姚州，隸巂府，歲時朝覲同蕃國； 廢瀘南諸鎮，而設關瀘北，非命使，不許交通； 增巂屯兵，擇清良吏以統之。 臣愚以為便。
In the Chuigong era, barbarian commander Wang Shanbao and Kun Prefecture inspector Cuan Qianfu again asked that the prefecture be restored, claiming its revenues would support itself without burdening Shu. As soon as it was reestablished, the prefectural aide Li Ling was killed by the barbarians. In the Yanzai era, military governor Cheng Chen set up seven forts south of the Lu River and garrisoned them with Shu troops, and Shu began to suffer unrest. Moreover, among the fifty-seven prefectures under the Yao superintendency, nearly all were great rogues and drifting adventurers. The state appoints officials to set customs right and guard against wrongdoing, yet these shameless officers have brought affairs to such ruin. Robbery and violence have not stopped, and I fear the harm of unrest will grow day by day. Yao Prefecture should be abolished and placed under Xi Prefecture, with annual audiences like those of tributary states; the forts south of the Lu should be dismantled and checkpoints set up north of the Lu, with no travel allowed except by imperial envoy; garrison troops at Xi should be increased, and upright officials chosen to command them. I believe this would be the wise course.
41
疏奏不納。 俄為荊州大都督府長史。
The memorial was rejected. Before long he was made chief minister of the Jingzhou Grand Protectorate.
42
長安中，武後謂狄仁傑曰：「安得一奇士用之？」 仁傑曰：「陛下求文章資歷，今宰相李嶠、蘇味道足矣。 豈文士齷齪，不足與成天下務哉？」 後曰「然。」 仁傑曰：荊州長史張柬之雖老，宰相材也。 用之必盡節於國。」 即召為洛州司馬。 它日又求人，仁傑曰：「臣嘗薦張柬之，未用也。」 後曰：「遷之矣。」 曰：「臣薦宰相而為司馬，非用也。」 乃授司刑少卿，遷秋官侍郎。 後姚崇為靈武軍使，將行，後詔舉外司可為相者，崇曰：「張柬之沈厚有謀，能斷大事，其人老，惟亟用之。」 即日召見，拜同鳳閣鸞臺平章事，進鳳閣侍郎。
During the Chang'an era, Empress Wu said to Di Renjie, "Where can I find an extraordinary man to use?" Renjie said, "If Your Majesty wants literary talent and senior credentials, the current chancellors Li Jiao and Su Weidao are enough. Are literary men so petty that they cannot handle the affairs of the realm?" The Empress said, "True." Renjie said, "Zhang Jianzhi, chief minister of Jing Prefecture, is old, but he has the makings of a chancellor. Use him, and he will give his utmost loyalty to the state." Jianzhi was at once summoned and made vice prefect of Lu Prefecture. Another day she asked for a man again. Renjie said, "I once recommended Zhang Jianzhi, but he was not used." The Empress said, "He has been transferred." He said, "I recommended a chancellor, yet he was made a vice prefect. That is not using him." Jianzhi was then made vice minister of justice and promoted to vice minister of the Ministry of Punishments. Later, when Yao Chong was appointed commissioner of the Lingwu Army and was about to leave, the Empress ordered recommendations of outside officials fit to be chancellor. Chong said, "Zhang Jianzhi is steady and resourceful and can decide great matters. He is old, and Your Majesty must use him quickly." That same day Jianzhi was summoned to audience, made Associate Director of the Phoenix Pavilion and Crane Terrace Secretariat, and promoted to vice minister of the Phoenix Pavilion.
43
誅二張也，柬之首發其謀。 以功擢天官尚書、同鳳閣鸞臺三品、漢陽郡公，實封五百戶。 不半歲，以漢陽郡王加特進，罷政事。 柬之既失權，願還襄州養疾，乃授襄州刺史。 中宗為賦詩祖道，又詔群臣餞定鼎門外。 至州，持下以法，雖親舊無所縱貸，會漢水漲嚙城郭，柬之因壘為堤，以遏湍怒，闔境賴之。 又墾辭王爵，不許。 俄及貶，又流瀧州，憂憤卒，年八十二。 景雲元年，贈中書令，謚曰文貞，授一子官。 柬之剛直不傅會，然邃於學，論次書數十篇。
When the Two Zhangs were executed, Jianzhi was the first to set the plot in motion. For his service he was promoted to minister of the Ministry of Personnel, given the third rank of the Phoenix Pavilion and Crane Terrace Secretariat, made Duke of Hanyang, and granted a fief of five hundred households. In less than half a year he was made Prince of Hanyang with special advancement and removed from office. Once Jianzhi lost power, he asked to return to Xiang Prefecture to recover his health and was appointed its prefect. Emperor Zhongzong wrote a farewell poem for his departure and ordered the ministers to give him a send-off outside the Dingding Gate. At the prefecture he enforced the law without exception, even for relatives and old friends. When the Han River swelled and gnawed at the walls, Jianzhi built dikes to hold back the raging waters, and the whole region depended on him. He again petitioned to decline the princely title, but the request was denied. Before long he was demoted and exiled to Long Prefecture, where he died of grief and anger at eighty-two. In the first year of Jingyun he was posthumously made Palatine Secretary, given the posthumous name Cultured and Upright, and one son was granted an official post. Jianzhi was upright and refused to trim his views to please others, yet he was deeply learned and wrote several dozen treatises.
44
子願、漪。 願仕至襄州刺史。 漪以著作佐郎侍父襄陽，恃其家立功，簡接鄉人，鄉人怨之。
His sons were Yuan and Yi. Yuan rose to become prefect of Xiang Prefecture. Yi served his father at Xiangyang as assistant compiler. Trusting in his family's achievements, he treated local people with casual disdain, and they resented him.
45
初，易之等誅後，中宗猶監國告武氏廟，而天久陰不霽。 侍御史崔渾奏「陛下復國，當正唐家位號，稱天下心。 奈何尚告武氏廟？ 請毀之，復唐宗廟。」 帝嘉納。 是日詔書下，翳澄駁，鹹以為天人之應。
At first, after the Zhang brothers were executed, Zhongzong still governed as regent and reported to the Wu family temple, while the sky stayed overcast for many days. Attending censor Cui Hun submitted a memorial: "Your Majesty has restored the Tang state. You should restore the Tang house's titles and titles to win the hearts of the realm. Why still report to the Wu family temple? I ask that it be destroyed and the Tang ancestral temple restored." The Emperor praised and accepted the proposal. On the day the edict was issued, the long overcast cleared, and everyone took it as Heaven and man responding in accord.
46
袁恕己，滄州東光人。 仕累司刑少卿，知相王府司馬。 與誅二張，又從相王統南衙兵備非常，以功加銀青光祿大夫、中書侍郎、同中書門下三品，封南陽郡公，實封五百戶。
Yuan Shuji was from Dongguang in Cang Prefecture. He rose through the ranks to vice minister of justice and served as adjutant of the Prince of Xiang's household. He took part in executing the Two Zhangs and then followed the Prince of Xiang in commanding the southern palace guard against emergency. For his service he was given the silver-blue-glowing grand master of splendid happiness, made vice director of the Secretariat, given third rank at the Secretariat and Chancellery, enfeoffed as Duke of Nanyang, and granted a fief of five hundred households.
47
將作少匠楊務廉者，以工巧進。 恕己恐其復啟遊娛侈麗之漸，言於中宗曰：「務廉位九卿，忠言嘉謨不聞，而專事營構以媚上，不斥之，亡以昭德。」 乃授陵州刺史。
Yang Wulian, chief artisan of the Directorate of Palace Buildings, rose through skill and ingenuity. Shuji feared Yang would again lead the court toward pleasure and extravagant building. He told Zhongzong, "Wulian holds one of the nine ministerial posts, yet we hear no loyal counsel from him. He devotes himself to construction to please his superiors. If he is not removed, there is no way to show what virtue demands." Yang was then appointed prefect of Ling Prefecture.
48
未幾，拜中書令、特進、南陽郡王，罷政事。 例及貶，又流環州，為周利貞所逼，恕己素餌黃金。 至是飲野葛數升，不死，憤懣，抔土以食，爪甲盡，不能絕，乃擊殺之。 謚曰貞烈。 孫高。
Before long he was made Palatine Secretary, given special advancement, made Prince of Nanyang, and removed from office. When the general demotion reached him, he was exiled further to Huan Prefecture and hounded by Zhou Lizhen. Shuji had long taken gold for longevity. He then drank several sheng of wild-ge poison but did not die. In rage and despair he ate handfuls of earth until his fingernails wore away, yet still could not die, and Zhou Lizhen beat him to death. His posthumous name was Upright and Steadfast. His grandson was Gao.
49
高字公頤。 少慷慨有節尚。 擢進士第。 代宗時，累遷給事中。 建中中，拜京畿觀察使，坐累貶韶州長史，復拜給事中。 德宗將起盧杞為饒州刺史，高當草詔，見宰相盧翰，劉從一曰：「杞當國。 矯誣陰賊，斥忠誼，傲明德，反易天常，使宗祏失守，天下疣痏，朝廷不寘以法，才示貶黜，今還授大州，天下其謂何？」 翰等不悅，命舍人作詔。 詔出，高執不下，奏曰：「陛下用杞為相，出入三年，附下罔上，使陛下越在草莽，群臣願食其肉且不厭。 漢法，三光不有，雨旱不時，皆宰相請罪，小者免，大者戮。 杞罪萬誅，陛下赦不誅，止貶新州，俄又內移，今復拜刺史，誠失天下望。」 帝曰：「杞不逮，是朕之過。 朕已再赦。」 答曰：「杞天資詭險，非不逮，彼固所餘。 赦者，止赦其罪，不宜授刺史。 願問外廷，並敕中人聽於民。 若億兆異臣之言，臣請前死。」 諫官亦力爭帝前。 帝曰：「與上佐可乎？」 群臣奉詔。 翌日，遣使慰高曰：「朕惟卿言切至，已如奏。」 太子少保韋倫曰：「高言勁挺，自是陛下一良臣，宜加優禮。」
Gao, courtesy name Gongyi. From youth he was bold and principled. He passed the jinshi examination. Under Emperor Daizong he rose through successive promotions to palace aide. In the Jianzhong era he was made metropolitan circuit inspector, was demoted to chief minister of Shao Prefecture for offenses, and was later restored as palace aide. When Emperor Dezong was about to appoint Lu Qi prefect of Rao, Gao was to draft the edict. He went to chancellors Lu Han and Liu Congyi and said, "When Lu Qi held power, he twisted truth and practiced secret villainy, drove out the loyal and righteous, scorned bright virtue, overturned Heaven's order, left the ancestral temple undefended, and covered the realm in sores. The court did not punish him by law and only demoted him. Now he is given a great prefecture again—what will the world say?" Han and the others were displeased and ordered an attendant to draft the edict instead. When the edict came out, Gao held it back and refused to issue it. He memorialized: "When Your Majesty made Qi chancellor for three years, he fawned on subordinates and deceived superiors, driving Your Majesty into exile. The ministers would eat his flesh and still not be satisfied. By Han law, when the sun, moon, and stars are abnormal or rain and drought come at the wrong time, the chancellor must ask to be punished—lesser faults merit dismissal, greater ones death. Qi's crimes deserved ten thousand deaths. Your Majesty spared him, demoted him only to Xin, soon brought him back inward, and now appoints him prefect again—truly forfeiting the world's trust." The emperor said, "Qi was not up to the task—that was my fault. I have already pardoned him twice." He replied, "Qi was by nature deceitful and treacherous—not that he was inadequate. That was his true nature. A pardon only pardons the crime; he should not be given a prefecture. I wish to ask the outer court, and also have eunuchs listen among the people. If the people disagree with me, I ask to die first." Remonstrance officials also argued forcefully before the emperor. The emperor said, "Would making him a senior assistant be acceptable?" The ministers received the edict. The next day he sent an envoy to comfort Gao, saying, "Your words were urgent and sincere; it has been done as you asked." Junior Mentor of the Heir Apparent Wei Lun said, "Gao's words are forceful and upright. He is a good minister for Your Majesty and should receive added courtesy."
50
貞元二年，帝以大盜後關輔百姓貧，田多荒茀，詔諸道上耕牛，委京兆府勸課。 量地給牛，不滿五十畝不給。 高以為聖心所憂，乃在窮乏。 今田不及五十畝即是窮人，請兩戶共給一牛。 從之。 卒，年六十，中外悵惜。 憲宗時，李吉甫言其忠謇，特贈禮部尚書。
In Zhenyuan 2 (786), because after the great bandits the Guanfu people were poor and fields were largely overgrown, the emperor ordered circuits to send plow oxen and entrusted the Jing metropolitan prefecture to encourage cultivation. Land was measured to distribute oxen; households with less than fifty mu received none. Gao held that what the sage heart worried over was poverty and want. Now those with fields under fifty mu are the poor. I beg that two households jointly receive one ox. The emperor agreed. He died at sixty; court and country grieved. Under Emperor Xianzong, Li Jifu spoke of his loyalty and forthrightness, and he was specially posthumously made Minister of Rites.
51
文宗開成三年，又詔：玄暐曾孫郢為監察御史，暉曾孫元膺河南丞，柬之四世孫憬壽安尉，恕己曾孫德文校書郎。 始，帝訪御史中丞狄兼暮，以仁傑功，且言五王遺烈，乃求其後，秩以官。 唯彥範後無聞雲。
In Kaicheng 3 (838) of Emperor Wenzong another edict appointed Xuanwei's great-great-grandson Ying investigating censor, Hui's great-great-grandson Yuanying assistant prefect of Henan, Jianzhi's fourth-generation descendant Jing commandant of Shou'an, and Shuji's great-great-grandson Dewen collation secretary. At the beginning the emperor consulted Censor-in-Chief Di Jianmu. Because of Di Renjie's merit and the lingering glory of the Five Kings, he sought their descendants and granted them offices. Only Yanfan's descendants were not heard of.
52
贊曰：五王提衛兵誅嬖臣，中興唐室，不淹辰，天下晏然，其謀深矣。 至謂中宗為英王，不盡誅諸武，使天子藉以為威，何其淺耶？ 釁牙一啟，為艷後，豎兒所乘，劫持戮辱，若放豚然，何哉？ 無亦神奪其明，厚韋氏毒，以興先天之業乎？ 不然，安李之功，賢於漢平、勃遠矣！
The encomium says: The Five Kings led guard troops to kill the emperor's favorites, revived the Tang house, and within a day the realm was tranquil—their plan was deep indeed. Yet to say that because Zhongzong had been Prince Ying they did not wipe out the Wu, leaving them for the emperor to use as leverage—how shallow! Once the trap was sprung, they were ridden by the voluptuous empress and palace favorites, seized, humiliated, and slaughtered like pigs—why? Was it not rather that Heaven stole their clarity, thickened the Wei clan's poison, to raise the enterprise of Xiantian? Otherwise, the achievement of securing the Li house would have far surpassed the Han ministers Ping and Bo!