1
李蕭盧韋趙和
Li, Xiao, Lu, Wei, Zhao, and He
2
◎李蕭盧韋趙和
Li, Xiao, Lu, Wei, Zhao, and He
3
李嶠，字巨山，趙州贊皇人。 早孤，事母孝。 為兒時，夢人遺雙筆，自是有文辭，十五通《五經》，薛元超稱之。 二十擢進士第，始調安定尉。 舉制策甲科，遷長安。 時畿尉名文章者，駱賓王、劉光業，嶠最少，與等夷。
Li Qiao, courtesy name Jushan, was a native of Zanhuang in Zhao Prefecture. Orphaned young, he served his mother with exemplary filial devotion. In childhood he dreamed that someone presented him with a pair of writing brushes; thereafter he showed literary gifts. At fifteen he had mastered the Five Classics, and Xue Yuanchao spoke highly of him. At twenty he passed the jinshi examination and was first posted as magistrate of Anding. He took the policy examination in the highest grade and was transferred to Chang'an. The capital magistrates then most famed for literary skill were Luo Binwang and Liu Guangye; Qiao was the youngest yet stood on equal footing with them.
4
授監察御史。 高宗擊邕、巖二州叛獠，詔監其軍，嶠入洞喻降之，由是罷兵。 稍遷給事中。 會來俊臣構狄仁傑、李嗣真、裴宣禮等獄，將抵死，敕嶠與大理少卿張德裕、侍御史劉憲覆驗，德裕等內知其冤，不敢異。 嶠曰：「知其枉不申，是謂見義不為者。」 卒與二人列其枉，忤武後旨，出為潤州司馬。 久乃召為鳳閣舍人，文冊大號令，多主為之。
He was appointed investigating censor. When Emperor Gaozong campaigned against rebel tribes in Yong and Yan prefectures, Qiao was ordered to supervise the army; he entered their mountain strongholds to persuade surrender, and the campaign was then halted. He was soon promoted to attendant in the Office of the Censorate. When Lai Junchen framed Di Renjie, Li Sizhen, Pei Xuanli, and others in capital cases nearing execution, an edict sent Qiao, Vice Director Zhang Deyu of the Court of Judicial Review, and Investigating Censor Liu Xian to review the verdicts. Zhang and Liu knew the men were innocent but dared not disagree. Qiao said, "To know they have been wronged and yet not speak out is what the sages call seeing what is right and failing to act. In the end he and the other two set forth how the men had been wronged, defying Empress Wu's wishes; he was demoted to secretary in Run Prefecture. After a long interval he was recalled as aide in the Phoenix Pavilion, and most of the court's major edicts and documents were drafted under his hand.
5
初置右御史臺，察州縣吏善惡、風俗得失，嶠上疏曰：「禁網上疏，法象宜簡，簡則法易行而不煩雜，疏則所羅廣而不苛碎。 伏見垂拱時，諸道巡察使科條四十有四，至別敕令又三十。 而使以三月出，盡十一月奏事，每道所察吏，多者二千，少亦千計，要在品核才行而褒貶之。 今期會迫促，奔逐不暇，欲望詳究所能，不亦艱哉。 此非隳於職，才有限，力不逮耳。 臣願量其功程以為節制，使器周於用，力濟於時，然後得失可以精核矣。」 又言：「今所察按，準漢六條而推廣之，則無不包矣，烏在多張事目也？ 且朝廷萬機非無事，而機事之動，常在四方，故出使者冠蓋相望。 今已置使，則外州之事悉得專之，傳驛減矣。 請率十州置一御史，以期歲為之限，容其身到屬縣，過閭裏，督察奸訛，采風俗，然後可課其成功。 且御史出入天禁，勵己自脩，比他吏相百也。 按劾回庸，糾擿隱欺，比他吏相十也。 陛下誠用臣言，妙擇能者委之，莫不盡力效死矣。」 武後善之，下制析天下為二十道，擇堪使者。 為眾議沮止。
When the Right Censorate was first set up to examine the conduct of prefectural and county officials and the strengths and failings of local custom, Qiao submitted a memorial: "The law's reach should be broad above and precise below; its forms should be kept simple—simplicity makes enforcement easy and avoids confusion, while breadth of scope covers much without petty nitpicking. I note that under the Chuigong reign the circuit touring inspectors already had forty-four regulatory articles, with thirty more added by separate edicts. Yet envoys were sent out in the third month and had to file reports by the eleventh; each circuit involved as many as two thousand officials under review, or no fewer than a thousand—all to be graded on talent and conduct for commendation or censure. With deadlines so tight and envoys racing without pause, how can they hope to examine each man's capacity in full? The task is plainly beyond reach. This is not dereliction of duty but the limits of human capacity—men simply cannot do more. I ask that their workload be measured and bounded, so that capacity matches the task and effort fits the season—only then can results be judged with precision. He added: "If inspection followed the Han six articles and their extensions, nothing would lie outside their scope—why multiply categories of charges? The court's myriad affairs are never idle, and when urgent business arises it is usually in the provinces—hence the endless stream of traveling envoys. With permanent inspectors in place, provincial affairs can be entrusted to them alone, and relay traffic is cut down. I propose one censor for every ten prefectures, with a one-year term, time enough to reach subordinate counties in person, walk the lanes, investigate fraud, observe local custom, and only then judge his results. Censors move in and out of the imperial precincts and hold themselves to strict discipline—they outshine other officials a hundredfold in probity. In investigating corruption and exposing hidden fraud they are ten times more effective than other officials. If Your Majesty adopts this plan and chooses capable men for the task, each will serve with his utmost loyalty." Empress Wu approved the proposal and ordered the realm divided into twenty circuits and suitable envoys chosen. General opposition blocked the plan.
6
俄知天宮侍郎事，進麟臺少監、同鳳閣鸞臺平章事。 遷鸞臺侍郎。 會張錫輔政，嶠，其出也，罷為成均祭酒。 俄檢校文昌左丞，留守東都。 長安三年，以本官復為平章事，知納言。 遷內史，嶠辭劇，復為成均祭酒、平章事。
He soon served as acting Vice Director of the Heavenly Palace, then rose to Vice Director of the Unicorn Terrace and Associate Grand Councilor of the Phoenix and Unicorn Pavilions. He was promoted to Vice Director of the Phoenix Terrace. When Zhang Xi joined the government, Qiao—being of his faction—was dismissed to the post of Rector of the Imperial University. He was soon made acting Left Vice Director of the Palace of Literary Brilliance and appointed to guard the Eastern Capital. In the third year of the Chang'an era he again became Associate Grand Councilor in his former capacity and was made Director of the Palace Secretariat. He was promoted to Grand Secretary, but Qiao declined the onerous post and returned to the posts of Rector of the Imperial University and Associate Grand Councilor.
7
武後將建大像於白司馬阪，嶠諫：「造像雖俾浮屠輸錢，然非州縣承辦不能濟，是名雖不稅而實稅之。 臣計天下編戶，貧弱者眾，有賣舍、帖田供王役者。 今造像錢積十七萬緡，若頒之窮人，家給千錢，則紓十七萬戶饑寒之苦，德無窮矣。」 不納。
When Empress Wu planned a great Buddha image at Baisima Slope, Qiao remonstrated: "Although the project is funded by Buddhist donations, prefectures and counties must carry it out—it is taxation in all but name. I reckon that among registered households nationwide the poor are many—some sell their homes or pawn their fields to meet imperial levies. The image fund now totals one hundred seventy thousand strings of cash; distributed to the destitute at a thousand cash per household, it would ease hunger and cold for one hundred seventy thousand families—an inexhaustible act of grace. She did not accept the advice.
8
張易之敗，坐附會貶豫州刺史，未行，改通州。 數月，以吏部侍郎召，俄遷尚書。 神龍二年，代韋安石為中書令。
After Zhang Yizhi's fall, Qiao was demoted to prefect of Yu for having sided with him; before he took up the post he was reassigned to Tong Prefecture. Within months he was recalled as Vice Director of the Ministry of Personnel and soon promoted to Minister. In the second year of Shenlong he succeeded Wei Anshi as Director of the Secretariat.
9
嶠在吏部時，陰欲藉時望復宰相，乃奏置員外官數千。 既吏眾猥，府庫虛耗，乃上書歸咎於時，因蓋向非，曰：
While at the Ministry of Personnel, Qiao secretly hoped to win popular favor and regain the chancellorship; he memorialized to create several thousand supernumerary posts. When the bureaucracy swelled and the treasury was drained, he submitted a memorial blaming the times and masking his earlier mistake. He wrote:
10
元首之尊，居有重門擊柝之衛，出有清警戒道之禁，所以備非常，息異望，誠不可易舉動，慢防閑也。 陛下厭崇邃，輕尊嚴，微服潛遊，閱廛過市，行路私議，朝廷驚懼，如禍產意外，縱不自惜，奈宗廟蒼生何？
The sovereign's dignity demands double gates and night watches at home, clear warnings and cleared roads abroad—all to guard against the unexpected and quell dangerous expectations. Your Majesty must not move lightly or relax these precautions. Your Majesty has grown weary of palace seclusion and treats your dignity lightly, traveling incognito through markets and lanes. Travelers whisper; the court trembles as if disaster might strike at any moment. Even if you care nothing for yourself, what of the ancestral temples and the people?
11
又分職建官，不可以濫。 傳曰：「官不必備，惟其人。」 自帝室中興，以不慎爵賞為惠，冒級躐階，朝升夕改，正闕不給，加以員外。 內則府庫為殫，外則黎庶蒙害，非求賢助治之道也。 願愛晙班榮，息匪服之議。 今文武六十以上，而天造含容，皆矜恤之。 老病者已解還授，員外者既遣復留。 恐非所以消敝救時也。 請敕有司料其可用進，不可用退。 又遠方夷人不堪治事，國家向務撫納而官之，非立功酋長，類糜俸祿。 願商度非要者，一切放還。
Moreover, offices must not be multiplied without need. The tradition says, "Offices need not all be filled—only the right men matter. Since the dynasty's restoration, ranks and rewards have been handed out carelessly as favors; men leap grades overnight; regular posts cannot be filled, and supernumeraries are piled on top. Within, the treasury is drained; without, the people suffer—this is not how to seek talent and aid governance. I ask that honors be granted with restraint and improper appointments cease. Civil and military officials over sixty are shown Heaven's mercy and treated with compassion. The old and ill have been released and their posts reassigned, yet supernumeraries dismissed are kept on again. This is hardly the way to relieve strain and rescue the times. I ask that the authorities assess who may serve and who should be dismissed. Distant tribesmen cannot govern; the state has long enrolled them in office for pacification—yet chieftains without merit mostly waste salaries. I ask that after review all who are not needed be sent home.
12
又《易》稱：「何以守位曰仁，何以聚人曰財。」 今百姓乏窶，不安居處，不可以守位。 倉儲蕩耗，財力傾殫，不足以聚人。 山東病水潦，江左困輸轉。 國匱於上，人窮於下。 如令邊埸少曌，恐逋亡遂多，盜賊群行，何財召募？ 何眾閑遏乎？ 又崇作寺觀，功費浩廣。 今山東歲饑，糟糠不厭。 而投艱厄之會，收庸、調之半，用籲嗟之物，以榮土木，恐怨結三靈，謗蒙四海。
The Book of Changes says, "By what does one keep one's throne? By benevolence. By what does one gather the people? By wealth. Today the people are destitute and without secure homes—your throne cannot be held on such ground. Granaries are empty and the treasury exhausted—there is not enough wealth to hold the people together. East of the mountains suffers floods; the lower Yangtze region is crushed by transport levies. The state is depleted above and the people impoverished below. If the frontier grows quiet for a time, fugitives will multiply and bandits roam in bands—what funds remain to raise troops? How can disorder among the people be checked? Moreover temples and monasteries are built on a lavish scale at enormous cost. East of the mountains now suffers yearly famine; people are glad even for chaff and husks. Yet in this time of hardship half of corvée and tax levies are taken from groaning households to glorify timber and stone—I fear resentment will reach Heaven and slander will spread across the realm.
13
又比緣征戍，巧詐百情，破役隱身，規脫租賦。 今道人私度者幾數十萬，其中高戶多丁，黠商大賈，詭作臺符，羼名偽度。 且國計軍防，並仰丁口，今丁皆出家，兵悉入道，征行租賦，何以備之？
Recent campaigns and garrison duty have bred every kind of fraud—men evade labor service and scheme to escape taxes and levies. Nearly several hundred thousand men have been privately ordained as Daoist priests—including wealthy households with many sons and shrewd merchants who forge court documents and take false ordination. State revenue and military defense both depend on adult males; now men enter the clergy and soldiers take religious vows—how are campaigns and taxes to be met?
14
又重賂貴近，補府若史，移沒籍產，以州縣甲等更為下戶。 當道城鎮，至無捉驛者，役逮小弱，即破其家。 願許十道使訪察括取，使奸猾不得而隱。
Heavy bribes to court favorites buy prefectural clerkships; registered property is transferred and confiscated, and household grades are lowered to escape tax. In towns along the main routes there are sometimes no men left to staff relay stations; when corvée falls on the weak, families are ruined overnight. I ask that envoys of the ten circuits investigate and register offenders so the cunning cannot hide.
15
又太常樂戶已多，復求訪散樂，獨持大鼓者已二萬員，願量留之，余勒還籍，以杜妄費。
The Court of Imperial Sacrifices already has too many musician households, yet more scattered musicians are sought—drummers alone number twenty thousand. I ask that only what is needed be kept and the rest returned to registration to stop waste.
16
中宗以嶠身宰相，乃自陳失政，丐罷官，無所嫁非，手詔詰讓。 嶠惶恐，復視事。
Emperor Zhongzong, noting that Qiao himself was chancellor, saw his confession of misgovernment and plea to resign as blaming others without cause and issued a personal edict of rebuke. Qiao was alarmed and resumed his duties.
17
三年，加修文館大學士，封趙國公，以特進同中書門下三品。 睿宗立，罷政事，下除懷州刺史，致仕。 初，中宗崩，嶠嘗密請相王諸子不宜留京師。 及玄宗嗣位，獲其表宮中，或請誅之。 張說曰：「嶠誠懵逆順，然為當時謀，吠非其主，不可追罪。」 天子亦顧數更赦，遂免，貶滁州別駕，聽隨子虔州刺史暢之官。 改廬州別駕，卒，年七十。
In the third year he was made Grand Academician of the Hall for Cultivating Literature, enfeoffed as Duke of Zhao, and granted Special Advancement with Third Grade rank equal to the Secretariat. When Emperor Ruizong ascended, Qiao left government, was demoted to prefect of Huai, and retired. Earlier, when Emperor Zhongzong died, Qiao had secretly urged that the Prince of Xiang's sons should not remain in the capital. When Emperor Xuanzong succeeded, the memorial was found in the palace and some urged his execution. Zhang Yue said, "Qiao was indeed confused about loyalty, yet he acted as counsel for his time—a dog barks at strangers, not at its master; his offense cannot be punished retroactively. The emperor also weighed the many amnesties and spared him, demoting him to Vice Prefect of Chu with permission to accompany his son Chang, prefect of Qian, to his post. He was reassigned to Vice Prefect of Lu and died at seventy.
18
嶠富才思，有所屬綴，人多傳諷。 武後時，汜水獲瑞石，嶠為御史，上《皇符》一篇，為世譏薄。 然其仕前與王勃、楊盈川接，中與崔融、蘇味道齊名，晚諸人沒，而為文章宿老，一時學者取法焉。
Qiao was richly gifted in letters; whatever he wrote was widely copied and recited. Under Empress Wu, when a propitious stone was found at Sishui, Qiao as censor submitted an essay entitled "Imperial Talisman," which the age scorned. In early career he moved in the circle of Wang Bo and Yang Yingchuan; in mid-career he ranked with Cui Rong and Su Weidao; in later years, after the others had died, he became the elder master of letters whom scholars of the age took as their model.
19
蕭至忠，沂州丞人。 祖德言，為秘書少監。 至忠少與友期諸路，會雨雪，人引避，至忠曰：「寧有與人期可以失信？」 卒友至乃去，眾嘆服。 仕為伊闕、洛陽尉。 遷監察御史，劾奏鳳閣侍郎蘇味道贓貪，超拜吏部員外郎。 至忠長擊斷，譽聞當時。 中宗神龍初，為御史中丞。 始，至忠為御史，而李承嘉為大夫，嘗讓諸御史曰：「彈事有不咨大夫，可乎？」 眾不敢對，至忠獨曰：「故事，臺無長官。 御史，天子耳目也，其所請奏當專達，若大夫許而後論，即劾大夫者，又誰白哉？」 承嘉慚。 至是，承嘉為戶部尚書，至忠劾祝欽明、竇希玠與承嘉等罪，百寮震悚。 遷吏部侍郎，猶兼中丞。
Xiao Zhizhong was a native of Cheng in Yi Prefecture. His grandfather Deyan served as Vice Director of the Secretariat. As a youth Zhizhong arranged to meet a friend at a crossroads; when snow and rain came, others urged him to take shelter. He said, "How can one keep an appointment and break faith? He left only after his friend arrived; onlookers marveled. He served as magistrate of Yique and Luoyang. Promoted to investigating censor, he impeached Vice Director Su Weidao of the Phoenix Pavilion for corruption and was specially promoted to Vice Director in the Ministry of Personnel. Zhizhong was famed for decisive judgment and won renown in his day. In the early Shenlong era under Emperor Zhongzong he became Vice Censor-in-Chief. Earlier, when Zhizhong was a censor and Li Chengjia was chief censor, Li once rebuked the censors: "In impeachment matters, is it permissible not to consult the chief censor? None dared reply; Zhizhong alone said, "By precedent the Censorate has no chief officer. Censors are the emperor's eyes and ears; their memorials should reach him directly. If the chief censor must approve first, who will report the chief censor when he is impeached?" Chengjia was ashamed. By then Chengjia was Minister of Revenue; Zhizhong impeached Zhu Qinming, Dou Xijie, Chengjia, and others for crimes, and the entire bureaucracy trembled. He was promoted to Vice Director of the Ministry of Personnel while retaining the post of Vice Censor-in-Chief.
20
節湣太子以兵誅武三思而敗，宗楚客等諗侍御史冉祖雍上變，言相王與太子謀。 帝欲按之，至忠泣曰：「往者，天後欲以相王為太子，而王不食累日，獨請迎陛下，其讓德天下莫不聞。 陛下貴為天子，不能容一弟，受人羅織耶？ 竊為陛下不取。」 帝納其言，止。 尋授中書侍郎、同中書門下平章事。 上疏陳時政曰：
When Crown Prince Jiemin raised troops to kill Wu Sansi and failed, Zong Chuke and others urged Investigating Censor Ran Zuyong to report a plot between the Prince of Xiang and the crown prince. The emperor wished to investigate; Zhizhong wept and said, "In the past Empress Wu wanted to make the Prince of Xiang crown prince, but he fasted for days and alone asked to welcome Your Majesty back—his yielding virtue was known throughout the realm. Your Majesty is Son of Heaven yet cannot tolerate one younger brother—will you accept others' fabrications? I cannot believe this is worthy of Your Majesty. The emperor accepted his counsel and dropped the matter. He was soon made Vice Director of the Secretariat and Associate Grand Councilor. He submitted a memorial on current affairs, saying:
21
求治之道，首於用賢。 茍非其才則官曠，官曠則事廢，事廢則人殘，歷代所以陵遲者此也。 今授職用人，多因貴要為粉飾，上下相蒙，茍得為是。 夫官爵，公器也； 恩幸，私惠也。 王者正可金帛富之，梁肉食之，以存私澤也。 若公器而私用之，則公義不行而勞人解體，私謁開而正言塞。 日朘月削，卒見雕弊。
The path to good governance begins with employing worthy men. If men lack talent, offices go unfilled; unfilled offices mean abandoned affairs; abandoned affairs ruin the people—this is how dynasties have declined through the ages. Today appointments are often padded through powerful patrons; superiors and subordinates deceive one another, and mere acquiescence passes for right conduct. Office and rank are instruments of the state; favor and grace are private bounty. A ruler may rightly enrich favorites with gold and silk and feed them with fine fare to show private favor. If public office is used for private ends, public justice fails and the people lose heart; private petitions flourish while honest counsel is silenced. Day by day the state is whittled away until ruin appears.
22
今列位已廣，冗員復倍。 陛下降不呰之澤，近戚有無涯之請，臺閣之內，朱紫充滿，官秩益輕，恩賞彌數。 才者不用，用者不才，故人不效力，官匪其人，欲求治固難矣。
Established posts are already numerous, and supernumeraries have doubled again. Your Majesty bestows boundless grace; close kin make endless requests; the ministries are crowded with crimson and purple robes, ranks grow ever cheaper, and favors multiply without end. The talented go unused; the appointed lack talent—men do not exert themselves, offices do not match their holders, and good governance is indeed hard to achieve.
23
又宰相要官子弟，多居美爵，並罕才藝，而更相諉托。 《詩》云：「私人之子，百寮是試。 或以其酒，不以其漿，鞙鞙佩遂，不以其長。」 此言王政不平而眾官廢職，私家子列試榮班，徒長其佩爾。 臣願陛下愛惜爵賞，官無虛授，進大雅以樞近，退小人於閑左，使政令惟一，私不害公，則天下幸甚。 且貞觀故事，宰相子弟多居外職，非直抑強宗，亦以擇賢才爾。 請自宰相及諸司長官子弟，並授外官，共寧百性，表裏相統。
Moreover the sons of chancellors and high officials mostly hold fine ranks though they rarely possess talent, yet they recommend one another in turn. The Book of Odes says, "Sons of private families—the hundred officers are tried on them. Some take their wine, not their brew; tinkling pendants hang at the girdle, not by their length. This means that when royal government is unjust, officials abandon their duties—private sons are placed in honored ranks merely to lengthen their pendants. I ask Your Majesty to cherish ranks and rewards, grant no empty offices, advance great talents to the center, retire petty men to the margins, unify government orders, and keep private interest from harming the public—then the realm would be greatly blessed. Under Zhenguan precedent chancellors' sons mostly held provincial posts—not only to restrain powerful clans but also to select worthy talent. I ask that the sons of chancellors and ministry directors all be given provincial posts, bringing peace to the people and coordinating court and provinces.
24
帝不納。 俄為侍中、中書令。 時楚客懷奸植黨，而韋巨源、楊再思、李嶠務自安，無所弼正，至忠介其間，獨不詭隨，時望翕然歸重。 帝亦曰：「宰相中，至忠最憐我。」 韋後嘗為其弟洵與至忠殤女冥婚。 至忠又以女妻後舅崔從禮子無诐。 兩家合禮，帝主蕭，後主崔，時謂「天子嫁女，皇后娶婦。」
The emperor did not accept the proposal. He soon became Palace Attendant and Director of the Secretariat. Chuke then harbored treachery and built factions, while Wei Juyuan, Yang Zaisi, and Li Qiao sought only their own safety and offered no correction; Zhizhong alone refused to bend with the current, and public esteem converged upon him. The emperor also said, "Among the chancellors, Zhizhong cares for me most. Empress Wei once arranged a posthumous marriage between her brother Xun and Zhizhong's deceased daughter. Zhizhong also gave a daughter in marriage to Wu Bi, son of the empress's uncle Cui Congli. When the two families united in ceremony, the emperor presided for the Xiao side and the empress for the Cui; the age said, "The Son of Heaven marries out a daughter, the empress takes in a daughter-in-law."
25
至忠始在朝，有風望，容止閑敏，見推為名臣。 外方直，糾擿不法，而內無守，觀時輕重而去就之。 始為御史，桓彥範等頗引重。 五王失政，更因武三思得中丞，附安樂公主為宰相。 及韋氏敗，遽發韋洵壟，持其女柩歸。 後依太平，復當國。 嘗出主第，遇宋璟，璟戲曰：「非所望於蕭傅。」 至忠曰：「善乎，宋生之言。」 然不能自返也。 娣嫁蔣欽緒，欽緒每戒之，至忠不聽。 嘆曰：「九世卿族，一舉而滅之，可哀也已！」 不喜接賓客，以簡儉自高，故生平奉賜，無所遺施，及籍沒，珍寶不可計。 然玄宗賢其為人，後得源乾曜，亟用之，謂高力士曰：「若知吾進乾曜遽乎？ 吾以其貌言似蕭至忠。」 力士曰：「彼不嘗負陛下乎？」 帝曰：「至忠誠國器，但晚謬爾，其始不謂之賢哉？」
Early in his career Zhizhong enjoyed reputation and bearing, refined and quick in deportment, and was praised as a famed minister. Outwardly upright, he impeached wrongdoing, yet inwardly he lacked constancy and shifted with the times. When he first became censor, Huan Yanfan and others greatly valued him. After the Five Princes fell, he again obtained the vice censorate through Wu Sansi, attached himself to Princess Anle, and became chancellor. When the Wei clan fell, he hastily opened Wei Xun's tomb and took his daughter's coffin home. Later he relied on Princess Taiping and again held power. Once leaving the princess's mansion he met Song Jing, who jested, "This is not what was hoped of Master Xiao. Zhizhong said, "Well said, Master Song." Yet he could not turn back. His younger sister married Jiang Qinxu, who often warned him, but Zhizhong would not listen. He sighed, "A ministerial clan of nine generations, destroyed in one stroke—how lamentable! He disliked receiving guests and prided himself on frugality, so in life he gave away nothing from his stipends; yet when his property was confiscated, treasures were beyond counting. Yet Emperor Xuanzong esteemed his character; later, when he obtained Yuan Qianyao, he quickly employed him and said to Gao Lishi, "Do you know how swiftly I advanced Qianyao? I took his appearance and manner as resembling Xiao Zhizhong. Lishi said, "Did he not once betray Your Majesty?" The emperor said, "Zhizhong was truly a pillar of state, but erred in his later years—was he not called worthy at the start?"
26
弟元嘉，工部侍郎； 廣微，工部員外郎。
His younger brother Yuanjia was Vice Director of the Ministry of Works; Guangwei was Vice Director in the Ministry of Works.
27
盧藏用，字子潛，幽州范陽人。 父敬，魏州長史，號才吏。 藏用能屬文，舉進士，不得調。 與兄徵明偕隱終南、少室二山，學練氣，為辟谷，登衡、廬，仿徉岷、峨。 與陳子昂、趙貞固友善。
Lu Zangyong, courtesy name Ziqian, was a native of Fanyang in You Prefecture. His father Jing served as Long Secretary of Wei Prefecture and was known as a talented official. Zangyong could compose literary pieces, passed the jinshi examination, but received no appointment. With his elder brother Zhengming he retired to Zhongnan and Shaoshi mountains, practiced breath cultivation and grain avoidance, climbed Mount Heng and Mount Lu, and wandered Mount Min and Mount Emei. He was close friends with Chen Zi'ang and Zhao Zhengu.
28
長安中，召授左拾遺。 武後作興泰宮於萬安山，上疏諫曰：「陛下離宮別觀固多矣，又窮人力以事土木，臣恐議者以陛下為不愛人而奉己也。 且頃歲谷雖頗登，而百姓未有儲。 陛下巡幸，訖靡休息，斤斧之役，歲月不空，不因此時施德布化，而又廣宮苑，臣恐下未易堪。 今左右近臣，以諛意為忠，犯忤為患，至令陛下不知百姓失業，百姓亦不知左右傷陛下之仁也。 忠臣不避誅震以納君於仁，明主不惡切詆以趨名於後。 陛下誠能發明制，以勞人為辭，則天下必以為愛力而苦己也。 不然，下臣此章，得與執事者共議。」 不從。
During the Chang'an era he was summoned and appointed Left Reminder. When Empress Wu built the Xingtai Palace on Mount Wan'an, he remonstrated: "Your Majesty already has many detached palaces; to exhaust human labor again on timber and earth—I fear critics will say you do not love the people but serve yourself. Moreover, though harvests have been fair in recent years, the people have no reserves. Your tours never cease; timber work never leaves the year idle. If you do not spread virtue at such a time but instead expand palaces and parks, I fear the people cannot bear it. Those near you take flattery for loyalty and offense for harm, until you do not know the people's loss of livelihood and the people do not know how your courtiers wound your benevolence. Loyal ministers do not shrink from punishment to lead the ruler toward benevolence; enlightened rulers do not hate sharp criticism to win lasting fame. If Your Majesty issues a clear edict citing the burden on the people, the realm will surely see you as loving their strength yet suffering for yourself. Otherwise, let this memorial of mine be discussed with those in charge. She did not follow the advice.
29
姚元崇持節靈武道，奏為管記。 還應縣令舉，甲科，為濟陽令。 神龍中，累擢中書舍人，數糾駁偽官。 歷吏部、黃門侍郎、脩文館學士。 坐親累，降工部侍郎。 進尚書右丞。 附太平公主，主誅，玄宗欲捕斬藏用，顧未執政，意解，乃流新州。 或告謀反，推無狀，流州。 會交趾叛，藏用有捍禦勞，改昭州司戶參軍，遷黔州長史，判都督事，卒於始興。
Yao Yuanchong, holding credentials on the Lingwu circuit, had him appointed staff recorder. On return he responded to the magistrates' recommendation, passed in the top grade, and became magistrate of Jiyang. During the Shenlong era he rose to Secretariat Aide and repeatedly impeached false officials. He served as Vice Director in the Ministries of Personnel and of the Palace Gate, and as Academician of the Hall for Cultivating Literature. Implicated through kin association, he was demoted to Vice Director of the Ministry of Works. He was promoted to Right Vice Director of the Ministry of State. He sided with Princess Taiping; when she was executed, Xuanzong wished to capture and execute Zangyong, but seeing he had not yet held power, relented and exiled him to Xin Prefecture. Someone reported rebellion; investigation found no grounds, and he was exiled within the prefecture. When Jiaozhi rebelled, Zangyong earned merit in defense; he was made Registrar in Zha Prefecture, promoted to Long Secretary of Qian Prefecture acting as military commissioner, and died at Shixing.
30
藏用善蓍龜九宮術，工草隸、大小篆、八分，善琴、弈，思精遠，士貴其多能。 嘗以俗徇陰陽拘畏，乖至理，泥變通，有國者所不宜專。 謂：「天道從人者也。 古為政者，刑獄不濫則人壽，賦斂省則人富，法令有常則邦寧，賞罰中則兵強。 禮者士所歸，賞者士所死，禮賞不倦，則士爭先，否者，雖揆時行罰，涓日出號，無成功矣。 故任賢使能，不時日而利； 明法審令，不卜筮而吉； 養勞貴功，不禱祠而福。」 乃為《析滯論》以暢其方，世謂「知言」。 子昂、貞固前死，藏用撫其孤有恩，人稱能終始交。 始隱山中時，有意當世，人目為「隨駕隱士」。 晚乃徇權利，務為驕縱，素節盡矣。 司馬承禎嘗召至闕下，將還山，藏用指終南曰：「此中大有嘉處。」 承禎徐曰：「以仆視之，仕宦之捷徑耳。」 藏用慚。
Zangyong was skilled in divination and the nine-palace arts, excelled in cursive, clerical, seal, and eight-part scripts, played zither and go expertly, and thought with refined depth; scholars prized his many talents. He held that popular submission to yin-yang taboos departs from supreme principle, clings to rigidity, and is what rulers ought not rely on exclusively. He said, "The Way of Heaven follows the human realm. Ancient rulers knew that if punishments were not excessive, people lived long; if levies were light, people grew rich; if laws were stable, the state was tranquil; if rewards and punishments were balanced, armies were strong. Rites are what gentlemen honor; rewards are what they die for. If rites and rewards never fail, gentlemen vie to serve; otherwise, though one times punishments and issues orders daily, nothing succeeds. Thus employing the worthy brings benefit without regard to auspicious days; clarifying law and examining orders brings good fortune without divination; nourishing toil and honoring merit brings blessing without prayer and sacrifice. He then wrote "Discourse on Dispelling Stagnation" to expound his views; the age called it "words of insight." After Zi'ang and Zhengu died, Zangyong nurtured their orphans with kindness, and men praised him for friendship maintained to the end. When he first retired to the mountains he still aimed at public office; men called him a "hermit who follows the imperial carriage." In later years he pursued power and profit, grew arrogant and unrestrained, and his former integrity was gone. Sima Chengzhen once summoned him to court; as he was about to return to the mountains, Zangyong pointed to Zhongnan and said, "There are many fine places here. Chengzhen said slowly, "As I see it, this is but a shortcut to office and rank." Zangyong was ashamed.
31
無子。 弟若虛，多才博物。 隴西辛怡諫為職方，有獲異鼠者，豹首虎臆，大如拳。 怡諫謂之鼮鼠而賦之。 若虛曰：「非也，此許慎所謂鼨鼠，豹文而形小。」 一坐驚服。 終起居郎，集賢院學士。
He had no sons. His younger brother Ruoxu was richly talented and broadly learned. Xin Yijian of Longxi served in the Bureau of Operations; someone obtained a strange rat with a leopard's head and tiger's breast, as large as a fist. Yijian called it a flying rat and composed a rhapsody on it. Ruoxu said, "Not so—this is what Xu Shen calls the patterned rat, leopard-marked and small in form. The whole company marveled. He ended as Attendant of the Palace Secretariat and Academician of the Hall of Assembled Talents.
32
韋巨源，與安石同系，後周京兆尹總曾孫。 祖貞伯，襲鄖國公，入隋，改舒國。 巨源有吏幹，武後時累遷夏官侍郎、同鳳閣鸞臺平章事。 其治委碎無大體，句校省中遺隱，下符斂克不少蠲，雖收其利，然下所怨苦。 坐李昭德累，貶鄜州刺史。 累拜地官尚書。
Wei Juyuan was of the same lineage as Wei Anshi and great-great-grandson of Zong, Metropolitan Governor under the Later Zhou. His grandfather Zhenbo inherited the title Duke of Yun; under Sui the fief was changed to Shu. Juyuan had administrative talent; under Empress Wu he rose to Vice Director of the Ministry of War and Associate Grand Councilor. His governance was petty and lacked large design; he audited hidden omissions in the ministries and sent orders to collect levies with little remission—though he gathered revenue, those below resented and suffered. Implicated in Li Zhaode's case, he was demoted to prefect of Fu Prefecture. He was repeatedly promoted to Minister of Revenue.
33
神龍初，以吏部尚書同中書門下三品。 時要官缺，執政以次用其親，巨源秉筆，當除十人，楊再思得其一，試問余授，皆諸宰相近屬。 再思喟然曰：「吾等誠負天下。」 巨源曰：「時當爾耳。」 是時雖賢有德，終莫得進，士大夫莫不解體。 會安石為中書令，避親罷政事。
In early Shenlong he became Minister of Personnel with Third Grade rank equal to the Secretariat. Important offices were vacant; those in power appointed their kin in turn. Juyuan held the brush for ten appointments; Yang Zaisi got one. Asked about the rest, all were close kin of the chancellors. Zaisi sighed and said, "We truly fail the realm. Juyuan said, "The times require no less." Though worthy men existed, none could advance; scholar-officials lost heart. When Wei Anshi became Director of the Secretariat, Juyuan left government to avoid kin conflict.
34
尋遷侍中，舒國公。 韋後與敘昆弟，附屬籍。 武三思封戶在貝州，屬大水，刺史宋璟議免其租，巨源以為蠶桑可輸，繇是河朔人多流徙者。 景龍二年。 韋後自言衣笥有五色雲，巨源倡其偽，勸中宗宣布天下，帝從其言，因是大赦。 巨源見帝昏惑，乃與宗楚客、鄭愔、趙延禧等推處祥妖，陰導韋氏行武後故事。 俄遷尚書左仆射，仍知政事。 帝方南郊，巨源請後為亞獻，而自為終獻。 及臨淄王平諸韋，家人請避之，巨源曰：「吾大臣，無容見難不赴。」 出都街，亂兵殺之，年八十。
He was soon promoted to Palace Attendant and enfeoffed as Duke of Shu. Empress Wei treated him as a sworn brother and enrolled him in the clan register. Wu Sansi's fief households in Bei Prefecture suffered great flood; Prefect Song Jing proposed remitting their rent. Juyuan held that tribute could still be delivered—hence many north of the Yellow River fled. In the second year of Jinglong. Empress Wei claimed five-colored clouds appeared in her wardrobe; Juyuan promoted the fraud and urged Zhongzong to proclaim it to the realm. The emperor complied and issued a great amnesty. Seeing the emperor benighted, Juyuan with Zong Chuke, Zheng Yin, Zhao Yanxi, and others interpreted omens and secretly guided the Wei clan to follow Empress Wu's precedent. He was soon promoted to Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs while retaining control of government affairs. During the southern suburb sacrifice, Juyuan asked that the empress serve as secondary offerer and he himself as final offerer. When the Prince of Linzi suppressed the Wei clan, his family urged him to flee. Juyuan said, "I am a great minister—I cannot flee from danger. He went into the capital street and was killed by mutinous troops at eighty.
35
睿宗立，贈特進、荊州大都督。 博士李處直請謚為「昭」，戶部員外郎李邕以巨源附武三思為相，托韋後親屬，謚「昭」為非。 處直執不改，邕列陳其惡，不見用，然世皆直邕。 韋氏自安石及武後時宰相待價、巨源皆近親，其族至大官者，又數十人。
When Emperor Ruizong ascended, Juyuan was posthumously granted Special Advancement and Great Military Commissioner of Jing Prefecture. Erudite Li Chuzhi requested the posthumous title "Illustrious." Vice Director Li Yong held that Juyuan had sided with Wu Sansi to become chancellor and relied on Empress Wei's kin—that "Illustrious" was wrong. Chuzhi held firm; Yong set forth Juyuan's crimes in detail but was not heeded—yet the age upheld Yong as right. From Wei Anshi and the chancellors Daizhi and Juyuan under Empress Wu, the Wei clan were all close kin; dozens more of the clan reached high office.
36
趙彥昭，字奐然，甘州張掖人。 父武孟，少遊獵，以所獲饋其母，母泣曰：「汝不好書而敖蕩，吾安望哉？」 不為食。 武孟感激，遂力學，淹該書記。 自長安丞為右臺侍卿史，著《河西人物志》十篇。
Zhao Yanzhao, courtesy name Haoran, was a native of Zhangye in Gan Prefecture. His father Wumeng in youth roamed hunting and presented his catch to his mother. She wept and said, "You do not love books but are wild and dissolute—what can I hope from you? She would not eat. Wumeng was moved and studied hard, becoming thoroughly versed in records and writing. From Assistant Magistrate of Chang'an he became Attending Censor of the Right Censorate and wrote ten chapters of "Record of Men of Hexi."
37
彥昭少豪邁，風骨秀爽。 及進士第，調為南部尉。 與郭元振、薛稷、蕭至忠善。 自新豐丞為左臺監察御史。 景龍中，累遷中書侍郎、同中書門下平章事。 金城公主嫁吐蕃，始以紀處訥為使，處訥辭，乃授彥昭。 彥昭顧己處外，恐權寵奪移，不悅。 司農卿趙履溫曰：「公天宰，而為一介使，不亦鄙乎！」 彥昭問計安出，履溫乃為請安樂公主留之，遂以將軍楊矩代。 睿宗立，出為宋州刺史，坐累貶歸州。 俄授涼州都督，為政嚴，下皆股栗。 入為吏部侍郎，持節按邊。 遷御史大夫。 蕭至忠等誅，郭元振、張說言彥昭與秘謀，改刑部尚書、封耿國公，實封百戶。
Yanzhao in youth was bold and expansive, with elegant and clear bearing. After passing the jinshi examination he was assigned as magistrate of Nanbu. He was close to Guo Yuanzhen, Xue Ji, and Xiao Zhizhong. From Assistant Magistrate of Xinfeng he became Investigating Censor of the Left Censorate. During the Jinglong era he rose to Vice Director of the Secretariat and Associate Grand Councilor. When Princess Jincheng married Tibet, Ji Chune was first named envoy; when he declined, Yanzhao was appointed. Yanzhao, seeing himself sent abroad, feared loss of power and favor and was displeased. Director Zhao Lüwen of the Court of the Imperial Granaries said, "You are heaven's chancellor yet serve as a mere envoy—is that not base! Yanzhao asked where the plan came from; Lüwen then asked Princess Anle to keep him, and General Yang Ju was substituted. When Emperor Ruizong ascended, Yanzhao was sent out as prefect of Song and, through accumulated guilt, demoted to Gui Prefecture. He was soon appointed Military Commissioner of Liang Prefecture; his governance was strict and subordinates trembled in fear. He entered court as Vice Director of the Ministry of Personnel and held credentials to inspect the frontier. He was promoted to Censor-in-Chief. When Xiao Zhizhong and others were executed, Guo Yuanzhen and Zhang Yue said Yanzhao had shared in secret plotting; he was made Minister of Justice, enfeoffed as Duke of Geng with a substantive fief of one hundred households.
38
彥昭本以權幸進，中宗時，有巫趙挾鬼道出入禁掖，彥昭以姑事之。 嘗衣婦服，乘車與妻偕謁，其得宰相，巫力也。 於是殿中侍御史郭震劾暴舊惡。 會姚崇執政，惡其為人，貶江州別駕，卒。
Yanzhao had advanced through power and favor; under Zhongzong a shaman Zhao practiced occult arts in the inner palace, and Yanzhao treated him with familial deference. He once wore women's dress and rode with his wife to call on the shaman—it was the shaman's power that gained him the chancellorship. Thereupon Palace Attendant Censor Guo Zhen impeached him, exposing old crimes. When Yao Chong held power he hated Yanzhao's character, demoted him to Vice Prefect of Jiang, and he died there.
39
和逢堯，岐州岐山人。 武後時，負鼎詣闕下上書，自言願助天子和飪百度。 有司讓曰：「昔桀不道，伊尹負鼎於湯； 今天子聖明，百司以和，尚何所調？」 逢堯不能答，流莊州。 十餘年，乃舉進士高第，累擢監察御史。
He Fengyao was a native of Qi in Qi Prefecture. Under Empress Wu he carried a cauldron to the palace gate and submitted a memorial, offering to help the Son of Heaven harmonize all affairs of state. The authorities rebuked him: "In old times Jie was without the Way and Yi Yin carried a cauldron to Tang; today the Son of Heaven is sage and bright and the hundred offices are in harmony—what still needs harmonizing? Fengyao could not reply and was exiled to Zhuang Prefecture. After more than ten years he passed the jinshi in the top grade and rose to investigating censor.
40
突厥默啜請尚公主，逢堯以御史中丞攝鴻臚卿，報可。 默啜遣貴近頡利來曰：「詔送金鏤具鞍，乃塗金，非天子意。 使者不可信，雖得公主，猶非實，請罷和親。」 欲馳去，左右色動，逢堯呼曰：「我大國使，不受我辭，可輒去。」 乃牽持其人謂曰：「漢法重女婿而送鞍具，欲安且久，不以金為貴。 可汗乃貪金而不貴信邪？」 默啜聞曰：「漢使至吾國眾矣，斯食鐵石人，不可易。」 因備禮以見。 逢堯說之曰：「天子昔為單於都護，思與可汗通舊好，可汗當向風慕義，襲冠冕，取重諸蕃。」 默啜信之，為斂發紫衣，南面再拜稱臣，遣子入朝。 逢堯以使有指，擢戶部侍郎。 坐善太平公主，斥朗州司馬，終柘州刺史。 逢堯詼詭，當大事敢僥福，故卒以附麗廢，然唐興奉使者稱逢堯。
The Türk khaghan Mochuo requested a princess in marriage; Fengyao as Vice Censor-in-Chief acting as Director of the Court for Dependencies reported approval. Mochuo sent a noble attendant Jieli to say, "The edict promised a gold-inlaid saddle set, yet it is only gilded—not the emperor's intent. The envoy cannot be trusted; though we obtain the princess, the alliance is not real—we ask to end the marriage. He wished to gallop away; those present were alarmed. Fengyao shouted, "I am an envoy of the great state—you have not accepted my words; how can you leave at will?" He seized the man and said, "Han law honors the son-in-law and sends saddle gear for lasting peace—not holding gold as precious. Does the khaghan covet gold and not prize good faith?" Mochuo heard and said, "Han envoys have come to our state in great numbers; this iron-biting man cannot be changed." He thereupon received him with full ceremony. Fengyao persuaded him: "The emperor was once Protector-General of the Xiongnu and wishes to renew old friendship with the khaghan. The khaghan ought to turn toward righteousness, assume cap and regalia, and win esteem among the tribes. Mochuo believed him, bound his hair and put on purple robes, faced south and twice bowed as subject, and sent his son to court. Fengyao was promoted to Vice Director of the Ministry of Revenue for the mission's success. Punished for siding with Princess Taiping, he was demoted to Secretary in Lang Prefecture and ended as prefect of Zhe. Fengyao was witty and crafty; in great affairs he dared gamble on fortune and was ruined for clinging to power—yet since Tang's rise, envoys on mission have praised Fengyao.
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贊曰：異哉，玄宗之器蕭至忠也，不亦惑乎！ 至忠本非賢，而寄賢以奸利，失之則邀利以喪賢，姻艷後，挾寵主，取宰相，謀間王室，身誅家破，遺臭無窮。 而帝以乾曜似之，遽使當國，是帝舉不知至忠之不可用，又不知乾曜之所可用也。 或稱帝不以罪掩才，益可怪嘆。 嗚呼！ 力士誠腐夫庸人，不能發擿天子之迷，若曰「至忠賢於初，固不繆於末； 既繆於末，果不賢於初。 惟陛下圖之」，如是，帝且悟往失而精來鑒已。 其後相李林甫、將安祿山，皆基於不明，身播岷陬，信自取之歟。
The commentator says: Strange that Xuanzong esteemed Xiao Zhizhong—is this not confusion! Zhizhong was never worthy yet pretended worth for treacherous gain; he married into the empress's kin, relied on a favored mistress, seized the chancellorship, and plotted against the royal house—he was executed, his family destroyed, his infamy endless. Yet the emperor, because Qianyao resembled him, swiftly put him in power—showing the emperor did not know Zhizhong was unusable, nor what in Qianyao was usable. Some say the emperor did not let crime obscure talent—how much more strange and lamentable. Alas! Lishi was truly a mediocre man who could not expose the emperor's delusion. Had he said, "Zhizhong was worthy at the start and surely not wrong at the end; once wrong at the end, he was indeed not worthy at the start, "may Your Majesty consider this," the emperor might have awakened to past errors and sharpened future judgment. Afterward appointing Li Linfu chancellor and An Lushan general—all rooted in this lack of clarity; his person cast to the Min mountains—was it not truly self-wrought?