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25%
Twenty-five percent.
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◎二郭兩王張牛
◎ Biographies: The Two Guos, the Two Wangs, Zhang, and Niu
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=郭虔瓘=
Guo Qianzhen
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郭虔瓘，齊州歷城人。 開元初，錄軍閥，遷累右衛驍將軍，兼北庭都護、金山道副大總管。 明年，突厥默啜子同俄特勒圍北庭，虔瓘飭壘自守。 同俄單騎馳城下，勇士狙道左突斬之。 虜亡酋長，相率丐降，請悉軍中所資贖同俄死，聞已斬，舉軍慟哭去。 虔瓘以功授冠軍大將軍、安西副大都護，封潞國公。 建募關中兵萬人擊餘寇，遂前功，有詔募士給公乘，在所續食。 將作大匠韋湊上言：「漢徙豪族以實關中，今畿輔戶口逋耗，異時戎虜入盜，丁壯悉行，不宜更募驍勇，以空京甸，資荒服。 萬人所過，遞馱熟饔，亙六千里，州縣安所供億？ 秦、隴以西，多沙磧，少居人，若何而濟？ 縱有克獲，其補幾何？ 儻稽天誅，則諉大事。」 不省。 既而虔瓘果不見虜，還，遷涼州刺史、河西節度大使，進右威衛大將軍。 四年，奏家奴八人有戰功，求為遊擊將軍，宰相劾其恃功亂綱紀，不可聽，罷之。
Guo Qianzhen was a native of Licheng in Qizhou. Early in the Kaiyuan reign he was enrolled as a military officer and rose through successive posts to General of the Valiant Cavalry of the Right Guard, while also holding the posts of Protector-General of Beiting and deputy grand commander of the Jingshan circuit. The following year Tong'e Tegin, son of the Türk qaghan Mojilian, laid siege to Beiting, and Qianzhen fortified the walls and defended the city. Tong'e came alone on horseback to the foot of the wall, where a brave soldier ambushed him from the left of the road, charged out, and killed him. With their leader dead, the enemy came forward in groups to surrender, offering all the supplies they carried to ransom Tong'e's life; when they learned he had already been killed, the entire force broke into mourning and withdrew. For this achievement Qianzhen was made Champion Grand General and Vice Protector-General of Anxi, and enfeoffed as Duke of Lu. He proposed raising ten thousand men from Guanzhong to pursue the remaining rebels and build on his earlier success; the court ordered recruitment, granted recruits the rank of gongcheng, and supplied continued rations wherever they were posted. Wei Cou, Director of Palace Construction, memorialized: "The Han moved great families into Guanzhong to strengthen the heartland; today the capital districts are losing people. Whenever the frontier tribes raid, every able-bodied man is marched away. We should not recruit more elite troops and strip the capital plain bare to feed remote border commands. Ten thousand men on the march require relay trains of hot meals across six thousand li—where are the prefectures and counties to find the supplies? West of Qin and Long lies mostly sandy waste, with few settlers—how can an army be fed there? Even if there were victories, how much would they offset the cost? If Heaven withholds success, the blame will fall on the whole undertaking." The emperor paid no attention. As Wei Cou had warned, Qianzhen found no enemy and returned; he was then made governor of Liangzhou and grand commissioner of the Hexi circuit, and promoted to general of the Right Weiwu Guard. In the fourth year he asked that eight household slaves who had fought well be appointed mobile-corps generals; the chief ministers charged him with using his record of service to overturn proper order, the request was refused, and he was removed from office.
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陜王為安西都護，詔虔瓘為副。 虔瓘與安撫招慰十姓可汗使阿史那獻數持異，交訴諸朝。 玄宗遣左衛中郎將王惠賫詔書諭解曰：「朕聞師克在和，不在眾，以虔瓘、獻宿將，當舍嫌窒隙，戮力國家。 自開西鎮，列諸軍，戍有定區，軍有常額，卿等所統，蕃漢雜之，在乎善用，何必加募？ 或云突騎施圍石城，獻所致也； 葛邏祿稱兵，虔瓘所沮也。 大將不協，小人以逞，何功可圖？ 昔相如能詘廉頗，寇恂不吝賈復，宜各曠然，終承朕命。 今賜帛二千段及他珍器，俾諒朕意。」 虔瓘奉詔。 久之，卒軍中。 以張孝嵩為安西副都護。
When the Prince of Shan became Protector-General of Anxi, Qianzhen was appointed his deputy. Qianzhen and Ashina Xian, the commissioner charged with pacifying the Ten Surnames khans, clashed repeatedly and kept filing complaints against each other at court. Emperor Xuanzong sent Wang Hui, a central commandant of the Left Guard, with an edict of reconciliation: "I have heard that victory comes from unity, not head count. You are seasoned commanders; put aside your grudges and serve the realm together. Since the western commands were established, each army has its zone and fixed establishment; the forces under you mix tribal and Han troops. Use them well—why keep asking for more recruits? Some blame Xian for the Turgesh siege of Shicheng; others credit Qianzhen with checking the Qarluk when they took up arms. When senior commanders feud, petty men profit—what merit can you hope to win? Xiang Ru once humbled himself before Lian Po, and Kou Xun did not begrudge Jia Fu; open your hearts to each other and carry out my orders to the end. I now send you two thousand bolts of silk and other fine gifts, so you may know my mind." Qianzhen accepted the edict. In time he died on campaign. Zhang Xiaosong was made Vice Protector-General of Anxi.
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孝嵩，偉姿貌，及進士第，而慷慨好兵。 在安西勸田訓士，府庫盈饒。 徙太原尹，卒。 以黃門侍郎杜暹代。
Xiaosong was imposing in appearance, had passed the jinshi examination, and was ardent and drawn to military life. In Anxi he promoted farming and drilled the troops until the granaries overflowed. He was moved to governor of Taiyuan, where he died. Du Xian of the Secretariat replaced him.
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=郭知運=
Guo Zhiyun
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郭知運，字逢時，瓜州晉昌人。 長七尺，猿臂虎口，以格鬥功累補秦州三度府果毅。 從郭虔瓘破突厥有功，加右驍衛將軍，封介休縣公。
Guo Zhiyun, whose courtesy name was Fengshi, came from Jinchang in Guazhou. He stood seven feet tall, with long arms and powerful hands; for his skill in close combat he rose through repeated appointments as a third-rank garrison commander in Qinzhou. Serving under Guo Qianzhen against the Turks, he distinguished himself and was made a general of the Right Xiaowei Guard and enfeoffed as Duke of Jiexiu.
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吐蕃將坌達延、乞力徐寇渭源，盜牧馬，詔知運與薛訥、王晙等相掎角，敗之。 進階冠軍大將軍，兼臨洮軍使，封太原郡公，賜賚萬計。 徙隴右諸軍節度大使、鄯州都督。 突厥降戶阿悉爛、𨁂跌思泰率眾叛，執單于副都護張知運，詔以朔方兵追擊，至黑山呼延谷敗之，虜棄伏走，取副都護還。 詔知運兼隴右經略使，營柳城。 開元五年，大破吐蕃，獻俘京師。 明年，復出，將輕兵丙夜至九曲，獲精甲、名馬、牦牛甚眾。 既獻獲，詔分賜文武五品以上清官及朝集使三品者。 進兼鴻臚卿，攝御史中丞。 六州胡康待賓反，率王晙討平之。 拜左武衛大將軍，授一子官，賜金帛。 九年，卒於軍，年五十五，贈涼州都督。
When the Tibetan generals Bendayan and Qilixu raided Weiyuan and drove off the pasture horses, Zhiyun was ordered to join Xue Ne, Wang Jun, and others in a coordinated attack and rout them. He was promoted to Champion Grand General, made commander of the Lintao army as well, enfeoffed as Duke of Taiyuan, and showered with lavish gifts. He was transferred to grand commissioner of the Longyou armies and governor of Shanzhou. When the surrendered Türks Ashilan and Tiediesitai rebelled and seized Vice Protector Zhang Zhiyun of the Chanyu court, Zhiyun was ordered to pursue with Shuofang troops; at Huyan Valley on Black Mountain he routed them, the rebels abandoned their ambush and fled, and Zhang was rescued. He was also made Longyou frontier commissioner and ordered to establish a base at Liucheng. In Kaiyuan 5 he won a major victory over Tibet and presented prisoners in the capital. The following year he marched out again with light troops, reaching Jiugu in the dead of night and capturing large stores of fine armor, prized horses, and yaks. After the booty was presented at court, an edict divided it among fifth-rank and higher civil and military officials in pure posts and among third-rank provincial assembly commissioners. He was further appointed Minister of Ceremonial and acting censor-in-chief. When Kang Daibin of the Six Prefectures Hu rebelled, he led Wang Jun to crush the revolt. He was made general of the Left Wuwei Guard; one of his sons received an official post, and he was rewarded with gold and silk. In the ninth year he died on campaign at fifty-five; posthumously he was made governor of Liangzhou.
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知運屯西方，戎夷畏憚，與王君㚟功名略等，時號「王郭」。 帝詔中書令張說紀其功於墓碑。 上元中，配饗太公廟。 永泰初，謚曰威。 子英傑、英乂。 知運子英傑英傑，字孟武，為左衛將軍、幽州副總管。 開元二十三年，長史薛楚玉遣英傑與裨將吳克勤、烏知義、羅守忠帥萬騎及奚眾討契丹，屯榆關。 契丹酋長可突於拒戰都山下，奚眾貳，官軍不利，知義、守忠引麾下遁去，英傑、克勤力戰死。 其下尚六千人，殊死戰，虜示以英傑首，終不屈，師遂殲。 知運子英乂英乂，字元武，以武勇有名河、隴間，累遷諸衛員外將軍。 哥舒翰見之曰：「是當代吾節制者。」 祿山亂，拜秦州都督、隴右采訪使。 賊將高嵩擁兵入汧、隴，英乂偽勞之，且具饗，既而伏兵發，盡虜其眾。 至德二年，加隴右節度使。 召還，改羽林軍大將軍，掌衛兵。 以喪去職。
Zhiyun held the western frontier, where the tribes feared him; his renown matched Wang Jun'ou's, and contemporaries spoke of them together as "Wang and Guo." The emperor had Chief Minister Zhang Yue inscribe his achievements on a tomb stele. During the Shangyuan reign he was granted a share in sacrifices at the Temple of the Grand Duke. Early in the Yongtai era he received the posthumous name Wei. His sons were Yingjie and Yingyi. Zhiyun's son Yingjie, courtesy name Mengwu, served as a general of the Left Guard and vice commander of Youzhou. In Kaiyuan 23 the chief administrator Xue Chuyu sent Yingjie with the subordinate generals Wu Keqin, Wu Zhiyi, and Luo Shouzhong at the head of ten thousand horsemen and Xi allies against the Khitan, encamping at Yuguan Pass. The Khitan leader Ketuyu gave battle below Mount Du; the Xi defected, the imperial force was beaten, Zhiyi and Shouzhong fled with their men, and Yingjie and Keqin were killed fighting to the end. Six thousand of his men still fought to the death; when the enemy showed them Yingjie's head they still refused to submit, and the force was wiped out. Zhiyun's son Yingyi, courtesy name Yuanwu, won fame between the Yellow River and Longyou for courage in battle and rose through posts as outside general of the guards. Geshu Han said of him, "This is the man who will succeed me as frontier commissioner." When the An Lushan rebellion erupted he was made governor of Qinzhou and Longyou investigation commissioner. When the rebel general Gao Song marched into Qian and Long, Yingyi pretended to welcome him with a banquet, then sprang an ambush and took his entire force prisoner. In Zhide 2 he was also made military commissioner of Longyou. Recalled to court, he was made grand general of the Imperial Forest Army and put in charge of the palace guards. He left office to observe mourning.
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史思明陷洛陽，謀掠陳、蔡，詔英乂統淮南節度兵。 賊叩陜、虢，又改陜西節度、潼關防禦使。 進御史大夫，兼神策軍節度使。 代宗即位，以檢校戶部尚書兼大夫。 雍王率諸將討賊洛陽，留英乂殿於陜。 東都平，權知留守，無檢御才，其麾下與朔方、回紇遂大掠都城及鄭、汝，環千里無居人。
When Shi Siming seized Luoyang and planned to ravage Chen and Cai, Yingyi was ordered to take command of the Huainan circuit armies. As the rebels pressed Shan and Guo, he was reassigned as Shanxi circuit commissioner and defender of Tong Pass. He was promoted to censor-in-chief and also made military commissioner of the Shence Army. When Emperor Daizong came to the throne, Yingyi was made acting minister of revenue while keeping the post of censor-in-chief. The Prince of Yong led the generals against the rebels at Luoyang and left Yingyi to hold Shan in the rear. After the eastern capital was recovered he served as acting defender, but he could not control his men; together with the Shuofang and Uyghur troops they looted the capital and the Zheng and Ru regions until no one lived within a thousand li.
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以功實封三百戶，召拜尚書右僕射，封定襄郡王。 日驕蹇，為侈汰。 陰事宰相元載以久其權。 未幾，嚴武死成都，乃拜劍南節度使。 自以有內主，故肆志無所憚。 初，玄宗在蜀時舊宮為道士祠，冶金作帝象，盡繪乘輿侍衛，每尹至，先拜祠，後視事。 英乂愛其地勝選，輒壞繪像自居之，眾始不平。 又教女伎乘驢擊球，鈿鞍寶勒及它服用，日無慮數萬費，以資倡樂，未嘗問民間事，為政苛暴，人以目相謂。 怨崔寧不己同也，出兵襲寧，不克。 寧因人之怨，率麾下五千直搗成都。 英乂拒戰，眾皆反戈內攻，乃奔簡州，次靈池，普州刺史韓澄斬首送寧，遂屠其家。
For his service he received a fief of three hundred households, was recalled as right vice director of the Department of State Affairs, and enfeoffed as Prince of Dingxiang. He grew daily more arrogant and extravagant. He secretly cultivated Chief Minister Yuan Zai to keep his power. Soon afterward Yan Wu died at Chengdu, and Yingyi was made military commissioner of Jiannan. Believing he had a powerful patron at court, he acted without restraint. When Xuanzong had been in Shu, his former palace had become a Daoist temple with a cast-metal image of the emperor and painted scenes of the imperial train; every new prefect would worship there before taking up office. Yingyi coveted the fine site, tore down the painted images, and moved in himself—the first sign of public anger. He had female entertainers play polo on donkeys; inlaid saddles, jeweled bridles, and other luxuries cost tens of thousands a day to sustain singers and musicians. He never troubled himself with the people's affairs, ruled with harsh cruelty, and people warned one another with glances alone. Angry that Cui Ning would not join him, he marched against Ning and failed. Riding the tide of popular resentment, Ning led five thousand men straight at Chengdu. Yingyi tried to fight, but his own troops turned on him; he fled to Jianzhou and stopped at Lingchi, where Han Cheng, governor of Puzhou, beheaded him and sent the head to Ning, who then massacred his family.
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=王君㚟=
Wang Jun'ou
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王君㚟，字威明，瓜州常樂人。 初事郭知運為別奏，累功至右衛副率。 知運卒，代為河西隴右節度使、右羽林軍將軍，判涼州都督事。
Wang Jun'ou, whose courtesy name was Weiming, came from Changle in Guazhou. He began as a personal attendant to Guo Zhiyun and rose through merit to deputy commander of the Right Guard. After Zhiyun's death he succeeded him as military commissioner of Hexi and Longyou, general of the Right Yulin Army, and acting governor of Liangzhou.
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開元十四年，吐蕃酋悉諾邏寇大斗拔谷，君㚟間其怠，率秦州都督張景順乘冰度青海襲破之。 以功遷大將軍，封晉昌縣伯； 拜其父壽為少府監，聽不事。 君㚟凱旋，玄宗宴君㚟及妻夏於廣達樓，賜金帛，夏亦自以戰功封武威郡夫人。 俄而吐蕃陷瓜州，執刺史田元獻及壽，殺居人，取資糧，進攻玉門軍，使人靳君㚟曰：「將軍常自以忠勇，今不一進戰，奈何？」 君㚟登陴西向哭，兵不敢出。
In Kaiyuan 14 the Tibetan leader Sinuoluo raided Dadoubagu; Jun'ou caught them off guard and, with Qinzhou governor Zhang Jingshun, crossed the frozen Qinghai Lake in a surprise attack and routed them. For this feat he was made grand general and enfeoffed as Earl of Jinchang; his father Shou was appointed director of the Palace Workshops with permission to hold the title without serving. On his triumphant return Xuanzong entertained Jun'ou and his wife Xia at the Guangda Tower with gifts of gold and silk; Xia was also enfeoffed as Lady of Wuwei for her own battlefield achievements. Soon Tibet captured Guazhou, took Governor Tian Yuanxian and Shou prisoner, slaughtered the inhabitants, seized supplies, and marched on Yumen Army; they sent a messenger to taunt Jun'ou: "You always boast of loyalty and courage—why won't you come out and fight?" He climbed the wall and wept toward the west, and his soldiers did not dare march out.
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初，涼州有回紇、契、思結、渾四部，世為酋長，君㚟微時，數往來，為所輕。 及節度河西，回紇等頗鞅鞅，恥為下。 君㚟怒，數督過之。 既怨望，潛遣人至東都言狀。 君㚟間驛奏四部有叛謀，帝使中人即訊，回紇不能自直。 於是瀚海大都督回紇承宗流州，渾大得流吉州，賀蘭都督契承明流藤州，盧山都督思結歸國流瓊州，而承宗黨瀚海州司馬護輸等益不平，思有以復怨。 會吐蕃使間道走突厥，君㚟率騎到肅州掩取之，還至甘州，護輸狙兵發，奪君㚟節，殺左右親吏，剖其心，曰：「是始謀者。」 君㚟引帳下力戰，兵盡乃死。 輸欲以屍奔吐蕃，追兵至，乃棄屍去。 帝痛惜之，贈特進、荊州大都督。 以喪還京師，官護其葬。 詔張說刻文墓碑，帝自書以寵之。
Liangzhou had long been home to four tribal groups—the Uyghurs, Qi, Sinijie, and Hun—whose families had served as chieftains for generations; in his early days Jun'ou moved among them often and was held in contempt. Once he became military commissioner of Hexi, the Uyghurs and the others were resentful and ashamed to serve under him. Jun'ou grew angry and repeatedly rebuked them for their faults. Filled with resentment, they secretly sent envoys to the eastern capital to lodge complaints. Jun'ou intercepted their dispatches and reported that the four groups were plotting rebellion; the emperor sent eunuchs to investigate immediately, and the Uyghurs could not vindicate themselves. Chengzong, Uyghur grand commander of Hanhai, was exiled to Liuzhou; Dadé of the Hun to Jizhou; Chengming, Qi governor of Helan, to Tengzhou; and Guiguo, Sinijie governor of Lushan, to Qiongzhou. Chengzong's followers, including Huyu, military administrator of Hanhai, grew still angrier and plotted revenge. When a Tibetan envoy was slipping through by a hidden route toward the Turks, Jun'ou led horsemen to Suzhou and captured him. On the way back to Ganzhou, Huyu sprang an ambush, seized Jun'ou's command tally, killed his personal staff, cut out his heart, and cried, "This was the man who plotted it all." Jun'ou led his household guard in a last stand and fell only when his men were spent. Huyu tried to carry the body to the Tibetans, but pursuers caught up and he abandoned the corpse and fled. The emperor mourned him deeply and posthumously made him Special Advancement and grand governor of Jingzhou. His body was brought back to the capital with an official funeral escort. Zhang Yue was ordered to compose the tomb inscription, and the emperor wrote it in his own hand as a special honor.
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始，吐蕃寇瓜州，分遣莽布支攻常樂，令賈師順乘城守。 俄而瓜州陷，悉諾邏並兵攻之。 數日，虜眾有姻家在城中，使夜見師順曰：「州已失守，虜悉眾來，孤城渠可久，不早降以全噍類乎？」 師順曰：「吾受天子命守此，義不可下賊。」 數日，又說師順曰：「明府不降，吾眾且還，宜有以贈我。」 師順請脫士卒衣襦。 悉諾邏知無有，乃夜徹營去，毀瓜州城。 師順開門收器械，復完守備。 吐蕃果使精騎還襲，見有備，乃去。 以功遷鄯州都督、隴右節度使。 師順，岐州人，終左領軍將軍。
When Tibet first raided Guazhou, they sent Mangbuzhi against Changle while Jia Shishun was ordered to hold the city walls. Soon Guazhou fell, and Sinuoluo joined his forces to besiege Changle. After several days, enemy soldiers with kin inside the city sent a messenger by night to Shishun: "The prefecture is lost and the full enemy host is coming—how long can one isolated city last? Surrender now and save your people." Shishun replied, "The Son of Heaven charged me to hold this place; I cannot in honor surrender to the enemy." A few days later they pressed him again: "If you will not surrender, we are leaving soon—you should give us something." Shishun had the soldiers strip off their jackets and give them up. Seeing nothing more to be had, Sinuoluo broke camp by night, withdrew, and demolished the walls of Guazhou. Shishun opened the gates, collected the abandoned arms, and restored the city's defenses. The Tibetans did send elite horsemen back in a raid, but finding the city ready, they withdrew. For this service he was made governor of Shanzhou and military commissioner of Longyou. Shishun, a native of Qizhou, ended his career as general of the Left Leading Army.
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=張守珪=
Zhang Shougui
19
張守珪，陜州河北人。 姿幹瑰壯，慷慨尚節義，善騎射。 以平樂府別將從郭虔瓘守北庭。 突厥侵輪臺，遣守珪往援，中道逢賊，苦戰，斬首千餘級，禽頡斤一人。 開元初，虜復攻北庭，守珪從儳道奏事京師，因上書言利害，請引兵出蒲昌、輪臺夾擊賊。 再遷幽州良杜府果毅。 時盧齊卿為刺史，器之，引與共榻坐，謂曰：「不十年，子當節度是州，為國重將，願以子孫托，可僚屬相期邪？」 稍遷建康軍使。
Zhang Shougui came from Hebei in Shanzhou. Imposing in stature, he was ardent, devoted to honor, and expert in riding and archery. As deputy commander of Pingle he served under Guo Qianzhen at Beiting. When the Turks attacked Luntai he was sent to relieve it, met the enemy on the march, fought hard, took more than a thousand heads, and captured an irkin. Early in Kaiyuan the enemy attacked Beiting again; Shougui was traveling to the capital by a side road and memorialized on strategy, proposing a pincer from Puchang and Luntai. He rose twice to garrison commander of Liangdu in Youzhou. Lu Qiqing, then prefect, took a liking to him, had him sit on the same couch, and said, "Within ten years you will command this region as military commissioner and become one of the empire's great generals; may I entrust my family to you as a colleague?" He was soon made commander of the Jiankang army.
20
王君㚟死，河西震懼，詔以守珪為瓜州刺史、墨離軍使，督餘眾完故城。 版築方立，虜奄至，眾失色。 守珪曰：「創痍之餘，詎可矢石相確，須權以勝之。」 遂置酒城上，會諸將作樂。 虜疑有備，不敢攻，引去，守珪縱兵擊敗之。 於是修復位署，招流冗使復業。 有詔以瓜州為都督府，即詔守珪為都督。 州地沙塉不可蓺，常瀦雪水溉田。 是時，渠堨為虜毀，材木無所出。 守珪密禱於神，一昔水暴至，大木數千章塞流下，因取之，修復堰防，耕者如舊，州人神之，刻石紀事。 遷鄯州刺史、隴右節度使。 徙幽州長史、河北節度副大使。 俄加采訪處置等使。
After Wang Jun'ou's death the Hexi frontier was terrified; Shougui was made governor of Guazhou and commander of the Moli army to rebuild the old city with the survivors. The walls were barely rising when the enemy appeared without warning and the men lost their color. Shougui said, "We are still recovering from wounds—how can we meet them head on with arrows and stones? We must outwit them." He had wine set out on the walls and entertained his generals with music. The enemy suspected a trap, refused to attack, and withdrew; Shougui then sallied forth and routed them. He then restored government offices and brought displaced people back to their livelihoods. Guazhou was made a protectorate, and Shougui was appointed its protector. The region was sandy and unfit for farming; fields were watered by damming snowmelt. The canals and dikes had been destroyed by the enemy, and timber was nowhere to be found. Shougui prayed in secret; overnight a flood brought thousands of logs downstream. He used them to rebuild the dikes, farming resumed as before, and the people carved a stone to commemorate the miracle. He was made governor of Shanzhou and military commissioner of Longyou. He was transferred to chief administrator of Youzhou and deputy military commissioner of Hebei. Soon he was also made investigation and disposition commissioner.
21
契丹、奚連年梗邊，牙官可突於，胡有謀者，前長史趙含章、薛楚玉等不能制，守珪至，每戰輒勝，虜遂大敗。 帝喜，詔有司告九廟。 契丹酋屈剌及突於恐懼，乃遣使詐降。 守珪得其情，遣右衛騎曹王悔詣部計事，屈刺無降意，徙帳稍西北，密引突厥眾將殺悔以叛。 契丹別帥李過折與突於爭權不葉，悔因間誘之，夜斬屈剌及突於，盡滅其黨，以眾降。 守珪次紫蒙川，大閱軍實，賞將士，傳屈刺、突於首於東都。
For years the Khitan and Xi had harassed the frontier; Ketuyu, a cunning tribal officer, had defied earlier administrators Zhao Hanzhang and Xue Chuyu, but once Shougui arrived he won every battle and the tribes were routed. The emperor rejoiced and ordered the victory reported to the imperial ancestors. The Khitan leaders Quli and Ketuyu, terrified, sent envoys offering a false surrender. Shougui saw through them and sent Wang Hui of the Right Guard to negotiate; Quli had no intention of surrendering, shifted camp northwest, and secretly brought in Türks to kill Hui and rebel. The Khitan sub-chief Li Guozhe was locked in a power struggle with Ketuyu; Hui turned him, and in the night Li killed Quli and Ketuyu, destroyed their faction, and surrendered with his followers. Shougui encamped at the Zimeng River, reviewed the army's stores, rewarded the troops, and sent Quli's and Ketuyu's heads to the eastern capital.
22
二十三年，入見天子，會藉田畢，即酺燕為守珪飲至，帝賦詩寵之。 加拜輔國大將軍、右羽林大將軍，賜金彩，授二子官，詔立碑紀功。
In the twenty-third year he came to court; after the plowing rite the emperor held a feast in his honor and composed a poem to celebrate him. He was made Supporting-the-State Grand General and grand general of the Right Yulin Army, given gold and brocade, two sons received offices, and a victory stele was ordered.
23
久之，復討契丹餘黨於捺祿山，鹵獲不訾。 會裨將趙堪、白真陀羅等強使平盧軍使烏知義度湟水邀叛奚，且蹂其稼，知義辭不往，真陀羅矯詔脅之。 知義與虜鬥，不勝，還，守珪匿其敗，但上克獲狀。 事頗泄，帝遣謁者牛仙童按實，守珪逼真陀羅自殺，厚賂使者，還奏如狀。 後仙童以贓敗，事逮守珪，以功貶括州刺史，疽發背死。 守珪子獻誠子獻誠。 獻誠，天寶末，陷安祿山，授偽署。 後事史思明，將兵數萬守汴州。 東都平，史朝義走還汴，獻誠不內，籍所統兵以州降，詔即拜汴州刺史，封南陽郡公。 改寶應軍左廂兵馬使，更封鄧國公。 既來朝，代宗禮賜尤渥。 擢山南西道節度使，討南山劇賊高玉，禽之。 俄兼劍南東川節度。 時崔旰殺郭英乂，獻誠率眾戰梓州，大敗。 大歷三年，以疾歸京師。 舉其弟獻恭自代。 以檢校戶部尚書知省事，病甚，固乞辭位，卒。 始，獻誠喜功名，為政寬裕，有機略，隨方制變，而簡廉不逮於父。 獻誠從弟獻恭從弟獻恭，數有軍功，以右羽林軍代為節度使。 大歷末，破吐蕃於岷州。 久之，拜東都留守，累遷檢校吏部尚書。 德宗欲徙盧杞為饒州刺史，給事中袁高上還詔書，苦爭。 獻恭見帝曰：「高所奏宜聽。」 帝不答。 復前曰：「高乃陛下良臣，當優異之。」 上遂不徙杞。 世咨其不橈。 獻恭子煦子煦，積閥亦至夏州節度使。 元和八年，振武軍逐節度使李進賢，屠其家及判官嚴澈。 憲宗怒，詔煦以本軍進討，許以便宜，賜縑三萬為軍資，河東王鍔遣兵五千為援。 煦入，捕亂卒蘇國珍等數百人，誅之。 卒，贈太子太保。 獻誠從弟獻甫獻誠從弟獻甫，以軍功試光祿卿、殿中監，從河中節度使賈耽討梁崇義有勞。 德宗西幸，又從渾瑊討朱泚，戰多，累遷至金吾將軍、檢校工部尚書。 李懷光叛，吐蕃盜邊，獻甫領禁兵戍咸陽累年，兵農悅安。 貞元四年，代韓遊瑰領邠寧節度使。 邠寧軍素驕，憚獻甫嚴，因遊瑰去，遂縱掠，邀範希朝為帥。 都將楊朝晟誅首亂者，獻甫乃得入。 於是斷山浚塹，選巖要地築烽堡。 請復鹽州及洪門、洛原鎮屯兵，詔可。 獻甫遣兵馬使魏茪逐吐蕃，築鹽、夏二城，虜眾畏，不敢入寇。 十二年，加檢校尚書左僕射。 卒，贈司空。
Later he campaigned again against Khitan remnants at Nalushan and took incalculable booty. Subordinate generals Zhao Kan and Bai Zhentuoluo forced the Pinglu commander Wu Zhiyi to cross the Huang River against rebel Xi and trample their crops; Zhiyi refused, and Zhentuoluo threatened him with a forged edict. Zhiyi fought and lost; Shougui hid the defeat and reported only success. Word leaked out; the emperor sent Niu Xiantong to investigate. Shougui drove Zhentuoluo to suicide, bribed the envoy, and received a report confirming his version. When Xiantong later fell in a bribery scandal the case reached Shougui; he was demoted to prefect of Kuozhou for his earlier service and died of a carbuncle on his back. Shougui's son Xiancheng. At the end of Tianbao, Xiancheng was captured by An Lushan and given a post in the rebel administration. He later served Shi Siming, commanding tens of thousands of men at Bianzhou. When the eastern capital was recovered, Shi Chaoyi fled to Bian, but Xiancheng refused him entry, surrendered the city with his army, and was made governor of Bianzhou and Duke of Nanyang. He was made commander of the left wing of the Baoying army and re-enfeoffed as Duke of Deng. When he came to court, Emperor Daizong honored him with exceptional generosity. He was made military commissioner of Shannan West and captured the outlaw Gao Yu of the southern mountains. Soon he also held the Jiannan East River command. When Cui Gan killed Guo Yingyi, Xiancheng marched on Zizhou and was badly beaten. In Dali 3 he returned to the capital because of illness. He recommended his younger brother Xiangong as his successor. Made acting minister of revenue in charge of court affairs, he grew gravely ill, begged to resign, and died. Xiancheng loved glory and achievement, governed generously, was resourceful and adaptable, but in simplicity and integrity he fell short of his father. Xiancheng's cousin Xiangong, a man of repeated military merit, succeeded him through the Right Yulin Army. Late in the Dali era he defeated the Tibetans at Minzhou. In time he became defender of the eastern capital and rose to acting minister of personnel. When Emperor Dezong tried to transfer Lu Qi to prefect of Raozhou, Attendant Yuan Gao returned the edict and argued fiercely against it. Xiangong told the emperor, "Your Majesty should heed what Gao has said." The emperor made no answer. He stepped forward again: "Gao is a worthy minister of yours and deserves special favor." The emperor then abandoned the transfer of Lu Qi. Contemporaries praised him for standing firm. Xiangong's son Xu rose through merit to military commissioner of Xiazhou. In Yuanhe 8 the Zhenwu army expelled Commissioner Li Jinxian and massacred his family and judge Yan Che. Emperor Xianzong ordered Xu to march with his army, granted him full discretion, gave thirty thousand bolts of silk for supplies, and Wang E of Hedong sent five thousand reinforcements. Xu entered, seized Su Guozhen and several hundred mutineers, and executed them. He died and was posthumously made grand mentor of the heir apparent. Xiancheng's cousin Xianfu, honored for military service with trial posts as minister of imperial entertainments and palace director, served under Jia Dan of Hedong against Liang Chongyi with distinction. When Dezong fled west, he followed Hun Jian against Zhu Ci, fought in many battles, and rose to general of the Golden Guards and acting minister of public works. When Li Huiguang rebelled and Tibet raided the frontier, Xianfu garrisoned the palace troops at Xianyang for years until soldiers and farmers alike were secure. In Zhenyuan 4 he replaced Han Yougui as military commissioner of Binning. The Binning army was notoriously unruly; they feared Xianfu's strictness, and when Yougui left they looted freely and tried to make Fan Xichao their commander. Commandant Yang Chaocheng executed the ringleaders, and only then could Xianfu take command. He then cut passes through the mountains, dug deep trenches, and built beacon towers and forts on commanding ground. He asked to restore garrisons at Yanzhou and the Hongmen and Luoyuan posts, and the court agreed. He sent cavalry commander Wei Guang against the Tibetans, built the cities of Yan and Xia, and the enemy dared not raid again. In the twelfth year he was made acting left vice director of the Department of State Affairs. He died and was posthumously made minister of works.
24
=王忠嗣=
Wang Zhongsi
25
王忠嗣，華州鄭人。 父海賓，太子右衛率、豐安軍使。 開元二年，吐蕃寇隴右，詔隴右防禦使薛訥率杜賓客、郭知運、王晙、安思順禦之。 以海賓為先鋒，戰武階，追北至壕口，殺其眾。 進戰長城堡，諸將冒其功，按兵顧望，海賓戰死，大軍乘之，斬賊萬七千級，獲馬七萬、牛羊四十萬。 玄宗憐其忠，贈左金吾大將軍。 忠嗣時年九歲，始名訓，授尚輦奉御。 入見帝，伏地號泣，帝撫之曰：「此去病孤也，須壯而將之。」 更賜今名，養禁中。 肅宗為忠王，帝使與遊。 及長，雄毅寡言，有武略，上與論兵，應對蜂起，帝器之，曰：「後日爾為良將。」 試守代州別駕，大猾閉門自斂，不敢幹法。 數以輕騎出塞，忠王言於帝曰：「忠嗣敢鬥，恐亡之。」 由是召還。
Wang Zhongsi was a native of Zheng in Huazhou. His father Haibin was commander of the Right Guard of the Heir Apparent and commander of the Feng'an army. In Kaiyuan 2 Tibet raided Longyou; Xue Ne was ordered to lead Du Binke, Guo Zhiyun, Wang Jun, and An Sishun against them. Haibin led the vanguard, fought at Wujie, pursued the enemy north to Haokou, and killed many. At Changcheng Fort the other generals held back to claim his glory while Haibin fought and died; the main army then pressed forward, killed seventeen thousand of the enemy, and captured seventy thousand horses and four hundred thousand head of livestock. Xuanzong mourned his loyalty and posthumously made him grand general of the Left Golden Guards. Zhongsi was then nine; originally named Xun, he was appointed palanquin attendant. When he was brought before the emperor he prostrated himself and wept; the emperor comforted him and said, "This is the orphan of Huo Qubing; when he is grown I shall make him a general." He was given his present name and raised in the inner palace. When Suzong was Prince of Zhong, the emperor had the two boys play together. As he grew up he was bold, reserved, and skilled in military affairs; when the emperor discussed strategy with him his answers came in a flood, and the emperor said, "One day you will be a fine general." He served as acting governor of Daizhou; local bullies shut themselves in and dared not break the law. He often led light cavalry beyond the border; the Prince of Zhong told the emperor, "Zhongsi is so eager to fight that I fear we may lose him." He was recalled for that reason.
26
信安王祎在河東，蕭嵩出河西，數引為麾下。 帝以其年少，有復讎誌，詔不得特將。 嵩入朝，忠嗣曰：「從公三年，無以歸報天子。」 乃請精銳數百襲虜。 會贊普大酋閱武郁標川，其下欲還，忠嗣不從，提刀略陣，斬數千人，獲羊馬萬計。 嵩上其功，帝大悅。 累遷左威衛將軍、代北都督，封清源縣男。 與皇甫惟明輕重不得，構忠嗣罪，貶東陽府左果毅。
Under Prince Xin'an Yi in Hedong and Xiao Song in Hexi, he was repeatedly taken onto their staffs. Because he was young and burning for revenge, the emperor forbade him independent command. When Song went to court, Zhongsi said, "I have served you three years with nothing to show the Son of Heaven." He asked for several hundred picked men to raid the enemy. The qaghan's great chiefs were reviewing troops at the Yubiao River; when they wanted to withdraw Zhongsi refused, charged the line with drawn sword, killed several thousand, and captured tens of thousands of sheep and horses. Song reported the victory and the emperor was delighted. He rose to general of the Left Weiwu Guard and governor of Daibei, and was enfeoffed as Baron of Qingyuan. He clashed with Huangfu Weiming over precedence; Weiming framed him and he was demoted to left garrison commander of Dongyang.
27
河西節度使杜希望欲取吐蕃新羅城，有言忠嗣才者，希望以聞，詔追赴河西，進拔其城。 忠嗣錄多，授左威衛郎將，專知兵馬。 俄吐蕃大出，欲取當新城，晨壓官軍陣，眾不敵，舉軍皆恐。 忠嗣單馬進，左右馳突，獨殺數百人，賊眾囂相蹂，軍{廣多}翼掩之，虜大敗。 拜左金吾衛將軍，領河東節度副使、大同軍使，尋為節度使。 二十九年，節度朔方，兼靈州都督。
When Hexi commissioner Du Xiwang planned to take the Tibetan city of Xinluo, Zhongsi's ability was recommended, he was recalled to Hexi, and captured the city. For his many achievements he was made commandant of the Left Weiwu Guard with sole charge of the army. Soon the Tibetans marched out in force against Dangxincheng, pressed the imperial line at dawn, and the whole army feared defeat. Zhongsi rode forward alone while his men charged about him, killing hundreds himself; the enemy panicked and trampled one another as the army's wings closed in and routed them. He was made general of the Left Golden Guards, deputy commissioner of Hedong and commander of the Datong army, and soon full military commissioner. In the twenty-ninth year he commanded Shuofang and served concurrently as governor of Lingzhou.
28
天寶元年，北討奚怒皆，戰桑幹河，三遇三克，耀武漠北，高會而還。 時突厥新有難，忠嗣進軍磧口經略之。 烏蘇米施可汗請降，忠嗣以其方強，特文降耳，乃營木剌、蘭山，諜虛實。 因上平戎十八策，縱反間於拔悉密與葛邏祿、回紇三部，攻多羅斯城，涉昆水，斬米施可汗，築大同、靜邊二城，徙清塞、橫野軍實之，並受降、振武為一城，自是虜不敢盜塞。 徙河東節度使，進封縣公。
In Tianbao 1 he campaigned north against the Xi Nujie, fought three victorious battles on the Sanggan River, displayed his power in the northern desert, feasted his army, and returned. When the Turks were newly in turmoil, Zhongsi advanced to Qikou to manage the frontier. When Qaghan Wusumishi offered surrender, Zhongsi judged it a paper submission while the Turks remained strong; he encamped at Mula and Lanshan and sent spies to learn their strength. He submitted the Eighteen Stratagems for Pacifying the Barbarians, set the Basmyl, Qarluk, and Uyghurs against one another, took Duoluosi, crossed the Kun River, killed Qaghan Mishishi, built Datong and Jingbian, garrisoned them with the Qingse and Hengye armies, united Shoujiang and Zhenwu into one fortress, and thereafter the nomads dared not raid the border. He was made military commissioner of Hedong and promoted to county duke.
29
忠嗣本負勇敢，及為將，乃能持重安邊，不生事，嘗曰：「平世為將，撫眾而已。 吾不欲竭中國力以幸功名。」 故訓練士馬，隨缺繕補。 有漆弓百五十斤，每弢之，示無所用。 軍中士氣盛，日夜思戰，忠嗣縱詭間，伺虜隙，時時出奇兵襲敵，所向無不克，故士亦樂為用。 軍每出，召屬長付以兵，使授士卒，雖弓矢亦誌姓名其上。 軍還，遣弦亡鏃，皆按名第罪。 以是部下人自觀，器甲充刃。 自朔方至雲中袤數千里，據要險築城堡，斥地甚遠。 自張仁亶後四十餘年，忠嗣繼其功。
Though naturally brave, as a commander he was steady and kept the frontier quiet; he said, "In peacetime a general need only care for his men. I will not drain the empire's strength for my own glory." He trained men and horses and repaired equipment as needed. He owned a lacquered bow of one hundred fifty jin but always kept it cased to show he had no wish to use it. Morale ran high and the men burned to fight; Zhongsi used spies and stratagems, struck whenever the enemy slipped, and won every battle, so his troops served him gladly. Before each campaign he called unit leaders, issued arms through them to the men, and even marked names on bows and arrows. On return, every missing bowstring or arrowhead was charged to the named soldier. His men therefore kept themselves in order, and arms and armor were always complete and sharp. From Shuofang to Yunzhong he built forts on strategic ground across thousands of li, pushing the frontier far outward. More than forty years after Zhang Renguan, Zhongsi carried on his work.
30
俄為河西、隴右節度使，權朔方、河東節度，佩四將印，勁兵重地，控制萬里，近世未有也。 又授一子五品官。 後數出戰青海、積石，虜輒奔破。 又討吐谷渾於墨離，平其國。 乃固讓朔方、河東二節度，許之。
Soon he commanded Hexi and Longyou and acted for Shuofang and Hedong, bearing four generals' seals over crack troops in vital regions across ten thousand li—unprecedented in recent memory. One of his sons received a fifth-rank post. He later fought repeatedly at Qinghai and Jishi, and the enemy always broke and fled. He also campaigned against the Tuyuhun at Moli and pacified their realm. He then firmly declined the Shuofang and Hedong commands, and the emperor agreed.
31
帝方事石堡城，詔問攻取計，忠嗣奏言：「吐蕃舉國守之，若頓兵堅城下，費士數萬，然後可圖，恐所得不讎所失，請厲兵馬，待釁取之。」 帝意不快。 而李林甫尤忌其功，日鉤摭過咎。 會董延光建言請下石堡，詔忠嗣分兵應接，忠嗣不得已為出軍，而士無賞格，延光不悅。 河西兵馬使李光弼入說曰：「大夫愛惜士卒，有拒延光心，雖名受詔，實奪其謀。 然大夫已付萬眾，而不立重賞，何以賈士勇？ 且大夫惜數萬段賜，以啟讒口，有如不捷，歸罪大夫，大夫先受禍矣。」 忠嗣曰：「吾固審得一城不足制敵，失之未害於國。 吾忍以數萬人命易一官哉！ 明日見責，不失一金吾、羽林將軍，歸宿衛； 不者，黔中上佐耳。」 光弼謝曰：「大夫乃行古人事，光弼又何言！」 趨而出。 延光過期不克，果訴忠嗣沮兵。 又安祿山城雄武，扼飛狐塞，謀亂，請忠嗣助役，因欲留其兵； 忠嗣先期至，不見祿山而還。 數上言祿山且亂，林甫益惡之，陰使人誣告「忠嗣嘗養宮中，雲吾欲奉太子」。 帝怒，召入付三司訊驗，罪應死。 哥舒翰方有寵，白上，請以官爵贖忠嗣罪，帝意解，貶漢陽太守。 久之，徙漢東郡，卒，年四十五。 後翰引兵攻石堡，拔之，死亡略盡，如忠嗣言，故當世號為名將。
As the emperor pressed the attack on Shibao City, Zhongsi advised: "Tibet is defending it with the whole kingdom; a siege would cost tens of thousands of lives, and the gain may not repay the loss. Sharpen the army and wait for an opening." The emperor was displeased. Li Linfu especially resented his success and daily hunted for faults. When Dong Yanguang proposed taking Shibao, Zhongsi was ordered to support him; Zhongsi sent troops reluctantly without offering rewards, and Yanguang was angry. Li Guangbi of Hexi urged him: "You are sparing your men and resisting Yanguang; though you obey the edict in name, you are blocking his plan. Yet you have committed ten thousand men without offering great rewards—how will you buy their courage? If you withhold tens of thousands of bolts in rewards, you invite slander; if the attack fails, the blame will fall on you first." Zhongsi said, "I know one city will not break the enemy, and losing it would not harm the state. How could I trade tens of thousands of lives for one promotion! If I am blamed tomorrow, I lose no more than a post as Golden Guard or Yulin general and return to the palace guard; at worst, a senior aide in Qianzhong." Guangbi withdrew, saying, "You are acting as the ancients did—what more can I say!" He hurried out. Yanguang missed his deadline and accused Zhongsi of obstructing the campaign. An Lushan was fortifying Xiongwu at Feihu Pass and plotting rebellion; he asked Zhongsi to help with the work, hoping to keep his troops; Zhongsi arrived early, did not meet Lushan, and returned. He repeatedly warned that Lushan would rebel; Linfu hated him more and secretly accused him of saying in the palace, "I mean to support the heir apparent." The emperor was furious, had him tried by the Three Offices, and the charge carried death. Geshu Han, then in favor, pleaded to redeem Zhongsi with his own rank; the emperor relented and demoted Zhongsi to prefect of Hanyang. Later he was moved to Handong and died at forty-five. Later Han took Shibao at the cost of nearly his whole force, just as Zhongsi had warned, and his age hailed him as a famous general.
32
初，在朔方，至互市，輒高償馬直，諸蕃爭來市，故蕃馬浸少，唐軍精。 及鎮河、隴，又請徙朔方、河東九千騎以實軍。 迄天寶末，益滋息。 寶應元年，追贈兵部尚書。 贊贊曰：以忠嗣之才，戰必破，攻必克，策石堡之得不當所亡，高馬直以空虜資，論祿山亂有萌，可謂深謀矣。 然不能自免於讒，卒死放地。 自古忠賢，工謀於國則拙於身，多矣，可勝咤哉！
In Shuofang he paid premium prices at the frontier markets, drawing tribes to sell horses until their stock dwindled and Tang cavalry grew superb. When he commanded He and Long he also asked to transfer nine thousand horsemen from Shuofang and Hedong to strengthen his army. By the end of Tianbao they had multiplied still further. In Baoying 1 he was posthumously made minister of war. The eulogist writes: Given Zhongsi's talent—victory in every battle and conquest in every assault—he judged Shibao not worth its cost, drained tribal horse stocks with high prices, and foresaw Lushan's rebellion: this was true strategic vision. Yet he could not escape slander and died in exile. From antiquity loyal men skilled for the state have often been helpless for themselves—how many such cases, and how lamentable!
33
=牛仙客=
Niu Xianke
34
牛仙客，涇州鶉觚人。 初為縣小史，令傅文靜器之，會為隴右營田使，引與計事，積功遷洮州司馬。 河西節度使王君㚟召為判官。 君㚟死，仙客獨得免。 蕭嵩代節度，復委以軍政。 仙客清勤不懈，接士大夫以信。 及嵩還執政，因薦之。 稍遷太僕少卿，判涼州別駕，知節度留後事，俄為節度使。 開元二十四年，代信安王祎為朔方行軍大總管。
Niu Xianke was a native of Chunquan in Jingzhou. He began as a county clerk; Magistrate Fu Wenjing favored him, and when Fu became Longyou agricultural commissioner he brought Xianke into planning and promoted him to military administrator of Taozhou. Wang Jun'ou, military commissioner of Hexi, made him administrative aide. When Jun'ou was killed, Xianke alone escaped. When Xiao Song succeeded as commissioner he again put Xianke in charge of military affairs. Xianke was scrupulous and tireless, and dealt with officials in good faith. When Song returned to power he recommended him. He rose to vice minister of the stud, acting governor of Liangzhou, regent of the circuit, and soon full military commissioner. In Kaiyuan 24 he replaced Prince Xin'an Yi as grand campaign commander in Shuofang.
35
始在河西，嗇事省用，倉庫積鉅萬，器械犀銳。 崔希逸代之，即以聞。 帝令刑部員外郎張利馳傳覆視，如狀。 帝悅，將用為尚書，宰相張九齡持不可，乃封隴西郡公，實封戶二百。 李林甫探知帝旨，稱其材。 會九齡罷，故以工部尚書、同中書門下三品，知門下事，遙領河東節度副大使。
In Hexi he was frugal, amassed vast stores, and kept weapons sharp. When Cui Xiyi replaced him he reported this to court. The emperor sent Zhang Lichi of the Ministry of Justice to verify on the spot; all was as reported. The emperor wished to make him a minister, but Zhang Jiuling objected; instead he was enfeoffed as Duke of Longxi with two hundred fief households. Li Linfu sensed the emperor's mind and praised his ability. When Jiuling fell he was made minister of public works, fellow of the Secretariat with third rank, head of the Palace Secretariat, and titular deputy commissioner of Hedong.
36
為相謹身無它，與時沈浮，唯唯恭願。 前後錫與，緘庋不敢用。 百司諮決，無所處可，輒曰：「如令式。」 帝既用仙客，知時議不歸，乘間以問高力士，力士曰：「仙客本胥史，非宰相器。」 帝忿然曰：「朕且用康厓！」 蓋恚言也。 有為厓言者，厓以為實，喜甚。 久之，封豳國公，加左相。 卒，贈尚書右丞相，謚曰貞簡。
As chief minister he was cautious and unassuming, drifted with the times, and assented to everything. He sealed away imperial gifts and would not use them. When offices asked his judgment he would say only, "As the regulations provide." Knowing opinion did not favor Xianke, the emperor asked Gao Lishi, who said, "Xianke was only a clerk—not chief-minister timber." The emperor snapped, "Then I will employ Kang Ya!" It was an angry remark. Someone told Kang Ya, who believed it and was overjoyed. In time he was enfeoffed as Duke of Bin and made left chief minister. He died and was posthumously made right chief minister, with the posthumous name Zhenjian.