Volume 136 Biographies 61: Li Guangbi relations: Lifei Yuanli, Hao Tingyu, Li Guochen, Bai Xiaode, Zhang Boyi, Bai Yuanguang, Chen Lizhen, Hou Zhongzhuang, Bai Liangqi, Wu Chengci

李光弼子:彙弟:光進附:荔非元禮郝廷玉李國臣白孝德張伯儀白元光陳利貞侯仲莊柏良器烏承玼

Li Guangbi — his son Hui; his younger brother Guangjin — with appended biographies of Lifei Yuanli, Hao Tingyu, Li Guochen, Bai Xiaode, Zhang Boyi, Bai Yuanguang, Chen Lizhen, Hou Zhongzhuang, Bai Liangqi, and Wu Chengci

李光弼

Li Guangbi

李光弼，營州柳城人。父楷洛，本契丹酋長，武后時入朝，累官左羽林大將軍，封薊郡公。吐蕃寇河源，楷洛率精兵擊走之。初行，謂人曰：「賊平，吾不歸矣。」師還，卒於道，贈營州都督，諡曰忠烈。光弼嚴毅沉果，有大略，幼不嬉弄，善騎射。起家左衛親府左郎將，累遷左清道率，兼安北都護，補河西王忠嗣府兵馬使，充赤水軍使。忠嗣遇之厚，雖宿將莫能比。嘗曰：「它日得我兵者，光弼也。」俄襲父封。以破吐蕃、吐谷渾功，進雲麾將軍。朔方節度使安思順表為副，知留後事，愛其材，欲以子妻之，光弼引疾去。隴右節度使哥舒翰異其操，表還長安。

Li Guangbi was a native of Liucheng in Ying Prefecture. His father Kailuo had been a Khitan chieftain who came to court during Empress Wu's reign, rose through successive posts to Left General of the Feathered Forest, and was created Duke of Ji. When Tibetans raided Heyuan, Kailuo led picked troops and drove them back. As he set out, he told those around him, "Once the enemy is crushed, I will not be coming home. The army turned back, but he died on the march. He was posthumously appointed Military Governor of Ying Prefecture and given the posthumous name Loyal and Fierce. Guangbi was stern, resolute, and decisive, with a gift for grand strategy; even as a boy he shunned idle play and excelled at mounted archery. He entered service as a Left Captain in the Left Guard's Personal Office, rose through successive appointments to Left Commander of the Clear Way and concurrent Protector-General of the Pacified North, joined Wang Zhongsi's Hexi staff as army horse commissioner, and served as commander of the Chishui Army. Zhongsi favored him beyond what even his senior generals received. He once remarked, "The man who will one day take command of my army is Guangbi. Before long he inherited his father's noble title. For victories over the Tibetans and Tuyuhun, he was promoted to Cloud-Banner General. An Sishun, Military Governor of Shuofang, recommended him as deputy and acting regent. An admired his ability and wanted a son to marry Guangbi's daughter, but Guangbi pleaded illness and withdrew. Geshu Han, Military Governor of Longyou, was impressed by his conduct and had him recalled to Chang'an.

安祿山反，郭子儀薦其能，詔攝御史大夫，持節河東節度副大使，知節度事，兼雲中太守。尋加魏郡太守、河北採訪使。光弼以朔方兵五千出土門，東救常山，次真定，常山團結子弟執賊將安思義降。自顏杲卿死，郡為戰區，露胔蔽野，光弼酹而哭之，出為賊幽閉者，厚恤其家。時賊將史思明、李立節、蔡希德攻饒陽，光弼得思義，不殺，問其計，答曰：「今軍行疲勞，逢敵不可支，不如按軍入守，料勝而出。虜兵焱銳，弗能持重，圖之萬全。」光弼曰：「善。」據城待。明日，思明兵二萬傅堞，光弼兵不得出，乃以勁弩五百射之，賊退，徙陣稍北。光弼出其南，夾滹沱而軍。思明雖數困，然恃近救，解鞍休士。是日，饒陽賊五千至九門，光弼諜知之，提輕兵，斂旗鼓，伺賊方飯，襲殺之且盡。思明懼，引去，以奇兵斷饟道。馬食薦藉，光弼命將取芻行唐，賊鈔擊之，兵負戶戰，賊不能奪。會郭子儀收雲中，詔悉眾出井陘，與光弼合擊賊九門西，思明大敗，挺身走趙郡，立節中流矢死，希德走钜鹿。收稿城等十縣，遂攻趙。詔加光弼范陽大都督府長史、范陽節度使。思明繇鼓城入博陵，殺官吏。景城、河間、信都、清河、平原、博平六郡結營自守，以附光弼。光弼急攻趙，一日拔之。士多鹵掠，光弼坐譙門，收所獲，悉歸之民，城中大悅。進圍博陵，未下。與子儀合擊思明於嘉山，大破之。光弼以范陽本賊巢窟，當先取之，揠賊根本。會潼關失守，乃拔軍入井陘。

When An Lushan rose in rebellion, Guo Ziyi commended his ability. An edict appointed him acting Censor-in-Chief, deputy military commissioner of Hedong with full control of the commission, and concurrent prefect of Yunzhong. He was soon also appointed prefect of Wei Commandery and investigating commissioner for Hebei. Guangbi marched five thousand Shuofang troops out through Tumen Pass to relieve Changshan in the east and encamped at Zhending, where local militia seized the rebel general An Siyi and surrendered him. Since Yan Gaoqing's death the region had been a battleground, with unburied corpses strewn across the fields. Guangbi poured libations and wept over the dead, freed those the rebels had imprisoned, and gave their families generous relief. Rebel generals Shi Siming, Li Lijie, and Cai Xide were then besieging Raoyang. Guangbi had taken Siyi alive and, instead of executing him, asked his counsel. Siyi replied, "Your troops are exhausted from the march and cannot stand a meeting engagement. Hold the city, wait until you can count on victory, then strike. The enemy are fierce and impetuous; they cannot keep up a prolonged standoff. That is the surest course. Guangbi said, "Well said." He held the city and waited. The next day Siming brought twenty thousand men up to the walls. Unable to sortie, Guangbi deployed five hundred heavy crossbows and drove the rebels back, forcing them to shift their line northward. Guangbi marched out to their south and encamped with the Hutuo River at his flank. Though Siming had been hard pressed several times, he counted on reinforcements nearby and let his men dismount and rest. That day five thousand rebels from Raoyang reached Jiumen. Guangbi's scouts reported it; he led light troops, muffled banners and drums, struck while the enemy were at their meal, and killed nearly every man. Siming, alarmed, pulled back and sent raiders to cut Guangbi's supply lines. With the horses reduced to eating straw mats, Guangbi sent officers to fetch fodder at Xingtang. Rebels intercepted them, but his men fought shielded by doors they carried on their backs, and the enemy could not wrest the supplies away. Guo Ziyi then recovered Yunzhong, and an edict ordered the full army through Jingxing Pass to join Guangbi in attacking the rebels west of Jiumen. Siming was routed and fled alone to Zhao; Lijie was killed by an arrow; Xide fled toward Julu. They recovered Gao City and nine other counties, then laid siege to Zhao. An edict promoted Guangbi to chief secretary of the Fanyang Grand Protectorate and military governor of Fanyang. Siming entered Boling by way of Gucheng and slaughtered the local officials. Six commanderies — Jingcheng, Hejian, Xindu, Qinghe, Pingyuan, and Boping — raised local defenses and rallied to Guangbi. Guangbi pressed the siege of Zhao and captured it in a single day. His troops had looted freely, so Guangbi sat at the gate tower, collected everything taken, and returned it all to the townspeople. The city was overjoyed. He advanced to besiege Boling but could not bring it down. Joining Guo Ziyi, he met Siming at Jia Mountain and inflicted a crushing defeat. Guangbi argued that Fanyang, the rebels' original stronghold, must be taken first to cut their roots. When Tong Pass fell, he withdrew his army through Jingxing Pass.

肅宗即位，詔以兵赴靈武，更授戶部尚書、同中書門下平章事，節度如故。光弼以景城、河間兵五千入太原。前此，節度使王承業政弛謬，侍御史崔眾主兵太原，每侮狎承業，光弼素不平。及是，詔眾以兵付光弼。眾素狂易，見光弼長揖，不即付兵，光弼怒，收系之。會使者至，拜眾御史中丞。光弼曰：「眾有罪，已前系，今但斬侍御史。若使者宣詔，亦斬中丞。」使者內詔不敢出，乃斬眾以徇，威震三軍。

When Emperor Suzong ascended the throne, an edict ordered Guangbi's army to Lingwu and appointed him Minister of Revenue and associate director of the Secretariat with the Chancellery, while retaining his military commission. Guangbi entered Taiyuan with five thousand troops from Jingcheng and Hejian. Previously the military governor Wang Chengye had governed loosely and badly, while Supervising Censor Cui Zhong held real command at Taiyuan and routinely humiliated Chengye — a state of affairs Guangbi had long resented. Now an edict ordered Cui Zhong to transfer command to Guangbi. Zhong was habitually arrogant. He greeted Guangbi with nothing more than a casual bow and refused to hand over the troops at once. Guangbi had him arrested on the spot. Just then an imperial messenger arrived to invest Zhong as Vice Censor-in-Chief. Guangbi said, "Zhong is guilty and was already in custody. Today I execute only the Supervising Censor. If you proclaim the edict, I shall execute the Vice Censor-in-Chief as well. The messenger kept the edict hidden and dared not produce it. Guangbi executed Zhong before the ranks, and the whole army trembled at his authority.

至德二載，思明、希德率高秀岩、牛廷玠將兵十萬攻光弼。時銳兵悉赴朔方，而麾下卒不滿萬，眾議培城以守，光弼曰：「城環四十里，賊至治之，徒疲吾人。」乃徹民屋為摞石車，車二百人挽之，石所及輒數十人死，賊傷十二。思明為飛樓，障以木幔，築土山臨城，光弼遣穴地頹之。思明宴城下，倡優居臺上靳指天子，光弼遣人隧地禽取之。思明大駭，徙牙帳遠去，軍中皆視地後行。又潛溝營地，將沈其軍，乃陽約降。至期，以甲士守陴，遣裨校出，若送款者，思明大悅。俄而賊數千沒於塹，城上鼓噪，突騎出乘之，俘斬萬計。思明畏敗，乃去，留希德攻太原。光弼出敢死士搏賊，斬首七萬級，希德委資糧遁走。初，賊至，光弼設公幄城隅以止息，經府門不顧。圍解，閱三昔乃歸私寢。收清夷、橫野等軍。賊別將攻好畤，破大橫關，光弼追敗之。加檢校司徒，尋遷司空，封鄭國公，食實戶八百。

In the second year of Zhide, Siming and Xide, with Gao Xiuyan and Niu Tingjie, led a hundred thousand men against Guangbi. His best troops had all been sent to Shuofang, leaving fewer than ten thousand under his command. His officers urged strengthening the walls for a siege defense. Guangbi replied, "The walls run forty li around the city. Repairing them under enemy pressure would only exhaust our men. Instead he demolished houses to build stone-throwing engines, each hauled by two hundred men. Wherever a stone landed, dozens of enemy fell; rebel casualties ran to twelve thousand. Siming built assault towers screened with wooden curtains and raised an earthen mound against the walls. Guangbi countered by tunneling beneath it and collapsing the mound. Siming held a feast below the walls while performers on a platform mocked the emperor. Guangbi sent men through the tunnels to seize them. Siming was terrified, moved his headquarters far back, and ordered his men to watch the ground wherever they marched. He also dug secret channels through the camp to flood Guangbi's position, then feigned willingness to surrender. On the appointed day Guangbi lined armored men along the battlements and sent a lieutenant out as if to surrender. Siming was delighted. Moments later thousands of rebels plunged into the flooded trenches. Drums thundered on the walls and shock cavalry burst out upon them, capturing and killing tens of thousands. Siming, fearing defeat, withdrew and left Xide to continue the siege of Taiyuan. Guangbi sent his dare-to-die troops into the fight, claiming seventy thousand enemy heads. Xide abandoned his supplies and fled. When the rebels first arrived, Guangbi pitched a field tent at the corner of the wall and slept there, passing his own headquarters without so much as a glance inside. Not until three nights after the siege lifted did he return to his private quarters. He recovered the Qingyi, Hengye, and other scattered units. A rebel detached force attacked Haochi and broke through Daheng Pass; Guangbi pursued and routed them. He was appointed acting Minister of Works, soon made full Minister of Works, created Duke of Zheng, and granted an income of eight hundred taxable households.

乾元元年，入朝，詔朝官四品以上郊謁，進兼侍中。與九節度圍安慶緒於相州，大戰鄴西，敗之。光弼與諸將議：「思明勒兵魏州，欲以怠我，不如起軍逼之。彼懲嘉山之敗，不敢輕出，則慶緒可禽。」觀軍容使魚朝恩固謂不可。既而思明來援，光弼拒賊，戰尤力，殺略大當。會諸將驚潰，各引歸，所在剽掠，獨光弼整眾還太原。帝貸諸將罪，以光弼兼幽州大都督府長史，知諸道節度行營事。又代子儀為朔方節度使。未幾，為天下兵馬副元帥。

In the first year of Qianyuan he came to court. An edict required officials of the fourth rank and above to greet him in the suburbs, and he was promoted to concurrent Palace Attendant. Joining the nine military commissioners, he besieged An Qingxu at Xiang Prefecture and won a great victory west of Ye. Guangbi urged his generals, "Siming is holding troops at Wei Prefecture to lull us into complacency. We should march against him at once. Chastened by his defeat at Jia Mountain, he will not dare march out lightly, and then we can take Qingxu. Army Supervising Commissioner Yu Chaoen flatly refused. Siming soon arrived with reinforcements. Guangbi met the rebels head-on, fought with exceptional ferocity, and inflicted heavy casualties. The allied generals then panicked and broke, each marching home and looting along the way. Guangbi alone brought his army back in good order to Taiyuan. The emperor pardoned the other generals and appointed Guangbi concurrent chief secretary of the Youzhou Grand Protectorate with authority over all field headquarters. He also replaced Guo Ziyi as military governor of Shuofang. Before long he was named deputy commander-in-chief of all forces under heaven.

光弼以河東騎五百馳東都，夜入其軍，且謂賊方窺洛，當扼虎牢，帥師東出河上。檄召兵馬使張用濟，用濟憚光弼嚴，教諸將逗留其兵。用濟單騎入謁，光弼斬之，以辛京杲代。復追都將僕固懷恩，懷恩懼，先期至。會滑汴節度使許叔冀戰不利，降賊，思明乘勝西向。光弼敦陣徐行，趨東京，謂留守韋陟曰：「賊新勝，難與爭鋒，欲詘之以計。然洛無見糧，危偪難守，公計安出？」陟曰：「益陝兵，公保潼關，可以持久。」光弼曰：「兩軍相敵，尺寸地必爭。今委五百里而守關，賊得地，勢益張。不如移軍河陽，北阻澤、潞，勝則出，敗則守，表裏相應，賊不得西，此猿臂勢也。夫辨朝廷之禮，我不如公；論軍旅勝負，公不如我。」陟不能答。判官韋損曰：「東都乃帝宅，公當守之。」光弼曰：「汜水、崿嶺盡為賊蹊，子能盡守乎？」遂檄河南縱官吏避賊，閈無留人，督軍取戰守備。

Guangbi raced to the Eastern Capital with five hundred Hedong horsemen, entered camp at night, and declared that with the rebels eyeing Luoyang they must hold Hulao Pass and lead the army east along the Yellow River. He summoned Army Horse Commissioner Zhang Yongji by dispatch. Yongji, fearing Guangbi's severity, told the generals to hold their troops back. Yongji rode in alone to present himself. Guangbi had him executed and appointed Xin Jinggao in his place. He then sent for Commandery General Pugu Huai'en, who, terrified, arrived ahead of the summons. When Xu Shuji, military governor of Huabian, was defeated and surrendered, Siming pressed his advantage westward. Guangbi tightened his formation and advanced slowly toward the Eastern Capital. He told the regent Wei Zhi, "The rebels have just won and are not to be met head-on. I mean to wear them down by strategy. But Luoyang has no grain in sight, and the danger is pressing. What is your counsel? Wei Zhi replied, "Reinforce with troops from Shaanxi and hold Tong Pass. That way we can last." Guangbi said, "When two armies face each other, every foot of ground is contested. If we yield five hundred li of territory and merely hold the pass, the rebels gain ground and their momentum only grows. Better to shift to Heyang, with Ze and Lu blocking the north. If we win, we advance; if we lose, we hold. Inner and outer positions will support each other, and the rebels cannot push west. That is the 'ape's arm' formation." In matters of court ritual, I am no match for you; but in the calculus of victory and defeat on the battlefield, you are no match for me." Wei Zhi had no answer. His aide Wei Sun objected, "The Eastern Capital is the emperor's own city. You ought to defend it. Guangbi replied, "Every path through Sishui and Eling is open to the enemy. Can you guard them all?" He then issued orders through Henan allowing officials to flee the rebels, cleared the streets of civilians, and pressed his army to gather weapons and supplies for the coming fight.

思明至偃師，光弼悉軍趨河陽，身以五百騎殿。賊游騎至石橋，諸將曰：「並城而北乎？當石橋進乎？」光弼曰：「當石橋進。」夜甲，士持炬徐引，部曲重堅，賊不敢逼。已入三城，眾二萬，軍才十日糧，與卒伍均少棄甘。賊憚光弼，未敢犯宮闕，頓白馬祠，治塹溝，築月城以守。賊攻光弼，與戰中氵單西，破逆黨，斬千級，溺死者甚眾，生執五千人。初，光弼謂李抱玉曰：「將軍能為我守南城二日乎？」抱玉曰：「過期何若？」曰：「棄之。」抱玉許諾。即紿賊曰：「吾糧盡，明日當降。」賊喜，斂兵待期。抱玉已繕完，即請戰。賊忿欺，急攻之。抱玉出奇兵夾擊，俘獲過當，賊帥周摯引卻。光弼自將治中氵單，樹壁掘塹。摯舍南城攻中氵單，光弼遣荔非元禮戰羊馬，賊大潰。摯收兵復振，與安太清合眾三萬攻北城。光弼斂軍入，登陴望曰：「彼軍雖銳，然方陣而囂，不足虞也，日中當破。」乃出戰，及期未決，召諸將曰：「彼強而可破者，亂也。今以亂擊亂，宜無功。」因問：「賊陣何所最堅？」曰：「西北隅。」召郝廷玉曰：「為我以麾下破之。」曰：「廷玉所將步卒，請騎五百。」與之三百。復問其次，曰：「東南隅。」召論惟貞，辭曰：「蕃將也，不知步戰，請鐵騎三百。」與之二百。乃出賜馬四十，分給廷玉等。光弼執大旗曰：「望吾旗，麾若緩，可觀便宜。若三麾至地，諸軍畢入，生死以之，退者斬！」既而馮堞望廷玉軍不能前，趣左右取其首來。廷玉曰：「馬中矢，非卻也。」乃命易佗馬。有裨將援矛刺賊，洞馬腹，中數人，又有迎賊不戰而卻者，光弼召援矛者賜絹五百匹，不戰者斬。光弼麾旗三，諸軍爭奮，賊眾奔敗，斬首萬餘級，俘八千餘人，馬二千，軍資器械以億計，禽周摯、徐璜玉、李秦授，惟太清挺身走。思明未知，猶攻南城，光弼驅所俘示之，思明大懼，築壘以拒官軍。始，光弼將戰，內刀於靴，曰：「戰，危事。吾位三公，不可辱於賊。萬有一不捷，當自刎以謝天子。」及是，西向拜舞，三軍感動。太清襲懷州，守之。

When Siming reached Yanshi, Guangbi marched his entire force toward Heyang, personally commanding five hundred horsemen as rearguard. Rebel scouts reached Shiqiao Bridge. His generals asked, "Shall we march north along the city wall? Or cross at the bridge? Guangbi said, "Cross at the bridge." That night they donned armor. His men carried torches and advanced at a deliberate pace in tight formation, and the rebels did not dare close. Once inside the three cities he had twenty thousand men and only ten days' rations. He shared what little sweets he had equally with the rank and file. The rebels feared Guangbi and did not dare assault the palace quarter. They encamped at the White Horse Shrine, dug trenches, and built crescent ramparts for a siege. When the rebels attacked, he met them west of Zhongtan, routed their forces, beheaded a thousand, drowned a great many more, and took five thousand prisoners. Earlier Guangbi had asked Li Baoyu, "Can you hold the south city for me for two days? Baoyu asked, "What if I cannot hold it that long?" Guangbi replied, "Then abandon it." Baoyu agreed. He immediately deceived the enemy, announcing, "Our provisions are gone — we will surrender tomorrow. The rebels were delighted and held their troops back to await the appointed day. Once his defenses were ready, Baoyu demanded battle at once. Furious at being tricked, the rebels attacked in force. Baoyu sent raiders to strike from both flanks, taking prisoners beyond count. The rebel commander Zhou Zhi pulled back. Guangbi personally directed the fortification of Zhongtan, building walls and digging trenches. Zhi abandoned the south city to assault Zhongtan. Guangbi sent Lifei Yuanli to meet him at Yangma and routed the rebel army. Zhi regrouped and, joining An Taiqing, massed thirty thousand men to assault the north city. Guangbi drew his troops inside the walls, mounted the battlements, and said, "Their army is fierce, but they stand in rigid formation and are overconfident. They are nothing to fear — by midday they will break. He sallied forth, but when midday passed without a decision he called his generals and said, "What makes a strong enemy beatable is disorder. Fighting disorder with disorder will get us nowhere." He asked, "Where is the enemy line strongest?" They answered, "The northwest corner." He summoned Hao Tingyu. "Break it for me under my banner." Tingyu said, "I command foot soldiers — give me five hundred horsemen." Guangbi gave him three hundred. He asked where the line was next strongest. "The southeast corner," came the reply. He summoned Lun Weizhen, who protested, "I am a frontier officer and know nothing of infantry fighting — give me three hundred armored horsemen." Guangbi gave him two hundred. He then brought out forty imperial horses and distributed them among Tingyu and the others. Guangbi seized the command banner and said, "Watch my flag. If the signal is slow, use your own judgment. When I lower the banner three times, every unit charges in together. Stake your lives on it — anyone who retreats will be beheaded! Soon he mounted the ramparts and saw Tingyu's troops stalled. He ordered his attendants to bring him Tingyu's head. Tingyu called back, "My horse was hit — I am not retreating. He ordered a fresh mount. One lieutenant drove his spear into the enemy ranks, piercing a horse's belly and striking several men. Another met the enemy and fell back without fighting. Guangbi rewarded the spearman with five hundred bolts of silk and beheaded the coward. Guangbi lowered his banner three times and every unit charged. The rebels broke and fled. More than ten thousand were beheaded, over eight thousand captured, two thousand horses taken, and military stores beyond counting. Zhou Zhi, Xu Huangyu, and Li Qinshou were captured; only Taiqing escaped alone. Siming, still unaware, continued attacking the south city. Guangbi paraded his prisoners before the rebel lines. Siming was terrified and threw up fortifications to block the imperial army. Before the battle Guangbi had slipped a knife into his boot and said, "War is a perilous business. I hold one of the three highest ranks in the realm and cannot suffer disgrace at rebel hands. If fortune turns against us, I will cut my own throat to answer to the emperor. After the victory he bowed toward the west in homage to the throne, and the whole army was deeply moved. Taiqing seized Huaizhou and held it against the imperial army.

上元元年，加太尉、中書令。進圍懷州，思明來救，光弼再逐北。思明見兵河清，聲度河絕餉路。光弼壁野水度，既夕還軍，留牙將雍希顥守，曰：「賊將高暉、李日越，萬人敵也，賊必使劫我。爾留此，賊至勿與戰，若降，與偕來。」左右竊怪語無倫。是日，思明果召日越曰：「光弼野次，爾以鐵騎五百夜取之，不然，無歸！」日越至壘，使人問曰：「太尉在乎？」曰：「去矣。」「兵幾何？」曰：「千人。」「將為誰？」曰：「雍希顥。」日越謂其下曰：「我受命雲何，今顧獲希顥，歸不免死。」遂請降。希顥與俱至，光弼厚待之，表授特進，兼金吾大將軍。高暉聞，亦降。或問：「公降二將何易也？」光弼曰：「思明再敗，恨不得野戰，聞我野次，彼固易之，命將來襲，必許以死。希顥無名，不足以為功。日越懼死，不降何待？高暉材出日越之右，降者見遇，貳者得不思奮乎？」諸軍決丹水灌懷州，未下。光弼令廷玉由地道入，得其軍號，登陴大呼，王師乘城，禽太清、楊希仲，送之京師，獻俘太廟。進食實戶一千五百。

In the first year of Shangyuan he was promoted to Grand Marshal and Director of the Secretariat. He advanced to besiege Huaizhou. When Siming came to relieve the city, Guangbi twice drove him back. Siming massed troops at Heqing and announced he would cross the river to cut Guangbi's supply lines. Guangbi encamped at Yeshui Ford, then withdrew his main force at dusk, leaving Lieutenant-General Yong Xixian behind. "The rebel generals Gao Hui and Li Yueyue are worth ten thousand men each," he said. "Siming is sure to send them to raid this camp. Stay here. If they come, do not fight. If they wish to surrender, bring them to me. His officers privately thought his orders made no sense. That same day Siming summoned Yueyue and said, "Guangbi is camped in the open. Take five hundred armored horsemen and seize him tonight — or do not come back! Yueyue reached the camp and sent a messenger to ask, "Is the Grand Marshal here?" The reply came, "He has already left." How many troops remain?" A thousand." Who commands them?" Yong Xixian." Yueyue told his men, "What was I ordered to do? If I return having captured only Xixian, I am a dead man." He asked to surrender. Xixian brought him in. Guangbi received him generously and recommended him for special advancement and appointment as Grand General of the Golden Crow Guard. When Gao Hui heard of this, he surrendered as well. Someone asked, "How did you secure the surrender of those two generals so easily? Guangbi replied, "Siming has been defeated twice and is desperate for a field battle. Hearing that I was camped in the open, he naturally underestimated me and sent generals to raid us — on pain of death if they failed. Xixian is nobody — capturing him would not count as a victory. Yueyue feared for his life — what else could he do but surrender? Gao Hui outranks Yueyue in ability. When defectors are rewarded so well, who among the wavering would not reconsider his loyalty?" The allied armies dammed the Danshui to flood Huaizhou, but the city still held. Guangbi sent Tingyu through a tunnel to learn the enemy's watchwords, then had him mount the walls and shout. The imperial troops scaled the city, captured Taiqing and Yang Xizhong, sent them to the capital, and presented the prisoners at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. His income was increased by fifteen hundred taxable households.

思明使諜宣言賊將士皆北人，謳吟思歸。朝恩信然，屢上賊可滅狀。詔諭光弼，光弼固言賊方銳，未可輕動。僕固懷恩媢光弼功，陰佐朝恩陳掃除計。使者來督戰，光弼不得已，令李抱玉守河陽，出師次北邙。光弼使傅山陣，懷恩曰：「我用騎，今迫險，非便地，請陣諸原。」光弼曰：「有險，可以勝，可以敗；陣于原，敗斯殲矣。且賊致死於我，不如阻險。」懷恩不從。賊據高原，以長戟七百，壯士執刀隨之，委物偽遁。懷恩軍爭剽獲，伏兵發，官軍大潰。懷州復陷，光弼度河保聞喜，抱玉以兵寡，棄河陽。光弼請罪，帝以懷恩違令覆軍，優詔召光弼入朝。懇讓太尉，更拜開府儀同三司、中書令、河中尹、晉絳等州節度使。未幾，復拜太尉，兼侍中、河南副元帥，知河南、淮南東西、山南東、荊南五道節度行營事，鎮泗州。帝為賦詩以餞。

Siming planted agents to spread word that his troops were all northerners who sang of home and longed to return. Yu Chaoen believed them and repeatedly memorialized that the rebels could be destroyed at a stroke. The emperor sent orders to Guangbi, but Guangbi insisted the rebels were still formidable and must not be provoked lightly. Pugu Huai'en, jealous of Guangbi's achievements, secretly encouraged Chaoen's plans for a decisive offensive. Imperial envoys arrived to demand battle. Guangbi had no choice. He left Li Baoyu to hold Heyang and marched out to encamp at North Mang. Guangbi drew up his line on Fu Mountain. Huai'en objected, "I fight with cavalry. This cramped ground is no place for horsemen — let us deploy on the open plain. Guangbi replied, "Difficult ground can win a battle or lose one; but on open ground, defeat means annihilation. The rebels will fight to the death against us. Better to use the terrain as our shield. Huai'en refused to listen. The rebels held the high ground with seven hundred pikemen and swordsmen in support, then feigned retreat, abandoning goods along the way. Huai'en's men scrambled to seize the abandoned goods. Ambush troops sprang up and the imperial army was routed. Huaizhou fell again. Guangbi crossed the river to hold Wensi, while Baoyu, too weak to defend Heyang, abandoned the city. Guangbi submitted a confession of failure. The emperor blamed Huai'en for disobeying orders and ruining the army, and issued a gracious summons for Guangbi to come to court. He earnestly declined the rank of Grand Marshal and was instead appointed Grand Master with Golden Document Equal to the Three Excellencies, Director of the Secretariat, prefect of Hezhong, and military governor of Jin, Jiang, and neighboring prefectures. Before long he was again named Grand Marshal and concurrent Palace Attendant, deputy commander-in-chief of Henan with authority over field headquarters in five circuits — Henan, Eastern and Western Huainan, Eastern Shannan, and Jingnan — and stationed at Sizhou. The emperor composed a poem to bid him farewell.

相州、北邙之敗，朝恩羞其策繆，故深忌光弼切骨，而程元振尤疾之。二人用事，日謀有以中傷者。及來瑱為元振讒死，光弼愈恐。吐蕃寇京師，代宗詔入援，光弼畏禍，遷延不敢行。及帝幸陝，猶倚以為重，數存問其母，以解嫌疑。帝還長安，因拜東都留守，察其去就。光弼以久須詔書不至，歸徐州收租賦為解。帝令郭子儀自河中輦其母還京。二年，光弼疾篤，奉表上前後所賜實封，詔不許。將吏問後事，答曰：「吾淹軍中，不得就養，為不孝子，尚何言哉！」取所餘絹布分遺部將。薨，年五十七。部將即以其布遂為光弼行喪，號哭相問。帝遣使吊恤其母，贈太保，諡曰武穆，詔百官送葬延平門外。

After the defeats at Xiang and North Mang, Yu Chaoen was ashamed of his own bad counsel and came to hate Guangbi with a personal bitterness; Cheng Yuanzhen detested him even more. With both men in power, they plotted daily to bring him down. When Lai Tian was slandered to death by Yuanzhen, Guangbi's fear deepened. When Tibetans threatened the capital, Emperor Daizong ordered him to march to the relief. Guangbi, fearing a trap, delayed and would not move. Even after the emperor fled to Shan, he still counted on Guangbi's prestige and repeatedly sent inquiries after his mother to dispel suspicion. When the emperor returned to Chang'an, he appointed Guangbi regent of the Eastern Capital to test his loyalty. Guangbi, having waited in vain for further orders, returned to Xuzhou on the pretext of collecting taxes and tribute. The emperor ordered Guo Ziyi to bring Guangbi's mother from Hezhong back to the capital. In the second year of his appointment his illness grew grave. He submitted a memorial offering to return all the taxable households the throne had bestowed on him. The emperor refused. When his officers asked about his final wishes, he replied, "I have spent my life in the army and could not care for my parents at home. I am an unfilial son — what more is there to say? He divided his remaining silk and cloth among his commanders. He died at the age of fifty-seven. His commanders immediately used that cloth to conduct his funeral rites, wailing and comforting one another. The emperor sent envoys to comfort his mother, posthumously appointed him Grand Guardian with the posthumous name Martial and Solemn, and ordered all officials to escort the funeral procession out through Yanping Gate.

光弼用兵，謀定而後戰，能以少覆眾。治師訓整，天下服其威名，軍中指顧，諸將不敢仰視。初，與郭子儀齊名，世稱「李郭」，而戰功推為中興第一。其代子儀朔方也，營壘、士卒、麾幟無所更，而光弼一號令之，氣色乃益精明雲。

In warfare Guangbi planned thoroughly before he fought and could defeat larger forces with smaller ones. He drilled his troops to exacting discipline. All under heaven respected his authority; in camp a glance from him was enough to make his generals lower their eyes. He had once been ranked equal to Guo Ziyi, and the age spoke of "Li and Guo" — yet in battle merit he was considered foremost among those who restored the dynasty. When he replaced Guo Ziyi in Shuofang, the camps, troops, and banners were unchanged — yet a single command from Guangbi made the whole army's bearing grow sharper still.

子彙

His son Hui

子彙，有志操，廉介自將。從賈耽為裨將，奏兼御史大夫。元和初，分徐州苻離為宿州，光弼有遺愛，擢彙為刺史。後遷涇原節度使，罷軍中雜徭，出奉錢贖將士質賣子，還其家。卒，贈工部尚書。

His son Hui was a man of principle who conducted himself with austere integrity. Serving under Jia Dan as a lieutenant general, he was recommended for concurrent appointment as Censor-in-Chief. At the start of the Yuanhe reign, Fuli was carved out of Xuzhou to form Suzhou. Because the people still cherished Li Guangbi's memory, Hui was promoted to prefect of the new prefecture. He was later made military governor of Jingyuan. There he abolished miscellaneous corvée duties in the army and spent his own salary to redeem officers' and soldiers' children who had been sold into pawn, returning them to their families. When he died, he was posthumously appointed Minister of Works.

弟光進

Younger brother: Guangjin

光弼所部將李懷光、僕固懷恩、田神功、李抱玉、董秦、哥舒曜、韓遊環、渾釋之、辛京杲自有傳。若荔非元禮、郝廷玉、李國臣、白孝德、張伯儀、白元光、陳利貞、侯仲莊、柏良器，皆章章可稱列者，附次左方。

Li Guangbi's subordinate generals — Li Huai'guang, Pugu Huai'en, Tian Shegong, Li Baoyu, Dong Qin, Geshu Yao, Han Youhuan, Hun Shizhi, and Xin Jinggao — each have separate biographies. Lifei Yuanli, Hao Tingyu, Li Guochen, Bai Xiaode, Zhang Boyi, Bai Yuanguang, Chen Lizhen, Hou Zhongzhuang, and Bai Liangqi — all men of clear distinction — are recorded in the appended accounts that follow.

附荔非元禮

Appended biography: Lifei Yuanli

荔非元禮起裨將，累兼御史中丞。光弼守河陽，周摯攻北城，光弼方壁中氵單，摯聞，並兵從光弼。光弼使元禮守羊馬城，植小旗城東北隅，望摯軍。摯恃眾，直逼城，以車千乘載木鵝橦車，麾兵填塹，八道並進。光弼諭元禮曰：「中丞視賊過兵不顧，何也？」報曰：「公欲守邪？戰歟？」光弼曰：「戰。」曰：「方戰，賊為我實塹，復何怪？」光弼曰：「吾慮不及此，公勉之。」元禮遂出戰，摯軍小卻。元禮以敵堅，未可以馳，還軍示弱，怠其意。光弼怒，使召元禮，欲按軍法。答曰：「方戰，不及往，請破賊以見。」因休柵中，良久，顧麾下曰：「向公來召，殆欲斬我。鬥死有名，無庸受戮。」乃下馬持刀，瞋目直前，銳士堵而進，左右奮擊，一當數人，斬賊數百首，摯遁去。以功累遷驃騎大將軍、懷州刺史，知鎮西、北庭行營節度使。上元二年，光弼進收洛陽，軍敗，元禮徙軍翼成，為麾下所害。

Lifei Yuanli began as a lieutenant general and was repeatedly given concurrent appointment as Vice Censor-in-Chief. While Li Guangbi held Heyang, Zhou Zhi attacked the north wall. Guangbi was then commanding from the inner moat fort; when Zhi learned of this, he united his forces and turned against Guangbi. Guangbi ordered Yuanli to hold the livestock enclosure wall, set a small flag at the city's northeast corner, and watch Zhou Zhi's army from there. Trusting in his numbers, Zhi pressed straight up to the wall with a thousand carts bearing wooden rams and covered assault wagons, ordered his men to fill the moat, and advanced along eight routes at once. Guangbi sent word to Yuanli: "Vice Censor, you see the enemy pass and pay no attention to your troops — why? Yuanli replied, "Do you mean to defend, my lord? Or to fight?" Guangbi said, "Fight." Yuanli said, "If we are to fight, the enemy is filling the moat for us — what is strange about that?" Guangbi said, "I had not thought that far ahead. Do your utmost, sir." Yuanli then sallied forth; Zhou Zhi's army gave ground a little. Judging the enemy line too solid for a cavalry charge, Yuanli pulled his troops back to feign weakness and lull the enemy. Guangbi grew angry, sent for Yuanli, and meant to punish him under military law. Yuanli answered, "The battle is still on — I cannot leave now. Let me break the enemy first, and then I will come before you. He rested inside the palisade. After a long while he turned to his men and said, "When the commander sent for me just now, he probably meant to cut off my head. Better to die fighting and win a name than to submit to the blade." He dismounted, drew his blade, glared, and charged straight ahead. His crack troops closed ranks and pressed forward, striking on both flanks — each man took on several foes and cut down hundreds of the enemy. Zhou Zhi fled. For this achievement he rose through successive promotions to Flying-Cavalry Grand General and prefect of Huaizhou, with acting authority over the Zhenxi and Beiting field headquarters. In the second year of Shangyuan, when Guangbi advanced to retake Luoyang and the army was defeated, Yuanli withdrew his forces to Yicheng, where his own subordinates killed him.

附郝廷玉

Appended biography: Hao Tingyu

郝廷玉驍勇善格鬥，為光弼愛將。及保河陽，禽徐璜玉，功為多。累封安邊郡王，授神策將軍。吐蕃犯京畿，與馬璘屯中渭橋。它日，魚朝恩聞其善佈陣，請觀之。廷玉申號令，鳴鼓角，部伍坐作進退若一。朝恩歎曰：「吾處兵間久，今始識訓練法。」廷玉惻然曰：「此臨淮王遺法也。王善禦軍，賞當功，罰適過，每校旗，不如令者輒斬。由是人皆自效，而赴蹈馳突，心破膽裂。自臨淮歿，無復校旗事，此安足賞哉？」累為秦州刺史。卒，贈工部尚書。

Hao Tingyu was fierce in battle and skilled at hand-to-hand fighting; he was one of Li Guangbi's favorite generals. When Heyang was held, he captured Xu Huangyu and contributed more to the victory than any other officer. He was repeatedly enfeoffed as Prince of Anbian and appointed a general of the Divine Strategy Army. When Tibetans threatened the capital region, he encamped with Ma Lin at Central Wei Bridge. On another occasion, Yu Chaoen heard that he was skilled at deploying formations and asked to watch a drill. Tingyu issued his commands; drums and horns sounded, and the ranks sat, rose, advanced, and retreated in perfect unison. Chaoen sighed and said, "I have spent my life among soldiers, yet only today do I see what real training looks like. Tingyu said sadly, "This is the legacy of the Prince of Huai. The Prince knew how to command an army — rewards matched merit and punishments matched fault. At every flag inspection, any man who failed to obey was beheaded on the spot. Because of that, every man gave his utmost; they charged and fought with hearts set on death and courage that shattered the enemy's nerve. Since the Prince of Huai died, no one has held flag inspections anymore. What is there to admire in this?" He served repeatedly as prefect of Qinzhou. When he died, he was posthumously appointed Minister of Works.

附李國臣

Appended biography: Li Guochen

李國臣，河西人，本姓安。力能抉關，以折沖從收魚海五城，遷中郎將。後為朔方將，積勞擢雲麾大將軍，賜姓李。從光弼守河陽，累封臨川郡王。大曆八年，為鹽州刺史。吐蕃敗渾瑊于黃菩原，將略汧、隴，國臣謂人曰：「虜乘勝，必擾京師，我趨秦原，彼當反顧。」乃引兵登安樂山，鳴鼓而西，日行三十里。吐蕃聞之，自百里城回軍，逾險，瑊因擊敗之。卒，贈揚州大都督。

Li Guochen was a native of Hexi; his original surname was An. Strong enough to wrench open city gates, he served as a vanguard officer in the recovery of the five cities of Yuhai and was promoted to palace guard general. He later served as a Shuofang general. For long and meritorious service he was promoted to Cloud-Banner Grand General and granted the imperial surname Li. Serving under Guangbi at Heyang, he was repeatedly enfeoffed as Prince of Linchuan. In the eighth year of Dali he was appointed prefect of Yanzhou. When Tibetans defeated Hun Jian at Huangpuyuan and prepared to advance into Qian and Long, Guochen told his officers, "The enemy, emboldened by victory, will surely threaten the capital. If we strike toward Qinyuan, they will have to turn back. He led his troops up Mount Anle, beat the drums, and marched west at thirty li a day. When the Tibetans heard of this, they wheeled about at Bailicheng and withdrew over difficult ground; Hun Jian took advantage and routed them. When he died, he was posthumously appointed Grand Protector of Yangzhou.

附白孝德

Appended biography: Bai Xiaode

白孝德，安西人，事光弼為偏裨。史思明攻河陽，使驍將劉龍仙以騎五十挑戰，加右足馬鬣上，嫚罵光弼。光弼登城顧諸將曰：「孰能取是賊？」僕固懷恩請行，光弼曰：「是非大將所宜。」左右以孝德對。召問所須幾兵，對曰：「願出五十騎，見可而進，大軍鼓噪以張吾氣，足矣。」光弼撫其背遣之。孝德擁二矛，策馬絕河，半濟，懷恩賀曰：「事克矣。其攬轡便辟，可萬全者。」龍仙見，易之，不為動。將至，若引避然，孝德振手止之曰：「侍中使致辭，無它。」與語須之，瞋目曰：「賊識我乎？我，白孝德也。」龍仙罵之，乃躍馬前搏，城上因大噪，五十騎繼進，龍仙環堤走，追斬其首以還。後累功至北庭行營節度使，徙邠寧。僕固懷恩引吐蕃兵入寇，孝德擊敗之。永泰初，吐蕃、回紇圍涇陽，郭子儀說回紇約盟，吐蕃退走，子儀使渾瑊以兵五千出奉天，命孝德應之，大戰赤沙烽，斬獲甚眾。累封昌化郡王，曆太子少傅。建中元年卒，贈太保。

Bai Xiaode was a native of Anxi who served Li Guangbi as a lieutenant. When Shi Siming attacked Heyang, he sent the fierce general Liu Longxian with fifty horsemen to challenge the defenders. Longxian stood with his right foot on his horse's mane and hurled insults at Guangbi. Guangbi climbed the wall, looked at his generals, and asked, "Who can bring down this enemy? Pugu Huai'en volunteered, but Guangbi said, "This is not work for a chief general." Those around him suggested Xiaode. When summoned and asked how many men he needed, Xiaode replied, "Give me fifty horsemen. I will advance when I see an opening, and let the main army raise a clamor to hearten us — that will be enough. Guangbi clapped him on the back and sent him out. Xiaode took up two spears and spurred his horse across the river. When he was halfway over, Huai'en cried, "The thing is as good as done! See how easily he handles the reins — nothing can go wrong now. Longxian saw him coming and took him lightly, showing no alarm. When Xiaode drew near as if to pass by, he raised his hand to stop Longxian and said, "The Palace Attendant sends me with a message — nothing more. They exchanged words for a moment; then Xiaode glared and said, "Do you know who I am, you wretch? I am Bai Xiaode." Longxian cursed him. Xiaode spurred his horse forward to grapple. The men on the wall raised a great shout, fifty horsemen charged after him, and Longxian fled along the embankment. They ran him down, cut off his head, and returned. For later achievements he rose to military governor of the Beiting field headquarters and was then transferred to Binning. When Pugu Huai'en led Tibetan troops in an invasion, Xiaode defeated them. At the start of the Yongtai reign, Tibetans and Uyghurs besieged Jingyang. Guo Ziyi persuaded the Uyghurs to make peace, and the Tibetans withdrew. Ziyi sent Hun Jian with five thousand men out from Fengtian and ordered Xiaode to join him. At Chisha Beacon they fought a great battle and killed or captured a great number of the enemy. He was repeatedly enfeoffed as Prince of Changhua and served as junior tutor to the heir apparent. He died in the first year of Jianzhong and was posthumously appointed Grand Mentor.

附張伯儀

Appended biography: Zhang Boyi

張伯儀，魏州人，以戰功隸光弼軍。浙賊袁晁反，使伯儀討平之，功第一，擢睦州刺史。後為江陵節度使。樸厚不知書，然推誠遇人，軍中畏肅，民亦便之。李希烈反，詔與賈耽、張獻甫收安州。戰不利，伯儀中流矢，師卻，失所持節。賊追及，奮刀以禦之，兩刃相向不得下，會救至，免。至漢水，拿野人船以達沔州。潰兵至江陵，哭于廷，伯儀妻勞勉，出其家帛給之，乃定。伯儀收散卒還。久之，除右龍武統軍。卒，贈揚州大都督。既請諡，博士李吉甫議以「中興三十年而兵未戢者，將帥養寇籓身也。若以亡敗為戒，則總干戈者必圖萬全，而不決戰。若伯儀雖敗，而其忠可錄。」遂諡曰恭。

Zhang Boyi was a native of Weizhou who, for his achievements in battle, was assigned to Li Guangbi's army. When the Zhe rebel Yuan Chao rose in revolt, Boyi was sent to suppress him. His achievement ranked first, and he was promoted to prefect of Muzhou. He later served as military governor of Jiangling. Plain and honest, he was no scholar, yet he dealt with people in good faith. His troops feared and respected him, and the common people found him easy to live under. When Li Xilie rebelled, an edict ordered Boyi, together with Jia Dan and Zhang Xianfu, to recover Anzhou. The battle went badly. Boyi was struck by an arrow, the army fell back, and he lost the command tally he carried. The enemy caught up with him. He swung his blade to fend them off, and the two edges locked so that neither could strike home. Relief arrived just in time, and he escaped. When he reached the Han River, he commandeered local boats and crossed to Mianzhou. Routed soldiers reached Jiangling and wept in the hall. Boyi's wife comforted and encouraged them and gave out the family's silk to supply them; only then did the men settle down. Boyi gathered the scattered troops and returned. After some time he was appointed commander of the Right Dragon Martial Guard. When he died, he was posthumously appointed Grand Protector of Yangzhou. When a posthumous title was requested, Academician Li Jifu argued that "for thirty years since the restoration, war has never truly ended because commanders have nurtured the enemy to enrich themselves. If defeat alone is held up as a warning, then every man who commands an army will seek perfect safety and refuse to risk decisive battle. Boyi was defeated, yet his loyalty deserves to be remembered. The posthumous title Respectful was therefore granted.

附白元光

Appended biography: Bai Yuanguang

白元光，字元光，其先突厥人。父道生，曆寧、朔州刺史。元光初隸本軍，補節度先鋒。安祿山反，詔徙朔方兵東討，元光領所部結義營，長驅從光弼出土門。累遷太子詹事，封南陽郡王，為兩都遊弈使。

Bai Yuanguang, whose courtesy name was also Yuanguang, was of Turkic descent. His father Daosheng had served successively as prefect of Ning and Shuozhou. Yuanguang first served in the local army and was appointed vanguard of the military governorship. When An Lushan rebelled, an edict ordered Shuofang troops east to suppress the rebellion. Yuanguang led his Jieyi Camp in a long march, following Guangbi out through Tumen. He rose through successive promotions to household steward of the heir apparent, was enfeoffed as Prince of Nanyang, and was appointed patrolling commissioner of the two capitals.

長安平，率兵清宮，進擊餘寇，身被數創，肅宗躬為傅藥。轉衛尉卿，兼朔方先鋒。史思明攻河陽，光弼召主騎軍。其後曆靈武留後、定遠城使。貞元二年卒，贈越州都督。

When Chang'an was recovered, he led troops to secure the palace and pressed the attack against remaining rebels. He received several wounds, and Emperor Suzong personally applied medicine to him. He was transferred to minister of the guard and concurrently served as Shuofang vanguard. When Shi Siming attacked Heyang, Guangbi summoned him to take command of the cavalry. He later served successively as regent of Lingwu and commissioner of Dingyuan Fort. He died in the second year of Zhenyuan and was posthumously appointed protector-general of Yuezhou.

附陳利貞

Appended biography: Chen Lizhen

陳利貞，幽州范陽人。初為平盧將，安祿山亂，從光弼軍河南。張巡被圍睢陽也，光弼遣郝廷玉及利貞救之，輕騎出入，廷玉稱為勝己，以子妻之。及歸，薦於光弼，自行間累遷檢校太子賓客，封靜戎郡王。李希烈叛，詔哥舒曜東討，利貞為前鋒，次郟城。賊眾大集，利貞出奇兵五百，橫搗其右，賊鋒詘，數月不敢前。及希烈攻曜襄城，利貞登陴捍守，七十日未嘗櫛沐，非議事不下城。硃泚反，利貞及張廷芝所統士皆幽、薊、河、隴人，故與廷芝合謀應泚，而利貞麾下亦從為亂。夜半，難作，利貞拔劍當軍門，大呼曰：「欲過門者，先殺我！」眾畏其勇，乃止。廷芝出奔。德宗嘉之，擢汝州防禦使。貞元五年，疽發首，卒。遺觀察使崔縱書，自陳受國恩，恨不得死所雲。

Chen Lizhen was a native of Fanyang in Youzhou. He began as an officer in Pinglu. When An Lushan rebelled, he followed Li Guangbi's army into Henan. When Zhang Xun was besieged at Suiyang, Guangbi sent Hao Tingyu and Chen Lizhen to his relief. Riding light cavalry in and out of the siege, Lizhen distinguished himself so greatly that Tingyu declared him his superior and gave him his daughter in marriage. On his return he was recommended to Guangbi and rose through the ranks to acting Crown Prince's Guest, being created Prince of Jingrong. When Li Xilie rebelled, an edict ordered Geshu Yao east to suppress him. Lizhen served as vanguard and encamped at Yancheng. When rebel forces massed in strength, Lizhen sent five hundred picked troops to strike their right flank. The enemy vanguard faltered and for months dared not advance. When Xilie attacked Geshu Yao at Xiangcheng, Lizhen mounted the walls to defend the city. For seventy days he neither combed his hair nor bathed, and never left the ramparts except to discuss strategy. When Zhu Ci rebelled, the troops under Chen Lizhen and Zhang Tingzhi were all men from You, Ji, He, and Long — frontier country — so they plotted together to join Zhu Ci, and Lizhen's own men followed them into mutiny. At midnight the mutiny erupted. Lizhen drew his sword and planted himself at the camp gate, shouting, "Whoever wishes to pass this gate must kill me first! The men, awed by his courage, held back. Zhang Tingzhi fled. Emperor Dezong commended his conduct and appointed him defender of Ruzhou. In the fifth year of Zhenyuan a carbuncle broke out on his head and he died. He left a letter to Investigating Commissioner Cui Zong lamenting that he had received the state's grace yet had not found a place to die for it.

附侯仲莊

Appended biography: Hou Zhongzhuang

侯仲莊，字仲莊，蔚州人。為光弼先鋒，授忠武將軍。禽安太清有功，累加冠軍將軍。僕固懷恩以朔方反，仲莊為都將，訓兵自守，號為「平射」，人畏其鋒。懷恩敗，郭子儀代之，引為腹心。封上谷郡王，為神策京西將。德宗幸奉天，遷左衛將軍，為防城使。修壘堞，晝夜執戈徼巡。從幸興元，殿軍駱谷，授防禦招收使。帝還都，復鎮奉天，幾二十年。卒，贈洪州都督。

Hou Zhongzhuang, whose style name was the same as his given name, was a native of Wei Prefecture. He served as Li Guangbi's vanguard and was appointed Loyal Martial General. For capturing An Taiqing he was repeatedly promoted, eventually reaching Champion General. When Pugu Huai'en rebelled from Shuofang, Zhongzhuang was a commandery general who drilled his troops for defense. Known as "Level Shot," he was feared for the sharpness of his attack. After Huai'en's defeat, Guo Ziyi took his place and drew Zhongzhuang into his inner circle. He was created Prince of Shanggu and appointed a Shence general on the western capital circuit. When Emperor Dezong fled to Fengtian, Zhongzhuang was made Left Guard General and commissioner of city defense. He repaired the walls and battlements and patrolled day and night with weapon in hand. He accompanied the emperor to Xingyuan, brought up the rear at Luogu Pass, and was appointed defense and recruitment commissioner. When the emperor returned to the capital, he garrisoned Fengtian again for nearly twenty years. When he died he was posthumously appointed Military Governor of Hong Prefecture.

附柏良器

Appended biography: Bai Liangqi

柏良器，字公亮，魏州人。父造，以獲嘉令死安祿山難。乃學擊劍，欲報賊。父友王奐為光弼從事，見之曰：「爾額文似臨淮王，面黑子似顏平原，殆能立功。」乃薦之光弼。授兵平山越，遷左武衛中郎將。以部兵隸浙西，豫平袁晁、方清。其後潘獰虎、胡參分據小傷、蒸裏，又擊破之。是時年二十四，更戰陣六十二。

Bai Liangqi, style name Gongliang, was a native of Wei Prefecture. His father Zao had died in An Lushan's rebellion while serving as magistrate of Huojia. He took up swordsmanship, determined to avenge his father on the rebels. His father's friend Wang Huan, who served on Li Guangbi's staff, saw him and said, "The markings on your forehead resemble the Prince of Huai's, and the dark mole on your face resembles Yan Gaoqing's — you may well win great merit. Wang then recommended him to Li Guangbi. He was given troops to pacify the Shanyue and was promoted to Central Captain of the Left Martial Guard. His unit was attached to Zhexi, where he helped suppress the rebellions of Yuan Chao and Fang Qing. He later defeated Pan Ninghu and Hu Can, who had seized the districts of Xiaoshang and Zhengli. By then he was twenty-four and had fought in sixty-two engagements.

李希烈圍寧陵，遏水灌之，親令軍中明日拔城。良器以救兵至，擇弩手善遊者，沿汴渠夜入，及旦，伏弩發，賊乘城者皆死。錄功封平原郡王，入為左神策軍大將軍、知軍事，圖形淩煙閣。募材勇以代士卒市販者，中尉竇文場惡之，坐友人闌入，換右領軍衛。自是軍政皆中官專之。終左領軍衛大將軍，贈陝州大都督。子耆，別傳。

Li Xilie besieged Ningling, dammed the waters to flood it, and personally ordered his army to take the city the next day. Liangqi arrived with relief forces, selected crossbowmen who could swim, and sent them up the Bian Canal by night. At dawn their hidden crossbows fired, killing every rebel who had mounted the walls. For this feat he was created Prince of Pingyuan, appointed Grand General of the Left Shence Army with control of army affairs, and had his portrait placed in the Lingyan Pavilion. He recruited able fighters to replace soldiers who spent their time trading in the markets. Vice Director Dou Wenchang resented this and, citing a friend's unauthorized entry, had him transferred to the Right Leading Army Guard. From that point forward, military affairs fell entirely under eunuch control. He ended his career as Grand General of the Left Leading Army Guard and was posthumously appointed Grand Protector of Shaan Prefecture. His son Qi is treated in a separate biography.

附烏承玼

Appended biography: Wu Chengci

烏承玼，字德潤，張掖人。開元中，與族兄承恩皆為平盧先鋒，沉勇而決，號「轅門二龍」。契丹可突于殺其王邵固降突厥，而奚亦亂，其王魯蘇挈族屬及邵固妻子自歸。是歲，奚、契丹入寇，詔承玼擊之，破於捺祿山。二十二年，詔信安王禕率幽州長史趙含章進討，承玼請含章曰：「二虜固劇賊，前日戰而北，非畏我，乃誘我也。公宜畜銳以折其謀。」含章不信，戰白城，果大敗。承玼獨按隊出其右，斬首萬計，可突于奔北奚。

Wu Chengci, style name Derun, was a native of Zhangye. During the Kaiyuan era he and his clansman Chengen both served as Pinglu vanguards. Deeply brave and resolute, they were known as "the Two Dragons of the Camp Gate." The Khitan leader Ketuyu killed his king Shaogu and submitted to the Turks. The Xi also rose in revolt, but their king Lusu led his clan and Shaogu's family to surrender to the Tang. That year the Xi and Khitan raided the frontier. An edict ordered Chengci against them, and he defeated them at Nalushan. In the twenty-second year of Kaiyuan, Prince Xin'an Li Yi was ordered to lead Youzhou Chief Secretary Zhao Hanzhang in an advance against the enemy. Chengci warned Hanzhang, "These two peoples are fierce enemies. Their retreat the other day was not from fear of us — it was a lure. You should conserve your strength to frustrate their scheme. Hanzhang did not believe him. They fought at Bai City and were routed. Chengci alone held his formation, struck from the enemy's right, and took more than ten thousand heads. Ketuyu fled north into Xi territory.

渤海大武藝與弟門藝戰國中，門藝來，詔與太僕卿金思蘭發范陽、新羅兵十萬討之，無功。武藝遣客刺門藝於東都，引兵至馬都山，屠城邑。承玼窒要路，塹以大石，亙四百里，虜不得入。於是流民得還，士少休，脫鎧而耕，歲省度支運錢。安慶緒使史思明守范陽，思明恃兵強，為自固計。慶緒密遣阿史那承慶、安守忠就督事，且圖之。承玼勸思明曰：「唐家中興，與天下更始，慶緒偷肆晷刻，公殆與俱亡。有如束身本朝，湔洗前汙，此反掌功耳。」思明善之，斬承慶等，奉表聽命。始，承恩為冀州刺史，失守，思明護送東都，故肅宗使自雲中趨幽州開說思明，與承玼謀投釁殺之，不克，死。承玼奔李光弼，表為冠軍將軍，封昌化郡王，為石嶺軍使。王思禮為節度使，軍政倚辦焉。久之，移疾還京師，卒，年九十六。子重胤，別傳。

Da Wuyi of Bohai was at war with his younger brother Menyi within the kingdom. When Menyi fled to Tang, an edict ordered Chengci and Grand Master of the Stud Jin Silan to raise a hundred thousand men from Fanyang and Silla against Wuyi, but the campaign failed. Wuyi sent an assassin against Menyi in the Eastern Capital and led his army to Madu Mountain, slaughtering towns along the way. Chengci blocked the vital passes and barricaded them with great stones for four hundred li, keeping the enemy out. Displaced civilians could return home, soldiers rested, doffed their armor to farm, and the Ministry of Revenue saved a fortune in transport costs each year. An Qingxu sent Shi Siming to hold Fanyang. Siming, trusting in his army's strength, began scheming for his own security. Qingxu secretly sent Ashina Chengqing and An Shouzhong to oversee his affairs — and to plot against him. Chengci urged Siming, "The Tang is restoring itself and renewing the realm. Qingxu steals his days — you will likely perish with him. If you submit to the Tang and wash away your former crimes, the achievement is as easy as turning your hand. Siming agreed, executed Chengqing and the others, and submitted a memorial of submission. Earlier, Chengen had been prefect of Ji but lost his post and was escorted by Siming to the Eastern Capital. Emperor Suzong therefore sent him from Yunzhong to Youzhou to persuade Siming to defect. He and Chengci plotted to kill Siming but failed, and Chengen died in the attempt. Chengci fled to Li Guangbi, who recommended him as Champion General, created him Prince of Changhua, and appointed him commander of the Shiling Army. When Wang Sili became military governor, he relied on Chengci for all military affairs. After many years he pleaded illness and returned to the capital, where he died at the age of ninety-six. His son Chongyin is treated in a separate biography.

贊曰：李光弼生戎虜之緒，沉鷙有守。遭祿山變，拔任兵柄，其策敵制勝不世出，賞信罰明，士卒爭奮，毅然有古良將風。本夫終父喪不入妻室，位王公事繼母至孝，好讀班固《漢書》，異夫庸人武夫者。及困於口舌，不能以忠自明，奄侍內構，遂陷嫌隙，謀就全安，而身益危，所謂工於料人而拙於謀己邪。方攘袂徇國，天下風靡；一為遷延，而田神功等皆不受約束，卒以憂死。功臣去就，可不慎邪？嗚呼，光弼雖有不釋位之誅，然讒人為害，亦可畏矣，將時之不幸歟！

The appraisal reads: Li Guangbi was born of frontier stock, yet he was deep, fierce, and self-disciplined. When the An Lushan rebellion erupted, he was elevated to military command. His stratagems against the enemy were unmatched in his age. Rewards were sure and punishments clear; his soldiers fought with desperate zeal. He bore himself with the stern dignity of the great generals of old. After his father's mourning he would not enter his wife's chamber. Though he rose to the rank of king, he served his stepmother with the utmost filial devotion. He loved to read Ban Gu's History of the Han — a man utterly unlike the common run of soldiers. Yet when slander trapped him, he could not make his loyalty plain. Court attendants fomented intrigue against him, and he fell into suspicion and estrangement. Seeking only his own safety, he grew only more endangered — skilled at reading others, perhaps, but clumsy at reading himself. Just when he had rolled up his sleeves to serve the state and all the realm followed his lead, a single delay left Tian Shegong and others beyond his control, and in the end he died of grief. How carefully must a great minister weigh his every move! Alas! Though Guangbi may be faulted for clinging to his command, the harm done by slanderers is fearful indeed. Was it not rather the misfortune of his times!

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